The Phoenix's Maiden

Guardian (Part Two)

Arthur’s Point of View

Now I get it why he is coming after me, I killed the creatures that he is sworn to protect from evildoers since I did not come from the underworld, that is why he is trying to test me if I am worthy of his power. In fact, I am not really interested with his power since I have my own, but facing a guardian will decide if I will leave this place alive or not.

“Leave me alone,” I told the fire guardian in a gentle manner, and I hope that this misunderstanding will be settled peacefully with just words.

“No,” he said with commitment on his voice. “I have searched for so long, and maybe you are the one who is worthy of my power,” he added, and for the, I don’t know how many times he said that line, I am getting frustrated with all of this nonsense.

“I can’t fight right now,” I still tried to convince him not to fight me since I am really tired from that fighting with the fire hydra earlier.

“They you shall be consumed by the divine flames for all of your sins,” he said and he shot a flamethrower attack to me with his blue flames. I barely avoided that attack since I am very surprised on what he did.

“You want a fight?” I asked him. “I will give you one,” I taunted him while I draw Excalibur from its scabbard. This guardian will not give me a choice but to fight him and he is really a nuisance to me, right now. I badly needed a rest since I can still feel the exhaustion from the last attack that I made earlier.

If I don’t fight that will be the end of me, yes, I don’t really have a choice, but to fight.

“Begone by the divine flames,” he said while continues firing blue flames at me nonstop. Does he have infinite storage of aura inside him? If yes, that is so unfair, he must have some kind of weakness and all I can do is run around avoiding his flames that I can tell that is very hot even for me to handle.

If this goes on like these, my chance of losing this battle is very high, and defeating him may give me a power boost since the nuisance he is, he will be persistent on being my familiar even I reject his offer, that is a pride of the guardian, they don’t back off with their words which is good and bad at the same time.

I really wished that I sacrificed my nap travelling back towards the cave and there I can have a long rest, because this guy will not bother me there. Killing hostile creatures here is my only way of training my body and mind, besides they accepted my challenge meaning they are prepared to die when they attacked me first. I don’t see any wrong there. They accepted the fight in the first place, then why is he going after me.

I snap out of my daydreaming when I see the blue flames coming towards me.

“Fire Excalibur!” my sword was covered in red fire in an instant deflecting the blue flames preventing from burning me. Even the fire is not touching my body, I can feel its heat from this distance, it’s like I am already burning inside the flames. What else if the flames are already touching me? I will be turned into ashes in an instant. I want to avoid that as much as possible.

I successfully deflected his blue flames and I sent him back for a few inches not strong enough huh, this guy must be really powerful. Turning my fire Excalibur into aqua Excalibur will consume a lot of aura inside my body. That’s why I need to find the perfect timing to execute that attack towards him.

Dealing the final blow will not be easy enough for me so I prayed inside my mind to the great one to guide me in this battle and overcome the challenge that fates has brought upon me. I really hate admitting that this fire guardian is overpowering me.

If I am at my full strength this will be a completely different story. I wanted to flee but his attacks are long ranged that they can still reach me even when I am far away, plus we are surrounded by these fiery souls that will burn me. These guys, I don’t want to mess with them because they can heat themselves like a lava, hot enough to melt my skin and end my long life.

I don’t want that, but right now, I am weak, cornered, and I am at the door steps of death. Think Arthur! Don’t lose hope! Win this! You need to! They are waiting for your arrival; they care for you so do not lose hope.

I guess I need to bring that technique this soon, I plan on hiding it and use it till I face again an underworld leader, like that giant spider demon who almost killed me. I have a feeling that he is just a lackey of those who are truly are powerful amongst their army. That is why I have to prepare in case I face them, when I least expect them to arrive. At all times I must be ready.

“Thunder bring me wrath, Water give me the rage that will defeat my enemies,” I chanted and my sword’s enchantments was changed and there two scriptures of elements appeared from both sides. Left being thunder and the right side is water. This is my new technique infusing two elements into one. My elements can be synergized with one another and I want to exploit that technique, but currently it has a great toll on my body and this is the second time that I will use this technique in this day.

I really hope that my body won’t collapse in the middle of the battle. Oh and the attribute of both elements applies to my body at the same time. Regenerative abilities and movement speed. This technique is for agility at avoiding his surprise attacks and to bring out one of his nemesis elements, which is water.

“Thunder-Aqua Excalibur,” I prepared my sword for a huge attack that will wipe out both the santelmos surrounding me and him. “Roaring waves!” I swing my sword at full speed and I released a long range s***h attack and those who are heat will be paralyzed but as expected from the guardian, it was easily dodged… my attack, but I did not call it waves for no reason, meaning its multiple. So, I release two more consecutive attacks to him while he is in mid-air since him being there increase the chances of me winning this battle.

“Imp-“ he tried to said something but was cut off when my third attack hit him straight on the chest. My roaring waves had a delay time attack, I will release one to distract my enemies and two quick follow ups for a hit but if they avoided it the last one will be a sure hit.

He did not expect that last attack and that attack slashed him in half but with his properties he regenerated quickly but his movements were restricted thanks to the electrical properties that I put into that attack. Also I can see that I did some damage to him which made me happy.

“YOU!” he said angrily, that’s what you get for underestimating my abilities. “YOU WILL PAY!” he added and he burst out of rage and the movement restriction was easily broken which did not surprise me since I am expecting it. His flames grew brighter and stronger. The flame guardian radiated bright flames and his heat can be felt at my distance.

Oh great! I made him angry. That’s my plan! Oh geez, it’s not. I don’t want this. All of these.

He launched multiple giant fireballs at me as if they are showering me with meteors oh great,  I dodged it one by one but as I dodge more of it I can feel the exhaustion but I still can’t release the grip on this technique, because once I do that. I am dead.

Argh! One fireball did not hit me directly but its explosions is enough to send me away. I lose the grip on my sword and I was sent flying lying down on the ground once again. From mid air I saw him landing on the ground and walks towards me slowly. I tried to get up but the pain in my body is crippling, slowly preventing me to move.

Okay, now is not the time to reminiscence those memories from back then. I need to act. I need to. With all the strength left on my body, I tried my best to get up and face him head on.

“In the end you are not worthy of my flames,” he said before pointing the palm of his hand to me. I guess this is the end for me. I closed my eyes waiting for his flames to consume me. I’m sorry my kings, I cannot accomplish the task that you have given me.

“AHHHHHHH!” my thoughts were completely cut off when I heard this creature in front of me scream in pain.

I quickly opened my eyes again to see what is happening to him, I was shocked when I saw a sword piercing through his chest and I quickly recognized that sword, it was my Excalibur, but who wields it?

“Who dare defy this sacred battle?” he turned back and the sword is still embedded to his chest but to our surprise there is no one behind him. I was confused but my instinct is telling me that this is the chance to counter attack, with the adrenaline running on my body, I stood up and grabbed the sword while he is turning his back on me and proceeds to slice him towards the head.

“Thunder waves!”  there an electrical discharge happened while it bursts out with water coming from the sword.

“Yo- you got me,” I heard him said and fall to the ground. I looked at my sword still wondering how did it happen but one thing is for sure. I will climb that high wall.

-The Phoenix’s Maiden-