009 Light Of Luna

"Now Ventus!"

She released the spell that she had been chanting and a fury of lightning bolts found their mark on the dragons body.

The dragon enraged let out an ear piercing roar. Was it because we were so close to the dragon or was the roar that strong? I was being shaken from deep inside. My very consciousness was teetering on the edge of the abyss and it was losing its balance.

"Dammit! Pull yourself together!"

I shouted it at myself but it seemed to affect Ven as well.

Having charged the fire-bolt in my right hand for a while now I slammed it down on the ground between the dragon and us. The new found crater caused it to stumble with its balance having been attacked. With all the dirt and dust in the air we had temporary cover. I ran towards Ven and quickly gave her the next steps of my plan.

"We only have one shot, if either of us mess up that is it! I will draw its attack and counter it, I need you to work on your strongest defensive spell and let me know when it's ready ok?"

Ven nodded and got to work. Lifting her right arm in a fist towards the sky. Her left arm was straight in front of her with an open palm. She began her chant.

"Falling storms and crashing waves of perpetual destruction, your wrath never quelled, the wake of your presence sorrow filled. Halt thy ire to become my righteous shield and...."

Looking up from the magic circles forming around Ven I saw a bright light shining in front of us.

This damn dragon blew the dust in the air away with its wings and was now charging its breath attack straight at us.

I don't have much time. Taking a stance standing in front of Ven to protect her. Lowering my body slightly I moved my right leg behind me and shifted my weight towards my left leg. I changed grips on the sword so that it was now being carried back handed and in front of me acting like a shield. With my right hand I circulated more mana towards it than before. I closed it with only my three middle fingers standing up and aimed it forward. At the tip of each was an individual element. Fire-Ice-Thunder. Closing my eyes I started to concentrate.

Breathing slowly. Each breath being let go was dissipated into the very nature itself. Even with my eyes closed I could still feel the essence of everything and I could tell where everything was. Yet at the same time everything was blending into one, then blending into nothing. Sharpening my mind even further I began separating everything anew. With each essence that I examined I was getting closer to what I was looking for. I could feel it. I started feeling a pull deep inside me. I searched for that unique life energy. The only thing that could cause this pull. I knew I didn't have much time left but even still I calmly concentrated harder and sure enough I was rewarded with it in abundance.

"Now come out."

Energy came forth from me and poured into my sword. Greedily Death's Favor accepted it. Bright light radiating from my blade shone throughout this battlefield. The blades natural aura almost seemed suppressed as my Aura enveloped it. It's purple majesty was deep and rich with streaks of Silver and green scattered through it. Constantly swirling and moving around the sword it looked just as frightening as the breath attack that was about to be unleashed.

PIING

[Skill Acquired]

[Divine Aura Unlocked]

"Perfect."

Now everything is ready and not a moment too soon as the dragon let its attack fly straight at us.

Ven closed her eyes as she was finishing her chant. Who could blame her? Her comrades fell to this very beast whose attack was heading straight for us.

That however will not be your fate!

I stepped forward with a surge of speed, my left foot stomping firmly in the ground. I used it to pivot to gain even more speed and momentum. Completing a full spin I raised my sword and swung with all my strength riding the momentum of the spin I had just done. My Aura was expelled from the sword and collided with the dragon's attack.

The collision only lasted a brief instant as it was cut apart by the Aura slash and kept flying towards the dragon. As it neared it, the dragon brought its wings to its front. Enveloping itself in defense mitigating the damage. Not all of it could be diminished as one wing was sliced to shreds and the other one was in no better condition.

Severely injured and fully enraged it began swiping at me. Pouring even more aura into my sword I parried each of the dragon's claws. Pushing the fearsome beast back further and further. Now in control of the flow of battle I could start to ease into the sword movement that came natural to me.

I had engraved the Light Of Luna Sword Form in to my very soul. Losing myself in its form I started tracing long arcs in the air, moving left, swinging right. Raising my blade to block and firing off one of the basic elemental spells with my other arm. It was a non stop barrage. To the untrained eye, one would only see after images of my purple aura streaking through the air.

I lost myself in the battle. I was no longer Em fighting a dragon but instead I was light itself. Dazzling and flashing with brilliant speed. Cutting limbs and severing tendons. In a few moments the dragon was covered in deep horrid wounds all over. When a purple streak of Aura would fly over an area of it, seconds later blood would spurt out. Muscle being separated from tendon and bone. Limbs from its body.

Before long the only thing that remained was a disfigured bloodied mess roaring no howling in pain. Covered in shining purple radiance I prepared to finish this.

Turning to Ven who had finished chanting I gave the signal.

"Ven protect yourself, don't worry about me!"

"Are you sure?!"

"Quick just protect yourself I'll be fine!"

"Understood."

Instantly Ventus activated her protection spell.

[Nature's Protection]

The elements gathered around her forming an impenetrable sphere that encapsulated her.

Knowing she was safe I turned towards the dragon. Still covered in my Aura it was time to end this. With a final sweep of my blade I discharged another wave of aura and disrupted the balance of energy that I had created on it.

A massive explosion occurred. Lighting up the night sky brighter than the sun itself.

A chorus of dragon screeches and roars accompanied the lighted sky.

Falling back on my knees I started catching my breath. Turning to Ven, I caught the final glimpse of her spell before she deactivated it. Ventus was unscathed, relieved, and in tears.

I hope those are happy tears.

Just as I was going to relax, an uneasy feeling was creeping deep into my heart. What's wrong? Something is wrong? What is bothering me? I looked around trying to find the source of stress. As the dust settled I finally saw it.

Deep dark purple smoke was gathering at the dragons mouth.

Shock and disbelief came to me.

"How did that bastard survive!"

I had poured everything I had into it. Seeing it still clinging to life I felt insulted.

Ven running towards me had joined my shock and chimed in what I was thinking.

"What is that smoke?!"

"I don't know but can you still cast any protection on us?"

"No I don't have enough Mana."

"Dammit what can we do?!"

The dragon glaring at us almost with a gleeful smile opened its mouth and exhaled fiercely. The smoke began making its way towards us. Killing everything in its path.

My legs were shaking as I stood up. I tried adding aura to my sword but I was too exhausted to add enough to be significant. I'm still too low a level for longer more intense fights.

Is this really how we are going to go out?

Out of no where I heard a loud sloshy sound and felt a presence I had forgotten about move atop of my head.

BLOOOP BLOOOP