A few nights prior.

Ainig gained permission to train his usage of the Pale Dragon’s Blessing under Kihet’s supervision. As the Oracle’s flames had the ability to dispel oncoming magical attacks, both Ainig and Kihet tested the boundaries of Pale Dragon’s blessing.

Under daylight, Ainig was able to transcend into the last phase of the Pale Dragon’s draconic ascension. However, during the night, it was proven difficult to pass through the first phase.

“Eep!”

Ainig toppled over after receiving an impact from Salith.

“Hey, hey! You were able to eat dozens of my attacks this morning like nothing. What’s gotten into you now?”

“The blessing wore off. I guess that idea didn’t work.” Kihet answered. “This isn’t good. Ainig, you’ll have to somehow hold your own in case Douglas goes your way.”

Kihet had information regarding the day and time of Douglas preferred siege. After listening to numerous feats of Pamalyra’s hero, Kihet identified a pattern. Poems and verses described Silver, or Douglas, always fought during nightfall with clear skies and a full moon at his back.

It was highly their battle would also be met with the same conditions.

“O-once more! I’ll try harder!”

“Oh? Now we’re talking. C’mon-!”

“We’ll have the same results regardless.” Kihet abruptly cut Ainig and Salith’s exchange short. “There must be a way to get around that weakness of your blessings right now. I’m all out of ideas.”

For the first time, Kihet felt he was stumped. Usually, he had an idea of two, but nothing of his expertise could help AInig carry the Pale Dragon’s blessing throughout the night.

The main problem of the Pale Dragon’s Blessing was it continually leaked magical energy during nightfall. He attempted to have Ainig use magic crystals as batteries to recharge the blessing. Unfortunately, the theory of the blessing consuming the mana stored inside crystals could not be converted to energy required for the Pale Dragon’s blessing.

Magic crystals were condensed from energies left behind by the Elemental Spirits. Ainig’s blessing derived from the Pale Dragon itself which was apparently granted by a different type of magical power.

“I guess it was similar to when we were fighting the Acolyte.” Lily pointed out. “I believe it was continually dark during the time we fought it. Just not as dark as now.”

“That was such a dragged on fight because of the other group. But yeah, I thought the Pale Dragon’s blessing was kind of short compared to Alc’Bruk’s.” Sailth sighed.

“Ishverial said he can’t, I mean, sorry one moment.” Ainig absently looked at the side of a building and nodded. “He said there wasn’t as much light energy then. He absorbed what was available and tuned it into my body.”

“Are you talking to someone?” Lily curiously asked.

“Y-yes… although I’m the only one Ishverial appears in front of.”

“So, he’s been watching us.”

“Yup.”

“I don’t know how I feel about that…”

“Ishverial said your story is too obsessed with the Oracle. It’s dull and he’s no longer interested how your story would continue, I-I was told…”

“Hey! There’s nothing wrong with that! I’m still waiting for my answer! I haven’t been rejected!”

“Lily, just stop.” Kihet sighed. “Ainig. Ask the Pale Dragon if light is the catalyst.”

“Ishverial says it is. Not all light could be used? No? Umm… daylight is the easiest to convert? As long as there is an abundance of daylight, the blessing can generate infinite power. Other light sources require a special conversion technique… Ishverial said.”

“Do you know any Ank magic? If you can use an illumination spell, you should be able to recharge yourself.”

“I… don’t know. I’ve never made a connection with the elemental spirits before.”

And there was a chance an individual aside from the race of Enuis would be unable to establish a connection with an Elemental. Even if Ainig was able to establish a connection, it was not guaranteed the elemental spirit of light would choose him.

“A light…? I don’t mean to be sarcastic, but what about the moon? It’s pretty bright now.” Salith pointed to the waning gibbous hanging in the night sky.

“I mean, it is kind of bright. It is enough to see. It’s not as potent as daylight.” Kihet said.

“Not necessarily.” Lily objected. “The moon never showed up in Stusis because of the ashes and clouds covering the sky. Also, when I was small, I remember my teacher mentioned something about the stars are brighter than the moon. Sometimes we see the moon while the sun is out too.”

“What about it?”

“Here’s my theory. What if moonlight is light from the sun reflected off its magical surface? I don’t know how, but it doesn’t glow as bright as when I saw it during daytime. Ainig, can you ask the Pale Dragon to try converting moonlight?”

“Ishverial will try now.”

All eyes were trained on Ainig under the silent night. Although there was no reaction, so long as Ainig hasn’t relayed the results, it meant the Pale Dragon was working a method.

Suddenly, a cluster of crystals sprouted over Ainig’s right arm.

“Ishverial says it takes time, but moonlight is a sustainable source.”

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Ainig struggled to keep his balance from each of Douglas’ slashes. He was barely keeping his concentration to trap himself and Douglas inside a dome of light.

“Take down dis barrier!”

Douglas’ attacks were swift and powerful. [Tyrant Fang] slashed off sections of Ainig’s crude shield until there was nothing to hold onto to.

“You mustn’t waiver, Herald.” The Pale Dragon’s voice prodded into Ainig’s mind. “This Lycanthrope possess a blessing that is akin to Divine beings such as I. His equipment also possesses a troublesome ability. Prolonged exposure to moonlight will continuously increase his strength until dawn. It is difficult to predict how strong he can become.”

“But I need to hold him back!”

“I understand, however, proceed with utmost caution. Until your friend returns with aid, you cannot hope to surpass him in the moon’s domain. I shall tune the moon’s essence into magical energy as quickly as I may muster. You must hold the enemy until then.”

The cluster of crystals shattered from a clash and instantly regrown. Without a shield, Ainig relied on his crystalized armor for offense and defense. He scrapped the ground, carving into the stone floor and hurled rocks at Douglas.

“[Tyrant Fang]!”

Ainig was in mid charge for a body slam. Right before he could catch Douglas, he saw a phantom of a large beast opening its jaws towards him.

“Herald, to your right!”

Ainig shielded his right side and blocked Douglas’ ambush to his flank.

Two vestiges resembling the Pale Dragon heads grew out of Ainig’s back and unleashed their breaths to drive the Lycanthrope back. However, within this limited space, Douglas found himself cornered and forced to take the brunt of Ainig’s [Pale Dragon’s Breath].

Regrettably, the Pale Dragon was unable to manifest a physical body to further assist Ainig.

Instead, it observed the battle closely in its two dimensional form slithering over the face of a ship. Although Ainig had been in control, it knew the Herald would soon lose the advantage when the moon is directly above them. The [Pale Dragon’s Breath] merely singed a patch of hair off the Silvered Lycanthrope’s body.

“Brace yourself. The enemy’s strength will soon reach their peak. His strength is comparable with Crimson’s champion.”

Ainig took shallows breaths to adjust his ragged breathing. His arms burned with a soreness aching all over his body. Most of his strength were used to block Douglas’ powerful blows. His mind grew weary from keeping the barrier deployed around them.

But he is a shield. A shield protect others from harm and his current job was to keep Douglas from escaping.

“I’m giving you one last chance to remove this barrier and walk away with yer life.” Douglas growled. “In a few moments, I’m no longer gonna hold back. I might kill ya.”

“The Oracle said the city needs the people you’re looking for.”

“Aye. Then don’t blame me fer what’s about ta happen.”

Douglas’ next set of movements were surreal. He vanished and appeared within Ainig in a blink of an eye with such speed rivaling Aten’s. His jaws opened wide.

The Pale Dragon was unable to warn Ainig of an empowered [Howling Cannon] shattering the barriers and ruptured Ainig’s ears. The two hearing holes on the side of Ainig’s head bled and a loud ringing disrupted his sense of hearing. He lost consciousness for a second before his sight returned and registered a blade arcing towards his side.

Ainig retracted his head and arms into his shell which was reinforced with a layer of dense crystals. The impact made by [Tyrant Fang] sent him bowling over the floor, but he managed to avoid critical wounds.

Douglas was not one to let the prey to ration their thoughts. He pounced at Ainig without wasting a chance before the barriers returned. The way he swung his weapon was crueler and devastating. [Tyrant Fang]’s jagged edge picked the cluster of crystals off Ainig’s crystalized arms as its spikes carved at it.

The crystals would regrow. However, Ainig’s strength was sapped each time he spent his reserve of mana to recast his defensive armor.

“Herald, I’ve condensed enough magical energy for [Eclipse Form]. Regrettably, your enhanced form will last merely seconds. I shall handle all reparations. You must defeat the enemy once it is cast.”

And the moment was now.

Black light washed over the entire harbor, blocking the stars and moon while the land was still bright. Ainig’s whitened shell turned black. A horn of black light sprouted from his snout. Two large bat like wings spread out at the back of his shell.

Five jet black heads manifested pure energy welling within Ainig slithered from the back of the Tortoise shell. Two of the five opened their jaws wide, crackling with black lightning as an energy orb condensed between each fangs. Three of the five lunged at Douglas.

“Ya still had a trump card like that, aint ya?!”

Douglas met the draconic fangs headstrong. He decapitated one, kicked another and tore the third with his claws. Once he noticed he was too late stop [Eclipse Breath], Douglas unleashed [Howling Cannon] to negate the oncoming blast of black light.

He was suddenly hit by a strong impact. Ainig rushed in while Douglas was preoccupied by [Eclipse Breath] and gored into his stomach with the blackened horn. Thanks to his body reinforced by an abundance of magic provided by the moon, he received a slight bruise. However, he was flung into the air and below him, he discovered a swirling storm of dark light conjured by Ainig and the five draconic heads.

Douglas’ hair stood up from the static created by pillars of black lightning striking all around them. He glared straight into the abyss below him with unwavering determination and dived towards it. If he had [Rolling Crown] he would’ve confronted the attack head on, but with [Tyrant Fang], he could only buy time.

“[Tyrant Fang]!”

His blade shot a ghastly image of a phantom beast, and he followed its trail through Ainig’s [Eclipse Breath]. His hair burned, skin peeled, and his body was met with such blazing force close to an Elder Dragon’s breath.

However, during his descent through the pillar of resentful black, Douglas’ body emitted a soft light. The moon had reached the peak where it poured a vast quantity of magic directly into a capable body absorbing the otherworldly energy.

“Well, I have a trump card as well!”

“Herald! You are out of time! Retreat!”

Douglas bulldozed through Ainig’s [Eclipse Breath] and his empowered claws shattered the crystals casting, brutally gouged into Ainig’s left arm. He opened his jaws in preparation to use [Howling Cannon] at point blank when he saw Ainig reach for his head to stop him.

Douglas immediately snapped his fangs, crushing the crystalized armor and bit into Ainig’s right arm. With Ainig in his hold, Douglas twisted his entire body and turned downwards. He lifted Ainig who was several times heavier into the air using his jaws and slammed the Tortoise folk onto his back.

As a result, a resounding thump shook the city.

The damages were insurmountable. From the shockwave alone, the harbor was uttered decimated. The pillars supporting the docks were unanchored and tossed all over the sand. The concrete foundation was destroyed, leaving most of the debris buried underneath the sea of sand blowing inwards into the city.

“Yer finished!”

Douglas blasted Ainig with a devastating [Howling Cannon]. It sent the Tortoise Folk flying through a row of buildings and left a wide land of ruins. He heaved [Tyrant Fang] over his shoulder, marching through piles of rubble to take the head of the Tortoise.

Douglas raised his weapon over the critically wounded Tortoise Folk.

Suddenly, a chill ran down his back. He was assailed with a tremendous divine pressure to which a flickering above him demanded his attention.

There was a very faint outline of a silhouette. Its size was comparable to the entirety of Navargzan. The shape of its wings covered the entire night sky, and five pairs of icy cold eyes bore into his soul. It was for a second, but the silent message was successfully conveyed.

Although Douglas was now at the peak of his power, he couldn’t hope to contend with the likes of a deity such as an Elder Dragon. For one to appear, the Scalemen laying before him was someone of great importance to the looming deity.

“Don’t touch yer child, eh?”

However, Douglas knew the creature would be unable to intervene. He didn’t care if he’d have a target painted to his back in the future, but Ainig must be killed. Left alive, the barriers would return to prevent him from succeeding his revenge.

“Ya meddled with me first. Now ya pay da price!”

Douglas dragged his weapon through the air and at Ainig. An explosive thump shook the grounds as a cloud of dust bloomed over the area.

“Ya dammed insect.”

[Tyrant Fang] was found buried in debris next to Ainig. A Vivirian stepped onto the weapon, indicating Aten was the one who deflected the decisive blow.

Aten’s mandibles clacked.