Death or Life

EPISODE SIX

Pain, an ember of both darkness and light, can either build or destroy us. From the birth of an offspring till the mortal at the doorstep of death, it is all pain. Yet pain can just be an illusion, an ember of self-restraint to stop you from breaking your mortal limits to be more than just ordinary. However, to overcome pain is none like an easy feat, to break the boundaries of mortal limits is not as easy as carrying a boulder. Now, Are you extraordinary because you want to overcome pain? or do you want to overcome pain because you are extraordinary? Well, the coin is yours to flip.

Crash……...Boom!!!!

Micheal leaps to the right as the dragon blast another depth of flames at him, escaping it by some inches. He gets back to his feet and raises his left elbow to protect himself from the incoming tail slap. The dragon’s tail whacks him off to Crash into a nearby stall, but he thrusts his sword into the ground to prevent himself from being blown away. As soon as he lifts his head which is dripping with blood, he sees the open jaw of the Dragon right before his eyes and sways himself to the right whilst slicing the side jaw of the dragon from the momentum. He makes a run for it and slides down as a wing of the dragon hovers past his face. Micheal’s brain slowly breaks down as he feels pressured by every action he takes. He feels the pressure of death breathing heavily on his neck and shakes in desperation, fear and grief as he runs for cover at the building right before him. He enters into the building at the blind side of the Dragon and breathes heavily.

Huff, huff…. Now I feel dumb for shouting that I can kill that dragon. (Looking into at both palms of his hands as he sees his flesh tearing apart on his left and the right shaking unsteadily). It’s been just 30 seconds since the fight started and I’ve almost been killed 12 times already. My body is way past it’s limits hahaha. The pain is nothing to think about, a half-burnt body with a head dripping blood and skin torn apart. How am I even still alive?

The pain intensifies and he grins his teeth from the extreme pain coursing through his body. The bordered mana around his left part of his body begins to waver increasing his pain exponentially. He vomits out blood from the backlash and falls on the ground in a dizzy state whilst grinning his teeth.

If I let a single sound out everything, I came back for would end. I can’t give up now, so move body, move!!!(screaming in is thoughts as he desperately stretches his right arm to reinforce the bordered mana on his burnt side)

His mana fluctuates a bit and he strengthens the bordered mana as he leaves out a sigh. Micheal picks up the sword and sits on the ground with a smile although the pain keeps exploding throughout his body. He feels a weird sensation about how he hasn’t felt any movements from the dragon and moves towards the nearest window. He sees the wing of the dragon at the side of the building which startles him.

Why is the dragon’s wing at the side of the building and I didn’t feel it all this while. Am I missing some…...

Micheal looks at the roof and sees the eye of the dragon right above him. The dragon is seen peeping his eye through the roof as Micheal moves back in fear. It draws itself aback and prepares another fire blast to fry up Micheal and the building as a whole. The fear of death grips Micheal hardly whilst he continues to persuade his body through thoughts to move.

Move it, why’s my body not moving!! Move Micheal!!

WHOOM…. BOOM!!!!!!!!

Micheal is seen bursting through the building’s window as the fire blast burns the whole building down to the ground. He falls heavily on his side and tries to stand up with the overbearing pain he’s feeling. Micheal grips the sword tightly and faces the dragon as it moves towards him and breathes fire from his nostrils. The red dragon let’s out a large roar which causes an earthquake with the ground trembling crazily. Micheal still fixes his eyes on the dragon with the thought of death as his reward if he fails to maintain concentration. The scales of the dragon open and close simultaneously as if it’s breathing. A wave of fire pours out of the scales and envelopes the red dragon with his eyes now as red as blood. The earth begins melting under its feet it’s breath of fire increases. Micheal begins sweating but still maintains his concentration at the dragon.

Hey reptile!!! Even if I die on this day, I will take that ugly head with me (grinning in anger) I swear it!!!You will not lived to see another day, arghhhhh!!!

Micheal pours all his mana on his body and heightens his muscles. His nerves begin to tear up and his body’s temperature crosses the threshold all the way to 105 degrees. Blood falls from the eyes of Micheal like tears and his eyes are seen red and clothed in blood. An aura manifestation sparks from the body of Micheal as he remembers the words of Nanya.

Flashback………

Clank…. clank

Raise your arms Micheal and make sure you place your body to absorb the strength of your opponent.

Nanya strikes her sword again at Micheal with him block, but it throws him off a few yards from her. She places the sword on her shoulder and laughs at Micheal.

Micheal, you need to absorb the shock else you wouldn’t be able to fight warriors no more than 10 seconds.

Nanya you are too strong for an innkeeper. It’s not like I c a fight and win against someone stronger than me. I’m not from here and all this is new to me. I just want to go home.

Micheal folds his arms in sadness and buries his head into his knees. Nanya walks towards him and picks up his sword with a smile on her face. She takes a seat beside Micheal and hugs him closely. He blushes when he feels Nanya’s warmth around him.

Nanya, you know I’m not a child right!!!(blushing intensely)

Don’t be that way, Micheal. You always say that yet you act like a baby whenever I hug you.

I don’t do that!! (still blushing)

Hahaha, always making me laugh. I know you would want to home sometimes, I do too. Sometimes I think about it but then I think of you, Micheal. Even though this is your second month with me, it feels like it’s been years we knew each other. Life really is strange, isn’t it? Who knew that a nonchalant innkeeper like I would put down so much for a stranger. At least that’s a handsome stranger.

Nanya pegs the cheek of Micheal and rises to stand before Micheal. She gives Micheal’s sword to him and brushes through her dark hair as the wind sways it. Nanya holds her sword steadily and thrusts it into the ground. The air around her becomes thick and the ground begins to break inwards. Her pressure intensifies causing the wind to blow crazily around her with her hair waving upwards. Nanya’s eyes lit blue and her aura bursts heavily breaking the ground even more and blowing out nearby trees. Micheal looks at her in amazement as she sees the exhibition of aura manifestation before his eyes.

Know this, Micheal! Wherever you want to go, whoever you want to be!! My body and my sword will always be your sword!!! That is my allegiance to you!

Present time…...

Micheal smiles as his aura burst a lot more and takes a stance, increasing the aura and mana around his sword even though his body continues to break. The dragon prepares his flame blast whilst Micheal intensifies his aura. The blood continues to drip from the eyes of Micheal, but he chooses not to waver and maintains his stance for the right moment to slice.

Nanya, I always loved you. Those three months were really eternity with you beside me. I will forever love you.

BOOM!!!!!

Aaarhhhh!!!!

The flame blast of the dragon melts the ground as it approaches Micheal. Micheal swings his sword downwards releasing all his aura to counter the dragon’s blast. The scorching heat of the blast melts the surroundings of Micheal with him still screaming from his last moment of desperation. His aura begins to die down as the flames envelop his body and blasts him away. When the smoke dies down, Micheal is seen burnt wholly with the dragon right before him with its jaw open. He speaks faintly with his body burnt black and tears of blood drippings as he talks.

At the end, I still died Nanya. Hahaha. I can’t even laugh. Anyone, even if you are from the depths of darkness itself, kill this reptile, I beg of you.

A dark figure appears from the shadow of Micheal just at the moment he’s about to be eaten. It smiles maniacally at Micheal cries saying.

YOU DON’T KNOW HOW LONG I HAVE WAITED FOR YOU TO SAY THAT! MY DEAR PRESENT SELF!!!