image [https://i.imgur.com/8YGiSsT.jpg]

Mayhem had quieted down. Maki and her killers picked off the last of the guards. Former servants crowded together; their former masters lay bloody and mangled around them. More servants come, flashing the rune embedded in the chest. The objective was completed. At the cost of many of the Watch’s lives, many will be free.

“Killers! Escort them out. Meet the others at the safe zone!” Maki looked at Drac facing the orchestrator of all of this evil.

“I will stay behind with Drac.”

Maki’s assistant held her hand. Maki felt her concern in her soft touch. She held the small hand with her own and placed another on her cheek. She moved light blonde hair from blue eyes.

“I'll See you. It will be over soon.”

Maki turned around to her new objective. She unsheathed her slim sword coated in Aura. A flame brightens her face.

“I am coming with. Drac always need my help.”

A light of immense brightness came from below in the stands before the pit. So bright it took everyone's attention. A figure glowed. Aura engulfs him, fury felt in his power. The power condensed. A high-pitched rumble and then a Slash.

The light destroyed chairs, stone, and people. Nobles hid behind chairs, burnt to a crisp. Killers and guards tried to escape the wave. All decimated by Aura. Maki saw her death. She hugged Lucy and enveloped them with her Aura.

Hugging Lucy tight, she searched for Drac’s friend.

Marina's hands glowed blue. Marina strains. Blood vessels bulged, and sweat messed with her makeup.

She pushed.

Aura met Murus.

A wave of Aura was incoming, and Drac was lost. In the moment, time stretched. He thought of all options. How does he defeat a man who can level a building with a single swipe of his gold sword? He cannot block it. Drac felt weak. Incomplete. Drac thought back to how he fought. Cal, Barlow, the Controller. The experiences he had where his life was on the line. What did their culminate to? What did he learn?

Drac breathed out.

Shaanti. Calm our mind. Examine the situation. See possibilities in it and us.

Drac burnt his soul. His energy gathered in his legs. Tuned to Levitation, he floats off the floor. With a crouch, he jumped into the air. Fast as an arrow, straight to the ceiling of the Slave arena. The wave destroyed everything below. He flipped and collided with the ceiling with his feet, breaking plaster. The chandelier shook nearby. Drac grabbed the ceiling, finger puncturing into stone like a bear claw through the wood.

Marina!

Drac scanned the wreckage. Dust flowed in the aftermath of the Duke’s destructive slice. Blue light peaked through the cloud of debris. Dozens hid in the barrier. Marina was safe. She looked weary but unharmed. Maki held a woman close.

“Something got your attention, foreigner!?” The duke propelled himself himself up. His Aura-infused sword scraped the ceiling plaster, ripping it apart as he slashed down on Drac. Drac split into three.

Danor’s attack missed them. Jumping off the ceiling, they scattered in different directions. Danor followed the Drac on the left with an Aura kick in the air.

He can sense us!

The flare of energy pushed him after Drac. Another heavy slash downward. A curved light flew towards the hood. Metres high in the air, Drac created a platform of murus. Death avoided with a sidestep. The curve of light crashed into the stands to destroy more of the arena.

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What the fuck is that!!

An Aura wave. Only practitioners of a high level can do it.

Mid-air, Danor unleashed several small waves. Drac landed in the stands. Light by Levitation, he hopped from seat to seat, avoiding the pulses of aura. Danor propelled himself again to land in front of Drac. A diagonal slash made Drac weave to the left, hopping onto the stone wall by the pit to Murus's platform. Sideways, Drac blitzed at Danor with Aura-coated Heilong.

Danor leaned back, a cut to his chest armour leaves no blood. He struck down. A fire burned Danor’s back. Distracted by the sudden heat, the duke messed up the timing, his downward strike redirected by a reverse grip to Drac’s left side. Danor was open for the jab. He leaned again to attack from the bent position. An arrow was aimed at his head. Projectile sliced. Heilong fell. Swords clashed. Danor braced against Drac's strength from above. A second Drac ran from the stairs descending. He moved along the floor, a second arrow coming to slice Danor.

Danor flared his Aura and the second Drac's Heilong bounced off the energy. Danor locked eyes with Drac while their swords sparked.

“IS THIS ALL!”

Danor forced Heilong off. Drac looked down in disbelief.

Blade blown away and Drac left open, Danor lunged.

“Fuck… sake…”Marina's breaths were ragged. She held the Murus for a second before letting it dissipate.

Maki ran to hug Marina. “Thank you! Thank you!”

Marina shrugs off Maki's hand. “Leave the thank yous later for when I need ale.” She points to the middle of the carnage. “First, that bastard needs to die.”

Marina regained some strength. In her vambrace-covered hands, Ignis tuned and two balls of fire grew. She tuned into Ventus and pushed. Two columns of fire aimed at the Duke.

A Murus guarded the duke.

“Duke!!” A servant protects his master in tow with two other mages. Their fire spells ignited.

“Units have been notified!”

Danor glanced at the killer squad that surrounded the Former servants. “Frederick, kill the traitors. I will be back soon.” With aura, The duke left after Drac.

Frederick's face turned resolute. The Order from his master will become reality. Tuned into

Glacies, and cold vapour formed around his arms.

The two mages dressed in burgundy robes flung fire at the squad. Marina protected everyone with Murus.

Maki spoke among the explosions. “ Let me through.”

Marina ginned, “Brother and sister are alike. Reckless as fuck. I’ve got another idea. I charge with you. The others leave.”

Maki nodded. Lucy heard the plan and said, “Move everyone. To the Safe area, we go! Fast!” The Killers escort former servants out of the passage to the Garden. Battle harden warrior and the fair lady ran forward.

A warrior of the watch was killed by an arrow to the head. Ignis Fire exploded nearby. Bob charged forward with the brave by his side. Rescuers were hit by arrows and burnt. Injuries healed as so as they opened with holy power. The slaves were guided down the bridge. Some prayed; a few jumped off the bridge into cold water. Bob bulldozed into the City guards. Mage fire hardly affected the boulder of a man. Several men were cleaved in half with a single strike. A guard batted away with a heavy shield and flew metres into a building. Another sliced in half and guards cower in fear back away. Crossbows shot at shields. Rescuers die from the rain of metal. Others trudge forward.

Metal shines in the air.

A blast wave knocked everyone down. Arms, legs and organs spread across the bridge.

Bob felt woozy and unbalanced. Bob leaned on his shield preparing to fight again.

“Sorry about that! Aim’s not so good!” Behind the mess of bodies, a moustached older gentleman arrived with backup. Wagons round the corner.

“Get on big fella, your transport is here.”

Murus blocked the lunge. Drac flew backwards into the stone wall near the pit. Drac's copies keep the slaver’s attention. Fire spells were thrown at the noble. Heliong sliced at exposed areas in the Duke’s guard. Danor weaved and parried. Drac rested by the wall, catching his breath.

He is too fast. His technique is superb. Best fighter we have fought in a while.

Hood. Don't compliment the slave merchant.

I speak of reality. We can lose. Let's change tactics.

Drac thought for a moment. The moment the Duke collected the energy crossed his mind.

Condense.

Hood Agreed.

Drac’s copies disappeared.

Mid-swing Danor noticed their disappearance with a chilling smile. He darted towards Drac. Sword alight with destructive energy. He slashed at Drac’s left shoulder.

Danor’s gold sword slipped by.

Drac tuned to Ignis. All his flame condensed to a single point above his gloved fist. Drac stepped in. Aura ingrained in his bones, muscles and skin. Drac launched a blow to the liver. A blast of flame followed. The armoured noble flew across the stands, crashing into chairs. Danor flared his aura. Debris flew off him. His armour split open. The chilling smile was replaced with irritation.

Drac flipped heilong in his right hand. Smoke trailed from his left.

“Let's try again.”