Dance Of The Titan Avatars [Progression Fantasy]

Chapter 11 - The Ultimate Sage Curse Sealing Technique

"Frost Mirror!"

Amidst the scorched ruins, Kaiya raised trembling arms summoning her last reserves trying to combat the oppressive heat from Varzik's swirling blaze. Beside the exhausted Hydromancer, blobs of water coalesced into a vaguely humanoid Titan Avatar that began hurling aquamorphic spears and blades towards the towering fiery silhouette.

Hiss!

Steam erupted where the attacks vaporized almost immediately against Darkfurnace Varzik's impenetrable molten armour barely spanning halfway. Kaiya gritted teeth bitterly acknowledging the futile gesture buying pitiful seconds at best. Glancing back, she witnessed Sorah stagger to one knee amidst the ruins, his face twisted in agony. The pulsing shard embedded within his chest flared erratically as he struggled to maintain the Dawn Sky Crusher's protective barrier.

Nearby, Elder Liu doubled over coughing violently with blood speckling his sleeve. The withering Elemental Master gazed upon the strewn bodies of warriors who had fought valiantly against the Invasion. Liu's formidable constitution now neared its limit without sufficient Aether Steam to fuel self-healing. Each arduous breath mourned another compatriot lost to Dravenik's infernal cruelty.

Would their splendid floating Kingdom, built by generations of Aerithrans, truly collapse this woeful dawn?

Still on bended knee, Sorah's eyes refocused with sudden clarity. Memories of guiding his beloved students now held captive by vile Dravenik ignited fresh resolve within his core - the laughing innocence of young Mari and Meili echoed loudly in his head amidst raging chaos. He would safeguard their shining future, even if it meant this mortal form's dissolution!

Kaiya observed Sorah's trembling rise, the Dawn Sky Crusher now clutched tightly in blistered palms. Her last aqueous guardians evaporated against Varzik's heightening fury, having expended the final dregs of hydromantic strength. Leaning heavily upon her Winter Willow trident, she prayed alongside Sorah for divine providence.

"We have already lost this battle," she whispered bitterly. "I reckon we retreat until the elite guardians get here--"

"No!" Sorah's voice thundered loudly over the devastation. "We have not lost, Kaiya! By the blood and courage of our people, I now invoke our realm's most forbidden power to shield what remains!"

Elder Liu lifted his gaze to behold Sorah's tattered form silhouetted against the flickering dawn. Whence came such sudden vitality now steeling his friend's aged frame? Truly the forgotten deities themselves must bless this fated reckoning!

"Weapons and walls shall not avail thee, defilers!" Intoned Sorah ominously while levitating higher sheathed entirely by burning runic bands. "Now face ancient judgement for invading our kingdom!"

Tendril chains of hyper-condensed glyphs erupted violently from Sorah's outstretched staff, ethereal links began to entangle Varzik within coruscating shrouds. The fiery behemoth thrashed against its bindings. Colonel Dravenik stumbled in midair incredulously feeling each fiery breath turn more laboured as all vitality rapidly bled away from suddenly frail body.

"The legendary Aether Shackle Bind!" exclaimed Yanluo, stunned alongside equally mesmerized compatriots scarcely believing their eyes. "Our archives merely whispered such power could seal even the gods!"

Indeed the recited legends rang true as Sorah continued chanting words of binding. The forbidden technique arrested Varzik's straining limbs completely while unbreakable aetheric bands ensnared its raging form. Spectating Terravolt and Ignis battalions shuddered as the parasitic seal caged their champion's normally inexhaustible core strength.

"The cursed chains cannot hold Varzik for long! Hurry before its corrupted spirit shatters all bindings!" warned Kaiya urgently. Despite profound respect seeing their obscure saviour manifest such dreaded techniques, the alien force appeared to leech equal vitality from the aged master much like inverse mirrors reflected. They must strike the vulnerable summoning vessel itself now exposed – vile Colonel Dravenik!

"So shall balance decree this bitter exchange..." acknowledged Sorah solemnly through blood-flecked lips. Never before had his frail body channelled then continuously expelled such tremendous well of power without devastation. But precious seconds earned now must not waste lest everything, everyone forsaken today render hollow such a gamble.

Thoom!

Varzik's advance slowed despite raging fury against punishing shackles while Sorah's protective aura fluctuated weakly now. Glowing chains appeared strained by unfathomable darkness seeking release.

Elder Yanluo gravely mustered as much strength left able to wield beloved Thunder Cloud Staff for 19 precise throws crackling electrically like fate's spears aimed towards the hovering Dravenik's heart! They must disrupt the vulnerable summoner's control link at all costs before the demonic behemoth finished breaking free. One by one each paralyzing projectile shot forth unerringly through boiling skies smashing against General Pyranox's hastily raised barriers in dramatic flares.

Seven bolts pierced swiftly through crackling havoc and continued speeding straight towards stricken Colonel's heart-failing shields! But at the last possible nanosecond, the entire Ignis and Terravolt battalion vanished abruptly through sand and fire portals before fatal strikes found flesh. Varzik the Darkfurnace likewise dissipated violently into Aether Steam, freed from arcane chains just as gleaming spearheads grazed the space Dravenik fled shrieking away.

A resounding shock clap echoed violently throwing back surrounding squads from the collapsing summoning vortex forces imploding suddenly vacuum-like. Sorah let out an agonized breath while swirling high amidst dispersed shockwaves and glowing embers cascading outwards before plummeting unconscious with the flickering Dawn Sky Crusher staff clasped tightly in grip.

"Master Sorah!" Exclaimed cloud dwellers upon spotting their champion freefalling rapidly.

"Go!" Yanluo desperately flung a swaying lightning tether to snatch Sorah's plunging form mere seconds before impact. Cloud Knights assisted the battered Stormweaver hauling their saviour's limp body beside Liu and Kaiya amongst the burning ruins. Though the sealing chains had held back Varzik briefly, the effort left Sorah himself now barely clinging to fragile life.

"Just rest now Sorah!" urged Elder Liu trying carefully not to worsen any injuries. "We are rid of those tyrants today because of you!"

??? ...but for how long...???

Flickering columns of smoke continued rising across ravaged horizons even as scattered friends hugged each other emotionally overwhelmed by this unexpected miracle. Mutinous flames yet raged unabated through now exposed ancient Prana Floatation vines severely damaged from the battle. Most wept seeing dire prognosis for so many Cloud Hamlets and connected islands that might destabilize fast.

But before sorrow claimed their courageous hearts, a clarion call rang forth heralding unexpected salvation! There materialized without preamble a towering citadel through a cyclone vortex. Armoured guardians astride Cloud Dragon steeds surrounded the crystalline architecture protectively.

"Behold surviving sons and daughters of the Aerithra Kingdom... the Celestial Aerie descends!" Exclaimed an authoritative voice emanating from dazzling spires.

The Zephyr Council's upper echelon had finally made its move. They were composed of three esteemed individuals known as Sky Wardens who governed the Aerithra Kingdom. Each Sky Warden represents a crucial aspect of air affinity—Gale, Mist, and Soar. They convene in the Celestial Aerie, a floating sanctuary where decisions are made amidst the whispers of the winds.

"It's the Sky Wardens! They've come at last!" Shouted a battered knight.

Weary refugees scarcely believed their eyes even as kindly entities began transferring critically injured elders like Sorah, Liu and Yanluo to their sanctuary to be healed. A colossal Silver Guardian with a sword and tower shield flew around the battlefield while scanning debris impatiently for any Terravolt or Ignis stragglers.

Sanctuary awaited beyond the void soils of their now burning homeland. Sorah had faced hellish odds unflinching for their survival. There yet pulsed hope that Cloud Hamlet might again flourish through the coming days of uncertainty ahead.