Gavin's POV.
Gavin glanced between his companions. Everyone was bloody, tired and worn out from the fighting. Yet they had more to do before the day would be over. "Right. Let's get this done, and watch each other's backs." He repeated AJ's words from a moment ago.
He closed his eyes momentarily. According to his system, he had ten souls already locked inside his soul vault. He cursed the system for the lack of actual, usable necromancy skills. Right now, those ten souls he'd collected were nothing more than a waste of space to him. If he could harness the skills to summon the dead, all these bodies fighting on their side would turn the tide of this fight.
His lips rose in a silent snarl, a promise of the fight to come. He opened his eyes, their crimson light burning through the dimly lit and destroyed arena. Their target would be the two men towards the rear of the arena. The black male with the rifle, and the white man that had the scared face.
He focused on his inner mana flow, felt his mana circuits open up wide and his power flow through his body. Crimson mana swirled around the group as a deep growl reverberated through them.
I will not fail them. I will protect them at all costs!
He nodded to AJ, and she dropped the shield.
The timing couldn't have been worse.
Hidden from view thanks to all the smoke and ash, a wave of rockets and magical blasts slammed into what remained of the wood and stone wall in front of them. Debris went flying in all directions from the impacts as the thick wall that once separated the Grand Arena from the Secondary Arena was reduced to splinters.
Gavin covered his face with the crook of his arm and turned, placing his body in front of Erza. He slammed his foot down mid spin, attempting to raise a stone wall to block some of the debris. As the stone wall rose to Erza's chest, a thunderous crack echoed throughout the arenas. The impact hit the front edge of the stone wall closest to Gavin and Erza.
Then the concussion impact wave hit Gavin as Erza was thrown back, her snow white fur quickly stained red with blood as she tumbled head over feet to land unconscious against the far wall in a heap.
AJ was knocked aside from the impact of that single shot, groaning as she slammed her back against one of the stone pillars. Stone came flying close enough to slice a shallow cut across her forehead and she cried out. Her right wing jutted out at an unnatural angle as she slammed into the pillar, blood and bone protruded through flesh.
AJ struggled to keep one eye open, and as she did she saw Erza go down in a crumpled heap. Blood drained from AJ's face and she struggled to her feet, her injured wing making her movements uneven and she rushed over, ignoring all the incoming gunfire to check on Erza who had reverted to her human appearance.
Erza lay face down against one of the stone pillars that lined the opposite walls of the arena. A pool of blood was already thick under her torn clothes.
Gavin's ears rang and his vision went black for a moment. The last image he recalled was glaring at the enemy leaders at the far end of the Grand Arena, and AJ lowering the shimmering veil she put up. Next thing Gavin knew, he was thrown away from Erza when all the explosions went off and a large chunk of the wall appeared to vanish.
He lifted his eye, blood pouring into his left eye and looked around. Where was Erza? AJ? He felt a searing pain burn down his side and he struggled to his feet, when he caught sight of a mop of bright red hair that had always stole his breath. Erza lay on the ground, covered in dirt, grime, cuts, and a pool of blood was quickly forming under her.
The world around Gavin came to a sudden silent still. Not the type one thinks of in movies or video games. But, a true, horrific silence. His vision flickered, the edges turning black as all he could see was Erza, unconscious on the ground maybe twenty feet away from him.
"Erza?" Gavin's voice choked out. He coughed, spitting out more blood as he tried to clear his vision.
She didn't move. His heart sank, and his pulse quickened. Every beat of his heart was like thunder in his ears. With every moment that passed without movement from Erza, his mind retreated, refusing to accept the possibility.
A world without Erza? No, no, no. Gavin's mind ran in circles as he shook his head, the action causing the nausea to worsen. His blood raced in his veins, nearly burning him from the inside as a hunger started in the pit of his stomach.
This wasn't supposed to happen. Not like this. Not now. I… I don't care what happens anymore. They have to pay. They can't get away with this. Gavin's mind surged with only one cohesive thought, holding him together.
The hunger and desire in his stomach quickly spread out through his veins and mana circuits alike. It was a force unlike anything Gavin had ever experienced in his life. Not the explosive time he first shifted. Not when he claimed part of his birthright against the Vampire Lord in the dungeon, and not when he underwent the first evolution.
This felt darker.
Dangerous.
But, not for himself.
Alert. Mental status is approaching dangerous levels. Threshold to level two power could be broken. If you do not control yourself, I can not guarantee anyone's safety master Gavin. Veronica shouted in his mind as she fought over his mental anguish.
Without Erza in my life, there are no fucks left to give. Gavin replied. His mental tone was ice. Cold. Unfeeling in the worst sort of way. He let the hunger drive him and he rose to his feet. His power responded in kind and he felt a new sense of strength fill every single nerve ending in his body.
Waves of crimson mana exploded out in every direction from Gavin as he rose to his full height. He turned, facing the now destroyed section of wall where even the enemy forces sensed something was amiss and halted their assault momentarily as his mana washed over the entire arena, bathing everything in a deep crimson hue.
The more Gavin recalled everything from the past hour, the more hate and anger grew inside his heart. The more his body shook. "You bastards." Gavin's words were enhanced by his mana, heard by everyone in the arena halls. The sound was rich, deep and sent a shiver down AJ's spine.
"You want to kill us, cuz you fear what something that can use all six elemental magics can do. You hate us, cuz we are different than you." Gavin's voice grew more snarled with every sentence as the hunger rose to a starving degree, fueling his desire for one thing only.
The desire in his heart, pushed past one of the barriers Koray had built within the system of Veronica. The darkness, rage and hatred Gavin was suffering had broken the level three lock and power was surging out of control throughout Gavin's entire body.
Fire sparked out from his fingers and he felt his body physically begin to alter in response. His bones cracked, broke, grew and mended themselves within seconds. The muscles, nerves, and circulatory systems compensated for the increased size, mass and strength flowing through him as he grew from his previous size, to standing well over nine feet tall by all estimations.
As the transformation continued, a gale force wind ripped through the arena. Everything not glued to the ground was picked up and tossed around while sparks continued to ignite from Gavin's razor sharp claws. His snout grew more pronounced and his canines sharpened, sticking out past his lips as his hackles pulled back.
His chest grew broad, no longer that of a young adult. Rather, he looked like a grizzled war veteran. The type that walked into a room, and everyone gave him space without question. He snarled through the pain as he clenched his fists and ignited bursts of fire from his hands to add to the wind.
The fire mixed with the wind, creating a fire gale that spun faster and faster. Picking up all the debris, bodies, and carnage and wrapped everything as a wall in between Gavin and the army.
By this point, AJ had crawled over to where Erza lay on the ground, her head now resting in Helena's lap as the girl tried to staunch the flowing blood. AJ fought through the howling wind, unable to hear anything other than her own heartbeat in her ears as she kept one eye on Gavin and began to administer first aide to Erza.
The air grew hot, burning her very lungs as she struggled to breath under the oppressive weight of Gavin's wrath.
This isn't some kid shifter. AJ thought while continuing treatment. What am I supposed to do? He is growing faster than anyone anticipated. If he continues to grow out of control…
"By Lady Lunaria… this is what they were afraid of," AJ whispered. Her hands were placed on Erza's shoulders, glowing bright with mana as she started to try healing her friend.
Enemy soldiers got their wits and resumed firing at Gavin and the others. Bullets, magical strikes, and explosive rounds slammed into the fire gale that surrounded them while Gavin finished with his transformation.
Gavin's mana grew heavy in the air around him. Thicker and brighter. Each breath of hyperventilation added fuel to his own raging mana. The incoming fire couldn't seem to penetrate the thick red mist that surrounded his body.
"This fight, ends now." Gavin's snarled words could barely be heard over the roar of the fire and the howling wind. Then, just as suddenly as the fire-nado appeared. It was gone. Poof.
Silence filled the arena in the space of that elemental disaster they had just witnessed in the arena. Helena's jaw dropped and she trembled, her fingers gripped tight in Erza's red waves.
The enemy forces, quiet and cautious, looked around for the black Were-Wolf that just made such a powerful display merely moments ago.
Gavin was gone. Vanished the same instant the fire-nado had gone out.
The absence was almost heavier than the display moments ago. Guns cocked and reloaded from the far side of the room as the enemy looked around. Their voices too low for Helena or AJ to make out.
Helena watched, her breathing heavy as the men reformed their units, scanning every direction; forming overlapping fields of fire. They appeared to have forgotten the three of them on the ground for the time being, intent on finding where Gavin went.
Then, without warning, the bloodbath began.