Disclaimer: Everyone knows I don't own Final Fantasy or any of its characters and they are the sole property of Square Enix or whoever but I'll admit that would be awesome.
Each step after agonizing tiring step Anthony clinched his sword a little bit tighter. As his shoes, one step after another, sunk in the mud a little more his eyes constantly darted back and forth, waiting, watching, wondering where they could be. He knew they were somewhere lurking in the trees or hiding in the bushes just waiting for him to let his guard down so they could attack. He looked to his left and right the most, although it did him little to no good do to the sheer dark surrounding him and Alastor.
He looked forward to Alastor and wasn't surprised to see he wasn't wavering at all. He noticed he was breathing much more heavily than normal. His tired appearance was evident most likely because his strategy of "just keep moving" did neither of them any justice.
He finally stopped moving and leaned against a tree trunk. He gazed up in the thick of the forests and let out a heavy sigh.
"Finally decided to rest huh," Anthony said as he slumped over to flat rock and sat down catching his breath.
"This is getting us nowhere," Alastor said looking towards Anthony with a tired expression.
"We have been walking for 10 minutes and we still have not seen any traces of anything," Anthony replied taking in all the rest he could.
"It's like we are going to be forced for the monsters to make a move onto us," Alastor replied tightening his knuckle against the tree.
"We will just have to hope it's not a full force then won't we," Anthony said scraping his sword against a particularly dull rock setting of sparks.
"What are you doing?" Alastor questioned.
"Well we are going to be out here for a while it seems," Anthony said finally igniting a stick, "It's about time we added some light to our situation."
Alastor stared at the fire as it danced in his eyes and felt the heat emanating from it on his hardened skin.
"Where did you learn to do that," he asked as he gathered a few dry sticks around and dropped them in a pile.
"It's something I picked up from my old world, I figure this should help us see anything coming and prepare for it," Anthony said igniting the pile of old sticks.
"Good good it should at least keep us warm for the time being and who knows the light may even attract a couple of the monsters to our position," Alastor responded.
Anthony took this momentary rest to look at Alastor fully in the radiating fire. The light from the fire reflected of his knuckle and some of the light hit Anthony directly in his eyes. This is mainly because Alastor always kept his weapons spotless no matter what.
Anthony acknowledged the strength in Alastor's 3 limbs. His legs bulged with muscles he knew could not be possible for any other race here and his arm was just a strong as he had seen him crush rocks and break tree trunks during battles. He couldn't help but still feel totally responsible for the loss of his new friends arm. Although it looked like he held his own excellently in battles when Alastor tried to get dressed or do other menial task Anthony could see the discomfort it brought him.
If I can, Anthony thought to himself, I will get that arm back even if it costs one of mine.
Alastor looked first at the fire and then Anthony. He noticed how determined he looked almost like he had something to prove in being here. A funny thing Alastor noticed, all trough his time here Anthony never talked about or referenced his old world almost as if he hated it there and was embracing this new one. Alastor was glad Anthony enjoyed his new world and for a moment was drawn away from their current situation.
Until, he noticed he could see the breath leaving Anthony's mouth. This was present even though he was sitting right next to the fire.
What the hell, Alastor thought, why can I see his breath he's right next to the fire?
That meant the air around him had to be getting colder. Alastor focused his concentration on his surroundings feeling the atmosphere getting cooler. Realizing what this meant Alastor hopped up.
Anthony shocked by his sudden movement jumped up and accidentally kicked dirt on the fire putting it out.
"What's wrong man?" Anthony said unsheathing his sword.
"The air," Alastor started pausing for a moment, "It got colder."
"And, it's nighttime pal it's gonna get cold," Anthony said about to sit back down.
"Did you forget what monsters are out there?" Alastor replied back sparking Anthony's interest.
"Oh, curses you are right," Anthony said taking note of the atmosphere getting cooler and his breath being much more present on the air, "Ice Flan."
"Exactly," Alastor said on his toes, "At least we managed to squeeze in a little breather time."
"Back to work," Just as Anthony said that the ground around them began to shake and a huge pillar of ice rose from the ground.
Both Anthony and Alastor, both to their extreme discomfort, dove out of the way if the rising ice pillar. Alastor came out of his roll with his knuckle blades extending. Anthony landed hard on his backside and stood instantly rubbing it.
"Dammit, I wasn't expecting that," Anthony said arching his back.
"Yeah well unless we find this guy and think of something we are going to be in big trouble," Alastor said looking around listening for any noise. He closed his eyes and focused all he could to his ears and heard a gurgling noise coming from his left side.
Seeing Alastor trying to concentrate Anthony waited until the bangaa's eyes opened yet again and asked, "Did you hear anything?"
"Yeah, that way," Alastor said pointing towards a large tree from his northwest side.
Suddenly a block of ice flew at the both of them forcing them to the ground once again. After Anthony recovered he looked up to see the flan in front of him. He didn't like what he saw.
In front of him was just a large blob like mass of blue slime. As he looked closer the mass seemed to smile at him. It was a devilish smile that reflected the yellow glint in his eyes which was surrounded by a black rim giving him and even more sinister fiendish look. The thing roared at him and Anthony's body temperature instantly dropped. It was a cold that literally iced you soul.
Anthony quick as possible jumped up and, without thinking, stabbed his sword through the flan. Unfortunately when he tried to pull it back he found it was stuck. In fact instead of the flan looking injured its smile just got larger as a blue light appeared over its head.
"Anthony let go of the sword and run," Alastor screamed.
It was too late as the ice flan tossed a giant block of ice right into Anthony face sending him and the sword flying. He collided with the ground and didn't rise for a second. He then got up rubbing his head but still clutching his sword.
"Ouch, ok don't attack him physically, why didn't I remember that," Anthony said still rubbing his head.
"Better you were left with just a bump on the head," Alastor said charging the ice flan.
"Aquatico," was all Alastor cried as a ball of water flew from his hand and smashed into the flan.
Upon impact the flan reared back and Alastor began to smile until something unexpected happened. The flan started glowing as the water from Alastor's attack soaked into his body. The flan's smile grew larger as its body increased in mass. A high pitched squealing noise came from the monster which could only be described as a laugh. The kind of laugh that says "you two just screwed up bad."
"Alastor, its absorbing your attack and getting larger," Anthony said backing away.
"I established that when it started laughing at us," Alastor said with a stern look on his face, "What are we going to do, we need to heat him up but how?"
Anthony thought for a moment, and then it hit him, "I got it," he exclaimed as he jumped into the nearby bushes."
"Where are you going?" Alastor screamed not taking his eyes off the flan.
"Just hold him off I have a plan."
"Alright you got 3 minutes," Alastor replied staring down the flan.
It looks like it's time to play the dodge game, Alastor thought as he say the same blue glow around the ice flan.
The flan sent two chunks of ice his way. Alastor prepared to dodge but as he moved he found his legs wouldn't move as quickly as he wanted to. The first block of ice collided with his chest knocking the wind out of him. However he recovered in time to bring his fist up and smash through the second. After completing that he kneeled to the ground.
Crap, I am much more tired than I thought, Alastor thought seeing two more chunks or ice speeding in his direction.
Fortunately for him they were pretty close together so he threw himself to the side avoiding them both. He stood up panting from the quick exertion
"Anthony!" Alastor shouted out, "Hurry up with that plan of yours."
The flan getting impatient with the bangaas will to live through all his attacks decided to take it up a notch. It slithered back a bit and focused a large amount of its energy.
Alastor at first didn't recognize what it was doing. He then started to see the ground around the flan freeze instantly and that gave him reason enough to search frantically for cover.
"Anthony he's doing something big, it's sure to drain him after he's finished so your plan had better be done by then."
The flan, not paying attention, gathered energy till he was full to bursting until he did just that. The chilled energy poured out of him in a 360-degree radius freezing everything near him and significantly chilling everything else. The attack left everything around him frozen solid and as you looked at it you could tell the attack took its toll.
Alastor was happy to see it finally looked weak but then the flan started glowing again. He realized it was gathering the chilled air and gaining strength from it.
Dammit Anthony, Alastor thought leaving his cover, what are you doing?
However almost as if on cue Anthony showed up right behind it with something in his hands glowing red with intense heat. Alastor recognized it as Anthony's sword as he plunged it deep into the ice flan's gelatinous body. Its insides bubbled as it screamed out loud and steamed expelled from its body. It then began to melt down to nothing but a sheet of ice.
Alastor ran up to Anthony surprised at what he did, "Where did you find that?"
"I heated up my sword by making a couple fires and laying my blade in it so it could get good and hot," Anthony said stashing his judgepoint.
"Not bad, not bad at all," Alastor said then he slumped to the ground.
"Hey are you allri…" was all Anthony got out before he slumped against the nearest unmoving object as well.
"We have got to finish these battles quicker fortunately this was the toughest one," Alastor said catching his breath.
"How do you figure that," Anthony said leaning against a tree breathing heavily as well.
"Well I have spells to quickly defeat the fire and thunder flan in a heartbeat, and as for the fairies if you find the both of them and manage to use your sword skills to quickly out muscle them we should have no problem," Alastor spoke very confidently.
"You make it sound so easy," Anthony said regaining his composure.
"Well, I'm not finished yet," Alastor reassured Anthony resulting in a scoff from his general direction, "If you didn't notice I said I take care of the flan you take care of the fairies, you catch my drift."
Anthony thought for a moment then he figured out what Alastor was getting at and sighed, "You're saying we split up and take the attack to them while we still can huh."
"You got it and for this to work we gotta move, but before we do hold on to this," Alastor said as he tossed the sheet of ice the flan left before walking away.
"What's this," Anthony asked looking at the image of the bangaa fade away.
"Figure it out," Alastor said before he disappeared totally into the night.
"Jerk," Anthony muttered, he then slung the hunk of ice on his back and started walking the opposite direction.
Alastor decided to search above ground hopping from tree to tree stopping every couple of branches to rest. You would think it odd for a bangaa to use these types of environmental aids as jumping tree to tree is something more fit for a vierra or moogle but Alastor's fighting style was warped a lot due to experience. That and it was fun to do no matter what the situation.
I just need to keep watch for any glowing gold light, Alastor thought as he scanned the earth below him.
Alastor looked for a while and then decided to change direction. He sat down on a particularly strong branch and slumped down.
"Sheesh…This stuff may be fun but it still gets tiring. Where are these things anyway and what could possibly be taking them so long to show?"
Alastor was taking a breather when something caught his attention. He saw two figures jump past him. They looked like two bangaa, one holding a spear and the other holding a long dark blade.
What the hell, Alastor thought as he tried to focus on the two orange blurs dashing through the trees, there are others here besides me and Anthony?
As Alastor tried to bring the two quickly disappearing figures into focus his attention was quickly brought to a bright light that appeared behind him.
"Crap," was all Alastor could get out before a single bolt of lightning broke through the branch he was standing on sending him plummeting to the ground a few meters below him. As he fell he tried to find traces of the two mysterious bangaa but as he collided with the ground with a huge thud his attention became more than divided back to his current situation.
In front of him was a copy of the ice flan…almost. Alastor stared at the thing that radiated light as electricity flowed through its entire golden gelatinous body. The smile on it was just as present as the one on the ice flan and just as sinister.
"I don't know what you're so happy about but it's going to change when you melt to the floor."
The cream's smile widened as if to reply "We'll see about that." A yellow glow then appeared over its head indicating that it was going to attack again.
Alastor quickly jumped back behind a tree as a shot of lightning smashed into it sending bark flying from the tree.
I have to save my spell power to defeat these flans only so I can't block, Alastor thought still behind the tree.
The onslaught continued as more strikes of lightning smashed into the tree. The tree could only take so much punishment as the base leaned and groaned with pressure until it finally snapped. Alastor, realizing his blocking tree was now compromised, quickly hopped out the way of an incoming bolt into the trees above. He quickly hid between the greenery above to conceal himself and give him some time to think.
"Alright," Alastor whispered to himself, "I have to go on the offensive, what kills lightning?"
Alastor ran through his arsenal of abilities to devise his plan. Although the ice flam was going to be the most difficult didn't mean the others were going to be easy. He at least had water for the fire flan but as for the cream and its' thunder moves he was going to have to think.
Alright, Alastor thought as he channeled energy to his arm, this will just have to do the job.
Alastor's arm began to glow green with energy as he revealed himself to the cream. The cream, finally seeing his enemy after wondering where it disappeared, shot a bolt of lightning up in Alastor's direction.
Alastor smiled to himself his arm still glowing with energy, Perfect. Alastor dived from the branch right under the lightning attack. As he fell he looked up towards the sky which turned and odd red-ish color as a rock fell from the air. Alastor couldn't help but chuckle to himself a bit as he knew where that attack was directed.
He focused back on his landing area and as soon as he reached it he drove his hand deep into the ground starting his devastating earth render attack. The ground in front of him tore a path heading straight towards the cream as it sat there surprised. However the attack just missed it tearing up the earth right at its side leaving huge chunks of earth right near it. The cream did the same high pitched squeal as his ice counterpart at the bangaas failed attack.
Although as the cream faced Alastor again gearing to send another flurry of volts his way the bruised bangaa though winded was still smiling. Alastor had his hand pointed directly at wall of rock made by his attack and spoke the words, "Aire." The wind picked up drastically whipping all over the place so much that Alastor had to cover his eyes. The rocks around him and the cream began rumbling and the cream looked to its left as he saw a particularly tall slab of earth lean in his direction. Before it could react the large piece of earth tumbled over landing on top of the cream.
Alastor looked on as he heard a high-pitched squeal the exact opposite of laughter and saw the judgepoint heading his way.
He held his hand out, caught the judgepoint and started walking in the direction of the meteor attack.
"Dark, dark, nothing but darkness all around," Anthony complained as he shifted from tree to tree, "At least it is cool out though."
"How do I get myself into these types of messes?"
Anthony continued his search for the fairies. After he watched Alastor disappear in the darkness he decided to head in the opposite direction.
"How am I going to kill these things anyway?"
Anthony kept his eyes and ears open for movement or noises from any direction. He peered from behind trees and snuck around to try and stay as sneaky as possible. After a few minutes of no noise just the forest around him he suddenly heard whistling a few meters away.
Yeah, Anthony thought as he crept towards the noise, that is definitely a fairy.
As he leaned in and came closer to the noise he saw the fairy just floating around. He watched it for a little while as it floated around the area leaning towards the ground sniffing at flowers taking in its environment. It was dark so all Anthony could rally see was the white silver lined wings connected to the fairies back.
It's almost as if she didn't know she was in an engagement.
Suddenly a good distance away there was a large flash of light and a crashing sound like a tree falling. Anthony unfortunately startled leaned back steeping on a few twigs making a fairly loud crunch noise. The fairy suddenly became aware of all her surroundings and when she turned around she saw the thing that disturbed her good time which was a soldier with a sword sneaking up to her.
Anthony heard a very un-fairy like growl coming from it as it looked in its direction with red eyes.
"Ummmm…I'm…sorry," Anthony said with a shrug while in his mind he figured that disturbance was caused by Alastor.
The fairy's look didn't change at all as it stared Anthony down. Anthony drew his sword and began running towards it to finish the thing while it was still upset. He was interrupted by the ground violently shaking. He looked up and saw that the frown on the fairies face was replaced with a smile. It's never good when your enemies smile.
"What are you smiling at," Anthony said as he charged the fairy.
As Anthony closed in he saw the fairies eyes glance up and then wind surrounded her and she disappeared. He noticed around him a very faded light surrounding his area. He looked up and his mouth dropped. What he saw was a rock the shape of a toughskin headed straight for him. As quick as he could he dived out the way and ducked behind a tree waiting for impact. He felt the rumble as the flaming rock came in contact with the earth.
Didn't think I was gonna dodge that, Anthony said as he leaned back against the tree.
"Now where did that dairy get to," Anthony said out loud as he regained his footing and listened for the telltale whistling.
Soon enough he heard it and crept close to it.
This is gonna go down differently this time you little nuisance.
He sneaked behind it as he watched it just floating around not a care in the world.
"Surprise!"
The fairy didn't have time to turn around before it felt Anthony's sword slip right through it. It fell to the ground and Anthony pulled his sword right out of it and its blood splattered a bit. Anthony then raised his sword and slammed it across the fairies small head crushing it.
"No one throws meteors at me and gets away with it," Anthony said as he caught his judgepoint.
The light from the projectile thrown at him from the sky was faded and he began walking ready to find the other. He passed by the sheet of ice and although it was worn down quite a bit he picked it up and slung it across his back. After a while Anthony noticed a particularly bright light in front of him. As he closed in he began to wipe sweat out of his eyes.
I must be getting tired, Anthony thought wiping his forehead. He began edging up closer to the light.
Alright the other one is right around the corner; Anthony said wiping even more sweat from his eyes, time to wrap this up.
Anthony then paused for a moment as he stared into the light sweat still dripping from his face. He watched sweat fall from his face on the ground visible by the bright light. Anthony sighed heavily and grabbed his ice shield. He was going to need it.
Alastor was walking across the ground going from tree to tree. He was panting as he walked.
"That last battle took a lot out of me. I need to find this fire flan and douse him quickly."
Alastor leaned against a tree for a quick breather.
"I wonder how Anthony fared against that meteor attack. Hopefully he figured out the use for that ice shield."
As he leaned against the tree he began hearing whistling from behind the tree.
He leaned around and saw a fairy floating around without a care in the world. It was at that moment Alastor felt both happy and distressed at the same time. On one hand this could be an easy kill if he did it right. On the other if the fairy was here with him then the fire flan…
I gotta act fast, Alastor thought as he scaled the tree.
As he reached the top the fairy looked in his opposite direction.
"Perfect," Alastor said as he leaped from the tree landing on top of the fairy. The fair squirmed around screeching and trying to lift itself up but it was no match for the bangaa's mass.
"Sorry miss, I would have taken a little more time but I have a prior engagement," with that Alastor ripped the fairies wings off one by one resulting in louder screams. He then extended his knuckles and drove them into its back. With its last dying noise the fairy ceased moving.
Alastor then dashed as quickly as he could through the forest looking for the slightest feeling of heat.
Hold on Anthony, I'll get there as fast as I can.
"Shit, I need Alastor here," Anthony said diving from another blast of fire.
Anthony had been dodging fire for the last few minutes ever since it burned that tree. He had been trying his best to avoid getting burned or getting too much damage causing him to pass out. As Anthony backed to avoid another blast up he felt a tree behind him.
Crap, cornered, Anthony thought bringing up his ice shield.
The glowing red flan smiled as a bright red glow appeared over its head and fire flew from its mouth.
The incoming fire attack smashed into the ice shield.
"This can only last for so long before…Ahhh," Anthony screamed as the shield melted away giving Anthony the full brunt of the fire attack."
Anthony fell to the ground coughing as the fire flan slink closer to Anthony grinning.
It glowed again sending another ball of fire Anthony's way setting him ablaze. Anthony screamed as the fire set in and the heat was increasingly too much for him. Soon the flames died down and Anthony knew that if he suffered another severe burn like this it would be too much.
Just then a ball of water smashed into the fire flan causing it to sizzle and resulting in a hiss from the flan. As it tried to rear back another one flew from nowhere and smashed into it and that was all it could take. It sizzled with a scream and it melted into the ground.
"Thank Mateus," was all Anthony got out.
Alastor emerged from the foliage judgepoint in hand and put it in his pocket. He then held his hand out to Anthony.
Anthony accepted it and was pulled up.
Suddenly the judge appeared in a cloud of smoke before the both of them.
"Congratulations, Anthony and Alastor against all odds you have defeated the opposing clan. You shall now be healed then you can collect your spoils and be on your way."
With that he disappeared.
Anthony and Alastor both felt the healing feeling of winning the match but their exhaustion wasn't cured only their wounds.
Alastor looked at Anthony and said, "Well since we are healed you want to start walking again."
"Alastor, don't make me summon another judge," with that Anthony started laughing and then just a quick he fell down into deep sleep.
"Ha ha whatever you say kid," Alastor said laughing as well but just as quick as Anthony he feel down as well.
Anthony woke up still feeling the after effects from his and Alastor's late night rumble. Anthony got up and began walking around.
"Alastor where are you?"
"Up here. So you're finally awake huh, bout time."
Anthony looked up and saw Alastor up in the nearest tree. He looked well rested enough. He motion Anthony to come up there.
"What, it was just a normal sleep."
Anthony began climbing up the tree to see what Alastor was doing.
"Yeah right you were out for an entire day."
Anthony made his way up to Alastor's spot and looked ahead. He was about to make a witty remark but the view distracted him. He looked ahead as the sun shined through the trees leaving a majestic glow over the forest area. Alastor noticed Anthony taking in the sights.
"Nice view huh?"
"Yeah, there were never forests as beautiful as this in my world."
"Yeah being in the jagds for so long I forgot how beautiful it was out here."
"How long were you in those jagds?"
"Too long man, that's all you need to know, much too long." Alastor paused for a moment as he gazed at the horizon. "If you look far enough you can see Cyril, it's about a day's journey from here."
"Then what are we waiting for," Anthony said jumping down from the tree, "Let's roll."
They began walking and after about an hour they were out of the forest.
"Feels good to finally be out of that place," Anthony said twirling his sword around.
"Yeah, but you gotta admit we had fun in there."
"Yeah, I meant to ask you about that. How did your flan hunt go, besides the whole making me fight the fire one."
"Pretty interesting, while I was fighting the cream though I thought I saw two other bangaa in the forest. Of course then a lightning strike broke my concentration."
"Oh really yeah somebody screaming crap got a meteor thrown at me," Anthony said shoving Alastor.
"Yeah my bad on that one."
As Anthony and Alastor talked through their journey they didn't know they were being watched by two people. Even more surprising is that they are being watched from the forest they just came from. However the real question was not why they were being watched but who was doing the watching.
"I think that'ss Alastor," The first figure said leaning on a tree tossing a black blade back and forth. The figures voice was feminine but with a jagged edge to it, almost like it could cut with just as much precision as the sword it held.
"Maybe, but ssince when did he losse an arm?" The second one questioned, a long blood red spear in his muscle ridden hand.
"It was in that fight with Chesssie and the others from the group sstationed in the jagdsss."
"Well, let's go kill him right now get it out the way."
"Normally I'd agree with you but who'ss the kid with him."
"If my eyess don't fail me that'ss the same bassstard that called uss lizard men. If I'm right then that makes it win-win then huh. Guess we'll just take them both out, kill two birds with one stone."
"Only after we figure out their ssstrength. Alastor isss tough enough which iss why they sssent us both. However, I heard that kid is the one that killed Chesssie."
"No way, that brat killed Chesssie."
"Yeah, I thought the ssame thing but that'ss how it went down. Leviathan iss not too happy about it. Chesssie was one of our bessst."
"Yess, I feel even worse for her sisster. Either way let'ss keep following them for now."
"Alright, and when the time comesss the kid will learn that no one opposes the Leviathan Guild; but more importantly Alassstor will be taught that no one leavesss."
