The human- embodied dragon was enraged by the shame it brought upon itself. No one in several decades was versatile enough to conjure it…but now… the same creature was forced to attack and defend itself. And so the anguished beast strode straight towards its next prey, Yamik. He was cold, numbed by the death he just witnessed. The beast summoned a sharp crystal sword mid-stride and swung it towards the neck. For it the game was already over, the desk was already settled. But it had forgotten about an undefined power- something that was called to destroy the Ascensions. Right before the beast could slice through Yamik's neck, Leon Vale kicked it with his diminishing force. He was reckless, just as he had been during the massacre of vanguards in "The Lights of Canals". He was devilish, just like when he murdered those countless troops. His eyes weren't reflecting his pupils anymore, they were pure white with green veins marking the shade. The beast, on the other hand, was numbed for a moment. The strike was on its mark as the paralysis spread certainly for an uncertain time.
"That's him" Faf whispered to Vlan
"Who?" Vlan asked, unaware of the change in state
"It's the Revenant," Faf revealed proudly.
The stunned Yamik was soon concerned by Leon "get up, boy. Don't you have a duty to fulfill?"
"I can't" he shed tears "I have never done it alone"
"Well… you are not alone" Leon smiled and extended his hand "you have Vlan…you have me….you have all the people of your tribe behind you"
That's when another flow of memories struck Yamik. A memory of a sun set that they observed through the valley.
That day the chief asked him a simple question "do you see those people? What do you see inside them as they are living their graceful lives"
"Ohhh…. I'm quite clueless" Yamik replied after some heavy thinking.
"I see hope inside them, hopes that we, their protectors, will protect them. We will take care of everything that obstructs the harmony and peace of our land. To be honest, Yamik, these people are our real currency. They are of utmost importance to us. So protect them at any cost, as their only believe grabbles us"
The flashback was intense enough to bring Yamik to his senses. He held the extended hand and was back in the battleground. But the toll on his body was extrapolating, so he switched his role with Vlan. He would accompany Faf in clearing out the increasing number of Gobels. While Vlan would step in to take down the Emberal beast. The moment might be a simple coincidence, but was the origin for the growth of bond between Vlan and the Revenant. The future of the Ascension was going to be dictated by this generation.
The skirmish began with tremendous steaks. Vlan swung its red captivating hammer, diverging the path of the beast. Leon on the other hand was prepared to clash head on, beheading the dragon in an instant. But the human head grew back, like it wasn't even scratched. No time to spare another bash came by from Vlan that swung the beast into the dense wood. Forest gave Leon manifold openings to clash. Using thick branches of trees to pounce around, Leon severely wounded the creature, only to be healed back soon after. Vlan and Leon were adjusting their own feats in the battle, greatly acknowledging their respective sheaths. Vlan for first felt an unusual relatance with Leon. It was as if he found someone superior to follow. And Leon felt a great surge of support from his subordinates. He knew the aftermath would be sour, due to the chief's death, but surely others were coping up with it.
Slash after slash, frustration was piling up. Soon the constant ridicule tempted the beast "You filthy smugs are surely creepy. I guess I can't hold back anymore" and then an upsurge was summoned. The veins changed to a battle robe, all lustrous and royal. The transparency of the summoned power inside the beast was clear. It was dominant and trespassing the limits Leon saw. But it wasn't all, reflecting the upsurge, large battalions of Gobels joined the war. There were more than a thousand at the edge of time. The drifting wind leads their path to two mortals: Yamik and Faf. Leon and Vlan were clearly concerned about the outrage amidst the cannibal species. They were afraid for their brother's safety.
Reacting to this tempts the beast growled "What will you do now, young man. Your brothers are endangered, any wrong step and they would be ripped apart".
Leon had already shifted his momentum towards the Gobels, but he knew it was a trap. The moment he shifts his focus, the Emberal would eradicate him and Vlan into pieces. But Faf was brave enough to soothe the situation "Hey, Mr.Dragon, you see that man there. It's my brother, who just gave you a fiberblasting kick. And my brother over there can destroy you any moment, I trust him. And I know, he trusts me too, these filthy strengthless creatures are nothing ahead of me. At last I'm his brother…." He screamed, asking for strength from his paths. That's when a large hollow void appeared right beneath the Gobels, conjuring them down to hell. The few remaining were charged by Yamik, and in a blink of an eye, the number reduced down to its origin.
"That was more of a comical delivery, but was still motivating enough" Leon smirked "so you Mr.Dragon, are going down"
The clash began again, and it was time to end it. Everybody was wearing out their strengths except the dragon. The beast was in fact moving better and quicker. His strength clearly wasn't holding back anymore as the wounds on warriors increased. Vlan got his belly slashed, while Leon had nothing left to get damaged. Ordeal of time was signifying a dead end and the massacre of Gobels was shading away more creatures. On one end Faf's sudden evolution stabilized the situation, but on the other end things were turning disastrous. In the gruesome battle with the beast Vlan crushed his head. The blood was flooding out severely as the young man was in death's doors. The situation was completely ignorant of any favours, and motivation wasn't enough to burst against the dominant power of the Emberal Dragon.