Chapter 14: Mind's Eye
Finally resolved the Isaac/Isaak issue. It doesn't really matter which you use (due to the way translating Japanese to English works), so it's just my personal preference which one I pick, but I should at least stick to one. So I've gone through and replaced all instances of "Isaak" with "Isaac". Okay?
"Phoenix Storm!"
The words were audible as far as the surface; their effects, even more so. Beneath the ground, a jet of flames speared right through Asterion, melting the rock at the opposite end of the cavern and carving out a metre-wide hole.
Asterion appeared shocked for a second, a smouldering hole neatly punched through his midsection—then his image wavered and faded, the Silver Saint appearing unharmed behind Shun, panting a little.
"An illusion…" Shun realised. "You switched right as I attacked, using the flash as cover. You're fast…"
Asterion began backing away. "Oh, absolutely…but not compared to you, Phoenix. Your power exceeds mine, I freely admit. The title 'Bronze Saint' doesn't do you justice…I can see how you conquered Death Queen Island single-handed."
"Then how—"
"Quite simply, I can see your thoughts. I knew exactly when you'd attack and how." He smiled. "Ah, now I've got you nervous." He continued reading Shun's mind as the two circled. "No, that won't work. Interesting plan, but still no. And not that either, I'm afraid. And…come now, that's just ridiculous."
"Genma Ken!" Shun sprung at Asterion, trying to attack without thinking or planning, just acting on his first instinct. The pencil-thin beam of light shot straight for Asterion's head, but passed through another illusory figure, dissipating it.
"Good try," came Asterion's voice from across the cavern. "Unfortunately, even instinctive moves require brain activity; there's nothing you can do that I won't see coming."
Shun turned, mind racing. Damn! If I could just trap him with the Genma Ken…he wouldn't know what thoughts were real and what he was hallucinating…it'd neutralise him completely!
Asterion nodded, reading this thought too. "Such an unwieldy technique…you need to land a direct hit on the enemy to affect them with your illusions…but mine?" He snapped his fingers, a column of illusory copies forming next to him. "Now do you see the difference between us?"
Shun took a deep breath, facing Asterion with as much calm as he could muster. "I'm not intimidated by your imaginary friends. Attack as you like."
"If you insist." Asterion closed his eyes, directing his copies to advance. "Million Ghost Attack."
"This way," June said, leading Jabu—supporting Isaac's exhausted frame—down the darkening passageway. "Shun's Cosmos keeps getting lower…"
The cramped natural corridor soon opened out into a larger cavern; small fires burned here and there, reflecting off water-polished rock and illuminating the cave in a dim glow. At the centre of a swirl of still-steaming, half-melted stone, Shun lay unconscious; Asterion stood a short way away, walking towards the body.
"Oh, you arrived…." He muttered. "I was hoping you'd be a bit slower. I haven't finished him yet."
"And nor will you." Isaac tapped his foot on the ground, a column of ice racing out and snaking for Asterion's footing; the Silver Saint jumped back, smiling.
"Save your effort. If even the Phoenix couldn't beat my telepathy, fodder like you three don't have a hope in hell."
"No-one's invincible," June reminded them. "Stay calm."
Jabu nodded. Hold on, Shun. We're getting you outta here.
"I'll provide a screen," Isaac muttered. "Break left and right, hit him from different angles."
"Good plan!" Asterion called.
"Ignore him." Isaac's fingers uncurled. "Diamond Dust."
A chill wind swirled towards Asterion, who raised one arm then swung it back down, scything through Isaac's attack and scattering it; as he did so, Jabu and June appeared on opposite sides of him, lunging simultaneously.
He bent his legs slightly, springing away at Mach 2 and leaving an illusory copy in his place, which they swung into, dissolving it and crashing into each other.
Still in the air, Asterion's eyes narrowed, countless copies appearing and filling the upper half of the cave.
"Incoming!" Isaac yelled, but he was too exhausted to put up an effective defence, and the other two were still standing back up.
"Million Ghost Attack!" At the words, the dozens of immaterial Hound Saints swooped down, each extending one leg and striking their targets a barrage of numbing blows, knocking them back and forth with ever-greater force.
Asterion landed, his copies disappearing, catching his breath after the energy-intensive manoeuvre.
"What kind of attack was that?" Jabu groaned. "It was like they were all real for a second…"
"How many times did he hit us?" June wondered, dragging herself over to the others.
"I'd boast that I've had worse," Isaac muttered, "but that's actually just kind of depressing."
Asterion began to stroll towards them. "I wonder if any of you are well-read. Does this sound familiar? Thou losest labour: As easy mayst thou the intrenchant air with thy keen sword impress as make me bleed: and then, you know, something something something, no man of woman born." He shrugged. "It's been a while, but I've always liked the notion."
June slowly stood, regaining her balance and bringing her Cosmos back up. "If I may counter with something a little more recent…" She pointed over at him. "But no living man am I! You look upon a woman."
Asterion frowned. He could see the plan she'd just formed…and it wasn't bad. Unbeknownst to him, a single sweat-drop began to slide down his face.
"Isaac, Jabu." She addressed them while keeping her eyes on Asterion. "Single out a thought, or a memory, or a person, or a thing…something you have strong emotions attached to. Fix it in your mind. Focus on it as hard as you can. Broadcast it. Feel it so strongly he won't be able to pick up any other thoughts, okay?"
"Got it." Isaac's hand rose to his scarred eye. That day…I failed you, Hyoga…
"'Kay." Jabu sat back, his face relaxing. Saori…give me strength…
Asterion took a step back. Focus…focus! She's the only one not doing it; she'll be the only one attacking me. Focus on her thoughts! Ignore those two…ignore them, damn it!
He couldn't.
He rushed at June, trying to strike before he was overwhelmed and he was living that day with Isaac, and he felt the anger and sadness and shame and loss and he couldn't save Hyoga, that stupid, brave boy, and he was all Camus had left and he didn't know if he could shoulder the responsibility alone and his eye was gone and—
—and June was driving punches into him, knocking him back step by step; she saw the mist leave his eyes, knew he'd regained his senses, and quickly swung around and pulled him into a headlock. He made to break away, to hit back, to summon an illusion, something, and—
—and he saw Saori as Jabu saw her, and she was the most beautiful person in the world, and her wisdom and courage were all the inspiration he'd ever need, and whatever she'd done in the past he could forgive now he had the new her, the perfect her, he'd die a thousand times if she asked, and—
—and his consciousness swam back to the surface, just in time to lose it more substantially as her hold tightened, squeezing all the breath from his lungs. He passed out, and she let him fall, standing back and wiping her forehead.
She walked back over to her allies—both still in intense focus—and crouched down, wiping a tear from the corner of Isaac's good eye and pulling them both into a hug. "Thank you."
"I can't believe that worked," Isaac breathed. He was more inclined to think than feel; a strategy like this was outside his field of experience.
"Remember that it did," June said. "Remember this fight. Our enemies might be stronger than us, but I know guys like that will never be able to feel as deeply as friends like you."
Jabu smiled. "Let's get outta here."
"Right…can you still carry Isaac?"
"I think so."
"Okay." June headed over to Shun, hefting his limp form onto her shoulder. "I'll get the idiot."
They emerged into the sunlight, blinking as they returned to the surface, still in the rocky wasteland at the mountain's base.
"Is it over?" Jabu asked, setting down his passenger and collapsing. "I can't go on…"
"Afraid not," June answered. "Toma said there are two squads; the crow Saint that attacked Saori—and from the Cosmos in that region, it seems like she took care of him—was the only member of the second squad we've seen."
"They work in groups of five, usually," Isaac supplied, sitting up. "The first squad was Toma, Misty, Babel, Moses and Asterion. The second squad is the crow Saint…and Shaina I suppose…and three more who've been held in reserve."
"Three more Silver Saints?!" Jabu clutched his head. "We can't handle that…"
"And since their comrades are all down, they're probably already on the way," June said, her face grim.
"Correction!" came the call from the ledge above. "They're already here!"
Three resounding clangs of metal brushing stone echoed from above as the final trio of Silver Saints leapt from their vantage point, surrounding the exhausted Bronzes as they landed.
The tallest clutched a razor-sharp disc in each hand, an elaborate half-headpiece holding his flowing hair in check. "Auriga Capella!"
The stockiest, his Cloth providing his body almost full coverage in plate armour, slowly whirled a spiked morning-star, a cocky smile edging onto his face. "Cerberus Dante!"
The third, his Cosmos far eclipsing that of the other two, gave off an unhealthy impression—cruel eyes, pale skin, tinted-green hair. Something large and metallic hung at his back, shifting with a life of its own. "Perseus Argol!"
"Hey, you were right," Jabu muttered. "One for each of us."
"Considerate of them," Isaac said wearily.
A dull noise next to Seiya's head awoke him—he tilted his head in its direction, and when he opened his eyes, he was greeted with the sight of the Pegasus Clothbox.
"Hey, buddy," he mumbled, weakly patting the metal. "You're late."
"I apologise." The voice was deep, husky—and familiar.
Seiya squinted up through the sunlight, trying to make sense of the figure that swam into view. It was the Black Dragon Saint, but wearing Shiryu's Cloth. These two facts swam around and bounced off each other in his blurry mind for a while, before he gave up.
"Hello," he managed.
"I don't have time to explain, but your Cloth is repaired—better than new." Black Dragon was already leaving as he spoke. "If you survive today, go to India and seek out Mu of Jamir. He will tell you everything."
"Whu…?"
"If you have any strength left, follow after me. I will probably be dead, but I promise you this—I will open the path for your victory."
"…uh?"
He said no more, springing away.
After a few minutes, Seiya managed to lever himself up to one knee, using the box as balance, resting one elbow on it. A footstep to his left alerted him—Toma, heavily bruised, swaying on his feet, was slowly advancing.
"I recovered faster," he rasped. "Looks like…I win in the end, Seiya."
Seiya's eyes narrowed, his grip tightening on his Clothbox—then relaxing as he felt a gentle hand on his shoulder.
"Leave him to me, Seiya," said Shaina. "Go to your friends."
"Thank you…" He stood, shouldering the box with some effort and setting off after Black Dragon as fast as he could manage. Hold on, guys...
Toma glared at Shaina. In my current state…I'd stand no chance. "Are you here to kill me?"
"No." She sat down in front of him, motioning for him to do the same. "We need to talk."
So, just in case anyone didn't know what I was on about, Asterion was quoting Macbeth and June was quoting Lord of the Rings (the books, since although the movie's "I am no man" would have been more succinct, the Sanctuary arc takes place in the year 1987, and thus the movies wouldn't have come out yet). The reason I had Asterion forget the second half of the line is because that scene actually contains the phrase "one of woman born" rather than "man of woman born". But the play contains the "man" version several times, so I think the overall effect of the scene hopefully still works.
And yeah, basically one more big clash to round out the Silver Saints bit, coming up.
Q: It seems that all the Bronze Saints are going to survive. Will Ikki come soon?
A: He doesn't really know exactly what's going on with everybody else, Andromeda Island is a long way away. But with that said, we still might see him soon.