Part 3
The Bronx
Korol' Iskry: Nebesnyy uzhas Razgnevannykh Bogov (Russian transl. Flame King: Hell’s Terror Condemned)
Thud.
Thud.
Heavy footsteps could be heard as the flame golem walked forward.
It’s eyes or lack or lack thereof, were fixated on the woman in the middle of the street.
Agent Maria Holm.
She was kneeling on the ground, tending to another agent that was thrown out of the building.
Her blue eyes darted across the street to the other agents struggling to pick themselves up, groaning and coughing.
What broke her concentration was another footstep of the fire golem.
It was a quick motion but-
BAAANNNNNGGG!
A loud noise broke out as a single bullet ripped through the air, striking the golem’s head from the herassault rifle.
The golem stopped in its tracks as half of its face was blown off, but-
The cracks on its body began to glow as the head began to regenerate.
Once again, the golem began walking again as the flames that had surrounded its body began to intensify.
Valeria Lucia.
She leaped down from the edge of a roof, overlooking the flame golem, with a grunt.
The markings on her arms, chest, and back were glowing as she was descending towards the golem.
Herself and-
Her fingers clawed into the metal she was carrying.
Herself and a large tank ripped from a water tower.
With both hands and the use of her magic to enhance her physical capabilities
Focusing the water tank with her right hand, using her left hand, she threw the water storage tank at the golem.
The golem raised its left hand at the oncoming container.
BOOOOOSH!
There was a loud noise as the tank hit the golem arm.
Steam was emitted from the arm as the golem stumbled back as the rocks that made up its arm broke apart, crumbling to the ground.
Valeria rolled down the front windshield and hood of a parked car before falling onto the ground.
She watched the golem before turning her attention to Agent Holm.
“If these men are with you, gather them and leave. This is above your pay grade,” she said, turning her head back to the golem.
Not wasting any more time, Valeria ran towards the golem.
As she did, the markings on her arms began to glow before-
Valeria sidestepped a wide swing from the golem right arm, moving towards the side of the golem right knee.
Twisting her body clockwise with a quick of moves that followed,
She swung her right elbow at the back of the golem right knee. Twisting her body clockwise with her left fist, she punched that spot, knocking the golem down to one knee.
The golem swiped its hand across the ground, causing Valeria to use both of her hands to flip over the forearm, letting the arm pass under her, causing the arm to crash into a few cars.
Valeria slid across the floor, stopping herself. She stared at the golem, who simply pulled its hand out of the rubble of cars.
Her face winced as she felt her skin on her palms, knuckles, and right elbow.
(What a pain, Its body is protected by heated rocks, and anything less than stage two won’t so much as put a dent on it.)
The bright orange cracks began to dim on the golem body.
Her thoughts were interrupted as the golem’s body began to crumble as nothing more than blocks toys for children.
Slowly the rocks started to merge as something began to rise in the center, with the rocks being swallowed up by what was now being created.
Several rock formations with the appearance of Dobermans with bright orange cracks that separated each of the rocks that made up its body with glowing white eyes stared at the woman before-
One of the dogs charged at her, causing the others to follow suit.
Tensing up, Valeria swung her fist downward at the ground.
Queens
Korol' Iskry: Nebesnyy uzhas Razgnevannykh Bogov (Russian trans. Spark King: Heavenly terror of the Wrathful GODS.
Heavy breathing.
The sound of rapid footsteps on the ground as someone was running.
Flying several inches above the ground.
A black bird.
Or what was supposed to be a black bird, but it lacked any distinct features—just a black mass resembling a bird flying in the air below his knees.
A spell without an incantation—but he did not have time to complain as-
Several streams of lightning traveled across the ground towards him.
Aurelius Lucia.
With a grunt and the best of his abilities, he leaped forward, jumping onto the makeshift bird.
He nearly stumbled over, almost falling off entirely as he narrowly escaped the lightning on the ground.
The bird flew up into the air and hovered with Aurelius looking down upon the golem.
The golem stood at the center of the courtyard-not moving.
(Watch its movements…..watch how it reacts.)
Aurelius clapped his hands.
[Binding chains of Darkness]
A black sigil appeared over the golem, followed by six black pillars shooting out and impaling the ground in a hexagonal pattern around the golem.
Chains shot out of the six pillars that wrapped around the lightning golem's arms, waist, and head.
(My first priority should be attempting to at least contain this creature.)
[White Ethereal Prison]
Another spell without an incantation
Aurelius pulled his palms apart, which revealed a small black bird.
The bird flew off his palm above the golem’s head before breaking and scattering apart.
Aurelius quickly intertwined his fingers.
In its scattered remains, white light shot out, creating a caged prison surrounding the golem.
He watched as the white bars slammed into the ground.
And then-
A flicker.
Nothing.
The golem vanished in a distorted light.
Aurelius paused.
Behind him.
A quick flash.
Quickly reacting, Aurelius placed his palm on the back of the bird's neck.
A white flash.
Lightning.
Just barley.
He was barely able to activate a spell to shield himself as lightning exploded in the sky.
An intense pain all over his body as lightning grazed and cut into his body.
Aurelius and the bird were knocked out of the sky, causing both to fall to the ground. There were several loud thuds as Aurelius bounced across the ground.
There were a few seconds of silence before he picked himself up to his hands and knees.
Drops of blood fell upon the tiled bricks as Aurelius raised his head to see the golem slowly descend, hovering a few inches above the ground as lightning spread out under its body.
Through the silence, there was a buzzing sound from the golem that started to grow louder as a halo made of lightning was over its head.
A large, thin pillar of lightning shot up into the sky from the golem head before swinging downwards.
Aurelius slammed his palm onto the ground.
Just like before, a black void appeared under his body, slightly pushing him up.
Crude black wings had spread open from the rising blackness as two talons touched the ground.
A giant black bird.
(Come on, come on……)
The bird leaped off the ground, nearly missing the attack.
There was a loud noise as the pillar of lightning slammed into the ground, splitting it and a building behind him with a thin cut.
The bird flew up into the sky, hovering behind the golem.
The golem turned its head as small orbs of lightning shot out from the back of the golem head towards Aurelius, who used the bird to dodge the attacks.
The golem turned the rest of its body around to face Aurelius as he quickly flew towards the golem.
Aurelius raised his hammer behind him.
[Chains of Hell.]
Flaming red spiked chains shot out from the bird's raised wings, wrapping around the golem body before-
An outburst of lightning caused the chains to fly off its body.
Gritting his teeth, Aurelius jumped off the bird as it disappeared.
[Four Pillar Bind.]
A black pillar shot out from the ground, striking the golem back and knocking it forward before another pillar emerged from the ground, sticking the golem's chest.
The golem was pinned between two pillars before two pillars, one on the golem’s right and one on the golem’s left, struck its sides, pinning it in place.
Aurelius swung the flaming hammer down, striking the golem head with a metallic noise that rang out.
Nothing.
The flames flicked off the large hammer before it crashed into the ground.
The enhanced attack without any incantation did not even register as an attack on the golem.
There was a buzzing sound as the golem head began to glow a bright white.
“Well damn.” Aurelius muttered with a defeated tone.
There was a bright white flash, followed by the loud sound of lightning.
Jamaica Bay
Korol' Moroza: Kholodnaya smert' (Russian transl. Frost King: Cold Death)
There was a groan from the ice golem that stood in front of Aoi and Camellia as it raised its right arm; in its right hand was a mace, with icicles for spikes.
Its red eyes quickly flashed before the golem swung the weapon down upon Aoi.
Nonchalantly, Aoi swiped her right index and middle finger diagonally upwards, slashing the top of the weapon and portions of the golem's head away.
There was a loud thud as the weapon crashed down into the ice-covered ground, just mere centimeters from herself.
Her face was unflinching as a gust of wind blew past her face.
Aoi then swiped her right fingers at the golem left leg.
Below the knee, the leg was blown away, causing the golem to fall to its remaining knee with a loud thud.
Faint smoke began to surround the tip of the broken weapon as it began to freeze.
Aoi's eyes widen as she immediately jumps back as icicles explode from the tip of the broken weapon.
As she landed on the ground, she pointed her left index and middle finger with her thumb up like a gun at the golem.
As she put her thumb down, there was a faint ringing sound that broke out before-
KSSSSSSSSH!!!!
The ice golem chest had burst open from the inside outwards as an invisible x-shaped cross slash had cut at its body.
The golem body rocked backwards as if it were going to fall on its back before-
The golem body rocked forward, and as it did, a large wave of ice shot out from its chest towards Aoi.
Aoi clapped her hands together outwards with her fingers pointed at the oncoming ice.
BOOOOOOOOOM!!!
A loud noise.
Just a few centimeters—maybe even inches—off her fingers, it was as if an invisible shield was around her body that prevented the ice from hitting her.
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
Her face winced as small pieces of ice hit her face.
In a quick motion, which split the wave of ice and golem in two.
Other than the sound of cracking ice and Aoi heavy breathing, everything was quiet before-
There was a cracking sound as the golem body moved.
Immediately Aoi swung her left arm over her right shoulder before swinging at the golem.
Krik!
Kkrrrk!
Krrrik!
BOOOOOOM!
The ice began to crack.
From behind Aoi, a water dragon had burst out from under the ice.
The dragon roared as it flew towards the golem.
Thoock!
The right half of the golem swung the broken weapon and stabbed it into the head of the water dragon, pausing it in place.
Suddenly, from the head onward, the dragon began to turn to ice.
Her eyes widen in shock as icicles broke through the frozen body of the dragon before-
The golem then threw the weapon at the girl, which caused Aoi to jump into the air, letting the makeshift lance hit the ground.
It was a second, maybe even less as-
Large icicles had burst from the weapon towards the girl in the air.
Under her left foot, a small amount of water pooled together, creating a platform for her to backflip from.
Halfway during her backflip, water began to pool around her body before connecting to her back.
Wings.
Light blue wings made of water shielded her from the oncoming barrage of ice.
The wings then flapped open, creating a shockwave with a fierce gust of wind that shattered the ice.
Aoi pulled her right arm back as water formed in her palm.
As she swung her arm forward, water blasted out from her palm like a high-pressure water hose that had hit the golem.
The water was blown away to reveal that the golem was now holding a shield made of ice. The ice golem then put its other palm on the back of the shield, which caused several icicles to shoot out from the front of the shield.
The wings flapped downward, pushing her up higher into the air. Using the momentum, Aoi lightly flipped backwards before-
The wings on her back flapped forward.
Aoi shot towards the ground as she blitzed past the icicles.
Her face winced as an icicle grazed her left right cheek—still she pressed forward.
There was a loud shockwave that broke out as large icicles and huge waves of water covered the area.
Aoi body broke through one of the pillars, causing her to flip backwards several times in the air before landing on the ground with her feet cracking into the ice.
She raised her head to see the ice golem dashing towards her with its left arm swinging the icicle spiked mace.
Quickly, Aoi swung her right arm upwards.
Water broke through from under the ice, cutting off the golem left arm.
The golem paused for a bit before-
The golem rushed towards Aoi and, with its right hand, grabbed her neck and head, causing her feet to leave the icy ground.
Not losing any momentum with its grab, the golem flew and slammed Aoi into several of the large ice pillars, sliding the back of her head across the last of the pillars before-
Aoi placed both of her feet on the golem's chest; she then pushed the golem several hundred feet away into the ground. several hundred feet away into the ground, separating the golem body from its right arm, which was still holding onto Aoi.
The golem began to stagger as it stood up.
Aoi, with her right index and middle fingers, lightly tapped the ice arm.
The ice arm began to melt into water as it pooled around her, revealing a look that screamed silent anger as she watched the golem.
Cold air escaped the golem mouth as it took a step into the water outside the ice. Aoi watched as its arms began to regenerate.
Seeing this, Aoi crouched down on the side of the ice pillar, closing her eyes.
A faint blue light began to surround her feet.
Aoi eyes quickly shot open, which caused the ice on the ground to crack as water droplets broke through the ice.
She then shot off the ice pillar like a bullet towards the ice golem, pulling her right arm back before swinging it forward as the golem swung its shield.
There was a loud sound as Aoi fist hit the shield.
BOOOOOOOOM!!
A loud explosion of white smoke broke out in the area.
Both Aoi and the golem crashed into the water below.
Camellia watched on as several explosions underwater as large amounts of water shot up into the sky.
Ice may have been the creature element, but-
Water was hers.
Both Aoi and the golem right fist collided against each other, which released a shockwave.
Both looked at each other before-
Aoi thrust her left palm forward.
The golem was pushed back several dozen feet.
As if she were flying, Aoi propelled herself forward to the golem as it flailed around trying to balance itself.
As it did, the golem created a sword of ice and swung at Aoi, but due to being under water, its movements were sluggish, but-
That was no issue for Aoi, who moved without any issue.
Aoi dodged the strike, easily maneuvering to the golem back. She placed her hand on the golem right shoulder. As the golem tried to turn around, its arms were separated from its body.
The golem turned its head only to see Aoi flipping her wrist in front of its face with her right thumb and middle fingers touching.
It was a simple move.
A snap.
There was a muffled noise as several deep cuts appeared across the golem’s body.
(Not yet.)
With her right foot, Aoi kicked the golem away before chasing after it.
(Not yet….more.) That was her thought.
The golem’s arms began to grow back, and as it did, the golem swung its arms over his head, pointing its palms at Aoi.
Icicles shot out from the golem palms, ripping through the water.
Seeing this, Aoi pulled back her right leg and swung it forward.
The ice platform Camellia was standing on shook violently as she was knocked to the ground.
BOOOOOOOM!!
A loud thunderous sound broke out as a large, long crack appeared on the water surface like a fissure in the earth's crust.
“What is going on down there?”
Camellia asked with a shocked look on her face,
The sound was muffled underwater, but the Water Crystal Guardian paid it no mind as she stared at the golem or what used to be the golem—now just a waist and legs.
Swiping her right hand diagonally downwards causing the golem’s legs to be slashed away.
Aoi clapped her hands in front of her face.
As she did, large blue hands made of water crushed the golem between its palms.
Not stopping her assault, Aoi propelled herself towards the two hands.
As she got closer, her eyes widened as ice began to creep out from a small gap between the palms, freezing the two hands.
BOOOOOF!!
As the two hands froze solid before breaking apart as icicles broke through the hands from all sides.
The ice golem—now larger and more feral in appearance—slowly raised its head to stare at the Water Crystal Guardian as she got closer.
Aoi dodged a right punch, swimming to the golem's right side, placing her right palm sideways on the golem's waist.
The golem body was cut in half at the waist.
At the waist, it was as if something had exploded from the golem chest and stomach.
There was silence as Aoi stared at the open body of the golem. Her eyes narrowed as she found what she was looking for.
The sigil.
Inside its hollow body was the sigil on a small piece of wood from the boat earlier.
The reason they were here.
The golem grabbed the chains that dangled from its brackets, covering them in ice.
What she needed to destroy.
Aoi swiped her right hand across.
BOOOOOOOM!
There was a loud shockwave as Aoi was knocked back several feet as the ice was blown off the chain as a faint trail of blood followed the girl as she was hit with the chains.
Queens.
BOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!!
There was a loud noise as Aurelius body crashed through the wall of a department store, breaking through several of the aisles before falling upon a dresser cabinet.
Silence.
Several heavy breaths could be heard as Aurelius laid there on a pile of rubble.
His closed eyelids began to twitch as he slowly opened his eyes, staring at the ceiling.
(This is quite the problem…)
(Because of the rapid speed of its attacks, I am stuck on defense using defensive spells at less than a third of its strength.)
(I can somewhat block most of its attacks, but because of its speed, any counterattack I attempt to pull if it doesn't take it down in one shot is meaningless.)
His eyes twitched as small pebbles of rubble fell from the ceiling onto his face.
(Both the sigil and this spell for the golem are linked together; if I can destroy whatever this spell conjured, then I can destroy the sigil, but how?….)
Aurelius sat up coughing.
(...and to even damage that thing, I need to get a spell off with the full incantation and not only that but also deal with its attacks and try to create an opening.)
Through the hole in the wall, he could see the golem outside.
His eyes glanced over to the cabinet of small radios.
The Bronx.
The sound of chatter and coughing could be heard in the lobby of a building.
The Tactical Response Team.
Six agents in total.
One agent removed his helmet to loudly exhale before coughing himself.
“What the hell was that thing?”
“I don’t know.” A voice spoke out
“That thing….that thing, did anybody catch a glimpse of it?”
“Just barely, just a glimpse of that thing’s face as it was coming out of the wall.”
Various chatter filled the room from the other agents—all except one.
Agent Maria Holm.
Right now, a lot was going through her mind as she leaned against a wall.
That creature.
Whatever it was, it was something that, despite their tactical training, was something this group was not prepared for.
“So, what is the plan?”
A voice interrupted her thoughts as another agent walked up to her.
There was a long silence from Agent Holm as she turned her head and stared out the window as she could see smoke emerge outside.
One of the dogs had leaped through the gray smoke to bite down, only to be impaled by a pole through the chest.
With a grunt, Valeria pinned the dog to the ground, causing it to thrash around.
Her face winced as she pulled her fingers from the pole as it began to heat up.
Hearing the other dogs approaching, she decided to forego her current pain and grabbed the pole, lifting both the pole and the dog.
Two oncoming dogs.
She quickly turned left, swinging the pole, causing the impaled dog to fly off, hitting one of the other dogs.
She turned her attention to the next dog, bringing the pole down.
Impaling the top of the pole onto the back of another dog, using the same momentum, she used the pool to flip over the dog.
Landing on her two feet, she swung the pole and dog over her head, bringing both down upon the two dogs.
Valeria watched as the dogs bounced around on the ground.
(None of these three have it, which means….)
She turned her attention to the swarm of dogs running towards her.
(It must be in one of them.)
She held the pole sideways in the dog's mouth, preventing it from biting down as she fell back onto the ground. She lifted her left leg, kicking the mutt of her.
Rising to her feet, she began striking wildly at the oncoming swarm of dogs.
Head.
Legs.
Waist.
It didn’t matter to the woman.
Anything that allowed her to get just a moment of separation.
She took a step forward, raising the pole like a bat being ready to swing.
“Duabus armis: Secundo fluctu” (Latin transl. Two arms: The second wave)
The markings on both of her arms began to glow before-
A magic technique that bordered on the line between makeshift and incomplete by pouring mana into the body via the markings or sigils, increasing one’s physical capabilities.
Valeria swung the pole with her enhanced strength., hitting one of the dogs. The enhanced swing kicked up a fierce gust of wind, knocking several of the other dogs back.
Valeria stumbled a step forward, almost falling forward.
Such a drawback with the technique, exhausting with a feeling that one’s limbs could separate violently from the body with the amount of force her magic technique exerted.
Heavy breaths.
As she stood there exhaling deeply, something had caught the corner of her eye.
On her left, a dog ran out from behind a car towards her.
Valeria swung the pole as the dog leaped forward.
The dog rolled forward like a wheel colliding with the pole as Valeria held the pole in front of her sideways.
The rocks that made up the dog body began to glow.
Not taking any chances, Valeria attempted to push the dog off the pole but not before-
BOOOOOOM!!
Flames had burst from the dog with a small explosion in front of her face, knocking her back across the floor.
There was a loud grunt as she tried to pick herself up.
The dogs began to crowd around each other several feet in front of her.
Suddenly the bright orange cracks began to fade out on the dogs as they began to break apart, collapsing on to the floor into a puddle of small ashen rocks.
Valeria raised her head with blood dripping from the left side and light burn marks on her face and shoulder to see the rocks vibrate on the floor as they began to merge and rise.
Slowly and with precision, the golem body stared to form back together.
She grabbed the handle of a driver-side car door of a nearby car.
The markings on her right arm began to glow as she ripped the door out.
“Brachium dextrum: secundi unda" (Latin transl. Right Arm: Second Wave)
A simple twirl as she spun counterclockwise several times to gather momentum.
With a grunt, the car door flew off her fingers, twirling at the golem head like a sideways frisbee.
The car door clipped several traffic signs before striking the golem’s head, staggering it, but it was not enough to put it down.
With her skill set and her fighting style, she knew that she was at a disadvantage facing the golem head-on like this.
Her eyes began to narrow, trying to find a weak spot on the creature, but it was nothing but molten rock.
The golem pulled the car door out of its head, letting the door melt in its palm. Staring at its palm, bright orange molten liquid dripped from its palm to the ground. The golem then slammed its palm into the ground, causing cracks to appear on the street.
There was a heavy tremor that broke out as orange liquid erupted from the cracks as the ground began to further break.
Its arm seeped into the ground as it cracked open.
Valeria watched as the golem pulled it out of the ground.
Molten orange liquid dripped from its arm as the small debris started to merge with the liquid.
Something that looked like a club.
A weapon almost as tall as it was, formed by merging the rocks and molten liquid
The golem stared at the woman before it swung its weapon across in front of itself.
Something flew off the weapon—something too fast for her to see and too fast for her to react to.
The loud sound of broken glass and metal rang out as small rocks flew off the weapon.
As the loud sound from the attack began to fade out, Valeria began to slightly lower her arms.
She stared at the deep gashes on her forearms that she used to shield her face.
Blood trickled out of her mouth, spilling down to her chin.
It felt as if all the air was taken out of her lungs.
She tried to focus.
But she had another more pressing issue to attend to.
A deep searing pain in her body as a rock tore through her lower midsection, giving her a dollar coin-size wound that was now bleeding.
Blood trickled out from the side of her mouth.
But she did not have time to ponder about that as the golem struck her with its backhand, causing her to slide across the street.
A painful gasp shot out of her mouth as she immediately grabbed her midsection, covering her wound.
A loud thud.
A heavy footstep.
It was enough for her to open her eyes to see the golem looming over her, swinging its weapon down.
Valeria rolled out of the way, causing the molten weapon to hit a fire hydrant.
Water exploded from the broken hydrant, blasting water upwards, hitting the golem's face and chest.
The golem staggered several steps before falling to one knee with a loud thud.
Valeria watched as the golem face and upper chest began to break apart.
With its free hand, the golem covered its face with its palm, attempting to keep it together.
Its glowing eyes peeked through the fingers.
Exluding its head flames began to surround the golem's body as it stood up.
BAAAAANG!!
A loud noise.
Without warning, a bullet ripped through the side of the golem's heads.
“Copy that; you guys stay in position.” The voice came from Agent Maria Holm as two other agents followed behind, shooting the weapons at the golem. “You two split up and keep your fire directly on the creature and away from the woman.” She shouted out.
Seeing this, Agent Holms raised her assault rifle at the golem.
From the mount attachment under the barrel of her gun, Maria shot a grenade at the beast.
The grenade exploded as it hit the golem head.
The other two agents ran to opposite ends of the street behind the trunks of two parked cars.
The golem turned his attention to the oncoming trio, raising its forearms and blocking the bullets.
As Maria got closer, the golem swung the molten weapon down.
A faint white light surrounded her body.
The golem fist past the white light, hitting the ground as the white light past by its arm.
Behind the golem, in the air.
Agent Holm fired another grenade from her weapon, striking the golem’s back as an explosion caused it to stumble forward.
Landing back onto the ground, she ran up to a nearby car.
White light surrounded her right foot as she placed it on the rear bumper.
There was a slight grunt that escaped her lips as she pushed the vehicle forward.
As the car was pushed, the front right wheel broke off the axle, causing the bottom of the front bumper to scape along the ground before the vehicle flipped over on its right side.
Without wasting a second, she fired bullets from her gun into the vehicle as it hit the golem, aiming at the fuel tank.
Seeing that fuel was pouring out of the car, she fired the last grenade from her weapon at the car.
BOOOOOOOOOOM!!!
A explosion.
A fireball shot up into the sky as fire spilled out on the street.
Staring at the flames in silence, a voice spoke out, which alerted her.
“You’re not going to defeat the creature that way.”
Maria turned her head to the source of the raspy voice, lowering her weapon.
Valeria sat on the ground, with her back against a park car.
“What is that thing?”
“That thing is a summoning via a magic spell.”
“You’re joking.”
“There is a symbol that has to be destroyed for this creature's existence to cease.”
“……Symbol.” Maria said under her breath as she stared at Valeria with a puzzled look on her face before she spoke again. “That thing on the wall.”
“Yes.”
“The building was partially destroyed; shouldn’t the spell already be destroyed?”
Before Valeria could answer, there was a loud sound from the inferno.
Valeria stared at the flame-engulfed car, watching as the golem’s right hand emerged from the flames slamming into the vehicle, breaking the glass from the windows.
With a grunt, Valeria stood up.
“Listen, that symbol is within its body below its chest; if we can get it and destroy it…..” Valeria said as the two as the marking on her arms began to glow.
“Then this farce ends.” Maria said, cutting Valeria off as she took the magazine out of her assault rifle before grabbing a spare from her belt.
“That is the general consensus, but it is not going to be easy.” Valeria said before she yanked a long chain with a hook attached to it off a tow truck behind her.
The golem’s head stated to peek through the flames.
“I’m pretty sure we can break through that exterior.” Maria said, sticking the magazine in the gun as her blue eyes began to glow.
Jamaica Bay
Elemental Immunity.
The Crystal Guardians, although few in number, possess an ability often regarded as the strongest pure offensive weapon in the universe, and in certain scenarios, they also boast the strongest defensive ability as well.
Along with the complete control of said element, a Crystal Guardian can also negate that element from being used against them.
An image ability so default, most were not aware they were actually using that ability like a natural reflex similar to breathing or blinking.
The complete negation of one’s own element.
So perfect—with several elements having a much more refined and enhanced version due to their destructive capabilities.
An ability so perfect but relied on one element to fully utilize that it exposed its greatest flaw……
BOOOOOOOOOM!!!
A loud explosion underwater blasting water up into the air.
A loud shockwave broke out, releasing a gust of wind that cracked the ice platform, which sent Aoi out of the water and back sliding on the icy ground with blood following her before it fell to the ground itself.
There were several heavy breaths that could be heard from her as she stared at the ground.
(It seems that despite this creature not being able to control water the way you can, it has some minute control over water, which normally is not a problem……) Deep within the crevasse of her mind, a male voice began to speak out to her.
“It is the follow-up.” Aoi said, cutting off the voice in her head.
(This, whatever it is, this creature can use nearby water to heal itself; using your own water will only hasten that result; it is a crafty little trick, so the only way to deal with this creature is to……)
“…..Is to destroy it completely.”
Aoi looked up.
Several large ice golems began clawing their way out of the water onto the ice platform from all sides.
Aoi calmed her breathing.
(You felt it before, earlier, when the ice formed the first time-faint traces of water. It is the basics for all of the creature abilities; if that is the case, then you need to make water the basic for your abilities and attack with something else; you know what you need to do.)
Aoi calmed her breathing.
“You're not asking me to?…..”
(A suggestion—that is all that I can offer to you, given the nature of our relationship since you're the one in control... ultimately it has to be you who makes that decision.)
Silence.
The voice was no more.
Silence that was broken by the sound of the multiple ice golems footsteps that were approaching her.
With a final exhale, Aoi spoke.
“What a pain in the ass.” There was a long pause of silence as Aoi contemplated what she had said. “That is probably something Haruko would have said.”
Aoi sighed before closing her eyes before placing her palms together with a single clap, placing her palms together.
Silence.
She had made her choice.
There was a soft exhale that escaped her lips.
“Crystal Guardian Technique…..”
Her hair and clothes began to sway in the absence of any breeze.
“Soul Overlay Convergence.” Aoi's voice started to distort with a male voice echoing her own.
Aoi slowly opened her eyes, pausing as he bit her lips before-
“Qì lóng zhàohuàn.” (Chinese transl. Air Dragon Summon. Chi Dragon Summoning)
The water exploded and rose behind Aoi.
Central Park.
A feeling.
“Ahhh-choooo!”
A sneeze.
Haruko’s body jerked as he squeezed the bridge of his nose in an attempt to stifle his sneeze.
Haruko groaned.
Wiping his noise, he held his phone to his left ear.
[Hello, you reached the number of one Alistair Michaels; if you are getting this message, then I am- BEEP.]
A groan.
Again.
An exhale escaped his lips.
Haruko groaned as he cut off the voicemail and pulled the phone from his ear.
The fifth call that had gone to voicemail.
Haruko began looking around.
The red lightning and rumbling had begun to calm down, but the threat wasn't adverted just yet.
This person was too much to find with just the two of them.
SHOOOOOOOM!!
As the teen was lost in his thoughts, an unnerving feeling washed over him.
Around him.
Black.
Rising black.
A suffocating blackness.
From the ground to the sky covering the area.
A wave of black had risen from the ground surrounding the teen, washing over the area in black as it traveled into the sky, like a curtain unveiling a new stage set.
An empty void of black.
Haruko lowered his forearms that was shielding his face, opening his eyes.
Immediately his eyes shot open in shock as everything was changed.
Central Park.
One of NEO New York City's biggest tourist attractions.
A large, vibrant open park spanning dozens of blocks now-
Black.
Barren.
Void.
Trees and grass that were full of life are now barren and lifeless.
Something a few steps away from away a wasteland.
Decaying wooden black houses.
The surrounding area was changed on a massive scale into an enclosed space of decaying buildings out of a destroyed village.
“What the hell is all this?” Haruko said under his breath.
Just as quickly as the blackness appeared, it disappeared just as fast.
The last of shrouding blackness had left the ground flying up into the sky.
The old man.
Anatoli Azarov.
There was a near silent grunt as he pulled his bloodied palms apart, lowering his arms to his side. Slowly his eyes looked up to the teen that was several feet from him wipping his blooded noise,