Hey guys, here is the next update of this fanfic. Hope you have been enjoying the read so far.

Anyway, enjoy this new one.

Chapter Cover: Shinji's back as he stood facing the front.

Chapter Eleven

The True Name of the Blade

Saul couldn't feel pain rising through his body as he was slammed into the far wall of the room. He was so shocked that someone had managed to overcome his Defensive form. The young man landed on the ground in a hip, pain shooting through his form. The young man glanced toward the enemy across him finding her standing across him with those strange scales upon her arms and face.

What type of magic is this? I thought she was a Fire Wizard at first…but then this transformation…

He stood up from where he had fallen, still feeling the stings of the attack coursing through him, however, he knew that he can't allow himself to fall here. He was one of the Commanders of Minotaur's after all, and they were the strongest in his forces.

As if I would allow myself to fall to a no name wizard like her…

"I must admit," he said, addressing the silver haired girl across him, "You are far stronger than I expected you to be. Someone like you couldn't have been in Atlasia for long, you must be a foreigner."

The girl blinked.

"How did you figure that out?" she asked, surprise in her tone.

Saul let out a small smirk.

"Because if you weren't, you would have never passed under Minotaur's radar," he said, as he was slowly taking off his gloves, "I don't usually chance my tactics when I am in battle since there is hardly anyone on this side of Atlasia that can break through my defense, you should consider yourself lucky."

The girl narrowed her eyes at him, but didn't say anything.

Saul finished removing his gloves, letting them drop upon the ground revealing his palms. Each of his hands had a white circle that covered his entire palm, looking like the skin had completely whitened in the area alone.

Saul then joined his hand together, forming an orb of light within his palms.

"You will face the full might of my Palm Paw Magic," he said.

Suddenly the orb grew in size as the girl's eyes widened in shock at the sight of it and then light completely filled the area completely as a massive explosion completely overcame the area, she was standing in causing the building to shake around them. Saul couldn't help the small smirk that grew upon his face as he was staring at the area in front of him.

My palm Paw magic is quite destructive in his attacking mode, he thought to himself, able to blow anything and anyone away into smithereens…you were strong girl, but you are finished with that attack…

The smoke dissipated away from him and Saul feel confusion as he noticed the shadow that was within the dust in front of him and when it was completely gone, it revealed the silver haired girl still standing in the same exact place she was before, thought the only difference was that she had placed her arms in front of her face to shield herself from the blast which had destroyed the ground around her and even created a hole behind her giving way out toward the darkened sky behind her.

The girl's eyes which were a dark color stared at him from behind her shielded arms which were covered in the same silver scales as before and with her clothes ripped in places. Saul feel his eyes widening in shock at the sight in front of him.

S…She is unscathed…how…

"You're going to have to do better than that to hurt me," the girl said lowering her arms.

Saul narrowed his eyes in anger at his attack having no effect upon the girl. The man launched himself forward both of his palms glowing against with his magic. The silver haired girl took her stance again as silver flames took presence around her again before she launched at him. The two met in the middle as he launched his palm forward releasing a large blast of power just as the girl herself launched her fist forward.

The two-magic clashed causing the ground around them to crack as the area they were in shook with the pressure of their released powers. The backlash of the attack caused the two fighters to step back but nether of the removed their look from each other's eyes.

Saul was instantly on the offensive again launching his other hand forward with a blast of magic aiming straight at the girl, but she went low dodging the attack, allowing it to fly over her. The girl came up with an uppercut straight into his jaws rattling him as he spun away from her rolling upon the ground.

Blood dripped from his lips but Saul ignored the pain, instantly pulling himself as he created more orbs of light from his palm.

"Palm Magic, Scattered Orbs."

All of the orbs flew forward as they all aimed for the silver haired girl encircling her, so she will have no chance of escaping the attack that will reach her however, she didn't even try to escape as both of her hands were engulfed in the same silver flames as before.

With a yell, she spun her arms around unleashing a wave of flames from all around her causing the orbs to explode when they came in contact with the fire from her and Saul was surprised yet again. He never expected her to be able to burn his own spell away with her fire magic.

Her fire magic is stronger than I thought, he thought.

Then the girl attacked, launching herself forward. She moved fast aiming straight toward him before she spun in the air, launching an arcing kick straight toward him.

"Silver Dragon, Flaming Heel."

The attack came down hard toward his face and Saul raised both of his hand in retaliation, both of his palm aimed forward to counter but the girl's attack smashed through his causing him to yell out in pain as he was forced upon his knees by the weight that was behind the attack.

So…heavy…, Saul thought.

He looked up toward the girl again seeing a fist heading straight for him, smashing straight into his face as silver flames filled his vision and then he was blasted backward flying through the air and crashing through a wall before rolling down unto his back, completely and utterly defeated.

Saul couldn't believe how powerful this girl was. Her magic was completely off the charts and he knew that she was more powerful than he was. He never thought that he'll meet someone that could face against the Commanders of Minotaur and be strong enough to defeat them in combat…

This sensation…it's familiar….

Saul knew that. He had felt this sensation before and strangely enough the memory his boss, Minotaur appeared within his mind as the man was staring down at him with a frown upon his features.

So… that's what it was…it was just like back in that day…

Saul looked up toward the girl finding her staring at him.

"You're just like him…," he said, "To think…one of the Commanders would be defeated by a no-name wizard…"

"You're the second one I've defeated," the girl answered him, "The first one was the Afro guy."

Saul feel surprise rushing through him.

She defeated Karmer as well…she really is strong…

With Shinji

Shinji was gritting his teeth as he held upon his blade, staring at his enemy across him. Azil had a grin upon his face as he stared with both of his hand engulfed in his shadow magic as he launched blast and blast after him and Shinji used his Sword's Light Magic to blow the attack away.

Shinji took a stance again as he launched forward but as he was aiming straight toward him, Azil suddenly sank into the ground almost like he disappeared into the ground itself. However, Shinji knew what had happened and knew that the man had transformed himself into a Shadow yet again. The Dragonknight turned his attention around him again as he held his sword at the ready waiting for the attack that will surely come for him.

"How do you think you're going to be able to leave this place Shinji?" Azil's voice echoed around him, "You are nothing against the Commanders of Minotaur. You are nothing against what we are, not even worth the dirt underneath our shoes."

Shinji couldn't help the snarl that escaped his lips at that.

"And if you're so powerful then why are you hiding in your shadows," he yelled out.

A dark chuckle escaped from the man's lips, and movement caught Shinji's eyes. The young man turned toward it, instantly attacking with his glowing blade but all he hit was nothing more than shadows which dispersed against the light magic of the blade and Shinji feel surprise running through him at the sight.

Not here…but…

Shadows grew from the ground around him and Azil's sprung forth with a punch aiming straight toward his stomach…straight into the wound that wasn't done healing. Pain shoot through the young man as he let out a gasp at the attack, and Azil let out a dark chuckle looking at him stumbling away as he clutched where the wound was.

"That's…dirty…," he growled glaring at him.

Azil's answer was to continue attack with a wave of shadows slamming straight into him sending the young man crashing back down into the far wall of the hallway.

"That's what is called battle Shinji," he grinned, "To take advantage of your opponent's weakness and turn the tide against them."

Shadows spun around his hands.

"Shadow Bullets," he said.

Numerous blast of shadows aimed straight toward Shinji who's eyes widened in shock at them but he couldn't dodge at all for they hall hammered into him as well as cracking through the wall around him making several marks appearing around him. Blood fell from the wound at his side as well as his lips as Shinji gasped in pain.

Then he tilted forward…to fall down in defeat…

A young blond-haired girl smiled at him.

"Shinji."

He placed a foot forward, to stop himself from falling down.

"Oh…still standing?" Azil said, his shadows increasing, "I thought that would have done you in…"

Shinji gripped his sword.

"I swore to myself…that I will protect her…," he said, "And what kind of knight will I be…If I fall without protecting the princess?"

Azil let out a laugh.

"Protect the princess? Are you talking about that brat Minotaur has taken? Seems kind of backward considering we already have her in custody…you failed to protect her back in Hyades…what makes you think you can protect her now? You can barely stand in on your own two feet."

Shinji straightened himself up, blood falling from his lips but he didn't even mind it at all. The young man then, aimed his blade straight forward with both of his hand upon the handle.

"I've seen all your tricks," Azil said shadows spinning around his hands, "You can't defeat me Shinji."

"Not all," Shinji spoke out.

Then, Shinji ran a hand on the steel of the blade which was slowly started to glow even more as it was starting to transform into light itself.

"I was originally hoping to not have to use this against you," he said, "I wanted to save it for Minotaur but given how the situation is going, I am going to have to use it. You should feel honored Azil for you face something that few enemies have ever seen, the true form of this blade."

Azil tilted his head.

"It's just a magic sword," he said, "I don't see what's the big deal about it."

The sword in Shinji's hand glowed like light as he held the handle. It was like the steel of the sword itself had transformed into nothing but pure light and within that light was a mix of many different colors, all swirling together to form the blade.

"As a native to Atlasia, you might know it under a different name," Shinji spoke out, "However, you'll know just what type of sword I am holding when this battle is over."

Azil only laughed as if the very thought was absurd. With both of his hands encased in shadows, he launched another attack straight at Shinji who took a stance not even moving as the attack aimed straight toward him. The young man stood still looking at the attack coming at him, his sword of light at ready.

I know where he is…and he won't be expecting it…I just need to do this right…

Just as the attack was about to reach him, Shinji let out a yell and with a single slash, launched a wave of light straight forward. The wave was powerful enough to cut through the shadow attack causing to crash on either side of him however, he did hear the yell of pain when the wave of light hit Azil straight in his chest, causing blood to flow from the wound.

"W…What?" Azil said shocked, "I…I'm hit?"

The Shadow wizard had his hand upon the wound that was upon his form, his eyes shocked at what he was seeing. He stared up toward Shinji who had taken his stance again, his eyes staring at him. Azil knew that there was no way he could have hit him.

My attack was completely destroyed and yet, he managed to reach him this far away…All I saw was a wave of light flashing by…I couldn't tell if it was magic or anything at all and yet, he still managed to reach me even this far away…

Shinji raised his glowing sword once more and Azil, since he didn't know the true capability of this blade, instantly disappeared into the ground transforming himself into a shadow once more. With the dark hallway, it would be easier for him to hide and away from that sword's attack.

I'm going to have to…

His thoughts trailed off as he saw Shinji swing his sword once more, unleashing that wave of light once more and to his shock, the wave bend to the side and was now aiming straight for him. Azil quickly moved, his shadow form dancing across the wall but he didn't get far as the wave of light reached him and with an explosion of pain across his back, Azil was forced out of his shadow form, flying through the air and into the ground.

What the hell…how did he managed to hit me…I was sure I was hidden…

"I had forgotten to mention…," Shinji spoke as he walked toward him, "That once this blade had tasted your blood…it will never miss you again as long as you're within it's range."

Azil stared at him.

"Your sword…is that powerful?"

Shinji took a stance once more.

"Yes," he said, "After all, it is unbroken."

Azil's eyes widened lightly.

"No…," he said, realizing just what sword that Shinji had in his hand, "You don't mean…that sword…"

"Sword Magic, Holy Light," the Knight spoke out.

Light overtook Azil as he yelled out in pain from the attack unable to defend himself from the attack. He couldn't believe it…how could Shinji had such a weapon in his grasp…

Shinji let out a gasp of pain as he stared at Azil's form upon the ground, defeated and covered in bruises. He wasn't moving as well probably passed out from that last attack he had done. Shinji can feel the sword he had returning to its normal form as he glanced down at it and he already felt just how low on magic power he was.

It was one of the reasons he hated using its real form, as it always eats up too much of his magic power at each use. He knew the Commanders were strong but he never realized just how strong they were when they were in their natural elements.

I hope Aesyr is doing better than me, he thought, Given how powerful she is…no time to think on this…I need to find Yael and get out of here before Minotaur realizes what's going on…thought, given the racket we've been making during our battle. I wouldn't be surprised if everyone know we are here now.

The young man turned away from the fallen Azil and quickly made his way out of the hallway he was in, continuing upward toward the top of the tower. Aesyr had told him that Yael was here and he was going to make sure he keeps his promise this time around. He wasn't around to save her back in Hyades village but he will make sure to protect her this time.

Don't worry Yael…I will protect you this time.

Victory in the battle...Shinji moves forth...

Next Time: Dragon Slayer

Jacques0 out.

R&R