Chapter 49
Battle's End
Kane swung first but Ryu jumped to the side to avoid it. Kane turned to Ryu and continued to swing his sword. Being so big meant Kane was slow so Ryu had no problem dodging.
Kane slammed his sword to the ground. Ryu ran up his arm and kicked his face causing the giant to stumble back. "Your to predictable Kane" Ryu said. "I'll have your head for a trophy!!!" Kane roared before charging again.
Ryu shook his head and ducked a swing. "CRESCENT CLAWS" his attack sent Kane flying back. "To easy" Ryu said. This time he charged.
Kane had stumbled to his feet when Ryu attacked. He first struck Kane's right shoulder and then slashed his chest. Kane took that moment to punch Ryu and sent him flying into a few rebel troops.
"Sir let us help you" one of the troops said as he helped Ryu up. "You all keep those Ghouls off my back" Ryu said before walking back to Kane. "Lucky hit" he said. "They'll be more" Kane said as he prepared his sword.
Ryu disappeared and reappeared behind Kane. His sword started to glow. "Eat this!!!" he yelled. He swung his sword around and around over his head. The sword hit Kane's armor numerous times but didn't penetrate it. Ryu finished his assault with a spirit energy backed thrust that hit Kane square in the stomach. Kane went crashing on top of his troops.
"You worthless scum. I'll make you pay" Kane said as he stood up. He pulled two of the skulls from the end of his sword handle. "Feel my wrath!!! SKULL CRUSHERS" the two skulls flew out of his hand and headed for Ryu. He tried to slice them in half but they swerved to the side as if they had a mind of their own. One hit Ryu's head and sent him stumbling sideways. Another hit his abdomen. They started to circle Ryu while continuously hitting him.
With a yelled Ryu destroyed the skulls in an explosion of energy. "Is that all you got?" Ryu said. "How bout I take it up a notch" Kane said. This time he pulled five skulls from his sword. "SKULL CRUSHERS" the skulls flew toward Ryu but not before Kane added some spirit energy to them.
They started to circle Ryu and were out of range of his sword. Their eyes glowed and they fire yellow energy blasts from their eyes. Ryu did his best to dodge them but he was getting tired. One of the blasts hit his legs and he fell to the ground. The others started to get hits on Ryu. "They don't waist time" Ryu said as he struggled to get up. The blast weren't that powerful but boy did they hurt. They skulls suddenly stopped shooting.
Ryu looked over to Kane. "The next blast should finish you off" Kane said triumphantly. The skulls were each engulfed in a white glow. Ryu saw his chance. He jumped so he was at the same elevation as the skulls. When they fired Ryu disappeared causing the skulls to hit each other.
Kane looked behind him and immediately saw Ryu swinging his sword down. The impact shattered the armor over the right side of his chest. Kane fell on his but as Ryu landed gracefully on his feet.
"Nice try but you shouldn't take time to gloat. Gives your opponent time to recover" Ryu said. "This time I'll use all the skulls" Kane said as he reached for the end of his handle. He realized there weren't any. "Where'd they go?" Kane said. "Oh Kane" Ryu said. Kane looked over to Ryu. Ryu held the remaining skulls in his hand. "Looking for these?" Ryu said with a smirk on his face. "When did you get those?" Kane growled. "I grabbed them while you were crashing to the ground" Ryu said. He tosses them in the air and destroyed them with a single blast.
"Time to end this" Ryu said. He jumped into the air as his claws glowed red. "CRESCENT…" before he could fire his blast a high pitched whistle filled the air. A blue blast hit Ryu and sent him crashing to the ground. When he landed the impact formed a ten-foot wide crater. Ryu struggled to sit up.
"Who dares cut into my battle" Kane roared. "I had to. There was no beauty in the way you fight" a voice said. Ryu looked to the source. Standing there was a man around 5 feet 9 in height. He had deep blue eyes and dark brown hair that was in a high ponytail. A golden braid in the shape of a bird held it in place. He wore tight blue top and pants with pictures of yellow birds and flowers on them. Attached to the top's shoulder were purple and yellow feathers. In his hand was a silver flute with skulls decorated on it. Each skull had blue rubies for eyes.
"Who are you?" Ryu asked as he struggled to his feet. "I am Treble of the Apocalypse Ten" the man replied while taking a bow. Any rebel knew who the Apocalypse Ten were. They were the ten top generals of the Demon King. Included in its ranks are Dusk, Ace, Kane, and their leader Demonus. They had the power to wipe out entire cities by themselves.
"What are you doing here?" Kane growled. "I was watching you fight. The key do defeating the Devil Wolf is not swinging your sword around wildly. It must be done with beauty, grace, and elegance" Treble replied. Oh great. I get stuck fighting a guy who like's everything pretty Ryu thought.
"I don't need your help" Kane growled. "Well your getting it so stop complaining you vulgar beast" Treble replied. Kane growled and stood up. "When was the last time you took a bath" Treble said as he held his nose. "Will you shut up?! We have a battle to win!!!" Kane roared. "Very well" Treble replied.
Ryu prepare his sword and charged. Kane swung at him but he merely jumped on his head and headed for Treble. Treble smirked and brought his flute to his lips. Ryu swung his sword but it was stopped when Treble blew into his flute. The sound waves created a shield around him. The Crescent Edge couldn't penetrate it. He blew harder and the sound became louder. The sound waves sent Ryu flying back but he managed to land on his feet. "As you can see. My weapon is my beautiful music" Treble said. Ryu growled as Kane stumbled back up.
"Looks like I have no choice" Ryu said. He closed his eyes and concentrated. His body was surrounded by a red aurora. With a howled a red tornado surrounded him. When it died down he had transformed. "Such hideous wings" Treble said.
Ryu narrowed his eyes. "Die!!!" Kane yelled as he charged. In a blink of an eye Ryu was on the other side of Kane with his back to the giant. The armor on Kane's left shoulder shattered to pieces. He dropped his sword and clutched his shoulder as blood seeped out of it. "This isn't over" Kane said as he retreated from the battlefield. "Your next" Ryu said as he lifted his sword.
"I don't think so" Treble replied. He once again brought the flute to his lips. A purple barrier surrounded him as he played. Purple rays shot out from various places on the shield. Ryu rolled to the side to dodge them. "CRESCENT CLAWS" his attack shattered the barrier. He charged and swung his sword at Treble but he stepped to the side and slammed his flute into Ryu's head. Ryu stumbled back and blocked another blow from the flute. He countered and continued to swing his sword. Treble blocked each blow with his flute and kicked Ryu back.
"I've played wit you long enough" Treble said as he prepared his flute. It started to glow. "Katana!!!" Ryu yelled. Katana looked at Ryu after he killed a Ghoul. "Order all forces to retreat to the pass!!!" Ryu ordered. Katana nodded and picked up a horn from a dead rebel. He blew into it. The rebel troops got back on their horses and retreated to the pass. Katana got on Dark Flame and followed them with Red Storm close behind. The remaining 800 Ghouls chased them. The archers on the cliffs sent wave after wave of arrows down on them. They stopped with their shields over them.
"SONG OF THE REAPER'S STORM" Treble blew into his whistle and was surrounded by a black shield. Thousands of black rays shot out of the shield and flew into the air. A few seconds later they came falling back to the ground. Ryu struggled to dodge them. Some storm he thought as he dodged. Treble continued to fire rays from his shield. The area they rained down on eventually reached his own troops. By the time the blasts stopped widening 300 Ghouls had been killed. They rays now fell onto a 1000 foot area and destroyed anything in their path. This attack could destroy cities.
Ryu continued to dodge as Treble intensified his attack. "Crescent Edge, don't fail me now" Ryu said. The sword started to glow. Ryu thrust it in Treble's direction. A dart of energy was fired out of it and headed for Treble. The attack penetrated to shield and hit Treble's heart. The attack ceased and he fell to the ground. Ryu walked toward him. "How could you kill such beauty?" Treble said as blood seeped from the wound. "Like this" Ryu replied. He lifted his hand and shot a blast at Treble, completely destroying him.
Ryu returned to normal and looked over to the cliffs. After their generals were killed, the Ghouls went into a full retreat. Ryu then looked around him. The area was covered with craters from Treble's attack. He sighed and sheathed his sword. He headed back to the pass as the rebel troops cheered in victory.
Next chapter, the aftermath of the battle and Riku and Gurumin returned to their time. Review please.
