Chapter 53
Styx castle was pummeled by another volley of meteors, which plowed through the battlements, toppling towers. Armand stood up and dusted himself off.
"Report!" he yelled.
"It's an Esper attack!" yelled a soldier from the southern gate.
"It looks like some kind of spook!" called another.
"Let's show him some of our Esper magic!" said a wounded soldier limping towards Armand.
Armand nodded. "How many Espers stayed behind?"
"Only Lord Odin is here!" said the wounded soldier, blood dripping from his head.
Odin walked onto the battlements, next to Armand.
"Withdraw at once!" he commanded.
The soldiers saluted and ran toward the keep. Armand helped the wounded soldier hobble along.
"Get those wounds healed," said Odin tersely.
Armand tried to stem his angry tears. "I'm sorry Sir, we have to leave this in your hands!"
Odin patted his shoulder and smiled faintly. "Trust me Lieutenant."
Armand grasped his gloved wrist. "You're the best Captain!"
Odin sadly watched them run off. Fireballs streaked past his head, illuminating the destruction of the castle walls. Bricks and motor pelted him. He looked down in the courtyard to see Sleipnir waiting for him. He effortlessly leapt down and onto the saddle. As the front gate began to buckle and crumble, he ran his hand along his steed's neck.
"One more time old friend," said Odin, unsheathing his sword.
The crowd of Eboshi soldiers clambered over the walls, their spears and swords at the ready.
"Fight me and die!" bellowed Odin, "Run away and live!"
"Go to hell Esper!" spat a soldier, charging.
Odin leveled his sword at the onrushing soldiers.
"Atom Edge!"
He plowed through the ranks, mowing them down like ripe wheat, their bodies disintegrating into faint sparks that trailed away. Conrad gaped in amazement.
"That bastard just killed a whole squad!" he screamed.
Another line of soldiers got their spears ready and rushed towards him.
"Atom Edge!"
Again Odin cut them to ribbons, all that remained of them were rapidly fading red sparks. Sleipnir panted and backed away from the General covering the door to the main keep.
"Phantom, blast down that door!" yelled Conrad.
A spectral form materialized next to Conrad and began to fade in and out. "Seeker of the distant void, rain heavenly fire upon the earth…Meteor!" Odin ducked as meteors plunged into the iron door, caving it in amid splinters of wood.
"Send in another squad!" yelled General Conrad.
Odin backed into the door as another wave of soldiers swept around him.
"Atom Edge!"
Conrad turned to Phantom as the screams of the dying soldiers faded away.
"Kill them all," he said bitterly.
Phantom hovered down through the dropped weapons and debris into the main hall. The tapestries are carpets were now tattered and torn. Odin stood mounted on his horse in front of the dais where the thrones stood. His sword hung limply by his side.
"Now I have to kill one of my own kind," said Odin, his face crumpled and exhausted.
"I am not your kind!" hissed Phantom.
Odin swung his sword into position.
"Atom Edge!"
He galloped past Phantom, the blade passing right through the ghost's torso. Odin spun around to him still hovering there.
Phantom half turned and wagged a warning finger at Odin.
Odin gritted his teeth and snapped Sleipnir's reins.
"Atom Edge!"
This time Zantetsuken passed through Phantom's head. Odin turned in the saddle to see the specter hovering there, his pale blue eyes burning.
"You are not my kind," repeated the ghost phasing in and out of visibility.
"Stop this madness!" pleaded Odin.
"Ageless stone, that knows no pity…," murmured Phantom.
"Don't do that!" yelled Odin, holding out a hand.
"…become unfeeling rock…Petrify!" hissed the ghost.
Sleipnir only had time to whinny once before it solidified into stone. Odin fixed his gaze upon Phantom, trying to reach him somehow.
"You can't turn me into Magicite! I still have to…!" was all he managed to say.
Phantom levitated over to Odin and tapped his stone sword lightly.
He looked around the room. It seemed lifeless. Through his spectral vision he could see something was wrong. He hovered over to the steps leading up to the queen's throne. A small stone under the carpet protruded slightly above the others. He held up a hand and the stone retracted into the floor. There was a distant hollow thud and section of wall lifted to reveal a staircase leading down. Phantom floated down the stairs.
He would find them all.