Chapter 3

“Lightning Blade”

Not only is it an advanced sword technique used only by magic swordsmen, it is a technique with immense power that the young hero was able to slice through the boar general’s enormous shield like butter. The technique is so powerful, that the only way to learn this technique is for a master to pass it to an apprentice. So how is it that the young hero knows this technique?

“Coincidence.”

During their time at the academy, the young swordsman and the young mage would always have sparring sessions; you could say that this made them become the best in the academy. And during one of these sessions, just as the young mage is able to cast lightning, the young swordsman was able to complete his training with aura, and in that moment when the young mage fired his lightning, the young swordsman blocked it out of pure instinct. For a moment, the young swordsman thought to himself if he could channel magic through his sword, and so he practiced everyday. You could say that this technique, Lightning Blade, is a combined attack by the best mage and swordsman of the Kingdom’s academy.

“That all you got?” The monster condescendingly asked.

But even with that attack, it was still not enough. Sure the young swordsman was able to cleave the monster’s shield in two, sure he was able to damage even the bracer on the monster’s arm, but that was all he could do. No, he could’ve sliced the monster’s arm off, but something stopped his technique.

“You may be able to slice through my shield, I’ll give you that…”
“But not through my Armor.”

Beneath the destroyed bracer, the monster’s arm was black. No, the young hero’s lightning blade didn’t burn it; it was something else, something malevolent. 

“The aspect of the Demon: Black Armor.”

Just as the young hero was able to control the Lightning magicka through his aura, the boar general was able to create an armor of magicka through his dark aura, thus increasing his already powerful defense.

“I commend you for being able to push me to use this ability of mine…”

“As a reward, I will try to hold my urge to torment you further.” The boar general lifts his right arm, preparing to execute the young hero with his enormous spear.

The young hero, kneeling at the boar general’s feet, could only listen to the monstrous voice. He doesn’t have the strength to stand up, not only because he had just exhausted his strength in that last attack of his, but the thought that his greatest attack was useless ultimately shattered his warrior’s spirit.

With the boar general’s monstrous voice adding despair to the broken hero, the hero party is now defeated.

“Barrier!” The young cleric, desperate to save their leader, shouted to activate her pre-cast spell. Unfortunately, even a fully formed barrier wasn’t enough to stop the boar general’s attack as it pierced through the barrier penetrating the young hero’s breastplate.

“Wha–” The young cleric was shocked, she couldn’t believe how her fully formed barrier be destroyed so easily. At that moment, she knew, they’re going to die. 

“Combined magicka: Cold Lightning.” The young mage fired at the boar general’s head.

“Get ahold of yourself!” The young mage shouted at the young cleric.

“This monster isn’t something we can defeat… you need to go back to the kingdom and report this!” The young mage instructed.

“What?! No! I’m not–”

“Now is not the time to argue! I’ll try to hold this monster, you need to go back to the kingdom”

Just as the two are discussing their current predicament, the boar general threw the young hero’s remains, clearing the cloud of ice dust in the process thus revealing the boar general’s body covered in Black Armor.

“Don’t let our sacrifices be in vain.”

With a horrified look on her face, the young cleric reluctantly left her last surviving party member; his last words echoing in her mind as she fled filled with guilt that she was unable to do what she was supposed to do, keep her party members alive.

“It’s futile to resist” The monster warned as he made his way slowly in front of the young mage. The young mage knew that and had already resigned to his death the moment the young hero failed to wound the monster. If the combined effort of both the strongest physical and magic attack didn’t work, nothing in his arsenal will

“Not gonna run?” The monster sarcastically asked.

“Is there a point?” The young mage retorted. His despair grew with every word they exchanged, like prolonging the inevitable, but he knew that this is a good opportunity for the young cleric to run away as far as possible.

“I admire your bravery, as much as I want to turn both you and the warrior I just fought as soldiers for the great Demon king, it is unfortunate but I possess no powers…”

“This will be your grave.” The young mage steeled himself as he felt the boar general’s spear penetrate into his chest. Blood started to pour to the ground, his feet started to go limp, his consciousness started to fade as his life slipped away. But he fought the urge to just give up with every ounce of strength he had left, for this moment is very crucial. He grabbed the boar general’s spear, gripping it tightly.

“I didn’t think you’d be this tough.” The boar general sarcastically praised.

“I just remembered something… you see…” The young mage slowly replied.

“When we took this quest… to subjugate the Demon king… I was forced to learn something…”

“I didn’t think that I’d be using it this early…”

“Tomb of Ice”

A spell that can be activated when the caster is at death’s door. Originally, the spell’s purpose is to prolong the caster’s life by sealing them inside an ice prison, temporarily putting them in suspended animation and buying enough time for healers to save them from certain death. However, the Kingdom’s court wizard didn’t teach him this spell for that but as a last-ditch effort to seal the Demon king in an icy prison.

“I see, so you humans have this devious plan for our King…”

“It is a great honor for me to be able to take this in my King’s stead.”

The boar general emits an intense dark aura as the ice engulfs the two warriors, creating an enormous ice crystal in the middle of the forest; like a blue flower seen in the sky.