"Enough".
The monster froze mid-strike, it's claws hovering inches above Maria's trembling body. The air turned heavy, almost solid.
A rift tore open in the air, black and swirling. From it, black chains lashed outward, snapping around the monster's arm and forcing it to drop Maria. She fell hard to the ground, caughting violently, clutching her throat.
Nora rushed forward, dropping to her side, green light flaring from her palms as she pressed them to Maria's wounds. "Stay with me-just breathe. Please!"
Maria caughed, her vision hazy. She didn't replied, instead stood and reach out for Miata-who was still laying with pain on the ground-and pulled her on her lap.
The chains glowed faintly, humming with ominious energy, tightening around the beast's limbs.
A man stepped out from the rift.
His presence was like a shadow swallowing light. A long void spear glinted in his hand, black as midnight with purple. Behind him, the outline of a dragon-a beast of black scales and burning eye-unfurled from the shadows, wings stretching wide.
He glaced once at Maria and Nora and the fragile form of Miata, then at the monster, his eyes narrowing.
"You are not going to die here" he said coldly.
The monster roared, thrashing against the chains, the person's spear swept upward, striking sparts as it clashed againt the beast claw.
Maria's lips trembled as she speaks "Let me do it... with you".
The man glanced back, his expression unreadable. "Can you still fight?"
For a second she said nothing. forming the words she thought she will never say, " I promised someone. So now let me do it"
Her hand trembled as she gripped her sword. " You said we are not going to die here. Then prove it" she quivered.
"Good" His tone was sharp. Something flickered in his eyes-something between amusement and awe-but it faded as fast as it came. He turned his gaze towards Nora " Heal those in need. Now. And take carw of that girl" He pointed towards Miata, voice cold.
Miata's jaw clenched. She didn't wanted to leave Maria. Not when that monster was standing right there. But when she looked at Maria, Maria nodded at her as if saying take rest, leave everything on me now. So Miata inhale slowly, really freeing herself from everything infront of her. Zoe limp at her side.
The man planted himself between Maria and the monster, his chains wrapping tighter, his spear in position. "Then let finish this".
Maria staggered at her feet. Amelia bristeling at her side. She rised her sword, blood dripping from her wounds, fire blazing in her eyes.
The monster roared again. The black dragon spread it's wings, roaring in return.
The second battle began.
The chains binding the monster rattled, black steel shimmering with unnatural light. But even they shuddered, straining to hold back the beast's raw power.
The man didn't flinch. His voice was low, sharp. "On my left. Don't falter".
Maria wiped blood from het lips with the back of her hand, her shoulder trembling. Amelia stepped closer, growling amber eyes, locked on the monster.
Her heart pounded. Her lungs still burned from it's grip on her throat. But that fire inside her- the Aether thrumming in her chest-blazed hotter than ever.
She gripped her sword. "Got it".
The monster ripped it's arm free of one chain, snapping the black steel like twigs. The man's eyes narrowed, and with a sweep of his hand, another portal tore open-chains shooting out to bind the monster again, tightening around it's torso.
"Move ! "
Maria surged forward, Amelia leaping along her. The monster turned it's head towards the rush of Aether, it's blind sense flaring. It swung one massive claw down.
Maria ducked under it, rolling across the blood stained cobblestones. Amelia lunged, fangs sinking into the beast's forearm, slowing it for just a heartbeat.
"Now!" His voice barked.
Maria twisted, blade flashing upward. It cut across the monster's thing, shallow compared to it's massive frame, but enough to make the monster snarl and jerk. Black blood spilled, hissing against stone.
The monster's other arm shot out-towards Maria.
Chains lashed forward, intercepting, wrapping around the limb mid-swing. The man yanked his hand back, pulling the creature off balance. His spear ingited with black fire as he charged in, slashing across it's chest in a brutal arc.
The strike echoed like thunder.
The beast stumbled, it's roar shaking the night. But its strength was overwhelming. The chains cracked under it's thrashing. It bent low, it's maw opening wide-and a shriek like a hundred voices ripped from it's throat.
The air itself seemed to fracture.
Maria's ears rang. She staggered, clutching her head. Amelia whined in pain, stumbling back. Even that man grimaced, his chains faltering.
And then the monster lunged.
It blurred forward with impossible speed, it's claw sweeping for Maria. She barely brought her sword up-steel screamed as claws raked across it, soarks flying. The force blasted her back, her boots skidding across stone until she slammed into a toppled cart.
"Maria!!" Nora's cry pierced from behind, but she didn't move-still healing the wounded, hands glowing desperately.
Maria coughed, pain stabbing her ribs. She tried to rise, but her body screamed at her. Still, she forced herself up, leaning on her sword.
If I stop now... everyone dies. Just like before.
The monster raised it's arm to strike her again-
-And chains lashed tight around its neck, yanking it back. The man appeared in front of Maria in a blink, his black spear clashing against it's claws with a brust of sparks.
"On your feet", he growled without looking back. "You said you'd fight".
Maria's eyes widened. Then she gritted her teeth, forcing her trembling legs to stand. Amelia limped to her side, snarling with renewed fury.
"Yeah," Maria rasped, spitting blood to the ground. "I am not done".
The monster ripped free from one set of chains, roaring in fury. The man twisted his hand, and dozen of new chains erupted from portals, weaving together into a cage around the beast. They slammed shut with a deafening clang, locking it in.
But already, clracks spread along the black steel. The monster thrahed, its blind sense locking on Maria's Aether.
The man's jaw tightened. "It won't hold for long. We end it here."
He glanced at her. "Follow my lead. Strike when I say."
Maria's grip tightened on her blade. Amelia crouched, ready to lunge.
The dragon behind the man roared, its shadowy wings unfurling wide, black flames spilling from its maw.
The monster shattered the first bar of its cage. Chains snapped one by one.
The man raised his blade. "Now!"
The dragon's fames surgged forward, engulfing the beast in black fire. It shrieked, thrashing it hardly as the flames licked across its hide.
Maria charged through the blaze, her vision tunneling, heart hammering. She leapt, sword raised high, Aether burning through her veins like molten steel. Amelia folloed, leaping with her.
The monster claw lashed upward-
-But the man's chain bound it mid-swing. He roared, pouring every ounce of Aether he had left into holding it.
"Strike!!"
Maria screamed, her blade crashing down. The steel split deep into thr monster's shoulder, tearing flesh and bone. Amelia rippled to its neck, flangs crushing.
The monster bellowed, staggerring back, black blood gushing.
But it didn't fall.
It threw its head back, releasing another soul-rending shriek. With a violent jerk, it ripped free of the chains, swiping the man across the chest. The man flew back crashing into the ground, his spear skidding away.
"No!" Maria gasped.
The beast loomed, blodied but unbroken, raising it's arm to finished him.
Maria's entire body screamed with pain, her sword nearly slipping from her grip. Her knees buckled-she could barely stand. Amelia's side heaved, her fur scorched from flame.
But Maria's eyes burned brighter than ever.
Her voice cracked, raw with fury and grief. "I won't let you take anyone else!"
She sprinted forward, every step agony, every breath fire. But she didn't stop.
And this time she wasn't alone.
Amelia ran with her.
The man's dragon roared behind her. And even the townsfolk, tremblingin fear, couldn't look away.
The monster roared, lifting its massive claw for a final strike towards the man but he stopped mid-strike. Nora's roots lashed tighter around it's feets to his entire body, digging the poisonous spikes dipper and dipper under its skin.
The man lifted his hand on a blink, his spear fly to his hand from the ground. Striking deeper into the monster's chest.
The monster roared, the force alone shaking the trees around them.
Maria with one final desperate cry, jumped and drove her blade deep into the monster's skull.
Maria twisted her blade into it's neck.
"For them-for all of them!"
But her body was giving up slowly, but then for everyone's surprise-Miata grabbed Maria's sword, driving it with force.
"Together" She whispered.
"Always".
And with the final Aether, they cut off the monster into many.
When the mosnter finally vanished into ashes. Everyone fell to the ground but Amelia caught Maria in time and Zoe caught Miata. Maria was unconscious, and Miata cried for her to wakes up. Nora pulled Miata into a hug, patting into her back. "She is fine, don't worry" Nora whispered.
The man came closer to Miata, knelt beside her and said "She is just unconscious. She used Aether more than she had, crossing her limits. She was already dead for using the end of the will but somehow she is alive".