“Those two are complete monsters…” Aria muttered under her breath, “how is it that they’re moving even faster than before?!”

  Aria felt a little guilty calling her own mother a monster, but just from what she was able to gather from this battle, most of which she failed to keep up with, she could think of no other way to describe her.

  She felt incredibly apprehensive about the reveal that Arawn had a second elemental affinity. If she remembered her lessons from her mother right, then having more than one was rare among Ethereans. And for those that were among that minority, they could only use one element at a time. Only those with complete and utter mastery over both their affinities had the potential to use both at once, fusing them and creating a new element from that mixture. But even then, the odds of accomplishing such a feat were extraordinarily slim.

  Aria gripped her shirt tightly as she continued to try and observe the battle, to learn more from it and override what she previously thought was possible.

  ***

  Galen’s eyes were as wide as saucers as he heard the distant rumbles and shockwaves that seemed to originate from the Second Circle. He glanced towards Milton, and saw the scribe’s jaw was tense. He looked nervous… but also extremely angry.

  He’d held that expression ever since another messenger came by to give him another report in private.

  “Milton? What’s going on?” Galen asked as he gestured towards the sounds.

  It sounds like a damned Dragon Ball fight over there! he thought with a drop of sweat.

  The scribe didn’t answer him.

  He prodded further, “Milton! Come on, just give me an answer!”

  He remained quiet for a moment longer, and just as Galen had been about to yell at the scribe, he spoke. But he didn’t answer any of his questions.

  “Guards!” he barked with unexpected intensity, “we must move the Champion outside of Ignis!”

  “What?!” Galen gasped out.

  From the nervous shifting of the guards, they also seemed shocked by that order.

  “Well?” the scribe snapped, “get moving!”

  “Milton! Hold on! I’m not going anywhere until you tell me what’s going on!” Galen resisted.

  The scribe sighed, looking annoyed with him for the first time since they’d met. “I’m sorry, Champion,” Milton began, “but we must get you to safety first. Ordinarily, I’d take you to the castle… but that would mean going through the Second Circle and risking getting you caught up in… that.”

  He gestured towards the sounds of titanic battle.

  “We must move. Quickly, now!” Milton ordered.

  “Milton! I swear, answer me right now!” Galen demanded.

  However, the scribe had turned his back to him, leading the way as Galen’s guards surrounded him and all but forced him to start moving. He ground his teeth with frustration.

  Redian, he mentally called to his sword.

  “Yeah, boss?” Redian asked.

  You have any idea what the hell is going on?

  “From what I can gather,” the sword began, “it seems like a massive battle broke out in the Second Circle. I don’t have much details beyond that, but… oh boy!”

  What is it? Galen asked.

  “The level of Ether I’m detecting in the direction of that battle… I’ve never felt anything like it! Whoever is fighting, they’re powerful… All that Ether from just two people… One of the two in particular is a complete and utter monster!”

  The complete lack of joviality in Redian’s words sent a chill down Galen’s spine. He glanced towards the sounds of battle, marveling at the fact it was a one vs one battle, and wondered to himself, Do they expect me to reach that level one day…? That’s insane!

  Towards Redian, Galen ordered, Keep an ear out for any information regarding what’s going on. Like hell I’m going to just let Milton keep me in the dark!

  “Got it, boss,” Redian said in a serious tone.

  ***

  Anila and Arawn zipped around the Second Circle, clashing and colliding against one another repeatedly as destruction was left in their wake. Their battle had begun to border on the edge of what Anila assumed to be the evacuation zone, as she began to both sense and see other humans. Most were civilians, and they looked positively terrified as the battle neared them. A few of them were guards, and had looked ready to try to attack her. However, the instant they saw Arawn was the one she was fighting, they gulped and backed away, urging the citizens to evacuate further away.

  As Anila clashed blades against Arawn, having coated one of her hands with Wind Blade to act as an impromptu sword, she noted the Shadow didn’t seem to care at all that their battle had reached the pedestrians.

  “What’s wrong, Anila Tufani?!” Arawn bellowed with a bloodthirsty grin as he locked blades with her, “you seem distracted!”

  She glared at him and used a burst of wind to push him back slightly. The space created was just enough to slam him with a Tornado Sphere. The orb pushed Arawn into the air and far from the evacuating citizens. She followed right after him.

  As she closed the gap between them, she saw Arawn’s lips moving subtly. Then she noticed the flow of his Ether.

  An Art! Anila realized as she used a burst of wind to push herself vertically, narrowly avoiding a bolt of lightning that would have hit her skull.

  With an even stronger burst, she sped past Arawn and quickly turned to fire another Tornado Sphere. Right before it made contact, a cloak of electricity emanated from the Shadow, shielding him as two wind spheres had him sandwiched between them, trying to crush him. Arawn roared, his face bright red with exertion.

  While Arawn was trapped, Anila crossed her arms above her head in an X shape, forming two Wind Blades on each arm. She then launched them at the Shadow, trying to either cleave his skull or detonate the wind spheres.

  Just when Anila thought she’d had him, the jewel in Arawn’s armor shone an even brighter green, and Arawn suddenly managed to push away the two wind orbs enough to let him fall to the ground. The two Wind Blades still collided with the two spheres just as they collided with each other, resulting in an explosion of wind that sent Arawn hurtling to the ground with enough force to leave a crater.

  This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  She was right on him, another Wind Blade formed in her hand as she stabbed it towards the Shadow’s face. The man grinned as, with a single armored hand, he caught the Art and then broke it, sending them both flying back from each other.

  Anila didn’t have time to think as she sensed Arawn casting another Art. Reacting purely on instinct, she shot forward another Tornado Sphere. The bolt of lighting Arawn sent her way collided with her Art…

  And pierced right through it.

  Anila’s eyes widened as the lighting struck her right on the stomach and sent her flying back. As she spasmed on the ground, Arawn appeared over her with his scimitar raised overhead. As he swung his sword down to inflict a lethal strike, Anila used an Art to release a burst of powerful winds from her body, similarly to what the Shadow had done with his flames earlier.

  Arawn barely slid back inches, though Anila was sent back several yards. She’d begun to heal herself as she rolled on the ground, but the Shadow wasn’t about to let go of the advantage he’d gained. With a spark of electricity, he appeared behind her, kicked her hard in her injured and charred stomach, and sent her flying back. He then appeared beside her again, and rammed a sparking fist into her cheek, slamming her hard into the ground and cratering it.

  Arawn howled in triumphant laughter, “Looks like I win, Anila Tufani!!!”

  He raised his sword to behead her, but froze for a moment when a voice yelled out, “MOM!!!”

  The Shadow turned to see Aria, still in her wind cage, looking distraught and horrified at the sight before her. Arawn began to laugh even harder. “Oh this is marvelous! We made it back to the starting location of our battle?! Well, now we have an audience to witness this great moment in history,” Arawn began to turn back to Anila, “your very own daugh-”

  A black flamed fist smashed into Arawn’s face, shattering his nose and fracturing his skull. He was sent flying back and smashed into a building with great force, toppling it down on top of him.

  ***

  After being forcefully guided out of Ignis, Galen was greeted by the sight of the world beyond Axis Mundi’s capital for the first time since he’d been summoned to this world.

  I wish I’d been able to come here under better circumstances… he thought as he scanned the area from where he stood just outside of the gates.

  He was surprised to see the immediate vicinity was very reminiscent of the Third Circle, only the buildings here were either empty or only partially finished. He figured that Ignis was in the middle of some expansions.

  From where he stood, he could see down the road that led to the rest of the Realm. It was very reminiscent of dry plains. That, combined with the heat and sun beating down mercilessly on him, the scenery reminded Galen of a typical Wild West setting. Given this Realm was where Fire elemental Ether was concentrated, he wondered if there were any deserts in Axis Mundi. He didn’t like the idea of traversing them, and hoped he’d never have to.

  He was brought out of his thoughts and reminded of the intense battle taking place within Ignis as another boom of thunder sounded. Galen glanced towards Milton, who looked more on edge and angrier than he’d ever seen him, as another messenger came to report to him.

  No doubt the bastard is going to refuse to answer any questions I have, Galen thought as he mentally called to Redian, hey, have you learned anything as of yet?

  “Yeah, boss. Several things actually,” the sword responded.

  Hit me.

  “Apparently an elf is doing battle against a high ranking warrior of the Dominion. They called him a Shadow? Hmm… Damn!”

  Galen was surprised to hear frustration from the Sentient Weapon, What’s wrong?

  “...remember how I told you the Dominion tampered with the first generation of Sentient Weapons before retiring them? So that we don’t spill any of the Dominion’s secrets in the off chance one of us is stolen?”

  Yeah?

  “Well, when I brought up the term ‘Shadow,’ I felt like I should know what that is. Rather, I know for certain that I once knew what it meant. Only the knowledge isn’t there anymore…” Redian explained.

  That’s… disturbing, Galen thought back as he felt a shiver go down his spine. It wasn’t right what the Dominion did to Redian and its kin, and sensing the distress from the sword only cemented that belief.

  I’m sure we’ll learn what that is in time. Or, re-learn in your case. Anything else you found out?

  “Apparently, there were several elf slaves that had escaped earlier. Something about collars going offline? And apparently, one of them is the one fighting against that Shadow fellow right now. That’s all I got for now, boss.”

  Galen nodded, Thanks, Redian. Keep an ear out for anything more.

  After the sword mentally saluted an affirmative, Galen shut his thoughts off from it as he thought about what he’d just been told. Having learned a bit more about the situation, he couldn’t help but feel sympathy for the elves that had escaped.

  I wonder if the one fighting is just trying to buy time for their friends to escape… he thought.

  Suddenly, he felt Redian slamming against his mind, a feeling akin to someone pounding at your door. Only in this case, the door was Galen’s head.

  Wincing in pain, he reopened his mind to the Sentient Weapon, Ow! Redian! What’s gotten into-

  The sword interrupted him, “Boss! I just eavesdropped on the messenger that Milton scribe was with. You’re not going to believe this!”

  Before Galen could demand for Redian to get on with it, a loud bellow caused him to jump.

  “WHAT?!” it had been Milton, who’d just snapped at the messenger.

  The poor man squeaked in fear before repeating his message in a whisper. Galen could see the scribe’s face darken as he began to rub his face. He noted how the scribe was no longer wearing his glasses.

  Redian then informed him of what that messenger must have told Milton.

  “The slaves in the Second Circle of Ignis have turned on their owners.”

  ***

  Aria’s jaw hung open as she saw her mother standing menacingly with a snarl as her fists were coated in dark flames.

  Fire?! From Mom? Why?! I thought her only affinity was Wind! she thought with apprehension.

  The evidence, however, was right in front of her. Anila stood with flames beginning to emanate from her body, but they were an unnatural color. Black with a white, orange-yellow outline. Aria could see now that her mother’s elven eyes had turned from green to a dark orange color.

  That proved it.

  Her mother had a second elemental affinity.

  And it was fire of all things.

  Aria turned her head as she heard an explosion. She saw Arawn had burst out of the wreckage that had buried him with an explosion of electricity. He winced painfully as his shattered nose mended itself back together with surges of sparks. He glowered at Anila before beginning to laugh mockingly, “To think! That an Athanasius forsaken knife ears is using an element that belongs to the superior human race! I will kill you slowly and painfully for this offense!”

  Aria was shocked when she heard her mother audibly growl in response. That was extremely out of character for her. As she observed Anila closely, Aria could see the mask of calm her mother usually wore was completely gone. Palpable rage and bloodlust was plainly evident on her face, and it seemed to exude from her in dark, oppressive waves.

  Arawn seemed to pick up on this change as well, as he stroked his beard, “Your demeanor has completely changed… and the feel and intensity of your Ether…”

  Aria tried once more to reach out her Ether senses.

  And what she felt from her mother sent a chill down her spine.

  Anila’s Ether usually gave off a strong, but reassuring and comforting feeling to Aria. To her, her mother’s Ether felt bright and warm. Just like a mother’s embrace.

  Currently, however, the pressure being exerted from Anila’s Ether felt… dark.

  It felt somehow simultaneously cold and scorching hot with hostility.

  “Yes…” Arawn confirmed, “that’s why you have the Fire affinity. I had thought for a moment that it was because you’d spent so long in this Realm that you’d naturally attained the affinity. However, the unnatural color of your flames… and the dark feeling of your Fire Ether… you’ve Inverted, haven’t you?”

  “Long ago,” Anila spat, literally and figuratively, “I utterly DESPISE using these flames. I will make you suffer for forcing me to use them, hume!!!”

  Arawn smirked, his arms sparking with electric energy, “And I’d like to see you try-”

  Only to be caught off guard as Anila closed in with a burst of speed, one far faster than before, and sent him flying once more with a black flamed kick to the jaw.

  Round two had begun.

  A huge thank you and special shoutout to my Myth Keeper tier Patron, Mountain Knight, and Lore Master tier Patron, Conman2731. Your support is sincerely and greatly appreciated.

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