CHAPTER 88 – KALEIDOSCOPIC TEMPLE

KATE ZEPHYRUS

Hiraya's voice cut through the charged atmosphere, breaking the silence that lingered on the outskirts of the forest a few kilometers away from the main shrine.

"Everybody on board?" she asked aloud.

"We're all ready!" I hollered back, my right hand tightly gripping the Trailblazer Dragon's scales while my left held onto Mariko's hand. Atop the dragon's giant, wide nape, we felt the power beneath us as the creature crouched on all fours, poised like a sprinter ready to explode into action.

In the aftermath of the earlier chaos, the starless night had settled into an eerie calm. No more battles raged on, yet the havoc wrought by Hiraya and Lysander had put all dragonoids and onis on high alert.

"Due to the commotion Lysander and I caused, I believe the main forces of the Republic and the onis are concentrated around the bell tower. It's the source of power for all the dragonoids," Hiraya explained. "Kate, Mariko, do you still remember the plan we discussed earlier?"

"We got it," Mariko affirmed.

"It might not be my usual approach, but if it helps us defeat that old troublemaker, count me in," I declared, a determined smile spreading across my face.

"Very well, then!" Hiraya took her seat on the Trailblazer Dragon's forehead and pointed ahead. "Trailblaze Accel!"

Suddenly, the Trailblazer Dragon's wings ignited with a brilliant blue flame, functioning as boosters that propelled us forward while the massive creature remained grounded, racing on all fours at an astonishing speed. The once serene forest transformed into a chaotic scene as trees were trampled and set ablaze by the fiery streak left in the dragon's wake.

In a mere thirty seconds, we reached the town square. Oni guards stationed there gasped in awe and confusion as a colossal white dragon with piercing blue eyes tore through the houses like an unstoppable force.

"What the hell was that!?" one oni guard cried out.

"Was that a dragon?" another oni guard replied.

"Is that an enemy, or an ally?" the third oni guard asked, gripping his spear tightly.

"I don't know!" The uncertainty hung in the air as the oni guards tried to make sense of the sudden spectacle. "I heard that there was a white dragon running amok earlier near the bell tower!"

Hiraya, with her keen elven ears, caught wind of the oni guards' conversation. A sly smile graced her face. "Good, this semi-stealth operation is clear. Now pave the way to the main shrine!"

With a mighty roar, the Trailblazer Dragon surged forward, flapping its flaming wings to create a powerful shockwave. In just five seconds, we crashed near the main shrine's gates, leaving a sizable crater in our wake.

"That was quite a ride," I muttered, my forced smile belying the adrenaline coursing through me. I glanced at Mariko, who seemed to have her head still spinning.

"This is where we part ways, Kate and Mariko. We'll return to the battlefield to destroy the bell tower. You deal with Dennis," Hiraya announced with a wink.

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"Hup!" I hopped back to the ground, and then caught Mariko mid-jump thereafter. I saluted our elven captain with a grin. "Aye aye, Captain! Good hunting!"

"Good hunting to you too!" Hiraya waved goodbye and tapped the Trailblazer Dragon's forehead, signaling it to take flight.

The dragon flapped its wings, soaring into the dark skies. Now, only Mariko, myself, and the ominous figure of the death sage remained in the Main Shrine.

I took a deep breath and looked at Mariko. Gripping her hand tightly, we exchanged nods before rushing hand in hand towards the main temple of Onishira.

The temple, a colossal ten-story wooden structure in eastern architecture, adorned with demon masks on each floor, loomed ahead. The sinister atmosphere sent chills down my spine as we entered the demonic building. Yet, with Mariko by my side, I felt a surge of confidence, knowing that together, we could face anything.

As we stood before the door of the first floor, I locked eyes with Mariko. "Let's do this."

"Got it!" Mariko responded, clapping her hands together to channel her mana before placing both hands on the ground.

Suddenly, an orange magical circle enveloped the shrine, a manifestation of Mariko's mana that bathed the entire structure in a glowing radiance.

"Khhh!" Mariko grimaced in pain, beads of sweat forming on her temples.

"Mariko, don't force yourself!" I exclaimed, concern etched across my face.

"This... This is the least I could do to defeat him!" Mariko insisted through the pain. "I will definitely do my part! Alchemic Construction, change to glass!"

The orange magical circle intensified, casting a blinding light that turned the temple into a kaleidoscopic tower. In a matter of seconds, the wooden structure transformed into mirrors, creating a mesmerizing and reflective spectacle both inside and out. The temple, once dark and foreboding, now stood as a radiant beacon, its mirrored surfaces capturing and refracting the surrounding environment.

Mariko panted heavily, collapsing to the ground as beads of sweat adorned her temples. I gently tapped her shoulders, offering a reassuring smile.

"Good job, my love. Now, it's my turn to do my part. Please rest," I said, urging her to recover.

Turning towards the glass tower, I conjured a magical flame on my right hand, becoming the sole source of light in the transformed temple. With each step into the mirrored world, I steeled my resolve.

"Dennis! I know you're here! Show yourself!" I roared, my voice echoing within the reflective chamber.

A silhouette emerged at the far edge of the temple, crimson red eyes piercing through the darkness. Spotting him, I quickly hid behind a nearby pillar of mirrors, whispering to myself, "That was close."

"You... You're that red-haired idiot of a lesbian dragonoid," Dennis's voice echoed. "I thought I killed you. Did that bitch elf resurrect you with her Dragon Lord Commandment?"

"That's strike three now, you senile old man!" I roared defiantly. "You insulted me. You insulted Mariko. And you insulted my Captain. You will not get out of here alive!"

"Hahaha! I'm the one who should be saying that line," Dennis laughed menacingly.

As his footsteps drew nearer, signaling danger, I swiftly withdrew my sword and ignited it with flames. With a decisive throw, the sword collided with the mirrored ceiling, shattering it into a thousand pieces. Seizing the opportunity, I darted towards the next pillar of mirrors, preparing for my next move.

"I don't know what your plan is, but it doesn't matter. You know that you're dead the first time I see you, so you're planning for a sneak attack, aren't you?" Dennis taunted. "However, you just forgot that I am an ex-Erudite. I can still sense your mana even if I cannot see you."

Observing the moon through a window, I seized the perfect angle for the plan. Moving stealthily from pillar to pillar, I aligned myself between the moon and Dennis in a straight line, making myself vulnerable to his sight. To enhance the effect, I remotely turned off the magical flames on my sword. Now, the only source of light in the kaleidoscopic temple was the moon, casting a single silhouette in front of Dennis.

"You are dead, for good," Dennis declared, preparing to unleash his instant-kill magic.

Dennis, however, met his tragic end. Unaware of the peril that awaited him, he fixated on what he believed to be an adversary, only to discover too late that it was his own reflection within the mirrored pillar. The dimness within the temple obscured the distinction between reality and illusion, rendering the shadowy silhouette indistinguishable.

In a cruel twist of fate, his attempt to unleash an instant-kill magic spell backfired, and the haunting sound of his lifeless body colliding with the ground resonated through the kaleidoscopic chambers of the temple.