Even he was unable to comprehend the requirements for dispelling magic using the Oracle’s flames.

Baffled at Alc’Bruk’s successful transformation, Kihet reluctantly fired another blast of silver flames at the Dragonborn only to discover it was entirely useless.

Scorching air radiated off the Dragonborn’s body. The instant Kihet felt the heat hit him, his arms flared up and silver flames drew a curtain of fire in front of him. The face of a fallen wooden desk beside him gradually charred to black as he endured the heatwave.

This confirmed magic was overflowing from Alc’Bruk but he couldn’t understand why the silver flames were unable to cancel out the Dragonborn’s transformation.

Alc’Bruk’s physical form was more akin to his ancestors, and his new crushing pressure emanated feelings of divinity. His back was slightly hunched as protruding spikes emerged on his spine down to his tail like some terrible beast. The skin of his torn wings regenerated and now cloaked with veil of red energy.

“You may have seen it once from afar, but now that you are much closer, do you feel honored to witness the avatar of the Dragon God?”

Alc’Bruk ran the blades of his half chakrams together to test their sharpness then shot a glare at Kihet. The moment they exchanged eyes, Kihet’s shoulders felt heavy as if the gravity around him grew dense. A shiver ran down his back with cold sweats forming over his temple and palms.

Kihet grasp his Nagamaki tightly and braced himself as Alc’Bruk once again initiated a frontal assault.

“O’Crimson, see to it that I, your champion, fulfill your wrath!”

Alc’Bruk threw a straight left. As he saw Kihet ducked under to prepare a counterattack, he launched a right hook. The edge of his burning billhook blade cut into Kihet’s shoulder and instantly cauterized the wound. With the Crimson Dragon’s blessing, not only was Alc’Bruks physical capabilities and reactions increased, but there were scorching effects to his attacks.

There was a delay from his strikes before an image floated in the air. A pair of phantom claws emerged beside both side of the Dragonborn and swiped where he had launched his fists. Four large gashes carved lines into the left wall without warning while the other claw swiped in Kihet’s direction.

“Hrk!”

A loud keening noise rang throughout the room. Kihet’s arm, still intact, was blown back. His guarding posture was shattered, and the knockback sent him sliding on his back. He then saw the area around him had grown dark and quickly rolled away just as Alc’Bruk stomped on the floor. Everything on that level was dropped on the seventh floor to the sixth.

While in midair, Kihet’s movement was restricted, he was helpless. Alc’Bruk on the other hand had wings. Before they hit the ground, the Dragonborn dove at Kihet and landed another punch. The second attack, the claw, dragged Kihet through the sixth floor and onto the fifth.

His back bounced off the hard floor and coughed up blood. It was then he felt the burning sensation of the seal rushing through his arms. The Oracle’s blessing had activated, and power welled up, but for how long?

“It is evident fact the Dragons are superior to the Enuis. Our strength surpasses those of your kind. I suppose I have seen everything and as a gesture of goodwill, you will be granted a swift death.”

“Are you talking about the Dragonkins or you with your deity’s blessing?”

“I speak for the Dragons!” Crimson flames on his back burned with more ferocity.

Backed in a corner, Kihet tried to use his weapon to get up only to realize half the blade was gone. Then he realized because the runes inscribed onto it was split, the [Sharpness] enchantment was lost. The situation turned dire for it was the only weapon in his entire arsenal that could protect him from the Dragonborn’s blades.

In his mind, he apologized to Miyabe for breaking the Nagamaki entrusted to him. He also apologized to Martha about armored cape he used as a diversion was also gone. After wiping and spat the taste of blood out of his mouth, he charged towards Alc’Bruk.

“I commend your bravery even with a broken weapon, however it is futile-!”

“NyAAAAA!”

A Werecat suddenly jumped from the windows and pounced at Alc’Bruk. She slammed her enormous knapsack that somehow fitted through the arrowslits. The weight of her bag knocked Alc’Bruk a few steps back and forced to hold it with both arms. Something then rested on the side of the Dragonborn’s onyx black armor.

Kihet instantly recognized the spark travelling down the fuse and into one of the three barrels.

The instant a flash of light came and went, a loud crack shook the air and Alc’Bruk grunted from it. Two more echoed one after the other, forcing Alc’Bruk to hurl the bag away and discovered two tiny dents formed over his armor.

“Who dares to interrupt my duel? I shall have you reduced to nothing for your insolence!”

As if demanding his deity to befall judgement for his enemy sin’s, a ghost took form above Alc’Bruk. It was gargantuan. The bust of the Crimson Dragon reached as high as two floors, if not, shorter because of the ceiling in the way.

The jaws separate. A glowing red ball emerged between its maw and gathered enough magic to inflict anyone nearby with mana burn. Those who had less magical power than Alc’Bruk felt like they were burned in the insides. Those who had none were frozen in place without the protection of Elemental Spirits.

The air became murky and cold with all the heat being sapped into the single orb that grew almost as bright as a star. The stone walls sparked, melting into obsidian. Anything made of wood instantly charred.

“Burn!”

It was not flames that was spat out, but a beam of pure energy and it headed straight for the Werecat. It would’ve melted her before it hit if not for Silver Flames forming a barrier over her. It was proven the Oracle’s powers were still effective seeing the death ray did not penetrate Kihet’s dispel ability.

“Tama, what are you doing here?!”

“Nyie saved you. You could show a bit if gratitude.”

“And I saved you. We’re even.”

“Well, that just means you don’t know me very well. I didn’t come here risking my life without anything to gain. Isn’t that right, Alc’Bruk?”

“LEOTHARP!” A gust of wind swept away dust clouding the room and soon the Dragonborn turned a quiet glare at the Werecat. “I should’ve known it was you back then. I hope you’re informed that I’ve paid my debt in full long ago. Because we were acquainted through Teach, I shall respect his wish and spare your life if you flee this instant!”

“About that. Nyi’m trying to find him. He’s missing.”

“Pray tell. Why must I care for a missing feline?”

“Where is he?”

“Do I look like I have time to know? If you do not leave in five seconds, I will treat you as an enemy.”

“You’ve misunderstood my question, Alc’Bruk. Nyie wasn’t asking you if you knew where teach is. I’m asking where you hid him.”

“One.”

Tama heaved her bag and placed it by side of the wall, rummaging through her wares.

“Two. Three.”

“Tama, you better explain why you’re friendly with that guy after we get out of here.”

“I’ll be glad to nyanswer any and all questions, Grumpy one. But I need to find Teach. I’ll pay you as much Silver as you want to help me.”

“Why are you offering me a request at a time like this?”

“Because. I can’t do this alone.”

From the first time they’ve ever spoken, Tama’s words were always filled with sarcasm. Like a cry for help, her tone this time was shaky with a touch of desperation.

“Four. Five! Leotharp, you’ve had your opportunity to leave peacefully!”

Alc’Bruk charged at them with his Deer Horn Blades at the ready. He swung his right fist that summoned a claw to hold down Kihet while a left hook curved towards Tama.

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

Suddenly Tama dropped down and prowled on all fours. Her body touched the ground like a kitten sliding through the bottom gap of a closed door as the claw brushed over her beige cloak. A short pointy object struck out of her paw like sleeve, and Tama rammed the blade at the Dragonborn’s elbow joint.

Tama’s weapon was a knuckle typed weapon like Alc’Bruk’s, but it emphasized on length rather than width. The handle was hidden under her sleeves and only blade was visible.

Unfortunately, Alc’Bruk’s natural armor plates endured against her attempt.

“Ha… nyew it.”

“You could fight?!” Kihet exclaimed.

“How did nya think I survived until I hitched a ride from you?”

“By running?”

“Exactly!”

“Then you have chosen a poor choice to not flee while you had the chance!” Alc’Bruk opened his jaws and bite down, but with Tama’s cat like reflexes, she managed to slip away.

While Alc’Bruk shifted his attention onto Tama, Kihet found a set of weapons under his feet. One was the hook shield he asked Tama to hold onto and since he lost his armored cape, it wouldn’t be a nuisance to use. The other was a machete like weapon but much shorter. The curve of the sharp edge was bent towards the opponent. A silvered kukri knife.

Only the shield had a talisman with runic characters hanging from its handle that temporarily imbued it with an effect. However, the enchantment was unknown. As for the Kukri knife it didn’t look like it had any, but his reach was now much shorter. It also meant he was unable to use [Blooming Petals] to its full potential. Considering his broken Nagamaki, he wasn’t given much of a choice as he was thrust upon two unknown equipment he never used.

After having to catch his breath, Kihet hurled the broken Nagamaki at Alc’Bruk to help relieve some pressure off Tama. He grasped the Kukri knife and launched himself at the Dragonborn with the hook shield at the front.

“Even if I have two opponents, it makes no difference! It furthers solidifies that Dragons are supreme beings!” Alc’Bruk bellowed.

The aggrieved crimsoned Dragonborn frothed with rage and at this close of a range, Kihet could smell the sulfuric scent grow stronger. A nonmagical breath attack.

He ducked out of the way using [Crescent Moon Dash] to avoid being engulfed by the burning smoke.

“It’s futile!”

Alc’Bruk backhanded Kihet, but his heated blades were stuck by a hook that didn’t immediately get cut off thanks to its mysterious enchantment. With that, Kihet got past Alc’Bruk’s long arms and inflicted the first mortal wound to the Dragonborn where a natural response of pain was heard.

“Graaah!”

Kihet was surprised to see a blade with no enchantment was able to wound the impervious Dragon Scales.

Where the blade targeted was the skin below the jawline. Even with the Crimson Dragon’s blessing and the durable shinning red scales of a Dragonkin, the Kukri knife managed to bypass all defences and cut Alc’Bruk. In a panic, the mighty Dragonborn jumped back to observe what was the source of damage.

Then he saw the silvery cyan tinted knife in Kihet’s hands forged of Mithril. Mithril were one of the rarest metals in this world. Although no enchantments work on them, they were known to repel excess and sap mana from other objects that came to contact with it.

“Mithril…! Leotharp, curse you!”

“That’s the power of a peddler using their connections. Nyie can get information and acquire the goods I need. Mithril weapons are sure hard to come by~.”

If Alc’Bruk wasn’t angry before, he was infuriated now.

“HAHAHAHA! You think this makes us equal?” That smile turned into a frown. “You are terribly mistaken. No one is equal to the Dragon God Crimson! Not even holding scrap like that!”

Kihet saw the Dragonborn’s chest glow before something else snatched away his attention.

A blinding light hovered over Alc’Bruk and knowing it was the Dragon’s god breath, Kihet put himself at the front in preparation to have the Oracle’s flame block it. After rendering the Crimson Dragon’s sacred breath useless, Kihet braced himself. From the dust and smoke, a ghost claw swiped horizontally at him which he successfully blocked.

He realized that was only a diversion.

“Tama, run!”

But it was too late. Alc’Bruk rammed his shoulder at the Werecat unaware she was the prey.

“I’ve caught you, stray. And farewell.”

Tama hit the wall and was met with Alc’Bruk’s Deer Horn Blade at her stomach. She crossed her weapons to block and stopped herself from getting chopped in half, but she spat out blood. Her arms bent the wrong way. The wall behind her shattered.

The Werecat was launched into the air and dropped from the fifth floor. Her arms and ribs were broken, and it was unlikely she wasn’t going to survive from falling at this height.

“Next shall be you, Faker!”

In a raging fit, Alc’Bruk barraged Kihet with a flurry of punches. The speed to which the fists were thrown gradually increased, and the weight behind each punch grew heavier.

A right hook came around and as Kihet barely blocked it with the hook shield. A left fist flew straight towards his chest, but midway through it seized his wrist causing him to drop his weapon. At this moment, the Oracle’s blessing faded and fatigue Kihet accumulated started to sap away his strength.

“Dammit, not now…!”

The Dragonborn’s weight slowly but surely pushed Kihet on a knee.

“It’s admirable to see you cling onto life by a thread. Rejoice, Faker! You were a formidable foe, but all things must come to an end.”

With body locked down, the Dragonborn’s jaw opened wide. Once again, the air reeked with a charred smell and a gleaming light crawled up behind his fangs.

If he could shift his legs. If he could twist his body. If he could push back. If he could free one arm. If, if, if. Kihet rapidly went through his options and none of them would help him survive from being burned alive.

Flames, flames, dancing and hiding who was to blame, for the witching child has finally been named.

“Just as you did to us.”

Commence the hunt, flush out that runt. Trial by fire or hang from wire.

“For eons we have waited for this moment.”

Smitten by holy light or bitten by Demon’s blight.

“May the flames inflict the worst scars onto your soul!”

We won’t be satisfied until we the cursed child’s head rolled, and demons culled!

“To which, our vengeance shall be satisfied!”

It was Karma. The thought of having him burned to death was something he watched others did when he was a child. The seal he broke summoned a demon and set twelve hunters from his village ablaze.

And now he was about to suffer as they did.

He stared into the throat of the Dragonborn as if his consciousness was being sucked by it. Everything he saw around him was dulling.

“Kihet!”

Then a voice calling his name pierced into ears and brought color back to his hopeless eyes. The light flickered bright then disappeared and Alc’Bruk let out a roar.

Lily’s sword struck the gap between the Dragonborn’s plated armor and twist. She charged up her taser gauntlet and punched the Dragonborn to discover the shock couldn’t paralyze him.

“GRAAAAH! Another fly!”

His tail came around and smacked Lily. She managed to withstand the hit, but the concussive blow at her head robbed her balance. She staggered with her weapon pointed out with shaking knees while waiting for her vision to clear.

“Lily, get out of here!”

Kihet picked up the mithril knife and rushed Alc’Bruk before the Dragonborn threw an attack at Lily. He held it reverse grip and clashed the bent weapon with a Deer horn blade.

“No way, you were just about to die! If we hold out just a bit more, your friend will take care of him.” Lily ignored his warning and unleashed a flurry of slashes while performing [Crescent Moon Dance]. Four cuts cut past Alc’Bruk’s natural hide, and his wounds bled.

“Enough! Faker, you have past your due! You must die now!”

If this was the second phase of the Crimson Dragon’s blessing, then Kihet and Lily were about to witness the third form. Kihet tried to suppress the Dragonborn by hurling the Oracle’s flames at him, but to no avail it was ineffective.

Lily peppered Alc’Bruk, but her arrows combusted within a meter of the Dragonborn like a barrier burned anything that flew passed it. Even with her trick shots, her projectiles were nowhere close to striking Alc’Bruk.

“O’Crimson! Father of sacred flame. Eminence of fire. I offer my body as blood price to regain the pride of my ancestors. Grant me the fury of the flames, the rage of inferno. May those heathens who oppose to your wrath be consumed by the conflagration of your holy breath!”

Unlike the first time where his body transformed, the ghostly image of the Crimson Dragon projected over him like a suit of armor. Alc’Bruk wings expanded twice the size. His body bulked, snapping the steel chains holding onto his onyx black armor chest piece. His horns curled like a demon, and his hands grew too large to use his weapons. Instead, his claws and fangs grew impossibly sharp, cutting the floors above him and destroyed everything from the sixth floor and up.

Rubble and debris rained death as Kihet and Lily scattered to find shelter among the falling stones. They got to the edge and saw the Scalemen, Tama being carried away and Carmyn now in a spare ragged cloak made it over to the other side of the wall but still fighting. Screams below suggested Draigh was fighting his way up here.

Kihet saw sparks in the air, finding Aten struggling against two figures he couldn’t identify with the poor lighting. One opponent had the ability to summon barriers from thin air, blocking Aten’s blinding strikes at every angle. The other was as fast as the Dragonfly but used the barriers to propel itself through the air.

Then the temperature around him spiked.

“A heatwave is coming! Lily, get behind me!”

But before anything came at them, Kihet noticed Alc’Bruk jumped, and a red comet in his place took off to the skies. The Dragonborn was airborne. The red comet’s burst of speed broke the sound barrier travelled under the dark clouds with a long streak of fire tailing it. It curved behind the mountain peak and before Kihet was aware of it, its trajectory aligned towards him.

No. Alc’Bruk was aiming for the wall.

“Jump!”

The impact of Alc’Bruk’s rush obliterated the third, fourth and fifth floors, shooting past Kihet and Lily. Falling midair, they saw a creature unburied itself from the tunnel and look straight at them.

“Kihet, it’s the Tower Monster!”

“Perfect timing. Hang onto me!”

As Lily hugged his waist, Kihet loudly whistled and provoked the beast. Its long neck extended towards them with its mouth ready to swallow them whole when suddenly silver flames clouded its vision. Using his parry shield, Kihet managed to anchor one of the hooks onto the beast’s neck. He used their weight to drag it back onto the ground and broke their fall.

Lily and Kihet rolled apart from one another, but when Kihet stood up a mass of hot air rushed his body.

“Faker! Your head is mine!”

“No! Kihet!”

Alc’Bruk circled the battlefield again and dove in, severing the beast from head to tail into halves and was now in front of Kihet. The incarnation of the Crimson Dragon, The Crimson’s Wrath was in a murderous rage. His jaws were wide opened, and his claw was outstretched to the side about to reap Kihet of his life.

And thus, he witnessed journey’s end.

In a blink of an eye, Kihet managed to bring up his parry shield. His vision suddenly whirled as he spun in the air and landed sideways onto the ground. His body felt light but numb and cold.

To find himself trying to outwit an impossible task.

He saw a headless body with similar armored garbs he wore and holding the hook shield in such a half hearted blocking pose.

As everything around him fade to black.

The girl who he had traveled with, swore to protect, screamed in horror and crawled above him.

The truth shall be forever hidden.

He felt her tears drip down on his face.

And the world will end.

With the Dragonborn behind the girl raising his claws and slashed down.

Everything finally came to an end.

“The Oracle has arrived.”