Chapter 8 - Charles Military Academy (6)

ROAR!

The giant, mechanical lizard roared, unleashing an otherworldly sound that shook the room. "Be careful; this one is different from the others," Dorothy took out her Aether Staff. "Yeah, I can feel it too," I also unsheathed my sword before gripping it tightly with both hands. The giant mechanical lizard lowered its body, its red eyes gleaming as it saw us two. I observed the enemy before me with focus, observing its movements carefully. The large robotic creature's front left leg twitched, and I knew it was about to attack. "Dorothy, spread out!" I barked. True enough, the giant mechanical lizard suddenly blitzed its way toward us. It ran straight at me, but I managed to step my way out of its path.

Dorothy was not as fortunate. She was able to erect a wall of earth. However, the giant mechanical lizard just crashed through it like it was nothing. "Guh," Dorothy grunted as she jumped to the side, barely dodging the lizard's charge. "Get away from her!" I leaped forward, brandishing my sword; I used Form 3: Wave to push away the giant mechanical lizard. The mechanical creature roared before retreating slightly, observing us with its two red, mechanical eyes. "You alright, Dorothy?" I asked with concern. "I'm fine, just a scratch," Dorothy replied while clutching her left arm. "Can you still fight?" I asked. "Yes. These kinds of wounds won't stop me," Dorothy picked up her Aether Staff with her right hand.

"Good. Get ready; here it comes," I gripped my sword tightly. "Roar!" the giant mechanical lizard wiggled its head left and right as its legs ran forward with speed. In an instant, the giant mechanical lizard arrived right in front of me. "Tch," I clicked my tongue, blocking the giant mechanical lizard's charge. However, its strength proved to be too much for me. I got flung back by the robotic creature's attack. "Vaan, use this!" Dorothy quickly waved her Aether Staff. Then, a pillar of earth burrowed from the wall near me. "Good," I nodded before flipping in the air. I stabilized myself on the earth wall, using it as a platform to land on. Then, using my legs as springs, I propelled myself forward while holding my sword on the side.

"Die!"

ROAR

The giant mechanical lizard and I roared simultaneously as my sword met with its head. My sword bounced off the giant robotic lizard's head, causing me to be sent flying. "What kind of material is that!?" I exclaimed. "Vaan! You bastard, take this!" Dorothy pointed her Aether Staff toward the lizard. "Earth, guide me to victory. Pierce my enemy with your mighty power. Ha!" Dorothy loudly chanted as the light blue crystal in her Aether Staff lit up. A complicated and relatively large yellow-patterned circle formed around the tip of her Aether Staff. "Whoa, so that is how a gifted attack," I managed to get up to my feet when I saw Dorothy launching a barrage of earth spikes toward the giant mechanical lizard.

The giant mechanical lizard was pinned down by Dorothy's attack with no chance to break free. "What are you standing around for, Vaan? Attack while you have the chance! I can't keep doing this for long!" Dorothy's shout brought me back from my stupor. "Sorry about that," I nodded slightly before rushing forward toward the pinned-down giant mechanical lizard. As it was distracted because it was getting hit by Dorothy's earth spikes barrage, I was able to approach it without it noticing. "This time, I will cut you," I took a deep breath. Spacing my feet and gripping my sword tightly, my eyes glittered. "First Form: Severing!" I swung my sword downward. The ARC-D inside my pocket lit up green as my sword touched the giant mechanical lizard.

SWISH

Dorothy's mouth was wide agape, "Whoa—" she exclaimed.