Going back to the present, on the battlefield of Kazo’s, Andeer’s emotions ignited his flames. Examining his condition, he muttered, “Looks like I can still keep going.” Without hesitation, he lunged towards the beast, declaring, “If you don’t want to attack, let me finish this quickly.”
Andeer swung his sword, the flames reaching an alarming temperature and beginning to burn the air itself. Confused, he retreated, muttering, “Something’s wrong with you.”
He resumed his assault, the temperature in the area rising rapidly. Andeer’s eyebrows were engulfed in flames, yet the beast remained motionless, its body seemingly unharmed.
Retreating once more, Andeer calmed himself. After a few moments of analysis, he realized something and tightened his grip on the blade. “Its body is regenerating,” he muttered, “but this can’t be real, not against my attacks.” He glanced at his swords, their flames now reduced to normal. Taking a deep breath, he prepared for the fight ahead, “I can only maintain this for a maximum of four hours, but it depends.” He paused, then continued, “No matter what, I won’t give up.”
He raised his head towards the beast. As their eyes met, the dark energy surrounding the beast dissipated. Andeer was momentarily confused but dismissed it. Before he could react, his body froze.
He clutched his heart as a sharp pain spread through him. His blood vessels, especially in his eyes, became visible. With a trembling voice, he called out, “Ilar!” No response. He shouted again, louder this time, “ILAR!” Finally, Ilar responded, fear evident in his voice.
Andeer, struggling to breathe, pressed his hand to his heart and shouted, “Ilar, raise the strongest defense NOW!” Ilar quickly ran towards the core of the civilians and commanded, “Kazos, form the First King’s Formation, NOW!”
The Kazos swiftly arranged themselves into the formation. Soldiers formed a triangular structure, with Ilar standing at the front, holding a magical item. He quickly scanned the area, ensuring all civilians and soldiers were accounted for. “Kazos, prepare for the First King’s Formation, Abilente!”
A small, circular box began to glow with a light green energy. Three miniature shields of light green energy formed and began to rotate around the box, equidistant from each other. The rotation accelerated, and the energy gathering speed increased.
The three shields merged, and Ilar raised the item high. The miniature shields expanded to their full size, and he plunged the item into the ground. The glowing green light flowed from Ilar to the Kazos and finally to the people of Acroniya.
Sensing the shield's presence, Andeer turned his gaze towards the beast. His intense hatred and anger ignited the land beneath his feet. He roared, "Urainya!" His rage exploded as he charged towards the beast. The silent flames, at their peak intensity, extended ten meters. The heat seared the beast's body, but it quickly regenerated.
The attack connected, sending the beast flying a hundred meters. Andeer's vision blurred, and his heart pounded. Before he could think further, he remembered the mark on the beast. His flames enveloped him once more, reaching the sky and heating the air to 400 degrees Celsius. Explosions and shockwaves erupted.
Ilar shouted, "Everyone, brace yourselves! Shockwave incoming." The shield absorbed the impact, but the force pushed them back five meters. Ilar, worried for Andeer, muttered, "Captain, be safe."
As the shockwave and explosions subsided, Andeer launched another attack. The intense heat turned the beast's body into steam, but the wound quickly healed.
The beast remained unmoved, and Andeer continued his assault. After countless attacks, Andeer retreated. The beast didn't react. Without hesitation, Andeer charged again, declaring, "This time, it'll be different."
The beast finally moved, but before Andeer could strike, it turned mid-air and leaped towards him. Andeer compressed the flames on his blade, lowering the temperature. His blade moved swiftly, connecting with the beast. A burning sound echoed, but the wound was superficial. The beast smiled. A strange voice boomed, "Long time no see."
Andeer pulled back his sword. A sudden weight pressed down on his head, causing pain and blurred vision. He lost control of his flames, and the temperature began to drop. Shockwaves and turbulence erupted from the sudden change.
As he was about to collapse, he heard a voice, "Andeer." His voice roared, "I will destroy you." Andeer raised his head, tears in his eyes. One tear rolled down his face, only to evaporate instantly. His eyes hardened, and his flames intensified, turning his blade a fiery red. The temperature soared. His blade glowed a yellowish-red as he attacked the beast. The beast, caught off guard, jumped back. Andeer followed, using the same move, but with increased power. His blade pierced the beast, drawing a flow of dark blood.
The beast smiled as the blood exploded, wounding Andeer. His left side was infected, but he intensified his flames. Black energy seeped from the wound, and Andeer closed the distance between himself and the beast.
The Kazos, their eyes filled with tears, called out, "Captain!"
Ilar, also suffering, forced himself to remain strong for his people. "Why isn't the Captain using it? Why is he resorting to such a dangerous method?
A young boy, no more than fifteen, approached, tears streaming down his face. "He... he..."
Flashback
Andeer, holding a vial, hesitated. "I only have one dose left. I must use it wisely, but what other options do I have?" He heard a cry from the beast's horde. A man cradled his dying wife, pleading, "Please, don't leave me." Andeer saw the suffering of the people. "I know what I must do," he resolved.
Andeer switched the vial to a red one. As he fought, he heated the vial. After five minutes, the liquid began to vaporize, building immense pressure within the glass. The vial cracked, and Andeer, distracted, was attacked by the beast.
He continued to fight and heat the vial. When the pressure reached its peak, Andeer threw the vial towards the people. The gas spread, stabilizing their condition. Those outside the gas's reach moved towards it, seeking relief.
Andeer breathed a sigh of relief. "I can't heal them completely, but I'll improve their condition."
He returned to the battlefield, protecting the people while fighting the beasts. His body was covered in blood, his condition deteriorating. A young boy pleaded with him to approach the gas, but Andeer refused. He intensified his flames, releasing black gas from his body. His weakened flames struggled to dissipate the black gas, which dissipated only a few millimeters away.
The crowd urged Andeer to move closer to the gas, but he approached them to eliminate a beast attacking from behind. Once the beast was defeated, he carried its body and leaped out of the gas.
Andeer, mere centimeters away, realized that holding his breath had consumed a significant portion of the gas. His five-second exposure had depleted three percent of the gas.
The boy, tears in his eyes, whispered, "Captain."
Andeer, controlling his flames to avoid accidental harm, placed his hand on his head. "As long as I'm here, you're all safe."
The boy, crying, questioned, "Why are you fighting for us? We're weak, unworthy of your protection. You should protect Acroniya, not us."
Andeer, battling the beasts, replied, "It's because... you..." A beast clawed at him, but he swiftly killed it and, engulfed in flames, shouted, "Because you are my inspiration, your belief is my strength, and your happiness and smile are my duty to protect. So smile."
The boy attempted a smile. Andeer, killing more beasts, assured him, "Don't worry, because you are my power, I won't fall. But this is a secret, don't tell anyone."
The boy nodded. Andeer, while fighting, muttered, "This will also soften me, weakening my power." He glanced at his blade.
*Back to the present*
Ilar placed his hand on the boy's head, comforting him. "Don't worry, he'll be safe."
The boy tried to speak but remained silent.
Andeer's fight took a dangerous turn. His body began to burn and ache from his own flames. The beast created two massive scythes from its blood, their dark energy capable of destroying anything they touched. The blood melted the ground. Andeer roared, "This isn't enough to kill me!"
The beast smiled, its roar echoing through the area. Many people fell, covering their ears. Some Kazos managed to hold their ground, while others struggled to stay upright.
The beast's body began to melt, its entire form covered in blood. The blood reformed into crescent-moon-shaped projectiles, thousands of them. The remaining blood concentrated, disrupting the natural flow of the world.
The beast smiled and launched its attacks. Andeer raised his flames, striking the blood droplets while dodging the projectiles. He spat blood and turned to face the scythes, which pierced his body.
Andeer's flames intensified, fueled by pain and determination. His flames turned a dangerous yellowish-red. With a scream, he severed both scythes. The scythes reverted to blood and rushed towards the beast, but before Andeer could react, the projectiles inflicted severe wounds upon him.
If you come across this story on Amazon, it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.
The dust settled, revealing Andeer lying on the ground, his body severely injured and bleeding. His body began to turn a dark blue, breaking apart. Andeer's powerful flames flickered, then slowly diminished in both intensity and volume.
Ilar and the Kazos, though distant, could still see the battlefield. Ilar addressed the Kazos, "You are skilled warriors, capable of handling yourselves. Take these people to safety. I will distract the beast or find an opportunity to attack."
The beast approached Andeer, laughing cruelly. Its laughter filled the air, terrifying the ordinary people and some of the Kazos. The beast's amusement was fueled by Andeer's desperate attempts to stab its feet, but his weakened body proved no match for the beast's strength.
The beast kicked Andeer, breaking more of his bones. Bored, it declared, "If you don't mind, I have to go." Andeer tried to stand but failed, his flames extinguishing. The beast prepared to attack, but its expression changed to anger. "What's happening to me? My body is injured, but this shouldn't be possible. How could this happen?" It realized, "That human, the one with the twin eyes. He's the reason." A sinister smile crept across its face as it looked at Andeer. "I'll finish him first."
Andeer's eyes grew heavy, his body turning a deep navy blue. With his final breath, he muttered, "Vice Commander."
Andeer's mind replayed his memories, starting with his childhood. He recalled his parents, his education, his friends, and his love. He thought of a beautiful woman, "When I think of you, time stops. I don't know what this feeling is." She replied with a smile, "How romantic... But I don't have time for this. I have a duty to perform. I'm not as strong as her, so I can't go to the battlefield, but I can help with support. Research is my expertise." She looked at Andeer's dull expression and took a deep breath. "I'm going to the northwest region for research. If you want, you can come with me." Andeer's eyes softened. "Okay, I'll come. I know if I spend more time with you, you might like me."
In the remote northwest region, after months of research and exploration, they reached their destination. As they stood there, a fearsome roar echoed through the air. Andeer, holding her hand, said, "Let's go. I can tell from his roar that he's no ordinary beast. It's a..." Before he could finish, a black, gaseous substance erupted from the forest, followed by a deafening roar. A monstrous beast appeared before them.
Its eyes, bloodshot and filled with rage, indicated recent battles. The beast lunged at them, but Andeer pushed her out of the way. The beast's attack missed by mere inches, and it quickly regained its footing, preparing another assault. Andeer, ready for the attack, raised his blade. The battle raged for half an hour. Andeer, waiting for the perfect moment to strike, sustained several injuries, none of them critical. She too was injured, but the pain was too much for her to bear. Andeer, sensing her pain through her cries, was torn between finishing the fight and attending to her. He knew that leaving his position would give the beast an opportunity to attack her.
The beast collapsed, but its power didn't diminish. Andeer, cautious, didn't move. A chaotic voice echoed, "This could be your chance, human." The beast's body began to rise, and it stood once more, radiating immense energy.
Andeer, unable to turn his back, asked with concern, "Urainya, are you alright?" But there was no response. Fear gripped him as he turned to face the approaching threat. He raised his blade, ready to fight until the end. The beast roared and charged. After a few intense moments, Andeer was covered in blood, severely injured. The beast, however, only had superficial wounds.
The beast stepped back, its voice echoing, "I will end you now." It prepared a devastating attack. Andeer, unable to move due to her condition, braced himself to protect her.
The beast unleashed a powerful beam of energy, tearing through everything in its path. Andeer, sensing his impending doom, prepared a final attack. But his strength was fading, his breath labored, and his vision blurred. As he struggled to stay conscious, he saw a figure fighting the beast. In his final moments, he noticed a mark on the beast's body.
A series of memories flooded his mind: "Captain... Captain... Next time, Captain... I promise you, Captain."
Ilar and the Kazos, filled with sorrow and pain, watched helplessly. One Kazo tried to rush out to aid Andeer but was stopped by Ilar. Ilar, struggling to contain his emotions, simply said, "No."
Everyone was deeply concerned for Andeer's well-being. The beast, having defeated Andeer, raised its foot to deliver a final blow. As it gathered energy to teleport away, it sensed something strange. It turned, only to fall to the ground, its face covered in dust. A powerful roar echoed, and the beast looked towards the source of the disturbance.
"I made a promise, and I will keep it," a trembling voice declared. The Kazos, their throats tight with emotion, uttered, "Captain." Andeer charged towards the beast, but this time, something was different. The beast was forced to retreat, unable to land a significant blow.
Andeer seized an opportunity and struck, but his attack was slightly delayed. The beast capitalized on this moment and counterattacked, sending Andeer flying. Andeer attempted to rotate his body to mitigate the impact, but failed. Fortunately, his vital organs were unharmed. He managed to stabilize himself by planting his sword in the ground, but his control over the flames weakened, causing them to falter. Blood trickled down his face, eventually falling to the ground.
Andeer remained motionless for a few moments, then charged again. He repeated his attack pattern, overwhelming the beast. The beast retaliated with a powerful energy shockwave, but Andeer anticipated this move and minimized the impact by bracing himself. The beast roared and unleashed a barrage of blood droplets, but Andeer, with incredible agility, dodged and deflected the attacks. He moved closer to the beast, determined to finish the fight.
As the beast closed in, it was filled with fear. But its fear quickly turned to anger. A powerful voice echoed, "You are the reason for this." The beast's body began to grow, its power increasing exponentially. Andeer, sensing the danger, prepared for the final confrontation. The beast raised its arm, cloaked in dark energy. Andeer dodged the attack but was struck on the shoulder, inflicting a deep wound. Despite the injury, he quickly wrapped the wound and continued to fight, his eyes fixed on the beast's arm.
As soon as Andeer glanced at his injured arm, a sharp pain shot through his head. His eyes turned a deep red, and his ears began to bleed. A dark mist clouded his mind, filled with the screams of countless people. Andeer, sensing something amiss, tightened his grip on his sword. His flames intensified, turning into a blazing torch. With each passing second, the flames grew stronger, eventually consuming the dark mist. As the mist dissipated, he regained his senses and saw the beast's claw inches away from his heart.
Time seemed to slow down. Andeer, with a determined look, tightened his grip on the blade. His sword began to glow a reddish-yellow, releasing immense heat and light. The flames enveloped his body, shielding him from harm. As the flames collided with the beast's dark energy, a powerful shockwave erupted, sending Andeer flying. The beast, sensing an opportunity, launched multiple blood spikes at the airborne Andeer.
As the spikes approached, Andeer, still mid-air, ignited his body in flames. Surprisingly, his body remained unharmed, even as the flames engulfed his clothing. The intense heat generated by the flames began to disintegrate the blood spikes. One of the spikes pierced Andeer's neck, causing excruciating pain. Despite the agony, he endured, increasing the intensity of his flames to vaporize the spike.
Landing on the ground, Andeer unleashed a powerful slash, the flames engulfing his blade. The beast dodged the attack, but Andeer seized the opportunity to deliver a series of rapid strikes, inflicting deep wounds upon the beast. The beast's blood dripped to the ground, its eyes filled with rage.
Andeer sensed that something was amiss. He scanned the area, hoping to see Ilar and the others, but they were nowhere to be found. He turned back to the beast, lost in thought. Unfortunately, he was caught off guard and sustained a deep wound to his internal organs. A cry of pain escaped his lips. Andeer attempted to counterattack, but the beast overpowered him, seizing his sword. As Andeer's consciousness faded, he muttered, "I hope Vice Commander has recovered by now. He can avenge us both."
Andeer's strength waned, his blade clattered to the ground. The beast, reveling in its victory, laughed, "I always knew humans were weak creatures, only capable of defeating inferior beings." It began to recover its strength, but paused, turning its attention back to Andeer. "I should finish him off. He's wasted enough of my time." As the beast moved towards the barely conscious Andeer, ready to deliver the final blow, something unexpected happened.
Andeer, though weak, was still aware of his impending doom. He closed his eyes, accepting his fate. But moments later, he felt no pain. He opened his eyes to find the beast's arm suspended in mid-air, covered in a strange, bloody substance. A mysterious figure, their face obscured by the blood, emerged from the ground.
A series of memories flooded Andeer's mind. He recalled Ilar's words of encouragement and support, and the image of Zellto sacrificing herself to protect him.
"ENOUGH!" Andeer roared, his voice echoing through the battlefield. The beast, startled by the sudden outburst, was pushed back a few steps. Andeer hesitated, seeing Ilar in danger. Ilar, understanding Andeer's concern, signaled him to continue the fight.
Another voice, unfamiliar yet familiar, echoed through the air. A strange device wrapped around Ilar's legs, pulling him to safety. Andeer smiled, grateful for his friend's sacrifice. "You're all the same, ignoring orders. But thank you for saving my life. Now it's my turn to finish this." Andeer wrapped a cloth around his wounds, infused with healing herbs. The cloth, upon contact with his wounds, began to burn, alleviating the pain. Andeer's flames intensified, enveloping his body and forming a protective armor. His sword, imbued with the same energy, grew larger and more powerful.
Andeer charged towards the beast, his movements swift and precise. He dodged the beast's attacks, landing critical blows. With each strike, the beast was weakened. Andeer, seizing an opportunity, stabbed his sword into the ground, momentarily pausing. He then resumed his assault, his movements relentless.
The beast, enraged, tried to retaliate, but Andeer was too quick. Andeer targeted the beast's legs, crippling its movement. The beast, desperate, roared and unleashed a powerful energy blast. Andeer, anticipating the attack, braced himself. The blast, though powerful, was deflected by Andeer's enhanced defenses.
The beast, weakened and frustrated, struggled to rise. Andeer, sensing the beast's desperation, prepared for a final blow. As the beast lunged, Andeer struck, the blade piercing its vital organs. The beast, its life force waning, looked at Andeer with a mixture of anger and disbelief.
Andeer, exhausted but victorious, stood over the fallen beast. A series of memories flooded his mind. He recalled the image of a man, his body scarred and his eye destroyed. Andeer recognized the man - his captain.
Andeer's flames intensified, burning brighter than ever before. The beast, sensing the impending doom, tried to resist, but its efforts were futile. Andeer's blade, imbued with immense power, struck the beast, delivering the final blow.
As the beast's life force extinguished, a sense of peace washed over Andeer. He had fulfilled his duty, avenging his fallen comrades and protecting the world. With a heavy heart, he turned to leave the battlefield. As he walked away, he couldn't shake the feeling that this battle was not truly over.
The beast roared, unleashing a powerful shockwave that sent Andeer flying. Andeer, however, planted his sword in the ground, stabilizing himself. His ears bled, but he refused to yield.
The battle continued, with Andeer blocking every path of the beast's escape and launching relentless attacks. The beast, sensing a change in Andeer's tactics, grew cautious. Andeer, intentionally slowing down, baited the beast into a false sense of security. The beast, unable to resist the temptation, attacked. Andeer, anticipating the move, countered, catching the beast off guard. The beast, thrown into the air, roared in frustration.
Andeer, seizing the opportunity, charged towards the fallen beast. His flames, reaching seven meters, intensified, turning a blinding yellow. The heat emanating from his blade was scorching, surpassing 240 degrees Celsius. The beast, terrified, attempted to flee but was too weak to move. It roared, "I will kill you all once I recover. Next time, everything will be different." A layer of dark energy enveloped the beast, but it was significantly weaker than before. As the dark energy made contact with the heat of Andeer's blade, the beast's body ignited. The beast, despite the pain, mustered its remaining strength and leaped a hundred meters away, mocking Andeer.
But its triumph was short-lived. A powerful energy, emanating from a higher altitude, struck the beast. The beast, frozen in terror, felt its life force draining. As its head was severed, it caught a glimpse of the source of the attack: a figure cloaked in flames, wielding a sword of immense power.
The mysterious figure, falling at a tremendous speed, channeled all his emotions into a powerful attack, slowing his descent. He landed on the ground, protecting his right arm from the impact. A massive cloud of dust enveloped the area.
As the dust settled, the figure emerged, his body bathed in a reddish-yellow glow. His eyes, a piercing shade of red, and his hair, ablaze with flame, exuded an otherworldly aura. He approached the beast's remains, only to find that the beast had regenerated its head. The figure raised his sword, ready to deliver the final blow.
The beast, sensing the impending doom, unleashed a powerful explosion, scattering its remains. But the figure, undeterred, gathered the scattered pieces and ignited them with his flames. A terrifying scream echoed as the dark energy within the beast's remains was consumed by the flames. The beast, refusing to accept defeat, regenerated once more, its body covered in flames. It roared, its voice filled with rage and desperation.
The battle intensified, with the figure and the beast exchanging powerful blows. The ground trembled, the air crackled with energy. The beast, despite its immense power, was no match for the figure's relentless attacks. As the beast's strength dwindled, its eyes, once filled with rage, turned to fear. In a final, desperate attempt, the beast unleashed a wave of dark energy, enveloping the entire area. But the figure, shielded by his flames, remained unscathed. The beast, defeated, collapsed to the ground, its life force extinguished.
The figure, victorious, stood over the fallen beast. His mission was complete. As he turned to leave, he couldn't shake the feeling that this battle was just the beginning.
The beast, sensing its impending doom, unleashed a barrage of attacks. Blood droplets, infused with dark energy, and a destructive energy beam rained down upon Andeer. Andeer, however, effortlessly deflected the attacks, his flames neutralizing the dark energy. He closed the distance between them and struck, his blade piercing the beast's body.
The beast, enraged, tried to escape, but Andeer, with a swift motion, planted his sword in the ground, trapping the beast. A seventh flame pillar erupted from the ground, ensnaring the beast. The pillar, heated to an extreme temperature, began to consume the beast's body. Andeer, moving through the debris, approached the trapped beast. His flames intensified, turning a blinding yellow. With a decisive strike, he severed the beast's body in two. The dark energy, attempting to escape, was consumed by the flames.
Andeer, weakened by the battle, collapsed to the ground. His burn marks deepened, and his flames began to diminish. As he lay there, his mind drifted to the past. He remembered the promise he had made to his captain, Zellto. A smile crept across his face. "I kept my promise, Captain. I did it..."
With those final words, Andeer succumbed to his injuries, his consciousness fading. The battle was over, the darkness vanquished. Andeer, the hero of the hour, had sacrificed his life to protect the world.