Chapter22 -The Battle-

I had always never been afraid, as a soldier–a general–fighting in the front lines every time there was a signal to fight. Countless nations were against us because of our military status and politics, many battles, many wars, lost or won. But the battles I fought were won under no condition, those hundreds and thousands of battles had a couple of surviving soldiers or mercenaries.

Word spread from those people, how they were defeated by an entity which people thought at the time were nearly jokes to enlighten them but they were wrong. Their nation’s monarchs wage war against that nation, that’s when they knew that the survivors weren’t lying.

The sole person that people feared the most was called by many names, Demon in a person's skin. A demon with a halo. The hell-angel and many more, but the one that stood out the most was, ‘The Angel sent from hell’…

***

Emotions flooded my understanding, my phase had unconsciously been activated, but that didn’t matter to me. What mattered was that innocent people were dying for something they can’t have and never will.

But that didn’t mean I could just watch as they were killed, knowing that I have the power to stop it but too scared of using it.

Eugene and the black-haired girl rushed in the moment they saw the demon raise its sword above its head, they were the opposite of me, they would throw their lives away and think of others safety unlike me.

‘Don’t hold back, Alter. I’m here to help you with it.’

What the-, Onyx it that you? Alarmed by the sudden voice in my head.

‘Yes it’s me, sorry if it’s an inconvenience for you. After all it’s your mind which I’m talking to.’

I smiled at the words of an old friend, “if what you said was true then teach me how to control this power.” I replied out loud, heading towards the middle of the battle where the boss resided.

Eugene Millguard

Holding my ground against the boss or arch-demon as Alter called it. If what Alter said was true then the stories I’ve been told were true, Arch-Demons were really looking for something. But thinking this won’t help me out much because I’m fighting for my life and thinking of why they are here won’t help either.

The winged demon raised his sword to the basilisk-looking girl. “You dare turn your attention to someone else while you fight me? The first-born child of the Millguard?” Furry took over my mind, the only thing was to kill him without mercy for showing such disrespect towards someone like me.

I ignited purple flames in my sword’s blade.

[Blade of Purgatory]

As the demon fully turned its attention to them, I dashed into its back and slashed part of its crimson wing. He roared in pain, turning his attention back to me along with angered eyes.

The mana around me had already been at my disposal, ready to be used as a weapon at any given moment. The demon had a skill that would be used during the celestial war, a spell that could gather the mana in the atmosphere and in its opponent, turning it into his own.

Filch, a powerful spell that turned the table against even gods. I felt as the concentration of my fire element began to weaken slowly, concerned that I would not be able to use mana in this battle against the arch-demon I rushed thinking that if I didn’t get an advantage I would have to make one.

Dodging its attacks with ease, becoming more aggressive in creating an advantage started to fight head on. I chanted in my head a fire spell that was enough to burn a building.

[Inferno’s Pillar]

The pillar of fire swirled fiercely like a fire whirl in a dry forest. The arch-demon struggled, trying to find a way out. Or at least that’s what it made us think it did as its sword striked down causing my body to infuse itself with mana as I blocked it with my sword.

He’s getting stronger!? Being unable to derail its attack, my only option was to wait for the basilisk-like girl to help me. From the side of my eye I could see how she struggled to get the tribe dragons out of here.

Could this be the end of me? I thought as I felt overwhelmed by the demon's power, my mana was almost gone. The heavy-like train of a sword felt lighter, confusion raised in me as I watched the drenched in fear demon retract his blade from mine and slowly back away.

His eyes widened as he stared behind me, sweat dripped from him, something I thought he wasn’t able to do. Soon later mana began to come to me, I was once again able to use it.

A smile slowly made its way into my face, “It’s time to end th-.”

Wh-what is this feeling? Why is the mana shaking? Why am I shaking? The feeling of death was set into the air, the sensation of a grim reaper holding his scythe on my neck threatening to kill me.

From the corner of my eye I could see that I wasn’t the only one who felt this way, the black-haired girl did too along with the survivors of the dragon tribe. Some were not strong enough that they fell unconscious or were not able to move.

It was a sickening experience for them and even me to undergo, after all this was the first time I felt this way. I had always thought that there was no one who could pose a threat to me, being so talented that even among the talented I was considered a prodigy.

Was the years of not being challenged by anyone made my mind and ego fly above the clouds? Or was it the confidence and determination that led me to identify this particular devotion?

Whatever the answer was to my question I doubt that it matters to the person who possesses such powerful magical abilities. It’s possible that even in this person’s eyes I was considered an ant not worthy of attention.

Barely able to hang on I activated my core phase making the sounds of footsteps clearer, breathing became easier for me and the other ones in the room—aside from the arch-demon—he still had difficulty breathing.

The demon took steps back as the pressure from behind me got closer and closer, that’s when the source of unfamiliar mana was revealed to be the one who was familiar.

Stolen story; please report.

I thought that it was going to take him years to control Onyx’s ability and power, but for him to have such a percentage of control without any anomaly was mind blowing. A smirk merged into me, he truly is capable of holding the title of prince of Ezar, of a Millguard.

Opening his hand, the black sword came in response. It showed one ancient text that I haven’t seen in any book in history.

The scared demon took courage and decided to take action against Alter, only to find out that his attacks didn’t connect. Frustration grew on his face that he decided to use his ability to steal mana.

The mana quickly went to his chest where his core was, collecting every single mana particle that resided in the atmosphere and in Alter.

It was a futile effort, because Alter’s mana seemed endless, there wasn’t a cap on his ability to harness power. It almost seemed like an infinite mana source. Even though Alter was not looking at me I could feel his cold gaze that looked at the winged-demon, sending an icy shiver down my spine.

Not a single word was said, though motion did occur. The white-haired teenager gripped his black sword to his side, I studied his next move but there wasn’t one. His dominant hand only moved a few centimeters at most, before the fingers of the demon fell along with his sword.

Incapable of understanding what just had happened, the arch-demon let out a cry of pain, gripping his wounded hand. His jagged teeth were revealed as he gritted them, drops of blood slipped out his mouth.

But Alter stayed unfazed to its scene, no emotion was being shown. Is this truly Alter? If so, why can he act without any emotion? The more I put my mind into it the more clearer the connection became, a connection I denied before it even came to mind. The thought that maybe just maybe it was Onyx’s doing. He was probably the one taking over Alters’ mind and body.

I once again activated my core phase, ending this debate in my mind, ending the doubts that came through the door. Seeing the aura around people was always my specialty, telling the difference between people when they were spies or disguising as someone.

I was shaken from what I just saw. It had to be impossible…How can Alter use…Both?

The aura that surrounded Alter when he came to Ezar was blue, but now it’s no longer that color, the aura enveloping him was purple.

H-How was that possible? No one in history, no one in the eleven races could’ve done that… no one but the primordials. Beings powerful enough to destroy dimension itself no, the universes if possible. They are even considered gods among the higher races.

Suddenly, Alter began to take a step then another one until he reached the scared and vengeful demon. Earthen restraints raised from the ground immobilizing the demon from any movement. The demon did everything in its power to get the shackles off of him, but they were futile.

Even with his Filch ability he couldn’t do anything but make it worse. The aura around the shackles burned with potent power, something that even a Marshal would do without breaking a sweat.

As I stood to my feet, auras came into my range, familiar ones. I turned to where we had entered looking at the silhouettes being revealed from the dark path. “Eugene,” said a female voice. I had forgotten about them, more like I had forgotten how they came with us from the beginning.

The old dragon dash next to me, studying my ragged adventurer clothes and scratches. But he fastly turned to where the demon was, he furrowed his eyes before saying, “A demon and a… Alter?” Chuzeoth’s voice hinted at confusion and surprise, I wouldn’t believe it either but since I already had confirmed it I could no longer be astonished by it or was I?

“Why is his power…why are his aura and atmosphere completely different. What is going on?” Pearl let out, “His power feels as if he was a Marshal.”

I turned to both dragons before talking, “I know that it was too sudden for Alter to use this power. If I had to say, it's too early. Many things will come in time but to him it's as if he could get it whenever he wants.”

The three of us stayed silent for a couple of seconds that passed very slowly. During those silent seconds I started to think that it was very odd that Alter was getting a hold of his power, he was getting powerful and fast. It could be possible that when we get to Inox he would already be able to forge a mana core, I thought.

The silent cave had soon been interrupted by footsteps that felt like they were weighted with gravity, Chuzeoth was quick to react, dashing to the footsteps. But he stopped before getting five feet between it. Then a light voice echoed throughout the path, a very tired and light voice.

“I assume that if I had my phase still activated you would have shown me no mercy.”

The old prideful dragon bowed deeply like he was apologizing, “I’m sorry young master but it's true what you said, if you still had your phase activated I would’ve gone all out.” I have known Chuzeoth for a very long time, since I was born and he has never said that to me, even as a joke. The curly-haired sibling chuckled while holding his hand up, motioning to Chuzeoth to stop bowing.

“Don’t worry it wasn’t my intention to alert the three of you, but I have important information that I have to say.” He said, stretching his arms and back like it was a warm up he just had. “But before that, you know that I can sense you right? Don’t worry I–at least–won’t try to hurt you.” Alter stated, looking to the far exit of the cave.

A girl no older than me came out behind the shadowy boulder, her red horns brightening up when the light hit them. Pearl got in front of Alter while Chuzeoth got in front of me, “Stop! She isn't going to hurt us!” But both ignored my plea.

“Stop.”

Mana riled up to my side, almost like it was being called. I turned to my right, only to find that an image of Alter was left behind just to appear in front of us. Facing the opposite side of us he showed unwavering confidence, “Stop, she isn’t going to hurt us so let us take her to the Inn and then we continue our conversation that we left on.” The aura he had built was gone in a second, a deep breath left his mouth before his balance fell.

I dashed, using up all the mana I had in my core. Making it just in time prior to him not falling, hitting the cold and dusty ground. I grabbed his left arm and placed it over my neck giving him support to walk, the fight had wasted him, it would have been dangerous to let him fight longer. “Sorry for the bother Eugene,” Alter apologized, still getting a stiff laugh.

I dismissed his apology by shaking my head left and right, telling him that this is what siblings do when they need help. Of course after Pearl saw that she had gotten jealous and offered to help me and I refused. The princess got irritated that she forcefully grabbed Alter’s right arm and placed it over her neck, a grin of victory was what she showed upon such achievement.

Laughs popped here and there, hell even Chuzeoth and the basilisk-girl laughed too. If I could stop time just to spend it with the people dear to me and make memorable times, happy memories as family.

***

We were a few steps away from the entrance of the dungeon, the closer we got the louder the voice from outside became. The bright ray of sunlight stunned my eyes instantly covering them both. When I fully opened my eyes, tents along with people were all over the place, they were treating the people from the injuries that had gotten from the dungeon event.

Taking a couple of steps from the entrance, everyone's attention shifted to us, stares filled with uneasiness. However, it was soon interrupted by the healers coming our way. I had forgotten that we too had injured people, we all agreed to meet up in Alter’s treating tent when we got help.

While I was getting healed, Chuzeoth and Pearl entered. Noticing this, the healer left without a word. Both had faces that they wanted to talk about something, something serious. Taking a seat in front of me, Pearl gazed at me with eyes to explain what happened in the battle. On the other hand, General Chuzeoth, stood quietly and listened.

I explained with great detail what I had witnessed from the basilisk-girl to Alter getting a different aura and suddenly overpowering the arch-demon. The princess would ask questions prior to thinking to herself in silence before letting me talk again.

The explanation took longer than expected, for all that we realized that we were talking for hours non stop. As I tried to remember what had happened hours before, the pale hand of Pearl stopped me. “We should stop here Eugene, by this time Alter should have woken up.” Her blue eyes seemed that she couldn’t take any more words of the event, so I nodded and stepped out with them to Alter’s tent.

Then again, silence followed us as we walked side by side.