Chapter 82: Down it Crumbles


    The battlefield where Nando and his expedition group were battling the gargoyle was littered with jagged stones and dust, remnants of countless skirmishes. The group had pursued the gargoyle for nearly five months, enduring the loss of several non-gifted recruits. Each battle chipped away at the gargoyle’s form, but somehow, the creature had grown stronger. Now, it was no larger than a child, but its speed was unmatched, darting through the air like a dark shadow of death.


    It flew low over the field, barely avoiding the sharp vines Greenthumb had summoned from the earth. The air felt thick, charged with tension as the gargoyle dodged every attack with effortless grace. Gato, with his feathers ruffling in the wind, shot volleys of sharp plumes from a distance, but the gargoyle twisted and turned, avoiding each one as though it could see them coming long before they were fired.


    "Keep up the pressure!" Salamander growled, his voice gravelly, draconic red scales shimmering as his full transformation took hold. His muscles bulged beneath his robes, his long tail swishing through the dust. The gargoyle swooped low, and Salamander met it head-on, his claws colliding with the creature in a flurry of strikes. Their battle was fierce, the sound of stone against scales reverberating through the field like thunder.


    As Salamander grappled with the gargoyle, Greenthumb sent a fresh wave of thick, twisted vines shooting up from the earth. The vines coiled around the gargoyle’s wings and legs, pulling it down with a thunderous crash. For a fleeting moment, the team felt the hope of victory.


    “It’s over!” Gato shouted, his breath ragged as he hovered above, his legs trembling with exhaustion. His words, however, rang hollow.


    The gargoyle’s body trembled, its glowing red eyes burning with fury. A surge of violent energy rippled through it, and with a terrifying roar, it shattered the vines that bound it. Before anyone could react, it took off toward Gato like a streak of stone fury.


    “Look out!” Nando shouted, his voice tinged with desperation, but the gargoyle was faster than they had anticipated.


    Panic surged through Gato’s veins and from his back feathers burst into life materializing into bluish winges that expanded outwards like a leaf blooming for the first time. Quickly his wings flapped furiously, propelling him higher into the sky. He soared higher, his heart pounding, certain he had outrun the beast. The battlefield below grew smaller, and for a brief, glorious moment, relief flooded through him. He had escaped—he was free from the gargoyle’s reach.


    The ground fighters below watched in silence, their gazes following Gato as he ascended. The tension in the air began to lift, and for a heartbeat, they allowed themselves to believe it was finally over.


    But the gargoyle had no intention of letting its prey slip away.


    With a deafening screech, the gargoyle’s wings flared, sending it rocketing into the sky at a speed that defied its heavy, stone body. Gato turned just in time to see it coming. His eyes widened in horror as the monster bore down on him with unnatural speed.


    “No!” Gato screamed, but his cry was drowned out by the roar of the wind and the gargoyle’s approaching wrath.


    In an instant, the gargoyle’s razor-sharp claws, now glowing with an eerie red light, tore through the air and ripped into Gato’s body with savage precision. The sickening sound of flesh being shredded echoed across the battlefield as Gato’s blood sprayed into the sky, streaking it with crimson. His lifeless form plummeted downward, wings crumpled like a broken bird, spiraling toward the earth in a tragic, chaotic dance of death.


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    The battlefield was silent as his body hit the ground, the brutal finality of his fall sinking in.


    “GATO!” Nando''s voice cracked with disbelief. The sight sent a wave of shock through the entire group. The one moment of hope had shattered instantly. Grief clung to their chests, but there was no time to mourn.


    Salamander''s rage flared, his eyes burning with fire as he roared and leaped high into the air. His draconic strength seemed to double as he slammed into the gargoyle mid-flight, sending it hurtling toward the ground with a deafening crash. The earth shook with the impact, dust, and rocks exploding outward.


    As the gargoyle tried to recover, vines from Greenthumb wrapped around its ankles, pulling it back down into the dirt, and trapping it. From the side, Edmund appeared atop his fiery stallion, flames licking at the air as he galloped toward the pinned gargoyle. This new addition to his strength was acquired through the pursuit of the gargoyle. Edmund was able to tame a familiar that worked well with his fire affinity, although the stallion seemed young, there was still a chance for growth.


    "Flame Knight, coming through!" Edmund shouted, his voice brimming with newfound confidence. His sword, engulfed in fire, glowed brilliantly as he charged. With a powerful swing, he sliced at the gargoyle, releasing a torrent of flames that engulfed the terror, sending it screeching in agony.


    The air shimmered with heat, and for a moment, everything seemed to freeze. The gargoyle’s wings flapped desperately, trying to escape the vines and flames, but it was too weak. Edmund''s stallion reared back, releasing a fiery neigh as it circled around, leaving the gargoyle charred and barely clinging to life.


    Nando stepped forward, his eyes narrowing as he gathered his power. Black tendrils sprouted from his back, forming a dark, pulsating sphere between his six hands. The air grew thick with tension as he released the sphere toward the gargoyle, the disgusting aura oozing through the air.


    The sphere struck the gargoyle dead-on, exploding with a sickening splatter. Black, stringy ooze wrapped around the gargoyle, pinning it to the ground like a grotesque web. The creature struggled, its body shaking as it tried to escape, but it was stuck fast.


    With a jump Salamander took to the skies again, rising high above the battlefield. His muscles bulged, his scales glowing a deep red as he prepared for his final strike. With a mighty roar, he descended, behind him the image of a strange draconic creature with red scales, six legs, and one eye on its ferocious face appeared as his fist slammed into the gargoyle with the force of a falling meteor. The ground cracked beneath the impact, sending shockwaves through the earth as the gargoyle’s body shattered into pieces.


    The ground stilled. Dust settled. The gargoyle’s remains crumbled into nothing more than rubble, a faint red aura dissipating into the air, signaling the end of its existence.


    Nando, Edmund, and Salamander stood in awe of the destruction. Their breathing was ragged, but there was a sense of finality in the air. The terror was gone.


    Nando muttered, still staring at the crater Salamander had left. “That kind of strength... I’ve never seen anything like it.”


    "That''s the power of an apostle," Edmund said, his voice filled with admiration as he stroked the mane of his fiery stallion. “One day, I’ll reach that level.”


    The exhaustion hit them all at once. The five months of endless battles, losses, and relentless pursuit had come to an end. They stood amidst the wreckage, their hearts heavy with both victory and loss. Gato was gone, his wings now lying lifeless on the battlefield, a stark reminder of the cost they had paid.


    Salamander, his body reverting from its draconic form, stood tall, surveying the aftermath. "We’ve done it," he said quietly, though the weariness in his voice was clear. "It’s finally over."


    Greenthumb nodded, his vines retracting back into the earth. "Let’s head back. We all need to rest."


    The survivors turned, leaving the battlefield behind, their minds numb from the ordeal. They had survived, but the price had been high.