(A/n: hello I'm back, with a new chapter to boot. So in other words…enjoy.)
Blood and Steel
Chapter 29
As the sun rose over the horizon bathing the city in an orange hue, with a certain python watching it work it's magic with the same fascination he had on the back of the giant serpent from yesterday, and he wasn't the only one enjoying it. Ripper seeing through his eyes from his spot in Vex sub consciousness enjoying the view and like Vex didn't say a word, if there was one thing he and Vex agreed on was that they both enjoyed watching the sunrise in hope of seeing a red sun.
"Damn I was hoping it would be red." Ripper thought to his counterpart.
"Well I geuss we have to wait for it to set then." Vex thought back getting an agreeing grunt from Ripper.
Walking back inside off of the balcony and back into his room looking into the room to see his armor on the desk with the mask on the side of the desk. Having stayed up all night fixing it finding some of the skavengers had damaged it, while he was being held captive. He also did some adjustments to his mask so he wouldn't have to take it off all the time. Taking his hood off the desk and put it on along with the mask clipping it on to the skin tight hood.
Wanting to test it out Vex simple twitched his head back letting the metal mask split into four parts before they slid to the side of his jaw. Seeing that worked out well, he violently twitched his head forward letting the mask clasp back together in quick succession with an barely audible click.
"Yep, works like a charm." Vex thought to himself with satisfaction.
"You don't say, I'm surprised you built that over night instead of doing this." Ripper thought sending him some images of Vex and Zia in compromising positions.
"What the hell man, that's not cool at all." Vex thought back to a laughing Ripper with a blush on his face.
Hearing a knock on his door Vex unclipped the mask and threw his hood over to his bed before he opened the door to see Zia standing there in her pajamas that was that was black and red in some spots. The images in his head still fresh in his mind only made him blush a lot more than ever turning his dark camouflage scales to a noticeable dark red, which didn't go unnoticed by Zia.
"Hey, are you okay, your not running a fever are you?" Zia asked in worry as she reached up and touched his face.
"No, no, no I'm fine." He said gently grabbing her arm, "But thanks for asking." Vex said appreciatively seeing the concern slowly fading away from her face.
Deciding to drop the subject Zia looked down at the mask in his hand, seeing its fanged smile, which was cut into the metal, "I'm guessing that you stayed up all night on that." Zia said pointing at the metal mask.
"Yeah, actually it only took half the night." Vex said gesturing toward the desk with the rest of his repaired armor.
"Mind if I come in?" Zia asked only for Vex to step to the side allowing her in his room.
After walking in to his room the two stayed silent for about a good minute as they both contemplated what to say. It wasn't until Vex broke the awkward silence, since it was making him feel very uncomfortable at the moment.
"So you wanted to talk to me about something?" Vex asked his childhood friend who nodded before she spoke.
"No I just came in to see if you are alright." She said turning her gaze toward Soul Ripper which, sat on the end of his bed before she picked it up to look at deadly but beautiful red blade, "So this is why you kept that necklace around your neck?"
"In a way yes and no." Vex said rubbing the back of his head.
"How so?" She asked curious.
"Well I gave the amulet to Rastaban a few years back before I was captured and forced to fight like a caged animal, but I had no idea of the sword being inside the amulet so that was a huge surprise to me too." Vex said rubbing the back of his head before lying down on the bed.
"But Ripper knew about this all along?" Zia asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Yes because one you wouldn't have been able to run me through if I knew about it and he was being an asshole at the time, his reason being was so that he could personally get acquainted with the bastards on the boat, and we all know how that ended." Vex said with a chuckle.
"Yeah he ended up tearing them all apart literally." Zia said remembering the massacre she witnessed first hand, putting down the sword back into its original spot.
Looking back up to see Vex's tail disappear behind the bathroom door before the sound of rushing water came from the bathroom. After a few minutes Vex came back out of the bathroom with his shirt in his right hand showing off his slim yet defined looking physic earning a blush from the cobra. Luckily, her scales made it almost in possible to tell if she was even blushing, but that didn't stop her eyes from roaming his body. Starting from the bottom and slowly moving her way up and what made it even better from her viewpoint she could see the python standing in the sunlight making the camouflaged colored python look beyond hot seeing some of the light bathe the python in an orange hue.
Feeling a set of eyes on him, Vex turned around to see Zia staring at him, "Hey, you okay?" he asked the cobra before him seeing her shake her head and blink a few times.
"Wha-? Oh, yes I'm fine I just dozed off for a minute." Zia said hoping he would believe her.
"With your eyes open?" Vex questioned with a raised brow before a smirk became plastered on his face, "If I didn't know any better I'd say you'd you were mentally stripping me down." Vex said while walking forward towards the cobra on his bed.
"And if I was staring, what are you going to do about it?" Zia asked in a mocking tone.
"That's a really good question?" Vex said before he suddenly leaned forward and kissed her catching her by surprise, getting his intended response from her with a smirk as cut the kiss giving the cobra sometime to regain her composure as he grabbed some clothes and walked into the bathroom to take his shower.
After a good five minutes Vex came back out with a pair of blue jeans on to find that Zia had left. Shrugging his shoulders Vex went toward the desk where he picked up a shirt. It was all black with orange snake like eyes on the front. On the back of the shirt in orange letters was "Apex Predator". Putting the shirt on Vex also took his armor and put it in a bag before he left his room heading for the mess hall for some breakfast. As soon as he got some food he walked over to a table that had Hunter and Rastaban sitting there.
"What's up Vex." Rastaban said greeting his friend as he sat down next to him.
"The sky." Vex answered before turning to Hunter and greeted the cheetah with a nod of his head, eating his food in quick succession leaving nothing on the plate.
"Damn dude!" Hunter and Rastaban said with a look of surprise on their face.
"Hey try eating that piece of shit off that boat for six months straight." Vex said rolling his eyes.
(At Malefor's lair)
"Sir we have found the crystal and brought it back just as you asked." A large ape said with a huge dark crystal behind him.
"Good, now break it." Malefor stated calmly.
Without questioning his decision a small ape that had a chisel and a hammer climbed to the top of the crystal. Once he found a spot he began to chip away at the crystal. After a minute or so of chipping a loud cracking sound was heard throughout the room as a crack ran down the crystal all the way to the ground, making the small ape fall from the crystal as it began to crack and break off into smaller pieces. Before the crystal fully break, two eyes opened up fully before shards of the crystal exploded.
After everyone shielded themselves from the shards Malefor along with Ken and Mimik looked at the black crystal that now lay on the ground in pieces. Not long after the dust settled down, a black scaled hand shot out of the rubble and caught the ape who broke the large crystal by the neck and lifted him up off the ground while bringing the rest of his body out from under the corrupted crystal.
The culprit responsible for the hand around the smaller apes throat was an obsidian black anaconda with a katana that was black and it had a silver streak going down to the tip of the sword. He wore a cloak that had many tears at the end giving him a deathly appearance. He had on some black form fitting armor with metal pieces that were placed in specific spots, which happened to be, on his ribs, shoulders, legs, and forearms. As the Poor ape looked into his eyes the he saw hellfire red eyes in the middle while their seemed to be black coming from the sides consuming the red.
"In most cases I would usually break the persons neck for waking me up…" His voice having a little gruffness to it but also laced with arrogance, the anaconda threw the poor ape up into the air before bringing his sword back in front of him, " But now I'm not feeling to generous." After he said that the ape came down and with frightening speed cut to pieces before every body's eyes as a shower of blood came toward the anaconda but it never touched him before swiping he sword in front of his face letting the sword catch the blood before flicking it off onto the ground.
"You just can't resist turning someone into ribbons every time we meet." Malefor mused with a smirk.
"That is what makes me special, and besides how do you think I earned the name Wraith of death." The anaconda said sheathing his sword, "But I prefer Wraith." Wraith said with a grin.
"He seems like fun." Mimik said forming a katana in his hand, "I would love for you to be my new playmate." Mimik laughed out before a hand being raised in the air…Malefor's hand.
"Mimik hold your thirst of blood for the enemy." Malefor said looking at the shadow dragon from the corner of his eye.
Dispelling the katana Mimik took a step back and nodded an apology towards Malefor. Even though Mimik was insane he knew his boundaries when it came to Malefor, but anything else…not so much.
"So what do you want Malefor you wouldn't go through al this trouble just to find me, so in other words what do you want?" Wraith asked.
"It's not about what I want, it's about what you want." Malefor said with a chuckle, confusing Wraith, seeing the confusion written across his face Malefor decided to help him out a little, "Do you not feel it?" Malefor asked mockingly.
Before the Anaconda could ask a sudden feeling of slight animosity and malice tugging at him urging him to find the source of these feelings Wraith then realized he had felt this once before and he knew there was only one thing in the world that gave him this feeling. Feeling a smile spread across his face Wraith whispered one word that seem to make his smile spread.
"Soul Ripper."
Was all he said before he began to walk off down the hall and out the throne room. Seeing this Ken was about to follow Wraith only for Malefor to stop him with a shake of his head before he spoke, " I wouldn't do that if I were you."
"Why is that?" Ken asked looking at Malefor.
"You saw that sword he held in his hand, that is the legendary Nightshade and its was created by the one who made Soul ripper." Malefor said.
"But I don't see how that has any relevance…" Ken said before being interrupted.
"Let me finish, It is said When the owners of those two swords feel an incredible need to kill one another, also making them stronger, faster, and more aggressive making them kill any one who got too close while continuing their fight. It has been said the last time those two swords met the owners of the swords took out an entire army and continued to fight for five days straight before one of them fell into a chasm filled with dark crystals the other died of exhaustion." Malefor said seeing the look of realization on Ken's face
"Your telling me he was one of them, and your deliberately sending him to Warfang to not only find the sword but to also take out the entire population as well." Ken said looking at the corrupted dragon.
"Ha, never thought you out to be one for war tactics." Mimik laughed out his insane smile getting even larger.
"Now all we have to do is wait and see what happens next." Malefor said.
(Outside the temple)
"You feel that Vex?" Ripper asked from within Vex's head that was sitting on top of the wall with Soul ripper at his side.
"Yeah, it feels like I want to tear someone apart for no apparent reason." Vex thought back to his other half as he stood up on the wall.
"Hey Vex!"
Turning around Vex was greeted with the sight of Kurama and Raven running towards him. Looking at the kitsune and the wolf Vex started to hiss slightly at the two surprising them and himself at his aggressiveness.
"What the hell was that?" Vex asked himself only to see Kurama and Raven exchange worried glances at each other.
"Shit, look Vex we need to get you out of the city like now, come on we'll explain everything on the way." Raven said as they began to run.
"What the hell is going on?" Vex asked
"The guardians had received a warning from the chronicler to get you as far away from the city as possible." Kurama said as they ran through the park.
"Did they say why?" Vex asked in a low growl.
"No, but they did say that it would have something to do with your personality." Kurama said looking back at the python to see his face turn in to a bloodthirsty scowl.
"Um guys I think we should pick up the pace." Vex growled out before Kurama activated his Susano and wrapped a tail around the python and the wolf before taking off at jarring speeds.
"Well as much as I hate being ridden like a dreadwing, this time I'll make an exception." Kurama said running out of the park and back into the streets as the Kitsune dodged left and right avoiding from running anyone over.
Seeing the gate within a distance, Kurama decided to close the gap between them and the gate. As soon as they reached the gate Vex started to go berserk as Ripper took over handling it better than Vex, but still had some trouble trying to keep himself under control, "It's coming from there, the guy in the torn cloak." Ripper said pointing his finger at Wraith, who was running down the street with Nightshade in his hand.
"Ripper If I throw toward that guy do you think you can carry him out of the gate?" Kurama said only to get a nod from the python that was then thrown a second later.
While Wraith ran down the street following the feelings of his bloodlust he noticed two things, one his felt his sword give a pulse meaning he was pretty close to his target and two, there is a flying python coming right at him. Not able to dodge in time Ripper barreled into Wraith and out of the city gates, and into the plains where the grass came up to there knees. As the two saurians ended their flight they both rolled across the ground before sliding to a stop.
"So you're the owner of Soul ripper huh?" Wraith said getting up off of his back analyzing his opponent before him noticing the mark over his right eye, "Hey what do you know, another berserker."
"How do you know of that name?" Ripper asked grabbing Soul ripper from its sheathe
holding it in his right hand.
"How should I forget cause I have fought one before I was frozen." Wraith said making Ripper widen his eyes before a bloodthirsty smile stretched across his face.
"So you must be the Wraith of death seeing as the berserker before me has been dead for over two-hundred years ago." Ripper said chuckling to himself.
"Oh, Looks like someone knows their history." Wraith said only For Ripper to start laughing, "What's so funny?"
"I always wanted to fight you ever since I was a little kid and look where I am now." Ripper said making Wraith chuckle and point his sword at the younger snake.
"You know kid most people fighting me would be a death wish to them." Wraith said in a deathly tone.
"But I'm not like most people, to me it's a dream come true." Ripper laughed before he twitched his head forward letting the mask slide in place, "Now may I have this dance with the Wraith of death." Ripper said mockingly
"Yes you shall, and it will be your last." Wraith said dashing forward and slashing down towards Ripper who blocked it before locking the swords as Wraith said with a smile, "this is going to be fun."
"That's one thing I don't find disagreeable at all." Ripper said with the same smile.
(With the others)
Not long before the fight began everyone and a few guards came running towards the commotion as they ran up the up to the top of the gate to see Raven and Kurama looking over the plains. Before any of them could ask, Raven simply pointed towards the two figures out in the field of tall grass directing everyone's attention. As they watched the fight begin Raven eyes widen in surprise as he heard every word they said before Wraith attacked Ripper. Lora having seen the look on his face began to worry her.
"Raven what's wrong with you?" Lora asked the black-furred wolf.
"The one that's fighting Ripper out there right now just said he's the Wraith of death." Raven said making Flame turn to him at breakneck speeds.
"Wait you mean the guy from the Field of raining blood, who slaughtered two armies trying to kill one guy some many years ago?" Flame asked.
"Yep that's him alright." Kurama simply stated, even though the kitsune couldn't hear what they were saying he simply activated his Sharingan to read their lips and body language, and Wraith gave no indication he was lying.
"Well why are standing around here for we got to go help Vex." Zia said as she made to move, Kurama summoned one of his Susano tails to block her path, "What the hell are you doing?" Zia snapped at the kitsune.
"If you go down there now not only will you be fighting Wraith but also the one your trying to help, for they are so far into their blood crazed battle that it's hard for them to distinguish who is friend or foe." Kurama said remembering the look Vex had on his face…the look of a pure bred predator hunting his prey.
"So the only thing we can do is stand here and hope?" Zia said in disbelief while the other looked down and stay silent, "I can't believe you guys." She said with rage before turning around with her double bladed staff in hand.
Rastaban quickly grabbed Zia by her shoulders and turned her around with a very pissed off look on his face, "You have no Fucking idea how bad I want to help Vex right now, but I can't go help him but this something he needs to do by himself, cause I guarantee you this that if you try to help out and you get killed because of him or Wraith, he will forever live the fact that he killed you for the rest of his life." Rastaban growled out shocking everyone there with his rage and sincerity in his eyes before continuing, "So if you really want to help Vex right now, then have faith that he will win this." Rastaban said before another clang reached their ears turning their attention back on the two in the clearing.
(Back with Ripper\Vex and Wraith)
As the two locked blades again causing sparks to fly off the blades as they jumped away from each other. Ripper and Wraith charged again swinging their respective swords cutting through the air and grass as the swords clashed again voicing their owner's bloodlust. After a few more slashes and blocks the grass around them became shorter almost making a perfect circle around the two warriors. As they fought, both of them bore a smile on their faces enjoying this deadly dance of blades, even though Wraith couldn't see Ripper's face he saw it in his eyes as the mask just mimicked the owners bloodthirsty expression.
Dodging a slashed aimed for his head Wraith hit Ripper in the stomach with the handle of his sword with enough force to make the python slide on his feet and hack up some blood through the gap of his mask that resembled his teeth. Ripper quickly brought up his sword to block a downward slash before pushing Wraith's sword to the side throwing him off balance spinning around ducking a slash an inch away from his head and onto one knee and swung the sword attempting to cut off one of Wraith's legs. Seeing this Wraith lifted his right leg and did a back flip avoiding Ripper seeing him spinning around on his hands grabbing the sword with his tail turning into a tornado of blades one that Wraith most likely want to avoid being in. Seeing a large piece of his cloak didn't survive the attack Wraith frowned a little at that and ripped the rest of the cloak off, seeing Ripped flip back onto his feet and toss Soul ripper from his tail to his hand.
"That's an interesting way to use a sword?" Wraith said a little impressed by its effectiveness in battle especially when one is surrounded.
"Thanks daddy dearest taught it to me on my tenth birthday." Ripper said laughing manically.
"Well then it's going to take more than a few dance moves to kill me." Wraith said charging forward with Nightshade dragging on the ground behind him.
Swinging upward Wraith sword was barely dodged by Ripper as the swords tip scratched the metallic mask making small sparks jump off as it left a scratch on the mask as Ripper flipped away. Landing a good five feet away from Wraith, he pushed off full speed making Wraith jump to the side expecting Ripper to fall flat on his face. That was until Ripper stabbed Soul ripper into the ground and swung around the handle and extended both legs and let go of the sword as he kicked Wraith in the face, who was unfortunate enough to turn around at the time, sending him rolling across the ground while Ripper flipped onto his feet and grabbed his sword off the ground.
Standing up off the ground Wraith wiped some blood off the corner of his mouth. Smirking at Ripper, Wraith dashed forward seeing his opponent hold his sword up ready to block the strike. Within a few feet of Ripper swung the sword to his left for the python to jump over the anaconda with a front flip and swung his sword ready to decapitate him, until Wraith turned around and slashed at Ripper who was upside down knocking away Soul ripper before kicking the python in the chest launching him across the clearing.
Standing back up Ripper made eye contact with Wraith who stood there with Nightshade on his shoulder smirking, seeing the message written in his eyes only said one thing.
Playtime is over.
(Begin song: Metal Gear Rising OST: Red Sun)
All of a sudden Ripper and Wraith found a burst of speed and ran towards each other and swung their respective swords again and again making them look like red and black blurs. Dodging an overhead swing Ripper ducked under it thrusting his blade toward Wraith's chest only to be dodged. Wraith having nearly dodged the strike that could have killed him, slashed at him again only to be blocked by Ripper who followed up with an upward slash. Blocking the slash Wraith locked the blades together and pushed forcing Rippers blade to point upward and allow him open for a backhand to the face. Before he could follow up with a kick Ripper broke the lock and spun around behind a stumbling Wraith and kicked him in the back.
Rolling on the ground Wraith quickly popped back up to block a slash that was pretty close to cutting him in half at the waist. Taking his chance Wraith slapped the flat side of Ripper's blade towards the ground and stomped on it leaving Ripper with only decision to let go of it. Flipping away from Wraith, Ripper took up a defensive stance only to see his sword flying at him with dangerously high speed. Leaning back to where his back was parallel with the ground, Ripper caught the sword as soon as it got over his head and used the momentum from the sword to swing it around at a charging Wraith who caught it with his blade sending sparks flying off of the metal at the impact.
After a couple of seconds more having the swords in a deadlock Wraith and Ripper sent a headbut to each other making them both recoil from pain that was now throbbing in their heads. Wraith recovering a second faster than Ripper, jumped forward and slash Ripper who dodged a second to late as a gash leading from his right shoulder to his left hip bleeding profusely.
Shouting out in pain Ripper was met with the pommel of a sword from Wraith to his face and punch to the stomach knocking the wind out of him. Not ending there Wraith grabbed him by the throat and lifted the Python off the ground and slammed him back into the ground cracking the earth underneath the grass. Looking down at Ripper, Wraith took his sword in both hands and reared back ready to impale the python.
"Game over!" Wraith said bringing the sword down ready to pierce through flesh and bone.
It looked like it was over for Ripper…that was until he rolled to the side letting the sword bury it self into the ground. And before Wraith could comprehend what happened a sharp pain fill his chest as Soul ripper was there stabbed into his chest.
"What h-how?" looking at Ripper pointed at his chest to see, "Oh I forgot you could do that." Wraith looking down to see Rippers tail holding the handle of the sword as he coughed up an unhealthy amount of blood.
Yanking the sword out of his chest Ripper and watched the now dieing legend fall to his knees holding his chest in a vain attempt to cling onto life. Looking at Ripper, Wraith stood up and began to limp over to his sword behind Ripper making python tense a little.
(End song)
"Heh you won, now do me a favor and hand me my sword would ya?" Wraith said earning a tilt of the head from Ripper, "What I can't make myself presentable to meet my maker?" Wraith said jokingly before coughing up more blood.
Ripper deciding it wouldn't hurt to give him the sword picked it up with his tail sheathing his sword in the process. Taking the sword in his hand Ripper walked over to Wraith and gave it to him half expecting a cheap shot. Before anything else could be done Wraith began to fall until Ripper caught him and laid him down gently. Sending a nod of thanks Wraith felt his body giving in to his wounds as he began to close his eyes sword in hand and laid on top of his chest.
"Hey kid." Wraith said his voice sounding barely above a whisper.
"Yes?"
"Thank you." Was all that Wraith said before he stopped breathing all together, dieing with a smile.
Looking at the Anaconda on the ground, Ripper walked over to him and closed his eyes before saying, "You're welcome."
For the second time in Ripper's life he found someone who he could respect, Wraith even though he was a killer he also was an honorable fighter a warrior worthy of his title. Deciding to do one final act of kindness for the deceased warrior, Ripper picked him up bridle style and began to carry him towards Warfang. Holding onto Nightshade with his tail Ripper stopped at the gate next to a tree that held blue flowers with black at the beginning of the petals. Before he could do anything else Spyro, Fury and Rastaban landed beside the python and made a hole large enough to fit a body in it. Nodding a silent thanks to them Ripper placed Wraith inside the hole and unsheathed his sword flicking the blood off Nightshade before twirling it around a few times before positioning the sheathe at his side before sliding the blade in and placing it back into Wraith's hands, crossing them over his chest.
After they buried him Ripper stood their staring at that spot for a few minutes in silence before he turned around and looked at everyone and with a dead serious tone spoke for all to hear, "If any of you so much as touch this grave or look at it wrong…I will personally rip the flesh from your bones." His left eye seeming to flash a hell fire red making the threat all the more believable.
Taking a moment to sigh a sizzling sound came from him as the wound on his chest and hip knitted together, signifying him changing back into Vex. When the change was done Vex looked over at the newly dug grave as a one of the flowers fell from the tree and onto the head of his grave as if nature felt pity for Wraith.
"How fitting for one named the Wraith of death, a Reaper falls on his grave." Ripper said from Vex's mind watching the whole thing.
"Yeah… it is." Vex agreed until Zia came and stood beside the python that slid his facemask out of the way frowning as the smell of blood entered his nostrils.
"You ok?" Zia asked looking Vex over frowning at the sight of the slash in his armor with blood soaked in around it.
"You should be asking Ripper that he's the one who took a beating." Vex said jokingly hearing Ripper mumble some very unintelligent words in the back of his mind.
"Even so you two share the same body, What happens if he cuts your head off hmm, cause I doubt Ripper would come back from something like that…neither would you." Zia said embracing Vex in hug as she cried silent tears that slid down her face.
Taking her chin and lifting it up so he could look her in those grass green orbs of hers before saying, "As long as I have you by my side me and Ripper will come back no matter what the odds are, We'll always come back…and that's a promise." Vex finished leaning in to kiss her getting approving smiles from every one.
After they broke the kiss, Ripper chose the time to say something.
"Hey, now that you're done eating each others face look at the sky." Ripper said making Vex turn his head toward the sky and smile.
"Well, look what finally decided to show up." Vex said making everyone turn his or her attention toward the direction he was looking in to see a red sun setting over the horizon.
And for the rest of the day everyone sat down and watched the sun set. After that beautiful experience Vex deemed it necessary to call it.
"The Red Sun over Paradise!"
(A/n: hey guys I hope you guys like it. Now don't forget to read and review.)
