AN Here comes the next chapter. A huge thanks to all those who review. You're the ones that keep me writing. Sorry for my absence, but my muse was on vacation, here we go.
Meltokio. One of the greatest cities the worlds have ever seen is burning. Children run screaming, the bodies of soldiers, valiant and cowardly alike lie dead in the streets of the city. Nobles hide in their houses, afraid of even the bark of the dogs of war outside. They fear an uprising from the slums. The slum children crowd together in small shelters, scared of even the clatter of metal. They fear an inhumane crusade from the nobles. Meltokio, the city of paranoia, where none help each other.
Meltokio: 3 hours ago. "You shall not pass without identifying yourselves first." A guard stated as he stopped five strangers in cloaks. One of the figures quickly threw off his cloak to reveal an elven soldier. In one hand was a four-foot broadsword; in the other was a shield about a foot and a half wide, completely steel. On his head was a steel helmet, and there was light, flexible armor on his torso. He quickly slashed at the man's potbelly gut, exposing it's entrails to the fresh air.
"By order of Cruxis, Meltokio is to be occupied." The soldier announced to the spooked residents. Three of the other figures removed their cloaks to reveal that they were also in full armor. That was when the blood storm began. The other soldiers by the gate quickly joined the forces at the entrance. By putting well armored units in front and constant jabbing by the spear wielders the guards managed to eventually bring down the four soldiers, the fifth, however, still remained a mystery.
"Don't get over confident, your real battle begins now. Attack!" An infestation of the warriors in steel from out of the Meltokio sewers began. More forces came from the plains to attack. The guards were no match for the overwhelming forces. More guards came to drive back the horde, only to be slashed and killed. Reinforcements came for the guards as even the papal knights began to defend the city. They were driven back to the business district where the guard met their demise. The agile elven soldiers used the roofs and walls to their advantage, destroying the poor guards whom had no training in guerilla tactics. Three guards ran for the slums, while the rest were driven all the way back to the palace doors, fighting with very ounce of their being to protect those within. All hope seemed lost, until a purple tinted blade fell from the sky, landing in a massive crowd of elven soldiers. A moment after landing it sent electricity coursing through every fiber of the unsuspecting soldiers. The guards turned to find their savior, the elven soldiers their attacker, and the people of the city, their protector.
"No ones destroying Meltokio on my watch bastards." All looked at the pathway to the nobles district to see a man clad in a pink jacket from shoulder to toe, with unruly red hair reaching down cover half of the back part of his body. Some say this was where he got his last name Wilder from. Although most people knew him by his first name, Zelos. He brought his hands into a defensive position to reveal a blue sword made from a rare ore, and a star-shaped shield made of an unidentifiable material.
"Well, it would appear the chosen has shown himself. I'll handle this one." The elven soldiers stepped aside to show the mysterious cloaked figure. He threw the cloak off to reveal a tall, muscular elf. He had silver hair the reached down to his shoulders. He reached an arm to his back and pulled a sword from a sheath. The sword was about four feet in length, with a slight curve, and was thin, yet strong. "Chosen Zelos, step forward, if you can defeat me in battle I will spare the lives of those in the castle." Zelos reluctantly stepped forward. He had changed a lot recently. The old him would have snuck out of the city or disguise himself as an enemy soldier.
The figure decided to rush him and charged at him. Zelos prepared his shield for the blow, but the man stopped short, and jumped up, slashing down with all his weight. Zelos held the smooth surface of his shield at an angle and the blow glanced off. He came in with his own attack only to have the man put a barrier between the sword and himself. While the man's barrier was created and then dissipated, Zelos had been preparing. As soon there was an opening he let loose with a barrage of fireballs. The stranger merely swatted away the fire like it was a fly.
"Humph, this is child's play. Now chosen, you die. Illusion strike!" The stranger was gone. Then on a roof top a second later, Zelos could've sworn he saw him. The next thing he new the stranger was everywhere, in the alleys, the crowd, on the roofs. Then there was a ring of about seven of the stranger around him, They each held an identical sword and expression.
"Zelos! For your treachery against Cruxis, you die!" The figures charged, swinging their swords at him. Zelos ran backwards, still facing them. The three that were behind him vanished and he soon found himself between the rock wall overlooking the slums, and a hard place. They came at him together and Zelos had little time to prepare. Readying himself he parried the onslaught of swords. He was doing well, but was being pushed back.
"You don't know when to give up do you? Now I'm mad." Zelos pushed back the blades already on his. He was ready to go on the offensive but the doppelgangers recovered quickly and forced him back up against the wall. He held his own against the blades but lost balance and fell over. The next thing he knew, Zelos was falling, and then, darkness.