Aether Beasts

Chapter 223

Juveria let out a sigh as Milenia used a burning blood technique. It was her specialty and in all honestly, Juiveria had seen this coming the moment Milenia had decided to pull out a blade. It was clear she had wanted to end it quickly and had underestimated Misty which had always been a failing of hers.

In any case, the fight would either end soon or Misty would prove herself even more skilled than she already had. Juveria didn't think Misty was going to win, but she had been surprised before. She remembered the fight time she had seen Vita fight and so didn't count out the possibility, though Misty had death and life affinity, and it was going to be hard for her to get any damage in unless she was using very potent and specific abilities designed to counter heat and fire, but even then, Milenia flames didn't just burn extremely hot but also increased her physical abilities by a high margin and turned her into a close-quarters beast.

Juveria wasn't confident that she could take Milenia on if it was in close quarters, and the explosive techniques Milenia had would make it even harder easily since the burning blood cloak also increased her regeneration. It cost a lot of aether but more often than not opponents on her level and lesser wouldn't stand a chance. She had even managed to take down a few higher than her in some cases.

______

Misty felt her instincts scream as the red flame engulfed Milenia. It did not harm her, and from what Misty could sense it was a powerful technique and one created to enhance the user. She had been able to tell that Milenia had been holding back and trying to win with blade and skill alone, but had underestimated her abilities.

It seemed she was no longer doing so and was probably going to try and end things.

Misty felt her beast rise, but she pushed it down. Not yet. She wouldn't let it take over just yet, and not if she didn't need to. She wanted to learn to control it even in more stressful situations like this and not simply let it loose. She wanted to command the beast, not let it take control whenever things got too difficult. She would use it, but first, she wanted to try and win without it.

"Your done," Milenia growled then shot forward at an alarming speed, her blade, now also burning, raised.

Misty barely managed to dodge the blade but was unable to dodge the glowing fist which hit her dead center with great force and created a small explosion that sent her rocketing back.

She managed to dig a claw into the ground and stop herself, but she winced, glancing down at her stomach. Her regeneration was already kicking in, and it hadn't caused too much damage, but a few of those in quick succession and she was done for, not to mention the blade which she was certain would be able to cut her.

She got to her feet as Milenia began to walk towards her at a casual pace, a smug smile on her face.

Misty grit her teeth and formed a death shroud around her, and poured more death aether into her claws while also forming the pattern for a physical enchantment technique she had been working on. It was yet finished but would provide her with a much-needed boost.

"It's pointless." Milenia lunged forwards, and this time Misty was able to dodge the first slash and the follow-up, and counter with a slash which managed to score a gash on Milenia's neck. However, it didn't remain that way for long as there was a sudden flash and searing heat engulfed Misty.

She let out a grunt which turned into a scream when she felt a stinging sensation in her left arm followed by the feeling of overwhelming pain.

She sent out a sonic screech and then leapt back, blinking rapidly to clear her eyes. When she saw what had happened, she could not believe it at first. Where her left arm had been moment sago was nothing. Her am was gone and the wound was bleeding profusely.

She turned her gaze to Milenia who only stared at her coldly.

The other vampire opened her mouth and began to talk, but Misty didn't hear her. She didn't hear anything, except silence and an internal growl, her beast raging against its bonds. Misty doing all she could to remain in control took hold of the beast as best she could and let it out.

It was time.

______

Juveria shook her head as the Milenia took the girl's left arm. Another fault of her second was brutality. It was something that could be both useful and detrimental.

She glanced at Vita who surprisingly enough looked excited, and Juveira was confused until the blonde let out a screech that sent Milani back a few steps, a sonic attack. That was a rare ability among vampires, but what happened next completely overshadowed it.

______

Zirani watched as Misty smiled and her entire aura shifted, her body which had been shaking now stilled and aether began to pour from her first core, and unlike the sampler amount seh usually used, it was a large amount of aether. Misty was very good when it came to knowing how much aether to use and being efficient and was the type to wait before using something rather than taking a chance and so she didn't often use a huge amount of aether, but with the beast free, she was now utilizing it all.

Zirani was helping Misty get a better hold of her beast and experiment a bit more with her first core, but it was still in the early stages.

Misty eyes which had been crimson were now a mix of red, blue, and white, colors Zirani had never personally known a vampire to have. The aether merged with the death shroud which was already around her and for a second, Zirnai could have sworn it took the image of a creature, but it happened so quickly she couldn't be certain.

Life aether also began to pour from her second core, and Milenia snapped out of her shock and charged the blonde who opened her mouth and screamed.

Most everyone in the arena winced and quickly covered their ears as Misty sent an extremely powerful sonic scream at Milenia. Powerful enough that it not only stunned the burning vampire but also sent her back many feet.

The life aether pooled in misty's arm and the blood which had flowing out, stopped, and a large amount of aether formed a pattern which when released, quickly and fully regenerated Misty's arm.

'I didn't think her stores were this large.'

That technique had taken a lot of aether, and it made sense since the regeneration had been near-instant. Bone, muscle, veins, and everything else had erupted from the wound and tied together to form the air. For a non-vampire, it might have cost more, but since Misty was a vampire and had better regeneration than most races, it cost her less, though still a large amount.

______

Misty took a deep breath and knew that her grip on the beast wasn't as strong as she had hoped for and that she needed to end this quickly or else she would be unable to control it. She wasnt worried about tia tracking others, but it would be a personal failure for her, and would very likely try and kill Milenia rather than simply defeat her.

With her arm regenerated, Misty quickly considered her options as Milenia was back on her feet and chagrin. So far the most effective thing had been her sonic attacks as everything else was just burnt up and even if she did manage a strike, getting close was dangerous. Misty hadn't had enough time with her life affinity and a lot of her techniques were still being developed while it was clear Milenia had refined her technique a lot.

If she wasnt worried about the beast she might have tried a hit and run tactic like Sandra often did, but that would be risky and she also didn't particularly want to win in such a way. Suddenly an idea came to mind as she remembered her sparing session with Lady Aeverie's guard.

'Sonic it is then.'

When Milenia was upon her, she sent an onslaught of attacks her way, but every aspect of Misty was in a heightened and boosted state so she was able to easily dodge all her attacks, though finding an opening was harder, but an idea quickly came to mind.

Dodging a rising lash and sidestepped a punch, Misty strengthened her hair and tried to make it as first resistant as possible. She created more hair and enlarged it until there was enough that she could have covered herself with it. She sent it to wrap around Milenia, and while most of it was burnt away, Milania did as expected and sent another wave of heat out.

Misty had already been moving and positioned herself to one side of the other vampire. The hair absorbed most of the heat, but Misty did get a few burns not that it stopped her as she lunged, and grabbed a hold of Milenia's head.

She moved her mouth to the other vampire's ear and with all of her might and as much aether as she could pour into the technique, she screamed.