11 Going All Out

Indra suddenly halted, hearing Zenith's call. He looked towards him and his equipped ultimate form.

"What's wrong?"

"Let me do it. You just relax, I don't want to see the whole cave destroyed by you after all." Zenith stated.

Indra continued looking at him for a full second, eventually stepping back and leaning against the wall.

"Be careful." Indra said.

"So one decided to back out, while the other, wants to fight us eh?" Meres mocked.

"Not really, I'm technically saving you from your demise you bald freak." Zenith cursed.

The remaining cultivators felt intrigued yet disappointed by the current situation. One against multiple felt too easy for them. It was as if the enemy was offering himself on a golden plate. Who would refuse such an opportunity?

"I do not want to fight you, little fella. My interest lies elsewhere."

Meres replied nonchalantly as he continued to look at Indra. Earlier, when Indra was about to charge at them, for a split second, Meres felt Indra's aura emanating and realized that this was the same person who almost brought him to his knees.

He felt intrigued, yet cautious. He smiled, yet trembling on the inside foreseeing a battle unlike never before.

"Well then, why don't you follow me so we can settle our interests someplace else." Indra replied immediately. As long as this man was here, Zenith would have a very tough time winning.

"Alright hehehe, I can't wait to have fun with you." Meres started walking only to be followed by Maria and her subordinates.

"Maria stay here and retrieve the crystal. We don't want it to fall on the hands of the others."

"But father-"

"Shhhh, shhhh, it's ok. Look at me, what is my expression right now?" Meres asked as he caressed Maria's cheek.

"Ex-excitement, and fear?" Maria gulped. Her father's tendencies were always deeply engraved in her mind. All the people Meres had killed, none of them were given a quick death.

"That's right my daughter, that's right. Come right away as soon as you retrieve the crystal." He replied and started following Indra.

Maria watched the two silhouettes disappear. Now, all that was left was Zenith and his enemies. However she immediately realized that the ice cold princess and her servant were nowhere to be found.

"It seems your friend has met his worst foe." Eden replied.

"Oh, give me a break! Foe? Haha-hahaahaha" Zenith burst out laughing, his voice echoing throughout the cave.

"Well you'll see soon enough." As soon as he replied, he charged towards them, and started to wipe out the weaker ones in the group. The battle had begun.

Realizing his true strength, everyone started to attack simultaneously. Since he was in his ultimate form, his defenses and attacks were raised to another level.

His ruby armor covered his entire body with with claw like hands, a dragon helmet, and two small spikes protruding out of shoulders. It was at that moment the onslaught began.

"Sorcerers and witches fire your spells at full force." Eden ordered. The order was small, yet concise. Understanding his intentions, his men started to fire spells on one side, while on the other side, the Panther Fang clan's warriors were fighting in close range against Zenith.

'Close and long range huh? I need to take out the ones in long range, before they trap me.' Zenith thought.

After slashing the neck of one of the Panther Fang clan's warrior, Zenith slid a few steps back and started to chant a spell. Upon hearing his spell, Thromier who was watching the battle with caution and worry, was absolutely surprised!

The spell he was chanting, was not only the same language she and her natives spoke, but something only true dragons were able to use. Though questions ravaged her mind, she decided to stay put and help him first.

"It's over for you! Frost of Penumbra" Alvad replied as he chanted a spell and a huge wave of blizzard in the seemingly humid cave, burst forth and headed towards Zenith.

"Verestroi Amano Exami lo Inferno. Inferno Blaze!" Noticing the blizzard a few meters before him, a huge red colored light gathered in his mouth as he launched it with all his might.

'Swoosh'

"No way! How is this possible?" Alvad yelled in astonishment. Zenith's attack ripped through the blizzard and headed towards him.

"Prism shield!" Eden chanted, and a huge transparent shield appeared before his group just in time. Eden realized the severity, the moment Zenith launched his spell. Had he been any slower, all of them would've been dead.

"This is why I keep telling you people to practice your defensive magic. Just never listen do you?!" Eden yelled at his subordinates.

'Looks like I wasn't fast enough.' Suddenly Zenith noticed another cultivator stab him from behind. Not taking any damage, Zenith immediately swung his two daggers and ended the person's life. The Maximum Inferno spell had taken quite a bit of his mana.

"Looks like you're slowing down." Eden replied calmly.

"As if, I can go on forever, as long as I kick your ass." Zenith said. Though he mentioned it with confidence, he was running out of energy.

Throughout these years Zenith managed to gain better control over his ultimate form and increase the duration of equipping his form. However, he was only able to maintain it for ten minutes max. The dodges, spells, extreme speed and some of the damage his armor took, took a toll in draining his mana.

'I only have about three minutes left, after that I'm good as dead. I still have my defensive barrier and my final spell, so I should use this wisely' He thought.

"Panther Fang clan, grab his attention for a bit, I shall use my strongest move to end him here."

"Master! Are you sure?" Alvad looked in surprise.

"Yes, we cannot take any chances. Set up as many barriers as you can, while I focus on this spell... oh and slowly stop firing our spells" Eden whispered.

Understanding his masters intentions, Alvad nodded, and started to get to work.

"Since when do I take orders from you?" Maria rolled her eyes in contempt.

"We have no choice, at this rate we will be wiped out. Although that armor of his is strong, it seems that he needs mana to equip it. I'll give you the signal." Eden hastily replied. At this rate his subordinates' mana will be completely drained making things horrendous.

Nodding in agreement, Maria and the last of her men assumed their offensive formation and stood by, while the remaining magicians continued firing their spells at Zenith. As he was dodging, through the corner of his eye, he noticed the Fang clan halt their attacks and remain on guard.

Moreover, multiple barriers were deployed around Eden protecting him from any surprise attacks from Zenith.

Utilizing this chance, he decided to attack Maria and her clan.

'Darn it! We're at a disadvantage, you better hurry up Eden!'

Maria clenched her teeth in frustration as her formation was slowly crippling. Hoping that Eden would finish his spell on time, she gathered her remaining aura and infused it to her sword and charged, without waiting for Eden's signal.

'Clang'

Zenith and Maria were clashing at full force, placing her at a disadvantage. Time and energy were neither in her favor. Tiredness and impatience were wearing on her.

"How much longer Eden?" Maria yelled, only to notice no reply coming from him.

"It's over for you lady."

'Swish'

Momentarily, Maria noticed a dagger impaling her chest as she coughed out a mouthful of blood. Having lost her men and now her life, she looked back at the Royal Sorcerers and Witches Institute in hope, only to see them smiling back at her.

It was all clear to her now.

They were only pretending to help. The crystal was their goal all along.

Noticing her pitiful look, Zenith looked at the Sorcerers in contempt and disgrace. Removing the sword out of her body, he noticed a huge cluster of mana permeating around the long grey haired man.

'If that's how he wants to end it, then bring it on..'

Zenith's armor on his right and left hand, soon stated to expand and form a gauntlet around both his arms which took the shape of a menacing dragon.

Eden, who had his eyes closed, finally opened them and recited his spell. At the very same time, both Zenith and Eden shot their spells. Two read beams and a white beam ripped through air and finally collided with extreme intensity.

'Shhhoooom'

Dust and other debris flew everywhere, destroying some of the cave's interiors. As soon as the dust settled, two figures came to light.