Survival’s Path

Chapter 9

“Ash move!” Kaelan pulled Neritha and Lira into an alley as flame rushed by like a flood. The heat deadly enough to cook them. Stone cracked, the woods turned to ash and people screamed.

Ash had a red glow on his body, Neritha had a white glow, Lira’s body was covered in green. While Kaelan? His body burned from the heat. “Why aren’t you using your aura?” Ash asked.

“Aura? What…”

The ground quaked interrupting Kaelan. A deafening roar tore through the sky. “What… what was that?” Lira’s face turned pale.

A monster had descended. It true barely came to light through the smoke. Twice the height of the tallest buildings in the district. Obsidian black scales clothed its body. Each uneven and rough looking. Molten red veins glowed underneath the cracks in its hide, pulsing as it breathes.

Wings wide open. Each wider than a city street. It edges tattered and lined with hooked bones. When it flexed them, the force flattened market stalls and sent rocks flying. They were far from graceful.

Another deafening roar escape its crude mouth as it lowered its head. Horns twisted backward from its skull like curled tree branches. One eye black and the crimson red, like fire.

It spat flames from its mouth and swung its tail.

“Run!”

“Guards! Guards!”

“Help!”

The eastern region erupted into chaos. Flames washed over the city streets like a flood. People ran. Guards screamed orders. Spells and attacks detonated uselessly against its scales.

“This is bad,” Ash said grimly, aura flaring around his body. “A winged calamity beast!”

Neritha clutched the edge of her clothes. “It shouldn’t be here.”

“Why is it here?” Lira cried.

Kaelan felt the crystal burn in his hand.

Hot.

‘…It’s looking for something,’ he heard the voice in his head whisper. Kaelan frowned as he noticed it. The monster’s gaze swept the streets as it destroyed buildings.

It slammed one claw down and a nearby building caved in.

“Move!” Ash roared. Kaelan carried Lira while Ash pulled Neritha.

‘It’s looking for something,’ the voice came again. This time Kaelan froze and looked back. The monster’s gaze was locked on them.

Kaelan’s heart dropped.

“Us?” he asked and gulped.

‘No,’ For the first time, the voice replied. ‘Her.’

Kaelan’s eyes fell on Neritha. A brow raised as he asked, “her?”

‘Yes.’

“What are you doing?” Ash roared.

Jaws opened white. The monster’s throat glowed hot red. “Move!” Ash roared again.

The flame came down like judgment.

Kaelan body glowed crimson red. It was too late to dodge.

Ash dragged Neritha backward, aura flaring to form a partial barrier that still cracked under the heat.

Everything before them disappeared without a trace. The ground dyed completely in black.

“No!” Neritha yelled, hands covering her mouth. Ash staggered back, coughing. He had managed to dodge with Neritha. Kaelan and Lira, however weren’t.

“Look,” he said, pointing to red cocoon made out of aura.

“That’s?” Neritha smiled when the cocoon opened. “Thank goodness.” Lira was bent over and Kaelan had his body over her like a big mama bear.

“His aura…” Ash paused. It wasn’t over yet.

The monster reared back, wings spreading, ready to take flight. It jaws opened wide, its throat glowed, preparing to fire again.

Then the temperature dropped.

Not gradually, but instantly.

Flames froze as they spread, turning brittle and shattering into embers as a wave of frost surged outward from the plaza. Ice raced across the ground like a living thing.

The monster snarled, wings flapping as it tried to rise.

“Hold.”

The voice was calm. A man stood atop a shattered building. “That’s enough,” he said.

Robe the color of deep blue, lined with silver runes. Mana radiating around him. His white hair moved gently despite the violent winds around him.

A white wand in hand, its tip humming with power.

“A 7th Star Mage,” Ash breathed.

The mage raised his hand and mana condensed.

The air froze as ice chains erupted from the ground, wrapping around the monster’s limbs and wings mid-air. They gripped tight, anchoring it in place.

The creature roared, flames bursting out burning the chains. Nevertheless, the chains reappeared and bounded it.

“I will not allow you,” the mage said coldly.

He pointed the wand and the chains tightened. Stone shattered as the monster was forced down, body pinned. It roared and struggled.

Kaelan faced it.

The crystal pulsed violently now. He could feel it, the saturation of mana all around.

Lira grabbed his shoulder. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” Kaelan replied as Ash and Neritha arrived.

“Are you guys okay?” Neritha asked and the duo nodded.

“We need to go before that beast escapes,” Lira said.

“Yeah, this is our chance,” Ash said.

No one argued.

Ash led the way. Lira and Neritha followed. Kaelan however faced the monster. The mage gave his all to keep it down, but it was obvious his all wouldn’t be enough.

“Let’s go!” Lira yelled. Kaelan didn’t move. The crystal on his neck burned, his breathing got heavy and the surroundings changed. A burnt down forest. The sun was at its peak and a similar monster before him. A sword cloaked in aura in his hand. He could see it and he could feel it. The monster was exhausted and so was he.

Someone pulled his arm and Kaelan snapped back to reality. “Let’s go, please!” Lira cried. Kaelan nodded and followed.

Spells flashed behind them as guards and mercenaries joined the fight. Bolts of light, walls of earth, arcs of lightning slammed into the monster’s restrained body. It fought back.

The monster tore free one wing with a violent snap, ice chains exploding outward. It slammed that wing down, sending a shockwave that flattened buildings and hurled fighters through the air. It broke free.

The mage responded instantly.

A towering ice construct rose from the ground, slamming into the monster’s side and forcing it back. But even as they fought, Kaelan who kept looking back could feel it, the monster wasn’t focused on those around it.

“This way,” Ash said, taking a sharp turn. They emerged onto a wider street and halted. Another winged shadow descended.

“Another one?” Lira whispered. But this one was smaller and it was faster. Its scales were lighter, and more smooth. While its wings were built for speed. It screeched, diving straight for them.

Ash stepped forward, aura exploding around him. “Run!” He met the creature head on. His steel met its scale.

Ash’s blade cut deep, aura slicing through flesh as the monster shrieked. But it retaliated instantly, claws raking across Ash’s chest and sending him flying across the street.

“Ash!” Neritha screamed.

Kaelan moved. He didn’t think. The crystal flared vividly and the world slowed down.

Kaelan caught the creature mid jump, his fist slamming into its skull with incredible force. The impact shattered bone and sent the monster crashing into a building, collapsing it entirely.

Kaelan staggered back, staring at his hand.

“…I did that?”

He didn’t get the time to understand how. More roars echoed from above. Kaelan moved and attacked them as they dived down. Each fast, but Kaelan could match up. His fist flared, covered with crimson red energy. Aura.

“How?”

Neritha, who had gotten to Ash side stared at the scene before them. Kaelan kicked and swung his fists, shattering bones upon every contact.

“Neritha, watch out,” Lira yelled.

“Huh?”

Blood sprayed on Neritha and Ash. A beast crashed beside them dead. Kaelan stood with his hand stretched out. He had tossed a tooth with all his might saving them. Lira ran over to Ash while Neritha tried to comprehend what happened.

She placed her hand on Ash chest. Her palms glowed healing his wounds. “That should fix you up?” Lira said.

“Thank you.” Ash let out an heavy exhale and bowed his head.

“Let’s go,” Kaelan said and worked over. “Can you still lead us?”

“Yes,” Ash replied and got to his feet.

They disappeared into the city’s street just as the monster tore itself free from the mage’s grip and unleashed a city-shaking roar.

Behind them, the battle escalated into catastrophe, but they didn’t look back.