The Dragon Within

by SlyOkami

  Already panicking, it did not stop Thea from reacting to the attack as she raised her gunblades before herself, blades flat towards the incoming attack as she chanted quickly.

  “Aura Infusi-”

  But she was too slow, as she saw the two spheres come mere feet from colliding with her. Closing her eyes…she expected pain, she awaited it.

  But nothing came, as she reopened her eyes to find two massive white wings spread open before her.

  Erik stood between them now, his right hand outstretched towards Hayato as it held the two spheres of Aura in place. Surrounded by golden lightning, the Aura slowly dissipated into pulses of force, shattering the ground before Erik.

  “So, you finally show yourself.” Erik mused, his eyes glowing with golden energy as they lay wide and concentrated entirely on his only prey.

  Hayato smirked as he turned to fully face him, “Indeed, I couldn’t simply let you destroy their hide-out, which I’m sure you already know is here.”

  * * *

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0rkfT6R4pM

  * * *

  “Hideout?…Hah…” Erik chuckled, “Oh yes, I know they must be escaping as we speak…But right now…Ohohohahah…” Erik’s laughter though ended there, as his grin turned over into a wide snarl. “I care not for the Pact, today I hunt you and you alone, little Beast.”

  Flapping his wings, as he immediately unsheathed his blade, Erik’s rage left its sheath alongside it.

  As he surged forwards engulfed in lightning, his Underblade meeting the Spirit Beast’s enhanced wings, as emerald winds and golden sparks of electricity raged all around their collision.

  All moved out of their way, even Thea, as Sin Wyrms and Rebels retreated from the natural disaster that was occurring within the plaza.

  A disaster brought forth by their clash.

  As crimson lightning struck down from the sky, as golden flames breathed out of Erikathyr’s maw, both facing the rush of bright ember winds. As both the ground and air around them quaked, all who watched unable to speak a word or move a finger.

  All were entranced by the fight, as if watching upon a clash of Gods, both bellowing with either fury or excitement.

  As an enraged Dragon, and a wicked Spirit Beast, tore the streets and buildings around them asunder. Uncaring for their surroundings, uncaring for who did not step out of their way.

  Hayato no longer held back.

  And neither did Erik, as his blade flashed with speed beyond that of sound, slashing through raging winds and clashing with spirit enhanced feathers before each pulled away from one another.

  Each clash, followed by the sound of dozens before.

  Almost too fast to be followed by eye-sight, most of what the two armies saw was a hurricane clashing with a storm of flame. As the occasional flash of light was followed by the appearance of leathery wings or a feathered pair, then having to back off further as bolts of crimson lightning or slashes of powerful winds strayed out towards them.

  But what they saw, was nothing of what occurred within.

  As Erik’s blade lay engulfed in spiralling golden flames and crackling crimson lightning. Slashing downwards upon Hayato who had no choice but to evade, using his greater speed to keep his distance as he sent blades of ember winds flying at Erik who with each attack immediately chased after him to progress into another.

  And as blades of wind rained upon him whilst he chased the evasive Hayato, Erik swung his blade ahead of himself at each one, cutting the air itself and dispersing each attack while his powerful wings propelled him forwards.

  Every wing beat sending back a clap of thunder, every slash resounding as some beast’s growl.

  Yet, he wasn’t anywhere near catching up with the quick Spirit Beast. If anything, every attack was slowing him down.

  And Hayato’s smug smirk only told him how clear it was.

  As Erik’s rage rose further, as he clenched his blazing, surging blade…

  And threw it.

  Not expected the move at all, Hayato hadn’t even the time to lose his smirk as the empowered blade reached his chest.

  Barely able to build up a single drop of sweat from the sudden heat, as he tried to evade, yet it seared right below his left arm…Missing physically, but the blazing flames and sparking electricity which raged about it missed not.

  As the flames burst at him, exploding on proximity and kept at bay only by the full force of his winds…

  But he wasn’t as lucky against the electricity, as several bolts of lightning surged through the flames and the wind, striking at his limbs and electrocuting him. His very bones showing through his skin briefly, as the powerful electricity rushed through his body.

  Hayato burst into an explosion of feathers as several where burned off his body, the single attack burning most of him as he still did his best within those mere mili-seconds to hold off the flames less he’d be burned further.

  Unwilling to watch after the blade as it soared away, Hayato turned to face what he knew would follow…

  Turning to meet Erik’s glowing golden eyes, as the Dragon’s clawed hand reached out towards him.

  “Fall~” Erik hissed, as through his moving lips he breathed out a cone of golden flames, forcing Hayato to remain on the defensive and summon up his winds to shield himself…

  Erik though, felt far more reckless.

  As he beat his wings, a singular and powerful wingbeat…

  Sending him soar through his own flames and blade-like winds, bearing through the pain as his skin and scales were cut, as his entire body felt like it was being squashed…Yet his magical armour protected him.

  Until he felt it, the glorious moment he had been fighting for this entire clash…

  The moment his hand, grasped the Spirit Beast’s throat.

  As his claws, gripped tightly around Hayato’s thin neck.

  Hands clenched, crushing the life out of him, as the Spirit Beast finally realised just how much more he had bitten off than he could actually chew.

  As Erik pulled him in, then beating his wings and clearing the winds and flame from around them.

  Hayato struggled against the Dragon, summoning blades of wind which were blasted aside by strikes of lighting from above. Kicking and punching at Erik’s body, only injuring himself against the tough enchanted armour.

  Then meeting his eyes, Hayato’s expression paled.

  As Erik grinned, a wide wicked smile.

  No words were exchanged, only a briefly meet of Erik’s furious eyes along Hayato’s surprised expression.

  As Erik suddenly folded his wings…

  And they fell.

  The both of them descended, as Erik held Hayato down ahead of him. Briefly he’d beat his wings, increasing their descent’s speed as lightning rushed through him, as flames trailed behind them…

  Hayato found, that for the moments as they fell, he couldn’t breath.

  He also found, that the sound of shattering bones was clearly different from the sound of shattering stone.

  As he was slammed down into the earth, the ground quaking and tearing aside as Erik sunk him deep into where the plaza once lay.

  Blood splattered across Erik’s face, as he glared down coldly at his caught prey.

  Injured, broken and pinned down.

  Yet still, as the dust cleared, Hayato laughed.

  “Aha…Ahahaha! Yes! This is what I want! So matched in power yet so much more experience you wield!” The Spirit Beast exclaimed in maddened excitement, as a sudden surge of ember ethereal energy flowed out of his body.

  Forcing Erik to move away and rise up into the sky above, as the forming spiritual energy engulfed Hayato whole and further.

  Growing, taking shape…

  As Hayato rose to his feet, they hovered up into the mass of energy’s centre.

  As screeched, the energy having taken the shape of a massive ember falcon, moving as If alive whilst Hayato lay within its core.

  “Come! Dragon! Show me more! G
ive me your all! And once I’ve learned all of your movements, then…this shall be your fate too!” Hayato exclaimed, as the ethereal falcon opened its beak wide…

  “Farukon;Taberu!” Hayato chanted in an unknown language, laughing hysterically all the while as multicoloured wisps of ethereal energy began to rise all over the thrashed plaza…

  Souls, the energy of those who need it no longer, the consciousness of the fallen took visible form as hundreds upon hundreds more flew over the buildings and out of the streets.

  An army of souls gathered from throughout the city, each joining the flow, forming like a massive whirlwind all around Hayato…

  As Erik watched in confusion from above…

  As the mass of souls, quickly began to stream into the falcon’s maw.

  “Behold…Dragon…” Hayato’s voice boomed throughout the city, “Fuelled by the force of life itself, behold true power!” He exclaimed, as the last of souls rushed through the falcon’s closing beak.

  Before suddenly reopening it, the sheer sound that escaped it sending Erik flying back several meters before he could catch himself.

  Opening his eyes, only to see the now raven-black bird of prey rushing up towards him.

  A single beat of its gigantic wings, propelling the black ethereal being to hover right above Erik.

  Its massive feet, swiping down upon him as darkness trailed along its every movement.

  Erik looked up just in time to breathe out a cone of golden flames, but it was all for naught as the creature’s talons sliced right through them.

  He had no time to evade, only take it, as the falcon’s foot crashed into him. Sending him tumbling downwards.

  Flames trailing along his fall, before his back smacked the already broken ground, enlarging the crater that now was the city’s centre.

  Erik groaned as he opened his eyes, finding yet again the jet-black falcon standing over him.

  Its ember eyes wide, as its wings bent forward and crashed down into the ground around him.

  “How do you like it Dragon!? Can you face this!? Can you take it!? Show me, what my ancestors faced, show me the power all recognise even before this!” It said, Hayato’s words but nothing akin to his voice, as it boomed out with the force of a hurricane. “How? How Dragon? How will you meet the full power of a Spirit Beast!?” It asked.

  As Erik rose to his feet, ignoring the pain his body felt, shrugging off even the pressure the beast oozed out.

  “Hah…Let it be known…that you were the one who asked for this!” Erik exclaimed, as he suddenly beat his wings, soaring backwards and away from the massive beast. Beating his wings once more, the last thing Hayato saw was a wide grin over his face, before Erik soared up into the sky.

  Screeching out, the falcon leapt into the air, beating its massive wings it followed after him.

  Yet Erik’s form had already disappeared into the stormy clouds.

  The bird-giant ended its chase, confused as it was no longer able to sense Erik’s mana signature among the storm.

  Hayato could no longer sense him…not even his emotions.

  But he could hear Erik’s words, as the Dragon chanted, the sound reverberating down like thunder.

  “Light, which we earned. Brightness, which makes us whole…The white of our scales and the gold of our eyes, for we are the light and light is us…”

  The booming voice chanted, as the storm suddenly lit alive with rushing electricity.

  “We neither command it, nor it commands us. Blessed, we, are, not. Imbued, we are. Fire and Lightning stand aside, as my blood’s true element rises forth!”

  And just as suddenly as the storm filled with rushing lightning, the surge of energy disappeared…

  “Draconic School;”

  The voice continued to chant…

  As the clouds began to part, giving way to his great form.

  “Unleash Linage.”

  He finished his chant, as he then descended down from among the clouds, no longer humanoid in form…

  But as his massive wingspan stretched out, as he growled, the sound like rumbling thunder itself.

  The black ethereal falcon was suddenly faced with a fully life-sized White Dragon.

  A very,

  Pissed off,

  Erikathyr.

  “You wish to face my full power!?” The Dragon exclaimed enraged, as off its pure-white scales shined a blinding light that dispersed the Falcon’s darkness.

  Revealing the multicoloured mess of ethereal energy that made it up, and a wide eyed, awe-struck Hayato deep within.

  “Then behold, Me.” Erikathyr said, as the light which engulfed his body suddenly dimmed.

  “The roar that defies thunder, the breath that mocks lightning!” Erikathyr chanted, as a surge of energy began from his tail and wings, rushing through his body and towards his maw.

  Snapping out of his daze, Hayato too chanted, words in a language only known to his people. As the souls which made up his form lost shape and all gathered into his out-stretched palms.

  “Fear, my element. Be blinded, by my light and incinerated by my power!” Erikathyr exclaimed, as the surging light formed into a storm among his fangs as he opened his jaws.

  “Seishin;” Hayato exclaimed, as each soul was condensed into a sphere of black that lay hovering between his palms.

  “Draconic School;” Erikathyr continued his chanted.

  “Burakkuhōru!” As Hayato finished his, sending forth the shuddering sphere of darkness up towards the White Dragon.

  As it, as Erikathyr finished his own chant.

  “Drako; Erikathyr!” Opening his maw to its widest as a beam of bright blue light with tendrils of pure-white energy, shot out and down towards the approaching black sphere.

  And as the two final-tier magiks clashed, four separate shockwaves of energy pulsed out of the collision point.

  First a bright flash of blue, forcing many to look away from the sky.

  Second, a bright flash of white, blinding many.

  Followed by a sonic wave of force which cleared the sky of clouds, dissipating even Voltru who held up The Black Citadel.

  A sonic wave which was so powerful, both Erikathyr and Hayato lost consciousness from their proximity as it hit them both.

  Both beginning to fall form the sky, Erikathyr slowly shrinking and returning to his humanoid form, as behind them fell the island-kingdom.

  And then, last but not least…the fourth shockwave occurred.

  Black as darkness, yet somehow bright like the sun, a shockwave of dark-light energy slowly expanded from the collision point of the two attacks.

  Engulfing both the falling Erik and Hayato whole, before slowly eating away at the falling Black Citadel’s island, and Lahihr’s taller buildings.

  Disintegrating both stone, wood and cloth on contact.

  Dissipating only after having taken a large chunk out of the falling kingdom’s island and crumbling much of one side of the city itself. Revealing, to the relief of many, Erik…and Hayato still whole and falling.

  Yet so was the island kingdom, descending down upon them as it caught speed. The air beneath whistling loudly as it rushed to move aside for the large mass’s fall.

  Many panicked, many began to run.

  But many others cared not, unafraid and fully reliant on their allies, as they watched their unconscious leader fall.

  As massive crystal-embedded vines rose out of the ground throughout the city, thick as buildings, they grew as hundreds and rose up to meet the falling island. Crashing into the stone, and slowing its descent, before spreading into a forest of vines beneath it.

  Stopping the Black Citadel’s fall entirely, and the two combatants as they both suddenly regained consciousness.

  Beating their wings, each took post upon a growing vine, facing one another as the mangled forest settled around them.

  Hayato, who’s face and body lay a mess of burns and un-feathered skin, chuckled. “Incredible…To produce enough mana for an attack
that could stop…even that? Truly, you’re a people of monsters. No wonder mine, decided to eliminate every single one of you.”

  Erik on the other hand, seemed mostly unharmed, if only on the outside. As the damage within was considerable, as he coughed up blood, “Hah…” yet he stood up. “I’m far from done.” He hissed.

  Causing Hayato to laugh out, cut off by his own agony as he then turned into a coughing mess. “Hah…Hahaha! Yes, indeed we are nowhere near done…Yet, I’d rather enjoy this feeling for longer…” The Spirit Beast said as he also rose to his feet, “Let us say, you win this round, Dragon…” Hayato said with a chuckle, as a rift opened behind him.

  And as he saw the fury reappear within Erik’s eyes, Hayato could only smile in amusement.

  “Haha! It is those eyes….Those fucking eyes, that just scare the living shit out of me! It is those eyes that I will never forget…So for just a bit longer…this fear…This fear is something I wish to experience if only a day longer!” Hayato exclaimed, as he slowly sunk into the rift.

  As Erik spread his wings wide, leaping off his vine he beat them to suddenly soar towards the escaping Spirit Beast.

  “Come, Dragon! Come, Erikathyr! Chase me…Chase me to the end of this world so we can have our epic finally!” Hayato exclaimed alongside hysterical laughter, arms wide in a gesture of welcome, as he disappeared into the tear in reality.

  Just as Erik’s fists crashed into the rift, slamming against it as to his surprise, he found it to be solid. “The Spirit Realm…blasted Beast!” Erik bellowed, as he slammed his right fist into the rift once more.

  Then seeing…off the corner of his eye…

  A blue figure soar past him, barely catching her face before she flew into the rift.

  Erik saw the expression of steeled resolve upon Thea’s face, as she delved head-first into the Spirit Realm.

  -

  * * *

  -

  The Spirit Realm

  Minutes Earlier

  Shizuka still, as she had been since the wickeder of the two falcons left, struggled with her bindings. Hissing as strange balls of light neared her, kicking and tumbling over as the younger falcon tried to calm her.