I'm also making a Crusader. If you wanna look for me in Odin server in pRO, just PM either Arktus, ShadowEyes, or Black Rep.
Well, I'm just an inch closer to mothballing this fic . . . well, you know the feeling, you wanna write, but nothing goes out the way you want it. This chapter has been edited, rewritten, and burned so many times, I'm starting to have eyebags again.
Anyway, thanks for reading and bearing with me. Hope you enjoyed this literary work. Which has undergone a "few" changes in writing style – "forgive me, it's my first piece" – as some might tell you.
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RAGNAROK ONLINE FANFIC
Version 2
TRANSGRESSIONS OF FATEBy: RAGNAR (that really is my name)
Chapter 23: Forbidden GatesIt has been a week after Mae, Sodos, Degedos, Kevin, Meshido, and Marus broke camp and headed south towards Morroc. They were heading for a location where the Keeper has sensed a power stirring. According to what Meshido gathered from Sodos' conversation with Mae, she was going to try to stop that certain power from awakening even further.
He still doesn't trust the Fateless with them, but they don't seem much of a threat as long as the Keeper kept them in check.
Kevin's pecopeco clucked loudly in shock when the Crusader jumped on the saddle. The bird, though large compared to others of its kind, was still probably not used to the weight of the armor Kevin has come to wear again. Meshido didn't understand why Kevin insisted on wearing all that metal – not to mention the Crusader's fascination with oversized shields. Although the man claims that a Shield Boomerang was much more powerful when a shield was bigger – Meshido didn't have to contest that fact – he still thinks that the sheer size of the thing was abominably unnecessary.
The pecopeco's talons landed on the ground with a muffled thud with each step it took. Kevin's shield, fastened to his forearm shone from the late morning sun. His dust cloak, wrapped around his neck, mouth, and nose like a veil, flapped with the gentle breeze that comes by once in a while. Each step the bird made created a clinking sound from the Crusader's heavy armor.
To Kevin's right was Sodos. The Fateless wore what he always wore, a purple uniform vaguely resembling a Morroc Assassin's uniform – with fewer straps and with a darker shade than the Assassin's uniform that Meshido was used to seeing now and then. Up to now, Meshido was still unable to gauge the man's fighting ability. He knew that Sodos was hiding something, but Meshido only lost sleep trying to find out what it was.
On the Crusader's left was another Fateless. Degedos was on a smaller, yet armored bird. Two sword hilts peeked from the Knight's back and his katana was sheathed on the right side of his waist. Like most of the time, there seemed to be a smile on the man's lips as if there was something he knew that they all didn't, or maybe there was something funny to everything. Degedos' black shoulder-length hair was tied back into a sort of ponytail. There was a spear hanging on either side of the pecopeco ready to be picked up or thrown should the situation allow it.
Marus was right behind Mae. His black uniform carrying on as if there was no wind but it floated behind him as if he was walking through water. Long black and white hilts of his daggers stuck out from one scabbard from his back.
As for Meshido, he simply followed behind them all to "watch their back".
As Mae led them all to their destination, the green grass slowly faded into sparse patches when they came closer to the peculiarly cool sands of the Sograt desert. The crunching of dry foliage beneath his shoes seemed to fit right in on the uneasy atmosphere that suddenly engulfed them.
They were being watched.
Meshido unconsciously charged a Holy Light spell only to find out that since he was no longer a Priest, the blessings and agreements that allowed him to use the powers from on high would no longer work for him as well as he would want them to. Disappointment and some pain sliced through his heart when he realized that he was no longer of much use to their little group. But instead of shrinking back to the background, Meshido casually laid a hand on his belt knife as they walked on.
That was when Marus pulled them all to a stop. A few yards to the right, the shadows of the Elder's Forest seemed to grow darker. The one-eyed Assassin cautiously came closer to the darkened entrance.
At first, Meshido had trouble trying to see what was emerging from the shadows. Then his hackles rose when what he saw a matyr came appeared right in front of Marus and eyed the birds rather hungrily.
At the sight of Marus however, the matyr let out a whine and sat on its hind legs. Like a dog greeting his master, he thought. The shadow-shrouded creature let out its tongue as it panted in expectation . . . of what? Food?
Marus knelt down in front of the matyr and patted it on the head. He turned around and said to them, "It's all right, I know him."
Then as always, Kevin blurted out. "Man, I don't care if that's a the most a beautiful and naked virgin with a dripping wet pussy! That's a matyr for the love of the Light! And that friggin dog is gonna have us for lunch the moment we turn our backs!"
With an empty grin, Marus replied, "He won't. Arul prefers bird meat."
Kevin glared at the black clothed Assassin and threw his hands up in the air as if in grudging resignation. His pecopeco squawked in surprise at the sudden shift of weight. In a way, Meshido admired most Crusaders for their ability to carry half a ton in body armor, or rather, the birds that carried them for most of the day – but this!
After a few minutes of what seemed to be a conversation between Marus and Arul – as he had heard the man call the matyr, the black-cloaked Assassin turned to their direction. "He says that there is a caravan to the west of here."
Meshido raised an eyebrow, partly from incredulity. The man can actually talk to a matyr? Life was definitely full of surprises. "What do they have to do with us?" he asked.
"Arul says that they are refugees . . . from Alberta."
Now that brought out a frown. "From Alberta? What happened."
Then as plainly as if he were talking about the weather, Marus replied, "It was destroyed."
Meshido didn't know if it was the man's tone or the news, but a chill ran up and down his spine. Alberta was destroyed? How? Why?
As if reading his mind, Marus replied, "We could go ask them." After a pause, "Keeper?" he asked Mae for her assent.
With a nod from Mae and a few exchanged looks from everyone within their party, they traveled deep into the forest.
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The news of bandits upon them spread through their camp like wildfire. Soldiers and other warriors who were unable to come to arms quickly enough had the unfortunate fate of having their throats cut or with an arrow through the chest.
Around him, the bandits were being driven back or run down by the better-trained and experienced soldiers within the camp. The remaining fools who decided that they were far luckier than their dead or dying tried to ransack whatever makeshift wagon or saddlebag they can find before they make a run for it.
Elonis hefted his huge axe over his shoulders as he faced five men in tattered coats armed with crude knives or badly forged swords. He assumed the cocky manner he sometimes used to create an aura of confidence. Usually, it worked on people who don't have a clue on how to measure someone's abilities, it was also a good tool to provoke enemies into not thinking straight in a fight. "All right, which one of you wants a trip to an early grave?" he said.
The man to the far right spat and charged with his sword, the rest followed.
Calmly, in a way that suggested that the five men did not exist, Elonis produced from his left pocket, one of his homunculus bottles. He then threw it at the ground five feet away from the men. Within moments, before the bandits could take five steps closer to him, out of the slime from his broken bottle, materialized a Marine Sphere. Elonis was pretty sure that by that time, the men would back off and deny him the chance of having to kill them.
But instead, they kept on running. What the . . .? Why would they keep on running when they know what's ahead of them?! They have got to be crazy!
The explosion rocked the ground beneath him. Of the three men closest to the Sphere, there was only a shower of blood, limb, and entrails. Elonis had to force himself not to look away from the sight because he knew that when he does, the other two men would run him through for sure.
The faces of the two remaining bandits were practically mirrored by the other. Fear mixed with desperation mixed with enough hate to give a Raydric pause. Elonis didn't know why they were acting so, but at the moment, he just wanted to live.
With one smooth motion, Elonis slashed sideways with his axe. As soon as his weapon struck the man across the waist, the sickeningly familiar feel of steel against flesh and bone rippled between the blade and long handle. Blood and guts spilled to the ground when the man's spine snapped in two from the blow. At least it was quick. Messy but at least quick.
Pivoting on his right heel, Elonis twisted around and hacked downwards on the last man. The Bandit tried to block with his sword but the poorly wrought steel was no match against sixty pounds of pure oridecon. The blade shattered like glass against the axe.
Elonis saw the man's face moments before the blade made contact with it. He felt the man's skull split in two as his axe came lower and lower. One by one, the bandit's ribs gave way to the power of his blow. Inch by inch the man's organs tore apart.
The bloody blade landed on the ground with a thud. Elonis didn't need to look up to see that the following thuds were the two halves of a dead man. Blood practically dripped down his face and half-grown beard when he stood up.
Elonis didn't like what he just did, but then, weapons that were magically enhanced by cards usually exacted a price on whoever used them. Bloodlust, it would seem, was one of them.
He took a look at his axe blade and grimaced, one of the cards folded on the top left corner where a piece of bone stuck through the card slot. He would have to find another card to replace the damaged one soon else his weapon will end up just another chunk of steel in hand.
Hydra cards were rare nowadays to people who still know how to make them. Much more to those who have to buy them. What he would give to learn how to make weapons that can be enhanced by such magic. Not that he wanted to use them, but it does make a good living, and making weapons were beginning to tire him no end and he needed money to retire.
Elonis let out a wry grin . . . retire? Back then, a long time ago, he would have gone pale from fear at the thought. How long has it been since he last met Freya Storm-Crow? She must be raging at her mother by now because of that dress he sent her. Monique was a little jealous of the girl, but at least he was able to tell her that he and Freya were just old friends.
He was afraid that he might not ever see the little goddess anytime soon.
"Hey Elonis! What's with the long face?" Monique's voice called out to him from behind one of the wagons. Patches of her long, dark brown hair were matted down with some blood, but there were no injuries on her that he could see.
"I was just thinking about an old friend." He replied with a touch of sadness. Taking a quick look around him and seeing no more bandits present, Elonis added, "what of our patients? Are they alright?"
Monique just waved it off. "They're both fine. The Acolyte slept through it all while the Assassin kept on fretting that he couldn't help." With a grin she added, "men indeed."
"And you?" he asked.
She stepped closer to him. Her lips curled to one side in a strange looking smile. "I feel fine. A little sticky, but fine." She barked a quick laugh to emphasize her point.
The ground beneath the Huntress erupted in a shower of dust and rock. Elonis had to shield his own eyes from the spray. The man that hid beneath the ground twisted around to get behind a still dazed Monique and wrapped his left arm around her neck. A slim bladed dagger appeared from one of his torn sleeves. Monique's sudden widening of eyes was all Elonis needed to know that she had been stabbed. After that, her posture suggested that she couldn't move her legs.
Before Elonis could even act, the man let out a shrill whistle and the ground erupted again to reveal that there were six more men beneath the ground.
The man's eyes were crazed in the same manner of the men Elonis just killed. His companions brandished their knives like street thugs in an attempt to keep him from taking another step. He couldn't, Monique's life was in danger. Even a blood pact with Prontera's church couldn't save her if she was dead for too long, she's only half Pronteran, after all.
Elonis couldn't help but grit his teeth as the men slowly walked away from him. The other soldiers within the camp also couldn't make a move against them because of Monique as a hostage.
Suddenly, in Jarade popped out of the ground in a similar manner as the men, only this time, instead of rocks, jagged spikes came out with him. Those spikes impaled three men that were too near the Assassin's exit point, and thankfully, the one that was holding Monique.
Before another bandit tried to stab him, Jarade snapped out his katars, and with a scissors-like motion, chopped of the man's arm. Jarade then slammed the flat of his right blade to the face of the man to his left. Blood sprayed from the impact. With his other arm, Jarade slammed his katar to the man's gut and twisted before pulling the blood-soaked blade away.
As the Assassin pulled his blade, he turned and stabbed the man with the missing hand on the face.
When he saw that he had no hope against Jarade, the last bandit turned on his heels and ran. But apparently, the Assassin was not satisfied with just six men. The look on Jarade's eyes was reminiscent of pure madness. His ear-to-ear grin coupled with a crazed, wide-eyed gaze only hinted at the bloodlust surging through the man. Taking a quick glance at the Assassin's weapon, Elonis knew why – and his face grew pale when he saw what it was that was driving the Assassin's blade.
A Doppelganger card!? Light above! Shine upon us and save us! A Doppelganger card!
There was no stopping the Assassin. First he walked, then he began to trot, and then he ran. A split second flashed before the eyes of everyone present and witnessing the Assassin's act. A split second was all it took for the men and women to gasp in shock at what he was going to do. A split second before Jarade was on the ground on one knee with one katar raised to the air in front of a dead still bandit. The man's back was stiff, his eyes staring, his arms limp yet his palms were pulled open to the point of looking cramped, and his mouth worked to make a sound but there was none.
Blood oozed out of the man's skin with excruciating slowness. At first, Elonis can barely notice the slow decomposition on the man's fingers. Then, to his horror, the man's limbs started to fall off, piece by little piece. Like strips of ground meat, the man's flesh fell to the ground. Blood already soaked the ground when most of the bandit's flesh practically sloughed off his bones. For some reason, there was still no blood to the man's head.
Then, to add to Elonis' horror – and surprisingly, disgust – he saw a fine line on the man's neck that bordered the bloody cuts on his body. From that line all the way to his scalp, the man's face was clean.
But then, was nothing clean or decent to the way this man died. There was nothing much left to bury when his body flopped to the ground in a pile of unrecognizably minced meat.
In the corner of his vision, Elonis saw one of the Archers turn around and heave. Elonis couldn't blame him, he also wanted to empty his stomach at the moment.
Then, a flash of memory overcame him and he cried out. "Priest! I need a Priest! Someone has been injured here!"
Elonis hurried over to where Monique dropped next to the hanging corpse of a man impaled on the chest. Her eyes were closed and her breathing was irregular and ragged but at least she was still alive.
He turned her on her back and held her in his arms as a badly scarred Priest came and began Healing her.
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Priega . . .
The voice carried a hint of a smile in his mind.
How? What? Why am I here?
Everywhere there was darkness. He couldn't see, but he could feel the darkness all around him.
He remembered the Doppelganger card activating without his consent and then . . .
Fear lanced through his heart when he realized what he just did.
The look on the man's eyes when he found out that he was going to die.
The joy Jarade felt when he cut him with a million cuts. When he ground him like beef.
No!!! I am not a monster! I – am – Jarade! I – am – human! I am no monster!!!
His vision flashed back with such sudden clarity that he felt like hitting a brick wall. A quick look at what was hurting his hands showed blood on his knuckles when he was pounding the ground. His throat felt hoarse, as if he was screaming the whole day.
It is time to wake up, my Priega.
"No . . ." he found himself whispering in fear of the voice.
Time to open the first Gate.
"Oh gods above, no . . ." His hands began to move of their own accord, as if puppet's strings held them.
Let us dance to their song. Let me hear them sing for me, Priega, my wonderful Priega.
"I will not."
You will.
"Never. I am no demon."
The last he heard before he totally lost consciousness was lilting laughter echoing in his mind.