Chapter Nine: Let the Battle Begin!
Gurīn held up his hand to stop us from moving. He told us before we enter the dungeon that we would be silent the entire time until we started fighting Kiiro. Both Ryu and Aiz agreed to the idea of using our hands to signal certain orders.
An open hand was to stop. A fist was to attack. One finger in the air was Aiz, two in the air was Ryu and three in the air was my signal. Whenever he hold up those fingers, he'd then point to what direction we would go. Luckily, he hasn't called on me so far since we've entered the first floor of the dungeon.
Then again, thinking back, I've always thought it weird that Kiiro's lair would be located in the first floor. Wouldn't that make him a weak boss? If it did, why did we have to come. But, then again, Gurīn's power far exceeded ours, especially when he was first summoned into this world.
Gurīn checked around the corner of where we were hiding. He's been very strict since we arrived here, unlike what he was like before; goofy, uncaring, but now he's done a complete 180 on us.
We quickly followed Gurīn after he motioned his hand forward and began running to a small door that seemed weak enough that someone like Lili could open. However, it wasn't the case as Gurīn placed his Demon Arm on the door and controlled a small portion of his energy on the door, blowing it up.
I was surprised by the condition the door was in after the smoke has cleared. Most of it had remained intact but was now blackened with ash. The hinges holding the door were busted up nicely but not a single crack. This must be why Gurīn has us with him. The energy he just used now had taken some effect on him. His breathing became a little heavier but to normal ears, it sounds like he's breathing normally.
"Alright," Gurīn whispered, breaking the so called silence he told us. "Once we enter in, I want Aiz to flank right. Ryu you go left and I'll go down the middle."
I smiled when Ryu agreed to his plan. Ever since she had rejoined us, she seemed less cooperative but now that it's come down to fighting a Demon God, she seemed prepared. As Gurīn and the others began making their way in, I realize one thing. He forgot me!
"Um, Gurīn?" I asked, stopping him.
"What is it?" He asked, not caring for the wasted time.
"Well you see, it's umm…." I awkwardly chuckled.
"You forgot Bell." Ryu said.
Thank you Ryu. I sighed, knowing that with her, Gurīn has no choice but to include me now.
Gurīn took a long look at me before slapping his hand against his face.
"Right, the rabbit." He said, ignoring my irritated look when people call me that. "How about you stay back and use your magic?"
Without another word, he slowly opened the door and entered the bright white room with Aiz and Ryu following. I, on the other hand, felt as though an arrow had pierced my heart. Is that all I was meant for?
I sighed and reluctantly followed the three into the room.
Once we entered the room, the door seemed to close by itself. Freaky. Although I was a little frightened at first, I realized the door had a healing spell placed on it to prevent people from breaking in.
As I looked in front of me, I notice the room we were in had a large yellow banner that hung over a waterfall. A small pond filled up the waterfall with several yellow fish. Two staircases, on both sides, lead to the top. Along the stairs were several torches that helped keep the steps lit in case it went dark.
"Stay alert." Gurīn warned us. "She's near."
As we walked closer to the pond, the sound of laughter echoed the room. Aiz, Ryu and I immediately drew our weapons as Gurīn prepared his Demon Arm.
"So, Gurīn and his lackeys decided to finally show up?" The voice asked. "Well it's about time!"
Suddenly, Kiiro appeared from the waterfall, breaking the stillness of the pond underneath her as she landed in front of all of us. Her white hair, dripping wet from the water, quickly dried. Her outfit was still the same as Gurīn's, if not, matching. Black clothes with a red scarf wrapped around their necks and waist. Let's not also forget her Demon Arm, but instead of green it was yellow.
"Kiiro, it's been too long." Gurīn said.
"Ah, Kiiro, I'm so glad you showed up." Kiiro laughed. "Now you can witness the destruction of this world...oh wait, you'll be dead." She licked her lips.
Her eyes soon caught me and a wide creepy grin formed on her face. It was slowly giving me the chills as Aiz stood in front of me, her sword armed.
"Hey, I remember you." Kiiro said, still looking at me. "You're that idiot who let me free. And for what? So you could level up to ask a girl out, pathetic!"
I couldn't speak. If Aiz were to find out, she would definitely never talk to me again. I had to swallow my pride and stay silent, but apart of me wanted to get rid of Kiiro now.
"Well not that it matters to me anyway." Kiiro said, her tone changing. "You did free me, so as a reward, I'll kill you last!"
At that point, Gurīn wasted no time in attacking Kiiro, drawing out another black sword like our weapons and went to strike Kiiro. However, Kiiro had also pulled out her own black sword deflecting the attack.
The two were in a deadlock as they tried to overpower the other. Both of their left eyes slowly began to changing to their respectable colors.
"I see you're just as hasty as ever." Kiiro grinned. "After all these years, you still haven't learned a thing, have you?"
"That's where you're wrong!" Gurīn shouted as he kicked Kiiro away a fired a bolt of energy from his arm at Kiiro.
Kiiro dodged his attack as the bolt of green energy hit the waterfall, blowing it up and causing it to spill water all over the place.
Kiiro soon fired her own energy at Gurīn, only to miss after Gurīn dodged the attack and slammed his upper body into her, causing her to crash into the wall.
Just as he got back up, Gurīn was immediately attacked by Kiiro's sword after the Demon God freed her right arm and started swinging. Just as Gurīn blocked one attack, he nearly stumbled as Kiiro was about to land a fatal blow only t have it deflected by Ryu, who blocked the attack in time.
"Ah, so you have learned something from our last fight." Kiiro said, noticing Ryu's demon weapon. "It's a shame you didn't know last time, otherwise those three would be dead."
Dead? I questioned what Kiiro meant by that. Does she mean Gurīn had help before when they fought but they got killed? If so, would the same thing have happened to us if he didn't give us these demon weapons?
Aiz quickly pushed me out of the way as a bolt of Kiiro's energy crashed in between us, knocking us both away. The power was strong, just like Gurīn's. If only he had trained me, I could be helpful.
As I looked up, at the top of the waterfall, I noticed Kiiro casually holding off Ryu and Gurīn as they attacked her.
Ryu went in for a few lunges but was parried and her blade was eventually kicked into Gurīn's direction, nearly stabbing him. However, Gurīn managed to dodge the attack but was slammed into the ground by Kiiro.
"So fast." I noted.
"Bell, let's help them." Aiz said as she ran up the stairs.
I could only nod my head as I aimed my hand at Kiiro and waited for the opportunity for when she was open.
"Firebolt!" I shouted as Kiiro jumped away from Ryu's and Gurīn's combined attack.
However, Kiiro noticed the fireball coming straight for her and wasted no time to deflect it back in my direction. Moving quickly, I dodged my own attack and ran up the other set of stairs. Hopefully Aiz and I can surround her and Gurīn or Ryu could land a blow.
That wasn't how it went.
Kiiro noticed both Aiz and I running up the stairs and took the opportunity to swan dive from the top of the waterfall, passing both of us and firing a bolt of energy. The bolt landed underneath my staircase and the stairs began to crumble away as Kiiro landed in the shallow pool.
She got out, unscathed from the fall and chuckled at her evasiveness.
I carefully made my way down the stairs until Kiiro fired another bolt of energy at me, causing the entire staircase to collapse. I quickly had no other option but to jump on a ledge near the waterfall that Gurīn had made when he attacked Kiiro.
As I jumped for the ledge, the corner of my eye caught Kiiro grinning as she aimed her Demon Arm at me and prepare to blast me in the air.
"Bell!" Aiz screamed, realizing she won't make it in time to save me.
Kiiro soon fired off her orb of energy she had stored up. I could see the worried look on Aiz's face as my hand caught the ledge but I knew I couldn't dodge in time.
I calmly closed my eyes as the orb came hurtling straight for me until it exploded.
Oooo, cliffhanger. What do you think will happen next? Find out next chapter.
Be sure to leave a review of what you think or what I can improve on. Also be sure to favorite/follow the story.
