The volcano could only be described in one word. Foreboding. you could feel the blistering heat from miles away, If it weren't for the excessive amounts of preparations they had, They would have passed out by now, The volcano was Straightforward. And The presence of Nyx had driven off any monsters that were nearby... It was even Affecting Aurora. Perhaps What he was saying about her being more dragon than Human was truthful. But that was besides the point. The point was that Nyx had attempted to slaughter A child. And then Attempted to again with witnesses. That factor alone Proved Drakes point.
But now he understood why Aurora had been so... emotional ever since. A Dragons pride Was supposedly their greatest asset. One that he found quite attractive. But After he heard Auroras account of what happened, between slitting her own neck in a final act of rebellion and waking up in a place that she didn't even know existed. He could only guess that the entire thing had been Emotionally Stressing. She had been even more distant than usual. But At the thought of Tearing Nyx to shreds she seemed to brighten up. But Drake knew that she couldn't pretend to keep a straight face forever.
Then there was Aran and Trent, Fury unmasked in both of them, a chance for revenge and redemption at the same time. Taking no more chances than they had too, they were the most prepared, Aran in his Azure Rathalos Gear, his Lance, now a matching shade of blue, it was true Charlotte could work miracles in the forge, but she hadn't made anything so seamless before in her life. Perhaps a little extra motivation was all she was lacking. but either way, the two former outsiders were s determined as the rest of them.
Before long, they were in the center of the volcano, oddly, the lava was only seeping out on the far sides of the gaping hole, looking straight up, they could tsee the cursed black and red figure distinguished as an Alatreon, and standing next to it Was Nyx Himself. The curved Longsword made of the Alatreons own body in his hand, A clear sign of his cruel behavior towards the monster. With the help of the psychoserum, Drake could sense the Alatreons Reluctance as It jumped down onto the platform where the six of them were standing.
"Well, I can see that you didn't understand my message at all, Stupid Dragon" Nyx Walked down the stairway along the side of the volcano, before leaping off of the side onto the platform above the lava "Your inability to co-operate will cost these five their lives. I hope you understand that..."
With a snap of his Fingers Nyx withdrew up the side of the hollowed out volcano to the ringed platform higher in the sided peak, the small Alatreon Let out it's familiar, startling Roar and lowered it's head at them, seeming to Ignore Aurora, it stared down the five men angrily.
"Get a move on!" While they were all distracted Aurora had darted behind the Alatreon and was on her way up the walls edge, the fast climber she was, she was already to the top before drake darted to the left of the Alatreon, he had just cleared the Alatreons side before it jumped sideways at him. blocking him off from the other four... who despite the lack of teamwork at the current moment, seemed to be more than holding their own. Looking up the cliff, He saw Aurora, her Light Armor looked absolutely spotless, It's spectral design a work of Charlotte, matching her blade to a near perfect pattern. But his attention was torn as his vision of Aurora was cut short by The Reaping Longsword that came so close to cutting Auroras head that it grazed her shoulder as shestepped to the right, Her spectrum already in movement as He pulled himself over the edge, The Spectral demolishers out of his pockets and aimed at the Heavily armored man in front of him, taking immediate care for the opening, He darted in close to Nyx, Painting the front of his Armor in Brachydios Slime, Rolling back, Aurora leapt over Him and ignited the slime, The explosion, nearly knocked Nyx's helm off, before he held it back in place.
"Erk! Well, It seems you two, especially, have a history, very well, This is the battle We shall end with!"
Aurora pulled back only for a moment "To end in my failure, or my greatest Triumph!"
Jirall actually enjoyed fighting with a bow opposed to a halberd. It gave him clarity over the battlefield and gave him plenty of areas to warn his partners of oncoming dangers... his only complaint was that his first time using a bow had to be against the god damned Alatreon of all things...
"Arnie! Roll left!" Arnold Immediately leapt to his left as the Alatreon plowed his horns into the side of the volcano, not taking an opportunity for granted, Arnold smashed his Alloy Hammer against the right Horn, after a few attempts, The already wounded horn Shattered and The Alatreon stumbled backwards. Roaring so Loudly that Even Nyx had to press his hands against the sides of his helm.
"Very good eyes, Keep up the good work!"
Arnold had approached Jirall and handed him a few Arrows that had missed their Mark. before running off to the same side as Trent, Leaving Aran off to the side, His unflinching Gaze no doubt settling upon a few soft spots in it's wings, before he would thrust forcefully at whatever he could find, after seconds of nothing, he turned his attentions to the beasts hide, before adjusting his grip on the weapon, Jirall saw a flash of rage mixed into Aran's eyes, He dashed forward, mauling the beasts lower side and leg, before absolutely tearing the beasts tail off, it hitting the ground with a crash. Jirall leapt over The tail, not bothering with it quite yet as He moved a further distance away from the Already weak beast. before the beast got back up and roared at them, It immediately Charged forward barely able to avoid the Alatreon as it smashed the climbable terrain behind him. blocking all access to the upper level where Drake and Aurora were paired against Nyx.
"well that can't be good..."
"NO SHIT!" Trents sarcastic Yelling overshadowed the stomping of the beast beyond them. yet behind both sounds... there was a sound that didn't exactly belong... flapping Wings? Before he could finish the thought, he felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end, and everything came to a stop... the Alatreon stared up at the mouth of the volcano. looking up at Aurora and Drake, their batle had come to a standstill as well. Looking up, he saw something he could never have seen in his wildest imagination. The large white wings of a Massive dragon, upon landing, he saw the short arms, sharp claws, and large head of the Elder Dragon. The White Fatalis had Joined the Fray.
Aurora couldn't believe her eyes, The extinct White Fatalis had decended into the volcano, watching closely, She saw it glance at her as it landed, facing the Alatreon, the other four behind it, backed into the entrance of the volcano, as it stared down the smaller Elder dragon, It's crest glowed red and the air shimmered with red sparks. It Lurched forward and attacked the Alatreon.
"But How!" Aurora was shocked "We're supposed to be extinct!"
Aurora was brought back to her senses by the flash of movement in front of her, Drake had blocked the longsword from cleaving her in twain with just a hair of breathing room before she kicked Nyx's Arm, sending him reeling
"Never lose Focus Child, It'll be your downfall."
keeping close tabs on both battles now, Aurora began her assault, out of the corner of her eye she'd see dark red bolts of electricity would be scattered thoughout the cliffside, having to adapt to her surroundings quickly, all the while the Volcano seemed to grow unstable. Whenever one of the dragons would crash into a wall the three of them would have to regain their balance. whenever an Ice shard appeared over their heads, they had to roll back to avoid the shattering shards, each so ragged that it could tear armor. as could be seen on Nyx's side of the field each swing of a blade leaving a spark, each spark igniting Drakes Brachydios slime, each explosion taking so much out of both sides.
"Drake!" Aurora reached and pulled him back as I fire ball roared between them, not having a chance to block herself, She felt the heat singe her arms, but what caught her eye most was a puddle of slime that had dripped off of Nyx's armor, before giving it any thought, she plunged her Spectrum into the center of the pool and vaulted over it standing on one hand on the blades hilt as it exploded, She felt herself get launched into the air, but oddly... her fear of heights didn't affect her now. She felt the wind around her, it danced the same way she spun around in the Air. Opening her eyes she looked down at the two dragons fighting oh so far beneath her, She saw the White fatalis get it's powerful jaws around the Alatreons neck, with a single blast of red sparks, The Alatreon fell lifeless, to the ground, The Fatalis Roaring in victory, turning back to her own position, she pulled the blade close to her as her ascent faded into a fall, Her blade poised exactly as she wanted it, she felt the wind blowing past her as she picked up speed, until finally, she felt the Spectrum crash against the side of Nyx's Shoulder the blade going straight down, she felt no resistance, no bones, no organs, Just the feeling of cutting through butter. Before she let go of the Hilt and crashed into the ground, unable to feel her legs as she hit the ground.
"Aurora?! what the hell did you do?" Drake had picked her off the ground and held her arm over his shoulder, grateful for the support, she looked at Nyx, to her surprise, Nyx was not completely destroyed. He was on one knee, the armor on his chest completely severed, with his left hand, he grasped the hilt of the spectrum and tossed it to the ground, out of energy he stayed motionless. Aurora looked to her side and saw the giant Fatalis head in front of her, instead of being absolutely paralyzed in fear like Drake was, She felt an unsteady calm, she could hear the Elder dragon perfectly.
"Grandpa!" She reached out and hugged the monsters massive snout in a childish way. but then stopped for a brief moment. "Dad? no you don't mean?" Aurora turned to the unmoving Nyx, who knelt supported on one knee, unmoving, unspeaking, Aurora reached out and grasped the helmet and pulled it off.
Underneath the Helm, was nobody at all, peeling the broken armor open, Aurora saw two items adhered to the heart of the armor, a small medal, and a letter, before bothering to ask, She turned to the Large elder Dragon and Bowed curtly, before rejoining her companions in the entrance of the Volcano, the White Fatalis already departing the same way he came in. Exiting the cave in silence All six of them were both shocked, and brimming with excitement.
Rosalyn waited, and waited, not in self pity, but in confidence, awaiting the same caravan that had taken her daughter away. Charlotte waiting beside her, the town felt heavy as the sun began to set, most of the people waiting had already left, they had already given up hope on the hunters, But now with only these two remaining, the familiar sound of wheels approached the settlement, Five people exiting the caravan, followed by Gigima,
"where's Aurora?" Rosalyn immediately seized up. Before she could get an answer the loud crash behind her made her turn around, A massive monster had landed in the clearing in the middle of town, Large, white, and intimidating, before she could so much as scream the familiar blonde figure she knew as her daughter hopped off the Dragon and hugged her
"I'm home.." Those words sent Rosalyn over the brink of tears which she brushed away with her sleeve as Aurora handed her a note, the penmanship shook her to the bone.
"My dear Rosalyn, and my child as well, My dying wish cold not be fulfilled with you both at such a young age, I wanted to live with you both, peacefully, but the world thought otherwise, So I leave my hunters mark to my child, and to my Wife, Please, never let the world around you decide for you, The choices you make have decided the outcome of our child, if you are reading this, then Our child is stronger than I ever was, and for that, I thank you, and please tell our child. That The world is out there, so many people to meet, so many places to see, and so many cultures to shock! so please, if we ever cross blades again, let it be many long, fruitful years from now. Love, Reo."
It had been a year since Auroras battle with her Father's ghost, a dragons test of adulthood, now, her settlement had moved into the guilds town, and of course, Jirall and Drake insisted on Living with the Hunters in their old home, and after expansions, became the largest functioning hunters base in the entire guild, Never a dull moment, always a friend to talk to, and you couldn't be happier, Your daughter has become a G-rank hunter in record time, Her friends are the most trustworthy group you have ever met, and your daughter still visits your grave once a week, tell me, are you proud of your daughter? are you proud you tested her so thoroughly? Because Trust me, She still wishes to see you face to face... maybe one day... her wish could become a reality, perhaps the cultures could collide one more time...