CHPT 39: Manifest

BOOM!

The two beasts blasted from their spots at amazing speeds. As the FlameHorn closed the distance fire covered its body like a falling meteor and black smoke began to flow off the Phantom Legions muscled body.

FWSHH!!

The Phantom Legion collided with the bright and luminous FlameHorn, its massive front paws landed on its shoulders and snubbed out the beasts flames immediately as the black smoke consumed all light. The FlameHorn snorted angrily and used its immense strength to bring its legs up and stomp out a blazing ring of fire.

FWOOM!

Flames spread over the grass as the FlameHorns hooves hit the ground. The strength of the flames sent the Phantom Legion tumbling backward. The beast didn't waste its opportunity and charged the giant wolf. Claude noticed the Phantom Legion wasn't getting up fast enough and would get hit by the beasts horns.

"NO! MOVE!!"

Claude yelled for his— now combined, pack to move. His cries seemed to fall on deaf ears as he watched the beasts flaming horns plunge into the Phantom Legions stomach with an odd sounding, PFOOF!

Claude blinked twice in confusion, he noticed the horns puncturing the giant wolf didn't sound right. It didn't sound like flesh was torn or blood was spilled, instead it sounded like a wall of air was struck.

The wolf heads made of smoke that randomly came out of the Phantom Legions large head seemed to pop out and smile monstrously as the FlameHorn shook its head around in the wolfs stomach.

Claude ran over so he was beside the two beasts to see what happened since the wolf wasn't making sounds of pain.

"Woah....that's incredible!" Claude said with a stunned expression. The Phantom Legion's body seemed to lose its physical form around the beasts horns, it looked like the beast stuck its horns into nothing but smoke.

In a split second, the FlameHorn lost its spot on the offensive. The Phantom Legion burst from the ground and clamped its jaws over the back of the beasts neck. It started making hideous pained sounds while the wolf viciously shook and rattled the beasts neck.

The wolfs extra heads made of smoke would come out and howl victoriously or snap at the FlameHorn as it shook and neighed.

Black smoke spilled from the Phantom Legions mouth and onto the FlameHorn, the smoke snuffed out the fire that covered the beasts horns causing them to flicker in and out of existence like a dying candle.

"That's amazing, the smoke seems to cancel out light...fire must be considered light, meaning the FlameHorns greatest attribute is now canceled out." Claude realized as the black smoke continued to fight with the bright and chaotic flames.

"GRRR!!!" The Phantom Legion growled as it shook the FlameHorn again, its neck must've been made of iron since any normal animals head would've came off by now.

Claude watched with a feeling of relief and relaxation setting in as the giant wolf continued to shake and snuff out the beasts strong flames.

FWSHHH!!..FWSHHH!!!....FWSHH!!

Claudes eased nerves were immediately obliterated as the FlameHorn's fire reached new heights. Steam flowed from its mouth and nostrils like its insides were screaming with fire and its eyes burned a bright and violent shade of red. The flames around its horns suddenly sparked back to life and sent the black smoke back into the Phantom Legions large mouth.

The grass around the two beasts sparked and burned in an instant so they were now standing in a circle of black ashen ground. The beast brought one hoof up and instead of being steaming hot, the whole hoof was covered in bright red flames.

FWOOOSHH!!!

ARRHP!

The FlameHorn stomped one hoof into the ground and a wall of flames as tall as the two beasts burst from the ground and sent the giant wolf off into the absolute darkness of the forest with a pained yip.

"RAGGGGH!" Claude yelled as he ran at the backside of the FlameHorn. As he entered its area he began to immediately sweat. He jumped high in the air with his broken spear held above his head planning to use all his strength to jam it into the beasts back and cripple it,

CRACK!!

"OUUGH!!"

Without even looking, the FlameHorn put all its weight on its front legs and kicked him in the chest with its two back hooves. He was sent sliding through ash and dirt for a dozen or so feet.

His sweat soaked body was covered in ash and debris that was on the ground as he rolled through it. He lay in the grass trying to get in breaths and failing, the beast kicked him so hard it knocked the wind right out of him.

"I don't know what happens if I die in here....I don't know what happens to the wolves either...but we can't go out like this!" Claude thought angrily as he forced in his fist few breaths. Through pure strength of will he got himself to his feet, he was now prepared to buy his pack as much time as he could.

DING!

[Health is now at 10%, based on the damage you've take thus far, one more hit from your opponent will result in your death.]

"Alright.....just don't get hit." He said in an attempt to reassure himself.

Claude heard rustling from the forest in front of the FlameHorn. The faint light of the moon didn't penetrate the thick trees in that part of the forest causing them to see complete darkness as they heard something pad towards them.

Both Claude and the FlameHorn stood stunned as three pairs of pale white eyes glowed in the shadows of the dense forest ahead. Obviously it was the Phantom Legion returning to battle, that wasn't the problem.. that wasn't what had them so shocked.

The eyes stood at a height that indicated the giant wolf....grew. They had to be twice as high, meaning the wolf now stood silently in the darkness at 14ft!!!

"GRRRRWWWWW!!" The Phantom Legion let out a deep and bass heavy growl. The FlameHorn fearfully took a few steps back.

Claude suddenly understood that the beast was consumed with fear and would most likely turn and flee...straight to him.

He started to think of ways to finish the beast because his wooden spear wasn't enough. After a few seconds he came to a conclusion. "Aura!"

***

Aura, the magical manifestation of your will. With Aura you can reinforce weapons, shields, arrows and even your own element with the added strength of your will. You can also use it on your own body for defensive purposes. The classes that use Aura the best are Knights and Tanks. Through training, other classes can use them just as well.

***

Claude didn't have the first clue about how to use Aura, all he knew was that he had to try.

"GGGRRRAHHH!!"

The Phantom Legion roared loud enough to burst a mans eardrums. The FlameHorns flight response took over and it turned and ran towards Claude. It's fear filled eyes didn't even acknowledge the young boy standing in its way as it ran mindlessly.

"Come on....Come on....Come on!" Claude said under his breath while he closed his eyes and focused. He tightened the grip on his broken spear as he tried to imagine what it would be like to manifest his Aura.

"Strength...add your strength Claude....come on....manifest your will!"

FWOO!

Claude opened his eyes in surprise as brilliant green energy outlined his hand and climbed the length of his wooden spear. He could feel it— not literally, but he knew he was controlling it...weakly.... but still controlling it.

DING!

[Aura (LVL 1) unlocked!]

Claude looked up from his spear and at the beast that headed towards him. He started to run towards it as green energy flowed from his right hand and off his spear. "Come on, one shot!!" He thought as he looked at his dangerously low health.

"Here he comes." Claude thought as they closed the distance between eachother. His burned feet smashed through the spiny grass as he ran fearlessly towards the FlameHorn. Once he was in range, the beast brought its legs up like it wanted to lazily hop over him and Claude reacted perfectly.

He slid under the strong flaming front hooves of the FlameHorn and shoved his Aura reinforced broken spear into the defenseless belly of the beast.

The last words to grace the FlameHorns ears before death was,

"Lights out, bitch!"