"They aren't called a nightmare of Flying Beasts without a reason."
"Oh, I'll show you what a true nightmare looks like."
Silas and Rowan went at each other and the tension between them rose.
Tension that… didn't seem to be regarding this particular battle alone.
And Kael, who caught that detail, finally understood how Elira pulled it off.
The Stormfang Monarch.
Rowan called it the Nightmare of Flying Beasts, and he wasn't just talking about his own Bond alone when he mentioned that title. He was referring to the entire Stormfang Monarch Race.
A Bond who had the ability to ride the Wind Current and perform exceptionally well in airborne battles.
Obviously, in Zephyria, a Kingdom where Tamers value Flying Beasts more than anything, a Beast who was called Nightmare of Flying Beasts wouldn't exactly be the most loved.
And Xenthalor sending a Mage whose Primary Bond was a Stormfang Monarch, especially considering that they were the ones who seemed to have planned it all out, was no different than sending a message.
They were provoking Zephyria.
A provocation Silas didn't like one bit, and Elira, who predicted the possible tensions between the two Tamers, used this opportunity to form a small alliance with Silas and used it to her advantage.
'Then why does she usually act like some dumb mage who only reads that perverted book? Does she have a split personality?'
He wondered as he looked back at Elira, who—
—who was riding on top of her Emberaile with seven Magic Circles around her, bombarding poor Arthur with destructive Fire Spells as she laughed like a gremlin who was finally let loose.
Instantly losing all his newfound respect for his instructor.
He looked around and noticed the rest of the Drakthar Kingdom wasn't even looking at her battle anymore, almost acting like they had no relationship with this woman.
Even the King was the same. He stared at the battle between Silas and Rowan like his life depended on it.
He decided to do the same, focusing his attention back on the two Tamers.
Storm roared as he rushed towards Rowan and Leon.
The Stormfang Monarch wanted to face Storm Sovereign Roc in a direct confrontation. However, Leon knew that Rowan was a Mage. If he got too close, the enemy would use that chance and turn it into a close-ranged battle, which would put them at a disadvantage.
He needed to get away and create distance, and this was what he did.
He controlled the wind currents and descended.
Yes, admittedly, in an aerial battle against a Storm, Leon was at a disadvantage, because unlike Storm, who could move however he wanted, Leon first needed to manipulate the Wind Currents and move according to them.
This also made his movements predictable, which could be used against him.
However, this didn't mean Leon was weak.
There was a reason his appearance alone agitated Silas so much, a reason why Stormfang Monarchs are called the Nightmares of Flying Beasts.
The biggest advantage a Stormfang Monarch had was that he wasn't just good at aerial battles. He could also fight battles on the ground, something Storm Sovereign Roc couldn't do.
This was also what made him such a great Bond for a Mage. He was an all-rounder. He could return to the ground, creating distance from normal Flying Beasts, giving all the advantage to the Mage.
At the same time, he could also rise in the air and take down the weakened opponent, not falling into a predicament similar to Arthur's.
Usually, this is what Leon would have done too—go to the ground, create distance, and win…
He wasn't facing just one Flying Beast.
THUNDER THUNDER THUNDER
Silas's Thunder, who, unlike Storm, just hovered in the air, predicted Leon's movement and sent a bolt of lightning toward him.
Rowan screamed loudly as seven Magic Circles appeared around him and formed a transparent shield.
Leon jumped in the air, away from the Wind Currents that carried him. Thunder had attacked him, predicting his air currents. If he didn't follow them, he wouldn't get hit. Yes, he would lose his footing, but that was the only way out.
The shield Rowan had created at the last second burst apart the instant it collided with Thunder's lightning. The impact generated would have sent him and Leon flying if Leon hadn't jumped away.
Very quickly, the Stormfang Monarch formed new wind currents to move on, preventing them from falling but…
Storm and Rowan were now right next to them.
"So much for the Nightmare of all Flying Beasts, eh?"
Silas mocked as he jumped towards Rowan, prepared to end the battle in one go.
"How predictable, just what I would expect from a Warrior."
Rowan's Magic Circles shined, and suddenly a terrifying hurricane formed with the airborne Silas at the very center of it.
Silas's body shot right up, high into the air, this time, without his Storm with him.
One couldn't even hear his screams, which were muffled by all the wind currents and chaos.
"Did he really think a Seventh Circle Mage would create a shield that weak?"
Rowan chuckled as he relaxed a little. He assumed Storm would go protect his Tamer, giving him the distance and time he and Leon needed to stabilize,
Sending another, even stronger hurricane—strong enough to rip Rowan's weak body into pieces—towards him.
Rowan widened his eyes in horror as suddenly,
Leon, who had barely stabilized and had no time to stop the incoming attack, rolled in the air, throwing Rowan from his back as he took on the attack that was aimed at his Tamer.
The collision sent Leon flying.
"ROOOOOOAAAAAARRRRR!!"
The Stormfang Monarch roared in pain. Like other quick Beasts, he didn't have a strong body either.
That attack was more than enough to be lethal.
Rowan, who created a wind current to cushion his fall, quickly turned around as he stared at Leon, who was sent flying. He looked in the air, confused as to why that stupid Roc didn't go protect his Tamer, and very quickly, he realized the reason.
Silas's second Bond, was already there to catch the Warrior's injured body.
"SCREEEEEEEEECCCHHH!!!"
Storm, who had taken down Leon, was now coming at him.
A/N: Pictures of Bonds to create a better image in mind.
PS: This will also be pasted before the fight starts, I forgot about it before, my bad.