“What a touching recovery process!” the armored man exclaimed in a booming laugh.
“Too bad the Dark Council won’t let that recovery be completed!” The man swung his massive sword. A wave of black flames came hurtling toward Rian, Mochi, and Eleanor, who were still bound together in the magical ritual!
“The process isn’t finished! Don’t let go of his hand lock!” Eleanor shouted in panic.
If Rian let go, the ritual would fail completely, and Zephyrus’s soul could be destroyed. But if they held on, that black-flame slash was ready to cut them in half!
“Don’t let go, Rian! If it breaks now, my soul will be destroyed!” Zephyrus screamed inside Rian’s mind.
“But there’s a flying fire sword coming straight at us!” Rian screamed back. His eyes were squeezed shut, and his hands trembled violently as he held the blue crystal stone, which was growing hotter by the second.
The wave of black flames tore through the air, splitting the dining table and scorching the living room. Eleanor swiftly raised her wooden staff.
“Aegis Umbra!”
A silver shield of light burst into existence right in front of them. The collision between the black flames and silver shield triggered a devastating explosion that blasted away what remained of the apartment’s furniture. The roof of Rian’s rental apartment crumbled even further, raining down chunks of wood and roof tiles.
CRASH!
Cracks spread across Eleanor’s shield. The black-armored man slammed onto the floor, making the ground tremble. “Surrender, Eleanor! That cat belongs to Lord Malakor... uh, I mean Lord Drakon!”
Malakor, standing in the corner of the room, let out a sharp hiss. “You idiotic soldier! You can’t even get your master’s name right!”
“Rian, focus!” Eleanor shouted as she struggled to hold back the cracks spreading through her silver shield under the relentless black flames. “Channel your desire to protect into that stone! Hurry!”
Rian drew a deep breath. Surrounded by flames and fear, he glanced at Mochi, who was pressing his soft paw against Rian’s hand. The fat orange cat hadn’t run away. His green eyes gazed at Rian with complete trust.
I’m not going to let my home—or my cat—be destroyed again! Rian thought firmly.
BZZZZ-BOOOM!
The blue light from the crystal stone suddenly exploded into blazing Great Golden Flame! The Seven-Star Seal inside Mochi’s body cracked apart completely. The magical energy that had been blocked now surged freely, merging perfectly with the wave of Rian’s emotions.
“This mortal face... now has some bite!” Zephyrus exclaimed. The cat’s body stopped trembling. A glittering golden aura radiated from his orange fur. Rian suddenly straightened, his eyes shining brightly like two tiny suns.
The black-armored man gaped. “What?! The energy lock worked?!”
“Rian! Use a basic spell!” Zephyrus commanded telepathically. “Picture a sword in your hand!” Rian raised his right hand into the air. From his palm, the Golden Flame condensed into a one-meter-long Astral Light Sword.
“A puny little sword like that won’t pierce my Dark Armor!” the armored man shouted as he charged forward, swinging his enormous sword at Rian’s head.
“Give it your best shot, Tin Can Armor!” Rian shot back. Rian blocked the massive sword’s slash.
CLANG!
The collision between the two magical weapons sent out a shock wave that blasted away the remaining walls of the rental apartment. Strengthened by Zephyrus’s energy, Rian didn’t budge an inch. With a swift motion, Rian spun his golden sword and slashed across the black armor’s chest.
CRASH!
The black iron armor split apart like paper. The huge man screamed as his body was hurled out of the house, smashing into his own skull fighter jet and causing it to explode in the night sky!
BOOOOM!
Golden smoke billowed high into the air.