Dash and Zack got straight to work gathering the attention of the dark Avis attacking Link’s weakened barrier. Dash ran in between each one, using his small sword to inflict damage to any he passed. Zack was roughly doing the same, but in his own way, jumping from one shadow to another, neither of them exerting much energy, saving for the later challenges we may face.

The lion swords glowed with light energy, as I took a step forward, aiming for the closest enemy. None of them saw me coming too distracted by Dash and Link to give me any trouble.

I sliced one down the back, then moved on to the next, twisting right I released a wave of fire from Raziel and lightning from Arata wiping out small groups. I lifted my arms beside me, Raziel and Arata jumping forth taking the enemy out personally.

Around us, the dark energy remained unfaltering as it formed into more Avis warriors to replace the ones I had already destroyed. I did not let that stop me from continue to rip through their ranks, if I could disperse enough of this darn energy they would stop manifesting, well that was my theory.

I summoned forth three small tornados surrounded in light, spreading them across the place, in the direction of Zack and Dash, allowing them to take the strain off the build-up of Avis warriors around them.

As I moved around the space, circling around Link’s barrier, summoning my power, attacking without hesitation. “Air cutter!” I shouted, summoning forth hundreds of wind blades, frustratingly it took more than one to take out each enemy and the empty spaces were quickly filled with more dark Avis, some manifesting right after they were destroyed, what was going on?

I twisted right letting out a roar with Raziel, a wave of fire spreading across their ranks, then I twisted left, this time roaring with Arata with a roar of lightning, which spread from one to the next, each dealt heavy damage to their numbers, but I could not stop yet.

It gave Dash and Zack enough to regroup themselves, before continuing to aggravate the next load of dark Avis.

Dash took a hit to his right arm, Zack his leg, but I couldn’t get to them right now. I quickly came up with a solution as being injured slowed them down, making them take another hit.

“Mila, this one is up to you,” I said summoning water bubbles which spread across the area. Mila would change the property of the water bubble depending on who it hit, if it came into contact with Link or Dash, it would heal them, but if it hit an enemy, it would explode causing heavy damage.

“I have it under control master,” responded Mila. First time using this technique in this way, so I had Mila control all she needed through me while I kept up my attacks.

I jumped high into the air, spreading out my winds along the ground, unbalancing those around me as the newer dark Avis manifested where growing less interested in Dash and Zack, almost like they had more than the basic instincts to attack.

Suspended there for a moment I saw the true extend of the battle field, the bigger picture around me, sure I had the attention of most of the enemy forces but there were still those amongst their ranks who were still attacking Link’s barrier; he seemed to be holding up a lot better since we’d lessened the pressure but in his weakened state there was only a matter of time before it would fall apart, leaving him and Tigra open to the pending onslaught.

Dash and Zack were handling themselves fine, quickly executing moves to keep the enemy busy and had quickly grasped the use of Mila’s bubbles, even tricking them into bumping into them and healing themselves when they felt they needed to.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

I would have said everything was going smoothly but it was not, sure we had everything under control, but for how long, with the numbers of our enemies not lessening, in fact it looked like they had increased since our battle began. The dark energy growing fiercer and wilder, flowing around the area like a thick cloud blowing in the wind, it fed the dark Avis, summoning more faster than I had created them, but I wasn’t even sure where all this new energy was coming from.

I shook my head. When I took the first lot out the darkness lessened what was different about this area, was Link’s weakness a sign of something else present.

“Think outside the box.” I heard Fang, even here he wanted to give me his guidance. “Use your knowledge and experience from previous battles, it will tell you the cause.”

“You usually tell me,” I responded, sending out another flurry of air cutter.

“Well, you’ve faced much now. I want you to figure it out, just know it relates to Link and a fight against Cutter.”

I smirked he might as well have just come out and said it. The one thing both Link and Cutter had in common was dark crystal.

“Dark crystals.” That made sense considering they could feed off dark energy and even make it stronger, it was what was feeding them, perhaps there had been no dark crystals in the areas we had come from, but I found it odd that the winds around here had put Tigra and Link in this exact spot, this was all set up.

The only problem was I would need time to locate the dark crystals, of which I did not have considering I needed to keep up the attacks against this growing army. I moved to the right slightly as an arrow flew past, and staying up here was no option with the archers about.

I glanced down at Link, he was the only one I could trust with this task, if he could sense the dark crystals, he was walking one so made sense.

I dived down, smashing amongst the enemy sending out powerful wind shockwaves, two of them each imbued with the lion’s elements, the first fire and then the second lightning, it left me with an opening straight to Link, perfect.

I rushed over, this was also my chance to get a good look at Link’s condition. He was sat there on the ground, focusing his energy on keeping his barrier strong.

“Fang,” called Tigra as she came closer. “Let me help.”

“You can’t not while in there,” I responded. “We got this.” I quickly turned to Link, realising he had his hand grasped around his pendent. “Link.”

“Yes.” He looked at me, his eyes held less of a spark than they usually did, his power was fading fast. I shook my head, and he slowly removed his hand. I understood why he wanted to unleash his power, but he mustn’t.

“There are dark crystals in the area, I need you to find them for me. I can’t while keeping the enemy numbers down,” I informed.

“I understand,” he nodded. “Leave it to me.” He closed his eyes, using more of his power to reach out across the space. “I will find them.”

Tigra flinched as two dark Avis came from behind. I avoided them with no effort, saw it coming anyway.

Trusting Link I turned my attention back to the challenge ahead. “In the meantime, there are way too many dark Avis.” I mumbled to myself, building up Larana’s power within me, splitting it into four I summoned forth four tornados, each displaying the power I held, imbuing each one with the elements I control, of fire, water and lightning.

I unleashed my power onto the enemy, the force of the suction created by each one was enough to pull you in or rip you to shreds, each method was good enough for me as I saw groups of fives sucked up at a time.

The temperature rose, unleashing Raziel’s heat, more bubbles filled the air, far larger than the first ones I had summoned, clapping thunder overhead, concentration of clouds above striking lightning all around. I felt some discomfort as I released all that power, but the numbers of dark Avis were increasing with every second and if not controlled I would lose control of this battle, to be able to keep everyone safe, preventing them falling to the darkness, watching them slowly succumb to corruption like those within the city, that was not going to happen.

“Push a little more!” I ordered. The situation looked dire but none of them were willing to give up, they had faith in me, just as I had faith in Link to be able to bring this to an end.