I don't own YYH.
Sorry, this is a day later than I originally planned, but with me working until seven at night (I need to get money for collage, which starts the middle of next month for me) writing my stories gets put off so I can relax a bit. I didn't update last week because I was on vacation, sorry I forgot to mention that.
Thanks for reviewing:
Elfdragon12– Thank you :D I've been doing my best to work on making my fight scenes less glitch, which meant lots of revamping and extending before I updated. To tell the truth my original fight scene (planning it in my head) had only been maybe two chapters long. Lol. Obviously that changed drastically XD Hmm, pay back, if only it were than easy…
Reiko5– Lol. I love dragons so I can't resist putting them in. Sorry for the delay, but I hope you enjoy this chapter… it has a huge twist.
Ani Mei– Thank you :D Lol. Hearing that you're cheering for Era must mean I'm doing something right. Lol. Cliffy's are so fun to write though! Plus they keep me from getting major writers block most of the time. Ah, I wouldn't call it greedy, just the sheer want to know what's going to happen, which is a good thing :)
The Fullest Extent Of The Raw – Lol. DBZ theme song in action. It's alright, I do that myself sometimes. I'm glad to hear my battles are being liked by you and everyone else :D Lol. All I heard at my graduation when I walked across the stage was my last name yelled by someone. I later found out it had been my best friend.
On another note, do beware. There is what can be called a major twist in this chapter. I set it up a couple chapters back and now you'll see why I had a certain aspect explained.
Chapter 32
The water dragon raced towards Van-Gareth with its jaws wide open, its blood red teeth shimmering in the fading moon light. Dawn was closing in on the legendary fighters, an hour to which only those who knew of the ancient battles could understand the horrors yet to come.
Modern scriptures were ever vague on the details and ancient ones had long since been reduced to dust and scattered to the winds. Some known tales, no one knowing from where they originated, say the gods, who watch noble battle such as the one in progress, turn their backs come dawn, making the victory of the battle worth little more than that of mouse escaping a cat. Others say the gods become impatient and end the battle themselves, leaving neither a victor nor a loser.
To those who had the chance to read the rare modern scriptures they would find only this message:
The gods watch great battles from their homes afar, waiting and watching from dusk till dawn, upon which the most horrid of events do befall the battle grounds.
This fact neither Eralasea nor Firan would speak of to the friends Era had made along her journey; it would be something they would witness if the battle was not finished soon. The goddess had been no fool when she had spoken of time as something very important. No, she, in fact, knew just how important it was and because of that she silently hoped for Era to end the battle soon.
"The dragon is ingenious," Firan said with a pleased look. "It is, by far, her most powerful attack."
Eralasea said nothing in return for several moments as she watched Van-Gareth narrowly evading every assault the dragon tried to make. "She has realized what she must," she said softly, "But I question if it is now too late."
Touya gazed up at her questioningly, but something told him not to ask what was now nagging his mind. Perhaps it meant nothing, though he highly doubted this idea given the wisdom the goddess held. Turning his gaze back to the battle he found and almost pleasing sight.
Standing tall Era gave silent command to the dragon she had created with both her element and blood. Her face was stern and her aura more powerful than ever before. She seemed very much different, yet she was still the maiden Touya and the others had freed some weeks ago.
Legends always seemed to emerge after events such as this, but how would the new generation come to tell it? Often did tales speak of valiant hero's risking their life to restore order, yet would this be the same? Would fate's final decision let darkness or light reign supreme?
As everyone watched the battle no rightful answer could be give, only hopes and desires. The gods remained quiet, the guardians seemed statues like as they stood unmoving and even the fog that had once swirled around the outside of the arena seemed to lie ever still.
The battle would end soon, one way or another.
Van-Gareth hurtled a wave of energy at the dragon, hitting it on the side. The impact did not harm the creature, in fact it only proved to make it more aggravated. With the whip of its great tail the shadow demon was sent flying into a far obelisk with a painful crack.
The dragon wasted no time in running towards the winded shadow demon. Seeing the beast closing in on him he took in a sharp gasp of air and made a desperate move; he made himself two dimensional against the ground. The dragon crashed into the obelisk, splattering into one giant puddle that fell to the ground, not leaving one scratch on the stone.
Van-Gareth moved away as the water fell, only getting a few drops on himself as he went, before returning to his natural form. He was about to laugh at yet another feeble attack when something caught his eye; the puddle the dragon had turned into was shifting about and climbing in both height and width. Within seconds the dragon was back and standing mere yards away from him, roaring loudly.
The brief moment of shock that Van-Gareth had accidentally let overcome him proved costly. Before he knew what had happened something had wrapped tightly around his legs, keeping them planted to the ground, and climbed upwards with great haste to bind arms to his sides. Looking down he realized, with anger greater than that of an exploding volcano, that water was his captor.
"Where are you getting this power from?" Van-Gareth hollered; his words in the ancient tongue to Era's ears but in the modern one for everyone else due to whatever power Eralasea continued to release.
Era placed her hand over her heart, "Here," she said, "Through something you neither understand or care about."
She gave command to the dragon to strike and it obeyed without hesitation. The shadow beast wrestled to gain freedom, watching as the dragons sharp blood red teeth came closer inch by inch. He was pinned, defenseless and about to be reduced to mere fodder for the dragon his enemy had created.
The mighty jaws of the dragon clamped shut with a nerve racking noise. Era gasped loudly, shock filled her friends, Eralasea and Firan closed their eyes and tilted their heads slightly to their shoulders and Van-Gareth stood staring at the jaws that lay just centimeters from his face.
Ghost like arms were gripping the dragons tail, whatever it was connected to was lost somewhere underground. White mist began to arise, thinner than that of the foggy dragon outside the arena, but a much more menacing aura was held by it. The captured dragon roared as if in pain before exploding, spraying water everywhere.
In a panic Era looked to the horizon and cried, "Oh no!"
Slowly color began to fill the sky as the sun rose for the start of another day, deep red hues being the first colors to greet the eyes of those who had seen nothing but darkness for hours. The blackness of the sky much higher from the horizon began turning blue and the stars began to fade back out of view.
Dawn had arrived.
With her attention being drawn elsewhere the water binding Van-Gareth fell to the ground. The freed shadow beast however did not take advantage of his opponents shock for he too was now staring at the horizon.
"What's going on?" Touya asked in concern. No response came to his question from the gods who kept their eyes closed.
The gods within the obelisks were murmuring back and forth to each other in their strange language with hurried tones. They seemed unhappy about something, perhaps even concerned.
Era jumped as something grabbed at her legs. A frightened expression no one had ever seen upon her face became clearly evident as she moved about slowly, gaze locked on the ground she could no longer see through the mist.
Van-Gareth might not have looked as his enemy did, but he was cursing in the ancient tongue and quickly moving about to evade the ghostly arms that seemed attracted to him more than her. The reason for this was simple, the creatures, what ever they may be, were attracted to energy and Van-Gareth was letting off more than Era now that she was panicked.
A sharp tug on Era's hair released a yelp of both pain and fright. The creature which had grabbed her was half out of the ground; it was a sinister looking thing that appeared to be half ghost, half undead with a jaw that wobbled as it gave off nauseating screeches and empty eye sockets that seemed to somehow pierce through her very soul.
With a shriek of terror Era ripped her hair out of its grasp, losing a great many strands rather painfully, and nearly jumped sky high as another creature just like it tried to take out her knees.
"Ancient wraiths," Kurama said fearfully.
"What?" Yusuke asked in confusion, not being able to hide a shiver that crept up his spine.
"A horror like no other," Kurama breathed. "They carry with them a fear so strong that even the bravest of hearts cannot withstand it. It's an ancient curse I thought was only legend."
Touya turned all attention to the disguised foxed, "An ancient curse?"
With a nod Kurama spoke, "I ran across a tale centuries ago when I was treasure hunting speaking of this. It was written in a faded book with its pages crumbling even at the slightest touch. All I got from it was what wraiths were and that they were cursed to those who battle, which never made much sense to me- until now- because demons battle all the time."
"What do you mean?" Rinku asked, his voice shaking in fear.
Kurama took in a breath in a vain attempt to calm himself, "Wraiths disappeared when the ancient gods did, but now that they are back to watch Era's battle the wraiths came back as well."
"What will happen to Era?" Touya asked in concern.
Kurama closed his eyes, "Wraiths are not known to leave survivors."
"No," Touya breathed, sweeping his gaze back to the maiden he had become so fond of. "Hang in there Era!" Touya yelled.
Van-Gareth growled and tore his arm away from a ghostly hand. He cursed himself for not paying heed to time. He should know better! It wasn't the first time he had done battles under conditions that could potentially end with the same effects now around him.
A cry emerged from Era as several hand locked themselves on her legs so tightly there was no way to find release. How could the battle end like this? It wasn't fair! She had been milliseconds away from winning!
A tear fell to the ground as her hair was once again grabbed, making her lean heavily to the front (her hair having been draped over her shoulder). "No fair!" she screamed, trying to pull away with all her might. To be dragged down into the mist meant leaving this realm of existence and be forever locked in Limbo; not something anyone would desire.
With a scream Era formed a ball of energy in her hands, attracting a great many wraith hands to lock onto it. Grinding her teeth she used all her might to bring it level with Van-Gareth before she released it.
She fought to stay above the mist as more arms grabbed at her. She had to see her enemy fall before her!
Van-Gareth, having been fighting off the wraiths, noticed the attack too late. While it wasn't as strong as Era could have made it, it was still able to knock him off his feet and fall into the abyss that was the fog.
Eralasea suddenly looked up for the first time since dawn had first spread its wings. An explosion from within the arena blinded everyone and shattered the godly barrier around it, sending the mist outward.
BIG TWIST! The battle ends but no victor is known… if there is even one. Is Era locked in Limbo with Van-Gareth? Why did the godly shields around the arena shatter?
Find out in the next, and last, chapter.
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