05-08-2016, 10:20 PM
Zack stood on a floating platform, amidst the lake of lava. The edge of the Buster Sword rested on the stone, and he was taking gathering his strength once more. After a brief moment on the relative safety on the shoreline, he’d had to get his bearings and jump right back into the fray. His entire right side felt as though it had been cooked to about medium rare, and all of this jumping and running just to stay alive, never mind fight, was getting exhausting. Still, everyone else was moving, so he didn’t have much of an excuse to take a break, as nice as it would have been.
He stood up straight, and hoisted the massive sword up, letting the flat end rest on his shoulder. An aura of pure green energy encapsulated him, supercharging every facet of his being. It didn’t do much for the exhaustion, but he felt he would be able to push his limits just a little bit further for the duration. At least, he hoped he could.
The Mako energy that pulsed through his blood was powered up, and helped the super soldier reach a new level of power. Temporarily rejuvenated, he slightly bent his knees as the demonic wyrm made a low strafing run over the platforms. It was fortunately distracted by another of his teammates, so Zack leapt directly at the monster.
Zack swung the sword straight down, letting the sheer weight of the blade and gravity add to his already mighty swing. The blade connected with the skull of Volvagia, causing the creature to scream out in agony. Zack continued to travel through the air, and landed on another floating platform. There wasn’t a lot of room for error, so he landed and made an additional small hop. Fortunately, that was all he needed to stop his own momentum and prevent himself from continuing on into Ashen Steppes’ newest retention pond.
With a grin plastered on his face, Zack turned around to survey the damage. That cocky smirk evaporated when he saw Volvagia closing in rapidly. The young mercenary awkwardly stumbled to the side, but took the opportunity to take a wild swing with his sword just the same. It was only a glancing blow, but every little bit helped against a monster of this power.
Though he had dodged the fangs of the dragon, Volvagia still had a set of mighty arms. One of those appendages was in range, and struck Zack in his torso, hurling the super soldier from his rocky raft at breakneck velocity. He impacted the shoreline in a heap, and quickly rolled to his feet while wincing in pain from the blow to his side. He grunted when he saw Volvagia closing in on him once again.
Zack had little time to do much else but flee, so he made another jump, this time sacrificing his ability to get an exit strike on the beast. Instead he landed on another platform, back in the lake, while the sounds of battle roared behind him. The others were still engaging the dragon, and it was distracted with them. He stood up straight, and took a deep breath while wiping sweat from his brow. Ash was running from his scalp to his eyes, carried by the moisture his body created on his head. He barely noticed it anymore, he was so used to it from his time in this volcanic land.
This was definition of a team exercise. None of them could do this alone. This dragon had certainly earned its place at the top of the Steppes’ food chain. It was almost hard for him to remember what it was like to trust and operate with a team, though. Even here in the Omniverse, his battles alongside allies had normally been everyone doing their own thing to attack the same threat. This monster demanded coordination, and so far that was what it had received. That was why Zack couldn’t falter now. Every member of this team was crucial. The weakest link could break the chain.
It wouldn’t be him.
Zack turned, and the Mako energy pulsed around him. Casting the consequences of failure aside, he leaped at the flying wyrm once more. It was preoccupied attempting to cook Gildarts alive, but the man was staying mobile. This presented Zack the opportunity he needed, and he approached the dragon’s back.
In a flash, Volvagia spun, however, and slammed its head into the flat side of the sword, rendering the attack useless. Zack was surprised that he had been detected, but even more alarmed with the monster directed its fangs at him. He felt like he was lingering in the air before this monstrosity, and time seemed to move slow as its razor sharp fangs approached him. Utilizing what little resources he had up here, Zack forced the Buster Sword into the maw of the beast. Volvagia bit down on the slab of metal instead of the flesh of its enemy, but then swung its head directly upwards as it released the blade.
Zack was thrown sky high, his feet now above his head. This was fortunate, because Volvagia released a fireball from its gullet to chase the flying warrior upwards. Zack took a swing at the attack with the Buster Sword, but the fireball knocked his trusted weapon clear out of his hands. The blade spiraled wildly through the air before stabbing into the ground near the edge of the caldera, fortunately safe from the rising lava, for now.
This was lost on Zack, who was forced to deal with his own deteriorating situation. The fireball had been deflected, but now he was without his weapon of choice. Volvagia continued to rise towards him. There was little other options, so Zack once more drew the Ultima Materia, and pointed the glowing stone straight down at his enemy.
The ancient magic that could shake the foundations of entire civilizations may have been stored in this seemingly innocuous stone, but the power to use it resided in his own body. To use it twice in quick succession was surely pushing his limits, but he found little other choice. The green stone turned white yet again as he channeled his own energy into it, so he could activate the world shaping magic once more.
It was far too late to worry about the consequences. Zack could only extend the last bits of energy he had into another powerful Ultima. One way or another, this fight would end soon. Someone was leaving this caldera, whether it was Volvagia or those Nealaphh had trusted with the task of driving it away.
So here was one more for the road.
He stood up straight, and hoisted the massive sword up, letting the flat end rest on his shoulder. An aura of pure green energy encapsulated him, supercharging every facet of his being. It didn’t do much for the exhaustion, but he felt he would be able to push his limits just a little bit further for the duration. At least, he hoped he could.
The Mako energy that pulsed through his blood was powered up, and helped the super soldier reach a new level of power. Temporarily rejuvenated, he slightly bent his knees as the demonic wyrm made a low strafing run over the platforms. It was fortunately distracted by another of his teammates, so Zack leapt directly at the monster.
Zack swung the sword straight down, letting the sheer weight of the blade and gravity add to his already mighty swing. The blade connected with the skull of Volvagia, causing the creature to scream out in agony. Zack continued to travel through the air, and landed on another floating platform. There wasn’t a lot of room for error, so he landed and made an additional small hop. Fortunately, that was all he needed to stop his own momentum and prevent himself from continuing on into Ashen Steppes’ newest retention pond.
With a grin plastered on his face, Zack turned around to survey the damage. That cocky smirk evaporated when he saw Volvagia closing in rapidly. The young mercenary awkwardly stumbled to the side, but took the opportunity to take a wild swing with his sword just the same. It was only a glancing blow, but every little bit helped against a monster of this power.
Though he had dodged the fangs of the dragon, Volvagia still had a set of mighty arms. One of those appendages was in range, and struck Zack in his torso, hurling the super soldier from his rocky raft at breakneck velocity. He impacted the shoreline in a heap, and quickly rolled to his feet while wincing in pain from the blow to his side. He grunted when he saw Volvagia closing in on him once again.
Zack had little time to do much else but flee, so he made another jump, this time sacrificing his ability to get an exit strike on the beast. Instead he landed on another platform, back in the lake, while the sounds of battle roared behind him. The others were still engaging the dragon, and it was distracted with them. He stood up straight, and took a deep breath while wiping sweat from his brow. Ash was running from his scalp to his eyes, carried by the moisture his body created on his head. He barely noticed it anymore, he was so used to it from his time in this volcanic land.
This was definition of a team exercise. None of them could do this alone. This dragon had certainly earned its place at the top of the Steppes’ food chain. It was almost hard for him to remember what it was like to trust and operate with a team, though. Even here in the Omniverse, his battles alongside allies had normally been everyone doing their own thing to attack the same threat. This monster demanded coordination, and so far that was what it had received. That was why Zack couldn’t falter now. Every member of this team was crucial. The weakest link could break the chain.
It wouldn’t be him.
Zack turned, and the Mako energy pulsed around him. Casting the consequences of failure aside, he leaped at the flying wyrm once more. It was preoccupied attempting to cook Gildarts alive, but the man was staying mobile. This presented Zack the opportunity he needed, and he approached the dragon’s back.
In a flash, Volvagia spun, however, and slammed its head into the flat side of the sword, rendering the attack useless. Zack was surprised that he had been detected, but even more alarmed with the monster directed its fangs at him. He felt like he was lingering in the air before this monstrosity, and time seemed to move slow as its razor sharp fangs approached him. Utilizing what little resources he had up here, Zack forced the Buster Sword into the maw of the beast. Volvagia bit down on the slab of metal instead of the flesh of its enemy, but then swung its head directly upwards as it released the blade.
Zack was thrown sky high, his feet now above his head. This was fortunate, because Volvagia released a fireball from its gullet to chase the flying warrior upwards. Zack took a swing at the attack with the Buster Sword, but the fireball knocked his trusted weapon clear out of his hands. The blade spiraled wildly through the air before stabbing into the ground near the edge of the caldera, fortunately safe from the rising lava, for now.
This was lost on Zack, who was forced to deal with his own deteriorating situation. The fireball had been deflected, but now he was without his weapon of choice. Volvagia continued to rise towards him. There was little other options, so Zack once more drew the Ultima Materia, and pointed the glowing stone straight down at his enemy.
The ancient magic that could shake the foundations of entire civilizations may have been stored in this seemingly innocuous stone, but the power to use it resided in his own body. To use it twice in quick succession was surely pushing his limits, but he found little other choice. The green stone turned white yet again as he channeled his own energy into it, so he could activate the world shaping magic once more.
It was far too late to worry about the consequences. Zack could only extend the last bits of energy he had into another powerful Ultima. One way or another, this fight would end soon. Someone was leaving this caldera, whether it was Volvagia or those Nealaphh had trusted with the task of driving it away.
So here was one more for the road.
Quote:1123 words, by the site.
Used Mako Charge (T1 Power Up) - 1 SP
Used Ultima (T2 Offensise Super (again)) - 2 SP
0/5 SP remaining.