The Dragon Within

by SlyOkami

  Upon the cape lay her family crest, a golden bow nocking a flowery rose-headed arrow.

  Thea gestured at Kailu to move on, signalling that she would take on this one.

  Kailu grimaced bitterly, but dared not argue, there were other Sinbens around to slaughter anyway. And move on he did, picking a bunch of nearby Sin Wyrms who were ganging upon a single Dragon Knight, Kailu’s grimace widened into a wicked grin as he charged after them.

  Katheer managed a grin as he faced Thea, “You? Woman, are the leader of these scum then?” he asked, but Thea did not answer other than raising her gunblade towards him. “Hmph, very well as you wish!” Katheer exclaimed as he stepped forth, “I am Katheer al-Abu, City Guard Commander of Lahihr under the orders of Lord Arshad al-Farman. I am also commander of this contingent of the royal army as decreed by the Sultan and crown council seat holder Samir el-Sylla himself!”

  “Then, your sole title of note is guard commander of this slave city?” Thea mused with a sigh, then suddenly hardening her gaze. She had long prepared herself for this role, a role Erik had asked her to play, even though she did not feel worthy of it right now. Thea told herself she needed to make herself worthy of it.

  (“For the sake of our quest, for the sake of my family and name…For the sake of the Xilfir people and for what Erik has fought hard to achieve! I apologise, but I take this title as my own…”) She thought, before exclaiming loud and clear

  “I am Thea Selene, vassal to my lord Erikathyr the Guardian of Nature’s Spirit, also known as the Destroyer of the weak and Slayer of the Devil King Azruxan!…I am Thea Selene, Empress to this Dragon Empire which cries out for war against the crimes your kingdom of Sinbeni has committed!” She roared out with clear resolve.

  “I am Theaviss, a Dragon’s Chosen…Surrender, or I shall have your life end where you stand.”

  Ch 55 / Part 2 - Last Words

  “Surrender,” Thea said as a sky-blue energy burst out of her body, “Or I shall have your life end…” She warned, as the strange magic filled the entire battlefield within seconds…

  Her power…

  Her Aura, empowering herself and every single ally touched by it.

  Whilst at the same time, installing a sense of danger and fear within all who opposed her.

  Turning the losing fight around, toppling the odds in their favour as Dragon Knight, Rebel and Dreadblade felt their power double.

  “Where you stand.” Thea exclaimed, sending forth a wave of chilling aura upon Katheer who could only shiver beneath her gaze.

  (“What is this feeling!?”) Katheer thought to himself as he braced his rampaging emotions and clenched his sword tightly. “N-Never! I Katheer al-Farman would rather die than abandon my given post!” He exclaimed back with a stutter, raising his ornate long-sword against her own. “Be it who you might be, I serve Sinbeni as Sinbeni has served me! And for Sinbeni, for my council, I am ready to die if needed!”

  “Die?…” Thea sighed, lowering her gunblade as she glared at the man, “I’m tired…I’m tired of seeing pride being thrown about by the likes of you.” She said with a cold gaze, as the blue energy that flowed out of her formed at her blade, giving it a bright blue glow. “Tell me old man…What do you have to be proud of?!”

  Her eyes shone blue, brighter than the very lightning that struck the sky above.

  Her short-cut blue hair, seemingly lost from the laws of gravity, rose with the rush of power.

  Rage, rage that she had been holding back for so long…suddenly filled her.

  And at the same time, that rage, fuelled the Aura that flowed out of her.

  Not even knowing what they felt, the Aura that filled her was sensed by all.

  Even Katheer took several steps back, shivering as he sensed the mass of energy that flowed within Thea.

  Energy that he knew wasn’t just mana.

  Energy that filled the air around them, turning the tide of battle itself simply with its presence.

  “What fearsome energy…” Katheer mused in amazement, seeing as each officer on the battlefield turned to face Thea, as each of the Wyrm captains broke off from their targets to turn onto someone they regarded as the highest threat present.

  Normally Katheer would have waved them off, as the commander it was his role to face the enemy champion alone…

  But as Thea’s blade whistled through the air, cutting it, as it descended upon him at a speed he could barely match…

  Katheer was all but grateful for the aid.

  As to parry the simple downward slash of her Aura enhanced gunblade, took Katheer’s blade, plus three other Wyrms, just to stop her from cleaving their commander in half.

  Thea though was not amused, as her eyes hardened through the rage that filled her. “Your pride…It comes from slavery, it comes from torture…” She spoke out, her voice low like a whisper but infused with power to reach everyone’s ears.

  Then taking a step away from them, as two Wyrm spears thrust through her previous position.

  Thea chanted quickly, “Custom Cast; Aura Infusion; Commanding Aura!” as she took aim with her weapon’s barrel, which shone a bright blue before sending forth a shockwave of the same energy.

  Suddenly surrounding Katheer and each Wyrm beside him with enough pressure to double the gravity around them, forcing them to sink down to their knees as the ground beneath them shook and caved in.

  “You aren’t worthy of pride, you aren’t worthy of titles or recognition. You who vowed to guard and defend your people, while others suffer and die right outside your walls.” Thea hissed out, taking a step towards the stunned warriors only to find herself faced with a dozen others, surrounded.

  “You…You all…You all just piss me off!” Thea exclaimed, her voice reverberating out alongside a blast of Aura, forcing each Wyrm that surrounded her to clash against the seemingly physical energy with their own magic.

  Keeping each at bay, as Thea chanted once again.

  “Custom Cast; Aura Infusion; Aura Clad!” She bellowed out, the very energy that enhanced her blade and gun, the energy that increased her strength and voice…

  As the power that infused her allies, thickened around her like a protective shell.

  Like a barrier, but flexible, a layer of Aura surrounded Thea entirely.

  “Come…You who only think of fame and riches, you who only care for glory…A Dragon watches over us, so come…Show me that every breath you take is not a waste of time…Else I shall snuff it out.” Thea hissed in annoyance, as she found herself more than outnumbered now.

  As dozens of Wyrms turned to face her, although the battle around them still hadn’t evened out, they knew she had to be their primary target if they wanted any hope of victory.

  And even though so many of these powerful warriors surrounded her, none could move, none were suicidal enough to make the first step against what they faced…Against what they felt permeating their most natural of senses.

  “Well!?” Makaela exclaimed as she suddenly burst through a dozen of them, her ethereal blades slashing through like a flurry of arrows and killing many. “I believe a challenge was issued!” She said, coming to stand before Thea and meeting her hardened gaze. “Shaking in your boots?” She asked with a wide grin, as she clenched her ethereal bow.

  (“Too afraid to go through with it?”) She asked through their bond, her words not directed at the Wyrms but instead at Thea.

  Thea’s eyes narrowed, but she didn’t answer. The Wyrms weren’t the only ones faltering at those words, but so was Thea herself.

  (“A Dragon is watching over not us…But you, Thea.”) Makaela said with a tone of frustration, (“This is your time, your moment. And as much as I want to steal it from beneath your nose…”) Makaela sighed as she walked past her, (“Don’t disappoint, me or him…Make them speak your name, Theaviss.”)

  (“Yeah…”) Thea said, as the faltering rage within her was snuffed out…and replaced with something else entirely.

  Still fuelling her Aur
a, and turning it into a lighter blue.

  Resolve filled Thea, as Makaela disappeared in a burst of shadows.

  As even though over a hundred Wyrms surrounded solely her, the battle still raged on at an even pace…

  A pace that as…

  Makaela herself appeared all over the plaza, assisting whoever she could with her great mobility.

  Pyra clashing with the hardest hitters of the Sin Wyrms, her fists punching through even those twice her own size.

  Zentha gone unseen, as her serpents of poison surrounded the plaza, keeping the guardsmen out and Sin Wyrms in. Flurries of blades raining out of the border at key moments, giving many a Dreadblade and Dragon knight a chance at killing their opponents.

  Ascal laughing and chuckling as even though the battlefield had fallen to utter chaos, he still managed to order around multiple squadrons of Xilfir.

  Even the rebels who Erik had armed stood out, their strange weaponry from ages past cleaving through their enemies at a fearsome rate. Mostly Kailu, as he lay bathed in the blood of the fallen, his black scythe spiralling about his small frame whilst tearing all who he came upon into shreds. Armour and all.

  And then, as a bellowing roar filled the plaza, a pitch-black spot descended from the skies above.

  Crashing down and shaking the earth beneath them, Nerick and Ivara formed together as Nera, snarled hungrily at the surrounding Wyrms. Their wyvernian form more than standing out even among their exotic allies, as they suddenly entered an enraged stampede.

  The battle’s pace increased before her eyes, as numbers truly no longer mattered.

  As over two thousand strong slayer armed Sinbeni warriors, slowly lost ground against the outnumbered Dragon Knights and Dreadblades…

  As monster after monster appeared, thrashing the battlefield with their unchallengeable power.

  Thea clenched her weapon, as she turned her gaze off her allies and at the enemy which surrounded her.

  Even though so many monsters ravaged the plaza, even though so much power was being displayed before them.

  And even though she had little understanding over her own power…

  It was not Makaela, not Nerick or any of the Xilfir Captains who were at the centre of attention…

  No…

  All eyes, at this moment in history, as blood and flesh sprayed left and right for the hope of both control and freedom…

  All eyes were on her.

  This, Thea knew, was her moment to make herself known. It was her time, to bring the change she wished upon this world for so long.

  Change her father had faltered from bringing.

  Change her mother had been stopped from beginning.

  And with this thoughts in her mind, Thea’s blade resonated with energy, echoing the rise of resolve within her heart.

  As she slashed her weapon ahead, the very air displacing and moving out of her way as a rush of Aura raged forth to take its place.

  * * *

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFMnF6XVOe0

  * * *

  Two dozen Wyrms clashed with the Aureiatic energy, each of their respective weapons sending forth a mass of mana infused with the very weapon’s draconic energy…yet still it wasn’t enough as all were blown aside by the slash.

  Sending each flying as if a breeze of wind had blown through a pile of leaves.

  “All at once!” Katheer then exclaimed as he managed to stand up, pushing his way through the Wyrms who stood trying to shield him. “All attack at once!” He bellowed in command.

  Many were in disagreement with that order, but readied themselves to assault the Chosen none-the-less.

  Thea though gave them no time to prepare such an assault, as she immediately rushed forward, Aura trailing behind her as tendrils of enraged power.

  As she came to stand before the Lahihr commander, his eyes widening in agitation, as her gunblade rose to his face.

  “Custom Cast;”

  She chanted, and in response so did Katheer who tried to step away from her.

  “Martial Art;”

  Thea aiming her gunblade onehanded at him, as he raised his blade before himself to deflect.

  “Aura Infusion;”

  “Greater Parry!”

  Katheer finished his martial chant earlier, and his blade shone a dim silver, mana infusing itself into the high-grade metal as a pseudo barrier.

  “Aura Bullet!”

  Thea exclaimed in chant and the end of her gunblade shuddered with power, as blue tendrils of Aura rushed out of her arm and quickly formed at the barrel’s tip. Creating a mass of spiralling Aura the size of her fist within moments, before that same mass of energy shot forth at unprecedented speed.

  The bolt of energy whistled as it briefly flew through the air, then clashing with Katheers blade and mana.

  Seeing their commander struggle with the sudden attack several Wyrms rushed to him, their weapons clashing with the orb of violent energy threatening to blow Katheer away.

  As it screeched and whistled, fighting off Katheer’s barrier, four Wyrm’s mana and each of their physical prowess. As they pushed and struggled against it, Katheer finally able to move without being blown aside, had no choice but to step aside, allowing the missile of Aura to fly off.

  Almost spinning him on the spot with the sheer force that flew past him.

  And as it did…Katheer could only watch in horror as the bullet of Aura burst through one of his Wyrm’s bodies. Armour, flesh and bone all torn aside as it continued forth and through the unsuspecting soldier.

  Taking with most of the man’s torso before dispersing into an explosion which sent several more Wyrms flying.

  Katheer shuddered at the sight, then turned to face the monster who had unleashed it.

  His eyes, widening no longer in surprise, but actual fear.

  As he saw that Thea no longer wielded a single weapon, but instead now had two gunblades per hand.

  And her eyes…Her fierce eyes were set entirely upon him.

  And as she took a step forth, Thea was done warming up…

  Her fight, truly began.

  “Custom Cast;”

  The words began…

  “Aura Infusion”

  They continued, the last words many would hear.

  Then varying onwards.

  “Commanding Aura!” She’d chant, forcing dozens of Wyrms to their knees as a shockwave of energy suddenly shot out of her weapon and settled upon a vast area.

  “Aura Bullet; Rapid” She’d follow up with, as a continuous stream of Aura rushed out of her body and into her weapons. Recreating the spheres of energy that she fired previously, but half the size and power.

  Thea took aim ahead, as many Wyrms rushed to cover for their comrades who lay knocked down.

  She was outnumbered, truly she was.

  But it mattered not to this Chosen, as she rained raw power upon them.

  Her gunblades steaming and shuddering as a continuous flurry of Aureiatic projectiles unleashed out of them, she’d fire at least two every passing second.

  Her surroundings immediately turned into utter chaos, as Wyrms scrambled to move out of her line of fire. As wherever she’d shoot, the ground would explode into a powerful blast of force that knocked any up into the air or over onto the ground.

  “You, no further, shall you go!” Exclaimed one Sin Wyrm captain as his great axe descended down upon Thea’s back, his eyes narrowing as the weapon’s bony blade met her cladding of Aura…

  Feeling a sudden force upon striking her, as his weapon and arms were pushed away and up above him.

  Leaving him wide open as Thea turned, aiming both of her gunblades at his chest.

  “Aura Infusion; Destructive Aura!” She quickly chanted, slowly adapting more to her power even her chants became shorter.

  Reducing the intervals between attacks…

  As she charged up her strongest spell yet.

  As both of her gunblades rushed with Aureiatic energy, sparking like blue li
ghtning as it formed at the barrel’s end.

  Slowly…The weapons charged up.

  Giving the rash captain enough time to leap out of her line of fire…

  Or so he thought, as with a single kick and a burst of Aura from her feet…

  Thea suddenly appeared before him once more, unleashing a ray of raw force that shook even her own bones as it blasted ahead. Clashing with the large man’s body and breaking every bone in his body, as he soared with the energy, like a massive cannonball crashing through a formation of soldiers…

  And the destruction it left behind was very akin to its name, as before her now lay a shattered path through which the condensed Aura had travelled. Sin Wyrms groaning or laying still along it, each either too slow to get out of the cannon-balling captain’s way or thrown aside by the passing force itself.

  “Well, that is an unexpected amount of power!” Mused Hayato as he suddenly appeared standing next to her, Thea’s hairs standing on end as she turned to face the grinning Spirit Beast.

  Both gunblades aimed at his chest, “Aura Infusion; Twin Aura Bullets!” She chanted as quickly as she could manage, sending forth two spheres of highly condensed Aura pointblank into Hayato.

  Who, as casually as possible raised his left arm towards her…

  Summoning forth a storm of wind all around them, as focused upon his palm, just barely keeping the two shuddering, whistling and warping spheres of energy from moving further.

  Seeing this, Thea’s eyes widened to their fullest as she leapt away from him.

  Hayato chuckled in amusement, “Aura, is it? A different state of mana…Only summonable by certain humanoid species, it is the magical extension of one’s thoughts and emotions taking the form of sheer force. Yet, as it is emotion given physical form, it is entirely countered by Spirit. Spirit, which is energy that controls and feeds upon emotions…Did you know that? Little Chosen?” He asked curiously, before swiping his hand downwards, sending the two spheres of energy back at Thea.