Years passed since the body of the Flame Champion was brought to the Village of Chisha by the two adventurers and much has happened, especially in the outside world where the Zexen Federation exerted their supremacy over the native Grasslanders, conquering one patch of land after the other.
It was already after sunset when the group gathered. There were only a few of them, mostly female archers. Most were nervous despite their outward appearance, knowing that the outcome of this operation would decide the fate of their village. Just outside their barrier was the Zexen army, having cornering and exhausting them for months. The Alma Kinan scouts counted over five hundred soldiers composed of knights and mages. Despite the advantage of fighting in familiar territory, the odds were still stacked against them. Their hopes lay alongside their faith in the four leaders amongst them; their determination to die fighting instead of being butchered in their homes the only emotion steeling them.
Amidst the small army, one man's thoughts wandered briefly.
"Promise me…"
"D-don't speak…please…save your strength…"
"P-pro…promise…me…"
"I…I promise! So please, save your strength! Please!"
"Thank…you…" She coughed out more blood. "I'm…glad…"
"D-don't go! I…I love you! Stay!"
"And…I, you…too…"
"I promise." The bandana wearing man repeated solemnly.
Sadistic Lunatic Presents:
Beautiful Songstress: Sweet Serenade
"Everyone remember the plan?" the red clad man asked, his prized tonfa, Twin Destiny Fang, gripped tightly in his hands. Numerous 'Yeah's and 'of course we do's were murmured by the crowd. Place? The Sacrificial Grounds of the hidden Alma Kinan Village.
"How can we forget?" remarked the cobalt haired man sardonically, twirling his Heavenly Star Staff expertly, clearly battle ready. "We've only been using the same tactics for the past two years, Riou."
"Cut him some slack, Jowy. The tactics ARE altered now. This is our last stand; we can't sacrifice any more than we already have." Another man clad in a red tunic commented, standing straight with his red staff beside him, in the front rows. He wore a red turtleneck sleeveless tunic over a white long-sleeved cotton shirt. Dark greenish pants adorned his lower body, accompanied by brown boots and a sheathed long knife strapped around his left leg and another on his waist, behind his back. A read bandana finished the attire, strapped on his forehead, keeping his blonde-black bangs from covering most of his line of sight. "Besides, tonight, things will change. Just like the fact that I'll finally be able to fight."
"Are you really sure you're going to go through with this?" A tomboyish feminine voice asked worriedly. "I mean, you aren't fully well yet." The traveler in pink stood beside her brother, Riou, her face filled with worry for her charge. Her hands gripped her own weapon, the Eden Rod.
"Of course I am, Nanami." The bandana-wearing fighter said cockily. His face suddenly became serious. "I made a promise to her and to myself. As soon as I can fight, I will liberate the Grassland, as befitting Grassland's protector." He smiled wryly as he thought about the last part. The man suddenly clenched his staff hard, his body shaking with fury. "And I promised myself, I will hunt down the bastard that killed her."
"Those are rather heavy promises but..." Riou started. "I don't think she'd appreciate it if you got yourself killed just because of those vows. You can still train and rest. The rest of us can take care of this." He paused, his eyes darkening. "Your death would only serve more harm; the morale of our party would be shot."
"I've been waiting for this for two long years." The man turned to look at the women and few men around him, their faces filled with hope and concern. 'Just like hers…' the man thought. "I'm sure of this. I will avenge those that have died in this war so their spirits may be at peace."
"Very well then." Jowy said, settling the small conflict of emotions. Jowy then raised his staff high in the air. "Then show us the ferocity of the Beast Rune once more! NO MORE SACRIFICES, TO ARMS! LET NONE GET PAST US!"
Numerous cheers and battle cries filled the rising moon and night sky.
'We're going to win.' The Zexen scout thought egotistically. 'The entire second platoon, Zexen Knights trained by the Rockaxe Elites are here to ensure our victory! Sir Van was said to be able to be able to hold his ground against the combined might of Sir Borus and Sir Percival! With him and our Harmonian-trained mages, the Zexen Federation is sure to win this war, showing those barbarians who the rightful rulers are!' the scout walked further along the trail, making sure to not go out of bounds. "Wooden arrows will pose of no threat to us now. Tonight, we will-"
And he fell dead. The ominous shadows grew.
"So…where are they?" Red asked.
"There. In that tent." Green pointed.
"Is everybody in position?" Cobalt questioned.
"He's ready." Pink stated. "And getting impatient. Could it be because of the moon?'
"Probably." Cobalt answered.
"I'll go with him." Green said. "I promised my sister that I'd see to it he leaves alive."
"Be careful." Red warned. "Those Knights are Rockaxe trained."
"I'll be careful." Green left.
"I hope Yumi will be okay." Pink sighed. "Though he's on our side, that rune is still unstable."
"They'll live." Cobalt stated. "It's time."
"Let's go." Red told the group.
Shadows enlarged.
Sir Van sat on his chair, drinking tea in his tent. He was clad in the Rockaxe's white knight uniform, which he wore proudly. Twin sabers were strapped on his hips; eyes of calm blue matched his laid back ebony hair. Things were going well for him ever since he returned to his homeland. Among the knights, he was believed to be among the best and in his eyes, he really was.
"And once this part of dog's land is conquered, I will return even more famous than before and Lady Chris will soon come to realize how truly superior I am and will finally becoming mine." The tall Zexen smirked triumphantly.
"C-captain!" a Zexen marshal suddenly burst into the room, panting heavily, horror etched in his face. "The mages! Barbarians! They've-"
A large explosion sounded. Sir Van knew right away the cause. "Gather the remaining troops! I'll go intercept the barbarians with my honor guard. We'll be needing back up now that the mages are gone." He said in a calm commander's voice. "Move out!"
Van crouched ready, hiding behind one of his knights who was carrying a large shield. Beside them, there were other knights doing the same thing while others were hiding behind trees so the numerous arrows that seemed to come right out of the shadows wouldn't hit them. With the strategists and mages dead, they had to rely on the basics of the plan, which, by the way, was actually very simple.
Previous attempts at invasion failed because of the Grasslander's seemingly limitless amount of arrows and their very powerful protective barrier. The barrier, the mages analyzed, was made through a human sacrifice ritual to keep it so strong that even Harmonian sorcerers couldn't get past. Sooner or later though, they had inferred, the Grasslanders would run out of sacrifices and attempt and all out attack. Though Sir Van wasn't able to anticipate the deaths of the strategists and mages, he was confident that, with their sheer number, they would be able to emerge victorious. After all, wooden arrows were of no match against iron shields.
Van glanced behind him and saw that back up had arrived. "It is time." Sir Van whispered and the knight nodded. Sir Van drew his twin sabers. "ONWARD MEN! LET THESE BARBARIANS FEEL THE WRATH OF OUR GODDESS!"
The shield-carrying knights were slowly moving forward, pushing the massive shield.
"'WRATH OF YOUR GODDESS' HUH?! SHE ISN'T EVEN HERE! FEEL MINE!"
To say the Zexen captain was shocked to see the shield severed and the knight carrying it dead would be an understatement. He got lucky though, as because of his shock which caused him to fall down, he was able to avoid the ominous dark blur the streaked passed him.
"OUR TURN! SPIRITS, GUIDE US TO VICTORY!"
The dark blur continued on with the other shield-carrying knights and the knights he passed, making sure to kill each and every single one of them while dodging arrows. Sir Van reacted quickly. "MEN, RUSH THEM! HIDE BEHIND TREES IN TWO'S! STOP THAT BLUR!"
'Could he be…?'
He was having a good time. The broken rune on his forehead pulsed so lively, feeding him with so much energy that he felt he would soon burst! Laughing manically, he proceeded with the next pair of knights, dodging arrows along the way.
"Hi-yaaa!" with another twirl of his staff, another two knights fell as he continued moving.
"Die coward!" the blur barely had time to put up his staff to block the swift attack. "So this is the feared barbarian?! A little kid?!" another blade came up quickly, knocking the staff from his grasp. The man in red was finally able to get a good glimpse at the skilled knight.
Twin sabers gleamed menacingly in the moonlit darkness. The red fighter took a step back, feigning shock. "Wh-who the hell are you?!"
The Zexen captain used one of his sabers, slashing in a circular motion, cutting the arrows trying to hit him. With eyes intently staring at the 'barbarian', Van smiled arrogantly. "You think I'd be fooled by such a pathetic trick? Ha! Your wrong judgment will be your doom! Die cur!"
And so steel met steel as the two skilled men danced a dance of death. The man in red, with his two long knives, would press the attack, dodging incoming arrows gracefully while, shockingly, his opponent would only use one saber to block while the other would occasionally make a quick attack, block incoming arrows, or help its twin drive the man in red back. The latter would then block and attempt another counter attack or try to break through the one-handed defense.
Van parried another slash, counteracting with his second saber as fast as he could to catch his opponent off guard. The man in red brought up his own second blade, barely able to block the saber. He pushed his long knife forward, using the force to propel himself backwards a safe distance away from the knight.
"You fight well for a barbarian kid."
"And you fight well for an old man!" the red fighter barked angrily, still not comfortable at being called a kid.
"Understandable." Van slashed another batch of incoming arrows. "A kid like you wouldn't even know who his superiors are, much less respect them. Just like the fact that, no matter what for of resistance you barbarians make, you will eventually succumb to the strength of us knights."
The man in red growled loudly. "Well, old men like you are too senile to even know that they're going to be killed." He growled again, suddenly feeling a gash on his left arm. 'Damn…how did he…?'
"Killed by what exactly? A bunch of toy arrows? Our sheer number is enough to massacre you, tactics down!"
"And that's where you're going to lose!"
Before Van could make a retort, bright light suddenly erupted from the rear, followed by numerous red glows and flying black swords that were accompanied by even more arrows.
"Wh-what is this…?" Van whispered, almost in fear, as more melee fighters surrounded his knights.
"Our forces may be small…" Van brought up a saber to block the incoming slash. "But at least we know how to use them and the environment wisely."
"Damn you dog!" the Rockaxe-trained Zexen captain made a reckless thrust, hoping to impale the boy's heart in one strike. The red fighter, however, had other plans. He jumped into the air, landing one foot on the saber while the other simultaneously kicked the hand holding it, making him let go of the saber. The red fighter then threw one of his long knives at his opponent in nearly point blank range, impaling the other arm. Before Van could even make a sound, he found that another blade had imbedded itself in his lungs, very close to his heart.
"Who's the dog now? C'mon…bow-wow." He taunted into the knight's ear. Another flash of blindingly bright white light erupted, followed by numerous knights falling to the ground. More black swords appeared as well. The red fighter suddenly grinned as he twisted the blade. "Bow-wow-wow. Wuff-wuff."
"Grrr…" Van growled back, gritting his teeth to not give the pleasure of a scream.
"Good doggie…" the double dagger wielding Grasslander said, already high from the power the broken rune in his forehead was feeding him with. Said broken rune suddenly flared, causing the bandana covering it to rip, as well as turning the fighter's eyes slightly wolfish yellow.
"That…rune…!" Van gasped, both in pain from the wound and in shock at recognizing the Beast Rune, even in its broken state. "Kid…what…is…your…name…?"
"Sing for me." The man in red suddenly buried his teeth on the knight's shoulder, savagely drinking the blood pouring out, using Van's body as a human shield against incoming arrows.
"Ugh- Aaaa- AaaaAaAAaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!!!!" the Zexen's screams echoed throughout the forest.
"By the way, the name's Hugo." The boy told the corpse, his blonde-black hair swaying in the night's wind. Hugo suddenly smiled sadistically, his eyes seemingly in a trance, very much high of the Beast Rune's power. "Hmmm…fresh meat."
The full moon glew brightly, being the only witness to a gruesome battle sung by death and her sweet serenade.
Author's Note:
-And there ya have it. the start of war. anyways, can anybody give me more information on the Safir Clan? I've been researching a lot for this fic, just to make sure it is as realistic as possible.
By the way...
...anybody noticed Hugo's strange behavior? Guess.
...Anybody know who those people at the start were? Guess