Millenia fired a dozen arrows continuously into Valmar. He shuddered before spitting them back out.
"That's not doing anything except making him slightly ticked off!" said Melfice, "We've got to go for a stronger attack!"
"In that case," said Millenia, "Arrow Shot!"
The arrow stuck in his side this time, but it still didn't make much difference. Valmar breathed out flames, engulfing everything.
"Get down!" shouted Melfice, pulling Millenia down and covering her.
Mareg ducked down.
"Thanks," said Millenia, standing up.
"You're our one hope," said Melfice, "Just hold on!"
"Beast king Slash!" shouted Mareg, attacking Valmar.
Valmar shuddered away from the fire, but there was still little change in his strength, whereas they were growing weaker with each attack.
"We're going to need more help!" said Millenia, "But there's no one to help us."
"Its times like this I really miss my younger brother," said Melfice, slashing his sword down hard.
Elena suddenly sat up straight and shivered.
"Someone walk over your grave?" asked Ryudo.
"No…I think…Millenia needs us!" said Elena, turning to look at him.
"What?" asked Ryudo, "No offence, but I think this whole thing's messed with your head."
"No…I felt the same thing when she was taken out of me…" Elena stared up at the sky, "Somewhere out there she's fighting for her existence and we're just sitting here."
"I'm sure she'll win," said Ryudo.
"But…we only just won last time, I'm not going to let her do this alone…I just can't!" said Elena sharply, standing up.
"How do you propose we find her?" asked Ryudo.
"We're going to find that gate-way." Said Elena, smiling gently to herself. For once, she had out-braved Ryudo.
"Mareg!" called Millenia as he fell to the ground.
"I'm fine," He growled as Millenia knelt down beside him.
He was bleeding gently from a cut above his eye. Millenia looked over to where Melfice was putting up a fairly good fight, but still doing little damage.
"No… you're not fine, none of us are!" sighed Millenia, "I… this is my fault isn't it? I should've waited for them to find the gateway… I didn't even have a plan for when I got here."
"Gateway?" asked Melfice as he slid across the floor towards them after being hit backwards.
"Tio… she was looking for a gateway into this world so I could come here and beat Valmar, but she didn't find it so I just…" she gestured towards the stab wound in her stomach.
"If that gateway exists we can get help!" said Mareg, "Ryudo, Elena, Roan and Tio can get through to help us and then return to their own world."
"But… they stopped looking," said Millenia, "They'll never find it."
"I don't think it's in here," said Tio, putting yet another book aside.
"I know it seems hopeless, but we've got to find that gateway," said Elena, "We could be Millenia's only hope."
They all sat in silence, reading. Ryudo put another book on the 'useless' pile and picked another off the shelf. He flicked over the first page and started to skim read. He glanced up and his gaze fell on Elena. Her face was filled with such determination and confidence that he couldn't help but smile at her. He loved her more than he could ever really express in words and although he still loved Millenia, she could never make him feel the way Elena did. Maybe that was why Millenia had been so distant from them for so long; she knew that she couldn't break apart what they had and apart of Ryudo knew that she would never try. She cared about them more than she liked to let on.
"You're not going to get anything done if you sit there staring at me," said Elena without even looking at him.
Ryudo sighed and began re-reading the page he was on. For some reason, Elena never seemed to want to show how she felt about Millenia's love for Ryudo, she always just seemed happy to see her. Ryudo remembered how much he liked it when Melfice would let him tag along and hang out with him; despite the fact Ryudo was the 'kid-brother'. Maybe that's how Elena felt about Millenia; she was like a kid-sister and Elena just wanted her to be safe.
Ryudo skimmed the last paragraph on the page and turned it over. On the next page was a picture out a large decorated door with the words 'Heaven and Hell' written below it. Ryudo skimmed the page and stood up with excitement.
"I think I've got it!" she shouted.
"Arrow Shot!" shouted Millenia.
This time Valmar shuddered slightly and the arrow stuck again.
"At least something's working," said Melfice, "but it's not enough yet."
"We can't do this," said Millenia, "We need something more powerful."
"It's thoughts like that, that lose the battle," said Mareg.
"He's right Millenia," she Melfice, "We can't give up now."
Millenia smiled. When Melfice showed that sort of determination, he reminded her of Ryudo so much. It was no wonder that Ryudo thought so highly of his brother as a child. He must have been the inspiration that Ryudo needed to become the great warrior he was today.
"Incoming!" shouted Melfice as lightening skittered across the ground towards them, "JUMP!"
All three of them jump up, but unfortunately, the attack lasted longer than expected and Millenia landed on the ground too soon. Electricity ran through her, making her scream and when it ended, she was smoking slightly.
"Millenia?" asked Melfice, kneeling down next her.
"This… is… no… good…" Sobbed Millenia, "I… I'm too weak… we all are!"
"Millenia," said Mareg softly, "This isn't going to help anyone."
"I don't know what else to do," said Millenia, "I can't summon my wings, my strongest attacks aren't working… what can we do?"
"We'll find a way," said Melfice.
"We need someone more powerful!" Said Millenia.
The ground suddenly started to shake. They looked up at Valmar, but the mass seemed just as confused as them. Not far behind them a light was shining, and four figures were appearing in the distance. Millenia turned around, still on the ground. Melfice was supporting her and Mareg was stood above her.
"More powerful?" said Ryudo "Looks like I'm just what the doctor ordered."
(A/N) Sorry it's late, but I've had serious writers block and exams which are finally over! Woo hoo! Lots of luv. Becky.