บท 17: Final: A Test of Strength
"Oh ho, the little prodigy has come to help his mommy! What beautiful familial love! But did you think a Dragon brat who has just barely come out of his first Tribulation would be in any sort of condition to fight?" The Lich's voice is dripping with venom.
"No more talking. I can't stand your disgusting voice." Lugh's voice was full of the purest rage. He disappears from sight only to reappear directly in front of All'nder.
"What! How did you-" Lugh throws a single punch into the corpse's stomach, sending him clear out of the room. He walks to his mother's body, saddened by her injured state.
"Sorry Mom, I was a bit too late, I'll have to make it up to you. Right now, I have to heal what I can, before he gets back." A small pool of glowing water pools in his hands, which begins to flow over the various scratches and bruises on Allisia's face. Slowly, the injuries fade and no scars are left to taint her beauty.
"I'll admit Brat, you hit pretty hard, but you can't kill me like that. So, it'd be much easier if you give up and watch as I kill your mother and unborn sibling."
"Aura Flame" A bright flame appears and is instantly attached to the Lich's face.
"AAAAHHHHH! WHAT IS THIS FIRE? IT'S SO FIERCE! I SHOULDN'T FEEL PAIN!"
"That's Fire Magic, using Aura instead of Mana. And it's perfect for dealing with abominations like you."
"THIS STILL WON'T BE ENOUGH!ARGH, TO KILL ME!"
"No it won't, but it's so much more satisfying this way." Lugh's mouth twists into a cruel smile. He slowly unsheathes the sword on his belt, slashing off all of All'nder's limbs in rapid succession, trailing behind afterimages.
"I'd say 'don't move', but you can't do that anyways. So, I'll just say stick around. Hehehe" Lugh sadistically laughs. He quickly turns back to his mother, infusing Aura into her womb in an effort to repair some of the damage done to the baby.'This piece of shit needs to pay for all the lives lost.' He quickly thinks.
"Good news! You get to die when I reattach my limbs BOY!" All'nder screams.
"I've got better news: I'm going to personally show you the destruction of your Vessel, MONSTER!" Lugh fires back. The limbs that were removed slowly inch their way back to the Lich's body, and decayed flesh begins to reinforce them into their proper placement.
"You truly are a disgusting thing, you make me want to vomit just looking at you."
"Oh, but I was once just as handsome as you were, I just gave up looks for Power."
"And see where it brought you, your imminent demise."
"The only death I see boy, is yours. You don't know where my Vessel could possibly be located."
"I actually do, but first. let's ruin that good mood you have going. Heavenly Punishment!" As Lugh speaks these words, dark clouds begin to form over the entire city. They crackle and flash with streaks of Lightning. The air becomes heavy with static, and the wind picks up. Slowly, Lugh lifts from the ground, his eyes colored gold. He sees all the various Auras within the Capital, focusing on the ones that are either gray or black.
"Descend" He whispers, but that whisper seems to spread through the city and into the surrounding mountains. Thousands of bolts of Lightning fall from the sky, striking all the intended targets with incredible power. All'nder feels the loss of every single one of his Undead troops, realizing Lugh took out an army with one spell.
"Even though that took a lot of my Mana, you should still be able to understand my strength now."
"That's... impossible, no one could have that kind of Mana capacity and control. You... you must have hired a group of mercenary Mages to help protect the city!" The Lich begins to panic and stutters out an excuse.
"That was all my doing. But before we go on, let's go somewhere more appropriate." Instantly both Lugh and All'nder are gone, leaving Allisia to recuperate. But what the two fighters didn't know, is that both the kick and subsequent infusion of Aura had jump-started her labor. She was going to give birth a few days earlier than expected.
*Outskirts of Arves*
"Space-Time Magic? You really are a brat of many talents! But having that many Magics won't be able to help you find my Vessel, so quit trying to bluff me!" The Lich yells.
"I already told you that I know where your Vessel is, I can see Auras. I see your Aura thinly connected to a cave south of here. So, the name of the game we're about to play is called 'Don't Let Me Kill You'. The rules are simple: Stop me from reaching your precious soul. Doesn't that sound like fun?"
"You...aren't a normal child. What are you?"
"You already know that I'm a young Dragon. I'm just much stronger than other Dragon children. So, for our little dance I'm not holding anything back."
'Aura Burst'
Lugh's Aura explodes out from his body, radiating throughout the forest and could even be felt back in Arves. A hundred-fold increase in power and strength. "Careful now, Lich, I could grind you into dust with my bare hands." Lugh's body flickers, and All'nder's body is shot up into the air, covered in various fist-sized holes.
"Gah... What in the hell just happened? Did he just punch me? I couldn't see any movement!"
"I told you to be careful, but I guess that advice didn't help. Mainly cause your eyes can't possibly keep up with my speed."
"Just keep laughing kid, every time you touch me, you lose a little bit of life force."
"Sure, but I have so much I don't know what to do with it. Aura Flame!" A bright white flame materializes onto his hand. Slowly, he begins to change the fire's shape into that of a javelin. He throws it and hits All'nder in the stomach. After a second his entire body bursts into flame, and he screams in agony. But Lugh doesn't stop there, he throws a couple of stones as well.
Every single stone hits the Lich, and then explode. More pieces of his body are destroyed, leaving him part of his torso and his head. It would take him weeks to recreate these parts from the debris. He was unable to move, and couldn't protect his Vessel from Lugh's wrath.
"Had you been able to stay intact for maybe ten minutes, you would have won. After ten minutes, I would have suffered backlash from Aura Burst. But you couldn't even hold on for 20 seconds, let alone the full 10 minutes. I can guess what you are probably thinking: I'm not all that strong, you were just unbelievably weak in comparison. You had no combat training or protective spells, you don't even have as durable a body as you think you do. I can't even hold a candle to my Father and yet I defeated you with ease. I suppose that's why you got the Council to deal with him and waited for my Tribulation so I wouldn't be a threat either."
"How did you know that I sent word to the Council of Ten?"
"Easy, my Dad would never willingly abandon my mother and unborn child. So, someone had to have taken him away. The only ones with enough power to do that is the Council."
"Ha, a genius Mage and now a detective too, truly a child of the Radiant Queen. But know this, your Father will be imprisoned for all eternity by the Council for his betrayal. No amount of begging or bargaining will change their verdict." All'nder's voice was once more dripping with his characteristic spite.
"Give me a few decades and I believe I can change their tunes. If they see that a Half Dragon is able to surpass full-blooded Dragons, they'll let more interracial relationships blossom. Social laws cannot last for eternity, eventually people will either abolish or alter them."
"And what makes you so sure of that?" The Lich spat
"My mother has already accomplished it, she made it legal for other Races to enter Arves. She managed to rid the High-Elf Capital of at least some of its prejudice."
"Well, at least she did something in all her years as a ruler."All'nder sarcastically spoke.
"I suppose it's time to end this pointless fight, I'll be back to bury your corpse." Lugh summons Specter, who whinnies in joy at the chance to stretch her legs. He mounts her and she sprints towards the cave. When they reach the entrance, Lugh feels unnerved by the total absence of light especially since the sun is still shining in the sky. There should be at least some light to brighten the mouth of the cave but none seems to enter.
"Well, I suppose complete darkness should be expected from a Lich's lair. I'll just light it up with my Aura Flames." Lugh says after retrieving Specter. Entering the cavern, Lugh summons up a flame, which begins to float in front of him. The blaze illuminates the area with a strong brilliance, allowing Lugh to see. The lair of All'nder extends for miles, with many complex paths and empty rooms.
After walking for what seems for hours Lugh finally arrives at his destination: The Vessel. It appeared as a sort of crystalline orb, covered in Runes relating to Soul, Containment, Protection and Barrier. It was a veritable fortress, even if you managed to break the shield around it, you'd have to contend with the innate durability of the material boosted by the Protection Rune. You'd be hard pressed to find many people, aside from Dragons, able to destroy it.
"Aside from being a complete lunatic, that Lich was a competent Runic Mage. Not a single mistake or contradiction in the Runes. Not nearly at my level, however."
Putting bragging aside, Lugh takes out a spear from Alliaster. It's made completely out of steel, and is covered in its own Runes. Each one increases the penetrative power of the weapon, making it an effective shield-breaker. This spear wasn't forged by Lugh, it was made by the Dwarves as a birthday present. Later on Lugh decided to give it some Runes for fun, unknowingly making it extremely dangerous, able to pierce solid stone with a tap.
He slowly winds up, the muscles in his arm bulging. Lugh thrusts the spear forward, it makes contact with the barrier, instantly ripping it to shreds. Continuing on, the spear hits the crystal orb dead center. Cracks begin to form, spreading from the point of impact, until the entire structure shatters. As the Vessel breaks, Lugh collects the fragments for later appraisal.'No sense in wasting what could be a very valuable material.' thinks Lugh. Exiting the cave, he uses Earth Magic to collapse the system so no one could wander in and continue All'nder's legacy.
Arriving back at where he left the body of the Lich, he buries it and creates a tombstone out of Earth Magic. He then carves in some Runes for Peace, Rest and Soul as to appease him in the afterlife. 'Had your life not spiraled into despair, I think you would have been a proud and kind Elf.' He opens a portal back into the Palace, hoping to quickly help his mother.
(Lugh POV)
When I finally came back to the Throne room, I heard several cries of pain coming from behind me. Turning around I notice my mother lying on the ground, her lower body wet. I realize that my mother's water broke and she was giving birth. I begin to panic, but immediately calm myself down and rush to her aid.
"Oh my darling little Lugh, you're back. Seems Mommy wasn't able to hold on before you returned. OW...W-Would you give Mommy your hand?" Her face was deathly pale, she's having some trouble getting air.
"Of course" I grab her hand and begin to steadily infuse Aura into her body to help with her labor.
"Mmm, that feels so nice. It's almost as if the pain was a dream."
I notice that her own Aura has depleted significantly, giving me a glimpse into the agony she's bearing. I pour more Vital Force into her, hoping to replenish some of what she had lost. I can feel the exhaustion of today finally catching up to me, but I push myself to stay awake.
"Help me with my clothes, I can't give birth with them on." Hearing these words, my brain buzzes. I'd only ever seen my Mother topless, never naked. I slap myself, in an attempt to regain focus.
"Alright, give me a second." I slice the clothing open, removing everything in one swift motion.
*4 Hours Later*
Whew, she's finally done, and the results are in, a baby girl. She's adorable, her large eyes are a beautiful sapphire blue and her Aura is a verdant green, she has a loving connection with nature. My cute little sister, my newest family. I breathe out in relief, and the baby laughs, obviously enchanted with my actions. I reach my finger towards her face, to give her a little poke, and she grabs it. Kuh, my heart, she's so adorable.
"Lugh, if you don't mind, I'd like to hold your sister. I did go through pain and suffering to give birth to her after all."
"Ahaha, right, sorry. Here you go Mom. I have something to tell you anyways."
"Oh? And what would that be, dear?"
"I'm leaving. I want to become an Adventurer!"
"WHAT?! ABSOLUTELY NOT!"
"I don't mean right now, I mean my original plan was to, but not anymore. I'll wait until she's at an age where you don't have to coddle her anymore. Maybe... five years. Then I'll publicly announce my abdication from the crown."
"So, your going to push all your duties as the crown prince onto your sister? I know I didn't raise you like that."
"Mom, you and I both know that by the time you give up the throne, she'll be more than ready to take your place. Besides, she'll be a great ruler, I won't. I don't have the kind of charisma a proper king does."
"Five years? That feels so short, can't you stay a little longer?"
"I've already stayed too long, I fear any more than five and I'll go stir crazy. I need to go out on a journey, I feel too cooped up living in the Palace. I'm not saying I'll never come back, I'm just asking you to let me live my own life."
"First your Father, now you, am I not meant to have a family?"
"I'll be sure to bring Dad back to you, I just need to prove that interracial relations don't have to be banned. Then the Council will let him out of confinement."
"Alright, I can see I won't dissuade you, but promise me you'll be very careful on your journey. Find a fiance too, I want grandchildren. And make sure to come back at least once a month. Oh, and-"
"Mom, I'm still here for another five years, relax. But for now, what should we name her?"
"Gracia, it was my sister's name. I think she deserves it, it will strengthen my bond with her."
"I think it's a great name. It suits her."
And so my five years with Mom and Gracia begin.
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SuperNova681
SuperNova681 Okay, the final chapter of Volume 1, I hope you all enjoy it. I'll be taking some time off to get the plot for Vol. 2 all set. It was a lot of hard work getting this chap. ready. I might be gone for a few days, maybe even a week. I want to go in properly prepared rather than winging it like I did with this Volume. I'm grateful for each and every one of you who reads my novel.
As Always,
Thanks For Reading
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