-Afternoon. 3RD POV-
The sun high up in the sky began tilting westward over the darkening clouds covering the terrain spanning across a valley's hills and northern plains in wolf territory where the smells of ash, fumes, and gore drift in the air. The cool wind blowing from the east between the mountains meets the hot air resulting from clashes in the battlefield and forms small whirlwinds lasting up to minutes as they lift up more dust into the air. Meanwhile, in the middle of it all, a smog cloud forty meters wide starts to clear up revealing eight foxes surrounding an injured she-wolf getting soot on her golden fur dyeing red in several places.
*Thu-rush! Thu-rush! Fwoop!* A fox beast sprints to the East while the rider ignited several orifices on a two-meter-long hollow spear filled with flammable substances.
"URAAA!" Yero shouted and hurdled his weapon at wolf's belly from dozens of meters away while being careful with the intense flames.
*FriuooOOSHH!* The lance speed up propelled by a blue blazing jet four meters long that blew in the fox's armored shoulder for an instant and left a white smoke trail. *Swoosh! Swoosh!* The earthen user commanded the two metal disks to fly to her right side and stacked in the path of the lance. *KiANG!! Pwomf!* The spearhead impacted the sturdy circles slowing down and landed on the golden fur harmlessly before falling down. *Thunk! Ka-lank! Thu-rush! Thu-rush!* The hollow lance bounced on the rocky ground and landed as the foxman pulled out another spear and his beast partner continued closing the distance to their target.
"What the...!?" The spear user uttered perplexed at the ineffective attack and prepared another lance while getting closer.
*Swip! Shluak!!* The two trapped foxes finished compressing flammable gases in their mouths to the limits of their control and turned at the wolf's uninjured right foreleg four meters on the left before opening up. *Swoosh! Swoosh!* The she-wolf noticed the incoming firebreaths and willed the metal disks to the front. *FWOOOiiiSSHH!!* The two tear-shaped blue jets coming out the red-coated beast's mouths clashed with each metal disk floating in the air. *BWUASH!!* The two metal disks were pushed back by the blazes deflecting to the side and missing the foreleg while melting away from the edges and producing white smoke. *Klarsh! Klarsh! Swhoosh!* The shield bearer arrived at two meters behind the wolf's left hind leg and swung his short sword releasing the last of his magic as a violent combustion. *ShiiuUU! FWOOSH!* The diagonal slash formed a crescent-shaped blazes capable of searing beast hide in an instant and approached the short golden fur in the wrist joint.
I'll leave the archer to you then... Erina conceded lifted the left hind leg.
*Swip! FWOoosh...* The she-wolf avoided the blazes passing harmlessly under her belly and slightly singing the fur before dissipating while she balanced her body on two paws. *Thump!* The golden beast lowered the left hind leg while the fire jets died out. *FWOOooo... Kluap!!* The foxes ran out of fuel for the firebreath and closed their mouths to prepare another one while the wolf struggled with the floating metal disks that became smaller. *Tlok! Dluk! Tlok! Ksshh!!* The two deformed red-hot disks dripped incandescent liquid metal onto the dirt which was outside the earth user's control and sizzled on the ground cooling down. *FriuooOOSHH! Thu-rush! Thu-rush!* The spear user ignited the orifices on his weapon and held it in a throw position waiting for his partner to get closer to the wolf.
"Damn you!" The shield bearer cursed grinding his teeth and clenching the sword handle after having wasted all his mana.
...
*WiiiiSSHH! Shrr--shrr--srshh!* The Dragon gliding downhill noisily with a flickering camouflage started dragging his paws on the ground ten meters away from the two foxes at the edge of the hazy cloud.
"What's that sound??" The archer questioned controlling a blazing vortex extending for over a meter along his body.
"Ignore it! FIRE!" The unmoving fox beast facing north barked after noticing their closing window of opportunity.
*KREEE...* The archer's arms trembled as he pulled the bow as far as his hands allowed with an inch-thick arrow that resembled a spear and aimed at the golden wolf in the center of the clearing smog. *THU-RUMP! WHOP! SHUUK!* The purple-blue dragon landed six meters away from the fox's rear and immediately jumped over him while folding the wings. *Wuong! Shliiing~!! Shoo...* The lightning user in mid-air controlled the wires coiled on his collar using magnetism with the driving forces of elementals and unwinded them to each side of his head before shooting both in front of the bow. *PE-SHUN! FWUUP!* The archer released the largest metal arrow in his arsenal as the bow screeches under stress caused by the imploding fire vortex and shoot out while igniting under the left wire's tip. *FriuUSH! KWUUUONG!* A strong magnetic field activated between the two wires and the flying metal arrow in the center which only felt the influence for an instant before zipping away.
Made it in time... The dragon affirmed when the Light elementals ran out and his body became fully visible.
*FWUMP! Grish! Whoosh!* The scaly creature landed on the fox's back and gripped the fur with his claws while extending the neck towards the foxman.
""WH--!?"" The two shaken foxes sounded startled and glanced behind with perplexed looks before trying to register what they saw.
"SURPRISE!" The purple-blue dragon announced before lashing out with his jaws opening and tilting the head to the right.
*Shluak! Swif! Klack!* The archer sitting on the saddle twisted his body and moved the metal bow to block the incoming maw by reflex but the lightning user was prepared. *KUONG!!* Two magnetic fields activated on the floating wire and the scales on the dragon's head that pushed the bow downwards exposing the firefox. *Wrrruack! Krukk!* The scaly beast chomped down on the foxman's neck and sank his sharp white fangs expanding the puncture wounds as the bones creak from pressure until his mouth closed with the fox's head inside. *Swish! SRRIEK! Blursh!* The dragon turned his body east while ripping the head from the rest of the body which remained on the saddle gushing blood and pushed the fox beast as much as his foothold allowed. *FWUMP! WHOOOM! THUMP!! Twing~* The young dragon landed along with his wires and looked behind at the unsteady fox beast with a corpse dangling on top.
Ugh! He barely budged--!! The lightning user reviewed when the mana wave appeared from his inside his mouth and the cadaver. GUAH!? Uuugh... M-my head is pounding... That was the most intense mana wave I've felt even with Erina's protection... He asserted the difference in rank shaking his head recovering from the effects and commanded elementals again.
"WUOH?! What happened...?" The fox beast uttered and probed his back to confirm while feeling interference from the she-wolf. "X-xioyu?! No No no... This cannot be... It can't! Xioyu!" He called out without hearing a response and disbelieving his own senses. "Th...is...it's...my fault...it's all my fault... I did this to you... I'm so sorry..." The fire user uttered broken growls with a crushing regret and mourned briefly.
*Wuong!! Clink!! Shuiiing~!! Shoo...* The two seven-meter long wires detached from the collar and shoot at the distracted beast's legs before coiling around them in the shape of the infinity symbol in mere seconds. *Grrreesshh!! BrrRZZT!!* The two magnetized wires tightened around the robust legs of the red-coated fox before an electric arc welded them together and caught the beast's attention. *SwoOSH!* The dragon facing east whipped the tail with the tip shooting at the fox's left eye who noticed and tilted his head slightly. *SHiAG!* The metalized tail tip barely pierced the hide on the cheek and the dragon retracted it immediately.
"GRRR!" Xido growled menacingly raising his hackles and glared at the lizard with maddened eyes. "I'll kill you! I'll rip you apart and eat you!" He snarled hatefully and intimidated showing his prominent fangs while commanding the last of his magic.
*FwoooOOSHH!* An intense yellow fire burst out of the fox's body and started heating up the wires binding his legs. *Gluurp!* The dragon swallowed the head and started at the fox engulfed in flames.
Oh... Shit... He's pissed... BAIL! Nefiru determined and sprinted towards the she-wolf boosting his muscles with lightning to the maximum.
...
Meanwhile, on the west where the smog have yet to clear completely... *Fwusshh!!! Swisshhh!* The oversized metal arrow propelled by fire jets continued streaking to the east with a downwards trajectory until it crashed on the hillside halfway to the target. *Prrrrasshhh!* The arrowhead carved a line on the ground while losing momentum and lodged before the detonating mechanism was affected. *BOOM! Prararashhh...* The metal arrow exploded forming a crater and sending debris flying off which attracted attention.
"YOU MISSED!" The shield bearer mocked yelling and unable to see into the distance.
"I WON'T" The spear user declared and ignited his weapon.
*FriuooOOSHH!* The firefox held the lance in his shoulder and threw it at the golden wolf already 6 meters away.
You will! Erina retorted and suddenly lowered her body.
*Whoom! Fwooosshh!* The she-wolf crouched and the fiery spear passed over her charred back as it continued to the East leaving a cloud of smoke where the young dragon approached from.
"YOUUU BITCH!!" Yero cursed pulling another spear from the pack and got out of the saddle before holding it with both hands in the front.
*Whop! Thu-rush! Thu-rush!* The spear user jumped at the wolf's back trying to stab the exposed flesh where the fur was scorched while fox beast changed directions slightly going for the golden beast's neck. *Swosh! Swooosh!* The earthen wolf commanded a metal disk to fly to her back and another to the rear anticipating the attacks. *THUNK! Thumpf!* The spearhead impacted the metal disk on top of the flesh and pushed down before bouncing back as the foxman landed on the fur to pull the spear back. *Krrriiiek~* The earthen wolf manipulated the metals and attached the disk perpendicular to the spear tip before relinquishing control of the two objects to control the ground on her right.
"GWRAAWR!" Yelmo snarled lashing out with his jaws wide open about to bite down.
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*Krrruam! Swiss!* The earth user elevated the ground making a ramp under the fox's paws and turned her head upside-down before slipping the opening maw under the red-coated neck. *GRUASH! Kluap!!!* The she-wolf bit down with the necessary force to secure the fox that closed his mouth at the same time the two trapped beasts open theirs to do a firebreath attack at the wolf's left side of the neck.
"YIP!" The high-rank firefox yelped feeling a floating sensation on his forelegs and slammed his hind paws trying to stop by reflex.
*Thu-rush! Thuchhhh! WHOOP!* The golden beast used the fox's momentum to throw him uphill to the south and over the two firefoxes igniting their attacks. *FWOOSH--!! TWUAMM!!* The jaws on the two foxes were closed forcibly by the fallen beast and the two tear-shaped blue fire jets stopped abruptly.
"JYAP!!" The two beasts whimpered with smoke coming out of their mouths.
"HA-HUFF! HA-HUFF!" Erina panted getting exhausted and finding it hard to get up.
"S-sorry..." Yelmo apologized and got off the trapped beasts before walking to their right side. "Let us do firebreath together... She's nearly drained." He requested asserting their target's condition.
*Swip! Swip!* The immobile foxes nodded and concentrated once more. *Klurnk!* The foxman lifted the spear up and started at the dulled tip with a disk attached.
"...Are you kidding meeee!?" Yero frowned and yelled at the sky feeling ridiculed.
"Hohoho! Sweet, sweet revenge~" The shield bearer rejoiced arriving at the wolf's genitals undisturbed and brandished his sword.
*Shuuing--Klack! Wuop! Klack! Wuop!* The second metal disk intercepted the blade slowing down each slash to a stop while draining the last of the wolf's magic.
"You can't keep that forever!" Hazel declared and continued hacking at the wolf's rear.
*Thonk! Thud!* The disk suddenly fell on its side and landed on the ground by the foxman's feet.
"...That was fast..." The shield bearer retorted gazing at the metal circle and his lips transformed into a vile smile. "Beluko, you beasts hold your attacks a moment. I'm going to relieve some stress. She can't have a quick ending." He ordered and declared lifting his sword.
*Pa-rash! Pa-rash! Thu-ruchh! Thu-ruchh!* A purple-blue dragon sprinted towards the wolf with a fox beast not far behind engulfed in yellow flames.
"STOP! STOOOOOP!! I have yet to use that..." Nefiru bellowed from dozens of meters away and muttered.
"...!! Who denies my vengeance?" Hazel halted alarmed and turned left cautiously before asking with a respectful tone.
"The Wind Elder?" The firefox on top of the wolf wondered and strained his eyes expecting a powerful beast.
*Prash! Prash!* The dragon jogged closer to the golden beast left side and slowed down becoming entirely visible within the smoke.
"Haff! Haff!" The she-wolf panting on the ground like a tired dog turned left to face the new arrival and continued recovering magic resources while suppressing the fighters in the area.
"HAH...!?" Yero uttered with his mouth agape and blinked to confirm the sight. "A... mini-dragon? What's up with the eyes...?" He identified loosening his tension.
"Hoh? Did someone lose their Pet or is the rider hiding?" The shield bearer derided raising an eyebrow.
...What is this dragon doing here? And why did it come from that direction? Could the mana wave from earlier be from his Rider...? Beluko questioned glancing to the right while concentrating on a flammable ball inside his mouth that prevented him from talking.
"Grrr..." The scaly beast growled irritated while glaring at the spear user with his glowing eyes that perceived electric signals and magnetic fields in the fox. "What did you just call me?!" He protested catching the attention of the foxes and stopped six meters away from the she-wolf.
"Hah!? Did it just talked?!" The spear user asked the other foxman.
"...It must be well-trained since is not easy for beasts to speak the language of people. Pity that it's a dwarf dragon though." Hazel replied losing interest.
"..." The small dragon stared with slanted eyes silently expressing his indignation.
"SLOW!" The she-wolf barked at the dragon making him flinch.
"Ah! Sorry, Blondy...flying faster is on my to-do-list." The scaly beast apologized in Stilus. "...Keep the suppression and leave the rest to me if your Mana is drained." He instructed confidently.
"Humph! I'm hard to kill even on low mana..." Erina proudly affirmed lifting her muzzle. "But... Haff! Haff! I do need time to mold enough Magic for my muscles... Haff! My body feels 6 times heavier and even the heart was struggling...and there are all the injuries... I rather not move..." She said while her entire body shakes with each heavy breath.
"Yikes! S-six times heavier??! The effects of the body adapting to magic huh? It's probably more terrifying the larger your body is..." The young beast wondered.
"Yes, I heard mortal dragons could die without magic, but I'm not sure--" The she-wolf revealed when the foxman standing on her interrupted.
"SO! You two were in a legion, eh? Even learned their language..." Yero called out haughtily and crossed his arms while holding the former spear. "Have you come here to die?" He inquired narrowing eyes into slits.
"The probability of me dying here is quite low while she lives..." The young beast muttered affirming. "It is as you say... I work for the wolves. And speaking on their behalf...you lot are to surrender immediately lest you forfeit your lives." He announced gazing at all the foxes present without feeling intimidated.
"Surren--Hahaha!" The spear-wielding firefox burst out laughing and then, turned serious. "Don't joke with me! Can't you see that we have won already?" He snapped and rebuked pointing his staff at the wolf.
""GRUFF!!"" The fox beasts scoffed and rolled their eyes.
"Hmph! This bitch can't move anymore after exhausting her mana... And you... look weaker than Wyverns..." Hazel compared with contempt and taunted.
"Riiiight... And none of you realized that SHE was holding back? That she tried to kill as few of you as possible?" The dragon declared and pointed at the wolf with a claw on the left foreleg. "Only your leader died...that other guy will live. But she just suppressed your Magics and got defensive trying to take prisoners, not corpses..." He explained and lowered his paw.
Pamuro is indeed alive, but he can't move... And when did lord Zarion die? Kuu... Another high rank leaves us... We should burn his body along with the wolf... Daval mourned and decided.
Where's lord Zarion's corpse--ah! His weapon is under the wolf... A shame... He had so much talent...can't let such a warrior be eaten and desecrated... Yelmo lamented and decided.
Hmm... I figured lord Zarion perished too, but how does this little dragon know? Beluko wondered suspiciously glancing at the scaly beast.
"You... How would you even know that?" The spear user grinded his teeth interrogating when the shield bearer stays silent.
"Because I was watching everything unfold. It was I who requested HER to let me intervene when Mana was low... Right now, I know that can kill you all..." Nefiru replied with a half-bluff and approached a little more.
""..."" The foxes look at each other in silence questioning the dragon's credibility unable to detect his magic or smell anything with the fumes.
"Actually, I didn't understand the light code thing... I just guessed you wanted to show off. I'm waiting..." The she-wolf growled admitting and encouraged.
"Damn it, Erina! You were supposed to learn that... And I can't afford to show off...though I do need to test something..." The lizard beastie admonished.
"Hu-Hum... Magic tests is precisely the reasons that I didn't learn codes and why I'm in this sorry state..." The she-wolf nodded saying.
"You were amazing though." The lightning user praised with a grin.
"Thank you~ I improved my multitasking a little. But could you hurry up...? Those three beasts are about to use firebreath on me and I can't stop it...I do not want to get hit by that... Also, that firefox you ran from is coming..." The golden beast spoke
"I'm on it... Jesh... Let him come..." The lightning user grumbled and halted all non-essential processes in his body.
*Zooom!* The scaly beast created a magic spheric dome around the golden beast and him while encompassing the other foxmen.
"Hah!? You are just a low rank! And here we were worried..." Yero dismissed after sensing the dragon's magic on his body. "Haahh~" He sighed and glared at the beast below.
"Hmph! Back to make a wolf suffer." Hazel scoffed and muttered turning to the golden beast.
"Use your damn ears!" Nefiru disgruntled losing his patience. "Most of your forces are already subjugated and no reinforcements are coming from the border. It is you invaders who have already lost." He announced and shook his head.
*Zuku!! Swish! Grien!!* The ears of the foxes flickered while the mouths of the foxmen twitched annoyed.
"Hm? There are some groups moving uphill..." The spear user peered through the smoke and described. "The fights...ENDED??!" He concluded with a perplexed expression and wide eyes.
"Surrender and live, or don't and get trashed before dying a stupid death." The dragon declared attracting the attention of the enemies once more. "The prisoners are gathering at the hill for a meeting before kicking you all out of this territory." He explained pointing at the hilltop where the metal tubes are.
""..."" The foxes look at each other again questioning the veracity of such words and glanced at the golden beast who nodded affirming.
It couldn't be... The mana wave from earlier was Xioyu's? This beast is dangerous! Beluko conjectured and became restless but was unable to speak nor break from his bindings.
"Don't believe that nonsense!" Hazel opposed and lifted his sword. "YARGH!" He shouted preparing to bring down the blade.
*Tash! Tash! KA-BOOM! Tash! Tash! KA-BOOM!...* The fox beast enveloped in yellow flames walked imposingly while the explosive mines in his path ignited sending towering debris and smoke billowing skywards.
""Huh...?!"" The foxmen sounded surprised and annoyed, then turned to look.
"What's with the berserking fox?" The dragon turned his head behind asking.
"Some of them tend to lose control when you kill their partners. Although this one is conscious, and he's pretty angry at you... Be careful." The she-wolf answered in between explosions and warned.
"That's dubious..." Nefiru criticized arriving at the wolf's belly.
"T-then Xioyu was...?" Yero blurted watching the headless corpse burning on the saddle.
"Oh... I ate his head..." The scaly beast casually revealed.
"See...? Xido has the right idea. We can't let any of them live. Kill them all!" The shield bearer declared and slashed at the wolf's rear.
"I told you to stop!" Nefiru reminded in a deep tone and activated his magic.
*GWRRUOOONNNG!!!* An area of strong magnetic fields appeared around the golden wolf making her fur stand on end while the two foxmen levitate with their hairs puffed. *Zruu... Zruu...* The metallic objects within the dome started hovering in the air, moving in different directions and heating up from induction.
"GAAH--!? W-w-what the heck is thiiiiis??" Yero questioned exasperated while flailing in the air.
What's that...? There are no visible magic effects...! What kind of phenomena is that?! The three fox beasts wondered in unison.
"W-why are we floating? This isn't magic! A Divine...?" The armored shield bearer asserted unable to move a limb.
"No, you fools! It's just lightning magic controlling metals and pushing your flesh..." The young beast corrected the embarrassing statements.
"Impressive. To lift something so heavy with magic at your rank." The she-wolf casually appraised watching the great axe floating upwards and the corpse under her paw shaking. "But the Mana it must consume depending on mass, duration and distance from the head shouldn't be low." She asserted looking up with her mouth half-open.
"Yeah, there's a limit to magnetic strength per area and voltage produced per rank, but depending on how it's used and the materials controlled, the duration can be traded for quantity or force... I'm feeding many Elementals at the same time while magnetizing objects to repel each other..." He explained while the foxes regained their composure.
"F-fire at the dragon! FIRE!" The spear user floating two meters above the wolf ordered.
"Haahh... Go fly." The lightning user sighed and said before changing the magnetic fields.
*GWUOON! WHOOSH!!! Swooosh!!* The magnetized objects were sent flying in different directions doing arcs. *THUP! THONK! KRASH! KLASH!!* The spear user along with this weapon and the Axe landed around 8 meters to the west while the shield user 10 meters downhill to the north.
""GAH! UAK!"" The two foxmen gurgled writhing on the ground in pain and struggled to get up.
*Tash! Tash! Wuak!!!* The fox beast from the east finally arrived while the other three open their mouths igniting a flammable ball inside. *GRUWUOON! Bzzzt! BRRRZT! Brrzzt~! * The magnetic dome changed shape to that of a hollow spherical shield with half a meter thick area before an electric field appeared within it as well. *FWOOOiiiSSHH!! BWUASH!!* Three tear-shaped blue jets coming out the red-coated beast's mouths encountered the electromagnetic barrier ionizing the air and pushed it back close to the wolf's snout before it was contained. *BRRRZZZUASHHT!!* The voltage increased even more and started changing the combusting gas molecules. *KRUUWOOONNNG!* The ionized gases spread within the magnetic bubble making different shades of purple with streaks of changing yellow, orange, red, and blue colors with lightning bolts jumping incessantly.
""AHH!?!?"" The three firefoxes outside the purple bubble stopped their firebreath and remained stunned with their mouth agape.
"..."The raging fox enveloped in yellow flames stopped and observed the phenomenon in silence.
"Ugh... Wh-what the heck is it now??! Since when can low ranks do things like that?!?" Yero questioned the glowing purple bubble clutching his right arm.
"I... Urk! I DON'T KNOW! Urk... I don't know anymore... Today's been a nightmare... Hukuk..." Hazel shouted replying and muttered depressingly sitting on the ground.
"It's so... beautiful~" The dragon reviewed entranced of the phenomenon.
"Impressive... What is it? And what about mana...?" Erina commended and inquired curiously.
"It's plasma, the fourth state of matter. It does take a bit of mana to create, but only a tenth of energy to maintain and--" The lightning user elaborated when his magic detected movement outside the dome.
"GRYAAH!" The raging fox roared and charged.
"Oh, shiiiit! I forgot about him..." The dragon said alarmed and commanded magic in a hurry.