A moment before…

“Hrrrrrgh…!!! AAAAAAAAAARGH!!!”

“I know it hurts, Zaron…! You just need to bear with it for a little longer! You’re doing amazing so far!”

“I-it's not the pain that’s the problem, Lucas! It’s the DAMN ITCHING!!!”

Squirming on the ash-filled ground, Zaron was bellowing out in unbearable agony. He felt the elixir work its way through his wounds relentlessly, listening to Lucas’ voice from the earpiece to reassure him and calm his mind through the self-inflicted torment. With one arm covering his gashed torso whilst the other clawing ahead to find a suitable hold, the young Draiken desired nothing more than the insufferable turmoil to end. During that time, he struggled to watch the battle unfold ahead of him, cursing at himself internally for his current predicament. He noticed Veena and Mantis co-operating to overcome the crystal-goliath, causing him to feel conflicted and highly anxious. All he could imagine was Mantis stabbing Veena in the back at any point of the conflict.

“I’m … I’m not – Hgrrrh-?! – going to m-make it in time at this rate!” He yelled out desperately, his tone weak and stuttering with every jolt of agony erupting through his wounds.

“Trust in Veena.” Lucas then reassured him soothingly, understanding the dilemma yet firm on his stance of the situation. “She can handle it for now.”

Zaron then bit the inside of his lip, his breath trembling as his mind filled with dread.

“I'm ... such an idiot. If I – Grrrgh...! – If I just listened to Veena, we wouldn’t be in this ... damn mess!”

There was a small pause from the earpiece, causing Zaron to grow wary of the cave’s reception.

“...You're alive. That’s all that matters right now.” Lucas sighed out, reinforcing his positivity. “Take it from me: you can learn and build from the experience. We all face that same dilemma from time-to-time.”

Through his yelps and yells, a defeated chuckle could be heard escaping Zaron's mouth.

“Yeah, but ... how could I call myself – Nngh! – a Champion if I k-keep falling short like this.” He grumbled back with a wince of agony, his grimacing expression trembling in self-defeat. “Heh...! I could ... just imagine the disappointment on everyone’s faces: My dad's ... my mum’s ... my brother ... you guys...! I wouldn’t be surprised if Veena’s hates me for becoming a constant burden.”

There was another pause from the earpiece, Lucas struggling to find a way to lift the young Draiken’s spirits. However, after a minute of silence, Zaron heard a separate yet familiar voice.

“...Hey Zaron.”

“T-Tobi...!”

Zaron sparked up in surprise, realising he had not heard his friend’s voice for far too long.

“How’re you holding up, buddy...?” Tobi then asked warily through the earpiece, acting as though he was choosing his words.

“You ... you know me by now. Aches and pains – Nngh-! – and ... all that.” Zaron responded in a forced casual tone, attempting to lessen the severity of his predicament. “You know ... the usual, I guess.”

“Heh ... heheheh...!”

There were small crackles of laughter on the opposite end, breaking up into brief static as the earpiece struggled to hold communication. And then, upon his return to the speaker, Tobi’s tone grew more sincere.

“Listen, mate. If it wasn’t for you and Veena dropping into our lives, we'd be left aimless and bored out of our minds...”

A second – almost inaudible – voice was then heard from the far-off distance of the speaker.

“...Speak for yourself...”

Zaron recognised Marc's mumbling voice in the distance, snickering weakly at the typical snarky comment. Whether he meant it or not was yet to be determined.

Tobi then continued, speaking from opinion.

“These past few weeks have been the best I've ever had. There hasn’t been a day I’ve regretted. And this journey ... well, with you two by our side, this is a journey that I wouldn’t want to see the end of anytime soon.”

Zaron chuckled lightly.

“True...! Ending it prematurely w-would be ... a waste.”

However, what followed caught Zaron completely by surprise.

“Cool...! So, DON'T YOU GO THINKING THAT WE'RE DISSAPOINTED IN YOU WHEN YOU KNOW THAT’S FAR FROM THE TRUTH!!!”

“Urk-?!”

The abrupt yell in his ear almost caused Zaron to lose his hearing, lurching unexpectedly in fright.

“The last thing I need is my ‘badass' best friend doubting his own abilities...” Tobi continued to rant, sighing in frustration. “So, chin up and finish the damn job, man! I'll be rooting for you to eternity and back, guaranteed!”

Even though he was in constant turmoil, an appreciative smile was etched across his face.

“I'll do you proud ... Tobi.” He wheezed.

“Good ... because I don't call you my ‘best-mate' for nothing.” Tobi concluded in satisfaction, feeling he had spoken enough.

With a firm expression, Zaron glanced ahead to observe the battlefield. He noticed the Guardian airborne, it’d sharp claws out and gaze piercing at the two female opponents. There was a distinct aura surrounding the beast, emulating a desire to cleave its enemies without remorse. Veena and Mantis held strong, both prepared to retaliate regardless of their clear frustration and looming dread.

(Come on, body! Work with me here...!)

Zaron was yelling at himself internally, enduring the constant surge of seething pain and desire to scratch at his wounds. He planned to budge forward only to be halted by an unexpected voice from the earpiece.

“...Zaron?”

“Marc?”

Zaron expected the other Cobalt brother prioritize his solitude yet hearing his monotone voice was a pleasant surprise for the young Draiken.

“...-orry...”

Zaron fiddled with the earpiece reactively, cursing the finicky reception.

“Could you ... repeat that, Marc? The reception played up.” He requested, pressing the speaker against his earhole.

“...Nevermind. It’s nothing.” Marc then waved off with a quiet sigh. “Are there any weaknesses – or habits – that you can exploit?”

“Yeah ... I've got a pretty good idea how we could overwhelm it.” Zaron admitted in confidence, proceeding to explain his thoughts. “From what I've seen, this beast can only concentrate on one opponent at a time. And, when it’s controlling the magma, it’s ... vulnerable to our attacks.”

“Right ... that's understandable.” Marc murmured in thought, considering the options.

“But it’s also ... very aware when we're close to it.” Zaron continued in admittance, his voice growing stronger as he spoke. “It’ll likely retaliate whenever one of us attacks the beast, regardless of how focused it is on controlling the magma. So...”

“...You all attack in unison.”

Marc finished Zaron’s sentence for him.

“Catch it off-guard at every opportunity...”

Zaron smirked briefly as he found himself on the same page.

“Yeah ... that.”

“Sounds like a viable plan.” Marc admitted slyly.

“Well, easier said than done...” Zaron retorted warily, remembering the result of his earlier bout with the Guardian. “We'll even need to pair with-!”

However, Zaron stopped short in his response as he witnessed the abrupt events unfold before him.

“What’s wrong?” Marc questioned through the earpiece immediately, a hint of concern in his tone.

“Mantis just got struck down.” Zaron answered anxiously, grinding his teeth as he forced his body to stand.

“Wait...! Isn’t that a good thing?!” Tobi butted in abruptly, overhearing their conversation.

“...Not when Veena’s about to take the next hit!” Zaron then yelled out, scrambling to his feet in haste whilst ignoring the lingering pain in his sealed-up wounds.

Scrape-! DASH!

Kicking his staggering feet into action, the Draiken raced to his Artoria blade and released it from the molten ground.

Fwip!

Hoisting the blade over his shoulder, Zaron sprinted towards Veena’s location in desperate haste.

***

Zaron stood before the relieved Veena, expressing a prideful stance as he appeared rejuvenated from the effects of the elixir – which was ‘mostly’ true. Whilst he would never admit to it, he was still suffering for the pain and itch. His scars continued to surge in sync to every heartbeat, reminding him of his prior faults. However, his priority was on Veena’s safety and the conclusion to the conflict.

Just then, Veena stepped up closer to Zaron, eyes set on him directly.

...Whack!

“Oof-!”

Zaron lurched in abrupt surprise, taken aback by her punch to the abdomen – striking his abdominal scar without mercy.

“What was that for?!”

“You made me regret, you asshole!” Veena yelled back at him in distraught, tears welling up in her eyes.

Zaron stared at her with a blank expression, his thoughts processing her words.

Tick...! tick...! tick...! DING!

“Oh, right...! I deserved that.”

Zaron realised his mistake nonchalantly, remembering her warning before his near-death incident.

“Too right you did!” Veena responded furiously, glaring at him before dropping her shoulders in defeat. “You're hopeless sometimes, you know that?”

“Sorry...” Zaron then whimpered apologetically, feeling an overwhelming sense of guilt. “I'll be more considerate next time, I promise.”

“Yeah ... sure...”

After letting out a bothersome huff, Veena glanced over her shoulder, observing the downed crystal-goliath with absolute caution.

“It's waiting for us to make the move.” Zaron informed her, echoing her thoughts. “It'll attack us if we pursue.”

“But ... if we don't do something soon, it’ll regenerate again.” She responded restlessly, her weapon hand fidgeting.

“Hrrrrrgh ... hrrrrgh...!”

The two Draiken heard the low, beastly grumble echo around them, expecting the lost crystallized limbs to regrow at any moment.

“What do you suppose we do?” Veena questioned Zaron, feeling he had a specific plan in mind.

“Similar to our earlier plan: strike at unison, overwhelm it, and slice every limb off before separating the Dragon’s Eye.” Zaron answered her confidently. “Except, this time ... we do it all before it hits the floor.”

Veena responded with a wary nod.

“Right ... and do you think we'll be able to overwhelm it with just the two of us?” Zaron shrugged at the question.

“Two, maybe...”

He then switched his attention to the blackened ground nearby, his expression dampened at the sight.

“But three ... could give us the edge to finish the job.”

Veena followed his gaze, her eyes widened as she witnessed the additional person.

The Draiken duo watched as the Crimson Mantis struggled to her feet, supporting her severely damaged, limped arm with the other. The arm-blade that took the brunt of the Guardian’s strike was non-existent, leaving at deep, bloodied gash in the assassin’s arm as a result – rendering her entire arm useless. Mantis then lifted her helmet, glaring at the two in eerie silence. Zaron glared back at her with immense scorn, bitter yet accepting of the circumstances of their situation.

“What do you think?” Zaron questioned the assassin in a forced tone, a revolting expression etched across his face at the audacity of requesting her assistance. “Are you up for a temporary truce?”

At first, Mantis stood frozen like a statue, her reaction unreadable as she stared at him blankly.

However, she then yielded, nodding back reluctantly.

“Rrrrgh...! GRRRRRAAAAAGH!!!”

Rip...!

The three then switched in unison, their gazes gazing at the target blankly as it had rejuvenated its body and limbs entirely – with the addition of two new wings to complete a set of four. Both Veena and Mantis then switched back and stared at Zaron condescendingly.

“Don’t look at me like that!” Zaron retaliated consciously, feeling cornered by their belittling judgement. “Trust me, this will work!”

The crystal Guardian lifted to its feet gradually, snarling as it twisted to face its opponents. Its piercing red pupils flared intensely as its fury rose to heights beyond the trio’s comprehension. Its rock-like muscles were pulsing, fuelled to maximum power through the Dragon’s Eye implanted in its bulked chest. The trio took their battle-stances as they prepared their final assault: Zaron holding his Artoria blade close in front of him – his expression tense as he anticipated the end to their ordeal; Veena pointing her Kurama blade at the beast with a lowered stance – ready to pounce at her colossal opponent; and, with her damaged arm hanging limp, Mantis powered her suit to full capacity whilst her remaining arm-blade was set to strike. All combatants froze in place, waiting for another to strike first.

“Mantis will focus on damaging the joints with her kicks.” Zaron explained clearly, assuring they were aware of their roles. “Veena: you and I will follow her lead and dismember the beast.”

“What if it’s body stronger than before? Kurama already had difficulty cutting through it the last time.” Veena muttered in concern, careful not to lose her concentration.

“That’s fine. All that matters is we damage it as much as possible.” Zaron shrugged in response, refusing to divert his attention. “If you miss or your blade bounces off, I’ll correct it.”

He then paused, struggling to speak the next words yet breaking with a low smirk.

“It'll be tricky, though ... seeing as I'll be preoccupied on acting as the bait.”

Veena switched to him in sudden alert.

“Wait! You never said-!”

Flap flap...! VROOSH!!!

Before Veena could express her sudden concern, the Guardian launched forward at the trio with claws, fangs, and talons all prepared to execute a bloodbath. With no time to hesitate, Mantis and Veena leapt to the side in automatic retaliation, avoiding certain death. However, Zaron refused to evade, gripping his blade in a tense, guarding stance.

Slice-! CLANG! Skiiiid...!!!

“NGH-! Grrgh!”

In mere seconds, the crystal-goliath clashed with Zaron, swiping and jabbing relentlessly as it forced his feet to slide back.

Swipe-swipe-swipe-swipe-swoosh...! CLANK!

With two sets of claws hooked onto the blade whilst the other two lunged at him through the gaps between the weapon, Zaron had no choice but to evade every attack. His feet continued to skid across the ash-filled ground, resisting the opposing force regardless of the power struggle. And yet, through all the intensity, he was grinning menacingly at the horrific beast.

“ZARON!!!”

Veena screamed out at the top of her lungs, rushing to his aid upon recovery.

Swipe-! CLANK-! SWOOSH...!

Finally, as the skidding halted, both Draiken and beast broke their lock against the other, separating in an instant.

“I’ve got this! Focus on the plan!” Zaron yelled back harshly, his teeth grinding as he lunged back at the Guardian.

Swoop...! SLICE!

“UROOOOOAAAAAAAAAARGH-!!!”

Zaron shuddered as the beast released a low, spine-chilling bellow, interrupting his counterstrike before he could land a blow. Taking a deep breath, the male Draiken recovered and prepared to retaliate, predicting the next assault with Artoria firm in hand.

Whoosh!

In that moment, just as the Draiken and beast approached to clash, a flash of red raced up to the beast’s back.

Wham-! Crack!

Mantis struck the targeted points without remorse, fulfilling her role in the plan. Ensuring the beast’s focus was solely on Zaron, she unleashed a blunt kick to the beast’s back – cracking the outer-shell and causing the crystal-goliath to lose balance mid-momentum. Seizing the opportunity, Zaron diverted from the compromised attack and struck at the joint of the nearest arm.

SWIPE-! SLASH!!!

It was a clean swing from his blade, cleaving through the lower-left arm’s joint and dismembering it from the beast’s crystallised torso instantly.

Clump!

The arm fell from the beast, causing a cloud of blackened dust to erupt upon impact with the ground. However, the fight continued.

Swipe! SLASH-SLASH-SLASH!!!

Aside from its rising fury, the Guardian was oblivious to its lost limb, thrashing at its opponent with the remaining three arms. Its strike-distance widened with every clawed swing, reaching as far as possible whilst twisting its body to catch out both the insufferable Draiken and assassin. Mantis was clear from the beast’s incoming assault, leaping off just as a clawed arm swung back at her before distancing herself from further harm. On the other hand, Zaron shielded with his blade as he braced for the incoming assault, his muscles tense on expected impact.

CLASH!!!

Claws and blade ricocheted against the other simultaneously, sparks shooting at every direction as Zaron staggered back from the almighty force. Although he was forced back by the immense strength, Zaron resisted the claws adamantly.

Flap...! SWOOP!!!

Realising the assault had no effect, the beast then lifted into the air. In seconds, it reached the highest point of the chamber with a single flap of its four wings.

“Dammit!”

Still unable to use his wings for sustainable flight, Zaron was left without a possibility to reach the Guardian’s height. However, he then heard a voice call out to him.

“Zaron! Boost me!”

Racing towards him with her blade at the ready, Veena yelled out to her partner in haste. Zaron reached out instinctively as he noticed her fast approach, matching her wavelength for their next approach.

Whoosh...!

As the two Draiken locked hands, a red-tailed flash shot up abruptly towards the Guardian high above like a blazing bullet. Noticing the red light, Zaron launched Veena skyward without restraint, aiming towards their ferocious opponent.

VROOOOOSH!!!

Veena soared towards the colossal target above at gargantuan speed, spreading her wings to full width to control her body’s immense velocity. As expected, the Guardian’s piercing red gaze was set solely on her, noticing the Draiken girl’s approach immediately. Continuing to hover in place, the Guardian welcomed the incoming assault with open claws.

SWIPE! CLASH!!!

The collision was brief, claws and katana swung in unison before ricocheting instantly on impact, causing sparks to soar whilst Veena hurtled back due to the beast’s sheer power. The Guardian lurched forward, powering up for a successive swing of its claws.

WHAM!

However, it was struck by a soaring kick, colliding against the side of its abdomen before the beast could follow through with its assault. Mantis had executed her attack flawlessly, utilising the golden opportunity to wreak havoc on the Guardian. After her ‘arrow-like' kick, she latched onto the unsuspecting beast hastily with her remaining arm-blade, rocking herself up onto its back to lock a firm hold on its body.

“Hrrrgh! HhrrrraaAAAGH!!!”

The Guardian jolted and thrashed erratically in mid-air, taken aback by the unexpected hitchhiker as she launched her devastating assault.

WHAM! KICK! CRACK-CRACK-CRACK!!!

With an unbreakable grasp with her working arm, Mantic kicked and struck relentlessly at the joints and outer shell of the crystal beast, manoeuvring and shifting with the beast’s constant thrashing. Amongst her attacks, she vaulted and twisted around the back of the beast like a wild whirlwind, striking at every conceivable area she considered would cause damage.

Flip-! CRACK!

And then, the assassin’s assault concluded with a full-powered high kick to the beast’s cranium, hoping to disorientate it before it could retaliate. The power sent through her final kick had caused a tremor through the beast’s body.

If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

“…UuuurrrrrRRRGH!!!”

However, it was ineffective, for the beast swatted Mantis with a brutal backhand.

WHAM!

In a single swat, Mantis separated from the Guardian and descended to the ground – ending her portion of the assault.

***

From below, Zaron watched on as the events unfolded. He was beyond anxious, fidgeting on the spot whilst praying the plan would end with a flawless victory. Initially, a cast of hope eclipsed him, witnessing the brief clash as Veena intercepted the Guardian. However, his hopes were dashed as she was forced back by the beast, causing her to descend beyond her control. He caught a glance of Mantis intercepting the beast swiftly afterwards – as he had hoped. However, his priority was shifted to the falling Veena, rushing to save her whilst he had the chance. And then, feeling the grip of his blade’s hilt along with the burning in his eyes, a wild – and moronic – idea flashed before him.

“VEENA! GRAB ON!!!”

Suddenly, Veena twitched midfall, glancing over her shoulder as she heard Zaron yell at the top of his lungs. Her eyes then shot wide open.

Underneath her, the Artoria blade was soaring up towards her direction at horrifying velocity. Her mind raced into action, realising she had no time to react nor hesitate upon witnessing the absurd situation approaching her. With a shift of her wings, she twisted her body and slipped side-wards, allowing the blade to pass her without complication. At the same time, she reached out for the hilt and grabbed on.

FWOOOSH!!!

In that moment, everything became a swift blur.

***

After swatting the insufferable assassin away, the Guardian swayed woozily as it struggled to retain its hover, recovering from Mantis’ last strike to the cranium. And yet, the attack was a mere inconvenience to the beast, shaking its monstrous head to regain its bearing. Afterwards, it located Mantis’ position below, preparing to follow up with its infuriated wrath.

VrooooOOOOSH-!!!

And then, just as it was set to act, an abrupt glint in its demonic red eye caused it to veer away from its original plan.

FWIP!

In a split second, the crystal-goliath evaded the incoming Artoria blade, watching it soar passed with an aura of confidence. It then watched as the weapon twisted and span out of sight, falling back towards the abyss below.

Swipe…! Slash-slash-slash…! STAB!!!

The Guardian thought it had escaped another devastating assault, acting smug at the pathetic attempt. And yet, it was oblivious to the unexpected opponent as she dropped and flanked the beast the moment it turned a blind eye on the blade. With the Kurama blade drawn, she pinpointed the necessary cracks as her required target and executed without delay.

Her timing was impeccable.

“UrrrRRRAAAAAAGH!!!”

The beast erupted in a thunderous bellow, bewildered as Veena cleaved through the fresh weak points of its body and limbs. The first limb separated was the Guardian’s upper-right wing, causing the beast to lurch as it lost significant stability. The lower-left wing and the lower-left arm soon followed in swift succession, both separated at the joints closest to the torso. Finally, Veena stabbed deep into its left leg as hard as possible, preventing any possibility of falling once more whilst the crystal-goliath lost consistency in its flight. Meanwhile, the three cleaved limbs fell towards the blackened abyss below, a puff of dust erupting with each collision. Swinging, spinning and thrashing relentlessly, Veena enforced an unbreakable grip against the beast’s limb, her body was tense, yet her breath was calm. She glanced ahead briefly, planning the next stage of her assault whilst she was in optimum position.

However, time was not on her side. With its initial attempts to throw the trespassers off its large body, the damaged Guardian decided to change tactics.

Flap-flap...! SWOOP!!!

In that instant, it arched its remaining wings downward and dropped to a soaring descent, accelerating exponentially whilst aiming for the ground.

“Oh no-! NOT GOOD!!!”

Veena yelped abruptly as she realised the change in situation, straining her grasp on her weapon whilst resisting the frantic movements.

The Guardian then decided to spin.

***

As the Artoria blade returned to the volcanic floor, Zaron sprinted towards its potential landing point and caught its hilt before the blade could touch ground.

Grab! Skid...!

He then slid to a halt and glanced up, watching the ongoing action unfold above him.

Step, step...!

At the same time, a figure emerged behind him – causing the Draiken boy to jolt in fright and aim his weapon reactively at the intruder.

“...”

Mantis stood before him, staring at him warily with her damaged arm protected and suit illuminated in its glowing red streaks. She had landed safely after her successful assault on the crystal-goliath, unaffected by the unplanned descent. For a brief second, the two stood in silence, reading each other's thoughts and body expression. And then, without a word, Zaron lowered his blade.

SwooOOOP-!

In that moment, both Zaron and Mantis heard the beast swoop low overhead, their gazes switching in unison.

“Oh crap! VEENA!” Zaron yelled out in instant bewilderment, leaping into action by chasing the soaring beast.

The flying Guardian was spinning like a sideward cyclone, twisting and shifting in every conceivable direction. On its back, Veena was found dangling from her lodged blade desperately, hooking one of her wing-talons onto the crystal-goliath’s rigged surface for added support. And yet, the effort was futile, for she had no opportunity to proceed with the assault nor the ability to think proactively due to the immense pressure against her. Furthermore, her katana was slip away from the beast’s leg gradually, causing the strain in her latched talon to intensify.

FWOOM!!!

The Guardian then took an unexpectedly sharp turn, kicking its legs out at the same time with blunt force.

Shwip-!

“Ah!”

In that moment, Veena’s face filled with realised dread. Both the Kurama blade and Veena’s talon separated from the beast, causing the Draiken girl to shoot across the arena like a bullet.

Whoosh-! CRASH!!!

“GUH-!”

As swift as she was separated from the beast, Veena collided against the chamber’s wall – causing the hardened rock to crack on impact. The wind was knocked out of her lungs immediately, gasping out for air as she fell to the ground below.

Slam!

As her body landed, the blackened dust cloud consumed her.

“*Gasp-!* Ngh...! Guh-! *Wheeze...!*”

She was then heard gasping for air to return to her lungs, her body laying crumpled in the soot as she trembled in pain.

“KrraaaaAAAAAAGH!!!!”

SWOOSH-!!!

With the opportunity in sight, the Guardian directed its attention to the downed Veena, curving its flight around and swooping in for the kill. Its anticipation heightened in the process, its remaining elongated claws and sharpened fangs were on show as it craved for the Draiken girl’s flesh.

DASH!

Charging as fast as his legs could withstand, Zaron’s desperation to intervene reached critical. His heart racing and his mind overwhelmed with emotions. He knew he had no chance of reaching her in time. For a last resort, he was willing to throw himself into danger without a second thought – even if it ended up killing him. A few steps further, he would be in the Guardian’s direct warpath.

Step-step-! Whoosh!

And yet, it was the Crimson Mantis that intercepted. With power bursting through her suit, Mantis darted to Zaron’s intended position before switching and facing the soaring beast directly. Timing her movement, the assassin leapt forward and charged towards the crystal-goliath whilst leaving a stream of red aura in her wake – caring little for her personal safety.

Wham!

Still running ahead, Zaron observed in bafflement as the events unfolded before his eyes. The Guardian spotted the assassin’s intervention the moment she was positioned in its line of sight, switching targets on approach. It instinctively lunged out in retaliation, expecting to swat the bothersome assassin. Noticing it draw its attention onto her, Mantis tensioned her remaining arm-blade and increased her pace, accepting the inevitable clash.

However, as claws and blades were close to contact, the Guardian changed its mind.

GRAB!

“?!?!”

SLAM!!!

The crystal-goliath caught Mantis with its engulfing palm and pummelled her to the ground with no restraint, causing the entire arena to rumble and erupt with a cloud of suffocating dust. Zaron stumbled upon feeling the impact underneath his feet, tripping over himself as he closed in on the motionless Veena. He then slid to an abrupt stop, planting his feet a few meters before the crumpled Veena as he witnessed in horror.

BOOM-BOOM-BOOM-BOOM! BANG!!!!!

The Guardian continued its barbaric rampage, slamming Mantis into the ground continuously. It expressed no remorse in its constant pummelling of the assassin, enjoying every second of crushing her against the volcanic rock. With the blinding blackened dust-cloud forming throughout the Treasure Chamber, Zaron threw himself on top of Veena to protect her from any oncoming assaults or debris.

Glancing back, his gaze then widened in horror.

Whoosh...! Bang!

He watched as a familiar, lifeless silhouette flung overhead like an unwanted doll, disappearing into the thick cloud entirely as the fate of the assassin’s survival was left to uncertainty. Silence then filled the arena.

The dust settled, allowing Zaron to regain full vision of the arena.

BzzzzzZZZZZZZZZZZ-!!!

Immediately after the last of the dust fell, the Draiken was met with a horrific familiar sound – along with a blood-red glow before his very eyes.

“Oh … shit.”

As a sense of terror engulfed him, Zaron snatched the Artoria blade and scrambled to his feet. Upon taking to his feet, he twisted his weapon into a bracing-guard position – believing it was his only option to protect Veena from the incoming decimation.

KaBOOOOOOOM!!!!!!

At the same time, an enormous beam of destruction tore through the atmosphere, brushing the remaining black dust aside as it shot towards the fated target. Zaron tensed, his eyes refusing to blink as he watched the beam’s approach. As the second passed, blade and beam connected.

BROOOOOOSH!!!

Zaron felt his feet slide back upon impact against the opposing beam, further reinforcing his stance immensely to counteract the opposing power. With bearing fangs, burning eyes, and muscles screaming: the young Draiken refused to yield to the overwhelming blast. With the beam's reflecting off the blade and caging the two Draiken them, Zaron adjusted the placement of his blade with absolute care. Essence of the beam drilled into the ground close to his feet, causing magma to spit and ooze – reminding Zaron of the results if he were to accept his fate and be consumed by the opposing red light. Peering through the sliver of light ahead, Zaron caught sight of the beam’s presumed origins – the Dragon’s Eye within the Guardian’s chest.

“Nngh...! GRRRGH!!!”

Sliiiide...!

Zaron could feel his feet scraping back further due to the rising intensity, trapping him with no opportunity to escape nor retaliate.

Rumble...!

As the beam intensified, the arena erupted into a quake, magma spitting and trothing from all cracks as though to escape the inhumane power struggle. From and outside perspective, it seemed that the Guardian would emerge as the dominant party.

“…Heh…!”

However, hidden amongst the blistering beam, the Artoria blade emerged with a luminous blood-red aura – along with a prideful grin from its owner.

Step ... step...

Just then, Veena stepped up limply beside Zaron, placing a hand on his shoulder as she eyed their beastly opponent. With her breaths heavy and staggered; eyes glazed as she struggled to focus; and body hunched over slightly: the Draiken girl was far from her ideal health. And yet, regardless of the pain, she felt she could push on for one last bout.

“Veena...”

As he felt her hand rest on his shoulder, Zaron called to her with renewed confidence in his voice. “Can you go for one more round?”

“...Yeah.” She wheezed with a small nod. “Just give me a second to catch my breath.”

As Zaron proceeded to hold steady, the two Draiken glanced ahead and observed the Guardian, timing their final assault whilst the beast was preoccupied in executing its overpowered death-ray. With its feet solidified into the ashen ground and remaining limbs pulled back, the crystal-goliath was like a statue – refusing to move until it could confirm the Draiken pair was reduced to atoms. From what Zaron and Veena assumed, the beast had no intention of breaking off the beam, assuming the two would be overwhelmed by the beam out of exhaustion. However, Zaron and Veena then noticed the blood-red death beam flicker, realising it was struggling to retain its form. Finally, the Draiken pair found their golden opportunity.

Veena switched to Zaron with an immediate spark in her eye.

“Perfect Sync?” She suggested excitedly.

Zaron nodded.

“Perfect Sync.”

Shatter!

DASH!

In that moment, the beam dissipated, freeing the two Draiken from their deathly prison. Consumed by her haste to end the battle, Veena burst forth into a swift charge. With her Kurama blade locked firm in her dominant hand, she dashed ahead with overwhelming anticipation – ignoring her previous fatigue in the process. As she approached, the crystal Guardian was left staggered from losing its powerful beam, acting exhausted out of consequence. Regardless of the setback, it refused to yield.

Stomp…! Stomp…! Stomp-stomp-STOMP-STOMP-STOMP-STOMP!!!

The beast proceeded to rush into a destructive charge, its remaining wings and claws expanded to taunt the fast-approaching Veena. In mere seconds, both combatants were in reach to the other.

SWIPE!

Whilst carrying her momentum, Veena swung her blade in a low sweep, aiming for the incoming beast’s knee joint. The crystal beast reacted accordingly, twisting mid-charge to avoid the predicable blade.

SWING-SWING-SLASH!!!

However, the beast was oblivious to the tactics at play. Carrying her momentum forward, Veena dived head-on below the Guardian’s body, avoiding its heavy, twisting feet during the transition. At the same time, a trio of blood-red, razor-sharp blade-beams sliced down upon the crystal-goliath, dismembering its wings from its torso instantaneously and forcing it to stumble unexpectedly.

STOMP-STOMP...! STAB!

The crystal beast saved itself from falling entirely, planting its claws into the blackened ground for support. It then switched to face the culprit – its overwhelming fury boiling over exponentially.

“RrrrrrRRRRRRAAAAA-!!!!”

SWIPE-SWIPE...! FWOOSH!!!

Just before the beast could conclude its erupting bellow, another series of red razor-beams sliced through the air in a circular uppercut motion. The beast had no time to register the attack, lurching back at the last possible second to avoid further dismemberment.

SLICE!!!

Although it assumed it avoided the many razor-beams, the beast was left staring blankly at the familiar dismembered arm appearing in its line-of-sight.

THUMP!

The dismembered crystal-limb fell onto the ground lifelessly alongside the culprit who landed beside it with an elusive grin across his face.

“…Heh!”

DASH!!!

Without delay, Zaron rushed forward with Artoria in hand, adrenaline consuming him as a streak of dense red trailed from his blade.

“GGGGRRRRAAAAAGH!!!!”

Swipe-swipe...! SLASH-SLASH-SLASH-SLASH!!!

The crystal Guardian bellowed as it thrashed out in immense desperation, swiping up magma and dust aimlessly to disorientate its opponent. Zaron diverted his footing as he charged ahead, evading the magma-covered claws whilst setting his sights on the next limb. In anticipation for an ideal opening, he circled the beast.

WHAM! SLASH-SLASH-BOOM!!!

The Guardian followed his movement, striking down at every potential position the young Draiken could turn towards. However, Zaron slipped through the incoming assault with ease and evaded each attempt to crush and slice him. Additionally, the crystal-goliath neglected to keep track of its other – more agile – opponent.

Whoosh! Swipe-STAB!!!

In that moment, Veena rushed in to flank the beast from behind, stabbing deep into its left shoulder successfully as she aimed for one of the exposed cracks. She then latched hastily onto the beast’s back as it lurched forward reactively. With a firm grasp on Kurama and a sense of the beast’s assumed retaliation, Veena leapt and pulled down with her bodyweight.

SLICE...!!!

Whilst there was resistance from the material coating the Guardian, the Kurama blade cleaved through the shoulder effectively and separated the upper-left arm from the torso entirely.

“KRAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!!!!!”

The Guardian shrieked out in agony as it flailed, struggling to hold its footing with its centre-of-gravity out of line.

In that moment, Zaron found the opening he desired.

Step-step-step...! VROOSH!

Zaron kicked off from his circling position and aimed for the nape of the beast’s neck – ensuring his next strike was final.

“HrRRGH-!”

However, as one last resort, the Guardian swiped across with its remaining claw.

SWIPE!

Upon regaining her feet, Veena switched and witnessed the assault in abrupt horror.

“ZARON! NO!”

Her echoing shriek reached Zaron’s ear as he noticed the elongated claw swooping towards, realising it was impossible to avoid the claw as he carried his momentum mid-jump.

And then, his instincts kick in.

Flap! Vroosh...!

As the claw crossed its target, Zaron caught the air with his wings subconsciously, allowing him to gain an extra boost in mid-air. He twisted and flipped just as the claw swiped below him, allowing his momentum to flow and reach the beast’s nape without disruption. As the events unfolded, two sets of eyes widened: Veena watched on in sheer astonishment, a delightful grin forming at the turn of events; on the other hand, the Crystal Guardian was left in terror as it met its fate.

SLICE!

In one last swing of red, it was done.

Fwip..! Tap!

THUMP!

As though ending a performance of a lifetime, Zaron was the first to land, resting his blade on his shoulder casually as his feet connected with the ashen floor. This was followed subsequently with the Crystal Guardian’s head, colliding with the ground close behind him. With its jaw hung loosely and red pupils devoid of life, the beast was beyond any possibility of revival.

BOOM!!!

Finally, the remaining headless body fell back, colliding flat with the ground like a toppled statue. Not a flicker of life nor a hint of rejuvenation from the body, all that was left was a lifeless husk.

“...*Phew...!*”

Drawing a deep, exhausted breath, Zaron straightened up. He felt the stinging sensation in his eyes finally revert to normal, allowing his overall adrenaline to calm.

Glomp!

However, before he could fully process the conclusion of the battle, a pair of arms flung around him abruptly in an overwhelming embrace – causing the wide-eyed Zaron to stagger back in surprise.

“H-hey, Veena! What are you-?!” He stammered in an unexpected fluster, not knowing how to respond to the sudden gesture.

However, Veena continued to cling onto him without a word, her body shaking as she tightened her grip.

“We did it…! We did it! We did it! WE DID IT!” She squeaked in pure joy, bouncing up-and-down as she could not contain her excitement.

“Y-yeah! Maybe w-we should retrieve the Eye and head back up top before we celebrate.” Zaron suggested awkwardly, struggling to find his words before the daunting realisation took its toll. “I’m s-sure the guys are running low on patience … given the time.”

“I know! I know! Just ... let me have this moment.” Veena cut-back bluntly, shutting down his suggestion with immediate effect.

However, she then pulled back abruptly.

“You never told me you could Double-Jump!” She yelled with a hint of betrayal in her voice, stepping back to allow him space. “When was this a thing?!”

“Oh! R-right! That...” Zaron withdrew as he felt cornered mentally, nervous sweat pouring from his forehead in the process.

“It just ... happened on a whim.” He waved off casually, deflecting her interrogating glare. “I had no idea I could do that.”

Veena proceeded to stare at him in judging silence, reading his wavering expressions.

“...You liar.”

“I'm not!”

Zaron denied her accusation hastily, thinking desperately of a way to prove his innocence on the subject. Noticing his frantic reactions, a light sigh escaped Veena.

“Whatever the case ... when we get back to the surface, you're teaching me how to ‘double-jump’.” She then suggested cheekily, poking him on the chest. “And don’t think for a second that you’ll weasel your way out of it.”

Zaron gazed back at her awkwardly.

“I mean, sure? If ... I can teach you.”

“Oh, I have faith in you.” Veena then reassured him, setting the plans in her mind as she spoke. “You never know, you might be a great teacher.”

“Right ... I'll take your word on it.” Zaron settled with an unavoidable nod, believing there was no way to dissuade her.

With that, the two Draiken turned their attention to the Dragon’s Eye, noticing a faint aura surrounding it within the crystal body. The Guardian’s headless corpse was disintegrating gradually, confirming their colossal opponent was no more. Without any need for hesitation, Zaron stepped over to the crystallized, crumbling body. With Artoria still in hand, he stabbed down and pried the jewel from the monstrous corpse. Veena watched warily as he lifted the jewel, noticing the strain in his muscles as he bore the weight. The Dragon’s Eye brimmed with red rays, acting as though it was a large, beating heart.

“Hup!” Zaron grunted as he hoisted it over his left shoulder, softening his knees as he absorbed the weight. “Heh...! This'll be quite the effort to carry back.”

“You don’t say...” Veena murmured in underlying concern. “Are you going to be okay carrying it the entire way back?”

Zaron shrugged in response.

“Well, I'd be lying if I said it wasn’t expected ... even though it weighs a literal tonne.”

He then paused, glancing at the hefty red jewel on his shoulder as he considered the next options.

“I think I'll manage.” He then assured her, although a hint on uncertainty breaking through his tone. “...I think.”

Veena gazed at him with a judging yet amused feline smirk.

“I’ll hold you to that.”

After the two smiled to each other, her eyes diverted and gazed over towards the distance – her grin dissipating in an instant. Zaron glanced at her in confusion, wondering why she had an abrupt change in her expression. He then followed her gaze and immediately found his answer.

Lying motionless in the far-off distance was the beaten Mantis. She was sprawled face down on the ash-covered ground, the red aura that once consumed her black suit now absent. With her face hidden behind her visor and no sign of movement, it was difficult to determine whether she was still alive. Observing the state of the assassin, Veena stepped over towards her position without a word.

“Wha-?! Wait, Veena!” Zaron blurted out to her, caught off-guard by her sudden decision before cursing underneath his breath. “Argh...! Dammit.”

He followed her hastily, concentrating on juggling the Dragon’s Eye on his shoulder yet refusing to sheath the Artoria blade until he confirmed their safety. After approaching Mantis in a rush, Veena knelt by her side and checked the pulse in her neck.

“I can feel a pulse.” She confirmed sternly, switching to Zaron with a conflict expression. “What ... should we do?”

Zaron stared at the unconscious assassin in silence, his jaw clenched tight as he was faced with a slew of complex emotions. The first thought that appeared in his mind was to satisfy his desire and end her life, considering the thought of moving on from all the turmoil she has caused to him, Veena, and his family. Reflecting on every clash he endured against the assassin; his desire to kill her overwhelmed him – as though the anticipation was consuming his rationality. Another contradicting thought then threw itself into the equation, reminding him that she helped the two Draiken fight off the Crystal Guardian willingly. Whilst there was a likelihood that she decided to assist out of selfish priority, it was undeniable that she risked her life fending off the crystal-goliath.

“Tch…!”

Feeling a whirlwind of confliction, Zaron glanced away with a disgusted tut.

“Okay. Zaron, I know what you’re thinking.” Veena reasoned to him as she returned to her feet, a hint of desperation in her voice as she approached him earnestly. “She’s been trouble for us since we fought her back in Dragora – and she likely struck down Terra, I get that. But … we should really think this through.”

Zaron refused to return eye-contact, his expression contorted in a mix of anger and frustration. Regardless of his open disgust, Veena proceeded to admit her own thoughts on the matter.

“I … think we should help her out.”

Zaron switched back to her instantly with a widened, horrified face.

“Hear me out, Zaron.” She requested calmly, addressing him directly as she expected the reaction. “You were thinking it too, right? Otherwise, you would’ve finished her off already – regardless of everything she just did for us.”

Zaron was silent, his emotions settled as he was willing to trust her words.

“You saw her fighting that thing, didn’t you? There were so many times she could’ve backstabbed us, but she fought alongside us willingly and took one hell of a beating in the process.” She explained carefully, hoping to convince him. “There’s no debating that she put her all into that fight. She cracked down on that shell even after her arm was damaged. She even threw herself at that beast when I was down for the count. If it weren’t for her … we’d probably be long dead by now.”

Those last words struck Zaron deep, unable to hold back his own thoughts in the process.

“But that doesn’t negate everything she’s done to us in the past.” He retorted bitterly, his body tense as he attempted to reason with her. “As you said, she’s been on our tail since our fight in Dragora. Every time we’ve faced her, either one of us – if not, both of us – were badly injured at one point. Not only that … but we still don’t know if my mum survived fighting her.”

“I know. I know.” Veena reassured with a pained nod, remembering the fateful conflict like it was yesterday. “But ... I'm just thinking: if we got her back to the surface and patched her up, she could have a change of heart and leave us alone in the future.”

“What makes you say that?” Zaron questioned.

“Well...” Veena murmured lowly, glancing over to the unconscious Mantis. “Whenever we encountered her, she’s only ever attempted to kill you intentionally. During the times I’ve been involved, she only left me injured or incapacitated at most. She also avoided confronting the Cobalts entirely – I mean, she slipped passed them without any confrontation.”

Zaron drew in a deep breath. “And what about the five she killed back at the Cobalt house?”

Veena held her tongue momentarily as she gazed back at him, her heart dropped upon remembering the incident.

“It's horrible. But … I believe it wasn’t intentional.” She admitted cautiously, hesitant to speak her opinion. “She was probably overwhelmed, needed to make a quick escape, and acted on instinct. Aside from that, I honestly think she killed strictly based on her contract.”

Zaron’s gaze veered off, feeling sickened that they were discussing the topic entirely. Additionally, he reflected on his previous interrogation of the assassin, throwing his inner turmoil into chaos.

"Zaron?”

He heard Veena’s worried call to him, noticing the fresh wave of confliction surging through his expression.

“After our last fight, I asked her a few questions … about what happened back in Dragora.” Zaron then admitted. “When I asked her about what happened to mum … she just shrugged.”

Veena stared at him in wide-eyed disbelieve.

“Wait … you mean, she doesn’t know? But, back in Ferradon, she said she … she ‘slaughtered’ her.”

“Yeah.” Zaron murmured painfully, his body shaking. “When I asked her earlier if she fought mum to the end, she … just shook her head.”

Veena watched him sorrowfully.

“Zaron…”

“It could be anything. She could’ve lied back in Ferradon, or she could’ve lied here.” Zaron then admitted in consideration, unable to hide his dejected tone. “I just … don’t know what to believe.”

“I’m sorry.” Veena apologised earnestly, realising she overstepped her boundaries. “I didn’t mean to-!”

However, Zaron then interrupted her purposely.

“So, if we choose to help Mantis … we’re essentially helping the person who may – or may not – be my mother’s killer.” He informed her severely, acting as though his final decision was set in stone. “If we kill her here and now, we could finally move on and not have to worry about her ever again.”

Veena watched him as he spoke his words, deep in thought.

“…It’s your choice.”

She then muttered finally, deciding she had played her part in the discussion. Zaron stood in silence momentarily, his sights switching between Veena and the unconscious Mantis as his mind darted between the two options.

Click!

He then reattached the Artoria blade to his back.

“Lucas? Did you hear all of that?” Zaron called out as he pressed his fingers against his ear – setting Veena’s old earpiece into place.

Veena watched him blankly, taken aback by the unexpected turn of events. At the same time, Zaron reached into his trouser pocket and passed his old earpiece to her, ushering her silently to listen to the device. As she placed the earpiece in her ear anxiously, Lucas’ voice was heard responding in a neutral tone.

“I did.”

Veena was speechless.

“Would you be fine with patching her up?” Zaron then wondered, acting oblivious to his previous views on the dilemma.

There was a pause, causing both Draiken to grow conscious of their current reception.

However, Lucas then answered.

“…Does she have any life-threatening injuries or anything that may affect her permanently?”

Both Zaron and Veena glanced over briefly as they observed the unconscious assassin once more. Although both witnessed Mantis endure inhumane levels of physical trauma from the battle – alongside the damage sustained from her conflict with Zaron, they could only see moderate rips and bloodied patches through her suit. Outside of her arm, there were no signs of broken bones or critical lacerations from initial viewing. Even though she was thrown around like a ragdoll, her spine and other limbs were unscathed. With all aspects considered, her overall condition was nothing less than a miracle.

In that moment, Veena knelt beside the assassin and prepared to shift her body, placing a hand on her shoulder whilst the other on her hip to roll her onto her back.

Thump!

Noticing Veena’s actions, Zaron proceeded to assist as he dropped the Dragon’s Eye, kneeling before the assassin’s head and placing both hands on the helmet for stability during her roll. As they nodded to each other, the two rolled the unconscious assassin carefully until she was lying on her back, hoping the movement had not damaged anything else in the assassin’s body. However, as they inspected Mantis’ front, they found no further damage aside from the two expected stab wounds on her chest caused by Zaron’s talons. Through their inspection, one question plagued their thoughts:

(How robust is her suit…?!)

In that moment, Zaron answered Lucas as he stepped back up in the process.

“She in bad shape, but … there’s nothing there that’s ‘life-threatening’.” He admitted truthfully.

“Fine. If you can get her back to the surface, I’ll see what I can do.”

That was all they needed to hear.

Zaron switched to the kneeling Veena with a neutral expression, hoisting the Dragon’s Eye back onto his shoulder as he prepared himself mentally for the journey back.

“Welp! You heard the man.” He expressed vacantly, letting out a tiresome sigh. “We’d best head up there before someone has a change of heart.”

Veena’s eyes lit up in relief, nodding back in agreement.

“There’s a lot of stuff we need to carry back.” Zaron then reminded her, pointing to their backpacks in the distance. “If I carry the Eye, will you be able to carry her?”

“No problem.” She assured him confidently. “After what we’ve just been through, it’ll be a sinch.”

Zaron glanced at her for a second, as though judging the legitimacy of her answer. He was aware they were both beyond fatigued after the journey along with the battle itself, believing Veena was just ignorant of her limitations. He restrained from commenting, deciding they would only waste time discussing it further.

As Veena prepared to carry Mantis on her back, Zaron proceeded to retrieve their luggage, wondering how he would juggle the items alongside the Dragon’s Eye. He considered the extent of their return journey, conscious the potential challenges they could face – including more hordes of crystal monsters. And then, there was the question of Mantis herself, wary of the numerous risks associated with the unconscious assassin.

Would she awaken at any point during the return journey, there was a high likelihood of her attacking and backstabbing them due to lacking the context of their situation mentioned through the Draiken pair’s previous conversation. Additionally, there was the problem of her as extra baggage, burdening them if they encountered anymore crystal-beasts or difficult terrain. He preferred to either kill the troublesome assassin or abandon her in the chamber and press on without the extra burden.

“…”

With a low sigh, he switched back to Veena in the distance, a firm and ominous tone in his expression as he called out to her in warning.

“She gets one chance.”

His voice echoed throughout the Treasure Chamber, causing Veena to stare back to him blankly. From Veena’s perspective, his one comment was the confirmation she required to understand his mind-set. Without a doubt, Zaron was grateful for Mantis’ assistance, believing upon reflection that they had no chance of revival without her involvement. And yet, Veena noticed a hint of wariness in his voice, indicating that he had no intention of leniency. After everything they had endured since the fight in Dragora, Veena knew that Zaron was not ready to end a human life.

At least, not yet.