The battlefield before me now is utterly grim. The Hanarusa Forest, once thick with towering trees, has become a sea of flames. A fire that knows no mercy, striking down and consuming all in its path. The trees that still stand tall seem to scream in agony as their branches burn. The once dense foliage, which had provided shelter to small birds, now falls like rain. Rain that does not bring life, but death.
The atmosphere around me feels so somber. Corpses litter the ground, some unrecognizable due to being scorched by Strigifavorus's unrelenting fiery breath. The stench of charred flesh fills the air, suffocating my chest. I hold my breath, trying not to drown in the horror surrounding me. Yet my body seems to long to remember each scent, each wound, and each battle. It is the price that must be paid for life.
With careful steps, I move deeper into the heart of the battlefield. In the distance, I can see the form of Strigifavorus engaged in battle. The monster, with a body covered in scales as hard as stone and wings wide enough to block out the sky, appears unfazed by every attack that comes its way. I can hear the shouts of the Elvian forces trying to hold their ground, though they are almost out of energy.
"Watch out!"
"Spellcasters, bind its wings and bring down the monster!"
"We can't! Our numbers are dwindling, and that bastard shows no sign of weakening!"
The chatter of the soldiers echoes in my ears. Screams filled with despair and a desire to surrender. That is the air around me now.
Had this been me just a few days ago, I would surely have fled from here in terror. But something inside me has changed. As I look again at the bodies scattered across the ground, I do not feel fear. Instead, there is a resolve growing within me. No, I did not come here to be a victim. I came to fight, to give hope to those who remain. I came with new strength, a power I do not fully understand yet, but one that flows strongly within me.
I can feel the wind moving gently, like whispers from the spirits now part of me. The Water and Wind Spirits, both seem to speak in a language I can only feel. And as I move closer, I know one thing for sure—I will fight Strigifavorus, the monster that has taken so many lives. I cannot let this continue.
My steps become more certain. Each footfall on the scorched earth gives me new strength. The wind swirls around me, and with a single flick of my hand, I release that energy forward. Not only the wind, but I can also feel the water flowing from within me, both forces uniting to form an overwhelming power.
Strigifavorus, that dreadful monster, now becomes our target. I can see its dark shape through the smoke of the fire, its face looming with menace. But this time, I do not tremble. I am ready.
"I am no longer the Anggi I once was," I whisper, full of conviction. "I can do this. I can defeat that monster."
The atmosphere at the heart of the battle is truly terrifying. Strigifavorus, the legendary monster, is rampaging with nearly unstoppable power. Its back, covered in hard, stone-like feathers, glows red from the reflection of the fire around it. Each movement of the beast is lethal, and each attack feels like an earthquake shaking the world. The fire from its mouth is devastating, spewing as though it wishes to burn everything in an instant. The wind knives released from its wings fly swiftly, cutting down anything in their path, even the mighty Hanarusa trees cannot withstand them.
Before it, the Elvian forces fight with all their might. Yet their attacks are not strong enough to defeat such a massive and powerful monster. Most of the soldiers have already fallen, their bodies charred or torn apart by the sharp winds launched by Strigifavorus. Only a few soldiers remain, continuing to fight with what they have, but all in vain. Though they battle with incredible courage, their strength is insufficient to oppose the power of Strigifavorus.
In the midst of this battle, I see Prince Keylan, the leader of the Elvian forces, standing tall with a face full of determination. Yet even as he leads his forces with bravery, I see the despair in his expression. The massive attacks he launches, relying on his powerful Esze, are unable to bring down Strigifavorus. The monster appears completely unaffected, as if mocking every effort made by the Elvian forces.
"This... it's impossible," I mutter to myself, clearly seeing the helplessness of the Elvian forces in the face of this monster. Prince Keylan, once seen as unshakable, now looks weary. His shoulders slump, his face flushed from exhaustion, and his gaze begins to lose hope. No more strategies to rely on, no more powerful spells capable of defeating this monster.
I feel unease crawling inside me, but I also feel something different, something stronger, flowing through my veins. The decision comes swiftly. I cannot let this end here. I cannot let the Elvian forces and my friends die in vain.
With my resolve burning brighter, I turn my body and move forward. Each step feels certain, as though guided by something greater than mere will. The wind swirls around me, following my movements, while the water flowing within me seems to give life to each action. When I raise my hand, magical energy begins to concentrate at my fingertips. I can feel it, a tremendous power ready to be released.
I do not know if this is truly the power granted by the Divine Blessing, or if this is just a power I have now discovered within myself, but I know for sure—this is the time for me to shine.
"I won't let this continue," I say softly, my eyes fixed on Strigifavorus, which is ravaging the Elvian forces. I can see the immense threat that monster poses, but within me is an unshakable confidence.
Strigifavorus continues to rage, but I am not afraid. I focus all my attention on my raised right hand. Instantly, the air around me changes. Pure Esze energy flows powerfully, like wind forming a giant vortex. I direct my hand toward Strigifavorus.
"Vitr Blast!" I shout, full of confidence.
The magical energy flowing from my body explodes outward. The wind, full of power, swirls and speeds toward Strigifavorus, striking it with a force beyond expectation. The blast shakes the ground, and a shockwave spreads in all directions. I watch as Strigifavorus's body is shaken, its wings briefly opening wide, and for a moment, the monster is thrown back. But Strigifavorus quickly recovers, angry and ready to attack again.
I feel the tremors flowing through me, signaling that Strigifavorus's next attack is close. The fire breath of the owl-monster rattles the air, creating a wave of heat that sears and tightens the chest. The attack comes swiftly, like a burst of flame aimed directly at me. I can hear the hiss of its fiery breath growing louder, as if it is hunting every opening I can find to survive.
The Wind Spirit and Water Spirit speak together in my mind, warning me of what is to come.
"Be careful, Anggi!" says the Wind Spirit, its voice soft but firm. "That attack could destroy you in an instant!"
"Use the elemental water to deflect it!" the Water Spirit's calm yet commanding voice rings in my mind. "Hurry, you don't have much time!"
My body trembles, and my heart beats fast, but I know I cannot hesitate now. This power is not mine alone, but belongs to all the spirits now united with me. With a deep breath, I focus the energy flowing through my blood, gathering the elemental forces around me. Without looking at Strigifavorus, I concentrate all my attention on the coming attack, staring blankly ahead as if seeing only darkness, and hoping I can feel it.
I raise my right hand. Amid the swirling leaves, I can feel the earth vibrating beneath my feet, as though the very land knows what I must do. With a gentle motion, I call forth the water within the earth. It begins to flow, rising from the cracks in the earth, forming a solid wall—an aqueous shield ready to deflect the firestorm coming toward me. The water shimmers in the air, reflecting the pale light of the moon, as though alive with immense power.
The shield forms swiftly, solid and unyielding, like a fortress that will not falter. A protective layer I create wide in front of me, facing the fire breath of Strigifavorus head-on.
Brrrrrrr!!!!
I feel the immense heat, but I am unshaken. The water remains firm, forming a shield that cannot be moved.
When Strigifavorus's fiery breath touches the water shield, a tremendous explosion sounds, deafening my ears. The roaring fire floods the surface of the shield, but the water I control deflects it with even greater power. The flames surge and crackle, as if battling something stronger than themselves. I feel the water shield begin to tremble, yet it holds firm, blocking the incoming assault. Droplets of water mist the air, like a never-ending hot rain.
But I know the attack is not over. One blast of fire will not suffice. Strigifavorus folds its massive wings and flaps with tremendous force, creating wind knives from its wings. I cannot simply defend.
Without hesitation, I flick my left hand with resolve. The wind responds, moving swiftly and precisely. I feel the strong gusts flowing through my arm, reaching the tips of my outstretched fingers. With the power that comes from deep within me, I launch the sharp wind blades. They fly toward Strigifavorus's wings, slicing through the air with incredible speed, cutting like lightning released from the sky.
The attack, formed with nothing but intent and a gentle motion, severs one of Strigifavorus's four great wings. Like a sharp knife cutting through paper, the wind blade streaks forward and strikes the monster with immense force. The wing is torn in half, thrown aside, and the monster is violently shaken. With an angry roar that echoes through the battlefield, Strigifavorus loses its balance, the injured wing forcing it to lower its position.
I see up close how Strigifavorus's body shakes, its red eyes now gleaming even sharper, as if searching for a way to retaliate. Fresh blood pours from the wound in its wing, and I can see how surprised Strigifavorus is by this attack.
"Unbelievable! Who is that girl?"
"What kind of power is that? She cut the monster's wing so easily!"
"How can she cast Esze without a Viglet?"
"Wait, that body... it looks human!"
"No human could cast Esze!"
"Could she be... a Haier-Elvian?"
Suddenly, the murmurs of the soldiers begin to echo around me. I can feel the eyes of all the Elvian soldiers focused on me, watching my confident movements. They, who had nearly lost hope seeing Strigifavorus's invincibility, now witness the attack that came from my hand.
I can feel all sorts of gazes directed at me. There is surprise, confusion, joy, but mostly, awe. I feel the admiration surrounding the air, as if hope has been reborn from the attack I just unleashed. They, who were on the brink of losing all faith, now see a new light in the darkness. I am not a hero. I am merely a girl who does not want to see more lives lost, especially those that come from my actions. But when my eyes meet theirs, I know— they see something different in me.
I have no time to ponder further, for Strigifavorus still stands, angry and threatening. But for a moment, I feel... as if I've given everyone here hope in the midst of despair. And that is enough to make me keep fighting.