Chapter 3: Impuldulu

From the tip of Gunnar's finger, a form of lightning stretched towards Valsylia. The Gold Saint trusted her warrior instincts, honed from her youth inhabiting the Sanctuary and the cliffs of Greece, and moved her feet. The lightning passed her; she closed in and then jabbed. Her fist raced towards the Specter, enforced by her run. Gunnar swerved, positioning his body next to Valsylia's flank. He raised a hand. Quickly, she spun around; the claws of Gunnar's gauntlet splayed, threatening to strike, then the Specter gasped. Before his claw could rake the Gold Saint, Impuldulu Gunnar was stunned. Valsylia's elbow struck the Surplice in its center, and it left the vampiric bird Specter out of breath. Shock appeared on his face as if fear was instilled into him.

Damn, Gunnar could only think. He gripped his chest and bowed over. He rarely saw female Saints, especially those that he could consider a threat. His foe, however, standing on par with the men of Saints, could leave an impression from the Comsos channeled through her attacks. The blow captured his entire body – from one single strike.

"Leave this village at once, Specter!" From her tone, Val felt affirmed that she had won.

"Shameful," Gunnar said. "I am still not yet a warrior." His words were filled with pity. Valsylia did not understand what that meant, but she didn't feel uneasy. Having stood toe to toe with a few of the Saints' greatest foes, the tension within Aigaleo decreased. Val, after Gunnar flinched, went to help Marina back to her feet.

"Your Cosmos." Both Gunnar's voice and eyes carried defiance. He watched the Gold Saint. "You're not that strong."

He spoke like it was truth. Holding her friend, Valsylia returned her spiteful gaze. It is bravado, she thought. She felt it through her strikes that Gunnar was delicate; it was the same Raimi and Fyodor. It was a little surprising that the sense of threat was almost non-existent.

The Specters' power, in reality, wasn't enough to break the Gold Saint. It was because of their Lord: the ruler of the Underworld, Hades.

Hades was not, as many his servants would say, "being merciful", but his coming was still far from close. He continued to rest in Elysium; however, his lethargic soul was creeping within an unsuspecting vessel. Side by side with Hades's dawdling return came his soldiers, the Specters, whose strength emerged along with him.

"What gravitates me to Sagittarius?" Gunnar spoke as if he was deliberating about the past. After the attack, he finally straightened his body. He had a perturbed expression on his face. His Omen Lightning didn't strike twice, and his Blight Claw couldn't inflict its deadly curse upon Valsylia.

But quickly he smiled. "I guess he is dead if you're wearing that Cloth."

Valsylia gritted her teeth and moved in front of Marina. The Cloth's large wings spread out.

"Where do you know him from? What have you done?" Surprisingly, she asked with a soft patience. The resent she hid inside was only simmering.

Before an answer, there was a giggle.

"Is he dead?" Hopping from behind a broken house and into view was Frog Zelos. Both Val and Gunnar turned to see the short-statured Specter.

"Heh heh hehe" Zelos grinned from ear to ear. He teased as if unworried.

"Where did Gunnar meet him? Let's ask," He said, then his eyes swerved to the Impuldulu Specter. "Since it looks like you're having trouble."

Gunnar's face furrowed, "I refuse!" He frowned.

"Marina!" came another cry. It was clearly a girl's voice.

Valsylia turned around, and the heated feelings stirring inside her body changed. When a Gold Saint faced a strong opponent, it was usually one on one; as a result, the Saint moved with an intuitive focus.

Now, her courage was replaced with great concern.

"Don't!"