Celestial Storm: Blazing Eye

Chapter Twelve: The Power Of Friendship

"I summon thee, Castor and Pollux the Phantom Twins!" I intoned.

Two boys that looked like they weren't much older than Tamira appeared. They seemed to know what I wanted without me having to tell them anything. They glanced at me for a moment as I held Tamira and tried to choke back my rage long enough to give them an order. They suddenly merged together and turned into Starkadhr.

"Shadow crush!" the Phantom twins intoned in Starkadhr's voice.

Anubis let out a grunt as the spell slammed into him from the back. Flame had landed a fiery punch on his back just a moment before. The combined force of the two spells seemed to have temporarily winded Anubis, for he was casting a spell using gestures and speaking no words.

Nilfrasi and Nifrael both attempted to stab Anubis in the side, but Anubis' spell activated just in time to save him from their blades. Flame, Nilfrasi, Nifrael and Khanordhoi were all blasted backward. Two spells flew at Anubis as Cynthia and Phoebe directed spells at Anubis. Anubis dodged Cynthia's spell then caught Phoebe's spell and hurled it at the Phantom Twins.

"Hidden shadow snakes!" Castor and Pollux said using Starkadhr's voice.

The coils of shadow collided with the spell Anubis had thrown at them. A blast of wind blew at Anubis as the spells collided. The wind pushed against Anubis as he started parried Nifrael's wild slashes and thrusts. Khanordhoi, Nilfrasi and Flame jumped up and joined the fight again. Anubis was being forced on the defensive as the four mages hacked wildly at him. Cynthia and Phoebe cast more spells at Anubis as the battled raged on. The humanoid that Euphorbus had summoned unleashed a spell that Anubis blocked with difficulty. Anubis' concentration was severely compromised due to the unrelenting assault Nifrael, Flame, Nilfrasi, Khanordhoi, Cynthia and Phoebe were hammering him with.

"Shadow gale!" the Phantom Twins intoned.

Anubis barked out a brief incantation, and his storm spell collided with the shadow energy the Phantom Twins had blasted him with. A blast of wind buffeted everyone as the energy of the two spells vied for dominance.

Anubis spun around and blasted Flame in the face with a lightning bolt. Flame didn't even slow down as he punched Anubis in the gut. Blades flashed as Nilfrasi, Khanordhoi and Nifrael all tried to stab Anubis from the side. Anubis rasped out an incantation, which sent the four of them flying away. Anubis had to immediately bark out another incantation as Cynthia and Phoebe both cast spells at him.

The Phantom Twins looked at me for a moment then they changed into a different man. The Phantom Twins were now identical to Ixion.

"Outer dimensional gateway eighty-three: Draco's rampage," Castor and Pollux intoned in Ixion's voice.

Dragons poured out of a dimensional gateway and rampaged toward Anubis. Anubis, who was unleashing a great deal of magic to keep my companions at bay, unleashed another blast of magic, which called forth several giants made of storm clouds and lightning. They clashed with the rampaging dragons in the air.

I heard the ringing of steel sound right behind me and turned hunching over Tamira as I shifted around. Hilda was standing in front of me facing the celestial spirit Anubis. The celestial spirit Anubis looked down at me.

"You seem to care a lot about celestial spirits," he said, "How far would you be willing to go to protect your spirits? Would you risk your life or even give your life for their sakes?"

"Hell yes, I would," I said firmly.

Although the mask hid his features, I got the impression that he smiled. The way the mask moved suggested as much.