Redmondel didn't give Ozahr a moment's rest. She slashed her talons again at his face and they scraped like metal chainsaws across a solid barrier Ozahr managed to conjure up in time—a combination of a magical barrier coated in his special blue flames.

"Not so tough now, are you?" he laughed in triumph behind his protection.

The murky flash of orange through his foggy barrier made Ozahr dispel it and replace it with a magical one. A few drops of his fresh blood splattered across Redmondel's face when he swung his arm. A reptile tongue slithered between her lips and licked the red stains off.

“Oooh-kay,” Ozahr’s voice rose as he stepped back. “Does a Phoenix have a tongue like that??”

Redmondel roared inhumanly as she charged him again. Her open mouth glowed with red embers and her black claws were swung back ready to strike. Ozahr's eyes widened with surprise as he realized he'd have to conjure up both barriers at once. He wouldn't have time to swing his hands 3 times, not a chance.

Think fast, think fast, think fast! He crossed his hands in front of him simultaneously, doubling up on his barriers. Redmondel's fire was already colliding with the first layer of protection and spreading out into all directions.

Ozahr moved his hands to the side, both of them still occupied with channeling two magical shields. Just as Redmondel's claws started penetrating the first barrier, Ozahr kicked his leg up in the air, dragging a trail of fire behind his heel that coated the inner barrier solid. Blue sparks flew in the air as her claws scraped against his solid shield. Ozahr's fingers vibrated as his magic struggled against the sheer force of Redmondel's physical power. He scrunched his fingers and gritted his teeth to strengthen his defenses.

I can't keep blocking forever! Ozahr focused on studying her attacks for now. She's gonna have a gap in her swings eventually. There must be a gap somewhere!

A mass of red flesh dropped from under Redmondel’s skirt and slammed against his solid barrier. Ozahr flew back in an attempt to block it and rolled on the floor with a groan. The adrenaline pumping through his veins helped block the pain, but Redmondel didn't even give him a chance to lift himself up before leaping at him.

He kicked his leg up in the air again from the ground and sent a weak, magical shockwave straight up. Redmondel's jaw was knocked shut from the gust of force, but her feet didn't budge. Taking advantage of her knocked back head, Ozahr jumped back on his feet and sent a forceful wave of magic in Redmondel's direction with both his arms. Now that the crowd had mostly dispersed, he could finally attack.

The entire room boomed as the shockwave sent the Baroness flying towards the wall behind her. Upon impact, she cracked the wall and rattled the gigantic chandelier above.

Ozahr released a crescented shockwave behind him, in the complete opposite direction from Redmondel. Before the wave hit the wall, Ozahr redirected it mid air in a powerful sweeping motion. The wild magic fought against his control and amplified itself in his grasp before he released it and sent it hurtling towards the ceiling. The wave soared through the air in a high pitched whiz and cut clean through the chandelier's support. The ceiling above cracked dramatically and almost crumbled under the impact. The execution was sloppy, but it got the job done.

Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.

The crystalline mass disconnected from above and plummeted in Redmondel's direction. She blinked above her, still recovering from the thrashing. Just before the chandelier trapped her under its weight, Redmondel turned around and smashed the flying construct with her beefy, red tail. The chandelier crashed into a million shards against the left wall like it was a cheap, light plate.

"Oh fuuu—maybe I should've aimed that slicing shockwave at her head then," Ozahr spoke through his heavy breath. It’s been a long while since he had to use the full scope of his powers.

Redmondel lifted some rubble off one of the unconscious guests nearby and ripped the white jewel off her neck, clutching it in her fist.

"This was saved for you, you know that?" She addressed the Spell Knight and barked out a maniacal laugh. Redmondel turned back to the unconscious guest, raised her long pin…

“Stop!” Ozahr yelled.

...and stabbed the man right in his chest. A pale, green mist rose from the corpse and drained itself into the crystal between her claws.

Ozahr watched in horror as the magic left the now dead sorcerer. That’s… That’s a sorcerer’s soul!

Redmondel put the soul filled crystal between her deformed teeth and cracked it with her jaw. It shattered into uneven pieces and crumbled off her crimson lips. The soul that was trapped inside seeped down her mouth and rejuvenated her strength. As her posture became more powerful and confident, she let out a beastly roar that escaped the shattered windows and echoed through the night. Her dress ripped and revealed glistening red skin beneath. Her body cracked and folded unnaturally as she transformed into a gigantic beast right before Ozahr’s eyes.

“Oh, sure,” Ozahr mumbled to himself and wiped the sweat off his forehead. “Why a Phoenix when she can be a dragon!”

Redmondel’s black horns cracked open the ceiling, and her muscular wings shattered the wall behind her. The room collapsed under the destruction and Ozahr had to waste more energy on sealing himself under a safe barrier. The structure completely collapsed. They would have their final showdown under the stars.

The dragon flapped her wings that haven’t stretched for hundreds of years. The tempest knocked Ozahr off his feet and he stumbled back on the ruins of the ballroom. The magic energy in the air was running low enough already, and being banged up and bruised did not help Ozahr control what little magic was left. Every additional blow from him that didn't kill Redmondel lowered his chance of winning.

A dragon, on the other hand…

Judging by the flames in her mouth, I don’t think she’s gonna run out of magic any time soon! Ozahr had no time to even get off his feet. He raised his arm in the air as smoothly as he could, creating a magical dome to shield him from the gigantic fireball hurtling his way. The barrier hissed and the fire roared. The blue and orange colors mingled in violent swirls and sparks, and Ozahr felt the gradual thinning of the shield.

Just as Redmondel briefly stopped her torrent of fire, Ozahr's barrier fell. He panted and grit his teeth, still lying on the floor. I won't be able to hold another one like that… He watched as the dragon opened her maw, preparing for another blast of flames.

"Spell Knight!" A familiar voice shouted. Out of the rubble, a watery snake struck the dragon's open mouth and exploded into black smoke, clouding Redmondel's vision.

Ozahr looked to the side. The older gentleman was motioning for Ozahr to run towards him behind the ruins. He, too, was covered in blood and bruises. While Redmondel was covered with smoke, Ozahr slipped away and hid with the other sorcerer.

"Oh, thank goodness," Ozahr whispered, out of breath. "I didn't get the chance to thank you—"

"No need—"

"For the bloody nose! Seriously, not only did it break the rules, but it was a terrible lack of sportsmanship."

The man looked at Ozahr and narrowed his eyes. "You had it coming."

"I—" Before Ozahr could speak, the dragon erupted in a roar. She was flipping rocks and pillars left and right to find the sorcerer.

"How confident are you in taking down a dragon, Spell Knight?"

"Considering I ate through almost all the magic in the air?" Ozahr tilted his hand from side to side. "A bit less than usual, I'd say."

"Here's what we're going to do…" The man quickly explained his plan and the two dispersed to their positions.