Besieged
The dragon descended quickly, too quickly, and Yu feared that none on the battlements would be able to raise a defense in time before the creature did unparalleled damage to the castle walls. Already he could feel the wind stirred by it's great wings hammering against his face, could feel the enormity of it's presence bearing down upon them like an avalanche, an unstoppable force of nature no one had a chance of evading.
Then a sudden black mass appeared on the great stone bridge connecting the castle to the city, huge and imposing. Torchlight glinted off great claws, and Yu caught a glimmer of gold as a second roar rose up in challenge, this one familiar and igniting a spark of hope in his heart.
At the same time, great plumes of fire jettisoned up into the sky, billowing like huge, swirling clouds that scorched away the rain and lit the world below it like a small sun. Tiruviel was it's source, her proud head upraised as golden flames erupted from her mouth, the embers licking across her golden scales and casting them in ruby. Above them, the other dragon backpedaled, the furious beating of it's wings rousing the great fires even more and sending them whirling through the air. Still, it did not escape completely, the flames singeing over it's obsidian scales and sizzling the edges of it's black wings.
The dragon roared, and Tiruviel returned it in kind, flecks of fire still trailing from her mouth. Her legs bunched, muscles coiling tight beneath her scales, and then she sprang into the air, wings drumming powerfully and shedding water with every flap. The black dragon wheeled away from her, a spray of viscous green liquid trialing from it's fangs as it dodged her snapping jaws before plummeting down to the castle.
Yu grabbed the person nearest to him and yelled, "GET DOWN!"
Everyone dropped, and no sooner had they done that did the black dragon pass by their balcony. Cold air blasted through the columns, the whole stone foundation seeming to quake as the wind tore at his hair and clothes, the only sound he could hear in the chaotic flurry. His mask was ripped away, and he was half blinded by the rain forced in by the dragon's powerful wings, one hand gripping the water-slicked stone tight in an effort to keep himself from being thrown back. But they only had a moment to breathe when it was gone, because right after Tiruviel flew by as well, chasing after the other's tail. Her passing was no less turbulent, kicking up the curtains and washing the floors and walls with water and debris, her roar bouncing through the stone corridors and sending his ears ringing.
Then she, too, was gone.
Even with their passing, the stone continued to tremble beneath him in the aftershock, shivering as if in fear. Breathless, Yu clambered back to his feet, habitually taking stock of everyone's condition.
No one was hurt, thankfully, but the corridor was a mess. Water pooled across the floor, and several curtains had been torn down, now laying in sodden clumps on the ground.
Beside him, Chie was scrambling to her feet, lending a helping hand to Yukiko as she did so, "W-what the hell happened?! What's going on?!"
"No idea, but whatever it is, it's not good," Yu replied, peering out over the ledge. The cerulean shapes of the water creatures had reached the tents now, and he could only just make out the shadows of people scurrying in the dark. Still, even from so far away, he could hear the screaming.
"I bet those party crashers had something to do with this," Yosuke said, brow furrowed in anger.
"That don't matter right now!" Kanji cut in, pushing aside any remaining embarrassment in light of the situation, "We gotta go help!"
"Agreed," Yu nodded. They couldn't wallow here, hiding behind the castle walls. There were innocent people down in the city, and they had to do something!
That was when Rise gasped in alarm, "Guys! We've got trouble!"
She was pointing down, down to the rocky cliffs below, and Yu only had to glance to see what she was talking about. More of those creatures were crawling up the side of the cliffs, some coming right for them, moving with disturbing effortlessness as they slid up the castle foundations.
A sudden hand gripped his shoulder tight, and he was thrust back, away from the ledge. Divistan and his fellow guardians all stepped forward, arranging themselves in a line before the balcony edge, procuring blades from their robes as they waited with faces as grim as the weathered stone. Without turning around, Divistan pointed down the hall, back to their rooms, and he didn't have to speak for Yu to understand his meaning.
"But, what about you?" Yukiko asked, understanding as well and looking uneasy about leaving them behind.
He dropped his hand and gave no answer, and in that was the answer itself.
But there was no time to argue. Already, Yu could see the light the creatures gave off steadily growing brighter, caroming through the grooves of the pillared columns. They had to move.
"Come on!" he shouted, giving the order and gesturing for everyone to follow him. He gave on glance to the shadowed quartet keeping watch, and hoped they were strong enough to fend for themselves until they returned.
The others followed, and he gave them orders as they ran, water splashing beneath their feet, "We need our weapons and armor if we want to stand a chance against these things. Get them as quick as you can, and we'll plan from there!"
"Leave your shirts on as your padding!" Naoto chipped in, mind no doubt flying a mile a minute, "The runes will help us understand what the others are saying, and we can get a better read of the situation with it!"
"Good idea!" he said, catching himself on the wall as he sharply turned the corner.
Their doors were unlocked, and he flung it open with a bang, racing for the leathers he'd left out on his bed. He pulled the pieces on faster than he ever had before even despite the dim light the lone candle shed, fingers flying on the buckles and fastenings before strapping his sword to his waist. Reaching into the pouch looped to his belt, his fingers clutched at something small, hard, and warm, something that seemed to pulse as he withdrew it from its resting place. The gem Tiruviel had given him glinted in the palm of his hand, flashing like fractured ice in the frail candlelight. He had a feeling he might be needing this very soon, and once he was sure it was secured safely in his pouch, he turned to the others.
"Everyone ready?"
The guys nodded, words of assent echoing in the tiny room. Taking a breath, Yu turned back to the door and stepped outside, just as the girls exited their own room in full battle garb, weapons in hand.
They only had just enough time to come together when a loud scuffle tore their attention back to the other end of the hall. A swirling tunnel of water blasted around the corner into view, and a shape caught within it's clutches slammed into the wall of the corridor adjoining theirs. With a thrill of horror, Yu saw that it was one of the guards, who slumped down to the floor soundlessly.
"Come on!" Yosuke shouted, charging.
With nothing left to wait on, Yu pulled his sword free and followed, rushing around the corner and sliding into the fray that dominated the balcony.
Three of those creatures had oozed into the corridor, their bodies undulating unstably, with barely any shape at all to their name. The torches had long since been extinguished, the only light coming from the creature's internal cores that shed the corridor in eerie, cerulean-tinted shadows that shifted like living things. The rest of the hall was drenched in total blackness, the dark hemming them in with almost claustrophobic intensity. The only definite body part Yu could make out on the creatures were the two bright blue pinpricks of light that served as their eyes, eyes that raked over their prey with an almost mad ferocity. Two of the guardians were engaging them head on, silvered swords darting into the monsters liquid flesh so quickly Yu could barely see them. The third stood back, lightning crackling around her hands as an arc of static energy shot out and ripped into the biggest one present, sparks flittering down its surging body like erratic fireflies. They were holding their own, but they were looking frazzled. Who knows how many there had been before he and his friends had arrived.
"Yukiko, help him!" Yu said, gesturing to the downed man before turning back to the fight, trusting her to take of him. The one closest to them was small and had its back turned to them, and it would be good to get some of the pressure off their protectors.
But any notion of planning he had went out the window when a sudden and violent motion made him turn his eyes to the window, just in time to see another tide-creature rise over the balcony ledge, sluicing through the columns like jelly before sliding back into it's whole form.
With blue eyes burning, it swung a gelatinous fist at them.
Yu kicked back fast, stone flying beneath his feet as the creature's pseudopod slammed into the space he'd once stood. An arrow zipped over his head as Naoto let one fly, the sharp point digging into the elemental's body, sinking until it was absorbed in full.
Kanji, Yosuke, and Chie charged as one, with varying levels of effect. Kanji's hammer crashed into it's body with a loud splash, tearing a chunk of living liquid out of it's torso, water spraying the boy in the face. As it rounded on him, Yosuke slid in from behind, daggers darting lightning quick but doing little damage to it's gelatinous flesh.
Chie had still forgone her staff, relying instead on her trusty legs as she round-housed the creature in the side. Then she jerked as her momentum was abruptly brought to a halt, water sliding around her leg like creeping ivy and gripping just as tight.
"Hey! Get off!" she shouted, pulling back with all the leverage she could muster, trying to tear the water away with her hands.
The creature paid her no mind, instead turning on Kanji and swinging furiously. One fist missed its mark by a wide margin, but the other slammed into the boy's chest with enough force to send him stumbling.
Another arrow went flying, and by that point Yu was rushing in as well, sword singing through the air as he swung. It cut deep into the part just above Chie's leg, and he could feel his power wither, movement slowing as the water absorbed the impact. But the tendrils recoiled, just enough for Chie to pull herself free. He saw a flash of gold behind the monster, Teddie keeping well out of the monster's range as he snuck in quick blows when it's back was turned. But even with all their combined attacks, Yu could see that they had still done very little to hurt it.
"Guys, I don't think physical attacks really work on this thing!" Rise shouted, sword in hand but dithering on the sidelines.
"Well, we don't have a lot else to work with right now!" Yosuke shouted, hopping out of range of the creature's swipes.
Yu ducked under another swing, sword tip clipping through what passed for the monster's leg, "We do."
"Kinda, but unless you've figured how to do it on your own Partner, we're sunk there!" Yosuke reminded him, and Yu had to acknowledge his point. While they all had slowly begun to broach their powers and draw them out, it only ever seemed to happen when they were dueling one another. Synergy, Yvir called it. Otherwise, he couldn't even call forth a spark.
But now, if there was ever a time for the rpg trope of deux-machina to come into play, this would be the moment.
Sliding back and letting his friends take up the fight, he took the time to breathe and concentrate, just like he had been taught.
He could feel it. Over time, the sensation became easier to single out and focus on. But to draw it out just on his own was the tricky part now. Concentrate . . . concentrate . . .
"YAH!"
The cry came from Chie as the monster caught her foot in it's bubbling grasp and hurled her aside like a ragdoll, her back slamming into the balcony ledge, bending back so far her head dangled over the side. For a few heart-stopping moments, she teetered dangerously close to plummeting over the edge before her weight dragged her down to the safety of the tiled floor, where she lay struggling to rise.
Teddie made to run for her, but in his haste he failed to consider the water pooling languidly between him and the girl. Yu could only watch as the boy's feet sharply slipped out from under him, sending him crashing to the floor with a cry and a splash. And, seeing easy prey, the monster turned to both of them, eyes burning blue and wrathful. Without pause, it raised both fists over its head, intent on crushing both to powder where they lay.
Yu was already running. Water splashed up to his knees, soaking through his armor and chilling to the bone, but he powered on. He could see Yosuke sprinting too, as quick as he had always been, a dark blur within the rain-swept corridor.
Their eyes met, and without having to say a word, they both knew what they had to do.
Breaking away, Yosuke slid effortlessly to the creature's right side, just as Yu slid into position on the other. In perfect unison and with nothing but the creature between them, they lunged forward and struck as if they were attacking one another.
Brilliance flashed between himself and the brunette across from him, who's face was just visible behind the shivering sheet of water composing the elemental's body. At once, lightning snapped over his head in a dazzling streak right as a torrential wind spun out in a violent blast. The ripping current slammed into Yu hard, yanking him off his feet and sending him skidding across the waterlogged floor. When at last he stopped, he coughed and gasped for air, rolling onto his side and pushing himself up onto an elbow as he blinked away stars. Though his head spun dizzyingly, he was coherent enough to think that, yes, wind-based attacks were just as painful as he remembered them to be.
But it had done it's work. Caught between the two attacks, the creature had no choice but to take it as it's body was shredded by storm and gale, twisting and writhing across the ground in agony. It wasn't until the last spark had faded that the monster's will finally gave out, the light of its eyes vanishing as its body collapsed in on itself. The freed water rolled and splattered across the floor, crashing against the walls like waves against a rocky shore. It washed over him as well, rising as high as his chest before it slowly swelled back down, chillingly cold but far less painful than the creature's fists had been.
"Senpai, you alright?!"
He blinked as Kanji suddenly appeared in front of him, clasping his shoulder and looking him over in concern, "Hey, can you hear me? What's two plus two?"
Despite the throbbing in his head and the aching throughout his body, Yu couldn't stop a smile, "Fish."
Poor Kanji just looked alarmed, "Uh, Yukiko-senpai, I think he's cracked something!"
Yu waved at him, shaking his head, "No, I'm fine. It was . . . a joke."
He struggled to rise, gratefully accepting Kanji's offered hand to help him back to his feet. The younger boy didn't let go, instead allowing himself to be used as crutch, which Yu was also very grateful for. The world hadn't quite stopped spinning yet.
He took stock of the situation as Kanji helped him over to the rest of the group. The first thing he noticed was that it was much darker than he recalled, so dark he could only make out his friends silhouettes at first. The second was that when his eyes adjusted, he saw that their guardians were with them now too, and it was only then he put two and two together and realized that the hall was completely deserted of monsters. For now, the situation here had been contained.
Yosuke was on his feet as well, looking a little singed but no worse for wear. The one Yukiko had helped was back on their feet as well, and he could see the rest passing out small vials to his injured friends. Seeing him up, Divistan stepped closer, hand held out and open. In his palm, Yu could make out another vial, the liquid within barely visible in the gloom.
"Thank you," Yu said, knowing better than to question the contents as he accepted the gift. Biting the cork out with his teeth, he tipped it back and drank it in one gulp, the potion within going down smooth. It had barely any flavor aside from a hint of mint, and he felt his mouth tingle as he swallowed, a tingle that then spread to the rest of his aching body and soothed away the pain.
He pulled away from Kanji, now sure on his feet again, before addressing everyone present, "Is everyone alright?"
"We are, thanks to you and Yosuke," Chie said, hands braced against the small of her back and stretching it out, smiling at him, "That was a good combo! I bet that thing didn't even see it coming!"
"Good thing it didn't, or you two would have been in trouble," Rise said, but she looked downcast. With a huff, she glowered at her sword, "Ugh, I wish I was better at using this thing! I felt so useless . . ."
"Hey, you've only been practicin' for a week," Kanji put in, not unkindly, "It takes time."
"But time is something we don't have," Naoto added, tone serious. Her eyes were trained over the balcony, staring down at the city, "We're not out of danger yet."
Everyone sobered up as they followed her gaze. The swirling tide pools that had formed in the lake had ground to halt, leaving nothing but swathes of bubbles in their wake, and the unearthly light they'd shed had flickered out perhaps ages ago. But the beasts they had unleashed were still running rampant, and through the lashing sheets of rain, the dim, orange smolder of unchecked fires could be seen. The spots appeared no brighter than candles to them, but he could only imagine how intense and wild they must be up close. Up above, somewhere in the clouds, Yu could hear roars as loud as the thunder and see fire breach through the vapors before dissolving into black, sodden embers that fell with the rain.
"We've gotta get down there . . ." Yosuke murmured, hands clenched around his knives.
"Those people need our help . . ." Yukiko agreed with somber gravity, but in her eyes was a familiar spark he'd seen before.
Yu felt his resolve harden, and he turned to level his gaze on Divistan, "I know you were ordered to protect us, but we can't just sit here and watch this. And I don't think you can, either. So please, let's go together and help, in any way we can."
Even now, it was hard to really tell what Divistan and his companions were thinking. But Yu was certain something passed between them as they turned to look at one another, something they all shared.
It only took a moment, but when Divistan at last faced him again, it was to nod in agreeance and gesture down the hallway.
Relief flushed through him, "Thank you."
"Well then, what are we waiting for? Let's go!" Chie shouted, and like that, everyone was turning to move, falling behind their protectors as they took the lead.
Yu was about to follow, when a small hand stopped him. When he turned, it was to find Teddie staring up at him, blue eyes filled with worry and fear, "Sensei . . . are more people going to get hurt? Like at . . . at Sedgeridge?"
A sobering reminder, and one Yu couldn't fault the boy for considering. But now they could do something, and Yu didn't hesitate to remind him as he placed a hand on the blonde's shoulder, "Not if we can help it."
(*)
The palace was disturbingly silent as they made their way to the front, the guards having been dispatched to the frontlines to defend the gates and the city. From time to time, he'd see a few running to and fro and escorting nobles, but other than that, the once lively and bustling fortress was still. Of their counterparts, there was no sign.
The castle entryway was barren, but the front doors were wide open, and beyond they could all hear the familiar sounds of a clash.
Their guardians made a beeline for the doors, taking up a position at the head where they could better defend them if need be. With little other option, they followed, hearts in their throats but determined to see this through to the end.
Beyond the castle doors was a large, smooth expanse of marbled floor carved straight out of the cliff itself, a half-moon shaped terrace that was open to the elements save for the thick wall circling its perimeter . The ground was slick with water, rain continually hammering the stone so hard it rippled and bounced. The lone portcullis across the front doors was all the separated the castle from the bridge, where its steel gate would usually be closed to the chaos beyond. Now, however, it was flung open wide, and the terrace was alive with the fighting shapes of men and women against numerous lake-born attackers. Battle cries and screams carried high over the rain, swords, battle axes, hammers, and spears flashing between the huge, undulating forms of the elementals. Fire, ice, or other flares of magic would flash over the battlefield here and there, but they were far fewer, and from the parapets above, archers rained down arrows into the heaving mass of enemies.
Three of the elementals noticed them arrive, and immediately rushed to greet them. Their guardians ran ahead, meeting the monster's charge with a barrage of quick sword swipes and spells.
"Stay together!" Yu called to his friends, raising his voice over the tumultuous sounds of battle, "Don't let them separate you!"
And then his world became a whirl of combat. They'd all fought in hair-raising situations before, but never with so many other humans around, and with so much happening at once. But his short training served him well, helping him stay on his toes despite the rain clouding his vision and the water slicking the stone beneath his feet. Every thrust and swing connected with his intended targets, moving quick enough to dodge and only taking one hit to his arm that undoubtedly left a bruise. Time lost meaning for him here, and he could have been fighting for minutes or hours, it all felt the same.
He ducked out of range of another attack, rushing to the left and swiping the beast in the side. True, his attacks alone may not do much, but it still weakened them enough for other fighters with better weapons to take them out. As if to prove it, several glimmering missiles of pure magic shot over his head the same time he jumped back, slamming into the elemental he was fighting and sundering it's body in two. It collapsed, water sloshing up to Yu's knees, and he took the reprieve he was given to examine his surroundings.
There was less heaving and shouting from the knights now, and far less creatures than before, it seemed. But every now and again, through the twisting, writhing shapes of fighting forms, he could see bodies laying strewn across the floor. They were not moving, and he forced himself to look away before nausea could overwhelm him.
His friends were still together, thankfully, as well as two of their protectors. Of the others, he could not see, and he hoped that they were all right.
That was when a roar pierced the air, and unbidden, Yu's eyes shot to the sky.
The black dragon had broken through the clouds again, trails of vapor sloughing off it's wings like smoke as it nose-dived to the earth below. Tiruviel took longer to appear, and by the time she did, the black dragon was already swooping over the bridge, and clearing the rest of the distance quick.
Cries of alarm rose up all around him, his own command to find shelter becoming lost in the panicked din. A body barreled into him from behind, knocking him to the floor and stunning him for a few moments as his head collided with the stone. His ears rang, drowning out every other noise, head pounding with pain. Wincing, he struggled and stumbled to his feet, hand going to the throbbing spot as he looked up again. His vision was blurred, rain or wound, he didn't know, and his hearing had not quite recovered yet. But the huge, black mass that now perched upon the barrier, the gate smashed beneath its claws, could not be mistaken.
And if he saw rightly, the bright, thallium burn of it's single green eye was focused on him.
He felt a hand on his shoulder, a muted, unintelligible voice calling out to him, but then the beast was already pouncing. The terrace was huge, but for a dragon of such immensity, it took nothing but a single for it to clear the gap. The ground shook violently with it's landing, rocking him back to his knees, half-afraid the entire terrace would break away from its foundation and plummet to the rocky crags below.
That was when Yu finally noticed the claw. As thick as a tree truck, sable black and curved like an eagle's talon, it speared through the marble as if it were butter. It's diamond sharp edge was a mere foot from his face, so close he could see his own reflection in the ebony sheen. Slowly, his eyes crept up, and up, and up, neck straining until he at last came eye-to-eye with dragon itself. Terror gripped his throat like a brutish, choking hand, heart pounding so fast he wondered if it was beating at all. His hand scrambled for his pocket, where Tiruviel's gem lay hidden, the only thing that gave him a sliver of hope of surviving this encounter.
Another roar, and Yu could just see the golden sheen of Tiruviel's magnificent scales as she alighted above the terrace, wings beating and snarling but not quite loosing her fire just yet.
"Nyverak!" Tiruviel roared, molten eyes burning menacingly, the wind of her wings lashing against Yu's face, "Your fight is with me!"
The black dragon snorted, fangs glinting into view as it spoke in reply, deep voice rumbling through the marble beneath his legs, "Ha, indeed. I am simply making use of my assets . . . and putting them to my advantage."
Yu's fingers finally clasped around the diamond he had, wrenching it free with a breath of relief. But then, without warning, a blackness suddenly overcame him, cutting out any and all light as an unknown force closed over his head. Something slid underneath his body, something hard and cold and lumpy, sealing away any escape he could have made.
Then, with just as little warning, he was thrown to the floor as whatever had him suddenly and sharply jerked up. He had just enough time to cry out when he felt the diamond slip through his fingers before his voice was lost in the howl of the wind, the glimmer of his only protection vanishing from sight and leaving him in darkness. But even closer than the wind, he could hear the loud, steady thrum of beating wings, and it was only then that he understood what was happening.
He was in the dragon's paw. And the dragon was flying.
The realization alone was enough to make him sick with fear, but the twisting, jarring turns of the dragon's steep ascent certainly did not help. It felt like gravity itself had turned against him, keeping him pinned and helpless as seconds stretched by like hours. His heart was in his throat, and it was all he could do to just hold on, to keep from being slammed around like a child's toy.
It felt like eternity before the dragon landed again, and he could hear stone crack and groan. The paw clutching him suddenly turned around, sending Yu falling into it's palm with a painful thud as the silvered claws finally opened again, the black talons like bars of a prison cell.
Some part of him severely wished they'd stayed closed.
The black dragon had taken to roost upon one of the tallest towers the castle had to offer, free claws gripping the turreted spires, wings flaring out over it's horned head. The city stretched out below him far away, so far away, and he felt his stomach heave, unconsciously kneeling lower in fear of falling. Yu could see Tiruviel as well, floating just before them, teeth bared and looking furious.
"He has not to do with this, Nyverak! Release him!" she hissed, rain evaporating in the heat her muzzle emitted.
Nyverak didn't seem to care for her demands, lazily looking out over the city and speaking conversationally, "Humans. Such weak, pithy creatures. And yet, there are so many strange tales that circulate about them. One stole a life back from death itself, one brought down a nation with naught but the sword on their back, and yet another ascended to the stars and slew a god."
The paw beneath Yu moved, holding him up as if he were nothing but a curio. The dragon's maw was stretched into a smirk, green eye alight with mockery as he asked, "What do you think, Tiruviel? If I let this one go, would it fly? I hear several of you Champions can."
The only ground beneath him began to tilt dangerously to one side, and Yu had to scramble to hold on.
"NO!" Tiruviel jerked forward, jaw snapping, eyes lit with alarm, "That one is but a child! He is no Champion!"
The tilting stopped, "Oh? Well, then, you won't feel so poorly should he die then, no? A mere sheep compared to that. But . . ." the dragon's eye burned with greed, conniving, "I could be persuaded to allow this one to leave unharmed. And even all the rest of these miserable whelps. If you agree to one thing."
Tiruviel's eyes narrowed, "What?"
"Swear to forsake these lands and all who dwell within it," at Tiruviel's disbelieving stare, Nyverak smirked, "Ah, you wonder why I don't ask for your life instead? I'll tell you. Dying is too simple a punishment. I want you to live as I have lived, disgraced and forgotten, watching the land you strived so hard to defend fall to my keeping. To live like that, well . . . that is punishment befitting your crimes against me. And I will savor it."
Yu could see that Tiruviel wanted to fight against him, against his demands. But when her eyes met his, he knew she would not. She would give in to save his life.
And it wasn't fair, because he could see she must have been winning before this! Nyverak had a great deal more wounds than she did. He must have decided to resort to more underhanded tactics in order to win.
Yu couldn't sit by like this. He could now, would not, play the meek, helpless civilian in this game! But what could he do? Where could he strike that would distract the dragon enough to give Tiruviel an opening?
He looked down at the paw holding him, and thought he might have an answer. The scales on the underside of Nyverak's toes were far smaller, far weaker, than the hard plates of ebony coating it's back and arms. Maybe . . . just maybe . . .
"Well? What say you?" the black dragon asked, voice rasping like a serpent's as his tongue flicked out into the open, as if to taste Tiruviel's despair.
The golden dragon narrowed her eyes in a scowl, glaring for a few paltry moments before finally closing her eyes and looking away, "I . . ."
Nyverak grinned. And it was then, in the dragon's moment of victory, that Yu seized his chance. Hefting his sword over his head, he closed his eyes, swallowed his fear, and plunged it deep into the crook of the dragon's toes.
Nyverak hissed, paw jerking on reflex and dislodging both him and the blade embedded in his flesh. For a few dizzying moments, he was flying and falling, the world spinning incoherently around him in a blur of black, green, and gold.
And then another paw was encasing him, but this one shone of metallic sunlight, warm and strong and unflaggingly gentle despite it's enormous size.
Yu heard a crack as Tiruviel's tail lashed out and smacked into Nyverak's jaw, leaving a bloody welt that bled black in the darkness. Without pause, the golden dragon turned and began to descend, Yu clinging tight to her scales as the ground rushed up to meet them.
Another roar split the night, rife with rage and vitriol, and suddenly Tiruviel's graceful dive vanished as Nyverak dropped onto her back, claws digging deep into her flesh and sending them all plummeting wildly to the earth below.
Yu couldn't be sure what happened in those next few moments. There was a spoken word, a feeling of weightlessness encompassing his body, and the paws clutching him to safety releasing him to the sky.
But he did not fall as he had expected. Instead, he floated down, a feather in the wind and just as light, safe even in the air.
"Whoa . . ." he couldn't quite stop the breathy exclamation as he held out his arms, trying to control his descent.
He did not have the opportunity to wonder for long. The sound of a great, deafening crash and the crack of stone brought him back to reality as he looked own again, only to see dust rising up to meet him. It seemed to take forever for it to blow clear, and when it did, he gasped at what he saw.
Tiruviel and her adversary both lay collapsed on the great stone bridge, her wing and arm lolling inertly over the side. The pale masonry beneath her was cracked and broken, split like axe-shorn log, pieces of it falling away into the darkness of the crags below.
"Tiruviel!" he shouted, hoping she could hear, thrusting his arms out and down in an attempt to hasten his fall.
But no matter what he did, he could not seem to go any faster than this. Helpless, he could only watch as the black shape of Nyverak twitched and shuddered, until a great head rose up once again. The dragon's left horn had snapped away in the fall, and he limped as he rose back to his feet, blood dribbling from his fangs. Shifting his weight to his right leg, Yu saw him open his other claw, where something green glittered through the murk.
Thankfully, Tiruviel began to come too, head swaying as she rolled onto her front. Hissing, she clambered back to her feet, eyeing Nyverak suspiciously but still more than ready to fight. One of her wings hung limply at her side, useless, and even from hear he could hear how jagged her breathing was. That fall had not been kind to her.
Then he heard something else. A chant, rising up over the thunder and rain, deep and cold and chilling Yu to the core.
And it's source was Nyverak.
The green light in Nyverak's paw suddenly burst out in an aura of energy, black and emerald lightning lashing out in a violent maelstrom of light. The crackling net swerved right for Tiruviel, who was unable to dodge the attack and was forced to endure it as the lashing tendrils crashed into her.
Her roar of agony was like nothing he'd ever heard before, drowning out everything, even Nyverak's endless chanting, even his own scream. And it grew worse as each and every rope of black magic seemed to hook through her very being and began to pull free a white, luminous light from within.
The battle only lasted for moments, Tiruviel fighting to keep that light within as Nyverak struggled to tear it out, but it felt like an eternity as he watched everything from above.
Where was Yalathas? Where was anyone?! They needed them here!
But no one came. No one heroically appeared. No valiant hero to swoop in and save the day as Tiruviel's will began to crumble, the light pulled farther and farther away from her with every passing heartbeat.
Yu could only imagine Nyverak's smile when, with one last final heave, the wicked chains snapped back as one and dragged the brilliance with it, sucking it down into the small green light in the black beast's hand.
And Tiruviel collapsed.
His feet finally, finally, touched stone, and Yu broke into a sprint as he ran to the fallen dragon. The bridge was massive, almost seventy feet in width and twice as long, and his progress felt far too slow moving across it no matter how much his tired legs protested. He didn't even know what he could do. His sword and gem were both gone, and he was still far to weak to draw out the full potential of his persona in the real world.
But he had to try.
Tiruviel's form easily dwarfed his own, but that did not deter him from searching for any signs of life at all. A rise and fall of her chest, the beat of a massive heart beneath his fingers, something, anything at all!
But there was nothing. There was nothing . . .
"End your feeble hopes, boy," Nyverak said with a sneer as he fell to his knees, "She will not be returning to this world anytime soon."
No. No!
"What did you do?" he hissed, anger burning thorugh his fear as he rounded on the beast, "What did you do?!"
Nyverak snorted, like Yu were just a bug beneath his notice. With deliberate slowness, he weaved a spell with his claw that melted away some of his wounds before holding up his prize; a green gem as flawless as a diamond, "I gave her a punishment befitting her crimes. Now, she will stay forever as my prisoner, another gem amidst my horde as the lands she once protected fall under my reign. Speaking of . . ."
His eyes glanced over the burning city, and the creatures still roaming its streets, "I will have to clean this mess out, now that this land is finally mine. And, for your rather impetuous attitude . . ."
The dragon rounded on him, and Yu was once again reminded how underpowered he really was in the face of such a monster, "I believe I shall start with you."
Green light lit the back of it's throat, acid dripping through its fangs, and Yu closed his eyes.
But the sound he heard was not the dragon loosing it's breath weapon upon him. Instead, he heard a trumpet, loud, rancorous, and seeming to echo out across the entire field.
The ground shook as the dragon screeched, stone cracking as he stumbled sideways.
At first, Yu didn't understand what had happened. Not until a figure suddenly landed in front of him, garbed in silver armor and wielding a sword of crystal, with wings of metallic silver flaring out behind them, each feather a glinting blade as true as any steel.
Yu couldn't even be bothered by it, because his relief was far too great, "Yalathas-san!"
The silver-eyed warrior glanced at him over his shoulder, a sad look on his face, "I'm sorry it took us so long to arrive. But we're here now, and we will not allow this creature to do any more damage. You have my oath on that."
The sound of hooves clacking on stone pierced the air, and Yu saw Korval and Nyras riding in from the side, Rhysana and Ylvaria riding with them. Cahira was keeping pace on her own, staff drawn at her side, ice chasing after her heels. Wind buffeted the bridge more strongly than before, Yvir taking position above them all with Aife clinging to his shoulder, currents of air whipping around him like a typhoon as ribbons of waters were drawn in and forced to dance within the powerful streams.
A shadow appeared next to Yu, a hand on his shoulder that drew his attention back to the ground. Tirin was next to him, his normal teasing joviality replaced with genuine concern that spoke louder than even words, "Are you alright?"
No, not really, but he was too choked up to say it now. Tirin seemed to understand anyway, and he rose to his feet, "Don't worry. We'll fix this. Now get out of here. It's dangerous."
By now, all of the Champions had encircled the great dragon, weapons drawn, and Yu already knew where this was going before the dragon even spoke,
"Ah, the Champions. I wondered when I'd have to contest with you," Nyverak grinned, green eye flashing dangerously as he lowered into a predatory crouch, "Let's see how worthy of those titles you really are."
Yalathas raised his sword in answer, "Then come and find out."