Battle of Beasts

Sebastian was thrown from his bed without preamble. A screeching, bark, something had him scrambling for his outer robe as the palace shook. He snatched up his cane while roaring for his grandchildren to get out immediately. Whatever had made that unholy sound… they needed to get to Ashton.

Ashton stood up in his nest, silver fire already gushing out over his physical form. From the northeast the largest fox he'd ever laid eyes on was lifting its head in a screech that shook the ground as it stepped between mountains.

The Fox had seven fire red tails tipped with gold that were flared making the already enormous beast look thrice its size. Its tails alone blocked the sight of the mountains as its screeching growls continued.

"Leave if you dare the consequences." Ashton called as he shot up silver flames trailing behind, he expanded his form until he was at around 100 yards wing tip to wing tip with a battle screech of his own. Though his sounded more like a battle song as he spread his wings so the beast couldn't see the hunting grounds or palace.

The red gold fox started stalking along the northern mountains, teeth bared ears back. Even its crouching stalk was still blocking out over half the mountain. Ashton estimated it was at least 150 yards tall, and possibly 250 yards long from nose to tailbone. Each tail was moving independently, tips twitching in all directions as they continued to posture.

Ashton kept his body facing the giant fox, while he could make himself bigger… this was the biggest he could get without making gaps in his form. The fox crouched then charged him, Ashton didn't need anymore of an invitation as he dove up then down to meet the fox, talons bared with a battle song echoing over the land.

"BARRIERS! GATHER EVERYONE CLOSE!" Neolani roared the moment the fox kicked off a mountain leaving craters. All the warriors fell into place, not one had faltered. The gryphons and lions were crouching in formation closer to the forest as a last defense in case the fox managed to pass Ashton.

In less than a heartbeat the impact from the beast claws and talons colliding sent a shockwave that knocked over three gryphons. The few who'd been able to stay upright had dug their claws in the ground to steady themselves. Without instruction they started to reform their barriers of wind and metal.

Ashton gripped the extended paws to drag the fox into the air. By the beast gods he felt as if he were carrying a mountain. The fox snarled as it lifted itself up to take a bite out of him. Ashton spun, flinging the fox northwest. He needed it farther from the mountains so it couldn't jump so high again.

The fox burst into red flame when it hit the ground shoulder first, then dashed out before Ashton could steady himself. Ashton shrank and barrel rolled between the claws, then shot up catching the fox under its sternum as he started expanding his size, he also bit the fur so the fox couldn't slide off. His goal was to gain altitude before the fox could find purchase, then get it farther away from the hunting grounds.

The fox shrank just enough to get its back claws into Ashton's stomach, but it couldn't bend its neck enough to bite back. While Ashton's momentum faltered briefly, they continued to climb as Ashton started rapidly spiraling. The force of each tight turn kept the fox from getting a good grip for retaliation.

Ashton ignored the claws as he adjusted his flight to angle west, just a little more and he'd be clear of the mountains. Suddenly his right wing was entangled, four of the tails had wrapped around half his body while three held his wing.

The fox refused to let go even as they fell to the ground. The decent far faster than Ashton's ability to ascend with the extra weight. The fox started to rip chunks out of his wings, silver feathers of fire extinguishing like puffs of smoke. Ashton released his soul fire, then kicked the fox off, as soon as he had enough distance he reformed his soul fire. The fox corrected itself as it landed, claws creating gouges in the earth as it slid. Its tails flared as it continued to bare its teeth threateningly.

Sebastian stumbled as the ground shook from the impact, Calix and Adrian each caught an arm as they continued forward toward the Inago. The sun hadn't even risen but the peeking light was enough to see the landscape changing.

Calix saw that nearly all the delegations and nobles were already rushing toward the tribe's barriers. The Adar delegation's tents had been blown away but the people were also setting up barriers to just endure the shock waves.

Ashton hadn't finished expanding when the fox tried to dart past him. Ashton swooped down catching the fox by its scruff as he continued to expand his size, once again getting them airborne. The tails wasted no time trying to wrap him up, but Ashton tossed the fox up, then used his talons to grip the fox by two of its tails.

Ashton made tight spirals up so the fox couldn't get its bearings. The fox started shrinking its size in an attempt to slip out of Ashton's grip, but Ashton held tight. As soon as he breached the clouds, Ashton used the fox's tails like a whip, hurtling the fox toward the ground.

The fox scrambled its legs as it tried to correct itself. Ashton quickly threw two ice javelins, but the fox shrank, twisting its smaller body out of the way.

As it landed Ashton held four continuous spell circles up, they rotated around his chest firing off javelins of ice, water, earth, and lightning. The fox leapt out of the way the moment it landed, dodging from side to side. Ashton kept up his rapid attacks forcing it to dodge away from the hunting grounds.

Ashton didn't let up as he pushed forward. Lamentably, they were both creatures that relied on mana rather than physical attacks. The fox hadn't just been dodging away, with a quick pivot he faced Ashton with seven spells just waiting for a target. Ice, water, earth, stone, lightning, light, and dark arrows were fired the moment the fox faced Ashton.

Ashton had to dismiss his active spells for a rapid wind cast beneath his wings to dodge. The spells hit the closest mountain, and all that was left was a soggy, charred plateau. Ashton narrowly dodged two ice spears, then flared his wings as he extended his talons with a screech.

Jaxon had Monroe tucked to his chest while Lucian carried a screaming Natasha. The ground was shaking too much for them to make much progress. Jaxon tried to get up from his knees while holding Monroe, but another quake sent him right back down. All of them were covered in minor scrapes from the repeated falls.

Charles was crawling forward as the beasts fought, he wasn't steady enough to walk with all the shaking, not to mention his knees were already bleeding. "DON'T STOP!" He screamed as Serafin was knocked to the ground.

Lucian wrenched Jaxon up, then gripped Serafin by his collar tossing him over his shoulder. "MOVE DAMN IT!" he roared as he charged forward. Just one of those spells had created an acre of solid ice, if they were hit, they were dead.

Jaxon stumbled but charged after Lucian, Devlin had finally created a wind tunnel from the palace doors to the Inago that everyone was running through. Several other mages were also adding layers to help reduce the shock waves that had blown many of them off their feet as the battle continued.

The fox had almost dodged, but Ashton's talons tore through its shoulder. It snapped around in an attempt bite him, only for Ashton to kick off with a feathers distance between his left leg and razor-sharp teeth. The fox wasn't discouraged as red-gold flames sprouted around the injury even as he pounced after Ashton.

Ashton was a heartbeat too late as the fox pounced, catching his wing. With a vicious shake it flung Ashton down. Ashton tucked his wings as he was sent rolling over trees, just as the fox tried to pin him to the ground he rolled onto his feet with a blitz straight up. His momentum knocked the pouncing fox away as he flared his wings with another screech.

The fox had been flipped on its back. With a high-pitched bark that grated on the ears, it hunkered low to the ground. Tails low, ears back, watching as Ashton gained momentum.

Neolani let everyone in, most were barely dressed but that was hardly the issue. The problem was all the noise they were making, "SHUT IT! We need to concentrate! Alexei! Kicked out anyone who keeps screaming!" She ordered at the head of the mages as swirls of mana became visible from the sheer concentration.

Melia was beside her mother, helping direct mana from the warriors into the mages. All she could see was Ashton's back as he kept himself between them and the giant fox.

Zane had already put on his battle armor, Rommel was wearing the dragon scale armor Young Song had gifted him. "By the Beast Gods, why is Caius attacking?!" Zane demanded barely able to stand upright even with all the barriers in place.

Rommel had paled considerably, "The better question is how to make him stop!" He watched in horror as Caius started another round of his famous seven spell combos. This time… aiming right at them.

Ashton fell back creating a barrier of his soul fire while the fox finished casting its spell. Spears of Ice, wind, water, earth, fire, light, dark shot around him in a deliberate attempt at the people. The moment the spears would have passed him he burst his silver fire, swallowing all seven spells without a trace.

The fox came charging half a heartbeat later, using the distraction of his spell combo to pounce on Ashton. Before Ashton could move the fox shrank as it pounced at his chest in a burst of golden flame.

Zane watched in horror as a moment the silver flame barrier disappeared, they saw Caius piercing Young Song through the chest. The bird of flame just… vanished. The shock wave once again sent them all crashing to the floor, then bouncing as the two beasts came crashing into the clearing.

Lucian stared in horror as the dust cleared and, in a crater, Ashton was on his back… blood gushing from his chest as he slowly raised his head glaring at the man with an arm shoved into his chest.

Caius smiled wide at the youth, "Well don't you look delicious." Caius leaned down licking the side of the youth's mouth where blood was trickling. He moved his hand under the small ribcage searching.

Neolani almost lost control of her barriers as the man narrowed his eyes.

"Little snack… where is your heart?" Caius asked with just a hint of confusion as he searched for the beating organ. The sound of his hand moving through flesh and blood made audible squelches.