CHAPTER 71: THE LIGHT AND THE BEAS
Scene: Ari vs. Vice Captain Vyle
Vice Captain Vyle
(smirking)
"You can surrender now. I don't want to harm a girl."
Ari
(unsheathing her sword slowly, eyes locked)
"Indirectly saying you're scared of me, I see."
Vyle
(eyes narrowing, voice colder)
"Tch. You leave me no choice."
He stomps forward—CRACK! The ground splits beneath his feet from the sheer pressure of his step.
Vyle
"Steel Magic: Titan Arms!"
His arms transform—giant, plated steel gauntlets erupt from his body, glowing with molten veins of red. He lunges forward—BOOM!—fist crashing toward Ari like a meteor.
Ari pivots and CLANG!—her blade meets his gauntlet. Sparks erupt. Shockwaves ripple through the field. The clash rings out like a blacksmith's forge.
CLASH! CLASH! CLANG!
Metal screams. Every blow rains down like thunder.
Suddenly, Vyle leaps backward.
Vyle
"Steel Magic: Spinning Blade Disks!"
Two circular saw-like blades form above his palms, spinning at blistering speed. WHIRRRRRRR! They tear through the air, shooting toward Ari.
Ari
"Light Magic: Arc Slash!"
She swings—SLASH! SLASH! SLASH!—sending radiant arcs that collide with the disks. One disk shatters into shimmering fragments, the other veers off and embeds into a wall with a loud CHUNK!
Vyle
(eyes widening)
"Light magic? That's… Tier One magic…"
From a distance, Vice General Reilos watches silently, arms folded, smirking slightly.
Ari raises her left hand.
Ari
"Light Magic: Chain Binding!"
WHOOSH! Golden chains burst from the ground, spiraling around Vyle's limbs and torso with brilliant intensity, locking him in place.
Vyle
(chuckling)
"Is that all you've got?"
Vyle
"Steel Magic: Body Spinning Blade!"
VRRRRRMMM! Vyle begins spinning rapidly—his body becoming a saw-blade of death. The chains strain—KR-CHHHH!—as sparks fly. Bit by bit, he cuts through.
Ari (thinking)
"...He's slowing. The chains are draining his magic."
Vyle
(panting, chains falling off)
"I get it now... your chains sap mana. Clever trick. But I've still got enough to break you!"
Vyle
"Steel Magic: Steel Sword!"
A jagged steel blade materializes in his hand. He charges—CRASH!—their swords collide again in a storm of strikes and sparks.
CLANG! SLASH! CHING!
The ground quakes beneath each step. But Ari—faster, more precise—starts pushing him back.
Suddenly, with her free hand—
Ari
"Light Magic: Radiant Beam!"
ZZZZAP! A piercing beam blasts forward. Vyle grits his teeth—
Vyle
"Steel Armor!"
The beam strikes—BOOM!—smoke erupts. Vyle stumbles back, clutching his side.
Vyle
(growling)
"Those chains really drained me… I've got to finish this... now!"
He channels mana. The sky darkens above him.
Vyle
"Steel Magic: Giant Steel Hammer!"
A titanic hammer, forged from pure steel magic, forms above the battlefield. Its shadow swallows Ari.
Vyle
"Fall!"
WHOOOOOSH! The hammer drops, roaring like a comet.
Ari breathes deeply, centers herself, then leaps—her blade glowing like a star.
Ari
"Light Magic: Light Departure!"
She slashes upward—FWOOOOOM!
SHHHHHH—KRA-KOOM!
The hammer splits in mid-air—cleaved in two. The pieces disintegrate into radiant shards of magic, falling like golden snow.
Ari lands gracefully, her sword lowered.
Ari
(coldly)
"I guess… that was your limit."
Vyle
(knees wobbling)
"No… I—"
Suddenly—WHIP!
Chains erupt once more.
Ari
"Light Magic: Chain Binding—Final Form."
This time, the chains are twice as fast, twice as strong—radiating intense light. Vyle strains… but his energy is gone.
THUD! He collapses, bound and unconscious.
A swirl of red cloak and flames marks the entrance of Vice Captain Kael, a well-known fire specialist from the Ember Guard. Opposite him stands Tracey, calm-faced, hand resting over a glowing beast-mark engraved on his forearm.
Kael (grinning confidently)
"You must be the Beast Mage. What, afraid to fight on your own?"
Tracey (smirking)
"I fight alongside my companion… not behind him."
He raises his arm.
Tracey
"Beast Summon: Ashenfang!"
BOOOOOOM!
The arena floor rumbles. A colossal beast erupts from a magic circle—Ashenfang, the mountain-sized armored predator they once captured deep in the wilds with Imperial. Covered in spiked obsidian plates, glowing with crimson veins, it lets out a thunderous roar.
Kael (unshaken)
"I was hoping you'd summon that thing. Now I don't have to hold back."
He slams his palms together—fire flares around him.
Kael
"Fire Magic: Ember Fall!"
From above, dozens of blazing fireballs begin raining down toward the beast—FWOOOOOM! KRA-KOOM! BOOM!
The battlefield shakes under the assault.
Tracey (arms crossed, unimpressed)
"You really think fireballs can burn through his skin?"
As the smoke clears, Ashenfang stands untouched, flames rolling harmlessly off its armored hide.
Kael (eyes narrowing)
"Tch."
Tracey begins to chant, raising one arm as glowing beast runes swirl around him.
Tracey
"Beast Magic:—"
Before he finishes, Ashenfang roars and charges on his own!
Tracey (shouting)
"Hey—stop! Wait!"
The beast barrels forward, claws out. Kael reacts instantly.
Kael
"Flame Step!"
WHOOSH! He vanishes in a flash of flame, reappearing behind the beast, launching a volley of flame spears—CRASH! CRACK!
Ashenfang turns sharply, tail swinging—BOOOOM! It hits the wall, shattering stone, barely missing Kael.
Kael
"You're not even controlling it properly!"
Tracey (annoyed and embarrassed)
"Don't fight on your own, you giant idiot! Listen to your master!"
He sighs and takes a battle stance.
Tracey
"I have no choice now."
Tracey
"Beast Magic: Total Control!"
A glowing tether of golden chains erupts from his arm, connecting directly to Ashenfang's glowing eye.
Tracey (in thought)
"Now I have full control… but at a cost. My mana drains fast in this state. I need to end this quickly."
Kael, noticing the shift, narrows his eyes.
Kael
"Then I'll turn up the heat!"
Kael
"Fire Magic: Dragon's Maw!"
A massive flaming dragon rises from his arm, snapping its jaws and soaring at Ashenfang—KRRRAAAHHH!
Tracey (commanding)
"Ashenfang! Tackle—now!"
The beast charges—BOOM! colliding with the dragon's head. Flames explode outward. Heat and smoke fill the arena.
From the dust—Kael emerges, flame-blades in hand, dashing toward Tracey himself!
CLASH! Tracey draws a short dagger, parries once—but he's not as skilled in direct melee.
Kael lands a searing punch—THUD!
Tracey stumbles back, panting, eyes glowing with strain.
Tracey (thinking)
"He's targeting me to break the beast's link…"
Kael
"You're nothing without your monster!"
Suddenly—CRASH!
Ashenfang lunges in from the side—without being ordered.
Tracey (wide-eyed)
"He moved… on his own again?!"
Kael turns—but it's too late.
BOOOOM!
Ashenfang tackles him, slamming Kael into the ground with an earth-shaking force. The crowd gasps. The fire aura flickers, then fades.
Kael (groaning, defeated)
"Tch… stubborn beast…"
Ashenfang steps back, grunting softly, as if pleased.
Tracey (face red, muttering)
"Ugh. You just had to do it your way again, huh?"
He walks over and sighs, placing a hand on Ashenfang's leg.
Tracey
"I have to get better at controlling him…"
Tracey (then shouting at the beast)
"You hear me?! Don't ignore your master next time!"
Ashenfang growls playfully.