While Link searched for the dark crystals that were feeding the dark Avis and energy filling the area around us, I continued to fight against them, releasing even more of my power in an attempt to keep the numbers from becoming overwhelming.

The area filled with tornados imbued with each of the elements I control, the temperature rose as I unleashed more the newly acquired use of Raziel’s power, a single moment I wondered if I would loss control, but the energy flowed so effortlessly around me, guided by Raziel himself.

To my surprise Dash had asked Arata if he would aim his lightning at him. I was hesitant to allow that to happen, but Arata was more than happy to; that did not surprise me in the least.

Dash was hit by the first lightning bolt, using it to super charge his own, I did not think he would be able to handle it, but he was often full of surprises. With the extra power of lightning, he redirected it along the ground, and spreading out my light through his use of lightning. It worked out really well, giving him the tools he needed to inflict damage.

All Zack could do was lead them into the traps of my power, circling round my tornados, even jumping within knowing that as I wished him no harm, then my power would not harm him in anyway. The abilities of the talismans were still amazing to think about, even after using them for so many years.

The numbers decreased a little but were still way too many to be able to handle without incident, and there was only so much power I wielded, this could not go on forever.

“Should we retreat?” asked Zack making it over to me.

“We can’t leave Tigra and Link behind, his barrier is almost at breaking point,” I replied.

“Well so are all of us,” said Zack, taking hold of a water bubble to heal a wound on his shoulder. “You cannot keep protecting all of us forever,” commented Zack.

“Just give it a little longer,” I said. “Trust me.”

“I do,” he nodded. “But first can I have more fire tornados over there.” He pointed to a large group of dark Avis, who seemed to be planning something.”

“Sure.” I lifted my hand summoning them around him. “Larana will guide them to wherever you want them.”

“Great.” Zack headed back off, my tornados following after.

“Spreading yourself too thin master,” said Larana, our armour fluctuating.

“I know, but just a little longer,” I said pushing forward.

It felt like this battle had been going on for hours, the warped energy of this forgotten palace seemed to disrupt even the flow of time, it might have been minutes, hours or days; I could no longer tell.

“Fang.” I heard Link. “In the ground. They are in the ground!”

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I looked at my feet, surely not. I leaned over, digging the ground with my claws, without even ordering them to do so Raziel and Arata had come over to cover my back, keeping the dark Avis around away from me.

Not that deep under the soil there was a dark crystal, spreading wider, there was a mass of them, millions of little ones making a huge network of dark energy. I placed my hand upon them, sensing how far this network of dark crystals went.

I could sense each individual little crystal shared its energy with all the others, feeding on the fighting above. This vast connection spread throughout the gardens where we were, this had definitely been set up, considering the dark crystals were still small it had not been long since they had been planted.

It also meant that the whole floating island was not made of these dark crystals, but there was a possibility that they could have been planted in other areas. Vali was trying to ware us down before we had even gotten to him, but this would not slow us down.

There was only one thing that I could do to end this conflict and that was to purify all the dark crystals beneath our feet. They were a lot smaller than the ones I’d had to deal with within Link’s village so wouldn’t be that much of problem but there were just so many of them and without Link’s help I alone would have to do it.

I glanced back at Raziel and Arata both unleashing an energy blast at the groups of dark Avis, now was the time to do it, while they kept them at bay.

I gripped tightly to the lion swords, digging their blades into the ground, reaching deep inside, using them as a conduit for my light power, the power of the goddess I held within me would wipe out all the dark crystals, once that was done, we could use this place as a safe zone to recover our lost strength.

I focused on the energy within me, allowing it to grow. I could feel the light energy Larana, Mila, Raziel and Arata possessed also feeding mine, I could always count on them.

The energy built-up and then I unleashed it. The energy folding down the swords in waves, spreading out across the earth, inflicting all the dark crystals that rested within it.

One by one they were purified, the light sparkled off the ground like rising stars, reaching out, touching the dark Avis even purifying them as they slowly faded away. As they did, I felt an emotion of relief as if we had set free the souls trapped in never ending battle.

The darkness that once inflicted this area was disappearing now, the air filled with sparks of light ascending upwards. It was a beautiful sight, watching as the conflicted endangering my friends vanished.

Dash and Zack slumped on the floor, exhausted from the fight, having been able to attack head on and spending most of their time running about had been more exhausting on the body. Link dropped the barrier that had been protecting him and Tigra, he mumbled under his breath and laid down on the ground, he did not look good, all this dark energy seemed to be affecting him poorly, but at least now even he would get a rest.

Tigra came running over to me as I continued my work, my light reaching the last corners of the gardens, even the dead trees seemed to gleam with a long-forgotten light; there was still a dull life here, perhaps it would once again rejoin and be remembered by its people.

“Good job as always,” she smiled. “Pushed them a little too hard this time.”

“All in a day’s work,” I grinned, feeling the strain within my body growing, having used high level techniques and then purifying the space was far more than I could take, it had been a lot harder than I thought to cleanse it off the dark crystals, if they had been any bigger, there would have been no chance I would have cleared it all away.

“They are all gone master,” said Raziel.

My fused armour vanished, and I stumbled forward, resting between my swords.

“Alex.” Tigra knelt beside me.

“I’m okay.” I waved my hand, wanting to get up but passed out instead.