Chapter 10:Jade Dragon
When Li opened his eyes again, he was bathed in a dim blue light. He could feel the cold ground against his face, his fingers feeling numb. Slowly, he rose up, and looked around, getting his bearings.
He could see he was inside of a sphere of blue magical energy. Beyond the faintly transparent bubble, he could see thick snow, and rock piled atop it. Near the center of the sphere, Cleo stood, her magical circuits ignited. Her face was deeply focused, as she channeled a steady stream of mana into the barrier. Saber, and Lancer were on opposite sides of the sphere, taking stock of their situation.
. Lancer turned, as Li stood to his feet. "Master, are you alright?"
"Fine." Li answered, dusting himself off. "I can hazard to guess what our situation is. We're trapped beneath several tons of ice snow, and rock."
Saber turned to him, nodding. "My master is maintaining the barrier for now, but she can only keep it up for so long."
Cleo took in a calming breath. "If I keep the flow steady, I can hold the barrier for two hours without any do stress."
Li walked to the edge of the barrier. "The question is, will our oxygen last that long?"
"At least we servants don't have to breath." Lancer pointed out.
Li took another cursory glance around. "Where are Rider, and her master?"
Cleo frowned. "I...don't think they made it. They couldn't get to the barrier in time."
"I hope they were able to escape somehow." Saber added. "For such honorable to people, to meet such an end would be tragic."
"Life is often tragic, Saber." Lancer stated. "As a heroic spirit, you should know that better than most."
Saber didn't reply, simply turning away with a forlorn look. She continued to scan the barrier's edge. Hoping to find some kind of opening beyond the mound of snow, and ice. Or perhaps some other clue to help them escape. After pondering for several long moments, she looked back to her companions.
"Perhaps Lancer, and I could return to spirit form, and pass through the snow. Once we're outside, we could dig you both out."
"Can you pass through the barrier?" Li asked.
Cleo shook her head. "No. My barrier is similar to a bounded field. It keeps out even spiritual beings. I can think of one solution, however, but it's risky."
"I'm open to any suggestions." Li said.
"I could ready another barrier, and drop this one." Cleo began. "The new smaller barrier would protect you, and I, but allow Lancer, and Saber to leave. But if I make one mistake, we both die."
Li pondered for several long moments. He weighed the risks, and considered any other alternative. When nothing came to mind, he turned to Lancer.
"What do you think?"
Lancer stroked his beard. "I believe it is our best option. Desperate times call for desperate measures."
"I agree." Saber nodded.
"Are you sure?" Cleo questioned, turning to Li. "You'd be putting your life in my hands. There's a very real chance we'll both be crushed."
"I'm sure." Li replied with a nod.
"But I-"
Cleo found herself cut off, as Saber stepped forward. She placed a hand on Cleo's shoulder and smiled.
"You can do this." she assured. "I have faith in you, my lady."
Cleo smiled softly, and gave a resolute nod in reply. Saber, and Lancer then moved into position at the perimeter of the barrier, while Li walked to Cleo's side. With a deep breath, Cleo focused, more magical circuits igniting all along her body.
In her mind, she traced the form of the new barrier, perfectly envisioning its structure. Once she was ready, she began to countdown to zero. When the last number crossed her lips. Saber, and Lancer disappeared in flashes of blue light.
In that same moment, Cleo dropped the barrier holding back the tide of snow, and ice. It quickly began to cascade down to the pair of mages. Li braced for impact, as Cleo channeled her mana. With a bright flash of blue light, a spherical barrier surrounded the pair. The avalanche of snow, crashed down upon it, sending ripples along the surface.
Cleo's face strained with effort, as she held back the force of the falling debris. When it finally settled, she let out a long sigh. The barrier held firm, holding back the tide once more.
And so, all the two mages could do now was wait. Inside the dim light of the small bubble they sat, trying to control their breathing as much as possible. Neither one exchanged a single word, not wanting to waste the valuable oxygen they had left.
After what felt like an eternity, Cleo heard something from above. The sound of snow, ice, and rock tumbling over themselves. She could hear footsteps as well, scrambling to move into the proper position. Then, finally, the snow was breached, and a beam of moonlight came streaming through.
More, and more snow was soon moved aside. Once enough was swept away, Cleo dropped the barrier. Saber, and Lancer then reached down, pulling up their respective masters.
"Are you alright, my lady?" Saber asked.
"A little cold, but I'll live." Cleo answered, dusting some snow off herself.
"There's still no sign of Rider, or her master." Lancer remarked. "And our target seems to be long gone."
"They must think that we all perished in the avalanche." Li surmised. "That may prove to be to our advantage. If we can catch up to them, we might be able to mount an ambush."
"Shouldn't we look for Rider, and Finn?" Cleo asked.
"We don't have time." Li replied, sliding down the mound of snow. "Every second we waste here, that creature gets closer to the keys of Eden."
Cleo frowned, and looked to the snow covered mountain side. Saber soon sidled up beside her, and the pair exchanged a look. The mage sighed, and nodded in resignation. The pair then headed off after Li, and Lancer.
Rider gripped hard onto the sheer rock face. Finn was pressed against her back, holding on for dear life. The pair had been swept off the mountainside by the tide of ice, and snow. Thanks to Rider's quick reflexes, Finn had been shielded from the brunt of the avalanche's force.
With her superhuman strength, Rider dug into the craggy rock with her hands. She slowly crawled up the rock face, making sure to get an ample foothold before moving. Finn, kept his focus on channeling mana into his arms, to keep his grip tight. He dared not look down, lest he see the cold rock that waited for them below.
After climbing several dozen feet, Rider spotted something up above. She narrowed her eyes, trying to make it out in the darkness of night.
"Master, I think I see an opening to a cave!" she exclaimed. "We should be able to take shelter there!"
"Anything is better than dangling from your back for dear life!" Finn shouted above the wind. "A cave sounds like a bloody five star hotel at this point!"
Rider continued her slow ascent up the mountainside. The cold wind whipped, and howled around them, creating a flurry of snow. Finally, Rider's hand eventually gripped the lip of the cave mouth. She then hauled herself, and Finn up, and into the cave.
Once they were safely inside, Rider set Finn onto the ground. The man winced in pain, feeling a sharp ache in his leg. With grit teeth, he lowered himself down, leaning up against the wall.
"I think I might have broken something." he groaned.
Rider kneeled down at his side. "Let me have a look."
Rider carefully pulled up Finn's pant leg. She could already see some discoloration in his skin. Thankfully there seemed to no protruding bones.
"I think it might just be a fracture, but it's hard to tell." Rider commented. "Being a field medic wasn't exactly one of my skills in life."
"Well, whatever's wrong, it hurts like hell." Finn growled. "Damn. Wish I was better at healing magic. I"m gonna have to do this the slow way."
Finn slipped his index finger into his mouth, biting down. A small trickle of blood began to flow, and he pressed the tip of his finger into the ground. Using his finger like a brush, he traced a symbol into the stone.
"Leigheas!"
The rune shown with power, and created a burst of green light. The light slowly surrounded Finn, bathing him in its glow. Very slowly, he could feel the spell begin to work, accelerating his natural healing.
"This could take some time." Finn stated. "Do ya think you get us a fire going lass? It's colder than a witches tit."
"We still have some firewood in the packs." Rider replied. "I'll see what I can do."
Rider dismissed her armor, calling forth her previous attire. After unshouldering her pack, she pulled out several logs of firewood, strapped to the back. Once the ground was clear, and the wood was placed, Rider used to the tip of her spear to quickly ignite the firewood. The flame then roared to life, bathing the cavern with a warm glow.
With the flame going steadily, Rider moved to the cave mouth. She stretched a tarp over the entrance, to keep in as much heat as possible. As she worked, Finn scooted closer to the flames, trying to warm his frigid hands.
"Thanks lass." Finn sighed, as Rider moved back to his side. "Now, all there is left to do is wait."
"Do you think the others were able to survive the avalanche?" Rider questioned.
"I would be surprised if they didn't." Finn replied. "Ms. Velvet's barriers could easily hold off something like that. I'm sure they made it out fine. I'm more worried about that bastard wolf, and its rider. Who knows how far ahead of us they are now."
"I never knew such a servant could exist." Rider remarked. "What sort of heroic spirit is it?"
Finn reached into his jacket, pulling out a flask of whiskey. He took a small swig before offering an answer.
"Well if I had to take a guess, that headless bastard could be the headless hessian."
Rider turned to him curiously. "Headless hessian?"
Finn took another swig. "Aye. He's commonly known as the headless horseman. The legend goes that during the american revolution, the horseman was a hessian mercenary working for the redcoats. During the the battle of white plains, back in seventeen-seventy-six, the soldier lost his head to an american cannonball."
He turned to the flames, poking the embers with his cane. "His head was shattered, and left behind on the battlefield. While his body was carried off by his comrades, then buried in the old dutch cemetery of sleepy hollow. And people say that on every halloween night, his ghost rises from the dead, seeking out his lost head. Though I ain't ever heard of no legend that says he rode on the back of a wolf."
Rider hummed in thought. "My homeland has many similar stories of such ghosts. Onryo. Vengeful spirits."
"I think every culture has a story like it." Finn remarked. "Just one of those common threads you find in stories across the world."
A silence lingered between the two after that. The sound of howling wind could be heard just outside, making the tarp flutter. The crackling of the flame, echoed off the walls, firelight dancing across the stone.
Rider glanced over at her master, an anxiety settling in the pit of her stomach. She swallowed, and fully turned to face him, bowing her head low.
"Master, I have to offer my sincerest apologies."
Finn sighed. "Lass, you did your best. It's not your fault I got my leg all messed up. If it wasn't for you, I'd be dead."
Rider shook her head. "It's not about your injury master. When we were in the town, and you spoke with Tao. My...my curiosity got the better of me, and I caught some of your conversation. I deeply apologize. I know it was none of my business."
Finn frowned deeply at that. "How much did you hear?"
Rider straightened. "I...caught the conversation about...your family."
Finn's brow furrowed, and he took another drink. "I suppose it was only a matter time before you find out. It's alright, lass. We've got nothing to do but sit on our arses now. So, I suppose I can at least tell ya the story."
"Master...you don't have to if you dont-"
Finn cut her off with an upraised hand. "Its fine. Trust me, Lass."
He paused for several moments, trying find the right place to start. Rider simply moved back into her proper sitting position, waiting patiently for his response.
"My family has a long history, just like any other mage family." Finn finally began. "My ancestors studied the ancient runic magics. Honing their craft, and passing it down to next in line, generation after generation. I took pride in that. I felt I was carrying the weight of my ancestors work. Making sure that their legacy continued."
He smiled softly at the memory. "So, I studied hard, and tried to carry on that legacy. I eventually slowed down enough to meet my beautiful wife. Before long, we were married, and had two children. My oldest, Catrina, and her younger brother, Allen. We were all a happy family for a time. But, my wife and I, eventually grew apart."
"I'm sorry to hear that." Rider frowned.
"Ah, don't be." Finn said, waving a dismissive hand. "We parted on good terms. Anyway, in the end, I ended up keeping custody of the children. We moved to scotland, in that old cottage I still call home. The children were still young then. They frolicked in the meadows, and played as children do."
Rider could see the far off look in the man's eyes. As if he were staring off into a distant dream long since past. The strands of that memory were much like a fine thread. A thin life line that let one still grasp on to a better, happier time.
Finn took sip of his drink. "When they were a little older, I started to teach them the ways of magecraft. I wanted to pass down the knowledge that I had learned, just as my ancestors had done. They didn't really take to the studies. Just like most small children don't want to do school work. But they begrudgingly obliged. I simply kept at it, hoping that they would eventually find the same joy I did."
"I was too optimistic." Finn frowned. "That childish defiance, eventually turned into rebellion. They would take every opportunity to escape my lessons, or avoid them entirely. I grew stern and bitter. How could they disrespect our family legacy? It became a classic situation of an overbearing, strict parent, and rebellious teens."
Rider's frown deepened as she listened. She could hear that tiredness in Finn's voice from before. The man's exuberant energy, and boisterous laughter all drained away. All of it leaving behind a tired old man.
"Spats, turned into arguments, and then into shouting matches." Finn continued. "They didn't want to carry on our family legacy. They practically pleaded, to just be left to their own lives. To be able to choose for themselves. But I was a stubborn old fool. I wouldn't allow it. I couldn't let our ancestors work all go to waste. Then...it all came to a head."
He took a deep swig this time. "It was Catarina's twenty second birthday. I was going to perform the ritual to pass on the family crest to her. But...that morning, I found my house empty. They were gone. All that was left was a note. It took me several months to track them down, and when I did, I found them set up in a nice apartment. Both working normal jobs. They were…happy."
Finn turned to Rider, wearing a forlorn smile. "So, I left. And I haven't spoken to them since. I've checked in from time to time, but nothing more. Now, here I am, a lonely old man, trying to prove his family's legacy wasn't totally meaningless."
Rider took several long moments to absorb the information. When it all finally began to sink in, she struggled to really think of anything to say. No words of encouragement, or reassurance came. All that she could offer was a simple phrase.
"I'm sorry."
The words held several meanings. Another apology for having eavesdropped. Words of empathy for Finn's story. And a regretful pair of words, apologizing for her inability to offer any sort of meaningful comfort.
Finn cracked a smile at her. A warm, genuine, smile.
"It's alright, lass. It's quite alright."
Cleo grunted with effort, as she hauled herself up onto the cliff above. Saber quickly helped her to her feet. After offering Saber a nod of thanks, she surveyed their surroundings.
More, and more snow seemed to be piling up the higher they went. Boulders, and other large rock formations would occasionally jut up from the white blanket. Now, snow no longer drifted from the sky above, but the wind still whipped, and howled. Up above, the clouds had parted, revealing the full moon.
The group had made significant progress up the mountainside. Even with their magical training, and help from their servants. Both Li and Cleo were feeling the effects of the ascent. All of if made even worse by the air slowly growing thinner as they moved higher, and higher.
"Master, are you alright?" Saber asked.
Cleo was snapped from her stupor. "Yeah. I was just trying to catch my breath is all."
"Don't push yourself too hard." Saber warned. "If you're not careful, the thin air could make you incredibly sick."
"I'll be fine, Saber." Cleo smiled. "Though I do wish we had been able to stop, and sleep."
"You can sleep all day once this is done." Saber smiled.
"Hurry up you two!" Li called from up ahead. "We can only linger for so long!"
Cleo sighed, and followed after him, Saber moving right beside her.
"I understand the need for urgency." Cleo whispered. "But I feel as if he's forcing himself to keep pushing forward. Even if it means dragging us along with him."
"My master, is very stubborn." Lancer commented, having overheard her words. "But he is also very driven. He has a deep sense of justice, and wants to stop this monster. Not only to stop anymore innocent victims, but to uphold his personal responsibility as a mage."
Cleo cocked her head curiously. "Why would he feel personally responsible for this?"
Lancer glanced back, and replied. "This war for Eden, is a battle for masters, and servants. Anyone outside of us are innocent civilians. As a master in this war, Li feels its his duty to make sure this battle doesn't take anymore innocent lives."
"He's right." Cleo nodded. "It's nice to see a mage who wants to actually try, and clean up the mistakes himself, instead of leaving it to the clocktower, and the church. To most mages, all these victims would just be 'collateral damage' to them."
The group continued onward, ascending further, and further up the kunlun goddess. Eventually, they neared the peak. From a distance, the top of the mountain appeared to be entirely normal. Li sent Lancer up to scout the tallest point of the mountain. As he headed upward, the rest of the group searched the nearby area.
Saber kept her sword at the ready at all times as they moved. She couldn't sense the presence of Avenger nearby, but stayed on guard nonetheless.
As Cleo searched alongside her, and Li, she whipped out her mana detection device. She carefully moved it through the air, trying to find some kind of focal point to follow. After minutes of fruitless searching, the needle began to spin, before zeroing in on a massive source of energy.
Li called Lancer back down, and the group followed the mana signature. It eventually led them to the western side of a cliff face. With some effort, they skirted along a thin walkway of stone to reach the source.
"This is where the energy is strongest." Cleo stated, pointing to the rock wall in front of her.
She closely examined the stone, running her hands along it. Soon, her fingers traced along a sigil carved into the stone. It reacted to her magical circuits, and glowed with power. The rock face then began to shudder, and shake, as bits of stone parted like a waterfall. When the shaking finally ceased, a stone tunnel was left behind, leading into the mountain.
With Cleo, and Saber leading the way, the group headed through the tunnel mouth. For several minutes they trudged through the dark tunnel. Eventually the group passed through the threshold of a bounded field. The tunnel then opened up, and the group gasped in unison.
They found themselves in a massive cavern. Nestled at the bottom of the cavern, was a lush verdant valley. Several dozen temples, and stone structures dotted the valley. Stone pathways, connected the various structures, creating a giant temple complex. Up above, in place of a cavern roof, was a magical hemisphere that reflected a midday sky.
"Shangri-la." Cleo gasped.
Lancer offered a deep bow of respect. "This is a sacred place. A temple dedicated to finding true enlightenment, and immortality. It is said, that the first emperor himself, came to a place like this to ascend to true divinity."
"The keys must be in one of the temples." Li surmised, offering a bow of his own.
After finding a path, the group descended into the valley below. As they approached, they could see that the valley was littered with peach blossom trees. They seemed to constantly be in bloom, magic keeping them from withering. Their soft pink petals occasionally drifted to the ground like snow fall. They broke up the lush green of the valley, creating a gorgeous contrast.
The group took a moment to admire the architecture, and scenery, marveling at its beauty. Their reverie was suddenly interrupted, as Saber, and Lancer sensed Avenger's presence. Mentally, they alerted their masters.
The pair nodded in recognition, readying for the battle to come. Saber, and Lancer then followed Avenger's presence, heading deeper into the valley. Cleo, and Li kept close by their side, opening their senses to their surroundings as much as possible.
Avenger's presence soon lead them to one of the larger temples. Its entrance stood before a large rock garden, dotted with more peach blossom trees. With their target near, the group rushed inside, ready to attack.
Lancer lead the way, swinging the temple doors open. Inside, the room was permeated with the smell of incense. The wooden floors were perfectly maintained, practically shining. At the end of the large open room was a raised dais, set before a golden buddha statue. Two keys were placed upon the dais, shining with power.
Avenger stood before the altar, the rider's hand reaching out to grasp one of the keys. Before anyone could intervene, the hessian snatched up the artifact. He then held it to his chest, and as if sinking into black mud, the key was absorbed into his being.
An aura of darkness suddenly exploded off the hessian's body. His tattered cloak grew even longer, creating long tendrils. A jet of ghostly flame poured out from the hole of his neck. The arms of his jacket were ripped apart, to reveal arms of shadow, both tipped with clawed hands.
Beside him, the same ghostly flame poured from Lobo's mouth. The wolf's fur began to shift, its edges tipped with more flickering flame. His eyes too began to glow with the same ghostly fire.
Lancer charged into action without hesitation. He could not allow Avenger to take the second key as well. With his halberd in hand, he zeroed in on the hessian. As he finally closed the distance, he came down with the heavy weapon.
Like serpents, the ends of the hessian's cloak moved to meet his attack. Energy was channeled through them, hardening them ,and shifting their shape to form a deadly edge. The two attacks met with a thunderous clang, and a powerful shockwave.
Lancer was not deterred, and continued his assault, unleashing a barrage of spinning slashes, and thrusts. The hessian's cloak lashed out in a mad flurry. Their movements became almost a blur, as they exchanged blow after blow. A cascade of sparks exploded from the melee, and the clanging of steel rang out again, and again.
Lobo growled, and lunged at Lancer, moving in to flank him. Saber quickly dashed in, to intercept, barring the wolf's path. The giant beast's claws soon meeting Saber's blade in a powerful clash. The swordswoman pushed back against him, sending the wolf skidding back several yards.
As she moved into pursue, a flash of blue exploded from Lobo's mouth. It quickly took on the solid form of one of the hessian's curved blades. The wolf gripped onto it hard with his jaws, and made a wide circle around Saber, to come in, and attack her flank.
Saber spun about, dashing to the side, to avoid the attack. As Lobo dashed past however, the very tip of the blade caught Saber's shoulder. It sliced through her armor, leaving a shallow, but clean cut behind.
Lobo quickly circled back around, moving in for another attack. Cleo moved in, her circuits igniting. With a motion of her hand, she called forth a barrier behind Saber. It shattered beneath the force of Lobo's swing, taking the brunt of the blow. The wolf's momentum was slowed just enough to allow Saber to counterattack.
Their two blades met this time, edge clashing against edge. Then, once more, Saber pushed Lobo further back. The wolf's eyes turned to Cleo, a growl of anger rumbling from his throat. The wolf then let loose a howl, that seemed to shake the very air.
Dozens of ghostly lights poured out from Lobo's body. They streaked through the air, moving in on Li, and Cleo. The two mages quickly found themselves surrounded by the lights. Their forms soon burst with a bright flash of flame. When the embers passed, wolves, composed entirely of blue flame were left in their place.
Cleo drew her azoth blade, summoning a small shield to her arm. Li moved so that the pair were back to back, taking up his stance. Magical circuits crawled up his arms, and legs, infusing them with strength.
Several wolves surged forward to attack the mages. Cleo used her blade to counter, but quickly found her attack avoided. Her target swerved to her right, lunging forward once more. She raised the shield on her arm, the wolves claws impacting against the energy. The force of the wolf's attack sent her staggering back.
Li side stepped one of the incoming wolves, striking its side with a powerful kick. The next wolf was stuck down by a series of well placed punches. Each one using a enough force to shatter bone. The two wolves were knocked to the ground but soon stood back to their feet, ready to fight anew.
"They're stronger than before!" Li exclaimed, dodging another series of attacks.
Cleo summoned a wall of force. "It's the key! With all that mana, their magical energy output has skyrocketed!"
Lancer, and the hessian continued to exchange blow after blow. The giant man unleashed dozens of powerful slashes, and thrusts. Each one of them was met by the hessian's tendrils. At first glance, the two seemed evenly matched. However, with each passing second, Lancer was pushed back a step, forced to gain distance as his opponent strode forward.
Suddenly, the horseman reeled all of his scythe like tendrils back. He then raised his clawed hand, and in a burst of blue flame, his wicked curved blade appeared. Dashing forward, he came down with a powerful one handed swing. Lancer raised his weapon, blocking the attack with the haft of his spear.
Several tendrils from the hessian's cape swerved in from Lancer's right. He ducked his head to the side, narrowly avoiding the attack. With his free hand, the horseman pulled back his fist, and smashing into Lancer with a powerful hook.
Lancer gasped, and went flying backward from the force of the attack. Quickly, he righted himself, feet skidding along the hardwood floor. His opponent came charging after him, blade tipped tendrils raised.
Lancer pulled back his weapon, and focused his energy. The dragon upon the halberd's blade shone with jade colored light. With all his strength, Lancer swung downward. The energy gathered in the polearms blade was unleashed, firing forward as a wave of green energy.
The horseman swerved out of the wave's path. It continued on its course, slicing clean through one of the giant pillars. The hessian then closed the distance, attacking from multiple directions with his tendrils, and blade.
Lancer quickly moved into a wide stance, and spun his weapon to create a wall of defense.. The two blades at either end of his halberd shone with green energy, creating trails of light. With flashes of green sparks, each of the hessian's attacks bounced off of Lancer's weapon.
Soon, Lancer found his opening, and slammed his weapon into the ground. A large burst of green energy, erupted outward from his body. The horsemen staggered from the explosion, his cloak going limp. Lancer then seized his opportunity, and thrusted with his halberd.
The blade sunk into the hessian's stomach, and breached the other side. A splash of black blood spewed from the wound, coating the blade. With a sickening wet noise, Lancer pulled his weapon free.
The horseman, reached down to touch the gaping wound, more black blood leaking outward. A golden light soon poured outward from within his body. As the energy flowed through him, the wound quickly began to seal up, even repairing the hessian's clothes. With his wound mended, he moved to continue his attack on Lancer.
Saber swerved left, and right, dodging swipes, and slashes from Lobo. The giant wolf moved like a blur, attacking with a flurry of claw, fang, and blade. He kept pressing forward, forcing Saber back further, and further.
Eventually, Saber found herself pressed against one of the temple walls. Lobo leapt toward her, claws outstretched. Using her quick reflexes, Saber slid forward, Lobo sailing past her overhead. The wolf smashed into the wall ahead of him, his claws shredding the wood, and stonework. A cloud of dust, and debris erupted from the attack.
Lobo quickly spun about to pursue Saber once more. The swordswoman channeled mana into her rapier, meeting him head on. Using a combination of her dagger, and sword, Saber clashed with the wolf's vicious attacks. Claw, and fang met blade in a violent cascade of stikes.
Saber quickly dashed to the side to avoid another swing from Lobo's blade. As she moved, she slashed the tip of her sword across Lobo's face, and neck. The wolf reared on her once more, fresh blood leaking from the wound. Then, suddenly, the bloodflow ceased, and the cut slowly sealed itself shut.
Saber's eyes widened in shock, and the wolf dashed toward her. Lobo attacked with wild abandon. His claws, shredded the floor beneath him, and his blade clashed against Saber's own.
The swordswoman was put on the defensive once again, fending off Lobo's attacks with her dagger, and rapier. In such close quarters the wolf's superior size, and strength gave him the edge. She needed to move the momentum of the battle back into her favor.
She parried another slash from Lobo, and dashed to the wolf's right. Without slowing, she ran through the opening in the wall, made by Lobo. As the wolf turned to pursue, Saber held up her blade, silver energy pouring off of her body.
"Tous pour un! Aramis!"
The silver light, coalesced, forming into a phantasmal spirit. Just as with Porthos he was dressed in the garb of a musketeer. He had a devilishly handsome face, with a well trimmed beard, and mustache. He leaned on a long matchlock musket, and a long cloak was draped over his shoulders.
The phantom of Aramis fused into Saber, her eyes igniting with silver light. Saber then sheathed both her dagger, and rapier, drawing her pistol. In her other hand, a matchlock musket materialized with a flash of silver.
Lobo burst through the hole in the wall, rushing outside. Before he could close the distance, Saber took aim, cracking off two shots. The bullets were infused with mana, and streaked through the air like shooting stars. They pierced into Lobo, slowing his charge.
When the wolf closed the distance, he summoned the blade to his mouth, and lashed out. With near blinding speed, Saber swerved out of the weapon's path. Still keeping her momentum, she dashed to Lobo's flank in the blink of an eye.
Before the wolf could even react, two more shots rang out, hammering into his side. The wounds sealed up several seconds later, along with the first two. Lobo then tried to rear on Saber again, dashing toward her at top speed.
With her newly infused agility, Saber easily evaded him, and fired off another barrage of shots. Sill, the wolf continued the chase, completely undeterred.
Li, and Cleo continued to fend off the horde of wolves. With some effort, they had been able to slay several, but their numbers were still great. The power of the key had infused them with strength, making them faster, stronger, and harder to kill.
Cleo raised another wall of force, stemming the tide of the oncoming wolves. Her modest sword skills had only been able to slay three of the empowered wolves. Li's superior offensive abilities had allowed him to take down double that number.
The girl found herself cursing her own abilities. While her shields were proving useful at holding off the majority of the wolves, they could not offer much in the way of offense. She even cursed the azoth blade and its own limited use.
She needed something more. Something beyond what the blade itself could offer.
The image of Saber, channeling mana into her blade, flashed through the girl's mind. Soon, all of her lessons in energy manipulation followed.
For hours, upon hours she would study the shape of an object. Be it a shield, a piece of armor, or a wall. By learning every detail about the shape, she could recreate it through the flow of her energy.
Even after spending the time to study their structure, forming the shape was still a difficult task on its own. So, a second step was required. Like an amateur artist, she could trace the outline of the shape, over, and over again, until it was all muscle memory.
She simply needed to 'trace' the blade.
Cleo focused, channeling her magical energy. It flowed from her palm and the tips of her fingers. Like water, it enrobed itself around the azoth blade. For a brief moment, the energy was amorphous, with no solid structure.
Through her magical energy, she felt every inch of the blade. She understood the sharpness of its edge, and the materials that made it. Soon, the amorphous mass of energy formed around the blade, contouring it's shape exactly. Then, with some focus, Cleo forced the energy to extend beyond the bounds of the blade, projecting outward. It doubled in length, as if the original blade were a projector for a larger one.
"Espada!" she called.
At her words, the blade solidified to form a diamond hard edge. Cleo then lashed out with her newly formed sword, swinging in a wide arc in front of her. As the weapon moved, it traced a contrail of blue light through the air. A small wave of blade like energy following in its wake.
In a single swing, the edge cut down five wolves, slicing their heads clean off. The remains of their bodies then burst into ghostly light. The other wolves were given pause, as Cleo glanced at her new weapon. She then quickly took up her stance once more, wrapping a shield around her arm.
Nearby, Li knocked aside another wolf with a powerful backhand. It soon recovered, rejoining the pack for the offensive. The young mage's brow furrowed in frustration, and he took in a deep breath.
With a purposeful sense of authority, he slammed down his foot, taking up a wide stance. A small shockwave erupted from the point of impact. His right arm exploded with magical circuits, as he focused his energy.
The mana flowed, compressing into a single point. Waves of energy poured off of Li's body, making the wolves hesitate on their attack. Soon, Li's fist began to glow with blinding golden light. With another deep breath, he pulled back his fist, poising it to strike.
"Shenlong Mao!"
With all his strength, Li unleashed a powerful straight punch. Like a spear, the energy erupted from his fist. it flew forward, crashing through the crowd of wolves, as if parting the sea. Those directly in the energy's path were completely annihilated by the attack. Even those nearby were blown back by the shockwave in the energy's wake.
When the energy dissipated, a cloud of ghostly lights rose up into the air. Within moments, the ghostly lights began to gather. Piece, by piece, they reformed, before finally coalescing into a wolf once more.
With each minute that ticked by another wolf would take place of one that had been destroyed. It was a slow, steady process, that the mage's knew would eventually leave them on the losing side.
The clang of metal, and a cascade of sparks exploded from the clash between the hessian, and Lancer. Every other strike, Lancer would infuse his weapon with jade energy. And each time, the rider would meet the attack with his own blade, creating a small explosion.
With the advantage of being within his sphere of influence, Lancer and the empowered rider found themselves on even footing. However, each time Lancer would land a blow, it would soon be healed by the power of the key.
Lancer too, had suffered cuts, and other wounds here, and there from their exchange. Though his remained, slowly wearing him down, as the two fought.
Lancer glanced at the battle between the two mages, and the wolves. He could see that Li, and Cleo were slowly being overwhelmed by the sheer numbers. He cursed his inability to break away from the hessian, and help his master.
Suddenly, among the din of battle, he caught a faint familiar noise. It grew louder, and louder, seemingly approaching at rapid speed. Outside, Saber noted the familiar noise as well. Recognizing it as the sound of thundering horse hooves.
Off in the distance, Saber soon spotted the source. Approaching rapidly, was a beautiful white horse, with red armor. Rider rode atop the steed, spirring it onward. Sitting just behind her was Finn, holding on for dear life, as the horse moved at blinding speed.
Lobo turned at the approaching pair, just as Rider ignited her spear. Still at full speed, she charged into the wolf's side, piercing deep into his body with her searing weapon. Lobo howled in pain, and went rolling away, as Rider's horse crashed into him.
Rider quickly came to a halt, turning toward Saber. Finn took his opportunity to slide off of the horse's back. Feeling utterly grateful to be on solid ground again.
"Forgive us for taking so long to arrive." Rider greeted.
Saber smiled at her. "I'm happy to see you both survived. I would hate for such honorable people to meet their end from an avalanche."
"Lets save the chit chat for later, shall we?" Finn interjected.
Rider, and Saber nodded in acknowledgement. Finn then took off, rushing inside the temple. He traced the air in front of him, creating a pair of runes. A thunderous peal of sound then erupted from in front of him. The sonic attack blasted through several of the spectral wolves, opening a path in the horde.
Cleo seized the opportunity, forming two walls on either side of the newly made path. She, and Li then rushed through, with more of the spectral wolves pursuing. As they cleared the pack, Cleo brought both hands together, closing the pair of walls. The wolves that pursued were caught between the barriers. Acting like a giant vice, the walls pressed in on them, crushing the wolves instantly.
Li, and Cleo offered Finn a nod of thanks, grateful for his assistance.
Outside, Rider, and Saber squared off against Lobo. The giant wolf began to rise back to his feet. The wound Rider had just dealt him slowly began to close. He then glared at the pair, fury in his eyes, before letting loose a howl that shook the air.
The hessian suddenly stopped in his tracks, giving Lancer pause. Slowly, the headless rider turned toward the direction of Lobo. Then, without warning, he dashed away, ignoring Lancer entirely.
Lobo dashed past Saber, and Rider, moving to meet his other half. Lancer, Rider, and Saber pursued their respective targets. As the hessian, and Lobo neared each other, the headless horseman leapt into the air. Moving in sync, Lobo stood in position.
Just as the other three servants closed in, the hessian landed atop Lobo. Their power was connected, and a burst of ghostly flame exploded off of them. A curved sword appeared in both of the hessian's hands, and Lobo's body seemed to grow by several feet.
The pack of wolves around the three masters all suddenly burst into blue light. The dozens of lights were then drawn back toward Avenger, absorbing into his being. Their power seemed to further strengthen him, as several blue flames began to orbit both rider, and wolf.
Saber was the first to spring into action. Using the speed granted by her noble phantasm, she began to circle around Avenger. A barrage of shots then rang out as she fired from both her pistol, and musket.
The hessian's cloak reacted to the incoming projectiles. Like a mass of snakes, they writhed back and forth. Their razor sharp edges slicing clean through all of Sabers bullets, sending their remains clattering to the floor.
Finn traced the air in front of him, forming a rune. "Neartaich!"
At his call, the rune flew forward, branding itself onto Rider's back. The samurai felt a sudden surge of energy, and charged toward avenger. The two riders clashed, as the samurai's spear impacted with the hessian's blades.
With all her strength, Rider kept the hessian's arms pinned in that guard position. Using her free hand, she drew her katana, igniting the blade with flame. Just as with Saber's attack, the hessian's cloak moved to his defense, forming a shield to block her blade.
Down below, Lobo snapped his jaws at Rider's steed. The horse whinnied in pain, rearing back from the attack. A chunk of flesh still clung inside of Lobo's jaws, his maw dripping with blood. Despite the wound however, Rider's horse still stood, continuing to bear their master's weight.
Lancer flanked Avenger, thrusting with his lance on their right side. Lobo wheeled on him, and lunged at the weapon. With a deft motion, he caught the polearms's blade in his jaws, holding it in place.
From behind, Saber took a running start at Avenger, and leapt up over thirty feet into the air. She then channeled mana into her rapier, forming it into a large heavy blade. Using both hands, she came down with a powerful swing.
The tendril's of Avenger's cloak rushed upward, forming together into a single lance like blade. Saber's sword, and the newly formed blade soon clashed. A large shockwave, and a burst of wind, exploded outward, along with a flash of magical sparks.
With Avenger defending on two fronts. Rider saw her opportunity. She pulled back her spear, channeling her mana into the weapon. It quickly ignited, its form glowing with intense heat. As she hurled the weapon at her enemy, she willed the burning mana to blast outward from the butt of the spear. The burst of mana turned the already flying spear into a flaming rocket.
The hessian raised his swords in defense. The incredible force behind Rider's lance quickly shattered his guard, creating a burst of red energy. The rest of the spear's momentum then carried it forward, plunging it deep into his chest. All of the energy gathered in the spear then released, unleashing a large firey explosion inside of Avenger.
As the explosion consumed the hessian, Saber, and Lancer broke through Avenger's defense. Lancer freed his weapon from Lobo's jaws, and swung upward, slicing into the wolf's side. The blade tendrils faltered, and Saber came down with the full weight of her blade.
When the Rider's attack fully dissipated, the servants, and masters could finally see the full breadth of damage done. The entire right side of the hessian's body had been sliced clean off by Saber's blade. His arm sitting limply on the ground. Parts of Lobo's fur had been burned away, to reveal scorched flesh. While his flank gushed fresh blood.
The most grievous wound however, was the one inflicted by rider. A gaping hole had been left behind by her attack. Most of the hessian's body from the shoulders to the waist had been completely burned away. Inside of the cavity, they could see the key of Eden, hanging by small strings of black flesh.
The key suddenly burst into golden light. Like liquid, the chest wound closed up, swallowing the key once more. A tendril of black energy extended from the stump of the hessian's arm, grabbing onto his fallen limb. The tendril reeled itself back in, and his arm stitched itself back together.
Within seconds, the other wounds completely disappeared as well. The hessian then grabbed Rider's spear, that had fallen nearby. With a gurgling cry, he hurled it back at its owner. Rider narrowly dodged the attack, her own spear sailing past her face.
"This damn monster's even tougher than the minotaur!" Finn exclaimed.
"As long as he has the key, he'll keep regenerating." Cleo added.
Li curled his hands into tight fist. "If we could completely destroy Avenger in a single attack, he shouldn't be able to regenerate."
Li watched as the three servants began to clash with Avenger again. A quick survey of their status showed that all three were beginning to run low on mana reserves to varying degrees. If the battle went on much longer it would begin to show.
So, after several moments of consideration, Li came to a decision.
"Lancer! You need to end this!" he exclaimed. "I give you permission to release your noble phantasm!"
Lancer wore a look of surprise for a brief moment, before giving a resolute nod.
"Saber, Rider, move aside!" Lancer roared.
The other two servants could sense Lancer's mana output rising. So, without a word, they retreated back, moving to their respective master's sides. Lancer spun his weapon with a dramatic flourish, gathering Avenger's attention. He then took in a deep breath, and pulled back the halberd.
"Oh heavenly jade dragon, I beseech thee." Lancer intoned. "Awaken, and unleash thine power. Let heaven, and earth, be ripped asunder in your wake!"
Lancer's entire body exploded with jade colored light. The blade upon his halberd shone with the same light, becoming almost blindingly bright. All present could see the monstrous amount of mana being poured out of Lancer's being. If one were to compare a servant's magic signature to a star, in that moment, Lancer's appeared like the sun.
Avenger did not seem perturbed by Lancer's show of strength. They charged forward, blades, and scythe like tendrils all brought to bare.
"Qing Long Yan Yue Dao!" Lancer roared.
At the call of his attack, Lancer swung his weapon with all his strength. All the mana that gathered around him, was unleashed from the swing of his blade. As the wave of green energy was released it took on the shape of a giant serpentine dragon. The dragon's scales glittered with the same color as the jade energy. Gold whiskers, and claws shone against the green.
The great jade dragon let loose a thunderous roar, and flew to meet Avenger. Like an engine of destruction, it annihilated everything in its path. Its very presence shook the air, and sent powerful tremors through the earth.
Avenger, and the dragon soon clashed. The wolf, and rider were consumed by the massive release of mana. Their forms were burned away, annihilated down to the smallest particle. Their body continued to try, and reform but could not keep up with the rate of destruction.
The jade dragon continued its path of destruction, burning a massive hole through the temple wall. Its form then slowly rose up to the heavens, unleashing another powerful roar. It soon reached the false sky above, where it exploded in a shower of golden, and green light.
With a loud clatter, the key of Eden fell to the ground, the last remains of Avenger melting away from its form. A giant smoking trench had been left behind in the dragon's wake. Its edges glowed, smoking with searing heat.
At the end of the trench, Lancer stood. He slammed his weapon into the ground, and bowed. Silently offering a prayer to the heavens above
As the everyone present stared in awe, Cleo had a sudden realization. She had heard the name of Lancer's noble phantasm. A mighty halberd said to have been blessed by a heavenly dragon. So heavy, only one man could ever wield it. A general of the three kingdoms period, known for his peerless skill, and legendary loyalty. Even in death, he was considered by many as a god of war.
"Guan...Yu." Cleo whispered.
A long silence seemed to linger among the gathered group. With their common enemy gone, their goal of attaining the keys still remained. Saber, and Rider shared a look along with their masters. Li eyed them all, his body growing tense. From afar, Lancer watched as well, ready to act, despite his massive loss of mana.
"So, how is this going to play out now?" Finn asked, looking to each of the gathered.
After many moments of consideration, Rider dismounted her horse. The steed then disappeared into a burst of golden light.
"Master, if I may speak my opinion." she began, turning to Finn.
The old man gave her a quick nod.
Rider nodded back in thanks. "I think that Lancer, and Li should take the key that was inside that creature. They struck the decisive blow, and put an end to our common foe."
"I agree." Saber said, stepping forward. "Lancer unleashed a large portion of his mana to ensure that they were defeated. Fully knowing the risk that would come in using that much power when there were two potential enemies still around."
Cleo let out a heavy sigh. "I can't really argue with that. Besides, defeating Lancer, and Li now would leave a sour taste in my mouth. It doesn't feel right."
"Aye." Finn nodded, turning to Li. "You, and your partner defeated that beast. My friend, Tao lost his life to that monster. I owe you a debt of gratitude for avenging his death. So, go on, take your key."
Li offered the four a bow of gratitude. "Thank you all. You have earned my utmost respect."
As Li moved to retrieve the key, Finn, and Cleo locked eyes. Rider, and Saber turned to each other as well, bodies tensed.
"Now, there's the matter of the second key to settle." Finn remarked. "I don't suppose you'd be willing to yield to us?"
"You already know my answer." Cleo replied.
Finn sighed heavily. "A man could hope."
Saber suddenly stepped forward. "I propose a duel then. With no inference from either master. Rider, and I shall decide who will take the key through honorable combat."
"I accept." Rider stated.
Finn considered it for a moment, and nodded in agreement. Cleo was hesitant to accept Saber's proposal at first, but soon gave her own nod as well.
"Thank you, my lady." Saber smiled. "Now, why don't we take this battle outside? I think this temple has seen enough conflict for one day."
The others seemed to agree, and headed out of the temple's main entrance, and into the courtyard. Finn, and Cleo stood on either side of the entrance, as their servants strode into the courtyard proper. Lancer, and Li soon joined the two masters, holding their prize.
"You're not going to leave?" Finn asked, looking to the pair.
"As a warrior, I feel I am obligated to watch this duel." Lancer answered. "The chance to see two legendary fighters clash in honorable combat is one I will not miss."
Saber, and Rider both came to a stop as they reached the center of the courtyard. They squared off against one another, sharing an intense stare.
"It seems we get to pick up where we left off, last time." Saber remarked with a smile. "Though, I wish both of us were in top form. Both of our masters are starting to run low on stamina."
"I too wish we could fight at our peak." Rider said. "But the nature of war does not always afford us such luxuries. I feel more guilty that I know your true name, but I cannot give mine."
Saber quirked a brow. "Oh? I suppose my noble phantasm gave me away. Some simple research would let you easily guess my true name. However, you're not the only one who can do research. My master is very resourceful."
Rider narrowed her eyes, but said nothing.
"A samurai in red armor, with the visage of a demon. Someone famous for wielding a three pronged spear, and having a tenacious resolve. The last great hero of the sengoku period."
Rider couldn't help but chuckle. "I suppose there's no hiding it anymore."
Saber drew her rapier, and took up her stance. "Indeed. I, am D'artagnan of the royal musketeers third division. And I challenge thee to honorable combat!"
Rider readied her spear. "I, Yukimura Sanada, head of the Sanada clan, accept your challenge!"
"En garde!"
Saber dashed forward, unleashing a flurry of thrusts. Rider met each of them with her spear, their weapons moving at blinding speed. On Saber's last thrust, Rider swerved to Saber's right, swinging downward with her spear.
The swordswoman spun on her heel, raising her blade to block the strike. A sharp metallic clang echoed through the air as they met. Without missing a beat, Rider reached for her katana, swung at Saber's left. Saber drew her own sidearm in response, her dagger meeting Rider's katana with another clash of steel.
The pair struggled against one another in a battle of strength for several moments. When neither seemed to be gaining ground, they broke away from one another.
Rider suddenly ignited the tip of her spear, and sent forth a circular wave of flame. Saber leapt over the attack, and sailed over Rider's head. As she came to land behind the samurai, she thrust with her rapier.
She wheeled on Saber, using her katana to parry the strike. Before Rider could mount a counter attack, Saber struck with her dagger. The sharp blade slashed across Rider's wrist, creating a fresh stream of blood. Rider's katana fell from her grip, forcing her to retreat back several yards.
As Rider stood off against Saber, she glanced at her wound. Her armor had protected her from having her tendon sliced apart. Though the wound was still deep, and refused to stop leaking fresh blood. Without a moment's hesitation, Rider pulled off her headband, and tied it off to her wrist, using it as a makeshift bandage.
Hefting her spear in both hands, Rider charged toward Saber. The swordswoman readied herself, taking up her stance. As the other woman neared, her spear was wreathed in flame. Just before coming into Saber's range, she swung downward with her weapon, slamming the tip into the ground.
A giant explosion of flame erupted in front of Saber, forcing her to take a step back. Her eyes darted back, predicting Rider would circle around to her flank. Instead, Rider erupted from the flames, thrusting with her lance.
Saber swayed, to try, and avoid the attack, but could not react in time. The edge of Rider's lance sliced through Saber's shoulder. She hissed in pain, continuing to sway out of Rider's path. The samurai woman then sailed past, skidding to a stop several meters away.
Even from a distance, Cleo could see that Saber's wound was deep. For a brief moment, she considered casting a healing spell, but faltered. Then, with a heavy sigh, her arm fell back to her side.
"Saber…" she whispered.
Mirroring Rider, Saber tore a piece of cloth from her outfit, and tied it over the gash in her shoulder. She then tried to take up her stance but found herself unable to use her left arm. So, with some difficulty, she sheathed her dagger, raising her rapier.
"It seems we're even." Saber remarked. "Though it would appear you've dealt the more damaging blow."
Rider allowed herself a small smile of satisfaction. She then lit up the tip of her spear, and dashed toward Saber. The swordswoman batted aside the first thrust with her rapier. Another flurry followed, each one deflected by a well placed slash from Saber.
The two continued their exchange of blows, with Saber on the defensive. Using her footwork, and blade skill, she circled around the battlefield, deflecting blow after blow. With each strike, an explosion of fiery sparks erupted from the clash. She, and Rider soon seemed locked in a graceful dance, moving to the rhythm of their ringing steel.
After what seemed like an eternity, Saber's defense finally faltered. As Rider thrust, Saber's rapier was knocked from her grasp. The force of Rider's swing, sent it flying several yards away. Assured her enemy was now wide open, Rider moved in for the killing blow.
Saber dropped to the ground, and rolled. As Rider followed through on her attack, her gaze turned downward. Suddenly, her eyes widened, as she caught the glint of steel on the ground.
Saber's movements had brought them to Rider's fallen katana.
Without a moment's hesitation, Saber snatched Rider's sword. She then thrust upward, bringing the tip inches from Rider's neck. The two warriors froze, locking eyes. Rider could feel the cold touch of her own katana against her neck. A simple push would end her in a fraction of a second.
As Rider considered her options, she could see Finn on the other side of the courtyard. The old man simply shook his head.
"We'll have another chance, lass."
Rider let out a deep regretful sigh, and dropped her spear. "I yield. The duel is yours."
Saber pulled Rider's katana away, and rose to her feet. She then handed off the blade, and offered Rider a deep bow.
"It was an honor, Madame Sanada."
Rider chuckled despite herself. "The honor was mine, D'artagnan."
Saber, and Rider shared a respectful nod, and moved to retrieve their weapons. The pair soon rejoined their respective masters. Rider quickly dropped to her knees, offering her master a deep apology.
"That's enough." the old man sighed. "You did well, lass." He then turned to Cleo, and Saber. "You've earned your key. Be sure not to lose it."
Finn then took several steps forward. "Let's go Rider, this old man needs a nice long nap."
Rider nodded, and the pair strode off into the courtyard, and out of the temple complex. Lancer, and Li offered a bow, and began to take their leave as well. With them out of earshot, Cleo turned her attentions to Saber.
"Let me patch you up." she said, placing a hand on her wound. "You did well, Saber."
Saber smiled softly. "Thank you, my lady."
Author's Notes
I'd like to give a big shout out to the newest followers/favoriters of this story Aflonse08, Lucifer's Remnants and ringtaillemur0. Thank you all so much! I deeply appreciate your support! I'm sorry this chapter is a day later than usual. Been busy. Anyway, I'll see ya next time!