A spark in the wind

"Im out!" Gold shouted while performing what he called a tactical retreat or advancing in the opposite direction.

"Where do you think you're running to?!" Serafall yelled behind him as she was about to give chase however her sense of danger flared up, causing her to retreat towards the sky.

"Strike air." Gold looked behind him to see a violent tempest form in the shape of a hurricane. He was confused since this version of Artoria shouldn't have had invisible air.

"Isn't that the Nameless King's ability?" he muttered as he remembered killing the Nameless King back in Dark Souls. Oddly enough the lance absorbed the king's ability to manipulate the power of storms, however he was never able to bring it out so he forgot about it.

Serafall stabilized herself within the eye of the storm despite being trapped by the torrent of winds from all sides. Her eyes flickered above as she brought up her guard. With a flash of light, Serafall's body could be seen flying out of the vortex and crashing into a nearby mountain.

*BOOM*

Erupting from the rubble, Serafall took the the air as she stared hatefully at the newcomer. Artoria seemed to stand on the air, emanating pulsing light that distorted space.

"Hmm?" Serafall seemed confused at the sight of the blonde's body becoming ethereal.

"Too far?" Artoria muttered as she stared at her transparent hand. She turned her emerald eyes towards the direction Gold had run off, unfazed by her disappearing form.

"What just happened!?" Serafall was incredibly confused to see the newcomer disappear as if she never existed.

∞

Alright, so the plan is to escape and fight another day. I may have lost this time, but it's alright as long as I can escape. Is this cowardly? Definitely, but I will gladly admit that I am a coward at heart and choose my battles accordingly. I was able to salvage the Eye of Magnus, so all that's left is to make another workshop. Granted it'll be a lot of work, but I think I can manage it.

'Above you.' I heard Artoria's voice, however my body moved on it's own instead of reacting. I felt a familiar sensation fill me as I allowed it to take control. A golden lance manifested in my hands with a cloud of gold dust. My hips turned in a single motion as my arms brought up the lance in a single thrust followed by a clash of immense power.

"Why does nothing ever go as planned?" I grunted out. I could feel the bones in my arms break from that one confrontation. My eyes were locked with Serafall, she seemed surprised that I was able to force her back.

With no choice but to fight, I allowed the divine spirit's silhouette to overlap with my body. Is this dangerous? Maybe, but if I'm going to be working with her then I need to trust her. Also this sort of reminds me of a stand from Jojo, but that isn't important at the moment.

"Let's finish this!" My voice seemed to reverb as it overlapped with Artoria's voice.

∞

Crashing winds and dancing lights covered the sky like a motion picture. The never-ending clash between the two turned the world above into a beautiful painting.

Their expressions seemed to convey a myriad of emotions. Gold's face seemed to tell of his fatigue and desperation. However his actions were determined with each strike that was released, they were followed by the sound of crushing bones. His muscles were ripped open from the sheer force he was exerting with each confrontation.

Within the open wounds of his body, segments of light could be seen holding together the broken bones. His body wasn't actually weak in human terms. He had made his physique more durable after being in dark souls, along with enhancing it further with body strengthening liquid. Yet it didn't seem to be enough.

Serafall continued her relentless assault. Her expression had lost it's former cloud of insanity. The only thing Gold could see from her was a single minded resolution to emerge victorious.

Magic circles filled the air, only to be immediately be broken by swords, spears and axes that were shot out from golden ripples in the sky. The battle started out with Gold continuously forcing her back with bursts of wind and light. However it was obviously shifting towards her favor as his body wasn't capable of keeping up with this level of battle.

"More!" Like a war god calling upon more power. Gold shifted his stance as the power of storms and light concentrated on his arms and legs. Golden rays spewed from his eyes as he disappeared from his position like a spark in the wind.

Serafall was surprised that he was still able to keep going despite his body clearly breaking down from the stress. Meeting his retaliation with her own, the two collided with one another in a ear screeching explosion.

*BOOM* Flying out from the dust cloud, the two crashed into the ground again.

"Give it up already!" Gold shouted out in frustration. His voice was no longer overlapped with Goddess Rhongomyniad as he was unable to call upon more of her power.

"I will never give up on you!" Serafall shouted back with force. The insanity seemed to be beaten out of her, replaced by nothing but determination.

Gold seemed to let out a deep breath as his body got in a low stance. His lance was held out behind him with a silent pulse of power. His eyes no longer flared out golden light, now it was merely an everpresent glimmer.

Serafall could feel it, the build up of power within Gold's lance. He was planning on ending it here. In response, she held out her arm as demonic power coalesced and concentrated in one point.

"A light is born at the end of the world. Holy lance, pierce open a path." The pulses of light caused space to tremble as the golden light shined in his grasps.

"RHONGO-" Gold thrusted his shattered arm forward, ignoring his body's protest of pain.

"CELSIUS CROSS-" The Demonic Power had reached it's peak.

"MYNIAD!"

"TRIGGER!"

In that moment, time seemed to stop. All sounds were drowned out in the void.

*CRACK* Then time resumed with the sound of shattered reality.

∞

My everything hurts.

"Haaaahhhh...." I'm out of breath, and I don't think I have the strength to do much else at this point.

On the bright side, I'm still standing. Our attacks ended up destroying the entire world that was my workshop and forced us outside. I couldn't lift either of my arms anymore, let alone my lance. Actually I can't even let go of my lance right now. I lost feeling in my right hand.

"Haaahhh..." Oh shit that wasn't me. Staring across the ruined field, Serafall seemed to be in bad shape. Not as bad as me, but small victories I suppose.

I didn't react as she started to slowly limp in my direction. We were both out of breath and didn't have much strength to keep going.

I've decided, that I give up.

With great effort, I slowly moved my legs forward. I had to drag my lance through the grass behind me since my hand was still tightly gripped onto it.

The sound of our ragged breathing and sluggish movement was all that was heard throughout the field. Time seemed to tick by slowly in that moment, giving me some time to think. Our eyes were firmly locked onto one another as we moved closer to one another.

Then we stopped a whole arms length from each other. No words were said for a moment. It seemed awkward, so I just broke the silence first.

"Would you.... like to go out on a date?" I struggled to speak out as I asked my question.

"...I would love that..." She responded tiredly with a smile.

Then we both collapsed onto the ground.

That was the first time I had ever asked a girl out.

Pissing off the readers by asking out a girl despite nearly getting killed and turned into a devil?

Check.