Chapter 26: The Beast of Calamity

Author's Note: Holy shez, this chapter is one big battle chapter and while not very long I say its a good enough length so it doesn't overstate its welcome. But hey, its finally here the appearance of The Beast of Calamity and oh boy you are in for a treat folks. Also two short perspectives from two characters who aren't Ankha. I been building up the beast for some time and while its full destructive potential isn't shown, you'll get a general gist. Anyway read on dear readers! This is TheFoolOfTheNoon signing off!

For this chapter

() - Translation of Ancient Egyptian Tongue [Because this story is in English and I can't write other languages well.]

/

Isabelle's P.O.V.

"Are you sure you are okay? Do you need anything else?"

"No, I'm fine, I think."

"Okay then, but Whitney, Marshal, Kiki and I are going to check on you periodically alright?"

"That's fine please don't stress too much about me."

"After what happened, it's kinda hard."

I gave a sigh of relief. Lavi, bless his heart, was watching over me after I suddenly had an attack of some kind. I could not explain it as it felt like something was in distress and I was feeling its pain. It happened more than once which is why I was stuck in this apartment just waiting for all clear. It's nice to be around familiar faces but still I wish it didn't occur to me that I was still here in this other world without Nacho or Ankha. Still it isn't so bad since I still have friends here and I can practice my magic more. Well, when I can.

I lay my head back into bed and wondered how Ankha is doing. This was her quest after all, her destiny to follow. Which makes me and Nacho her companions for the adventure. I can't help but giggle a bit as I am reminded of many fictional media I read and watched as a kind that had that kind of idea. Difference now is that this is real life, and I am stuck here not being allowed to do anything. I gave a small sigh as I looked around the room and saw the spell books that we had on loan from Azhum. It does not hurt to do some reading and review what I know.

"With Nacho and Ankha getting stronger I need to do my best to keep up," I got up and walked over to the spell books and picked up the nature spell book, healing spell book, and grey spell book. I was about to leave to sit down until I notice Ankha left her bag behind. I was reminded of that 'one' spell book she was looking into. I felt my face flush red just thinking about it, those spells not just used for fertility, but also for lewd acts in the bedroom that I dare not say out loud.

I looked around for a bit and saw nobody peeking in, judging me for what I was about to do. My nulberry plant creatures were outside playing with one another and the Jagoworden, so they are busy. I didn't expect them to get along, but I am glad they did. It is cute seeing these small plant monsters play with a big cat guardian. Anyway, I was getting lost in my thoughts. After seeing it was clear and took the spell book from the bag.

With a set of reading material and time, I began reading. Starting with the nature book, it was going to be a long day and I want to spend it right. When Ankha and Nacho get back, I can impress them with my knowledge and my own efforts getting stronger. Still, I can't help but feel this underlying sense dread in the back of my head. Like something terrible is happening that involves both the people I loved.

I hope they are safe.

/

Ankha's P.O.V.

I couldn't move and I couldn't breathe, to see the outline of this monster among this fog. Its growls and looming presence are sending me over the edge. Somehow, despite this fog I can feel that it can still see me. It knows where I am and everybody else. Yet, it did nothing for the next minute until it reared up and with a mighty wave of its wings blew the fog to the side and revealed all of us. More importantly though…it revealed the beast itself and in all its glory.

There standing before us is a large monster which looks to be three average homes long and tall. Metallic scales of the beast shined of dark twilight with black crimson coloring towards fire like sunset colors of red and orangish hues that glowed more brightly towards the center of it's body. Shining like fire at its chest. The beast had a dragonic structure, six limbs, four legs and a pair of wings which are developed into large claws that look like they can crush the earth easily. Looking at the front pair of legs I noticed they are more developed, resembling hands and have noticeable mounds on them that give the appearance similar to boxing gloves. I noticed too that there are patches of dark colored fur on the shoulders, wrists, ankles, head and along its back. Looking further down I saw its tail which looks like a blade, but more of that of a large standard broad sword. Adding to the lethality are these small blunt spikes on the flat side of the tail.

Following the body up to the head I also noticed some spiky ridges that sparked with power. Yet it pales in comparison to the head of the beast. Its jaws are covered in some kind of boney plating, like a solid set of secondary teeth that hides its true maw. Sticking proudly from the top of its head are two horns that are practically fused together as a single profound sign of dominance and power. Having a stronger glow towards the tip of the horn. From the sides there are signs of twitching frills not too dissimilar to the raptors we defeated before. Of course, there was the eyes, those gods forsaken four pair of black and gold eyes that pierces the hearts of those who gaze upon them. Which includes me.

I was staring into the eyes of death itself two of the eyes on the right side were staring at me and Lucky. You could cut the silence with a knife as we all stood there for another minute before the sound of coughing took the monster's attention away from us.

"Heh…heh…its beautiful…." Aten muttered weakly as the monster stood over him. I watched with horror as the monster grew angry and raised a crush claw over the weakened Jackal.

"Aten!" Senura shouted as the monster viciously brought the claw down and crushed the fallen chosen with such force that we saw a shockwave that moved the bones in the arena. Silence befell us all as the beast lifted the crushing appendage and revealed nothing but bloody paste of what used to be Aten. The sight was nauseating as his crumpled body was no longer moving and bits and pieces of him were still stuck in the palm of the beast's claw.

We simply stared as suddenly a magic circle surrounded the body and a sarcophagus formed out of the circle. I heard this is what happens to chosen if they suffer grievous damage, we won't die as that is part of our pact with the gods and goddesses who chose us. However, I never seen the process before. The gilded coffin encapsulate Aten's remains and disappears in a flash of light. All that remained was the blood that was spilt.

The beast looked at the spot perplexed for a bit before it returns its gaze back to me. It tilted its head and is trying to examine me. Why, I did not know, and it unnerved me to know that it had some sort of interest in me. I was snapped back to reality when I felt Lucky push me back and directed his spear towards the beast. Shouting at it to stay back. I watched on with horror as the beast's face turned from studious gaze to enraged as it reared up and gave a loud roar. That was then hell broke loose.

Immediately, Anippe and Bomani attacked the beast with their weapon and ki attacks. The elemental attacks did little to nothing and to everyone's surprise their weapons bounced off the hide of the creature. In retaliation the beast swatted them with its tail like annoying flies. More of the chosen and their guardians joined in the attack on the beast. Sekker shouting that the beast must not leave. All the while coughing perodically, which filled me with dread. There was something in that fog and it affected all of them except Lucky and I. Whatever it is, it has weakened them considerably.

The beast turned to face them, turning its back to me and Lucky as it swung its limbs around to batter or crush the opposition. Slamming its crush claws into the ground occasionally, to try and squash them like it did to Aten. Eventually it would rest its wing appendages on its shoulder and began to use its tail more in its attacks.

"Ankha, come on! We need to help them!"

"R-Right! Sorry, but where do we even start? When I went hunting with Nacho, he told me that we need sharp weapons if our current weapons will not cut through a monster's hide."

"That is problematic, there has to be something we can do though."

"The eyes, the mouth and maybe the underbelly are alternatives we can use."

"That's better than nothing, let's go!"

Lucky got me on my feet as we joined the fray. The beast still using mainly physical attacks on the others while they use what they can against it. I shouted out to them possible weak points to go for and immediately they changed their strategy. While for me I had Lucky give me a toss onto the back of the monster as it was busy attacking the others. I grabbed onto the fur on its back and held on for dear life as I made my way towards the head of the beast. It was no easy feat as the beast reared back with surprise after I heard an explosion go off. No doubt Senura blasting a large fire blast into its face. Strangely enough I felt another twinge of distress in my body when that happened, however, it was not as strong as before.

I honestly had no plan of attack and just thinking things up as I go along. I am hoping that once I reach the head, I could try to stab out its eyes so it would be blinded. Hopeful thinking at this point as I tested one of my swords on its back and it barely penetrated the skin of this beast. Worst of all, the monster was not even phased by this attack. It simply carried on with its attack as it roared. Not long after that it jumped back and shot a ball of fire at the others. After that there was a pause in the beast's movements. I looked ahead and saw the beast was staring off into space for a few seconds before firing off more fire balls and breathing out a stream of fire. The monster hopped with excitement as it clacked its jaw a couple of times as suddenly it just fires a salvo of rock like balls of fire that rolled onto the ground and exploded. I was confused by this behavior, but then I remembered. It was just awakened from the cocoon; it does not know what it can do! So, it is still learning!

"Oh, in the holy name of Ra its still learning…" That realization had a wave of dread come over me as I tried climbing faster.

The monster was getting trigger happy with little breaks in between. It gave another roar as it reared up and began firing fireballs into the sky. My eyes widen as I heard my comrades shout out to get out of the way to each other as it rained small meteors from above. Multiple crashes and explosions from the burning hell fire. It is a fast learner and is willing to experiment. That is never a good thing and I need to put a stop to it now.

I managed to reach its head and that was when it finally noticed me. The beast stopped in it's tracks and began shaking its head in an attempted to shake me off. I managed to hold onto its fur as tightly as I can before the beast finally stopped and opened one of its wings from its shoulder. Its limb being moved to reach me as it hovered its crush claw over me, but not in a violent manner. Instead, delicately as if it were trying to be careful. I was about to try and get out of the way when an arcane bolt was launched at the claw which was only strong enough to push it away from me. However, this also served to anger the monster again as it clenched its claw like a balled-up fist.

("You keep away from her monster! I am Sekker! I won't let you leave from this place!") The ibis man coughed a bit as he said this. I felt the monster turn its head to directly face him and when I looked up the crush claw was crackling with energy. I saw the others run to take different positions as the beast roared as the claw caught on fire and slammed the claw onto the ground. Causing the bones and land around the impact zone to erupt like a volcano before it forced its claw left and shot out a wave of fire at those in that direction.

Fortunately, Lucky was nowhere near that blaze as I saw him work with Bomani and Donkor doing their best to push the monster off balance with heavy attacks. However, they as well be hitting a brick wall with toothpicks as their attacks did nothing. Spears and bullets bounced off the leg, this got the monsters attention still and now it began using both of its crush claws. Slamming both at different intervals and causing an eruption left and right. I heard Iota cry out in surprise as I saw her get launched into the air.

("Iota, I got you!") Asim shouted as he flew in to catch her. I saw him falter mid-flight, but he still made the attempt as he managed to grab her and both of them crash into the ground. As for me, I was trying to interrupt the beast's attacks by swinging my blade at its eyes or pulling on its hair. Both of which served to throw off the beast to some degree and annoy it. Seeing that this took off some of the aggression off my allies I pulled harder on the hair and it roared with pain and discomfort.

It stopped its rampage and tried reaching for me again but gets interrupted again when a blast of water pushed it away. This cycle of interruption infuriated the beast as it gave a deafening roar as it slammed both of its crush claws on the ground, planting them into the floor and began creating seismic shockwaves. I pulled on its hair again, but this caused an unexpected development to occur. Four tentacles came out from its back, their appearance eerily mirroring the tentacles of the dead monster we saw earlier. However, they were bare and larger than the dead creature, but its bareness did not last long as the beast roared and suddenly a hard earthy carapace began covering pieces of the tentacles, armoring them up. Before long two had the appearance of separate monster heads and the other two had the appearance of sharp monster tails.

This was not good as one of the heads looked at me and semi-carefully coiled around me before trying to pick me up from the back of the monster's head. I held tightly to the hair as I could, but the tentacle's pull was too strong, and I ended up pulling out a couple of strands of hair from the beast. That earned a pained roar from the monster as it shook its head. Despite the terrifying situation the monster was not crushing me, rather just applying enough strength to restrain me. My arms still had range of motions, but there was truly little I can do. The tentacle's bony carapace covered any exposed tissue I can stab or slash at.

Focusing my magic, I began firing balls of fire at the monster as it continues it attack on the others. Despite how much power I put into my spell the blasts did little to affect the beast. Even when I aimed for the head. There must be something else I can do! Thinking fast I remembered the summoning crystal Audiotoria gave me to summon her. If there was any time to summon a powerful being, now would be the time. The only issue now is reaching it, it was hanging around in a small bag around my belt. I cannot reach it with my arms, so I need to use some other means to reach it.

My legs cannot reach, but maybe my tail can. Carefully I snaked my tail as far as it can and felt my bag. Being as careful as I can I managed to loop though the ropes and hook it on my tail. I gave a small yes as I carefully aimed the bag as the best I can.

"Azhum's teachings don't fail me now…let this work!" I tossed the bag into the air with my tail and focused my magic in grabbing the bag. I neglected my training with this type of magic so I was unsure if it would work. Thankfully, the magic worked and a golden, yet shaky aura grabbed the bag, halting its descent.

Pulling the bag towards me I manage to grab it once it was in range which was a bit hard as I was still wielding the swords. Neither of which I am able to sheath or magically store yet. Regardless I managed to adjust myself so I can open the bag and take out the crystal. Grasping it in my right hand I raised it into the air and shouted.

"Audiotoria! I request your aid!"

The entire area was showered in blue light as a torrent wave of water crashed into Chimerialis and heavily pushed him to the side. The surprise attack knocked the beast off balance and almost took me with it if it was not for a blade of water cutting through the tentacle holding me. The beast's roar of pain was great, and I once again felt a bit of that pain myself as I saw its red blood leak from the wound. I noticed that the part of the body that was hit by the water torrent the scales were shredded a bit. A good sign as was caught by Audiotoria herself, she freed me and let me down on the ground.

"Now this is quite a predicament you summoned me to. This must be the beast Bastet warned me about."

"It is, it just recently awakened. We failed in preventing its awakening, but we need to stop it now before it escapes!"

"I see, I'll see what I can do. You might want to check on the others lady Ankha, they look terrible."

I nodded as I ran over to my allies which have been scattered about from the attacks of the monster. Some limping, some sitting and others hiding. They did their best, but the battle was too intense and contrary to the battle before. They were all weakened from the fog somehow and I needed to find out before it was too late. I quickly ran over to Iota who is heavily breathing as her Guardian Asim was tending to her, trying to keep her conscious. Even though she was the best healer I have seen thus far, she is unable to tend to herself.

("Ankha! Thank the gods you are alright; can you use the purification spell?")

("Yes, I can, do you know what's happening to her?")

("I don't know, *cough* but I know whatever it is it has to do with that fog the beast came in. It's weakening us.")

("Hold on, I think I know what we are dealing with, but first Iota,") I put my weapons down as my hands glowed with fire and placed one hand on her head and one on her chest. I took a deep breath as I poured magic fire into her body and used it to clear out the plague in her systems. A virus that I am familiar with, but it was no match for my magic. Where medicine failed the arcane prevailed as I felt every single cell of the virus being burnt away. After a minute or so all traces of the virus were destroyed. A sign of this was Iota's breathing improving.

("Thank the gods…you don't know how much it means to me that you helped her.")

("I can get an idea, your turn but once I'm done then you two need to get out of here. There is now way you can continue fighting until you recover.")

("But the beast! We can't just let it roam free!")

("I know…we can't fight like this though. I do not know how long Audiotoria will keep him at bay. Do you have a summon that you can use?")

("What? No, I don't, actually I am surprised that you have one. How did you get your hands on such a powerful artifact?")

("I earned it when I cleared a elemental temple made by Bastet. Am I the only one who got one?")

Asim was about to speak before a crash was heard as the beast got back on its feet and was attacking Audiotoria with fierce attacks. Blowing fire and swinging at her with its tentacles and arms. I was surprised to see the tentacle that was cut off fully regrown and now was breathing fire along with the other tentacle with a skull like head. While the siren queen was countering the monster with powerful water magic, it was clear that the beast is adapting. As it followed up a fire ball with a tail stab when she counters the fire with her water magic. It nearly impaled her if not for her ability to be lithe and agile.

This drives me to focus my magic on Asim and purify him of the virus before sending him off on his way with Iota who was slowly gaining lucidity. Asim pulled out a scroll and charged it with magic before opening it and creating a portal. He told me that the portal will be open for ten minutes and if there is anybody else that wants to leave then send them this way. I nodded as I ran into the battlefield once again. Doing my best to sidestep the crossfire as the bigger battle raged on and I found more of the other chosen who were wounded and sick from the virus. It was Kunamet, Bakari, Jakamun and Ishaq. I purified them of the virus and told them of the portal Asim created. We fought for a bit, but I was able to convince them to retreat with reluctance.

I ran into Lucky again who looks damaged and weathered but otherwise able to move. He was healing some of the wounded he found with some potions he brought. Anippe and Bomani having the more serious wounds compared to their guardians: intense burns on parts of their body, having some broken bones, and generally looks like they been through the wringer. I quickly told him what was going on and he understood as I got to work on purifying the others. One by one they began to breathe easier and no longer cough but were still weakened. I did not see Senura, her uncle or Sekker and Akins which only worried me as the clock ticked.

It took great effort, but we were able to convince the two warriors to retreat thanks to their guardians. I breathed a sigh of relief that they managed to avoid the crossfire as the beast developed a new attack. Sparks of electricity coat the scales and flowed through its fur. I felt my fur stand on end from static as the monster planted its feet and roared and bolts of electricity arc from its body in multiple directions. Each bolt causing an explosion as it made impact with the ground.

Audiotoria cried out in pain as she was caught in the surprise barrage. The beast followed up on this by firing more bolts through its tentacles. They found their mark and caused the siren queen to fall to the ground hard. Still despite the pain she fires a bolt of water into its eye which caused the beast to flinch. I kept running with the other as we finally escorted Anippe, Bomani and their guardians into the portal. Safe out of harms way but we are still missing Senura, Sekker, Kafele, and Akins. With little time left, Lucky and I tried to look for them as Audiotoria restarted the battle with the beast, the chaos increasing as electricity flew. I heard short hymns and songs from the siren to increase her power of her spells. I hardly heard it over the deafening roars of the beast.

Despite this we were eventually able to spot the four doing their best to damage the beast from their end. Fire one spell after another, but the monster paid no attention to them. It was too focused on the siren queen to notice their weaken attacks. They might as well be throwing pebbles at it. They looked seriously injured and their wounds aren't healing, I can tell they are simply being desperate to do anything to help the summon in the fight.

("Senura! Sekker! We got to go! The battle is lost, we don't have much time but there is a portal we can escape with!")

("B-But it's our duty to stop the beast! We can't let it leave Ankha! *cough, cough*") Senura tried in vain but her coughing fit and the blood that leaked from her side was proof enough to me that she can't fight.

("This isn't a time to argue! Your hurt and the virus inside all of you is keeping you from recovering and fighting at full strength! Sekker you must understand we can't win like this!")

The ibis closed his eyes and sighed. From what I made note of his personality, he is no doubt determined to see this mission to the end, but smart enough to know that it is not currently possible. We made eye contact and he nodded at me, ("Ankha is right…*cough* we need to retreat. Where is the portal?")

("Over there, Asim created it with a scroll, but we must hurry as there is only a few minutes before it closes. I can cure you of the disease plaguing all of you after.")

I gestured them to quickly to follow me and Lucky as we tried to race across the battlefield. We had to make quick detours as the beast's lightning strikes covered a wide range and blocked our path a couple of times. Bone materials, dirt and some water flew upwards and scratched at us as we ran past. I looked around and seeing Audiotoria losing ground a quick idea formed in my head. We may not be able to beat the beast, but maybe we can buy the world more time.

"Audiotoria! Use your magic to collapse this cavern!"

"What?! Oh! I see, I'll handle it!"

A smile came across my face as we reached the portal. The siren queen avoiding and charging up for one more magic spell. A brilliant blue aura of magic began surrounding her as she finally held still and took some powerful electric bolts directly. She remains steadfast as she let out one last song. Roaring like waves in a storm, blades of water rise and began crashing into the walls of the cave. Shaking them and causing their integrity to fail. I would have stayed longer but Lucky reminded me the portal was about disappear. With confidence I ran into the portal with my sworn brother just as the siren queen increased her pitch and boulders began to fall.

/

Running onto a grassy plateau as the portal closed. Lucky and I looked back to see the entire structure of Wyvern's End collapse into itself. Chunks of rock falling into a newly forming large pile of rubble. I could hear the beast's surprised and pained yells even from the distance we are at. For some reason I could not help but feel an ache in my heart as I heard it. I took a small breath of relief as Audiotoria flew out of the rubble and appear before me.

"The beast still lives, but by the looks of it the monster spent much of its energy in the battle. It will be a while before it will try to escape from the rubble. Make good use of the time Ankha, I need to rest as well."

"I understand, thank you for your help. We'll do what we can from here," The siren queen smiled at me before turning into magical energy and flowing back into the summoning crystal. I let out a sigh of relief as I turned around and went to purify Senura, Sekker and their guardians. After that, I simply sat down with Lucky as we all stared at the rubble where the beast was buried under. We failed to seal the beast before its awakening and now only bought the world more time before it breaks out and unleashes its destruction on the world. Even worse, the possibility of the other two triggers being set off is now a looming threat. We had to be even more careful from here on out.

After a few minutes of resting, we got up and began to walk away from the area. We needed to report back to the gods and make new plans going forward. Still, there is a connection between me and the beast. What it is, I need to know. Maybe that will be the key to beating this monster for good.

/

? P.O.V.

"Whoa! This is a discovery for the ages! I came to research a Nakarkos and instead I find two new monsters! One that looks like a mix of three 'ggi' monsters and the other looks to be a new kind of elder dragon!"

I giggled to myself as I dusted myself off. The entire cavern collapsed when some water lady brought the place down. I did not get a chance to draw her down, but I managed to capture the image of the other two monsters.

"Oh, they probably need a name…hmm…those 'ggi' things I shall call Jabawros! Jaggi, Baggi, and Wroggi all mixed into one! I do not know about the elder dragon though. Oh well, I will come to it eventually when the time is right. As for proof though…" I smiled as I pulled out some monster parts I managed to take from the conflict. Jabawro scales…frills, some teeth, a good haul overall!

The elder dragon was something else though, I could not get anything big off it, but what I did get can be considered groundbreaking. I managed to gather some of that weird fog into a vial and a few scales. I know from Doodle's battles with the Magala monsters that it would be a bad idea to breathe it in. Now that I think about it, that elder dragon did have some features I seen on the Magala monsters and some other parts I seen on other monsters in my books. I wonder why though? Whatever, the sooner I get to the research department the sooner they can send people to retrieve the body. Though I do wonder who where those strange people fighting it? One looks kinda of familiar…hmm…I'm sure it will come to me. Of course, there is a better question that comes to mind.

"Where is my ride back to the village!"