As soon as Noctis saw the landed Wyvern with the circling dirus and gray brothers. The previously mute words of the boy had registered in a sudden rush of comprehension. His eyebrows furrowed in an arc of anger.

Wrapped around a swinging vine attached to the back of the beast, were four different individuals. Only one was unconscious while the rest were awake. Two were struggling and screaming. The last, was limp. Tears down her face clearing a path of dirt. The women had a face of both recognition, and thankfulness. Clearly, she was related to the boy Kenan had just saved moments ago.

[Not today, not again.]

Noctis joined the ranks of his friends. The wyvern snarled and hissed. Its tail whipped about, sending even more buildings to rubble. Soulfire still consumed various patches of its body. “I assume we're going all out on this Ken?” Oz asked. He was answered with a nod.

The earth trembled and the sky cried. Bits of rubble and earth floated in the air for a second before flying towards Ozzy. Hundreds of tiny shards of rock attached themselves to the large, and growing Goliath. The earth formed a stone and moss armor. A closed helmet and thick, overlapping plates. Lighting danced in the sky, as if it was charging itself, then it was shot at the ground, at Oz. He too formed an armor, but it was only an outline, and had large spikes on his shoulders, elbows, and knees. Unlike his brother, he had an open t-shaped helmet with curling horns on the top.

Dion responded with a howl. Soulfire poured from his eyes and mouth, trailing alongside his body. Kenan pulled on Nonesthic’s power, his power, more than he had ever before. The edges of his brain started to ache in mana strain, but he ignored it and continued to take. More and more veins started to pop in a black color. Two points the color of the void formed on his palms, they grew for a bit, then stopped. Ending with the size of a coin.

“You three, press the attack. Distract. I’ll get the citizens.” Previously, his voice was joined by two others. Now, a very faint third could be heard.

“Look Ken, I know that they're innocent, but, are they worth it? Saving them might lead to complications with others…” Oz was cut off by Kenan's hard stare.

“I’ll handle it.” Noctis said. “Just make the thing pissed.”

The wyvern seemed to have enough of the talk. Its neck crunched, and then its entire body lurched forward. Head sideways, gnarled green fangs bared. it tried to crumple Oz into bits. Lighting sparked, and he was suddenly in the air. His ax was gone, replaced by a solid piece of broken bolt. He threw it, it connected at the Wyverns side and making it stagger backward and fall to its side while crashing into another building.

Angered, it twisted its body. A spiked tail was furled and let loose at Ozzy. In turn, the goliath spun with his hammer in the air. Weapon and limb contacted. A small shockwave pushed away loose rubble. Both were sent back.

Dion growled and barked. A large phantom wolf’s head made of green fire latched itself on the Wyverns neck. The attack made the draconic monster flail and roar in frustration. It tried to retaliate with a swipe of the claws. The dirus had other plans, as he jumped on the wyverns wings and began to run up it.

In a flash, a sprinting Kenan replaced his canine friend. Vines erupted but he was too swift for the stabs of the mutated vegetation. Also, he left even more consuming fire in his wake. He jumped, Noctis cut a particularly thick piece of green limb and in the air caught the one unconscious person. Putting Qi into his next movement, Kenan jumped away just as a huge vine tried to pierce him, but it only managed to impale the draconic. The wyvern roared in untold anger, but Noctis wasn’t close enough to see or deal with the aftermath. He bounced from the back of the beast, and onto rubble. He pushed Qi into his legs and jumped again, onto a standing building. Then he landed on the ground. Soon he found an able-bodied person to handle the unconscious person. Noctis then sprinted back to the fight.

Noctis saw the wyvern sharply breath in, and let out a ball of acid. It flew at Oz, who easily dodged such an attack. The Goliath didn’t see it was merely a feint. Kenan tried to yell, but action took over his reaction. For the first time, he forced a command onto Dion, who didn’t resist at all. They switched positions and Kenan redoubled his speed. Oz suddenly recognized the incoming tail, but knew it was too late.

Just as the limb of the wyvern was about to connect, Kenan shoulder checked the Goliath. Sending the large man yards back. Enough to get him out of range. Noctis pivoted, and readied himself.

The impact was worse than what Kenan could've imagined. He was immediately lifted from his feet, and his body unnaturally bent to the curvature of the Wyvern's tail. Then, as the limb followed through, he was sent flying. Noctis went through a building's wall, through furniture and into a few wall. "Ken!" Oz yelled.

Pain exploded everywhere, breath escaped him and wasn't willing to come back. Ribs cracked, other bones bruised and shattered. Blood gushed from a head wound and covered his eyes. Conscience slipped his grasp. As he closed his eyes, he remembered an image. Of Ava, of her dying moments.

With newfound strength, he forced both his breath and mind back into its place. Stood upright with the help of his sword. Sent Qi to dull his pain. Standing, he flipped the back of his left hand. Made a long laceration on it with his sword, and fathered all focus onto that point. The rest of the pain disappeared.

[Not today, not again]

He walked to his impromptu entrance. Through the connection, he told Dion he was alright. The wyvern and Noctis made eye contact. Oz looked to see what the monster was looking at, and made a sigh of relief.

The wyvern roared, and Kenan responded with his own.