Chapter Twelve: I'm Not Done Yet!

"So, let me make sure I understand this correctly. You're saying there's a song that can turn a gem into a half corrupted form of themselves? Isn't that a bit redundant since gem can already shape shift?" I was driving as fast as I could looking for Marco. Unfortunately, it was hard to focus after the disturbing revelation.

"Not if there already corrupted. Even then, a gem can't replicate the effects of corruption simply by changing their forms."

"So then Aventurian and Tiger Eye, as you call them, were already corrupted."

"Yes."

In the distance, we were able to see dust clouds shooting upwards. However, once we arrived on site, it was hard to see clearly through the cloud of dust. Putting the car into park, I got out and used my senses to better get a grasp of what was happening.

First, I hear an eerie song that seemed to be coming from the shape of Obsidian. Behind her was Abi's father and in front was Aventurian, but she looked different. Her arms were holding up these slabs with pointed sides and she had a tail with spins coming down her back. Tiger was scaly and her hair was longer. In front of her were three creed members. One of them was facing of against Tiger—though he looked winded—and the other was holding Marco as he was kneeling on the ground. He was holding his arm rather tightly, but as the dust settled, I realized that he wasn't holding much of anything.

Soon, everyone noticed Abi and I had arrived on the scene, but only Aventurian made a move. She positioned herself to face us and putting herself between us and Obsidian.

"You came. At least now we can stop chasing you." She was speaking only towards Abi.

Thinking she was distracted, I took a chance to flank her to the left. However, she used her shields to project herself in my direction. I dodged backwards just in time, but I still felt the wind as it caught up to her. With Obsidian exposed, Abi move closer for a clear shot with her bow ready with an air arrow. Seeing that, Aventurian used one of her shields to scoop up a chunk of earth and hurtled it at Abi. Abi reacted by shifting her aim and shot at the flying mound turning it mostly to dust. Aventurian swung her raised shield where I was, but I was already moving back towards the car.

Looking over towards Marco's group, they weren't doing any better. The one still standing against Tiger Eye—Michael—stood his ground and was barely keeping the onslaught at bay. Tiger was moving to fast too for him to land a hit on her, and even then his hammer didn't seem to phase the bowling ball of doom.

Aventurian moved back in between us and Obsidian. She wasn't trying to attack us, but her eye where fixed on us. Obsidian was the king piece on the enemies side. Tiger was the spear and Aventurian was the shield, but if the king piece fell, the battle would be won.

Not taking my eyes of the defender, I asked, "Abi, you trust me right?"

She turned to me with a look of confusion. Most likely, she was wondering where the question came from, but she answers regardless. "Yes, more than most. Why?"

"I need you to start hitting Aventurian as much as possible."

There was a pause from her. "Do you have a plan?"

"Yes."

Having no further questions, she began to unleash a torrent of wind arrows. One shot broke into ten shots all hitting various spots on the tank. Aventurian tried to block all of them, but soon learned that none of them were trying to get to Obsidian. I started throwing my knives at her as well. Only three of them hit her.

Nothing seem to affect her. "If this is the best you can do, then you should give. Even if you could beat me, Tiger would make quick work of all of you."

The music around us was louder than the clanks of the blades that hit Aventurian. She was more focused on us than whatever was happening behind her. As for Obsidian, she had her eyes closed and was dancing to her own melody as if nothing could hurt her. Abi's father keep his head down as to not get hit by any debris or projectile that came his way. Abi herself looked towards me wondering when or if the plan was going as I had planned it. Honestly, I was just glad I didn't miss too badly.

"Now the real fun starts." I said to Abi. Inside my coat, I pressed a button that allowed me to activate the shock trigger on multiple knives. The music stopped and was replaced by a scream of pain. Aventurian jumped in such a way that she was now facing Obsidian while also giving us enough room to see the black gem. Obsidian was glitching violently within a shock trap created by the three knives that surrounded her. It didn't take long for her form to give out leaving only her clothing and the flute she was playing on. Her gemstone rested neatly on the nest of her shirt and blue jeans.

For the first time since I've seen her, Aventurian had a look on her face that was nether boredom or disgust. She was mortified at the sight as if I shattered Obsidian.

"What did you—AAAASSSHHHHHH!" Her scream was joined by Tiger with the same frequency that reverberated through my body. "NONONONONO! DON'T LEAVE ME BEHIND!"

At the same time, Tiger screamed, "SHE'S INNOCENT! DON'T TAKE HER!"

Over and over again, they screamed their respected phrases like a broken record. It scared me. It haunted me. Even with my hands over my ears, the sound still found a way to worm into my skull. The shields Aventurian had disappeared as her body shifted into her beast form. Her face was now like a giant and sharp shield and her eyes were nearly invisible. Her hands and feet extended into claws. Tiger was hunched over and she was covered in black and orange scales. Unlike Aventurian, she still had some hair on her head that covered her eyes.

I turned to Abi, but she was on her knees and clutching her head. I couldn't help her then because the corrupted Aventurian turned her attention towards us once again. I needed to get back in focus.

Through the haze of the pain, Marco watched as the orange gem that was once steamrolling over everyone seem to lose control of herself and became fully corrupted. She thrashed about as if she was trying to hold on to her sanity, but it was also fighting against her. Michael was on his knees and was using his hammer as support.

"Alan," Marco said breathlessly, "you're going the have to finish that thing off."

"How?"

"I'll distract it."

"You're insane. You've lost too much—"

"Start charging your attack." Marco left no room for debate. As he began to get up, black dots swarmed his vision. He felt a hand on his back as gravity pulled him backwards.

"Marco!" Alan tried to sit Marco back down, but nothing seemed to stop him.

The orange gem was scratching the ground with its focus on the three creed once again. It curled up into a ball and grinded the ground before it allowed itself to move. Marco didn't wait. He focused on where his powers came from and set them loose to run rampant.

As if the orange gem ran into a solid wall, she uncurled her body almost unintentionally. She bounced and clawed at the ground only stopping inches away from Marco. This human made her feel uneasy. Actually, uneasy didn't even begin to cover the near paralyzing weight locking her in place. It wasn't fear, but a non-existing casing of stone crawling over her.

A numbness began to creep over Marco that started in his belly, then his left arm, and finally it threaten to cover his head. His body was giving out and his focus was fading, but he held fast. From the blur of his vision, he saw the shape of the gem arch downward with Alan on top of it. However, that was the last thing he saw before everything turned white.

The hardest part about fighting Aventurian in this form was the same problem as before. I found(or at least assumed) that her weak spot was behind her shield like head, but she was moving so fast that it would be a pain just to get on her back. There were three knives that still had charge in them scattered on the ground, so my goal was to collect at least one of them so could have a shot.

I went for the closest one to me, but Aventurian was right behind me. I scooped up the knife and dodged left. Like a train, she zoomed passed me and I threw the knife at her. There was clank sound and Aventurian was making her way back to the target she missed. With no time to hate myself for missing a shot, I moved out of the way to get another knife.

With a new knife in hand, I decided to stand my ground. Aventurian didn't stop and I didn't move. It wasn't until she was 5 feet from me that I turned on my heels, feeling the sharp sides of her head on my arm, and then throwing the knife at the back of her neck once had a clear shot. Once again, Aventurian turned but didn't get far as electricity coursed through her and her form poofed into a cloud.

I let myself drop to the ground and began to feel a sharp pain in my right arm. It was bleeding. I looked around, and I noticed that Tiger Eye was nowhere to be seen and Marco was on the ground and unconscious. I got back up to check on my mentor.

I opened my mouth to scream his name, but a light from behind stopped my moment.

No. You can't be serious, I thought to myself as I watched in pain—physically and emotionally—as Obsidian's gemstone recreated her physical form. She was scratching at the ground and, as she got up, she materialized two swords in her hands. The form that she took looked like she was wearing a sports bra and long black pants.

Obsidian looked around the battlefield with glazed eyes. Seeing that Abi was fine seem to calm her, but if her face was any indication, she was far from calm.

She looked towards me; her eyes seemed like an endless pit. "I'll give it to you. Not many could get passed Aventurian's defenses and, while I wasn't around to see it, you or your friends found a way to over power Tiger. I'm…..I'm so disappointed that I can't make you suffer for this." She raised her swords and all I could do was close my eyes. Even if I had all the tools I could carry and I had all my energy back, I wouldn't be fast enough to avoid her.

Maybe if I had the powers of a gem, or maybe if I was stronger, could I have beat her back then? I don't want this to the end, but I guess this is what I signed up for. I'm sorry Abi, but I have to give this one to—

"Obsidian!"

My eyes snapped open to find one of Obsidian's blades lightly touching my neck while the other was deep in the ground. Obsidian's eyes seem to have life in them once again, but now they were wide with fear. She turned to look at the sky and I followed her gaze to find a watermelon pink and green gem floating on a honeycomb patterned platform.

This new gem had long, straight hair that going down the length of her back. Her form made her look like a scientist with a green lab coat instead of a white one.

With a look of dissatisfaction, she continued to talk towards Obsidian. "There is no need for that. Grab the Tiger Eye and Aventurian. I'll get Abigeal." She descended while Obsidian did as instructed.

Abi's father did best to get up, screaming "Stay away from my daughter!" I started to run towards her and Abi—who just recently gained her composure back—readied her bow. The new gem smiled almost genuinely. From her gemstone—located below her left eye—she produced an orb. I didn't get a good look at it before my vision turned white.

Objective 2: Rescue civilian

Complete.

End Result: Heavy Loses