Solar Blood Masters

"Rai Shen Long – GO!"

BOOM! CRACKLE!

An ear-splitting roar tore through the icy landscape. A wave of pure golden lightning, laced with black shadows erupted and engulfed a large, green frog. It was a display of terrifying might.

"Ribbit! Ribbit! AHHH! Not lightning…! I'm weak against it!"

The frog shrieked with a panicked fear as it was blown backward. It landed with a heavy thud in a shower of snow, leaving a crater-shaped imprint as evidence of its encounter.

A shadow moved towards the motionless form with radiant splendor bouncing from its armor. It was Bat General Kong, radiating power and a chilling disregard for anyone who dared challenge his master.

As the miniature lightning dragon shrunk and coiled gracefully around his spear, Kong let out a smug snort. "Hmph, your points now belong to my Master."

From behind, one of those lesser Shadow Bats that hadn't been granted permission to partake in this slaughter rushed forth with his tiny claws shaking as if he'd struck gold.

"Oh, great and strong Bat General Kong! Your powers are mighty! But didn't Master instruct you not to use the dragon lightly? Perhaps there is a chance he could… be in trouble with this recklessness?"

This admonishment, or rather this attempt at logic from a creature so pathetic, infuriated the general. "Be QUIET!"

The tiny bat, startled by his Commander's outburst, quickly retracted his claws and vanished into the throng of his more quiet and obedient comrades who were diligently feasting on those energies the now fading frog was giving off.

"Those small fry…" Kong shook his head and was about to deliver a proper chastisement for such audacious words spoken within his hearing, when a voice that had both himself and those trembling shadows straightening to attention came booming,

"Impressive. You took down that froggy in one attack. Its Solar Essences was quite potent."

A figure, as large as the golden bull himself emerged from behind a towering glacier. Its dark scales glistened in the cold air. It moved with a lazy arrogance, for this creature, it seemed had been watching from afar, and its patience, well, it had been rewarded by this demonstration.

He was a Komodo Dragon of imposing physique with scales as thick as armor plating. Sharp claws extended from each foot and its long forked tongue flicked lazily.

"You… will be a worthy meal, Bat." It then grinned, showing a maw filled with razor-sharp teeth.

"My name is Kozu. Remember it. It'll be your epitaph."

Kong raised an eyebrow. Such arrogance from this lizard, but hadn't he just crushed a much larger, and stronger creature with ease. He let out a chilling laughter then retorted, "Silence lizard. The only prey here, is YOU!"

"You… you… called me… a lizard?" The Komodo Dragon's dark scales pulsed with fury. It was an insult he couldn't tolerate. For in this ancient world of might makes right. Lineages were respected, revered, and those with dragon blood, those of his ilk…

They were at the very top, or so he believed until a small bat with a shiny stick told him otherwise. This had to be fixed!

"I'M A DRAGON!" He roared!

And with a swiftness that defied his size, Kozu unleashed his tail in a devastating whip, cracking the ice beneath those who trembled and sending a volley of sharp, frozen shards toward Kong.

WHOOSH! CRAACK!

Kong gracefully backflipped, avoiding the shards by millimeters. He landed in a crouch and aimed his spear with a cocky grin.

"Stay out of this, shadow pests! I'll destroy this lizard myself!"

Those words were met with cheers of "Finish HIM, GENERAL KONG!"

"Rip out his scales!"

"I want his heart!"

His legion was truly loyal, Kong thought to himself as their battle cry resonated across the frozen wastes and was echoed by the arrogant Komodo's roar.

"You called me a LIZARD, AGAIN!?" Kozu's outrage could be heard for miles. His eyes burned with an intensity that melted the ice near his face.

"You, a damned Saint Ruler bat, dares to challenge me?! I'll eat you ALIVE!"

BOOM!

He slammed a massive foot onto the ground with enough force to trigger a miniature tremor, sending shockwaves rippling outward that shattered ice, splintered trees and had the bats army scrambling.

Dozens of boulders launched into the air from his brute strength.

They hurtled towards Kong!

WHOOSH! WHOOSH!

Kong didn't flinch. He stood firm!

Then…

His spear became a whirlwind of golden fury!

"Shadow Serpent Pierce!"

CRACK! BOOM!

Each strike was swift and precise. Boulders shattered! They exploded into dust before him.

It was a masterful display of combat prowess. And those cowardly bats hiding in trees were truly stunned, they couldn't hold back those whispers:

"Such strength!"

"He cut those boulders apart!"

Their respect had Kong smiling.

He then charged!

They met.

A brutal dance of fangs and claws, teeth and spears unfolded. It was a primal clash of brute strength! The air rippled with roars, hisses, and the screeching sound of metal on scales.

"I'M a Dragon!"

After being stabbed, Kozu slammed his tail into Kong's chest, sending the bat flying backwards, coughing blood! But Kong, unfazed by the blow, landed lightly and with an arrogant gesture that had those loyal Shadow Bats cheering louder, flicked away a few drops of blood clinging to his spear.

"You've got some moves lizard, I'll admit that! However, my master DESIRES your points! You can only blame fate for this encounter!"

He raised his spear high.

Darkness coalesced around its tip, a terrifying omen.

"Sir! General! Is it our turn now?! Let us DESTROY this lizard!" One brave Shadow Bat flew a little closer, for surely wasn't victory was theirs?

However, those cheers and those thoughts of assisting were cut short.

"Silence! This will be a SWIFT victory! One that will prove MY WORTH to Master!"

Kong narrowed his gaze towards his target, "Lizard, my Master has bestowed me with this magnificent technique, and you will be its victim today."

"HOLLOW FATE ENIGMA!"

WHOOSH! CRACKLE!

His voice, infused with ancient Solar Essence reverberated across the frozen forest before a chilling phenomenon began unfolding!

Dozens of dark, spatial ripples appeared in the air, encircling the unsuspecting Kozu who stared with dread.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

And as if by decree from the very heavens, a rain of golden spears erupted from each ripple with blazing tips!

Each projectile buzzed with those dark shadow and crimson blood essences.

This was a vision of pure, unrestrained aggression, worthy of even the mightiest Emperor Calamity.

The clearing exploded with light.

Screams echoed, then subsided. It went on for a full minute before the Hallow Fate Enigma dissipated, leaving a faint, black and yellow smoke, and within that dissipating mist was a terrifying sight to behold.

The proud Komodo Dragon was now a mere shadow of his former arrogance, his once beautiful scales were marred with dozens of puncture wounds, and his once fierce gaze dimmed, replaced by a dazed terror as blood oozed, forming crimson pools around him.

He was truly close to defeat.

"STILL alive, lizard? Just hand over those points already." Kong's voice was laced with boredom now, it was clear that he was only waiting for the final blow before feasting on those juicy essences radiating around those wounds.

Kozu's rage was stronger than death, however, and even as his vision blurred from the blood loss, he'd rather be incinerated than simply "yield" to this annoying Shadow Bat, this mere SAINT RULER.

"Damn you… BAT!" He hissed with frustration as his pride welled up and overshadowed common sense. He slammed a massive foot onto the frost and then as his jaws opened in a desperate last stand, to utter those words of defiance and perhaps even an arrogant, "You picked the wrong opponent bat! I'll end you here and…"

A wave of dizziness struck his core that caused his words to end with a blood-filled cough, but even within his blurry vision and that despair seeping into his heart like venom, a hope surfaced in a whispered plea.

"SSSSSssssseraphhhhhhhina! Where… the… hell… are… YOU! Come…out… nowwww! Do you hear me you bastard! I need your hel…" He couldn't finish his words of command as they were drowned out by another cough that sprayed crimson upon his scales.

"Who is this 'Ssssseraphhhhhhhina' he's summoning?" Kong questioned. He hoped that it wasn't another powerful Calamity, for surely with his current strength, there would be no chance.

Then the earth rumbled.

A colossal figure emerged.

"You truly are a pathetic specimen."

"Oh no…" Kozu's head slumped in defeat.

This was worse.

WHOOSH!

From the very ground beneath those fighting creatures, a massive Wormpede emerged. She was as large as Lu Ignis had been back in those scorched palace floors of his. This new contender's body was thicker than Raphael, her segmented exoskeleton had sharp dark thorns and her countless legs were slicing through the trees with ease as they danced an ancient but chilling melody.

"Why are you only appearing NOW? You useless…"

Kozu coughed before he remembered, there was a pecking order even in hell, for he dared not anger a Calamity whose soul she could consume, his savior.

"Ss… ss… sister…" He trailed off and almost passed out from exhaustion and blood loss.

This Wormpede's name was Sssseraphhhhhhhina. And she glared at Kozu's battered form before sighing, "Truly, you Komodo Dragon have fallen in status. How pitiful. To get your ass kicked by a mere Shadow Bat."

She laughed and her pronouncements had those lesser creatures scurrying away as Kong straightened, for in those jaws of hers he saw a threat far greater than those Scorpion twins combined, a true contender.

"This fight… has become more interesting."

Kong held his spear steady as she approached, "Well then. I don't mind if it's you, lizard… or you, worm!" He pointed at his battered opponent. His Shadow army was buzzing impatiently behind. "Both of you. Come at me! I'LL claim those points for my Master!"

Sssseraphhhhhhhina hissed, "Such braggadocio, little bat. I AM a Calamity at the 2nd Layer! You're just a lowly SAINT RULER!"

She flicked her segmented tail menacingly.

"Kozu, step aside. This pathetic insect needs a lesson about who's stronger in Yama Yaguai. I will crush him with ease.

Now you bats…" Her massive head descended until it was mere feet from Kong's tiny figure.

"What?!"

Kong barely even came up to one of her knees, but he wasn't scared, not really, only a bit nervous.

"Oi, Shadows, you 200 deal with that lizard! It seems he's still got some fight in those pathetic scales of his. I'll handle this WORM!"

"ROGER THAT GENERAL!"

With eager screeches, the Shadow Bat army charged forth and began swarming around Kozu's semi-unconscious form with their extended claws!

BOOM!

A radial burst of flames, infused with electricity erupted as Kong slammed his spear onto the icy ground!

A grand, magnificent but extremely horrifying show! He was charging up for those truly terrifying moves his master had taught him.

And Sssseraphhhhhhhina was coming closer, ready to crush this insect, this bat!