Legacy of Luin
Chapter 7: Raining Blood
"Gah!" A Desian cried out as he was swiftly run through by one of Lloyd's twin blades. Lloyd roughly shoved the fool off his blade before turning and effortlessly blocking an incoming strike from another Desian. Before the Desian could move Lloyd performed a powerful horizontal slash that cut through the Desians arms and sliced the soft skin of his neck. A spray of blood was the Desians' only response before his limp body fell and joined the countless others before him, his blood mixing with the stream of blood at Lloyd and Genis's feet.
Genis approached Lloyd after launching another unpleasant Desian into a burning building. They noticed a congregation of people in the center of the village, in front of the entrance to Iselia. Lloyd turned to Genis,
"Hey I wonder what's going on over there?" Lloyd asked. Genis replied with an honest shrugg.
"Well we better go check it out." Lloyd said and together the boys made their way over to the group of people.
Upon their arrival, they immediately knew something was wrong. The villagers were looking at them, some with fear but most of them with…disdain? The villagers cleared a path for them so they could be at the head of the group. When Lloyd and Genis found their way to the head of the villagers they noticed that they were surrounded. Desian foot soldiers and bowmen on either side of them. Some of them hardly moved, others smirked while others laughed at seeing the village burn to ashes.
'All though' Genis thought, 'The rain has reduced the fire so hopefully we'll be able to rebuild.'
A loud voice broke his revere,
"Lloyd Irving! Come forth!"
The owner of the voice belonged to a strange man with greenish hair. He wore an eye-patch on his eye and he wore odd clothing. Most noticeably of all was the large gold…cannon that adorned his left arm. He noticed the new arrivals and, recognizing them as the intruders he were searching for, spoke,
"Listen up you inferior beings! I am Forcystus, the master of the Iselian Ranch." He then pointed to Lloyd, "You! Lloyd Irving! Have been found guilty for violating the Iselian Non-Aggression Treaty. Thus! As a member of the Five Desian Grand Cardinals, I shall bestow Judgement upon you and Iselia!"
Lloyd could hardly believe what they were saying, he couldn't speak to defend himself. Genis on the other hand was more than ready,
"Are you kidding me!?" Genis yelled, he waved a hand at the Desians standing guard, "You bastards attacked us first at the Martel Temple! You guys tried to kill the Chosen!"
A Desian captain turned to Forcystus before laughing,
"Us? Attack the Chosen? It would appear as though our 'friends' are trying to kill the Chosen my Lord."
Forcystus ran his hand along his gold arm…momentarily lost in thought,
"Hmm it would appear so. Why?"
Lloyd's hearing picked up the conversation,
"Wait a sec. Are you saying you guys didn't attack the Chosen?" If they didn't attack Colette then that would mean he and Genis attacked the wrong people which would mean…
"They attacked because of us…" Lloyd whispered to himself in shock. Genis had reached the same conclusion minutes before and felt some of his anger give way to sorrow and guilt. He wanted to sob but he needed to be strong or else he and Lloyd would surely die here. He remembered Tiffany's corpse and the sight of seeing his Iselian home in a sea of flames and immediately he found his icy composure.
"No, they've always wanted to attack us. Their numbers is evidence of that." Genis stated logically.
"But we gave them a reason to come here." Lloyd countered.
The silence that ensued between them was answer enough. The boys locked eyes and nodded. They made
this mess but they wouldn't run. They'd clean it up.
Forcystus observed this moment before answering Lloyd's question,
"We have no need to reveal this information to inferior beings such as yourselves. The point of the matter is that you have been in contact with host body F192 and attacked our guards. Therefore-" Forcystus snapped his fingers and five Desians guided a giant green…thing towards Genis and Lloyd. "prepare for judgement."
The boys stared in horror at the misshapen figure in front of them. It was colossal, easily over 8 feet tall it may have reached 9 feet if it's massive arms weren't so heavy. They hung from the monster like weights and it wore what looked to be a tattered…prisoner uniform? The beast let out a roar as it's hands reached up and started cradling it's head. The blotchy green skin seemed slimy in appearance, spikes protruded from it's elbows and in the center of it's head was one yellow eye.
As Genis looked at the monster's eye, he swore he saw a flash of recognition but as quickly as it came it was gone and the beast lumbered up to him and Lloyd and with a mighty swoop of it's arm, the battle began. Genis and Lloyd jumped out the way to avoid the incoming strike, good thing too. If they had waited a second longer they would be nothing but little pancakes. Lloyd ran to the monster and performed a Sonic Thrust to it's exposed side. The monster cried and reared it's arm back but Lloyd was ready and ducked under the swing and countered with a Demon Fang before retreating to safety.
As the beast moved towards Lloyd, Genis launched a Fireball attack that found it's mark on the monster. It turned to Genis and dug it's hand into the ground, then releasing a battle cry it sent a shockwave towards Genis. Genis jumped out the way and countered with a quick Aqua Edge. The fight continued for quite some time, Lloyd realizing that he and Genis were tiring too quickly, made a plan.
"Genis! We have to end this. Bring it to it's knees and when I create an opening, blast it away with the biggest Fireball you got!" Lloyd yelled.
"You got it! Here we go, Stone Blast!"
The earth shifted beneath the monster's feet and sent it off balance. Before the creature could regain it's footing, Lloyd took the opportunity to perform a Tempest on the monstrosity's exposed back. It was a direct hit and the force of the action brought the beast to it's knees and before it could recover Genis ran up to the beast, pointed his Kendama at it's chest and with all his remaining mana shouted,
"Fireball!!"
Four white hot orbs of energy surged and exploded on contact with the beast's exposed chest. The monster was sent flying backwards and landed with a powerful thud, the monster let out a moan before becoming still.
Lloyd was overjoyed at their victory and messed with Genis' hair as he said,
"Hah! Woop! Man I can't believe that actually worked." Genis, who was panting, turned to Lloyd and chuckled,
"Yea, especially since that plan came from you." Genis taunted. Lloyd pouted and crossed his arms,
"Hey what's that supposed to mean? My plans always work." Lloyd said but Genis just gave him a
'really now' look and Lloyd turned his head,
"Well…some of them anyway." Lloyd mumbled.
Their playful moment was interrupted by the Desian Captain pointing at Lloyd,
"Sir! They defeated the Exbula and it's just as you thought. Look my lord, he has an exsphere on him."
Forcystus nodded as he observed the two boys,
"Yes, there's no doubt in my mind. It's the Angelus Project." Forcystus stepped forward and as one the Desians began to close in on the boys,
"Lloyd! Give me that exsphere! It belongs to us!" Forcystus exclaimed.
Lloyd didn't respond at first, he looked down at the shiny blue orb and began to think of his mother and the price she paid. He felt his anger coming to the surface and he made his decision. Lloyd began to breathe slowly, remembering Luin's lessons, he felt for that…other-worldly energy he felt the night before. He began to panic for a moment when he couldn't locate it but then a kind and gentle hand guided him to the energy he so desperately needed. He knew this touch, this feeling it was new and yet…it wasn't. Lloyd couldn't explain this feeling but then he heard a faint whisper,
'My momento to you Lloyd. This power is yours to command, use it wisely my beloved son…'
As quickly as the voice came, it left and as the heavenly power flooded his veins, Lloyd's eyes opened and he realized he had been staring at the exsphere the whole time. In a sad voice, he whispered,
"I love you mom." His eyes widened when he heard a whispered response,
'I'll always love you…'
"If you don't hand over that exsphere to us we will burn down this entire village! We'll send each and every last one of these people to the ranch! If you don't want their bloods on your hands then hand us your-" Forcystus's voice cut off as he felt Lloyd's mana increase. His eye patch began calculating this rapid rise in mana level. Forcystus's eyes widened as he saw the slight aura cover Lloyd and as Lloyd looked up and made eye contact with him thunder exploded in the heavens and lightening cascaded angrily across the sky.
'What is this boy!? Is this the true power of the Angelus Project!?' Forcystus thought before Lloyd began speaking,
"This exsphere is a momento of my mother-" Lloyd held his twin swords at the ready, "Whom you Desians murdered!"
"Kill him! Bring the exsphere to me! I don't care if you have to cut off his hand from his corpse!" Forcystus ordered and his men descended upon Lloyd. What happened next was something Forcystus's mind could never truly comprehend.
Lloyd moved forward and in a flurry of slashes and acrobatics, decapitated two of his men and vaulted over their bodies. He turned to parry an incoming blow and stabbed the Desian, then he swung the body around to knock over an attacking Desian and Lloyd moved on. Slowly but surely, Lloyd was felling the Desians. Forcystus couldn't believe it, his Desians were being overwhelmed…by a boy!? This made no sense! And…what in the holy name of Martel?! Three consecutive lightening strikes took out three Desians. Forcystus looked at the silver-haired elf standing aside, they made eye contact and Genis shrugged. If the boy didn't cast those attacks then who…
---
Luin laughed as he launched yet another lightening strike onto an unsuspecting Desian!
"Oh man Dirk! This is the most fun I've had all day! HAHAHAHA!" Luin laughed malevolently as a particularly large bolt 'happened' to almost hit Lordy Forcystus. Dirk merely stared at the crazed man sending lightening bolts at his own nephew.
"Luin your insane!" Dirk bellowed but Luin laughed even harder,
"And loving every minute of it! Muhahahahaha!"
---
Lloyd continued to move and fell more Desians. He was tiring. Even with the aid of these random lightening strikes(which he somehow knew was Luin's doing) he still had a whole platoon to fight off. Lloyd saw Forcystus recovering from almost getting hit by a stray lightening bolt and mada a daring decision. A stupid, rash, daring decision, but he shrugged. That's just how he rolled. With his plan in mind Lloyd turned, aimed and performed a Tempest…heading straight for Forcystus.
The Grand Cardinal side-stepped the boy's attack and countered by swinging his golden arm at Lloyd. However he underestimed Lloyd's speed and his attack missed, Lloyd took the momentary opening to launch a particulary nasty Beast at Forcystus which knocked him aside into the direction of the Sages' household. Desians ran to help their lord but he waved them away,
"No! He is mine! Your going to regret attacking me Lloyd. Even with your newfound strength, your years too young to defeat me!" Forcystus warned.
"Maybe but I won't give up! You will pay for what you've done here!" Lloyd yelled and with a rush of adreneline he charged Forcystus.
Lloyd slashed at Forcystus who blocked his swords with his golden arm and with his other punched Lloyd in the face. This tactic surprised Lloyd but before he could recover Forcystus rammed his golden arm into Lloyd's chest. The wind was knocked out of Lloyd's body but he quickly performed a backward roll and stood up just in time to see Forcystus finishing a spell,
"Air Thrust!"
Immediately the air around Lloyd turned into minature blades that shredded and tore at Lloyd's body. Lloyd let out a cry of pain but as soon as the attack came it was gone. Forcystus ran up to Lloyd but Lloyd was ready and quickly perfomed a Demon Fang to knock Forcystus off balance. Before he could recover, Lloyd attacked with a Sonic Thrust but Forcystus knew this tactic and dodged the tech and with his momentum he swung his golden cannon arm into Lloyd's exposed side. Lloyd cried out in pain as he was powerfully knocked across the village into building that once housed the Halo supply shop. The bystanders winced and Genis desperately looked for a sign of movement.
Crumbling wood began to move and a disoriented Lloyd made his way out of the rubble and back to where the villagers stood. Lloyd shook his head and readied himself for another round but Forcystus laughed as he rejoined his Desian comrades,
"Your efforts are futile! Hand us the exsphere and we shall leave!" Forcystus tried to bargain but Lloyd would have none of it,
"Liars! You'll destroy this village anyway. I'll never hand over my exsphere to you, I'd rather die." Lloyd said finally and Forcystus smirked,
"That-" he aimed his golden arm at Lloyd and the villagers, and the arm opened to reveal a hidden cannon"-can be arranged."
The cannon was surrounded by four flaps that hid the weapon, the cannon itself had mysterios carvings on it. The carvings began to glow and the cannon began making a whining sound.
'Shit!' Lloyd thought, 'It's going to go off…and I can't stop it!' Lloyd prepared himself to bring up a Guardian when the unthinkable happened.
The giant monstrosity got up and wrapped it's arms around Forcystus. One of the arms made sure to block the cannon's sights and the weight of the monster brought Forcystus to his knees,
"What the-" Forcystus began but was cut off when…the Exbula began to speak!,
"Genis…Lloyd…Please you…must…run…away!" It's voice seemed forced and ragged, it was breathing hard and yet the voice sounded so familiar to Lloyd, yet he couldn't quite place it. Genis however, knew that voice all too well,
"Marble…" He whispered as he stared up at the creature.
"What?" Lloyd said as he looked at the monster again, "There's no way…"
Genis was absolutely sure of the voice but he couldn't find the voice to say anything, he fell to his knees. His icy composure quickly cracking,
"No…Marble…what?"
The Exbula began breathing even harder and it sounded in so much pain, a pain that HE himself had caused. Knots of guilt began twisting and forming in his soul and hot tears began to fall as he heard her dying words,
"Please…you must…get…away!" Then the monster turned it's one eye to Genis and with all the human emotion left in her soul she said,
"Genis…you were like…a grandson to me…" Another laboured breath, "Take care…may…Martel…bless…and pro…tect you always…Thank You, good…bye…Ge..nis."
Tears were now streaming down Genis' face as his mind worked trying to think of something, anything he could do to save her. Yet deep inside he knew the answer, there was nothing he nor anybody could do and that truth hurt more than any physical pain he could ever experience. As he watched on as her body began to glow and the mana inside her body began to rapidly increase, too rapidly to be contained, he found himself thinking back…back to the time when he first met this benevolent angel…to the time he found Marble.