Chapter 45

True intentions

Elsword's PoV

I was the first to wake up as usual. I went over to the tent to get ready. All i have is a shirt, normal pants and boots and Ara made me these. I hope she forgives me for messing it up today.

"Els is that all you will need?" i turn around and see Rena walking in with a rag. "I'm sure he will be alright." Aisha said getting up and rubbing her eyes.

"We got a long way to the cave." We still need a map to the place but im sure Chakabuk has one. I tied Durendal to my back and nod.

When we were done we went to Chakabuk's little room. "Here you are. I am sorry i cannot take you myself." He said. It would be too dangerous for him anyway. I could tell Beraku was the fighter and Chakabuk was the one being protected.

Dragon's Valley

"First we climb this huh." Aisha says looking up. "With all them around however" Rena points and we see dozens and dozens of lizardmen men patrolling the area. Seems like they were expecting us.

"So, sneak or the usual way." Aisha said summoning Leviathan to her hand with smirk. "I'm sure you already know that answer." i say and breath in air.

'Searing barrage!The flame cloud alerted all the lizardmen in the area. They were more alerted by the large explosion as well. "Here they come!" Rena says aiming her bow.

Several large lizardmen came charging down. There was also a loud horn going off and rumbling. I drew Durendal and charged at the lizardmen. I clashed with them and parried another one behind me.

I jumped up and thrust my sword down creating a shockwave and pushed them away. Ice pillars began to form around me, must be Aisha's spell.

I run up the hill until i see a large boulder rolling down with archers raining arrows on me. How simple. I thrust Durendal into the boulder, shattering it with ease. The archers were already being shit down one by one.

I sidestepped out the way in time to avoid an lizardmen's dive attack. It pulled its sword out swung at me but i blocked with Durendal. I pushed him off and swung down but he parried it and slashed my arm.

I jumped back and let Aisha do her thing. She shot out fire balls from her staff but the lizardmen deflected them with its sword. "Its sword had some kind of enchantment" Rena says aiming her bow at it.

"Yea, must be Dagon's power or something." Rena shot a condensed wind arrow that the lizardmen sliced with a smirk. The arrow instead exploded in its face blinding it.

I charged it and sliced its arm clean off. "I'm guessing, physical attacks are still effective." It screamed and tried to run but i stabbed it in its back. Not so glorious i know, but if got the job down.

3rd PoV

Lizardmen village

(The part you get to after the first second of the dungeon)

Elsword, Aisha and Rena made their way and the cliff and looked down. They saw several lizardmen in dark auras with Beraku in the front.

Beraku now had a dragonic armor on with a dual blade staff in his hand and a dragon helm on.

"And he's the one guarding the entrance...Great.." Aisha says with a sigh. "Last time we couldn't even touch him." Rena said shaking her head.

"I'm sure this has something to do with Dagon, but it seems physical attacks can still work."

"So me and Rena take the others while you take Beraku?"

"You guys, when your done with the others go into the cave without me, ill catch up don't worry." He hands then the solution and they nod.

"They already know we are here so lets go." He says jumping down. He landed with loud crash and all the lizardmen stared at him awaiting his next move.

Elsword walked over them with his sword in hand and stopped in front if Beraku. "Its sad you had die." Elsword said shaking his head.

He quickly swung down at which Beraku managed to block. The force was so strong it pushed the other lizardmen back. Aisha and Rena took this time to also attack them while they were dazed.

Beraku slid Elsword off and thrust his blade. Elsword parried it and cut off one of the horns on Beraku's armor. Beraku vanished and reappeared further than he was before.

He shot out a large flame from his mouth in the shape of a dragon. Elsword jumped up and fired a sword wave at the ground creating a smokescreen.

Ice spears then came flying out. He deflected them with only a few stabbing him and landing.

A lightning bolt then came through the smoke but Elsword managed to evade with just moving his head. "Linear attacks won't work." He said. Beraku walked out the smoke with the same dead face.

Beraku vanished again and Elsword put up his guard. He jumped back to avoid a ground smash imbued with the dark energy surrounding him. He rolled away and Beraku came at him more speed than before.

He thrust his blade staff at Elsword and stabbed his stomach. Elsword grabbed the blade and threw it to the side and tried to kick Beraku but only fazed through. 'An after image?' He thought

He jumped up to avoid another swing. 'Searing barrage!' Elsword shot a a large flame at the ground covering everything in the area. He looker over and saw Rena and Aisha already going into the cave.

He saw movement within the flames and knew it was Beraku sneaking in it. He aimed Durendal and threw it into the fire. "...!" The blade struck Beraku in back but wasn't deep.

Elsword pulled the chain and pulled out Durendal. He came down with everything still burning. Beraku held out his hand and fired multiple lightning bolts.

Elsword rolled out the way and fired a fire ball from his mouth. Beraku simply swiped the fire ball away. He saw Elsword charging at him and blocked with his staff.

'What the?' He tried to overpower Beraku but found that they were even. Even with the sheer weight of Durendal was not enough. Beraku managed to push off Elsword and fired more lightning bolts.

Elsword created four pillars of rock and jumped on them to avoid them. Beraku then appeared in front of him and slashed his chest. He slammed into a burning tent with some pieces burning him.

"Seems you need help." Relgulis said in his head.

"Dont worry about it. I can handle this."

"Show me you can, enlighten me on your power."

Elsword slowly got up and breathed out. He slammed his hands together and closed his eyes.

Beraku was waiting for Elsword to emerge but saw he wasn't so he was going to turn to go after Aisha and Rena but then felt a rumble.

The burning tent burst with red swirling energy. It was gathering all around him and coming off his body. It then stopped and Elsword grabbed Durendal. Durendal began to glow with his red energy and a red aura extended at its blade.

He charged Beraku faster before, leaving a trail of energy behind him. Beraku put up to block but was quickly overpowered by Elsword's new found strength.

Elsword punched Beraku in his face and caused him to fly back and crash into the hill side. Beraku vanished and swung down on Elsword's shoulder but did not dig into his flesh.

It instead stopped as it was was two blades clashing. There was also red circuit like lines where the impact was. Beraku jumped back and for the first time his expression changed to shock.

"Reinforcement of energy. Creates a nice shield around my body using my energy as the fuel to keep it up. It also increases my natural abilities. Only thing is that it hurts like hell afterword.

Elsword vanished and reappeared In front of Beraku. "Its not that hard to do that." Elsword smirked and swung down on Beraku, crushing his armor with it.

A large eruption if energy came off of where Beraku was cut. It began to steam off and Beraku went down on one knee. He clasped his hands and then his skin began to change.

His skin went from dark to pure black with orange marks and swirls covering it. His dark energy also dissipated and was replaced with blue energy. Then an earthquake.

The sky became grey and lightning began to strike down. A large bolt struck the lake near them and the fire that was around them began to swam to it and create a ring on the surface of the water.

Beraku vanished and appeared on the lake with his hands still clasped but looked to be struggling. The water below began to bubble and then erupted.

Elsword looked up and his eyes widen. It was large serpent dragon made of water with lighting bolts surrounding its body with a fire ring surrounding its head.

Beraku was on top of it. He pointed his staff at Elsword. "Lets...see...if yo...u...can...handle...this.."

Elsword smirked but then felt a ping of pain in his body making him wince a bit. "Sorry Aisha, Rena looks like you will have to handle Dagon."

With Aisha and Rena

(Drahon Cavern)

Aisha and Rena had torn clothes and burnt marks all over them along with ash. They were also sweaty all over. They had battling all the lizardemn that came in their way and it was not easy.

They finally entered into a lizardmen made tunnel.

They was met with a large hall with bones of dragon behind the shrine. In front of them, was Kayak.

"So, you made it at last, i was getting tired of waiting." He said getting up and removing his cape.

His body and head had veins all over. "So your not under the control of Dagon huh." Rena said clenching her bow.

"Don't flaunt his name as if you know anything child!" Kayak exploded causing them to back away a little from the dark energy coming off his body.

He began to walk down to them and summoned a staff. "Why did you do this Kayak, why did you turn on your own kind." Aisha asked.

He stopped walking and thought for a moment before speaking. "Originally, i did not, but since i had already killed Beraku, i had no choice but to go along, but it was well worth it." He said smiling.

"You see, soon this dragon will be resurrected and ill use it to the vessel of Dagon before reviving him as well."

"But why? what would you get out of it. Power?!"

"No, i gain. nothing."

""Nothing?!""

"That us right. You see, since i killed one of my own brothers, i was going to be killed off regardless. I wish not to die so i will side along side Dagon to continue to live."

"So you did this just save yourself huh, tch you lizardmen really are lizards. How many sacrifices did you take."

"Heh, in order to revive a sacred beast, one must need sources of strong power. If that is met, it doesn't matter how many." He then points to them.

"That is where you two come in. I knew Chakabuk would call for help and i knew only you humans would be the only ones to comply with his request." He said.

"So you waited for us to come so you can try and take us into your spell." Aisha finished.

"Yes, seems ill have to go for the boy however. You three are quite special you see, you have unknown forces clinging to you and I'm sure Dagon would appreciate having you." He says and then laughs.

"That's not happening. See we are not going to allow you to." Aisha says aiming leviathan at Kayak.

"THEN LET US BEGIN!! THE RITUAL!!" Kayak charged at them.

Elsewhere

Luto was standing about Bethma looking at the crew. "Hmm, perhaps i should help out the Elf, she needs something to suit her needs." He says putting a hand to his mask.

"Ah, maybe that would do, but can i really find it?" He says and materializes before vanishing.