Vyser: Well, it's been a while.
Zeek: I'll say! You've got too many other things you have to do before working on this!
Vyser: I need to have some relaxation, then its back to the homework.
Zeek: Whatever. Vyser doesn't own Tales of Symphonia or the characters that you all submitted. He does own the characters that he created.
Vyser: And now on with the chapter!
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Chapter 35: The Battle of the Forest// ------- ---------- --------- --------------- ---- /------------ ---------- ---- //
Claws had just trapped most of the group, and he was staring at group with his fangs showing.
"Something inside is telling me not to trust that look," Zeek said before Claws burst into laughter.
"Now which one of you should I eat first?" Asked Claws, as the group looked shocked.
"You're going to eat us!" Yelled everyone except Locke who kept his thoughts secret.
"That's reverting to cannibalism, you're disgusting," Raine stated as Claws was laughing.
"Well actually, before I was in this form, I was my wolf form," Replied Claws as he walked in front of the ensnared group. "And in this form I have given up my humanity. So it's not really cannibalism, I call it…nature's progress. But I will have to keep at least half of you to get your spirits. But for now who to eat first."
"You sure you don't want to have a salad instead?" Sage asked as Claws began to sniff the air around the group.
"Let's see, I could have Zeek, or maybe Duke, and then there's the rare dragon Dra…" Started Claws until he noticed that Drag wasn't in the trap. "Where that coward Drag get to!"
"Great, Drag escaped," Sera sighed.
"You can't really be surprised," Said Locke as Claws shrugged and licked his lips at the group.
"Oh well, time to eat," Claws said as he began to walk towards Sera. "I've chosen the first course, Sera."
"Leave her alone Claws!" Yelled Zeek, as Claws didn't even flinch.
"Hey! Claws!" A voice from above yelled. Everyone turned to see where it came from, but unfortunately for Claws, Drag punched him in both eyes.
"Well that was new," Commented Luna as Claws was walking away with his hands clasped over his eyes.
"Be thankful! I could've ran away you know!" Drag yelled as he looked at the roots that ensnared the group.
"That's good and all, but could you free us?" Asked Duke as Ryu was nodding with him.
"No problem!" Drag replied as he breathed in and shot a few flames at where the roots got out of the ground.
Eventually, the group was freed. But Claws had returned while rubbing his eyes.
"That was a cheap shot!" Yelled Claws as Drag sighed.
"Anything goes in the world," Drag replied as Claws roared.
"I'll kill you all!" Roared Claws as he began to charge at the group who had drawn his or her weapons.
The battle begin the group had jumped out of the way of Claws' charge. Claws then decided to go after Drag first, and jumped towards Drag who had inhaled once more and breathed a huge flame from his mouth that engulfed Claws. When the fire died down, Claws landed on the ground and began to twitch a little bit.
"Why! Does! That! Hurt! So! Much!" Claws yelled as Locke figured it out.
"It's the opposing element, and it's strength is increased when facing its opposite," Explained Locke as Claws got up and dusted himself off.
"Oh well, the Dark Spirit takes the damage, if I take damage at all," Claws laughed when suddenly a focused silver light shot at one of the summon spirit crystals and shot it off. "What the hell!"
Zeek, who had his wings out, then quickly flew and grabbed the summon spirit crystal that was dark green.
"Yes, but if we remove these crystals, then you'll be as harmless as a puppy," Stated Zeek as he pocketed the spirit.
"Everyone aim for the crystals!" Luna yelled as everyone prepared to attack.
Duke then shot many arrows, which many struck Claws' body and broke. Zeek, Sera, Locked, and Luna quickly charged at Claws from behind preparing to attack. Claws quickly turned around and blocked their weapons, while still getting hit in the back with arrows. While Claws was blocking the attacks, Drag and Ryu walked and flew underneath the weapons and stared at Claws and quickly reached for some of crystal's on Claws' chest.
"You won't needing these two," Commented Drag as he took the dark colored summon spirits and Claws began to change once more.
Claws quickly let go of the weapons and disappeared into the air, everyone was confused as to where Claws went. When they heard laughter, they turned up into a tree to see Claws still in his wolf form, only his skin was white and the sharp hair he had was now light green. And this time, Claws had wings! The wings resembled bat wings, only white and light green.
"Give back those spirits! I found them fair and square!" Claws yelled as he flapped his wings.
"What in the world?" Questioned Raine, as Claws looked surprised that he had wings.
"That's wrong, a wolf with wings. Bat wings," Sera stated as Claws growled.
"Yes, but now, I solely control the wind all around us!" Roared Claws as he snapped his fingers and a huge burst of wind shot from nowhere and sent the group to the ground. "Sweet! Here comes me!"
Claws quickly jumped off the tree he was on and flew very fast over the group sending them back. Duke quickly took aim as soon as he stood up and shot many arrows at Claws. One got the wind summon spirit off of Claws' body. As soon as Claws noticed that he no longer had the summon spirit crystal, his wings had disappeared and his regular colors returned. Claws unfortunately fell to the ground with a great slam.
"Cheaters," Muttered Claws as he stood up. "I don't need the summon spirits! I've got many dark spirits!"
Claws then reached into his pocket and took out four more dark spirits. Everyone looked worried as Claws began to place the summon spirits on his chest. All of a sudden, a very powerful dark aura surrounded Claws. Everyone was preparing himself or herself for anything. The aura began to grow, and when it died down, a huge wolf with blonde hair with pitch-black streaks of fur, appeared in front of the group. It then howled towards the sky, the howl was so loud that the group had to cover their ears. The wolf then began to charge at the group, who all managed to dodge at the last second, Claws then turned around and glared at the nearest targets. Duke and Luna were in his sights.
"I'm not afraid you Claws!" Luna yelled as Claws howled and then began to charge at the two wolven.
"Take this!" Yelled Duke as he shot many arrows at Claws who easily dodged them and continued his charge.
"Spirit Cannon!" Zeek yelled as he shot the ground before Claws, making a small ditch, which caused Claws to fall into and trip. "Now would be a good time to get those dark spirits!"
Everyone nodded and began to charge at the fallen Claws. Raine and Sage used magic to keep Claws down, while the others began to attack Claws on the chest. When Claws had one dark spirit left he began to return to his normal state. But as Luna was about to stab the final dark spirit, Claws caught her spear and threw her backwards.
"I WILL NOT LOSE!" Roared Claws as a huge shock wave quickly came from the ground from where he stood. It sent the group flying backwards. "I'll defeat you no matter what it takes!"
"Man what's up with guy?" Sera asked as everyone stood up.
"It's the dark spirit, its fueling him with energy," Explained Locke as he dodged a punch that Claws threw at him.
"I've got this!" Drag yelled as he breathed in and shot flames at Claws which engulfed him and sent him to the ground with burn marks.
"And now to finish this!" Announced Duke as he shot an arrow shattering the last dark spirit on Claws.
Claws was then knocked out by the loss of energy, as Ryu handed Duke the summon spirit of wind crystal something weird was happening to the trees. The trees began to turn to sand! Everyone quickly ran out of the forest as fast as they could, but they forgot Claws. Everyone managed to get to the Drago Cycles in time and were already in the air.
"I wonder if Claws is dead," Luna said as the Drago Cycles began to fly back to the Renegade base.
"It is possible," Stated Raine.
"But not very likely," Duke added.
"Yeah, Claws is probably still alive, but I doubt he'll come after us," Replied Zeek.
"We removed all of the dark spirits from him so I doubt he'll be much of a threat," Drag added.
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Underneath the sand, Claws quickly jumped out. As he shook his entire body he gazed into the sky and saw the Drago Cycles flying away.
"Thanks for the freedom guys," Thought Claws as he began to walk through the sand. "I guess now its time for me to become a drifter. Yeah! Life on the road will be fun!"
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Vyser: Well I hope you all enjoyed this chapter.
Zeek: Your chapters are getting shorter.
Vyser: Well, I'm saving my better ideas for later chapters for this story. Like when Tech makes his next appearance.
Tech: Go me!
Zeek: Reviewers please review!
