Before Zeirsulair could react, Aiden surged forward, faster than before. His clawed hand slammed into Zeirsulair chest. Zeirsualir was send backward, crashing into the the stone wall. The ground quaked beneath the force, cracks outward from where he landed.
Zeirsulair groaned, coughing as dust and debris rained down around him. But his is not giving up yet. "You think this power makes you invincible Aiden?" he growled
With a defeaning roar, Zeirsualir into his full dragon form - the Void Walker in his most terrifying state. Aiden in delight, wings flaring behind him. "Good. Show me everything you've got"
Both launched into the sky, as their battle resumed, each strike sent tremors through the air. They clawed and bit at each other, wings colliding, tails lashing. The sky became their battlefield, thunder rumbling with every impact.
Below, the people of Elysium could only look in dread - for above them, the world would never be the same again. Amidst the chaos, Abu and the others clashed against Aiden soldiers, steel against steel, magic against magic. Blade rang and spells scorched the earth.
Abu ducked under a sword swing, parrying another, but he was outnumbered. One of Aiden's soldier raised their blade, poised to strike him down. Suddenly - a gust of wind, sharp as a blade, swept through. The enemy was thrown back.
Standing between Abu and the others was Elara. She held not the Necro Sword, but her wind sword. Abu blinked, stunned "Elara...? Gods.. you saved me.."
Elara, she looked around the battlefield. Anxiously she continue "We don't have much time. If this war continues, both Elysium and the Underworld will fall."
Abu expression hardened and continue "Then we stop it. You go - find Aiden, end this. We'll hold them here. Just don't look back."
Elara nodded once, "Thankyou Abu. I'll stop him. No matter what it takes."
Elara continue. Until she spotted figure of Ludmilla lying near the fractured steps of an monument. Without hesitation, Elara knelt beside her. "Ludmilla..." she whispered, placing her hand gently over the wounds. A soft glow pulsed from her fingertips as the healing magic began to flow.
Ludmilla opened her eyes slowly and her lips turned into a faint smile "Elara... thankyou.."
Elara gave her reassuring nod. "Where's Emma?"
"She and the others are safe." Ludmilla replied and continue "I made sure of it.. before everything turned to chaos."
Elara replied "I see, but I need to help Zeirsulair - his power is restricted here in Elysium. He can't win against Aiden alone."
As if in response, a deafening roar tore through the sky. High above the ruins, Zeirsulair fought with all his might, wings tattered and he murmured "I have no time left..."
Summoning every ounce of his remaining strength, he conjured a spear of pure void energy - his most destructive attack. The sky twisted with dark light as he hurled it toward Aiden like a falling star.
But Aiden, raised his hand. The spear struck his palm - and stopped.
Zeirsulair' eye widened in disbelief "Impossible.."
In a twist, Aiden redirected the energy, hurling the destructive spear back. It struck Zeirsulair chest, and with a cry of pain, the dragon was blasted downward, crashing into the ground. The impact filled with cloud of dust and debris. When it cleared he lay in human form, barely conscious.
Elara rushed to him, dropping to her knees. "Zeirsulair!" she worried, lifting his head gently into her lap.
His breathing was shallow, but he managed to weak smile. "Dont... worry about me... That wasn't the full power of the spear... I'm still here."
A shadow fell over them.
Aiden descended slowly from the sky "So, you finally have the Necro Sword, Elara. Then I was right to fear you."
He raised his clawed hand, eyes narrowing "I wont let you kill my lord."
Aiden wings flared wide as he surged forward, the very same attack he did toward Zeirsulair. He aimed straight for Elara chest, intent on crushing her where she stand.
But this time.. the blow never landed.
In a motion, Elara dodge the attack. Her hair whipped in the gale as she vanished from Aiden's path, reappearing at his side in a haze of movement.
"What?!" Aiden eyes widened shock across his face. "You..Dodged it?!"
Elara grip tightened on her gauntleted hand, the Necro Sword it eye at its core opened, blinking with a pulse of life, Elara continue "You are not the only one who has changed, Aiden" Elara said, her voice calm and continue "I carry more than my own strength now. The will of everyone I love... everyone I swore to protect... it flows through me."
Aiden in fury. He lunged again, each strike faster and more vicious than the last, his claws and blade blurring together. But to Elara's eyes... it was different.
Time itself seemed to bend, The world slowed, Her amber eyes glowed brighter - the Necro Sword eye pulsed in sync, opening wide. In that distorted vision, she saw everything: the path of Aiden blade, the shift of Aiden feet, the exact moment his rage would blind him.
"So this.. this is the power of the Necro Sword.." Elara thought, her breath steady as steel. Aiden roared, bringing his sword down with the force. Elara slipped to the side in a blur, her body moving like lightning and slashed. The Necro Sword carving another deep wound across his scaled flesh.
Blood sprayed, as it hit the ground Aiden staggered, disbelief twisting his face. "You- how.. how are you reading me?!"
YOU ARE READING
Ashes Whisper
FantasyAshes Whisper is a novel that follows the story of Elara, a young woman cursed with the ability to absorb the souls of the dead. As the war takes a heavy toll on Elara, she struggles to keep fighting, and her curse becomes increasingly difficult to...
