Meanwhile, Stratus Town
~Alex’s POV~
“Any sign of them?” I ask Castor as he jogs back.
“Nope,” he responds.
“Well, let’s just hope William finds Pax and gets back soon.”
Right after I say that, explosions ring in the distance. Me and Castor whip around and see plasma blasts and lightning blasts being fired at each other. 3 trails of clouds streak across the sky as a fight takes place.
“Oh shit,” Castor swears.
We run to get our weapons and sky skates as a battle rages through the outer islands.
The Outer Islands
~William’s POV~
FSSHRT!
“GAH!” yells Pax as he dodges a beam. Veridies flies behind and over us, his huge figure looming as he flies after us.
Me and Pax fly skim a nearby farm island cloud, allowing our sky skates to charge.
“We’ve got to split up!” I yell as a beam flies between us. I point at an island shaped like a ring. “Meet me there! Skim the clouds under the islands to recharge your skates!”
Pax nods and veers left. I pivot and fly at Veridies, dodging plasma blasts in the process. I punch him in the face before I fly away to the island, skimming the island clouds as I weave through the clouds. I dodge plasma blasts as I fly to the island.
FZZRT!
FWOOSH!
I look behind me. Blasts of lightning and spirit energy fly at Veridies as Pax attacks from a distance. He dodges a few before getting hit into an island by a beam of electricity with a loud bam.
“Nice shot!” I yell. Pax grins in response.
FSSRT!
A beam flies at Pax at that moment. He creates a wall of spirit energy that somewhat blocks the attack as the impact sends him flying back a bit.
We continue flying to the sky ring as Veridies chases after us. I aim my gun at Veridies’ head before firing. He tries to dodge, but the bullet hits his arm.
Veridies yells in rage and pain before flying at me fast. I dodge his charge as the fight moves over to the sky ring.
I pull out my sword as he stops and turns around, his face full of anger and hate.
FWOOSH!
Pax flies at Veridies quickly and punches him, his fist glowing with electricity. He turns around and fires a beam at Veridies. Veridies dodges before hitting me with the back of his hand. I’m sent flying towards the island. I hit the ground.
My vision flashes white before everything goes dark.
~Pax’s POV~
“Will!” I yell.
“Hahaha!” Veridies laughs maniacally. “You’re next!”
I look at my skates. The flow of mist has slowed down to an almost still flow. I smile.
“You want me?” I ask. “Come and get me.”
I fly up. Veridies follows. I dodge his attacks as we fly higher and higher, sending my own right back at him.
We weave through the clouds, higher than any sky islands as the fight continues.
“Ack-”
Veridies finally catches up and grabs my arm. He puts his huge hand around my neck.
“What did you think you could achieve by doing this?” he asks mockingly. “You can’t defeat me.”
I look at his sky skates and begin to laugh. Confusion flashes across his face as I don’t stop laughing.
“What?”
“H-have you recharged your boots yet?” I ask, wheezing.
He looks down. His face pales as he realizes what I mean.
The mist emitting from his sky skates has become faint. They begin to sputter as their energy runs out.
Veridies lets go of my neck in a panic as I call upon as much of my magic energy as I can and release a huge explosion from my body. He’s tires to move backwards just as his sky skates run out of energy.
BAM!
Veridies is sent flying backwards as he falls to the ground. He flails his arms and legs as he falls towards the sky ring.
FSSHRT!
2 magic circles form below his feet as he stabilizes.
Oh well. I read about this in the guide book. He’s using a flight spell.
I use my sky skates to fly right at Veridies. I imbue my fists with lightning magic as Veridies tries to stabilize himself. I yell as I fly right at him.
I reach him just as he stabilizes himself and throw a punch. My fist connects with his stomach and we move towards the sky ring. I force my sky skates to release their maximum input as we fly at breakneck speed.
BAM!
We hit the ground. I fly up and tumble on the ground as dirt fills my mouth.
“Ugh,” I groan. I cough out dirt and stand up. I see Will lying unconscious and run to him. He’s still breathing. I look at Veridies. He looks unconscious, a huge trench created by his body.
Whoosh!
Thud!
Castor and Alex land in front of me, their eyes filled with shock.
“Holy shit,” Castor states with a mix of shock and admiration.
William groans as he wakes up.
“Ah shit,” he says. “What happened here?”
I laugh.
“A lot of shit,” I respond.
End of Chapter XXIII