Heavy thunder rumbled in the distance, a low, vibrating hum that made it feel as if the sky itself held its breath following Sieg's blazing arrival.
Smacking his flaming fist together as he grinned wildly.
From the far end of the bridge Miki's shoulders dropped in relief. The crushing weight of panic lifted, and her face instantly brightened with renewed hope.
"Sieg…" she whispered softly, her voice carrying across the damp air.
Feeling the absolute peak of Shonen confidence, Sieg threw a hand toward Aturia wanting to lend a hand for her to get up.
Sieg: "Don't worry, Aturia! I've got your back! I'm here to help."
Aturia scoffed. Despite her visible exhaustion, her aristocratic features twisted into an expression of mild irritation. She ignored his hand as she stood up by herself.
Aturia: "I never explicitly said I wanted your help doofus. I could have easily handled this situation on my own."
Sieg: "Really, is that so?" Sieg said sarcastically.
Green Phoenix watched the display from afar.
Phoenix: "That loud-mouthed brat is finally here, huh?"
Captain Baka let out a low, amused chuckle, his hand remaining casually rested on his katana hilt.
Captain Baka: "That idiot boy… always makes such a flashy entrance. There's absolutely no point to a grand arrival if you don't even bother to catch the enemy off guard, you know."
Az didn't let their chatter distract him as he focused on the two standing before him.
Aturia: "Careful, Sieg. This guy is really fast, and his skills are no joke."
Sieg: "I see. Got a plan?"
Aturia: "Nope. We'll just have to improvise."
Sieg: "Meh, works for me either way."
Az activated his Raijin Orb Domain.
Suddenly, Aturia and Sieg lunged forward through the air.
Sieg covered his fist in fire magic, while Aturia encased hers in an ice gauntlet.
Az reacted instantly as his physical form dissolved into a crackling current of blue electricity, vanishing into the network of floating spheres.
Sieg and Aturia's fists slammed into the ground.
The ground shattered beneath their fists, sending fragments of stone scattering in every direction.
Az materialized behind them in his physical form.
Az: "Fire!"
The orbs immediately began sparking as a barrage of lightning shot toward them, forcing both to collapse onto the ground.
Sieg slowly stood up.
Then, without hesitation, he charged toward Az again.
Sieg: "Fire Magic: Flash Fire Fist!"
He engulfed his fist in superheated, concentrated flames, slightly increasing its speed and striking power.
But Az reacted just as quickly, dissolving into his lightning form as he zipped through the network of orbs.
He materialized behind Aturia and kicked her in the ribs before she could recover.
Aturia tumbled backward, rolling across the ground.
Sieg: "Aturia!"
Worried, Sieg rushed toward her to check on her condition.
But Az suddenly zapped directly in front of him, catching him off guard.
Sieg: "Why, you...!"
Az: "I'm sorry."
He said before swinging his fist into Sieg's stomach.
Sieg curled up on the ground, clutching his stomach in pain.
Az silently stared down at the two for a moment.
Az: "Fire."
He muttered under his breath.
The orbs sparked once again, unleashing another lightning barrage as their screams echoed across the battlefield
Aturia thought to herself.
Aturia: "Damn it... my body's gradually wearing down. I'm almost at my limit."
Captain Baka's voice echoed from afar.
Baka: "Come on, you kids! Get up and keep trying! Push past your limits, or your journey ends here!"
Aturia slowly stood up, followed by Sieg. Bruises and cuts covered their bodies.
Sieg: "I've had enough! It can't end like this! I've got a dream to fulfill and a promise to make Auntie Lily proud!"
Aturia: "And I can't afford to die either. I need to get stronger to accomplish my own personal goal."
Phoenix slowly unsheathed his massive executioner's blade.
Phoenix: "Hey! Don't get any bright ideas, Baka. Focus your attention on me. I'm going to make sure we settle this battle once and for all!"
Baka looked at him nonchalantly.
Captain Baka: "I'm sorry. You were saying? I stopped listening halfway through the conversation."
Phoenix snarled and retaliated, swinging his blade at Baka, who effortlessly blocked the attack with his katana.
Baka: "Hah... It's so much fun ragebaiting you."
Phoenix: "Tch... Don't make a mockery of me."
Meanwhile inside the domain the three continued their battle.
Az: "I would have highly preferred it if you had just gone down quietly, but it looks like things won't work out that way. Fine then I'll put a definitive end to both of you.
Az raises his hand as the surrounding orbs begin sparking.
Az: "Fire!"
Lightning immediately rains down across the battlefield.
Sieg and Aturia scatter in opposite directions, narrowly avoiding the barrage.
Aturia: "Damn it! We can't keep dodging forever!"
Sieg: "Then we'll just have to hit him!"
Aturia: "That's easier said than done, doofus!"
Sieg: "Damnit this is a pain in butt all we do is run about while he zip zaps through the orbs."
Aturia: "Zip zap through the orbs... That's it Sieg you're a genius.
Sieg: "Huh i am?" I mean of course i am but do you mind clarifying.
Aturia: "We both know he isn't teleportating, he's just using the orbs to travel.
Sieg: "Right?"
Aturia: "So if we can interfere with the orbs we might be able to stop him."
Sieg: Then we can predict where and when he's going to stop.
Aturia: Alright, Sieg keep him occupied!"
Sieg: "Huh? Why me?!"
Aturia: "Because you're the only one reckless enough to charge him repeatedly."
Sieg: "I can't tell if you're insulting or complimenting me right now."
Aturia: "Whatever just go."
Nevertheless Sieg charges forward again.
Sieg: "Fire Magic: Flash Fire Fist!"
Az dissolves into electricity and escapes through the orbs.
But this time, Aturia acts.
Aturia took a deep inhaling breath while running.
Aturia: Ice magic: Ice Blizzard.
She exhaled as she breathed out a cold blizzard that encased some of the orbs in ice freezing it solid.
With a swift wave of her fingers she began to manipulate the ice as it spread finally encasing all the floating orbs in solid ice.
Az: "What?"
Az materialized into his physical form as his movements were compromised.
Before his feet could even touch the ground Sieg had already closed the distance beside him.
As Az could do nothing else but to brace for impact.
Sieg flames on his arm roared loudly as he concentrated more magic energy. He swings his fist forward toward Az.
Sieg: Fire Magic: Dragon Fire Fist.
BOOM!!!
Az was sent flying aback from the impact as he landed roughly on the ground, tumbling before coming to a stop.
Az stood up slowly as he touched the side of his face which now had a permanent burn scar.
Smoke sizzled from Sieg hand as he was still trying to process what happened.
Aturia: "Hmph, I hope you're not planning to give up yet because we're just getting started Az."
Az: "I admit you two bested me. But i can assure you this is still far from over."
Sieg: "Tell us something... What's your aim in all this? Eliminating the old man and working for Mr. Mosshead... You and your brother Phoenix, are you really willing to go this far just for money?"
Is that what you really want Az?"
Az went completely silent for a moment, the wind whipping his dark hair.
Az: "Well... No. I never really wanted to become a rogue magic knight, let alone kill people for money. I wanted to become a magic knight just like you guys... To help people and maybe inspire others someday."
He lowered his gaze for a moment.
Az: "But... I've always been nothing more than a tool for my brother. Still, I don't really mind. As long as he acknowledges me... That's enough."
A tear dripped from his eyes.
Sieg: "A tool?"
Az: That's when I realized for someone like me, simply becoming a regular magic knight is completely difficult."
Az murmured, his voice dropping into a somber, deeply grounded tone.
Az: "If I truly have the choice… I don't want to kill any of you. And I certainly don't want to get killed by you either. I have my own dreams just as you have mine but I'm willing to do whatever it takes to protect the ones i care about the most. "I am willing to kill my own dreams, even die, to fulfill my brother's dreams."
Az raised his arm, from within the frosted network the ice encasing the orbs began to crack as the orbs began to surge, immediately they became lively again, sparking with a bright furious yellow luminescence.
Az: "This bridge is the ultimate battleground that connects each of us to our dreams. I for the precise sake of my dream want to protect the person who is most dear to me. I work and I fight solely for the sake of that person… and I want to make that person's dream a reality, even if it costs me my life.
"You might label it entirely as control or injustice or bondage or dependence… but for the sake of that dream, and for the sake of my big brother, I will completely kill my emotions—and slaughter you all."