Heading out with Dash and Zack reminded me of how we fought together, so I knew this would be successful.

After a while of walking through the forest we eventually came to the outskirts of Dumah’s base, an old, abandoned ruin. I could see him standing at the top like some sentry. I could feel it, he was waiting for me.

“Dash, draw his attention to get Scorlax to show himself, when he does, Zack attack, restrain him anyway you can.” They both nodded.

Dash put step one into action, running out into the open. “Hey you stinky feline!” He shouted.

Dumah who had been standing there like he was the king of the jungle snarled. “I wondered when you’d find me. Scorlax!”

Scorlax came up from beneath Dash’s feet. Dash jumped back avoiding the trap set for him, he was too fast for anyone to catch him off guard.

“Oh, big bad Scorlax,” remarked Dash tauntingly.

Zack pounced ready to restrain him but was stopped by someone new. I recognised him instantly, my cousin Kiba Fang.

“Come on out Fang,” snarled Dumah. “I know you’re there.”

I walked out. “Cheating already, a wolf pack and my kin, one extra than my team.”

“I make the rules Fang, after all it is a test of my making,” responded Dumah.

“You still won’t stop me,” I said.

“I will just like all the other times. I’ve prevented you from progressing any further,” mocked Dumah.

“Come on Dumah, let’s fight,” I hissed.

“Very well.” Dumah jumped down from his pride of place. “You still look like an ant.”

“Ants can bite pretty hard.” I drew my sword.

“Oh, still sticking to rules, how noble, but you can’t win without them.” Dumah seemed mildly impressed.

“No, you’ll lose this fight,” I argued back.

“How about with a little more advantage for me,” he grinned and there was an explosion.

“What was that?!” cried Dash almost knocked over from the coming shockwave.

“That came from the camp,” responded Zack.

“Tigra was there, along with your team members,” I snarled.

“If you can’t learn to make a few sacrifices then how will you lead an effective team,” laughed Dumah pleased with himself.

“By working together and never leaving a member behind,” I answered. “I will beat you!”

“Come at me then Fang!”

Dumah drew his fire elemental talisman, it glowed intently with power, enhanced by Dumah’s dark power, this was not going to be easy without my talismans aid.

“I’ll get you back for the last time!” I heard the voice of his talisman Demori. “This time I’ll take your life!”

“You can try.” Our swords clashed. I could already feel the blazing heat from Demori, almost unbearable without Raziel’s heat protection, but I couldn’t let it stop me.

The sword I wielded began to change colour slightly, this sword was crafted for me, to harness talisman power, perhaps I could use it to absorb his power too. I focused my energy into the blade, allow it to absorb the heat energy building up around me.

“Not bad,” smirked Dumah. “But how much can that sword really absorb.” The heat increased, but I stayed calm, keeping the flow of my energy into the sword, if I panicked or lost my concentration I was certainly done for.

“More than you think.” I pulled back just a little, swiping left. Dumah stepped back avoiding, then we went at it.

Our swords clashing at regular intervals, one after the other, swiping left and right. We were evenly matched in speed and skill. I felt a little unbalanced with only one sword, but I remained focused. Seeing glimpses of any unpredictable moves through my clairvoyance.

Demori continued to increase the temperature, even with the absorption through my sword, it was getting so hot. The grass was starting to wilt and the same with the trees, if it continued on like this it would cause a forest fire, worse than the one I stopped at the orchard.

“Pretty good without those spirits you call talisman,” snarled Dumah. “Perhaps they aren’t as powerful as the legends say.” I could sense my talisman spirits becoming agitated, he was hoping they would retaliate rather than me. "Maybe you are special, after all they are nothing but scrap metal without our power.”

“Really,” I smirked as I felt a drop in temperature, he’d also insulted the talisman he was using.

“Damn,” cursed Dumah as his dark aura encircled the blade draining out its power by force.

“What are you doing?” I was shocked as I heard the spirit crying out in pain.

“Disobedience is unacceptable,” responded Dumah. The temperature tripled so quickly the tree caught alit, thinning the air. I felt Demori weaken, what had he done?

The heat was now way too much for the sword to handle, I could feel my hand beginning to burn from the hot hilt.

“Too hot for you Fang,” grinned Dumah, swiping at me, great waves of fire coming with it.

I jumped back only for him to do it again and again.

I could feel Mila’s power wanting to heal my hand, but I had to restrict her power and focus on the battle, if I didn’t this test would have been over.

I took a chance, dancing forwards, parrying his next move. I’d caught him just at the right angle , that the sword flew from his hand.

Dumah snarled quickly recovering as he drew a dagger from his belt, and we entered a who could last longer.

Neither one of us had the power of a talisman now, but Dumah was still just as skilled, getting in two hits more than I, he was powerful and could consume me in his dark power at any moment, but did not, why?

I thought the temperature would drop after I had gotten Demori away from him, but it stayed hot, even more so with the flames burning all around us, this was all getting out of control.

I fought not just Dumah but the growing pain in my hand, I was struggling to keep hold of it, but I had no opportunity to switch hands with the on sleight attacks continuing.

My sword was flung from my hand. I gasped as Dumah held his dagger to my chest, a smug grin crossed his lips.

“Now bow Fang.”

“Never,” I hissed.

“I win.” Dumah drew back his blade ready to thrust forward, he wanted to kill me, I could feel it. I prepared to be struck when a brown blur came out of nowhere, knocking Dumah senseless.

“Brendan,” I smirked. “Cut that a bit close.”

“Is that our dept repaid?” he raised an eyebrow.

“I don’t think so, this is just a test,” I responded. I looked around to see both Scorlax and Kiba restrained. I did the same with Dumah, tying him up before he could recover, saying. “I win.”