Progenitor of Dragons - Chapter 70

With one swift movement, Ardante slashed his knife across Kaler’s neck, beheading him. Or, at least, that’s what would have happened.

Ardante felt something stopping the knife, he could not move his hand further. He felt that his weapon was stuck on something… “What is this…” He muttered.

In front of him, his knife met its target, however, Kaler still had his head attached to his shoulders. Ardante’s eyes widened behind his helmet. “Impossible!” The knife was stuck in Kaler’s flesh, only making a small graze.

“I will admit. You are the first person to even graze my diamond skin.” Kaler commented, smiling behind his mask. “But it’s time to end this.” Kaler focused the energy in his body, or at least, what’s left of it, and expelled it outwards in a large blast.

Kaler grunted as he expelled an electrical dome that expanded rapidly. The sheer force of the blast sent Ardante flying. Lightning crept up Kaler’s body and broke the chains that were holding him. He fell to the ground, panting, barely able to catch his breath. ‘My energy is depleting, fast. I need to get away…’ He thought to himself.

Ardante, meanwhile, was still reeling from the powerful blast that sent him into the manor’s wall. He hit his back on the manor, leaving a spiderweb-like pattern on it. He stumbled to his feet, staggering and almost losing balance as he did. ‘Damn it…’  He felt every part of his body stinging. ‘That man has too much power…’

He quickly gathered his bearings, tearing a portal in front of him. As he stepped into what looked like a starry abyss, the tear sealed up behind him. His presence is erased from this plane.

Kaler used his speed to run back into the manor, where Aurora was. As he vaulted over the broken window, he gave into fatigue, sitting and leaning on the window, panting. Aurora gave him a pitying look. “Let me help.” She pleaded. However, Kaler refused to have her entangled in what he knew was going to be a messy fight.

“I have other ways. Don’t worry. But what do you notice about him?” Kaler asked.

“He is clearly extremely strong and very aware of his surroundings, the trademarks of a space manipulator. Though, most who possess the space element use up too much power, he seems to be much more refined, even able to use offensive techniques…”  She pondered. Space affinity mages are extremely rare. Seeing one here is a shock to everyone.

“He can teleport to evade attacks or change their trajectory altogether. He can even make the space between him and his opponent non-existent. ”

“I need a diversion then,” Kaler said. Without a second thought, he leapt back outside, almost staggering as he went. Aurora tried to stop him but she knew, that he was too stubborn to listen and that he would deny it. Kaler hobbled over to Astere and Travis who were both on high alert, Travis’s hands transformed into claws while Astere had his knife drawn and half of his body looked like it would fade out of existence.

His arrival caught them by surprise, they both almost slashed his face off. “Woah! Woah! Woah! It’s me!” Kaler exclaimed.

“Kaler?! Are you ok?!” Travis was the one to show concern, backing off immediately.

“Fine. Listen. I need you both to cause a distraction. He is still here, and I know it. Get his attention, I will take care of the rest.” Kaler said with conviction. The father and son pair nodded. Satisfied, Kaler thrust himself onto the roof of the building and laid there, waiting.

Soon, right where Astere and Travis were, a familiar-looking tear appeared, as a dark-robed figure stepped out of the rip. Ardante staggered out of the portal, gripping his knife tightly in his right hand. He sneered at the father and son. “Where is that dragon-masked fool? I have no business with you anymore, Mr Volance.”

Travis remained quiet. Astere quietly hid behind his father. Once he was completely out of sight, he activated his cloaking and ran behind Ardante. Travis, knowing his son is in position, transformed into a white tiger, and pounced onto Ardante.

Travis was fast. However, he knew their plan. He hoped Ardante would stagger into Astere, who would then finish him with a single stab from his knife. A good idea, in theory. Ardante could feel the presence of Astere, the space around him did not feel empty.

Ardante swiftly ripped open a portal. Travis who was mid-air could not change his trajectory. He dived straight into the starry void. Ardante made another portal right behind him. Like a circus act, the tiger jumped into the hoop and came out the other side. Except that this show would end in a horrible fashion.

Travis collided with his son, sending them both tumbling some distance away. “Argh…” Astere grunted in pain from the impact, and Travis was enraged that Ardante forced him to hit his son. He grits his teeth, trying to keep his rage at bay as he helped Astere to his feet.

Astere clutched his abdomen, still feeling the pain. Travis faced the intruder. “I’m gonna break you… you hurt my son…” He said, positively seething with rage.

“Come and get me.” Ardante taunted back, smiling underneath his mask. Travis growled like a real animal, transforming into an eagle. He soared into the sky and swooped down, green energy surrounding him. Astere also leapt onto Ardante, knife out in front of him.

Ardante made a small cut behind him and disappeared, making Travis miss, He appeared slightly above and behind where he was before. Astere, not expecting the sudden change in height, missed his slash.

The aggressors stepped back and tried again, this time, their attacks would collide at the exact same time. Ardante teleported again, this time appearing behind Astere, taunting him. Both Astere and Travis were already exhausted. Both of them are having a hard time landing a hit. Until…

*BANG!* *BZZT*

A loud gunshot rang through the air, followed by the sound of lightning. Ardante looked to his left, as he saw a bright flash of light barrelling toward him. Next thing he knew, his whole body crumpled and fell onto the ground, spazzing.

On the roof, Kaler was seen standing triumphantly. In his hand, was the modified gun he stole from a Wraith Corps soldier when he first gained his powers. He looked down upon Aradnte with disdain. “You are lucky to be alive.”

Ardante slowly crawled to his feet, stumbling as he tried to brace himself. Kaler fired two more electrically charged bullets at Ardante. Ardante swiftly opened up a portal to swallow the shots. However, his use of magic was starting to take a toll on him.

His knees buckled as his legs lost all strength, falling onto the ground. He stared at Kaler, whose face was now only lit by the light of the new moon. The night sky, in the back makes him look like a beast from the underworld.  “How…are you …so … strong…” He struggled to speak. “Who… are you…”

Kaler jumped down from the roof, walking over to the miserable figure of Ardante, who was still struggling to even crawl. “I am your worst nightmare,” Kaler said in a chilling voice.

With the last bullet in the magazine, the gun started to emit a rainbow glow. The whole thing started to look like the product of a light show. Ardante grit his teeth and gripped onto his knife tightly, mustering the energy to summon one last portal in front of him.

Kaler pulled the trigger, a thick rainbow beam, larger and about 5x more powerful than the prismatic beams he can produce with his hand shot out. At first, they only hit the portal in front of Ardante, however, as his energy rapidly depleted, the portal wavered. Soon, his only layer of protection ceased to be, and he took the full brunt of the prismatic beam.

Ardante was knocked back into the helipad platform, his body motionless, his breathing laboured, barely clinging onto life. The gun in Kaler’s hand burst and shattered into a million pieces from the sheer power he exerted.

Kaler scanned the area. Bodies, destruction, a lot has happened here. He was the cause of it. He needs to leave as soon as possible. Kaler heard the clicking of boots running towards him. He looked sideways as he flashed a small smile. His body was suddenly embraced by Aurora, squeezing him tightly, afraid that he might leave her.

He smiled once more and stroked her hair, feeling at peace once more. He took one last look around him as Travis and Astere started walking toward him. He looked at them apologetically, though they couldn’t see it.

“I’m sorry about everything I have done and all the trouble I have caused. We will leave promptly tomorrow.” Kaler promised, his voice raspy from his lack of energy.

“It’s ok. We thank you for protecting us, and for restoring our country. I will load these fools onto the ship and send them back to where they came from.”  Travis said with resolve. Kaler nodded, grateful to the Volances once more.

He suddenly felt his eyelids grow heavy as his body gave way, collapsing, as his world fell into darkness.