"Tell me where my sister is, and I won't kill you. How does that sound?" Lando speaks.
"I'd never just hand her over, you know."
He may not be holding a staff, but I can sense his magical aura, which was immensely powerful.
This man has trained a very long time, i'm not sure if I can even beat him. But I don't want to get Star involved if I don't have to.
I launch a big fireball at him, but he evades.
He raises his left hand, and as his hand ushers a glow, the glow becomes uncontrollable fire heading toward me.
I summon a stone wall to guard myself, but the wall melts as the fire subsides. This wouldn't be enough if he had a staff in his arsenal.
With the power of my staff, I enhance my next attack which is a flash of light to blind him.
I feel my body get taken down as I do this, however.
My left foot had been swept going forwards, and i'm losing balance.
With my right foot, I step to the left, regain control of my left leg, but as I realign myself, i'm hit with a cross.
My face was burning from the hit, but I gather myself in time to evade a hook from Lando.
I take his idea, step back with my right foot, and lift my left leg to kick Lando's head.
I make contact with his face, however; he only seems to care about me touching him, not the attack itself. His face is filled with anger, and rage.
I attempt to retract my leg, but Lando takes hold of me with a strong grip on my ankle with his right hand.
I jump and turn to hit him with my right leg with a hooking kick, which cuts Lando.
He lets go of my ankle, and as I attempt to strike him with my fist, Lando crouches down below my shoulder level to deliver a devastating hit to my gut.
The burning sensation returned, but to my stomach this time.
I cough a few times trying to breathe but I can't regain composure very well.
Lando hits me with a jab, cross, hook, and an uppercut to finish me off.
I fall to the floor.
My head was pounding, when I tried to think of a way to get out of this situation, my head spun to another urgent thing to think about.
"Can I not even beat this man in a hand-to-hand fight?" I think to myself.
I feel like I'm unable to speak, as my lungs would not respond to me. My body was laying on the ground almost lifeless. All I can do is toss a pebble through the window.
And that'll let Star know that I need her aid.
My vision is blurry, I see three Lando's in front of me. I can barely breathe, as my nose begins to bleed… It's getting hard to keep my eyes open… My ears could only hear a deadpan, still, high-pitched noise…
And that was when I blacked out.
Star bursts inside through the shattered window. The glass shards shine brightly, before they turn to ash.
Star lands on a carpet, visualizing the layout of the King's throne room.
The floor is made up from a form of purple gemstones which felt like bricks. Two circular carpets are by the lower corners of the trapezoidal room. The throne with the King sitting on it, are at the peak North, and above are three chandeliers. There is also a pathway up to another floor to the right of the King's throne.
"There isn't much to work off of, but i've fought my brother before… Just believe in yourself Star." She says to herself.
"Ah, my dear sister… It's nice to see you doing so well." He says, with a cold look in his face.
The King seems pleased, as he says… "It's great you found her Lord Lando. So now you're headed back home?"
"Shut up old man." My brother warns the King.
"E-excuse me?" The King follows up surprised.
My brother conjures a big purple rock from the floor and tosses it in the direction of the King.
I pick up Everests staff urgently and summon a viscous liquid to slow down the rock, but during the summoning the force of the staff's energy blows me back a few steps.
"What a powerful staff." I say to myself in shock.
Lando scoffs and walks calmly toward the stairs.
I rush to Everest, in the middle of the room, but the King halts me.
"Lady princess of the Mizu Kingdom?" He asks.
"What?" I ask.
"Lando is up to no good where he is going, you must stop him."
"Huh, what makes you say that?"
"You see, Lando has his staff at the peak of my palace. And his staff is collecting the entire palaces energy."
"My brother has a staff?" I think to myself. He has never used one before, and if he can use it, he would be unstoppable.
I use some healing magic on Everest so that he would wake up in a few minutes.
"Please don't die on me…" I say as I then rush toward the stairs to chase my brother.
I enter the stairwell and look up a few steps to see my brother waiting.
"You know, even if I can't get up to my staff, you cannot defeat me." Says Lando.
"Well, I can't defeat you, but I can distract you until Everest returns."
"That joke?" He laughs maniacally.
I spew out freezing water toward my brother to slow him down.
He returns it with fire, much stronger than my icy water.
A smoke bomb in between us.
I hear steps fading out upward.
I blow myself up above to reach my brother with wind magic. But my brother has the same ability, and we head for the top of the palace.
He reaches a door, as I follow, and as we hit the roof of the palace-
"FORGIVE ME SISTER BUT I MUST DO THIS TO WIN!" Lando yells with delight.
"Huh!?" I look down and see a jagged, triangular slab of stone shoot upward; a sharp pillar speared into my solar plexus.
CRUSH! CRACK! *
A splash of blood falls on the bricks atop the palace.
Star had been impaled and stunned by a stalagmite conjured up from the bricks of the castle.
The next part of what I saw became blurry, dark, and hard to see.
"Hey, don't be so down. You're quite up at this moment, aren't you?" Lando snarks.
Blood loss, i'm aching everywhere, pain, red, hot, ablaze, like a spark of fire bursting through my lungs.
"Look at me." Lando speaks.
I felt nothing anymore. Empty, hollow, vacant, completely drained of energy.
"Well, whatever, that won't kill you, but maybe this will."
I think he's stepping toward the front of the palace top, but how should I know? It's all dark when I look at him.
"I can't breathe."
Lando lifts his head. "My Goddess Nyx. Please, allow me to use your power, and erase the memory of the Fels Palace, redirect…- "
My hearing goes away. gives up, and departs.
The floor below me fades away, but I can now see Everest, the King of Fels, the Deerman from the district entry… They're below me… am I falling?
My vision blurs, and it's lights out.
Meanwhile, a meeting room, high stood a skyscraper in the neon-drenched city of Frygpt, hummed a low thrum of power. The windows made a breathtaking view of the galaxy-streaked purple sky. Around the polished mahogany table, the figures sat in silence, their faces were obscured by shadows.
Lando walks inside, noticing a man with a dark hood, and a man with a dark cape, and a white mask inside, sat next to the table.
A feminine figure sits at the biggest chair, like the boss of operations.
"Now that everyone is here, I will commence." She speaks.
"My lady." Lando interrupts.
"Speak up Hades." Says the woman.
"I took the palace in Fels, it's in here." He says as he grabs a glowing stone from his pocket.
"Good. I knew that though."
"Y-You did!?" Lando… asks surprised.
"I'm always watching." The master says.
The man in the mask speaks up.
"Yes, good job, but who conquered the Dragon Continent?"
"Who failed to defeat the dragon of that land?" Says Lando.
"And who was struggling to take down an amateur in magic while taking down the Fels palace?" Speaks the woman.
"I-I didn't struggle…"
"Excuse me?" Asks the woman in a serious tone.
Chills go down Lando's back.
"Sorry master…" Speaks Lando.
"You all could do better; that's a better way to see it. If a wolf struggles to defeat a dog, the wolf is weak, no matter what the title a wolf has." Speaks the hooded man.
"Master, one thing I can guarantee you, is that when I meet with the Everest kid, I will kill him." Says the masked man.
"Good." Says the woman.
A tense air in the room picks up, no one can rebuttal.
"Now then, you three will battle to become the next king of Aimant."
"A Battle-Royale?" Asks Lando.
"No no no" She giggles with a mature voice. "You will face my dearest pet, whoever can last the longest, will be appointed." She gleans with joy to the thought.
"Who is ready? Hades, Belphegor, or Douji?"
1 Week Later… *
"Hey… Hey…" says a man.
"Who is that...?" I ask.
I can't remember anything, last thing was dark, and…
"SHE'S AWAAAAAAAAAAAKE!" A Deerman shouts to another man.
His voice is a bit choppy, but friendly.
"STAAAAAAAAAAAAAAR!"
That's a different voice! Who is that? I know him! He's…
"STAR YOU'RE AWAKE!" Everest cries yelling out to me.
"I'm... awake! …" My energy is beyond low, and I haven't had water in… who knows how long? But why in the hell is the Deer-guy here?
"I'm so glad…" Everest sniffles by my chest.
I really want to hit him, but it's pretty funny to see him grovel. And he's being kinda sweet caring about me this much, i've never felt, or been treated this way.
"This is a miracle!" says the Deer-dude.
"Thanks for your help Falko, really."
Falko huh… Oh, my eyes are getting heavy…
"See you… Soon… Everest…" I say to him, before falling back into snooze-town.
"I feel so happy." She's alive…
"Everest, can I ask you a favor?" asks Falko.
"Yes of course." I speak.
"May I travel with you?" He asks.
Well, this guy had the magic to heal Star throughout the week. Of course I would let him join. During the week, Iris came back, though I was bedridden the first two days, so I didn't see him arrive. We're starting to build a family…
I step outside, and reach some hills, daylight begins to fall, and the horizon shows a green sun for 5 seconds.
Despite our party being strong, we've lost. The Palace is gone, the streets are crowded, and crime rates are going up. This place isn't safe. I have many questions… Why was Star so cautious of this place, even before Lando showed up? What will happen to the citizens of this district? I want to help, however; is this worth helping? Those answers must wait until she wakes up.
"But Lando, if you are out there, I will be the one to destroy you."
To Be Continued…
Omake 5: Fels' Bakeries
Fels is known historically for making the greatest apple pies in the Serpent Continent, however; many street thugs try to take them from the bakeries while they're gathering air, making many places shut down. But still, somewhere there's still one stubborn baker selling pastries in the chaos masterfully.
Bonus Omake 1: Everest's Book of Magic
Everest has gained some new skills while training, the primary ones will be listed below, and you can infer later as to how they can be applied.
·Hydroviscosis: Syrup Tide (Ability that allows the spellcaster to turn water viscous. "Woah, the texture is so weird it tastes different for some reason."
·Aqualastic Reaction: Ooze-heart (Water becomes a bouncy, slime-like material.) "Jeez, just a bit of practice with Syrup Tide and everything is all wacky now."
·Magnitude: Pulse Crust (Ability to make pulses in the Earth through only the feet, the feet guide the moving earth.) "Oh no, I accidentally caught Star on it!" Everest shrieks. "I'M GONNA KILL YOU!" Star yelled, face flat on the mud.
·Aerogel Dynamics: Aero Viscera (Ability to tighten air molecules enough to walk on, this is his weakest new technique, so he can barely do it. "Hey! Star! Look at me! I can wal- "THUD! Everest fell one the floor.
·Oscillatory Barrier Matrix: Resonant Guard (Ability to vibrate a barrier and push back an attack, which deal recoil to the user. "Okay Star, hit me with everything you got!" Everest was knocked far from an air push.