Desmond—shirt ripped in tatters with a few bruises on his body—landed on a tree branch and immediately hopped onto another as a wind drill tore through the branch he leaped from.
He continued moving from branch to branch and with each move, the branch behind him got struck off by wind drills.
At a point, he jumped downwards, landing and quickly sliding behind a tree.
The ori-tandemon on the other hand, stood among the woods, eyes searching for any sign of where Desmond might be.
Desmond leaned against the tree, breathing heavily. 'Come on. Does that monster have infinite dark energy or what?'
He glanced around, noticing how most of the trees around them had splinted up.
Just then, his eyes shot wide open in alarm and immediately, he darted from behind the tree as a gale struck the tree, wrecking it up.
Desmond not wasting any time, jumped up, lightning snapping around him.
A bolt zapped from his outstretched arms towards the demon.
The demon moved forward to dodge it.
Several bolts were sent from Desmond at the demon who kept air skating forward, evading each one that came its way.
His assault paused—lightning still crackling around him.
The demon kept moving, wind circling its neck and waist, slowly closing in on Desmond while he fell.
The lightning around Desmond intensified...
His outstretched slowly came together as if squeezing something invisible between them.
Then the lightning gathered... compressing into a dense, crackling sphere around his body.
His arms trembled, threatening to fail him but he held on.
"Try to avoid this."
[Lightning field...]
He began landing on the ground and smacking his electricity coated hands on the ground.
[... Override]
An explosion of lightning ripped outward in every direction, tearing through the ground.
The demon noticed it quickly and stopped, flipping backwards so the outburst didn't touch it.
But it couldn't get far as the attack caught up to it.
Several bolts struck it, throwing backwards into a rock, breaking the rock apart.
Desmond stopped the attack, breathing heavily.
He shoved his exhaustion aside and went in to finish off the demon.
The demon however, emerged from the mess almost unscathed—smokes curling off its body, eyes darker.
Desmond flinched, stopping as the demon lunged forward, preparing to strike him.
— —
Susanna landed on a bridge on the sea leading to a sandy shore of the island.
She stood upright, letting out a deep breath.
Her gaze directed to the island as her hand moved up to her ear.
"Guys. You there?"
"Yeah," several voices sounded from the other end.
"Okay. Listen closely. I got to the ship and made the pilot dock it." She stated, looking behind at the large military ship at the bridge.
"I'll get the healers ready at the shore. You guys bring all the candidates there."
"Got it." Maxwell responded from the end as walked, supporting Augustus who was at his side.
There were a few candidates following him, the wounded ones being supported by those without injuries.
Far away, Farouque stood on a tree branch.
"By the way, Maxwell." He began.
"You didn't tell the healers among the candidates what they were to do before leaving, did you?" He asked, his expression gloomy.
Maxwell flinched, smiling nervously. "What? Wh-what are you...talking about? O-of course, I did."
Farouque looked down from the branch at Emmanuel who sat, leaning against a tree while another candidate healed him.
"You're a terrible liar." Farouque stated with a scowl. "None of the healers I've seen are wearing the healer's vest."
Maxwell stopped in his tracks, Augustus turned to look at him from the side. "W-well... that's..."
"I have a good guess how that happened." Richelle said as she was crossing a river.
The water level was up to her thighs. A few candidates followed closely behind.
"My guess is that you were too excited about seeing the fighters style of fight that you forgot the safety of the noncombatants. Tell me I'm lying to my face."
Maxwell shivered, unable to utter another word. Richelle said to tell it to her face and although they weren't standing face to face, it felt as if he was looking at her through the ear buds.
Farouque sighed, jumping down from the tree. "Seriously man. You joke too much during crucial moments."
Maxwell frowned, jaws clenched, teeth bared. "Like you're the one to talk, you lazy ass."
Farouque snapped with his eyes still half lidded. "Huh? What did you just call me?"
"I called you a lazy ass. And you know it's true."
Farouque stood, his eyebrows twitching. He clicked his tongue, walking towards Emmanuel. "Whatever."
Maxwell chuckled, a victorious smirk gracing his lips. "See? You can't even deny it."
Susanna chuckled from her side, still standing on the bridge. "Come on guys. That's enough. Anyway..."
She began, her expression turning serious. "I'll send you my location through the wrist band."
Somewhere else in the forest, Father walked with Rexford on his back, eyes closed.
Some other candidates followed him.
"Okay Suz. We'll be right there."
Jean on the other hand, stood at the base of a mountain. "You guys go on. I have something to take care of."
He turned around to face someone sitting on a rock. A girl. "You said he saved you and fought off an ori-tandemon to let you escape, right?"
The girl nodded. It was the girl from earlier. The one Desmond saved.
Jean looked ahead, his eyes glowing gold. "True. I see a blue flame clashing with an orange one."
He looked back at the girl. "Myla, right? You stay here. I'll go get him."
The girl stood up instantly. "No wait. Please... take me with you. I want to heal him in case he gets hurt."
She pursed her lips, eyes filled with resolve. "That's... the only way I can repay him for saving me."
Jean stared at the girl, surprised. A soft smile crawled on his lips as he nodded. "Alright then."
The girl smirked with delight, nodding back.
Jean looked ahead, walking off while the girl trailed closely behind, her expression filled with determination. 'Please stay alive. I'll heal no matter how bad you get hurt. I promise.'
They entered the forest, Jean leading the way, his eyes still glowing as they both trotted.
— —
Desmond got up from a pile of rubble, looking strained, blood dripping from his head and arms.
He immediately fell on one knee, holding his bleeding arm.
The demon also stood, breathing heavily, a large cut on its chest.
But it had on a large grin. "I never expected you to hold on for such a long time. You're good kid. You even managed to wound me."
It spoke, running a hand over the cut. "I'm impressed."
Then its grin dropped, gaze turning deadly. "Too bad."
It took a stance, a violent wave of wind whirling around it. "It seems you can't go on any more."
Desmond's breath slowly came under a calm control. He didn't say anything. Just remained there, clutching his arm, head bowed.
He clenched the fist of his bleeding arm, punching the ground lightly.
Slowly, he got up, rising to his feet, his expression calm and collected.
He let go of his arm, taking a stance as well.
The air around him shifted, lightning flickering around him. "Sorry to disappoint you."
He grinned as the lightning intensified. "But I've got more than enough strength to keep fighting."
The demon laughed, eyes widening. "I don't know if your resolve is strong or you're just stupid, pushing yourself past your limit."
Desmond's grin widened. "I'm pretty sure I'm just way over my head. But right now..."
He paused, charging forward. "I want to break past my limit."
The demon also lunged forward. "Forget it, boy. I'll kill you before you can even get there."
They closed in on each other, swords glinting into their grip—lightning vs wind.
Their swords crashed, a whirlpool of wind gale and electric current ripped outward in every direction, lifting up the atmosphere.
The storm was already reaching its peak—
And this next exchange was going to decide everything.