Rise of the Devourer

Book 3: Chapter 9 — Sparring Match Pt. 1

Aurelia felt the world twisting around her as she found herself standing in the new environment. The searing hot air washed over her skin, the sudden rise in temperature making her body tingle. She stood on a circular rocky platform, with cliffs surrounding her on all sides.

The smell of sulfur and ash filled the air, the skies red from flames rising from the volcanoes all around her, jagged rocks and cliff sides as far as her eyes could see. She could feel the lava beneath her feet, as the ash stirred within her body.

It felt hard to believe that none of this was real, because no matter how she tried to search for any traces of an illusion, she could find none. The ground beneath her feet and the fire that surged near the earth felt as real as the breath she took and the beating of her own heart. Aurelia raised her fists.

Seraphina stood on the other end, poised and calm, almost looking bored as she inspected the environment. Runes danced in her eyes, a mystical blue light swirling around her hands. An open arena with nowhere to run. If I didnt know that Kaelan could not choose the arena for us, I would have suspected that this was his handiwork, Seraphina said, glancing towards Aurelia.

Aurelia did not reply, keeping her fists raised she began to gather the embers within her body. Embers of fury stirred, but she continued to feed the flames, holding them in for later.

Not one for chitchat, I take it? In that case, let's just get this over with, Seraphina said, as a magic circle formed underneath her feet.

Aurelia charged with a fierce yell, launching towards Seraphina. Fire and ash swirled around her fists as she moved in and struck. To her surprise, the woman didnt dodge, simply standing there as a barrier formed around her. Aurelias fist landed, hitting solid air, and she felt magic pulse back in return, nullifying her impacts. The barrier pulsed against her attacks but did not break.

Seraphina spun, a blade of pressurized water slicing as it pushed back Aurelia. The ground beneath her feet shuddered before cracking as a hardened geyser burst from the ground, soaking her in boiling water.

Aurelia drew upon the heat from the water and steam, drawing it inwards into her body as she charged her flames. The steam covered her vision, hiding the arena from her sight, and Aurelia shifted her focus to sound. Fire spread through the boulder, as she listened for the whereabouts of her enemy.

With the barest hints of mana, she felt a presence nearby, as Seraphina struck. Heated pressurized water shot at Aurelias chest, throwing her backward. Maintaining her grip, Aurelia dug her heels into the earth, feeling the strain of the beam of water against her chest as her armor began to creak from the strain. Glancing downward, she let one of her knees buckle and collapse in a display of weakness, before putting her hand on the ground and digging her fingers in.

The steam began to dissipate as Seraphina appeared once more, standing with a bored and smug expression, as water continued to push back against Aurelia, preventing her from moving.

You should surrender. This is not going to be fun for either of us to continue, Seraphina said, as the water beam stopped. Aurelia panted, feeling the dent in her chest plate from the attack. She spit out some blood, feeling her flames slowly mend her injuries, before she looked up.

You should talk less, Aurelia said, as flames burst from beneath her. Letting the blades from her gauntlets sink into the earth, she tore a chunk of earth out from the ground. Flames flowed through her chain blades, and onto the boulder as Aurelia spun the flaming rock around in circles before she slung it towards the woman.

Seraphinas eyes widened and she jumped back. A quick cast barrier appeared as the giant fiery boulder smashed into pieces. Using the boulder as cover, Aurelia charged in, fire covering her fists as she struck at the womans barrier.

The barrier buckled, pulsing with powerful waves as Seraphinas eyes widened in surprise. What are you trying to do? My barrier nullifies magic, you cant break it, Seraphina said, but the womans voice had a quiver in it.

Aurelia screamed, her fists striking faster and faster until her hands were a blur. Fire began to sizzle the air around Aurelia, melting the earth beneath her, her hands flaming bright streaks, each impact of her fists onto the barrier sending a shivering tremor across the earth. Sparks flew through the air, as Seraphina slowly began to be pushed back. The mage poured her mana into the barrier, pushing back.

A single crack appeared in the barrier. Aurelia continued to attack. The ground burst into a powerful geyser beneath Aurelias feet, jagged rocks rising from the earth to interrupt her. Aurelia stomped on the ground, fire covering her feet as she crushed the rocks and evaporated them into steam before they could touch her body.

The cracks began to spread, Seraphina now cornered against the edge of the arena. With a powerful roar, Aurelia struck, letting the flames she had been gathering free with a final strike as an inferno erupted from her fists.

Crack.

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The barrier shattered, the strike landing as Seraphina flew off the edge of the arena. Ash and dust covered the area, taking up her vision as Aurelia panted.

Did I... win?

A pulse of mana traveled across the arena, gusts of wind clearing the dust and ash as Aurelia saw Seraphina flying in the air with wind swirling around her body. A green shimmer covered her skin, showing her mostly unharmed, yet a single drop of blood flowed from the womans mouth.

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I had underestimated you. Youre quite strong for your level. But I wont make that mistake again, Seraphina said, wiping the blood with her hand.

Runes flared around the woman, Seraphinas eyes glowing a bright blue as magic crackled all around the arena. Power gusts swirled, carrying the ash upwards in a swirling hurricane. Lightning crackled, a storm swirling all around Aurelia as the ground beneath her began to shake. Hot geysers of water burst from the earth, forcing her to dodge. Lava rose from the ground, cracking the earth beneath her, rocks crumbling from the cliffsides before being lifted up by the gusts of wind.

A tornado descended upon the arena, at the center of which Seraphina flew, her magic boundless as runes swirled in a circle around her. With horror, Aurelia realised what was happening. She was destroying the arena itself. Jumping around, Aurelia dashed, dodging the bursting lava and geysers, the jagged rocks that flew at her carried on razor sharp winds.

Seraphinas voice echoed through the storm. Seek.

A chain of lightning bolts crackled, striking at Aurelia, shooting her into a giant boulder. She felt her body tensing up, the electricity jamming up her muscles, but she pushed past the resistance. The arena began to disintegrate, now collapsed into a swirling tornado with flying rocks swimming all around in circles, carrying lava and ash with it. Aurelias mind raced, as she jumped, dodging crashing boulders and flying through the tornado before crashing onto another boulder and barely hanging on. Lightning struck once more, and she jumped, dodging the bolts that shattered the rocks she stood on.

She couldnt wait, she needed to act.

Letting her chain blades come free, Aurelia spun them around, fire charging up on the blades edges before she threw it across. The blade melted into a flying boulder, lodging itself in as Aurelia pulled herself up. Another giant boulder rushed towards her and she turned. Putting her feet up, she caught the giant boulder, groaning from the strain, before she kicked it back upwards. Using the momentum she swung her blade, latching onto the boulder as she pulled herself up into the air.

The lightning strikes grew more intense, rushing after her, and curving through the air, as a bolt struck her chains, the metal carrying the current and singing her arm, paralyzing it for a moment as causing her grip to be lost, and she hung loose at the mercy of the winds and the winds were not merciful, for theytossed her, slamming her into a boulder as her bones cracked from the impact. Another lightning strike cracked down, as Aurelia barely pushed herself sideways, the boulder she had crashed on shattering into pieces.

She flew in circles within the whirlwind, boiling lava rising from underneath with the air. Even with her heat resistance she wouldnt last long if she soaked in lava. Her head spun in circles, the world blurring around her, and for a moment it felt like everything would go dark.

Another lightning bolt cracked, shattering a boulder near her, as Aurelia snapped herself awake. Focusing her mind, she called upon her fires, letting Embers of Fury activate.

Embers of Fury strengthens your body for a minute.

All attributes by 100%

Power increased to 1634.

Agility increased to 1318.

Constitution increased to 1058.

Mystic increased to 1316.

May your Path light the dark.

Aurelia roared as ash and embers covered her body, fire surging from within her. Letting a burst of flames rise from her hands, she kicked off a boulder, swinging her chain blades as she began to jump her way up the tornado.

Lightning crackled, striking as she moved, jumping across the swirling winds with powerful bursts. Seraphinas magic swirled in a frenzy, as bolts of lightning struck rapidly.

Crack.

Aurelia took the strike, letting her health soak it, as she kicked and spun from a giant boulder in midair, letting the winds raise its speed to an extreme amount before launching it upwards.

The boulder shattered in a loud boom, as rocks flew across the winds.

Jumping up, she let her chains drag the boulders, fire coating them and turning them red hot as she began to sling them at Seraphina flying high above.

Boom. Crack.

Boulders and lightning crashed together, shattered rocks flying all around her as Aurelia continued to rise. Roaring and screaming with flames dancing on her limbs, Aurelia rushed up, jumping on smaller and smaller rocks, before she reached out her hands. Swinging her chains, Aurelia struck Seraphina directly, the womans eyes directed towards her at last.

Lightning struck, flowing through the chains, burning Aurelias body and almost throwing her off, but she maintained her grip. Flying high above, Aurelia crashed into Seraphina, as the two women began to tumble down.

The swirling tornado raged all around her, as Aurelias fist struck Seraphina, a barrier forming around the woman, absorbing the blows as she shot lightning back. The two tumbled through the winds, the tornado howling around them, as both screamed in fury and anger.

Aurelia let all her magic gather into her fist as she prepared for a fiery fist. Blue mana crackled around Seraphina as her lightning gathered in a powerful bolt, before the two struck each other.

The world shook in a bright flash. The tornado dissipated, rocks, lava, and ash falling from the skies, collapsing back onto the earth. Amidst the dust, the two women fell, both unconscious from their strikes.

With a flash of light, both of them arrived back in the chamber.

Aurelia panted, her mind jerking at the experience.

What a match! Kaelan exclaimed, clapping as he looked at the two in excitement. I havent seen Seph go all out before. She usually gives up a lot earlier against Val. But to think you managed to match her! Theres a lot we can learn and review in the battle, but for now, congratulations to the both of you. It was a spectacular battle, Kaelan said, patting Aurelias shoulder.

Aurelia swallowed, giving a nod as she tried to settle herself back into reality before looking up. Seraphina had a frown on her face, as she looked towards Aurelia, her arms folded.

Good fight, the woman said, before turning away and taking a seat.

Aurelia smiled, feeling pleased as she stood straight. A moment later, she opened up her astral script and her smile became even wider.

Rare Path of the Berserker Monk has reached level 168.

Rare Path of the Flametouched has reached level 167.

Legendary Path of the Cinderborn has reached level 142.

Ah, I know that look. Looks like you got some levels out of that, Kaelan said.

This is bad, Aurelia said, failing to keep her excitement in check. With this thing around I might become a battle maniac like Noah.