Disclaimer: I claim neither Bloody Roar's properties nor any characters that were not created by me; I make no profit from the writing of this story.
Warning: Mild violence
Chapter 7: Intertwined Fates
A Fight Finished and A Destiny Determined
Taylor, the Demon Tiger was able to gain the upper hand over Adam, the Griffin. Taylor had recently challenged Let to a fight, but Adam, over cocky of the new power he had gained in his beast form accepted for him. Now, Adam had pushed Taylor to the limit and he had responded by transforming into a beast of legends.
Taylor hammered a fist into Adam's cheek, but Adam recovered quickly and returned with a kick to Taylor's stomach, doubling him over. Each attack creating earthquakes from the force and the impact contained in that one, single strike. Adam went to shove his claws into Taylor's stomach, but Taylor had learned from the last time and grabbed Adam's talons and threw him over his head and onto the ground.
Taylor then stomped on Adam's stomach and lifted him up by the throat as Taylor's eyes burned red. Taylor then let out a roar as the energy being expended in the fight began to deform their surroundings. Let stood calmly as the two beasts destroyed each other slowly. Taylor then shoved his fangs into Adam's throat and began to fling him from side to side before finally throwing him to the ground. Taylor then stalked Adam, who was trying to crawl away as his throat bleed like a waterfall.
Taylor then began to channel energy into his claws as he kicked Adam in the gut, turning him onto his stomach. Taylor stomped into Adam's stomach and lifted his foot, with Adam almost wrapped around it. Taylor then flung Adam into the air and slashed the air between them with his right claw, creating three blades of red energy then cut through Adam and sent him farther into the air. Taylor then slashed the air with his left, creating another three blades of energy. Taylor then channeled more energy into his claws and slashed with both hands, creating an large, red, X-shaped wave of energy then sent Adam soaring into the air and crashing down with such force that it created a mile wide crater.
"You're not the only with a Beast Drive, kid." Taylor said, panting. Even though he was a physical incarnation of power, he had been taken to the limit by this young kid.
"That-that was pretty good." Adam said, his voice almost gone as his throat continued to bleed.
"So, still alive, I see." Taylor said, almost glad that there was still some fight left in his 'victim'.
"As you said, Taylor, 'It wasn't my time'." Adam said, almost mocking Taylor, but yet, it was a seemingly respectful manner.
Taylor grunted at Adam's remark and his body began to fade and Adam looked around confused. He had seen many things in his life, but this was a new one for him.
Taylor reappeared behind Adam and knocked him to the ground and pinned him there. Taylor raised a claw, ready to end Adam's existence, and then shoved it towards Adam.
Let grabbed Taylor's arm and stopped him mid-attack, "That's enough, Taylor. You beat him to a bloody pulp, now let him be."
Taylor took his foot off of Adam and stepped back, away from Adam and Let, who was now tending to his wounds.
"You did quite the number on him, though." Let continued as he looked at the result of the battle, "When did you learn that Beast Drive?" Let inquired, almost eagerly.
Taylor smiled as he began to revert to his human form, his horns beginning to retract into his head as the spikes on the back of his shins did the same, "After becoming a mercenary and dealing with as many pathetic wimps as I have to on a daily basis, I got tired of bringing them back alive, so I thought up a move that would kill them instantly and tried it out on a merchant who tried to (exploit) with me and it worked, so I've used it ever since if I get fed up with trying to bring the perp in alive."
Let smiled at Taylor's last remark then put his hand on Adam's throat, "We might need to make a campfire. Go find some wood and give me some of your shirt. We need to stop the bleeding and the fire should help us keep warm while we wait for him to recover."
Five Hours Later
Adam awoke to the tempting smell of roasted pig. As he tried to sit up, he felt a stinging pain go through his entire body. When he looked beyond the fire and saw Let and Taylor conversing, he tried not to make a noise, but the two battle-tested veterans sensed him watching them.
"You're up finally." Let said, a genuine smile crossing his face, "Thought you were dead."
"Yeah, I thought I was dead, too." Adam said as he grabbed the cup that Let offered him. His gaze then averted to Taylor, who continued to converse with Let, though now in signs instead of words.
"So, I'm confused." Adam stated, a hint of aggravation underlying his voice "First, you try to kill me, and nearly succeeded, then you help me recover and you're sitting here talking to us as if nothing happened?"
"That pretty much sums it up." Taylor replied, "Though, you should consider yourself lucky. You're the first of Let's student's that has ever taken me that far in a fight."
"Oh, lucky me." Adam sarcastically replied as he took a sip from the cup then quickly spat it out," What the hell is that crap?"
"Blood. You're an artificial Zoanthrope, remember? You need it to survive and not turn into a pile of dust. You should know all of this already." Let said, triggering the memory of the King's Labs in Adam's head, "You better get used to this taste."
Adam forced down the next sip of blood, then looked up at Taylor , "Where did you get this from? Did you kill someone?"
"Not really, kid. It's actually the blood [i]you[/i] shed from [i]my[/i] stomach." Taylor replied, chuckling a little as a shot of pain went through his stomach.
"Oh. Alright." Adam felt somewhat guilty about it, but he didn't mind making Taylor bleed. Adam thought about all of the blood that he had seen shed throughout his lifetime as he took another drink, then glanced at Taylor, then looked at Let, "So, how do you two know each other?"
"Long story" The two replied as quickly as they could, almost as if they were trying to avoid the subject all together.
"Wait, you did say he was an A.Z., right?" Taylor asked Let, recalling the words that Let had stated just a few minutes ago.
"Yeah. What of it?" Let replied, unsure of what Taylor's unpredictable attitude would make him do next.
"That means that the experiments are going on in the castle, right?" Taylor asked.
"Well, they're not actually in the castle, but they are on castle grounds." Adam chimed in.
"Not talking to you, kid." Taylor said with a monotonous tone to his voice, "Though that info is pretty helpful."
"Like I was trying to help you, Merc." Adam muttered under his breath.
Taylor looked at Let, who nodded slightly. Taylor then quickly slapped Adam on the back of the head.
"Ow! What the hell was that for?" Adam asked, angered by Taylor's unprovoked swat.
"You're being a brat, that's what." Taylor replied, somewhat matter-of-factly, "Also, it's because I'm your superior in this little tea party to expose the experiments to the public."
"So that means you are coming with us?" Let inquired.
"Yeah…though it means I just got myself into a whole hell of a lotta trouble." Taylor replied, somewhat solemnly.
Adam chuckled at Taylor's response. Taylor and Let nodded to each other then simultaneously slapped Adam in the back of the head. Let then began to chuckle as Adam grabbed the back of his head.
"I'll take first watch." Taylor said amidst his laughter, "Let and I will take turns since you're in no condition to keep sentry position, kid."
"Whatever." Adam said as he laid down, the back of his head still hurting from the tandem slap. The last thing Adam remembered thinking about before drifting off to sleep was the memory of his parents.
