(This is the final part of Chapter Eighteen. You might be slightly
disappointed with what happens in this chapter. If so, I'm sorry, but thank
you for reading this far.)
The Demon Lord, Haruko-Chapter Eighteen; Part Four
The wind howled as the skies darkened. Rain began to fall hard as the sand and dirt floated throughout the area.
Morgan Cascade gripped the hidden pistol in his coat. If this was the true state of the demon, chances of them surviving were slim.
Jet held his weapon high as Haruko rushed at him. His speed was incredible, faster than most things he had been forced to contend with.
The Drifter gritted his teeth as he began to shoot at the demon, who quickly vanished. Jet quickly turned around, only to see Haruko jump and slash him with his left claw, the impact knocking him across the ground.
The gun flew away from him, landing near a boulder.
"Is this the true extent of your abilities, Mr. Enduro?!" Haruko dashed at him, preparing to finish the Drifter. However, a bullet soared through the air, colliding with his left shoulder.
The fox demon turned to see Morgan reloading the ARMs.
"I'm not going to allow you to take his life," Morgan stated as he prepared to fire again. "Unfortunately, you have just agreed to die!" Haruko exclaimed as the thoughts burned into Jet and Morgan's heads.
Jet quickly sprinted to recover his weapon as Morgan shot once more, stopping Haruko's run.
Jet rolled and grabbed his weapon, firing at the demon as he was stopped by Morgan's bullet. The bullets hit Haruko, dark purple blood spurting out. The demon growled and roared, a strange invisible aura surrounding it.
He growled once more, forcing the aura to unleash itself, causing a massive flow of air to hit the entire area. This knocked Jet and Morgan a few yards, giving Haruko enough time to deal a finishing attack.
However, Jet was able to stand just at the moment Haruko reached them, allowing him to dodge the demon's tail swap. However, Haruko quickly countered and smashed Jet down, doing the same with Morgan as he stood up.
Jet slowly stood up as the demon prepared to kill Morgan. "If I use a Magnum bullet now, it could kill Morgan. Dammit!" he thought.
Morgan grasped his pistol and was able to shoot Haruko's left eye, leaving him with only two bullets left.
The demon cried in pain as Jet leaped onto one of his left tails.
Haruko reacted quickly, swatting at Jet with his separate tails.
The Drifter succeeded in avoiding the first strike, allowing him to jump off and grab the other as the second tail struck.
Jet quickly used the tail to swing up onto the demon. He readied his ARMs, preparing to shoot, however, the fur before him began to grow. Suddenly, it flew at him, tying him to Haruko.
Morgan noticed this and began to reload his pistol, only to se struck by Haruko's left nails. The attack left large claw marks, which bled intensely as the demon prepared, once more, to kill the man.
However, ignoring the pain, Morgan was able to shoot the area beside Jet, freeing him from the thick fur.
The Drifter landed hard, slowly standing as Morgan was struck again.
Jet grimaced as he shot Haruko, attracting his attention. The fox's eyes widened as his tails began to rotate. "The game is over now, Mr. Enduro!" the demon shouted, as four flames erupted on the tip of the four center tails.
"The Four Tails of the Flame!" Haruko yelled as the four bursts of flame flew towards Jet, who ran in the opposite direction.
The first burst hit a few feet away from him, creating a large explosion of fire. The heat made him weak, allowing the second burst to hit its target head on.
Jet flew a few yards and continued to roll. He slowly stood up, coughing from the smoke. "Dammit! Nothing's working! Maybe if I use a Medium..." This thought floated through Jet's mind as the four flames re- ignited as Haruko sat, awaiting his opponent.
"Like I said Mr. Enduro, this game is over. If you cannot survive, then I must kill you off. In reality, you should be dead, but for some reason you are not. And besides that, you seem to be able heal at certain times, of course, it doesn't seem you can control that power."
Jet gripped his ARMs. "I can't use a Magnum yet. I have to see if the Arcana works."
"The Four Tails of the Flame!" Haruko shouted once more, causing the four burst of fire to speed towards Jet, who held out his hand. Suddenly, a huge gust of wind passed by, blowing the bursts of fire back at Haruko, who was hit by each one.
The collision of the four bursts created a large explosion of fire.
"Perhaps, this is it?" Morgan muttered as the fire spread.
Todd opened his eyes quickly, moving them around. He saw stars, stars in the sky.
He slowly sat up, noticing different things. Before him lay the bodies of Virginia, Gallows, Jet, and Morgan, but were they alive?
Todd walked over to each of them, testing for a pulse as well as seeing if they were breathing. Their breathing was normal, as well as the pulse, they just seemed asleep.
Todd rubbed his eyes. "Where am I? The last thing I remember was being hit by Ovius, and the excruciating pain the moment after, but he was nowhere near this place.
He glanced around, noticing a large pile of rubble near the area. Todd touched his face as he walked to the rubble, feeling it as well. Suddenly, the memory jolted inside of him.
"That demon, he initiated something called Mind Compression. That separated our minds from our bodies, but then where am I? Am I back, in my body? But I died! I shouldn't be alive, or back in my body."
Todd thought for a moment, realizing something. He then ran off in the direction of Humphrey's Peak.
"Where in the world did this sandstorm come from?!" Virginia shouted as Gallows and herself wandered through the clouds of dust. "How am I supposed to know?!" Gallows shouted back.
"You're a Baskar! Aren't you supposed to be in touch with nature?!"
"First of all, no! Second, we're not in the real world!"
This statement struck Virginia for some reason. She had completely forgotten they were in Mind Compression and not in reality. "Of course we're not in reality. I saw my father, and me! But, my father... My father!" Virginia thought as the stinging pain returned.
She fell to her knees. Why was thinking of her father hurting her? "This is the same pain I get when I'm near Haruko. Why is it the same?"
Jet gritted his teeth as Haruko sat unscathed. "Thank you once again Mr. Enduro. I was able to re- absorb my energy. You've contributed to your defeat!"
"I'm not going to die this way!" Jet yelled as he unleashed repetitive bullets. "You don't have much of a choice!" Haruko replied as he ran towards the Drifter.
The bullets simply deflected off of Haruko. Jet smiled slightly as the top hatch detached as Haruko neared. The fox demon's eyes widened as he saw the barrel unleash the bullet.
Time seemed to slow as the bullet collided with Haruko as a massive flash of light occurred, blinding Jet and Morgan. Jet quickly moved his arm to see a gaping hole in the demon's left side. The blue sphere of light became smaller as Jet noticed Haruko was slowly deteriorating.
"That was why I was supposed to be careful with it."
Jet glanced around. "Morgan, you okay?!"
"I'm just fine!" Morgan yelled back.
Jet nodded, but was hit by one of the demon's tails. He stood up, amazed that the demon could still move.
"You can still move?!" Haruko laughed. "Yes. While my energy is slowly draining, the energy of your bullet is supplying me with more than enough to kill all of you and exit compression. At least then I can slowly regenerate my body and execute my revenge!"
Jet wiped some blood from his lip. "Sorry, but I'm ending this!"
He began to shoot at Haruko, causing damage to the weakened demon.
Morgan watched as his blood slowly leaked out. "We're not even in our bodies, but it's as if we're in them. I can feel myself dying. I never thought I would die in such a pathetic place. Why?"
Haruko continued top swat at Jet with his remaining tails. The Drifter was able to dodge most, but was hit by the last two and was knocked to the floor.
Morgan winced as Haruko swiped at Jet, who rolled out of the way. "Am I dying here because I've done my purpose? What is purpose? Does everyone die when they've completed their purpose, their reason?"
The lighting struck Haruko hard as he almost fell over. Jet backed away. He was running out of options very quickly. "I can't use my last Magnum. If I do, they'll be gone, and he might not be dead."
Morgan began to run towards the area. "Mr. Enduro! Use your other bullet! I'm sure you have one! Use it!"
"What are you doing?! If I fire the Magnum you'll die! You're too close!"
"It doesn't matter! I've lived out my purpose, you haven't! You have to get out of here! If he dies you'll be able to escape, and that's what most important!"
Morgan's statement struck something within the Drifter. "I have a purpose? But, I'm a machine, I was created for something. What does he mean? I'm meant for something else?"
"Do it Mr. Enduro! I'm going to die anyway! Why don't we just do this."
Tears fell from Morgan's eyes as he said this. "This is the way it is. I know what my purpose was. I've done everything I've wanted to in my life. There's nothing left for me here," he thought as Jet nodded.
"Okay, I'll do it," Jet stated as he held his weapon and aimed once again at the demon. "Burn," Jet said as he shot the bullet. It collided with Haruko's chest, causing a massive explosion of light and dark.
"Go, now!" Morgan shouted as he was enveloped in the light.
Jet felt himself drifting away. He felt himself leaving, but he was not.
The light spread across the entire area, everything disappearing.
Jet felt light- headed as he slowly drifted to sleep. "Maybe... I do have a purpose."
(I'm hoping to get the next chapter in over the next few days. Don't leave yet!)
The Demon Lord, Haruko-Chapter Eighteen; Part Four
The wind howled as the skies darkened. Rain began to fall hard as the sand and dirt floated throughout the area.
Morgan Cascade gripped the hidden pistol in his coat. If this was the true state of the demon, chances of them surviving were slim.
Jet held his weapon high as Haruko rushed at him. His speed was incredible, faster than most things he had been forced to contend with.
The Drifter gritted his teeth as he began to shoot at the demon, who quickly vanished. Jet quickly turned around, only to see Haruko jump and slash him with his left claw, the impact knocking him across the ground.
The gun flew away from him, landing near a boulder.
"Is this the true extent of your abilities, Mr. Enduro?!" Haruko dashed at him, preparing to finish the Drifter. However, a bullet soared through the air, colliding with his left shoulder.
The fox demon turned to see Morgan reloading the ARMs.
"I'm not going to allow you to take his life," Morgan stated as he prepared to fire again. "Unfortunately, you have just agreed to die!" Haruko exclaimed as the thoughts burned into Jet and Morgan's heads.
Jet quickly sprinted to recover his weapon as Morgan shot once more, stopping Haruko's run.
Jet rolled and grabbed his weapon, firing at the demon as he was stopped by Morgan's bullet. The bullets hit Haruko, dark purple blood spurting out. The demon growled and roared, a strange invisible aura surrounding it.
He growled once more, forcing the aura to unleash itself, causing a massive flow of air to hit the entire area. This knocked Jet and Morgan a few yards, giving Haruko enough time to deal a finishing attack.
However, Jet was able to stand just at the moment Haruko reached them, allowing him to dodge the demon's tail swap. However, Haruko quickly countered and smashed Jet down, doing the same with Morgan as he stood up.
Jet slowly stood up as the demon prepared to kill Morgan. "If I use a Magnum bullet now, it could kill Morgan. Dammit!" he thought.
Morgan grasped his pistol and was able to shoot Haruko's left eye, leaving him with only two bullets left.
The demon cried in pain as Jet leaped onto one of his left tails.
Haruko reacted quickly, swatting at Jet with his separate tails.
The Drifter succeeded in avoiding the first strike, allowing him to jump off and grab the other as the second tail struck.
Jet quickly used the tail to swing up onto the demon. He readied his ARMs, preparing to shoot, however, the fur before him began to grow. Suddenly, it flew at him, tying him to Haruko.
Morgan noticed this and began to reload his pistol, only to se struck by Haruko's left nails. The attack left large claw marks, which bled intensely as the demon prepared, once more, to kill the man.
However, ignoring the pain, Morgan was able to shoot the area beside Jet, freeing him from the thick fur.
The Drifter landed hard, slowly standing as Morgan was struck again.
Jet grimaced as he shot Haruko, attracting his attention. The fox's eyes widened as his tails began to rotate. "The game is over now, Mr. Enduro!" the demon shouted, as four flames erupted on the tip of the four center tails.
"The Four Tails of the Flame!" Haruko yelled as the four bursts of flame flew towards Jet, who ran in the opposite direction.
The first burst hit a few feet away from him, creating a large explosion of fire. The heat made him weak, allowing the second burst to hit its target head on.
Jet flew a few yards and continued to roll. He slowly stood up, coughing from the smoke. "Dammit! Nothing's working! Maybe if I use a Medium..." This thought floated through Jet's mind as the four flames re- ignited as Haruko sat, awaiting his opponent.
"Like I said Mr. Enduro, this game is over. If you cannot survive, then I must kill you off. In reality, you should be dead, but for some reason you are not. And besides that, you seem to be able heal at certain times, of course, it doesn't seem you can control that power."
Jet gripped his ARMs. "I can't use a Magnum yet. I have to see if the Arcana works."
"The Four Tails of the Flame!" Haruko shouted once more, causing the four burst of fire to speed towards Jet, who held out his hand. Suddenly, a huge gust of wind passed by, blowing the bursts of fire back at Haruko, who was hit by each one.
The collision of the four bursts created a large explosion of fire.
"Perhaps, this is it?" Morgan muttered as the fire spread.
Todd opened his eyes quickly, moving them around. He saw stars, stars in the sky.
He slowly sat up, noticing different things. Before him lay the bodies of Virginia, Gallows, Jet, and Morgan, but were they alive?
Todd walked over to each of them, testing for a pulse as well as seeing if they were breathing. Their breathing was normal, as well as the pulse, they just seemed asleep.
Todd rubbed his eyes. "Where am I? The last thing I remember was being hit by Ovius, and the excruciating pain the moment after, but he was nowhere near this place.
He glanced around, noticing a large pile of rubble near the area. Todd touched his face as he walked to the rubble, feeling it as well. Suddenly, the memory jolted inside of him.
"That demon, he initiated something called Mind Compression. That separated our minds from our bodies, but then where am I? Am I back, in my body? But I died! I shouldn't be alive, or back in my body."
Todd thought for a moment, realizing something. He then ran off in the direction of Humphrey's Peak.
"Where in the world did this sandstorm come from?!" Virginia shouted as Gallows and herself wandered through the clouds of dust. "How am I supposed to know?!" Gallows shouted back.
"You're a Baskar! Aren't you supposed to be in touch with nature?!"
"First of all, no! Second, we're not in the real world!"
This statement struck Virginia for some reason. She had completely forgotten they were in Mind Compression and not in reality. "Of course we're not in reality. I saw my father, and me! But, my father... My father!" Virginia thought as the stinging pain returned.
She fell to her knees. Why was thinking of her father hurting her? "This is the same pain I get when I'm near Haruko. Why is it the same?"
Jet gritted his teeth as Haruko sat unscathed. "Thank you once again Mr. Enduro. I was able to re- absorb my energy. You've contributed to your defeat!"
"I'm not going to die this way!" Jet yelled as he unleashed repetitive bullets. "You don't have much of a choice!" Haruko replied as he ran towards the Drifter.
The bullets simply deflected off of Haruko. Jet smiled slightly as the top hatch detached as Haruko neared. The fox demon's eyes widened as he saw the barrel unleash the bullet.
Time seemed to slow as the bullet collided with Haruko as a massive flash of light occurred, blinding Jet and Morgan. Jet quickly moved his arm to see a gaping hole in the demon's left side. The blue sphere of light became smaller as Jet noticed Haruko was slowly deteriorating.
"That was why I was supposed to be careful with it."
Jet glanced around. "Morgan, you okay?!"
"I'm just fine!" Morgan yelled back.
Jet nodded, but was hit by one of the demon's tails. He stood up, amazed that the demon could still move.
"You can still move?!" Haruko laughed. "Yes. While my energy is slowly draining, the energy of your bullet is supplying me with more than enough to kill all of you and exit compression. At least then I can slowly regenerate my body and execute my revenge!"
Jet wiped some blood from his lip. "Sorry, but I'm ending this!"
He began to shoot at Haruko, causing damage to the weakened demon.
Morgan watched as his blood slowly leaked out. "We're not even in our bodies, but it's as if we're in them. I can feel myself dying. I never thought I would die in such a pathetic place. Why?"
Haruko continued top swat at Jet with his remaining tails. The Drifter was able to dodge most, but was hit by the last two and was knocked to the floor.
Morgan winced as Haruko swiped at Jet, who rolled out of the way. "Am I dying here because I've done my purpose? What is purpose? Does everyone die when they've completed their purpose, their reason?"
The lighting struck Haruko hard as he almost fell over. Jet backed away. He was running out of options very quickly. "I can't use my last Magnum. If I do, they'll be gone, and he might not be dead."
Morgan began to run towards the area. "Mr. Enduro! Use your other bullet! I'm sure you have one! Use it!"
"What are you doing?! If I fire the Magnum you'll die! You're too close!"
"It doesn't matter! I've lived out my purpose, you haven't! You have to get out of here! If he dies you'll be able to escape, and that's what most important!"
Morgan's statement struck something within the Drifter. "I have a purpose? But, I'm a machine, I was created for something. What does he mean? I'm meant for something else?"
"Do it Mr. Enduro! I'm going to die anyway! Why don't we just do this."
Tears fell from Morgan's eyes as he said this. "This is the way it is. I know what my purpose was. I've done everything I've wanted to in my life. There's nothing left for me here," he thought as Jet nodded.
"Okay, I'll do it," Jet stated as he held his weapon and aimed once again at the demon. "Burn," Jet said as he shot the bullet. It collided with Haruko's chest, causing a massive explosion of light and dark.
"Go, now!" Morgan shouted as he was enveloped in the light.
Jet felt himself drifting away. He felt himself leaving, but he was not.
The light spread across the entire area, everything disappearing.
Jet felt light- headed as he slowly drifted to sleep. "Maybe... I do have a purpose."
(I'm hoping to get the next chapter in over the next few days. Don't leave yet!)