Chapter 56 - 53: All For Nothing
The battlefield was a frozen wasteland of destruction, but Section 6 stood unwavering as the monstrous wyvern loomed before them. Its spectral blue and black glow pulsed ominously, the ethereal core in its chest beating like a war drum. The floating Dharmachakra on its head turned with a series of metallic clicks, as if judging them.
Miyabi took the lead, her odachi crackling with frost as she dashed forward, her blade cutting deep into the wyvern's flank. The ice spread from the wound, freezing its scales on contact. Yanagi followed suit, her naginata crackling with electricity as she delivered precise, arcing slashes, sending bolts of lightning surging through the creature's body. Ellen, moving like a predator in water, lunged with her massive scissors, carving deep gashes into the wyvern's hide, leaving trails of frost that slowed its movements.
The creature roared in pain, swinging its massive tail in a desperate counterattack. The trio ducked and weaved, narrowly avoiding the lethal swipe. From a distance, Harumasa provided cover, his bowstring humming as he released a volley of lightning-infused arrows that exploded against the wyvern's wings, destabilizing its aerial capabilities.
Mira and Soukaku flanked the beast, working in tandem. Mira's legs were encased in ice as she delivered a powerful spinning kick to the wyvern's hind leg, sending a shockwave of cold through its body. At the same time, Soukaku planted her Oni Blade Banner into the ground, summoning a vortex of icy wind that swirled around them. With a heave, she swung the massive weapon, smashing the wyvern's side and sending shards of frozen scales scattering.
Despite their relentless assault, the wyvern still fought back with terrifying ferocity. It snapped its jaws at Miyabi, who barely managed to deflect its fangs with a well-timed frost-coated parry. Ellen intercepted a massive claw strike, using her enhanced strength to hold it back just long enough for Yanagi to land another electrified slash across its face.
The creature bellowed in pain, staggering under their combined strength. It was weakening. Victory was within reach—until the Dharmachakra began to glow.
A deafening click echoed through the battlefield. The wheel spun, faster and faster, and in an instant, the wyvern's wounds began to close, its broken scales mending as if time itself was reversing. A shockwave burst forth, knocking all of Section 6 backward. They hit the ground hard, momentarily stunned as the wyvern's body pulsed with renewed power.
Then, its entire form ignited with an eerie, fiery blue hue.
The beast reared its head, its maw opening wide. Energy coalesced at its core, gathering into a blinding mass of raw Ether. Miyabi's eyes widened in realization.
"Scatter!" she roared.
In the next instant, the wyvern unleashed a beam of energy, obliterating everything in its path. The blast barely missed them, thanks to Miyabi's quick warning. The force of the attack carved a deep trench into the battlefield, molten rock sizzling at the edges of the impact site.