Dynames

Faint whispers had always been grinding at my mind. Throughout my whole life, I was scared of them. Never knowing where they came from. Never knowing when they would come for me.

In the back of my mind, I knew I was safe, but fear is never rational. The odd dreams, the strange voices, and the shadow. I was scared of them all. It was like my body, no my existence was a lie.

I was an identity without foundation. A personality without a person. An anomaly among people.

A contradiction to my existence. A non-magic user, who had moved on to become a contractor with a dragon.

Contractors were far different from mages. Instead of just normal magic, they could borrow physical aspects of species. Legs strength, flight, night vision, and far more depending on the species. A contractor borrows power, it is never their own.

That single fact makes king's terrifying. They never have to worry about running out of power. The entire race supplies them with it. Thus the ability to erase the whole species became reality. They, in their own way, were robbers. Stealing power from those around them.

The one thing a contractor must remember is that trust means everything. Without it, the contract would be broken. If the species loses faith in them, the failed contractor is devoured by their own power. It is why there are so few kings. The ability to make an entire species trust you is rare.

Contractors walk a fine line between life and death every day. This line is never made apparent with normal people, but with a king…. It like watching someone on a tightrope. The are beings stronger than anyone, but the price to stand there is steep.

All these rules floated from deep within me. These ironclad rules were the new foundation for me. My new reality.

Violence, murder, the desire to stand above, were new feelings. They were dark emotions, but they felt normal. Like for the first time I was acting like a real person.

A new fear accompanied them.

The fear of myself.

The weakling in me resisted to no end. I did... no, I couldn’t believe I was strong. That idea went against my existence. Went against all the experiences that accumulated over the years.

Even as I pounded into Brogg with anger, I knew it was just a weakling trying to act strong.

I was a liar.

My fist hurt after each hit. It felt like each one was punching a hole through me. I was pathetic. I knew people were cheering for me to win, but I was just a liar standing tall.

Every taunt, every scared glance from my opponent only dug the hole deeper in my chest. His final words finished the grave.

“Is this all slayers have?”

The burning anger was overwhelming. What was I to do with it? The spotlight was too bright. This was not my place to stand. My feeling contradictions themselves. The shadow leaped forward into the blinding light.

Left alone because I was strong. Scared to enter that light.

I was ready to end it. The steel plates were more than just revenge for rick. They were the remains of my life. Something I had to break. The weakness in my heart was before me.

Could I break it? Could I become this new person? Was I ready to join the strong?

No

I wasn’t ready to throw away who I was. Sweat covered my body.

I stood alone, but a large dark mass was behind me. A light touch on my shoulder caused me to turned around. I looked up to see the shadow standing taller than ever before. It's dignified air crippled my confidence.

It took center stage, passing me by. I watched from behind as it called Ashley to give me power. Even as he asked the dragon to breathe fire, I could only watch as a spectator.

“Do you want to go beyond?” The fire swirled around the spotlight now, but I still refused. The voice which called me continued.

“Now is the time, Electus. You can join us again.” The whole time I hugged my knees. I looked behind me. It was clearly a dragon.

Its large mass was comparable to a mountain. However, it didn't cause me fear. The dragon only caused a warm feeling to fill my chest.

“You are your own person. You can become what you want. Take as much time as you need.” It was like a father talking to their child. I felt more pathetic, but at the same time, I felt better.

“If you are ready, please call my name.” my vision forward again. The shadow was waiting. It's hand extended to me.

Was I ready?

I took its hand.

I was weak. There was no other thing to call me. I needed to rely on these two right now. It wasn't just them either. I had relied on everyone.

Cross, Ashley, even Erica. More than anyone I had relied on Rick. I relied on these people more than they will ever know.

I needed to stand here. I needed…. No, I wanted to meet their expectations this time. Not thru the reliance on the shadow’s assistance, but through my own efforts.

A bright flame burned in the center of the spotlight. I walked toward it. The black mass behind me stirred.

“Spark the flame and reduce your enemies to ashes!” If my memories were correct, he always got a little too excited when I was going to do something.

“I’ll need to borrow your power once more.” I looked to the shadow “I’m weak after all” For a moment I swear it took a shape. It was brief, but I was entranced by the person appearance.

“Baslith” the name was foreign to me, but the black mass flinched and the flame burst free of its invisible container.

A hand on my shoulder told me it was time to move forward.

When I was back in control, the shadow was driving my fist straight toward the metal plates.

I was scared….. but

Crack!!

I needed to push forward!

“HAAAAAA!!!” The fire only raged more. It shot through the metal. Once the last one gave, I could only see the exposed skin where I was going to strike. I knew I wouldn’t be able to stop there.

The beam of fire shot out the other side of Brogg. The flame licked and flew in many directions, but its raw force reduced much of the buildings and grass to ashes. Basilith must be proud.

The shadow suddenly brushed me aside and did the finishing touched to Brogg. The sheer horror of the black spikes frightened me to the core. I throw up a little, which was weird since most of this was happening in my head.

I bit my lip. This was a part of me. I couldn't run from it.

The events after that flowed almost like a riptide.

I knew the twins weakness was their touch. I wasted no time in breaking them apart. The shadow had made me say some cool line before launching forward. Gods, I was embarrassed by that.

Now it was just me and Aroma. Even without the shadow’s support. My body moved like an expert. Kicks flowed into punches, and then into Dragon art techniques. My mind may have remembered the feeling, but my muscles groaned under the strain.

Aroma was still a more experienced fighter than me, though. He kept it an air battle. I tried to close the distance, but his speed and his new dark purplish wings gave him better maneuverability. He smoothly dodged my attacks and only adding to my frustration.

After dodging yet another of my rage filled attacks, he took my arm and threw me into a nearby building. I hit some glass and with enough force, I flew through. I struggled to get up. Muscles that I never knew I had groaned with every desperate attempt to get up. I carefully place my hands to avoid the spilled glass.

I took a look around the office. It had several cubicles for lawyers and that such. Though now that it was mostly broken. It must've been the first things to be hit by the enemy attack.

After a while, a strange smell lead me toward the other side of the office. I had found the other workers. They were all pinned by a black spike to the nearest wall. A disfigured red painting behind them. Some of the bodies weren't in mint condition. Bite marks and missing limbs scattered the ground. The smell of their corpses was far worse than anything a school could make. As disgusting as it was, my nose seemed to remember the smell and quickly adapted to it.

I pulled the spike out and laid their bodies down and closed their eyes hoping the deceased would have peace with that. I walked on to the other side of the building and got the full scale of this attack.

Explosions riddled the once peaceful town.The buildings that I had admired were shadows of their former selves. The streets filled with monsters and carnage. The sky that used to fill me with hopes and dreams now full of flying demons.

I looked out at the streets filled with debris and burning dead bodies. As my eyes searched, fleeing town people came into view. Mages were battling in the skies and trying their hardest to save them.

I punched the glass without realizing it was barely being held to the wall. It fell a few stories and shattered the silence. My rage and anger only grew and burned hotter.

“Dragon art: Crimson sky” Between me and the shadow, I’m not sure who fired it. Streams of fire filled the sky. Monsters were set ablaze. Demons and their followers soon followed. It was like watching a firework go off. I felt no pleasure yet I still knew I had done a good thing.

Just this morning it started like a normal day and now the fire was falling from the sky. I said a few words to the deceased then returned to thinking of my plan.

Now that I had fired magic, Aroma was bound to know my location. I used, my now more sensitive nose, to find him. Perfect chance I thought. For whatever reason, he had stayed above me.

“Dragon art: Soaring dragon!” Flame burst free and surrounded me like an orb. I shot through the building destroying what remained. The collapsing building crumbled. The sounds of creaking cement and steel echoed in my ears.

Aroma was surprised but he still managed to dodge it. I smiled to myself. He played right into my hands.

Once I was passed him, I set up the next attack. Using the motion from the launch I turned and flipped toward Aroma. Midway through the flip, the next spell activated.

“Dragon art: Ax blade.” This caused the fire to engulf my leg as it hit its mark: Aroma. His landed looked painful, and I felt a little joy in that. I pressed on through to my next attack.

“Dragon art: Heat dome!” I place my hand together and swung them down launch a fire that engulfed the area Aroma had fallen too. He was trapped in a ball of fire.

Next, I swung my right arm back and cast the next one. “Dragon art: Pyro cannon!” I threw the fist. The fire rippled and roared as it flew off my arm toward the enemy. Upon impact, the fire took the brief form of a pillar.

I started to fall faster toward the ground. I realized we were a good fifty meters above it. If it weren't for the wind, the pillar sent out, I would have been a pancake. It gave me enough hang time to get to a building. My legs were shaking and my breath came in rapid gasps. Sweat covered my face and all my muscle ached.

My sensed told me to dodge and with all the effort I could muster I jump away. Just in time, as a black arrow struck the place I had been resting on.

My senses told me this one was different. They were right as usual. The area or rather the entire section it had hit vanished. It looked like a bite had taken out of the building. At this point, teeth marks would have made me feel better.

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Aroma flew up with a lot less damage than I had imagined. His nice fancy suit was burned. Sections of it on his arms were missing. Skin charred like rotting meat. One of his pants legs was gone passed his knee.

Droplets fell to the ground. Blood was coming down his left side, but he showed no sign of passing out. The black hair on his head was gone. He looked like something from a horror movie.

He seemed vivid about killing me. His eyes glowed with the pleasure. They gave me a silent warning. He would make my death slow.

He began launching more of the arrows. I narrowly dodged. Inches from my face, a strange purple aura flew past me. It must be what made them special. Even as it nearly scraped by, I could feel a cold shiver at my spine.

After a few minutes of dodging, I found myself near the intersection where I got hit early today. Not a lot of good memories here I thought silently

Aroma kept himself far above me, but just enough to where I could still see his grin. I need to move. I ran up the hill.

“Had enough yet worm?” He gestured his hand and more of the new arrows fill the sky. “As you may have noticed these arrow not only destroy, but completely erase everything.” He said with a chuckle that sent a shiver down my spine. His wing allowing him to glide as I ran away.

“You should feel honored this power was given to me by my king and now I shall use it to bury you and this unbearable city!” he began to fire the arrows in groups with less accuracy, but more damage. I felt the ground rotting behind me.

I summoned flame. I didn't give much thought to a landing. My apartment building came into view. My mistake was landing right above my room. Aroma took that chance to fire several arrows. Which destroyed a good majority of my room and others near it.

“Asshole!” I swore under my gasps for air. I was exhausted and I at best only had enough energy for one last boost. I had to pin my hope on a chance. This new hope was dashed immediately by the screams of a child.

I looked down the road to see Orin bakery still magical intact, but the boy and mother I had saved, along with the Orin's, were just now coming outside. They must've just freed themselves from being trapped under rubble. So no blame was on them, but I was still pissed about it. They chose a bad time to come out.

Aroma saw a chance and aimed his arrows at them. No time to think. I could only move.

I pushed with all my strength boosting toward them. I threw away victory and decided protecting them was the better decision.

I caught up to one arrow, throwing fire at it. I tore the remains of my shirt and detonated other. Both caused mini black holes to form.For moments, they kept expanding but soon vanished. The leading two were too fast, I screamed with all my might to use every last drop I had.

I shot passed them. No fire left to intercept. I swung my body in front of them. One hit me in the leg and the other dug into my left side. With no support, I was flung down toward the ground.

I gritted my teeth and pounded my feet into the ground. Like a bully the kept pushing beyond my limit. I stopped short of the family. I thought for a second, I was invulnerable. Pain shattered these thoughts. Small holes appeared on my leg and side. They slowly and painful grew.

“Fuck!!!” I used the rest of the magic to burn them closed. Unnatural screams left my throat.

I removed my hands to see the were burned shut. The skin was charred black. The worst part was the smell. It was like a skunk had been set on fire.

I was lucky that half idea and pure instinct worked, but the effects were the same. My left side was out, and I was stuck in place. The next thing I knew a volley of arrows was sent after me. Mr. Orin managed to pull everyone back. I stayed to take the brunt of it.

Just as the arrow would have hit me... A metal ball flung out shattering them.

The ball retreated quickly, and I lost my valiant stand and fell back. Only to be caught by someone. I barely managed to turn my head to see a face I thought I would never be so happy to see. It was Danial.

He looked different in his armor. Instead of his simple clothing, he wore when we had fought. He was now dressed in silver-plated armor. It looked a little bulky, but I guess it would work for the lower demons he had been fighting. The school emblem, A book left open, was engraved in the left shoulder. His hammer was bigger than last time. Polished and battle ready.

The chain came reeling back to his weapon. “So who gave you permission to be a badass by yourself?” He said it confidently. However, hints of absolute fear appeared in his voice.

“What are you doing here? What about the people?” I tried to sound concerned, but couldn't tell if it sounded that way.

“Well, thanks to a certain girl who shall not be named (Erica more than likely) a communication went out telling everyone what had happened. Most of us were skeptical, to say the least.” He threw his unarmed hand out to the side. “But our doubts were dashed when the sky was engulfed in flames stopping the air assaults. Plus the giant white light was a big push for everyone to believe.” He looked back to Aroma

“I saw some explosions and rushed over to the cries of a child. Little did I know I would find a zombie and a half dead loser fighting it out.”

“The pure fact that you can make joke means you still have faith I can win,” I said once again between gasps.

“Yeah I guess, but mainly to piss you off.” He said not looking at me.

“Well.... You succeeded, and when did you get so honest?” I low yelled back. I really did hate this guy.

“None of your business. So can you beat him?” The conversation was finally serious. I finally got some time to relax and actually formulate my next move. After a long while, one appeared.

“I've got a move....... that might help, but we need to get....... this guy pissed off enough to give me time.” My lungs were on fire. I couldn't tell if the self-damage was the cause or just natural exhaustion.

“Also can you connect me....... to the communication network. I need to send a....... message.” He taped my ear, and I felt the connection form.

The pissing him off was already done. Aroma lit up in fury and he was shouting at us. Daniel, who I will credit for this, gave a good comeback.

“God will you shut up! A freak like you, who you can't even kill one kid, is not worth my time!” If I would have had the energy, I could have literally died of laughter. Aroma broke a blood vessel and just started to laugh.

“That's it! All you blasted worms can die together!” He raised his hand and a giant magic circle from above him.

This fucking freak was going to use a level five destruction spell. Was he insane! Most magic came in its own class, along with power output and effects. As you can guess, level five was fucking terrifying. Level one was a car explosion compared to a five.

Now was not the time to panic. “Everyone listen up!” I took this chance to catch my breath and give a proper speech.

“This is Dynames. Right now I’m extremely tired. The last of the bastards, who destroyed the city, is about to use a level five destruction spell.” I heard cries of concern and fear. I felt many rushed to action.

“None of you will make it in time to stop the spell.” I didn't want them wasting strength. “We do have a way to counter it! I have a powerful spell to fight back, but I need more magic to use it. I need everyone to channel magic to me.”

Maybe it was just arrogance, but hell I believed every word I said. I was more convincing myself than the people, though.

As expected I was meet with mass protest. No one in this city would respect a low life like myself. To take me seriously would be insane. I felt the pressure of their hate and discord. It only feed into my own patheticness

I was at a loss and didn't know what to do. How could I convince them?

“Do you all know what he has been going through to keep us safe!” It was Erica's voice. A small bird flew down and looked at me. A familiar.

Gasps filled my ears. Visions of my appearance were being sent to everyone. I was a little embarrassed.

“Don't you all see he is trying his best to save us!" this time it was Cross. Many of the kids I had protected at the school yelled in an agreement.

“Everyone, we need to believe in him or else we are all dead!” It was Daniel the most surprising of all. “We all have our differences. I hate this kid like no other, but right now, we need to worry about the city!”

I took the chance and rolled with the momentum. “Don't you all want to protect your city? The place you call home? Think about all the people who died protecting you. Think of their hopes, their dreams! This bastard took our peace away!”

“You don't fight alone, Electus.”

I remembered the lesson for today. This was it. Magic roared forth, not from outside, but from within. A small layer of fire burned around me.

“Thanks, Baslith” I clenched my fist I took a single step forward. I was approaching my limit. I felt the shadow coming close to taking over.

The sudden burst of energy silenced everyone, well almost everyone.

“See everyone he is willing to die for this town. To go down fighting till his last breath. Let's believe and give him all we have!” Daniel yelled for extra impact.

“““Yeah let's get him!!!!”””

I was almost overwhelmed. It was incredible. It was nothing compared to just borrowing people magic like I had done before. Magic was coming at me like like a tidal wave.

Erica, Cross, Daniel, Mr, and Mrs. Orin, and even the little kid. Everyone’s magic came to me. The small layer around me roared to life. Before I knew it, a small firestorm was swirling around me.

At some point, my eyes closed. I could feel it.

My victory.

Aroma

The weakened brats below was a delight to his eyes. Until new brat had insulted him.

Void bringer a spell that would erase this city off the face of this world. After summoning the circle he began to charge.

He heard the boy screaming in futility. They were probably begging for their lives. Then he felt it a surge of energy converging. The amount was remarkable and unorthodox.

Where was it coming from? The incoming magic looked like a rainbow bending all over the city. He sent some arrows at the kid, but they reverted back to magic and went into the incoming flow.

“Shit, what is this kid?!” He was not normal. The presence Aroma felt, was comparable to the 8th.

Within the firestorm, he saw it. The clear difference between them. A dragon staring him dead in the eyes.

The words of his king rang in his ears. “There is an anomaly in that town, don’t get cocky,"

Yet here he was. Cocky as can be and staring a dragon down because of it.

He poured the rest of his magic into his spell and read it to fire. He refused to believe a weakling would be the end of him.

“SHUT UP AND DIE!!”

Dynames

“Get ready!”

I forced all the magic to go toward my mouth. After entering it would be trapped in my stomach and grind with the magic already there. It was spell only a king could use. It did come with risks.

If the flow overpowered the inside, an explosion was possible.  Hell, my stomach could have just evaporated right there. To add more difficulty, I had to turn the magic into flames will readying it.

But the effects were awesome. The grinding caused an internal influx of magic. It added extra power to the spell. It demanded every fiber of my being. One that begged for direction. It was ready to burst out.

The magic just kept coming. It washed over my body. It was too much.

I couldn’t take it all.

A hand on my shoulder. The feeling shrank and submitted to me.

Once again, the shadow had saved me.

“Void Bringer” He yelled. A flow of black magic was shot out. It's eerie color and power stop me for a moment. I made the decision to fire it early. I quickly warned Daniel and launched my final attack.

“Dragon....... Art:....... Roar!!!!!” For a horrible moment, nothing. I had opened my mouth, but nothing came.

Then it all burst free. The hellish fire began bursting from when me. Daniel and I were losing ground. Maintaining the blast only pushed us farther away. I could feel my shoes being burned off.

We came to a sudden stop. I couldn't afford to look at how we did it, I could only pour everything into my one attack.

They colliding in the middle of the sky causing them to reach a power struggle. The clashing of power reducing many buildings to ash.

"Void bringer" pushed us back, and I was using all my strength I could muster to hold it.he had charged longer than us.

I was losing strength quickly and my wounds were making it hard to keep it up. Void bringer came closer to the ground. Anything close out the black beam was reduced to non-existence. There would be nothing left if it hit,

I need more power!!

It was then I felt everyone at my back (metaphorically). Their hopes and desire flowed thru. It was like all their hands were on my back pushing me forward.

I Will Win!!!

I searched deep inside and ripped out whatever I could to maintain my attack. I would not lose to this monster after everything I went through.

“““GO Dyanmes!!!!!”””

Give him hell my son

Let’s go Electus!!!

“HAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!”

It was almost like I had fired the spell twice. The sudden surged had increased the volume of my attack.

It full overtook "Void bringer" and consumed the area where the bastard was flying. The roar, however, was still going. It's defining sound echoed through the city send all the remaining foot soldier into a panic. It would go higher, it blasted through the black clubs above. Forcing blue skies to show themselves.

I knew then, as I do now, that that was the true sign of my return.

Once the roar reseeded and ended. The only thing that was left was a one armed Freak floating up in the sky.

“Son of…...a bitch!”

I summon the last of my strength. Flying up, but my eyes grew hazy.  The distance changed and went right by him.  Magic gone. Soon gravity sent me at him.

It was over.

I had nothing left.

Aroma read a counterattack.

A single black arrow faced me. My only option was to body slam him and hope it took him out.

That plan never came to be. Just as my decent reached it full velocity, and fireball suddenly struck me.

The sudden blow blew me away, and I spun out of control.

“That…... damn... dragon..” Between the pure exhaustion and the desire to vomit, I saw the dragon flying in the sky.

I had no time to complain. I used it. My fist reignite. Its red glow was all I needed to see. A black arrow came for me. I could only punch.

The flame sputtered and waned.

Don't stop Dynames.

“Not... Yet!!!” I felt Gaia’ voice silently call me.

I may have had nothing left to give, but Baslith sure had reserves to spare.

The flame burned hotter and soon the black arrow was nothing more than a faded dream. Aroma stunned. He didn't move an inch.

“GO straight to hell!!” The only target was his face.

"Dragon.... Art:..... Blazing Meteor!” Like a fired arrow, I launched down even faster.

It made contact.

The sheer force sent Aroma down with the force of a missile. The aftershock sent me flying elsewhere. I felt the glory for a moment.

It was amazing. A weakling had overcome the enemy. I smile lit my face. I felt myself soar through the skies. Soon gravity tugged me down.

I caught a glimpse of my place of landing. A bitter laughed escaped my dried lungs.

Pain rocked me, and fatigue slapped me. My eyelids heavy, so I closed them for them. Rest finally found me.