The Jade Dragon: Chapter 32

Previously:

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A spout of flame erupted under the Hell Wolf's belly and struck the Gem.  It then dissolved into shadow.  I was so exhausted.  I fell to the ground.  I was struggling to catch my breath.  I was so tired.  I then fell unconscious...
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I woke to find myself in a field with healthy grass.

'Where am I?' I wondered.

All of a sudden, my surroundings turned black.  I then felt extreme agony.  I screamed and fell over, my whole body in severe pain.  Then, all of a sudden, the pain vanished.  I opened my eyes and the black had turned white.  I got up and saw a blond haired blue eyed man in white armor, studded with sapphires, an elegant white bow and quiver, and a beautiful white sword at his hip.  He felt so familiar.

“Who are you?” I asked.  “And where is this?”

“You are currently in the dimension between the world of life and the world of the dead.” the man said.  “As to who I am, I think you already know.”

“You're Ayren.” I said.  “The Warrior of White Light.”

Ayren nodded.

“This place is between the world of life and the world of death?” I asked.  “How did I get here?”

“You were about to die.” Ayren said.  “Right before you passed on, I grabbed your soul and brought it here.”

“I was about to die?” I asked.

“Yes, I'll return your soul to your body.” Ayren said.  “But I need to give you something.”

Ayren opened his left hand.  A ball of light appeared from it.  The ball of light then merged with my body.

“Now, it will be easier to activate Overlimit, and, no matter how many times you activate Overlimit, you won't get tired.” Ayren stated.  “After you meet the Prophet, I will bring you here so we can talk again.  Farewell for now Ayra.”

“Wait!” I cried out.  But then, Ayren vanished.  I then opened my eyes.  I was back in the clearing where I fought the Hell Wolf.  I felt totally refreshed and I had enough energy stored for Overlimit.  I also sensed that the amount of energy I'd need to store to activate it had decreased by a ton.

'So, that wasn't a dream.' I thought.  'But, when I see him next, I'll ask him all the questions I have.'

Then, the topaz started to glow.  A yellow, shimmering path appeared on the ground. I followed the path through the fog until I got to a tree arch.  I went through and saw a maze that was identical to the Shrine of Stone, just without the boulders rolling around everywhere.

I was walking through the first corridor when I stepped on a tile, it depressed and I heard something whistling in the air.  I had enough time to jump out of the way when rocks fell to the tile I was just standing on.

'Sigh, I seriously am doing my whole journey over again.' I thought.

I was continuing through the maze when I stepped on another tile and I had to scramble to get out of the way before I fell.  There was a hole with a bottom full of spikes at under the tile.

'Just like the Shrine of Stone.' I thought, sighing.

After I ran through the maze, dealing with all those traps, I finally got to the door to the next area.  But the door was guarded by 5 black mole like creatures.  I beat them all and they dissipated into shadow.  I then walked through the door.  I was then in a clearing and, as I had anticipated, at the back of the clearing was the Hell Mole.  The Hell Mole's eyes began to glow.  I then jumped away before a huge group of stalagmites appeared where I had just been standing.

'As I thought, it got a power up too.' I thought.

I cast a support spell.

“O brilliant light, be as a wall to allay arms!” I chanted.  “Force Field!”

I was then surrounded by a sphere of golden light from my support spell.  Then, the Hell Mole opened its mouth and shot huge boulders at me.  I ran away seconds before the boulders hit where I had been standing.  It was time to activate Overlimit.

“It's time to take you down!” I yelled as I activated Overlimit.

I then cast a Wind spell.

“Wind Lance!” I yelled.

Green lines of wind slashed forward and shattered the weak point Gem.  The Hell Mole then turned into shadow and disappeared.  I was getting hungry so I sat down and got out my lunch, bread, cheese, and milk, and ate.  All the while I was eating I was thinking about all this.

'The Prophet said that the 'Light of Ayren's Soul' would guide my path.' I thought. 'So far all it's led me to is these copies of the Shrines.  I hope it isn't getting me lost.  Wait, could it be that this is a test to see if I'm worthy?  If so, what am I being tested for?  The truth maybe?  That would explain it.  If these are tests, I'll have to be careful.  I'll have to stay on guard.  Although those Hell Generals are shadows, they're far more powerful than the real ones were.  I can't afford to make any mistakes.'

I finished my lunch and got up.  The emerald in my necklace glowed and a shimmering green path appeared on the ground.  I followed the path into the woods until I reached the tree arch.  I went through and saw high walls.  Some of them had huge circle openings.  Just like the Shrine of Gales.

I walked down the path and followed it straight.  Then, at the fork in the path which was a continuation of the path on the right and an alcove on the left, the tile depressed and a fierce wind blew from the right and blew me smack into the alcove.  I tried to push my way out of the alcove but it didn't work.  I had to find a way to stop that wind.  I looked around and saw a green, glowing button.  I pressed it and the wind stopped.  But then, 3 Dark Soldiers seemingly dropped from the ceiling and I had to kill them.  They then dissolved into shadow.  I continued in this fashion until I reached the door.  I went through the door and entered the clearing.  I wasn't surprised when I saw the Hell Hawk.

'Sigh, this is getting to be like a broken record.' I thought.

The Hell Hawk then flew up and flapped its wings.  Spears made of air pressure then flew at me.  I jumped aside and barely managed to escape.  The place they hit made a big crater.  The Hell Hawk then flapped its wings and shot razor sharp feathers at me.  I ran, but they followed me.  I used my sword to deflect them into the ground.  I then cast a support spell.

"Aid the power to recite!” I chanted.  “Enhance Cast!”

I was surrounded by light and it flowed into me.  This allowed me to cast quicker. I then had to dodge some air pressure spears.  I quickly cast another support spell.

“Gather forth the elements' strength!” I chanted quickly.  “Elemental Impulse!”

I was surrounded by seven balls of light.  They were purple, red, blue, yellow, green, light blue, and white.  They then entered my body and my elemental attacks and spells were then powered up.  I then had stored enough energy for Overlimit.

“It's time to take you down!” I yelled as I activated Overlimit.

I then cast an Earth spell.  Thanks to Overlimit, I didn't need to chant anything.

“Gravity Well!” I yelled.

The Hell Hawk was then encased in a large, glowing brown sphere.  The sphere dragged it onto the floor.  When it hit the floor I cast another Earth spell.  I had to chant because Overlimit had ended.

“Let the ground beneath dance to my command!” I chanted.  “Roche Waltz!”

About five feet in front of where the Hell Hawk was being crushed, the ground opened up and a large boulder shot out.  The boulder then rolled forward then backwards.  When it rolled onto the Hell Hawk, its Gem was shattered.  It then dissolved into shadow.

'Phew this is tiring.' I thought.  'I'm getting really tired.  But I can't stop.  I have to-'

I thought no more because I fell to the ground and was sound asleep before I hit the ground.


To be continued...