Chapter Twelve: The Endless Gravestones

In a village Clare is seen killing three Yomas. After that she swung her claymore sword to get rid of the purple blood on it.

Some of the villagers started to whisper to amongest themselves.

"Incredible, she killed three yomas all at once."

"So that's a Silver eyed witch."

While the villgers were talking, Sora look at her with a proud smile. "Clare"

Clare then placed her sword on her back, she then look at the villagers. "The job is done. A man in black will be sent to collect the money." She stated to them.

The two were then out of the village and continune on walking. "Clare you've been amazing latlely." Sora said to her. "You can strike down three or four yoma at once."

Clare didn't say anything as she was too busy thinking about her mission lately. "It's gotten so that in battle, I can read the energy of ordinary Yoma." She thought. "I can beat them, no matter how many there are." She then grip her hand tightly. "But if I want to stay alive...I have to get stronger."

...

So, there were three yoma in the village. And you took them down in an instant."Rubel who was resting on a log said to Clare. "Excellent."

"That's my job." Clare told him. "They weren't much trouble."

"Your work has commendable latley. I've noitices, that you've been getting into less trouble latley, and I believe your manners have improve a lot latley. Did Something Happen?" He asked.

"It was during the hunt for the awakened being, I relise what my limitation were and humble by the experience." She explained while half lying to him. but he believe her and just smile.

"Sorry to keep piling on the work, but we've received another request about an awakened being." He told her. "North of here is a place called Gonahl a village near a small castle, It's already in ruins." He began to explain to Clare was listening very careful to him. "The target is a former single digit. The village was destroyed within half a day after she arrived. She's much stronger then the male you fought before. If you don't want to die, you've better give it all you've got."

Clare then turn back. "I won't die. you can trust me on that." She said as she began to walk away, after hearing that it caused Rubel to larger smile on his face.

"Isn't that encouraging?" He said to himself. "Good luck."

...

"Whoa.." Sora said in complete amazement as he look on from the large hill. "Hey Clare, I can see it! That's the town right? He asked her, as he pointed to a Coasta village, Clare then went to look herself.

"It's amazing, we've come a long way. It's like we've walked to the end of continent." He said to her with a proud smile.

"Damn. I wanted to leave Sora at a nearby village, but there weren't any decent ones around." Clare thought to herself. Clare then started to head to the city.

"Clare, Hold on a second!" Sora shouted which made Clare stop walking and look back at Sora who slowly walk up to her. "Before we go, I wanted to give you something." He then pulled something out of his pocket which turn out to be a small bag which was in an odd shape and a red ribbon on it. "Here you go, think of it my way saying thank for all you've done for me." He said with a big grin.

Clare then took the bag and untied the ribbon, she then put her hand in it and pulled whatever was in the bag. Which turn out to be a star-shaped necklace, which was similar to the necklace that Sora had but this one was green, the same colour green that match Clare's eyes when she was in Rabona. This made Clare to be slightly surprised by this.

"I had this made, while you were on Voracious Eaters mission." He explained. "The one I have, was given to me by my mom. She use to tell this story, that on a island there grows a tree with star-shaped fruit and the fruit repersents an unbreakable bond. So as long as you and your friends carry good luck necklaces nothing can ever drive you apart. You'll always find your way back to each other."

Clare remain quite after that.

"Clare what's wrong? Do you not like it?" He asked her with a slight sad look on his face.

"No, actually it was nice of you to do that." She reassured Sora with her calm expression, which made him feel better. She then put the necklace in her pocket. "I sense a warrior's aura here, but I don't sense an awakened being. Where is it?" She thought . "Let's get going, Sora." She said to him. Then the both of them started to head to the village.

They then were in the Coasta village and saw many houses were completely destroyed.

"Whoa..what's going on here? What happened to the village?"Sora said with a shock and questinabal

"This is not good! By the looks of things, I've got a tough battle ahead." She thought.

She then look at the entrance for the town centre. "The other warriou's aura is over there." She thought. "Let's go, Sora." She said to him as she kept on walking. "Oh, okay." He replied as he catch up with her.

"What's this I sense?" She wondered. "It's very strange, I feel that every cell in my body is trying to warn me, what could it be?"

The two entered the town centre. They them saw another Claymore.

The other Claymore heard them approaching she then turn to face them to which both Sora and Clare saw the Claymore who had pale, silvery blond hair, which she weared in a long and tight braid. Her hairline was in a strong widow's peak and she also had elf-like ears.

"Ah, good afternoon." The warriour said in a slight friendly manner. "So what's with the little boy?"

This caught Sora and Clare slightly off guard. "Oh him? He's with me." Clare said to the warriour. "There was no place nearby where I could leave him, so I had to bring him along." She explained.

Clare began looking around the area. "It took us so long to get here, I thought the others would be here by now." She said.

"Actually, I think were we're it." The warriour stated.

This slightly surprised Clare. "You mean that the two of us will take it on alone?" She asked her.

"You got it." The warriour answered still in a slight friendly manner. "But the truth is, I've coulda handle this one by myself. So I guess you're just a bonus!"

Hearing that made Clare to be slightly uneasy. "She's in the single digits." She thought. "But is she one of the top five? Her embelm, I know for certain when I see it."

She then saw the warriour giving her a slight smile. Then suddenly she appeared behind Clare who was completely caught off guard by this. The warriour then grabbed her tightly.

"Don't be offended, but you smell very similar to a awakened being to me!" She said to Clare in a serious manner. "Hold on, I just want to smell you a bit longer you see I kinda like it."

"Hey you! Get away from Clare now!" Sora shouted to the warriour.

Then the warrior kicked Sora right in the face, causing him to fall to the ground. "Stay Back, Boy or I'll kill you!" She said in a completely threatening tone. Sora then slowly got back up and felt his nose dripping with blood and slightly covering the lower half of his face, which made him to be completely stunned by this. Seeing Sora in that state caused Clare to be angry at this.

She then tried to break free from the warriou's grip but was having no luck. "My aren't you strong." She commented. "Could you really be so upset about that boy getting hurt?" She then applied a more tighter grip on Clare. "You should keep still, since I'm not giving you a choice in the matter." She said.

She then put her hand inside Clare's clothes which made Clare more uneasy. Then the warriour used the hand that was inside Clare's clothes to slightly pierces her skin. She then took her hand out which two of her fingers were covered in Clare's blood. She then put the two fingers that had blood in her mouth to taste it.

"Now that taste strange." She commented on the taste of her blood, she then look at Clare with a serious expression. "It's odd, but it also taste familiar. You seem to be one of us but are you? If you've Awakened...I'll kill you right now."

"I SAID, LET CLARE GO NOW!" Sora shouted, as he swrong a sword at the warriour which made her let go of Clare and jump onto a broken wall.

"Sora!" Clare said completely shock, that somehow Sora had a sword.

While trying to catch his breath, Sora rests his Sword pointing away from him towards his right side with both of his hands. "This Sword was given to me by Galk, touch Clare again And I'll stab this sword right through you." He said to the warriour, with a complete serious tone and expression. Which even made Clare to be slightly stunned.

"My ain't you a brave little human." The warrior said, as she look at the small cut on her arm from Sora's sword. She then placed her fingers over the wound which covered her fingers in blood, she then brought her hand to her face to see the blood on her fingers. "Ah look, beautiful isn't it." She said commenting on her blood she then lick a small amount of blood of her fingers.

"You only see this amazing colour, when a body is split open. More lovely then roses don't you think?" She said as she turned to face Sora and Clare. Once She faced them Clare look at her with a slightly stunned look. "And how I'll make that little boy bloom! Oh yes." She said with a sinister grin.

"She's, Number four Ophelia!" Clare thought as she saw the warriour's emblem.

"My, My, Your expression changed when you saw my emblem." Ophelia said to her in a amuse tone. "I guess someone been talking about me, your have to tell me who?" She then jumped off the broken wall. "I really should thank them. But first, let's try something..." She said still with a amuse expression.

This left Sora slightly puzzled expression. He then saw a sword appeared right in front of his face and it turn out to be Clare who had used her sword to block Ophelia's sword who had appeared behind him, which made Sora to be shock by this. Clare look at Ophelia with a serious expression. "Damn!" She muttered.

"Well done, you're faster then I expected." She told her, she then let out a slight chuckle. Ophelia then move her sword away from Clare and went for another attack on Sora. But Clare quickly push him out of the way and she then block her sword attack with her sword.

"Why are you doing this?" Clare asked her in a serious tone. "Have you forgotten the law? If you kill a human then you have to die, So what are you wanting Death?" She asked Ophelia.

"Oh, come on now Clare." Ophelia said, as if Clare had asked her a stupied question. "You only die If yourself in. Sure they'll chop your head, if you report it but who would do that?"

"How can you say that?!" Clare said, completely disguested by how she can treat human life so badly.

Oh course, sometimes there are loose ends, like witnesses but you can get rid of those easy enough." She simply said to Clare who still look at her with a slight anger expression, seeing her like that made Ophelia to slightly laugh at this.

Ophelia then had a fake surprise expression. "Here's an idea, let's play a little game." She said. This made Clare to be puzzled by this. When Suddenly she look on in Shock as Ophelia sliced her legs off, which made Sora look on in complete horror. Then Both Clare and her slice legs drop to the ground. Which caused her to slightly scream in pain.

"CLARE!" Sora shouted in concern, as he run to her but unfortunately for him Ophelia block his way.

"Now pay attention, While I explain the rules." She said looking down at the injured Clare. "So, the game starts with me taking on the boy." She explained as she look on at Sora. "Of course I won't be doing it at full strength, just yet. First I'll lower myself to match him." Hearing this made Clare to be even more mad at Ophelia. "But, with every passing minute I'll let myself to get just a bit stronger. Increasing my speed and strength a little bit at a time. At a rough guess... I'll say about ten minute I'll have his in my hands." She said looking down at Clare once more. "All you have to do is attach your legs and rescue him in time. So it's really simple, if you take too long, he dies. But if you rush getting your legs attach and they don't work you won't be able to help him, admit it that does sound like fun doesn't?"

Clare began wasting no time and tried to quickly get to her legs. Ophelia then let out a sadistic smile. "Let's start..." She said as she turn to face Sora who took his battle stances. She then slowly walk to him "Ready...Go! She said as she swrong her sword at Sora who quickly blocked the strike but was slightly push back from it. Whil that was happening Clare had finally reach to her legs.

Sora then quickly went for the offensive attack but Ophelia was able to block his attacks so effortlessly each time while she look at him with a mockery smile which made Sora to be getting slightly annoyed by this.

Clare then started to attach one of her legs on her body, she then made her eye's to turn golden and veins started to appear on her face. "This should work, if I just alternate my yoki aura between healing and regenerating." Seeing this happening caused Ophelia to look on and let out a slight chuckle. Seeing this as his chance he went for a thrust strike, this surprised Ophelia a little bit but was still able to dodge the attack and moved around him and look at with a faint smile.

"My, I'm impress you're actually better then I thought. Still room for improvement." She said to Sora who was trying to catch his breath. "Opps, It's been one minute, better level up!" She said as she grab her sword with both hands and swrong her at Sora who block it the strike with his sword but the strike was powerful it caused Sora's sword to slightly pierce him, he then quickly pulled it out of him.

"You have to hold your sword properly boy. It's a double-edged sword, after all. She told him.

Hearing all of this caused Clare to be distracted and cause her leg to drop off. "Damn it!" She mutterd she then tried to attach once more.

"Well that's not going to work is it?" Ophelia said to her. "What did I tell you? If you rush it, they won't stay together and you'll be no help, and he does need help." Seeing her taking her eyes of him, Sora went for the attack as he lift his sword she strike the right side of his body this made to wrench in pain. "But of course if you do manage to reattach them, well they won't be a hundred percent."

Clare quickly went back to reattaching her legs. "Stay calm. Focus." She thought as she shut her eyes to concentrate.

"What a good, little obedient girl you are." Ophelia commented in a amuse tone. "Your doing exactly what your told to do." She then look back at Sora. "Three!" She simply said, as she strike the top of his arm but to her surprise Sora didn't scream and kept on looking at her with a serious expression. "Three! And Three!" She said once more as she strike Sora's back in three different places but he still didn't scream and still kept on looking at her with a serious expression. "MY, MY!"She said in amazement.

"HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!" Ophelia began laughing in completele delight as she kept on striking Sora in several places of his body such as his arm and legs. "HA HA HA HA! THIS IS SO MUCH FUN! I LOVE FIGHTING THIS CHILD! She said in complete happiness with a sickening smile. "OH, JUST LOOK! HE'S TRYING SO HARD NOT TO DISTRACT YOU, THAT HE'S NOT MAKING A SOUND. NO MATTER WHAT I DO HE WON'T SCREAM EVEN THOUGH HE'S IN TERRIBLE PAIN, YES HE'S SOAK IN BLOOD AND WANT'S TO CRY!" She then began to let a small laugh.

Then Sora swing his at Ophelia who blocked the attack with her sword. "Do me a favour and keep it to yourself, why don't you! Come on those attack of your are so weak! You've barley scratch me!" He said to her in a serious tone with a confident smile.

This left Ophelia to be slightly stun by Sora outburst she then started to have a smile on her face. "I've never seen anything so heroic!" She said as she let out a small chuckle. "You two are amazing... just fantastic I mean it! Who do I kill first? Such a difficult decisio, I don't know who's grieving will be the most fun fun to watch."

Suddenly Ophelia had a slight surprise expression. As she saw a girl who was in her teen's with long, dark hair and was wearing ragged clothes and leggings was slowly appeared the town centre.

"Well, what do we have here?" The girl wondered.

Sora heard the voice behind and quickly turn to look at the girl. "No! Get out of here!" He shouted trying to warn her.

"Why would I do that?" She asked with a smile as if Sora had said something silly to her.

"Aw, she's here already." Ophelia said in a slight disappointed tone. "It's too bad really, because I so enjoying playing our little game." Sora just look on with a slight confuse expression.

"I can't believe my luck, two Claymores and a human." The girl said. "The boy smells intoxicating, it so delicious." She said, as tentacles. started to appear from her back. "Can't help myself, I'll have to eat him first! Hope you understand." Then the girl body began to slowly morphing into something inhuman.

The girl's body then turn into a Kneeling, elongated humanoid form with Wing-like arms and hair expand into hundreds of tentacles.

"It's the Awakened Being!" Clare thought in complete shock