Chapter 12

Alaric glared at the young man, he watched at the flames danced within his fist. He continued to spin his staff as he turned towards Clorissa, "Just go to the other flags, alright?" He whispered, as she stood and grabbed her staff, giving a sharp nod. Alaric turned his attention towards the boy, as he smirked.

"Alright, enough talk!" He rushed in, flames dancing at his feet as he blitzed towards Alaric. The white hair boy quickly activated [Dash] and whipped around him, dodging his strike. He grabbed his staff with two hands and swung it with power at the boy.

But, the young man switched around and quickly blocked it with his shoulder, minimizing the damage taken. But, a burst of water blasted into his back, as he was pushed to the ground. Alaric noticed that Clorissa shot a beam at him and gave a thumbs up, as she continued on her path to the other flags.

He was able to quickly recover. Small bits of water splash down to the grass below as he turned his attention back to pair. Alaric rushed in and enhanced his strike with [Power Strike]. The blow landed as the boy was sent crashing into the trees, causing them to break. Alaric landed and quickly rushed back in, not letting off his assault. But, he was able to put up a barrier due to his [Barrier] skill.

Alaric's staff slammed into the translucent barrier, and the boy under smiled. He aimed his hands outward, them glowing in fiery orange. A air around the two began to heat up, a massive ball of flames raging from his palms, slamming into Alaric creating a explosion of flames.

Alaric was blown back, parts of his clothes now on fire. He hit the ground with a loud thud, creating a large crater. He frowned as he tried to lift himself up, 'Dammit, he's a tough one...' He thought, as he quickly stopped the fires on his clothes. He spun his staff and jump up the trees, trying to gain high ground.

Once above the ground, he raised his staff, ready to increase it's size. He then increased it's size ten-fold, anyone in the forest able to see its size. Alaric's body glowed red, as he was enhancing his attack with both [Power Strike] and [Strength Boost]. The staff came crashing down onto the forest, creating a large dust cloud that exploded from the area. Trees came crashing down and the wind from the powerful strike caused trees around that area to come tumbling down. Alaric landed and quickly raced towards where he remembered his flag was. 

The flag laid along to overly destroyed terrain, dust and dirt along the pole and design. He let out a sigh of relieve and quickly grabbed it, turning to the area behind him, 'Hopefully that put the guy out of-' Before he could finish his thought, a fiery whip raced at him and snatched the flag out of his hand. His eye's widened, as the boy stood there, like he was unaffected by the destruction of Alaric's previous attack.

He gave a arrogant smirk, "Pretty nice stick you have there." He said, clearly taunting Alaric. He looked at the flag and back at Alaric. "Honestly-" He couldn't continue his taunt as Alaric rush in and swung his staff at his face, pushing him back slightly. Alaric wasn't finished, he spun his staff, hitting him continually. He took a slight step back, flipped over and brought his staff down over him, causing his body to slam into the ground.

Alaric grabbed the flag, as the boy began to raise up. Alaric didn't know how much time he had left, but he knew he couldn't let them have any flags. He quickly rush forward, moving past the boy as he struggled to rise to his feet.

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Aluxio and Faxon rode on top of Skydancer, as their eyes saw the large red and yellow like pillar that suddenly appeared in the sky. The boy gave a surprised expression, "What the? Isn't that, you don't think that's Alaric do you?" He asked, awe in his eyes as the staff was slammed down, causing a whirlwind in the area, blowing through their hair. "It seems like it, it seems he's more powerful than I thought..." Faxon gave a small smile at the power he was able to showcase.

Aluxio smiled, "I hope he is able to cover and protect the flag."

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Clorissa ran through the forest, on her way towards one of their flags, she obvious couldn't be at multiple places at once, but she hoped her bubble barrier was enough to protect the other. So, her and Alaric ran into one of them, she assumes Aluxio and Faxon fought at least one of them, so that just leaves two. She quickly reached the B flag. And let out a breath, though she wasn't tired thanks to [Endurance] skill.

She placed a hand along the pole and turned, she had felt a large and harsh shockwave a while ago, she wondered if it was Alaric. If it was, she had to admit it was impressive. From the way Alaric describe his abilities, his confidence was lacking so she didn't think he was very strong. But with the way he was able to react to their foe, and the strength he is able to produce, it was unexpected.

She sat next to the bubble barrier, with her guard up if it came down to if she had to fight. She glanced up, thinking about her short time with Alaric. She gave a small smile as she closed her eyes, but her sense were on one hundred.

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Alaric continued to blitz through the forest, as he threw his staff down and quickly landed on it with his feet, balancing on it like a surfboard. The staff flew into the air as he zipped above the trees, 'I have to find Aluxio and Faxon...' He thought as he quickened the pace, hoping to run into the in the sky.

As he flew through the sky, balls of flames flew past him, as he glanced back, the person chasing him now skipping along the top of the trees. He frowned and activated [Dash], increasing his speed, but it seemed like his opponent did the same. They were moving at equal speed. As he flew, he noticed sky flying through the air and his eyes widened. 'Yes!' He flew a bit fast and caught the attention of Aluxio and Faxon. "Alaric!" Sky beamed as it saw Alaric.

The boy floated over, "We got attacked," Alaric said, continuing to look back to make sure he wasn't being attacked. "Clorissa was heading to the B flag and I'm going to the C flag, but I'll need back up since I'm being trailed." He said, pointing a thumb began him at his relentless pursuer.

Aluxio nodded, "Alright, I'll come with you, Faxon you go back up Clorissa." He commanded, handing him the flag. "And protect this flag." Faxon nodded, as Aluxio crossed from sky onto Alaric's staff. "We'll meet back up in a bit!" And they took off in different directions.

As Alaric and Aluxio flew in the direction of the C flag, Alaric broke the silence, "So, I saw you got the flag, have any trouble?" He wondered, as Aluxio nodded, "Yeah, a little bit. We got attacked by two of the other groups members."

Alaric gave a thoughtful look, 'So, if they fought two of them, and I fought one. Then...that leaves just one!' During his moment of realization, a fire ball flew past them. Alaric frowned and clenched his teeth, "Dammit, he's still on our tail!" Aluxio followed the gaze and the young man was traversing through the trees. A fiery whip extended from his palm as it grabbed onto Alaric's staff, bringing it to a stop.

'Shit...' Alaric quickly shrunk it's size as the two fell down towards the group.

"Come on, let's not worry about him right now!" Alaric screamed as he blitzed through the trees. Alaric continued to glance back, holding the flag close to his chest to avoid it getting snatched again. He began to weave passed the branches.

Once they reached the C flag, they were free to fight him, making him run off.

They soon arrived, as Alaric quickly stabbed the A flag into the ground next to the C flag. He turned and returned his staff into it's original size, getting into a fighting stance. Aluxio did the same, making Excalibur appear and getting into a stance and blue flames crackled around his blade. A roar of flames busted through the forest. "Time to see what you can do, Alaric!"

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Clorissa sat motionless as she waited for time to eventually run out. She looked up, and her eyes wandered around the vast sky. 'I hope the others are okay,' she thought to herself. She looked forward, and she heard a sound vibrate in the air. She knew just what it was, as she stood and swiped her staff, power swelling up in the orb as she used her skill, [Bubble Shield: Reflective].

A large wall of bubbles materialized in front of her, as a blast of sonic waves raced towards her, ricocheting off the barrier back to it's sender. She aimed her staff, and a small beam of small bubbles shot through the trees, creating a path that revealed her attacker. It was a young boy, a mask over his face.

She frowned, 'Guess I get to do some fighting too...'