Brilliance: A Legend of Mana Story
Six ~The Hands of A God~
"What's happening over there?! I can't see!!!" Elleira shouted, trying to push past all the fleeing men. Sierra dodged nimbly from side to side, avoiding most of the rush. Mercenaries were running in terror from the dragons, and now that all four of the were engaged with Lucemia, the wyrm had taken to slamming its own body against the ground in an attempt to crush its antagonists. All it succeeded in doing was killing thousands of the Nanten's army.
Out of fear for their lives, the Nanten army was scattering, breaking apart.
"The dragons are still fighting Lucemia!" Sierra shouted back.
"Not them, the gate! That man who broke down the gate!"
Sierra leapt up, trying to peer over the running men. "I don't see anything-"
She was cut off by a massive fist slapping her to the ground with tremendous force. She bounced, rolling to a stop beside Elleira.
Elleira raised her spear, trying to find the attacker. Like a demon, he rose up above the heads of the other men, towering over all of them. He was easily the size of the giant ape Du'Inke, but he was human!
(Is that even possible?) she wondered. His torso was bare, except for dozens of straps for various weapons that hung on his back. He wore a loincloth that looked to have been made from a scaled beast of some kind.
He raised his hand again, and brought it down hard, and she barely had time to backflip out of the way. The ground trembled, nothing like the mighty earthquakes caused by the dragons, but more then enough to force Elleira to her knees. The giant shrugged, loosening some sort of strap on his shoulder. He reached behind him, sliding a massive hammer from his back.
"Okay . . ." Elleira said. "That's kind of overkill, don't you think?"
The giant hesitated, confused. Elleira grinned, leaping into the air "HOLY LIGHT!!!" she shouted, showering the giant with light. He stumbled under the spear technique, reaching behind him with his other hand to pull a shield into place over his head, blocking some of the divine rays. Elleira landed, snarling "No fair!"
With a roar, the man hurled the shield at her like a discus, and Elleira dove to the ground. As it flew over her, her body actually moved from the sheer force of the throw. She growled, charging towards him. "BLUE DRAGON!!!" she snarled, only to be smashed to one side by the giant's massive hammer.
She skidded across the ground, creating a long burrow in the ground before finally coming to a stop. Her shoulder was in agony, and she thought that if she looked, she'd probably see bone fragments poking out, but she refused to stay down. Using the spear for leverage, she got to her feet, wobbly.
The giant came at her again, hammer raised in both hands over his head, and she lifted her Dark Harp, preparing to die, but intending to make him hurt for it. Suddenly he roared in agony, and dropped the hammer. She saw Sierra with her knives buried in his side, stabbing him repeatedly. With a grin, she jumped forward, driving the spear upwards into his unprotected stomach. The giant roared again, grabbing her and squeezing. His hands completely enveloped her entire body, her head the only part of her that was still visible.
"What are you?!" she yelled before hissing in pain as he tightened his grip. Spots started appearing in her vision, as he slowly pressed the air out of her lungs. Sierra was still struggling vainly to free her, slashing in a blur at every piece of flesh she could reach. Elleira could see in the giant's eyes that he no longer felt anything Sierra was doing. the entire focus of his being was directed at crushing the life out of Elleira. (His eyes . . . his eyes!)
"Eyes!" she gasped. The pain shooting through her body, and her arm was especially unbearable, but Sierra got the message. She leapt up, scrambling up his back, before driving her knives towards his face. The terror in his face showed he had understood Elleira, and put to rest any doubts inside her that he was anything but human. He dropped her, swinging both hands upwards, smacking Sierra off his back with a force born of desperation.
Elleira dropped to the ground, the last of her energy spent. The giant reached out for her again, one hand gripping his side, blood pouring down over his fingers. His face burst in a small explosion of blood, his eyes slashed out by a fast moving object. A Skeleton Knight caught his bone sword as it flew back to it, and waved it wildly at the giant.
The man stumbled back, screaming his rage, holding its face in its hands. Finally it fell, and the ground shook. The Skeleton Knight came to Elleira's side, and she looked at confusedly. ". . . Vincent?" she asked. It waved its sword and bonked her on the head.
"OW!" she said, pushing at it weakly. "Help me up you jerk!"
He stood still as she pulled herself to her feet, mumbling and swearing under her breath. "Where's Sierra?" she asked him, and he just stood there. She couldn't read its expression, because . . . well, it had none. She petted it on the head, and it did nothing.
"GANZ!!!" A woman screamed, and Elleira spun, almost falling from weakness, but Vincent caught her. A woman dressed in black, a veil of mourning over her head rushed to the giant's side, dropping to her knees. "Ganz! Ganz!" Elleira watched, stunned as the woman shook the giant's body.
He whimpered, and she cradled his head in her lap gently, holding him as his breath started to catch, and then finally stopped. The woman looked up at her, hatred and tears in her eyes. "You! You killed him!" She pounded her small fists on the giant's chest, sobbing. She lifted her head again, and her eyes were black, glowing with dark energy.
"What the . . ." Elleira hissed as Vincent grabbed her arm. She tried to pull away, but he wouldn't loosen his grip. "What's going on?"
The woman stood, and Ganz stirred. Elleira's eyes opened in shock, as the giant began rising. "Ganz . . . I'll help him rend you limb from limb . . . there won't be enough of you left for even me to resurrect."
*************
"I'm going to help them." Blackpearl headed for the gate, but Elazul's hand on her arm stopped her.
He shook his head. "No. I'll go."
She slapped his hand aside. "I'm no cripple, Elazul! You're the one with the scratched core!"
"I am Pearl's guardian," he said.
"I am not Pearl!" she snarled, before swaying, grabbing the side of her head. Duelle rushed forward, holding her as she slumped to the ground. "I will . . . not be . . . Pearl!" she swore, fighting the transformation.
Elazul looked at the ground uneasily. "I'm sorry," he said, before running off.
She reached out towards him, "Elazul! Stop!" before crying out again, clutching her core, and changing in a flash of light to a girl dressed in white.
Emeralda went to Duelle, touching his shoulder. "Are you all right?"
"Um . . ." he said, looking up at her. "I'm a bit confused."
The green-haired Jumi nodded. "Yeah . . . so am I."
*************
Kiijin came down in a flash, all of Riven's rage and desperation behind it. The man caught the sword in one hand, grinning like a sadist as he used it to pull Riven closer. His other fist drove into the hero's stomach, and blood spattered from between the Mana Hero's lips. He crumpled to his knees, and the man slapped the hat of his head, grabbing his hair and lifting him until they were face to face.
"What did I just tell you? You can't blame me if you won't listen." Riven flew back as a kick connected with his face, everything happening so fast he couldn't see it. He slammed into a wall, broken jewel fragments cutting through his clothes.
(He's so much stronger . . . then anyone I've ever faced . . .) Riven looked up at the man, who even now was stalking forward to finish him off.
"I am Godhand, leader of the Nanten." He waved a hand across the field. "You've seen only a glimpse of our powers. What made you think you could defeat us?"
"Stop talking and fight," Riven growled, lifting his sword.
Godhand sighed. "You really are something. The resident hero, I'll bet. Listen friend, there are just some battles that can't be won."
"DYNAMITE X!"
An explosion rocked Godhand, and he stumbled, landing flat on his stomach on the ground. Larc stepped forward, grimacing, axe held ready.
"Larc . . ." Riven groaned.
Godhand stood, looking over the man who'd attacked him. "That was unwise, Guardian."
Larc growled, shifting his grip on his weapon.
"Fine then . . . I'll finish both of you. It makes no difference to me." Godhand raised his fists.
"No, you won't." Elazul stepped around the corner, drawing his sword slowly. He pulled the mantle of sand from his shoulders and threw it to one side. "You will not be victorious."
"You heroes are all alike. Just lining up to die," Godhand said. "I don't care if there are three of you or three-thousand. Love, courage and friendship do not win battles." He shook a clenched fist at them. "Hate, pain, and pride win battles."
The Lapis Lazuli warrior held his sword ready, eyes grim and determined.
Riven slashed at Godhand's leg from behind, and the warrior hissed, dropping to one knee. "Talking doesn't win battles either!" He danced backwards, moving around Godhand until Elazul and Larc were at his back. "That's just downright sloppy for someone with the 'hands of a god'."
Godhand smirked, and got back up. "And it was downright sloppy of you not to finish me. But you're right, so I'm done talking. Say goodbye!" he ran forward, and Riven slashed at him swiftly. He slapped the blade aside with one hand, punching him in the face with the other.
Larc cut deep into his back with a swipe from his axe, and Godhand seized Riven, throwing him over his shoulder to crash into the Underworld fighter. He went for Elazul, who leapt into the air, sweeping his sword and crying "BIRDS OF PREY!"
Godhand's fists mutated, changing into shields, and the energy bounced off of them, scattering and exploding, sending stone and jewels flying. Larc tossed Riven aside with a snarl, and charged at Godhand again. The man back-flipped, flying up and over Larc's head, before bringing both clenched fists down on Larc's back. There was a sickening crack, followed by Larc's howl of agony. Before he could fall, Godhand backhanded him, sending him flying. Elazul was right there, sword stabbing quickly.
He caught it just as the tip scraped his chest. His hands tightened on the blade, holding it. Elazul kept pushing, forcing it closer and closer, until it finally broke the skin. Godhand grinned, shaking hair out of his eyes. "You're good! I didn't expect to have any fun while I was here!"
"Don't patronize me . . ." Elazul said through gritted teeth.
"As you say," Godhand acknowledged, lifting Elazul and throwing him up into the air. He then back-flipped again, swinging his foot up at the top of his arc, driving Elazul into the ground.
Water suddenly enveloped him, and he thrashed about, trying to break free. He was holding his throat when the water finally broke, and gasping for air, though still on his feet.
Riven held up his flute. "Glove techniques have a weakness. They only work at close range." He began playing again, as Godhand charged him, and once again the fighter was enveloped in a bubble of water, unable to breathe. Riven kept playing, pouring all of his will into making the Mana keep flowing from the instrument. Godhand kept stalking towards him, slowed by the movements of the water, but the strain was showing.
Riven dropped to the ground, weakened from the effort but still playing, as Godhand fell, but was still crawling towards him. Finally, Godhand seized Riven's foot, pulling him in weakly, reaching up and grasping for the flute. Riven kicked at him, fighting to keep him back, but he was still too strong. Godhand ripped the instrument away, crushing it in his fist. Godhand raised a fist, slowly, waveringly, but Riven could tell from the man's eyes there was still enough power there to kill him.
Suddenly, he stopped. Godhand pushed off of the ground, standing weakly, and was forced to brace himself against the remnants of the Jumi city's gate. He stared out into the battlefield, squinting, panting from his exertions. "Damn that girl . . ." he swore, before stumbling away from Riven, back towards the field.
Riven stayed on the ground, aching and bruised, but more confused then anything else. He only moved when he heard a groan, whether it was from Elazul or Larc, he couldn't tell. He just got up, and limped to the first body he found. It was Elazul. "Are you alive?"
"That's . . . one of the . . . stupider questions . . . I've heard today . . ." Elazul grumbled. Riven shrugged, sitting down with a groan. Elazul tried to look up, but only winced and left his head where it was. ". . . you kill him?"
"I wish," Riven said, watching Godhand's retreating back. "He saw something he didn't like, so he left."
Elazul stared at him so blankly that Riven had to smile. "Yeah, that's what I thought too," the Mana Hero said. "Maybe he forgot to water his cactus this morning."
"You know . . . that you're the . . . only one with . . . one of those . . . ugly creatures . . . in this entire world," Elazul said.
"Lil Cactus is not ugly, he's just . . . y'know, a cactus."
They both laughed at their jokes, ignoring their pain for a moment, until a quiet voice snarled at them. "If you two bastards don't shut up and help me, I will kill you both as soon as I can stand."
Riven looked behind him, to where Larc was lying, one shoulder at a peculiar angle. He was flat on his back, head held to one side to keep the pressure off his back. "I'll be right there Larc," Riven said, getting to his feet and stumbling towards him. "How are you feeling?"
"Like my back is broken, you idiot."
"Oh." Riven stopped, glancing at the field again. "I don't see Lucemia or the dragons, all the mercenaries have fled . . . have they given up?"
"The Nanten will never give up. You saw Godhand." Larc drew back his teeth, baring fangs. "The Moon Gods will return before the Nanten let go of a victory."
"Can we call the Jumi out of hiding long enough to get some healing tears?" Riven asked.
". . . Riven?" a soft voice asked.
Riven froze, his whole body tingling. When he turned, he saw the girl standing several yards away, and he couldn't believe it. "Pearl . . ."
"Riven, you're bleeding . . ." she said, starting towards him. He frowned, looking down, a seeing the fragment of gold metal jammed through his abdomen. Suddenly dizzy, he collapsed. Pearl started running, before slowing to a halt again. She cried out, and in a flash of bright light, became Blackpearl again. The woman was breathing heavily, and whispered something to herself Riven didn't hear. He realized belatedly that he couldn't hear anything.
Blackpearl met his eyes, and they weren't the shy, beautiful, innocent eyes of Pearl. They were filled with pain, and more then a little fear. (What are you afraid of?) he tried to ask, but the blackness enveloped him, and then everything was gone.
*************
Elleira kept pushing back at Vincent, who didn't have the strength in his legs to keep from sliding back, but she still couldn't free herself from his grip with one hand. "Vincent, let me go, or I'm going to die."
"He doesn't understand you," the woman said. "The dead only obey my call. They hear nothing else."
"The dead . . . You're responsible for what happened to Escad!" Elleira cried.
She tilted her head to one side. "Escad . . . ? Ah yes, the knight. Yes, though I wasn't the one who killed him. It was probably Sable. She has a habit of taking the eyes of her victims."
"You . . . you monsters!"
"We? The monsters?" She stepped forward, slapping Elleira hard across the mouth. "If you hadn't tried saving these worthless piles of dirt, Ganz would still be alive! I barely pulled him from the brink of death when whoever you people sent through our camp tore into him! And then you . . . you . . . who doesn't have an once of regal blood in her . . ."
She grabbed Elleira's hair, wrenching her free of Vincent's grip. "You killed my brother!"
Elleira grabbed Vincent's bone sword from him and smashed it into the woman's face, sending her sprawling. She then turned, jamming it through one of the eye sockets in Vincent's skull, and pushed him over.
Elleira took a step towards the woman, finding a sword on the ground near her feet. She picked it up, testing its weight. "If I kill you, Vincent should come back, Escad can rest in piece, and that thing you call a brother won't be able to get back up," she said, pointing at Ganz's body, which, infused with his sister's power, was still trying to stand.
The woman looked up at her in abject terror, raising her arms to defend herself. Elleira hesitated, sword held high. "I . . . I can't . . ." She dropped the sword. "I can't kill you if you're helpless. Let Vincent go, now."
Vincent stopped struggling with the bone sword in his face, and scratched his head, turning from side to side. Elleira nodded, and started limping away, taking Vincent by the hand to lead him away.
A massive bloody hand seized her, pulling her back. Ganz was on his feet, and held her an easy eight feet off the ground, one fist drawn back to destroy her.
"My brother will have his revenge!" the woman shouted, and Elleira closed her eyes.
Something splattered all over her face and chest, and she fell to the ground as the giant's grip loosened. She wiped at her eyes, looking up, and saw the zombie Ganz trembling, a gold fist through his chest. He fell, and the man behind him shook his head sadly. "Rest in peace, old friend. You've served us well."
"NO!!!" The woman pushed past the newcomer, rushing to her brother's side. "I won't let this happen! I won't let him die! Live, Ganz, please live!" she sobbed, and once again Ganz's body began to rise.
The man with the golden fists wrenched the woman to her feet, and slapped her. She stared at him in horror, tears still running uncontrollably. "Your brother is dead, Kana," he said, and she collapsed against him, sobbing into his chest.
"No, Godhand, No . . ."
The man called Godhand looked at Elleira, and spoke one word. "Leave."
Elleira didn't need a second warning, she grabbed Vincent, and started hobbling away. She could still hear Kana crying into Godhand's chest, and she could almost hear her own heart fluttering in fear. The coldness in the eyes of the white-haired man with the old fists was something she'd never seen before. It was like his soul was empty, and that terrified her. Even the Mana Goddess's evil incarnation had eyes filled with emotion.
She glanced down at Vincent, before pulling the sword from his face and handing it to him. "Assuming he's still alive . . . do you think Riven would be terribly upset if I just went straight to the bar?"