Disclaimer: See previous chapters
Chap. 22
The Way- Sword, Sheath, Crescent, Samurai, Coda, Rapier
A clan that deals specifically with the use of energy and parrying blades. Highly skilled in Arena single combat duels and combat, they live by a warrior's code and are one of the most respected of the clans.
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Death Dealers- Reaper, Anubis, Sheol, Hades, Black Widow, Skull
A dark clan that shrouds itself in death. This group of Ravens is one of the most feared clans and it is considered certain death to encounter them in both missions and the Arena.
Desert Arena
The battle between the two clans had reached an epic point early on. At first, the two groups were even, utilizing their full efforts to combat each other. But as the fighting progressed, it soon became clear that the Death Dealers had the advantage, use their distance against the close-ranged opponents to bring them down. But despite this, The Way was far from out of the battle and continued to fight. In the end, AC's Sword and his clansman Crescent where left to face against the Death Dealer's Reaper, Anubis, and Sheol. The five Ravens, locked in mortal combat, would now push themselves to the brink.
It would be the only way to survive…"Crescent. Can you still read me?"
"Yeah boss. I'm a little worn out though." That was an understatement. The yellow-white AC was badly singed and missing a right arm. By all account, he shouldn't have even been fighting after taking a direct hit from Black Widow's TITAN large missile, but he persevered, bringing down the four-legged Raven.
"Okay." Sword began. "We have to focus on Reaper. If we take him down, the remaining two will be easier to deal with."
"Cutting off the serpent's head, huh?" the pilot replied. "Gotcha covered."
Sword boosted in first, barreling toward the three dark Ravens. Meanwhile, Crescent followed behind, activating his EOs and causing two of the three Ravens to scatter aside. Reaper remained where he was and activated his energy blades, which blazed out in the form of purple energy scythes. Meanwhile, Sword drew in closer and activated his own saber, but didn't attack. Experience told him that it is best to wait until his opponent attacks with the blade first and sure enough, Reaper did. His first scythe cut out into the air at Sword and Sword lashed out in response. The blades ripped through each other and Reaper made ready for his second scythe when Sword's extention boosters flared, causing the scarlet AC to turn off to the side and Crescent to come in for his own attack. Reaper was forced to halt his attack and shoot away from Crescent own Moonlight blade. Crescent and Sword soon moved in to press the attack but a swarm of missiles lit up their screens.
"You can not escape death!"
The vertical missiles had come from Shoel and the two Ravens split up to avoid them. Sword lurched forward, keeping his sights on Reaper as it flew back. Sword's back weapon lifted and the AC fired a single missile. The missile however, didn't fly toward the Raven, but high above it. When it was just overhead, the missile exploded, sending down several bomblets upon Reaper. The bombs hit Reaper and froze him for a moment, but a moment was all Sword needed to move in for the kill.
Or so he thought…
Suddenly, Reaper stepped back, out of range of the energy blade and Sword's blade hit dead air. 'How did he do that? No pilot could bring his machine out that quickly.' Reaper seemed to grin as the energy scythes came to life again and he unleashed him with all fury. The first ripped across Sword midsection, damaging the radiator in the process. The second slash cut across the AC's right arm, causing it to crumble to the ground. Sword shot back as he surveyed the damage.
'Radiator busted…Lost the grenade launcher, and the arm with it…AP is at 1001…This is bad.'
It got worse. Sheol and Anubis flew right on each side of him from behind, surrounding him. Sword looked around and saw charred ashes of what was once Crescent. He was alone and he was doomed. There was no way he could fight now and win. Hell, he probably wouldn't even live through this. But he would not just stand there and die quietly. Lifting his only arm, he let the blade ignite in the sky.
"Long live the fighters!!!!!!!!!!!!"
The Nightwatch clan watched as Sword charged in to the fight and the other two Ravens moved in on him. The fight ended slowly, for Sword didn't make it easy. Even when they destroyed his Moonlight, he continued on, ramming them whenever he could and even causing some critical damage to Anubis. But eventually, they brought him down and he was defeated.
"It's over." Charles said quietly. "The Way is no more."
The others were equally stunned by what they had witnessed. "What a guy…" Elijah whispered. "Didn't go down without a fight…"
"Tell me about…" Koemai started, meaning to speak to Cain, only to find him gone. "Hey, where's Cain?"
The sound of machinery soon answered him and the group looked out to see Glaive walking out of the hanger locks and doors. The quad boosters flared alive and the AC soon blasted off into the skies.
"What the heck does he think he's doing?" Baron questioned. But there was no one to give an answer.
Fifteen minutes later, Glaive reached the arena in the desert sands. Smoke was still in the air by the time he had arrived and the sun was just beginning to set on the horizon. Looking on, he saw the charred and torn remains of ACs, mainly from the way. There was also some black pieces and weapon that belonged to the Death Dealers, but not whole ACs. 'They must have pulled them out.' Glaive strode through the carnage and soon reached his destination.
'Sword…'Before him was the AC Sword, or what was left of it. The machine was ripped apart, showed numerous scorch marks and slash burns all over it as though it was attacked by a fire-breathing wolverine. The core was ripped up in the middle, the head was completely crushed, and the legs were scattered in the sands. Yet despite this, the Moonlight blade still remained in its arm, even though the shoulder was disconnected and hanging limp off the core. Glaive moved in close and Cain was able to actually see inside the core since its chest was exposed like it had been gutted. Upon closer examination, Cain saw the pilot inside. Glaive stopped in its tracks and Cain opened the hatch. He jumped out of his machine and into the exposed machine where the pilot lay. He was badly wounded and parts of machinery were stabbed into various parts of his body. Cain stared down at him a bit until the pilot's body suddenly jerked, causing Cain to jump in surprise. The man's eyes opened slowly and Cain bent down to him.
"Sword!"
"Who are…?" He asked groggily at first. But he caught a glimpse of the blue-white AC behind him and blinked.
"Glaive?"
"Yeah, it's me." Cain looked up and began moving the machinery out of the way. "Come on. I'm getting you some help."
The pilot managed to lift his hand, stopping Cain from helping him. "No point…I'm already too far gone…and we both…know that." The pilot looked over to the side, "That's how it was…supposed to be…there could be…cough, cough…only one."
Cain lowered his head, knowing that it was true. He had far too many injuries to count and there would be no time to help him out of this desert before his body succumbed to them. Cain closed his eyes, an act the pilot took note of.
"I'm sorry that…I won't be able to…challenge you…now." he smiled weakly. "But I guess…that's the way of things." His body spasm and he grimaced. Forcing it down, he looked back up at Cain.
"I…never got…your name…"
"Cain."
"Cain, huh? How appropriate…Rule…with a spear… My name is Michael." He spasm again, more violently this time and then his body seemed to slow down.
"Perhaps…we'll meet in…another lifetime. I'll gladly take…up the challenge again…"
"Perhaps…" Cain nodded.
Michael's eyes slowly closed as he whispered his last words, "But until then…let me…rest…with my…clan…"
His head tilted off to the side and his body became still. Cain stood up from him in silence. As a Raven, he was no stranger to death. But it still affected him. The dark Raven began to move back to his AC when something caught his eye. The sun had now almost descended completely below the horizon, bringing the night along with it. But that wasn't what caught his attention. Rather, it was the dark form that stood on top of one of the dunes just beside the sunset.
Reaper…Reaper stood in the coming darkness, staring at both the demolished Sword and Glaive, with Cain staring at him from in between them. He could just swear that he was looking straight into the eyes of the pilot himself.
Bane…The dark AC flashed its laser scythes briefly and waved them in the air. Cain understood the signal perfectly.
His clan would be next…
Hanger
Koemai was in his Bloodhand AC, tuning it up for his next mission, setting up his new radiator to the rest of his machine's systems. 'Or Arena battle, whichever comes first' he commented to himself. After witnessing the clan battle early, he was taking no chances. His encounter with the Death Dealers as well as their earlier attack on them was evidence that they would be the next to face them. 'Last thing I need is to cook inside my own machine…again' he joked mildly, remembering his last mission where the radiator short-circuited and the heat in his machine rose up to almost 100 degrees. He still remembered the sensation of the heat as well as the great relief when he exited his machine into the cool air. I don't think I've ever felt so hot before. 'Well…except…' Koemai shook his head. He was trying to get his mind of his earlier encounter with Diana for awhile. Flicking a few switches, the green lights went up, informing him that all systems were good. It was then that a figure approached him from outside.
"Hey, Koemai." Elijah introduced. "I'm going to get a drink. You coming?"
Koemai shrugged, "I don't know. Don't really feel like it today."
Elijah cocked an eyebrow. 'Well that's a first' he thought. But he didn't give up. "It's on me."
That caused Koemai to literally jump out of Bloodhand. "In that case, what are we waiting for? Let's go!"
The two Ravens climbed down the ladder and moved toward the hanger exit. But Elijah paused for a moment and looked off to the right. Koemai's eyes followed and widened slightly when he saw Baron and Diana coming up to them.
"Di…"
"Koemai." Diana replied, equally surprised, but hiding it better. "I didn't know…"
"Hey, are you guys coming or not?"
The two of them looked over to see Baron and Elijah already walking out of the hanger ahead of them. Looking back at each other, they said nothing and simply followed, the tension between them now sizably increased.
Unknown to them though, Elijah noticed…and grinned.
Beach
Cain found himself situated on the sands near the Cortex, deep in thought. Sword…Michael was gone. That was the simple truth. But he had felt no sorrow, save for losing the chance to face him in battle again. But that didn't matter. He was a warrior after all…
"It is present in your thoughts."
Cain stopped walking, the voice interrupting his thoughts. But he didn't turn. He didn't have to. He already knew he would show up eventually. True to form, a dark coated figure emerged from the shadows behind him.
"It's nice that you took a glimpse of your future." Bane said quietly. "There's a sense of finality in it."
Cain snorted in light amusement, "The Way and Nightwatch are two different clans. Aren't you being presumptuous?"
"Perhaps." He replied, shifting. A dark glint shone in his eyes, "But aren't you being foolish to face me constantly when you have a loved one in a coma?
The amusement was now gone, "What?"
Bane answered darkly, "The eyes of death are everywhere. You should know that by now. But perhaps that is why you have stayed alive so long. The hope that she will revive perhaps?"
"…"
"But that will not help you." Bane went on after Cain's silence. "Death does not play favorites. However, I will do you a favor. When you die, you won't have to worry about her awakening without you, because I will see to it that she joins you." He shrugged casually, "Whether it is heaven or hell is entirely up to the two of you."
Cain had heard more than enough. In a flash, he whirled around, unsheathed his sword and sent it right to Bane. But Bane was already waiting and snapped his own sword up to block, sending out a loud clash. Cain snarled angrily at the dark Raven.
"Touch her and…!"
"You'll do nothing, not if you are already dead." Bane replied, cutting him off. He then pushed back, breaking the lock. Cain looked ready to attack again, but instead, he held his place, although his sword was still drawn. Bane backed away into the shadows once more, fading away.
"Our next confrontation will be the last. You will either cheat death…or taste it."