Jane drew her long sword. Her back plate popped off and the tall and wide kite shield orbited her like a planet. The lights on Mei’s gauntlets flickered, and she extended her index and middle fingers.

The golden eyed woman flicked her wrists clockwise and slipped her fists through the two crystal circles she had written. The Candidates stared at the eight bracket spells in awe. The eight bright orbs glittered, and the holographic circuit boards lit up.

“Oh? Your magic has grown stronger. Ladies first.” Kagiso said playfully and he pulled back. “Ha! No guts, no glory!” Jane roared, and she charged ahead with a loud boom. Her red eyes flared and scaled claws pierced the clouds. Lightning bolts struck the webbed hands, and the giant shadow broke through the clouds. The Candidate’s eyes bulged when they saw the sea monster.

“Who would create such a thing?” one of them asked in awe, and the wrinkled-up face lowered its gaze. “A mermaid?” Mei exclaimed, and her heart sank into her stomach. “Not anymore.” Kagiso replied sadly and the withered giant opened its mouth. “Evasive manoeuvres.” the two-horned man instructed.

“Ha! You haven’t changed! Find its weak points. I’ll draw its attention.” Jane rumbled confidently and her voice emboldened the trailing Candidates. They stayed on course, while Mei and Kagiso banked to the left and the right respectively.

“Move, you fools!” the two-horned man shouted, and the sea monster inhaled sharply. It screamed and fired glittery rings at the Candidates. Jane flew right through the sonic rings. The violent sound waves rattled her armour, but they could not halt her charge.

The Candidates charged as well, and Mei looked back. They flew right through the rings and their armour crumbled. The Candidates screamed as their bones cracked and their bodies burst into clouds of red mist.

Jane reached the giant fish tailed sea monster’s air space. She gripped her sword tightly and swung horizontally. Her shoulder crashed into an invisible wall mid swing, and she vanished instantly. The two-horned woman retreated and appeared near Kagiso’s location.

“Are you happy now?” the two-horned man asked, and Jane giggled. “They were going to die, anyway. Sacrificing themselves to distract the sea monster, so that I can slay it, is an honourable way to spend your life.” She replied coldly and Kagiso’s eyes glowed.

“And you have not changed either. I told you before, seek glory and you will find death.” The two-horned man rumbled warily, and he placed his hands together. Kagiso pried his hands apart, and a bejeweled bone sceptre materialised.

“We need to overload its shields first. Giants aren’t as invulnerable as they seem.” Mei instructed, and Jane glanced at her. The golden eyed woman had appeared behind them, without her noticing. “Oh, imagine how much easier that would have been if they were still alive?” Kagiso asked sarcastically.

“Hmph. Fine. I will have my father retrieve their souls when we are done. But I won’t be held responsible for their mental states. I’ll leave that up to the support.” Jane replied and rested her sword on her shoulder. “I hate people who think death is inconsequential. Have you ever been revived?” Mei asked, and the two-horned woman laughed hysterically.

“When? During my trial or as a child? I misjudged you, Mei. Anyone who has returned from the abyss is a true Dragon. Anyone with that kind of spirit may share a bed with me.” Jane rumbled affectionately. “Perhaps I should lead the way and give you two some time alone.” Kagiso said, and he vanished. “No, that won’t be necessary.” Mei replied and the two-horned woman chuckled, before she vanished as well.

The two-horned man’s sceptre glittered, and he slowed down slightly. Mei and Jane caught up quickly. Their fists and sword sparkled as well, before they broke the sound barrier at the same time. The trio’s eyes flashed and flared. They timed their attacks perfectly and struck the invisible wall with all their might.

The sea monster braced itself and the tremor revealed invisible bubble for a moment. Kagiso, Jane and Mei swung again. They exhaled sharply on impact and glittery shockwaves shook the barrier. The ripples rolled through the bubble and collided. Cracks formed, and the trio battered the sea monster’s barrier. They vanished, reappeared and swung in unison.

“Get ready to target its vital organs. Jane may claim its head.” Kagiso instructed, and Mei’s eyes flashed. She memorised the sea monster’s biology and glanced at the two-horned man. “How-““-three two one go!” Kagiso counted quickly, before he charged.

Jane’s blade became red hot. The glittery water flowed down the sword and coated the blade in a thin membrane. She swung a few split seconds earlier and flung a crescent-shaped blade at the barrier. The Blade Wheel sped up and screeched like a circular saw, as it cut through the air.

Mei’s magical circles sparkled, and the nodes shone. She threw a right straight and a crystal fist struck the barrier. Her Mana flowed out of her cells on impact and the giant fist struck the barrier.

Kagiso swung his sceptre and a glittery sphere, the size of a stadium, ballooned on impact. He roared and the Mana field burst. The deafeningly loud impacts parted the clouds. The sea monster’s eyes bulged, and the force knocked it backwards. The two-hundred-metre-long giant scrambled to regain control. However, it was too late.

Kagiso, Mei and Jane pounced. They vanished, reached hypersonic speeds and appeared only for brief moments. Mei’s crystal fists punched glittery pillars of wind that drilled through the sea monster.

This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

Kagiso raised his sceptre and detonated the Mana bombs he had planted. The glittery spheres erupted, and the vibrations shattered the nano-spheres attached to the organelles in its cells.

The tiny snow globes burst, and the monster’s cells became unstable. Jane swung at the sea monster’s neck. She roared and her Mana ignited. A glittery arc of fire lit up the night sky and the sea monster’s head flew off its neck.

*

The wave of terror washed over the ship, and many of the Candidates clenched their fists in frustration. They looked up at the ceiling and wondered who would be mad enough to face such a foe. Duke and Raymond’s ghosts stood on the deck and watched carefully. Priya joined them, and Gloria followed shortly.

“Has the battle begun yet?” the golden eyed woman asked. “No, it has just begun.” Mdu replied. “Hmm? Your decision to descend. Was it because you knew your brother would succeed or is it in case he doesn’t? His decision to attack. Is it because he knew you would submerge or because you decided it?” Priya asked curiously and Gloria giggled.

“I would prefer to let my brother decide, if he wants to share what his eyes see.” Raymond replied and Priya let out a wheezy laugh. “My apologies for prying. My curiosity got the better of me.” The blue-eyed woman said, and she stared at the sky.

“Why did you ask though? Do you not have the same eyes?” Clyde asked, and Gloria giggled again. Priya folded her arms and tilted her head to the side. Clyde’s eyes flared. “Her movements are just like his. Do the blue eyes look into the past?” he wondered.

“My apologies, but I don’t think I want to answer that. I have the same eyes after all.” Priya replies and she unintentionally made Gloria and Kenpachi laugh. “An excellent answer.” Duke commented wih a nod and Raymond chuckled. “Agreed. You are a delight.” The golden eyed woman added.

“More secrets, riddles, mysteries and misinterpretations.” Regius muttered under his breath. “What are they doing?” Mdu asked, and his red eyes flared. “Were the soul catchers prepared?” Duke asked Raymond privately. “Yes. However, we weren’t outfitted with a Spawner.” The three-horned man replied, and his brother opened his eyes.

“Have they lost their minds?” Hugo asked, and Jabu laughed. “No, this is what happens when we keep secrets from our own people. This is the price we must pay for our selfishness. This is the ugly truth behind a world of magic.” Regius rumbled stoically and the eight Candidates, who had followed Kagiso, died instantly.

“Then let it be so.” Gloria replied coldly. “How many more need to die?” Regius shouted, and Duke closed his eyes. “The shadows have claimed their souls. They have returned home to the darkness honourably.” He said and the golden eyed woman nodded.

“Good. Then we will see them again.” Gloria added. Kenpachi and many others nodded proudly, and Clyde shook his head. “Home? See them again? Have you gone mad as well? They didn’t stand a chance. What honour is there in such a meaningless death?” he asked angrily.

“Clyde. You were sired, weren’t you? The Emerald Isles are a new territory if I am not mistaken.” Priya asked, and Clyde’s eyes flared. “Simmer down. I do not permit petty brawls on my ship.” Raymond said threateningly and his eyes glowed.

“Tell me something, Clyde of the Emerald Isles. Would you prefer to be granted power or to earn it? To have your status and standing lorded over you or to become a lord yourself.” Duke rumbled stoically and the one-horned man was left speechless.

“I see now. I will always be an outsider. No, not just me. We are just…different. Am I too human? Should I just throw everything that I am away? Look at them. Taller, bigger, smarter. They are highly decorated veterans well passed their awakenings. We are just children playing Dragon. We are at the starting line, while they are approaching Ascension. They will spread their wings and soar, while we are left to crawl through the mud. Is it wrong to ask for their help? Aren’t we supposed to help the weak? Is it wrong to be weak?” Clyde wondered as he looked around.

“You look troubled. Come with me. There is something I want you to see.” Kenpachi whispered before his ghost fell through the deck of the ship. Mdu glanced at his brothers as they dropped into the ship. He turned his attention back to Jane and her battle.

The Candidates watched over the battle enviously. The remaining trio brought down the sea monster’s shields. A barrage of faint explosions reached their ears and a fiery arc lit up the sky. The waves splashed over the taffrail and the terrifying presence disappeared. The ghosts clenched their fists in frustration. They descended with the ship and returned to their bodies.

*

“Wait! Don’t destroy its cells yet!” Mei screamed, and a chill ran down Kagiso’s spine. The golden eyed woman raced around the sea monster. She flew through it several times and returned with many tissue samples.

“Alright. You can dispose of the carcass now.” Mei said callously and the change in her demeanour surprised Jane. Kagiso raised his sceptre and his eyes glowed. “Wait! I need more samples.” The golden eyes woman said, and the two-horned man sighed.

“Hurry up. Some creatures don’t die gracefully.” Jane instructed warily and she scanned the lifeless giant. “That’s exactly what I am trying to figure out. I think this creature was born, not created. An immortal monster. Can you imagine that?” Mei asked gleefully, and Kagiso gripped his sceptre tightly.

“Are you certain?” the two-horned man asked, and Jane glanced at him. “Why-““-yes. He had parents…and siblings, possibly. They’re evolving.” Mei said in between breaths. The two-horned woman pointed her sword at the giant corpse and a burst of glittery fire erupted from the marble sized sparkly sphere at the tip of her sword. The hellishly hot flames incinerated the sea monster and the surrounding air.

“I guess these samples will have to do.” Mei muttered under her breath. Kagiso laughed, and Jane watched the giant burn. “So, there are more you say? Let’s hope we run into their nest along the way.” She said with a menacing glare.

“I hope not. It would be nice to see if they can live peacefully.” The golden eyed woman replied, and she flew back to the ship. “Why? Once a monster, always a monster. It cannot change what it is. The sickness is in its cells. Even the most well-intentioned ones will succumb to the corruption.” The two-horned woman said, and she sheath her sword.

“Then the same could be said of us. Our power lies in our cells. How do you know you aren’t being corrupted.” Mei asked, and Jane laughed. “Because of our spirits. The fact Mana, Chi, Chakra, Ki, Prana, Life Force exists proves that we are more than our bodies. That thing did not have a shred of a soul. It was just a husk. A biological machine that needed to be put down.” The two-horned woman answered.

“What if we gave it a soul? What if someone infused it with Mana and made the impossible possible?” Mei asked in disbelief. “A fool’s errand. Why give life to a stone? Don’t forget to send my copy of the report, when you are done with your inquiry. I like to read in the bath, and I always bathe after a battle.” Jane instructed seductively and the golden eyed woman rolled her eyes.