"Well, that is not welcome. I do refuse, the only domain here is of my choosing. You may call on blessings, you may test your faith, pray to your patrons, but they may not partake." Nix announced tossing Mishi back to where he'd been before Yemoja had taken over his body. Nix turned his head just enough to look Duke Hammer in the eye.
"A gift to the fighters, let me light your way, follow my flames, don't be led astray." A wave of silver flames washed over the land. Many flinched away only for the flames to pass over them harmlessly.
Then Nix returned to Caius's side.
Randal stumbled as he regained control of his body. Not only was the water gone, but a third of the flame rivers were now silver. Looking up, all of the beasts who'd arrived with Mishi now had silver flames dancing over their bodies.
Randal let out a savage grin as he realized Nix had just marked the killing blow for all the opposing beasts.
Kokono wasted no time stepping into the silver flame river, the flames reinforced her silver armor. She smiled under her mask feeling Ru's blessing. "Do not hesitate, do not fear, with me at your side, our goals are clear." She stared at the three silver flames dancing over the mermaid's armor.
Randal didn't flinch as giant walls of flame rose up around the three of them, separating them from rest of the battlefield. No, not flames, rifts. Randal met Nix's eyes just before the rifts shot up to the top of the fire dome. Randal could still see through the rifts to the other battles, but he didn't plan to test what happened to anyone foolish enough to touch the blood red flames.
Randal settled his gaze on the mermaid. If it weren't for the snarl, she would be a beautiful specimen.
"Aye donna think she be holden back any longer wee bird. Donna… donna take her lightly." Randal wanted to tell her to escape rather than get hurt again, but she was a warrior. Warriors didn't flee.
"I am blessed by gods three, I may not be a dragon, but I am not weak." Kokono reminded. There wasn't time for more talk as the mermaid attacked. She may only be slightly larger than the average human, but she was a beast. Even under her armor there were scales comparable to a lesser dragon.
Randal barely raised his arm in time to block the mermaid's claws. She was faster, and stronger. Randal left gouges in the earth from where she pushed him back. Kokono didn't hesitate, launching forward as she struck between the armored scales.
Kokono dug her silver flame covered daggers into the mermaid's thigh. If they could slow her down, it would give Randy time to adjust. She felt the flames leave her dagger, then leapt back. Just in time to dodge the swinging trident.
Randal used his shield to shove her back. Following up an upward swing of his hammer as he fell into the dance steps. Well, he may no be a dragon, but today he'd dance.
The mermaid was forced back several steps, every time she tried to take advantage of an opening the masked female would dart in.
Kokono darted from behind to stab at the female's back. Her daggers couldn't penetrate the mermaid's scales, but the silver flames were damaging her armor. If she wanted to be able to penetrate more than just the joints of the mermaid's armor, she'd need a narrower blade.
Kokono dodged out of range as Randy restarted his battle stance. Starting with another upward swing of his hammer, the mermaid intercepted.
"I won't fall for the same trick thrice." She snarled dragging the male toward her trident.
Randal sucked in a breath, then breathed fire into the female's face.
The mermaid screamed as she threw the male away. Covering her face she used another blessing of healing. Glaring she found the male's body… growing? His armor was growing?
Randal ignored the smoke as he shoved himself up. It was a good thing he was so damn sturdy, otherwise she'd have ripped his arm off. Shoving his arm into one of the rivers he grinned. So, the fire attached itself to his armor rather than himself. That meant he could use it.
Tossing the shield away his gauntlets sharpened into claws. If he was going to dance like a dragon, maybe it was time to step into the light. With a low growl he half crouched as he let the flames saturate his armor. He grinned as his armor adjusted to have a spiked tail.
Kokono grinned as flames settled along the joints of Randy's armor. He was starting to look much more like a dragon.
The mermaid glared, "Looks like we won't have to find another one." She launched herself at the dragon masquerading as a mere dragon kin. It met her clash head on.
Randal kept the hammer in his right hand, but swiped his left claw along her stomach. The flames burning her flesh. Her long trident wasn't suitable for nearly hand to hand combat. Randal knew his eyes would be reptilian under his helmet. He could already feel his scales scraping against his armor.
After nearly forty years of hiding he was starting to release the real him. He wasn't an ascended, he was born a dragon. He'd had to learn to take on his human form. His father may have presented himself a sloppy degenerate of a noble with no ambitions, but he'd cast illusions strong enough to fool the pope, the emperor, and even that cursed medallion.
Swords weren't an option because he broke them, as a dragon, the mana he wielded was restricted to mostly dragon fire. Not exactly easy to hide. If he wanted to be able to wield mana like dragons of legend, he'd need to find a dragon willing teach him. So far none of the fae, mages, or priests he trusted were able to direct his mana.
Randal was so rarely out of his human shell he could barely remember what it was like to let loose. Twisting out of her reach he slapped her with his spiked tail. The spikes pierced the arm attempting to block his attack.
Before she could recover, he let loose another burst of fire.
A wall of ice blocked his dragon's breath. Randal quickly retreated out of her trident's range. Lighting followed his retreat. He didn't dare chance just what tier of lightning she was using either.
"You look more like a bug! Scurrying on all fours through the mud!" The mermaid sneered as she prepared an ice spell. He was a young dragon, his scales hadn't even hardened yet. Probably too young to fly as well. She didn't even see any wings.
Randal cursed as he was forced even further back. Then grinned as Kokono appeared out of nowhere wielding an axe that would have made the mountain man proud.
Kokono waited for the mermaid to be distracted before leaping out of a pillar of fire. Bringing the axe down on the mermaid's head with all her might.
The mermaid sensed the air change, diving out of the way she saw the axe split the earth where she'd been standing. Worse, she'd forcibly canceled her ice spell causing mana backlash. The mermaid was forced to use sacrifice another blessed shell of healing.
Despite the healing, her headache persisted. Ignoring the young dragon, she focused on the black clad female. If she could destroy the female, she could capture the dragon as a sacrifice.
Kokono abandoned her axe as she dodged the trident. The mermaid wasn't teasing her anymore! Each strike was meant to kill. Kokono used her mana to reinforce her armor.
Randal cursed as he gave chase! When the trident hit Kokono's left arm bracer half the flames dispersed! Even as Kokono dodged into one of the streams of silver fire, the trident was faster still!
Kokono did her best to block the frenzied attacks. Her armor slowly cracking as the mana was depleted faster than she could replenish!
The mermaid was ready when the dragon launched himself at her back. Blasting him with a sixth tier ice arrow the second his feet let the ground! Then she turned her full attention to the black clad female.
Randal was hit square in the shoulder. Pinned to the ground on his back as the ice started spreading over his body. Pushing the pain to the side, he gripped the arrow trying to yank it free. All he did was rip his wound wider, the ice quickly recoating his body.
Randal cursed, hitting the back of his head on the ground before he focused on his inner fire. Lifting his head he breathed fire over the arrow until it melted. He jerked his arm free of the remaining ice as he rolled to his side.
Kokono continued to lead the mermaid away from Randy as he freed himself. Deciding to trade a blow she darted into the mermaid's attack range. Ignoring the smirk, Kokono drew attention to the dagger in her right hand, but condensed the last of the silver flames over her hand.
The mermaid stabbed the black clad female's back with her trident. The mermaid felt the dagger break when it hit her chest plate.
Kokono gritted her teeth as she was skewered. Using the moment the mermaid felt triumph Kokono stabbed her hand at the same place her dagger broke. The tiny crack her dagger left had been enough. Feeling the cool mermaid scales, Kokono shoved her fire clad hand into the female's stomach. Before the mermaid could retreat she released a burst of silver flames inside her stomach.
The force ripped Kokono's body free of the trident. She was sent sprawling until she sank into a river of fire.
The mermaid kicked the black clad female away as she screamed. She saw the dragon back on its feet, rushing at her. Swinging her trident at dragon, she knocked him away so she could take a moment to use another blessing. They weren't doing significant damage, but each wound was just distracting enough that they might be able to land a more crippling blow.
The mermaid glanced at Lord Mishi, if she could capture this dragon, then she might be able to help lord Mishi. She couldn't waste time here. She yanked the centermost shell off her necklace.
Randal rolled as he hit the ground, then leapt up going after Kokono. Ignoring the mermaid he fished her out the flames. Three giant tears through her torso were being filled with flames but she was in no condition to fight.
"Wee bird, ye must go ta yer Nix. Can ye open ah rift?" Randal asked trying to keep her from falling apart. Beast gods above, he would return the favor! His body was already growing, anymore and he wouldn't even be human shaped. Each exhale was more smoke than breath as he crouched over Kokono's limp form.
Randal growled as the mermaid's armor changed. Unlike the male's hydra form, hers looked like a wyvern made of water. It's body more reminiscent of an eel with legs and wings rather than any breed of wyvern he'd ever seen.