Wham!
The abrupt echo erupted throughout the domed chamber, causing Zaron to halt his steps. Following the source of the sound, he switched back towards the entrance, expecting Veena to be close behind him.
“Veena, did you hear-?”
His words halted, his gaze widened in bewildered horror.
“VEENA!!!!!”
With an unconscious Veena lying motionless on the floor beside her, Mantis stood opposite the young Draiken. The crimson assassin watched her target silently, her notorious arm-blades erect from her forearms and the recognisable blue glow spanning the entirety of her legs. After a long, tedious search, she anticipated the disposal of the young Nitro and end their prolonged game of cat-and-mouse. The wild-eyed Zaron threw aside his backpack and unhooked the Artoria blade from his back.
DASH!
He leapt into a hateful charge, desperation consuming his mind as he raced towards the idle assassin. Within seconds of his charge, he leapt forward and arched his weapon into a widened swing, aiming directly for Mantis’ throat.
Swing-CLASH!
Mantis anticipated the rushed attack. As the blade curved close to her neck, she parried it with a simple snap of her arm-blade. At the same time, she struck back at him with a firm kick of her glowing boot.
Whack!
“ARGH-!”
Fwoosh...! CRASH!
The power of her retaliation sent the young Draiken hurtled back, colliding against the ground, and tumbling across the arena uncontrollably.
Stab-stab! Skid…!
After a few tumbles, Zaron twisted and stabbed his wing-talons into the floor to counteract his body’s continuous motion. Eventually, his momentum halted, clutching his abdomen in seething pain whilst staring ahead furiously.
“Urgh…! Dammit!”
With no choice but to throw aside his looming pain, he reinforced focus on his opponent and returned to his feet. The young Draiken readied his weapon with a firm battle-stance, drawing a reaffirmed breath as he prepared to clash once more. Mantis stepped forward in response, leaving the collapsed Veena as she locked her visor on her desired target. She was eerily silent, almost otherworldly with her lack of footsteps and breaths. Zaron snarled at her venomously, tightening his grip on Artoria as he anticipated her approach. He was adamant to control the situation as soon as possible, believing she was toying with him. All he required was the ideal opportunity to execute his assault.
However, the unfazed Mantis raised her arm to head height, causing Zaron to watch warily.
Snap!
Ka-Boom! Boom! BOOM!!!
Suddenly, the archway above the entrance erupted into a series of explosions, activating the instant the assassin snapped her fingers. Tremors shook throughout the chamber, causing the bewildered Zaron to stagger unexpectedly from the lack of balance.
VROOSH!!
As he regained his balance, Zaron could only watch in dismay as debris fell from the ceiling.
“NO!!!”
BANG! BANG! BANG! SLAM!!!
His loud roar echoed as the debris from the Treasure Chamber’s slab door crumbled in large chunks and slammed against the ground uncontrollably, blocking Zaron’s view of the unconscious Veena in the process. Sections of rubble and minerals piled exponentially, blocking the entrance entirely and trapping both Zaron and Mantis in the chamber.
Dash!
With his thoughts racing a mile-a-minute, Zaron rushed for the slab door with the Artoria blade at arms. Mantis shifted to a bracing battle-stance in response, expecting to receive the full brunt of his incoming assault.
Swoop...! Swing!
At the very last second, Zaron transitioned his attack from a horizontal strike to a relentless uppercut.
CLASH!
“?!”
Sparks ignited from the blades; the unsuspecting Mantis caught off-guard as her arm-blade was forced away. Anticipating the opening, Zaron refused to hesitate. He caught her by her helmet with an iron grip, and – for a brief second – his eyes burned.
WHAM!
The assassin's helmet struck the ground without resistance, causing a crack to both the floor and the helmet’s visor simultaneously. Using the opportunity, Zaron separated from his opponent in haste and raced to the blocked entrance, praying for Veena's utmost safety. Due to the abrupt impact, Mantis was left incredibly dazed, struggling to regain both her footing and her focus. She had no sense of balance, clutching her head whilst she fought against her wooziness. During that moment, Zaron placed his ear against the fallen slab, listening for any signs of life from the unconscious Veena. It was difficult to determine, yet he could hear faint breathing – much to his relief.
“Zaron? Veena? What's happening down there?!”
Just then, the sound of a concerned Lucas erupted through the earpiece's speaker. Zaron chose not to answer, instead removing the earpiece entirely and slipping it into his trouser pocket out of sight. And then, slumping against the slab door with his head against the hard rock, the young Draiken trembled with anger.
“Mantis…” He breathed lowly.
Behind him, the assassin took to her feet, shaking off the looming headache before returning focus to her target. Zaron continued, his voice becoming hoarse and menacing as he murmured out.
“...you’ll regret…”
Mantis locked on to him, arm-blades displayed the moment she charged forward.
Swoop!
As she lunged out, Zaron swung round to face her – his eyes burning with relentless fury as he roared out at the top of his lungs.
“...EVER. FACING. ME!!!!!!!!!!!!”
BOOM!!!!!
Without hesitation from either combatant, their blades clashed and ricocheted with ferocious intent.
***
“Hn?! Nngh...!”
As the world returned to view, the faint Veena blinked woozily. Her body struggled to move, an agonising throbbing from the side of her head restricting her recovery. With ears ringing and limbs numb, all she could hear was the sound of constant clanging and muffled, inaudible voices in the distance.
“Wh-what...?” She murmured underneath her breath weakly.
“...eena?!”
She could hear a worried voice echo in her right ear yet was unable to recognise the owner due to the muffled tone.
“Veena! Are you there?!”
The voice grew clearer with every second, sounding more distinct with each attempt to contact her. Finally, she recognised the voice.
“T-Tobi...?”
Still feeling disorientated, she lifted herself to a sitting position gradually, regaining the feeling in her limbs in the process. She noticed the camera beside her, lying on the floor with its body still intact. With a sigh of relief, she retrieved the camera and then glanced around. From initial inspection, she believed she was alone.
After securing her camera back into her rucksack, she proceeded to check the Treasure Chamber entrance, following the echoes of the clashing blades as they grew more prevalent. Due to the abundance of rubble and rock, the entrance was shut tight.
“...No...!”
Veena gasped out at the sight, scrambling to her feet as she realised the predicament. However, the absence of stability in her feet caused her to stumble forward, collapse against the slab door in a panic.
“Zaron...? Zaron!” She called out desperately, praying for a response.
And yet, there was none.
“Veena! Speak to me! What's happening down there?!”
In that moment, another familiar voice called through the speaker – it was Lucas. His tone was overwhelmed with worry, attempting to break through the escalating commotion deep down underneath his feet.
“I-I don't know!” Veena answered in an anxious stammer. “We were just in the Treasure Chamber, and then-!”
Her voice trailed as a hint of glowing blue crossed her mind.
“...Mantis.”
“Wait...! Mantis?”
“Yeah. I don't know how, but Mantis followed our trail down through the cave.” She explained in a rushed tone, attempting to piece the scenario together. “We had our guard down and ... she intercepted us.”
(We had our guard down...)
She tensed up reactively, cursing herself for the moronic mistake. However, another thought then crossed her mind.
(But ... why didn't she kill me when she had the chance...?)
“I KNEW it was her!” Tobi's voice yelled out suddenly, beating himself up at the revelation. “Argh...! I don’t believe it! She slipped passed us so easily!”
A third voice – Marc's assumedly – could be heard mumbling in the distance.
“...She would've killed you, idiot.”
Tobi responded in an elevated bicker.
“I know that! It’s just that ... if we knew it was her, we could've warned them!”
Lucas interjected immediately.
“Whatever the case, we can't get through to Zaron.” He informed Veena with a severe tone. “All we can hear is him and Mantis clashing.”
With a firm expression, Veena enlightened them briefly on their current predicament, explaining that they had reached the Treasure Chamber, found the Dragon’s Eye, and Mantis’ surprise attack. During that time, she examined the blockade hastily for any potential opening, desperate to intercept the battle before it turned to a bloodbath. Unfortunately, there was no gap to be found.
“His emotions are running wild...” She added anxiously, fidgeting helplessly as she listened to the conflict rage on. “If I don’t get in there soon, he'll get reckless and slip up.”
There was grave silence from the speaker, unable to dispute her concern.
Clump...! Clump...! Clump!
In that moment, Veena felt small, eerie tremors rumbled underneath her feet. Her gaze veered to the nearby rubble, her expression growing cautious as she watched the rubble and ground vibrated.
Boom...! Boom...! Boom...! BOOM...!
And then, as the noise grew louder and more prevalent, a sense of dread overshadowed her. She remembered Mantis was not the only enemy hot on the Draiken trail. With her heart racing, Veena shifted her sights.
“Oh ... joy.”
“Huh...? What’s wrong?” Tobi wondered through the speaker, although noticing the sound of the tremors immediately after he asked. “What’s with the odd ‘banging’ noise...?”
Veena was struggling to answer, her horrified gaze set on the towering monstrous figure approaching her menacingly.
She then opened her mouth.
“...I think I’ve found a way back in.”
“GRRRRRRRRGH...!!!”
A thick shadow consumed her as a heart-stopping growl pierced her ears.
***
SWING! CLASHCLASHCLASH!!! Swoop...! SLICE!
Never had sparks erupted so brilliantly from a battle of blades. They were like fireworks: clear, dazzling, and immensely explosive. Every impact jittered and ricocheted without pause, sending the entire arena into quake central. Furthermore, the sparks and quakes expanded throughout the arena, broadening the cataclysmic effect of each impact as the two combatants continued their fight to the death. It was a relentless clash, both sides expressing no mercy.
The velocity generated from the back-and-forth assaults were otherworldly, spinning and slicing without drawing a hint of breath. The only focus was the flow of battle and the eventual devastation of their opponent.
Swipe...! SLASHSLASH-SLICE! CLASH!!!
“TCH?! Grr...!”
“...”
Their weapons connected successively, the edges of both the arm-blades and Artoria locked as their owners forced their might against the other. As they struggled for domination, Zaron eyed Mantis with an inflamed glare, refusing to break contact. His fury was unmatched, consumed with spite and malice as the images of his mother flashed through his emotionally charged mind. On the other hand, Mantis was as unreadable as ever, her expression hidden entirely within the blackened visor of her enclosed helmet. She was stoic as she retaliated the overpowering, adamant not to be outmatched by her furious opponent. She had no interest in playing around, preferring to end their fight and complete her mission as swiftly as possible after failing her two previous attempts.
Ping...! SWIPE!
Zaron broke off the lockdown and rushed with an immediate swing, aiming for a low opening. Mantis evaded the incoming Artoria blade instinctively, arching her back as the blade passed above her by a narrow margin. She recovered with ease yet was met with the second phase of Zaron’s assault.
Driven by the flow of his heightened fury, the young Draiken forced his momentum forward with a series of swift spinning strikes – acting as though his weapon controlled the fight over his own body. Carried by the flow of his momentum, there was no chance for Mantis to turn the tables of the fight. Mantis parried and evaded as frantically as possible, feeling herself being forced back from every swing against her. No matter her attempt to slip through the ongoing onslaught, Zaron adjusted his assault to prevent any chance of an opening. Mantis knew her retaliation had to be instantaneous, holding her patience for the ideal opportunity.
Swing-swing! Whoosh! Clashclashclash!
Absorbed in his overpowering momentum, Zaron increased the pressure of his attacks, refusing to falter regardless of her retaliation. Hints of a manic grin broke through his unyielding rage, anticipating the inevitable bloody defeat of the crimson assassin. With every swing, the burning in his eyes grew more painful and prevalent. Contrary to the previous instances of his burning eyes, Zaron accepted the sensation with adrenaline-filled anticipation. It was as though he desired the pain, further cementing his rage towards Mantis as he yearned for his mother’s survival.
SWOOP!
And then, as he threw down the Artoria blade with all his might, a flash of blue erupted unexpectedly.
FLASH! Cling...!
“Grgh?!”
He was blinded momentarily just as his weapon ricocheted against the assumed arm-blades.
Whack-whack...! WHAM!!!
Without warning, a series of punches struck him – two shots in the abdominal area and another direct shot in the face.
“WHA-AAH!!!”
Zaron was sent hurtling back, soaring across the underground arena before falling into an uncontrollable tumble. Upon his immediate tumble, the young Draiken slammed his Artoria blade deep into the rough ground, tensing up his body as he restrained his backwards momentum. Gasping for breath as his momentum finally halted, he directed his attention to his detestable opponent.
“You got an upgrade...?” He grumbled underneath his breath, his body tensioned in considerable disgust. “Tsk...! Not a fan.”
Mantis stood before him with a renewed stance, acting unfazed by their prior bout whilst flexing her new upgrade before her troublesome target. The infamous streaks of blue that previously illuminated her legs had expanded throughout her entire battle suit, causing her body to radiate a strong aura whilst the colour morphed from blue to a darkened red. Although hidden behind her engulfing helmet, it was evident that pride had consumed her through unlocking her new power-level.
Regaining his feet, Zaron released his blade from the ground and readied himself to fight on.
“No more limits ... no more setbacks...” He growled menacingly, his breath seething through his teeth. “Just you and me ... fighting at death’s door.”
Step! WHOOSH!
Without warning, Mantis pounced at Zaron with arm-blades soaring, a stream of blue light following her body like a luminescent tail. His gaze shooting out in surprise, Zaron reacted with a desperate uppercut.
Swipe-CLASH!!!
In an instant, both opponents’ blades ricocheted simultaneously, the familiar sparks erupting from their edges as they collided relentlessly. The elevated power in Mantis’ suit sent a burst of tremors onto Zaron, causing him to stagger as his Artoria blade ricocheted instantly. Although he expected the immense escalated force, he was unable to resist the fatal pushback. His uppercut forced Mantis up high into the air – as though extending her leap. Mantis utilised Artoria's rising uppercut to her advantage, allowing its momentum to launch her high above her opponent. Twisting her body to face the unsuspecting Draiken swiftly, she arched her left arm-blade and swung at him amid her descent.
SWOOSH...!
“No you DON’T!”
Clinkclink-CLASH!!!
As he bellowed, Zaron span and parried the arm-blade's projectile with the reverse of his own weapon, a brief flash of their previous bout appearing through his mind the moment simultaneously. He refused to repeat his mistake from the past, attempting whatever necessity that would prevent such a devastating fate. Whilst Mantis was still suspended in mid-air, both her and Zaron continued to strike at one another frantically. The flailing blades were unbelievably swift, executing several strikes and parries before Mantis returned to the ground. Every clash caused destructive quakes to erupt around them, rubble and rock shaking violently upon impact. As she landed, the assassin rebounded into another pursuit of overwhelming swings, using the power boost in her suit to break her opponent’s concentration.
Swing...! Slash-slash-slash-clink! FWOOSH!!!
Aware that the tables turned on him, Zaron evaded and parried the incoming attacks hastily. He twisted and span without a chance to gasp, shifting his wings to assist the momentum of his every dodge. Although the sense of challenge was raided exponentially, his resolve had yet to falter.
Swoop!
“Huh?!”
Suddenly, Mantis switched tactics, darting out of sight in an abrupt flash. Zaron followed the faint trail of light left behind from the glowing assassin, attempting to relocate his opponent hastily before she could flank him.
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WHOMP!
“AGH!”
He was a second too late, sent flying uncontrollably after an immense kick to the right shoulder. The young Draiken felt the kick was powerful enough to break a bone with ease had it not been his own, his fangs clenched as he withstood the pain erupting from his shoulder. However, he was also separated from his blade, his weapon-hand numbed upon withstanding the attack. Zaron then struck the floor of the wide arena, wincing in further agony as he collided with the same shoulder that took the brunt of the attack. He tumbled along the crumbling floor, his wings wrapped around his body to soften the impact.
Fwoom!
Just then, Zaron expanded his wings to regain control of his body, scrambling to his feet whilst clutching his inflicted shoulder. With his mind racing, he gazed around in search for his missing weapon as ha considered a counterattack. And yet, he was interrupted by the power-drunk Mantis before he could act, reappearing close before him in a flash.
Swipe-swipe…!
Illuminated arm-blades cut through the air, striking towards her target as though craving for the blood of the Draiken. With no time to think nor recover from the previous kick, Zaron threw himself out of the blades’ strike-zone. As he rolled, he spotted the Artoria blade laid on the ground not too distant from his position.
Swoosh!
Mantis followed up with a synchronized downward swipe of her arm-blades, her visor following his evert move as she sliced at her slippery target.
Fwip! DASH!
Noticing the arm-blades inches away from his eyesight, Zaron lurched away reactively before leaping into a sprint. He sensed his opponent chasing him down yet refused to divert his gaze as he reached out for his Artoria blade in desperation.
Snatch!
Swoop! Swing-CLASH!!!
Within mere nanoseconds, Zaron switched and reengaged with the fight, sweeping his blade to connect against the notorious arm-blades at the last second. The subsequent flurry of strikes from the arm-blades were swift yet firm, boosted by the escalating power of the assassin’s suit. In retaliation, Zaron parried and evaded every strike aimed at him frantically, utilising every part of his body to deflect the blades whilst considering his next options.
However, Mantis refused to slack in her pursuit to annihilate him, elevating her pace with every execution. she shifted, switched and darted to every conceivable position as she expected to catch the Draiken off-guard. There was no pattern to Mantis’ assault, zipping from one direction to another to throw off the opponent completely. As she twisted her body and span her arms in a continuously flowing motion, it was beyond clear that she was waiting for the one fatal mistake she desired from Zaron.
Swing…! Clash-clash-clash-clash-clash!!! Swoop! Swoosh-swoosh-SLASH!!!
Retaliating at speeds that passed his comfort-zone, Zaron could feel the growing strain of the fight ache throughout his body. Whilst it was not a simple case of exhaustion, it was undeniable that the lack of time to regain his strength was taking its toll on him. Furthermore, the pressure placed on his body was forcing him back against his will, struggling to hold his ground no matter his approach.
Clash! Swing...!
And then, he misjudged an attack.
SLICE-SLICE-SLICE! Splutter...!
“Agh!”
Mantis executed a flurry of strikes, inflicting surface-level cuts to her target's right arm and abdomen. Caught off-guard by the attack, the frustrated Zaron leapt back reactively as he attempted to regain his composure.
Swoosh!
Mantis was far from finished. She proceeded her assault with a burst of adrenaline, ensuring her movement was unpredictable as she lunged from numerous directions. Amongst the slices, she unleashed kicks and punches sporadically, utilising the boosted power within her glowering suit. Zaron retreated with frantic leaps, his heart racing as his options diminished exponentially. A mixture of rage and frustration brewed within him, set to unleash a counterassault whenever an opening would occur. However, amongst every successful parry came further infliction.
Slice-swing...! Slice-slice-SHLASH!!! Kick-kick-WHOMP!
“GUH!”
Through the onslaught, Mantis shifted her approach and committed to a series of pressured kicks, concluding with a boot powerful enough to send Zaron hurtling back.
Fwip! CRACK!
“URK-!!!”
Before Zaron’s body had a chance to connect with the ground, the assassin leapt above the Draiken and stamped down against his abdomen in an instant. The brute force caused his back to slam against the rough ground – forming an expanding crack underneath. Additionally, the wind was knocked out of Zaron’s lungs upon impact, feeling himself pinned against the rock. And yet, he had no chance to gasp, noticing an arm-blade lunge towards him before he had the chance to even blink.
Swipe-! CLANG!
Acting out of sheer desperation, Zaron threw over his blade as he prayed to intercept the assassin’s strike before she could inflict fatal damage. Just inches from the Draiken's face, Mantis broke off her strike as she noticed the Artoria blade swing up. Without hesitation, she switched and parried the weapon, boosting the blue aura around her suit the moment she absorbed the clash.
Snatch!
With the assassin distracted, Zaron grabbed her ankle with his free hand. At the same time, his eyes burned, and biceps tensed as he pulled Mantis off his abdomen and slammed her to the ground.
WHAM!
Mantis was blindsided entirely as she collided against the floor beside the Draiken, unable to react in time upon feeling her opponent’s latch on her ankle. However, Zaron proceeded to swing his blade further, his blade descending towards the downed assassin with increased velocity.
Swoop...!
“!”
Fwip! Leap!
With no time to hesitate, Mantis rolled to the side and kicked back against the ground before the Artoria blade sliced down upon her, leaping high into the air from the power of her battle-suit and flip back to ensure distance from her opponent. Noticing her rushed retreat, Zaron scrambled to his knees frantically, allowing himself to finally gasp for air in the process.
“Ngh! Haah...!”
Clutching his abdomen, the Draiken glared at his opponent as his frustration and rage boiled over. He then took to his feet, his breaths strained and heavy whilst flexing his weapon arm.
DASH!
In that moment, Mantis charged towards her target, kicking her feet into boosted momentum. As she timed her approach, she swung her arm-blade in anticipation, believing the young Draiken was too preoccupied in recovering to react in time.
Slice-! CLANG!
However, Zaron reacted immediately, parrying the arm-blade with ease. As her first attack shuddered in response, Mantis struck onward with her second arm-blade, allowing no time for the Draiken to block the follow-up assault.
...GRAB!
“!?”
Suddenly, as the second arm-blade targeted Zaron’s neck, he threw any sense of technique out the window and snatched her incoming arm with an unbreakable grip. Taken aback by the sudden interception, Mantis attempted to break free from the grip. Elevating the power in her suit whilst slashing at him with her remaining arm-blade and kicking underneath, she was adamant to separate from her opponent. However, no matter how desperate she tried, Zaron was unfazed.
“Hrrgh...!”
Zaron growled menacingly, a burst of fury pulsing through his veins as he glared daggers onto the assassin. Realising her attempts were futile, Mantis switched to alternate measures. She flicked back her wrist, preparing an escape tactic in similar relation to their previous bout. Noticing her attempt to escape, Zaron clamped down on his unbreakable grip exponentially as he glared deep into his enemy’s visor.
“Mm ... MMPH-?!”
Mantis was groaning in abrupt agony, feeling Zaron’s ironclad grip breaking through her thick, armoured suit. With all the pain she had caused him and all the misery he had endured: the young Draiken desired nothing more than to erase the Crimson Mantis from his life. His eyes burned beyond comprehension as the image of his mother surged through his mind, reminding himself of the fateful night at his family’s home in Dragora and the mystery over its conclusion. At the same time, a pair of golden-yellow irises flashed from the anxious assassin’s visor.
JOLT!
The unexpected sight of the golden irises caused Zaron to back off in unexpected fright, releasing his grip from the assassin as he processed the ominous sight. With his wrist free from the unbreakable grip, Mantis stumbled back in overwhelming relief – soothing her looming pain in her wrist.
“Wha-...! What was ... that?” Zaron gasped out in absolute horror, the golden irises burned into his mind.
From his initial assumption, the irises had not originated from the assassin – instead matching his own reflection. Unable to think clearly, Zaron peered down at his Artoria blade with a blank gaze – observing it’s flat side like a mirror. It was as clear as day.
The usual bright-green hue from his irises morphed to a distinct cast of gold, emulating a vicious reptilian aura when paired with the serpent-like slits for pupils. Additionally, the familiar burning sensation in his eyes were as distinct as ever, further assuming the odd phenomenon had occurred numerous times ever since his bout against the Venxe.
His gaze then widened.
“Is this ... her doing?”
A flash of a lone female figure popped in his mind, her shoulder-length platinum hair flowing with grace as her feathered wings stretched. Zaron could only imagine the Goddess Enva was tinkering with him from behind the scenes.
Swoop!
“AH-?!”
Suddenly, Mantis leapt at the chance to attack the distracted Draiken, lunging at his abdomen from a low angle. Noticing the surprise attack at the last second, Zaron evaded and leapt back in swift retaliation.
“Tsk...!” He tutted irritably, realising his error before returning focus to the battle at hand.
However, as he eyed his opponent, he noticed the assassin was trembling as she tensed up into her battle-stance – hesitant to reengage with the fight. A morbid grin then curled across Zaron’s lips, swinging his Artoria blade freely before setting his stance – his weapon aimed firmly at his enemy.
Whoosh-! BOOM!!!
As though in sync to one another, the two combatants leapt and clashed immediately – both leaving a trail of dented rock in their wake. The intensity of the battle elevated tenfold: the entire arena sending off immense tremors as cracks expended like a spider-web. Additionally, rubble separated and fell from the walls and ceiling, causing rough debris to drop throughout the arena.
Swing…! Clink-Clink! CLANG! SLASH!!!
Zaron used the entire arena at his disposal, his golden serpent-like eyes locked on his opponent as he raced the outer perimeter to circle and flank her from a vulnerable position. Alternatively, Mantis pursued her target without rest, her arm-blades soaring and ricocheting at every opportunity. Although she was firm in her approach, her execution was significantly less aggressive – acting as though she was haunted by Zaron’s piercing gaze and renewed adrenaline. The two swung and retaliated accordingly, timing their attacks to ensure the optimum outcome.
Both were desperate. Both were frantic. Both desired nothing more than to end the fight once and for all.
Swing-swing! SWIPE!
“Hnngh-?!”
The golden-eyed Zaron grunted, evading and parrying the blades extensively as he continued his velocity. “That’s it…! Keep it coming.”
His eyes burning as furious as the blazing sun, Zaron launched himself at the assassin with a barrage of spinning strikes. His might and emotions were elevated as he executed his immense combos, feeling as though he had transferred into a new body entirely. He could match Mantis’ pace, parrying and countering every attempt at his life with lack of effort.
Thwip...! VROOSH!!!
As he touched ground, both combatants launched high into the air, veins pulsing and muscles at peak intensity as they unleashed one final throw-down.
Swoosh…! CLASH! CLASH-CLASH-CLASH!!! FWOOM...! SLASH-SLASH!!!
Fabrics torn, skin sliced, and blood splattered: the two combatants were one mistake away from certain death. A relentless flurry of blades tore through the air, landing strike-after-strike on whatever surface connected – whether it be metal or flesh. And then, as Zaron parried one arm-blade, the other lunged directly into his right shoulder.
STAB!
“AAAAGH!!!”
Bellowing out in abrupt agony as the weapon dug deep, the golden-eyed Draiken snatched the assassin’s arm and retaliated with an immediate jab of his wings’ talons.
“MMPH-!!!”
Both talons broke through her armour and ripped through into her chest area, causing the assassin to release a muffled yelp as the two hurtled to the rocky ground below.
Whoosh! SLAM!
The two combatants tumbled and separated on impact, cracking the hard ground beneath before rolling away from the other’s position. Trickles of blood were left behind, trailing towards their damaged bodies until both slowed to a halt.
For the first minute, silence filled the air. Both combatants were lying face-down unconscious, not a hint of life to be seen.
...Shuffle...!
However, with a flick of the wing, the groggy Zaron was the first to react.
“…Ngh…! Grrgh…!”
After allowing time to regain his strength, Zaron forced himself up from the ground and dragged his body towards Mantis’ location. With every shift, a surge of agonising pain coursed through his body, screaming at him to stop. His right shoulder was unbearable, blood leaking from the newly opened wound and staining the ground at alarming quantities. And yet, Zaron pushed forward, blade scraping alongside him as he ignored his setback.
Mantis was motionless, an arm clutching the wounds in her abdomen. She struggled to break through the pain, the sound of weak breaths escaping her helmet as her head shifted to Zaron's direction.
“Ngh-! Aagh!”
With a firm grip on her armour, Zaron dragged his body on top of the assassin, positioning the Artoria blade close above her throat whilst he straightened up. Mantis attempted to retaliate, yet her strength had completely dissipated – even her suit’s blue glow had diminished entirely.
“Don’t … you dare.” Zaron murmured out in warning, his golden irises glaring down on the assassin as he pinned her in place. “If you try … anything, you’ll be left without a head.”
Mantis was motionless. In that moment, Zaron gathered his breath, hiding any hint of agony in his expression as he flexed his wounded shoulder carefully.
“What’s your mission?” He then questioned. “I know you don’t have a personal gripe against me. So, I want to know why you’re always on my tail. I want to know who contracted you. And I want to know-!”
He stumbled on his words, unable to utter the final subject. Mantis held her silence, staring at him blankly through her helmet’s visor. Zaron’s grip on his blade wavered, his fury blocking out rational thought. He wished to end the pointless feud, to kill the assassin, and to proceed with his life in completing the task assigned to him. Just a flick of the wrist and his bothersome opponent would be gone.
However, he murmured his last few words painfully.
“…I want to know if you’re telling the truth.”
Mantis watched on, cocking her helmet sideways in confusion.
“DON’T GIVE ME THAT LOOK!” Zaron snapped at her furiously, his roars echoing throughout the chamber. “YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN!”
And yet, there was only silence from the crimson assassin. Zaron’s fanged snarl grew evermore twisted and vicious, his patience on its edge.
Wham!
“Mmph?!”
“Terra Nitro. My mother. The woman you fought in Dragora!” He described aggressively as he slammed his left fist into Mantis’ wound. “We’ve been through this before, and I didn’t like your tone back then.”
The Artoria blade almost touching the assassin’s throat, Zaron was anticipating the outcome.
“But now I have you under my blade ... I know you can’t lie to me.” He then threatened her, a weak yet twisting grin breaking through his rage. “So, please…!”
Plip … plip-plip…!
In that moment, droplets fell onto Mantis’ visor. Emotions overwhelmed the young Draiken, his body shaking uncontrollably as he was unable to contain the thought of his mother’s demise. His golden-eyes bloodshot and consumed with tears, the hard shell he was desperate to retain crumbled in an instant.
“Please…! Tell me what happened to my mum!” He yelled out to Mantis.
And first, Mantis was motionless, unfazed by the weeping Draiken. However, after considering the request, Mantis lifted her shoulders in a weak shrug.
“You don’t … know?”
The wide-eyed Zaron breathed out in abrupt despair, reading her actions as words. He could not believe what he witnessed: not only had she lied to him previously, but she also left him with a non-answer.
Swoosh! Clink...!
“WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU DON’T KNOW?!?!” He bellowed out in unyielding fury, throwing aside his weapon and clasping Mantis by both shoulders. “YOU WERE THERE! YOU FOUGHT HER TO THE END! YOU TOLD ME YOU SLAUGHTERED HER!!!”
SLAM!!! Crunch!
“How could you NOT KNOW, DAMMIT?!” He then roared desperately, punching the ground next to her helmet – causing a small crater from the impact.
However, as he paused briefly, his gaze lit up in sudden realisation.
“You … you did fight her … to the end, right?”
In response, Mantis shook her head without a word.
His mouth was agape; his bloodshot golden-eyes wider than ever before; and his body trembling without restraint: he had no idea what to believe at this stage. Regardless, he pursued to ask her one last question.
“Wait, so … what happen-?”
Whomp! CRASH!!!
With no warning, the blocked entrance behind the two combatants erupted in an overwhelming explosion. Rocks, dust, and rubble expanded throughout the arena, scattering in every direction as a thick dust cloud consuming the entrance.
“What…?!”
Zaron’s gasp trailed off, switching his attention to investigate the unexpected occurrence. And then, a recognisable voice screamed out to him in panic.
“ZARON! MOVE!!!”
VROOSH!!!
“Ah-!”
Emerging from the mist in a flash, a colossal-sized beastly silhouette charged towards him. With no time to lose, Zaron leapt out of the warpath in frantic motion, releasing his hold on Mantis whilst avoiding the bouldering silhouette by a narrow margin.
BANG!
A quake shimmered throughout the Treasure Chamber, the ground cracking apart as the hulking mass for a creature collided into the wall close to the Dragon’s Eye pillar. Zaron rolled upon immediate landing, snatching up the Artoria blade in his reach before scrambling back to his feet.
“Grrrgk-!”
As he lifted, he felt a jolt of pain surge inside his wounded shoulder. Additionally, he felt the looming burn within his eyes dissipate.
(Dammit...! Why now?!)
All the adrenaline and rage formed during the battle with Mantis was a mere trinket, leaving him on a disadvantage at the worst time. Shifting aside the inconvenience, the cautious Zaron awaited the dust to settle. His wounded shoulder was seething profusely, causing him to shudder at the looming agony. Regardless, he tensed up his stance, grinding his jaw whilst brushing off the pain in his mind.
“Grrrrrrrrgh…”
Boom-boom … boomboomboomBANG!
The colossal silhouette shifted through the dust cloud; its deep, hollow growl rumbled as it crawled. Zaron reinforced the grip on his weapon, feeling the intensity of his muscles and veins flare up through his limbs. Although his was set to fight, he was also considering his options – preferring one over the other.
His first choice was to escape. Retreat to a safe point – or the surface if the possibility arose – for necessary recovery. Through their tactical retreat from the cave, both he and Veena could return to pursue the Dragon’s Eye refreshed, learning from their mistakes from the previous attempt whilst facing potential enemies without setbacks. However, after everything the Draiken pair had endured for the desired prize, Zaron sought an alternate solution.
Situated far from his position, Zaron’s backpack housed an unused elixir. Had he the chance to consume it, there was a chance for him to heal his wound and resume the conflict restored. And yet, he knew his opportunity dwindled.
FWOOM...!!!
And then, within the thick dust-cloud, a large chunk of crystallised rock appeared hurtling towards him.
“OH SHIT!”
Zaron threw himself aside once more as the boulder scraped passed his position, feeling his heart leap from his chest and shoulder-wound scream simultaneously at the near miss. And then, as he lifted his gaze, he was met with an intimidating, hulking furred-arm just centimetres from his torso.
WHAM!!!
“AAAGH!”
The colossal-sized arm slammed into the young Draiken, sending him soaring back uncontrollably. The sheer force of the collision caused him to lose his grip om Artoria’s hilt. He tumbled across the arena like a skipping stone, the concept of bearings beyond his comprehension. No matter how hard he tried, neither his wing talons nor his hands and feet could find the ground.
For that moment, he felt helpless.
Grab! Clump!
“Ngh-?!”
Just then, Zaron felt a sudden force halt his momentum, a pair of arms snatching him before he could slam into the wall – much to the relief of both him and his saviour. The two tumbled together before skidding to a halt in the ground, the pair of arms refusing to release Zaron’s body. His eyes dazed and unfocused, Zaron glanced back to face his saviour. In that instant, his eyes snapped wide open.
“Veena!”
“Heh...! Who else could it be?”
Latched onto Zaron was an exhausted Veena – recognised immediately by her distinctive scarlet hair and platinum-silver wings wrapped around the two.
“Could you please stand up?” Veena then requested awkwardly. “I’ve just remembered how heavy you are...”
“Tsk! Rude...”
With a cheeky click of the tongue, Zaron shifted from Veena and struggled to his feet, growing at the lingering pain from his wound. Furthermore, he felt the world around him spin uncontrollably, almost stumbling on the spot due to the lack of balance.
“...Dammit.”
“Ah! Here. Heal yourself up quick.” Veena realised as she leapt up beside him, noticing his pained reaction.
Without delay, Veena picked out an item from her pocket and handed it to him in haste.
“Wait ... this vial...?” He murmured vacantly, gazing at her with a glint in his eye.
“I grabbed the elixir from your bag before I caught you.” She admitted, showing a subtle yet prideful grin.
“What would I do without you, Veena.” Zaron then expressed gratefully, showing her a relieved smile.
Without further ado, Zaron popped open the vial and poured half the contents over his wounded shoulder. After feeling the inevitable singe, he gulped down the remaining liquid in one full swing. Veena watched him consume the vial’s content, wary of his current condition whilst also considering the recovery process from the elixir. Feeling the desire to speak her mind, she proceeded to warn him.
“We should get out of here before the elixir takes-!”
“…What’s it doing?”
Veena’s halted her words at Zaron’s unexpected question, switching towards the colossal beast’s position.
“*Grumble…!*”
Boom…! Boom…! Boom…!
Pacing from one side to the other, the monstrous crystal beast – the Dragon Eye’s final Guardian – held a deathly, blood-red glare upon its miniscule targets. With its crystalized muscles pulsating, it was clear that the Guardian anticipated its inevitable snack. And yet, it kept its distance, blocking the Draiken pair’s path to the Dragon’s Eye.
“Its … guarding the Eye.” Veena assumed underneath her breath, strengthening her grip on Kurama’s hilt. “I think it ... wants us to make the first move.”
From how she described the scenario, it was apparent that she was accustomed to the Guardian's behaviour. She was calm, shifting to her typical battle-stance as her planned the next round.
During that time, Zaron eyed the Artoria blade as it laid close to the pacing crystal-beast. He was anxious, feeling exposed without his weapon. Additionally, with the beast’s gaze set on them, the likelihood he would retrieve his weapon without difficulty was slim. Glancing around, he searched for a potential distraction.
“...Huh?”
“What’s up?” Veena wondered in response; her sights set solely on their colossal opponent.
“She’s...” Zaron muttered with a snarl, struggling to find his words. “...She’s gone.”
Mantis had disappeared entirely, a small puddle of blood left from her last sighting. Narrowing his gaze and wing-talons set to strike, Zaron searched every direction for their adversary – assuming wholeheartedly that she was yet to leave the chamber. However, his vigilant search was cut short instantly.
Thwomp! SMASH!!!
The Guardian had lost its patience, throwing itself at the Draiken duo with wailing fists. As it charged through, both Zaron and Veena leaped away in evasion, timing their jump inches from the beast’s collision. As the fist struck the ground, Veena retaliated by circling the beast swiftly, aiming for its boulder-like back to distract the beast. During that time, Zaron kinked into a sprint to retrieve his Artoria blade, ignoring his aching shoulder adamantly. His fangs clenched as his pace staggered, he used every ounce of adrenaline in his system to reach the weapon.
Snatch!
“Ugh...!”
In no time, he reclaimed the Artoria blade.
Fwip...!
FWOOOM!!!
At the same time, Veena executed a rising somersault, avoiding a low swooping arm from the colossal mass of the crystal Guardian. Arms flailing at the young Draiken girl with non-stop vitriol, the beast's fury for its agile opponent was unbound. She slid, pounced, and twisted as every limb imaginable attempted to crush her, awaiting the opportunity to retaliate and allow Zaron time to retrieve his weapon. She was cautious, analysing the crystal Guardian’s attack pattern to ensure her inevitable counterstrike would be effective. Finally, as she evaded the incoming lunging claw, Veena targeted the hulking arm and struck down.
Swipe! STAB!!!
“RyaaaaAAAAAAHH!!!!”
It was a clean, critical strike. The katana penetrated through the arm, resorting in the crystal Guardian to burst out in unyielding fury. Lurching back out of desperate retaliation, Veena felt herself be yanked completely off the ground. Clinging onto the hilt of her Kurama blade for dear life, she was thrown around like a ragdoll with no control on her momentum.
“KRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!!!”
With its roars echoing throughout the chamber, the Guardian attempted to snatch the Draiken from its arm as though she was a bothersome insect. Noticing the incoming claw, Veena dislodged her blade swiftly and followed up her pursuit with another critical strike.
Leap!
She launched herself above the raging beast with blade firm in hand and swung downward, targeting the neck of the crystal monster.
Swish...! Swoop! STAB!
“HWWOOOAAARGH-!!!”
The Guardian bellowed uncontrollably, taken aback by the katana lodged in the back of its neck. Veena felt overcome with satisfaction as she carved into the crystal body, resisting the sway and lurching sensation.
Swoosh...! CRACK!
Just then, Veena clocked Zaron from the corner of her eye as he stabbed his Artoria blade into the Guardian back. Veins popping and fangs snarling in agitation, Zaron was overwhelmed with determination to finish the fight victorious. With a firm twist of the blade, there was no intention for him to yield in the struggle for dominance.
However, the confidence between the two Draiken were short-lived.
GRAB!
“Ungh-?!”
In that moment, a large, crystalized palm grasped Veena in one swoop, her body consumed within its clutches.
“No-! Veena!”
Shink!
The sudden jolt in movement forced Zaron to disconnect his weapon from the crystal beast’s back before kicking off from his position, saving himself from the same fate.
Swoosh!
With Artoria in hand, he leapt up and unleashed his blade in a wide, downward swing – his eyes set for the arm that held Veena in its grasp.
FWOOSH-!
“AAAAH!!!”
And yet, the attempt was futile. As it witnessed Zaron’s approach, the crystal Guardian lobbed the restrained Veena across the entire arena in one fluid motion.
WHACK!
“AAAGH!”
Like an insignificant pest, the Guardian then backhanded Zaron as though it was an impenetrable wall – sending him flying into the distance.
CRASH!!! BANG-BANGBANG!
Zaron tumbled to an eventual halt, blindsided completely by the turn of events.
“V-Veena…!” He called out desperately, scrambling on his hands-and-knees. “Veena! Speak to me!”
Thankfully, a voice was heard in the far section of the chamber.
“I … I’m okay! Just a little … woozy.”
Zaron could hear to elongated pain in her voice, assuming she had injured herself from the unexpected force. Drawing in a deep breath, Zaron used the Artoria blade to support him as he rose to his feet painfully. Not only was his entire body screaming at him, he could also feel his head aching from the entire ordeal. He attempted to locate the crystal Guardian’s position – only to find it disappeared entirely.
“Where did it-?”
Whoosh...! BOOM!
Before he could finish his question, he noticed the beast landing onto the pillar of the nearby pedestal – which housed the Dragon’s Eye. With no hesitation, it yanked the Eye from the pedestal in aggression.
“No…! NOOOO!!!”
Zaron stumbled forward in sudden despair, ignoring the agony surging through his body as he raced to intercept the beast. And yet, it was too late.
Gazing at the Dragon’s Eye in brief admiration, the crystal Guardian proceeded to force the large ruby jewel into its burly crest – showing no restraint as it attempted to fuse with the jewel.
FWOOOOOOOM!!!
As the Dragon’s Eye disappeared into the beast’s crest, a blinding light consumed the entire Treasure Chamber – engulfing both Zaron and Veena in its wake.