Chapter 11: Cry, for "IDOLA" the Holy
Planet Ragol: Ruins: ???
It had two long wings that reached down to its bladed arms. This form was smaller than the first two, but it was no less powerful. Dark Falz knocked Rico away from her friend with the blunt side of its sword and stared down Danielle. She slowly backed away, but stopped when she reached the edge.
I need a new body, a voice said in her head. Yours will suffice for now.
Suddenly, pain flowed through her. Her body felt wrapped by an invisible rope, and she couldn't move at all. Her vision began to dim. There was enough energy left in her to scream for help before blacking out.
Rico watched what was happening and knew she had to do something, fast. She ran forward, picked up the Agito, and rammed it as hard as she could into Dark Falz's armor. Calling forth all of her technique power, she sent a surge of electricity through the blade and into Falz's body. The dark god backed away, unable to put up with the attack or try to take over Danielle. She stood there a second before falling face down to the ground. Rico rushed over to the RAmarl and turned her over, keeping an eye on Falz.
"Danielle, are you okay?" The teen moaned and opened her eyes slightly.
"I'm so tired," she murmured. "Can't stay awake…" Rico knew that just about all of the girl's energy had been drained by Dark Falz, and she may not survive, unless she was taken to a hospital. Rico took out her Red Saber and turned to face Falz. The battle ahead would be much harder, now that Danielle was out of the fight.
"Just hold on," the older hunter said softly over her shoulder. "I'll get you out of here." She readied her blade and prepared for a long battle. Danielle struggled to keep her eyes opened and prayed for her friend's safety. If Rico failed, then Dark Falz would be able to escape from its prison and destroy the universe.
Rico dodged Falz's incoming arm, stepping out of the way before it hit. While the monster was still close to her, she ran forward and began to attack. Dark Falz flew up into the air and sent about ten homing spheres of energy at Rico. She ran around the strange ring, dodging the missiles. Irritated by the hunter, Falz pointed its right arm at her and hit her with Grants. The arrows of light dug into her back, sending her to the ground.
From the other side of the area, Danielle and Diwari watched the fight. Danielle was still clinging to life, but just barely. Diwari turned to its master and beeped. "Diwari, what you're asking to do could kill you. Are you sure you want to do this?" the RAmarl asked weakly. The Mag bobbed up and down and touched Danielle's hand with its body. Its own life energy was transferred to her, and the Mag fell to the ground. "Diwari… I will not let your sacrifice be in vain," Danielle whispered. She staggered to her feet, a look of determination on her face. Her right hand clenched into a fist as she stared at the back of Dark Falz.
The dark god loomed over Rico, prepared to strike the final blow. Danielle thrust her right hand out at the god, and a powered up Foie shot forward into Falz's back. It roared in pain and turned to Danielle, surprised that she was even able to stand, let alone cast a high-leveled technique. Rico stared at Danielle, and smiled at the look on her face. It was obvious that Dark Falz was in some deep trouble.
The RAmarl stood there, hand still pointed at Falz. The god spoke, and this time, both of the humans could hear it.
I thought I had drained you of your life. How can you still be alive?
"My closest friend gave its life for me so I could defeat you. We are now one. Together, we have a power you will never understand or hope to defeat." Rico was amazed by what the Ranger just said. Never before had a Mag's spirit merged with a human. If that had really happened to Danielle, then she may actually have a chance to defeat Falz. The older hunter got to her feet and grabbed her Red Saber. Seeing her chance, she leapt forward and drove the Red Saber into Dark Falz's wounded back.
Curse you, humans! I will make you pay for your incompetence!
The dark god rose into the air again, sending out more of the homing missiles. They narrowly missed the targets and hit the ground. Danielle ran over to Rico, and they prepared for Falz's next attack. It aimed a Grants blast at Rico, and the arrows of light shot toward her. If they hit the hunter, than she would surely die. Danielle stepped out in front of her, shielding her from the arrows of light. They impacted against the Ranger's armor, and many managed to go through. She fell to her knees, hissing through clenched teeth.
Rico couldn't believe what her friend had just done. She had used her own body to take the attack instead of letting them hit Rico. "Here, let me heal them," the older hunter said quickly. While Dark Falz was aiming its right arm at them again, Rico healed the younger hunter's wounds. She felt a strange sensation while she was casting the technique, but she dismissed it as just a side affect from the Grants. Danielle smiled at Rico, thanking her for the help.
"Thanks a lot. Now let's take care of this creep." Rico handed the Ranger her Red Mechguns, and she opened fire. As the bullets impacted against the god, Rico screamed in pain. Danielle shot a glance over her shoulder and saw the older hunter holding her left arm. There was what appeared to be a bullet hole in it, and it was in the exact same place she had hit Falz. Danielle realized that Dark Falz was transferring the damage it took to Rico, so she pulled back to the wounded hunter.
"Rico, we need to keep moving. Are you still able to fight?" She nodded, and the hunters began to run around the ring. Dark Falz rose into the air and sent a large, purple sphere flying at them.
"Watch out! That's Megid, the Curse of Death!" Rico yelled. Danielle dove to the ground, and the sphere passed over her. Once again, arrows of light shot out at her, impacting all over her body. Dark Falz sent out the homing missiles again, and one managed to hit her right leg. Her leg was pushed back from the force of the impact, and Danielle fell to the ground. Rico ran over to her, but was thrown back by the blunt side of Falz's arm. She landed on her back, and pain shot through it. The sensation that she had when she was healing Danielle went away; Dark Falz lifted its arm into the air, prepared to take out the older hunter.
Danielle willed the pain in her leg to go away as she crawled toward the Red Mechguns. The damage done by the Grants and homing missile stopped her from being able to get up, and every inch of her body was hurting. She looked up at Falz, watching it prepare to strike Rico. Its back was to her, and she saw how extensive the damage was. The RAmarl reached for the Red Mechgun nearest to her, aimed it at Falz, and struggled to focus on the target.
"This is for Dad," she whispered weakly. She pulled the trigger, and a hail of bullets slammed into Dark Falz. It roared in pain, unable to fight back. When the Mechgun's Photon gauge ran dry, Falz turned to the Ranger. Its body vanished, and a figure shot up into the air. A katana, the Agito, landed right in front of Danielle with a loud clatter. Now that the battle was over, she was able to just lie her head down and rest. Her leg, shoulder, and back hurt, and she was exhausted. She closed her eyes for a second, before she felt Rico put her arm around her neck.
"Just hold on, Danielle. We're going home now." The Ranger smiled. Home. That sounded good. Rico had the Agito in her storage unit, and was going to give it to Danielle when they got to the Pioneer 2.
"Rico, what about Diwari? Now that it's gone, I don't have a partner any more. Diwari and I were so close, that no other Mag can replace it."
"I hate to say it, but… That's not important right now. We need to get you to a hospital." When the teen didn't reply, Rico glanced at her. The RAmarl's eyes were closed, and she wasn't breathing. Panicking, Rico ran as fast as she could to the Telepipe while carrying Danielle. "Don't die on me," she whispered.