Chapter 10: 2 Scythes, 1 Fight
Two weeks have come and gone since Peter's cavernous battle with the behemoth, Astaroth, that he came out victorious. The prize: a shard of Soul Edge, his first since losing the other shards to Cervantes. During the two weeks, he has kept his promise that he teach Chai Xianghua the discipline of Capoeria, which is turning out to be better than expected. "Y'know, if my mother was around, she'd punish me for learning something other than the Chinese Sword Dance," she said while catching her breath.
"Your mother was your first teacher?" Peter asked while stretching his arms completely out of its sockets. Xianghua nodded. "I can admit, you are a fast study."
"Thanks." Just then, a sailor in the bird's nest, spots a port ahead.
"Land, ho!" he yells out. Both fighters and Mi-na ran out to the front of the ship, and saw the up and coming port. That was when Mi-na remembered about her and Xianghua's fight.
"Peter, since our fight ended in a stalemate, we were wondering, who do you want to acompany you?" she asked. Peter didn't waste time with an answer.
"It's you, Mi-na," Peter said with sincere. "Nothing against you, Chai. I've been with her ever since coming here."
"None taken," Xianghua grinned. "Just be careful, and find that girl who's after your heart." She proceeded with kissing him on the eyelid. After the ship docks, Peter and Xianghua parted, waving 'goodbye and good lucks.' Two days after arriving on the other side of the continent, he and Mi-na cross a male figure with the wild hairstyle. Peter knew who it was.
"Kilik, long time, no see," Peter grinned.
"Hey, Peter," Kilik happily roared, fiving Peter's hand. "Did you get a bruise from breaking Kali-Yuga?"
"No, I didn't."
"Wait, this is the Kilik?" Mi-na questioned in surprise. "The one who you defeated by breaking his staff?"
"Yeah, he's got such a strong head." Kilik quoted while knocking on Peter's skull.
"Just be glad it wasn't your spine," Peter groaned in a scary notion.
"Oh, yeah. I got a message for you, brother." Kilik hands Peter the note. He reads it.
SCYTHE WIELDER-THE GRIMM REAPER WILL NOT GET HIS CURSING HANDS ON ME. HOWEVER, I AM OFFERING YOU A CHALLENGE TO FIGHT ME IN A SCYTHE-ON-SCYTHE BATTLE IN THE CLOCK TOWER. I WANT TO SEE YOUR REPUTATION AS A REASON OF YOUR EXSISTANCE IN THIS LAND.
"I wonder if it's the immortal scyther Reaper was mentioning," Peter pondered.
"Kilik, where is this Clock Tower?" Mi-na asked.
"That way," Kilik points out. "Takes about half a day. Look, is it all right if I join you guys?" Peter and Mi-na give each other an undicisive look. A little while later, the three were heading to the direction, and eventually, find the tower. "Peter, I wonder, how many girls are going to give you a liplock? How many was it so far? 5?"
"Kilik, drop it," Peter growled, as if he was annoyed.
"Just because someone was swayed in by this guy's little poetry, it doesn't give you the permission to nag on him," the asian woman backs up. They all look at the large tower. "So, this is the Clock Tower, huh?"
"Yep, and it's time for me to go in." The Wisconsinite starts to walk in to the tower doors when...
"Peter," Mi-na shuddered. "Please, be careful. You don't know about the power this guy has." Peter shoots a determined look over to the two.
"I will." With that, he closes the door to the tower.
"What does Peter have that his opponent doesn't, other than sending them into Hell?" Kilik questioned.
"A quitless attitude, and heart," Mi-na answered and blushed. Inside, Peter was in amazement, seeing the gears in the tall tower. After a breather to calm him down, he begins his climb. One catch: he isn't using the ladder at the other side of the room. He climbs and jumps, hangs and swings like a monkey in a jungle, as he races to the top.
"How is it that I was born in the year of the boar, and not monkey?" the blonde groans at himself. It takes Peter a minute to climb to the top and onto a platform. "Well, that was some climb." He walks to the window, and sees Kilik and Mi-na in an arguement. "Wonder if they're talking about me for some reason? I'll think about it later." He walks over to the center of the platform, just as a voice whispers out.
"I will not allow anyone who searches for the sword to live," it said. "I shall have to kill you now." The voice goes quiet. Then, the platform starts turning clockwise, as if someone threw a switch. A few seconds later, a clanging sound was echoing, causing Peter to look and see...a giant gear rolling at him. He dives out of the way, letting the gear pass. Then, a man jumps onto the platform. In a deep voice he said, "you're quicker than I thought. I was wrong about you." The man was black and in a cloak, with a scythe in hand. Peter drew out his double-scythe, and has taken a defensive stance.
"Just like a dull day, a victory for you will be no such thing," the blonde joked. "So, it was you who had sent for the challenge."
"Were you expecting someone different?"
"Not too dark in the vocals, but other than that, not really. Why don't you identify yourself?" The man grunted lowly, like it wasn't a big deal. "Why don't I start? I'm Peter Hamby, Death's Right Hand."
"So, you're Death's Right Hand, huh? The name's Zasalamel. My wish is to retieve Soul Edge, so that I can be free from my immortal curse." Peter was confused with the man's request. "Let's stop our little conversation and allow me to kill you."
"Be my guest." With that, the battle of the scythes began. During the first minute, the warriors demonstrated each others' defenses. Two hours go by, and nethier fighter was showing any wear.
"A warrior with exceptional speed and duribility. No wonder others have fallen upon your might."
"Even with a blade disadvantage, you have got to be a favorite opponent in my book. But it seems there's something I might have that you probably don't."
"And what's that? Youth?"
"Nope." Peter charges at Zasalamel, trying to give an uppercut with the scythe, but Zasalamel goes into defense. Peter plants his double-scythe, and feints to the other side, catching his opponent off-guard. When Peter regrabbed his weapon...SLASH! Peter gashes Zasalamel with a cross-up. Then, four more strikes, two with each blade, in creation of a star. After Zasalamel wobbled, swinging his scythe at Peter, the dancer bends backwards to duck the swing, and snaps back to a painful headbutt, knocking down the scyther to the wooden platform. "It's momentum." A few seconds later, Zasalamel started to get back up. Peter was in disbelief, since anyone who got cut with the Reaper's scythe would mean instant death.
"I lost, for now. You, Right Hand, might have potental to take the sword. We will meet again, but for now..." Zasalamel hands Peter a pouch. Inside was a handful of shards of Soul Edge. "I must depart. Farewell, Mr. Hamby." And with that, Zasalamel jumped up and vanished.
"Thank you, and don't worry. I know we will meet again." Peter jumps down and lands on the gears to the floor below, which took about 20 seconds. As he opens the door... WHAM! A body smacks Peter and sends them to the wall. It was Kilik's KO'd body that nailed Peter. As he pushed Kilik off, he saw Mi-na a little pissed. "Was there a reason I deserved that?" Mi-na saw Peter as he was getting up.
"Uhh, sorry about that," Mi-na studdered. "Ready to go?" Peter smiled and nodded. They both start to resume their trek, leaving poor Kilik behind.
"So, what got your water boiling against Kilik?" Mi-na blushed.
"Well, he was wondering if, by all means we...ahem, did it, yet. He should know better than to talk about personal matters. When he heard you in the fight, he was somewhat worried about you, and that was when he grabbed my breast." Peter's eyes lit up in utter surprise.
"I guess that's what got you in a hitting matter, huh?"
"A woman's body is sacred, and therefore should not be handled by a person who doesn't know how to properly operate them." The Wisconsinite slaps his head.
"Okay then, why wasn't I punished when I had Chai's and your breasts all over my arms."
"That was because we needed some comfort from the weird noises. Besides, that nosebleed should have been your punishment." Peter shook his head lightly.
"Never thought of it that way." They walk off, away from the sunset.
Peter and Mi-na head to a town, only to get into separate fights, sending Peter on a raft around the town moat. Can a skill he learned back at home save him from some incarnation?
