Chapter Seven: The Darkness in Paradise Part 4
The Voracious Eater began to charge at Clare at a fast pace. The monster then perform a powerful sword strike at Clare, but unfortunately for it, Clare was able to dodge the attack which caused slight damage to the floor. Then Clare appeared in midair and went for a midair attack but the Voracious Eater block the attack.
Clare then jump back in the air and delivering a drop kick to the Voracious Eater's face causing it to slightly lose its balance. After that kick Clare perform a back flip and landed on her feet on the ground. Getting frustrated the Voracious Eater started to extend all of its fingers at Clare. However Clare was too quick to get by its attack and then she appeared right in front of it and cut of its right arm causing a huge amount of purple blood to spew out of the Voracious Eater's right arm and also causing the it to scream in pain.
Clare then back far away from Voracious Eater and just stared at it intensely. "Gah…Damn you Bitch…" the Voracious Eater uttered, in anger. While that was happening both Sid and Galk were in completely awe from what they saw Clare do to the monster. "…Amazing, so this what a Claymore can do with a sword, I've never seen anyone can do what this Claymore capable of." Galk said, in complete awe.
"We gotta help her." Sora said, causing both Sid and Galk to look at with a puzzled expression. "Clare's pushing her limits, look she's straining." Both Sid and Galk then saw that the boy was right as they saw Clare repeatedly panting.
The Voracious Eater also notices it as well and began to let out a chuckle. "Heh, Heh Heh. You're not looking very good Claymore. Now I understand you were only pretending to have advantages weren't you?" he asked, Clare didn't answer as she kept trying to catch her breath back and she could also feel her dripping all the way to her arms. "I thought you were toying with me, but you really didn't want to prolong this you were trying to end it with one blow, instead of getting my arm you wanted to take my head."
Then suddenly the Voracious Eater extended one of its fingers and piercing Clare through the shoulder, causing her gasp in pain. "Sorry to disappoint you. But this fight is my now Claymore!" The Voracious Eatersaid, as he started to extend its other fingers as well. As Clare was able cut the Voracious Eater's finger when it extended another of its finger at her and piercing her other Shoulder. He then extends his fingers more to the point where Clare was hanging in the air like a kite.
"Heh Heh Heh. You can do much better than this. I believe you might be running out of blood!" He said, as he looked at Clare who was struggling to free herself. "I didn't realise, you Claymores were so light time to come down…NOW!" It shouted, as he sends Clare crashing down to the floor. "DIE!" The Voracious Eater shouted, as it extended two fingers at Clare to finish her off.
When suddenly Galk appeared in front of Clare and took the Voracious Eater's attack head on as its fingers pierce his armour. While this was surprising the monster, Sid quickly ruse to Galk's sword and grab it. "GALK!" he shouted as he throwed the sword to the tall guard. Galk then catch the sword and cut off two of the Voracious Eater's fingers that were piercing in Clare and completely freeing her, this caused the Voracious Eater to slightly scream in pain as it lose two of its fingers.
Galk then slowly back towards Clare in order to protect her if the monster was about to attack again. "Are you alright? Can you stand?" Galk asked her, to which she responded with an Ugh sound. "Sorry it doesn't look like there's much more we can do to help. You were right about us, were no match for this thing were not even close." He said, without taking his eyes of the monster. "This is your show now. But were behind and you can use anyway you need. You just better bring that thing down!"
"Take this!" Sid shouted, as he throwed his knives at the monster. However the monster was able to deflect them with his fingers, it then extends one of its fingers and piercing Sid's shoulder blade, causing Sid to gasp in pain.
Then the monster heard Galk charging at him with his sword. The monster simply let go of Sid and pierce Galk's body causing Galk to slightly cough up a small amount of blood, fortunately for Galk it didn't hit anything vital. "Why would you do such a stupid thing like that you foolish human? Now you die!" the Voracious Eater said, as it started to make its fingers apply more pressure on Galk's body.
"What are you waiting for...NOW!" Galk shouted, as Clare leapt of his back helping her get such height in the air, she then let out a huge scream at the Yoma. Seeing this the was about to try and uses its hand to stop her, when suddenly for some reason he couldn't move his hand, he then turn and saw that Galk had a tight grip on its fingers.
"How do you like that monster, a little gift from a couple of fools?" Galk said witha smirk on his face, while he still kept a strong grip on the monster's fingers. "Bastard!" the Yoma roared in anger. Clare then got close enough to cut off the yoma's other arm causing a huge amount of purple blood to spew out of the Voracious Eater's arm and also causing the it to scream in pain once more.
As Clare lifted her sword up, she saw the Voracious Eater walk straight forward into her sword which took be surprise. "What's it doing?"
"You could swing your sword from any direction down there! And you won't hit anything vital!" The Yoma's stated. "Watch out, Clare!" Sora warned, while both Sid and Galk looked on with stunned expressions.
Suddenly Clare's eyes started to turn golden and her muscles grew. As the yoma was about to attack, when Clare turned her sword sideways in the yoma's body "So you don't consider your head vital?" Clare asked coldly, which made the Voracious Eater look at her with complete fear before the Voracious Eater could do anything Clare then split him in half from head-to-toe after that the split body fell to the floor, splattering blood went everywhere.
Seeing all of this left Sora, Galk and Sid stunned on what they just witness Clare had done to the Voracious Eater. "You did it Clare! You killed the Yoma!" Sora said, with a grin. "Wow that Claymore did it she really is amazing." Sid said, despite the pain he was and despite what he thought of her he had to admit that she was amazing. Galk said nothing but just had a small smile, thinking that Sid was right she was amazing.
Meanwhile Clare was slowly trying regaining her breath when suddenly her body started to surge with pain to point where she falled to her knees. Sora saw this and he quickly ruse to her side. "Clare! Are you alright? He asked her, in a worried tone. Then he, Sid and Galk saw veins started to appear on Clare's arms and legs. Clare began groaning in pain as she tried to stop her body from getting out of control. "It's no use, I've gone too far." She thought, while still being in a huge amount of pain.
Clare then began reaching for her sword, as she grabbed it she slowly got back up but nearly losing her balance. "Please Clare just tell me what's wrong." Sora asked, while Galk who had gotten back up and walk towards Sora to see what was happening.
Then both Sora and Galk then looked at Clare as what they saw her do next made them completely gasp in horror, as Clare had her weapon only inches away from her neck. "What do you think you're doing!?" Sora asked in horror, seeing how it look like Clare was about to kill herself. "It wasn't safe to use so much Yoma power. I've sustain too much injury." She explained. "I have reached my yoki limit, I will soon become a danger to everyone here. So while I still have a human consciousness...I'm ending my life."
"No! Clare Wait!" Sora shouted, as he tried to approach her. "Stay Back!" Clare shouted, causing Sora to stop moving. "This is it..."
"What are you saying...Clare?" Sora asked, as he didn't understand what Clare had meant by this is it. "This is Goodbye...Sora." Clare said, despite the veins that appeared on her face and the strain in her voice, she had a faint smile. Suddenly she started to control of her hand. She quickly slammed her sword into the floor. "C...Clare..."
"Don't come near me!" Clare shouted, causing Sora to stop moving once more. "Galk...H...Help me..." Clare said to Galk who was still speechless on what was happening to Clare. "Please...Galk...hurry..." She said her voice was getting more strained. Galk then slowly approach Clare and raise his sword as high he could.
Seeing all this Sora gasped in horror. "Galk! What are you doing? Don't!" he shouted, seeing this was causing him so much pain. Galk just look at the boy with a sympathetic look feeling sorry for the boy as this must be too much for him to handle.
"Sora...please listens to me. I'm beyond saving, the more we use our yoki the closer we get on become full yoma." She explained, while she had a hard time talking with the pain she was enduring. "It's not always slow. Sometimes it happens all at once. My body is already changing I can barley hold on as it is."
"Sorry but our travels are over. I asked Father Vincent to take care of you." She said to Sora who was still in shock what was happening to her. "I'm glad we spent some time together, Goodbye." She said with a faint smile. "NO!" he exclaimed, as he ran to her and grabbed her. "What are you doing? You'll die!" she shouted to the boy.
"Stop, please Sora. You have to let go of me. Hurry, before I lose control." She said, as she could feel the veins on her hands, face and legs increasing.
"Please don't travelling with you Clare was the best thing that ever happen, you made me so happy." Sora said in a sad tone as he started to tear up. Hearing even made Clare to be a little surprise by Sora outburst.
"After my family was killed, the villagers cast me out. I lost everything I had. But then you came and you found me, you let me traveled with you and the first time I allowed myself to be happy again. More than anything I had someone back in my life. You said that you weren't kind but I know that's not the truth!" Both Sid and Galk listen to every word that the boy said to Clare and were surprised how much Sora actually cared for her.
"You were nicer to me, then anyone I had ever known in my entire life. And...And that's why I need you to live and just stay with me. I don't know what I would do without you by my side." He said to her, with tears running down on his face. "If you're gonna die. If this is it Clare, take me with you."
Hearing that part caused Clare's eyes widen with shock as her power started to erupt around her as she started to scream in pain. As the smoke had finally cleared it turned out that Clare was still alright which even left her confused. "My yoki is under control, i didn't transform."
"You're still alive." Sora said, in a tone of relief of happiness, as he hugged Clare while letting out tears of joy. While that was happening Galk then sit down on the floor. "Wow, can believe it's over." He said, in a sign of relief. "What's wrong with you?" Sid said, as walk towards Galk. "I'm tired of standing around with my sword while my body's full of holes." The tall guard answered, with a tired expression.
"I can't believe, she didn't become a Yoma after all. Sid said, also in relief. "So do you think that's the end of it?" he asked. "Well...one thing's for sure that boy just save her life." The tall guard stated. While Sora was still hugging Clare, she then look at him and them placed her arms around him as well.
Mourning had just risen at the city gateway, where Sora and Clare who was wearing her jacket once more and also her were brown once again, they were about to leave when they saw Father Vincent and two guards approaching the gateway. "So you're leaving us, then? Have you recovered enough?" Father Vincent asked. "I'll be fine. I just need some rest." She assured the priest. "Thank you for all your help, Father."
"Not at all! You're the one who helped us. We owe you our thanks." Father Vincent said, with a smile. "The others aren't permitted to speak to you...but in their hearts, everyone is very grateful."
We're grateful, too." One of the guards said, it was in fact Captain Ganesu. "It pains me to escort you out of town without telling people how you saved us all. Please let me thank you on their behalf."
"That's my job. I don't do it for praise or thanks." She said to the Captain. "I see, then farewell." The Captain said with a small smile.
"Now about the other matter." Father Vincent said to Clare. "I want you to know that the Bishop has given his full consent to take Sora under our wing here at the Cathedral, were look after him as one of our own." Clare then saw Sora had a small expression of shock and sadness, she then turned to look at Sora. "Are you coming with me Sora?" she asked him with a small smile.
"Yes!" Sora said, with a huge grin on his face, happy to hear that Clare wanted him to keep traveling with her. Father just looked at the two with a smile. "I see. Travel safely."
"Hey! Girl!" as they were about to leave when Clare heard someone speaking to her as she turned to see it was Sid and behind him was Galk. Then suddenly Sid places his hand on Clare's chin and then kissed Clare on the mouth, which took her by complete surprise.
"That's all the medicine I need." Sid said, with a proud smile on his face. "It's against my principles to let a classy girl get away too easy." Clare didn't say anything as she was still speechless on what Sid had just done to her.
"Come back soon. Take care of yourself...Clare." Galk said to her, with a small smile. Suddenly Sid started someone growling at which confused him, it turned out to be Sora who then kicked Sid in the kiwis which caused Sid to be in a huge amount of pain then he was already in.
"You can't do such a thing to Clare...you jerk!?" Sora shouted in anger at the blonde guard. "You...you little..." Sid muttered, in pain." "Stay out of it, kid! This is between Adults." Sid shouted at Sora. "Shut up! There's nothing between you two!" Sora shouted back. "Hey watch it with that fire in your eyes kid! I'm an invalid!" Sid stated. While those two were having their childish fight, Clare, Galk and Father Vincent just watch with smiles on their faces.
"Come on, Sora. Let's go." Clare said to Sora, which stop him and Sid from continuing their childish fight. "Oh! Okay!" Sora simply replied. "Grown strong, boy." Sid said, which surprised Sora, hearing what Sid had just said to him.
"You'll need to be strong enough...to protect Clare. Got it?" He asked Sora, to which he said "okay! Leave it to me!" with a confident smile, as he then started to catch up with Clare. "Also take care of that gift, Galk gave you." Sid shouted. "Don't worry I'll take good care of it!" Sora shouted back as he finally cached up with Clare.