Ghost Zone (Hung's POV)
I couldn't shake this haunting feeling. The closer we got to the battlefield, the more uneasy I became.
"Are you worried?" asked Eron.
'About my brother? Of course I am. It's my fault he's like this.'
"Not about your brother but, what you may have to choose."
'Choose?'
"Your brother or the world." I didn't want to think about the possibility of destroying my own brother. There was the side of me that wished to have my only living family back to normal and the other side was the warrior chosen to protect the lives of the innocent. I just shook my head. I had to save both. There no other way.
"You okay?" I peeked over to Hotaru flying next to me.
"Yeah. Sorry. I was just thinking."
"Well, the time for thinking is over. You've been training for this moment and now is your chance. The chance to set things right." I smiled. 'She's right. I've become stronger for a reason.'
We eventually arrived at a mountain range. A large flash in the sky and a figure flew our way.
"Look out!" I screamed as we separated. The figure crashed into the mountain side. The dust cleared and there laid the "King of All Ghost".
"Pariah Dark." I said with disgust. A man of great power or should I say great artifacts. The Crown of Fire and Ring of Rage gift him with limitless power. However, it doesn't work like the orb does. The artifacts only increase the amount of power he has. It's like having two Erons. However, the orbs allow us to continuously replenish our energy. Either way, he's powerful and dangerous.
"My king!" yelled someone from above. A knight in black armor and a purple flaming cape descended upon his fallen master. Pariah was an Ancient and his warrior was known as the Fright Knight. Pariah pulled himself from the crater. Clearly agitated.
"Are you well my king." asked the Fright Knight.
"Of course you fool. That young punk can't beat me." He stood up fully and returned to the sky. He flew up to us and stopped.
"You two must be the new warriors."
"Yes." I replied. "I'm Hung and this is Hotaru." He scoffed and laughed deeply.
"You two children can't hope to be strong enough to be of service to me. I will give you two rules that will prolong your existence. One, stay out of my way and two know who reigns over you." He laughed again; which it irritated me deeply. I clenched my fist, ready for a fight.
"Calm yourself Hung. Control your temper. Conserve your energy for the real enemy." I took a deep breath and did as Eron said.
"Brother!" My eyes grew wide as I turned to a smoke cloud. Out of it came a tall and muscular male. Black eyes, white hair and pale skin. Fiery whisp escaped his mouth with each breath.
'This can't be Braedon. What happened to him?'
"Long time no see Hung. How do you like the new look?"
"I liked your old one better. At least you looked less like a monster."
"Ow, that hurt brother. Your words wound me deeply. Oh well, we will have our bout once I take out the trash. I finished the others rather quickly." He pointed to the other Ancients down near the mountain side. I could see Frostbite and Pandora with deep wounds and burns. I saw two other beings I haven't met before. One had sheep horns and a black cloak dressed in stars and the other seemed to wear a large chest plate with a tornado tail.
"Frostbite!" I screamed. After he made me a warrior, I got to know him more personally. His personality was the complete opposite of his appearance. Kind, generous, fair and just. I learned a lot from him and his people.
"Oh you knew that beast brother. If you want, I can cook him more." He held out his palm and I knew what he plotted. Without hesitation, a torrent of black flames rushed toward them.
'I have to save the..'
"Hold on!" screamed Eron. The attacked was stopped. The Fright Knight put his body between Braedon and the injured. He blocked the attack but took heavy damage.
"You're dealing with me now."
"Stay out of this your fool." commented Pariah. He rushed at Braedon and fired a huge ecto ray. Braedon stopped the attack with one hand.
"Come on." I said as we flew over to the knight.
"Thank you."
"Worry not. My duty is to protect. No matter the threat."
"If it wasn't for you, then they wouldn't exist anymore. I know we haven't met before. My name is Hung and this is Hotaru."
"A pleasure. My name is Ridere."
"Nice to meet you."
"Is it true that man is your kin?"
"Yes. My younger brother. He was taken over by some spirit and killed our parents."
"My apologies my friend. This must be difficult for you." 'You have no idea.'
"However, our duty is clear. We must stop this man before he destroys everything. Our duty is unto those above us." I gulped as the thought of having to kill my brother darkened my mind.
"Would you do it? I mean if it was your brother?"
"I couldn't really say. The word duty is an invisible obligation but, family is a physical bond between individuals. I can't tell you how to live your life or how to make this easier for you. Only thing I can say is to look deep into his eyes. Learn if that is still your brother and then protect what you still have. You can't bring back your parents or your old life. Life is ever changing and we must adapt accordingly."
He's right. I can't really say how much of him remains conscious. I had to protect our world. When my world fell in the fire, Hotaru took me in when I was down and Clockwork basically adopted me when I was lost. I owe them my life.
"GGAAAHHHHH!" We looked to Pariah being held by his throat. 'He's strong alright.'
"Pitiful fool. You think the title is enough to defeat me." He took off his crown and his ring.
"Now your nothing more than a weakling." He said placing his free hand on his chest. A black beam escaped through his back. He fell unconscious.
"I guess that's it." He threw Pariah and his objects aside.
"MASTER!" bellowed Ridere as he charged sword drawn. He went to slash Braedon in half but his blade was stopped by his finger. He pointed his other finger at him and unleashed a powerful blast. Causing Ridere to crash to the earth.
"Now since that's over." He looked to me. "The time has come for us to clash my brother." I stared into his eyes. All humanity had left him. The brother I once knew was gone. My brother perished the day our parents were killed.
"Yes. The time has come. Hotaru." She looked at me. "Please go check on Ridere." She gave a nod and flew off.
"Be careful." She yelled.
"I will." I flew up to him and we stood face to face. Brother to brother. Warrior to warrior. Hero to villain.
'I will win. No matter what.'
"You ready?" He grinned.
"Do you have to ask?" I drew back my fist and so did he. Punching simultaneously, our attack caused a massive shockwave. It pushed us both back. Stopping my retreat, I flew toward him. He stopped and smiled wickedly.
"Yes!" He screamed. "Show me your true strength! Let your hate consume you!" He advanced after me. As he drew near, he spun and kicked at my head. I ducked and came up with an uppercut. I got him in the face but, I felt he struck me in the gut. The force from our attacks pushed each other away. He immediately held out his palms. A barrage of black orbs shot toward me.
'I better move!' I began to fly higher into the air. Each orb pursued me. I released a few orbs of my own to destroy the others. A large explosion resulted and quieted the battlefield. Only a cloud of dark smoke separated us.
"Brother!" He called out. "You've gotten stronger! I love it! Have you been eating your vegetables?" I grinned. 'So, he has a sense of humor.'
He wasted no time and held out his palms again. He constructed multiple large spikes.
"Stop this!" He launched them at me. The countless number of attacks left no room for escape as the converged from every direction. I held out my palms and created a white shield.
"HAAAA!" I yelled as I clenched my fists. The shield expanded and overtook the spikes. They stopped and began to freeze over.
"Oh, that's new." Braedon said with sarcasm. "You sly dog. What have they been teaching you?"
"Ways to win." I snapped my fingers and the ice broke into a million pieces. Showering the scene with glistening crystals. "You're going to have try harder to beat me creature."
"Come now brother."
"You're not my brother! You're a monster. An abomination. A shadow of my old brother. You have no right to use his name."
"Aren't we no fun today. No matter. That boy served his purpose and now I will fulfill mine." He disappeared. He reappeared above me. I stepped out of the way and he missed. He duplicated himself into four clones. They began to attack me with a fury of punches. I just started to fly back and avoided each hit. It felt like time itself slowed down. Training with Clockwork and Eron, has helped my reaction time greatly.
"Do you sense it Hung?"
'Yes. I do. He has power but, no skill. He throws strong punches. However, they are thrown without focus or intent.'
"Your training gives you the advantage." Him and his clones closed in for the kill. I jumped high enough to avoid. I landed farther away from his horde.
"You're good." He said as they charged. Two broke off and began to flank me. I turned to my right and kneed one of my attacker in the chin. I then turned and grabbed the other by his wrist, kicking him in chest. Both vanished into nothing.
"Above!"
'I got it!' I looked up and stepped back. One missed with a glowing punch. I struck him in the chin with a palm strike. He vanished too. Both the real Braedon and his last clone combined their energy to create a massive energy drill. I took a wide stance and engulfed my body with green flames.
"Dragon Soul!" I yelled. A large dragon of flames rushed from my body and overtook his drill. Smashing it to pieces and destroying his last clone.
"Hung. You must finish this immediately."
'I agree.' He suddenly flew above me and raised both hands to the sky. Between his palms, he created a large sphere. The dark energy swirled and screamed. Growing with each passing second.
'You've got to be kidding me.'
"Now brother. This has enough power to blow this part of the zone to oblivion. Nothing you or your little girlfriend can do to save everyone." He smiled widely. Unafraid and resolved. He really meant to destroy everything.
"I'm not going to let that happen!"
"We'll see!" He launched it. The attack was large but, thankfully slow.
"What do you plan to do?"
'Time to test it out.'
"Very well. Show him the results of your training." It drew closer and closer. A few feet away, I closed my eyes to concentrate. Within myself, I focused energy in my stomach. Then, I inhaled deeply.
"NOW!" Eron yelled. I unleashed a powerful and piercing scream. The shockwave stopped the ball. My wail shook the entirety of the zone and his attack. The ball couldn't withstand the force and dissipated into nothing.
"Way to go Hung."
'Thanks Eron. I can't believe that would be so strong.'
"Hung." called out Hotaru. She pointed to the sky.
"Look!" I looked to the sky and saw Braedon gripping his stomach. The look on his face was pure agony. 'What happened to him? Maybe a side effect to using the orb.'
"No, it may be the key to victory my friend."
