"And what do we have here?" said Naomi, putting a hand to her cheek in mock distress. "So many important people in one place. Even the phoenix is here! It looks like our lucky day."
The snake woman nudged the man beside her, a brave move in Kanae's opinion. The man was huge, nearly twice as tall as Naomi. Almost every inch of him was covered in dark hair. It was impossible to tell if the hair was his own or part of his clothes.
Her attention split as Shin moved, every muscle tensing. But he didn't move towards her. He turned away, showing her his back. He didn't look over his shoulder as he spoke. "Decide now Kanae."
"Shut up." Growled Kanae, now distracted. "I already decided. You can't be-"
Light activated around Kanae's feet.
Cords of inky blackness gurgled from the ground, wrapping around her calves. She reacted instinctively, creating a whirlwind of arcane magic to destroy the restrainers. It shredded into the cords and spell. At the same time, she saw something shoot toward the group behind her.
Kanae activated her shadow step, speeding herself up considerably. Her spear darted out, just catching Naomi's blade before it sank into the queen.
With a tug of the chain, the blade returned to its owner. There was no time to rest as Naomi struck again, her image blurring. How was she moving so fast!
Kanae desperately blocked the attacks, the spear whirling between her hands as she batted away the twin instruments. Through glimpses of the attack, she saw Shadow and Rosa battling with the other accursed. Their fight was already sending shockwaves around the room.
Kanae's inattention cost her. Her spear glanced off a blade, not stopping it completely. She darted to the right to avoid it.
A clang sounded on her left.
Shin stood beside her, his sword raised. A throwing dagger fell next to his feet. Had he just blocked that?
"How many times have I told you to watch your left?" said Shin, sounding exasperated.
For a split second Kanae blinked at him. Then a wave of familiarity hit her. Of rightness. Of hours in the training room spent continuously sparing with each other.
It was at that moment Kanae realized she couldn't have done it. She couldn't have attacked Shin. Even if he had admitted to it all, to betraying them and giving away all the information for whatever selfish reason he had cultivated, she couldn't have done it. The man had managed to slip past her walls and cement himself into her life.
Kanae made her decision.
"I don't want to be lectured by you!" snapped Kanae, side stepping Naomi's next attack. The movement brought her close to Shin, her shoulder touching his as she angled herself to watch his back. "I'm going to give you hell once we finish this."
Shin glanced at their touching shoulders, understanding lighting his face. It provoked a surprised chuckled, the sound elating Kanae even as she scowled further. "I'll look forward to it." He said, fondness in his voice.
Kanae suppressed a smile. Perhaps this was the wrong choice. Maybe he would stab her when she least expected it, but she didn't care. Because this was her choice, and she'd deal with the possible consequences of that decision.
Something exploded on the other side of the chamber, and Kanae saw a glimpse of the phoenix, rising from the ground as it attacked… was that a Shadow Hound!?
The creature was locked in a frantic exchange with the phoenix, the demi-god repeatedly diving for the monster. Near those two, Shadow was being pushed back by the other accursed with an oversized black hammer.
This battle is too intense for this small area. Kanae realized. The only reason Kyoko, Julie and the inhibitor hadn't been caught up in the crossfire was because Chiori appeared to be blocking any stray spells that were sent their way. That, and neither Naomi or the other accursed seemed to have targeted the inhibitor beyond the initial attack.
A shriek from Naomi made Kanae snap her attention to the woman. Naomi's stared venomously at them, yellow silted eyes dilating dangerously. The sudden hysterical anger made Kanae take an involuntary step back.
"Meddlesome insect!" Naomi snarled. "I have some unfinished business with that woman. Step aside so I can gut her!"
She's talking to Shin. Kanae realized. The reason Noami hadn't gone after the inhibitor was because she was after Kanae!
"Not a chance." Said Shin smiling, though there was no joy in the expression. No doubt he could feel it as well. The darkness staring to swirl around Naomi.
I need to keep her attention away from Kyoko and Julie.
"What, are you a little sore from our last fight?" said Kanae, smirking at the woman. "I bet you're still coughing up sand."
Naomi's mouth opened. A guttering howl issued forth. It expanded, echoing around the entire chamber. Kanae's body seized up at the sound, disobeying her mind as she told it to move. To calm down and prepare.
Nothing could prepare Kanae for what she witnessed next.
Naomi elongated. Her arms, legs and neck; Each one stretched to double their original length. Scales of a poisonous dark green crept up her legs, ending at her thighs. Similar scales covered her arms as well, the material reflecting light on its stone like surface.
"I'll kill you." Hissed Naomi, her head lolling to one side. Cracks extended from the scales on her arm, splitting through her left eye. Blackness swirled in the iris, fixating on a completely stunned Kanae.
Holy Sh*t! Since when could the accursed change forms like that!?
Kanae resumed her stance, swallowing down her thundering heart. She felt Shin's subtle movements beside her as well, ready to fight. The knowledge strengthened Kanae as she worked her jaw to speak. To goad the accursed to focus on them instead of the inhibitor.
Yes, because that worked so well last time.
"How much longer until the inhibitor is charged?" asked Kyoko. Her hand was resting on Chiori's shoulder, channeling her magic to assist in the strength of the barrier. Another black spell bounced off the shield and Chiori bit back a groan of pain, putting weight on her hurt leg to brace the shield.
Julie had both hands on the inhibitor, sweat pouring down her face as she crammed light magic as fast as she could into the device.
"Maybe ten more minutes." She said. "If Rosa hadn't been here, it might have taken an hour with just my magic…"
Another blast blew up the ground beside them. Kyoko flinched, feeling the reverberations in her chest.
As the debris fell, it reveled Kanae and Shin fighting a demented Naomi. The accursed's strangely long limbs were giving Kanae and Shin trouble. The two had only lasted this long because of the other. They'd saved each other half a dozen times in the last thirty seconds.
Thank goodness Kanae decided to trust Shin.
On the other side, she could see Shadow fighting desperately with the other animalistic accursed. He appeared to be doing a little better, constantly darting in and out of the shadows. The accursed was too slow to react with its huge hammer, striking places Shadow had already left. Rosa cried out overhead, fighting with that monstrous dog the accursed had summoned from the darkness.
There was too much going on. Kyoko's head was constantly whipping back and forth, unable to tear her eyes away from the fighting. From her friends.
Kyoko channeled more magic into the barrier, the grip on Chiori's shoulder tightening. This was the only thing she could do. Help protect the inhibitor and pray that her friends would win their fights.
Kuu, Lory, Rosa and Shin.
Kuon repeated these names in his head, troubled. If these were the only people that knew about the second inhibitor, then one of them had to have betrayed them. Rosa couldn't have for obvious reasons. Same for his father. Lory oversaw all of the underground security and information, so if Lory had given the location of the inhibitor away they were as good as dead. Now Shin…
"They must have a better spy network than we anticipated." He heard his dad say with a sigh. "You imply accursed, that one of them has betrayed us. I will not believe your lies."
Kuon smiled, glad his father had also come to the same conclusion. He did not believe one of those men would betray them.
"You're forgetting someone." Said the accursed with an impatient sigh. "How hurtful. No matter. You will learn soon enough."
The accursed raised his staff.
The amethyst flickered, runes and light hovering into existence around it. A small bead of light broke from the others, coming to rest in the air in front of the accursed's chest. It shone faintly, a dark haze drifting outward.
The accursed's head turned to Kuon.
"So you have it."
The accursed blurred.
One moment it was there, and the next, it was gone.
Kuon's hair stood on end. He whipped around, falling backward in his haste to move. He just narrowly avoided being bashed by the accursed staff. The relic pounded into the ground instead, creating a huge crater in the ground. The accursed was smiling again.
"Good! Good!" it called with glee, darting forward with spells dancing around it. Kuon threw up his own shields, desperately blocking this sudden attack. "I was right! You can sense it. So it's not perfect, that's good to know."
The accursed suddenly jumped into the air. Two spells collided against each other just where the accursed had been. Kuu and Dyrus both stood on either side, each with magic trailing from their hands.
The accursed flipped in the air, his wings expanding as he pointed his staff skyward. Hundreds of pulse shots suddenly formed, dotting the ceiling like thousands of stars. How had he managed to make so many at once!
The accursed whipped his staff down, pointing it towards Kuon.
Shoot!
Kuon started running as the hailstorm of shots thundered around him. He dodged, jumped and slashed through the barrage of magic, his shields taking heavy damage. One shot pounded in front of him, making him come to a sudden halt. It was a mistake.
Dozens of shots pounded into Kuon's shield. The magic exploded, pushing Kuon back through the air. He tripped, ignoring the stinging cuts as he rolled out of the fall to stand back up.
The pulse shots had stopped. Kuu and Dyrus had both attacked the accursed, distracting him from Kuon. The prince put a hand to his chest, checking for the vessel.
It wasn't there.
Panic shot through Kuon. He'd had it a second ago. Where had it gone? His eyes searched the ground. There! The lamp was lying among the rubble some yards in front of Kuon. It must have fallen out when he was dodging the spells.
There was a series of small blasts and Kuon's attention returned to the battle. The accursed had knocked back Dyrus and Kuu, the two now bleeding. It turned to Kuon, then its masked face appeared to look farther down. Towards the vessel.
"Is that it then?" said the accursed, its voice laced with eager excitement.
Kuon ran forward. The accursed did the same. Its wings beat furiously into the air, claws reaching for the vessel.
Kuon kept pushing forward, his sword out, spells of destruction swirling around his blade. Right before the accursed reached the vessel, Kuon reached him first. He collided with the accursed, his sword slicing into its wing. The two tumbled through the air, Kuon losing sense of direction. Then something bit hard into his leg.
He was flung again, the world upended before he crashed back into the earth. The pain in his leg doubled, and Kuon cried out. Everything hurt. His body spammed from the agony, squeezing his eyes shut to regain control. To desperately pull himself together.
Something grabbed his arm.
He jerked automatically from the contact.
"Kuon, it's me."
Kuon's eyes shot open. "Lory." He rasped in relief.
The duke had a hand on Kuon's leg, light magic swirling. It seeped into his leg, numbing the pain and healing the wound. This was Lory's specialty. Healing in incredible ways that sometimes seemed to defy even magic.
How was the man even here in the first place?
His attention turned back to the throne room. The accursed stood in the middle of the room, one wing shredded and surrounded by powerful shields. That wasn't the only thing that surrounded him. Five of Lory's elite shadow guards were there as well, each different in appearance, but each emanating a powerfully aura.
Kuon pushed himself to his feet with Lory's help, watching as his father walked to where the vessel had fallen, picking it up and tucking it away inside his robes.
"Who else is working with you?" Said Kuu. "Who told you about the vessel and inhibitor? Who has betrayed us?"
The accursed tilted its head, stretching it to one side and then the other. "That should be obvious Kuu." he said. "I've already given you many hints. No matter. I'm done with this horse play. It's time to even the playing field."
The staff glowed once more, this time dark and sinister.
A wave of darkness swept over the area. It blew through the entire group with apparent ease. Kuon drew a breath, expecting something to change. For the spell to cause some sort of effect. It did nothing to him.
A strange rattling sounded suddenly. It grew, the sound eerie.
"What was that Accursed?" called out Kuu, raising his sword to the monster. A twinge of panic could be seen in Kuu's countenance.
The accursed responded by giving a slight, mocking bow. "I'm doing as you asked earlier." Said the accursed, smiling as if this were a big game. "I'm raising the dead."
Kuon's heart sank. Dozens of footsteps padded towards the room. The entrance was suddenly full of bodies. Dead and broken monsters shuffled in, wounds still bleeding. It was an army of the dead! That… could not be good.
One of the shadow guards barked an order and they suddenly attacked the accursed. They didn't plan on waiting for the monsters to reach them. They would kill the source.
The accursed darted around their strikes, his form blurring as he shot counter spells in his wake.
Kuon and Lory both raced forward to help. They arrived just as the undead did.
The two groups clashed. Kuon was now in the midst of an intense battle. Dozens of monsters pressed on all sides, attacking and fighting without any regards to their own injuries. Magic was everywhere, tearing into both friend and foe as the accursed threw spells at them all with no discrimination for its own allies.
Kuon found himself back to back with a shadow guard, trading shots between them as they battled against a ghoul. Half of the monster's shoulder had been blown away, yet the creature persevered, heedless of the injury. Kuon dodged its ferocious swipes, his sword slicing through the monster's neck. It staggered, then finally fell.
These things just didn't stop! They had a powerful increase in strength, one monster fighting with the ferocity of ten. Kuon's leg was throbbing despite the healing from earlier, other wounds starting to hurt as well. He drew a shaky breath as he wiped blood from his cheek. He turned to throw himself into the next battle when he saw something that made his heart stop.
The accursed was looming over Kuu, his light sword fallen. Its staff come down, pointed directly at the king.
That worked too well. Thought Kanae bitterly. She dodged another flurry of blades, dark smoke trailing through the air. Her feet pounded against the stone, spear held out beside her as she ran in an arc around the accursed. Shin mirrored her movements on the other side, barraging Naomi with different spells. The accused's attention was split, but that didn't stop her twin blades and throwing knives snapping at them, keeping them back.
Kanae skidded to a halt, pushing off suddenly towards Naomi. The monster turned towards her, striking out with her blades. They were thicker, heavy than they had been before, tainted and transformed in the accursed's hands. Kanae's spear came up, batting aside the blade. Another one appeared on the other side, gunning for her shoulder.
Kanae ignored it, pushing forward. A second later, the blade stopped midair. Shin had grabbed the chain, stopping the blade from reaching Kanae. It left Kanae's path clear of any weapons. Naomi was vulnerable.
Kanae thrust he spear towards the accursed. Naomi tried to dodge backward but wasn't fast enough. The spear tore into her side.
Naomi howled in anger, yanking back on her own weapons. Shin stumbled, still holding the chains but Kanae kept pressing forward, not wanting to give up the advantage.
Naomi split.
Her form, body, everything divided straight down the middle. Kanae's spear found open air as the space Naomi had occupied was now vacant, one half of the woman on either side.
What the-!
The bodies rippled. Bubbled. And now two Naomi's stood on either side of Kanae. One was completely black, like a shadow given physical form. The other was the same as before, covered in those sickening scales.
Both Naomi's threw a chained blade at Kanae.
"Die!" They cackled in perfect unison.
Magic flooded through Kanae. She activated her quickest spell, straining her muscles to move past their limits. Move! Her body twisted, spear spinning.
One blade passed her, inches from her chest. The other one…
Kanae's body stiffened for impact.
It didn't come.
Instead someone grunted, metal scraping against metal.
Kanae turned just in time to see Shin lowering his sword. A gash bleed freely down his arm, fresh. He had blocked that attack for her!
"You idiot!" called Kanae, even as they were attacked again, blades appearing from every direction. "Her blades are poisonous. Why'd you let yourself get hit!"
"Sorry, was that attack for you?" said Shin. "My mistake. I'll let you get hit next time."
Liar. Grumbled Kanae, fending off the attacks from the colored Naomi. The two had pinned Shin and Kanae against each other, back to back as they defended themselves.
They needed to end this fight quickly. Now that Shin had been poisoned, it was a matter of time before it over took him. Kanae remembered too well how quickly that poison worked. And how much it hurt. They had minutes at most.
"We need to kill the original." Said Kanae.
"Way ahead of you." Said Shin.
Something exploded behind her. She felt a soft push on her shoulder blade and reacted naturally. She pivoted to face the other side, Shin doing the same. They seamlessly switched places with each other. On the other side, she saw what Shin had done.
The shadow Naomi had been knocked back. She wasn't vulnerable, just temporarily pushed away by the attack. Kanae followed up with her own spell. She swung her spear, a blinding spell flung toward the accursed. She didn't watch to make sure it hit. Doing so would blind her as well. She kept turning.
A satisfying bust of light came from behind her followed by a howl of fury.
Kanae ran after Shin who was gunning for the colored Naomi. He pulled to a sudden stop, slamming a hand to the ground. Runes of light appeared, zigzagging towards Naomi.
The accursed recognized the attack. Her anger increased, a maddening shriek piercing their ears. She jumped forward, chains and magic snapping out towards Shin.
But Kanae wasn't going to let Naomi anywhere near Shin. Not on her watch.
Kanae darted in front of Shin. Her spear danced in her hands, swirling through the air like a hurricane, batting away every attack. Every piece of metal and magic thrown towards Shin. Nothing got past her.
The spell on the ground finished.
Naomi's next step sank through the ground. She was trapped. Stuck in the swirl of sand that had suddenly appeared at her feet.
It suited Shin's personality that he would use that spell to attack Naomi. The one that had done her in the last time Kanae and her fought. It was ironic, touching an especially sore sport with the accursed. The man had a sense of humor, even in battle.
Shin sped past Kanae, darting between the series of attacks. He drew back his light sword and thrust it into Naomi's chest.
Naomi's body stilled, yellow eyes wide as they stared at Shin. Then they dulled, losing their color. Her whole body drained and turned into a murky black. It disappeared a second later like smoke in the wind.
That had been strange. Kanae had never seen someone die like that. Was that how all accursed perished? By turning into smoke?
Shin seemed to be as confused as her. His attention turned back to Kanae, the question on his lips. It changed to surprise.
"Look out!"
His warning came not a moment too soon. Kanae drew up her spear, turning just in time to block the attack.
Naomi was in front of her, pointed canines bared as she snarled. She wasn't covered in blackness, the color fleshing her out completely. Hadn't the copy been behind them? How had Naomi's original body changed position? There wasn't a single mark on her indicating the place Shin had pierced her with his sword.
Kanae didn't have time to think. Naomi was pressing her attack, knives snapping through the air as they struck. Kanae cursed as she felt one of the knives skid across her vambrace, cutting into her upper arm. Great. Now she was poisoned as well.
A spell sliced through the air from her right.
Naomi jumped out of the way, dodging Shin's attack. She stayed back, a malicious smile curving her lips.
"Aww, poor girl, you've been hurt." Said Naomi, a scaled hand covering her mouth as she giggled. "You should probably see a physician for that wound. It looks painful."
Naomi was gloating. She knew she had poisoned them both. It was just a matter of time until she won. This did not look good.
Shin waltz next to Kanae, his face pale.
"Any ideas?" said Kanae.
"I know I got her." Said Shin. "I think… we'll have to kill both copies at once. If one lives, she won't die."
"Great."
Kanae pressed two fingers to her cut, stemming the flow of the blood. They didn't have much time based on Shin's appearance. His eyes had tightened under his dark bangs, body tense. He was already starting to feel the pain.
The thought scared Kanae. Her heart hardened in anger against Naomi.
The accursed's form rippled again, splitting into two. One colored, the other a physical shadow. The two Naomi's drew the blades back, crossing them between the other. Magic started to pool around the blades, growing every second.
Kanae drew up her magic, preparing herself to dodge the blast. As the Naomi's flung the spell, she watched with horror as it didn't go towards Shin and Kanae.
It was flung at the group surrounding the inhibitor.
"It's done." Said Julie suddenly.
"Thank goodness." Said Kyoko, relief flooding through her. Now all Julie had to do was activate the inhibitor and-
A spell blasted into Chiori's shield. Kyoko yelled in fright, the shockwave pushing her and Chiori to the ground.
Their shield flickered, then died.
They were completely exposed.
Kyoko scramble up to resume the shield, but she wasn't fast enough. Another spell crashed into the ceiling, sending a cascade of brick down beside them. The impact shook the ground, Kyoko clinging to the inhibitor to keep herself upright. Magic and air were swirling around her too fast. She couldn't keep up.
A second, louder blast blew dust into her eyes, and she blinked frantically. They focused just in time to see her death approaching. A massive stone had collapsed from the ceiling, mere feet from crushing her.
The shield! She didn't have time to make one.
Something shoved her hard in the stomach.
Kyoko was tumbling, skidding into broken stone until her back thudded into something. She cried out, a current of pain shooting up her spine.
It took her a moment to clear the pain from her head. Light! That had hurt. With sheer determination, Kyoko forced herself up to a sitting position. Her head swam, but she stayed upright.
The platform was covered in rocks. The ceiling had caved in directly on top of where the inhibitor had stood. Adrenaline shot hot thought Kyoko as she examined the destruction.
"Your highness!" she called, "Chiori! Are you guys alright?"
Nothing answered her but the sounds of the battle. She could see past the tall brick to the shadow wolf. The beast was still locked in a heated battle with the phoenix, their magic spraying the area was shadows and light.
Kyoko stood up, wincing as she grabbed her arm. It was bleeding.
"Chiori! Queen Julie! Please!" she called, walking through the mess. This couldn't be happening. They had to be alright. They just had to. "Anyone!"
"Kyo…ko."
The voice was quiet. Kyoko limped as fast as she could to the source, scrambling over rock towards the voice. Her heart sang in relief, then stilled again at what she saw.
"Your highness."
Kyoko nearly fell as she hurried to Julie's side. The woman let out a groan, barely conscious as blood dripped from a head wound. Her lower body was pinned down by a tower of rubble.
"Don't worry, I've got you." Said Kyoko, pressing her hands to Julie's temple. She channeled to assess her condition, checking for any immediate danger. One leg was probably broken, and she couldn't be sure of the severity of the internal bleeding. Either way, Julie needed immediate attention.
Kyoko's hands were surprisingly stable as she yanked supplied from Chiori's bag. As if they knew their purpose. They weren't going to let anything stop them from their goal.
She pressed a cloth to Julies head wound, stanching the bleeding as she wove arcane magic to help.
"Kyoko…" said Julie, her voice distant. "Chiori…"
"I'm sure she's fine." Said Kyoko, shushing the queen. "Don't worry. You'll be fine."
But one of Julie's hands shot out, grabbing the arm that held the cloth. Her eyes were glazed over. Unfocused.
"The inhibitor." She said, her grip tightening. "You have to activate it. Please."
"I need to help you." Said Kyoko firmly, "You're hurt."
"No!" said Julie fervently. "Get to the inhibitor before…"
Julie's grip slackened, and the woman's eyes closed.
"Your highness." Called Kyoko, "Your highness, please wake up!"
Julie didn't stir. She had passed out from the shock and pain.
Kyoko blinked tears of panic from her eyes, looking around frantically. She needed to get Julie out of the rubble or else she could die. Kyoko wasn't strong enough to pull her out and it would take too long to destroy the brick with her magic. She needed help, but everyone was preoccupied with their own fights. She had to do something.
I'll be back. Kyoko silently promised, pushing herself to her feet. She swayed for a moment before clambering through the mess, searching for that familiar white rock. She prayed it was still intact.
She spotted it a second later, laying among the rubble.
Kyoko slid next to the inhibitor, pushing aside a large rock with a grunt. She pressed her hands on the pedestal. The hum of magic was palpable beneath them. Julie's magic was still there. The crystal and everything was intact. She could do this!
Kyoko channeled her magic into the unfamiliar circles.
Shoot!
The thing needed light magic even to activate it.
Kyoko's turned left and right, frantic for a solution. This was her last hope. They had to activate this inhibitor.
An idea hit her and she tore through Chiori's bag, praying it was there.
Ah ha!
Kyoko yanked out a stylus, pressing the long pen on the inhibitors surface. White magic sparked into life as she began to draw the ignition circle.
Something huge and black crashed into the rubble near her. Kyoko yelled in fright, the stylus falling from her hands and slipping through the rocks, never to be seen again. Kyoko clung to the inhibitor, staring at the shadow wolf as it raised itself from the ground beside her.
The monster was coated in inky blackness, slashes of its body gone where it had sustained injury. It snarled in fury as the phoenix descended on it a second later, smoke and fire swirling around her. The two collided, and Kyoko shut her eyes. Too scared to do more than huddle against the humming inhibitor.
"Now Kyoko!"
Kyoko's eyes shot open.
She heard the phoenix's voice as if it were right beside her. Urging her to push forward. To surpass fear and find strength.
Kyoko wobbled upright, urging her body to move despite her fear. Her hesitance. They were counting on her. She had to do this.
Kyoko raised a finger, channeling. Magic cut into the air as it trailed her finger. She worked furiously, her mind remembering each detail from her lesson with Kuon. Each stroke needed to complete the circle. She couldn't afford to mess up. They didn't have time.
The magic was practically dancing from her fingers as she scribbled in the air, adding two, now three fingers working together in sinc. She could feel it starting to come together, almost begging her to finish. To complete the spell.
More spells whizzed past her, one clipping her shoulder. But she didn't flinch. Her eyes were steady, blazing with determination. She would not fall!
The last rune snapped into place and the spell rippled with power.
Kyoko pressed her hand to the circle, channeling her magic into the inhibitor. The spell seized her arcane power allowing her to manipulate the light magic. She flicked the switch.
Light burst from the inhibitor. It washed over Kyoko, leaving her in a daze from the power. It chased away all the darkness and fear. The air felt purified. Cleansed.
She had done it. The inhibitor was active.
Something screamed in pain. Kyoko stood up, realizing it was the shadow wolf. She stared as she watched Rosa take one last dive at the creature. Her beak tore its body in half, and the creature melted away like smoke.
"Die! Die!" the two Naomi's were cackling, flinging spell after spell towards the inhibitor. Brick and motor were starting to fall on the group.
Kanae dived towards Naomi with such speed it bordered on recklessness. She was not going to let this woman kill her friends!
Kanae realized her mistake a second later. Her foot descended on a hidden spell, the runes activating. Kanae threw her arms up to block the spell. She was hurled into the air, magic and rock cutting into her.
From the smoke, Naomi appeared. Both had their blades pulled back as they charged. Kanae channeled through her feet. She flipped, pushing through the air toward the two. They hadn't expected her to charge back, their weapons not fast enough to block the attack.
Kanae's spear sliced through the Naomi on the left, tearing through its stomach. As before, the colored Naomi turned into black smoke and melted away in the air. Color flushed through the previously dark Naomi who immediately split.
Did that spell not have any sort of restrictions or cooldown?!
Kanae flipped in the air again, skidding to a halt on the other side of the Naomi duo.
Explosions suddenly erupted around the accursed, dozens of pulse shots pelting her. Shin was bombarding the two.
One Naomi pulled up their shield as the other knelt. Kanae wasn't sure what Naomi was planning, but she didn't plan on letting them implement whatever it was. Kanae held out a hand, dozens of her own shots forming around her. They added to Shin's barrage, pelting the two in a rain of magic. Dust and rock flew into the air, showering them with rubble. Kanae didn't stop her attack, throwing shot after shot at the accursed.
Naomi darted out from the barrage. It was the shadow one!
The woman drew back her hands, magic forming around her, not focused on Shin or Kanae. The woman was going for the inhibitor again!
Kanae glanced back, her stomach falling at what she saw. Kyoko stood beside the ruined platform next to the inhibitor. A partially completed spell was in front of her, Kyoko's fingers darting out to finish the circle. Her eyes shone out from the dirt and blood, expression more determined than Kanae had ever seen it.
Naomi flung her spells at Kyoko.
And Kanae ran.
She ran for the accursed, spells swirling into existence. They flew, colliding with Naomi's midair. Explosions dotted the air. A few spells managing to pass Kaane's defenses but they didn't hit Kyoko. One grazed her shoulder, but the women kept working on her spell, unfazed.
Kanae reached Naomi.
Right before her spear sliced through the accursed, Naomi disappeared into smoke.
What!
The woman had dismissed the clone herself. That must mean-
Kanae spun around.
Shin was now battling two Naomis. His movements were slow, sluggish as he desperately tried to fend off the attacks. The poison was doing its work. He couldn't keep up with the attacks. Kanae had been tricked to abandon him.
Kanae ran back towards the fight, the blood rushing in her ears. Her visions blurred for a moment. Shoot. She was staring to be effected by the poison as well.
Kanae had to watch, still a few yards away as the colored Naomi descended on Shin, the man on his knees. Kanae roared in anger, catching the attention of the shadow. It threw its blades at Kanae.
Metal tore into her arm and leg, but she ignored their bite. Her attention was on Naomi. On the woman about to kill Shin. Magic swirled around Kanae's spear as she thrust it through the accursed.
The colored Naomi faded to black, her blade falling just inches from Shin. Kanae had managed to save Shin, but now she was completely exposed. The Naomi faded away, rejuvenating the other one. The one whose blade was now inches from Kanae's throat.
Kanae closed her eyes.
Something warm and powerful washed over Kanae. It flooded through her, filling her with a sudden and powerful energy. She took a deep ragged breath, as if surfacing from water as her lungs gulped down pure blissful air. Kanae instantly understood what had happened. The inhibitor had been activated.
As Kanae basked in the sudden wave of light, she heard a shriek of pain from her side.
Naomi's attack had stopped. The accursed had halted, halfway through splitting again. Two upper portions of Naomi now shared one torso, the two women clutching their heads in sudden agony.
This was their chance. Their only chance at beating Naomi.
Kanae forced her arms to move. To swing her spear around and charge it straight through Naomi's head. On her other side, she heard Shin give a yell of frustration as his own sword pieced the other head.
Everything seemed to stop.
Kanae's grip on the spear relaxed, and she tumbled to her knees as she stared up at the accursed. Shin's light blade slowly disappeared, leaving behind the muddled mess from their attack.
Then Naomi fell, bleeding inky black blood.
She did not rise again.
"No!"
Kuon ran for his father. Ran through the bodies of allies and fiends. But even as he ran, he knew he wasn't going to make it. The spell already forming around his hand wouldn't make it on time.
The accursed was going to kill Kuu. It's spells was already formed, already activating inches away from Kuu's face.
Light descended around them.
Kuon gasped, the sudden feeling that washed over him almost making him fall. It felt wonderful and suffocating all at once. Powerful and right. He recognized this feeling and he knew what had happened. Someone had managed to activate the second inhibitor.
Kuon wasn't the only one that felt the effects. The accursed's spell had paused, hesitating from the overwhelming wash of light magic that pierced its twisted soul. Though dazed, Kuon kept moving toward the accursed. It only hesitated for a split second, but that was all he needed.
Magic and light twisted around his blade, renewed by the inhibitor. He swung the sword with all his might, tearing it through the accursed. Flesh and stone tore away from the monster. Its spell misfired, ricocheting off the ground and crashing into the ceiling. The accursed beat it's wings twice as it pushed backward, creating more distance. It clutched it side where cracks and blood was visible through the armor.
Kuon breathed a sigh, nearly falling from relief. That inhibitor had activated just in time. He managed to keep steady, wincing as his head throbbed.
Kuu was on his feet now. "Thank you, son." He said. "That was a little too close for comfort."
Kuon could barely nod, feeling sick. He glanced around the room and noticed that the activity had stopped. The monsters which had been fighting with such ferocity had all fallen. Had the inhibitor stopped the monster's spell as well?
There was a clinking sound, like china shattering as it hit the floor. The accursed had succumbed to its injuries, sinking to its knees. Bits of armor were falling from its body, melting away into nothingness. With each fall of armor, the person beneath was slowly revealed. The wings dissolved as well until the man beneath was exposed, dressed in luxurious robes, the hem decorated in a specific braided pattern. The pattern of an archmage.
With a final crack, the mask split and fell to the ground, revealing the face of Hirotaka Ogata.
Thanks for reading!
So… fight scenes yeah? They are not easy to write, especially in a short time. Oh well. Lots of practice for meeee!
mrs. zala, I wrote down the names of all the characters in this story one day. Needless to say, it was immense, and most of them weren't OCs. Skip Beat has a huge cast! I forget people's names all the time. XD
Updates are on my profile page. See you all next week.
-Blushweaver
Give it up for blushweaver and some awesome action scenes!
-Imouto