Conquest of the Impure
Karma POV:
Previously:
"I trust you to make a safe return," the king said. Karma smiled at him.
"I usually do," he replied, as he and Blake walked out of the barrier, ready to go retrieve the pure sword and save Indigo.
Present:
Karma held onto Blake, as he propelled them across the ocean. He crossed an assortment of different sea creatures, each one more unique than the last. Karma could have spent hours learning about the different creatures, but he had a mission to complete. Indigo had been taken, and they had no idea what state she was in. He could only hope for the best, and try to save her.
The relative location of the sword had been given to them by the king before they left, and Karma had also talked to wandering sea creatures, to find exactly who he would be going to. On the way, the duo ran into multiple pure monsters, the amount increasing the farther they went. Karma was significantly stronger in the water.
"Karma stop," Blake said suddenly, causing Karma to stop. Blake pointed out a fairly hidden structure underwater, with small pure monsters patrolling the waters around it.
"Bingo," Karma said, willing himself and Blake to a large rock, blocking them from the view of the monsters.
"How do we get in?" Blake asked, peering from around the rock. Blake had transformed his body to have flippers, but Karma could move much faster than him, so he let Karma move both of them around. Karma peered around as well.
"It would be easier to kill them all at once," Karma deduced. Blake nodded his head.
"You can manipulate water right? Can't you do some hocus pocus with the water around them to defeat them?" Blake asked, waving his hands around as he said hocus pocus. Karma thought for a moment.
"I could but…. it would take a lot of concentration," Karma decided. "I would need all of the enemies to be close together though". Blake grinned.
"I will volunteer myself to be the bait," Blake said. Karma smiled.
"If you can get them all clustered together, I could probably make a vortex that sucks them in, and rips them to shreds," Karma told him. Blake started to leave before Karma held him back.
"Try not to die," Karma said. Blake nodded and swam to the structure.
Blake POV:
Blake used his flippers to move across the ocean, swimming past rocks and other creatures, He made his way to the structure, and was disgusted at the sight. There were carcasses of dead sea creatures on the seafloor, the wound glowing bright green light, that seemed to be spreading to the rest of the body. 'Purify huh?' Blake thought to himself. He readied his string. He might be bait, but that doesn't mean he can't take out some of the creatures himself.
He prepared himself mentally. '3…..2…..1…..Now!' he thought to himself, as he rushed out into the crowd. The monsters noticed him instantly, growling things like "impure" and "must purify'' before chasing after him. Blake was barely faster than him, narrowly avoiding attacks from the creatures. A big horde of them started to collect behind him, and Blake was really hoping Karma could pull off his attack soon.
Blake looked behind him, piercing single creatures from the horde. He struck one more before a different monster grabbed onto the string. 'Uh oh,' Blake thought. The rest of the horde started to grab onto the string. They started to pull him back, and Blake was struggling to cut the cord, having to focus on swimming, and dodging other creatures at the same time.
Blake was moving as fast as he could, and the monsters were starting to gain until the horde started to slow down. 'Huh' wondered Blake. He looked back to see the water behind the horde start to spin, becoming faster and faster, The pull of the vortex became greater and greater, slowing down the pure, until stopping them completely, and then pulling them back. The pull to the vortex made all of the other monsters get sucked into the vortex, but Blake realized that he couldn't feel the pull at all. 'Guess it's nice to have someone who can manipulate the ocean on your side' thought Blake.
The monsters were pulled into the vortex, being ripped to shreds on contact by the sheer power of the spin. Blake watched as the monsters guarding the structure were decimated. After the creatures were killed, the vortex dispersed, and Karma came rocketing to Blake.
"Good job Blake," he said.
"You too," Blake told him.
"Why don't we go inside?" Karma asked, motioning to Blake the entrance.
"Let's go get a sword, and a princess," Blake said.
Karma POV:
Karma and Blake swam into the opening in the structure. Karma's sword out of its sheath, and Blake's string wrapped around his hand. Karma looked at the walls. 'These are similar to the ruins that I used to leave earth' thought Karma. He still had no idea about the ruins he had found that transported him to Willow's Valley, but that was a mystery for another time. He had other priorities. The occasional pure monster was met with a sword, or string lance, to the face.
The structure, which Blake dubbed the hive, had winding passageways, with many empty rooms. Karma was getting frustrated. Where was the sword? He had seen enough of the pure monsters to last him a lifetime or two. After a while of searching, they heard a voice.
"Purity," the female voice said. Karma looked up.
"Indigo," Karma said, before grabbing Blake and moving them across the hive, following the faint voice.
"Must be pure," Indigo said again, signaling the way to reach her.
"We are almost there, Indigo!" Karma screamed at her, hoping for her to know that they were almost there.
The duo rocketed past all the twists and turns of the hive until they found the main entrance.
"She should be in here," Blake deduced. Karma nodded. Karma held onto his sword tighter, as they entered the room.
Right in the middle of the room, it laid. The sword. Light beamed down onto it as it glowed, and multiple pure beings surrounded it, ones of all shapes and sizes. In the middle of all of them stood Indigo. Her back was two the duo, and the creatures around her were chanting.
"Purify, purify, purify the impure," the creatures chanted in with their growly voices. Indigo continued to step closer to the sword.
"Indigo!" Karma shouted. Stepping toward her. Indigo started to slowly turn around. All of the creatures turned to face him. Indigo fully turned around, and Karma gasped. Indigo's eyes were glowing bright light, and she seemed to be in a trance.
"I don't know what the sword is doing, but it definitely isn't good," Blake commented. Karma nodded. He held his sword, and the water began to swirl around it before a vortex covered the blade.
"Are you ready?" Karma asked.
"I guess so," Blake replied, forming two lances made of string.
Karma zoomed toward the horde, sword in hand. The pure roared and charged at him. Karma weave past them, slicing them in the gut. He headed to Indigo, only to be launched into the wall by a punch to the side by another creature. He slammed into the wall, rubble flying everywhere.
He got out of his dent on the wall.
"You want to play like that huh? Let's play!" Karma yelled, charging once again. He slashed past his enemies and continued to try to get closer to the princess, only to be blocked by another bigger monster. Karma was getting tired of the repetitive attacking. Blake wasn't doing any better, fighting off his own enemies. Indigo continued to get closer to the sword, now reaching out toward it. The sword began to glow brighter.
"Blake, I don't think it will be good if Indigo touches the sword, and it doesn't seem like she can hear us!" Karma shouted to Blake as he sliced through enemies.
"I know that!" Blake screamed back. Indigo's hand reached the sword, and on contact, she screamed. The arm that touched the sword started to glow a light-green, and it began to spread across her body. Karma continued to slash at enemies, helpless to the transformation that Indigo was undergoing. When Indigo was completely enveloped in the glow, she pulled the sword out of the rock it was stuck in.
"Indigo?" Karma asked hopefully. Indigo turned to Karma, her glowing eyes bearing into his.
"Blake, take care of the rest of the pure, I have a feeling that Indigo's transformation isn't a good one," Karma told Blake. Karma was right in his deduction, because as soon as he finished his sentence, Indigo launched herself at him, sword in hand. Karma formed a shield just in time, but the impact launched him through the wall of the hive, putting him into a different room.
"When you're done cleaning up the pure, come and help me!" Karma yelled, raising up his sword into an attacking position.
Karma didn't get to hear Blake's response, as Indigo launched herself at him again. Karma did not hesitate to attack back. The two traded blows. Karma's advantage in the water did not help, seeing as Indigo was born on an ocean planet, and was being enhanced by the sword.
"Never thought I would see the day where I have to fight the sword I am trying to retrieve," Karma said aloud. Indigo did not respond. Instead, she backed off, before raising the sword into the air.
The water around it began to glow green, and swirl around the sword. Soon a light green aura surrounded the sword. She pointed the sword at Karma, and the light-green water shot out of the sword in different locations, all aiming at Karma.
Karma ducked and weaved past the projectiles, shooting some steam bullets to stop some of the attacks. Indigo continued to fire at Karma to no avail. Karma got close to Indigo, but before he could attack, she formed a shield. The shield blocked Karma's attack, sending him backward. 'I need to think of a way to knock her out of the sword's control' Karma thought to himself.
Indigo zoomed up to Karma catching him off guard, and they started to trade blows again. They were at a stalemate, and Blake didn't seem to be coming anytime soon
"Why are you giving me so much trouble Mr. Sword?" Karma asked. Indigo didn't answer, but the water started to purify again. It started to reach farther and farther, starting to form a shape. When she was done, the purified water formed a creature with multiple tentacles and a teeth-filled mouth.
'I'm getting flashbacks," Karma muttered to himself. Karma looked up. No ceiling to collapse on it, and he didn't want to risk burying Indigo.
The purified monster launched its tentacles at him, and Karma swam around them, slicing them as he did so. He continued to try to get closer, but a tentacle intercepted him, grabbing him tightly.
Karma struggled, but couldn't get out of its grasp. The spot the tentacle was touching began to purify, and it was spreading across his body. Karma was helpless. Just as soon as he was about to be fully purified, a figure burst through the hive. It was a wolf-like beast that had flippers and a fin. The monster looked up at Karma and started to swim toward him. Karma closed his eyes and was surprised when the monster cut off the part of the tentacle that was holding Karma.
'Blake' Karma realized. Blake looked toward Indigo and growled.
"Let's do this," Karma said. The pair rushed toward Indigo, slashing and clawing at tentacles that attacked them. They got closer to Indigo and clawed open the monster. Blake summoned his string and pulled Indigo out of the husk. The monster started to disappear, and Indigo launched herself at Karma, sword in hand.
Karma parried her attack, making the weapon fly out of her hand. Indigo laid lifeless, the purity starting to dissipate. Karma reached up, but before he could grab the sword, he heard the collective growls of the pure, swimming to the trio.
Blake turned back into his original form.
"I'll hold off the pure. Grab the sword so we can get out of here," Blake told him. Karma nodded and grabbed the sword.
"Purity," a voice said, and Karma's consciousness was sucked out of his body. He looked around and saw glowing white walls. 'Where am I' Karma wondered.
"You are in your mind," a voice said, causing Karma to jump back.
He was surprised to see himself, only with bright glowing green eyes.
"Ummmm, hello?" Karma said. The glowing Karma chuckled.
"What are we doing here?" Karma asked.
"Well, you want to wield the pure sword correct? Well first we must purify you, we can't have someone impure wield this sword," Glokarma said. An image appeared of the scene on the beach. It was the moment Annabeth told him he wasn't needed.
"We can't have impure feelings such as sadness and grief, so let's get rid of that," Glokarma said and raised his hand to the image. It began to flicker. The image soon broke. Another image appeared in its place, this one of his mother telling him to leave. Glokarma held out his hand once again, and the image began to flicker. It broke once again. Karma looked down. His feet were slowly purifying, and it was quickly spreading. Another image showed up, one of the times he tried to kill himself. Glokarma reached out his hand, and before he could break the image, Karma slapped his hand away.
Glokarma looked at him.
"What are you doing, I am trying to purify you. To make you the best you could be," Glokarma questioned. Karma grimaced.
"Those emotions might not be the best, but they are needed to make me who I am," Karma said. Glokarma shook his head disappointed.
"Do you not want to become the host of the sword of purity?" Glokarma asked. Karma shook his head.
"This sword is going to accept me whether it wants to or not". And with that, Karma was transported out of the white room.
Karma slowly opened his eyes, to see he was being pulled along by Blake, who was also carrying the unconscious body of Indigo.
"Oh great you're awake," Blake said panting. Karma noticed that Blake was quickly moving away from something, and looked back to see what. What he didn't expect was to see a huge pure monster, made up of many individual pure creatures. The monster roared and continued to chase after the three.
"It would be awesome if you could do something about that," Blake said.
Karma looked at the pure sword in his hand, and cut himself off of Blake.
"What are you doing!" Blake screamed at him. Karma ignored him. He held out the sword of purity, causing the monster to roar in rage. Karma closed his eyes, his face knit in concentration. It didn't matter that he wasn't completely pure. Being both pure and impure made up who he was, and he wasn't going to let a sword take that from him. 'Stop being a stubborn sword' Karma thought to himself.
He could feel himself tapping into the power of the sword. 'Wow,' Karma thought, 'I'm going to have to get used to this'. Karma opened his eyes, which were now glowing bright green. He held his sword back, and the water behind it began to purify, as it swirled around it. Karma smirked.
"You want your sword!? Come get it!" Karma screamed and zoomed toward the monster. He held his sword up, and the water around it formed a blade made of pure water, that was exponentially bigger than the actual blade.
"Take this!" he screamed and brought his blade down onto the beast.
The monster tried to evade but to no avail. It was cut down its center, completely cutting it in half. The monster started to disintegrate, no longer being controlled by the sword. Karma looked back at Blake, whose mouth was hanging open.
"That is one epic sword,' Blake exclaimed. Karma nodded, sheathing the blade where his old sword used to lay.
"Did you grab any other treasure?" Karma asked. Blake grinned, showing him a string bag.
"You know it, I gathered it before I came to help you," Blake told him. Karma's smile left his face.
"Seriously?" Karma asked. Blake looked like he was going to agree, before looking at Karma's face, and wisely not saying anything.
"We should probably get back," Blake suggested. Karma nodded, and the two began to swim back to the castle, with news of their success.
Analele POV:
Analele was waiting with Crystal at the front gate. Her dad and mom had to go take care of business and unwillingly left the entrance. Analele knew that the two heroes were strong, but she was still scared that something would happen to her baby sister.
That is why she was ecstatic when she noticed Karma and Blake heading toward the entrance, Indigo in hand. Analele shook her younger sister awake and rushed toward the entrance to open it. Analele opened the doors, and Karna and Blake walked in.
"One princess to go," Karma said, as Blake handed Analele Indigo. Analele looked to Crystal.
"Tell mother and father that they have arrived back," Analele told her sister. Crystal nodded and rushed out of the room. Analele put Indigo down on a makeshift bed.
"Were you successful?" Analele asked. Karma smiled and unsheathed his sword, showing the purity sword. It was a white sword, with carved symbols that were colored black. The sword was beautiful and seemed to be glowing.
"Karma already used it, it's insane," Blake said.
Karma smiled, just as the king and queen walked to them.
"You have come back, it seems you were successful," the king said, looking at the sword in Karma's hand. Karma nodded, before sheathing the sword.
"Let us talk somewhere else, to the main hall," the king declared.
Karma POV:
Everyone sat down in the main hall, minus Indigo who was resting in the infirmary.
"What happened?" questioned the king. Karma began to retell the story of what occurred, and how they saved Indigo and retrieved the sword. After he finished King Blosphomes let out a hearty laugh.
"What an adventurous story," Blosphomes said. He stood up.
"I think we should discuss everything else tomorrow, I for one am tired from stressing out all day," the king said.
At his words, everyone began to get up and leave. As Karma and Blake got up, the queen got up, which surprised Karma. He had barely spoken to her.
"Thank you Karma and Blake, for bringing my baby girl back," the queen said. Karma nodded.
"It was no problem mam," he told her.
After the queen left, Karma and Blake walked to their room and fell asleep for the night.
Karma POV:
The next few days were great, as Karma and Blake lazed around, counted the treasure, and tested out the purity sword. The king wanted a statue to be made in their honor, and the duo got the message that it was going to happen whether they liked it or not. Indigo had given them enough thank yous to fill up the entire universe the day she woke up.
The citizens considered them heroes, and as Blake basked in it, Karma preferred to stay on the sidelines. As days went on, the deadline of the departure crept closer. Karma and Blake knew they would soon have to separate, so they enjoyed the time they had while it lasted.
The day had finally come, and the royal family, as well as the citizens of Aquelious all, stood by, as their heroes departed. Karma looked at the statue in the background of him raising the sword of purity up into the air, with Blake alongside him, having a bag of treasures resting on his shoulder.
"You look way cooler on the statue," Blake exclaimed grumpily. Karma stifled a laugh.
"I guess this is it then," Karma said, starting the hard conversation. Blake smiled sadly.
"I guess it is," he replied, and the two stood in silence for a little. Blake reached back into his string bag and grabbed a sheet of paper. Karma looked at him curiously.
"I know you're looking for the sword of impurity, these are some places that might be its location, or at least have people that know about it," Blake clarified. Karma smiled and grabbed the paper.
"Thanks, Blake," Karma told him. Blake nodded his head.
"This won't be the last time I see you, we will see each other again, I know it," Blake said suddenly. He tapped his head.
"Fate and all that". Karma nodded grinning.
"Until then," he said, holding out his hand.
"Until then," Blake repeated, and the two shook hands.
Blake went onto the space train that was about to leave, and Karma walked to the entrance of the barrier, waving bye to his friend. He opened the barrier when Indigo walked up to him.
"Where are you going?" Indigo asked.
"I'm going to use my own form of transportation," he told her. She just nodded.
"Thank you again, for helping us out," Indigo said. Karma smiled.
"No problem he said," he said, as he walked out of the barrier, and into the ocean. He looked at the paper Blake had given him and remembered one of the places from when he looked at the train station. 'Guess I'll head there first' Karma thought to himself and closed his eyes to use Planetary Vapor Travel. 'New adventure here I come' he thought to himself, as he converted himself to water vapor, and traveled to his new location.
Thaila POV:
Thaila was worried and for good reason. The monsters the hunt had been chasing lately had been getting stronger and had a white aura around them. If that wasn't a bad sign she didn't know what was.
She talked to her cousin Nico, and he had told her that more and more deaths had begun to rack up. That just worried her further. She had spoken to some of the immortal campers, mainly Annabeth, Jameson, and the rest of the seven. They were living life fairly normally, with Annabeth's marriage coming up soon.
Thaila was happy for her, even if she would be happier if Annabeth had sworn eternal maidenhood, but only could only dream. Percy was still a sore spot for Thaila. It had been seven years since he had left, and Thaila was still mad. How could her cousin do all of those terrible things, and more things came up in the woodworks after he left, of people too afraid to say anything, all the way up to him torturing, and almost killing somebody. Thaila was disgusted.
She was happy Annabeth was with someone she loved, even though she didn't always seem the happiest, it was probably just because of the bad memories Percy had left.
"Thaila!" she heard a hunter calling for her, and Thaila started to head in her direction. She could think about the monsters and Annabeth, and Percy another time, right now it was time to hunt.
(Hooray, we have finished the Sword of Purity Arc, few. We also just got into the teens of chapters, so I guess yay? As is routine, thank you for reading chapter 13 of A New Light. Lets us see what up next for our hero Karma in chapter 14, Killer Whale.)
