Esmeria

In the southern-most part of Luo Yang’s region, Richard, Regina, Milli, and Zafir were resting by a crackling campfire, the night air thick with tension.

“We can’t delay this any longer,” Richard said, his voice strained as he shifted uncomfortably.

“Time is running against us, but you’re injured,” Milli replied, concern lacing her tone as she glanced at his bandaged wounds.

Zafir, who had been quietly observing, finally spoke up. “May I ask why we’re rushing to the capital?”

Milli shot him a serious look. “We need to get to the princess before the Azevaria Empire does. And judging by the current situation, things aren’t looking good.”

“I need to make more bullets and bombs, but I don't have the ingredients. Damn it!” Richard muttered, frustration evident in his voice as he checked his supplies.

Milli rubbed her temples. “Ugh… just thinking about this gives me a headache.”

Zafir, still trying to piece together their situation, asked, “Can’t we just avoid that dragon and head straight to Luo Yang?”

“It won’t solve the root of the problem,” Milli replied, shaking her head. “I’ve fully recovered my mana, but it’ll drain a ton to pull this off. Still, I have no choice—I have to call upon Xenado.”

She looked at them both, determination in her eyes. “After Blossomwing, it’ll be up to you two, Richard and Zafir, to get us to Luo Yang. We can't afford any mistakes.”

“Do you need me to back you up? I might not be as strong, but I’ll be your shield!” Zafir offered, his voice tinged with concern.

“It’s okay,” Milli replied, shaking her head. “I just need you to stay here. After I leave this camp, I warn you, don’t follow me or even get close to where Blossomwing is. It’s too dangerous.”

Zafir nodded, but doubt lingered in his eyes. He couldn’t shake the uncertainty—if Milli couldn’t defeat Blossomwing with Richard’s help before, how could she do it alone?

Seeing Zafir’s hesitation, Richard chimed in, “Leave it to her. Xenado is her trump card. Trust me, you wouldn’t want to be anywhere near it if you want to live. She couldn’t use it before because we were too close to her.”

Zafir’s eyes widened slightly at Richard’s words, realizing the gravity of the situation.

“Is Milli a god too?” Zafir asked, his curiosity getting the better of him.

“I’m not,” Milli replied with a slight smile. “Currently, the only god here is him,” she added, nodding towards Richard.

"I should go and face Blossomwing now," Milli said, her tone becoming serious. "If all goes well, I'll have the fight finished before sunrise."

“Take care, summoner of death,” Richard teased, a playful grin on his face.

Milli rolled her eyes and playfully swatted Richard on the head before heading off, her determination clear in her stride. Zafir watched her go, feeling a mix of admiration and concern as she disappeared into the night.

“Will she really be alright?” Zafir asked, concern evident in his voice as he watched Milli disappear into the distance.

“She’s a lot stronger than you think,” Richard replied, his tone reassuring yet firm.

After about an hour of trekking, Milli finally caught sight of the flower field in the distance. She had taken her time, deliberately conserving her energy for the upcoming battle. Knowing the fight would likely consume all her mana, she was determined not to waste any of her strength beforehand.

The blossoms appeared even more vibrant and lustrous than she remembered, their colors almost glowing under the moonlight.

“What a vile sight,” Milli thought to herself, her eyes narrowing as she took in the vibrant flowers. “Absorbing humans to achieve this unnatural beauty…”

“Ooooooi! I’m here for round two!” Milli shouted, her voice echoing across the field as she called out with all her might.

Suddenly, the ground around the flower field began to tremble. The roots of the trees twisted and writhed, causing the earth to quake. Slowly, the flower field started to rise, revealing the massive form of Blossomwing, the dragon lying beneath, its body entwined and hidden beneath a blanket of flowers.

“Have you come to offer yourself up, summoner?” Blossomwing's voice rumbled, dripping with menace as the dragon’s eyes glinted from beneath the floral canopy.

“I came here to defeat you!” Milli retorted, her voice steady and defiant, despite the massive presence before her.

“You will not escape this time!” Blossomwing roared, its voice reverberating through the ground. The dragon cast [Wood Barrier], and immense roots erupted from the earth, weaving together to form a colossal prison of twisted vines and towering trees. The barrier was so vast that it encircled not only the entire flower field but also the surrounding forest, sealing them off from the outside world.

“Your companions must have abandoned you. Nobody will save you now!” Blossomwing sneered, the barrier looming around Milli, its presence heavy and oppressive, as though intending to crush her spirit as much as her body.

Milli grinned, her eyes gleaming with determination. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a card, letting it hover in the air before her.

“Ravage, Xenado,” with a swift motion, she touched the card with her staff. As soon as the staff made contact, black shadows erupted from the card, swirling upwards into the sky like a dark storm. The air around her crackled with energy as the shadows twisted and writhed, gathering power.

"Your summons are useless against me! Haven't you learned anything, you foolish summoner?" Blossomwing sneered as it cast [Wood Spears], sending jagged branches erupting from the ground, all aimed directly at Milli.

But Milli didn’t move. She stood her ground, a confident smirk on her face, which puzzled the dragon.

Just as the [Wood Spears] were about to impale her, the sky darkened, and with a thunderous crash, a colossal creature descended from above, obliterating the wooden dome’s top and shattering the wood spears beneath its immense weight. As it rose to its full height, the ground trembled, and the sheer size of the creature, towering at ten meters tall, cast a formidable shadow over even the mighty Blossomwing.

Blossomwing recoiled slightly, its confidence wavering as it took in the sheer size of the beast before it. This dark red monster who resembled a minotaur have four eyes and four horns on it’s head.

"I bet you recognize this one, don’t you? Since you even knew who Baltimore was," Milli said, her smirk widening.

"I-Impossible! The offspring of Kuyūthā was supposed to be dead!" Blossomwing stammered, its voice trembling with disbelief.

Xenado, the monstrous creature, slowly lifted Milli, placing her gently on its broad shoulder. "I’m not the one trapped here with you," Milli taunted. "You’re the one trapped here with me."

Blossomwing, enraged and desperate, roared and unleashed [Wood Blast], causing wood spikes to erupt from the ground, aiming to pierce Xenado. But before they could reach their target, an invisible force slammed them into the ground, shattering the attack as if it were nothing.

Blossomwing recoiled, the realization dawning that it was now facing a power far greater than it had anticipated.

The air was thick with tension as Xenado and Blossomwing faced off, their towering forms casting long shadows over the battlefield. Blossomwing’s scales shimmered with an ancient power, and the earth around it seemed to pulse with life, responding to its every movement. Xenado, with its dark, ominous presence, stood unflinching, ready to unleash its devastating power.

Blossomwing was the first to strike. With a swift motion, it cast [Petal Dance], sending a whirlwind of razor-sharp petals slicing through the air toward Xenado. The petals moved with lethal precision, cutting through the air like blades aimed to tear its foe apart.

But Xenado remained unmoved. With a simple gesture, it activated [Gravity Pull], the force of gravity intensifying around it. The petals, caught in the gravitational well, were yanked downward, crashing harmlessly to the ground before they could reach their target.

Undeterred, Blossomwing roared and cast [Wood Spear], launching a barrage of wood spikes toward Xenado. The spikes shot forward with deadly speed, but Xenado barely acknowledged them. As the spikes closed in, Xenado raised its hand, and the spikes were suddenly dragged down by an even stronger gravitational force, embedding themselves uselessly into the earth.

Frustration flashed in Blossomwing’s eyes as it unleashed [Wood Crusher], sending a wave of even larger, more powerful spikes arcing through the air. These were heavier, thicker, and more dangerous, designed to pierce through anything in their path. But Xenado responded with another [Gravity Pull], and once again, the spikes were pulled downward, crashing to the ground with a resounding thud.

Roaring in fury, Blossomwing unleashed its most powerful move yet: [Wood Blast]. Massive spikes erupted from the ground in every direction, each one sharper and stronger than the last, aimed at impaling Xenado from all sides. The earth shook as the spikes shot up, turning the battlefield into a deadly forest of spears.

But Xenado had anticipated this. The moment the spikes erupted, it channeled its power and summoned [Meteor]. The sky darkened, and a massive, fiery meteor appeared, descending from the heavens with a trail of molten rock. The meteor struck the ground with cataclysmic force, shattering the spikes and engulfing the entire area in a storm of fire and debris.

Blossomwing, battered but not broken, activated [Wood Zone], boosting its wood magic and strengthening its connection to the earth. The ground beneath it pulsed with renewed life, and the remaining spikes hardened, becoming even more formidable. The dragon then cast [Wood Domination], taking full control of the battlefield. The flowers around them turned into deadly blades, sharp as Blossomwing’s own scales, and the ground itself seemed to rise in its defense.

Xenado, however, remained unimpressed. With a low growl, it unleashed the full force of its [Gravity Pull]. The ground buckled under the intense pressure, the flower blades were crushed into the dirt, and even Blossomwing itself felt the immense weight pulling it down. The dragon struggled to stay upright, its wings flapping desperately as it tried to resist the overwhelming force.

But Xenado wasn’t finished. It raised both hands to the sky, summoning another [Meteor]. This time, the meteor was even larger, burning with an intense heat as it plummeted toward Blossomwing. The dragon let out a final, desperate roar, but it was too late. The meteor struck with an earth-shattering impact, obliterating everything in its path.

The ground shook violently, and when the dust finally settled, Blossomwing lay defeated, its once-mighty form reduced to a charred, broken shell. The battlefield was a smoldering ruin, with the remnants of Blossomwing’s magic fading into the air.

Xenado stood victorious, its dark form towering over the remains of its fallen foe. As the dust settled and the battlefield quieted, the intense gravitational force gradually dissipated, allowing the earth to return to its natural state. With its task complete, Xenado carefully lifted Milli from its shoulder, lowering her gently to the ground.

"Thank you for your help, Xenado," Milli said, her voice soft with gratitude. She wrapped her arms around one of Xenado's massive fingers in a brief but heartfelt hug. Then, with a quiet whisper of farewell, she released the summon. Xenado began to dissolve into glimmers of light, its towering form fading away as it returned to the card in Milli’s hand.

She held it close for a moment, her eyes reflecting relief, before carefully tucking it away.

Milli started to feel lightheaded, almost fainting. “I still don’t have the capacity to fully utilize your strength, huh,” she remarked, her voice tinged with exhaustion.

She took a deep breath, steadying herself. “I should count myself lucky the match ended before I ran out of mana,” she added with a wry smile, grateful for the narrow victory.

"Time to head back!" Milli exclaimed, stretching her body as if shaking off the exhaustion from the intense battle.