Limits - Chapter 467

“Frosty?”, a large creature stood in front of me. This was no longer a small lizard, but a huge creature with wings, long neck and long tail as thick as a Human. The blue scales covering Frosty’s whole body, glistered like well polished metal. His deep blue eyes, reflected wisdom and ancient feel. “ROOAR!”, Frosty turned towards the hooded figures, and released an ear piercing roar.

“We meet again King of Glaciers, Ice Dragon Belagor”, the hooded figure stated. ‘Dragon?’, I asked myself unaware what that was. “Frosty is a… Dragon?”, Fox was even more shocked than me. I asked, “What is that?”. She looked at me in disbelief, “You don’t know?… Dragons… Ancient Beasts thought to exist in legends alone. Yet, this is not a legend, not a fairytale. This is reality”. I looked back at Frosty, “Does that mean you are very strong?”.

Frosty didn’t reply to me, instead he spread his wings and lifted off into the air. “You fell from the glory, Belagor. You used to be a majestic creature in the past, but now? You are just but a shadow of your past self… Why don’t you submit to us? It’s that easy and simple. We can go the hard way, and make you submit if you so choose”, the hooded figure said. “The likes of you shall not know the glory of which you speak. Neither of you were kings or rulers, neither tasted the power of which you speak ill. A bunch of runaways wish to command I, the King of Glaciers?”, Frosty replied.

“A fallen king, dragon. Catch him!”, the hooded figure exclaimed with clear anger in his voice. I could feel a series of Formations flying towards Frosty, but Frosty didn’t seem perturbed by that. “RAAAWR!”, Frosty’s roar was accompanied by a stream of ice, which shot towards the hooded figures. “CREAK!, CRACK!… SHATTER!”, the Formations broke like cheap pottery.

The hooded figures didn’t panic at all. They floated there indifferently, as if Frosty’s ice breath meant nothing to them. I soon realised why. The ice breath hit an invisible wall, creating ice pillars and spikes all over it. That wasn’t the end, with a simple “Hmph!” from the hooded figure, all the ice shattered. “This time, there is no escape for you, Belagor”, the hooded figure said, and extended his arms. Other hooded figures did the same, and targeted Frosty.

Frosty flapped his wings and distanced himself, but something seemed off. ‘Why doesn’t Frosty simply escape?’, I asked myself. A plethora of Formations tried slamming Frosty to the ground, but he somehow managed to avoid them. “Frosty! Run away from the North!”, I shouted. The hooded figure laughed, “Run away? Belagor can’t run away, not from this place”. I was shocked, ‘Does that mean the barrier also stops Frosty from leaving? Wasn’t the barrier placed many years ago?’, I asked myself.

Frosty was able to leave the North, as long as he was hidden inside my arm. That explained a few things, but at the same time created more questions. ‘Why wouldn’t Frosty simply escape after we left the North? I spent so much time in the Endrosian Empire, Frosty had many chances to simply leave as he wished… Yet, he didn’t… I need to do something, I can’t leave Frosty like this’, I thought. “You can let go of me, I can manage on my own”, I told Fox who was supporting me. She refused, so I grabbed her hand and smiled. She finally allowed me to stand on my own. I immediately took out some medicine from my storage, and consumed it. ‘As long as I’m close to the barrier and Frosty returns to my arm, we should be able to escape’, I thought.

Frosty was already struggling to evade all those Formations, I knew they would win sooner or later. Frosty distanced himself further and further, while the hooded figures gave chase. ‘Chance!’, I thought and disappeared. I ran like crazy, utilising everything my body and Formations had on offer.

“Frosty!”, I shouted at the top of my lungs. “Follow me!”. Frosty must’ve gotten my meaning, and flew towards me. “Foolish Human! We gave you a chance once!”, the hooded figure exclaimed, and aimed towards me. “ROOAR!”, Frosty’s ice breath assaulted the hooded figures, buying me some time. ‘I can make it, we can escape!’, I thought. That would be too beautiful and hopeful. “NEX!”, Fox’s scream reverberated through the air.

“Choose Human! Her or that damned beast!”, the hooded figure said with clear anger in his voice. I stopped, and looked back. Fox hung mid-air, struggling to get herself out of the hooded figure’s grasps. Frosty tried attacking them again, but to no avail. Fox was in their clutches, and I stood in front of a choice. Save a friend who saved my ass a few times, or save the woman I loved. ‘I’m sorry Frosty, I can’t lose her… I don’t want to lose you either… I’m too powerless’, I thought and started walking back towards them.

“Good choice Human”, he said before throwing Fox to the ground. Fortunately, others were there to catch her, but escaping was no longer an option. I was powerless, defeated. Frosty was finally caught up by their Formations, and slammed to the ground. I made my way back as quickly as I could, but what would that change? “ROAR!”, Frosty’s painful screams reverberated through the area. ‘How can I face him now, I failed him when he needed me the most’, I thought as more Formations appeared around Frosty, sealing all his movements.

Fox rushed towards me, and hugged me. “I’m sorry Nex… I know you care about him, but there’s nothing we can do now… Future… Future is unknown. We might still save him”, she said quietly. I patted her head, as tears fell down my eyes. ‘Future… ‘, I looked Frosty in his eyes. ‘You did well Nex. I couldn’t ask for more. You tried everything you could… Thank you’, Frosty’s voice sounded in my mind.

I couldn’t stop the tears. I failed him, yet he thanked me. “Ungh!”, a sudden pressure locked me and Fox in place. “That is why I never liked Humans. Since you wanted to interfere so much, I will make sure you never walk this earth again”, the hooded figure said. “You promised!”, Alicia shouted. “Bam!”, “Shut up Lizard”. The hooded figure said after blowing Alicia away. “Know your place”, he added.

“Aranak, we got what we came for. Let’s restrict the Eterians, and leave”, another hooded figure approached him. “No, I will deal with this Human first”, he replied and turned towards me. “You dared to stand in our way, we will now demonstrate the consequences of your actions”, he said. Frosty started flailing like mad, trying to release himself. “BOOOM!”, “Quiet down dragon! I will deal with you soon”, Aranak said.

“Let… her go”, I squeezed out. Aranak didn’t care what I said anymore, he raised his hand to strike down. Time froze for a second. I looked at Frosty, still trying to free himself. I looked at my friends, who were as rooted to the ground as I was. I looked at Fox, who was holding onto me, no matter what happened next. “Life… Life was never fair…”, “Crack!”. “I knew about that for a long time…”, “CRACK!”. “But… I refuse to give in…”, “SHATTER!”. “I refuse to give in, for the people I love”. “BOOOM!, SCREEECH!”.

“Hmmm?”. “Crack!, Crack!, SHATTER!”. “That Aura!”, the Humans exclaimed. “So, you were hiding your true abilities. The Unyielding Will, it’s been a while since I encountered such a Human”, Aranak said with a hint of surprise. “You might be an existence at Primal Limits, but…”, “BOOOM!”, “… I’m not someone who fears such existences!”, I exclaimed while fully releasing my Aura.

“Let me whoop this guy’s ass Fox, it won’t take long”, I said while stroking Fox’s head. She looked me in the eyes and smiled, “Your eyes changed as well”. I returned the smile, and let her get behind me. “Tap… Tap… Tap… Wanna come down here, or should I go up there… Aranak?”, I asked while stepping forwards. “What confidence. Good, I will grant you that request”, he replied before turning towards other hooded figures. “You stay out of this, I will enjoy myself a bit more”.