Fight for a righteous cause or not (III)

"No problem." Her magic couldn't heal much like a regular priest or a Green Dragon, but it stopped the bleeding and the corrosion effect on Zero's body. "It'll be best if you get it looked at by Kai."

"We don't have time." Zero grabbed his sword off the ground. He again started to walk and turned into a jog toward Salik.

"Still…" Agnis was a bit worried about Zero's physical condition. She could see he couldn't swing his left shoulder where the blade had struck.

"We don't know what will happen next when he dies. He hasn't even completely shifted into the spiritual world; we need to get his life down as soon as possible."

"I know. I am also worried about that." Agnis raised her bow and fired off holy endowed arrows. Each fire found its mark, not leaving a single miss.

Zero left Agnis behind and ran around Salik. He dove forward, attacking from behind. Even without looking backward, Salik stopped Zero's attack as if it was nothing. His head unnaturally cracked and turned towards Zero.

"What?!" Alarmed, Zero jumped backward in surprise. The creepy ability to turn its head around made even Zero's neck uncomfortable.

With a cackle, Salik rattled his chain, shuffling forward eerily. If they were alone fighting Salik and his minion, one would think that they had stumbled upon a first-grade horror film from the background music, atmosphere, and the monster in front of them.

Salik smashed his hammer into Zero. Zero raised his sword just in time to block the attack. He skidded on the ground, feeling a horrible pain in his arm and hand. The power from Salik's attack was not just for show; he felt frustrated that he couldn't change into his dragon form when he needed to.

Zero dashed once again, and not even a second later, he was blocked again. Anger welled up inside him, making him more reckless. His calm demeanor was thrown out the window, but this did not make him more powerful or quicker. Even if it gave him a boost of power, his rationality to think ahead and instinctually use his attacks with precision was lowered.

All his life's teaching in martial arts was temporarily thrown out the window. He knew anger would make his attacks easier to read and figure out. It didn't take long for him to be beaten back and a good punch to his stomach woke him up. His whole body was aching, torn, and bloodied. The others slowly lost their stamina and power from fighting a long battle.

Everywhere he looked, both groups were barely hanging on; Salik was continuously spewing

out Frogmen and phasing in-between worlds. The fight between the two sides with Salik was shortening, making the advancement towards him more difficult, especially whenever it would blast out a static shock that would stun everyone.

With a deep breath, he calmed himself down. I can't be so reckless and angry. He repeated this mantra over and over again. He was letting his mind cool down and allowing his mind to clear up. For a long time, throughout his whole fight inside the Pyramid, he realized that he was too tense and in too much of a hurry to change.

Once he cleared his mind and allowed his heart to settle, he could see why he couldn't change. Powerful energy bursts forward in his heart and throughout his body. His chest felt hot and burning with fire. He could feel that he could change into a dragon form and shed his human skin.

His hands became obsidian black with claws, and his body rippled with thick muscles, giving him power. His neck grew long like a whip, and from his head, a long sleek pair of horns grew with gold feathers decorating his ears and neck. Beautiful gold markings decorated his scales, making him look even more majestic than before.

Just standing in front of Salik, the others couldn't help but feel in awe at the pressure that Zero's body gave off. It did not compare to Salik's, and even Salik knew the difference in Zero's body from before. Zero was tall as a three-story building, while the others dragons barely even came up to his knee or chest.

Zero's tail swished back and forth, creating a heavy air push. Finally, a puff of smoke erupted out of his nose, and his closed eyes opened, letting his dazzling golden eyes stare down at Salik as if he were a minor bug.

"S….o….. it's….true." For the first time, Salik spoke through his sewed mouth. It was an eerie combination of fingernails running down a chalkboard and a high pitch sound.

Everyone was startled at Salik, who suddenly spoke.

"The…prince…of dragons…..has returned."

At that moment, a gust of powerful dark energy spread out from Salik and covered half the room. A monstrous large swarm of Frogmen appeared from the darkness and started its attack on Zero.

"Prince...die…."

Zero inhaled deeply; his chest glowed lime green as it swelled. Then, letting out a torrent of green flames, it devoured through the Frogman in one blow. Unholy screams could be heard from the mouth of the Frogmen that would make anyone present shiver.

Everyone was awed at his majestic appearance and power that they couldn't help but look towards him with favor. Every dragon, both living and dead, look up to him in dazzlement.

Zero swung forward with his right claw and smashed against Salik's heavy hammer. Seconds later, Zero blew a fierce green fire from his mouth and onto Salik's whole body. He was covered head to toe in ghastly flames.

Zeraph jumped onto Zero's arm and ran along the top. His sword patiently waited to be pulled out from his sheathe. Then, jumping up from Zero's hand, he pulled out his sword and aimed directly at Salik's heart. He pushed the sword deeply through the back with every bit of strength.

An unholy scream of thousands of dying voices erupted from Salik's mouth. Then, a black and green gust of wind erupted outwards as souls escaped from its body and disappeared into thin air.

Salik stumbled forward with its body still in flames as it fell onto its knees.

"Ha….ha…haha….hahahahaha!" The sewn stitches broke apart, and Salik threw his distorted head backward. Salik didn't seem to die, even burning in green flames, but slowly melted.

Everyone was shocked to see such a strange event that it gave shivers to whoever was watching.

Salik abruptly stopped laughing and turned his head directly towards Zero. The sewn mouth was finally free. "My prince. Welcome home." With an evil grin, he once again barked out laughing.

Zero couldn't take it anymore and blew out a torrent of brighter green flames at Salik, his claw's hands crashing down, snuffing out the monster's life in seconds.

The room cleared from the dreary dark atmosphere, and a soft white light entered. Zero lifted his hand and saw only a black scorching mark on the ground from the fire, and the giant bloodied hammer left where Salik's stood.

Players and dragons alike burst into cheers as the boss monster was dead. The overpowering form of Zero was etched in their mind with glamor as they glanced up toward Zero with glee.