Chapter 34 - Loss

The heavy breathing monster was soaked in blood, demon blood. His dark purple scales had lightnings swirling around, sizzling the sound of death.

Reznur son of the elite guard Rensaerk, this was his name. He was a young draconic prodigy, his ancient bloodline had inherited a powerful ability even his father couldn’t completely awaken.

The draconics’ combat potential was partially given by their cultivation, as humans were, and partially by their ancient true dragon bloodlines.

All draconics with high quality bloodlines could empower their mighty bodies, leveraging the remnants of true dragon blood still running in their veins.

This ability could vary in strength and effects, Renzur had a particular one, the berserk mode. He could sharply increase his body power and chi techniques for a short period of time, at the cost of a quick chi consumption and a frenzied state.

If Renzur couldn’t perfectly control his berserk mode his thinking would degenerate, making him revert towards a savage beast.

“ROOOOOAAAAAAR”

The draconic charged forward, lightning fangs were aimed at the legionaries’ throats.

Exerting their last forces the demons activated their arts.

“Emperor’s Wall!” the other legionary channeled the chi in his shield, projecting a chi wall to fend off the incoming attack. Burio took cover behind his companion’s back and aimed at the draconic’s most exposed areas “Legionary’s thrust!”.

The sword was thrusted several times with great accuracy, every sword light hit its mark without failing, perfect execution.

Despite being momentarily stopped by the defensive wall and being hit by the swords thrusts, the fierce thunderous attack didn’t cease. It got even more brutal.

BOOOOM

The sizzling claws tear apart the chi wall and continued moving forward.

The demon was torn apart, blood gushed out in rivers. The horrendous smell of burnt skin spread in the air, limbs, bones and muscles had been ripped off.

Burio was the last one standing, with no chi left nor companions to rely on, he was left alone facing this draconic nightmare.

The demon could see in the eyes of his enemy no chance of survival, killing was all that mattered to this savage beast.

“Back to the origins, I’m not going down without a proper fight. I only wished that… never mind, it’s too late now. My son… I trust he will be able to overcome his hurdle alone”. Burio whispered to himself. He perfectly knew how delusional these words were, but right now he needed to believe in them, that was the only way to not die sinking in a sea of regrets.

Legionary against beast. Raw power against a mere sword, back to the primordial survival fight. The demon was going to fight his last battle without any chi technique o secret skill, just wielding his sword with his body power.

It was his last desperate attempt to keep clinging to his life.

“DDDIIIIIEEEEE” the distort scream of the beast signalled the beginning of the assault.

The legionary rotated his injured leg forward, moving the body weight on his left leg and pointing the sword at the approaching savage. This way he reduced the exposed parts of his body, it was a useless tactic in this final fight with a so huge difference in power. But Burio was dead set on not neglecting even the most little detail. If ever there was a chance he was going to take it.

CLANG

Claw and sword collided, the demon weapon flew away, the legionary lost balance and ruined on the ground.

Another thunderous claw came crushing down as a death sentence.

BOOOOOOOMMM

A fierce explosion ensued the draconic attack, a chi wall collapsed and a demon was pushed back.

“Finish off this freak!”

“Daevic Slash!” “Immortal Thrust!” “Annihilation Wings!”

Three different deadly sword techniques were simultaneously activated, three demons’ attacks trapped the draconic.

BOOOM BOOOOM BOOOOM

“He’s in berserk mode, use your shields to elude his attacks and terminate him. His frenzied state doesn’t make him feel pain nor fatigue, he will continue going all out until he’s dead”.

Burio was breathless. Pure joy for his life made him glad, glad for the world, for the legion, for his dead companions’ sacrifice and for the veterans who saved him.

He quickly retreated while observing the veteran captain coordinating his men. Flawless execution, they were killing the beast taking zero risk.

“Demonic Eagle Dominates the World!” The three veterans slashed their swords together, giving birth to a three legionaries combined attack.

SWOOOOOP

Deadly.

A draconic was lying on the ground, blood spreading all over the rocks.

“Sister!” The raging eyes regained the lost clarity. Although his berserk mode was close to the end and still active, Renzur came back to his senses at the sight of his sister lying on the ground.

“Promise me… you will… survive…” With her last breath the draconic touched the heartstrings of her beloved brother. Her earth stopped, only a corpse remained. Death.

“Sister… I’m sorry, I love you sister!” Renzur desperately shouted, but she was already gone, too late to convey her any message, too late to fix his mistakes.

“Once more, Demonic Eagle Dominates the World!” the veterans attacked.

The draconic stimulated his whole potential, exploiting the last berserk moments.

Purple thunderous fangs rose to slow down the demons’ attack, while the youth escaped at maximum speed.

BOOOOM

A thick blood line followed the draconic’s steps, he had been gravely injured by the attacks.

“Do not bother with him anymore, let’s get away from here”.

“Can you make it, brother?” a veteran asked Burio, while supporting him with an arm.

“I’m wounded, but bent on making it out of here. Thank you, I owe you my life”.

“Don’t mention it brother, it’s our duty. As the veterans of the VIII we feel responsible for the defeat. The rest of our squad is near the mountaintop, securing a path to leave this place while gathering other legionaries before completing the escape. We don’t leave our brothers behind!”.

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Renzur had been running nonstop, rushing through the stone paths. Hatred, sorrow, rage and blame were clouding his mind. His unfocused rush lasted until the berserker state ended, emptying him of any energy.

The draconic fell down, lying in his own blood.

The world outside was gradually darkening, the sound of the blowing wind got quieter and quieter, the pain of his wounded body less and less sharp.

Before his vision got completely obscured, he could see some approaching silhouettes. Were they demons or draconics? He didn’t care anymore. His father died, his sister was killed because of his carelessness… and the last words Renzur told her were… his heart would ache at that thought.

Finally, he could feel to be lingering towards nothingness, a realm where no pain nor sorrow were present. The draconic youth wanted to find refuge from this relentless sorrow in his heart, welcoming the abyss.

Finally, the world became dark.