The Legend of Azhakkstadd

CHAPTER LXXX : THE SHERDALS OF ASZYRDONIA

-Ashtan-

            We’re currently doing our second challenge for this mission, though we’re currently working to finish this one right now. Here in an independent island near the country of Toxin domain. I know this island because this is the island under our country. I often see this island whenever I look down from there. but I don’t know what’s in here.

            Last night, we finished our first challenge in an island near the country of Psychic Nation called the Tymnaghara Island, it was just near us so we got there quick and finish it early. I also happen to know this island as it was also located under our country from the other side opposite this one where we are now.

            The island is now inhabited by people from Psychic nation so as we got there, we found some people already living here. The island is just small and is prone to storms and floods since the island lies in the middle of the ocean. So Ran planned to make sea-side dikes to protect these people from coastline erosions, storm surges and so forth.

            A sea dike is a manmade structure designed to protect low-lying areas from flooding from the sea or ocean. They typically are designed with several components including a sand core, a watertight outer protective layer, toe protection and a drainage channel. Sea dikes are intended to withstand and resist water and wave action, as Cymone explained.

            The problem is, the area has poor sources of materials that we have to use. If we have to look around, it would take us time to dig up the whole island for metals and minerals that we have to use. We don’t have Harald to get them, good thing we have Dafrosa, who used her power to get those materials that we will be using.

            And we also have Cymone as our engineer and our architect for the construction. Sohel used alchemy to create tons of metals that we will use to make the sea-side dike stronger. The construction of a dike has three functional parts. I don’t know but Cymone explained it to us.

            He said that he learned how to make it since they do it in their country. The country of Mortals is full of technology that they do to improve their country. It’s something that they have that none from the other tribes had. Even the psychics and the fairies.

             He said that the three functional parts were – a submerged base, the middle area that experiences constant loading from waves, the upward middle zone that can experience wave pressure during storms.

            And finally the above area or ‘dike crest’ that mainly absolves wave run-up. A number of zones can be distinguished on the seaward slope of a sea dike. Dikes are hard measures that provide a high-degree of protection against flooding.

            But as effective as it is, dikes are usually a big construction undertaking and require large columns of building materials including sand, clay and asphalt. Though that’s not the problem since Dafrosa can generate those, it’s just that we’re constructing it for the whole country.

            Good thing we have Ran, Sohel, and Astral who could do great things with their powers so they saved us time and effort though Joriz, Thresh, and I helped that speed up the work. I didn’t know that I’d instantly become a construction worker at this point of time.

            People were so happy as we finished doing it in just a short period of time. Cymone was so proud of himself as he mentioned that building dikes in a specific area in their country takes several days to finish but as of yesterday, we just did it for like six to seven hours, despite them having machines and equipment to do it.

            But I understand why we’ve done it in just a short time, it’s because we used our power to do it ahahaha. I didn’t even know I could break things that easy using electricity. Ran asked me to strike lightning upon a couple of stone, and I did it without even exerting such effort.

            As we finished, the Ordos living there offered us to stay for the night and offered us something to it. They even gave us some food and water that we can bring to sustain us as we do our challenge. They also gave us one of the carriages they used to get to this island, along with the horse that has wings.

            Just this morning, we came here in our second challenge here in this island. This island is called the Aszyrdonia Island. This island is not inhabited by some people but by Sherdals, a hybrid lion with wings of an eagle. These creatures are known to have the intellectual capabilities that allow them to understand and talk to humans.

            They started inhabiting that island thousands of years ago under the power of Gorm the Legendary Guardian of Unknown, Viggo the Legendary Thunder Guardian, and Edda the Legendary Psychic Guardian.

            As the Periits and Umbras broke out from captivity, they started spreading their dark influences across the whole world, the most severed places are those that are not protected by the countries, those areas that are not part of any territory. This island to be specific.

            The Sherdals are now suffering from their power, and if we don’t do anything to help them, they soon come to an extinct. Maybe that’s why we had this challenge so that we could help these poor creatures who lives in peace and also to learn and grow more.

            We came here early and found that these creatures are in rage as their eyes glow with dark energy in them.

            “What are we going to do? We can’t hurt them… they’re innocent” Astral asked as we got trapped in a corner as these Sherdals are slowly coming towards us. I used my power to strike the ground to keep them from coming near us. Thresh helped me as he kept driving the Sherdals away from us using fire.

            “I wish we had Zexal with us, we can use his power to purify these creatures” Cymone said as hid behind me

            “I have an idea… but I don’t if it would work” Dafrosa suggested “We have to try at least three times, if these fail… then I don’t know” she added

            “What is it? quick…” I asked as I looked at her “I can’t hold them much longer, the keep on coming, I might hit them or us” I added

            “The Air signs possess the virtue of knowledge. This does not mean they are more intelligent than anyone else but are generally well rounded and informed. They are good communicators.” Dafrosa started speaking “Yes, we needed your power, Astral” she said pertaining to Astral

            “Air is curious, have initiative, original, generally is well disciplined and is quick to think. The Air signs have a mental nature and are keen witted. It rationalizes by thinking things out rather than being influenced by emotional or physical factors” she started explaining so that Astral would understand what she can to do to stop these creatures

            “They have good personalities and are easy to get to know. Air represents our mental activity such as intellect and the ability to reason, memory, thoughts, knowledge and comprehension. So you can use your power so that you can clear their minds… try it” Dafrosa said

            “Ok… let me try…” Astral said rubbing both her hands as she stepped forward and took a deep breath

            “Wait… we need your blessing Ran, you can help her to become effective” she said as she looked at Ran

            “I’ll do it…” Ran said nodding his head. He closed his eyes and started whispering something as she held Astral in her shoulder “Go…” he said as he opened his eyes

            “With the power of the Air Element… in the name of the almighty Pisani and the guidance of Fryr… I command you to use your knowledge to understand your situation and fight against it… and be cured” Astral chanted as she raised her hands. The air started whistling as it blew stronger and stronger pushing the Sherdals backwards.

            She put down her hands then the wind subsided and the whole surrounding went as calm as it was a while ago…

            “Did it work?” she asked as she looked at the Sherdals…

            “It did…” Dafrosa said as she looked at those creatures “No… not yet, but it seems like they’re lightened up with what you did” she said

            “We need to try the second one” Dafrosa suggested looking at all of us. The Sherdals came running towards us once again so Thresh and I did the same thing we did a while ago.

            “What is it then?” Ran asked

            “Remember that water that Kuzma mentioned long time ago?” she asked as she looked at Joriz

            “Yea… the healing water, what about that? Oh wait…” he answered as he realized what Dafrosa meant

            “Yes, can you do that?” she asked if Joriz can generate that water. I remember using that water for Kurezma before. It was so magical, but she did heal when I used it to her. But how does that connect with this.

            “Alsumus have the unique ability of making this kind of liquids, they can make ones that is used to cleanse one’s mental state. Almost same as what Zexal can do, but as an Alsumu, it’s a long process.” She added

            “Tell me what do I do?” Joriz asked her so that he can do it already 

            “Same process you do when you do that healing water that you make” she answered

            “Ok… if I am going to use it to all of these Sherdals then, I need lots of water…” he said shaking his head off as he looked around and to see no water nearby

            “I happen to see a lake as we got here… I could get you there” Astral said suggesting her idea

            “Can you get us all there?” Sohel asked telling her to just teleport us all out of here

            “I wanted to but I can’t as of now. My powers are limited for now, I still need to work on it” Astral answered disappointed

            “That’s ok, you go there now…” Dafrosa said “How many people can you bring?” she asked Astral

            “At least two” she shortly answered “Why?”

            “I need to boil the water to clean it before I do the process” Joriz said answering the question

            “Can you back here to come and get us?” Cymone asked Astral

            “She needs to stay there” Dafrosa said answering Cymone’s question “Once you’re done, comeback here so that we can lead this creatures there… ok?” she added talking to Astral

            “Have this first…” Ran said as he gave the blessing to Joriz for his efficacy

            “Let’s go…” Astral said as she teleported bringing Joriz and Thresh with her. Now I’m alone keeping these creatures away

            “Let me help…” Dafrosa said helping me drive these creatures away from us as well as Ran who started using his power

            “What’s the other thing you thought of, Daf?” Ran asked while doing the task

            “Sohel… he can use his power to cleanse these creatures’ minds… I thought he could help. As a sorcerer the innate ability to control minds or at least affect them in some degree. Other uses for this power include the ability to affect a person’s mind in a deeper way, controlling their thoughts.” Dafrosa explained

            “Let me try and do it” Sohel said as he stepped forward. Ran stood behind him doing the same thing that he did to Joriz and Astral a while ago. Sohel waved his hands towards the raging creatures in front of us. All of a sudden the creatures stopped.

            “That’s it…” Dafrosa said excitedly

            “Astral already did a great job a while ago… I just sustained her power to lessesn the powers of the Periits and Umbras over them. Now we really need that water Joriz is making” Sohel said as he finished his task

            “Can’t you do it again?” Cymone asked him

            “Unfortunately not. It doesn’t work that way. I already influenced them once, I can’t re-influence them with the same thing” he answered him shaking his head facing Cymone.

            “Now let’s continue keeping them away before they could come at us…” Ran said as he started keeping them away again

            We kept doing the same thing, and I started feeling tired now. After several minutes, Astral came back to us with Thresh signaling us that Joriz had done it already, so all we have to do is to bring these creatures to that lake.

            “Where is that lake?” I asked

            “I’ll lead you, how do we get this Sherdals there?” she asked

            “I have an idea…” Cymone presented himself “We have to keep them in one group” he said sharing with them my plan “You, create a boulder that will push them all towards where Astral is leading us. Sohel and Ashtan will take care of them from the left side while Ran and Thresh on the other side” he said

            “That’s great… let’s go” I said as we all ran to positions

            “I’ll signal you when to start driving them off ok?” Cymone said “You Astral keep them from flying” he added, gosh, these Sherdals got wings too ahahaha I almost forgot

            “Come with me Cymone” Astral said as she lifted him up and flew upwards. I ran to the left side with Sohel, while Ran and thresh went to the right side

            “Go!” We heard Cymone signaling us. Sohel and I started using our powers from keeping them to go to this direction, same thing that the others did from where they are assigned. Dafrosa started pushing the boulder forward as to where Astral is leading us.

            The Sherdals had no other choise but to run forward away from the boulder since they can’t run left nor right.

            After pushing them, we successfully brought them to the lake where Joriz is waiting for us. The Sherdals fell on the lake one by one, and as they rose from it, they finally stopped raging. Their eyes are not black anymore, and they got back to what they were before.

            “Great job everyone!” Ran said greeting all of us. Dafrosa really is so smart, that’s why she always succeeds with things. Ran signaled us to go back to the post where the man whom we met as we got here stayed to tell him that we cleared this challenge.  

            But before we left, we saw Viggo, Edda, and Gorm ascending above the clouds then vanished from our sights.