Draconic Testament

by Zac Atie

  “Plenty is wrong with it!” Sheol roared, losing his cool for a second before reverting to his usual nonchalance. “It must be the same among the humans, surely. Disputes that lead to death, dark desires that lead to disgrace, corruption that leads to ruin. It’s all over the universe. And it only gets worse as the crusade continues. Nobody can stop such power... Nobody but a god!”

  “That’s ridiculous.” Zaxxarius said. “This won’t work, this can’t work. Even if it does, it just makes you a monster. You would sacrifice billions of lives, for what? Some promise of power? You wish to enslave all the lives of people who, what, make mistakes for your own benefit. Peace through force is not the way. That is not the mortal way. It’s horrible, but it’s the truth, and I believe that the crusade will only lessen the vile acts you describe.”

  “Everything must have a god. An Origin.” Sheol said. “The dragons themselves must have come from somewhere. This is the only way. This is the only way to attain peace. I will succeed. I must...” Zaxxarius grimaced at the notion. “Join us, Zaxxarius. You are one of the kings of this new world. You are not a pawn. Come to me.”

  “No.” Zaxxarius said. “I will let you all go. Just leave Veronica be, and go back into the portal. We can stop this death.”

  Sheol sighed. “If this is the way you will it to be, then so be it.” Sheol looked at Torrig, and then at Yula. “Take him alive. Don't kill him.”

  “Our pleasure.” Yula said.

  “Though, murdering this rat would be much better.” Torrig chuckled. Yula and Torrig stepped forward, though Torrig ended up charging Zaxxarius for a jab. Zaxxarius dodged and swiped at Torrig, but he rolled to dodge the swipe. Yula shot out both of her hands at the ground near Zaxxarius, and from it, a volley of skeletal arms shot out of the ground, which had opened a void gate in the ground. The hands grab at Zaxxarius, but he swipes at the base of the arm. From there, Torrig decided to use an air bolt to knock Zaxxarius to the ground, but Zaxxarius blocked it with a shield with extreme speed. He turns on Yula, and attacks her with his Arcana. She dodges backwards. He realises she has no close-range experience, which is why he took her down so easily in the caverns. But she has plenty of room to dodge here, and knocks Zaxxarius back with a bolt of air as she dodges. Zaxxarius is knocked back, and swirls to parry Torrig’s blow. Keeping an eye on both of them would be hard, since they are both skilled, but Zaxxarius had Monolith’s recollection. He knew if he kept at it, it would only get easier. He swings at Torrig, over and over, blocking and dodging Yula’s attacks as the battle goes on. He finds himself taking more risky dodges and blows, pulling them off successfully as he goes. Yula didn’t use her Tartarus, whether it was because she could hit Torrig, or whether it was because she didn’t want to risk Zaxxarius dying was a unknown. Zaxxarius locked Arcana with Torrig once more than broke away from him, firing off electricity. Torrig dodged, and it narrowly missed Yula, knocking her off balance. Zaxxarius jumped in for an attack on Torrig, but Torrig blocked, pushed him away, then backed off and kept his distance, dodging another bolt from Zaxxarius until Yula recovered. “This is impossible.” Zaxxarius hissed. It was a stalemate. Zaxxarius had enough experience in combat to dodge Yula and Torrig’s attacks, but they were both playing it safe. At times, they attacked together, Torrig opening Zaxxarius up for an attack, and at times, they nearly got him, but whenever Yula was not in a position to assist Torrig with his assault, Torrig would break away and keep his distance. Zaxxarius himself had to play it safe while Yula was watching them. She was the main threat of the two, because she could attack from afar with Dark Forbidden magic, magic that he had no knowledge of. Whenever he got deep into the swordplay, she’d be there, attacking with magic, while Sheol looked on. They had strategy, while Zaxxarius had none. The only advantage he had was the fact that his Arcana was longer than Torrig’s, meaning he could attack from a longer distance than Torrig could reach with his Arcana, but Torrig knew how to counter that. Then, an idea sprung to mind. Electric bolts were powerful, but they were large, and they took longer to reach the target than... Zaxxarius smiled. Torrig noticed this, and glanced at Yula, who recognised what Torrig meant. Zaxxarius went in for an attack, then circled round Torrig, making him have his back to Veronica. Then, he purposely locked blades with Torrig whenever he could, pushing him backwards towards her. Torrig’s eyes lit up as he saw that he was pushing him towards the glyphs. “Yula!” He hissed, and she sprung into action throwing volleys of air and fire at Zaxxarius, trying to knock him away from Torrig without damaging him too much. Zaxxarius’ Monolith recollection came to him, as he attacked Torrig, locked blades, then took a step back, dodging all of Yula’s attacks, dancing between the bolts as if he were made of water, then going right back in at Torrig when he had the chance, keeping him where he was. Eventually, when he was close to the Glyphs, he shouted “Stop!”. Zaxxarius sneered, thinking he was talking to him, but he was actually talking to Yula. Torrig halted, and pushed back at Zaxxarius, doing the best to get away from the searing pain of the glyphs. Eventually, Zaxxarius made a mishap, and Torrig kneed him in his gut, making him drop his Arcana. Zaxxarius threw Torrig over his shoulder, on the ground, and Torrig attacked with fire when he hit the ground, aiming for his head, but Zaxxarius dropped to the ground. Torrig figured he’d reach for his Arcana, but so he rolled away... but he was wrong.

  Zaxxarius had not pushed over here for the glyphs, but for the incense sticking out on the outer layer. He grabbed a bundle between his fingers, as they burned them from the intensity of the glyphs, and threw them. They soared through the air towards his target, but it was not at Torrig. It was at Yula. The sticks were small, so their speed were too much to perceive quickly. She was not fast enough, and she didn’t see it coming. They sunk into her skin, about 10 of them, into her breasts and stomach. She screamed from the pain, although it didn’t do any serious damage, the intensity of the glyphs seared her skin, burning it. She flailed in pain, as she tried to get them out, and Zaxxarius got to his feet. He shot a bolt of electricity at Yula, knocking her down. Arcana in hand, Zaxxarius charged at Torrig. Torrig saw this, and attacked as well. The two of them were parrying and attacking on equal footing. Eventually, out of nowhere, Zaxxarius began to add spins to his attacks whenever he backed away, throwing Torrig off. On his third spin attack, he hit Torrig hard, slicing away part of his mouth, through to his gum and teeth, breaking through his mask. Torrig squealed, and began to back away in fear. He kept backing away, dodging backward whenever Zaxxarius made even a hint of spinning, then, he began to feel the wind whipping against the back of his neck. He glanced backwards, and saw he was against the balcony of the roof. His eyes widened, and he began to fight for his life. Zaxxarius soon realised that even though he had thrown Torrig off, he was holding his own now, and would eventually begin pushing back. By then, Yula would be recovered and back to square one. No matter how hard he tried, Torrig would not relent. He wished there was some way he could get him to surrender, and not have to kill him, but he was trying to kill a lot more. He’d feel bad later, but he had to. Zaxxarius threw a few bolts of electricity at him, but he dodged gracefully, fighting at his best. He batted away the last one with his Arcana, then he sneered at Zaxxarius through his broken teeth and bleeding gums... then, Zaxxarius gasped at something behind him. Torrig glanced round to look, then he gasped as well. A bleeding, half dead griffon with no beak had climbed up the side of the tower, making whatever screeching sound it could, and attacked Torrig with it’s claws, fighting to it’s last breath for it’s shortly appointed master. Torrig grabbed the griffon, and shoved an Arcana through it’s neck, ending it’s struggle for life, and it’s pain, but Zaxxarius acted upon that opening. Torrig yelled a vile curse, as Zaxxarius sent a bolt of air at Torrig, knocking him off the side of the roof, and down into the abyss. Torrig, the once thought-to-be mastermind serial killer hit the ground with a hard thud, breaking his neck next to the griffon, and died. Zaxxarius felt success, but it was cut off when a bolt of lightning hi
t him in the back, knocking him into a pillar next to him. He created a shield, blocking the second one, and reinforced it for the next volley, but instead, she opened a massive void gate in front of him, that extended so it was underneath him. He didn’t fall through, like he expected. He recalled Hime saying that Warlocks can only create one way rifts to the null and void, but they cannot travel there unless they have mastered Blinking Gate. Out of the darkness, a hand comes out, and grabs his round his throat. Zaxxarius yanks away, getting up and backing off, but another hand came out, grabbing his leg and pulling him back. Then, a large horned skeleton begins to appear, cackling not so different from a doll, appearing only up to his torso. He grabs Zaxxarius, and dangles him in the air, swinging him like a ragdoll, laughing maniacally while it does so. Zaxxarius nearly blacks out, then, he drops his Arcana accidently. After that, he decided he might as well pretend to, and closes his eyes and went limp. The skeleton stopped playing around with Zaxxarius after that, and Yula turned to talk with Sheol. “He’s still awake, fool.” Sheol said, as Yula spun around to see a lightning bolt come towards her. It hit her between the eyes and electrified her intensely, killing her outright before she could even scream, but that didn’t stop the large skeleton, that wailed as the Void gate closed and cut it’s spine in two. It fell backwards, letting go of Zaxxarius and letting him crash into the floor. The skeleton broke into many pieces, scattering to all corners of the room, before it’s bones shredded into darkness. Zaxxarius got up and reclaimed his Arcana, then runs over to Veronica, checking on her. “Mustn’t have been fighting long.” He told her, as if she could hear, then he turns to Sheol again, who had been standing there, watching the whole time.

  “Impressive.” Sheol said. “It looks like you know how to use strategy and know where your skill ends. Sometimes, that’s better than skill itself.”

  “Why didn’t you help them?” Zaxxarius asked, approaching him, Arcana at the ready. “They were your friends, weren’t they?”

  “No.” Sheol said. “Merely students. Students I was proud of, and in the end, they learned to fight as a team. But, not well enough, as you clearly saw.”

  “If you had interfered, you could have saved them!” Zaxxarius hissed at him.

  “Survival of the fittest.” Sheol said. “A mother bird leaves it’s children when they learn to fly. After that, they are of their own devices.”

  “You’re comparing yourself and your students to animals...” Zaxxarius said.

  “Are we not animals?” Sheol asked. “We’re mortals, just like they are. We abide the laws of nature, just like they do. However smart we can grow, there are always aspects of wildlife that surpass and make more sense than our ways of life. If I saved my students, it would have made them weak. They must stand on their own.”

  “I cannot understand that.” Zaxxarius said. “I could never watch my students die.” Sheol sighed.

  “We are so different.” Sheol said. “So much like your father. A man whom I admire.” Sheol took out two Arcanas from his holsters, holding one in each hand, and turned them on. “We don’t have to fight.” Zaxxarius said. “You can live! We can go our own ways!”

  “I am going my own way.” Sheol said. “And you are halting my progress.” With that, he leapt at Zaxxarius, attacking first with his left Arcana, then again with his right. His right blow was strong, and knocked his Arcana aside, leaving him wide open for another of Sheol’s left attacks, making his coat flap sharply with his swift motions. Zaxxarius dodged his left attack with a spinning attack, but Sheol parried with his right Arcana, then kicked Zaxxarius, knocking him far back. He knocks over a couple of incense from Veronica’s ritual circle, and the glyphs burn him, so he rolls off quickly. “Sancterus was better.” Sheol said. “He used two Arcanas as well. Your Arcana’s reach will not save you here.” Zaxxarius got up, shooting lightning at Sheol, thinking Sheol could not create a shield with both hands full, but he didn’t need to for that level of magic. He merely blocked the lightning with both of his Arcana, creating a cross shape. Zaxxarius went in for another attack, but kept his distance, testing Sheol’s theory about his reach. Whenever Zaxxarius would attack at a distance, Sheol would merely parry his blow with one Arcana, take a step forward, and attack with his other Arcana, forcing Zaxxarius back. Sheol constantly kept Zaxxarius on the defensive, and he kept getting hit with grazes, and Sheol never broke a sweat. “How are you so strong?” Zaxxarius asked Sheol.

  “Being an Overlord does not give you a free pass at winning.” Sheol said. “What sort of person would I be if I spouted teaching about the Survival of the Fittest, but never actually fought hard? Just surrender. You need not fight. In the end, the death you have caused today will be meaningless.”

  “Don't make me seem like the bad guy, here!” Zaxxarius shouted.

  “Evil is an illusion.” Sheol said. “There is no such thing as morals.”

  “That’s nonsense!” Zaxxarius shouted, vexed. “Stop talking!”

  “As you wish.” Sheol said, then he leapt at Zaxxarius. Zaxxarius recklessly charged and swiped at Sheol, hard, and luckily, he forced Sheol to block with both Arcana. Zaxxarius pushed Sheol backwards with a rough push, then followed it up with a fast swipe, as fast as he could, but Sheol jumped over him, landing behind him. Zaxxarius jumped forward, getting away from Sheol, but he turned to see Sheol had not made a move to attack him. “Is he toying with me?” He thought.

  “Do you see the gap in our strength?” Sheol asked. “You have much potential. Replace my students. Come back with me. I’ll train you in the place that Veronica’s soul will reside.”

  “So she’ll die!” Zaxxarius said. “You admit it!”

  “No.” Sheol said. “You’re wrong. I told you, she and Dhym will switch places. She’ll be magical residue, but her soul will remain within it, and they’ll stay there, permanently. She’ll be able to talk, to feel, like any other mortal. She’ll just have no body.”

  “That’s no life!” Zaxxarius said.

  “It is.” Sheol said. “She’ll be immortal. She’ll outlive you.”

  “I can’t let her live like that.” Zaxxarius said.

  “So stubborn.” Sheol said. “It’s the fate that has been laid out before you, whether you like it or not.” Sheol slammed his Arcana together, and a black smoke-like substance emanated from the blades. Before Zaxxarius could ask, Sheol attacked again, and Zaxxarius dodged the blows. However, when he dodged one of the blades, the smokey substance entered his nose, and disoriented him. Sheol attacked with a kick, but Zaxxarius countered automatically with a swipe at his leg. It would have hit if not for the substance, but the blow was too inaccurate. Each attack Sheol made, Zaxxarius felt more and more groggy, and whenever he was away from the blades he began to felt better, but Sheol made sure he was rarely away. When Zaxxarius felt was about to pass out, he jumped backwards and fired a furious bolt of electricity at Sheol, making him dodge. He dodged another, and another, Zaxxarius’ last bolt was different. Zaxxarius didn’t know how he did it, but he felt the Magic change, he felt him put his body and soul into the spell, and he felt the magic twist and curl when he fired it. It was black, and it was fast. It made Sheol shield from the blow, but it destroyed the shield and hit him. It didn’t kill him, it just knocked him back and wounded him. He lay on the ground, grunting. “You evolved your lightning.” He said, getting up, groggily. “It seems like it’s really strong.” Sheol healed the wound as best he could, healing most of it, but he still felt the blow. For some reason, Zaxxarius simply stood and watched. The two attack, Zaxxarius using his newfound advantage to keep Sheol at bay, although he did end up going back on the defensive a couple of times. He is pushed back to the pillars, which he uses to break his line of sight, and attack from unexpected angles, but it was limited in how useful it was due to the fact that Sheol had an Arcana in each hand. Zaxxarius tries to use his black lighting again, but he found it hard to actually fire it off. It took effort, and Sheol could tell when it was coming. It had wo
unded him to the point of slowing him down, but he was aware of it now, and he never tried to block the damage, he just moved and intercepted when Zaxxarius tried to use it. Zaxxarius abandoned the idea, hoping he’d have a chance to train and perfect it some other time, if Sheol didn’t kill him here.

  Time passed as the two fought, Arcana hitting Arcana, each gaining scrapes and cuts from the blades. Zaxxarius was constantly on the defensive, but he got a few hits through now and then. They’d stop for breaks, and talk, but it always ended the same. They’d each voice their ideals, then end with a dismissal, and fight. The two had advantages of their own. Zaxxarius’ was that the more he fought, the more he learned, and Sheol’s was that he had all the time in the world, and when push came to shove, he’d be able to save himself. He was holding back to a certain extent. He knew techniques that would kill Zaxxarius, but he never wanted him to die, only to capture him. Zaxxarius had heavy bruises in his chest and back where Sheol would kick him to the ground, waiting for him to get up, as if he was the master of Zaxxarius, and this was a training session. Zaxxarius kept looking back at Veronica. She was running out of time, and Sheol was taking his. “There’s a lot more to you than you realise.” Sheol said. “There’s natural skill in you, as well as artificial skill. You’ve likely heard people say this, over and over. But very few of them actually know what it is. Unlike me. Do you really think a normal person could adapt the way you have?” Sheol never explained anything he really said during the fight. It was just riddle after riddle. Eventually, during the fight, Sheol got serious, and unleashed a fast flurry of blows after he had taken a deep gash to the stomach. When Zaxxarius was wide open, Sheol unleashed a spinning kick to Zaxxarius’ temple, knocking him to the ground. “We’ve fought long enough.” Sheol said. “I’ve watched you improve during the course of our battle. Cease this.”