Chapter 16 Overboard

Before the green Chrotile could say more, a fireball shot from the small, scowling Crimson Chrotile. The floating platform shot upward, narrowly avoiding the fireball arcing through the air as it descended on a widely grinning Thrask. He forwent his armor as he raised his hammer into the path of the fireball. As he faced the fireball head on his teammates, backpedaled out of the blast radius.

Her scowl deepened as the fireball exploded harmlessly on Thrazk’s hammer. A growl rumbled in her throat as she released another fireball, then a lightning bolt, both aimed at Thrazk.

Again, Thrazk blocked the attacks with his hammer with a smile, only adding fuel to her anger.

The air surrounding Thoss sparked, forcing her teammates back, essentially turning the three on three fight into a one on one.

Despite the rising heat, the green Chrotile announcer stayed at the edge of the platform. “We are in for a treat! A Nova already!”

Her scaled glowed as the arena floor melted. Blue lightning arcs around her body, contrasting a fireball building on her outstretched palm. When the fireball reached the size of a beach ball, lightning ran up her arm into the fireball, giving it a purple tint.

Thrask stood his ground, hammer raised toward his sister in challenge, still unarmored.

Finally, after almost ten seconds, Thoss flicked her wrist toward Thrazk, sending her payload his way. Upon impact, the arena turned blinding bright, but Elysia saw everything with her lightning enhanced eyes used to bright lights.

Thrazk held his hammer in between him and the ball of fiery death, smile only growing wider by the moment. The scaly arena floor melted away, causing him to sink into the crater, but he continued to hold his hammer up as if the heat did nothing to him.

When the light dimmed, a gasp ran through the crowd as they stared wide eyed at Thrask standing at the bottom of a several meter deep crater unharmed.

Thrask’s booming voice filled the arena. “Is that all you have, little sister?”

Her face turned blank as she flicked her wrist in rapid succession. Dozens of balls of fire and lightning came to life, then shot toward Thrazk, but unlike her previous attacks, they didn’t strike but instead floated around him. In a masterful display of control, each ball fell into place in a two meter radius dome, leaving no room for Thrask to escape with his bulky form.

Despite the surrounding death, he stood still waiting for the attack, though a slight glow along his scales indicated a skill activation.

Satisfied with her preparations, Thoss snapped her fingers once again, creating an artificial sun surrounding Thrazk.

Elysia’s jaw slackened as she watched Thrazk’s hammer blur, hitting every orb before slamming it into the ground.

Either by the explosion or his hammer, the arena floor rumbled as it split open. The crack spread toward the small Chrotile, causing her eyes to widen, but before she could take a step, it reached her. Fortunately, a red blur scooped her up before she fell into the dozen meter deep crack.

When the light dimmed, she stood by her brother while their teammate stood in front of them in a defense position.

Thrazk hopped out of the crater, then glanced back at his teammates, but unlike his opponents, they stood back, overwhelmed with the display of power. He tsked with a disappointed shake of his head before turning toward the trio. His armor appeared, encapsulating him in thick, blood red scaled armor.

Like a demon lord facing down the heroes, he slammed the butt end of his hammer into the ground, leaving a crack while letting out an ear rattling war cry.

The trio shared a nod before falling into formation. Their tank stood in front of the small Chrotile while her brother blurred away in a flanking maneuver.

While Thoss powered up a fireball, her brother flashed behind Thrazk, but in an impossible display of speed for his massive frame, Thrazk twisted his hammer behind him, impacting his brother’s side before turning back to meet the fireball flying his way. Like before, he causally swatted it away with his hammer, then charged forward.

With the power of a freight train, he rammed into their tank, sending him skidding back several meters into Thoss. Thrixl dashed in for another attack, this time aiming his daggers for Thrazk’s left side, but as if he had eyes on the back of his head, he sidestepped the attack, then brought his hammer down on Rixl.

Rixl raised his shield to meet the blow, dropping to one knee but holding his ground. He slashed his long sword under his shield toward Thrazk’s shins, but Thrazk jumped back only to take a lightning bolt to his face.

Thrazk shoot his head, dazed, allowing Thrixl to sneak in a lightning fast slash to the back of his left knee. As his vision cleared, he found himself down on one knee like his opposing tank. Like him, Thrazk swung his hammer in a wide arc, forcing both Rixl and Thrixl back.

Before the duo could recover, Thrazk shot forward toward his sister. With wide eyes, she battered him with rapid fire lightning balls, but like their previous exchanges, he shrugged them off as he swung his hammer.

Just before impact, Rixl dove in, shield raised, but without time to brace himself, he collapsed to both knees under the strike. To his relief, a follow up attack didn’t come as Thrazk jumped back to avoid a throwing knife aimed at a gap in his armored side.

The trio regrouped in a standard formation, tank in front, midline behind him, then caster in the back while Thrazk stood tall, staring down at them.

A deep rumbled radiated from Thrazk, which Elysia recognized as a laugh. “Oh? Is it my turn?”

The trio stiffened but held their ground. “Urus permission to go all out.”

“Granted.”

“Wonderful!” Thrazk surveyed the crowd, pausing on the participants of Mezo. “This is what you could become if you reach for it.”

Despite knowing what was coming, the trio valiantly stood their ground. Even after all these years, the unstoppable force of Thrazk loomed large. The outcome was set the moment he turned serious. No one beat Thrazk in a fight. He only grew stronger to match his opponents. Fortunately for them, this was only an exhibition skirmish.

Thrazk nodded his head in respect to his opponents before gripping his hammer with both hands. As he raised his hammer above his head, he let out a roar, body growing over a meter to a monstrous three and a half meters tall. His blood red armor took on an ominous glow, pulsating with the beat of his powerful heart.

Still, the trio remained where they were, knowing no matter where they went, they had no chance of dodging.

His hammer blurred downward, sending a shock wave of force toward the crowd. A barrier sprang to life, but it did nothing to weaken the earthquake of the hammer head striking the arena. Cracks spread through the arena, splintering it into dozens of pieces. The cracks only grew wider as he flipped the hammer up with a flick of his wrist before leaping into the air. He caught the hammer several meters in the air before thrusting it downward, only to freeze in midair.

At the same time, the trio and his useless teammate levitated off the ground, the arena collapsing underneath them. “What did I tell you about using Earth Piercer on my shell?”

While looking down at the ruined arena showing sections of shell dozens of meters down. “What? I asked if I could go all out.”

“I forbid that skill on my shell for a reason. It’s beyond me how you unlocked it at your level. That skill could destroy an island. Why would I allow such a thing on my shell? Why are you determined to give me back pain? I’m far too young for that. Besides, what about your opponents? Why would you use an island destroyer in a friendly match?”

Unrepentant, Thrazk shrugged his shoulders, slightly peeved by her interference. “I knew you would save them if their lives were in danger.”

A huff of annoyance vibrated through the city before Thrazk shot off toward the lake. With the back pain inducing pest gone, Urus turned her attention to the stunned crowd. “Because of that impulsive battle maniac, I must call an end to the opening ceremony early.”

Everyone lifted into the air and floated out of the arena. Unlike Thrazk, Urus set them down on the main street leading to the arena before razing the building to the ground. Then she erected a wall to block her work from sight.

Elysia ripped off the ceremonial helmet, scanning the crowd for Ione. Panic radiated through their bond, ratcheting up her worry until she found her bond frozen stiff, fur standing on end a couple of meters away. She dashed toward Ione, but the cumbersome armor impeded her movement, forcing her to strip it away within seconds. Relief filled her as she scooped her bond into her scaled arms.

As gently as possible, she stroked Ione’s head, but unlike normal, a purr didn’t come. But the panic she felt through her bond diminished by the second.

With her immediate need taken care of, Elysia turned to her team, who followed her. “Could we take a break for a while? I need to tend to my bond.”

Despite her expectations, the trio nodded their heads in agreement in an almost jerky movement, as if in shock. Thauzo, as usual, spoke for the group, though his usual calm tone was absent. “That might be wise. How about we reconvene in the Crimson Clan training grounds in two hours?”

“That works.”

Still feeling Ione shaking, Elysia spun and trotted away. She weaved through the crowds, which grew thinner the closer she got to the central lake. When she was halfway to Umbra, Ione finally began purring under her patting. By that point, the street was mostly empty as the buildings near the lake were mostly businesses which were closed for the ceremony.

A lone figure came into view ahead, turning out to be Thrazk casually walking down the street as if he didn’t fly a kilometer through the air minutes prior. She gave him a stink eye for scaring Ione, but otherwise ignore him as she trotted past.

Upon reaching Umbra, she hopped onboard to find Joe and Eva grilling out on the rear deck. They looked up when she neared.

Joe returned his attention to the grill, flipping several meat patties within a second with superhuman dexterity.

Eva glanced at the ball of fluff in her captain’s arms before meeting Elysia’s eyes. “Want a hamburger?”

Elysia stared at the scale covered grill, which appeared to run on a charcoal like substance. “When did you get a grill?”

As if it was obvious, Eva answered. “Yesterday, but it didn’t get delivered until right after you left. Urus beats drone delivery any day. She asked us where we wanted it and levitated in place.”

Instead of responding, Elysia approached the grill while still stroking Ione, who had long since calmed down. “Are you sure those are burgers?”

Eva shrugged her shoulders. “They are close enough.”

If only she had identify. They could be come exotic monster meat for all she knew. Though going by how Ione’s staring, it was probably edible. When was the last time she ate something other than a few chocolates? Did she even need to eat as an elemental? She may as well find out. “Sure, I’ll have one. Also, make a few for Ione.” An uptick in purr volume greeted her, causing her to smile.

She continued on into Umbra and down into her bedroom before setting Ione on the bed. Ione glared up at her, but she ignored her glutton as she stripped the armor off in favor of a tank top and shorts. Now more comfortable, she sat on the bed absently mindedly petting Ione, only to stiffen as a pang of pain shot through her. Her eyes shot to Ione, but her bond appeared fine.

The pang happened again, this time stronger, causing her to open her bond menu to find Sereia’s name flashing red.