Ch.131: Flint vs. Vernon! Unleash the Power of Soul Blaze!
The team arrived where they were to meet Vernon. Expecting their arrival, wooden elevators lowered themselves down for the group. One was big enough to support most of their party while one came down in front of Gwyn.
Flint narrowed his eyes. "Guess that's for the challenger."
Gwyn yawned again, barely able to stand straight. "Flint, if you're having second thoughts, I can still…" Her eyes drooped, almost falling asleep.
Flint shook his head. "You've done plenty for me. I have to do this." He stepped onto the platform and rose into the trees.
Ava hummed in concern. "Will he be able to keep up with Vernon?"
Morgan sipped on his flask, then said, "We'll find out soon enough."
The group stepped onto their platform and were taken into the trees. It dropped them off at a large branch wide enough to be its own floor. They jumped onto it and watched the branch recede back into the trees. They faced ahead as Flint gently stepped onto the much thinner branches, wiggling to keep his balance.
"O-Okay Flint, keep your cool," he told himself. "Don't think about plummeting to your doom." He looked back at his weakened leg, then took a deep breath. "I hope I know what I'm doing."
Suddenly, he detected a new aura entering the area. Wood sprouted out from the trees and shaped itself into steps leading to the other side of the suspended battlefield. The wise Sawk descended the steps, dressed in his green robes and carrying his staff over his shoulders. With each step he took, the stairs receded back into the tree until he reached the branches.
Vernon tapped his staff on the branch, then smiled at the Flareon waiting for him ahead. "Flint Ravenfield. What a pleasant surprise. You must have taken the wrong elevator by mistake. Your seat is up there," he said, pointing to the others with his staff.
Flint closed his eyes, breathed through his nose, and sighed. "No, I took the right elevator."
Vernon's smile grew. "Oh? Why's that?"
Flint got into a ready stance as best he could with the limited ground. "I'm here to take Gwyn's place in this battle. Please, allow me to challenge you."
Vernon stroked his chin, quite amused. "Flint Ravenfield, I admire your courage, but try and think rationally. You are at a serious disadvantage with that grievous injury of yours. To challenge me is putting yourself at risk. I say this as a friend and a mentor: reconsider this battle and join your friends on the sidelines."
Flint bit back a whimper while tightening his stance. "I would prefer that more than anything right now, but…" He dug his claws down and exhaled smoke from his nostrils. "I'm not running away from my fears anymore. I'll face them and prove I'm good enough for this team."
Vernon narrowed his eyes, smiling with a proud look for the Flareon. Good job, lad. "I gave you my warning, so proceed at your own caution." A wooden vine took Vernon's staff away. He gripped his ropes and threw them off into the wind, showing off his muscular, bare blue chest and black sweatpants.
Flint's face fell. "Oh crap."
Vernon clenched his fists and flexed his body, exerting a powerful, green aura over their battlefield. Flint gripped his hat as the winds blew in his face. The winds reached their audience and blew into them, too.
Tony laughed nervously. "Yeesh, for such a friendly guy, he's ripped."
"I'll say~," Ella mewed with a grin.
Wes glanced at her, eye twitching, then yelled, "Hey, don't gawk at him while I'm standing here! I'm ripped, too!"
"You have lean muscles, Wes."
"No, I don't! I have muscle!" Wes gripped his jacket and tried to pull it off until Griffin clonked him in the head.
"Keep your shirt on," Griffin groaned. Wes pouted and crossed his forelegs while Ella snickered behind her paw.
Back with Flint, he was beginning to wonder if he should've taken Vernon's warning. However, with everyone supporting him to win, it was too late to back out now. He swallowed down his doubt and focused on Vernon with his aura coming to life around him.
Vernon held his fists up and said, "Be warned, Ravenfield, for it is my duty as a mage to protect the key with all my might. Though the mages have recognized your status in our war with the shadows, I won't go easy on you."
"I understand," Flint mumbled quietly.
"Then let's have some fun with this match. The goal is to either knock me out or knock me out of the trees. If I ever touch the ground, you win automatically."
Flint bared his teeth. "Is that supposed to be some sort of handicap?"
Vernon grinned. "Oh, trust me, it won't be a handicap for very long."
Flint gulped. "Lovely…"
"You can do it, Flint!" He turned his head as Wes waved. The Umbreon grinned brightly and yelled, "Show him what us Ravenfields can really do!"
"We're counting on you, Flint!" Ella yelled.
"You got this, big guy!" Tony exclaimed.
Griffin just nodded in agreement.
Flint blinked, then smiled a bit. His eyes wandered to Gwyn, who was asleep on their perch. Guess she'll be missing the match. I want her to watch me the most, but it can't be helped. Get your sleep, Gwyn. Flint huffed through his nose, then faced Vernon, stomping his front paws down.
"I accept your terms. Let's proceed to the fight."
Vernon chuckled. "Excellent. Give me a good fight, Flint Ravenfield, because…" Vernon squatted for a moment, then, with barely a second passing, kicked off right toward Flint at great speeds. "I haven't a decent brawl in years!"
"Ah!" Flint yelped. His Guardian's arms manifested and blocked the Sawk's kick. The pressure knocked Flint off his perch and sent him onto one of the branches below, landing on his back. "Ow."
Vernon leaped into the air and came down with a spinning axe kick. Flint manifested his Guardian again and had it throw him out of the way. Vernon broke through the branch with a near perfect split and watched the severed half plummet to the ground.
"Guess I don't know my own strength." Vernon took the moment to massage his thigh. "I remember getting into spars with Benedict years ago. Guess he's rubbing off on me."
Flint backed away, shaking and breathing hard. He's strong! I can't keep up with that.
Vernon rotated his shoulders, cracked his neck, then broke into a sprint towards Flint. Immediately, Flint activated Time Halt and had his Guardian carry him to the upper branches. Once time resumed, Flint casted an illusionary bubble around himself, vanishing from all perception.
Vernon stopped himself and looked around for the missing Flareon. "Pulling the vanishing card on me already? Flint Ravenfield, we just started. Don't tell me you intend to run away for the entire fight?"
Not like I want to! Flint argued.
Vernon sighed, then raised his hand. "You chose this fate, so now you must deal with the consequences. Let me show you the power of nature." He clicked his fingers, shouting, "Song of Natura!"
Flint felt a magic permeate through the air. After a quick scan of his surroundings, he noticed the leaves plucking themselves off the trees and scattering into a light cyclone around the general area. Suddenly, he found himself caught in the middle of a hellish tornado of sharp leaves. The leaves slashed into the bark of the trees, marking them with shallow, long cuts.
Flint's Guardian rapidly punched around its user and ripped the leaves to shreds. Flint lay down and covered his head, waiting for the attack to stop. He wouldn't find solace in his prayers as a loud creaking came from under him. Peeking from his hat, he gasped as the leaves shredded through the bottom of the branch and tore out the support.
The branch collapsed under its weight with Flint plummeting back to the battlefield. His illusion dispelled, revealing himself to Vernon who immediately rushed towards him. Flint quickly slapped a piece of wood falling next to him in the opposite direction.
"Wrath of Natura!" Vernon's fist wrapped in green aura and flew towards Flint.
"Verto!" Flint instantly swapped places with the wood he knocked away, leaving it to be obliterated by the powerful punch.
Flint barely grappled onto a branch when he teleported and hugged in for dear life. "Oh crap, oh crap, oh crap!"
Vernon massaged his fist, then directed towards the Flareon, shouting, "Seize him!" Wooden vines sprung from the trees and darted right at Flint.
The Guardian reappeared and blitzed through the vines, tearing them to pieces. Flint pulled himself up, shaking on his three good legs, and ran to the tree the branch was connected to. Vernon leaped across the distance between them, activating his Wrath of Natura again.
Flint stopped and faced Vernon. "Crystallo Growth!" His Guardian rejoined his side again and rapidly punched down. Crystals sprung from the tree and grew alarmingly fast towards Vernon.
Vernon cancelled his spell and maneuvered through the giant orange crystals. A thin crystal snuck through and grazed his cheek, grating against his protective aura. With a dismissive chuckle, he flipped over the towering structure and dove down with his fist pulled back.
Flint summoned more crystal and carried himself into the air on a raised platform. Vernon punched the structure, leaving a sizable crack in place. He watched the Flareon as he fled higher into the air.
"How long do you intend to run, Flint Ravenfield? Weren't you here to prove something?" Vernon snapped his fingers and sent out vines after him.
Flint's Guardian tore through the vines once again while Flint tried to keep himself together. He tried, he really did, but flashes of ringed eyes kept coming to the surface whenever he tried to retaliate. The phantom pains long since healed stayed fresh in his mind, now more prominent than ever. Though he felt shame, his body could only run than fight.
I need a plan. I need a plan. Flint cradled his head, trying to come up with anything useful. The only solution I have is to defeat him without getting close. He said I can win if I knock him out of the trees and into the ground. Crap, but I don't have many long ranged options. I still haven't perfected the Mystic Beam yet, and I can't risk getting—
"Flint, behind you!" he heard Tony call out.
Flint's eyes widened as vines wrapped around his neck and pulled him off his pillar. They swung him against a tree, then dragged him back to Vernon's level. The Flareon pulled on the vines while Vernon charged up his spell, channeling the magic through his fist.
"I got you now." Vernon reared his fist back and swung once Flint was in range.
"Verto!" Flint immediately swapped places with his Guardian to take the punch. Flint reappeared on a high branch and cradled it.
Vernon, however, smirked. "Plant Assimilation." His arm curved and swung into the branch he stood on. It sunk through like water, rippling across the branch's surface.
Flint sensed the trick through his Guardian's eyes. "Wait, Plant Assimilation? I've seen Gwyn use that spell. It—" Flint let out a harsh gasped as something slugged him in his stomach. He flew off his perch, catching a glimpse of the blue fist poking out from the branch.
Vernon pulled his fist out and explained, "Everything in this village is connected to the Great World Tree. Every tree you see exists from the same roots. They are all one. In this battlefield, those with a master of Plant magic have the homefield advantage." With that, he dove through the trees like water.
Flint reached the apex of his flight and started to fall, but Vernon flew from one of the trees and dropkicked Flint in the side. Flint cried out in pain and slammed into a tree while Vernon vanished back into the wood. Flint dug his claws into the bark to keep from falling, but fists flew out under him and pummeled his stomach before finishing with a swift uppercut. He went sailing, landed hard on his back, and nearly slipped over the side. He had the strength to hold on while he caught his breath.
His friends watched in a mix of horror and concern. "Oh Arceus," Wes gasped.
"He's getting slaughtered!" Ella cried.
Ava bared her teeth. "Vernon may look like a kind soul, but he's absolutely ruthless in a fight. He's not above fighting dirty when he needs to. Grr, does he really need to push Flint around so much? The boy can barely stand."
Morgan glared. "Flint accepted the consequences of this fight. It can't be helped."
Tony crouched down with his fur sparking. "I need to step in for him." Griffin gripped his shoulder and held him back.
"The match just started. Let's see where this goes first," he advised.
Tony scowled, but complied reluctantly. "Shit…"
Back with Flint, he pulled himself back onto the thick branch and lay down to catch his breath. Now I see why Wes wanted Gwyn to fight. She wouldn't be letting this stuff happen. This is her territory as well. She could easily match Vernon here. If I knew I would be fighting between a web of branches instead of solid ground, I might not have been as adamant about this.
"Your mind's too clouded, boy!" Flint gasped as two pairs of arms restrained his legs. He winced as one of them squeezed tightly on his weak leg. "Any fighter can see through the disadvantage and overcome anything. That's what you wanted to prove, isn't it?"
Flint peered down and saw flowers blooming under him. They were pink, large petals like ones from a Venusaur, with a golden bud in the center. His eyes shrank as a pale green light channeled inside the bulbs. He noticed the bark he stood on became grainier and weaker, turning to woodchips between his toes. He heard the low groan of the tree as it lost strength.
"Nature is about equivalent exchange. The earth feeds the flora nutrients. The flora provides the oxygen. Nature is the symbol for life, the inner workings of life giving birth. And once a tree meets the end of its life, new life is born from it." The flowers became enveloped in bright light. "Witness the power of nature.
"Revelation of Natura!"
Flint was washed out in a bright light shooting up at the sky. His screams pierced through the roaring, burning light, shooting him high above the leaves. The tree withered dramatically, losing it luster and during dull in color. Every ounce of life the tree carried shot out into a powerful beam, its light illuminating miles through the forest and blinding the battle's audience.
The light faded after a moment, followed by a light snow of light. Vernon pulled himself out of a new tree and held his hand out. The glowing snow trickled into his palm, rolling inside of it. He pressed his palm to the tree, letting it absorb the energy. Flowers sprung out between his fingers.
"Life and death work in harmony with each other. When one tree dies, new life springs up in its place. That is the equivalent exchange of nature." Vernon looked up, scanning the treetops for Flint's body. "Now, where did you run off to?"
Flint clung to the web of thin branches hidden within the leaves, panting heavily. He barely casted a Blockade Reflector when the attack was used. His fur dulled in color, having taken a bit of the black by the time he raised his shield. His body smoked with a light steam.
He can summon the life energy of the plants here and use it as a weapon? That just complicates things.
Flint pulled himself up and lay in the branches, trying to catch his breath. He covered his face, eyes clenched shut, and curled his paws tightly.
What is wrong with me? I'm never going to get anywhere like this. I wish I could call on Dad for advice, but he's not here. I don't know what to do. I can't compete with Vernon. I'm not strong enough. I'm not powerful enough. The gap between us is insurmountable.
"And who decided that for you?" Flint's eyes flew open as a voice echoed behind him. It was female, almost harsh sounding. "If power's all it takes to win, then why are you still fighting?"
Flint sat up and turned around, but saw no one. It was just him. He blinked, then held his head confused. "Okay Flint, you've accidentally casted illusions of things while you are stressed, nothing new." He grimaced. "But then, who's voice was that?"
He felt a crackled through his paw. He pulled it in front of his face and watched the familiar crackling of magic go through his foreleg. He narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
"What's going on—"
He snapped from his thoughts as the leaves started to rustle. To his horror, they plucked themselves off in a familiar manner to early. Flint immediately jumped out of the leaves before they could slice him up. His Guardian appeared, grabbed him, and landed safely on one of the trees.
"There you are." Flint screamed as Vernon's hand passed through the trunk and went for his neck.
The Guardian threw a punch down on Vernon's wrist, followed by a sickening crunch. Flint stumbled back and gasped as the hand retreated. He could hear Vernon's grumbles from within the trees around him.
"Well damn, didn't expect you to hit that hard." Flint sensed Vernon's magic rising behind him. The Sawk appeared from the branch, massaging his wrist. "Nearly broke my wrist, too. Not a bad punch." Vernon gripped it tightly and casted a minor healing spell on it. "I suppose I deserve that for the treatment earlier."
Flint stood up and shuffled back. "Y-You think we should take a break?"
Vernon grinned. "Take a break? Why? I haven't had this much fun in a while. It would be nice for you to fight back!" Vernon rushed him and threw a flurry of punches.
Flint covered his head, but his Guardian acted on his defense and met Vernon's barrage with its own, matching the speed of each punch. Green and orange magic flew off in strokes of electricity, lighting up around them. The Guardian managed to slip through Vernon's assault and cracked him across the face.
Vernon lurched back and massaged his jaw. "That Guardian of yours proves you have some fighting spirit left in you. Uncage that feeling, and show me those fangs!" Vernon slammed his fist down and sent a chain of light pillars out. "Revelation of Natura: Offering!"
Flint pressed his back to the tree trunk as the last light pillar shot out, grazing across his stomach and leaving a sear mark up his shirt. He flinched after putting pressure on his leg and faltered to the side. His Guardian grabbed his mane and held him up before he fell.
"Wrath of Natura!" Flint casted Blockade Reflector and stopped Vernon's punch. A single blow was enough to crack the shield. "That shield of yours is quite strong. I'm borrowing a sizeable amount of energy from the flora to power this spell." The magic twisted around his fist more frenetically. "Guess I'll have to take more."
Flint looked down as the branch started to wither slightly. An idea came. He bashed his shield into Vernon's face, pushing him back a bit, then had his Guardian punch the base of the branch. "Crystallo Growth!"
As Vernon regained his footing, he felt the branch sever off as crystals exploded out. He jumped off the branch right as it severed, but the Guardian instantly got above him and threw a heavy punch into Vernon's gut.
"Take him down!" Flint yelled.
The Guardian put all its might into the punch and blasted Vernon straight toward the ground. He smashed through branches and leaves, plummeting closer and closer to the ground.
Flint's friends grinned anxiously. "I think Flint won!" Wes exclaimed.
"Woo! Yeah Flint!" Tony cheered.
Vernon came inches from hitting the ground, but instantly stopped. Everyone froze, faces twisted in shock, especially Flint. Vernon lay suspended a foot over the ground, staring up with a carefree grin like he was relaxing in a hammock.
"You didn't think I'd make it that easy, right?" Vernon floated up vertically while leaves flew off his back. They floated around him, supported him over the ground. Vernon raised his foot and stepped on a floating leaf like a solid step. "I'm glad you're fighting back, Flint Ravenfield. We're making progress."
Flint's eyes shook frantically while he tried to keep his cool. I though I could predict most of what he's doing, but his method of fighting is completely different to Gwyn's. Everything in this forest is a weapon, and a means to keep him from losing.
Vernon cracked his neck, then yelled, "Keep it up, boy!" Vernon leaped up, hopping off suspended leaves in a smooth ascent.
Flint quickly used Time Halt and had his Guardian carry him away to the other side of the battlefield. He tried to channel Mystic Beam between his paws, but couldn't manage so much as a spark. His nerves were getting to him, breaking his concentration. Fear overtook his mind, sending him into autopilot under the simple desire to escape and hide.
Because of this, his Time Halt fizzled out sooner than he intended. Vernon, realizing the escape, dove into the trees with Plant Assimilation and popped out in front of Flint. Flint realized too late and took a heavy punch barely blocked by his Guardian. The blow threw him across the field and up against a tree.
Vernon snapped his fingers and summoned vines to restrain Flint. Flint flailed in his bindings, but they only grew tighter as he struggled. His Guardian attempted to break through, but Vernon crossed the distance in a short burst and swung a heavy kick into the Guardian's head, causing it to fade away.
Flint gasped, feeling the sharp pain of his Guardian's defeat in his head. He hung his head and panted raggedly while Vernon stood over him with that same tranquil smile of his. Flint couldn't bare the sight of Vernon's face, only able to see Zaros' eyes through him. A simple glance got his heart trembling, his mind racing.
Vernon glared. "Ravenfield, do not let this be the deciding victory. I may not be going easy on you, but you're certainly not making the challenge any fun."
Flint bared his teeth. "No fun? How can I have any fun when I'm freakin' terrified of dying?!"
Vernon knelt down and looked Flint in the eye. Flint tried to avert his gaze. "You can make the effort, yet you refuse to face your fears. Was that bravado you demonstrated just that? Bravado?"
"P-Please don't look at me…" Flint whimpered.
Meanwhile, Flint's friends were freaking out. "Flint, what are you doing? Fight!" Wes cried out.
Ella grimaced. "He's petrified in fear. I knew this was a stupid idea. Flint wasn't ready to get back into fighting yet."
Tony grabbed Gwyn by the shoulders and tried to shake her awake. "Hey Green, we kind of need you to cheer your boyfriend on right now! Wake up!"
Ava sighed. "We may need to call the match off."
"You may be right," Morgan agreed, though hesitantly. He rubbed his chin, focusing hard on the captured Flareon. I know there's something lurking inside Flint, something I've seen before. But what? What is that magic he has been using?
Back with Flint, he winced at the root bindings tightened more around him. He was struggling to breathe now as the bindings squeezed on his stomach. Vernon shook his head at the sight, then pulled his fist back. "You tried. I suppose that's all I can say now. I'll make this quick and painless for you. I hope you find peace with your path home."
Though in pain on the outside, Flint wracked with shame. Shame in letting his friends down, and shame in himself. He really was nothing but a coward who couldn't find the best in himself. He tried and tried, but he never knew if he was ever good enough to be the best on his own. Not in his studies, his reputation, and his usefulness to the team.
Maybe Vernon's right. Perhaps it's best I just give up and go home. I tried, right? That's all that matters? Flint closed his eyes, slowly accepting his defeat. It can't be helped anymore.
"What kind of loser talk is that?" Flint's eyes widened as the female voice once again projected itself. "Honestly, I've never seen a sadder state in my life."
Flint looked around frantically for the source of the voice, an action that confused Vernon. Where are you? Who are you? What do you want with me?
"Do you have any sort of resolve for yourself? You are never going to get anywhere if all you do is complain about how shitty your life is."
W-What do you—
"Here's the harsh truth, kid: if you feel you can only be validated through the praise given, you're never going to get anywhere in life. All you're going to do is keep judging yourself until it gets so bad, you can't even make decisions anymore. Is that the kind of person you want to be?!"
I don't even know who you are! Who are you to tell me how to run my life?!
"Then tell me, why are you even here in the first place? Why are you bothering with this stupid fight if you think you can't live?"
To prove myself!
"Prove what? That you're a whiny coward?"
What did I do to you?!
"It's called tough love, get over it."
Seriously, who are you?! Am I experiencing some near death hallucination or something?
The voice groaned. "You need to get your act together and your priorities straight. Who are you, and what do you want? You are a Ravenfield!"
Flint's eyes widened. Huh?
"Don't just sit there and take a beating! Stand up and show him what you got!"
"Wrath of Natura!" The voice became a fleeting memory as Flint saw the Life Mage's glowing fist flying right at him.
"Crap!" Flint yelled. "Guardian, do something! Please!"
The punch came close, but the Guardian appeared in time to deflect its course. It pulled its fist back and threw it right at Vernon's bare chest. However, something was off. Flint detected the strange crackling magic he experienced flowing through his Guardian's punch. It trailed off in a thick, orange vapor, crackling with sparks.
Vernon staggered back in shock. "What in the—" The punch nailed him hard in the chest. Instantly, Vernon felt a strange surge running through his system. Orange sparks coursed all over his body, through his limbs to his head. His eyes dilated from the overwhelming flow. He could hear the crackling inside his head.
The Guardian knocked Vernon to the other end of the branch they stood on where he lay motionless on his back. The vines parted from Flint, who collapsed onto his paws in a daze.
"What…the heck?"
The team stared in puzzlement. Ava narrowed her eyes on Vernon, observing his magic. "Vernon's magic is…acting very oddly."
"What do you mean?" Ella asked.
"I can't explain it, but Flint's magic is partially mixed with Vernon's aura. I can't describe it, but something's causing it to fluctuate."
Griffin glared. "It's almost like it's…"
Morgan was heavily invested in the aura, his eyes widening suddenly in disbelief. "It can't be. Is it? Is it that spell?"
"Pops?" Tony questioned. "Do you know what Flint did?"
"I think I do…"
Flint, after getting his bearings in line, carefully approached Vernon with his Guardian on standby. Flint could also sense the strange fluctuations in Vernon's aura, and it had him on edge. "What did I do, what did I do?" Flint gulped and lightly tapped on his head. "Uh, Voice? You wouldn't happen to know what I just did, right? Voice?"
Suddenly, Vernon's fingers clenched up. Flint jumped back as Vernon picked himself him and massaged his head. Orange sparks crackled off Vernon's body. "What the…" Vernon opened his eyes, which were dilated with sparks flying out of them. "What's…going on?" He lifted his hands and noticed the orange aura mixed in with his.
Flint bared his teeth. He's distracted. Guardian, attack!
The Guardian lunged forward and swung a fast punch at Vernon. The Sawk noticed right as it came within centimeters of his face. It would've been nearly impossible to avoid in his dazed state, so it came as a shock to Flint when Vernon instantly bent out of the way of the punch. A brief afterimage was left in his place.
"W-What?!" Flint gasped.
Vernon was just as confused, but not from how Flint was seeing things. Everything around Vernon felt heavily distorted and, dare he say, slowed down. The Guardian's punch came in far too slow to miss. Vernon felt like his whole body jolted back when he moved out of the way, even if it was for such a slow moving punch.
"This is…" Vernon lifted his hands, sensing the tingling sensation going through his entire body. "I don't understand what's going on, but it feels like my entire body got a jumpstart. This power flowing through my body, it's unreal, like I was given a second burst of life."
Vernon glanced back at the Guardian and saw it throwing out slow punches. Vernon stepped back from one with ease, then grinned. He stepped around the Guardian speedily, then raced up to a horrified Flint.
"Quite an interesting trick, Flint Ravenfield, but hardly effective if all this spell can do is empower your opponent. Wrath of Natura!" Vernon swung his glowing fist straight for Flint's face.
Flint barely had the reaction time to block the punch with Blockade Reflector. He felt the force of the punch through the barrier as he skidded back. The pressure on his hindleg caused him to collapse.
Vernon blinked, then looked at his fist. With the power boost, he expected to shatter Flint's barrier in one punch, yet it did very little this time. That's when Vernon realized the magic he syphoned wasn't at the level he intended.
"Wrath of Natura works by drawing out the life force of plants and empowering my punch. Because my perceptions so slowed down, did I not gather as much as I thought?" Vernon narrowed his eyes. "What is this ability?"
Flint pulled himself up, panting as he tried to find a conclusion for himself. Is that what's been flowing through me? An empowerment spell that acts like an offensive attack? What the heck did I do?
Suddenly, an audible gasp drew Flint's attention to the high branches, pointing out Morgan. "That's where I've seen it before! That spell! I recognize that spell!"
"Huh?" Flint gasped. He didn't have much time to stand around as Vernon charged at him with the power boost still active.
"Morgan, what are you talking about?" Ava asked.
Morgan pointed at Flint while he tried to get away from Vernon. "I've been around for a long time, Ava, and I hardly forget most unique magic I come across. I've witnessed that spell only once before. A powerful spell wielded by a powerful mercenary over a century ago."
"Seriously?" Wes gasped. "Are you sure?"
"I'm positive." Morgan rubbed his chin. "Something's been bugging me ever since I treated Flint's injuries. I don't know how to put this, but I made it clear Flint should've died from those injuries. He shouldn't have been alive when Team Shatter Star brought him to me, yet he was hanging on by a strong thread. Something just didn't add up.
"It's that magic of his that's been bugging me. I saw that spell when he was brought in. It faded as soon as I started to stabilize him. I couldn't explain it at the time, too focused on operating, but now I realize why it looked so off. I've seen that spell before, the genuine article."
"What are you talking about?" Griffin asked. "What spell are you talking about?"
"A spell I thought went extinct with the one who crafted it. A spell lost to time, yet returned by some miracle. The very power to empower the soul itself and draw out the fighting spirit of all infused with its power. Yes, that is definitely it. That is her spell."
"Who?!" everyone shouted in annoyance.
Morgan pointed at the fleeing Flareon and proclaimed, "Without a doubt, that is the lost spell of Priscilla Ravenfield, the Life Generator! The almighty Soul Blaze!"
Soul Blaze? Priscilla Ravenfield? What?
Flint barely kept an ear out for the Hypno's enthusiastic discovery. Through all the dodging and weaving, Flint was just able to get most of the conversation and couldn't believe what he heard.
This spell…belongs to a Ravenfield? One of my ancestors? Who the heck is Priscilla Ravenfield? Is that who was talking to me in my head? Am I actually going crazy now?
"Hiya!" Flint gasped and avoided one of Vernon's Offering spells, nearly grazed by the chain of light pillars. They were much stronger and faster than before, drawing out more of the life energy in the trees in condensed bursts. It nearly singed the fur off his face.
Vernon was quickly adapting to his power boost, hopping around the trees as a blur with Flint unable to keep up with him. The Flareon took a sharp kick to the back and went flying forward, only to suddenly take a flying sweep kick to the gut and get spiked right onto the thick branches. Again, his Guardian was there to soak up most of the impact.
Vernon came spinning down like a buzz saw, but Flint dodged with his Time Halt, vanishing instantly. However, once Vernon landed, he felt a fatigue overcome him. He staggered, then dropped to one knee as he gripped his chest. His breathing became heavy as the borrowed energy flickered around his body.
"A temporary power boost, it seems. I doubt Ravenfield will want to use it again." Vernon glared. "Still, quite troublesome. Best to wrap up this fight quickly before he gets any ideas."
Meanwhile, Flint had himself stationed behind a tree, staring at his paws in disbelief. This is insane. What was Morgan talking about? I never heard of Priscilla Ravenfield, much less this Soul Blaze spell. Where did this spell even come from? Why was I able to use it without prior knowledge?
He peeked cautiously around the tree, searching for Vernon. More importantly, how is it supposed to help me in this situation? I can't keep up with Vernon without getting my butt kicked. I tried once, but my attempt to end the fight quickly failed. I don't have that many options left.
He gripped his head, sat down, and shook fearfully. What do I do now? Form another counterattack? Wait him out until he concedes on his own? Drop out now and run home? What am I supposed to do with some useless spell that just powers you up? I could use it on myself, but what will that accomplish? I can't even run! Crap, crap, crap, I don't know what to do! I'm freaking out!
His fears only escalated as a swift punch shot out from the tree's surface, grazing across his cheek. He shrieked and bounced away with his Guardian while Vernon stepped out from the tree. With a cunning grin, Vernon flicked his wrist and sent vines after him.
"Destroy them!" Flint ordered.
The Guardian tore through the vines, but this time got its arms tied up in the mess. They grappled Flint's neck and pulled him away from his Guardian and into Vernon, who caught him by the neck. Flint didn't have a second to think as Vernon slammed him down on his back, then kicked him in the side, knocking him straight into the air.
"I still have a little of that energy you gave me!" Vernon exclaimed. "I'll make good use of it!" He followed Flint through the air, essentially teleporting, and spiked him down. Vernon then quickly aimed his palm down, shouting, "Assault of Natura!"
Vines grew out of the tree trunks and rapidly shot up in a flurry of thrusts, pounding into Flint's careening body and leaving him momentarily suspended in the pummeling. He casted Blockade Reflector, mostly protecting his weak leg while the rest of his body endured the brutal assault.
Vernon dove down with his arms crossed and crashed hard into Flint's back. The shock was so great, Flint couldn't even scream. The blow carried them through the vines as they continued to assault Flint before slamming into a thick branch with a cloud of wood dust surrounding them.
The team gasped in horror once the dust cleared, with Vernon standing over Flint with him pinned down by the head. Blood trickled from Flint's nose, as well as various cuts bleeding into his tattered clothes. He breathed raggedly, paralyzed from the culmination of attacks. Scratches and scuff marks all over his paws and body, the least of which to his weak leg, the source of his attention.
However, that didn't compare to the tears drizzling down his face. Though his eyes were hidden behind the brim of his hat, the light quivering between each ragged breath and the clear stream of liquid dripping down his cheeks indicated as much.
Vernon frowned sympathetically at the Flareon. "You tried your best, Flint Ravenfield."
Flint sniffled, burying his face into the branch. "I can't…keep up."
Vernon sighed. "I sense great strength in you, but your resolve…is something to be desired. Forgive me for pushing you so hard. I merely acting on my duty as the Mage of Life."
"It's not your fault…"
"I wish I could've done more for you." Vernon pressed down on Flint's head. "Now, do you yield?"
"…"
"I'll keep going until you say you quit. Don't make this harder on yourself, boy."
"Flint, get up!" Wes yelled. "Don't give up yet! You can still turn this around!"
"Come on, Flint! We know you've got this!" Tony cried.
"We have faith in you!" Ella cried.
"Get a hold of yourself and fight back!" Griffin shouted.
Flint could only bare his teeth, trying not to cry harder than he was. Guys…I gave it my all. I don't know what else to do. I just…I can't anymore.
"Do you yield?" Vernon repeated firmly, pressing just a bit harder on Flint's head.
Flint tensed up to the pain. He could only sigh in defeat and close his eyes. I'm sorry. I tried.
"I…I…I yiel—"
"FLINT!"
His eyes flew wide open as the shrill cry of Gwyn echoed across the forest. His eyes darted straight to the standings, where the tired Mew hastily pulled herself up and balanced herself against Ella. Even from where he was, he could tell she was struggling to keep her eyes open. He felt the intensity in her aura, the vigor driving her to stay awake.
She cupped her hands around her mouth and yelled, "Do it for your dad! Make him proud, and prove to him you've grown! Show him the man you've become! Do it for him! Do it for us! Do it for yourself! Don't let anything hold you back ever again! Don't let your fears conquer you!"
Flint's eyes narrowed, shimmering in awe. "Gwyn…"
"I'm really sorry I slept through most of your fight, but I'll stay awake and watch! I'll support you all the way! I know you can win! I bet my entire career as a potion maker on it! I don't care! I know you can pull through! Please Flint, don't give up!"
New tears dripped down Flint's face. She's tired, exhaust, and can barely stand, yet she's still there to support me.
"Sounds to me like you've always had her support," the voice (possibly Priscilla) chirped in. "All of your friends have been beaten and battered throughout this journey, right? Your brother, especially, put himself through hell just to prove himself to you guys. What's stopping you when they have so much faith in you?"
Flint blinked through his wet eyes, then pressed his face into the branch. I'm scared of failing. I'm scared of not being good enough.
While Vernon was distracted by Gwyn's sudden speech, he only now noticed the orange aura seeping off Flint's body. Wisps of energy rising from his body with crackles of magic racing up them. He realized immediately what he was in for. "This is bad."
He grabbed Flint by the scruff of the neck, lifted him, and slammed his knee into his gut. Flint coughed out saliva as he briefly flew overhead before being grappled by Vernon. He locked his arms tightly around the Flareon as they were suspended in the air.
In the brief window of time, Vernon's magic influenced the trees to bloom the familiar pink flowers, charging them with their life force and withering their forms down.
"Sorry, Flint Ravenfield, but I can't afford for you to have a second wind. Revelation of Natura: Sacrificial Garden!"
All the flowers fired powerful beams into the two from all directions. At the last second, Vernon had a vine pull him away just before the beams connected with Flint. The intense flash and shockwave threw the Life Mage backwards, where he tumbled into a safe landing on his hands and feet.
The trees rapidly withered to dust while their life essence scattered around the forest, blooming on the trees or into the ground below. Vernon held his guard up against the interval shocks of the beams. He could feel the energy of the spell burning his skin.
Once the fuel source for the spell withered out, the beams ended just as soon. Vernon took a moment to adjust his eyes, then looked to where the multidirectional attack met. To his concern, Flint's body wasn't found falling from the aftermath, nor was it anywhere on the branches below.
"Shit, was that too much?" Vernon jumped over to the spot and peered down, trying to see if Flint had fallen to the ground. "That attack shouldn't have vaporized him, not that I was aiming to. Where did—"
Suddenly, he detected Flint's aura from behind. He whipped his head around and gasped at the smoking Flareon before him. As the smoke part, bits and pieces of orange armor revealed itself around Flint, coating the vital spots of his body, from his head to his legs. Some parts of him still took the blast, leaving some serious burns, but he was fine for all things considered.
Flint panted heavily as the armor faded off his body. "Seems…I can just manifest the Guardian's armor over myself. Came in handy, don't you think?"
Vernon blinked twice, then sighed in relief. "Oh, thank goodness."
"Woo! Yeah, Flint!" Flint glanced to his friends as they jumped for joy and, quite possibly, relief. He smiled when Gwyn, still balancing against Ella, gave him a thumbs-up and her signature cute smile.
Flint took a deep breath. I'm scared of not being good enough. I'm scared of failing. But isn't that why I accepted this battle? If I left and did nothing, I wouldn't be satisfied with myself. I would never be able to forgive myself for running away. I'm a Ravenfield, and we Ravenfields can't be put down that easily.
Vernon sensed the change in Flint's demeanor, prompting him to raise his guard. "Finally washed away those fears, Ravenfield?"
Flint bared his teeth. "On the contrary, I'm downright terrified." His knees buckled under him. "Don't get me wrong, I still think I made a horrible mistake taking on this battle. There very idea of losing again is something I can't afford. Running away seemed like my only option.
"However, knowing how much effort my friends are putting in to support me and for everything they've done for this team, what kind of teammate would I be to run and hide without at least trying? Failing sucks. Not being good enough sucks. I've dealt with failure and rejection most of my life just because I wanted to achieve some ounce of perfection. All of this to look amazing in front of everyone, just to get some recognition.
"But my friends, my family, never needed me to prove myself to them. They would always support me, no matter what. I was stupid to forget that. They tried to cheer me up, yet there I was being a pessimist about everything. I don't need their recognition…but they believe I deserve it. So, for them, I'm going to swallow my fears and give it everything I've got."
Vernon grinned. "You've taken quite a bit of damage, Flint Ravenfield. Sure you can keep up?"
Flint glared as his Guardian manifested behind him. "I think I have a work around. Time to see what this Soul Blaze can really do. Guardian, hit me with it all! Soul Blaze!"
The Guardian reared its fist and punched Flint in the back. Flint's eyes widened as the energy crackled throughout his body. He felt his cells tingling with excitement as something ignited within him. However, immediately, everyone noticed something different as it coursed through Flint.
His fur started to glow orange, like a dull neon. His hat flew off his head from the pressure emanating from his body, ruffling the torn fragments of his clothes. His mane and hair turned a darker orange and, quite uniquely, flowed like fire around him with flame-like wisps of magic flowing from them.
Flint slammed his front paws down, threw his head back, and bellowed a mighty, deep roar very unlike the Flareon's normally soft and straightforward tone.
His friends were taken aback by his transformation and startling cry. "What the hell?" Griffin muttered.
"What's with that energy flowing off him?" Wes gasped.
Morgan glared. "I heard rumors that when Priscilla Ravenfield used Soul Blaze on herself, it had a peculiar effect on her body. The power to draw out the fighting spirit and empower it, turning the user's form into a physical manifestation of it. It's quite remarkable to obverse in person."
Tony smirked. "Never thought I'd say this, but Flint looks pretty damn cool!"
"No kidding," Ella mumbled in disbelief. She took a glance at Gwyn and blinked in shock as the Mew practically had hearts pulsing from her eyes, completely wiping out her exhaustion. "Uh, Gwyn? You good?"
"Yeah~," Gwyn mumbled, drooling over the sight of Flint.
Ella blinked, then giggled behind her paw. Looks like Gwyn's finally falling victim to her own hormones. Oh dear~.
Back with Flint, he relaxed himself and observed the changes flowing through his body. He applied some pressure to his weakened leg. "It's still not strong, but the pain's numbed. A spell that empowers life itself." He sighed, then smirked ahead worriedly. "Geez, this ought to be a unique learning experience."
Vernon steadied his glare as he raised his guard. Ravenfield's channeling quite a hefty about of magic through his body. I cannot let my guard down for a moment. I've felt that power boost myself just a moment ago, but I wonder if there's any other tricks to this spell. It can't just be a simple power booster. If it was truly designed by a Ravenfield, we have yet to see its full applications.
Flint took a deep breath, then crouched. "Well, time to do something I've been neglecting: fighting back." Flint's Guardian's legs manifested over his hind legs, rocketing forward at Vernon with great speed.
Vernon raised his arms and blocked the Flareon's powerful tackle with his heels digging back into the tree branch. He overlapped his Guardian's legs with his own to make up for his lack of mobility. Clever.
Vernon knocked Flint back and reared his fist. "Wrath of Natura!" He charged his fist and thrusted it at Flint.
"Blockade Reflector!" Flint stopped it with the crystal shield, then summoned his Guardian. "Crystallo Growth!" The Guardian struck the tree branch and sent a wave of crystal forward.
Vernon jumped back from the approaching crystal and clapped his hands. "Song of Natura!" Leaves plucked from the trees and flew into the crystal, dicing them into chunks.
Vernon felt a flicker of magic behind him and blocked the Guardian's punch. With a flick of his fingers, the leaves changed their course onto the Guardian. It rapidly punched through the leaves while trying to land some blows on Vernon, who skillfully deflected its punches and delivered his own back.
"Revelation of Natura: Rejoice!"
The leaves glowed brightly and exploded with miniature bursts of light energy all around the Guardian. Vernon fell back and melded into the tree branch to avoid the explosion.
"Guardian, to me!" Flint called out. His Guardian faded into light and rematerialized beside him. "Crystallo Growth!" The Guardian rapidly struck the trees with increased vigor, spreading the crystal at a far wider radius around them.
Vernon jumped out of the top of a tree before the crystal could cover it. "Not bad, limiting my space to escape. Guess a close up fight is inevitable." Using the leaves scattered in the air, he rocketed off one as a foothold and came down with another spinning axe kick.
Flint, rather than run away, had his Guardian meet his attack head on. Rearing its fist back, it clashed with Vernon's downward kick with magical sparks flying around them. Vernon bared his teeth and summoned up roots to restrain the Guardian mid-collision.
However, much to Vernon's surprise, the vines passed with the Guardian's lower half and body life fog. Most of the Guardian's form evaporated with only the arm remaining. An illusion! Vernon quickly pulled himself away from the arm with assistance from the leaves right as a piece of bark came hurtling close to his face at the speed of a standard bullet.
He immediately pinpointed Flint with his one-armed Guardian, who flicked pieces of wood at the fleeing Life Mage. Vernon deflected the few that came close to hitting him, then leaped high up with the leaves acting as footholds.
"Is this all you've got, Flint Ravenfield?" Vernon shouted from the air.
Flint stamped his paws down and responded, "Not even close! There's more where that came from!"
Vernon smirked. "No more running then. Wrath of Natura: Symbiosis!" He struck a meditative stance midair and began to absorb the life energy of the trees. A spider web pattern of green energy marked his skin from his face to all across his chest, similar to the Grim Ash Clans' limiter markings. The energy expanded his muscles and magnified the intensity of his aura into a thick green vapor.
Flint tensed up, realizing another sneak attack was out of the question. He could only go head on from here on out. My Guardian can certainly last, but I can't. I still haven't mastered Mystic Beam. That may be my best shot of winning, but it's so pitifully weak that it wouldn't do me any good. A second of contemplation later, an idea struck. Wait, there's another way!
"Let's rock!" Flint gasped as Vernon rocketed down like a magic missile. Using his newfound speed, Flint dodged the Sawk's attack while the shockwave blew him away. Vernon wasted no time kicking forward and ramming his fist into the unguarded Flareon's stomach.
Flint coughed up bits of blood and slammed into a tree trunk, where Vernon instantly smashed into Flint again with another gut-busting punch. Flint winced from the blow, but came to realize the full extent of his acquired spell. Though the pain felt intense, Flint couldn't actually feel it. All he got was a sharp numbness, enough indication as to the pain he received without experiencing it.
My pain's been dulled. I empowered my body to endure these kinds of blows. Incredible. Flint bared his teeth. Taking hits won't do me any good, though. I need to switch tactics.
Vernon went for another punch, but Flint immediately stopped time for some much needed breathing room. He slinked out of Vernon's grasp and took off running and hopping between branches. He glanced at his flowing mane with curious eyes.
If I can empower the fighting spirit and the body, could I control specifically what I empower? Flint stopped, turned, and glared. Crazy idea, but I need time to act. Flint sat down and brought his paws together. Concentration is key. You've studied magic for just as long as Wes. I am more than capable of handling myself.
Time resumed shortly after, leaving Vernon to dig his fist through the bare tree. He quickly detected Flint's position, pulled his fist free, and dashed straight at him. He smirked curiously at the meditative stance Flint took. "Tell me, Ravenfield, what plan do you have cooking up this time?"
Flint huffed through his nose, smirked, and asked, "Would you like to see for yourself?" Suddenly, his Guardian took form and flew toward Vernon.
Vernon stopped and readied to meet blows with the humanoid, but stopped just as he noticed the Guardian's right fist. It charged itself with the Soul Blaze, crackling vibrantly and aimed directly at him. A fist charged with the empowering spell he experienced before.
What the…? Vernon felt his body move on its own. Rather than accepting the punch that proved beneficial last time, he deflected it instead, directing it past him. He felt the energy crackling close to his head, bouncing with excitement as it tried to keep itself contained in the crystal-like fist.
Vernon took a step to observe the Guardian, greatly confused. Ravenfield knows what happened the last time he struck me with that Soul Blaze. He empowered me by complete accident. Now, he's resulting to the same tactic with true intention this time. But why? Does he intend to boost my power to a level I can't control? He wouldn't dare take the risk after the hits he took. The boy doesn't look like he can handle any more.
"Hey Vernon!" Vernon raised his brow as Flint addressed him. The Flareon glared sternly. "I'm not dragging this fight on for any longer than it needs to. I'm taking that key, one way or another." He bared his teeth and yelled, "I won't be a failure to my team! Not now, not ever!"
His Guardian's eyes flashed with excitement, then went on a rampage with punches flying wildly at Vernon. The Sawk swung his arms and skillfully deflected all the Soul Blaze punches. He felt the sparks dancing across his skin, but none of the spell's effects. He still didn't know what Flint was planning, but he sensed a bad omen coming.
He may not be their strongest, but he's a worrying strategist. Leroy told me plenty of Tony's unorthodox tactical mind, but Ravenfield stands as a brilliant mind. I have to take him out now.
Vernon caught the Guardian's arms and slammed his head into its forehead. It was just enough to disorientate the Guardian, allowing Vernon to slip through and sprint towards Flint, charging more life energy into his fist.
One chop to the back of the neck should do the trick.
Flint opened his eyes to the approaching threat. They shook with fear, understanding that a wrong misstep will knock him out of the fight. His body locked up now, frozen with instinctual panic, like a Stantler being blinded by a sudden light. Flint couldn't run anymore. As of now, a choice had to be made, one that could only be tested by his resolve.
I spent too long doubting my abilities, seeking the recognition of my companions for validation. I have a long way to go, but…I proudly accept my role in this team. Wes, Gwyn, Ella, Tony, Griffin; I accept my role. I will be your shield, for now and forever! I will be the shield that can stop any spear, and counterattack with all my strength!
"Wrath of Natura!" Vernon's fist exploded with life energy before swinging forward.
"It's over! Verto: Scatter Change!"
Vernon felt his whole body shift location by a few measly feet. His punch danced across solid air while he stared blankly ahead. His eyes widened as he sensed a great deal of energy hurtling at him. He only had just enough time to face the attack before Flint's Guardian, having traded places with his original position, rammed its Soul Blaze-charged fist into Vernon's face.
Vernon felt the familiar crackle of magic passing through him as he flew back and tumbled along the thick branch. He lay still for a moment, adjusting to the boost in power.
"Ugh, my head." Vernon stood up, then glared at the Guardian and Flint as they slowly approached him, emphasis on slowly. Time reduced around him with everything in a very saturated light. Everything truly was slowed down around him.
Vernon held a cautious stance. "Why would he hit me with another power boost? On purpose, even?" He clenched his fists. "What plan do you have up your sleeve, Flint Ravenfield?"
The Guardian made its move, gliding at Vernon and ready to punch the daylights out of him. Once again, Vernon speedily slipped around the Guardian and stood before Flint. The Flareon couldn't even register that Vernon was standing in front of him, perhaps indicating this new level of speed.
"Even with that same power bursting through you, the boost you gave me has made me far faster than any other Pokémon. Though I admire your shirt in confidence, you haven't learned from your mistakes." He pulled his fist back. "With the remainder of my own boost and this power you bestowed me, I'm ending this fight right now! Take this defeat in strides, Flint Ravenfield, and learn from you past!" He swung with brutal precision, aiming straight for Flint's temple.
The fist, however, couldn't connect with the Flareon, as the second it touched the slowed form, Vernon's fist passed through like wind. He stumbled forward, passing through more of the Flareon and nearly tripping himself. Vernon blinked, then looked at his slightly deformed hand before it retook its normal shape.
"What the? Why did my fist…? Is this some sort of illusion? What kind of advanced illusion to he cast on me?" Vernon clenched his teeth. "No, something's not right. This doesn't feel like an illusion. Something else is going on—" He looked over his shoulder, then gasped at the true nature of his situation.
Vernon saw his own body crouched on the branch, slowly picking itself up, mirroring how he did early at a sluggish speed. He focused on the vacancy of the eyes, glazed over with the crackling aura of the Soul Blaze.
"Why am I…all the way over there?" Vernon looked at his hands, deeply confused. "This can't be some illusion." He glared as gears turned in his head. "Soul Blaze, the power to empower the fighting spirit. Is it possible…Flint imbued me with enhanced senses to the point where my conscious jumped ahead of my body?" He bared his teeth, horrorstruck. "My mind's reacting faster than my body can keep up. All action I'm taking is too fast for the body, causing it to lag behind. He sent my conscious into overdrive with that attack."
Vernon focused back on his slow body and gasped as Flint's Guardian lunged for a punch.
"If my senses have been enhanced, wouldn't that mean—" Vernon started to realize.
The fist connected against Vernon's face, slowly pressing itself in. The Sawk's consciousness felt a surge of absolute agony rattle through his metaphysical form, like being strapped to an electric chair and held down helplessly with no way to escape.
"GAAAAAAH!" Vernon screamed. His conscious form vanished from the slowed space as his mind and body slowly became in sync again.
With time moving as normal, Vernon felt his body rocket off the Guardian's fist and flew right against a tree, smashing through the bark. His body twitched with discomfort, the amplified pain lingering through his whole body. His eyes nearly whited out from the impact as the simple punch brought about more exhaustion than his body endured previously.
Flint narrowed his eyes on the downed Sawk. I knew it. If Soul Blaze can empower the body, it could empower the senses, only to a level beyond which the mind and body go out of sync. In essence, the worst out-of-body experience one could ever imagine.
Vernon picked himself up, struggling to get to his feet. He leaned against the trunk, panting raggedly while glaring cautiously at the Flareon. "One punch, and my body feels like it's on fire. Priscilla Ravenfield sounds like a truly dastardly woman. I fear the enemies she made who were struck down with that kind of power."
Flint raised his paw and snapped his digits. "Verto!"
Vernon felt himself trade places with Flint. The Sawk immediately went on the defensive as the Guardian through a wild barrage of punches. He carefully avoided the glowing fists while dishing back his own enhanced, heavy blows, chipping gradually into its natural armor.
He could've shot another dose of that Soul Blaze into my system to extend the pain. If he were as sadistic as the shadows, a few seconds of punching would be an eternity in hell for me. Vernon tensed up his glare. However, this match is far from over!
"Revelation of Natura: Offering!" Vernon kicked across the branch and sent the chain of light pillars at the lone Flareon.
Flint pressed his shield down on the light pillar under him, firing him into the air like a geyser. This should be enough height. I hope this works.
Vernon rammed his fist into the Guardian's chest, staggering it, then grappled it. "Revelation of Natura!" The flowers bloomed under the Guardian and released a powerful beam straight into the sky.
Flint felt the sudden heat of the life energy surge through him and erupted in the burning light as well, screaming in pain. C-Crap! It's bypassing my Guardian's defenses! This freakin' hurts!
Vernon lunged out of the light pillar and straight towards Flint, delivering a hard punch to the airborne Eeveelution. Flint's screams were abruptly silence into a tight gasp. Vernon spun his body and kicked Flint higher up before summoning foothold leaves to chase him up.
Flint fought to stay conscious as the light flickered in his vision. This sucks. Everything hurts. Though, I have to admit, nowhere near as bad as before. He bit hard on his lip, drawing blood and whatever reserve of conscious state he could retain. Keep your wits, Flint. You've got him in your sights.
Vernon finally caught up with Flint and called on his Song of Natura to deal cutting damage to Flint. "Blockade Reflector!" Flint summoned the crystal shield, but now adorning a vibrant orange glow. The leaves bounced off the shield and redirected back at Vernon at double the speed.
Vernon guarded as the leaves sliced his skin. He's getting better at controlling the spell. Imagine if he ends up mastering it. Despite the pain, Vernon found himself grinning. I haven't had this much fun in ages. Feels like I'm seeing my own student stretch his wings.
"I've got you in my sights, Vernon!" Flint yelled. "I'm finishing this in one shot!"
Vernon laughed. "Now that's what I like!" He reached the apex of his flight and landed on some leaves. "Give it to me! Show me everything you can do!" He clapped his hands. "Revelation of Natura!" Roots grew out from all the trees and molded themselves into a large pink flower, channeling the life energy of as many trees as he could connect with.
Flint summoned his Guardian and had it throw him even higher up, vanishing within the leaves, breaking through weak branches, and finally popping up above the forest, bathed and illuminated in his radiant aura and the intense glow of the sun.
"Magnification Ring x15!" Flint clapped his paws and summoned a pathway of orange rings pointing straight down. "Here I go!" He opened his mouth and channeled his magic in the center.
Bits and pieces of magic particles accumulated in front of his gaping maw, building into a tightly compressed marble. Flint sweated, struggling to concentrate one so many spells at once. One he barely had practice in, one to make up for the lack of power, and his Guardian which was keeping him suspended in the air. He was pushing him limits with the Magnification Rings, but it had to be done.
The strain's too much, but I'm not quitting now. I promise, everyone, that I will make up for the support you've given me today. I'll conquer my fears, face them down, and become the shield you deserve! That is a promise to you and myself!
"Mystic Beam!" Flint roared and fired a bright, orange beam straight down, whipping back his flowing mane and hair from the pressure pushing back on him.
Though pale in comparison to the raw power demonstrated by his younger brother, the Magnification Rings more than compensated. The beam passed through each ring and doubled in size and power. By the time it reached the fifteenth ring, the beam incinerated a hole through the leaves and carved a path towards its target.
Vernon sensed the approach of powerful magic and roared a might battle cry before firing a large beam of life energy into the assaulting attack. The two beams clashed violently, releasing a might shockwave that incinerated the trees and leaves. The intense crackling of magic surged into full-on lightning bolts, striking far and wide through the burnt, withered trees.
Vernon held his metaphorical ground as the leaves supporting him started to burn up. He grabbed hold of the vines and kept focusing his power on the beam, draining more life force out of the trees.
Flint's Mystic Beam quivered with overwhelming weakness, briefly losing in the power tie. However, Flint's sheer will to win pushed him to pour more into his attack, pushing all his magic into the spell. His mane and hair crackled wildly, turning into pure flame as Soul Blaze took effect. The Mystic Beam became wilder and more frenetic, going from a solid beam to an erratic twister of magic.
Vernon staggered from the beam's push and tried to hold up. However, he quickly noticed just how rapidly the trees were dying around him. His influence spread farther to the neighboring trees, taking more of their life force. His struggle to overcome Flint's attack was forcing him to syphon off more energy from the trees. The beautiful greens and browns turned an ugly gray before his eyes.
Vernon stared sadly at the forest's declining health, then let out a melancholy sigh. "The law of equivalent exchange. To give and take life, death must follow." Vernon smiled sadly. "Take that lesson to heart, Flint Ravenfield. Life is in your hands now."
Vernon then clenched his fist, and cancelled his spell.
The Mystic Beam tore through the cancelled spell and drove into Vernon. The Sawk roared in pain, smashing through branch after branch with the Mystic Beam burning into his front. The intensity of the spell set him ablaze in its raw magic like a comet.
Team Ravenfield and company gasped as an orange light exploded out from the leaves and struck the ground with a loud boom. The shock threw them back and nearly knocked them clean off their perch. Gwyn waved her hand and extended the width of the branch, safely catching them.
The Mystic Beam swirled like a wild twister moments after impact, then dispersed among the air. Wisps of orange, magic flame floated among the air, mixed with the particles of life energy from Vernon's attack. With the chaotic duel of magic at its end, the aftermath left a pretty shower of orange and green lights twinkling over the forest.
"Wow," Ella awed, holding out her paw and briefly holding one of the orange wisps before it vanished.
Wes' jaw hung in amazement. "Flint can use Mystic Beam? Sweet Mew…"
Tony, as he held his hands out to catch the light snow, asked, "Where is Flint?"
Just as he said, a figure descended from the large hole in the leaves. Held in the arms of his Guardian, Flint hung limply with a mix of fatigue, the aftermath of panic, and relief. He looked wiped in all sense of the word.
He touched down on a branch still barely standing despite the destruction. His Guardian vanished while he was left sitting and taking a moment to catch his breath. He looked up to the shocked faces of his teammates.
Flint narrowed his eyes, then flashed a weak smile. "Heh. Not bad for a guy who spent a month in a wheelchair, right?"
"Flint~!" Flint gasped as Gwyn jumped off the high branch, gliding over a wide gap between them with her arms outstretched.
Flint panicked and flailed his forelegs. "G-Gwyn, hold on a minute, I'm still—" The Mew crashed into him and knocked him onto his back. Flint stared at the sky in a daze with his back leg twitching in discomfort. "Ow. G-Gwyn, did you really have to—"
He went quiet as she grabbed his cheeks and pressed her lips to his. A second or two after processing, Flint closed his eyes, wrapped his forelegs around her, and kissed her back. If the Soul Blaze could take away his pain, the warmness filling his chest did the job far better.
He felt teardrops falling onto his face. He pulled away from Gwyn and saw her tearfully smiling at him. "I'm so proud of you. I knew you could do it."
Flint blinked, then smiled back. "I just had to trust myself, right? Besides, how could I possibly let you all down?" He pulled her back into another kiss, which she gleefully accepted.
The others turned their heads away as a form of privacy. Tony, however, cheekily announced, "Hey Flint, you can make out with her later! You might want to check on the guy you just piledrove into the ground!"
Flint gasped and pushed Gwyn off abruptly, much to her great disappointment. "Ah crap, Vernon!" Flint scrambled to his feet and peered down, spotting the Sawk laying in a large, smoldering crater.
Vernon's entire front was burnt to a crisp from the explosion. He made slight twitches and he looked like he was barely conscious. The surrounding area around him was on fire, though nothing to bothersome. He looked completely unable to move as he made attempts to sit up.
Despite all this, he had a proud grin on his face. "Well done…Flint Ravenfield." His voice was hoarse and quiet, but he offered a thumbs up to signal he was fine.
Flint sighed in relief and fell on his haunches. "Thank goodness." Gwyn giggled and rubbed his back.
They then felt a magic rising up from the branch they sat on. They parted as a green light floated between them, shimmering like crystal. With a bright pulse, the light diminished, revealing itself as the vibrant green Key of Life.
Flint's eyes widened in shock. "No way." He took the key in his paws gently. He felt the warmth of life within it, tingling his sore paws. "I…I actually got the key." He grinned. "I won. I actually won."
Gwyn cheered and glomped the Flareon, pressing her cheek to his. "I'm so happy for you!"
"Still injured! Ow!"
"Hehe!"
The two giggled and rolled around amongst themselves while Team Ravenfield celebrated with high-fives and cheers for Flint, dancing excitedly. Even Griffin tapped his foot a bit while Wes, Ella, and Tony danced circles around him.
Ava sighed and held her heart. "That went better than expected."
Morgan wiped his brow. "Speak for yourself. How do you think I feel as his doctor? Good grief." Ava patted his shoulder and offered a simple laugh.
With all the cheering going on, Vernon lay silently in his small crater. Though he couldn't move a single part of his body, he smiled warmly at the festive cheers of the teammates. He could sense the compassion between their small group, their enthusiasm for each other, and the strong bond they shared.
Equivalent exchange applies to most facets of life, including friendships. One gives support, which is then shared with another, then another until the cycle circles back around. An intricate web within the circle constantly in motion. A perfect harmony among friends.
Vernon took a deep breath, sighed, then looked up at the sky. He didn't approve of the large hole, but he had a nice view of the clouds at least. You'll go far, Flint Ravenfield. Though your personal journey is not over, I'm happy that I got you on the right track. I hope to see your growth at the end of that journey. He closed his eyes, smiling blissfully.
I would love to have a rematch with you someday.