Azulgor's Entrance

"When will I be contempt? I looked at the cloudy horizon. "Say, Azulgor. Do you have any pleasantries that would satisfy my insatiable consumption... I have become desperate enough to seek out anomalies"

I stood at the top most ridge of the mountain which domineers over its neighbors. Unfolded a map to double check the marked spot. It pointed toward approximately ten kilometres above from where I was, the supposed perimeter where the mind dragon ruins drifted amongst the skies.

It's sighting extremely rare to the point of myth. Since it would appear miniscule from the ground level and it constantly teleports to random places.

Now I could be wishy washy and spend my lifetime for it to pop up here. Why would I bare it?... when it could be summoned.

I tossed the map back to the dimensional pouch and took out a small rubble. It cost me a fortune but there it was... The summon material, a part of the ruin itself. Pair it with a summon object... A hammer, perfectly crafted by yours only.

Placed the rubble on a stone slab and recited a chant, "From whence you came, Summon it in its entirety, An order you obey" I completed it with a twitch, thrust the hammer and broke the rubble to bits.

Normally, the summoned target would appear before me in which case I would be instantly crushed. But instead, a shadow loomed over the ridge.

My gaze shifted upwards and saw the obstructer in question. A floating Island? The Ruins? Grabbed a telescope from my available utilities, veered in on the target. I could see a clear landing.

The excitement began. All that is left is to teleport there.

"I thank the history that everyone had given up, for I would be the one to uncover and benefit from it"

I heard a condescending clap. A hallucinatory degradation?... Perhaps not. As I decided to check, It was much worse.

"Good work, Artisan Trebel"

A woman commented on my declaration and gave me a nudge. It was only that, Yet I tumbled and slipped off the ridge.

The woman caught me before I became a history. Not necessarily but the threat from her is real.

She smiled at me leisurely and said, "Do your thing, I will accompany with you... temporarily"

"What makes you think being in contact is enough?"

"Are you suggesting your clothes will be left behind?"

"Yes, I have spares"

I removed the gauntlet,other accessories and chugged it to the utilities holder. Took out a teleportation bracelets for me and the pouch... This women isn't bothered at all.

"If you had the means, you would have done so already instead of answering an embarassing inquiry. Before you make more bluffs, save your breath and get on it, will you?"

I swear the woman... She changed her grip to a single finger which held my jacket collar.

"Do you want me to let go?"

She is demonstrating her killing intent. It can't be helped.

"I need to look at the landing zone"

She swung me like a feather toward the ruins.

It already moved further away from the course. Before it abruptly disappears, I tossed back my fake bracelets and took out the teleportation pill and fixed my view to our destination.

I swallowed the pill and made the jump.

We landed on a vast dry terrain. Her grip loosened and I plopped to the ground.

"If only I could blossom a colorful garden"

She muttered to herself.

Certainly a fitting image.

In the middle of it, stood four gigantic pillars which supported a flat roof made up of white marbles.

Large enough for the dragon to rest on top of it and enjoy star grazing while looking down on his guests having a tea party.

It's exquisiteness had weathered yet it remained durable.

The same could not be said for what present at the end of it.

Unremarkable collapsed palace whose glory could be gleaned or constructed. A few gaping holes seemed to be our only way in, shrouded by darkness. Although a massive marble dragon wing stood erected was impressive, it left me an impression of a broom, ready to brush the piles of stones off the cliff.

Before we decided our next move, the atmosphere changed. The primal fear of nothingness replaced the skies.

It was like the night without the stars.

Strangely our visions aren't obstructed as dim light emanated across the surface.

String of black threads gushed out in complete silence. It's numbers extended linearly and squiggled as though it is sentient.

I lit a fire ball on terror. As though to confirm my suspicion, the threads opened outwards and revealed a sinister eyeball, its iris hyper focused on the intruders.

She still doesn't look bothered.

Moments later, the eyeball shook furiously, blood red tears poured down like a huge tsunami wave to engulf us.

That wasn't it. They scattered into a large raindrops befitting this sorrowful land. Squirmed and formed life essence of its own... No, it was several lifeless humans strung, posed as a puppet.

The closest one made a sudden dash towards me, I adjusted one of the gauntlet to earth attribute and brought forth a wall.

A bit late as banged on it and gripped my hair. I swat it away with a gesture.

In a split second, he appeared infront of me but before I could react, she stabbed and kicked the man toward one of them.

"Let's focus on getting to the entrance before we continue our ruffle"

I nodded in agreement. A tremendous price awaits us beneath the ruins. Even if it means, I use everything at my disposal, I will attain it.

She dashed forward and left me in the dust.

Steam puffed from my boots as I sprinted only to barely keep up with her, even while she paved the way.

Not for long, the enemies pushed her off coarse. Their attention finally shifted to mine.

I sprinkled a bunch of muddy stones at them. It expanded and burst out. The slimy textures restricted their movements, emulating a broken mechanical doll.

It doesn't mean anything against long range sorcerers.

A bolt of lightning zapped at my direction.

I frantically lifted a range of walls, to block these instant attacks.

My sprint became brisker.

I had to slow down. It was odd. I was gradually moving toward the pillar. The same goes for her.

Are we being directed? The overwhelming forces wouldn't let me change direction.

She shouted casually, "Oh there you are, Do not enter the pillar shed. Unless you want to be one of them"

She knows... "Of course, I don't, what's next?"

"Gather every pile that you lifted, condense them and launch it at me"

"That would deplete most of my mana"

"I will be in the same boat. It is what it takes. Make it faster, I will cover you"

Her sword pierced the lightning fellow and he fell beside me. She quickly pulled the sword and thrashed our enemies indiscriminately.

I switched the other gauntlet to earth attribute and increased the threshold to maximum.

A small pillar rose from the ground which acted as the meeting point for all the smithed debris to gather.

I accelerated my mana usage... An enemy was about to hack her from behind, I immediately gestured a wall but she smashed the wall along with enemy sent flying past me.

"Focus on your job, It needs to be bigger"

Yes, your highness. That was my bad. She could handle it. The debris gathered in the shape of massive orb as I poured more to it as requested.

What is her plan? To destroy the pillars? I am concerned if it could reconstruct itself. Regardless its worth a try.

"That's good. Do it now" She changed her stance to brace herself

I launched it at her. She caught it, her feet sank at the impact. The land cracked and crumbled into a pitfall, swallowed her along with the giant orb.

That woman is certainly Taigi. Her domain, Super strength. Have I overestimated her? I believed she had the means to throw it at the force greater than mine. I was about to pull it up but I quickly withdrew and met with a stupendous sight.

We could be comrades if we associate our sorcerer's type. I am a hack who builds magic and she is on unlimited ridiculous strength and durability buff.

But isn't magic are miracles that eludes us in awe.

The giant orb, as massive as the iris of that sinister eye, was launched soaring towards the sky with a clear intent to blind it.

She declared, "Begone, Eye of Governance"

Red veins popped up from the furious eye. It shrieked in denial but decided to close its eyelid, shrunk back to the nothingness.

The puppets lost the sense of movement.

"We don't have much time, race toward the entrance"

I checked our stars through googles. Ten percent of mana remained. That is fine.

We ran as fast as we could. By the time, the orb disappeared amongst the black sky, we reached near the entrance.

The eye of governance returned with blood shot anger.

The puppets rushed at its will to slam us down. We couldn't waste our mana and taught the entrance was near.

They piled on top of us at an insane speed.

Our reading wasn't wrong... They evolved in speed but traded off their other powers.

Now they crushed us with their strength. I had to pour my mana to my durable jacket. How was she doing?

Her hand protruded out, shoving an enemy face inside while made a way for herself and looked at me with concern.

She held her head in pain as toxic black smokes emitted from some of the enemies.

A loud surge of burst followed and scattered her oppressors. Her mana reduced to four percent.

She walked in my direction, punched her enemies recklessly.

That same firmness is what... inspired me, made me tremble and loathe it.

"Did I ask for your help?... Taigi"

Blazing fire surrounded them as they released their hold on me. This depleted my mana to one percent.

I didn't care and ran forward.

"You better pray that I don't reach the entrance before you and completely seal it"

My provocation didn't last a second. Another swarm of enemies got hold of me.

They were scattered without a moments delay.

She extended her hand, "I need your help"

Her mana is now at one percent. I quivered as I took her hand. We both made a desperate dash. She tossed me into the entrance hole and jumped at a velocity matching mine.

We managed to barely make it inside the entrance.

The puppets doesn't seem to be invited here.

She stated, "Its governance cannot reach us anymore"

It seemed to the case but we were now met with complete absence of light. Wait... Why is her voice so close?

I immediately lit a mini fire ball... I was on top of her and she lay on the ground with a knife pointed at my neck. I gulped as I realised... Upon a closer look, she looked stunning.

I sprang up before exposing any stupidity and surveyed the area.

The knife flung into the darkness. I turned around, saw her hands raised up.

"That was only a defensive measure. I need a lift"

"It would end up with me staggered to the floor and taking a nap. You can manage yourself"

She lifted herself in ease.

"How rude? I was expressing my trust"

She unsheathed her sword and lunged at me.

I did not sense any bloodlust toward me, instead, side stepped for it to pave its way. I enlarged my fireball and killed the goblin that tried to attack her as she did with mine.

"Why don't we team up for the time being as we clearly need each other"

Dozens of greedy eyes emerged from the darkness. She pushed me down.

"Do you have a fire lantern?"

"Yes" I placed the fireball into the lantern.

"Begin your mana restoration. How much would it take?"

"Thirty minutes"

"That would be good. I will cover for you"

I gulped the restoration pill and went to sleep without question. She is that dependable.

I woke up not facing any trouble. She sat on the floor, half asleep after the battle.

I handed out the pill. She noticed and took it.

I couldn't help but ask, "How did you think, I would just give you the pill and not finish you off"

She smiled weakly, "I didn't... Maybe I was meant to die here"

Is it her exhaustion?

"You don't strike me as a snake. You atleast need me until replenish what you lost, isn't that right, Relic Hunter?"

I admitted, "A precise judgment, Go to sleep"

She laid down and slept. I sat beside her and cleaned the blood stained sword.

Your might is no lesser to him, yet why do you treat me so differently?... Guardian Queen, I want to know more about you.