Counter Attack on the Black Dragon
The caverns crystal clear spring was now dyed red as the blood of the black dragon spew forth from where its right arm once was. The monster cried out in both pain and rage. The target of its wrath was completely directed towards Raiden who was grinning from ear to ear.
“That body of yours looks ridiculous now. How about I cut off the other arm to even things out.” (Raiden)
The dragon roared out as a response to Raiden’s provocation.
“Master, stay put for now. I plan on finishing this.”
Now with his duel katanas in each hand Raiden leaps toward the black dragon, unleashing a combination of sword and magic based attacks. The black dragon while fighting back noticeably tried avoiding as many attacked involving Raiden’s blades. This change allowed for more magic attacks to land a few marks on the dragon. The attacks that Raiden’s katanas landed were not as sever as when the dragon lost its arm but blood would be drawn with every hit. The dragon’s scales no longer offered the overpowering defensing ability it once had.
I picked myself up in the background of the fight. My wounds were painful but I was by know means out of commission just yet. Once fully back on my feet Pebble, back in his stone body form, returned to his place on my shoulder. Out of the two of us I was the more hurt. His mithril form must have made Pebble sturdy enough to handle the black dragon’s attack.
“Arin are you okay?” (Liza)
Liza called out to me from the other side of the cavern. She showed signs of physical and mental exhaustion.
“Stay focused. It’s not over yet.” (Arin)
It was true that now that Raiden had a new powerful weapon he can use to hurt the dragon now, but it was also true that up until this moment he had taken tons of damage. I don’t know how long Raiden will be able to hold out now but there was no way he could kill the dragon on his own. But what else could I do now? Liza and I were strong for the average adventurer but compared to Raiden right now the two of us could not compare.
“Dammit, we’re so close! Why aren’t I stronger!” (Arin)
Raiden’s onslaught on the dragon was intense for sure. But with every strike he landed Raiden would receive plenty of the dragon’s attacks. It was manageable now but if the black dragon lands one direct hit on Raiden he would be lucky to even survive.
My dagger Midnight Shadow was powerless against the dragons scales, and my right arm was to broken to even move. I needed some way to deal any type of damage to the dragon’s body.
“I’m pretty useless right now huh Pebble.” (Arin)
Unlike me Pebble looked mored confident. It’s hard to tell what Pebble’s expression is most of the time, but at this moment I could see how determined he was to see this battle to the end.
In that moment, Pebble jumped right in front of me and used his [Secrets of Alchemy] skill to turn back into mithril. Though now instead of changing himself into a weapon like he has before metal threads began coming out of his body. These threads would weave into each other and start to wrap themselves around my body to were Pebble had disappeared before me and was now turning into what was now on my body.
From my feet all the way to my neck was now a form-fitting body suit with what I could only believe to be made out of mithril threads. This made the suit flexible and easy to move in while doubling as powerful armor.
Pebble didn’t stop with just that. On my arms and legs Pebble created arm guards and grieves, with a matching chest plate, that looked like it was carved out of manatite. The same rainbow colored crystal would encase my head forming a protective helmet with a tinted see through visor.
“What’s going on? Since when have you been able to do this Pebble?” (Arin)
For some reason, I felt like Pebble and I had become one person. I could feel his intensions instinctually. Not only that but my broken arm was able to move without any pain. Pebble must be able to help with my movements in this form.
In my head I feel Pebble wanting me to reach out my hand and focus on it. With my arm fully extended out the same mithril threads from before branch out of my hands and take shape into that of a broadsword. In the very next second the mithril blade changed its material to that of manatite.
“Pebble are you… No never mind. Thanks a lot buddy. This just might work.” (Arin)
Focusing back on the exchange between Raiden and the black dragon it had gotten to the point where large cut and burn marks would decorate the dragon’s body. Raiden although surging with power was running low on stamina. His feats of speed and power had drained him more than expected. His strikes with each katana were becoming weaker the longer their fight went on.
“Almost there. Just a bit more.” (Raiden)
The black dragon created spears of flames and darkness in the air and directed all of them in Raiden’s direction. Each spear was sliced through at incredible speed. Raiden’s Katanas were nearly invisible with every swing, leaving a trail of electricity lingering in the air with every strike. One darkness spear however was able to get past his defenses and nicked Raiden in the shoulder.
“Damn it! That hurt bastard!” (Raiden)
The black dragon readied itself to fire it breath attack once more. Raiden was weaken to much at this point. Instead of running Raiden prepared his stance to take on the attack head on.
Before the black dragon could attack, I with the help of Pebble’s new armored form was able to jump high up to the dragon’s head and slashed across its face with my new manatite word. The dragon fell back in pain, its voice sounding more of a cry than a roar.
I landed awkwardly, nearly slipping as I hit the ground. Although Pebble’s armor form made it easy to move the new gains in mobility was a little difficult for my body to handle at the moment.
“Master, is that you?” (Raiden)
“I know right. Thank Pebble for this later. How much longer do you think you can last?” (Arin)
“I probably got 10 more minutes left in me. Sorry I couldn’t do more.” (Raiden)
“You’ve done so much already. Hold out for just a bit longer. We are going to finish this. Raiden lets go!” (Arin)
“Yes Master!” (Raiden)
Me and Raiden made a full dash towards the black dragon. A large scar was now plastered across its face. Anger could be seen in its eyes as it looked at us. The black dragon continued its onslaught on the two of us. Raiden and I went back and forth with defending the other from the black dragon’s attacks as we made our way closer and closer to the dragon.
Pebble created a manatite shield which I used to block most magical attacks. Instead of just defending against the shield had absorbed the magic into itself. The shield changed to a mix of red and black, most likely representing what element of magic was absorbed. Pebble then turned the shield into a large sword still showing the same colored of the magic absorbed. My instinct alone I swung the new sword towards the dragon, releasing an energy slash consisting of both fire and darkness.
The attack landed directly on the dragon dealing a good amount of damage but its resistances made it so it was still standing. Raiden follow up the attack with cladding himself in lightning and charging the dragon with a decisive strike. The black dragon was able to counter using its claws. The collision echoed through the cavern and a few of the dragon’s claws were cut off as well.
“So close.” (Raiden)
Raiden was reaching his limit soon. Just a bit more of a push and we could finally finish off the black dragon.
“Don’y let up Raiden! We’re almost there!” (Arin)
While Raiden and I were distracting the black dragon Liza cleverly enough used her [Barrier Magic] to create platforms to jump off of until she was above the black dragon. From that height she jumped down, going into a dive right onto the dragon’s back.
“Did you guys forget about me!” (Liza)
In mid fall Liza used her unique skill [Armament Materialization] and created an exact copy of Raiden’s duel katanas in both of her hands and stabs directly into the dragon’s back. Discharges of lightning exploded from the blades now deep in the dragon’s flesh.
“Hurry up you two! Finish this already!” (Liza)
The black dragon threw its body around violently until Liza was thrown from it, landing in a shallow end of the caverns’s spring. Looks aside Liza barely looked hurt from the fall
Liza was now much stronger with a copy of Raiden’s weapons. Everyone of us now had a way to deal proper damage to the black dragon. The end of the battle was getting closer in sight.
“This is it. Pebble lets finish this.” (Arin)
In my body I could sense Pebble’s determination. In both body and mind Both me and Pebble started to focus our mana together for one final attack.
“Raiden, Liza, buy me a few minutes. I’ll take care of the rest.” (Arin)
“I’ll give you everything I have master.” (Raiden)
“Finish this quick Mr. Zombie.”
The battle was finally reaching its climax. Soon the victor will be revealed.
