Chapter 8: Battle Between Titans

“So, are you going to tell me how you summoned a meteor without being a ninth-tier mage or having an item that can provide the same effects?”

Amaya looked at me with a hunger in her eyes for the knowledge of my new spell. Mages weren’t supposed to cast such spells of mass destruction until they were almost at the limit in Path of the Mind. Spells that could easily wipe a city off the face of the planet.

What I did was very, very, simple. Back on Earth if you paid enough attention in science or were slightly a geek, you’d learn that there are plenty of asteroids surrounding the planet orbiting the world like satellites.

“There are plenty of large giant rocks orbiting the world. My spell was simple with each spell construct having a different objective. The first and smallest was to locate an asteroid close enough and large enough to survive reentry into the world. The second was to lock onto the asteroid and hold it within place. The third and fourth construct are similar in terms of guiding the asteroid. The fifth and final spell construct is the power, which boost the asteroid at the right angle to survive reentry into the world’s atmosphere.”

“You will immediately hand over the details of the spell to me. I believe we can have not only myself, but the lower tier mages cast it as a group. This changes everything. EVERYTHING!”

She was so excited almost jumping up and down as she bounced around my office. I laughed before I began to write down the necessary information for her.

Handing over the documents Amaya gave me a suspicious look before taking them.

“You don’t have any more spells of this caliber that you’re keeping from me?”

“Ha-ha that’s for me to know and you to find out.”

“Aegis this is serious once I re-format this spell, we can accelerate our plans of conquering the kingdoms of this world. Even with your plan of causing civil strife and other tactics a show of power always works out in the end.

I am not saying to rule by fear, but demonstrations are necessary. We’ve already identified several new resources and animals that we can bring back to the Empire. The quality of the materials on this world maybe lower but not even Nia has everything.”

My playful nature vanished.

“I understand Amaya. I do have several spells I’ve been working on that a single mage can cast to truly do damage to an area. However, that was the only spell I was confident in its applications. I’ve spent a long-time formatting and drawing the spell construct needed while choosing the right runes in its construction.”

***

Dax took a deep breath smelling the fresh air and enjoying nature itself. He stood upon a high tower recently built that would become one of the first mage towers within the city. He turned his attention to the training grounds and brought out a scrying orb that he would use to cast a viewing spell over the area were his master and the princess would be fighting.

The human boy heart pumped in excitement and his mage robes hanged slightly loose as they were a size too big for him.

“Are you sure we’re not going to get into trouble?”

The young woman, Veronica asked as she glanced around nervously. Today she was in charge of teaching him how to properly form a tier two spell construct within his mind space. As his master became too busy ever since the announcement of the expedition. Not to say that he didn’t make time, but something always came up.

“If you keep making noise and drawing attention we’ll get in trouble.”

A young man by the name of Davv said while shushing Veronica. Davv was his mentor in the Path of the Body. Both were former adventurers turned soldiers once his master began to recruit.

“Shhhh. It’s about to start.”

The group quiet down and all eyes were focused on the projection of Aegis in some light leather armor holding onto his ax and checking over the straps of his buckler. Moriah was in much of the same except she was equipped with a bastard sword and light shield. A shield that radiated a gold white light. Both parties stopped and looked up at the same instant signaling that they were ready.

Dax looked on excitedly before both figures vanished only to reappear with their weapons locked. Moriah drove her sword down and the weapons clashed. She attempted to locked Aegis ax onto the blade but instead of backing out Aegis moved in giving her a shove with his shoulder and buckler that pushed her a few feet back. Recovering instantly Moriah raised her shield high blocking the overhead swing of Aegis’s ax as it descended. Only to receive a kick to her chest in the same instant.

“She’s falling into his pace. I had no idea the Young Lord was this powerful and they haven’t even used any knightly abilities,” Davv said with stars in his eyes.

A soft light began to glow around Moriah body as she defended blow after blow from Aegis. Until they paused for an instant and Dax could swear, he saw a cold and calculating gleam in Moriah’s eyes. The wide grin on her face was apparent for all to see, however.

Dashing back in Moriah thrust her sword straight out and a beam of goldish white light shot out and straight towards Aegis who hurried to the side only for several more beams of light to target him as Moriah drew in close.

Aegis moved left and right and small explosions took place with every dodge and miss from Moriah light beams. The beginnings of a grin were beginning to appear on the Young Lords face. Both fighters drew away from one another for an instant as Aegis unleased a giant fire ball that gave off a blue flame. Dax watched as Moriah eyes widen and she activated some sort of ability as the moment they drew away from each other Aegis fired off the spell. A massive shield around the size of a townhome appeared in front of Moriah as her shield itself expanded. Sound from the explosion reached Dax and they were miles away.

The only ones near the battle were Lady Amaya and a few of Moriah’s retainers. Those with sufficient strength to protect themselves.

A pause took place as the dust settled down. Aegis was panting slightly but was quickly showing signs of recovery. Dax cheered but once again grew quiet just as a hole was blasted through the dust cloud and a pristine Moriah appeared almost instantly in front of Aegis.

“How are they moving that fast that I can only see when they appear,” Dax complained.

“It is because they’re several tiers ahead of us. Both are at least at the level of a Grand Knight and can take out villages by themselves with ease. If the city or town doesn’t have any protectors, they could live like kings.

One day I too will have that strength.”

Veronica rolled her eyes at Davv before speaking.

“Did you see the level of the fireball the Young Lord cast. No spell construct so he used more mana than necessary but at the level of the battle could you even concentrate enough to form the spell?”

No one answered her question as their attention was back to the fight.

“Is the Princess faster?”

Dax watched at Aegis was on the defensive only moving slightly as he defended against Moriah’s powerful blows. With each blow the ground around them tore up and Dax imagined what would happen if they fought in a city. He watches as Aegis grunted and the ground gave way underneath him an opportunity that Moriah did not hesitate to take as a kick to the side sent the Young Lord fly off into the distance.

Dax clutched at the left side of his ribs where the kick to the young lord was delivered.

***

I clutched at my left slid in immense pain.

“Fuck, I think you broke my ribs.”

Moriah smile as she appeared a few feet away from me. She was definitely stronger. Most likely a tier ahead as she finally cut loose and stopped holding back.

“Brace yourself,” was the only warning I received before the battle commenced anew.

I still had roughly 4/5 of my mana pool left as I felt as not only my magi core, but my various abilities activated to return me to top condition.

Moriah appeared before me again. Stabbing and slicing towards me like a dance. Her shield would rise as we stepped back and forth preventing any of my attacks from going through. The properties of the ground shifted from underneath her as a vast field of quicksand appeared and my mana drained even more. I could feel my body struggle to take in essence and mana as the quality and density of this world was far lower that what I was used too. My recovering time was slowing as well but I was not the only one becoming slower.

My opponent was behind in Path of the Mind as she had yet to cast a spell only using her bloodline and physical prowess.

“Aegis Kan, I acknowledge you as someone worthy.”

A quick pause in our spar and Moriah suddenly spoke. I knew something big was coming. I would be pulling out full stops.

Blue flames began to lick around my body and a field of lava appeared around me extending up to forty feet.

“Moriah Angelo, I acknowledge you as someone worthy.”

I said this and truly meant it. We weren’t fully exhausted as this was not a fight to the death but enough of our energy had been expended and whatever Moriah needed to see to become satisfied must have happened.

Her shield crossed her body to the right and her sword pointed straight at me as she began to sing. Her voice came out angelic.

“When the men march and the women clean.

One gal decision turned in between.

A path chosen and abilities awoken.

Let it be known that you are Angelo’s Chosen.”

She wasn’t the only one to speak as I began to prepare.

“I call to you fireflies who’ve lost their spark come from [Beyond].”

Ashes began to appear around us slowly landing on Moriah and me. This was an ability I should have used since the beginning of the fight, but I wanted an honorable spar with Moriah. It was only at the end that I decided to pull out all the stops.

I brought my attention inwards just as Moriah’s body began to glow the same color as her hair and the energy began to concentrate within her blade as she sang. My bloodline ability began to condense growing smaller but hotter around me. A new feature of my ability taught to me by my father was the move I was preparing. The radius became smaller and hotter with the ground boiling and leaving obsidian behind. I pulled all that energy inwards and towards my ax until the weapon was glowing a bright crimson. My dreadlocks completely matching the color and the stars in my eyes doing much of the same. Moriah faltered for a single step as a piece of ash landed on her hand. Her eyes looked up towards me and I saw the readiness and determination with in them.

She smiled and for a moment I lost concentration as she was truly beautiful, and my heart gave out a thump. It wasn’t any sort of savage like smile but one that was pure and gave off a child like innocence. A smile that one would give on Christmas day as they opened-up presents. A heartwarming smile that made its way into my heart. For a moment all I saw was a young lady just like me trying to find their place in this crazy reality. I returned a smile with the same features and together we dashed towards one another our blades singing and glowing brightly.

“Last Light of the First Sun.”

“Crimson Claw.”