32 The return of the Dragon
"He is back.", Ruffus said to Archer while them both were going to the training grounds.
"Who?", Archer asked without thinking too much.
"My cousin.", Sophia answered. "He's coming back after transplanting the Phoenix Heart."
"Okay.", the boy didn't gave too much importance to the matter.
"Are you serious?", the sand boy returned. "He is obviously coming back for you."
"What can I do about it?", Archer said. "I'm on a floating island I can't escape.", he explained. "And it isn't like before when there was a hunting prize on Aurora's head where even the teacher wanted the money."
"But he is stronger than then. It's obviously his chance to keep you on the ground.", Ruffus keep it.
"Archer. What your friend is saying is true. You must be prepared for a one on one battle.", Sophia entered the conversation once again. "You may have some power but isn't close to what Aureos can pull off."
"So he did hold himself on the previous one.", Archer told to himself as a reminder. "And about you guys?", they looked confused. "I can take some damage and try to run away but he can target you two as well."
"I can transform and try to run as well.", she answered.
"I...", Ruffus didn't have thought this through and on the spot he hadn't any idea how to deal with the dragon power.
"Better start thinking about it, man.", the leader said while they arrived on the training ground where Verns and Thomas were waiting.
"I still don't believe you are getting her on our team.", the half elf said and looked at the other boy. "Who's this?"
"He's a... friend I'd say. He's Ruffus and will be our ranged spellcaster and controller.", Archer explained. "She's undercontrol for while so don't keep this matter on."
"Whatever.", Verns gave up. "Welcome to the team.", she extended a hand to Ruffus.
"Thanks.", he smiled and shake hands with her.
"Synch everyone already, Verns. We have trouble inside.", Archer said. "Lets wait Thomas. He is with the weapons."
"What trouble is inside?", she asked.
He pointed at his watch and displayed the stats for all the teammates.
[Aureos Karma]
[2nd Year Student]
[Strength: 45->54]
[Agility: 33->63]
[Stamina: 35->63]
[Power: 86->201]
[Magic: 258->387]
[Mutantion points: 536->751]
"He's inside.", Ruffus was surprised. "What are we going to do?"
"Train, of course. It's not every time that we can fight someone that is so like a monster.", Archer said.
"Are you insane?", Verns asked a little mad. "We tried it before and she was a lot of trouble, ok?", she pointed at Sophia.
Ruffus looked at the girl and she smiled at him making he retreat his eyes from her.
"But now she's on our side.", Archer returned. "We won't win anyway."
"What are you implying?", the half elf asked.
"A high level battle will for sure have attention drawn to it.", he explained. "We only have to enjoy till a teacher show up."
"Hey, guys.", Thomas arrived with the weapon. "Bring the scimitar as you asked.", he noticed the both new faces. "So she is joining us, huh?", so he turned to Ruffus. "I think this is yours.", he smiled and passed the scimitar to the sand boy.
"Thanks.", Ruffus said and smiled a little. It was good being treat well.
"Transform you two and take the weapons.", Archer said and pointed at Sophia and Thomas.
"Wait.", Ruffus said while she was transforming. "WHAT IS THIS?", he pointed at her. "IS SHE A KARMA?"
"No.", she said. "Keep it down. We have sensitivity ears on this form."
"She's an outcast from the Karma family.", Archer said. "She's our main damage and don't let her touch you."
"Touch me?", Ruffus was confused once again.
"I can copy mutation powers.", she answered herself.
"Oh, okay.", he retreated from her a little and then Archer remembered something on Ruffus' talks on the first days.
"Maybe is good if she copy your powers.", he said without taking any consideration from the controller.
"WHAT?"
"Hey.", she called him again for being loud.
"He needs to calm down.", Verns said. "All this conversation is on our heads.", she explained.
"She is a psychic mutant.", Ruffus was in awe. "Where did you find so many talents, Archer?"
"I had to look out after being left out.", he answered. "I and Sophia will start with hit and run.", she agreed with a nod. "Thomas you lead the way for them both arrive safe on the place.", the boy agreed as well. "Verns. Just do you job. Ruffus. You have two main objectives. First is protect Thomas from heavy magic blows. Second is ranged spells. Keep this order as your priority never change it. One mistake and you are out."
"Why only do I get a threat?"
"Because I know you the best.", Archer replied. "Lets move."
"I'm going on the front.", the dragon girl entered lightning god mode and vanished.
"She... Did she got your mutations?", Ruffus asked.
"Yeah and only speak when needed.", the boy replied a little angry. He did the same as her and vanished.
"Is he pissed?", the sand boy said it sarcastically.
"I still can hear you.", Archer replied angry again.
The place was empty with only a boy on the center of the stage. Sophia was faster than Archer as she was using two mutations that enhanced her speed. Aureos was looking at the other entry when the sonic boom was heard. He slowly turned and this was enough to make her retreat her attack.
"What happened, cousin?", he smiled. "Are you afraid?", as his body was finishing turning his whole right arm was totally transformed on a draconic humanoid form. Her instinct was right.
"He is aware of us.", she said to the group.
"Yeah?", Verns said and entered Sophia's mind for a split of a moment.
"I'm going anyway.", Archer said. "Keep it up."
He fastly passed Sophia's side. This was the moment when Aureos entered in battle position and the smile on his face was surpressed. Both were attacking at that moment. Archer used his heightened senses and dragon transformed his right hand for a split of second while stopping and throwing the spear. The weapon broke the sound barrier three times and went through without any problem on Aureos' shoulder.
"You don't stop surprising me.", the dragon boy looked at his left shoulder. "If it was the me from before I would have been crippled again but not the current me.", the wound exploded in flames and from them the flesh was reconstructed again. "You know when I did the transplant I gained another mutation."
[TIB: This trick is simple.]
[TPQ: But hurtful. You burn away the wounds with vital force.]
[TSB: Shortening your lifespan on the process.]
[TIB: This was meant for us who don't have a limited lifespan and not for mortals like himself.]
[Archer: He wouldn't use it if this meant that he would live less.]
[Aureos Karma]
[2nd Year Student]
[Strength: 54->108]
[Agility: 63->126]
[Stamina: 63->126]
[Power: 201->402]
[Magic: 387->774]
[Mutantion points: 751->726]
[Archer: He is using Mutation points instead of life force. And his transformation is more controlled now.]
"You're quick to understand.", Aureos said. "It is like you see but it's better than being a cripple."
"Okay.", Archer replied being a little distance yet.
"I don't like you and your actions at all.", the dragon boy crossed his hands on his front transforming both arms and legs while keeping the humanoid form. But then something made him attack the air and an arrow was broke on the process. Before he could advance against Archer a row of attacks started to fall upon him.
"Sophia.", Archer looked at her. "You need to overcome the fear of him."
"But he is toying with us.", she said while being away from the fight.
"So lets make him regret this choice.", Archer said and Geared the Third.
Aureos was in trouble dealing with the enhanced arrows when Archer approached throwing punches. The first year was faster and had read the arrows that were coming from the sky so he could work with them and not against it. He used them as misdirection to connect attacks on blind spots. As well used them as shield when Aureos tried to counter and was then hurt by it. But this ended fastly as she shot this and then entered the training grounds.
"Finally.", the dragon boy said at the last arrow and finally made a decent counter on Archer with a back handed punch after a little spin. Archer was thrown away very hard against the wall.
"It's only the beginning.", he said after landing on the wall. "Keep it up and learn from the failures."
The half dragon had his feet exploded into sand that fastly crystalized. Sand attacks would start to land as well and crystalized not too long after. The pattern wasn't complex and Ruffus' goal was to imprison Aureos for a little time. So Sophia could act or Archer recover.
"Don't care for the crystals. Fire your arrows on it.", he said to Verns.
"Okay.", she was fastly firing them.
"What happened to the leader?", Thomas asked while protecting the backline.
"He probably fainted.", Ruffus responded.
