I already had a few plans forming in my head of which none would avoid the conflict my small unit was about to face. I felt this fear rise within me, what if I was not strong enough.

“Master,” I heard Arata’s voice through our connection, in a low growl, he was warning me, his blade sparked, crap he’d sensed my doubt.

“Alright,” I sighed. “Arata, Raziel you’ll have to take someone, I might need ariel back up and so will those who don’t have ranged attacks. I’ll let you pick.”

Arata appeared staring at me with disappointment, I’d made him angry again. He casually walked over to Ibiki; he’d chosen without responding to me. Raziel looked between them choosing to face this with Kiba.

I summoned Larana’s wings, my body faintly glowing, our sync rate was pretty high again. I held my hand up ready to signal our attack.

“At last, we are all gathered in honour of my master, ready for the fall of the Avem Empire which has labelled you all outcasts just because you want to have some fun.” The dark Avis rose his arms. “Join me in battle and claim the city for yourself.” He opened his wings and so did they, cheering.

I signalled forward and took off, flying above the enemy group, summoning the winds, and pushing it down with such force, most were pinned to the ground.

“Fang!” The dark Avis’s body glowed, ruffling his feathers, he flew directly at me, unaffected by the strong winds I had inflicted upon them. “You’re too late to stop me.”

“We’ll see about that,” I responded drawing Arata and Raziel’s swords as they came up beside me, Kiba and Ibiki upon their backs.

“You brought all your little friends, perfect,” he grinned. “Prepare to see them die.”

The whole flock of Cathartes came alive with activity, taking flight through the winds.

“Kiba, Ibiki, your main role is to give the others ariel support,” I ordered.

“What about you?” questioned Kiba.

“This is between me and the Avis,” I said. “Now go.”

They broke off as the flock circled around us, waiting for their orders like obedient servants.

“I will face Fang, kill everyone!” He raised his voice. They shrieked and swarmed down at my unit.

“They’re pretty tough, now let’s see what you’re made off.” My focus fell completely on him, my power sparking in anticipation.

“I won’t let you plague us any longer.” The dark Avis drew a curved sword, embedded in the hilt was more of those purple crystals. His aura grew just from holding it. “Time for me to have some fun.”

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The dark Avis made a move, thrusting his entire body forward. I parried hoping to disarm him but like most Avis’s talons grip, his hands were no different. He flew upwards over me.

I swung round on the spot catching his blade as he came down. I swung with Arata’s sword letting off a spark of lightning.

The dark Avis dove to avoid it, then came up from beneath me. I moved right, then swiped Raziel releasing a blaze of his fire, he flew full circle around me, avoiding the blaze but it did take out quite a few Cathartes.

I caught a glimpse of my unit, taking the Cathartes out with ease. Rex summoning earth from the ground, flinging it at the large flock, which were too dumb to separate and avoid.

Lin with her accuracy hit every one of her targets, exploding them to take out even more. Edge’s flames reached far, burning their feather to cinders, enhanced by Lin’s explosions.

Finn summoned his power, slowing down any of those who dove in too close, making them perfect targets.

Raziel and Arata being connected allowed easy co-ordination between Kiba and Ibiki. Together they herded the flock together again when they tried to pull away, my perfectly co-ordinated team. Now it was my turn to send this chump packing.

I ceased my fire and dashed towards him, he faced me. “Foolish move.” He thrusted his sword to greet me. I moved my body just enough to avoid getting slashed.

I brought Raziel forward, swinging, slicing up his chest within his open spot, using the wind I pushed myself up and over, slicing this time with Arata.

“Damn,” he cursed, instantly moving away.

“That won’t work.” I held my arms open, fusing Larana and Raziel’s power within a second. “Flame cutter.” I’d never fused air cutter before, but it felt right.

“I’m not that easy to defeat.” The dark Avis held out his hand, creating a barrier of pure energy. I watched as hundreds of blades bounced off his barrier. I couldn’t break through.

“Keep going master, more,” encouraged Larana.

“More.” I called forth Arata and Mila’s power. “Lightning blades. Flame cutter.” I released thousands of blades all aimed at the dark Avis.

I could sense the sparks of dark energy growing below, the air was becoming thicker with it. Did the stuff feed off conflict? Or was it all coming from this Avis?

“Alex.” I heard a familiar voice; one I had heard from within my dreams. “Alex!”

I felt a spark from deep within me and my remaining blades glowed with this white energy, so pure, just like the energy from the Goddess Plumes. I could feel it wanting to spread within me, but something was stopping it.

“What?!” cried the dark Avis as they began to slice straight through his barrier. “Impossible.”

I took a breath, drawing on this spark before it faded away again. “Air cutter!” They all appeared with this light, what was it?

Each one tore through his barrier like shattering a glass mirror, then began directly hitting him, moving too fast for even an Avis to avoid.

I stared at him as he took it all on and I was sure he’d taken it on purpose. With damaged wings, he fell to the earth, joining those he had summoned to be his army.

I landed by my unit, giving them my praise, this had felt a little too easy, but a mission well done, as I looked down on the dark Avis, no different from the clones, no match for me, especially alone.

A few straggling Cathartes simply landed amongst there defeated kin, knowing they were beat, even though still inflicted with dark energy, they realised there was no point in fighting back anymore.