Chapter 17: Summoners?
The colossal creature, born from the depths of the underworld and clad in darkness, let out a bone-chilling roar echoing through the trees and sending waves of shivers through all who heard it. Risebelle, Roselle, and Runebelle felt the oppressive force of the creature's presence. The forest itself seemed to tremble in response to the creature's call, as if acknowledging its dominance in this otherworldly encounter.
Risebelle spoke with curiousity.. "I've never seen magic like that before. What did that person in the dark just do? And what is that creature?"
The person in the dark stepped forward, his crimson eyes locked onto Risebelle, Roselle, and Runebelle.
"What you just witnessed is a form of summoning magic," he began, his words measured and deliberate. "It is a powerful and ancient art that allows a mage to call forth beings from other realms, such as the underworld. That creature you see before you is known as the Abyssal Shadow Dragon, a fearsome entity bound to the darkest depths of the underworld. It is my strongest Summon!"
He continued, "The ritual to summon such a creature requires precise incantations, a significant sacrifice, and a deep connection to the darkness. The Abyssal Shadow Dragon is not a mere creation; it is a living, ancient being with its own will and desires. It is bound to the mage who summoned it, and it will follow their commands. I am going to protect the mana extractors and ensure the Academy of Magic's success. The forest's mana is essential for our goals, and we will not allow anyone to interfere. Now! Abyssal Shadow Dragon, Kill them!"
The Abyssal Shadow Dragon responded with a terrifying display of power. It reared back on its massive hind legs, its obsidian body radiating an aura of darkness. Its crimson eyes locked onto Risebelle, Roselle, and Runebelle with malevolent intent.
The dragon's maw opened wide, and from its gaping jaws, a beam of pure, unbridled darkness surged forth. The dark energy lanced through the air with incredible speed, cutting through the mystical forest like a shadowy blade.
Runebelle summoned her pillars in a desperate attempt to defend against the oncoming attack. The pillars formed a protective barrier in front of the sisters, but the power of the Abyssal Shadow Dragon's dark beam was overwhelming. The beam collided with the pillars, shattering them like fragile glass, and continued its deadly trajectory.
Risebelle, with quick reflexes, pulled both Roselle and Runebelle out of the beam's path just in the nick of time. However, the dark energy grazed Risebelle's side, leaving a searing, shadowy mark and eliciting a pained gasp from her.
The forest around them was scorched by the dark beam's passage, and the air was heavy with the oppressive presence of the Abyssal Shadow Dragon. Roselle's concerned gaze fell upon Risebelle's injury, her eyes widened in alarm. The wound, though caused by a grazing blow, seemed more severe than expected. Risebelle's face contorted with pain as she struggled to hold her side.
"Risebelle!" Roselle exclaimed, "That wound looks bad!"
Risebelle, still in shock from the attack, attempted to reassure her younger sister. "It's... it's not as bad as it looks, Roselle. We need to focus on the battle at hand."
Roselle was ready to take action. She dashed forward, growling with fire in her eyes.
"Roselle, wait! We need to assess the situation and plan our approach carefull--"
But Roselle, didn't heed her sister's words. She ran off, and raised her cannon-like weapon and fired a barrage of lightning-infused shots at the Abyssal Shadow Dragon. The shots impacted the creature's ebony scales, creating sparks and small bursts of dark energy upon contact.
While the damage inflicted by Roselle's attacks was limited, it did draw the attention of the Abyssal Shadow Dragon. The creature let out a menacing growl, its crimson eyes narrowing with hostility.
The Abyssal Shadow Dragon reacted with surprising agility, its massive body swooping down toward Roselle with deadly intent. Its wings beat with incredible force, propelling it through the air like a living storm.
As the creature closed in on Roselle, its maw opened wide, ready to unleash another devastating attack; however, Risebelle was quick to respond, her cannon-like weapon blazing with rapid-fire shots.
"Roselle, you idiot!" Risebelle shouted. She continued to fire at the approaching dragon, her shots striking its ebony scales and creating sparks of dark energy.
Runebelle summoned her cannon and unleashed a barrage of speed shots at the Abyssal Shadow Dragon, her attacks proved to be ineffective against the creature's formidable defenses. The dragon continued its relentless descent, undeterred by the magical assault.
With a swift and powerful strike, the Abyssal Shadow Dragon landed a devastating blow on Risebelle, sending her hurtling into a tree with a sickening thud. The impact left Risebelle dazed and in pain, her vision blurred as she struggled to regain her footing.
System message:
Risebelle Lifeforce: 25%
Runebelle reached out to touch Risebelle's injured side, her thoughts raced within her mind. She could see the pain and vulnerability in her older sister's eyes, and a deep sense of urgency welled up within her thoughts.
‘Her lifeforce is diminishing, and if I don't do something, it might go down even further. But this is just one foe of many we're facing. What if Roselle finds herself in the same situation? We're strong, we are, but those two were built for combat mainly. They need someone who can support them what they need......'
As Runebelle began trying to place her green energy and focus it into healing her injured sister, a moment of deep connection with the mystical forest occurred. In that instant, Runebelle felt a surge of newfound power within her, a response came from her systems.
The System message appeared before her:
Ability Acquired: Healing Shot (Requires Cannon)
Runebelle's eyes widened with realization as she summoned her cannon into her arms. She understood that she could now use this newfound power to not only defend her sisters but also to heal them when they were in dire need.
Runebelle aimed her cannon toward Risebelle's injuries and prepared to unleash the Healing Shot
With a focused and steady aim, Runebelle fired the Healing Shot, a gentle beam of green energy that enveloped Risebelle's wounded side. The healing magic surged through her sister's body, mending injuries and promoting rapid recovery.
Risebelle's pained face gradually softened as the Healing Shot worked its magic. The injuries that had once caused her great distress now began to heal before their eyes, and her lifeforce showed a significant increase, now at 60%.
Risebelle couldn't help but chuckle at her sister's words, a very rare smile gracing her lips.
"That's the spirit, Runebelle," Risebelle said. "We're a team, and we'll make the most of every ability and resource we have. Now that you have this healing shot, we're two times stronger."
Risebelle pushed herself up, her body feeling revitalized thanks to Runebelle's newfound power. She glanced over at Roselle, who was still locked in battle with the Abyssal Shadow Dragon.
"It's time for a comeback," Risebelle declared, "Let's rejoin the fight and show that dragon what we're made of."
Roselle's battle against the Abyssal Shadow Dragon raged on as she fired her cannon-like weapon at the airborne creature. Her shots crackled with lightning energy, and she aimed with precision, hoping to strike the dragon's vulnerable spots.
Her first three shots missed their mark, causing frustration to well up within her. However, Roselle remained resolute.
'My sisters are depending on me... I have to keep going!'
The Dragon prepared to launch another attack, but Roselle's instincts kicked in. She swiftly raised her massive cannon in front of her, using it as a makeshift shield. The dragon's powerful assault struck the cannon with tremendous force, causing Roselle to stagger backward from the impact.
Despite the impact, Roselle managed to absorb the brunt of the attack with her cannon, reducing the damage and preventing herself from being thrown back even farther. Her quick thinking allowed her to weather the dragon's assault, and she readied herself for the next round of combat.
‘I have to keep pushing,’ Roselle thought to herself. ‘Even if it's just small bits of damage, every hit counts. That dragon has to go down. But I can't ignore the fact that my magic reserves are running low. I can't keep this up forever...’
With each shot, Roselle aimed for the dragon's weakest points, hoping to chip away at its formidable defenses.
As Roselle continued her battle against the Abyssal Shadow Dragon, she noticed Risebelle approaching her.
"You look better, Risebelle. What happened?"
Risebelle nodded in response. "I'll explain later. Right now, we need a plan to take down this dragon, and I’ve got one."
"Alright, what's your plan?"
Risebelle quickly formulated her strategy and relayed it to her sister. "Here's what we'll do. I'll distract the dragon and draw its attention. While it's focused on me, you use your lightning magic to target its wings. If you can disable its ability to fly, I can do the rest."
Roselle listened attentively to Risebelle's plan, her eyes focused on her elder sister. As the plan she nodded in agreement, understanding the logic behind it.
"I get it”. Roselle replied "Distract and disable? Got it. I'll aim for those wings and do my best to bring this dragon down."
Risebelle gave her sister a reassuring nod. "Good. Remember, we need to time this perfectly. When I give the signal, that's when you strike. Let's do this, Roselle."
The Abyssal Shadow Dragon, its crimson eyes gleaming with malevolence, charged up energy within its massive form as it loomed in the darkened sky. A deep, ominous growl emanated from its throat as it prepared to unleash its dark beam upon the sisters.
Runebelle, driven by instinct , dashed towards the looming threat, forming her pillars in a futile attempt to protect her sisters. The Abyssal Shadow Dragon's attention turned to the blue and pink-haired sister as she tried to shield them, and it prepared to unleash its deadly attack.
The sisters, recognizing the dire situation, scattered in different directions. Runebelle's desperate actions caught the dragon's attention, and it swooped down, aiming to crush her with its formidable might. However, Runebelle displayed remarkable agility, expertly ducking out of harm's way as the dragon's massive form passed overhead.
The Abyssal Shadow Dragon descended with deadly intent, Runebelle moved with incredible agility, narrowly avoiding the crushing blow aimed at her by the dragon's massive feet. She rolled to the side, her heart pounding with the intensity of the near miss.
Meanwhile, Risebelle seized the opportunity presented by the dragon's grounded position. She focused her energy and created a slippery blue substance on the forest floor right beneath the dragon's feet.
The Abyssal Shadow Dragon attempted to shift its massive body towards her; however, the sudden appearance of the slippery energy caught it off guard. As it tried to take a step, its feet lost traction on the slick surface, causing it to lose its balance and stumble awkwardly.
The dragon let out a roar of frustration as it struggled to regain its footing.
Risebelle shouted,
"Now!”
Roselle wasted no time. With a burst of lightning energy, she propelled herself high into the air, aiming for the Abyssal Shadow Dragon. Her agility and control over her lightning powers allowed her to land gracefully on the creature's massive back.
The dragon, still struggling to regain its balance on the slippery surface, was caught off guard by Roselle's sudden presence. After a shout like a war-cry, Roselle unleashed a powerful barrage of lightning-infused strikes on both of the dragon's wings.
The creature let out a deafening roar of agony as the lightning surged through its wings, disrupting its ability to maintain flight. The dragon's colossal form began to tilt and waver, its attempts to stay standing futile.
The Abyssal Shadow Dragon plummeted to the ground, Roselle leaped off its back, landing gracefully on the forest floor.
The dragon crashed with an earth-shaking impact, causing the ground to tremble beneath it.
With the Abyssal Shadow Dragon grounded and weakened, Risebelle seized the opportunity to deliver the final blow. She channeled her water magic energy into her cannon. The cannon surges with power as water and magic intertwined within it, forming a devastating blast.
Risebelle aimed the cannon at the fallen dragon and fired. The powerful surge of water and magic shot forth like a torrential wave, slamming into the creature's massive form with immense force.
The Abyssal Shadow Dragon let out one last, agonized roar as the blast struck it. Dark energy crackled and dissipated as the water magic overwhelmed its defenses, causing severe damage to its already weakened state, but somehow, the Dragon manages to get back on its feet, and it looks at Risebelle dead in the eyes.
Risebelle stares off with the Shadow Dragon, her eyes glaring with intensity.
“Damn it!”