Chapter 5 Anaconda and Python
Ricco wandered down the long halls of the castle and let out a loud sigh. "Man this is just the worst. Not only do I have to search for our newest team member but I haven't even run into any dark mages to occupy myself with. And if that wasn't bad enough I'm pretty sure I'm lost now. Who even needs a base this big anyways? Stupid overcompensating dark guilds."
Little did Ricco know one of the dark guild members was walking down a nearby hall with very similar thoughts. "Oyoi what a day this is been." Moray grumbled. "First the power goes out and then we get invaded by a bunch of kids. Not exactly the way I wanted to spend my day."
"I wish that something would happen already." As the two said that they both turned a corner to face each other.
"Fuck you world." Ricco deadpanned.
"Oyoi." Moray grumbled. "So you are the guys that have been causing trouble huh? No offense but you don't look like much."
"No offense taken." Ricco reassured. "But I have to ask where is everybody? Usually there are dark mages littered all over the place picking fights and failing to take names."
Moray shook his head. "We're a bit different most of our members are people who have been screwed over by the government. The magic council specifically this guild is the biggest middle finger we can give them."
"Ha!" Ricco laughed. "I hear you there! Trust me the council isn't exactly on our favorite people list either."
"Oyoi Man this is such a shame." Moray sighed.
"What's a shame?" Ricco asked.
"You seem like a good guy. I'd like nothing more then to play some darts or cards with you. Maybe we could of been great friends but..." "Maskinelle Bølger" A sudden force crashed into Ricco and sent him flying backwards.
"What the hell was that for?!" Ricco asked.
"You heard the alarm didn't you?" Moray asked.
"It'd be hard not to." Ricco answered. "But what's that have to do with anything?"
"That alarm signifies the defeat of one of our guilds four heads." Moray clarified. "Two alarms means that two of my friends have been defeated. I'd rather not fight but what kind of friend would I be if I sat back while my buddies are being taken out?"
Ricco smirked. "A pretty crummy friend I'd say. I understand that this is a bit of a misunderstanding but well..." Ricco pulled his bow off his back and loaded an arrow "I'd be pretty crummy of me to let you walk all over me while my buddies are fighting back."
Roku grit his teeth as he meditated on the castle's roof. "That's two." He gruffed. "Two of my friends taken out by those kids." Roku stood up and glared at the black shadow that had been circling the castle for the past hour. "Thunder Blade Style" Roku raised his sword into the sky and fired a bolt of lightning straight upwards.
From high in the sky Pete frowned. "It looks like I've been spotted. Might as well go down and see what he wants." The giant shadow bird swooped down onto the castle roof. "Alright you've caught my attention."
Roku sat on the ground cross legged. "So far two of my comrades have fallen before your men. If they are still alive or not is unknown."
"We aren't killers dark mage." Pete said hatefully. "Your comrades are merely unconscious."
Roku nodded "I would ask that we resolve this peacefully but... your stance shows me that you are unwilling to listen."
"Resolve this peacefully?" Pete asked. "Don't make me laugh. You dark mages will have to try a bit harder then that if you want to fool me."
"It appears we'll have to settle this through battle. My name is Roku Mūnshūto of the Serpens Fang guild. My father was Situ Mūnshūto a great warrior who led my great clan through many battles. My grandfather and his father were also glorious men who brought honor to our family."
"Shadow Hawks" Roku jumped to the side as hawks flew out of Pete's shadow and towards his location. "Honor?" Pete asked. "What would a dark mage know about honor?"
"Blue Arrow Current" Ricco shot the arrow at the floor and water started bursting out of the ground with a current strong enough to dislocate some of the pillars keeping the ceiling up.
"Vandbølger" Before the current could reach Moray powerful waves rushed out from all around him and pushed back agianst Ricco's current.
"What kind of magic is he using?" Ricco asked himself. "The way he pushed me away I had guessed it was gravity magic, but now he's utilizing water as well?"
"Oyoi My Wave magic allows me to do incredible things." Moray said having overheard Ricco "With it I can warp the laws of physics to fit my needs. Of course there's a limit on what I can and cannot do but... well how about I just give you an example." "P Bølger" Moray fazed through the stone floor."
"What in the world..." Ricco muttered.
"Lydbølger" "Quite impressive isn't it?" Moray's voice bounced around the hallway giving no indication of Moray's actual location.
"Yeah it's a neat party trick but I don't see how your going to beat me with it." Ricco commented.
"OH IS THAT SO?"
"Ah!" Ricco held his ears as Moray's voice was suddenly twelve times louder then it was before. While Ricco was distracted Moray fazed out of the ground and kicked Ricco away.
"Still think these are parlor tricks?" Moray asked.
"Definitely not." Ricco grumbled. He then smirked. "But it can't hold a candle to this!" "Yellow Arrow Bolt" a bright yellow colored Arrow was gored from Ricco's bow and dissolved into singular bolt of lightning.
"Elektrisk Bølge" "Nice try" the bolt collided with Moray but it was absorbed into him instead of electrocuting him it was absorbed into his body. "But with my electrical waves I can turn my body into a current. Thunder doesn't affect me and not only that..." "Maskinelle Bølger" Ricco leaped ou of the way as a small lightning bolt came flying towards him. "Using my Mechanical waves I can force some of this stored energy towards you."
Ricco grit his teeth. "He's got a counter for every situation." He muttered. "Looks like I'll have to use my winning strategy..." "Red Arrow Magma" "Keep trying until you find something that works!"
Ricco's arrow hit the ground and lava erupted from out of that spot. "Oyoi." Moray sighed "With that mentality this fight could last a while." "Magnetiske Bølger" Moray jumped into the air and stood upside down on the metal ceiling. "I'd suggest giving up now." Moray said off handedly "With my magnetic waves I can stick to this metal ceiling making your lava floor a non-issue."
"Magnetic Huh..." Ricco thought before adopting a sleek grin. "Sorry buddy but this battle is mine." Ricco loaded three regular arrows into his bow and fired them at Moray."
"What no spell this time?" Moray asked. "Fine then I'll just step out of the way." But to his surprise the arrow changed it's course to lodge itself into Moray's shoulder with the other two arrows barreling into his legs soon after. "How the hell..."
"You made yourself a magnet." Ricco said bluntly. "I have metal arrowheads I'm sure you can figure out the rest for yourself."
"Damn it..." Moray said with grit teeth. "Looks like I lost this fight..."
"Sure did." Ricco smirked. "Green Arrow Gust" A massive gust of wind was shot out of Ricco's bow and knocked Moray through the castle wall and onto a large field knocking him out. "A group of people screwed over by the government come together to form a dark guild as a way to stick it to the man." Ricco shook his head. "If only Pete didn't see the world in black and white. Then maybe we could have played that round of darts."
"BWAHHHHH!"
"God damn it!" Ricco said startled. "I completely forgot about that alarm."
"So that's where that sound is coming from." Marco said in relief as he noticed the lights on the door behind him. "Well that's one mystery solved but... what is this door even for?"
"Well?" Pete asked. "You haven't answered my question."
"Eight men have fallen before me." Roku continued with his introduction completely ignoring Pete's question "Each of them were impressive fighters. Yin shu gin being my most recent and most challenging battle. We fought for two hours and upon defeat he commuted seppuku so he could die with honor."
"Honorable death." Pete scoffed. "You can't die with honor. When you die it's with shame that you were too weak to protect yourself or the ones you love. Suicide is to run away from your shame or problems. You can't die with honor I learned that a long time ago." Pete muttered his last sentence hatefully.
"I must disagree with you." Roku said. "To die in battle is the most honorable of deaths and most samurai would rather be killed then caught by the enemy."
Pete glared at Roku. "I don't know why I'm wasting my breath. Why should I care about your opinion anyway? You're a dark mage, evil by definition. Which is why we came here in the first place to end such evils." "Shadow Swarm" Millions of tiny insects came out of Pete's shadow and started to violently circle Roku.
"It appears your mind is set." Roku said. "And my loyalties are firm. I can promise you nothing more then a swift defeat." "Flame Sword Style" Roku's blade was surrounded by raging flames instantly vaporizing the pests.
"Shadow Lantern" Pete's shadow extended outward creating a dome of pure darkness.
"Luminary Sword Style" "What kind of fool does this mage take me for?" Roku asked. He slashed behind him and a beam of light shot out of the blade to cleave a looming angular fish in half.
"Well honestly I'd say your pretty foolish." Out of the shadows Pete punched Roku as hard as he could sending him flying backwards. "Although I have to say dark mage your quite a bit smarter then I expected."
"I gave you my name for a reason." Roku said firmly. "I must insist that you use it."
Pete shook his head "I don't see why it matters but I'll fulfill your request... Roku." "Shadow Siren" "It's not like I'll need to use your name for long anyways." A beautiful women with a fish tail leaped out of Pete's shadow and into the koi pond.
A beautiful voice then filled the garden "An nathair uisce agus na tonnta a oscailt suas. Stailcigh bualadh ar an bhfiacha an rud a chuireann tú agus tú ag cuardach laethanta níos gile." It sang. The water in the pond rippled and Roku prepared himself as the voice spoke agian in English this time "Open up the serpent's maw the serpent of water and waves. Strike the foe reap what you sow and search for brighter days." True to the song the water in the koi pond morphed into a serpent made of water.
"Thunder Blade Style" But using his blade Roku decapitated the water monster and the siren controlling it. "Your magic is flashy but ineffective." Roku noted.
"I prefer using the word distracting." Pete stated. "Shadow Rhino" Roku was knocked forward by a sudden force behind him.
"Damn it I let my guard down." Roku cursed.
Pete raised his hand high in the air "Shadow Hawks" From out of the shadows hawks flew into the sky and dive bombed towards Roku and slammed into his chest. "Do you admit defeat?" Pete asked.
Roku grit his teeth and pounded on the ground. "I'll nev-"
"BWAHHHH"
Roku dropped his blade and his eyes went wide. "Those fools..." he muttered. "I don't have time for this!" Roku quickly grabbed his sword and rushed for the edge of the castle's roof "Criminals can't have honor? That's what you said right? Then answer me this why would a dishonorable man accept defeat for the sake of his comrades?" Then he jumped off the side.
"BWAHHHH"
Pete clenched his fists. "I won't be fooled by your tricks dark mage. I've dealt with your kind far to much to be bested by you now."
Sesor's crew gasped as they heard the fourth alarm go off. "No way!" Guana/Red said. "They beat all four heads?! Even Sensei Roku and Mister Moray?"
"It's not all that surprising." Rauna/Yellow grumbled. "They beat the captain pretty easily."
"Speaking of the captain..." said Tauna/Green. "Can you idiots get over here and help me the captain isn't light you know!"
Rauna and Guana rolled their eyes "Whatever you say sis."
"Did you have any luck finding Marco?" Ricco asked.
"Sadly no." Sakura sighed. "This castle isn't that big so I don't know how we haven't found him yet."
"Wait what's going on?" Yoro asked as he rounded a corner. "Did you guys lose track of him already?"
"...why are you all wet?" Sakura asked.
"There was a boat..." Yoro muttered.
"But were in a castle." Ricco pointed out.
"Look it's better if you just don't think to hard about some things." Yoro insisted.
Marco sat cross legged watching the metal door in the middle of the hallway.
"BWAHHHH."
The red light on the door and to life and it slowly began to open. "Oh thank goodness." Marco sighed "Now I can finally figure out what's so important about this door."
Behind the door was a large room. It was completly empty except for a few chairs and couches facing the wall and a large throne in the back of the room. Sitting in the chair was Viper Serpens Fang's Guild Master.
"It looks like you've managed to defeat my elite mages." Viper noted. "That's pretty impressive but... now you have to fight me Viper."
Marco sighed as he left the room. "Aw man what a disappointment."
Viper blinked in confusion. "Huh...?"
"I mean no offense man but for how grand and suspenseful that door was I was expecting something a bit more then a guy in a room. Like maybe you'd have a giant world ending magic spell in here, or a slumbering demon, or even a vengeful ghost of your ancestors."
"Oh..." Viper sulked. "I guess that makes sense. I'm sorry I didn't meet your expectations."
"Ah wait..." Marco realized. "If you're the guild master then you're a dark mage right?"
"Yeah that's how this works." Viper confirmed.
Marco tilted his head. "No offense but you're really not what I imagined."
"You really know how to insult a person don't you..." Viper sighed.