" He is almost at the breaking point. A little more effort and we will get him " Kairo said.
" Counter card my ass. Lets see if you can counter my speed" Danzan smile grew beyond his face. His movement so unpredictable no one was able to catch up with him.
"Now the finishing move"
The group managed to corner Harid in one spot. Neutralising his greatest advantage his speed. Harid shrugged backward , his eyes switching back and forth between Danzan, Mirelle and Kairo. His indecisiveness palpable on his moving lips. He couldn't pick which target to focus.
" The surgeon has turned you into a monster. Now it's time for you to rest " Kairo said inwardly. Although Harid was his enemy he felt how dangerous an abusive use of card magic could become. This was why they existed as card mage. To maintain order not control.
Harid let out a defening scream , the type of plea that beasts will sing when at the verge of death. The flames leaked continuously out of his body like a mist of ember red. Within the fire storm. Harid eyes twinkled with otherworldly anger.
" bring it on " Kairo said.
Harid and Kairo eyes met in an instant. For a brief moment Kaior felt like the world itself was shrinking backward. The heat around him was so intense that his vision was shaky and blurry. Causing sweat to trickle down his face. The charred earth as Harid flew towards him made Kairo heart quiver. In Harid fist he could feel all his anger and frustration in those spinning flames. This was his vengeance for the surgeon.
Although Kairo could evade the blow he didn't. They had things to settle. The Surgeon had caused too much harm. And Kairo believed without Harid fanaticism to fuel him. This would have never happened. It wasn't a clash of magic. For Kairo it was time to settle the scores.
Kairo channeled all his strength into his arms. The protector armor turned into a living nova. Causing wave after wave of energy to rock outward.
Harid fist arrived going straight for Kairo face. The whistling and cracking of the air caused Kairo hairs to dance wildly in the void. Kairo used his arms and caught Harid fist in between.
Using the protector strength he strangled the flames in between his palms so much that Harid arms cracked under the pressure. The fissure on his face spreading all over to the rest of his body. Kairo then stretched his arms outward.
" it is over Harid " He said.
Kairo fist moved out in a clean arc. Landing with a sickening crack on Harid face. The duel was brief and silent. Harid body quivered and his body crumbled to his knees. Unable to look at Kairo in the eyes anymore. He wasn't dead but he wasn't moving.
" It's finally over " Nyx let out a huge sigh of relief. Her face was particularly covered in dust and wounds. causing her to look crude and un elegant. But in those eyes Kaior could see relief and resolution. The surgeon shadows had been hunting both of them.
" Good job Kairo . You're growing at an alarming rate " Danzan patted his back almost sending him falling off with the protector armor.
" Isn't it a good thing. Very soon I'll be stronger than you " Kairo smirked inwardly. feeling a tinge of pride in his heart. It wasn't a given but he had progressed fast it felt unbelievable. His deck and card magic growing after every fight.
" This can't be . I am surrounded by a bunch of incompetents. " Selis sighed , holding her face in frustration.
" we still have to deal with her " Fabian readied his laser. While Danzan and Mirelle got in position. This was the underground card master boss. If they had to get to blows they were ready. The reputation or strength of the opponent didn't matter.
Kairo smiled in admiration at his captains. He couldn't run away when they stood on his back. " It's over Selis. Your ultimate weapon is dead or at least can't fight anymore. " Kairo said.
" Might be but what about all of you. Card magic is both a very simplistic and complex world to understand. With this little energy left what do you all think you can do against me ? " Selis asked. Her voice turning a tad softer. It was almost melodious the type that made anyone to be drawn into it.
Kairo frowned as he tilted his head up. The weather was changing." card magic really hide a lot of mysteries" Kairo thought.
Above Selis the sky was gathering or to be more precise it was spinning. One after another holes began appearing above them as if a storm was getting closer. " Rays of the Ember sky " Selis flipped the card in her hand pointing it towards the sky.
" Retreat all behind me " Mirelle yelled out.
Kairo didn't know what was coming but he knew it wasn't good. With his racing heart he quickly took off the protector armor and they all retreated behind Mirelle. Her position as the second of the card mage police was well earned. Kairo felt.
Crack...The sky thundered
" she's summoning thunder " Kaior mumbled in an almost incomprehensible language. Above them A blinding light began falling towards them. It was like the sky answering to Selis call. Covered in sparkles of white lightning she appeared almost divine like.
" Land stand " Mirelle raised her hands upward. And from around them the earth began changing turning into a verdant green pattern. One after another , veins popped out of the earth connecting to each other to form two hands that shielded them from the thunder.
" impressive " Kairo thought. This was the card she had used to save them against the sky tears at the cathedral. Kaior had not been lucky enough to admire it from so close until today.
" Mirelle are you okay ? " Fabian face twitched with worry.
" hey queen of annoyance you can't fall now get me you can't fall " Danzan repeated.
Kairo heart was racing , each time the thunder fell , the land stand trembled as if it would break at any moment.
Mirelle face was turning pale , as if she had been sucked of all her colors. After this prolonged fighting she was getting to the edge. Her reserves of energy sucked to the maximum.
" She can't sustain such a spell for long. It's time we set this woman back to her place " Danzan shouted. His voice barely audible amidst the cracking thunder.
" that's not a good idea " Kairo thought moved faster than his mouth. Before he could somehow warn Danzan of his hunch. The Mad lightning was already doing things his way. Using the Echo tears he blitzed towards their opponent , moving at speed that matched the falling thunder.
Selis was unfazed by his sudden approach. Unlike most mages who panicked when someone got too close out of their magic. She smirked for her Danzan was just another pawn in the game.
Selis flipped her finger. " Card magic is not always about speed or size or special mechanics. It about power...feel the rays of ember sky " she said.
" Danzan! " They all shouted at the same time. Hearts drumming in their chest like war drums. But it was too late , Kaior felt his card become heavy in between his fingers.
The Thunder was like a licking snake. At mist the holes in the sky , the thunder moved left and right as if forming a prison around Selis. It was like the ray of the sun shining down on the darkish atmosphere. Mid sprint , Danzan body was hammered by the curving thunder.
Kairo gritted his teeth. Danzan body stumbled unceremoniously , his body was charcoal black both , fuming like cooked meat.
" power….this is the real strength of card magic. " Kairo trembled slightly at the scene. He understood with great dismay the difference in terms of explosive power between them. Kairo had many useful cards but in terms of such power did it really matter . If he had not witnessed this for himself Kairo would have never questioned himself or his cards. But now he could not help but ask .
" None of you understand what it means to be a card mage. We are the descendants of people who in the past could shake the world with a single thought. Although our magic is stored in these tiny holders now. It doesn't change anything. It just means we have become more specialized but not less powerful. " Selis said. Walking towards Kaior and the others.
Each time she got closer the sky would thunder above them like a warning for them not to move. It was like the arrival of a born monarch. Selis had sparkling white thunder around her dazzling golden hair. She smiled like an evil god. Ready to unleash her judgment . " You will all burn with the limits you have imposed on card magic " she said. Lifting her finger towards them.
Kairo took a step forward. He kept his teeth tightly shut to avoid showing his rising fear. Even if he could not defeat her , Kairo was ready to risk his life for the others.
" what do you think you're doing ..I am the one supposed to protect you Kairo" Mirelle said her voice pained. She trembled like a fragile leaf under the impacts of the falling thunder. The crimson red on her lips made Kairo heart to ache.
Fabian had a frustrated smile. Unable to reconcile with the difference that was shown to them. They all now understood how naive they had been about her magic. This wasn't a grade five criminal might be even a grade six criminal .
In the history of the card mage police this was the highest rank an officer or criminal alike could get. Those they called the Card mage sovereign. A rank that was destined only to those whose card magic had the potential to dictate the entire order of the world. There existed only one person capable to match Selis strength and it was their leader.
" Kairo don't she will kill you " Nyx said amidst her trembling voice.
" If you were as visionary as your friend Rellion I would have kept you alive. But you are too much of a nuisance. Exactly like your father Kairo. You need to die " Selis said. Her voice was the final command that the thunder waited for.
Using the protector armor , Kairo shielded his entire group. " even if I have to die I will protect you all." he thought inwardly. " I am sorry I didn't have the chance to call you mother " He said to Mirelle . Kairo stretched his arms out. Despite the protest of all his friends.
" Kairo please don't be foolish.. you promised not to abandon me" Nyx pleaded.
Fabian warned. " Kairo...this is suicidal "
Despite the falling thunder , Kairo had a smile. His mind had never been clearer than today. He had always looked at card magic from a very limited point of view. Magic held into cards .what kind of power could it potentially give. Compared to the mages in the past it sounded ridiculous. But now Kaior understood how blind he had been.
" Power you said. ..this is who we are...not officers ...not criminals..we are mages...we are card mages " Kairo eyes twinkled like two blue stars born in the cosmos.
…...
" We have indeed been blind. It is magic held into cards but it is indeed magic. And even more powerful than what has ever existed. because now we have resonance. Or in other words fusion " Magnus smiled perched at the top of skyscraper observing the battlefield. He felt like it was time for him to act.