Legends of Fatum

AN:

Another action packed chapter. To think how far this has come, what started over a year ago had been rebuilt and redone to something incredible and beyond my expectations. And it will only go on from here. In any case, read on and review!

Over last week I was sick and the coming of this chapter was delayed, so after some work the story is now finished. That's right, it's over, done. I'll be uploading the other chapter and epilogue shortly after this.

Enjoy the end of my first major work!

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Cuiusvis hominis est errare, nullius nisi insipientis in errore perseverare.

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Chapter ten: Liberation II

Narshe lay against the side of a mountain, its mines extended far back into the rock and ground, some passageways long forgotten, some collapsed, and some held secrets deeper then the mines themselves.

But the mines were not on Corta's mind, no, they were on the much less thought upon sewers.

"We'll infiltrate here and come out here." He said pointing on a map he had 'liberated' from Skadaki. "The Makuta should be close by."

Narshe was their first target. They knew that a Makuta was currently dwelling here. They would enter through the sewers and come up in the building the Makuta made their residence when ever visiting. It was once a warehouse for storing larger findings and the larger machines for mining. But mining was at a record low in Narshe; the Matoran who once worked there had been conscripted for other uses once the more useful metals had been excavated.

The trip through the sewers was unpleasant. The smell and grime of the place was everywhere, once they stopped at a corner as they had seen a dark figure moving in the darkness. Some kind of mutated creature Respine guessed mutated by the sludge left to rot.

In any case they made it through fairly uneventfully.

Ira used her twin blades to break the seal to the surface and the Rahkshi quickly exited into the warehouse. Huge machinery was scattered about left to rust with their previous use no longer needed.

It was then they found something quite wrong. They were right about the Makuta being here, just wrong about the number.

"We've been expecting you Rahkshi. Bahamut has a mind for foretelling what is to occur."

The Rahkshi faced not one Makuta, but three.

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Karazin and Corruo had silently traversed the desert. They had left the mountains and entered the scorching heat of the sand and quickly passed through that too. Now they passed by sparse vegetation coupled with the sand by the sea. Adnihilo had led them here.

They rose up over the nearby dunes and stopped to watch. The army of the Makuta was in chaos. And it was all because of one Rahkshi.

Adnihilo

The force of Rahkshi and scattered Exo-Toa were falling at every which way it appeared. They had left the city of Junon to assist in taking down the rogue Rahkshi only to now be falling back to the safety of the walls and the guards there. Karazin imagined that the Makuta were even now wondering just what was going on and scrambling to find a way to kill the Rahkshi before it wreaked complete devastation to their army.

Corruo was silent. Karazin realized then that there was no way they could take on Adnihilo now and win. He hated it. But he had a plan. He still hated it.

"Corruo, I need you to do something for me."

Corruo looked at Karazin and narrowed her eyes. "Karazin…"

"Hear me out." Karazin thought he was being so pathetic. "We can't beat her, not yet, not alone, but I can stall her." He turned to look her in the eyes, letting the truth of his words sink in. "Get the others. Hopefully they will have done something useful by then and will be ready to work on something much bigger."

Corruo turned her back to the battle. "Fine, but don't do anything stupid."

She ran off. Karazin watched her go then turned back and waited for the battle to end. Why now did he have to get such a sense for right and wrong?

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The Rahkshi were stunned. Three Makuta? Did they dare stand a chance against such odds? But they had little choice. The Makuta had been ready, they wanted to fight; they would get to fight.

The Makuta who had spoken earlier spoke again. "You would dare think you could take us on? Us? Bahamut, Shiva, and Ifrit? The three of legend?" His red eyes glowed. "You stand no chance."

Fallon joined with Lucis in blocking a blow from Ifrit, his talking done and his attacking begun. He wore bright orange armor with hints of red and wielded a large axe. He wore Pakari; mask of Strength. Ifrit grinned. At last, a challenge of some kind.

Respine and Ira rushed at the one in dark grey armor; the one called Bahamut, he wielded a spear and wore Suletu; mask of Telepathy. He stood tall and appeared to be the 'leader hiding in the shadows' type.

The last of the three was taken on by Corta. Shiva was the only female in the midst and wore light blue armor. She carried twin blades and wore Shelek; Mask of Silence. Not once did she betray and of her emotions. Corta returned the favor.

Respine and Ira began their attack in tandem, using their speed to quickly black and counterattack. Bahamut however calmly deflected their blows then in one quick move he knocked them both back with his spear. Respine and Ira were lucky enough to block the brunt of the attack with their weapons.

Bahamut raised his hand and fired a blast of pure energy. Respine and Ira leapt to the sides apart from each other and the blast exploded into the machine behind them; showering metal and gears upon the Rahkshi.

Respine looked up from his roll and raised his gripper to narrowly block Bahamut's next attack. He clashed with the Makuta for a moment then pushed back as Ira came down in a jump from behind with her swords raised high. In a lightning fast maneuver Bahamut raised one hand at Ira before she reached him and fired almost point blank a burst of energy.

With no way to evade the attack or even fully comprehend it; Ira was blasted away. Rage began to fuel into Respine. The corners of his vision flashed red and he raced forward at the Makuta, grabbing one of Ira's knocked out swords on his way. With the sword he swung forward and caught the spear. He reached out with his gripped and crushed the spear out of his way. He jabbed forward with the sword and felt it kicked out of his grip. A hand was placed atop his head and Respine looked up to see the Makuta's red eyes glowing.

Then everything went black.

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Fallon staggered as she blocked the Makuta's blow on her sword. Lucis leapt over her to strike with his own blade. The Makuta pulled back his axe and blocked Lucis' attack. Ifrit grinned beneath his mask. He hoped these Rahkshi would give him at least a half-way decent fight. He pushed back against Lucis and rushed forward, swinging his axe downward to cleave Lucis in two.

Quickly Lucis used his sword to block the blow and push himself to the side. He landed as the Makuta's axe lifted up from the ground, jagged cracks jutting out from where it had landed. Fallon raced forward to cut at the Makuta but the axe was already in place. She rolled to the side to evade the first swing and leapt back to avoid the second.

There was a gleam in Lucis' eye as he leapt forward, Ifrit raised his axe to block the attack and there was a sudden burst of light. Ifrit pulled his arm back to block the light and felt something metallic slide into his torso. There was a tingling sensation and he watched as a burst of light jutted from the sword now imbedded in him.

Lucis gleamed. They had done it! One Makuta down…

Lucis slammed into a pile of crates and fell to the ground. He looked up. Ifrit had taken the sword out and flung it aside and he was laughing!

"Do you really think a bit of Light is going to kill me? You are quite mistaken."

Ifrit raised his hands and channeled a cyclone of fire outward toward Lucis to prove his point. Lucis stood up and glared at the incoming blaze.

"LUCIS!" Fallon cried out, fearing his imminent death.

Lucis gave her a grin then the fire swept over him. Then there was nothing but charred remains.

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Corta blocked on sword with his shield and the other with his own sword. Shiva twisted away and then stabbed forward again. Again Corta reacted and blocked. This time he knocked the swords down and struck forward with his own. But Shiva was ready.

In a quick move she dropped her sword and punched Corta in the face. Corta sprawled backward and only narrowly brought his shield up to block another attack, his sword having dropped. Corta grimaced. The fight was not going too well for him. The Makuta were skilled at what they did, and it was only a matter of time it seemed…

Corta leapt back and changed his shield to its crossbow form. He fired bolt after bolt but they were knocked aside easily by the twin blades. The bolts sank into the ground and the nearby machinery. Shiva stood untouched.

Corta grinned to himself. He raised his arm and channeled his power of Electricity and drew on the latent power inside the machinery. The effect was almost instantaneous. Powerful bolts of jagged lightning blasted into the Makuta. The Makuta's arms flung out to the side and her head looked upward. Then the blast ended and the Makuta collapsed to the ground.

Corta came forward and picked up his fallen sword. He raised it and prepared to end the Makuta when he found himself quickly freezing over. His eyes narrowed, he had fallen into the Makuta's trap! He started to generate an electric field but the Makuta had risen. And she was not happy.

She raised her hand as her eyes glowed red. Then Corta heard nothing. His sense of hearing had been completely crippled; he was unable to cry out for help. The Makuta glared down at him as his sense of panic and the numbing sensation of the ice overrode him.

It was then that he felt a burst of fire wash over from nearby. It was at this moment he refocused his energies and broke free of the ice. He staggered to the ground and then rose up with his sword in attack. The Makuta blocked the blows and shoved him back over the wet ground. The slickness of it nearly caused Corta to collapse, but he held firm. He raised his sword and channeled the power of Electricity. He would end this in one last strike.

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It was not the first time his mind had been invaded. But this time was the most painful of all. The last time it had been to override him and take control, to use him as a tool. But this was an entirely different invasion.

This time the presence was leeching into him, using his own thoughts against him, brining up painful memories, changing him…

Respine howled in agony. But it was a delightful yell, change was good, change would make him better…

Respine growled. No, he would not accept this, he could not…

And then he had a thought, just a little harmless one. What if I'm right?

What if this change really was for the better? Part of him wanted to reject it with every fiber of his being; the other was ready and willing. Neither could choose.

Just let it go…

Yes, that sounded good, just let everything go…

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Fallon look on in shock at the ashes. Lucis, her savior, her friend, was… gone. She fell to her knees and stared at the ground. It was over then, without their guiding light, what was left?

Fallon blinked. Something was happening in the corner of her eye, a light. She looked up and gasped. A Rahkshi stood in the ashes glowing brightly, golden armor gleamed as it shed out layer of light after light. Lucis?

The Rahkshi turned its head toward her and grinned as only someone could. It was Lucis!

Ifrit stared in open jawed amazement. A Rahkshi… of Light? It was impossible! Light and Shadow could never possibly coexist as one! And yet here it was, a being born of Shadow wielding the power of Light. Contradictions seemed to dissipate with its very existence.

Ifrit shook himself out of his stupor. He had a job to do, and no contradiction would stop him! With a mighty bellow he raced forward with his axe, intending to cleave the Rahkshi apart.

Lucis looked up calmly at the raging Makuta, as the axe reached down to strike he materialized a sword of pure light and smote the axe with it. The axe fractured, then shattered into pieces. The Makuta stared dumbly. Then Lucis charged forward and stabbed right through the Makuta with his sword.

A hole opened up in the Makuta and he blanched. This, this was not how it would end! He could not die now! Struggling, he turned around and attempted to fire off another round of fire, but he was unable to raise his arm, his body would no longer respond. The Rahkshi of Light stared at him and pointed at him. Ifrit snarled then a wave of light so powerful it blinded him raced through him. And Ifrit was no more.

Fallon stared in amazement. It was over, the Makuta had been killed, and Lucis… She looked for him and saw him collapsed on the ground, green already starting to cover the gold. She raced over to him and knelt by his head.

"Lucis?"

Lucis smiled up at her. "It would seem I can only use it in short bursts…"

Then he closed his eyes.

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In an instant everything had changed. Ira looked wearily at the both Bahamut and Respine. She had been blasted away by the Makuta and the injuries were still sharp to her. But something was wrong with Respine. He lay on the ground panting heavily; the Makuta towering over him. Then Respine looked up and his eyes locked with Ira's.

They were red.

With a howl Respine raced forward at Ira. Ira leapt out of the way of the wild attack and Respine quickly adjusted and attacked again. As Ira evaded or blocked his attacks she noticed that they were getting crisper, sharper, Respine was going to best her if it went on like this.

She spared a glance at Bahamut; he seemed content to watch the two battle one another. How like Makuta she thought. It was in that moment that Ira felt her legs kicked out from under her. Ira's eyes widened and she spat out green liquid as Respine's closed gripper sliced into her torso.

Ira closed her eyes from the pain and realized that this was probably the end. But she could not let this happen! She opened her eyes and time froze. Every detail was there for her to analyze, in a burst of strength she gripped Respine's weapon and pried it away from her body.

Time began to speed up. She watched as Respine coldly calculated what had happened. Ira grasped one of her swords and with what time she had left she flung it at the Makuta, then with the other she raced at him.

Bahamut saw what was happening with barely enough time to comprehend. He was able to evade the sword but a white blur was upon him. There was a crack and he watched as his mask fell in two separate parts. There was a gasp. Respine had caught up with Ira. His gripper latched into her spine.

Ira looked into Respine's eyes and saw the madness disappear to be replaced with confusion. Then her eyes closed and she saw only blackness…

Respine looked on unable to process it; his scanner fed him the data. Ira had been terminated; by him. Respine looked at the green seeping down the gripper and pulled back. Ira's limp body collapsed to the ground.

Respine's mind fractured. All his feelings sealed off; the hunter inside was turned on. He couldn't understand this, he didn't need to, his unfeeling mind and body told him this but his spirit was in denial. He looked up at the Makuta and knew what he had to do. He grasped a nearby mining laser drill in his spare hand. Two weapons would be better for this.

His opponent looked down upon him and readied his spear. But he had no idea what he was truly about to face.

Respine raced forward, all killer intent. He took aim with the laser drill and fired. The hot energy burst forward in a straight precise line, the Makuta moved out of the way and it pierced through the scaffolding behind him. Respine struck forward with his gripper and caught the spear in it. He raised the drill, channeled his latent power, and fired.

The laser burst through the Makuta's armor and past him. Angered, Bahamut raised his hand and punched Respine away. Respine landed on his feet and looked at something behind the Makuta. The Makuta turned his head and watched as the heavy machinery held in place earlier, now cut by the laser, began to collapse atop him.

Bahamut attempted to avoid it but it was too late. It collapsed atop and crushed him. He grimaced and looked up at the laser drill as it spun up. Respine looked at him unfeelingly. Another target terminated. The laser fired.

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Corta charged with his sword. Shiva was ready to meet him. They clashed and Corta let loose all his energy into his sword. Shiva's eyes lit up. Lines of electricity leaped over her. Corta pressed harder, he needed to end this, he had to...

Then the Light came. A wave of Light so strong it knocked the two fighters to the ground. Corta grimaced as he felt pain shoot up his leg. He had landed on a sharp part of the broken machinery and it had pierced his left leg.

He stood up; grimacing all the more. Shiva was laying down shaking her head, but she too began to rise. One of her swords had been knocked away but she still held the other tightly. Corta found that his shield had also been lost, so it would be sword to sword then.

The two struggled forward despite their injuries and clashed swords again. They glared into each other's eyes and charged forward. Corta could feel his strength waning, but he had to keep pressing…

But the Makuta's strength was more. Corta was pushed to the ground and his sword was knocked loose. Shiva stood over him triumphantly. She raised her sword and Corta felt that surge of power he had felt long before. The same surge of instinct when he fought Adnihilo.

Shiva stabbed forward with her sword and in the blink of an eye Corta stopped it with his hands, the tip plunging an inch to the side of his head. Letting his power focus, he channeled a burst of lightning through the sword. The Makuta's eyes widened and she shrieked.

He tackled the Makuta to the ground, no mean feat, and did his best to pin her. With one hand he grasped one of his bolts. Shiva was just starting to come back around when Corta plunged the bolt into her throat. She gasped. Her vision started flashing then it was gone.

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"Now THAT; is the kind of being worthy enough to fight me."

Fallon froze. That voice… A shadow rose over Lucis' prone form. Fallon looked up. It was Ifrit. His armor was torn and he had a few leaking wounds. His axe was gone, but now he held a sword; fire was searing up and down it and his armor. He looked like a demon from the blazes rumored below. And he was still alive.

"I thought I was a goner, for a moment, and only that." Ifrit raised his sword over Lucis. "Now to end it."

Fallon grasped Lucis and leapt back. Ifrit's sword cut into the ground. Ifrit raised his hungry red eyes at her.

"So, you've still got some fight left eh? Good. That'll make things interesting…"

He raced forward and Fallon was only barley able to parry the blow. Ifrit howled and pointed his sword straight at her. A cyclone of fire blasted and Fallon rolled to the side. Then the cyclone started twisting toward her. Fallon turned to face the onslaught of heat too late. She was caught.

The heat was nigh unbearable. It was scorching her armor, burning her, roasting her, alive. Wild eyed, Fallon felt a wellspring of energy build up inside of her. Then suddenly she was standing tall in the midst of the inferno. Flames licked at her feet and body but they dealt no harm. She raised her palm at the source of the scorching fire and turned them back on it.

As the rain of fire turned back onto its source, Ifrit crouched down to the ground and using his mask he lifted a chunk of the ground up as a shield from the flames. Ifrit grunted as the fire pushed hard against it, but soon it stopped. He swung and released the ground he was holding letting it fly off. Under the debris a red blur shot out. And for the second time that day Ifrit felt the pain of a sword stabbing into his gut.

Ifrit stumbled back and clenched his jaw. With a grunt he placed his palms on the hilt of the sword and tore it out. More of his precious ichor spilt out from the wound. His eyes located the tall and cool standing Rahkshi. With a roar he rushed forward, intending to crush it once and for all.

Fallon raised her palm and Ifrit found himself unable to move forward. Wide eyed he struggled in vain. Fallon took up her sword again and strode forward.

Ifrit spat out a glob of ichor. "You can't stop us, you think this means anything? The Makuta will have their revenge! This I sw—"

Ifrit gagged as the blade plunged into his throat, cutting off any further words. Fallon leaned in close.

"I'll be counting on it."

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It was nearing an end now thought Karazin. The Makuta's forces had retreated inside but 0that did little to stop or even slow Adnihilo. In a show of strength she tore the gate apart and then had her shadows flood through the city. Yes it would all be over very soon now.

Too soon.

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Bendak roared in frustration. The report had just come in; four Makuta and their armies were being besieged at Junon, by a single Rahkshi! And it wasn't just that, previously he had received word that Shiron had been killed by Rahkshi as well, the same ones she had been hunting! And to make matters worse, Bahamut had just sent him a mental note of his death; apparently he too had suffered problems with the Rahkshi.

This had gone too far. He would go to where Bahamut's message had last originated and destroy those pathetic Rahkshi. There was a reason he was the Makuta lord. And he was about to remind everyone why.