six; the boss fight (pt. one)

Just as Aerol was thinking of Shion, the legendary [boss monster] came out and attacked him just like that!

Aerron and Shion looked at Aerol's falling body in fear. But he was saved at the nick of time by a blunt makeshift landing made of ice.

"Phew..." Shion checked Aerol's pulse sighed in relief. He was alright. "Hey, he's your twin, ain't he? Shouldn't you be the one saving him?!" Shion attempted to scold Aerron.

"...Magi..." Aerron murmured, picking up Aerol by his waist and hoisting him to his shoulders. "You use magi, Shion?!"

(Shoot! I messed up! Brother is gonna be so mad...!) "...Ah, yes..." He murmured, looking away.

"But you don't use the magi of the people of the Shade Kingdom, but the Diamond's instead...." Aerron thought for a while.

(Shoot, he's picking up rather quickly, damn it!) Shion thought for an excuse. "Uh, um..."

"...Are you some child of a marriage between kingdoms?!" Aerron walked up to him, slowly, until his face was only centimeters away from Shion's!

Shion's face heat up a bit. (...What the heck?! Am I gay or som-) He sighed. "Yes, I am!" He laughed it off.

"Woah-" Aerron was then cut off by a blast to the side.

The two looked back and saw a gigantic monster made of water and fire!

"Ice..." Shion started.

"And fire?!" Aerron continued, plopping Aerol back to the ground.

"So now that you know my magi, I'll help you beat this golem." Shion grinned. "I'll show you the power of ice magi!"

Aerron grinned as well. "Yeah, you better!" His eyes, for a split second, turned a bright shade of red.

The banshee half and half screeched and breathed out fire! The two ran to it and delivered a blow of each of their magi, to the opposite magi's head. The banshee screeched again and raged. It conjured both ice and fire from their hands, and made more banshees of their kind.

"SCRAAAA!" They screamed. It was annoying to the two of them, and they covered their ears simultaneously.

"Gosh, they're annoying! Let's hurry up." Shion complained and suggested.

"I couldn't agree more." Aerron replied.

They ran swiftly, dodging each attack their way. They crushed each cores, but there was just no end to them!

"...Shion, there's no end to them. My magi is running low as well." Aerron, dodging, informed Shion.

"Me too..." Shion replied, nearly getting hit by a ball that's a mix of fire and water.

(I guess it's time to use that.) Shion thought.

Suddenly, Shion's body glowed an icy blue, and the temperature around him decreased slightly.

"[Contract Reveal: Glacias]" Shion called out.

A Contract is an agreement made by golem and magi user. There are several types of contracts, as well. The most popular one is the [Slave Contract].

"...A contract! You're full of surprises, aren't you?" Aerron commented.

...Despite how cool a Contracted Golem sounds, the cost of it is sky high. Golems these days are hard to find, and those that are are either already under a contract or really tough to beat, thus are left to their own devices. Magi users only want the best of the best, so the weak ones are shrugged off and ignored. This was the world of contracts.

"I sure am." Shion relied.

He finally opened his eyes, and the temperature around him grew back to normal. By his side, though, was an elegant looking creature undeserving of Shion's lack of grace, was what Aerron's silent thoughts were.

Emitting cold air, the elegant creature had icy blue fur all over it's body, and his eyes were a piercing jet black. It's mane was black, as well, and his ears were seemingly made of ice. Yes, this creature is known as an [Ice Wolf]. Despite it's common sounding name though, it was certainly a strong but loyal individual. It was elegant, too! It's the whole package.

The wolf roared, making ice hit the fire golems, freezing their cores instantly! The wolf ran forward and started maiming the banshees one after another.

"Go get it, Glacias!" Shion shouted, cheering his contracted golem.

(An ice wolf. A loyal and intimidating golem. It is found in the icy regions of the north. It is hard to earn their trust, however, and is hard to be contracted as well, unless hunted upon or captured. But when you earn the beast's trust, they will forever be your at your service.) Aerron recited the information in his head. He was surprised at his memory, too.

Glacias continued maiming certain golems, and the two humans helped her.

They soon got to the boss.

"Let's finish this quickly!" Aerron suggested. "I'm getting tired of this place."

"Agreed." Shion couldn't help but nod at Aerron's suggestion.

Glacias roared, as if agreeing. Golems had feelings too, after all!

The boss screamed this time, and it's golem soldiers, that were still alive, started merging with it.

...But the three didn't allow that! The three ran and attacked the farther golems, and prevented them from merging with the boss. When all of the remaining golem soldiers merged with the boss, the boss ran rampant.

It made balls of ice, and hit the two instantly! With little time to react, and the initial shock, Shion and Aerron got hit. Upon contact, the balls exploded and the ice remained on the skin. It inflicted frost bite, and a numbing cold injury.

Quickly, Aerron conjured his fire magi and warmed up the injured places on him and Shion. It got better, but the pain still remained.

Glacias, in case you were wondering, was not hit at all. This proves that the boss was focusing on the two alone. Slightly infuriated by her contracted magi user's injury, Glacias ran and bit the boss's leg harshly.

The boss reacted swiftly, and conjured fireballs this time and shot Glacias's back.

Shion and Aerron also started moving, and Aerron attacked the ice side of the boss. Shion made a barrier to protect Glacias from the other fireballs.

They regrouped, with Glacias at the front. And, once again, they charged.

Aerron continued hitting the ice part of the boss, and Glacias continued harming it. Shion supported the two by covering for them.

In time, the ice part of the boss quickly thinned out.

In rage, the fire part of the boss overtook it's whole form, turning into a creature made of pure fire! In simple terms, it ate itself!

"It ate itself?!" Aerron shouted.

Shion made sounds of shock, too.

Shocked, the two's guard lowered and the boss made a shockwave of fire.

The three fell back, and they looked tired.

"It's not enough... We need more power!" Shion shouted out.

"But we don't have enough magi left?!" Aerron retorted, quickly shutting down Shion's idea.

"..Not if I can help it." Shion beckoned Aerron. "Listen to me."

He explained a rough outline of a plan to Aerron, and did he listen properly.

"That might just work!" Aerron agreed.