Solar Blood Masters

"Huff! Huff!"

Raphael's heavy breaths echoed as he galloped through the dense, frost-covered forest. The ground shuddered beneath his mighty golden hooves that had become more adept at manipulating those snowy patches.

He wasn't alone.

"Stupid, fast-ass bull! Hurry up! We're losing him!"

This screeching voice belonged to Bowland, a colossal rooster with snow-white feathers. He was so massive that his wingspan could easily overshadow a small hut. A bronze bowl with ancient carvings and a faint glow was held firmly in his left talons as he flapped his wings furiously. Those massive talons were adorned with rings of bronze that had strange green jewels. He looked like a warrior, a king in this domain of flying beasts.

Behind him, gliding effortlessly with powerful strokes, was Tsunet, a magnificent yet bizarre sea creature. She was as blue as the deepest ocean. Her sleek, elongated body had four muscular arms tipped with razor-sharp claws. These arms moved with a fluidity that could even make those most seasoned warriors envious. A long, sinuous tail, tipped with a sharp fin, trailed behind her as her large gills, situated on her shoulders pulsated in sync with her heart beat. Those white, pupil-less eyes surveyed the trees below with an intensity and focus that pierced Raphael's hide.

"His pace is ridiculous!" She yelled back in an annoyed tone, before her four muscular arms throbbed and extended, creating a vortex. This unseen force amplified her speed to ridiculous levels as she caught up to Bowland.

"We're BOTH at 7 points. Remember our deal, chick-shit, we split the bull's points EQUALLY." Her voice resonated. Those who'd dared challenge her in the past knew the true depths of her fury, however, she was at a disadvantage, at least in these skies above.

"I will, I will. But first we have to catch him!" Bowland had a demanding tone, a cocksure arrogance that even Tsunet hated. However, those thoughts of ripping his eyes out vanished as a new tactic came to mind.

"Now listen to my command, fish-breath. SLOW that BULL DOWN, just enough for me to immobilize him completely, with this." He then gestured toward the bronze bowl with a prideful arrogance. "My SONIC BOWL!"

Tsunet rolled her eyes, "Don't command me, chicken! And keep those smelly nicknames to yourself! I'll do what needs to be done!" But despite her irritation, she surged forward. Her tail whipped through the air, as a blue aura pulsed around her form and pushed her closer to their target.

Below, Raphael glanced back, "Damn… they're gaining! That FISH is up to something."

He'd been focused on his echolocation, mapping out this forest route, but those heartbeats were getting closer, it seemed these creatures possessed a speed that rivaled his.

A shiver of apprehension coursed down his golden hide. He decided on caution. He then unleashed his inner lightning.

"Electro Speed!"

WHOOSH!

His speed doubled instantly, sending shockwaves across those trees as the surrounding landscape blurred into streaks of white, green, and grey. He was now galloping over many high protruding stone pillars with jagged tips

"Damn! He's faster than I thought!" Bowland said in amazement.

Tsunet's eyes widened as his form was getting further away. She cursed and then activated a technique.

"Hydro Tendrils - Bind!"

She hissed.

From the spaces between her gills, a dozen cerulean tendrils shot forth, they darted towards their fleeing target with a terrifying accuracy that only she could control!

Within seconds, they'd ensnared Raphael's massive hooves and legs. The pressure was immense. Those unseen forces pulled him, slowed his movements, creating an opportunity her companion was ready to capitalize on.

"NOW, BOWLAND!"

Her ally didn't need to be told twice.

WHOOSH!

He swooped down with the Sonic Bowl. Those jewels in his bronze rings now radiated a green so intense. It seemed as if he were feeding those energies with every swift stroke of his wings.

"Time for a taste of my music, you stinking bull!"

As he neared his target, his talons moved across the bowl's rim.

"Sing for ME!"

HUMMMM!

A low frequency pulsated. It hit Raphael like a sonic wave, but it wasn't a blast. This sound had a subtle, hypnotic quality that made his very essence vibrate. His movements were becoming sluggish, his hooves were stumbling as those eyes of his began to droop, and within them, he saw the pillars below becoming thicker.

He thought, 'What's happening?'

His vision blurred, his body swayed. The strength in his hooves drained.

"I… can't…"

He tripped!

"Oh… FUCK! NO!"

"He's falling!" Tsunet hissed, baffled. "BOWLAND! YOU IDIOT! Why didn't you tell me he would lose consciousness so I could prevent him from falling with my…"

"YOU told ME NOT TO GIVE ORDERS, remember FISH-FACE!"

Their bickering and blame-trading echoed down towards their target whose fall had a devastating result.

CRASH!

Raphael's massive form impacted the ground, creating a small crater of snow and dirt, but as if that force were a bucket of cold water upon his brow ridges, his consciousness snapped back.

"Hmmm…"

"Shut up! I'll do this MY WAY!"

Tired of Bowland's incessant chatter and commands, Tsunet dipped downwards with a flick of her powerful tail. She dove towards the ground, her white, pupil-less eyes locked onto the fleeing bull below. She was a predator, and this bull, it was a prize worth capturing, even if it meant defying that arrogant chicken.

"Hmph! Arrogant fish, you're lucky your partnership is still valuable to me. Otherwise…" Bowland trailed off, his words lost in the wind as he followed Tsunet's descent.

Raphael glanced behind him, "Damn, they're coming again!" His hooves pounded on the fractured earth frantically. He was running out of options.

The landscape had shifted drastically. Earlier, they'd exited the thick forest and entered a treacherous zone filled with towering pillars that jutted out at impossible angles, they resembled the fossilized remains of ancient, monstrous serpents.

With a burst of ingenuity, an idea sparked! "Maybe… I can use these pillars to my advantage. Yes! This might just be what I need!"

WHOOSH!

He skidded to a halt and spun around.

"Gold Carnage!"

From the depths of his essence, six golden bulls manifested with terrifying speed. They were larger than before.

"CRUSH THEM!"

Raphael roared.

The six bulls charged forward! Their golden forms slammed into the unsuspecting pair, knocking several pillars askew!

From above, Tsunet and Bowland couldn't comprehend.

"Araah! The pillars are crashing and those golden bulls are charging at us! Tsu Tsu hurry and protect us!" Bowland shrieked as they barely dodged those thundering, gold-plated hooves.

"You useless bird!" Tsunet snarled at Bowland's fear, but even she, whose pride had always come before logic had to acknowledge the sheer power of these new threats. They would be trampled!

She didn't hesitate.

"Divine Bubble!"

WHOOSH! BOOM!

A large sphere of glowing, cerulean water materialized. It encapsulated her and Bowland in a protective embrace as debris from those falling pillars crashed into them with a thunderous roar that sent shockwaves rippling outwards.

Those pillars, dislodged by the bulls, fell, striking the golden horde also with a devastating effect.

CRACK! BOOM!

Their magnificent, yet temporary bodies were flattened instantly. They reverted back to liquid gold that sizzled and then solidified, trapped within the confines of those massive, black and grey rocks, mere streaks now.

"Hah! Such a pathetic attempt." Tsunet scoffed.

Bowland watched the golden liquid with a chilling shiver as his talons tightened their grip on that bowl. This bull… he was more cunning than he'd anticipated. However, escape… that wasn't an option for his points were needed.

He had a score to settle.

"Cocka-dooly-doo! Stinking BULL, DON'T think you can escape us! Tsu Tsu, hurry AFTER HIM!"

"I told you, YOU DON'T COMMAND ME!"

"Hmph. Fine… Fine!" Bowland's irritation at her stubbornness and the fear in his heart wouldn't diminish their hunt.

They soared higher into the sky. They weaved between those massive stone pillars, searching for the fleeing bull's silhouette. But he'd vanished! They couldn't see him!

"Where is he?!" Their panic increased. And just when they were about to abandon their pursuit and search elsewhere…

"There! I see him!"

Tsunet pointed. "He's headed towards those rocky mounds!"

"After HIM! NOW!"

They swooped downward, wings beating and tail slashing, catching up with ease, for even with that bursts of speed, their target was nowhere as swift as themselves. They had him cornered!

They were upon him!

"Your points are MINE!"

Their attacks struck simultaneously!

WHOOSH! CRACK! BOOM!

Just as they were about to claim their prize…

The bull shattered and dissolved into shards of golden light. And from those fragments, a horrifying truth unfolded before their wide eyes.

Within that shattered form was a pulsating crimson ball of energy that resembled blood magic!

A blinding flash of crimson energy erupted, engulfing those talons and fangs. It expanded outward in a swirling vortex.

Before they could comprehend…

BOOM! CRACKLE!

They were pulled inwards! A horrifying, violent rush of energies and suction had their very essence wavering, and then. They saw a faint glow coming from a distance below.

"Wha… what's…?" Tsunet coughed and her tail whipped desperately but couldn't latch onto anything, she could feel her very blood being drained by this crimson vortex. It wasn't simply a spell. No.

It was blood and Solar Essence, and rage!

…

At that very spot, a Golden Bull Thork chuckled.

"Time to turn up the heat."

He lifted his head. His horn glowed with a menacing orange hue as the 'Helios Sphere' grew larger.

"HELIOS STREAM!"

WHOOSH! BOOOM!

The golden beam ripped forth. It slammed into the swirling vortex and obliterated Bowland and Tsunet instantly. It was truly a spectacle of brutal efficiency.

They vanished.

And above him, Raphael's score updated.

He was now at 35 points.

"Onwards…" He galloped forward once more.