Chapter 4

The Spunky Archer

Dwayne and Jeff stood at the gate to the graveyard, staring at the new crater caused when the tunnel and cavern colapsed. Dwayne looked at Jeff.

"So much for not disturbing the dead, yo." Dwayne laughed.

"Is it really okay to laugh at that, Dwayne?" Jeff asked.

"Why wouldn't it be?" Dwayne responded.

"Because, isn't your friend's grave there?" A female voice asked.

Dwayne and Jeff turned around. They saw a young lady, dressed in a yellow tank top and a pair of jeans and sandals. Her shoulder length brown hair pulled back into a pony-tail and her brown eyes watching Dwayne.

"Krystle, what are you doing here?" Jeff asked. "I didn't even think you were still alive."

"I'm very much alive, thanks to this thing." Krystle replied, loading an arrow into her crossbow. "I've got great aim."

"Why did you come here?" Dwayne asked.

"Dwayne, listen, I don't have much time. Sean is coming here to fight you. I'm supposed to take the shot to kill you after you're distracted." Krystle explained.

"Why tell me this?" Dwayne asked.

"Because I don't want to do this. I'm going to just let you two fight and stay out of it." Krystle told him.

"Oh, real fucking caring, Krystle!" Jeff snapped. "What if Dwayne dies!?"

"He won't." Krystle said. She looked behind her. "He's here. Jeff, stay back, please? Just trust me."

Krystle and Jeff walked a few feet away as Dwayne drew his sword. He saw Sean's dark eyes, peircing into his own eyes. He saw his curly brownish-blonde hair, black t-shirt ripped a bit, and baggy shorts.

"So, we meet again, Dwayne." Sean finally spoke. Dwayne nodded.

"Seems so." Dwayne said. Sean drew his broadsword.

Sean swung his sword. Dwayne swiftly rolled to the side, hearing the sword clang against the ground. Dwayne stood up, and swiftly lunged at Sean. Sean threw up his knee, slamming it into Dwayne's nose. Dwayne fell back, wiping the blood onto his sleeve.

Dwayne stood up again, preparing for another attack. Sean swing the sword at Dwayne again. Dwayne caught the blade with his own. Dwayne kicked out, hitting Sean in the gut. Sean stumbled backwards, but didn't fall. He was ready to attack again.

Dwayne watched. He heard something speak to him inside his mind.

"Release me. I will end this, my son." It spoke. Dwayne looked around as Sean ran at him.

Sean lunged at Dwayne, but fell when an arrow struck him in the arm. He dropped his sword, holding the bleeding wound after pulling out the arrow.

"You little bitch!" Sean snapped as he saw Krystle loading another arrow. "You'll pay!"

Sean ran at Krystle after picking up his sword. Dwayne suddenly jolted. Jeff saw this and ran over to him. Sean stopped and turned to Dwayne.

"What the fuck?" Sean asked.

"Dwayne!" Jeff shouted. "Dude, are you okay?!"

Dwayne's eyes went blank as he fell to his knees, then face first into the ground. Then, without warning, a ball of light shot into the sky, then crashed into the ground near the group. It formed into a large beast with large black wings, bloodstained claws and demonic blood red eyes. He stood well over eight feet tall.

"Finally, I am freed!" It snarled. "The one called Sean, step forward!"

Sean slowly walked towards it as Jeff dragged Dwayne over to Krystle. Then Jeff came to stand beside Sean.

"Jeff, stand back." It said. "I wish not to harm you."

Jeff slowly stepped back. The monster grabbed Sean by the neck.

"You try to harm my son, Dwayne." It snarled. "I cannot forgive this." It lifted Sean into the air, then slammed him into the ground, breaking his back. "I shall destroy you, human!"

The beast pointed a claw at Sean. A small orb of red light apeared at the tip. Jeff ran back to Dwayne and Krystle.

Suddenly, Dwayne began to come to. As he opened his eyes, he saw the monster.

"Is...is that...?" Dwayne thought. "It's him! It's..."

The monster fired a massive energy blast at Sean, causing a deep crater and leaving nothing of Sean. He turned his attention to Dwayne.

"My son, you have awakened." It spoke.

"Who...who are you..?" Dwayne asked.

"I am your father, the Esper, Crusader." It said. "Come, join me in my cause!"

"E...Esper!?" Jeff asked sharply. "Dwayne is an Esper!?"

"Yes, he is. And a fine one, once I teach him how to master his gift." Crusader explained. "Join me, my son."

"Heh. If this is true, then I can cast Magic, right?" Dwayne asked.

"Yes, you can. It is a wonderful power, once you learn to use it right." Crusader explained.

"Well, if that's so, what do you want me to join you for?" Dwayne asked.

"Killing the Humans, like our kind should have centuries ago." Crusader replied.

Dwayne, Jeff, and Krystle looked at each other in shock.

"WHAT!?" They all shouted.

"You can't be serious!" Jeff snapped.

"I won't let you!" Dwayne said. "I'll stop you myself."

"Oh?" Crusader said. "Unfortunate. You are my enemy then. Maybe I could convince you otherwise."

"What do you mean?" Dwayne asked.

Suddenly, Crusader flew away. Dwayne just growled.

"Damn it!" Jeff snapped. "Now what do we do!?"

"We go after him." Dwayne said.

"We?" Jeff asked. "What makes you think I want to fight THAT!? You saw what it did to Sean!"

"Well, stay here with her, then. But I'm going after him." Dwayne said as he began to walk away. Krystle ran up to him.

"I'll go with you, Dwayne." She said softly.

"Are you sure?" Dwayne asked her. "It'll be very dangerous."

"Yes." Krystle replied. "You can't go alone. Like you said, it's dangerous."

"Fucking smartass." Dwayne muttered. "You sure about this, Jeff?" Dwayne asked.

"Yea. I ain't getting myself killed. We may have been through alot, but I ain't about to end up like Joey!" Jeff said.

"What the fuck did you just say!?" Dwayne snapped, grabbing Jeff by the neck.

"Come on, Dwayne! You know he died! Why hasn't he come back!? Because the Monsters killed him!" Jeff said. "And who did they turn to!? His best friend and his cyborg buddy!!!"

Dwayne threw Jeff down.

"That's fucking low, even for you, Jeff!" Dwayne growled as he stormed off. "Let's go, Krystle!"

"Coming!" She said. She looked to Jeff one last time, and ran after Dwayne.

"Stuborn cocksucker!" Jeff muttered. He walked the other way.