Garuda arc
A giant slammed his war hammer onto the ground at Julia. Julia dodged the attack by back flipping high into the air at the height of the giant's neck.
While she was in midair, more giants came at her from all sides. But Julia was ready for them. Julia, while still upside down in midair, begins to unsheath her sword and releases her technique.
"Moon's Dragon's Crescent Moon!" Julia unsheathes her blade and unleashes a large AOE ice slash attack around her and slices off the heads of the giants [https://img.wattpad.com/bccdd91dca412d8748885676c5141a6c41023166/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f472d41683369352d7557767573513d3d2d313433393837323634392e313765393965323537643932663237623237353039333938353233302e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
"Moon's Dragon's Crescent Moon!" Julia unsheathes her blade and unleashes a large AOE ice slash attack around her and slices off the heads of the giants. The giants' heads are encased in ice and disintegrate into beautiful ice particles that flow through the air.
"By the guardians! She's a monster!" A giant soldier shouted in fear.
"I heard that ice dragon-kin were powerful but this is ridiculous.
Julia grew her light and dark blue dragon wings from her back and flew towards the other giants. She sheathed her katana again and began channeling her mana into it once more.
"Moon Dragon's Diamond Shards!" Julia unsheathes her blade. From it she summons ginormous ice shards toward the giants. The giants are 1190 centimeters tall so Julia made the ice shards large to pierce through their stomachs.
The giants screamed in pain as Julia pierced their bodies with her ice ending their lives. But as she took out those giants, more came her way.
Since Ryoka had left, Julia had to deal with all the giants on her own. Not that she minded. She rather enjoyed the challenge. But it was more than that.
"Jewel. I'm going to work on my patience and help my sorry excuse for a team. Can you handle this lot until I get back?" Ryoka asks.
Julia in the present smiled. She then said out loud the same words she said to Ryoka back then.
"Just who do you take me for? I can't very well be the partner of the future queen of ifrit if I embarrass you now can I?"
Julia sheathes her sword again and is about to fight when she sensed a presence coming towards her.
"Julia."
Julia stopped and floated midair when she heard the voice of Ziera coming from what appears to be a small sphere shaped drone with a camera on it's front.
"Ziera. I assume this is one of your toys." Julia said.
"It's not a toy. It's a high tech and high performance infiltration drone designed by yours truly within a matter of seconds. Thank you very much." Ziera said in a huff through the speaker.
"Is there something you need? I am busy at the moment." Julia said, getting straight to the point.
"I need you back at the ship for a few minutes. I have a plan to deal with the Garuda." Ziera said.
"But what of the giants? They will attack as soon as I leave." Julia said.
"Don't worry. My plan involves taking care of those big oafs as well. But I need your help. Tross is trying to get me back to his boss and his goons are tearing up the ship. I need you to keep the Garuda off my back until everything is ready. It will only take two minutes. And after I give the signal, you and Jayden get back while I take care of the rest. I'm gonna cut down their numbers below half." Ziera said with confidence.
From the way she said it, Ziera's plan sounded risky but also bold. When the giants first appeared there were about hundreds of them on the ground.
Ryoka and Julia managed to take out 15 each with little effort. But there were still plenty of giants on the battlefield and even more Garuda attacking the ship. If Ziera's plan worked, the battle could turn toward their favor.
"Very well. I shall follow your lead." Julia said. She flew off back toward the warship to meet up with Ziera. Leaving the giants in shock.
"She's retreating?" One of the giants asked.
"But why?" Another asked.
"Ha! I knew it! She must be spent after fighting so many of us already! Now she's running away like a coward!" Said a giant commander.
"Oh yeah!"
"There's no way she could have taken us all down at once!"
"I told you guys dragon-kin are overrated! This is our chance! Let's get them!"
"FOR THE GIANT RACE!" The warriors shouted. They all began running towards the warship.
Horus: Tenjin's Flagship
Rooftop
Jayden reconfigured his arm into an omni cannon and shot an energy blast at Sef in the air [https://img.wattpad.com/c6f4bce184dd46bf4be3e3b29a9a589fac385ba4/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f4554486347527330657453366b773d3d2d313433393837323634392e313765393965333836356562303934383634353139363230333133302e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
Jayden reconfigured his arm into an omni cannon and shot an energy blast at Sef in the air. Sef dodged effortlessly and then instantly flew past him.
"Garuda Style: Silent Slash!" Sef shouted. Sef's slash attack that Jayden couldn't even see coming in time. It cut off a part of his armor on his torso.
So fast! Jayden thought.
"Your armor is nothing but paper. And you're too slow. You cannot defeat me." Sef said.
Sef tried to stab Jayden in the face but he managed to dodge past his strike in time. Jayden reconfigured both his arms into omni-blades and swung at Sef. But Sef leaped up into the air and dodged both of them.
"Garuda Style: Wind Barrage!" Sef swung his blade and released multiple large wind slashes at Jayden.
Jayden couldn't dodge in time and was forced to shield his face with his arms. But the wind slashes cut deep into his metallic arms, legs, torso and his chest.
Dammit! If only I could summon that omni-barrier again!
Jayden had spent days trying to resummon the blue omni-barrier from when he fought Ziera. But has had little to no success. Even during his training with Julia he couldn't activate it.
Come on Jayden! Think! There's gotta be something I can do to slow this guy down!
Jayden. Ziera said through his communicator on his metallic ear.
"Ziera? I'm a bit busy trying to not die here!" Jayden shouted.
"This will only take a moment. Remember how I said I was going to defend this ship? Well get ready cause I'm going to need both you and Julia's help." Ziera said.
"Well you don't even have to ask. Anything you need I got you." Jayden said.
"I expect nothing less. I'll give the signal so get ready!" Ziera ordered.
"On it!" Jayden complied.
***
"For harming my comrades, the punishment is death by fire." Ryoka said sadistically.
While the proud fire dragon princess boasted and gently carried Emilia in her arms bridal style, tears fell down Emilia's face as she looked up at her daring savior. v
"Ryoka." Emilia cried out.
Ryoka smirked down at the teary eyed blonde in her arms.
"Hey there, fearless leader. You got some nerve leaving your strongest fighter back at the battlefield you know?" Ryoka asked in a teasing manner.
Emilia looked down at the ground in shame. She let her emotions get the better of her again.
This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it
"I'm sorry. I thought you would have needed more back at the ship to fight off the giants." Emilia said sheepishly.
"Jewel can handle them. She destroyed armies on her own as did I. I actually feel sorry for that lot. Besides, it seems like to me you were in desperate need of my aid." Ryoka said.
She's right. What was I thinking that I could beat Tross on my own? What's worse, Ryoka of all people had to come and rescue me. Again. Emilia thought sadly.
"Hey what's with the long face? I came here to help you. You can at least act happy to see me." Ryoka said jokingly.
"I'm sorry." Emilia said. Still feeling down and not looking up at Ryoka.
Ryoka looked at her with sympathy. She decided to go with a different approach.
"Look so you got your ass handed to you. Big deal. But listen, just because you got roughed up doesn't mean you lost yet." Ryoka said. Emilia looked up at her in surprise.
"Huh?" Emilia asked.
"Can you move?" Ryoka asked.
"Well I-."
"Can you move?" Ryoka asked with a more serious tone.
"Yes. I took a heavy hit but I can still fly at the very least." Emilia said.
"Then you'll make due. If you can move you can still fight and win.
"Ryoka you don't understand I-."
"Just shut the hell up and listen. It's you who doesn't understand. Or rather you did until your pride got hurt. All because you got your ass kicked? Womp womp. Cry me a river. You know how many fights I've lost before? Hard to believe I know but yeah I lost them and I didn't feel great about it afterwards. But you know what? Even though I lost those fights, I still went out fighting. I didn't let up once and gave my opponents hell so they would remember just who they faced. Because I'm a warrior. I'm the princess of ifrit and the daughter of King Arthur Pendragon. I have my pride just like you do." Ryoka said.
"Ryoka." Emilia said.
"Don't look at me. Look at your opponent in front of you." Ryoka ordered.
Emilia did what she said and looked at Albatross. He was slowly regenerating and looked very angry and confused.
"That worm is the one who murdered your father. He betrayed him and spat on the pride of your people all so he could obtain power for himself. Are you really going to let him become your king so he can lead the rest of your people into another war?" Ryoka asked.
"No." Emilia said quietly.
"Speak up blondie I can't fucking hear you! I asked you if you're going to let him lead your people into another war!?" Ryoka yelled out.
"NO! I'M NOT! I don't want to! I want to stop him! To make him pay for everything he's done but I...I'm not strong enough to beat him. You don't understand. You're a strong, fearless and amazing warrior. I'm...I'm too weak." Emilia began tearing up again.
Ryoka started glaring at Emilia. She was about to say something until Albatross finally joined in.
"Sorry to interrupt but this has gone on long enough. If you insist on interfering then I will eliminate you along with that spoiled little girl-."
Ryoka interrupted Tross by flicking a small fire needle from her fingers and sent it flying through his neck. Albatross now had a big hole through his neck pouring our blood. He began choking on his own blood as he held his neck trying to close the hole.
So fast! Tross was one of the fastest warriors in Ventus and she managed to catch him off guard! EMilia thought.
"Who gave you permission to speak, you traitorous little worm? Hmm? You know if you were one of my men and betrayed me, I would have burned you and the rest of your men alive. Then serve what's left of your corpses to my woman for dinner. But since you are one of Emilia's former servants I'll let her carry out your sentence and just leave you with a warning. Speak again and I'll rip out your tongue, light it on fire and then make you swallow it. So please mongrel.....speak." Ryoka said with an evil smile.
Needless to say, Albatross was not pleased being treated this way. He was rather pissed off but Ryoka didn't care. Tross was about to attack.
Stop Tross.
Albatross gasps when he hears the sweet and unnerving voice of his benefactor.
Circe!?
Who else would this be? Apologies for interrupting the show but I want to see how this plays out. So stand down for a moment. Circe ordered.
But I-
Stand. Down. Now. Circe said in a serious tone.
Tross grit his teeth and did as he was told. Ryoka paid him no mind and turned her head back to Emilia.
"Listen, Emilia. I heard what you said to Julia after your fight. About you hating yourself." Ryoka said.
"WHAT! You listened in on our conversation!? That was private!" Emilia yelled angrily.
"Yeah? Tough shit. I've tried being patient for Jewel's sake but I've grown wary of this. I'm not going to believe in someone who can't even believe in herself. That's how a coward acts and I hate cowards." Ryoka said with contempt.
Emilia felt horrible now. She felt like she just lost the respect of someone she deeply admired and it crushed her spirit.
"I....I'm not....".
"But despite that, I know you aren't one. Far from it actually." Ryoka said gently.
"What?" Emilia asked in shock. At that moment Emilia thought she lost the will to fight. Thinking that Ryoka had judged her harshly. But she couldn't be more wrong.
"Don't act so surprised! What was it you said to me a couple days ago!? [I don't care if you're stronger than me. If you come after my friends, then I'm coming for you]. You'd have to have some guts in order to say that to my face while pointing a dagger at my neck." Ryoka said.
Emilia looked away from her. Still not convinced.
"Even so, I'm still not as strong as you think I am. I'm not strong like you. Or fearless like Julia. Or as smart as Ziera. Or motivated like Jayden. Or as selfless as Henro. Or as honorable as Tenjin. Or even as noble as my father. Ever since I was a child all I ever did was second guess myself. I couldn't do anything on my own. It was humiliating. And after my kingdom fell, I was lost. Do you have any idea what it feels like to think that you aren't good enough? To have your own people, including yourself, tell you that you aren't good enough? Not good enough to carry your father's name or lead your people? Could you?" Emilia asked as she stared into Ryoka's eyes. Her voice was a mix of anger and anguish.
Ryoka stared back at her. It wasn't a look of sympathy or anger. Just a neutral expression. To Emilia it meant that Ryoka didn't care. But from Ryoka's perspective, it couldn't be more untrue. Emilia looked away from her feeling nothing but shame.
"Of course you wouldn't. You're always boasting about how amazing you are and you don't care about what anyone else thinks. So you could never understand." Emilia said sadly.
Ryoka sighed.
I can't believe I'm doing this but... Ryoka thought.
"Actually, I do. I felt the same way when I was with my mother." Ryoka said with a sad smile.
Emilia looked back at her in shock. Emilia was shocked to see Ryoka was actually willing to talk to her about her mother given it was a personal subject for her. And Ryoka's expression meant it was all the more genuine.
"Growing up all she ever told me was that I had to grow up to be like my father. The great King Arthur Pendragon. To fight like him. To lead like him. To talk like him. And inspire others the same way. Guardians I wanted that. The way people talked about and looked up to him, I wanted that. The way mom loved him, I wanted that. And yet...I never could." Ryoka said.
"Why?" Emilia asked.
"Because.....because I was a spoiled brat. I expected everyone to worship the ground I walked on. But instead of loving me they hated me. They were either jealous or thought I brought shame to my father's name. I didn't care at first though. I thought my mother would still have my back. But I was wrong.
She held Arthur to such a high standard that I couldn't reach as a kid. And when I learned she felt that way I hated her for it. I told her she made me believe that I was destined for greatness. That she had set me up for failure. That she was the reason everyone hated me. And I.....I said I wish she had died instead of my father." Ryoka said with a bitter look.
Emilia didn't dare say anything. She could feel the pain Ryoka was carrying at that moment. She may not have the full story yet, but she could see why Ryoka had not wanted to share her relationship with her mother with the group outside of Julia before.
"And then that same day I lost her to Aurora. I never even apologized to her before she died. I still don't even know what she felt in her last moments. Whether she was sad that I hated her. Or that she hated me too. Or that she forgave me. I'll never know. But I do know that after it happened, I felt more powerless than I ever did in my entire life. That what my people said about me was true. I wasn't good enough to carry my father's name. Nor deserve to live." Ryoka said.
"What changed?" Emilia asked. Ryoka smiled proudly.
"Hmph. Two of the most important people in my life. My mentor and Julia. My mentor pushed me to keep going. To get stronger so that I may take my revenge on Aurora and claim the throne of ifrit. She's the reason why I decided to get stronger. And Julia....". Ryoka blushed as she said her name.
"Julia helps me become a better person. She's not like anyone I've ever met. I wouldn't be where I am now without her." Ryoka said softly.
Emilia smiled. Ryoka's words began lifting up her spirit.
"You really love her." Emilia said.
"More than anything. I'd wipe out a whole nation for her if she asked me to." Ryoka said with a proud smile. Emilia sweat dropped and awkwardly smiled.
"Is that so?" Emilia asked.
"Yeah. She knew I was serious and told me to not go that far. But the point is Emilia, my mentor and Julia were there for me at my worst and lifted me up to do better. You know that you have people like that in your life too." Ryoka said.
"I know but-."
"But nothing. If you are scared of letting them down then just keep working on yourself until you get better. Don't give up. Keep fighting. You said it yourself that you are both a princess and a warrior. Didn't you?" Ryoka asked.
"I..".
"DIDN'T YOU!?" Ryoka roared in her face.
"YES! I DID!" Emilia roared back.
"Then stop lying down crying. Stand up and fight! Fight for your friends! Fight for your people! Fight for your pride! Fight just to wipe this asshole's stupid smirk off his face! You are a strong woman Emilia! The only person who isn't seeing that now is you! SO WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO!? GIVE UP AND DIE OR STAND UP AND FIGHT!?" Ryoka screamed.
And just like that....a fire was lit inside of Emilia. One that shined brighter than ever. She felt so stupid for doubting herself and worrying about Tenjin and the others doubting her ability to lead. But more importantly. She felt inspired, happy and....
Emilia blushed heavily as she looked up at Ryoka's beautiful face. Like she was in a trance. No one had ever talked to her like that before and it set her heart ablaze. She had a similar feeling when Julia comforted her on the ship. Emilia could guess what this feeling in her heart meant but she shook her head and smacked her own cheeks.
I'll worry about that later. For now....I feel....I FEEL READY! Emilia thought.
"Ryoka, please let me go. I have a fight to finish." Emilia said seriously.
Ryoka smirked proudly and did so without saying a word. Emilia reopened her wings and kept herself hovering in the air. Emilia had a serious expression on her face as she faced Albatross.
"After you saved me, I noticed something on his body with my garuda eyes. I now have an idea of how to win. But I'll need you to take care of Henro and Tenjin for me. Can I count on you?" Emilia asked.
"Do you really have to ask that blondie?" Ryoka asked sarcastically. Emilia turned her head back to Ryoka.
"No. I don't. So go do it already. And one more thing. I told you before that my name is Emilia. You got that?" Emilia asked with a playful grin and wink.
Ryoka slightly blushed. She was slightly taken back but smiled back.
"As you wish. Go kick his ass, fearless leader Emilia!" Ryoka shouted as she flew down towards Henro and Tenjin.
Wow. She really does remind me of Jewel but...she kinda reminds me of myself too. Emilia Sylphion. Hmmm. I should speak to Jewel about this feeling I have. Ryoka thought with a smile.
Back up in the air, Emilia faced Albatross who had mostly healed his wounds. He is smirking at her.
"Finally ready to accept your fate, false princess?" Albatross asked.
"No." Emilia smirked as she pulled out her daggers and pointed them at Albatross.
"I'm done giving up. You may be a former member of the royal guard. But I am your princess. And it's time I put you in your place." Emilia said with confidence.
Next Chapter: [https://img.wattpad.com/cd1737e9181d17bbca2538ad249052431da1c598/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f6f484d4e68695157474b397244773d3d2d313433393837323634392e3137653939653434396662646465356234353235303631323935382e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
Next Chapter:
Jayden vs Sef
HYBRID