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Elfdragon12– Lol. Sorry and thank you. Suspense is always fun, but can be very agitating at the same time. Gotta love it XD
Ani Mei – As Kurama would say "I admit, you've caught me with my hands red" … or something like that. Lol. Thank you! Aw. Lol. I didn't see anyone cry at my graduation, but that doesn't mean anything. Then again our graduation was kind of hilarious with the dozens of beach balls and one balloon that look like- dare I tell you- a key piece of male anatomy XD Everyone who saw it was laughing so hard! XD
Reiko5– I had to read that a few time before I smacked myself and say 'duh, the message is clear enough'. Lol. Can't believe I didn't understand it at first. But ya, I hadn't seen that until you pointed it out. I love Touya-kun :) But I also seem to like make drama in the poor guys life. Lol
Chapter 31
A throbbing cheek was mostly what Era was aware of for several moments, but the back of her mind paid careful attention to the demon that was not far away mending his broken jaw. Once again her blood had been shed, but this time she had dealt something in return. A broken bone and only a broken bone Van-Gareth had endured, not even a drop of blood had been spilled.
She'd have to do better than that to win this battle.
A faint murmuring filled the air. It sounded awkward, a noise she had never before heard but somehow knew what it was. It was the ancient speech of the gods, a language neither she nor most of her kin for that matter, had ever been able to learn as only the priests and priestess of her people had ever heard it, on rare occasions. By their tone she could guess that they were discussing the battle, but she knew not in what manner. Did they still have faith in her? Or had they given up?
With a frown she took her hand away from her cheek and stood. The part of her sleeve she had used to stop the bleeding was completely covered in blood, but that too faded in moments as water absorbed it and sank back into the ground.
Van-Gareth wobbled his jaw back and forth, making sure it was back in its proper place. He was clearly agitated and made the fact known by whipping his arms forward, towards the water maiden, sending thick spikes at her.
Era took several jumps back, evading each spike by mere inches. She stopped herself with an extra step, half expecting the shadow beast to in her face at that moment. Van-Gareth however was still in his same position, arms still out from when he had launched the attack. His blood red eyes were holding a look of malice and pleasure, an odd combination since he had not even skinned her in his assault.
Sudden shock overwhelmed the maiden as she felt something pierce her shoulder, not stopping until it had cleared her flesh completely. That something was a smaller creature that had formed from the spike she had last evaded. The creature looked something like a gremlin with two horns atop it head where vile grin lay.
Grabbing hold of the spike like arm of the creature she applied more than enough force to both rip it out of her body and cause the creature the dance around in pain as it tried to pull away. In an attempt to free itself it changed its arm into a spike and flung it at her, but she caught it easily enough.
She had let her guard down once to these creatures, something she would not allow again. Proving this to herself was easily enough with the events that quickly befell her.
The seven brothers of the gremlin like creature were quick to come at her to aid the captive creature. The attempt proved fatal for the captive as Era placed it in the way of an oncoming assault. Without a second thought she let go of the dead creature's arms and punched one of the other creatures in the face as it tried to pounce on her.
Van-Gareth withheld his laughter as he watched the maiden fight his shadow minions. It had been some time since he had last used them, but Era had never before encountered them and with her badly wounded shoulder defeating them would be even more of a nuisance.
"What are those things?" Rinku asked.
"Shadowgri," Firan answered. "They are creatures only able to be summoned by shadow demons, hence their physical make up. Their true power lies in group attacks. Alone they are vulnerable, unless they catch their prey off guard like they did Era."
"So 'ow strong are they?" Jin asked.
Firan thought of how to put it in terms they would understand, "Alone, mid to upper B class, as modern times have come to classify demonic power. In groups they can be compared to a mid S class level."
Yusuke made a face, "That's a huge power lift."
"The problem is not them," Touya spoke up. "Their simple enough to defeat for Era. It's Van-Gareth she has to watch out for."
"Wisely said ice master," Eralasea calmly said.
Era was more or less holding her own with the shadowgri. She had not been dealt another wound, but she had to move about with high agility to keep ahead of their assaults. Two of the creatures lay dead, but that left six more to deal with.
A shift of something in her peripheral vision altered Era to a bigger problem. Her greatest foe had merged with the shadows and she had not the time to relocate him as she dealt with the 'high pitched squealing jumping beans' as Suzuka had put.
Feeling the desperate need to rid herself of these pests she commanded the water to come up directly in front of the creatures. The shadowgri smacked into the hardened wall of water, three of them breaking their necks, leaving the other three to fall to the ground dazed.
"Era look out!" The familiar voice of Touya cried.
Ducking the maiden just missed being struck in the back of the head by Van-Gareth's clawed hand, but it had sliced about two inches off of her hair. She saw the blue strands fall to the ground and a very cross look came to her face. Even though half of the blue in her hair was still present she could not tolerate an unwanted hair cut.
Lunging to the side to evade an oncoming blow she rolled and came to face in her opponent's direction. Her hands came to chest level before shooting out, palms turning to face the shadow beast, sending a jet of water strait into his chest.
The sharp movement caused a surge of pain to emit from her shoulder, reminding her of her injury. She summoned a column of water just as thick as her wound and allowed it to fly right through the damaged area, causing her to cringe. In its wake was nothing as it had hastily healed it.
By that time Van-Gareth was on his feet and the Shadowgri were once again running at her. With the whip of her arm the bloody water wrapped itself around the nearest creatures neck, breaking the fragile bone, before it was flung into its ally, knocking it over. The last one was dealt a fatal blow through the heart by the water before the liquid fell to the ground and was absorbed once again.
Turning Era yelped; Van-Gareth had turned into a jaguar like beast and was mid pounce, claws extended, when she had taken notice. She managed to grab the front legs, but fell with the weight of the creature.
Era fought to keep the sharp claws of her enemy away from her body as she lay trapped on the ground. Van-Gareth's snake headed tail bit down into the maiden's legs, causing her to grit her teeth in pain. When the beast opened his mouth to roar it got a mouth full of mud and water, which had sprung from the ground beside the maidens head.
Taking the distraction to her advantage Era kicked the beast to the side, dislodging the sharp snake teeth from her legs. Once on her feet she was force to kill the last of the shadowgri, but her diverted attention caused her an ample amount of pain through the means of a harsh punch to the center of her face by Van-Gareth, who was back in normal form.
The blow sent her flying backwards, only stopping she crashed into the energy barrier just in front of her friends. A sharp cracking noise was heard and white line sprung up the shield, but they disappeared just as quickly as they appeared.
Era was dazed with a badly bleeding nose as she sat uncomfortably on the ground. There were fireworks going off in her head and her vision was completely spotted because of it. Part of her face was covered by her hair, some of which was catching the blood as it ran from her nose.
Touya moved to just diagonal of the dazed maiden and knelt down; had the shield not been present he would have been at her side. "Era get up," he practically commanded. He could clearly see the shadow beast approaching, a vile smirk plastered on his face. "He's coming, you have to get up," this time his voice was almost pleading.
"Era get 'ou're butt up," Jin half yelled from behind her. "You'll be getting' 'ourself killed if ya don'."
If the water maiden had heard them she made no distinct sign of it. She merely brought her hand to her nose and applied pressure to it in an attempt to stop the bleeding, but it was clear that she was still somewhat dazed.
"Get up Era," Touya pleaded. "You can beat him, we all know it."
This time Era made it known that she had in fact heard when she turned her head towards him. Touya was slightly shocked at her appearance. Blood covered the area just below her nose, splotches of blood above it only because of her hands position on the bridge of her nose. The sticky red substance dripped from her chin and trailed down her neck to leak into her white clothing.
"Oi, the sheila's nose it broken!" Chu proclaimed.
"Era…" Touya was at a loss for words, but saying her name revealed that he was deeply worried.
The maiden forced a smile. With a tug on the soft cartilage she repositioned her nose, causing a rush of blood before it calmed down to the flow it had been moments before.
"Isn't this quaint," the malice filled voice of Van-Gareth broke through the air. "It's you who are going to die despite your claims."
Era's gaze suddenly turned cold and she looked to the shadow beast. She did not move to get up, nor did she speak, but her harsh gaze said all that needed to be uttered.
"Go get him Era," Yusuke said encouragingly.
"You can beat him kid," Suzuka said with a smile.
Era once again turned to them. She saw all their encouraging faces, Yusuke's thumbs up, Rinku smiling at her with his hands behind his head and Jin's goofy grin that had so many times before made her smile and did not stop her from doing so this time around. Her attention turned to the ice master who was smiling softly at her.
'Era, my child, sometimes what you need most is something you cannot hold in your hands, but something you can hold in your heart.' Her mother's voice rang in her head.
'There is nothing here that can aid you in defeating Van-Gareth dear child. At least there is nothing here yet.'
Perhaps what her mother had told her when she was younger and what her goddess had told her only hours ago were one in the same. Perhaps she had been looking for what she needed in the wrong places.
"We believe in you Era," Touya told her softly.
What she had always needed had been right there in front of her. Her friends, the very people that had become like family, was all she truly needed. Yet to call Touya a friend seemed to be the wrong word usage, but she was at a loss for the proper one.
"Enough of this nonsense," Van-Gareth frowned. He threw several spikes at her to end what he had started.
Without even turning her gaze to the demon she summoned a barrier, stopping the spike easily. As before they began to change into the shadowgri, but before they could change completely the water constricted, destroying them as it came together and formed a dragon.
"Enough of your nonsense," Era turned her head to gaze dead on with him.
Water ripped out of the ground and wrapped around her, absorbing all the blood and sealing the wound in her nose. The deep red water shot away from her and united with the watery dragon before her, becoming the beast's teeth, giving it an even more menacing look.
Era let go of her nose and put her hand out, "Go."
The dragon roared louder then the fog based dragon had within the forest. The guardians chimed in with their roars and a low rumbling was heard from the fog that was swirling around the outside of the arena. The noise filled the night air sharply and could almost be compared to an army's battle cry just before they charged onto the field to face their enemy.
Van-Gareth took a step back instinctively. He took another when the dragons ceased to roar and the watery one before him gazed fiercely at him through its silvery eyes.
Without warning the dragon charged forward, teeth ready to sink into his flesh.
Ouch! Broken nose, pierce shoulder, what the hell Era! Lol. It seems her dragon means some business with its killer jaws. What will become of Van-Gareth?
Find out in the next update.
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