Vivli I'll be completely honest with you, I honestly love your reviews. The constructive criticisms you give in them tell me that you thoroughly read my story, and only people who truly enjoy (or just want to find something really nitpicky, but lets not go there) do that. I value your opinion as a reader and I would hate to lose you as one. On a slightly less serious note, I didn't put that in the disclaimer? (checks chapter 2) AIEEP:O I didn't! But yes, it was based off Ctrl-Alt-Del, yes I really did like that one, it was absolutely horrible how I couldn't stop laughing, my family thought I had gone psychotic. :D; Regarding the 'what on Earth!'s, yes you're right about those, and I did have some doubts when writing the sentences, I changed most them, or so I thought, I must have missed a few. It's just one of those reactive sentences you type without thinking. . . Use of Japanese words, or any other words from a different language is just such an interesting twist for me, I do it to too many of my stories. XD But congratulations to you for using Chinese, because as far as I know, it's a far more complex language to understand than Japanese. Final note, it's easier to criticize than compliment is because the range of words we have for each, one example is; try to say all the positive words you can that pertain to emotions, (happy, joyful, excited), then say all the sad words pertaining to emotions that you can think of. (miserable, terrified, sad) and see the difference of number. That and the fact that the better something is, the more you find to complain on because it sticks out from an overly good thing it doesn't belong in . . . or so my mother tells me. XD
Thefrogkiller Thanks for your support Andrew, appreciated as always. :D I'm sorry about the waiting part, but that's me. When it comes to stories, I have the beginning, I have the ending, I'm missing the in-between. How infuriating . . . lol. But yes, Elnroth and Zanu have held a spot in this story since I finished chapter 7 of Omoide Raivu Matsudai (ORM). Trust me, it's going to get interesting. :D And yes, hurry up with your story! I still have to review the last couple of chapters though . . . ; ;
Katjuka Thank you for reading my story! New readers are always a welcome sight. You have my gratitude for reading both ORM and ON. (Omoide Raivu Matsudai, Okaerie Nasai) And I hope you enjoy this new chapter.
Sodo Isn't it annoying when real life calls? Lol X3 But in any case thanks for taking the time to read my story, it means a great deal. :D
Author's notes: Well I have gone back and re-edited Omoide Raivu Matsudai. Nothing overly series, just some tweaking, thought you'd all like to know since I have uploaded the updated chapters, the ones that were changed are chapters 1-7 and the character list. All extremely minor changes and won't have a drastic result on the plot so you don't have to read them all over again.
I also missed a disclaimer in the last chapter, in the scene with Examp and the pirate (the one where he set his wyvern on the pirate) it was based on a comic done by Tim Buckley, entitled Ctrl-Alt-Del, Stretch.
That's pretty much it, save for the fact I have inserted a great deal of Japanese words in this chapter, please don't kill me for it, and my apologies once again to Vivli, I tried to cut it at 8 . . . I was all excited and thinking 'I'll cut it at 8 pages! I have self control! I can do this!' Obviously this didn't happen. ; ;
Chapter 3
Branches snapped and birds scattered as a lone figure ran through the forest, her breath ragged and escaping in ushered gasps. Behind her the heavy footfalls of an orc sounded menacingly as it chased after her, his roar loud and victorious as he smelled the fear of his victim. Bursting out onto a pathway, the woman glanced around wildly, her auburn hair in wild disarray, before she finally spotted a hooded figure upon the road, her eyes lifted in vain hopes as she saw the glint of a sword at his waist, signaling a warrior, and she stumbled forward.
"H-help! Please! You must help me!" She cried reaching the figure and clinging to his arm. She could not see his face thanks to the hood of his cloak, but that didn't matter to her, she was simply glad she was no longer alone under the eyes of a predator. As the orc burst out from the bush behind her, it slowed for a moment, sensing the power radiating from the figure, before it let out another bellow and raised its ax. The woman shrieked in terror and clung tighter to the figure's sleeve.
"Please! Help me!" It was at this, that the figure snorted.
"Help you? Why?" He asked flinging the arm on which the Hume clung to up, the woman, completely startled flew back and stumbled on her feet before falling down right in front of the orc. Her eyes widened as she looked up.
"Y-you have to help me! Please!"
"I have to? What nerve ordering me like that. Peon!" He yelled at the orc. "Do me a favor and kill her, leave no trace, she annoys me." He ordered grinning sadistically.
"N-NO!" The orc yelled again, triumph in its voice and movements as it swung its weapon down.
"THUNDAGA!" A voice suddenly yelled loudly with authority, the orc had barely a sparse moment to glance up in shock as the spell took it, completely disintegrating its bones and flesh, searing the Beastmen away into oblivion. The figure scowled. Slowly a form emerged from the bush, garbed in the full gear of a redmage, it knelt down next to the woman as she sobbed uncontrollably.
"It's alright, I'm here to help you. The castle of Sandoria is only a minute's run from here. Go, you should be fine, there are guards everywhere from this point." He said softly.
"T-thank you so much!" The Hume stammered nervously as the Elvaan helped her to her feet. "Thank you for saving my life Master. . ." She whispered as she nervously brushed tears of fear and joy from her cheeks, her sentence trailing off as she waited for his name.
"Draish. Now go on." He whispered and she nodded before taking off. When she was out of sight, Draish turned to the figure.
"You. What you did was unexplainable. Only a creature delved in darkness would refuse a plea for aid." He snarled. The figure regarded him with an amused expression.
"Well then it is a good thing I am delved deeply in darkness." He said smirking at the redmage. Draish scowled and drew his sword with seething fury.
"Who are you stranger? What business do you hold in these lands?" He demanded. The figure smirked.
"I am a dark swordsman, and my business is to destroy all of Vana'diel, not that you will live to see it. You die today Elvaan."
"AEROGA!" Draish suddenly yelled summoning winds from around him, they blasted towards the figure with the force of a typhoon, smirking, he calmly drew his sword and it glowed dark as the wind struck it, splitting the force of the spell in two, unfortunately, for both sides, the wind blew his hood back, revealing his eagle featured face.
Jagged black hair had grown to shoulder length and was still supported by a golden circlet as livid poison green eyes glared back at Draish. Fangs were revealed at the corners of his mouth as his lips twisted back in a snarl and his ears, though the size of a Hume's, were pointed at the very tips.
Draish gaped in open shock at the figure.
"What in the name of Altana-?" He breathed in awe. Cliff scowled as he suddenly swung up his hand to cover the bottom half of his face.
"I would have let you live perhaps with a simple dire injury, but now you have seen my face and for that you must die." And with those words, his form suddenly vanished in a blur of speed, Draish's eyes could barely keep up with him as he zoomed forward, before the tip of a blade was suddenly on Draish's chest, right over his heart.
"H-how!"
"You're life is forfeited for that woman's, congratulations, you will die a hero's death, like I'm sure you've always wanted." Cliff hissed, his eyes glowing vividly as he stared into Draish's. "Aren't you happy?" Draish opened his mouth to speak, but the words became caught in his mouth.
Then the pain began as the blade was pushed forward, blood filled his mouth with its coppery essence and he choked it out, as the red liquid dribbled down the sides of his mouth, Cliff yanked the sword out of his body, its silver blade gleaming in the sunlight and it dripped afresh with Draish's blood.
"Die Adventurer. And give my regards to Promathia." Draish stared up at him, his hands over the wound on his chest as his eyes slowly forced themselves closed.
'How could he . . . ?' The thought was never finished as he slumped lifeless on the road.
The room of the airship below deck was rather empty, save for one or two Adventurers, and a single cloaked figure. He was of great mystery to the other passengers, for how many people wandered the airships with a cloak? The figure seemed to be sleeping at the moment apparently, he leaned against the wall, sitting on the floor as the airlines were far too cheap to offer them proper seats, and his head was lowered, obscuring his face in shadows. He had however, raised his head when large thunderous sounds had began above. The other two adventurers, both Humes, one a warrior and the other a whitemage, sighed in unison as they too were lounged out on the floor comfortably.
"Probably some friends playing tag above deck again." A warrior said glumly.
"Don't think so . . . I mean the only guys up there are those three girls and that Paladin." His companion commented vaguely. But the silence was ended when those said three girls came tumbling down the stairs looking terrified. Bursting through the doors they landed in a shaking heap as they began yelling out and shrieking, and as the noise bounced off the walls of the small square room, it was impossible to understand what they were saying. Both Humes jumped to their feet in open shock while the figure simply regarded them with dull amusement.
"Whoa, whoa, WHOA!" The warrior got out. "What's wrong?" He demanded as he tried to calm them down. Finally Kida, the Mithra, managed to stammer out a sentence.
"P-pirates! We have to help General Satyr, he's above deck trying to fend them off! If we don't do something then-!"
"If he told you to go below deck, it is most likely because you will be nothing but a hindrance to him." The figure said coldly looking quite at ease at the news.
"B-but-! They'll kill him!" Rin, a female Hume, got out angrily. "And then they'll take over the ship and kill us too!"
"We have to do something!" Aya yelled at him loudly.
"We have to?" He asked calmly with a bemused expression.
"Yes!" All three girls shrieked at once, causing the figure to wince as the high pitched noises bounced off the walls.
"Well what can we do?" One of the Hume males asked feverishly. "We're all level thirties or less judging by our armor, and even worse off we have only two healers with you three included in our group. It's hopeless!"
"No! You can't say that!" Aya cried. "We have to do something, and we have to do it now!" The figure watched this for a moment before he sighed and stood.
"Alright, I'll deal with them, but only if you'll shut up." He said dully tightening his gloves and pulling off his cloak, finally revealing the face of an Elvaan. His hair was not like others, but instead long and silver, flowing almost past his waistline and was braided. His eyes, emerald green were sparked with some unknown emotion as his pale skin was accented by the purely black armor he bore and he had no viewable weapon at his side.
"Hold that." He commanded as he tossed his cloak at the Hume who squeaked as it smacked her face. Starting up the stairs with quiet ease, he slowly cracked his neck and rubbed his shoulders while sighing.
'I'm becoming far too kind these days.'
In the deathly silence that followed, no one wanted to move. One sudden action would start the hectic battle again, and that was not a favored notion at this point in time.
"Opeth it is then." Ginryu commented, the pearly white mist had not yet ceased to radiate from her skin as her eyes glinted with silver every once in a while. Again Lazarus had the pleasure of feeling the hairs on the back of his neck rise as the mist circled around her, the power giving him an unforgettable experience of fear, not the kind of panic fear that originates from a forest fire, but a controlled fear, more of the foreboding kind, as if you knew your death was to come, and there was nothing you could do to stop it. Opeth smiled at her, though it seemed a tad bit forced.
"Enough of this idle chatter, I aim to kill you, and I wish to do so quickly so I may move on." He said calmly, in a voice that could have been used to remark on the weather.
"Hold, Antigen!" A voice suddenly interrupted, and Ginryu and Opeth both looked up to the ship, where a Hume stood, bearing proudly his dark eastern armor. Opeth scowled.
"This is my fight Bamanoske, and I would beg you to kindly remember to stay out of business that does not concern you." Bam smiled.
"You there, girl, Ginryu was your name?" Ginryu nodded solemnly.
"What is it you desire samurai?" She asked quietly, the Adventurers surrounding them were all silent, as were the pirates, the idea to strike at the other while they were occupied did not occur to any of them, for fate was swiftly at work. Bam stared at her silently for a moment, and vaguely recalled that many years ago, a prophecy had circulated his chain of informants, before fading in all but a few minds, and then he had heard that almost at the same time of the origination of the prophecy, was a girl who could knock enemies back without use of magic or body, that she could summon light no man could stand against. The two occurrences had clearly been connected somehow in Bam's mind, and now he had possibly both standing in front of him, his next action, was clearly done on a mere whim.
"The shadows will gather, the evils will band, the light will rebel, under one they will stand." He said calmly, in a voice that resonated throughout the port, and all those who heard his voice, both Adventurer, citizen and pirate alike, gazed in utter confusion. Even Opeth was confused to say the least, he lacked any clue as to what the samurai was blathering about. Why in the name of Altana was he rhyming? Ginryu however, smirked and took it unfazed.
"The forces will fight, yet the light will wane, the shadows too great, light battles in vain." Bam smiled.
"Then it is not mere coincidence. Forget the pup, you are mine to duel." He yelled drawing his katana. Opeth gaped in open shock and anger at him.
"Who do you think you are Bamanoske!" He demanded. But he was ignored as the samurai leapt off the ship, his blade poised for attack as he flew at Ginryu, calmly she lifted her sword and diverted the blow with frightening ease.
"You are that eager to die samurai?" She asked coolly, as her blade swung in a half circle to deflect his blow, Bam flipped off to the side and paused for a moment, before smirking openly.
"Oh I don't think I'll die today. Not yet." He whispered and held his blade in front of him, one foot in front of the other as he shifted slightly. Ginryu observed him, quietly amused as she too shifted her stance.
"Come at me then."
Chster gaped wildly around, after having lost sight of his commander, he had worked himself up into a frenzy trying to find him again in the midst of all these bodies, but no, with all the swarming people, both Adventurer and pirate alike, it was practically impossible to distinguish where one body ended, and another began.
"CHSTER!" A voice blared into his ear from his linkshell, and he gave a startled yelp and flinched as he heard the yell, and before he knew it, because of his flinch he had stumbled over his footing and tripped, right over the ropes. . . and right into the port's murky blue water. Bubbles swarmed around him as he sank, and quickly. With a panicked thought of how his armor must have been weighing him down, he quickly fumbled at the strings of his armor trying to quickly untie the knots, before realizing that because of the water they had become so tight that it was impossible to undo the ties. Cursing himself for tying them so tightly he abandoned the task and instead tried vaguely to swim towards the surface, and with little success. His mouth had clamped shut in an attempt to hold his breath which was slowly expiring, and if he didn't do something quick, he'd drown. Blinking his eyes rapidly in these murky waters his head whipped from side to side, as he tried to find a way up, until he realized there was only one option, a spell, and since he couldn't open his mouth, that meant mind chanting, his weakest point. Trying not to panic, he held his arms out and swiftly chanted the mantra inside his head, his eyes closed as he did so, trying to ignore the feeling of getting colder as he sank deeper. After a moment, his eyes opened for a second and he thrust his arms in front of him as his mind shouted;
'Aeroga!' For a moment the waters around him swirled, before the spell subsided, he hadn't been able to fully cast it.
'No!' He thought in despair as he glanced up and tried to swim forward again with the same results, the sunlight was getting hard to see now, and eventually, his mouth finally burst open, releasing the breath he had been holding that his lungs could no longer take, his eyes glanced up again in utter despair, before they slowly slipped closed and although he would never admit it, a single tear, just one, slipped out.
'I've failed . . .' And as his body sunk into the watery depths, bubbles trickling from inside his clothes up to the surface, it was then that it happened. With a sudden massive tug, it felt like his mind was being pulled through time and space by a great torrential wind, and when he opened his eyes, he was no longer in the water.
He was standing there, he looked different. Older. Zig was by his side, as was Byuu and the rest of the Adventurer Generals of Zig's ring, and like him, they all seemed to have aged a few years. But they were not standing in front, a Galka, Mithra, Taru, Hume, Elvaan, and an odd form that he couldn't quite place stood in front of them, with another Elvaan a little further out front. They all stared at a raven haired Elvaan who stood much further ahead, she stood on a raised pedestal, in front of a chained statue he couldn't recognize.
'What . . . is this?' Chster wondered vaguely. They all stood in a great hall, it's appearance dark and evil, full of malice and venomous spirits.
". . . Gin . . . ?" The Elvaan ahead of the others whispered to the one standing on the pedestal.
You're too late.
A voice boomed, and the others all started, drawing weapons and glancing around in a panicked fashion.
"Whose there? Show yourself!" An orange haired Elvaan cried.
She is mine.
And than, for one terrifying moment, all froze as the female Elvaan on the pedestal turned, slowly, and when she finally met their eyes, hers were a blood red.
Suddenly his body had the breath knocked out of it as his stomach screamed in pain having been hit by something heavy, his eyes snapped open and he found himself staring into pure darkness, his lungs were screaming for air as he gaped around wildly, he had sunk so far into the waters that no light reached here, except for the ethereal glow that originated from beneath him. And it took him a moment to realize he was slumped over an avatar. Leviathan. As it swam towards the surface, it carried him with it, and in a matter of seconds he saw sunlight again, his body now burning everywhere demanding oxygen he tried desperately to keep his mouth shut and keep the seawater out of his lungs, his eyes were starting to slip close as he saw the mirror-like surface of the water come closer until the avatar burst through the water and he threw his head back as his head hit the cool air, gasping for breath. Two pairs of strong arms seized him as he hit the air and hauled him onto the wet flagstones of the port as his lungs sucked in oxygen.
"Chster! Dear god, Chster!" A feminine voice cried as a tiny form slumped over his body crying, sobs shaking her form. It took a moment for Chster to recognize her as he wiped drops of water from his eyes and the spots that had been dancing in his vision vanished.
"V-Vexed . . . ?" He managed to say before he started choking out seawater.
"Easy, easy my friend. You had a near brush with death." An Elvaan said gently as he supported the Hume.
"H-how-?" He managed out before bursting into body wracking coughs again.
"Are you alright Chster?" Another voice asked, and he glanced up to see Angelsheart, the avatar Leviathan hovering behind her.
"Y-yes. I think so." He managed out, his voice slightly raspy. Angel smiled and she nodded to Leviathan with a soft thanks, and the avatar vanished, it had been clearly hers.
"Vexed saw you take the fall into the port, and when you didn't resurface she panicked and dove in after you." Angel commented kneeling down to the other side of Chster, Vexed still lay sobbing into his shirt, adding more salty water to it.
"Crazy girl." The Elvaan added in gruffly. "I had to fish her out when she surfaced for air and couldn't find you, girl scratched me all over." He muttered dimly.
"We got the story out of her, I summoned my avatar, and sent it for you, Vexed of course was going wild, saying that you were going to die if we didn't let her go." Angel said a tad bit amused, though her gaze was filled with relief. "You're very lucky she saw you fall." Chster nodded, still sucking air into his lungs as his body learned to breath again.
"Thanks Vex." He got out as his arm wound around her form and hugged her briefly. "Now, help me up. We have to find Commander Ziggeraut." He said dimly. The Elvaan shook his head and chuckled.
"Half drowned, almost dead and still dedicated, you're really something General Chster." He commented hauling the Hume up while his other held Vexed to keep her from falling. Chster blinked falling water from his eyes and glanced at the Elvaan.
"Thank you . . . ?"
"Madon Tsuwamono, call me Mabs." Mabs said calmly as he made sure the general was steady on his feet before releasing him.
"Thank you Mabs." Chster said dimly as he glanced around calmly, surveying what had changed in his dip and realized that Zig was nowhere to be found, with a frown he tried to move, when he suddenly remember he had a crying Mithra on his chest, and Chster suddenly blushed red and stared at his second in command.
"Aw Vex, it's okay! I'm fine, see?" He said patting her oddly on the back. Angel grinned at Mabs, who didn't quite respond to it as he glanced into Chster's hood. It seemed to be wriggling for some odd reason, raising his hand, Mabs gingerly reached into the folds of fabric that made up the hood, and clamped his hands around an object in there, before pulling his hand out, and he came out . . . with a fish.
"Hmmm . . . a moat carp I believe." Angel said, a hand over her mouth as she attempted to resist laughing. Mabs gave a crooked smile and held it to Chster.
"Good catch. Want it?" Chster rolled his eyes, grabbed the fish and tossed it over his shoulder, right into the battle that still raged while still patting Vexed with his other arm.
Now off on a side story, Noxes had long left Myloko to investigate the ship the pirates had come on for clues. Upon finding nothing out of the ordinary below deck, he proceeded his investigations above it, and still found nothing unusual, frowning slightly he sighed and walked over to the edge of the railing and leaned on it, looking out over the battle, wondering still about his earlier actions.
'What's wrong with me. . . .?' He thought vaguely as he straightened, took a conclusive glance over the edge, before jumping over the railing of the ship, planning to land on the stones beneath.
Now at the precise moment he jumped was the exact moment Chster had thrown the fish, and the exact moment a Taru happened to be passing underneath. The moat carp landed on the stones, flopped a few feet, before finally giving way and dying. Noxes's eyes widened as he saw the moat carp was now placed exactly where he had planned to land, and in vain he tried to twist his body to avoid stepping on it, only to fail. His foot stepped straight onto the mucous covered fish (AN: Yes, fish are covered in mucous as an adaptation, it is scientifically proven!) and with a yell he slipped backwards, and banged his head straight onto the stones of the port harbor. Stars danced in his vision as his head throbbed painfully and he groaned dimly.
"Wow . . . that was a 10-pointer fall!" A voice said to the edges of his vision. Noxes glanced vaguely to his side, only to realize he was looking at a Taru. She giggled and held a hand over his body.
"Cure 3!" She chanted, and as white light spiraled around him, Noxes smiled, his headache receding a bit.
". . . thank you." He got out sitting up.
"Not a problemo mister!" Noxes frowned, he hated to be called mister.
"Please don't call me mister. Call me Noxes." He managed out as he slowly got to his feet. The Taru regarded him, before smiling.
"Okay, call me Deria than!" Noxes blinked at her, before smiling, Giving an extremely low bow, he took her hand and brushed his lips against it with a soft smile.
"Lady Deria it is then. I thank you greatly for healing me with your arts." He said gallantly. Deria blushed furiously. That was before Noxes heard a whistling of a blade sound behind him. Calmly grabbing a dagger from his boot he swung around and blocked the incoming blade with ease.
"Now Lady Deria, would you be a part of the Adventurers, or the invaders?" He asked her as he stared fearlessly into the eyes of a pirate.
"Adventurers." Deria piped up obediently, watching Noxes with eyes that shined with some unknown emotion. Noxes smiled.
"Then there is no need for you." He hissed at the pirate, and quick as you could blink, his blade shoved the pirate back, and as his arms pinwheeled for balance, Noxes delivered a quick slash to his open torso. As the blood dripped from his dagger, he calmly swung it to the side with such speed that the blood flew off from his blade, before sheathing it back into its hidden spot inside of his boot. It was at this point, that Zanu, who had been dueling with Lazarus not but more than a few meters away, spotted Noxes, and his eyes widened.
'That insignia upon his neck . . .' He thought in shock as he saw the image of a dragon with furled wings on the back of Noxes's neck disappear beneath the assassin's collar.
'Well . . . this could prove to be entertaining.' Zanu thought with a devilish smirk. Calmly blocking a blow from Lazarus's scythe, Zanu reached into the folds of his tunic and as he drew his hand out, it clutched something tightly. Quickly parrying what could have been a critical blow from Lazarus, he whipped out his foot and hooked it around his opponent's ankle and pulled, tripping the T.K. For the brief moment Lazarus was occupied, Zanu flung out his arm in the direction of Noxes and released the glass vial. He smiled as he watched it sail through the air with amazing speed, and suddenly switched his gaze back to Lazarus who had stuck out the blade-less end of his scythe and tripped Zanu.
'Bloody Temple Knight . . . I'm getting slow.' He thought frustrated as he landed with a painful thud onto his back and quickly rolled to his right to avoid a blow. Lazarus's blade scratched the stones and showered the area in sparks as he gave a growl of frustration. Back with the other two . . .
"That was terrific!" Deria exclaimed clapping her hands grinning. Noxes smiled at her.
"Paltry compared to your abilities Lady Deria." He said calmly. Deria flushed and covered her red cheeks with her hands.
"Oooo . . . now you've gone and embarrassed me." She mumbled out, though she was smiling. Noxes chuckled and smiled at her.
That was before a vial of poisonous green liquid hit the back of his neck and shattered upon impact. Immediately Noxes stiffened.
"What on-!" He managed out as his gloved hand swiped across the back of his neck. Coming away with a greenish liquid he glanced openly at it as it started to quickly be absorbed by the fabric of his hand armor. Coming to a realization of what it was, his eyes widened as he quickly yanked his glove off and threw it to the ground, and slowly it began smoking while the tips of his glove that had brushed the poison began to seemingly melt. That is when the pain began.
"Ngh!" He growled in pain as the back of his neck began to burn severely, the pain flaring from the spot, and it quickly shot down his spine and spread into his limbs and very fingertips. "Shit . . ."
"Noxes? What's wrong?" Deria asked shocked. Noxes ignored her and quickly twisted his head to gaze behind himself, and after a moment of searching, his eyes landed on an Elvaan pirate, who was fighting with a T.K. For a moment their gazes met, and recognition struck Noxes heavily like a blow from a mace. The pirate simply smirked at him, his eyes gleaming with some sadistic pleasure, before he switched his gaze back onto Lazarus and defended himself from a rain of blows. Noxes winced and his eyes started slipping close.
'Damn . . . the Yuushi guild . . . why are they . . . here . . . ?' Were his last thoughts as he slumped onto the stones. The pain in his body now unbearable.
"Noxes? Noxes!" Deria cried kneeling over him and shaking. Noticing a few glass shards of the vial lying nearby, she picked it up and glanced it over, before realizing what the acrid aroma that came from the glass piece was, and immediately she flung the shard she held into the port waters from fear.
Bio.
Different from poison, more toxic, and incurable by a mage.
"Cure 3!" She yelled, attempting to keep Noxes alive.
Over with Zanu, who was still battling with Lazarus, the two Elvaans were parrying each others' blows with equal ferocity, however Zanu was not quite paying attention to him, his gaze was focused more on the Taru that hovered over his enemy, and he smirked.
"You have potential, but you have far too much to learn child." He taunted turning to glance at last back to Lazarus as the two pressed their weapons together, their blades grinding against the other as they slid apart, showering the ground in vivid sparks, jumping back, both of them swung their weapons once in a circular motion before settling into guard position.
"Let me show you what I know then." Lazarus growled venomously as he gripped his scythe with firm hands and stood on the tips of his feet, ready to move. Both fighters were severely wounded, favoring large gashes on their arms and legs where they had been unable to block a blow.
"Another day perhaps. There are more important matters to be seen to." Zanu said rather airily as he sheathed his blade. "Good day Lazarus of the Temple Knights, we shall meet again." And with a courteous bow, he was gone. Vanished in a blur of exceptional speed. Lazarus scowled.
"Bloody coward. . ." He snarled.
Deria was now attempting a third healing spell on Noxes when a shadow blurred into form behind her. Feeling the presence hovering over her shoulder she glanced up in surprise at Zanu who now stood over her.
"You seek to heal him?" He demanded, Deria gave no reply, but instead got to her feet and glared back at the Elvaan. Zanu sneered. "That is answer enough, move aside little one. I cannot allow you to save him." He hissed and Deria drew her hammer.
"I won't let you! You were the one who threw that vial of venom weren't you? We'll you'll have to go through me to get to him!" She declared holding her weapon tightly. Zanu gave a mocking laugh as he digested the threat.
"You're brave, I will give you that, but you are powerless. Move out of the way fool." He hissed and moved to shove her aside. That was before a dagger flew through the air and landed in front of his foot. Zanu stopped, glanced at the blade in surprise, before glancing to his side.
"Tch." He muttered his expression that of a frown.
"If you wish to get to him, you will have to face me as well Yuushi scum." Myloko hissed, she had appeared off to the side and held her blade at the ready. Zanu appeared amused.
"More of you Yamimusha swine? Your organization breeds like rats, can never kill enough of them." He sneered. Myloko growled.
"And you Yuushi seem to be unable to fight in the open, always have to strike from behind." She retorted sharply.
"This coming from an assassin?" Zanu snapped, the insult to his honor had offended him greatly.
"Yeah, this is coming from an assassin, ninja." Myloko hissed.
Deria however had gone back to healing Noxes, let the children play, she had a life to save.
"Chster! Will you respond already!" The same voice that had caused Chster to stumble into the water yelled again. Chster yelped at the loudness and jumped in surprise, almost toppling into the water again, he was saved when Mabs grabbed him and held him firmly to the ground.
"Easy sir, you don't want to take another dip I'm sure." He said grinning faintly. Chster shook his head.
"No, it wouldn't be appreciated. Thank you Mabs." Then he finally turned on his linkshell.
"Okay, whoever this is, it had better be a damn emergency or I'm going to kill you."
"It's Tammy you numskull, where have you been?" She demanded, the Elvaan general was currently running all over North Sandoria looking around for the other generals.
"In the port being raided by pirates and drowning in the murky water!" Chster snapped back. "That latter half of which, I'd like to inform you, is your fault!" He yelled.
"How am I responsible for you drowning? And what do you mean pirates?" Tammy demanded as she quickly spun around and started running for the port. "Oh, nevermind! Where is Commander Ziggeraut?" She quickly asked.
"I dunno, I've lost him in this battle, why?" Chster demanded as he glanced around. During this exchange, Angel had glanced off to the side, and spotting something interesting, she nodded to Mabs and walked off. Mabs blinked, stared after her, then shrugged and turned back to Chster. He tuned back into the conversation just in time to hear Tammy give a vicious curse.
"Well if there are pirates in the port than it's a synchronized attack Chster." Tammy explained as she neared the entrance into the port. "The pirates are also attacking an airship, I don't know if it's the only one, but General Satyr is on that ship, under heavy attack, and he's soloing it, he needs help." She declared as calmly as she could, having reached the shaded steps that lead into the port, she took them two at a time and landed onto the stone floor and took off running, noting that none of the guards were in their normal positions. Chster cursed.
"He'll have to wait, we're barely holding off here, our forces consist of the Generals, second in commands and a tavern full of freelancers. That and some freaky Elvaan chick whose-!"
BOOM!
His sentence was quickly cut off as a large explosion rattled the port, and the waters around them slapped the sides of the stone walls as flecks of rubble from the stealing dropped from above and slapped into the waters. Dust shook free of the stone columns supporting the roof, and for one terrifying moment Chster thought they would fall, but no, they held luckily enough.
"What the hell was that!" Tammy demanded as she stumbled to regain her balance.
"How would I know?" Chster snapped back as he had to yank Vex close to him as she nearly toppled into the water. "Although that sounded like a barrel of gunpowder just exploded . . . or maybe a ship's engine." Chster muttered dimly as he glanced down at Vexed who stared at him with bloodshot eyes.
"You okay?" He asked quietly, moving his mouth away from the pearl. Nodding to him, she stepped back a bit blushing and glanced around, before noticing Mabs was now staring directly above them, his jaw hanging.
"I think . . . you're second guess was correct sir . . ." He whispered slightly in awe. Chster blinked at him, than looked up, and saw in utter amazement a smoking ship making its way into the harbor. Flames flickered off from the side of it, and he could have sworn he saw multiple figures standing on the burning deck. Most of them were clothed in dark colors, but there was one who was cloaked in exceptionally bright armor. And he had a pretty good suspicion who they were.
". . . .Tammy?" Chster finally got out.
"Yes sir?"
". . . run faster, I think Satyr's ship has just flown in. And he brought friends. Call for backup." Chster got out before completely shutting off his linkpearl.
Satyr stood on the deck of the ship, his left cheek was severely gashed and blood was splattered all over his white armor. His right arm was severely bleeding at the shoulder and his left leg was utterly useless as he was bent down onto one knee, panting harshly, his blade shaking in his weak fingers. Worse yet, he was cornered into a single section of the ship, with his only relief being he had noted the walls of Sandoria harbor had passed him, but what melted that relief away was the fact that none of the pirates seemed concerned. That could only mean there was already help for them in the port.
"You fought well, especially for a man in your condition, but I'm afraid it ends here." Zedriasage said calmly as he walked forward, his footsteps calm and ominous as the ship slowly shifted itself to land properly in the water. Satyr growled and suddenly in a desperate move, swung his blade with all the strength he had left at the Elvaan. Zed smirked and calmly parried the blow by using the very tip of his blade to cause Satyr's strike to slide off at an angel, then he wove his katana circular wise around the sword and with a flip of his wrist, Satyr's sword was yanked from his grasp in a disarming move and landed three feet to his right, way too far for him to grab it in time without being struck down. Zed gave a malevolent sneer.
"Is that all you have left? How pathetic." And slowly, he raised his blade. With a final smirk he shrugged. "Sorry General, but that's the way the dice rolled." And he swung his blade down. Satyr slammed his eyes shut as he knew there was nothing left he could do, he had no energy and no weapon. It was over.
"Yami!" A voice suddenly called in an authoritative tone. And for one split second, just the briefest moment, all was silent. There was not a sound to be heard as Satyr raised his head, slowly, ever so slowly to look at the figure who stood at the entrance that led below deck, and for a moment he experienced the greatest amount of terror he had ever known. Crimson red eyes, tinted with the greatest homicidal lust he had ever seen were narrowed at the pirates, and the figure's lips were curled in a hungry smile, with fangs poking out from the upper lip. He looked like a nightmare.
Than light erupted.
"Give up girl!" Bamanoske jeered as he swung his katana at Ginryu's leg, skimming the flesh as his blade bounced off her armor. Ginryu gave no reply as she skipped backwards and settled calmly onto the balls of her feet. Her gaze was icy as she scrutinized the samurai. Bam smirked.
"You're pathetic." And he ran towards her, his feet moving so quickly they seemed to not even touch the ground as he closed the distance between them. He had come within 6 inches of her, when she suddenly stiffened, and her eyes widened incredibly. Bam skidded to a stop, he had felt it as well. A large wave of darkness and animosity originated from the ship and passed through his body like a tremendous heartbeat that left him weak and shivering with terror, glancing up he gaped.
'What in the name of Kami was that?' Bam thought gaping up at the ship. That was before he smelt something on the seabreeze, a coppery something that he recognized all too well, and did not belong there at all.
Blood.
"I would advise against your squabbles right now." Angel's voice cut through the haze as Myloko and Zanu faced each other. Both turned to gape at the Mithra who regarded them both calmly without fear. Myloko glared.
"Stay out of this Adventurer! Do not concern yourself in matters that have nothing to deal with you!" She snapped. Angel smirked.
"That is where you are wrong, servant of Yami." She said calmly. Myloko blinked in surprise. "You're mission is already jeopardized, if you are caught as well, it will mean death for the both of you." Angel commented glancing at Noxes, Myloko paled and lost her composure as she took a step back.
"H-how-?" Myloko whispered faintly, confused. Angel smiled, yet there was no mirth, or kindness in her curling of lips. Her eyes were empty and hollow, almost like a blind woman's.
"How do I know of your guild?" Myloko stayed silent, though it was obvious with her open faced shock that Angel had just said her question before she could even finish it. Angel simply gave a small smile.
"I know things. Now go. Do not attempt to bring your partner with you. If you remove him from Whitemage Deria's treatment, he will surely die before you find a proper doctor for his ailments." She said gesturing to the Taru who was so absorbed in her administrations to Noxes, that she didn't even notice what the others were saying.
"You're time would be best spent convincing your daimyou to not kill him for his failure." Angel whispered softly. Myloko hesitated for a fraction of a second, before she swore and clenched her fist with frustration.
"I'll be back for him, if he is not perfectly healthy when I return, I will hold you both," here she gestured to Angel and Deria. "responsible for his condition." She snapped, before vanishing into a blur of shadows. Angel nodded calmly, before turning to Zanu, and for a moment she regarded him calmly, before shaking her head and sighing.
"You're side is losing ninja. Soon the port will be overrun with Temple and Royal Knights alike. Adventurers from all around Sandoria will have received word by now Yuushi. Unless you desire to rot in the cells of Bostaunieux Oubliette, I advise strongly on your escape." Zanu paused, and glanced at Noxes for a moment. Angel smirked at him.
"It is not worth your life to end his, and besides, I would not allow you to harm him, as he is vital in the future." Zanu glanced back at the Mithra, and for a moment simply regarded her, before he narrowed his eyes.
"How do you know this Adventurer?" He asked softly. "My identity, the identity of that Yamimusha scum, things of the future . . . how?" He declared quietly. Angel smiled softly at him, her eyes still holding that hollowed look.
"I see things Elvaan. Not always, but I do occasionally, more than I would like to perhaps. I see the three times." She said calmly. "I can make it no simpler for you." Zanu hesitated for a moment, before realization struck, and he bowed deeply.
"As you say then, I shall take my leave."
That was before there was a heavy explosion from above on the deck of the ship that had just docked.
Satyr gaped in open shock as blood sprayed into the air, painting a heavy red mist. The figure that had just stepped onto the deck had uttered only a single word, one he hadn't even recognized, and a dark light had suddenly appeared, it was not unlike the light that had saved them 8 years ago, but instead of white, the light was colored black. And it did not heal, it did the exact opposite. It had spread in a circle like a halo from the figure, and it acted like a deadly wind before it even came into contact with the pirates, it split their forms into pieces, obliterating some parts completely. Zedriasage gave a yell and flattened himself on the deck as the wind flew overhead, his companions were not so lucky. Elnroth, who had been forgotten up till this point had drawn his katana swiftly and yelled a word Satyr failed to hear in the resulting explosion of the figure's powers. Light from the explosion, dust and blood all mixed in the air, obliterating his vision completely as he felt the ship's frame shake and groan under the stress of the blast. And vaguely, he knew some parts must have been blown off for he heard great splashes from the waters below as wooden bits struck the water and sunk beneath the waves.
"Down!" Zanu yelled grabbing Angel's arm as she gaped upwards in shock, bits of plank, wood and rock had exploded off the ship and rained down on them. Yanking her over towards him he shoved her down over the Adventurer Deria and the fallen form of Noxes and sheltered them as best as he could with his own body. As splinters and rocks fell down, some hit the stone floor, causing the flagstones to crack under the impact, some landed into the waters, creating a splash so great it left water droplets in the air that rained down on Zanu and those whom he was protecting, soaking each of them to the bone. Suddenly, stones making up the roof of the harbor were shakened loose, and one fell from its holdings, straight from above and struck the ninja in the shoulder. With a barely restrained yell of pain and surprise, Zanu pitched forward, his shoulder screaming in agony and he was certain something must have been broken. Angel glanced up terrified for a split second, before she held her hands out and whispered a mantra.
"Guardian of the winds and element of the sky . . . Garuda!" She cried holding up her hands, summoning the wind avatar. As the ethereal glow penetrated the dust of the falling rubble, Garuda summoned the winds to her side and constructed a firm barrier against the falling debris. Standing she quickly caught the Elvaan as he wavered in his footing, before collapsing completely, and held him tightly.
"Are you alright?" She demanded laying him down on the ground. He gave a non-intelligible grunt as he winced heavily.
"Just. . . a bruising . . ." He gasped out, clutching his shoulder in agony.
"A bruising my tiny ass." Angel grumbled as she held her hands over his shoulder and whispering a curing spell.
"Tiny perhaps, cute definitely." Zanu managed out with a teasing wink. Angel blinked, and as a blush painted her cheeks she gave an embarrassed growl.
"Well if you're well enough to hit on me you must be alright." She muttered.
Bamanoske gaped as he saw an explosion rock the ship that had docked, then he vaguely realized that the a strange darkness was beginning to spread from the deck.
"What is that!" He demanded backing off a few steps, gaping at the black cloud that began floating towards them. Ginryu remained where she stood, and frowned.
"Of course. . . a kagejin." She murmured glancing at the darkness unperturbed. Sheathing her sword she walked straight up to it.
"You are mistaken if you think I will let you infest these waters with your plague!" She yelled up at the ship's deck.
Up on the ship's deck, the dust has started to settle, and Zedriasage was relieved to see that Elnroth had indeed survived, though he looked badly shaken. The same could not be said for the rest of his allies, who all seemed to have died under the attack.
"Who are you darkness wielder?" He demanded venomously, his blade poised to kill. The figure smiled.
"Ah. Yuushi scum. This makes it worthwhile after all." He hissed with a malevolent sneer. Zed gaped openly at the figure, a familiarity stirring in the back of his mind.
. . . "Blaise what happened?" A shocked Zedriasage demanded of the fallen Hume, his left arm was missing as blood gushed out from the severed socket. His eyes were hollow with fear and his lips were cracked from dehydration. He was slumped on the ground outside the entrance of Norg. The Hume gave no true answer as hysterical laughter burst forth from his lips.
"Where are the others?" Zed demanded kneeling down next to Blaise, before realizing with a sickening lurch, that the Hume's right eye was missing, as if popped from its socket, the skin sunk into the hollow flesh beneath it, whoever had done this was a sadistic son of a bitch.
"Dead, they're all dead Zed! He did it, killed them all. Killed us all . . . slowly . . . so . . . fucking . . . slowly . . ." Blaise got out before suddenly the hand that had been holding his injured shoulder shot forward and grabbed Zed's collar and yanked him close, staining the fabric with dark blood.
"He's coming . . . the leader of the Yamimusha . . . an Elvaan of long hair bathed in moonlight . . . he is no mere mortal." Blaise hissed in his ear, before letting go of Zed's shirt, the Elvaan fell back on his rump in utter shock, gaping at the Hume who let out another round of hysterical laughter.
"Zed? What the hell is going on?" A voice demanded from behind him. The Elvaan whirled his face around to find Elnroth standing there with a patrol of Yuushi.
"I-it's Blaise sir, he's returned and-!" The warrior tried to explain gesturing to the Hume, but before he could continue, Blaise erupted into loud wails.
"WHY WON'T THE SCREAMS STOP?" He shrieked, trapped in his own nightmare. "Oh god . . . I'm sorry Sakura . . . please stop screaming . . . oh god . . ." He sobbed. The ninjas with Elnroth all stared at each other worriedly before Elnroth finally walked up to Blaise and stood over him.
"Blaise!" He called calmly, and yet the Hume gave no reply. Zed glanced at his wreck of an ally, and would never forget what happened next. Elnroth gave a disgusted face before shaking his head.
"Your suffering and madness ends here, before you disgrace yourself further." He whispered softly, and before anyone could blink, Elnroth's blade flew through the air in a silver flash, and was back in its sheath before Zed could even yell out. Blaise's head rolling in the dirt before his feet. Zed turned green at the sight, but was unable to tear his eyes away from the scene before him.
"Take the body, burn it, spread the ashes on the wind and be quick about it." Elnroth ordered the group with him before he walked into the gates of Norg. His followers quickly obeyed, while Zed still digested the information that had been handed to him so suddenly.
'He's coming . . . the leader of the Yamimusha . . . an Elvaan of long hair bathed in moonlight . . . he is no mere mortal.'
Zed suddenly gaped openly as shock dawned his face. He suddenly got to his feet and began stumbling over his own footings in an attempt to get away.
"It's him . . . the leader of the Yamimusha! I know it! All our reports were the same, Elvaan like figure with long silvery hair!" He squeaked as his back suddenly hit the railing of the ship. The figure growled at him.
"For you to have that much information means my spy catchers aren't doing an effective job." Elnroth however was not fazed.
"So, you are the daimyou." He commented softly. The figure neither accepted nor denied this title. "I believe your name was Negative, correct?" The samurai continued. The darkness wielder scowled and Elnroth smirked.
"Of course." Negative growled and raised his arm threateningly and took a few steps forward. A small spherical ball appeared in his raised hand and from it a dark mist began to dissipate.
"Zed! Take the Paladin and the passengers beneath, and run, flee the damn ship now!" Elnroth ordered, not taking his eyes off Negative.
"But-!" Zed began feverishly when Elnroth interrupted.
"Don't argue with me just do it now!" He snapped. Zed flinched and nodded.
"Right!" He got out and ran over to Satyr who brushed him off.
"I can stand on my own for this. Help the passengers below." He hissed. Zed nodded and ran below deck.
"So, fleeing the battle? How terribly like the Yuushi." Negative said calmly, the sphere still lingering on his hand ominously.
"Anything to survive against the darkness." Elnroth hissed, his stance tense. Negative smirked.
"How pathetic of you." Satyr observed the entire scene, his hand firmly on his blade which was unsheathed and he held it tightly, weary of an attack. It seemed to take an age for Zed to reappear, over one shoulder he had tossed the Mithra, like a sack of potatoes, and a female Hume, Aya, he was carrying underneath his arm. Both were shrieking and pounding on his back with their fists. Satyr was impressed, he didn't think he would have been able to carry to fussy females at the same time ever. Rin and the two male Humes followed. Rin immediately launched herself at Satyr.
"You're alright! Oh thank Altana!" She cried in relief.
"Not now Ren!" Satyr ordered her.
"Rin." She corrected.
"Oh, right. Not now." Satyr amended quickly as he glanced over the railing of the ship.
"Think we can make it?" Zed asked reading his mind. Satyr nodded, hesitated for a mere fraction of a second, than quickly hopped over the edge. Rin gave a startled squeak as he did so and ran over to the edge of the railing.
"Satyr!" She yelled glancing down, before she noticed he was perfectly fine and standing on the port, even though the fall was at least 13 feet.
"Okay, one by one and slowly please." Satyr called up. Before Rin could even ask what was going on, Zed walked over to the edge and held his arm out -the arm that held Kida- over the edge of the railing.
He dropped her.
"KYAAA!" The Mithra screamed all the way down, only to be caught by Satyr who grunted as he caught the weight. Zed quickly held Aya over the edge as well and dropped her, glad to be rid of her fuss. Setting Kida onto her feet, Satyr quickly caught the screaming Aya who was flailing all over the place and nearly toppled over when one of her flying arms smacked him in the face.
"Careful, careful!" Satyr scolded setting her down. Aya immediately blushed and calmed down. "And I said slowly you son of a bitch!" He yelled to Zed who had vanished from sight. Up on the deck . . .
"Get back here you accursed Adventurer!" Zed snarled.
"NUH UH! YOU AINT'T DROPPING ME OVER NO RAILING!" Rin shrieked as she ran around the deck. The two male Humes regarded this with disturbed expressions.
"Uh . . . I think I'll . . . just let myself down." One of them commented and walked over to the railing, he peered over and realized that Satyr was directly beneath and was about to try and find a rope to climb down upon when two rough hands pushed him overboard.
"DAMMIT NADIV!" The warrior screamed on his way down. He was promptly caught by Satyr who placed him onto his feet and caught the mage that followed.
"Well we got you down faster didn't we?" Nadiv asked grinning. His companion glowered at him, that was before there were a few more shrieks.
"OHMYGAWD DON'T JUMP! AIIEEEEEKK!" Rin screeched as Zed jumped over the edge, the Hume tossed over his shoulder like Kida had been previously and she was not too happy at the moment. Landing on the ground easily Zed nodded to Satyr who watched him, slightly amused. Rin had her eyes covered with her hands however and was still screaming
"OHMYGAWD HE JUMPED! I'M GONNA DIE I'M GONNA DIE I'M GONNA DIE!" Zed regarded her with disgust.
"Will you calm down you bloody over reactive female? We've landed." He said dropping her on her rear. With an 'oof', her rump smacked the cobbled stones of the port, and surprised, Rin blinked and glanced around, before her eyes brightened.
"I'm alive! Yes! Oh joy, oh joy, oh joy!" She cheered. Unbeknownst to her, she and her friends had just landed off to the side of Zanu, Angel, Deria and Noxes. Angel had recalled Garuda now that the debris had stopped falling.
"Zed?" Zanu as called in disbelief running up to the ninja.
"Zanu? Oh thank Kami, Zanu!" Zed cried, his voice aching with relief as he ran up to meet his comrade.
"What happened? What's wrong?" Zanu demanded. Zed shook all over.
"The daimyou of the Yamimusha is up there Zanu, Elnroth is holding him off but-!" Their argument we swiftly cut off when another explosion rocked the ship, and this time a body came flying off the deck, Zanu had a sparse second to glance up in surprise, before the form landed straight onto Zanu, crushing him beneath.
"Ow . . . shit that guy packs a lot of force." Elnroth muttered rubbing his aching head and wincing. Suddenly he glanced at the hand that had been rubbing his bruised skull and blinked in confusion. "Hey . . . where's my sword?" Zed blinked and was about to make a comment when something zinged right in front of his face, clipping a few strands of hair as it passed his face and embedded itself into the rock of the port having narrowly missed Zed's head altogether.
"DAH!" Zed yelled in shock and stumbled over his feet, falling onto his back. Satyr gave an amused snort.
"Oh, hey there it is." Elnroth commented vaguely reaching for the weapon.
"Ow . . . . cripes . . ." Zed moaned sitting up and rubbing his head which had smacked the stones of the port, suddenly he blinked at his companion having noticed something, Elnroth had not.
"Uh . . . Elnroth?"
"What?"
". . . your crushing Zanu."
"I'm what?" Zed sweatdropped.
"Look underneath you." He said smacking his forehead. Elnroth did just that. And with a startled yell jumped to his feet.
"In the name of the merciful gods, Zanu what the hell were you doing underneath me?" He demanded. Zanu yanked his face out of the concrete and glanced at Elnroth just a wee bit pissed.
"Oh I don't know, I was just standing here peacefully when the stork dropped my ugly, smart-aleck, son of a bitch of a jackass baby on my lap." Zanu got out sarcastically while rubbing his sore nose. "YOU LANDED ON ME YOU ASSWIPE!" He snarled.
"Hate to interrupt guys, but your friend has decided to drop by." Angel commented walking up. All members of the Yuushi guild glanced up and all of them gave a startled yelp as a dark form dropped towards them, jumping back and drawing their weapons, they gaped at Negative who grinned back.
"Now then, where were we?" He asked smirking. And raising his arms, shadows began to seep around him, spiraling they rose into the air, shrouding his body in darkness and slowly filling the air of the port.
"I do not think so, kagejin." A voice hissed, and suddenly light burst into the port, it struck the darkness back and Negative hissed as it struck his skin. Zanu, Elnroth, Angel and Zed all backed away quickly as he shielded his eyes from the light.
"YAMI!" He yelled, flinging his arm out towards the source of the light and Satyr, recognizing the word from before, quickly pulled the freelancers around him back before they got caught in the explosion. As darkness grew in his hands, it burst into darkly colored winds that flew the Elvaan from where the light originated, Ginryu quickly held up her hands and cried a single word.
"HIKARI!" Light instantly welled up in golden pools in her hands and from their depths burst forth two golden birds that flew towards the darkness, the two powers clashed, and dissipated into the air having destroyed each other. Negative scowled.
"So far along already little one? Wielding your power in forms? What's next, channeling it into weapons?" He snarled. Ginryu stared at him stonily for a moment, than smiled.
"Thank you for the idea." And holding up her arms, she positioned them to as if she were in fact holding a bow, and with a spark of silver, Satyr gaped as he saw a thinly colored outline of what looked in fact, very much like a longbow in her arms, complete with a silver light arrow notched and aimed at Negative. Negative gaped as she was suddenly holding a bow and arrow composed purely of light. His jaw hung for a few minutes, before he closed his mouth and swore.
"I have got to stop talking so much." He muttered as Ginryu loosed her arrow at him, dodging the strike he rolled off to the side and got to his feet. "You can pretend all you want girl, that you are in control. You have no idea what awaits you." And with that he summoned a wellspring of darkness in his hand. Raising his hand he slammed his palm onto the surface of the stone with a sneer of triumph and instantly darkness erupted in the cracks of the port floor, before falling still. Ginryu glared at him, wondering what the hell he had done, and deciding to play it safe, tried to go for her sword. Only to find she could move.
At all.
"Shadow binders won't be broken with mere thoughts girl." Negative taunted her, his grin purely sadistic now. "And, I think it is high time you died." He hissed as he held his hands out in front of his body, and instantly a sphere of darkness that glittered silver began to form. Ginryu's eyes widened and she struggled to move her limbs in some way, ordering her body to move, except she couldn't, it was as if her entire body were frozen in place, and that some force wouldn't let her move. Panic crept into her gaze as she realized he was preparing to cast a spell that would kill her.
"Your fight is with me!" Elnroth yelled steadying his blade and running at Negative.
"Wait-!" Angel yelled in a vain attempt at a warning, Elnroth barely got within 3 feet of Negative when he struck something, a barrier that sparked with violet lightening and was thrown back. Landing on top of Zanu once more, Zed gaped openly.
"What the hell!" Negative sneered.
"That's right, no one can save her now, her time has come!" He called triumphantly.
Angel!
Angel suddenly started from where she stood, the voice that had blared in her mind was loud and authoritative, and she recognized it instantly.
'Yes?'
I must create a link with you immediately, hurry!
'Of course my friend.' And with that she held her arms out in summoning. Zed glanced at her and his eyes widened in confusion.
'What is she . . . ?'
"Kagefu!" Negative yelled, and thrusting his arm towards Ginryu, a dark wind spiraled towards her, she stiffened as her eyes widened, unable to move, utterly trapped, and completely helpless.
"I summon you, oh great lord of darkness! Here me now and answer the calls of your faithful subject!" Angel's voice suddenly intervened, and without warning a spot of golden darkness appeared on the ground in front of Ginryu. It quickly formed into a line, and joined another, and another, and before she knew it, it had formed a 6 pointed star with a circle on the outside.
The sign of Diablo.
Negative's eyes widened as he recognized the summons. Zanu who had finally shoved Elnroth off him glanced up in time to see Angel's pale face as her eyes had fallen to half mast, and her hands were moving in hypnotic motions, as her body was surrounded by dark lines of energy and purple sparks.
'It can't be!' Negative thought in open shock as he turned to face Angel whose hand motions finally slowed, and she thrust her arms out. Negative gaped at her.
'No mortal could ever-!'
"LORD OF DARKNESS, FENRIR!"
And from the symbol on the ground arose a great beast, glowing in its ethereal light, it stood proudly in front of Ginryu, and the dark wind dissipated as soon as it struck the avatar, and slowly, with glistening fangs and a glowing paw, it took one step forward. Negative scowled as he took a step back.
"Of course, you. Why am I not surprised, you've always been in my way from the very start." The Elvaan hissed.
You're too old for these games.
The avatar hissed. Negative scowled.
"Get out of my way fool, she must be killed."
She will die after myself.
Fenrir said calmly. His voice soaring throughout the minds of all those who stood in the port, and it could be noticed that all the battles, all of them, had ceased completely. Negative growled.
"Than you shall both die today." He hissed bending into a fighting stance, Fenrir regarded him coolly as he bared his fangs and tensed, ready to pounce.
"Commander . . . what is . . . going on?" Laiata whispered to Zig, the Commander of the Adventurers Army currently stood with the rest of his generals off to the side, as they all witnessed the scene before him.
"Lai . . . I'm going to be honest with you. I have no fucking idea . . ." He whispered in awe.
Disclaimer: I own all unrecognizable characters, anything else belongs solely to whomever created them, I also own the plot.
Author's notes: Well sorry for the length, and what not, final note is that a lot of the plot was revealed in this chapter, and the fact that pretty much all the characters who have to be introduce for this story, have just been introduced. Till next time my readers!
Japanese Translations
Yami: Darkness/Dark (Pronounced: Yaw-me)
Kami: Japanese word for God. (Pronounced: Kaw-me)
Yuushi: Brave warriors. (Pronounced: You-she)
Hikari: Light. (Pronounced: He-car-re)
Yamimusha: Dark warriors. (Pronounced: Yaw-me-moo-shaw)
Kagefu: Shadow wind. (Pronounced: Kaw-gay-phoo)
Kagejin: Shadow lord. (Pronounced: Kaw-gay-gin)
Also, there are much more similar words you may start recognizing that exist even in our language and in our dictionary!
For example, the word musha, translates into a warrior in Japanese, but if you looked in a Japanese thesaurus, you'd find along with the word musha; samurai, and tsuwamono.
That last word look familiar?
It should, it's Mabs's last name. Madon Tsuwamono.
And a final translation note, Ginryu's name also translates into two different words.
Gin Silver
Ryu Dragon (Technically it should be spelt as Ryuu, but it's the same basic principal)
Thus Ginryu's name translates into silver dragon!