Lupine Echoes

Chapter 4: Decimating the Divine

"Let the uprising begin!" the Inugami leader roared, stretching out his hand toward the Ame-no-Nuboko.

But before he could grasp it, a formidable ice wall ascended from the ground, blocking his path. His eyes followed the shimmering trail of ice back to Adam, who stood resolute on the side of the stage.

"You are not the only one who can harness the power of the full moon," Jaden declared, his stance firm and shoulders squared with determination. He began chanting, "Lux Nox, Mater Terrae, Corpus Umbrarum. Lux Nox, Mater Terrae, Corpus Umbrarum."

The boy's body morphed into a crystalline humanoid form, drawing in the moonlight that surrounded him. With a precise motion, he placed his palms together, gathering the celestial light into a huge multicolored sphere.

"Lux Nox, Mater Terrae, Corpus Umbrarum," he intoned once more, launching the sphere toward the Inugami leader.

The leader raised his hand in a futile attempt to deflect the blast, but the sphere dissolved into a shower of light that engulfed him. He examined himself, seemingly unharmed, a smirk forming on his face as his fangs glistened. "Is this supposed to be your big starlight magic spell? How pathetic. I don't even feel—"

Before he could finish his sentence, Adam's ice lances materialized behind him, piercing through the air and impaling the leader's body. The leader let out a grunt of pain, his smirk faltering.

"My magic isn't 'starlight magic,'" Jaden shot back, his voice laced with irritation. "It is heavenly body magic. The spell I just used is called Luminis Corporealitas. It is not meant to be offensive; it bridges the ethereal and physical realms, giving substance to intangible beings like you."

Adam grinned, his eyes glinting with satisfaction. "He evened the playing field for me. It's only fair, since you and your crew have been hitting me while I've barely managed to land a solid punch."

The leader's eyes narrowed with rage as he realized the true effect of Jaden's spell became evident. "You think you're smart? You think you can challenge me? I am God!"

Without missing a beat, Adam and Jaden exchanged a glance before springing into action. They charged at the colossal dog god, their movements synchronized and fast. The Inugami leader's tails whipped, releasing a torrent of black energy beams that blazed through the air with deadly accuracy. The beams streaked toward the pair with a menacing hum.

Jaden raised his hands, conjuring his magic rainbow orb to intercept one of the beams. The orb blocked the attack, but the force of the collision sent him skidding backward, the ground beneath him cracking under the shock. Despite his strained stance, he held his ground, summoning more power to reinforce his barrier.

Adam, agile and determined, darted left and right, avoiding the searing beams. He launched himself into the air, spinning like a drill as he charged toward the Inugami leader. Glacial energy began to build up in his palms, the air around him growing colder as the frost spread. With a powerful thrust, the Winter Wolf slammed his ice-infused palms down onto the leader. An enormous blast geyser erupted from his hands, unleashing a shockwave of freezing air and razor-sharp ice shards. The impact sent the god-like creature hurtling backward, forcing him off the stage. He bawled in fury as he collided with the ground, his majestic form sprawling amid a cloud of debris and shattered energy.

Adam landed gracefully on the stage, taking measured breaths as he readied himself for the next move. Suddenly, with a fearsome roar, the Inugami leader smashed through the stage, his fist ripping through the wooden floorboards like a battering ram. Reacting instinctively, Adam performed a backflip to dodge the destructive hit. But the leader's onslaught continued unabated. While Adam was still airborne, the Inugami leader spun, his tails slicing through the air in a blur of dark energy. They struck Adam with devastating force, sending him flying across the stage.