Enlightenment Element IV

The power of the Dragon of War!

Malocha seemed to sense the change in Brando. An instinctive awareness of danger made it wary. It resumed its attacking stance, lowering its head and scraping the ground with its hooves. It snorted clouds of White Mist from its nostrils, then suddenly kicked off with its hind legs. Its figure shot forward like an arrow loosed from a bow, abruptly vanishing from everyone present's field of vision as if it had disappeared into thin air.

But Brando was the exception. He thrust both hands forward—Bam! The scene seemed to freeze. Malocha slammed headfirst into Brando's hands and stopped dead as if it had crashed into a wall. With a thunderous boom, the blast of wind it carried expanded through the air, lifting the hem of Brando's clothes and the long hair over his forehead before sweeping past behind him.

Brando slid backward several feet before fully dispelling the force, but at least he was no longer being completely suppressed—this fight was winnable! His hands shifted from blocking to gripping, seizing the other party's antlers tightly. "You think I only know how to use a sword?" Brando bared his white teeth. He twisted both hands, let out a roar, and actually threw Malocha hard onto the ground.

Boom!

The Demonized Crystal Stag, which had been unstoppable moments ago, crashed down like a meteor onto the snow-covered forest floor. Accompanied by a fairy's scream, it sent a tall spray of snow into the air, then dragged a deep furrow through the snow, exposing the gray-black soil beneath, which had been drained of magical power.

"Roar!"

It let out a pained cry and clawed its way up from the ground with all four hooves. It twisted its neck toward Brando, swept its long antlers, and sent