"Miss.." Kano muttered as he struggled to make it back to his feet. He coughed, gasping for air on every turn. It was as though his body was failing him.
"Pitiful," That was the only thought that came to mind when our eyes met. His hand was placed on my foot. His softened gaze fixed on me as I saw tears leave his eyes. He struggled to breathe, even more so to move. Yet, he tried to make it back to his feet.
Tondra moved her leg away when he groaned in pain. Her sudden motion played at his nerves, inviting an excruciating level of pain.
Mounif slowly walked to where Kano lay still. His breathing slowing ever more as he trembled.
"I would be impressed if I was not this infuriated. What kind of build would allow one to withstand the level of punishment that I have dished out? I broke your jaw and ribs. Damaged your internal organs as well. At this point, even breathing would prove arduous. Yet, you cling to life still."
'Master, Do you wish to stop? This clearly concerns you not. The trial has persisted for but a day yet, death rears it lustful grin at you.'
Hey, why are you like this? When I wish to quit, you force me to fight. When I wish to fight, you ask me to quit. Your actions, your words, make little sense to me. This all feels pointless to me…
You said I would plunge this world into war…so my actions must appear worthless to you. Why save life if death is what I plan to invite? But I can't quit, Calida would hate me if I did. But…..
Right now, I want her…not for my own but because that was who you asked of me for? You wanted her…and since I am the one you serve, I must make it happen. Just bear with me, okay?
A sphere of lightning materialized on Mounif's palm. "Lightning Art: Oscillatory Charge; Centered." Tondra stood in front of Kano, watching him desperately try to catch his breath. Mounif fired the sphere. Flashes of lightning rampaged, striking it from all directions. It was made apparently clear, that attack was not reserved only for him. Tondra watched as the attack blitzed toward her, she could not dodge as she lacked the ability to wield magic. She looked on, closing her eyes when it closed in.
She heard the sound of groaning, a loud scream taking over the whole area. Kano was being decimated by lightning. Each flash barreling into his flesh. He fell to his knees, flashes of lightning still ravaging his body. His gaze grew vacant as he grabbed hold of his blade.
Did he just protect me? He moved toward the attack to prevent me from being hit by the stray charges. There is no way…he doesn't know me but why? Maybe father employed him.
"How are you still alive?" Mounif questioned as he wondered what was happening. An attack of that magnitude should have wiped him out but he drew breath still.
Nixie…that was her name wasn't it. The name you gained after consuming the divine blade. So, reinforce me just once more…I need you to.
'Master, if I do this, my form will become immaterial and your memories will be scrambled once more. The name you uttered will be one you will not remember. But, your body will be altered…more so now, than it ever was. That much I promise.'
Thank you….
The black fog-like aura that coated his body dissipated before water began coating his body. When the water dissipated, a blue fog shrouded his body. He raised his arm, aiming the blade at Mounif. He drew back his elbow when two streams of water formed around the blade. They began revolving around it before converging at the tip. They formed a structure akin to a revolving drill.
Seeing this, the white fog-like aura that shrouded Mounif's body intensified letting out flashed of lightning. Lightning condensed at his palm when he thought. About three hundred meters behind where he is standing right now is a cliff, if this attack does not finish the job, the cliff surely will. "Lightning Art: Oscillatory Charge; Destruction Absolute!" Flashes of lightning emerged from the trees and struck his palm.
The water revolving around Kano's blade accelerated as it turned to black. The sudden raise in pressure caused a reduction in the atmospheric pressure around the technique. This forced the water to spread in several directions further increasing its acceleration. I am a wave born from still water. The ripple that channels a storm…I am the eye. Let my body be adorned by water and my blade by darkness. "Now water art evolve," the water revolved faster and faster still, "Dark water…Water Art: Discordant Torrent; Plunge Pool!" He dashed forward before jumping.
Mounif too, dashed forward before jumping, lightning rampaging all around him. Upon impact, a shockwave was generated sending water and lightning alike scattered in all directions. The leaves danced, as sparks and cold winds filled the vicinity.
Tondra looked on as her senses were overrun by the details from their intense clash of magic. This nagging suspicion …why do I feel as though father never employed him? People all started rejecting being around me when they realized that just being there would equal death. You could die like that. She saw her surroundings glitch before she saw Kano laying on bedrock with his skull split open. Was that a vision? No that was future sight. I need to reach him. Please, magic of mine, don't destroy everything around me just this once. She closed her eyes before jumping.
Lightning tore through the water before sending him flying. He passed out as he coughed out blood. He crushed into Tondra, who intercepted his trajectory. She too, was sent flying.
That was way more magic used up than I originally planned, he was panting as he slowly descended.
Tondra and Kano blitzed passed the trees, their trajectory, fixed to the edge of the cliff. Instant death for one barely conscious and knocking at death's door. Flashes of lightning began appearing all over them as seals appeared on Tondra's body. I can't stop…my control over my own magic is so weak. Blue stripes left Kano's body before wrapping themselves around them both. They formed a cocoon, shielding them for the impact of the crush. It bounced off the ground before landing.
Hardly had they landed when the stripes disappeared. Tondra was in Kano's arms. She looked around only to see broken bedrock. Spike shaped as though meant to skewer. Lightning began converging around her, ripping apart even the rock on which they stood. This is my limit…
The lightning only grew in amount, decimating everything that was around them. It made the whole area level. No sooner had it dissipated than she fell to her knees, hyperventilating.