Chapter 29
The two sisters clashed fiercely, their swords striking with such force that shockwaves rippled through the ground beneath them, leaving small cracks in their wake.
The impact pushed them both back, and they leveled their weapons at one another.
From the tips of their swords, blue dragons surged forth, racing towards each other.
Upon collision, the dragons unleashed a tremendous blaze, resulting in a colossal fireball and a heat wave that engulfed them, incinerating the surrounding forest.
Several enemy soldiers, along with Aenzil's troops, found themselves caught in the inferno.
Aenzil sprinted towards Gath, the air around her transforming into steam as she advanced. Before Gath could prepare, Aenzil shot into the sky and came crashing down.
Their swords met once more, causing Gath's feet to sink into the ground as if it were quicksand. She leaped back, breathless.
Gath remained poised, a wicked grin spreading across her face.
"I must confess, my little sister is beginning to terrify me."
She chuckled softly as her sword vanished.
Aenzil's sword also dissipated; the sisters stood motionless. A wave of pressure stirred the dust into the air.
Dark violet spirit energy began to swirl around them, moving with a chaotic intensity.
Tezuka and Clara found themselves in a fierce battle against the beast. As it opened its mouth, a dark smoke billowed out, resurrecting the dead and transforming them into ferocious monsters that attacked anything alive.
At the town's entrance, Sir Maxwell and high-ranking officials executed a strategic offensive, ensuring that no enemy could slip past them.
Clara harnessed her elemental powers to assist the soldiers below, while Tezuka unleashed a barrage of lightning strikes at the beast, which seemed to absorb the attacks without consequence.
In a flash, Clara appeared beside Tezuka, her form igniting into flames.
"How do we take it down?" she asked.
"The old man once mentioned this," Tezuka replied. "We need to find the source of the beast's existence."
"That sounds complicated; why can't it just be a core?" Clara remarked.
"Here I go."
Tezuka plummeted toward the beast, lightning arrowheads forming around him, while Clara transformed into one of the bolts.
The strike hit the beast; it shrugged it off, but this time the backlash sent Tezuka and Clara crashing into a mountain, reducing it to rubble.
"What just happened?" Tezuka gasped as he struggled to his feet, while Clara stood before him, slightly trembling.
Above them, the sky loomed ominously, dark and distorted, shimmering like a thick liquid in motion.
"The pet of Calamity..." Clara's voice echoed softly.
The beast roared, revealing its sharp teeth, its eyes locking onto them.
Tezuka softly rested his hand on her shoulder.
"Don't worry, I've got your back. Remember what Aenzil mentioned."
Clara paused. "I understand, but how can we keep pace with it...."
Tezuka gazed at her. "I can see you have a plan."
"I do," she answered. "The issue is that it may take some time before I can put it into action."
"Don't fret, I'll buy you some time."
"By yourself?" Clara's expression turned anxious.
Tezuka grinned. "Don't worry, I'll do my best to stay alive for as long as you need me. Besides, we haven't gone out together yet."
Clara lowered her gaze, her cheeks turning pink. "This isn't the time for jokes, Tezuka."
"My apologies," Tezuka chuckled. "So, what do you intend to do?"
"I'm going to attempt source manipulation; I haven't tried it since learning it because of the burden it carries when used."
She glanced at the beast, which was slowly advancing toward them.
"In this situation, I must transcend the very concept of calamity, as that's the source of this creature."
"That sounds... intriguing," Tezuka remarked. "Alright, just give me a signal when you're ready."
"...okay."
Tezuka smiled and then leaped into the air.
"This is going to take a toll."
Sparks began to gather around him; a red storm cloud formed overhead. One by one, red lightning bolts shaped into a sword that circled around him. His eyes glowed red, devoid of pupils. One bolt struck him, scorching his upper body and leaving a faintly glowing pattern.
He extended his hand toward the beast; the lightning blade swirling around him shot at the creature. This time, the attack had an effect. In a flash, he dashed toward the beast, delivering multiple punches; the creature gradually halted and began to be pushed back.
Clara settled into a lotus position; the edges of her body emitted a soft blue glow. Behind her, a section of terra rose, spinning like a wheel; water followed, then air in a visible form, followed by fire, vegetation, lightning, and ice. Each addition accelerated the wheel's rotation. Her body darkened, resembling empty space.
Meanwhile, Aenzil and Gath faced each other, both adorned with three horns on their heads. Gath noticed that Aenzil's middle horn was missing a ring.
She smirked, "So, he was right about you being without a ring. Please tell me you didn't give it to him... Even if you did, do you really think he can make the call before you lose control? Finding the 9th daimon will be challenging, and even then, reaching him in time will be difficult."
"And why should I care?"
"Oh, my dear sister, your recklessness could lead to your demise. You do realize why our kind perished so swiftly compared to other elf races? We are Dangsa Elves; our strength is also our vulnerability, which is why we wear these rings to keep it in check.
Even a mere chip on the ring can cause us to lose our grip on reality. Do you believe you can resist that? How would Mother react?"
Aenzil fixed her with a vacant, lifeless gaze.
"Ah, I see you're already lost. This should be fu—"
In an instant, Aenzil was a mere breath's throw from her, hands nearly at her throat. She quickly recoiled and stared at Aenzil, who remained still.
Shen let out a maniacal laugh as she darted toward her sister, her face aglow with excitement. A red dragon tail swished behind her, and a fourth horn jutted from the back of her head.
"Dangsa blanc," Gath declared, unleashing a white sphere of energy from her horns.
Aenzil evaded the attack, white flames igniting around her hands. She suddenly appeared behind Gath and launched a punch.
Gath swiftly blocked it with white dragon wings that manifested just in time. The impact sent her reeling, but Aenzil pursued her.
As Gath turned to counterattack, a sharp pain coursed through her body, freezing her in place. She glanced to her left and realized her left wing had been torn away.
Looking down, she saw Aenzil standing there, the severed wing in her mouth, which she spat out with a scream.
A scattering of red, glossy scales appeared on her cheekbones and the back of her hand, glimmering like polished rubies embedded in her skin.
Her fingers and toes elongated slightly, ending in sharp, curved talons that gave her a distinctly dragon-like appearance.
The crimson scales did not replace her skin but grew out of it in patches, creating a striking contrast between her human features and these fierce, reptilian accents.
[In the dark void exists a being.
But don't be...