Author's Note: Shade didn't betray anybody. They THOUGHT he was going to
give the Dagger to the Divine Dragoon, but really he was just chucking it
into the crowd. I wouldn't count Shade out yet, I bet he's got a plan in
mind...
Shade and Aquaria? O_o I don't think so. She's a hyperactive fifteen-year old with a gigantic hammer, while he's an angsty, dual-sword-toting, 27- year-old mutant ninja. Nope, don't think that pairing would work out too well.
Yes, Flaming Blitz is MY spell, and a damn cool one it is too. It's a little like Final Burst, but that's OK. I've also got one thought up for Phil and a really cool one for Shade. Oh, and by the way, the Divine Dragoon can't just blow the crowd to tiny pieces because that would destroy the Dagger in the process, and then he'd be screwed. Minor detail, I know, but still...
Chapter 40
Senior Executive Trega watched the news update that was on every channel with his hands folded. "So, the would-be heroes finally show themselves."
His personal assistant piped up. "Project Shade is among them."
"Yes, and so is Chang's pet Wingly."
The assistant spoke again. "Our information has confirmed that the Red-Eye that was fighting earlier was indeed the one that killed Corain a month ago. He came from the same area and supposedly 'transferred to another school' a day after the incident. The Jade Dragoon did the same, and lived nearby."
Trega mused, more to himself than the servile man behind him. "Must be classmates. We also have two little girls and a half-gorilla. Quite the motley crew. I want everything we can find about all of them on my desk as soon as possible."
The assistant's head bobbed. "We have our informant database working on it as we speak."
"Good."
The attendant hesitated before speaking again. "If I may inquire..."
Trega cut him off smoothly, as if he could read the man's mind. "The experiments concerning the new project are running as according to plan. That is all you are required to know."
"Yes, sir." The aide hesitated once more, like a humble dog waiting for a command to roll over or sit, before exiting silently.
************************************************************************
Sean watched as the Moon Dagger sailed gracefully from the parapets of the Twin Castle into the gigantic crowd below, but from a slightly different position than Shade and the others. He smiled. It was exactly like Shade had planned it. He had been waiting among the populace since before Rayen had gone off on his own to battle the Divine Dragoon, as Shade had instructed him, and now he had his chance. With the crowd mesmerized by the sight of seven Dragon Knights standing atop the palace, he had little difficulty in reaching up and snatching the artifact from the air. He stepped back, molding into the sea of onlookers; the Dagger clamped safely in his hand.
The Divine Dragoon's cry of rage scattered the swarm. He swooped down, searching for the possessor of the Moon Dagger. Eventually he spotted Sean, and he swooped in front of the boy, knocking him to the ground. He was about to wrench the artifact from the orphan's hand when a heavy object bounced off the armored plates of his back. He whipped around, but the object and its thrower were already gone. Rayen grabbed his sword from the ground and dashed to the Divine Dragoon's other side.
Wreathing his blade in flames, he hurled his weapon again, and this time the sword flew true, lodging itself between the Divine Dragoon's shoulder and chest. The Divine Dragoon gathered energy in his cannon, and was just about to end the audacious Red-Eye's life when Sean got an idea.
"Rayen! Catch!" Sean tossed the Moon Dagger, and Rayen caught it.
Rayen smiled as the Divine Dragoon halted the casting of the spell in surprise. The villain couldn't afford to use magic while he had the Dagger, for fear of harming it in the process. Sure enough, the huge black sword appeared in the gauntlets of the Divine Dragoon, and he charged. Rayen jumped back, narrowly avoiding the weapon's deadly path. He dashed backwards, always keeping himself one step ahead of the onrushing aggressor.
After a swipe of the massive blade reduced a wooden sign to splinters, Rayen knew he had to do something fast. Running backwards expended a lot more stamina than running forwards, but he needed to see what the Divine Dragoon, and more importantly his weapon, were doing at all times. He couldn't turn into a Dragoon for more than a few minutes, because his Spirit Power was already exhausted from the earlier battle. He risked a daring glance over his shoulder, and then smiled. The others had come down from the parapets to assist. "Phil! Coming your way!"
Phil, grinning, caught the Dagger, but his smile faded when he realized the Divine Dragoon wasn't coming after him. He realized that the Divine Dragoon knew he could afford to use magic now that Rayen didn't have the Dagger. He was going to wipe out the Dragoons one by one, until the possessor of the Dagger was the only one left! "Oh shit..."
"Divine Dragon Ball!"
Seven simultaneous shouts rang out. "Rayen!"
Rayen activated what little Spirit Energy he had left and formed a shield. As the hundreds of tiny meteors detonated against the barrier of crimson magic, Rayen felt the strain taking its toll. He wouldn't be able to keep this up for much longer. The shield was about to give way when the shower of explosions suddenly ceased. Rayen ended the transformation to preserve what he could.
A bladed spear butt slamming across the Divine Dragoon's face interrupted the spell. Phil struck the foe several more times, then summoned a gust of wind that slammed the Divine Dragoon into a nearby building. He tossed the Moon Dagger to Rayen, held it in one hand while he drew his sword with the other. The Divine Dragoon burst forth from the rubble, and studied the situation for a moment while he swallowed a healing potion. He wouldn't be able to beat one Dragoon at a time; the Dagger could pass hands before he could finish off one of them. He had to obtain the Dagger, one way or another.
The Divine Dragoon charged, but Rayen was ready. He parried the strike, and then thrusted with his own weapon. He could fight back without fear of magic. Hopefully he would be able to regain enough Spirit Energy to transform again. The two figures darted throughout the city streets. Rayen finally commenced his transformation, and flew to the top of a high building.
The Divine Dragoon recognized Rayen's fatal mistake, and he grinned like a predator whose quarry had nowhere to run. With a blast from his cannon, the Divine Dragoon sent the building toppling to the earth. Rayen felt the world recede from under his feet, and in his shock, he released the Moon Dagger. Rayen tried to reclaim it, but the force of gravity had gained dominion of the artifact. It fell from his grasp, hurtling for the ground below.
However, Sean was not idle while these events were transpiring. He sprinted towards the collapsing building, grabbing the Dagger and rushing out of the way just in time to avoid the fragments from crushing him and the relic. The Divine Dragoon stole up behind Sean, and with a vicious swipe from his cannon arm, slammed the boy to the ground. He sneered as he wrenched the prize from his grasping hands. "Mine."
The eight hopeless defenders watched in dismay as the Divine Dragoon beat his six wings, and took off into the air, with the Moon Dagger clenched in his mailed fist. There was no hope of taking the Dagger from him. He was just too powerful. The Moon Mirror was their only chance now, and coming from two straight losses, their prospects appeared dim. They had failed.
Shade walked up to Rayen nonchalantly, as if they had lost nothing more than a PE football game. He handed the Red-Eye the Dragon Buster, and Rayen slid the skull onto his hand. The fiery blade sprung forth, and Rayen's face became even more resolute. "Kyra, take us to Deningrad. If we're going to protect the Moon Mirror, we're going to need a plan."
Author's Note: Well, that sucks majorly. He got the Moon Dagger anyway, and now Deningrad and the Dragoons are the only thing standing between him and achieving his goal, whatever it may be. Tune in for next chapter, and don't forget to post those pretty reviews Striker likes so much! O_o
Shade and Aquaria? O_o I don't think so. She's a hyperactive fifteen-year old with a gigantic hammer, while he's an angsty, dual-sword-toting, 27- year-old mutant ninja. Nope, don't think that pairing would work out too well.
Yes, Flaming Blitz is MY spell, and a damn cool one it is too. It's a little like Final Burst, but that's OK. I've also got one thought up for Phil and a really cool one for Shade. Oh, and by the way, the Divine Dragoon can't just blow the crowd to tiny pieces because that would destroy the Dagger in the process, and then he'd be screwed. Minor detail, I know, but still...
Chapter 40
Senior Executive Trega watched the news update that was on every channel with his hands folded. "So, the would-be heroes finally show themselves."
His personal assistant piped up. "Project Shade is among them."
"Yes, and so is Chang's pet Wingly."
The assistant spoke again. "Our information has confirmed that the Red-Eye that was fighting earlier was indeed the one that killed Corain a month ago. He came from the same area and supposedly 'transferred to another school' a day after the incident. The Jade Dragoon did the same, and lived nearby."
Trega mused, more to himself than the servile man behind him. "Must be classmates. We also have two little girls and a half-gorilla. Quite the motley crew. I want everything we can find about all of them on my desk as soon as possible."
The assistant's head bobbed. "We have our informant database working on it as we speak."
"Good."
The attendant hesitated before speaking again. "If I may inquire..."
Trega cut him off smoothly, as if he could read the man's mind. "The experiments concerning the new project are running as according to plan. That is all you are required to know."
"Yes, sir." The aide hesitated once more, like a humble dog waiting for a command to roll over or sit, before exiting silently.
************************************************************************
Sean watched as the Moon Dagger sailed gracefully from the parapets of the Twin Castle into the gigantic crowd below, but from a slightly different position than Shade and the others. He smiled. It was exactly like Shade had planned it. He had been waiting among the populace since before Rayen had gone off on his own to battle the Divine Dragoon, as Shade had instructed him, and now he had his chance. With the crowd mesmerized by the sight of seven Dragon Knights standing atop the palace, he had little difficulty in reaching up and snatching the artifact from the air. He stepped back, molding into the sea of onlookers; the Dagger clamped safely in his hand.
The Divine Dragoon's cry of rage scattered the swarm. He swooped down, searching for the possessor of the Moon Dagger. Eventually he spotted Sean, and he swooped in front of the boy, knocking him to the ground. He was about to wrench the artifact from the orphan's hand when a heavy object bounced off the armored plates of his back. He whipped around, but the object and its thrower were already gone. Rayen grabbed his sword from the ground and dashed to the Divine Dragoon's other side.
Wreathing his blade in flames, he hurled his weapon again, and this time the sword flew true, lodging itself between the Divine Dragoon's shoulder and chest. The Divine Dragoon gathered energy in his cannon, and was just about to end the audacious Red-Eye's life when Sean got an idea.
"Rayen! Catch!" Sean tossed the Moon Dagger, and Rayen caught it.
Rayen smiled as the Divine Dragoon halted the casting of the spell in surprise. The villain couldn't afford to use magic while he had the Dagger, for fear of harming it in the process. Sure enough, the huge black sword appeared in the gauntlets of the Divine Dragoon, and he charged. Rayen jumped back, narrowly avoiding the weapon's deadly path. He dashed backwards, always keeping himself one step ahead of the onrushing aggressor.
After a swipe of the massive blade reduced a wooden sign to splinters, Rayen knew he had to do something fast. Running backwards expended a lot more stamina than running forwards, but he needed to see what the Divine Dragoon, and more importantly his weapon, were doing at all times. He couldn't turn into a Dragoon for more than a few minutes, because his Spirit Power was already exhausted from the earlier battle. He risked a daring glance over his shoulder, and then smiled. The others had come down from the parapets to assist. "Phil! Coming your way!"
Phil, grinning, caught the Dagger, but his smile faded when he realized the Divine Dragoon wasn't coming after him. He realized that the Divine Dragoon knew he could afford to use magic now that Rayen didn't have the Dagger. He was going to wipe out the Dragoons one by one, until the possessor of the Dagger was the only one left! "Oh shit..."
"Divine Dragon Ball!"
Seven simultaneous shouts rang out. "Rayen!"
Rayen activated what little Spirit Energy he had left and formed a shield. As the hundreds of tiny meteors detonated against the barrier of crimson magic, Rayen felt the strain taking its toll. He wouldn't be able to keep this up for much longer. The shield was about to give way when the shower of explosions suddenly ceased. Rayen ended the transformation to preserve what he could.
A bladed spear butt slamming across the Divine Dragoon's face interrupted the spell. Phil struck the foe several more times, then summoned a gust of wind that slammed the Divine Dragoon into a nearby building. He tossed the Moon Dagger to Rayen, held it in one hand while he drew his sword with the other. The Divine Dragoon burst forth from the rubble, and studied the situation for a moment while he swallowed a healing potion. He wouldn't be able to beat one Dragoon at a time; the Dagger could pass hands before he could finish off one of them. He had to obtain the Dagger, one way or another.
The Divine Dragoon charged, but Rayen was ready. He parried the strike, and then thrusted with his own weapon. He could fight back without fear of magic. Hopefully he would be able to regain enough Spirit Energy to transform again. The two figures darted throughout the city streets. Rayen finally commenced his transformation, and flew to the top of a high building.
The Divine Dragoon recognized Rayen's fatal mistake, and he grinned like a predator whose quarry had nowhere to run. With a blast from his cannon, the Divine Dragoon sent the building toppling to the earth. Rayen felt the world recede from under his feet, and in his shock, he released the Moon Dagger. Rayen tried to reclaim it, but the force of gravity had gained dominion of the artifact. It fell from his grasp, hurtling for the ground below.
However, Sean was not idle while these events were transpiring. He sprinted towards the collapsing building, grabbing the Dagger and rushing out of the way just in time to avoid the fragments from crushing him and the relic. The Divine Dragoon stole up behind Sean, and with a vicious swipe from his cannon arm, slammed the boy to the ground. He sneered as he wrenched the prize from his grasping hands. "Mine."
The eight hopeless defenders watched in dismay as the Divine Dragoon beat his six wings, and took off into the air, with the Moon Dagger clenched in his mailed fist. There was no hope of taking the Dagger from him. He was just too powerful. The Moon Mirror was their only chance now, and coming from two straight losses, their prospects appeared dim. They had failed.
Shade walked up to Rayen nonchalantly, as if they had lost nothing more than a PE football game. He handed the Red-Eye the Dragon Buster, and Rayen slid the skull onto his hand. The fiery blade sprung forth, and Rayen's face became even more resolute. "Kyra, take us to Deningrad. If we're going to protect the Moon Mirror, we're going to need a plan."
Author's Note: Well, that sucks majorly. He got the Moon Dagger anyway, and now Deningrad and the Dragoons are the only thing standing between him and achieving his goal, whatever it may be. Tune in for next chapter, and don't forget to post those pretty reviews Striker likes so much! O_o