44: Know Yourself
Happy New Year Everyone, Im Back!
I've been seeing the number 444 lately which would switch to 44. I came back to my book to see the next chapter was this one. (Chapter 44) How weird is that? Im on the right track in my life with the universe, what could be any better than that?
BTW, If There's Anything You Like Or Want To See Happen Before The End, Feel Free To Message Me Or Leave A Review. Enjoy!
"Maybe if I was gullible" I said preparing my fighting stance.
"Ahh, let's see if you're actions show as strong as your words"
He readied his sword and his foot slid farther to the side.
In an instant, he dashed towards me.
I quickly dodged his sword. My eyes watched as the sword slightly missed me. The sound of the sword breaking the wind barrier made me acknowledge not to take him easy.
He quickly slashed again in my direction. I dodged the second blow.
Shit, I can't stay on the defensive, I have to make a move
Bishamon then swung his sword diagonally. This time I morphed my hands into swords and we collided blades.
The force pushed me back a bit.
I looked past the enormous blade and at its wielder. The demons face wore an eery smile. The pressure Bishamon was emitting was like trying to hold back a freight train.
"Your blades won't stop me from mincing you!"
I remained calm and focused. If I didnt, like Bishamon stated, I'd literally be dead meat.
I gathered my strength and I began feeling myself raise his blade farther away.
Now
I groaned and pushed with more pressure.
"Nnnnnn-Haargh!" I yelled. I pushed more and let off my incineration field.
It sent Bishamon sliding back.
"What might?! ...You are one to not be underestimated!" The demon said in wonder.
I came up with a plan. My swords returned back to my normal hands.
I glared at the the weapon concealed in Bishamons hands.
I then dashed towards the samurai.
He grinned. He spinned and swung his sword coming down from above.
Nows my chance
I slid under his arm, grabbed it and swung him over my shoulder.
He landed on his back with a hard thud.
I quickly sent a blade thru his wrist forcing him to release the sword.
"Haaa!" The samurai yelled in pain.
I kicked away the sword.
Suddenly I felt a hand grip my other ankle. I quickly pierced that wrist as well. He released me and I back flipped to gain space between us. Bishamon slowly rose to his feet.
I then dashed again towards him. Just as I saw him prepare for a counter attack, I teleported to his right side and sent a fist into his helmet. The force sent him rolling over a few feet.
The demonic samurai began to chuckle as he kneeled on the ground. He wiped his mouth and looked at his hand.
"Impressive"
I walked towards him as he began to rise.
"You're no match for me Bishamon"
"How disrespectful...A mortal has the audacity to tell ME I'm not an opponent worthy enough?!"
"I am who I am but your energy is your own downfall"
"...I will enjoy holding your skull before DEMITRI!"
I grimaced at his remark.
In an instant the Samurai sent his fist towards my face. Without effort, I caught it in my palm. I pulled him closer and threw a fist of my own that collided with his nose. He flew backwards, flying through trees. I sent a hand beam after him. Suddenly it disappeared but there was no sign of contact.
"Jay San!"
Before I could turn to the direction of Nina's voice, something struck me.
"Gugh!"
A severe pain developed in my stomach. I looked down to see a familiar sword inside of me. I felt myself stumble. I knelt down. I could feel my breathes grow tedious. The blood on the ground that dripped from my lips grew blurry.
"You've underestimated me...letting down your guard. How naive"
I looked up at the enemy before me.
"I've captured the blood of a super mortal. Now you can die...along with the girl"
"...No..." I muttered. I grew mad at the thought of dying a foolish death, I couldn't let everything end here. I havent even seen Demtri face to face yet.
"Grrr" I groaned as I pulled the sword from my stomach.
"Hmm?"
Finally, I removed the sword. My blood decorated the ground below me. I looked at the sword and stared.
Suddenly, my blood retracted from within the blade and the ground, entering into my morphonite, returning to my body.
"What?! Impossible!"
"You've clearly underestimated me"
I rose to my feet and threw the sword back to Bishamon. He caught it.
"I believe that's yours"
Bishamon looked at his sword and back to me. "What are you?"
"I don't know...the one who will end you"
" it!"
At that moment, I gathered my energy within me. I could feel heat all over. Now ready, I prepared myself. In a nano second, Bishamon felt my hand enter his gut.
The light surrounding me entered Bishamon. I yanked out my hand. Bishamon stood paralyzed. He then fell to his knees with his arms wrapped around his wound. His mouth was wide open in shock.
"So... fast..."
Suddenly the samurai's body began to twitch.
"Noooo...you've.…purified me?!"
I stood in front of him watching him suffer at my feet.
Light beams suddenly shot out of his back, his arm, then other arm, now everywhere.
"Curse youuuuu!" Bishamon yelled as he shattered into a ball of white light.
I stood on guard this time, just in case he was bluffing. Although I had a strong feeling he wasn't.
The light faded. The armor was there unpossessed and on the ground was lying an old man nearby, skinny and only in underwear.
"Dad!" Nina came out the blue to her fathers side. She slid to her knees and rested his head on her arm.
"How?... is he?"
Nina's eyes began to grow teary.
"I didn't want any of this to happen...This sacrifice was against my will. That demoness tricked my father into wearing that cursed armor. Demitri told me he'd save my father if I decieved you into a trap. He intended for Bishamon to wear you down. I only let it get this far because I hope you'll save him..."
"I don't know how...I'm sorry"
Nina tilted her head.
"Its fine, let me rest" the man said.
Nina looked down at her father who had listened the entire time.
"Father?!"
"Thank you...young man" Her father said to me in between breaths. I nodded.
"My Nina" he looked her in the eyes "...I love you"
Then, the man I knew as her father sank deeper into his daughters arms.
Nina's body shook as she cried quietly.
"I'm sorry" I walked over to comfort her.
As I kneeled down beside her, the armor leaped onto Nina.
"What the?!" I yelled in panic.
Nina screamed as the armor attached itself to her causing her to release her father. I quickly tried pulling the armor off of her. I didn't prevail. I had to think wisely.
Earlier she said she was in Dimitri's presence
"Nina! Tell me where Demitri is"
Ninas scream grew louder.
I grabbed her arms and frantically shook her.
"NINA! Wheres Demitri?!"
Her eyes began to turn red and veins began to appear across her face. She slowly fixed her eyes onto mine. "HOLLYWOOD!...Please Jay! He's inside! Don't let him possess me!"
I shook my head. "I-I can't do that to you"
Nina somehow grew calmer as her screaming seized. "Jay please, it's okay. I'll be with my father"
I felt tears seep from my eyes from what I was witnessing. I quickly turned my hand into a blade and pierced her heart. She shrieked as her eyes grew big. She then looked more relaxed as a smile spread across her face. The red glow faded from her eyes along with the veins. The blade exited her chest. I caught her body as it fell into my arms. I looked at the two corpses under me.
Rage piled inside of me.
"Huuuarrghhaaahhh!" I screamed. My voice echoed through the forest.
I wish I could've kept you all alive. Now, this same pain will be the emotions of the girls when they hear about your death and your fathers. For this, Demitri, & along with all who allied themselves with you, I will annihilate.
^V^
I appeared where we were last in the forest. I heard voices behind me. I turned around to see a fire up nearby.
Must be them
Morrigan rose from the tree stump she sat on and looked my way. She must've been searching for my energy that whole time. A smile appeared on her face until she realized two slumped bodies on my shoulders. She alerted the girls and Talbain. They quietly watched as I approached them. Talbain helped me lay the bodies down.
The two knights stared in silence.
Rochella covered her mouth. She turned over to Julia and sobbed on her shoulder. Julia's eyes grew teary as she rubbed Rochella's back.
Morrigan walked over to me. "What's wrong?" She asked as she held my hand.
I looked in her emerald eyes.
"There was nothing I could do"
"You can't save everyone Jay, but its alright. I know you tried" she replied with an assuring smile.
I fought back the tears trying to escape my eyes as I watched the girls grieve their friends death.
Morrigan noticed and brung my head to rest on her shoulder.
"Its okay babe"
^V^
"I didn't want to, but a decision had to be made" I said as I rested my head on Morrigans stomach. We lied on her bed back at the castle.
"I completely understand, you did the right thing. They're in a better place now"
"That's true" I stated.
"This will be all over soon Babe"
"Like hell it'll be"
"That's the spirit" Morrigan remarked, "Oh, by the way, you sparked a wildfire"
"A wildfire? How?"
"How am I supposed to know silly?" she chuckled. "It must've been Pyron's energy within you. That's my best guess. He's entirely fire. That, you do know"
"Yeah, I must've grown mad"
"I'm sure you were. I don't know how you spit flames like that. Anyway, what did you learn from Bishamon?"
"Looks can be deceiving, at least that's what he tried to make me believe. I found out I can use my energy to destroy someone elses if mines is purer"
"Wow, you're learning yourself more. Just what I've been wanting from you. You make me want to go against you myself"
"That's what we'll do tomorrow. I've been waiting for the day"
"Then let's get our rest. We'll both need it"
"Yup, sure will" I kissed her before we rested our bodies.
^V^
The scent of food triggered my nostrils. I peeked open my eyes and sat up. I looked over to see Morrigans side empty.
'Where'd she disappear to now?'
I rose out the bed and stretched.
I walked over to the bedroom door and opened it.
"Good morning my handsome" Morrigan said.
My focus trailed down from her eyes to a tray of blueberry pancakes she held.
"Morning. You made this for me?" I asked.
"I figured you'd need a good meal before our play date later" she said with a smirk.
We sat on the bed feeding each other.
"Do you think they're going to have a funeral for Nina?" I asked.
"Not in your world if they do. It'll be here I believe"
"Hmm, Im going to find a way to make this death the last, she's gone too soon"
"What do you mean?" Morrigan asked.
"Where'd Lucien and Mudo leave her body?" I asked.
"In the lower levels," Morrigan said, studying me, "...that brain of yours is up to something I see"
"Alright, nice. Let's eat up, so I can give you a lesson"
Morrigan laughed. "Okay, you can try"
^V^
"Lets hope we don't attract too much attention" Morrigan said.
We hovered over the mountains in Malibu Creek State Park.
"I cant be sure too sure that we won't" I remarked as I opened my helmet.
We landed in the open grass, Morrigan stood a few feet away facing me.
"What are you waiting for?!" Now's your chance to amuse me!" Morrigan said with a wide grin.
"He's waiting for me!"
Talbains voice echoed through the wind.
We found Talbain standing on a cliff edge. He had his arms crossed looking down at us. This time he was only in a tank top and his martial arts pants.
"No way you two were going to start without me"
"I knew you were here Kreutz, that makes it fair. Now lets begin" Morrigan stated.
I prepared my fight stance. "A dream come true"
My helmet slid closed. "Ready?"
"Set?" Morrigan replied, her hands glowed bright pink.
"GO!" I yelled as I took off towards her.