The Ones Who Bump Back:
Pathos.
Pt. 4.
Chapter Four: Showdown.
Three Months Ago…
"How did you manage to get this here?" Moka asked. The vampiress was looking with mild confusion as both Annabeth and Touka set down a large egg on the dock that they had agreed to meet up at. From looking at it, she could tell that it looked like the egg of a hippocampus, but her brain was unable to comprehend how in the world the two of them could have gotten their hands on an egg like that.
"It's a long story," Annabeth replied.
"Why do you need one?" Moka asked.
"If you would wait a minute," Annabeth said, "I would tell you." Moka merely crossed her arms and looked at the two, Touka sighing in response.
"We got one from Annabeth's boyfriend," Touka said, "because we need the blood of a hippocampus embryo in order to start this ritual. Is that enough?"
"I can take that," Moka replied. "But when you told me that you needed me for a banishing ritual I didn't think it would involve… this."
"If what her cousin says is true," Touka said, "we definitely need it." She said this as she adjusted her mask. At the moment, to avoid being detected by anybody that would want to hunt her down or vow vengeance upon her for interfering, she was dressed in her 'Rabbit' uniform, made up of a dark hoodie over a plain white rabbit mask that concealed her face, and even a pink wig that hid her short, dark hair.
Moka was not one to argue with her Touka. If what she had heard from Annabeth's cousin was to be believed, they would need every ounce of help they could get if they were going to keep this water goddess, Ran, satiated. "But would you mind telling me," she asked, "why we are even the ones who need to take part in this?"
"Because," Annabeth said, "we do what we can to help."
"I don't agree with that," Moka said. "While I may be a vampire, I'm not contractually obligated to go running around playing peacemaker. What do you think I am, a dragon?"
"Just deal," Touka said. "The sooner we can do this, we'll be good."
"But," Moka continued, "we're seriously going out on the water? Do you two know what water does to vampires?"
"Don't fall in," Annabeth replied smugly, "and you'll be fine."
Moka merely rolled her eyes. "I swear," she said, "you two are trying to kill me.
She picked up the egg, which was quite heavy for a normal person, under one arm and carried it towards the dock. Touka and Annabeth were right behind her, following her towards the boat they were going to "borrow" to get this ritual over and done with. A few other objects that Moka had personally brought over were in her bag that was slung over her shoulder as well. Putting all of this together would fulfill the ritual to put ease toward Ran. At least for awhile.
Just as the group made their way over, Touka came to a halt, her nose aimed in the air. "Guys," she said, bringing the others to a stop, "we're not alone."
Moka and Annabeth looked around, wondering what she meant. The next moment, an arrow came whizzing through the air that struck down right between the three girls! They all looked up, and saw what appeared to be some form of ninjas wearing bone-like armor came down in front of them!
"The Huntsclan," Moka growled.
"You know them?" Annabeth asked nervously.
"Hunters," Moka replied, "who partake in the murder of Dark Realm inhabitants."
"I've heard of them,' Touka replied. "I've purposefully tried avoiding them."
One of the Huntsclan soldiers, who wore a large chest piece that reached up and around his right shoulder, stepped forward, holding a bizarre sword that he pointed to Annabeth! Clearly he was the 'Elite' soldier. "We do not have any quarrel with you, demigod," he said. "Just surrender the egg, along with the vampire and the ghoul, and we will not harm you."
"I think not," Annabeth said, pulling out her own drakon bone sword!
"Then you force our hand," the Elite soldier said. "Huntsclan! Advance!"
Touka doubled over, her body sparking with what almost looked like fire that burst from the left side of her back, which sparked almost with electricity! A ghoul limb called a "Kagune", hers uniquely referred to as the "Ukaku Kagune." She swept her Kagune, sending a hail of spines that knocked the Huntsclan off their feet!
Annabeth blocked a strike from a spear with her sword, before pulling her knife from the back of her pants and bringing it against the Huntsclan member's chest! The soldier recoiled in pain, holding his chest, before Annabeth brought the flat end of her sword against the side of his head, and tripped him up with a swipe from her leg!
There were about eight of the Huntsclan there at the moment, Annabeth having knocked out one, three more preoccupied with Touka. That left four more to approach Moka. "All men," the Elite said, "focus all our attention on the vampire!"
Moka merely looked at the Huntsclan with vein disinterest. "Four against one?" she said. "That is very unfair." She put the egg down right in front of her feet, and slipped her bag off her shoulder. "For you that is," she added.
The Huntsclan all lunged for her with daggers ready, but Moka delivered a solid roundhouse kick that knocked them all down! They all flew through the air and bounced or rolled along the dock thanks to that kick! She didn't let up, as she just rushed forward and kicked one Huntsclan member into the air, before jumping up and delivering a downward punch that further knocked him unconscious!
One more got back up, lunging at Moka with his daggers that she merely dodged around in a blur of nothing but silver motion, before elbowing him in the gut hard enough to knock the wind from his lungs and cause him to double over! Moka then swept his feet out from under him and kicked him while he was down, sending him right into the water!
Moka smiled confidently. She knew that this would be a breeze. While she was restraining her power so as not to kill them, she put in just enough to let her enjoy herself in this fight. The last two members picked themselves up off the ground, Moka rushing for the closest one, who just so happened to be the last mere grunt at her disposal, leaving the leader for last.
"Do you boys know why the Huntsclan never hunts vampires?" she asked, referring to Elite member that was still pulling himself back to his feet. "Because," Moka continued, "you are all totally outclassed."
Moka punted the Huntsclan member into the air, sending him into a roof where the last of him that was seen was nothing more than a billow of dust coming off the roof. "So," Moka said to Elite, "you feeling lucky big man?"
Back with Touka, she swung her Kagune one more time, sending all three Huntsclan members into evasive rolls in order to keep from being attacked! "The Kagune isn't solid!" one member said. "Fire upon her body!"
The Huntsclan fired darts from wrist mounted bows that came at her quickly! They embedded themselves in her arms or shoulder, causing her discomfort! Her Kagune went limp for several seconds before she was able to reignite it back to life!
Touka growled under her throat, her eyes glowing red upon her anger! "You're not the first ghoul we've fought," one Huntsclan member said. "We have ways of exterminating you, Rabbit!"
He found his bow knocked from his hand as Annabeth tossed her knife at him, rushing over with her drakon sword that she dug into his leg and knocked him down, stomping on his head to knock him unconscious! The other two members fired more darts at Annabeth, causing Touka to shield her with her Kagune! The Huntsclan members smiled as they thought that this would be her do-in, however, her Kagune was still solid!
To their shock, they found that her Kagune had turned as hard as crystal, immune to the effects of the darts, which shattered on impact! "Not gonna happen," Touka said, swiping her Kagune to knock the Huntsclan down and send them unconscious!
Her Kagune crumpled after that, practically dying out. "You okay?" Annabeth asked.
"Y-yeah," Touka replied. "Just tired. Even with my Kagune hardened, the toxins still doused it. Just give me a minute."
Back with Moka, she marched over to the Elite, who was backing away in fear. "Aw," Moka said, "are you scared? You should be."
However, the Elite tossed a pellet right in front of her feet that burst into a smoke that made her cough and gag, tears welling up in her eyes! "Garlic," the Huntsclan said. "Which also doubles, as a signal."
Ten more Huntsclan jumped down, having been watching the fight from the shadows, and leapt towards Touka and Annabeth, throwing them into evasive rolls! Moka gagged as the leader walked over and put a knife to her throat, as he grabbed her by the back of her neck and hung her over the ledge of the water! "I shall be praised," he said, "for bringing death to a vampire hatchling. When you are dead, your skull will be displayed on the Huntsman's staff, as a signal to all Dark Realm inhabitants. You are all forfeit."
"No!"
Touka lunged forward, only to get smacked in the side of the head by a Huntsclan soldier's dagger, cracking her mask, revealing part of her face! Touka hit the ground, more darts digging themselves into her back, causing her Kagune to vanish! She felt that her kakuhou gnawing at her, begging her for energy! The unique ghoul organ, which stored the Rc cells in her body that helped to form her Kagune, but the venom in those darts were draining her dry, causing her to lose any energy to grow her ghoul's limb!
She felt a foot planted in the small of her back, as a spear's blade pulled down her hood! Annabeth ran forward, bringing her sword down on a neighboring Huntsclan soldier's back, knocking him down, before she spun around and thrust her sword towards the second soldier's chest! The soldier blocked the strike with his spear, as Annabeth began grappling with him, while several more soldiers closed in!
Annabeth had a knife rush past her shoulder, blood gushing from the open wound! She grabbed her shoulder, causing her to drop her sword, as she screamed in pain! She was knocked from her feet as the soldier aimed his spear at her neck!
Nearby, Touka smelled the blood of her friend. And it smelled good. And it triggered her hunger.
She looked to Moka, who was still gasping for breath as the Elite threw her on her face, grabbing his blade with both hands. He knelt down on both knees, raising the blade above his head!
Touka looked at the nearby soldier that Annabeth had first knocked down, who was struggling to stand. Touka growled as she knew what she had to do to save her friends. She removed her mask and lunged forward!
Her adrenaline and energy had not been taken by the Rc suppressants, but that wouldn't be enough for her to fight off over ten Huntsclan soldiers at once! She grabbed the nearby soldier, picking him up as she proceeded to bite down on his shoulder! She ripped off a chunk of flesh, blood flowing out of his wound as he cried out!
Touka tossed him aside as she felt her kakuhou purring in delight. Her Kagune burst back to life in an instant, as she continued to chew and swallow on the bits of flesh she had begun devouring! The bright flash of energy from her Kagune was enough to have everyone pause as she got their attention!
With a single motion, she sent a flurry of darts that knocked down each and every Huntsclan soldier from their feet! She jumped towards the Elite, who aimed his blade at her in vain! With a single chop, she hacked his head clean off his body, causing it to topple in a gush of blood!
The other soldiers struggled to their feet, looking at her in fear as they saw their leader decapitated! "Shit!" one of them said. "The Elite is dead!" "We have to continue!" another said. "We must avenge his sacrifi-!"
A blade from Touka's Kagune dug into his heart, as she charged forward, her Kagune hardening into a crystal wing! She bashed it down on top of another, causing their body to be crushed in a literal bloody pulp!
"Forget it!" another soldier said. "We have to retreat! This monster is going to kill us all-!" Three more darts dug into his body, killing him next!
The others began to retreat, as Touka sent the fiery, electric wave toward them! She sliced one in half, before the wave dug into another's head!
"Touka, stop!" Annabeth said, smacking her upside the head with her dagger! Touka staggered, aiming a glare at Annabeth! "What!?" she said.
Touka recovered from her anger as she looked at Annabeth's steely look. The young ghoul surveyed the damage she had caused, and the bodies left in her wake. Even her eyes, which had been black and red returned to their normal dull color as she seemed to come back to her senses.
"Touka," Annabeth said, "this was completely uncalled for." "I-... I know," Touka replied.
"You didn't have to kill them all!" Annabeth said angrily. "I know!" Touka replied.
"Then why did you!?" Annabeth asked in anger. "Because," Touka replied, "they were going to kill Moka! They were going to kill you! I-I didn't know what else to do!"
"That still doesn't excuse it!" Annabeth said. "That was out of line! This is why people like the Huntsclan or the CCG are afraid of you!"
"Well what would you have me do!?" Touka said. "They wouldn't hesitate to kill either me or Moka!"
"I know," Annabeth said. "But you-" "But what!?" Touka said. "I have to be better than them!?"
"Touka," Moka said, managing to pick herself back up. "She's right. We do have to be better than them. You may not see it the same way, but we have to have the moral high ground. Otherwise, people like them will just be hunting us forever."
Touka looked at Moka with an awestruck expression. She shook her head in disbelief, before just up and turning away! "You know what Moka," she said, "screw you. After what I just did for you, I cannot believe you would not understand me!"
"What I understand," Moka said, "is that you only gave the Huntsclan more of a reason to hunt us down! And for that matter, now I'll have a target painted on my back, because they'll naturally think that I was the one who orchestrated all this!"
"You would have had one regardless!" Touka said. "You're a damn vampire, and these guys are monster hunters! And I'm embarrassed that you would just forget about that! I'm embarrassed over the fact that I put myself on the line like that for you and you just didn't give a shit! And I am embarrassed that you would forget about the pain and discrimination that we went through!"
"Touka, you're being overly dramatic!" Moka said.
"Am I!?" Touka said. "Or am I the only one between the both of us who bothered remembering everything that happened to us!? While you would just prefer to forget and let that pink thing you turned into truly take over your mind!"
Moka looked offended. "Is that what this is about?" she asked. "You're offended that side of myself has become a true part of my being?"
"Yes!" Touka said. "I did everything I could to ignore that side of you and treat you the same, but it's clear that you aren't the same anymore. So maybe it's for the best that I just leave."
With that, Touka grabbed her mask and rushed towards a nearby rooftop that she leapt on top of! "Touka! Wait!" Annabeth yelled.
But it was too late. Touka was already gone.
Moka sat still, her eyes glued to the counter as she finished recounting her story. The boys were all looking at her with shocked expressions, as Moka finished her tale. Ben in particular was staring at her with wide-eyes.
"We didn't talk to her much after that," Moka replied. "Even Annabeth and I slowed out conversations between each other. We just didn't trust Touka that much anymore, and we felt that if both of us were to see each other for very long the elephant in the room would rear its ugly head."
"Dang," Jake said. "Hard to think that Touka actually… did that. Even to the Huntsclan."
"That's why we cut ties," Moka said simply. "Annabeth and Touka just got into heated arguments if they tried talking after that. And sad to say the same thing happened between Touka and I as well."
"Is there… anything you can do?" Danny asked.
"I'm not sure," Moka replied. "I understand part of where Touka was coming from, but I just can't excuse her behavior either. It wasn't even killing the Huntsclan soldiers that is what hurt me the most. It was how she just... gave up on me because of how I am now. I don't know if I can forgive her."
"Who said you did?" Ben asked. Moka looked at him, an eyebrow raised.
"You don't have to respect or enable her decision," Ben said, "because trust me, I had something like that happen to me before."
"Really?" Moka asked.
"My best friend transformed into a hideous mutation," Ben said, "and began absorbing the powers of a lot of my other friends and allies, before trying to murder me and my cousin. So yeah, I think I do."
Moka raised an eyebrow. "Now I want to know that story," she said.
"Maybe later," Ben replied. "The point is, my friend had gone mad with power. Literally. The power he had absorbed had warped and twisted his mind to the point where all he could think about was absorbing more and more power, and I wasn't willing to show him any mercy after that. For awhile, I was hunting him down and was ready to kill him. Actually put him down like a dog."
"What?" Moka asked in shock, Jake and Danny silent as they now found themselves listening to Ben. The hero in question merely nodded in response to Moka, before continuing on.
"I felt so betrayed by him," he said, shaking his head as the memories returned. "When we were little, we used to be enemies. But we eventually became closer, almost like brothers. So when he turned I felt like the time that we spent together hadn't meant anything. That the second chance I had first given him was for nothing. So, I wasn't willing to give him another chance."
Moka looked at him incredulously. "Why?" she asked. "He wasn't responsible for that! Why didn't you-?"
"Try to help him?" Ben asked. "To make him better? Back then, I thought it wasn't worth it. I thought that it was too late for that. That it wasn't worth trying and the same thing would just up and happen again. It took me awhile, but I was eventually able to find another way and bring him back to sanity."
"The hard thing for me to realize during that time was the fact that my friend was not responsible for his actions. He was overtaken by this… beast inside of him and it wasn't really him behind the wheel. And something tells me, Touka isn't really too far from that same margin."
"While she may not be totally out there like my friend had been, there may be something else that drives her. That makes her act and react the way you described." Moka looked away, eyes now glued downward once again.
"Don't forsake her," Ben said, "like I nearly lost hope in my friend. I'm sure if you just listen, she'll be ready to reply."
He got back to his feet, looking at the clock. He figured that they had rested up enough by this point. He approached Touka and Annabeth, who had since separated after reaching another impasse.
"How is it going?" he asked.
"Fine," both replied.
"Understood," Ben said, a sweat drop on his forehead. "Listen," he added to Touka, "we're about ready to go now and take down Hex. I know you didn't really want to stick around Touka, but we'd-"
"Say no more," Touka said, holding up a hand. "I'll join you."
"You will?" Ben asked.
"Yeah," Touka replied. "I promised I'd see this through to the end, so it's only fair. Let me just get changed and I'll be good to go."
Ben raised an eyebrow as he watched her leave. "Changed?" he asked.
"Probably grabbing her 'Rabbit' uniform," Annabeth replied.
"Rabbit?" the boys asked.
"Most ghouls," Moka said, "wear disguises whenever they're hunting. It helps to keep them safe in their human identities."
Before long, sure enough, Touka came back down wearing her "Rabbit" uniform. The boys couldn't help but snicker in response to the mask she was wearing, causing her to lift up her mask and glare at them with her ghoul eyes. "You know," she said, "you see me in action wearing this thing and ya'll will be wetting yourselves."
"No doubt," Ben said stoically. "Alright gang, let's go kick a sorcerer's booty."
"That's his home?" Annabeth asked.
"I think the fact," Jake replied, "that it's a big ol' mansion in the middle of freaking nowhere is a pretty clear giveaway."
Annabeth hit him in the side of the head as Ben, Moka, and Touka stood front and center overlooking the mansion from the treeline. It actually looked like a japanese style temple, with carved draconic heads on each of the four corners from each level, and a large spherical window on the center tower. The front door was boarded up, but most bizarre of all, were the golem-like soldiers that Ben had had several run-ins with, acting as guards posted outside.
"So," Moka said, "what's the plan?"
Ben smirked. He was happy to be the one back in control, seeing that this was one of his enemies that they were dealing with now. "Jake," he said, "you're one of our tanks, so you and I will go in first and get his attention. Danny, Annabeth, and Touka will keep him on his toes while we try to take the brunt of his attacks. Moka, once you have an opening, I expect you to take it. One good hit from you should be enough to take him down."
"As it normally is," Moka said proudly.
"Alright," Jake said, cracking his knuckles. "If that's all. Dragon Up!" In a burst of fire, he transformed into his dragon form and took to the air! He flew straight ahead, heading right for the center window!
Inside Hex's mansion, the wizard himself was sitting right in the center of his library, his hands draped over the head of his staff and legs crossed as he hovered over a magic circle that was in the middle of the floor, brightly shining in shifting, dingy colors. As he chanted, the ground began shaking.
A roar caught his attention, causing him to look up to see Jake crash through the skylight and deliver a massive dropkick! Hex held up his staff, knocking him out of the air with a force of energy! Jake recovered and hovered in the air on his wings as Hex floated in the air above him, standing tall!
"A dragon," he said, sounding intrigued. "I should've known that my activities would attract unwanted attention."
"Worry about my attention!" another voice called. Hex looked up and saw Ampfibian shoot a blast of electricity that he quickly reflected! Ampfibian took the hit back in stride, reabsorbing the electricity, before floating right up next to Jake!
"Tennyson," Hex said, spying the hourglass shaped symbol on Ben's chest. "I knew that you would find your way back to me eventually. Where is your cousin, Gwen?"
"I don't need her to fight you, magic-man!" Ampfibian replied.
"You'll wish you had her," Hex said, aiming his staff at the ground. "I'm in the middle of something, boy. So you and your friend can fight others of his filthy kind!"
With a blast, three large shapes burst from the ground in a volcanic like explosion, roaring and snarling in fury as they dripped lava! Before long, both Jake and Ben found themselves staring down three large, stone dragons that loomed over them, at least thirty feet tall each, with lines bathed in red energy stretching around their bodies like the golems! "Yo, dawg!" Jake said. "Just cause we're the same species, does not make us family!"
Jake breathed fire at one of them, causing it to stagger, while another swiped him out of the air, Ampfibian firing blasts of electricity at the last one, knocking chunks off of it, before it slammed a claw down on top of him! Hex smiled confidently at the sight before him, before he was blasted in the back by Ecto-Energy! Hex's magic circle on the ground disappeared once he hit down, the shaking also stopping!
Danny flew down, sending a sphere of energy that Hex barely managed to knock aside with his staff! "A ghost as well?" Hex said. "You certainly have been keeping interesting company, Tennyson."
"And he's not even the half of it," Touka said, firing a storm of blades from her Kagune! Hex slammed into the far wall, groaning in discomfort as both Touka and Danny came down upon him! "Certainly interesting," Hex said, forcing the blades out of his chest or shoulder with a wave of force!
He held out his staff, causing vines to burst up from the ground that lashed out at both Touka and Danny! Danny blasted them with energy blasts as Touka shielded herself with her Kagune! The vines were destroyed, but Hex had proceeded to fly up in the air and out of reach of the ghost or ghoul!
"Uh, Jake?" Danny asked. "Don't suppose you or our alien friend are gonna be finishing up anytime soon?"
"Raincheck!" Jake said, caught in a deadly game of keepaway with one of the stone dragons, which tried to snatch him up in its jaws, as Ben had transformed into Humungousaur by this point and was in the midst of grappling with the other two dragons at once, trying to use his size-increasing powers to give him an edge!
"Alright then," Danny said. "Get back here!" He shot up after Hex blasting ice beams from his hands that Hex hastily blocked with a blast of fire from his staff! The blast proved incredibly powerful as it quickly overtook Danny's ice beams and blew him out of the air within seconds!
"Phantom!" Touka said, hastily catching Danny! She kneeled down and laid him on the ground. "You okay?" she asked.
"I feel great," Danny replied. "I always wanted to know what it's like to be an extra crispy ghost."
"I must admit Tennyson," Hex said, "I find it humorous that you now associate yourself with adolescent ghosts, ghouls, and dragons to aid you in battle. You truly have come far since you were ten years old."
He held out a staff and sent more spectral bolts towards them, causing both Touka and Danny to dodge! Danny sent more blasts that Hex deflected! Touka sent her Kagune, now crystallized and sparking with electricity, towards Hex, but he created a magic circle to block the ghoul limb!
Danny managed to catch him off guard a second time, by creating a doppelganger that punched him from an open spot, sending him from the air! Both Dannys kept up the attack, Hex having to send out a wave that knocked Danny aside and destroyed his clone!
Hex attempted to recover, finding Touka leaping at him! He aimed his staff, but an invisible force knocked him in the back of his neck and the small of his back! Touka slammed him with numerous kicks, before nailing him hard enough with a kick that knocked him into a wall! His body surged with pain from the force in his spine! However, Hex's eyes glowed for a moment, as a burst of red mana shot from his body!
Touka and Danny kept back as Hex surged with power! Hex pulled his staff, before he felt a piercing pain in his side! Hex held up a hand, tendrils of mana forming all over him that grabbed onto something!
After a moment, Annabeth became visible, the magic from her invisible New York Yankees's cap being cancelled out by Hex's own magic, dropping off of her head! "I see," Hex said. "Very clever, Half-Blood."
He sent magic through Annabeth's body, before tossing her into a wall! Danny shot towards Hex, phasing into his body as he attempted to overshadow him! However, Hex managed to snag onto him in a field of mana that resembled a clear forcefield!
"Attempting to overshadow me, boy?" Hex asked. "Sorry to say, that will not work out for you."
Hex threw two magic circles from his staff that surrounded Danny, trapping him in almost electrical energy! It felt almost like being caught in his Specter Deflector, but keeping him in his ghost form, leaving him unable to fly out or fight back! "Just because you're dead," Hex said, "doesn't mean you're exempt from my retribution!"
Danny was now trapped, leaving Touka and Annabeth alone, the ghoul helping the blonde to stand after that attack she withstood. "What do you two think you can do to me?" he asked. "Your allies have been stomped thoroughly, your ghost now trapped and you're on the ropes, while I have barely broken a sweat. Face it, children, there is noone among you that can stop me."
The next moment, Moka dropped in from the skylight herself, having decided that now was as good a time as any, given that her allies were all dispatched with by this point! With the boys all down, she knew that Touka and Annabeth would not be able to properly fend off Hex themselves. She dropped down a downward, axe kick towards Hex, which he barely had time to block with his staff, still creating a gigantic shockwave that shook the very foundations of the mansion, even knocking Annabeth and Touka from their feet!
Hex rose up from the crater, having been able to deflect most of the force from that kick, as Moka stood in front of him, exercising her legs. "I don't know," she replied to him, "I think I know a girl."
"Vampire," Hex hissed.
"Vampire," Moka replied smugly. She rushed Hex once again, attempting another kick that Hex quickly dodged! He fired off bolts of magic from his staff that Moka effortlessly leapt over, before delivering a roundhouse kick that nearly sent Hex right back to the ground! Hex felt Touka's Kagune slash at his back, just as Annabeth attempted to stab him with her drakon bone sword!
Hex dodged her sword, grabbing onto her wrists and forcing her to drop it, before tossing her aside! She hit the wall on her back, gasping in pain before dropping to the ground in a slump! "Chase!" Touka said. "Are you okay?"
Annabeth coughed for a moment, nearly gagging from the pain she'd just experienced. "I hate today," she gasped.
"You two," Hex said, holding out his staff, "will have to step aside while I take care of the vampire." "No!" Moka shouted, trying to stop Hex, but it was in vain. Hex held out his free hand to create a forcefield around his body that Moka was forced to expend her energy on, as Hex fired off what looked like a cloud of red smoke that went right into Touka's face, despite her mask! She cried out for a moment, screaming in horror for several seconds, before her body slumped over.
"Touka?" Annabeth asked nervously, standing back up. The only response she got was a low, guttural growl from Touka, as she bent and twisted around, lumbering closer to Annabeth like a leering animal! "Oh shit," Annabeth said nervously.
Too late. Touka launched her Kagune at Annabeth, who just barely had time to dodge! She slashed her bronze knife at Touka as she lashed at her again, the two now locked in their own standoff!
"And with that," Hex said, "you're the only one I have to deal with now, vampiress."
Moka growled angrily, rushing Hex once again! However, a geyser of water suddenly burst from the ground that completely overtook her! Moka screamed a muffled scream within the water, as it all condensed together into a sphere that Hex held in front of him.
"The thing about you vampires," he said smugly, "is while you may be the strongest creatures in the Dark Realm, you also have the most weaknesses."
Humungousaur was pinned to the ground by one of the stone dragons, seeing his other friends in danger! Gritting his teeth, he increased his size enough to knock the dragon off of him, before he charged in their direction! He transformed into XLR8, shooting right into the sphere of water, catching Moka, and coming out the other side!
He ran up to the second floor of the library and gently put Moka down. "Moka," he said, "are you okay?"
"J-just… gimme a minute," Moka said, waving him off.
"What the heck was that?" XLR8 asked.
"Vampires… weak… water," Moka replied, rubbing her head.
"Seriously…?" XLR8 asked. "How the heck does that work?"
"Just… accept it," Moka said.
Hex suddenly floated up towards the second floor, holding out his staff! Ben reached for the Omnitrix emblem, only for a vine to wrap around his wrist, tossing him off the balcony, right into the waiting maw of the stone dragon! Moka shrieked in fear, before a vine wrapped around her wrist that burnt like fire!
She cried out in pain, as more vines wrapped around her body, which began to hiss and burn and blister! Hex smirked happily as he watched the flowers of roses, wolfsbane, and dogrose constrict her body! Moka moaned and cursed in pain, before she was slammed into a wall, suspending her in the air by the vines that began growing up the wall!
"Poor vampire," Hex laughed. "You're so outclassed. Now you and your friends will wait here before I'm ready to humour you." Hex floated back to the ground, where he opened up another magic circle and resumed the ritual that he had been performing before.
Annabeth saw this go down, barely able to dodge a swipe from Touka's hand! She kicked the ghoul right in the chin, before backing up in fear, grabbing her drakon sword in a roll! "Come on Touka!" she said. "You're stronger than some spell! You can fight this!"
Touka looked at Annabeth, her mask having been knocked off her face, causing the Half-Blood to shiver in fear at the look she was giving. Her eyes were still the same black and red, but black veins had formed all over her head, even parts of her neck, her tongue had turned a similar black, and drool that more resembled tar was leaking down her mouth, as the same inhuman growling and snarling came out of her!
"Uh…" Annabeth said, gripping her weapons in shaking hands, as the ghoul predatorily tiptoed around her. "I really don't suppose you'd want to talk this out?"
Touka released a cacophonic shriek as she ran towards Annabeth, Kagune ready to come down on top of her! However, Jake dropped in from above, pinning her down with the claws on his feet. "So… what'd I miss here?" he asked, gesturing to Touka.
Annabeth raised a brow, utterly baffled for a moment, before she looked to see that only one stone dragon was left, shaking its head violently! "Hex did something," Annabeth replied, rubbing her head, feeling exhausted. "Her mind has gone full predatory."
"So you could say…" Danny uttered from his trap. "Hex… hexed her?"
"Seriously Danny!?" Annabeth and Jake asked him.
"We all deal with stress differently!" Danny snapped back in turn. Annabeth rolled her eyes, looking out at her situation. Both Danny and Moka were trapped, Moka in particular being slowly poisoned by those flowers, Touka was totally gone in the frenzy that Hex had put her in, and Ben was…
Suddenly, the dragon that had eaten Ben had its head explode as Cannonbolt came rolling out of it, stopping beside the others. "So? How we doing?" he asked. "Did we get him?"
"Not remotely," Annabeth replied. "Ben, you free Moka from that trap. Jake, you go stop Hex. I'll handle Touka."
"Wait, are you sure?" Cannonbolt asked. "Why don't I fight Hex and Jake fight Touka? I mean, he's already standing on her."
"No," Annabeth replied. "Hex knows how to fight you, plus Moka needs to get out yesterday. Besides, I know how to handle Touka."
"Uh, what about me?" Danny asked weakly.
"We don't know how to get you out of there!" Annabeth replied. "Just hang tight until we stop Hex and you'll be fine."
"Speak for yourself!" Danny said.
The others complied, as Jake let go of Touka, while Ben transformed into Swampfire and leapt up to the second floor! Touka promptly writhed around like a wild beast, before she leapt at Annabeth like a wild dog, the Half-Blood sliding underneath the attack!
"Be careful Ann!" Danny yelled.
"I know what I'm doing," Annabeth said, but more to herself than to Danny. Touka stalked over to her once again, her Kagune blazing!
"Come on old girl," Annabeth said, reaching into her back pocket. "I know what you want. I know what'll calm you."
Annabeth ducked under another hail of Ukaku spikes, before throwing a sealed envelope at Touka's face! The ghoul was stunned only for a second, before she growled at Annabeth again. But then she stopped. She sniffed the air curiously, looking down at the envelope.
Her salivating became fierce as she knelt down at the envelope and shredded it apart, digging into the meat that lay within! She cawed and let loose a series of noises in delight, as Annabeth caught her breath. "That's it," she said. "Enjoy yourself. This'll all be over soon."
Swampfire leapt up to the balcony and ran over to Moka, who was still pinned to the wall, moaning in pain, her eyes crying from the pain! "Hang on Moka," Swampfire said. "I'll get you out of there."
"Wha… what're you tal… bout?" Moka uttered. "I… fine…"
"Just relax," Swampfire replied. "The mighty vampire will be saved in a moment." He held his hand out, emitting the gas that would allow him to control the plants.
For a moment, it seemed to work, as the plants began moving away from Moka's body, letting her slowly drop back to the ground. However, Swampfire suddenly found the plants wrap around his arms and begin stabbing his body! He shouted in pain, before getting pushed towards the opposite side of the building, pinned against a wall! Moka let her head slump back over, gritting her teeth and baring her fangs.
She forced herself to a standing position, tugging and pulling against the flowers! Her body sparked and shook with red yoki, the mana of monsters, as her body appeared to pale and her hair turned purely silver! Her eyes were scrunched shut, as she continued to growl and tug!
Hex opened one eye as his ritual was continuing, pointing his staff right at Jake as he tried to attack, blocking him with a force shield! "Did you think it would be that easy?" the sorcerer asked.
"Well I was hoping," Jake replied, dropping to the ground and getting into a fighting stance. "What kinda juju you cooking up here, witch doctor?"
"Something you couldn't begin to understand," Hex said, before adding, "salamander."
"Salamander!?" Jake asked. "Dawg, why does everybody call me that!? I'm a dragon! And yall're gonna show some respect!"
Hex merely raised an eyebrow, before sending a bolt from his staff that created pillars of stone that constricted Jake's body! "Just watch, hatchling," he said, "as I finish my work."
Hex held out a hand, revealing that he had cut his palm, dripping blood onto the circle, that caused it to flare in fury! Jake forced against the rocks holding him, breaking out one bit at a time, before a noise caught his attention! He looked up to see Swampfire pushed to the opposite wall by the plants!
"What the heck was that!?" he asked.
"That would be Tennyson," Hex replied, "attempting to free the vampire. A foolish choice, no doubt."
"But… it was just flowers," Jake replied.
"It's magic," Hex replied. "I don't have to explain it."
Jake snarled angrily, freeing himself from the rock prison, before delivering a claw into Hex's back! But same as before, Hex dodged the strike, before wrapping Jake's neck with his staff in a headlock! Jake growled angrily as Hex held the staff against his neck!
"You're already too late, boy," he said. "The ritual is done. It's coming."
"What's coming?" Jake asked.
Suddenly, a green glow burst from the ground, as a large, jade crystal emerged from the ground. "What in the-?" Jake asked, before Hex tossed him aside. The sorcerer walked over to the crystal, but Jake shot a blast of fire that knocked him from his feet!
"Oh no you don't!" Jake said. "I dunno what you want with that thing, but it ain't good, so you ain't getting it!"
"You're a fool," Hex replied, grabbing his staff and getting to his feet. "You have no idea what you're tampering with. And do you really think you can handle me?"
Just then, the very foundation of the building shook once again, as a loud roar echoed in everyone's skulls! A burst of red glowed from the upper floor, before a shape that emanated the glow flew off and struck the ground with a 'thoom!' From the crater, Moka strode forward, eyes still shut. Her skin was stained with the marks left behind from the vines that had agitated her flesh. Her eyes opened, now shone to be glowing bright red.
"Ah," Hex said. "So you've broken from my trap? I must say, I'm impressed. Even if it wasn't unbreakable, such a young vampire managing to free herself is an impressive feat."
"That was because," Moka said, "I was holding back… because I wanted to go easy on you! But now… now you've made me mad!"
"Ah no," Jake said, stepping aside.
Moka saw this and took it as her cue! She launched herself forward, appearing right before Hex in a flash of motion! Just as Hex rose his staff, Moka delivered an upward axe kick that sent the staff flying, while also catching Hex's chin and sending him right into the air!
Moka leapt after him, delivering another kick that dug her heel into Hex's sid, before another that slammed against his cheek, and another that nailed him in the belly, spinning around in rapid succession, before delivering a kick that hit him in the head and sent him to the ground! Each hit that Hex had felt as if a truck was hitting him, even connecting with the ground feeling dwarfed by comparison! Moka dove back towards him, bringing down her feet on his chest!
She picked him up by his neck, fangs bared as she clearly was ready to bite him! She roared again as she reared her head back! "Moka!" Ben's voice shouted.
Moka slowly turned to look at him, as Ben was standing behind her back in his human form. "He's down," he said. Moka turned back to Hex, before dropping him on the floor.
Hex lay on the ground in a heap, as Moka dusted herself off. Danny was freed from his trap the next moment, as Touka suddenly snapped to her senses in turn. All of Hex's magic no longer active.
"A...Annabeth?" she asked. "What… what was I-?" To her surprise, Touka found herself caught in a hug, Annabeth resting her head against her chest. "It's okay," Annabeth said. "It's over… you're fine." Touka was confused, but from the way Annabeth was trembling she had a feeling that the embrace was more for her benefit than for Touka's. So, instead of arguing, she merely allowed her head to rest in Ananbeth's chest.
Ben stepped over to Moka, putting a hand to her shoulder. "You okay?" he asked.
"Yeah," Moka replied. "Just… really… tired." She stumbled on her feet, the pink streaks in her hair starting to spread, before she found herself collapsing backwards. Ben quickly caught her, allowing her head to rest on her shoulders. Moka was still conscious, smiling up at Ben with those fangs of hers gleaming bright.
"You're such a hero," she said. "Catching a girl while she falls? But just know, Tennyson, that I'm no damsel. I just need a crutch at the moment."
"Sure thing," Ben replied. "Whatever you say, Ms. Shuzen."
Danny and Jake stepped towards the crystal that had emerged from the ground. "This thing's giving off some mad juice," Jake replied. "Whatever it is, I think it's a good thing we kept Hex from getting it." "Let's take it back with us," Ben said. "Put it somewhere safe."
"You… fools-!" Hex uttered, managing to push himself up. The group turned towards him, but saw that he was in no condition to continue fighting and was moments away from slipping unconscious. "You… you have no idea what you're doing…! You've jeopardized everything!"
"Yeah," Ben said. "Well, that's what happens when you don't explain yourself."
A/N: Boy! That one was a rush to get through!
So, I had initially had the deep moment between the girls's backstory in the last chapter, but I cut it for time to put at the start of this one to help balance things out. Plus, I just found the idea of cutting the last chapter off before the story is revealed would flow better narratively.
I actually went back over the story between the girls several times to make it feel the best. I had to rethink several choices here and there to make the reactions of the girls feel more natural. Like with Touka, I had to give her a good enough reason to kill the Huntsclan members, but also show that she isn't just a unrepentant murderer either. And I also had to make it clear that Annabeth didn't approve, but Moka was a bit more lenient.
So I then added the part between Touka and Moka personally, to give more of a reason for why Moka and Touka were so angered at each other, so that way their actions upon meeting back up with each other a few parts ago made more sense.
But of course, a big part came in with how Ben recalled his experience with Ultimate Kevin. A pretty natural recollection for a story like this, but one that I felt was more than appropriate. Naturally Touka hadn't gone cuckoo, (yet anyway,) but the analogy between giving up on a friend I felt was natural.
The fight with Hex was something that I really had a lot of fun with too. Utilizing each character's individual abilities and showing how Hex could react to them was really enjoyable. I particularly had fun in showing how he used Moka's different weaknesses against her, but still showing he was not impervious to harm either. He just happened to know the best way to counter the different Dark Realm inhabitants.
So is that the end? Is the fight over? Well, I'll let you figure that out, next time. So until then, thank you so much for reading, have a wonderful evening, and take care!