Disclaimer: The usual. I do not own ZOE, blah, blah, blah

Chap. 14

The two Raptors quickly focused their gaze on me and flew up. I returned the gesture and flew at them as well. My wings ignited brightly and I flew at them faster then they thought. I sailed through one, cutting him his through and causing him to explode. I touched the ground and rebounded off, heading toward the second one and finishing him the same way. I hovered in the air.

'That was way too easy.'

Just then, the floor separated and opened up into several platforms. Some retracted into the far wall while other emerged from it and closed up into another platform. Looking down, I was barely able to see the exit. But it was there. All I had to do was get to the bottom without getting crushed between the moving platforms.

'Yeah sure, no problem.'

I swiftly (and possibly suicidal) dove down through the platforms, flying through the platforms to reach the bottom. It seemed simple enough, but there are always complications. Suddenly, four figures appeared within the platforms. Two Cyclopes and two Mummyheads. Normally, such a group would be annoyingly tough, but now within these moving crushers, they could very well destroy me. I'll just have to keep tight and stay frosty. I swooped at my first enemy, a Cyclops. As I flew at him, I let out a stream of bolts to keep him occupied. Then when I gotten close enough...

Swisshhhhhhh!

The vertical cut damaged him, but he wasn't destroyed. I moved in for another strike when a sudden glow caught my attention. Looking up, I saw the orange stream of a Halberd moving right to me. I quickly jumped away from my quarry and flew back. But I then saw that the platforms where closing in. Reacting instantly, I dashed upward as the two platforms closed shut right under me. While I was doing that, the other Mummyhead had moved in on the damaged Cyclops and began healing it. Long white tendrils flowed out and attached itself to the Cyclops, bestowing it with energy. This is just great. Now I have to do all of this all over again. I moved out of the way of another pair of closing platforms and dove in to attack again. This time though, I targeted a Mummyhead. The armored creature began to summon Halberd again, but a quick bolt from me halted its attack. I flew in close and quickly grabbed hold of the creature. It began to fight it way out, but I charged myself with Metatron, empowering my strength and causing the Mummyhead's efforts to be wasted. With that done, I gazed at the second Mummyhead, which was approaching me right now. But rather than attack, I hovered upward and the Mummhead followed. When it reached the area I wanted it to, I flung it partner right at him. The collision knocked both of them back toward a pair of closing platforms and they were crushed within. 'Perhaps they have a use after all.' With only the two Cyclopes left, I dove in to attack once again only to be confronted with the tremendous shockwave coming right at me. I quickly dodged off to the side and continued the attack. With my blade extended, I impaled the Cyclops through. As it jittered around, I swiftly turned and tossed it at his partner. Those two collided as well, but they didn't have to worry about the closing platforms.

That's my job...

They were too stunned for them to see me summon a Metatron Sphere and hurl it at them. The explosion took out both Cyclopses and they shattered into pieces. With the enemies gone, I dove down to the bottom and through the exit. Now that that's over...

When I emerged, I found yet another set of moving platforms. Three objects materialized this time, two Cyclopes and a Clod.

-"The old man must be loving this, I'll bet."- Dingo grumbled.

I shook off the irritation and focused on the battle. Both the Clod and the Cyclopes were slow so that gave me time to think of what to do.

"Wisp!"

Calling the thin energy hook, I flung it at the Cyclops and reeled it in. Now in my grasp, I flung it at the other Cyclops and the two collided heavily. But the two minions were still active. But that didn't worry me as I moved slightly closer.

"Halberd!"

The intense light emitted out of me and shredded both Cyclopes. The lower corridor began to shift and move the platforms once again. Looking down...

'No way!'

Within the moving corridor were groups of Clods, Mummyheads, Cyclopses and Raptors. 'Mental note. If I survive this, I'm really going to give it to Inhert.' I was about to rush down to face my fate when I found that I couldn't move.

'What?'

Behind me, the Clod was now pulling me into its grip. 'Damn, I can't believe I forgot about him.' I struggled against the pull, but it was too late and I was now solid in its grip. It began to fly upward briefly and then sudden soared down into the corridors, spinning as it did so.

"Noooooooooo!!!!!!!!!"

The Clod smashed me right into one of the corridor, damaging me heavily. I struggled to rise and look as I was now surrounded by enemies. Worse yet, that seismic slam of the Clod had hurt me badly. I was in deep trouble. The Mummyhead began igniting their Halberd, forcing me to move, despite the pain of doing so. I had to force myself to keep going. But how am I going to take out all of these guys in the moving chamber of doom, all the while with severe damage?

'Huh?'

I almost didn't catch it, but I saw a faint blue glow within the cracks of one of the platforms. 'Could it be...Metatron?' If it was, I had to get it. But I would have to fly fast within the corridor and out without getting crushed. I guess I had no choice. It's my only chance. I soared away from the attacking horde, but the Raptors were closing in on me. I lashed out with a quick Metatron spread in order to halt their assaults. Just then, the corridor began to close in again. I had to move now. I skimmed the side of the wall, looking for the glow.

'Come on, come on.'

I finally saw it and began to move toward it when I found myself going the opposite direction. 'No, not again.' A Clod was pulling me in again, its grip await the chance to finish me. I struggled more, but I still couldn't get out of the pull. Worse yet, the corridor was closing in on me. I have to get that Metatron now! Wait a minute...

"Wisp, bring me the Metatron!"

The energy wire flew straight and true at the glowing Metatron cube. It touched it and the healing energy coursed through the wire and into me, healing me. But the walls were now almost upon me. Without thinking, I flew toward the Clod and slashed it before it could grab me. I then followed up with a grab and throw, tossing it into the closing corridor and it was crushed as soon as it entered.

-'One down.'-

I then returned my attention to the rest of the horde. Even though I was at full strength again, this would still be difficult. There has to be something I can do to fight through this and get out in one piece. I began to consider my techniques. I couldn't afford to use Halberd as I would have to stay still and in a place like this, that's not an option. Geyser might be useful. Phalanx is too weak. Wisp, Comet, and Gauntlet were probably the only ones that would be effective here, but it would help if I had something else. Wait, I do, don't I? I haven't seen what Decoy does yet. Well, now's a good time to find out. I waited for one of the minions to reach me; a Raptor.

"Decoy."

My body suddenly shifted off to the side, leaving an image of me behind. The Raptor attacked it repeatedly, not even noticing my presence. As I looked, the others were moving in a attacking it as well. I don't get it. I was right there. Even with Decoy, one of them should have at least attacked me. I then noticed a slight shimmer and looked down at myself to see...

Nothing.

My entire body was gone. I couldn't even see my arm, which I felt for sure was raised. I looked back at the attack and put two and two together. Now I get it. Decoy not only makes a fake of me, but renders me invisible. I felt a grin come up and moved in to attack. While they were still attacking my Decoy, I was complete unseen to then and so were my attacks. The technique eventually dispersed, but by that time, I had eliminated most of the enemies. The only ones left were a Clod and a Raptor. I could have used Decoy again, but it took up a lot of my energy to create. But that didn't matter. I had more than enough to take these two out. Amazingly, the Clod was first. It gotten into range and began its pulling trick. But rather than fight it, I let it pull me in close. When it did...

"Geyser!"

The balls of light froze the Clod instantly.  I retracted my blade and moved in to destroy when the Raptor's flight caught my eye. But I didn't have time for this and reactively shot my hand at him.

"Gauntlet!"

The Gauntlet smashed into the Raptor's face and it spun backward, crashing against the wall and destroying it. Returning my attention to the Clod, it had gotten free from my Geyser attack and began pulling me in again. 'Guess he didn't get it the first time.' I moved closer to it, but again I didn't fight it. Instead, I charged the Metatron within me and began to glow in an intense blue aura. The Clod prepared to grab hold, but before it could even try, I spun around, releasing the energy in a devastating slash and ripping the Clod to pieces. With all the enemies eliminated, I dove down through the end of the corridor through a long trail. It ended with another exit which opened before me. As I fell out, I found myself in another massive corridor. But it wasn't like the last one. True, there were moving platforms within, but they were so far apart that they never met. Now I don't have to worry about being crushed. The corridor was also a dark brown instead of blue like the others. Most important, the corridor was massive. The other end was a far distance away, my vision only barely seeing it. But that didn't matter. What did matter was the figure that stood in the midst

"Inhert."

The Metatron master was cloaked in a strange reflective black outfit with dark spots that covered him as well. His mask was strange as well; a white helmet bearing an angry angel wielding swords. Inhert simply hovered there, not moving at all.

"So you have finally arrived. It took you quite a while, didn't it?"

"Nevertheless, I am here."

"Hm. You're confident. That's good." He then added sternly, "But your confidence is misplaced."

Misplaced? "What do you mean?"

"Why are you here?" he said, seemingly changing the subject.

That annoyed me a bit, but I realized that this was what I came here for anyway. "To obtain the technique that can release my full power."

"Hmph, so you can defeat that brother of yours, yes? He has done quite well for himself. His power is the combination of all Metatron techniques forged into one warrior." He stopped briefly, noticing my less-than-hopeful gaze. "However, you seem to possess that very same power. I have watched you from above and I see that what I thought was true."

"What was?"

"That your twin birth has made both of you powerful. In fact, would it surprise you to know that right now, you possess the same amount of power as Anubis?"

"What? Really?" Although I knew I was stronger than I knew I was, I wasn't quite ready for that. As powerful as Anubis?

"Yes. But your power still sleeps. But with my technique, the sleeper will awaken."

"And with that, I can defeat Anubis?"

He chuckled lightly, "Heh. That is the tricky part. That depends on the skill of the runner."

'Runner? Dingo.' So even with matching power, I can't do any more than that. It would be up to Dingo.

"I see. Well, in that case, let me have the technique."

His voice became stern again, "Aren't you imprudent? I will not give it to you simply because you ask."

I gave a questioning look, "But why? If what you say is true, then I can defeat Anubis once and for all. He's destroying everything."

"Yes, I know. But I can not. You see, Anubis was my student. I can not help you destroy him without a fight. And although you fought your way here impressively, you haven't shown me personally any reason to teach you the technique."

"Personally? Oh, I see. It's like that, huh?"

His humorous tone came back, "Yes. Very much like that."

"I won't hold back."

"I hope not. You're going to need every once of strength you can summon."

He raised his arms slightly and the corridor platforms suddenly stopped.

"I taught Anubis, so you can be sure that I will not be a simple opponent. And this is my world. My rules." He hovered higher into the air and began to shimmer.

"Prepare yourself, Jehuty!"

I powered up as well, "Let's go."