Ashes Whisper

Chapter 76 : Sinking Feeling

The battle began with Elara facing her future self, the air around them filled with tension. Elara rushed forward, her Moonlight Sword gleaming as she unsheathed it. Her future self-mirrored her movements, their swords clashing "The Moonlight Sword" her future self-sneered. "It's been a long time since I've seen it. Now, I'll take it back."

Elara gritted her teeth, pushing back against the weight of the clash. "No, you can't! This sword belongs to me!"

Her future self's eyes gleamed with a cold, knowing light. "Belongs to you? Don't forget, I am your future." With a sudden twist, her future self-sent the Moonlight Sword flying through the air, leaving Elara momentarily defenseless. As her future self-lunged, Elara quickly channeled her wind magic. A sword of pure wind materialized in her hand just in time to block the incoming strike. Their swords met again, but this time it was steel against elemental magic.

The wind sword howled as it parried and countered each strike, reflecting Elara's desperation and determination. Her future self's attacks were relentless, each blow heavier and more precise than the last. "You're strong" Elara's future self-admitted, her voice a mixture of admiration and condescension.

"But you can't change fate. I am what you will become."

Elara's eyes narrowed, her resolve hardening. "I refuse to believe that. I forge my own destiny."

In the midst of their intense sword clash, Elara's future self-pushed her back with a powerful shove, following it up with a swift kick to Elara's stomach. The force sent Elara stumbling, and the Moonlight Sword slipped from her grasp, clattering to the ground. Her future self-seized the opportunity, picking up the fallen sword "Elara, it looks like you're holding back" her future self-taunted, the Moonlight Sword gleaming in her hand.

Elara, wincing from the pain in her stomach, managed to reply, "What do you mean?"

"The potential of Ashes Whisper" her future self-continued, a knowing glint in her eyes. "You've never used it to its full potential."

She raised the sword, its glow intensifying. "Now, I'll show you what it's truly capable of. I won't hold back, Elara." As her future self-held the Moonlight Sword aloft, it began to glow brighter. She pointed it towards the sky, and suddenly, a massive sea of whirlpools appeared around them. Elara's eyes widened in shock. "This magic... could it be-"

Her future self-smirked. "Yes, Leviathan's Whirlpool." With a dramatic sweep of the sword, she sent the whirlpool crashing towards Elara, engulfing her in its powerful currents. The immense pressure made it nearly impossible for Elara to move, trapping her in a suffocating vortex of water.

As Elara struggled within the whirlpool, her future self-began chanting another spell. "And now, Qilin's Thunder." Lightning crackled in the sky, and in a heartbeat, a massive bolt of thunder struck down towards the whirlpool. The resulting explosion was deafening, water and lightning merging in a blinding flash. But just before the thunderbolt hit, Elara summoned a barrier of light around herself. The protective shield held strong against the onslaught, though she could feel its strain under the immense pressure and power of the combined attacks.

Emerging from the aftermath of the explosion, Elara panted heavily as the remnants of her light barrier shattered around her. Her future self-wasted no time, swinging the Moonlight Sword in the air and unleashing a powerful projectile.

Elara raised her wind sword to block the incoming attack, but the force behind the projectile was immense. She struggled to hold her ground, her arms trembling under the pressure. The relentless force finally overpowered her, pushing her back and causing her to lose her grip on her wind sword.Her future self-smirked, pointing the Moonlight Sword at Elara once more. "This ends now" she declared, summoning a bolt of thunder aimed directly at Elara.