AN: Yo! This chapter is back in the present, and we get to check back up with Ryker and Aradia... And we get to see how the most recent fight between Alex and Akuji is going... Oh... Err... I'm tryin' to think if anything else is gonna happen... Nah, not that I can think of (and nothing I'm going to tell you)... On with the story!
Cookie Tamodachi: Yup... He used to be into the gold color and stuff. But then Alex defected and when he supposedly killed him he went gothic. I guess... Eh. Oh well...
Ayrill nodded off, her Evil Wings Staff falling from her grip and landing in the soft soil beside her. She had just passed the Priest test and was worn out from the following series of parties and ceremonies. Her brother, Chase silently swooped down from the trees above her. His Casters claw fit tightly on his hand. He quickly pulled out a Steely from a small pack that was slung around his waist. With practiced stealth he pulled Ayrill from her sitting position and held the throwing star threateningly to her neck. In a gruff voice he whispered, "Now, you're gonna give me all of your money, and your good equipment too!"
Ayrill stirred and looked around drowsily. "Wha--? Am I being threatened by another person? This is the third time this week..."
Chase blinked in suprise. "What! You've been stolen from that much?"
Ayrill. "Oh, Chase? It's you? Thought I was actually in trouble for a second...," She muttered. Nemesio let her go.
"Are you saying I'm not threatening at all?"
"No, I'm just saying you couldn't threaten a snail... Well, okay, I'm saying you're not threatening."
Chase frowned. "Wow, thanks for helping my self-esteem. What're you doing out here anyway? Everyone's looking for you! They want to congratulate you or something..."
Ayrill sighed. "Argh! I don't want to be congratulate any more!"
Chase grinned ruefully. "Heh... It is a little tough when you first get into your 3rd job... I mean, all the people congratulating you... Just wait until the weaker guys start asking for training... It's torture in the beginning. But, you'll get used to it... Eventually..." Chase ended awkwardly.
Ayrill looked up with an incredulous look on her face. "Eventually?"
Chase shrugged. "Just stay in places only the stronger people train. Then you won't be hassled so much," Chase answered.
"Yeah... Though, it could be fun to get the little kids to gimme some money to show off my spells...," Ayrill mused.
Chase rolled his eyes. "Yeah, sure. That works 'till their parents come and--"
The trees burst inward with a huge crack. Several Crimson Balrogs flew through the gap in the underbrush. "Chase? What the--" Ayrill was swiped off her feet into the air.
"Dammit! Kronos is on the move! Copycat!" A shadow appeared behind him, copying his movements exactly. "Ayrill! Get to Ellinia and warn Grendel! I'll hold them off!"
"But... You'll never be able to beat them yourself..."
"Who said I was gonna beat them?"
Ayrill gaped at the hopeless situation as Chase threw star after star at the balrogs. "No! I won't--"
"Dammit, Ayrill! Get the hell out of here!"
Ayrill swallowed her tears and turned to run. "Chase... Promise me something..."
"Ayrill! Go!"
"Chase! Don't die, okay? I... I can't have someone else die... Because I couldn't help them!"
Chase paused and sighed. "This isn't like that... Ayrill... Dammit, we can't talk now! Leave! Now!"
Ayrill nodded. As Chase turned, he heard a faint whisper that echoed on the wind. "Don't die, Chase... For me... For his memory..."
XxX
Ryker whirled through the leafy foliage. Aradia sprinted below him, leaping gracefully over fallen logs. Ryker glanced up as a huge flock of birds raised into the sky, squawking derisively. "There's something going on over there!" He called down to Aradia.
She nodded. "So we need some transportation?"
Ryker grinned and nodded.
She raised her Hinomaru fan, a weapon of choice, and swept in a large circle. "Mystic Door!" She called. A faint image of a doorway appeared in mid-air. Runes arched through the air, creating a rudamentary circle. The doorway opened, and Aradia glimpsed stairs before the entryway flashed and turned white. "Well, come on Ryker..."
Ryker nodded and leaped down. "Have you ever wondered... What would happen if you didn't direct where you want to go?"
Aradia glanced down. "Yeah. And... There have been people who've tried to find out where it goes... And all thats ever found of them... is... their clothes... bloody and tattered."
Ryker blinked in surprise. "Seriously...?"
Aradia stepped through the doorway.
XxX
"Panic!" Alex bellowed as he swung his Colonian Axe down in a crushing blow that would have killed Akuji had he not quickly sprung to the side.
"Alex! Stop this! We can't fight here... This... This isn't the time!"
"Shut up! You left me to die, so it's only fair that I return the favor!"
Akuji sidestepped as another blow landed on the ground next to him. Caden smiled. "C'mon, Akuji! Fight back! Or are you too afraid? Let that demon inside you take over... It'll take good care of you..."
"Dammit! Shut up! Ugh!" Akuji flew aside as Alex punched him under the jaw.
"Pay attention little brother!"
Dammit! I can't beat him!
Ah... But you can!
What? Kane?
The one and only...
How... How am I supposed to beat him without killing him?
Let me take over for a little while. I can make sure he doesn't get hurt, but is scared enough that he runs off...
But...
"Akuji! Move!" Aradia shrieked as she stepped out of the Mystic Door.
Akuji, startled, looked up. Alex was thundering towards him, axe held high over his head. Caden grimaced as Aradia raised her fan to counter Alex's attack. "You will not interfere!" He snarled. He lunged towards her, Hellslayer brandished threateningly.
The polearm swung towards Aradia. Suddenly, time slowed. Akuji struck Alex with his bow, and prepared to shoot an arrow, and the Hellslayer was stopped by a Varkit. "Hey, it's not very gentleman-like to hit a lady without proper warning first!" Ryker taunted.
"You!"
"Me!"
"You beat me the last time we met, but this time... I will have your head on a platter!"
Ryker smiled. "Wow! You're really violent, ya know?"
Caden lunged at him again, and the Varkit seemed to flicker through the air. The two blades collided in a flurry of sparks.
Akuji let lose the arrow he held, and Alex smirked. "Power Guard!" The arrow rebounded off of him and embedded itself in Akuji's arm.
"Argh!" He yelled, blood flowing freely.
"Now you can't shoot your silly little arrows!"
"Akuji!" Aradia called and rushed over to him.
He stood weakly and pushed Aradia away. "Stay out of this Aradia!"
Aradia stumbled backwards and fell on the ground. She watched Ryker and Caden parry blow after blow, neither gaining ground. She watched as Akuji tried to fend off Alex without the help of his arrows. Suddenly, a deep, guttural roar sounded from the nearby trees. A man was thrown through the foliage and landed on his back in the center of the small clearing. Aradia counted at least eight Crimson Balrogs that followed him. "What the--"
"Aradia! Look out!" Ryker called. A heavy claw whipped through the air and knocked Aradia into Alex. He grunted and reached for his axe, which had landed just out of reach. Ah... Now that is bad... The demon inside Akuji noted sadly.
Well, what am I supposed to do?
Let me take control of your body, and I'll take care of it.
Ok--
Akuji was lifted off the ground as one of the balrogs picked him up by his head. To all but Akuji and Caden, the balrog spoke in growls, but they understood the language perfectly. "You are the one Lord Kronos told us of! We are to bring you back to him as quickly as possible!"
Akuji groaned slightly and they took this as affirmative. "Let us fly!" One of them shouted. They prepared to leave, when suddenly, Akuji began to glow. He was surrounded by a crimson red aura, and his body was changing slightly. His eyes (though no one could see them) were turning red. His fingernails were growing in length until they became almost claws.
Then, he spoke. "I shall not be accompanying you, balrog...," he murmured. "For your destination... Is hell!" The voice was soft and malicious. A hand rose up and gripped the balrogs barrel-like arm.
The balrog laughed. "Ha! One puny human trying to kill all of us? I find this highly amusing..."
Suddenly, Akuji's hold tightened on the arm, and the balrog screamed in pain. The arm was crushed and mangled as Akuji tightened his grip. Then, with his other hand, he easily, almost casually, grabbed the hand that was holding him up in the air. With a jerk, he ripped it off the balrogs arm and tossed it to the side. He remained in the air, floating. "Yes... It is quite amusing, isn't it?" Akuji sneered. With apparent ease, he threw the balrog into a nearby tree as it howled with pain and waved its bloody stump of an arm.
"A-Akuji!" Aradia whispered as she watched the bloody massacre unfold. Akuji leaped into the heart of the group of balrogs and whirled in a frenzied wind of death. The beasts crumpled before him. He was armed only with his hands, and the strange claws that had grown upon him. When all of the balrogs in the group were killed he floated serenely to the beast who had held him up.
The beast whimpered in fear. "Do not worry... I shall kill you nice... and slow...," He grinned sadistically. "Tell the Devil I sent you..." He pulled back his hand and plunged it into the balrog's chest. After a few moments and several screams of anguish from the monster, he pulled his hand out. In his palm was the balrog's heart, still beating slowly. With a smirk on his face, he slowly began to crush it. Aradia turned and began to vomit on the ground as Ryker uneasily patted her back, his eyes still transifixed on the gruesome sight before him. Akuji tossed the crumpled organ over his shoulder and wiped the balrog's blood onto the beast's matted fur.
Alex gaped in fear and shock. "Akuji? What have you become?"
Akuji grinned. "My name is not Akuji, brother. It is... Kane!"
Caden stepped forward. "Lord Kane, may I formally welcome you into the world of the humans. My master, Lord Kronos wishes to speak with you."
"So you work with that false Kronos as well? Hmph. Well, whats to stop me from killing you right here and now?" He floated towards Caden and gripped him around his neck.
Caden seemed to have no reaction. "If you kill me... my master will die as well..."
"Even better!"
A spasm of fear crossed Caden's face. "B-but, if you kill me... My master will not be able to summon your master into this world... He wishes to make a deal with you... Your services, for the summoning of your master."
Kane let go of Caden. "Very well. Take me to this... Lord Kronos of yours..."
The two disappeared. Alex crumpled to his knees. "What? What has Akuji..."
Ryker placed a hand on his shoulder. "I guess... We'd better tell you the story. I believe you have a story to tell us as well, about how you and Akuji know each other..."
Alex nodded. "Of course. But, if you would, please, you go first."
Ryker nodded. "Certainly. It started about a month ago when Akuji was going to the Dungeon..."
AN: Woah! I brought Kane back, for the people who've read the original version. That had more blood than I thought it would... But, eh, I think it turned out okay. Chase and Ayrill will make a return in the next couple o' chapters. I didn't just slip 'em in for fun... Please review! Reviews make the world go round! Well, actually, thats somethin' to do with inertia and gravity and... Ack! It's summer! I don't want to think about all that science stuff! My brain hurts...
