p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: large;"Chapter 34/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"1/span/spansupspan style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"st/span/span/supspan style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;" (Bereit)/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"I remember climbing those stairs, feeling more and more anxious as I came closer to the top of the mountain. I found it ironic that me, a Lord of Fire and Lightning, was scared of a being of ice. But then again, this was an Erpel. For all I know, her ice was more than enough to snuff out anything I throw at her. But there was only one way to know for sure./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"3/span/spansupspan style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"rd/span/span/supspan style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;" person (General)/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"The last staircase was only a few steps away to the party. Not only that, the cold winds were coming back. But this time... it was gentle, not freezing. Perhaps Shiva was showing mercy for making it this far. Or she's just looking to be dramatic. Lo0king for a fair fight./span/span/p
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p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Every party member walked up the stairs, taking their last step up before they walked onto solid, snowy ground. Pillars of ice that surrounded the edges. And these were the refined, carved kinds of pillars that you'd see in Greek architecture./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"And soon, they were met with the Erpel. Shiva./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Everyone gazed at the features of the majestic beast. It had wings that had tons of ice spikes along the scales and the webbing of it's wings. There were a lot of spikes. Along the wings, the hind legs, the arms, the head, the body, everywhere had spikes along it's icy scaled body./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"You are courageous to climb all this way." The Erpel spoke with a deep female voice, it's bright yellow cat eyes looking among the party. "Do you even question the end of this journey? If it'll truly be worth it?" Already, it began to try to discourage the party through it's questions./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"There was silence among everyone, before Fallen stepped forward. "Even if it may be for the future of humanity... it isn't right to take the lives of those who do not wish to partake in it." She looked up at the Erpel. "Because that would mean many of the people I love have to die. And I cannot allow that."/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"You would throw away humanity's chance into the new age all for the lives of few?" It asked /br /Fallen nodded proudly. "That's right. And I'd gladly give my own to preserve theirs." She added, holding her ice glaive tightly in her right hand./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"The Erpel looked behind the summoner, seeing her guardians. "And you all? What do you have to say of this?" It asked of them, as if to see if they were loyal to the cause./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"I think she speaks for all of us." Scharf spoke up, scratching his grey bearded chin. "Though, there is one thing that's been bothering me. Back in those ruins, we saw a... carving, I guess? On the walls and whatnot. It was Fallen holding onto someone that was dying. Care to explain?"/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"The Erpel remained silent, before it looked off in the distance. "You will learn soon enough. For you and I are running out of time."/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Without Fallen even realizing it, Shiva approached the Erpel, looking up at her. She gazed up at the dragon-like being in front of her. She had an expression of confusion, as if she wondered what she was looking at. Someone that goes by the same name./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"The Erpel looked back at Shiva. "I see you have a question. And I know what it is." The Erpel gently touched one of it's claws against her forehead./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Shiva soon had images flow through her mind, seeing one entire event unfold before her eyes./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"And that was her and her fellow Divines being created by these very Erpels. There was a look of clarity on her face. She finally knew where she came from. A question she wondered for so long. She looked up at the Erpel, with a look of shock./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"You are me. As are the other Erpels are the real Divines." The Erpel revealed to Shiva in words./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Shiva?" Fallen spoke up, walking right next to her. But then, the Erpel spread it's wings, showing off all the spikes and how wide it spread, nearly taking up half of the top of the mountain./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"We have wasted enough time! Draw your sword, warriors! We will see who's future will thrive!" With that, the Erpel flew high up in the air, the air around it swirling at an incredible speed./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"The party drew their weapons and held them with a tight grip./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"We don't have as big of a group as we usually do, guys. So let's be a little more careful about this." Bereit spoke up./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"I think we should be fully focused, if you ask me." Imbir remarked./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Bereit shrugged a bit, thinking he was right. He quickly took his focus back on the Erpel, adjusting his fingers a bit on the handle./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"The Erpel soon landed on the ground and in front of the party, roaring once again, the shards all along it's body vibrating with the roar./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Fallen gripped her staff, closing her eyes for a few seconds. It was then she had an idea. "Shiva, I need you to retreat for now." She requested of her, Shiva soon retreating in a gentle blue light. Fallen spun her staff and slammed it down. "Come, Ifrit!" She shouted, Ifrit appearing in a blazing flame./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Though, it seemed to have earned a new scar on it's chest. Normally, that's something the Divines don't get. It worried Fallen too./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"The Erpel swung at the party, everyone jumping out of the way, Ifrit jumping over the arm and swinging it's claw right at the Erpel, leaving a burning scratch across it's face. But it soon went away./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Ifrit and the Erpel were soon throwing multiple slashes and swings of their arms at each other. Seems like Ifrit had a vendetta for this Erpel. Which played exactly how Fallen planned./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Bereit, I hope you've got something powerful." She remarked./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Bereit nodded, as he coated his hand in fire and slid his hand on his sword. "I'm more than ready."/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Ifrit watched as the Erpel brought a vertical strike down to him, but he caught the claw and threw it to the side, countering it with a fierce punch to the face, leaving cracks in it's icy scales. It then followed up with a huge uppercut./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"The Erpel's head was left up in the air for a few seconds, before it slammed it's own chin down on Ifrit, knocking it down to the ground. But the moment the Erpel's eyes met with the party's, it was met with the sight of Bereit getting ready to bring his flaming sword down, as well as Imbir ready to shoot a fire bullet./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"The Erpel charged ice within it's mouth, and shot a long blast towards Bereit, but he swung his flaming sword, leaving a long arc of fire to slice through the blast. Little the Erpel know, it fell for their trick. The fire bullet being fired and lodging into the upper part of the Erpel's mouth. It then exploded, filling the creature's lungs with fire./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"That's one method of attack down!" Tier spoke up, understanding what was going on. It took her a little to get it, given no plan was announced./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Which do we go for next?" Scharf asked./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"I don't think it'll be out for long. We just need to focus on killing it." Fallen spoke up. "It'll most likely shoot those ice spikes on it's body towards us, so make sure it doesn't get you by surprise."/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Everyone nodded as a response, seeing the Erpel flying high up and causing the storm to increase in it's strong winds. It soon hit the party, with a blinding snowstorm, obscuring their vision. They all covered their faces from the biting cold that hit them./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Ifrit!" Fallen called out, Ifrit soon coming to her side and creating a big shield around the party, keeping the cold winds at bay. But this was what the Erpel wanted./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"But this wasn't going to catch Bereit off guard. He remembered what heat did for the Erpel. He coated his weapon in flames once more, eyeing the sky and seeing for a split second, a big ice spear coming down towards Ifrit. Before it managed to get close, Bereit swung a big arc of fire and melted the spear in seconds./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Watch your back, Ifrit!" Bereit called out. "It's after you!"/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Ifrit nodded as a response, looking around and focusing to make sure it didn't meet the same end twice./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Ifrit! Behind!" Imbir warned./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Ifrit soon turned to the incoming spear and then backhanded the spear, making it snap midair./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"They're just gonna keep coming! We need to figure something out to stop this!"/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"The party was silent, checking every inch of their surroundings for another spear to come to them, while thinking on what to do to get out of this situation./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"I... have an idea." Bereit spoke up. "I can probably head to the eye of the storm and stop it all together. Absorb the storm."/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"You can do that?" Strake asked. "Just who are you people?"/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Bereit chuckled gently, shaking his head. "I wish I had a detailed answer." He said vaguely. With that, he began to charge lightning in his left hand. Slowly, a long line began to rise and rise to the air./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Everybody, protect Bereit!" Fallen called out, holding her glaive with a tight grip./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"More and more spears were constantly brought to the party, Ifrit getting most of them with the occasional assistance from the others./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"There was a loud roar, so loud that it was heard over the storm. Soon, the party was met with the Erpel flying towards them, readying to ram Bereit head on. But Ifrit came in and shoulder-checked the Erpel back, soon grabbing it by the head and punching it repeatedly./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"The Erpel managed to avoid one of them and grabbed Ifrit with it's teeth and bit down on it hard, shaking it repeatedly and slamming it against the ground, soon disappearing, defeating him once more./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"The fire around the party disappeared, all being hit with the freezing winds. It made Bereit fall to his knees, the cold hitting him the hardest, since he was growing tired with how much of his power he was using, especially since it was hard to maintain the power it was emitting. "Almost... theeeeeere..." Bereit gasped, before it eventually reached the eye. The storm stopped, silence filling the air./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"The storm went into the gigantic pillar of lightning and shrunk down to Bereit's hand. He soon fell to his side, holding his pulsating, twitching /br /"Bereit!" Fallen called out as she ran to his side. She soon saw the Erpel as it raised it's wings, showing it's rows and rows of ice spikes. It swung it's arms back and swung forward, sending thousands of spikes their way./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Fallen hugged him tightly, trying to shelter him from all the spikes, shutting her eyes tightly, ready for the skin shredding cold spikes to tear through her in her desperation to save him./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"The sound of a sheathing blade was heard, as a samurai warrior appeared in front of the party. It wore a big hat, with thick, metal armour coloured blue and black that had spikes along it's shoulders and bodies. It also had a large cape./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"All the ice spikes... gone. Not a shard in sight. And soon, the samurai disappeared, and landed a gigantic, thunder bird./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Fallen looked back, seeing that familiar summon. And a familiar set of green robes. She had a shocked expression as soon as her eyes looked upon her saviour. "Folgen!"/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Save the emotional talk for later." Folgen told her, putting her staff in front of her sister. "If you die here... I can't beat you myself."/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"What?" Fallen asked, sounding completely confused. "This isn't-"br /br /"Fallen..." Bereit spoke up. "Just... go with it. That's how rivalries are..." As if he would know what they were like./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Fallen sighed gently, before she gently stood up and climbed onto the Quetzalcoatl./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Don't you have your own bird to summon?" Folgen asked Fallen./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Would it kill you for me to stand next to you for a few seconds?" Fallen asked, as she then brought her staff forward. "This way, you'll know how much stronger I am compared to you."/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Folgen scoffed quietly. "We'll have our duel eventually. And I'll prove I'm stronger."/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Soon, Fallen raised her staff and gave it's familiar form a sharper icy blade./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"The Erpel went to bite at the Quetzalcoatl, the beast avoiding each bite it through at them. The ice shards were then shot at them, but then Folgen commanded the Quetzalcoatl to shoot lightning and completely destroy all of the shards coming, as well as strike the Erpel with it's bolt./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"This battle has gone on for long enough!" The Erpel shouted, as it then rose high up in the sky, as it then started another storm around it's self. And slowly, it began to absorb it./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"But Bereit, he knew what had to be done. He looked at his still shaking arm, and then looked up at the flying Erpel. "One shot..." He whispered to himself, before he thrusts his arm forward, tapping into his Lightning Lord side to empower this even further. Lightning began to emit as it slowly charged /br /Folgen noticed the flashing power from the corner of her eye, seeing what Bereit was doing. She immediately picked up on what was happening. She turned her summon right around and flew away. "Sister, get your swinging arm ready. We're going to finish this."/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Fallen nodded gently, not going to question her sudden plan. She held her weapon tight, getting ready./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"You will not escape!" The Erpel shouted. It then chased after the two, before it felt the speeding bullets of Imbir and Scharf hitting it's body and wounding it./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"And soon, a shocking sight would be shown by Strake, as she was suddenly jumping high up in the air and slashing the beast across the face with her spear. She then kicked off the Erpel and landed back on the ground./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"And soon, with it's full attention on those below, Bereit charged all of the storm's power he absorbed into the palm of his hand. And soon, he shot a powerful, bright beam of pure energy that pierced through the arm of the Erpel, completely crippling the arm, causing the beast to come crashing down./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"And then came the second phase of the plan./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Folgen and Fallen came flying in, going right below the Erpel's neck, ready for the finishing blow. However, Folgen revealed to her rival sister that she had a weapon too. Her staff that formed not as a glaive, but a long sword./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"You didn't think I'd let you get all the credit, did you?" Folgen asked with a sly grin./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Fallen laughed. "Copycat."/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"The two soon flew faster towards the Erpel, slowly increasing in speed with each passing second. They both held their weapons high. And then moment they flew underneath the neck of the Erpel. Both elemental weapons swung together, tearing through the icy scales of it's neck. Blood flew with the swing, as it surely finished the beast off./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"The Erpel crashed onto the ground, blood dripping from all of it's wounds. Not a single breath was drawn from the majestic beast./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"I think we got it." Scharf commented, if it weren't obvious enough./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Fallen soon landed with her sister, as she rushed to Bereit's side, kneeling down to look at him. "Are you okay?" She asked worriedly. Her eyes soon observed the condition of his arm. It was completely red and parts of his flesh were torn off his arm./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Come on. We're gonna take you back to the ship." Fallen said, as she then pulled him, but Bereit slowly getting up with her assistance./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"I've got a better idea." Strake spoke up. "Go back to the village. We have a witch doctor that'll patch you up nicely. Chances are, your healer friend is still unconscious."/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"True..." Fallen /br /"Come." Folgen spoke up. "I'll fly you guys back. I'll come back to get the others. You have my word."/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Fallen looked at her sister and then nodded. The party soon got on the Quetzalcoatl's back and then flew away from the mountain./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Another glorious victory for the party. But they still had two more to go, before this journey would meet it's end./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Would you like to save your game up to this point?/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Yes/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"No/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"1/span/spansupspan style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"st/span/span/supspan style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;" (Bereit)/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"I remember climbing those stairs, feeling more and more anxious as I came closer to the top of the mountain. I found it ironic that me, a Lord of Fire and Lightning, was scared of a being of ice. But then again, this was an Erpel. For all I know, her ice was more than enough to snuff out anything I throw at her. But there was only one way to know for sure./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"3/span/spansupspan style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"rd/span/span/supspan style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;" person (General)/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"The last staircase was only a few steps away to the party. Not only that, the cold winds were coming back. But this time... it was gentle, not freezing. Perhaps Shiva was showing mercy for making it this far. Or she's just looking to be dramatic. Lo0king for a fair fight./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Every party member walked up the stairs, taking their last step up before they walked onto solid, snowy ground. Pillars of ice that surrounded the edges. And these were the refined, carved kinds of pillars that you'd see in Greek architecture./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"And soon, they were met with the Erpel. Shiva./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Everyone gazed at the features of the majestic beast. It had wings that had tons of ice spikes along the scales and the webbing of it's wings. There were a lot of spikes. Along the wings, the hind legs, the arms, the head, the body, everywhere had spikes along it's icy scaled body./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"You are courageous to climb all this way." The Erpel spoke with a deep female voice, it's bright yellow cat eyes looking among the party. "Do you even question the end of this journey? If it'll truly be worth it?" Already, it began to try to discourage the party through it's questions./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"There was silence among everyone, before Fallen stepped forward. "Even if it may be for the future of humanity... it isn't right to take the lives of those who do not wish to partake in it." She looked up at the Erpel. "Because that would mean many of the people I love have to die. And I cannot allow that."/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"You would throw away humanity's chance into the new age all for the lives of few?" It asked /br /Fallen nodded proudly. "That's right. And I'd gladly give my own to preserve theirs." She added, holding her ice glaive tightly in her right hand./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"The Erpel looked behind the summoner, seeing her guardians. "And you all? What do you have to say of this?" It asked of them, as if to see if they were loyal to the cause./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"I think she speaks for all of us." Scharf spoke up, scratching his grey bearded chin. "Though, there is one thing that's been bothering me. Back in those ruins, we saw a... carving, I guess? On the walls and whatnot. It was Fallen holding onto someone that was dying. Care to explain?"/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"The Erpel remained silent, before it looked off in the distance. "You will learn soon enough. For you and I are running out of time."/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Without Fallen even realizing it, Shiva approached the Erpel, looking up at her. She gazed up at the dragon-like being in front of her. She had an expression of confusion, as if she wondered what she was looking at. Someone that goes by the same name./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"The Erpel looked back at Shiva. "I see you have a question. And I know what it is." The Erpel gently touched one of it's claws against her forehead./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Shiva soon had images flow through her mind, seeing one entire event unfold before her eyes./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"And that was her and her fellow Divines being created by these very Erpels. There was a look of clarity on her face. She finally knew where she came from. A question she wondered for so long. She looked up at the Erpel, with a look of shock./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"You are me. As are the other Erpels are the real Divines." The Erpel revealed to Shiva in words./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Shiva?" Fallen spoke up, walking right next to her. But then, the Erpel spread it's wings, showing off all the spikes and how wide it spread, nearly taking up half of the top of the mountain./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"We have wasted enough time! Draw your sword, warriors! We will see who's future will thrive!" With that, the Erpel flew high up in the air, the air around it swirling at an incredible speed./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"The party drew their weapons and held them with a tight grip./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"We don't have as big of a group as we usually do, guys. So let's be a little more careful about this." Bereit spoke up./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"I think we should be fully focused, if you ask me." Imbir remarked./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Bereit shrugged a bit, thinking he was right. He quickly took his focus back on the Erpel, adjusting his fingers a bit on the handle./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"The Erpel soon landed on the ground and in front of the party, roaring once again, the shards all along it's body vibrating with the roar./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Fallen gripped her staff, closing her eyes for a few seconds. It was then she had an idea. "Shiva, I need you to retreat for now." She requested of her, Shiva soon retreating in a gentle blue light. Fallen spun her staff and slammed it down. "Come, Ifrit!" She shouted, Ifrit appearing in a blazing flame./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Though, it seemed to have earned a new scar on it's chest. Normally, that's something the Divines don't get. It worried Fallen too./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"The Erpel swung at the party, everyone jumping out of the way, Ifrit jumping over the arm and swinging it's claw right at the Erpel, leaving a burning scratch across it's face. But it soon went away./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Ifrit and the Erpel were soon throwing multiple slashes and swings of their arms at each other. Seems like Ifrit had a vendetta for this Erpel. Which played exactly how Fallen planned./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Bereit, I hope you've got something powerful." She remarked./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Bereit nodded, as he coated his hand in fire and slid his hand on his sword. "I'm more than ready."/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Ifrit watched as the Erpel brought a vertical strike down to him, but he caught the claw and threw it to the side, countering it with a fierce punch to the face, leaving cracks in it's icy scales. It then followed up with a huge uppercut./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"The Erpel's head was left up in the air for a few seconds, before it slammed it's own chin down on Ifrit, knocking it down to the ground. But the moment the Erpel's eyes met with the party's, it was met with the sight of Bereit getting ready to bring his flaming sword down, as well as Imbir ready to shoot a fire bullet./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"The Erpel charged ice within it's mouth, and shot a long blast towards Bereit, but he swung his flaming sword, leaving a long arc of fire to slice through the blast. Little the Erpel know, it fell for their trick. The fire bullet being fired and lodging into the upper part of the Erpel's mouth. It then exploded, filling the creature's lungs with fire./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"That's one method of attack down!" Tier spoke up, understanding what was going on. It took her a little to get it, given no plan was announced./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Which do we go for next?" Scharf asked./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"I don't think it'll be out for long. We just need to focus on killing it." Fallen spoke up. "It'll most likely shoot those ice spikes on it's body towards us, so make sure it doesn't get you by surprise."/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Everyone nodded as a response, seeing the Erpel flying high up and causing the storm to increase in it's strong winds. It soon hit the party, with a blinding snowstorm, obscuring their vision. They all covered their faces from the biting cold that hit them./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Ifrit!" Fallen called out, Ifrit soon coming to her side and creating a big shield around the party, keeping the cold winds at bay. But this was what the Erpel wanted./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"But this wasn't going to catch Bereit off guard. He remembered what heat did for the Erpel. He coated his weapon in flames once more, eyeing the sky and seeing for a split second, a big ice spear coming down towards Ifrit. Before it managed to get close, Bereit swung a big arc of fire and melted the spear in seconds./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Watch your back, Ifrit!" Bereit called out. "It's after you!"/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Ifrit nodded as a response, looking around and focusing to make sure it didn't meet the same end twice./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Ifrit! Behind!" Imbir warned./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Ifrit soon turned to the incoming spear and then backhanded the spear, making it snap midair./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"They're just gonna keep coming! We need to figure something out to stop this!"/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"The party was silent, checking every inch of their surroundings for another spear to come to them, while thinking on what to do to get out of this situation./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"I... have an idea." Bereit spoke up. "I can probably head to the eye of the storm and stop it all together. Absorb the storm."/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"You can do that?" Strake asked. "Just who are you people?"/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Bereit chuckled gently, shaking his head. "I wish I had a detailed answer." He said vaguely. With that, he began to charge lightning in his left hand. Slowly, a long line began to rise and rise to the air./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Everybody, protect Bereit!" Fallen called out, holding her glaive with a tight grip./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"More and more spears were constantly brought to the party, Ifrit getting most of them with the occasional assistance from the others./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"There was a loud roar, so loud that it was heard over the storm. Soon, the party was met with the Erpel flying towards them, readying to ram Bereit head on. But Ifrit came in and shoulder-checked the Erpel back, soon grabbing it by the head and punching it repeatedly./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"The Erpel managed to avoid one of them and grabbed Ifrit with it's teeth and bit down on it hard, shaking it repeatedly and slamming it against the ground, soon disappearing, defeating him once more./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"The fire around the party disappeared, all being hit with the freezing winds. It made Bereit fall to his knees, the cold hitting him the hardest, since he was growing tired with how much of his power he was using, especially since it was hard to maintain the power it was emitting. "Almost... theeeeeere..." Bereit gasped, before it eventually reached the eye. The storm stopped, silence filling the air./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"The storm went into the gigantic pillar of lightning and shrunk down to Bereit's hand. He soon fell to his side, holding his pulsating, twitching /br /"Bereit!" Fallen called out as she ran to his side. She soon saw the Erpel as it raised it's wings, showing it's rows and rows of ice spikes. It swung it's arms back and swung forward, sending thousands of spikes their way./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Fallen hugged him tightly, trying to shelter him from all the spikes, shutting her eyes tightly, ready for the skin shredding cold spikes to tear through her in her desperation to save him./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"The sound of a sheathing blade was heard, as a samurai warrior appeared in front of the party. It wore a big hat, with thick, metal armour coloured blue and black that had spikes along it's shoulders and bodies. It also had a large cape./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"All the ice spikes... gone. Not a shard in sight. And soon, the samurai disappeared, and landed a gigantic, thunder bird./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Fallen looked back, seeing that familiar summon. And a familiar set of green robes. She had a shocked expression as soon as her eyes looked upon her saviour. "Folgen!"/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Save the emotional talk for later." Folgen told her, putting her staff in front of her sister. "If you die here... I can't beat you myself."/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"What?" Fallen asked, sounding completely confused. "This isn't-"br /br /"Fallen..." Bereit spoke up. "Just... go with it. That's how rivalries are..." As if he would know what they were like./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Fallen sighed gently, before she gently stood up and climbed onto the Quetzalcoatl./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Don't you have your own bird to summon?" Folgen asked Fallen./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Would it kill you for me to stand next to you for a few seconds?" Fallen asked, as she then brought her staff forward. "This way, you'll know how much stronger I am compared to you."/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Folgen scoffed quietly. "We'll have our duel eventually. And I'll prove I'm stronger."/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Soon, Fallen raised her staff and gave it's familiar form a sharper icy blade./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"The Erpel went to bite at the Quetzalcoatl, the beast avoiding each bite it through at them. The ice shards were then shot at them, but then Folgen commanded the Quetzalcoatl to shoot lightning and completely destroy all of the shards coming, as well as strike the Erpel with it's bolt./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"This battle has gone on for long enough!" The Erpel shouted, as it then rose high up in the sky, as it then started another storm around it's self. And slowly, it began to absorb it./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"But Bereit, he knew what had to be done. He looked at his still shaking arm, and then looked up at the flying Erpel. "One shot..." He whispered to himself, before he thrusts his arm forward, tapping into his Lightning Lord side to empower this even further. Lightning began to emit as it slowly charged /br /Folgen noticed the flashing power from the corner of her eye, seeing what Bereit was doing. She immediately picked up on what was happening. She turned her summon right around and flew away. "Sister, get your swinging arm ready. We're going to finish this."/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Fallen nodded gently, not going to question her sudden plan. She held her weapon tight, getting ready./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"You will not escape!" The Erpel shouted. It then chased after the two, before it felt the speeding bullets of Imbir and Scharf hitting it's body and wounding it./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"And soon, a shocking sight would be shown by Strake, as she was suddenly jumping high up in the air and slashing the beast across the face with her spear. She then kicked off the Erpel and landed back on the ground./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"And soon, with it's full attention on those below, Bereit charged all of the storm's power he absorbed into the palm of his hand. And soon, he shot a powerful, bright beam of pure energy that pierced through the arm of the Erpel, completely crippling the arm, causing the beast to come crashing down./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"And then came the second phase of the plan./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Folgen and Fallen came flying in, going right below the Erpel's neck, ready for the finishing blow. However, Folgen revealed to her rival sister that she had a weapon too. Her staff that formed not as a glaive, but a long sword./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"You didn't think I'd let you get all the credit, did you?" Folgen asked with a sly grin./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Fallen laughed. "Copycat."/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"The two soon flew faster towards the Erpel, slowly increasing in speed with each passing second. They both held their weapons high. And then moment they flew underneath the neck of the Erpel. Both elemental weapons swung together, tearing through the icy scales of it's neck. Blood flew with the swing, as it surely finished the beast off./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"The Erpel crashed onto the ground, blood dripping from all of it's wounds. Not a single breath was drawn from the majestic beast./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"I think we got it." Scharf commented, if it weren't obvious enough./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Fallen soon landed with her sister, as she rushed to Bereit's side, kneeling down to look at him. "Are you okay?" She asked worriedly. Her eyes soon observed the condition of his arm. It was completely red and parts of his flesh were torn off his arm./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Come on. We're gonna take you back to the ship." Fallen said, as she then pulled him, but Bereit slowly getting up with her assistance./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"I've got a better idea." Strake spoke up. "Go back to the village. We have a witch doctor that'll patch you up nicely. Chances are, your healer friend is still unconscious."/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left""span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"True..." Fallen /br /"Come." Folgen spoke up. "I'll fly you guys back. I'll come back to get the others. You have my word."/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Fallen looked at her sister and then nodded. The party soon got on the Quetzalcoatl's back and then flew away from the mountain./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Another glorious victory for the party. But they still had two more to go, before this journey would meet it's end./span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Would you like to save your game up to this point?/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left" /p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Yes/span/span/p
p class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;" align="left"span style="font-family: Constantia, serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"No/span/span/p