Night Battle(3)

The crocodiles legs gave in and it fell. It was dead. The Penedh didn't take any action. He was suspended in the air watching. What was his goal? Gigantic beasts were fighting to the death while he just stared while one of those that was under his control had already perished. There was one crocodile left, he was at a disadvantage. John was looking at this scene and something didn't sit well with him. Something was wrong with the picture but he couldn't put his finger on it.

"We should stop this." he said.

"The apes are doing our jobs for us, why should we cause the deaths of many of our own." the commander said. No one could sense anything was wrong. In fact the mood of almost everyone in ranks had gone up seeing as how one behemoth had already fallen without them having any casualties. Spirited chatter and cheer spread throughout the dwarven army.

The frost ape relished in the cheers as it roared and beat its chest. It gripped the sword tighter and jumped to the side of its companion who was trying to fend of the attack from the remaining crocodile. The apes fingers were covered in long icicles giving it sharp claws. They were at a standoff. The sword wielding ape made a move but the clawed ape lifted its hand. This was its prey.

It placed its hand on the would it had received from a bite. While his companion had killed the first crocodile, the second one had lunged it after the sword had been knocked out of his hand and bitten his leg. Blood stained the white fur as it flowed endlessly. The ape limped forward on all fours. For some reason it looked even more fierce now. Every step it took left a large icy imprint on the ground. Starting from the chest a layer of frost armour covered its body.

Blood continued to flow. The saliva of the crocodile seemed to prevent the wound from closing. The blood was frozen on the armour giving it a red hue. It beat its chest before giving a resounding roar. The crocodile reciprocated in kind. It's scales glowing red it dug its hind legs into the ground and sucked in a breath of air. A red glow could be seen at the back of its throat. It was a fire affinity spirit beast.

"Its finally about to end." the commander said.

"We must stop it, whatever happens, no more spirit beast should die. If it does something really bad is going to happen." John insisted. He kicked his horse into stride moving to the front. He had barely moved twenty meters when a whip wrapped around his neck yanking him back.

Cough! cough! His trachea was almost shattered as he struggled to breathe. He looked back at the commander who was shaking his head in deadpan disappointment. Balfrod, who was called the interrogator in John's mind had a snake wrapped around his waist with its head laying on his. The tail was hanging behind him giving the impression that he was a tailed beast.

"Maybe it was a bad decision to bring you all along." The commanders aura was rising. The soldiers in the area dispersed swiftly leaving John and the captain inside of a circle. John was on his hands and knees trying to get up. A red mark appeared on his skin where the snakes whip tail had held him. The commanders eyes were on him. He sighed, it was pointless to start a fight, he was surrounded in enemy territory.

The commanders muscles bulged as he grabbed John by the collar and hoisted him up. Dropping his sword on the ground he surrendered himself.

"Fate may know despair, but it is unstoppable. Do as you wish." John said and closed his eyes waiting for his death.

"BOOM!" the battle between the beasts was getting aggressive. The ape was spinning and scratching. Scales were cut from the crocodiles body and fell on the snow melting it. The ice claws were melting, breaking and regrowing. The ape did not slow down. The crocodile on the other hand was unable to break through the armor and with two enemies it was clearly out matched.

"Pa," the crocodile was sent flying and landed next to the other crocodile. The ground shook as the dwarves tried to stabilise their footing. A resounding cheer came from the dwarves. Victory was eminent. At this point they were just spectators to this epic battle. The ape jumped and while in the air shot an icicle in the shape of a spear that went through the crocodiles back and into the ground. The glow on its chest grew dimmer and moved toward the hands as it came smashing down to the crocodile with both fists.

The ground sank into a huge crater. Inside it were two dead crocodiles and a very injured ape. It was slowly making its way out of the crater when suddenly its chest bulged. A pain filled shriek filled the air before it fell to the ground. A white glowing crystal was left hovering in the air. A beige bony flute had pierced its center.

"Borm'ea, was right," a voice resounded in everyone's ears. No one was speaking. John however was looking at the Penedh this entire time. Not a single one of his movements escaped his eyes. The commander followed John's eyes and noticed the shimmering crystal. The Penedh was now suspended above the crater. He beckoned and the crystal moved towards him. Grabbing it with his left and the flute on his right he blew a long note that sounded like an elegy.

Everyone was transfixed. The instrument was powerful indeed. That particular note seemed to tug at their very souls. Time seemed to stop. John was unaffected. The instrument of whispers could control spirit beast. It could control elemental spirits as well. With everyone in a trance like state the barrier fell. The elegy ceased but very few exited the stupor. The commander was one of them.

John was no longer in his hands. With sword in hand he was walking toward the crater where some sort of ritual had begun. The flute had transformed into a sword and using it runic marks had been cut on all the dead spirit beasts. Blood mist was coming from these runic marks and entering the shimmering crystal that had been extracted from the dead ape.

Seeing this the remaining ape felt a sense of trepidation and lunged at the crater. An invisible barrier surrounded it as a large circular runic array appeared in the sky. The ape smashed but each attack rebounded knocking it back dozens of meters every time. The shimmering crystal was turned crimson and started to glow.

"You cannot stop me, Borm'ea, not this time." A sinister smile appeared on Penedh's face as he sat cross legged with the crimson crystal in front of him."

John didn't know what to do. This was clearly part of the thing Vemuri had fought, the blood mist was all he needed to see. 'Damn that old man didn't give me any clues.' he thought. Was he going to watch as this guy powered up again. The ape smashed the barrier again but nothing happened. It was rebounded yet again and realized the futility. Eventually it came and stopped right behind where John was standing as looked on as its comrade was drained and his power crystal stolen. It was seething.

The crimson crystal became smaller and smaller until it eventually disappeared.

"Hahaha! I have to thank these stupid dwarves for not heeding your words Borm'ea. It truly is great to be alive again." Penedh said as the barrier fell.

"You are not going anywhere,"

"What makes you think you can stop me. I know what you are, you may have been reborn but your tricks never change." the originally white feathers turned crimson before transforming into a cape as he landed on the ground.