Aturia's mind raced amid the pain as she heard a scream echoed from afar.
Aturia thought to herself That was Miki's voice… did something happen?
Seig—barely conscious on the floor, vision blurring—forced words through cracked lips.
Seig "Mi…ki…"
Aturia muttered "Damn… I need to do something before the situation becomes worse.
Seig chuckled weakly, struggling to his feet. Blood dripped from a deep cut on the side of his forehead. He swayed, consciousness slipping.
Seig "Don't worry… I'll do something about it."
Az "It's pointless to struggle.
Aturia rushed to his Seig side
Aturia "Are you alright, you idiot? You're already out mana, using your fire magic could cause you fatigue or worse kill you.
Seig grins "I don't care if it kills me.
Az "It's about time I put an end to this.
He condensed into an orb, ready to unleash another barrage of lightning bolts. Aturia's eyes locked onto the glowing spheres the instant they were about to fire. With Sieg in her grasp, she twisted through the barrage to evade them. A few strikes still grazed her, but her heightened perception kept the damage from becoming severe."
Aturia "Stand up, you idiot bucket-head! If i hadn't saved us now we'll both be dead
Seig rose slowly.
Seig "I know… jeez, you're so persistent."
Az thought to himself "That my attack was a guaranteed kill but she managed to dodge it and save her friend in time. I had a suspicion but I'm certain it's her eyes, probably an ability that gives her insane perception but her reaction time is still the same as usual. It could be a special bloodline trait, although it hasn't fully awakened. So this is the power of the infamous Silva bloodline.
Aturia "just hang on for a bit Sieg I can't take care of you anymore than I am now."
Seig "I didn't ask you to take care of me i can…"
He fainted and collapsed fully out of exhaustion before he could finish his words.
Aturia "Seig...damn it
Az swiftly materialized in his human form and appeared behind them
Az "It seems that the kid has reached his limits and so will you, this battle is over.
He engulfed his hand with lightning aiming straight for Aturia as it made a direct hit electrocuting her body as she screamed in pain. Aturia stumbled on her feet barely conscious as she was on the brink of death but her pride kept her standing.
Az "what motivates you so deeply that you refuse to fall down?!
Aturia stumbled slowly towards him grabbing his collar "Even if I lose everything as well as my body and mind, I will never abandon my pride and the pride of my family.
She screamed in defiance looking at Az face to face, Her icy blue eyes changed—shifting to a blue incomplete snowflake pattern ❄️ with two emerging lines from the center.
Az said in a cold voice "So… you have special bloodline trait ability, it probably awakened during our battle but It's not perfect yet—I can tell. I've read it in books they call it the hex eyes and it's supposed to have six lines emerging from the center of the pupils… but I only see two. Which is a good thing because if you had all six lines no doubt i would have lost but as the saying goes pride comes before a fall.
Aturia's grip on his collar began to loosen as her eyes slowly reverted to their original form as the lines quickly vanished due to overuse and her mana and strength depleted, She coughed up blood then slumped to the ground silently
Az removed his mask as he was also exhausted with the battle—sat on the ground.
His lightning orbs slowly started to fade away because he couldn't maintain the technique anymore with the mana he had left.
Az took a deep breath looking at the almost dead Aturia and still unconscious Seig on the floor "i won" He said in a calm still unsure voice.
Meanwhile at the other battle—
Baka pressed his hand to the deep gash across his broad muscular chest, Blood soaked his white singlet. He leaned on his katana to stay upright.
Phoenix "Your wholehearted attempt to protect and help these kids has gone to your head and it seems to have clouded your instincts. Heal quickly and Amuse me more, Baka—this is fun. His laughing echoed as he jumped back into the mist.
Miki "Baka Sensei—are you alright? Don't worry—let me heal you!"
She stretched her hands as a purple glow radiated from them carefully closing the chest wound and other bruises.
Miki "I can tell you're worried about the others… but don't worry. There's no way Seig will lose to Az, Seig won't be defeated same with Aturia I have faith that they'll both win no matter what.
Baka "That's right… I believe in their strength. All they have to do is push past their limits. Because if they don't… their journey ends here."
Well then… it's about time I settle things here."
Baka "Miki—keep up the good work guarding Iroh and thanks for healing my injuries.
He ran into the mist.
Baka "I'm ending this now."
Miki "Uh—ah, okay…"
Meanwhile—
Seig slowly woke up and sat down slowly with dried blood on his face as his Senses slowly returned.
Seig (groans, holding head) "What happened? Aturia did we defeat him, I can't remember anything that happened right after i fainted. Atu....ria
A brief heavy Silence dropped that you could hear a pin drop.
Seig tried to grasp the situation in front of him as he slowly turned his head to look at Aturia bloodied body lying seemingly lifeless on the ground.
Seig rushed to her side as he lifted her head gently.
Aturia "For God's sake… you just won't quit holding me back, will you, loser?" "What kind of worried expression is that?" she says in a weak voice
Seig was tearfully pissed "Why…? Why did you protect me?
Aturia "How the hell should I know, loser?"
Seig "Why? Why me? I didn't ask for your help!" if only i was stronger this wouldn't have happened.
Aturia "Idiot… don't you remember what Baka Sensei taught us? Those who disobey the kingdom rules are scum… but those who leave their friends behind are worse than scum,She chuckled weakly.
Aturia "But the thing is…Until I achieve my goal I absolutely refuse to die. That's what I decided so I'm gonna hang on But you… don't die."
Az rose from the ground he sat on.
Az "Is this the first time you've faced a friend's near death? This is the way of a magic knight." But don't worry I estimate she still has 30 minutes left before she completely dies. My lightning attack didn't hit any of her organs.
But now that she's out of the way I thought we could have a little talk.
Seig "Shut up! Az… you hurt my friend, didn't you?! I'll never forgive you.
Suddenly in the blink of an eye a crazy burst of mana surged around Seig from deep within,as he slowly began to undergo some body transformations. His green eyes shifted to an intense predator stare, his teeth and nails grew like tiny fangs and claws and finally his skin was rippled with a scale-like texture.
Black strange flames ignited from his hands instead of the usual color of flames.
Seig "I'm gonna kill you." his voice was rough as if something else dangerous inside him was trying to speak.
This was the work of the dragon king Acnologia as it tried to take over Seig's body and mind through Seig's emotional rage.
Az entire body was shaking in fear "What is this insane surge of mana from his body? It can't be… it isn't possible for mana to be visible like that. One minute ago he was drained and suddenly he has a massive spike of Mana reserves and The wounds on his body are healing instantly. This boy… who in the hell is he?
The deadly aura coming from the entity sealed inside Seig was so malicious and deadly that it spread throughout the bridge.
Phoenix and Baka sensed it too immediately from the fog.
Baka "This crazy mana I'm sensing… could it be?"
Phoenix "What's with this mana? It feels foul… and reeks of insane bloodlust I've never felt anything like this in my entire life. It doesn't feel like Baka… but if it isn't him—then who? Could it be that hyperactive moron fire kid?!
Baka thought "Seig… oh no. Not at a time like this the Dragon King seal is slowly breaking. If it manages to take full control over Seig body and mind then we're all dead meat, Just hang on a little bit longer kid.
Seig "Az he said as he slowly began to lose his senses replacing it with murderous intent.
Az "Here he comes."