Wheels of Fate, BoF II novelization.
Summary: Novelization of Breath of Fire II: Shimei no Ko (The Destined Child). Some events altered. Strong language will be in play.
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters; they belong to Capcom, as the game does. I own nothing, hear ye, lawyers. But that doesn't gets you the permission to publish this as a book without the proper written and legally signed consent of whoever holds the copyright.
Chapter 06: The real show unfolds.
It was noon, two days after the battle. The woran girl known as Lin was pacing around in a room at one of the Inns in Colossea, her slight cut non-existent now since Rand had tended to her wounds. In a bed was resting Ryu, who she knew as Bunyan. He was breathing steadily, as the antidotes had prevented a severe intoxication that would have caused his death. The large shell-clan member Rand, who was sitting indian-style on the floor, spoke in his deep voice.
"Miss Lin, please be calm. He will wake up. The doctor Kay herself came to see him and she said that he is just expelling the strong poison from his body."
She looked at him anxiously. "But he has been like this for two days, Master Randall... I'm worried for him. He saved my life, Damn it!"
"Well... I had to negotiate with the lady, and also a priest of St. Eva helped me to get the antidotes; so I have to get some credit as well, right?" Rand smiled at her. "Just call me Rand, please."
"Seriously?" Lin looked at him. "Then you can call me Katt. My full name is Katt-Lin Chuang, but I use only the last part for tournaments and all of that."
"I see." Rand smiled again.
"Well, since you helped him as well... and I did hit you rather hard back at the Arena... let me apologize." Katt jumped towards him, and hugged him. "I'm sorry for being so rough to you." she whispered in his ear, and planted a kiss on his cheek.
"Heh! Your fans would kill for getting this kind of reward." Rand smiled impishly.
"My!" Katt giggled. "Are you a fan of me as well?"
"Well..." Rand blushed a bit. "Not like those crazed ones, but I admire your skill and fighting spirit." 'Not to mention your petite and lithe beautiful body... well.. but it's me who is the big one, so every girl is little to me.'
Katt seemed flustered. "Th-Thanks. I don't really think much of that... I like fighting; it makes me feel alive..."
"But out there in the arena..." Rand spoke, more seriously, patting Katt on her head as if she really were a kitten; it made her purr in delight, "For a moment it seemed like you had met your match."
Katt looked at the sleeping man. "Yes... he... unnerved me... and no one has been ever able to do that. Never had been defeated by someone who was not of my clan. And boy... he hits harder than a demolition team."
Rand grinned. "That's me."
"Yeah, don't wanna mess with you big guy." she pinched his ear playfully.
"Don't start, or I'm going to use my secret technique..." Rand still was grinning.
She looked at him curiously, ears and tail twitching. "And what would be that?"
"You asked for it, so don't complain, missy. Finger Arts!" Rand smiled impishly, again. "Secret Tickling Technique!" Then he started tickling the hell out of Katt.
Katt couldn't stop laughing and rolling trying to avoid the tickles. Between her laughter she was replying at him. "That... is.... cheating! Stop... it... you… big... oaf!"
After a while when Katt was too tired to properly hit him, Rand placed her in another bed. "Now be a little good kitty and stay quiet." sat in the indian-way and smirked.
She punched him weakly, and glared at him. "Don't call me like that ever!" then she smiled.
He mocked being hurt. In reality she still hit hard, but not enough to truly hurt him. 'Ferocious as a Bilbull, indeed.'
Another voice spoke, one that Rand knew well. "Do I interrupt something?"
"No, you don't Father Ray. Please come in." Rand said, looking towards the door with a smile.
Ray Braddock entered and went towards Katt. "How does this lady fares?" And placed a hand on her forehead while muttering a prayer.
Katt looked now at the blond priest before her and smiled. 'My... two hunks in a short time. The Tigress must really be smiling on me. Big Guy? Gentle and nice, but too big for me. Well... he defeated me... but he cheated at it, so it doesn't count.'
"Well, fortunately the lady does not seem hurt." Ray smiled.
"I treated her wounds; they were mostly internal. She got quite a beating, in my opinion." Rand sighed. "My natural attunement towards Earth, allows me to use Healing Magic pretty well."
"I commend you then. It's very noble to care about your friends. Now if you both excuse me, I must take my leave; I have duties to attend in the surrounding farms of the city." Ray stood, took one of Katt's hands and softly planted a kiss on it.
Katt blushed. 'My, handsome and polite... purrrr...'
Ray then shook Rand's enormous hand and spoke again. "Worry not about your friend resting there. I'm sure he is stronger than what he looks, if the rumors that came from the Arena are true. I didn't go to the Arena, because I was on a retirement." He smiled. 'Well... in reality I think the battle show it's a barbaric spectacle... that was the reason I went to meditate... And I felt a strange presence from the Stadium, yesterday while praying...'
Ray left the room, and went to the farms in the outskirts.
"Rand, Thank you for treating my wounds. It feels good to not to hurt. Seriously, his last hit was powerful."
"I don't doubt it, when I went through the log, the wood was quite fragile, and seemed chipped. That kind of tree has one of the hardest woods in the world, and he made splinters out of it, going through your body." Rand sighed. "Well, fortunately I was in time to use my healing magic before your internal organs burst. I'd not cross him again, if I were you."
"Yeah, I don't plan in doing so." Katt smiled. Then she hugged him again.
Suddenly, Ryu started breathing faster and faster, hyperventilating himself; then he started to lurch in the bed, restlessly.
Both Katt and Rand gasped and went towards him, but they couldn't advance. It was as if some sort of force field was blocking them from him.
Then Ryu screamed as in deep agony, and now they were able to go to him, for the barrier had vanished.
GGGGRAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!
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I saw Rand, standing in front of the huge demon that had introduced himself as Balbaroy. The demon threw huge boulders, which Rand easily turned into crumbs as he hit them.
"Demon! You'll pay! You know what I'm speaking of. Her death won't be in vain". He shouted as he charged against the monstrosity.
Ooooh.... A feisty little Son of the Earth here. I'll teach you the meaning of pain! The demon said, mocking us both. Namanda can't do a thing here in the Abyss!
I felt prisoner, unable to move, just watching... as in the other time with Bosch. As much as I tried to avoid what I somehow knew what was going to come.. I couldn't do a thing for my friend.
Let's make you join her in the realm of the dead! You'll be a flat shell after I'm done with you, little guy. The demon then took Rand in his paws and started to use them as a press to crush him... as Rand struggled, his strength was vanishing visibly as he weakened and the monster was putting his claws closer and closer.
As Rand's bones started to crack and he flinched in pain, I met his last gaze... It was a pleading one, just like Bosch's. Finally his strength had vanished, and a horrible sound of crunched bones and destroyed flesh made his way into my ears, and Rand was no more....
The Fury... it was coming again... Embrace me.... I'm your only hope, Young Destined Child...
--- Then all of it faded... and another scene played in my mind ---
I saw Katt... Wait... Wasn't it Lin? She charged towards the Demon, avoiding gracefully all his strikes. She seemed nimble enough to dodge his massive paws.
Hmm... This little kitty wants to play with me? I'm game... Mittens!
Katt hissed... she did not take kindly those cat-related jokes. "Shut yer trap, you scaly fat-assed monster! I'm gonna break your shell and use it as plates for food!"
Brave words, for a pussycat!
She kept dodging his massive blows until she hit him on the back of his paw, where the hard shell covered it. Repeatedly she stroke in the same spot while avoiding his attacks, until a crack appeared. The demon growled, as if pained and surprised.
Enough! This is enough, you little kitten! Not even your feisty Tigress can save you here! You'll pay for damaging me!
Metallic bones appeared from the ground, and quicker than Katt could move, they formed a trap that imprisoned her, disabling all forms of movement that she had. Then, a ball of energy shot from the demon and engulfed her, rendering her motionless, as the previous caging turned itself into dust and disappeared.
Again, I wasn't able to move or do a thing, only watching. He made the sphere turn, so that Katt was facing towards me. Again, the look of anguish... 'flee.', 'don't give up.', 'avenge me.'... Again, I couldn't say which one it meant.
Let's play... undress the kitten... the demon said, in a tone that made Katt shiver nervously; somehow she knew what was going to come. With his claws, he ripped off every single piece of armor and clothing until she was naked. I heard her scream in agony, as his claws were peeling her skin with the fur included, to make her bleed. Then he chopped her tail, making her scream in agony.
Fury... again....
Now, let's finish this overeager kitten. The demon used one of his claws to impale her.
The primal rage possessed me, again, and I screamed her name... Katt!...
Not all is lost, young whelp. There is still a path to walk... but you are just uncovering it... Resist this ordeal! Be strong!
--------------------------------------------------- *** O *** --------------------------------------------------
Ryu suddenly sat in the bed, gasping for air. This startled both Katt and Rand, who backed away a bit. His eyes were shining with the golden glow they saw in the Arena. He panted for some seconds, closed his eyes, and the normal emerald color was in there. He looked around, and saw both of them worried sick about him.
"You ok, Bunyan?" asked Katt.
Ryu breathed deeply for some seconds, and then answered. "Yes Miss Lin. But first things first... I'm Ryu Bateson, a Ranger from the NewHaven guild. I'm sorry for having deceived you, but I needed to enter the fight, and got his Proof to take his place." Ryu then showed her the medallion.
Katt blushed beet red. 'My... so determined to speak with me that he went and took the real Bunyan's Proof of a Gladiator. I think I like this blue-boy... also he is strong...'
Rand was amused at this. 'Well, well... what do we have here... the kitty has a craving for blue hair. Whatever, she's too aggressive for me.' Now, he cleared his throat.
Katt got the message and composed herself. "I'm Katt-Lin Chuang. I use the last part of my name for the battling; but just call me Katt, ok?"
"Understood, Miss Katt."
"Just Katt, blue-boy." Katt punched him playfully.
Ryu feigned being hurt and smiled. "Katt it is then. You are quite the fighter, I must say that I had quite a hard time. I don't remember how I could have possibly won the battle."
Both Rand and Katt exclaimed at the same time "WHAT!?"
Katt recovered first and asked. "But you fought like a true-martial artist. I'm sure every hit of yours could have shattered stone."
"In only remember until you hit my shoulder." Ryu said, now moving his arms, to test all. He was like new, as if nothing had happened. He touched his back, no scars, no pain. "Then, I only recovered when I heard Rand's voice telling me about the assassins being ready to shoot and saw them using my eyes that can see in the dark."
"Ah... So that's what your golden eyes do?" Rand asked, intrigued.
"It seems so."
"Is it magic?" Katt asked with her ears and tail twitching.
"Don't know. I just heard a voice that told me how to do it, and I'm able to."
Katt giggled. "You're weird Bun... Ryu."
"Whatever." Ryu said. Now, a rumbling could be heard. The three looked each other, and the sound was heard again; they realized it was Ryu's stomach. Ryu was embarrassed now.
"No wonder, you spent two days recovering." Rand smiled. "I'm going to get you something to eat. I think about six servings for Ryu should do for now?" And he went to ask for food, and lots of it.
Katt was surprised. "Hey! I thought only my tribe eats that way!" and then she laughed loudly.
Ryu smirked. "You just don't know. I can eat quite a lot, and some hours later, I have to eat another batch. My stomach seems to be eternally hyper-active. Whew! I must stink... I'm going for a bath."
Ryu stood and went towards the bathroom to clean himself, carrying his knapsack for clothes and the related stuff.
Katt now relaxed in the room, and thought. 'He never told why he wanted to speak with me... My! It pays to be a popular girl! Now he's bathing... Should I have a little peek? Forget it! I'm not going to be as perverted as him! Hmph! I won't apologize to a pervert like him!'
-------
Ryu exited the bathroom and, was now fully refreshed and clean. His stomach still rumbled, so he sighed. 'Calm down boy! Just be patient.'
Then he went to ask Katt about the thing that bugged him. At the same time, Rand came in with a large tray that had various pieces of roasted meat and three jugs of juice; the roasts were the equivalent of one complete wild boar. The three mouths watered when seeing this.
They started eating the food and conversation arose.
"Katt, I need to ask you something."
Katt looked at him expecting his question, while her ears and tail twitched. 'If she had whiskers I'm sure they'd also be restless.' Ryu thought.
"I came to Colossea in hopes of finding a clue about a Woman that has Wings like a Bat."
'Damn! Too good to be true... he's stalking another girl.' Katt sighed. Ryu didn't know what to make of this. "Sorry that I can't be of any help Ryu, but I haven't seen her in my life. Why are you looking for her?"
"In short, I have a friend that has been framed of robbing a stinkin' greedy rich guy dry of his goods. It was this lady who did the thieving. She's quite the swift girl by what I could glimpse... I'd say that she vanished like a phantom. Now my pal, a ranger like me is hiding."
Katt now felt relieved. 'Well, it ain't a fugitive girlfriend... so I can still go for him... even if he's a pervert.' She smiled, inwardly.
"That's too bad man." Rand said.
"Well, whatever. After we finish this meal, I have some pending issues with certain manager." Ryu said, determined.
"I'm coming with you. That man wanted me dead. My staff is itching to have some kind words with him."
'Argus ain't gonna get any kindness from the Bilbull-girl.' Rand chuckled. "Count me in as well. There have been some weird things happening since he arrived as manager. The former mayor died one week after he arrived, no one knows how though. And he also forced the widow to marry him. Lady Ornella or something."
"Ornella Collier? The secretary lady?" Ryu asked, surprised.
"Yes, she hasn't been seen since the latest match."
"Well, now that you mention it, in the office next to the manager's I found several desecrated statues of the Dragon God." Ryu said.
"What!?" Rand and Katt chorused. None of them were strong believers of Ladon, but it was wrong not to respect other people's religions, or forcing your opinion on them.
"Yes... in fact I had a hunch... or truly..."
"The voice-thingy?" asked Katt.
Ryu told them about the voice, how it did lead him toward the side office where the profaned statues were, and where he saw the manager handing over the poison to the hit-men. And how he could see in the dark thanks to his new skill, granted for that guardian spirit.
They finished eating the whole boar, and now Ryu was smiling widely.
"A Full stomach makes Heart content!" and now he grinned sheepishly.
"Wise words, coming from a perverted blue-boy." Katt smiled.
"Whatever, kids. We've got an appointment with a shady guy, if I recall correctly." Rand was clenching his fists.
"Yeah, let's go talk some sense in him." Katt smiled.
The three now equipped themselves with their gear and went towards the Arena. Rand used tanned hide armor over his toga; the hardened leather had metal plates scattered through it, and a pair of fearful looking custom-made spiked steel gauntlets. The rest of his body seemed so tough that it did not appear to need any kind of armor.
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When they entered, they saw a gruesome spectacle. There were several columns with soldiers' bloody bodies incrusted on them, crushed as if something really strong had hit them, damaging their armor beyond possible repair unless they were re-forged.
There was also a trail of blood leading to the manager's office. All three looked at each other and nodded. They had now their weapons ready, and advanced.
In the office of the receptionist, there was nothing destroyed, only a trail of blood leading to the double door, and the other one had been splintered open showing the desecrated statues of the Dragon God. Ryu knelt and uttered a quick prayer, and put his Dragon tear outside his armor. Katt noticed this.
"Hey Ryu. What a nice trinket. What's it?"
Ryu sighed. "It's called a Dragon Tear. It's a long story, tell ya later, ok? Now we have a diplomatic appointment with Mr. Argus."
Katt and Rand nodded. When they arrived to the door, Ryu felt malice from within; the Dragon Tear was flaring red. Rand splintered the door open, and they stormed in.
---
In one of the armchairs, was seated Lady Ornella, gagged and tied. In other armchair, was Argus, sipping a red-looking drink from a wine-cup. The window to the balcony was fully open; a cold chill came from it.
"Ah... so the cast for the show has finally arrived." he said, in his quiet voice. The three of them could feel the malice emanating from his voice. Also, their nostrils were invaded with the smell of sulfur. The fireplace was currently unlit.
"What? You try to kill us and then act as if nothing happened!" Katt exclaimed, outraged.
"You don't seem to get my point. All this show is nothing but an offering to Our God. All your warped feelings of primal rage, hatred and blood-lust when you humans fight each other, or watch others battling, are sent directly as energy to him."
"What nonsense are you speaking about!?" Rand asked. Ryu was on edge, the stench was stronger now, and the malice was enough for turning the Dragon Tear crimson red, as dried blood. 'He is pure malice.'
"But it's true! Your kind craves for carnage! And I do the work for Our God! This show only exists to get the most pain and twisted pleasure straight from your worthless cattle souls! Yes, to Our God you're just Cattle! And the chosen ones blessed with his power, we are the shepherds! We lead you to the slaughter to be his food."
"Enough nonsense, Argus!" Ryu shouted, his eyes glaring.
"Ah... the one who did not wish to die. Well, it seems that you found my plot to defile the statues... but you are late for doing anything. I'll show you the power the God has granted me!"
The fireplace lighted suddenly with the bright blue flame, and then it turned black, like ebony. The stench of sulfur made itself heavier.
Argus then threw the cup towards the fireplace, and before anyone could react, effortlessly took the hostage and ran for the window into the balcony, and jumped towards the battleground.
---
The three followed him and saw him leaping as an acrobat towards the ground using the chairs and stairs. They descended as well. The battle arena was now just a simple field; nor was the tree or the pit in sight. It was a lot better, for they had no risk of falling to the water.
Suddenly, Argus stopped, and launched the hostage towards them. Rand caught her in the nick of time, and freed her.
"Stay behind us, lady. Things are not going to get any nicer."
She nodded and retreated.
"Ah... a glorious stage from times of yore. It is a shame that we can't turn our fight in a show worthy of becoming energy for Our God. But I'll make sure that you get turned into energy for him!"
Ryu felt shivers, but stood firm. The Dragon tear flared black.
Then they saw Argus engulfed by a dark aura, as his thin frame started to grow taller and bulkier, and his skin turned into a thick hide and brown fur started to grow quickly on it. His boots were destroyed, and his feet were now wolf-like paws. His upper body became as thick and muscled as Rand's. His head then tilted to one side and from the other side another bulge started to grow turning into a wolfish head, as the original one did.
Now, Argus looked now like a strong two-headed werewolf with some ragged clothing, as tall as Rand. Then, he clapped his hands, and in front of him appeared two large stone cudgels with some nails on them. He took each one in a hand and charged towards the three while roaring.
"This is the power Our God granted me! Prepare to become his energy!"
"Damn, he's in cahoots with a Demon!" Rand shouted.
Ryu barked. "Rand, here! Katt, left!." Rand nodded. Katt and Ryu stepped back to leave Rand in front. She started getting ready to side-jump to the left. Ryu was about to do the same but to the right, so they could surround him in a 3-way-pincer. But since he had two heads, he could see them all at the same time.
Rand dodged the first strike and used his gauntlets to parry the second one, meeting success. At the same time, Ryu and Katt did their jumps and surrounded Argus.
Katt swung her staff and hit the beast in his back, making him grunt, but not drawing blood. Ryu slashed with his sword, scratching the hide, but also did not draw blood. 'Damn... his hide seems quite thick.'
Rand now punched Argus hard in the stomach, stunning him for a brief instant. Katt made another swing of her staff towards one of the heads. Ryu now went for a thrusting maneuver to bury the sword in the side of the monster.
Katt's weapon hit its mark, and a cracking of bones could be heard. Ryu's sword thrust was successful, but did not pierce much; it did draw blood, but surprise... it looked black, as that petroleum liquid that was used for torches or lamps. Argus grunted in pain, from both the cracked skull and the bleeding wound.
With one of his cudgels he made a reverse maneuver and was able to hit Katt, sending her flying away, grunting in pain. The other cudgel was still immobilized by Rand, who went for a straight punch to the head that Katt had hit earlier. Ryu used his sword to hit in the elbow joint of blocked arm and achieved the mark, but yet again barely made any visible damage, although it made Argus let that one cudgel fall to the ground.
Ryu did a back-flip, and now Katt was up and ready to charge. Argus recovered and took it other cudgel with both hands and hit Rand, who guarded. But the blow was powerful enough to make Rand be blown away some meters, leaving Ryu as his closer target.
Argus now had one cudgel held in both hands and swung it impossibly fast towards Ryu. He only was able to crouch, trying to parry it. At first it seemed like a successful block, but a cracking could be heard, and Ryu felt himself going forward, below the club's swing arc. He rolled at the last instant to dodge any other possible hit, and when he recovered, he saw that his sword had broken in two pieces.
'Damn it! An expensive Wyndian Long Sword trashed by a monster.' Ryu sighed and took out his recently acquired Mithril Knives, changing his stance to match the lessons that he remembered from Chief Madison.
In this moment, Katt went for another hit in the same head that met with success, making Argus roar in pain; then she used the demon's back to bounce away from him. Ryu heard something rumbling and jumped away from the monster. By the corner of his eye he saw something spherical coming at an incredible speed towards the werewolf, who was still dazed by Katt's hit.
The ball collided with Argus, making him grunt in pain and sending him far away. Then, it revealed itself as Rand, who did a thumbs-up to Ryu.
"Man, your sword!"
"Yeah, that furry one's gonna pay for it." Ryu said this with a grim expression.
Katt, now had been chewing a healing herb to ease the pain of Argus's cudgel. She saw Ryu making signals to surround the demon from the other side, and she made a run for it.
"Rand, can you do that trick again and fall on top of that thing?"
"Sure, make way!" Rand made himself a ball and started rolling towards Argus, faster and faster. Ryu also ran, but to flank Argus from another side.
Once Rand had enough speed, he jumped and fell on top of Argus, with one of his massive gauntlet-covered fists hitting the damaged head. With that kind of momentum, there was a gruesome cracking sound, and a splatter of dark blood. The demon howled in pain and used its only cudgel to blow away the large guy, and stood. He was not a nice sight, and definitely now he would not be able to enter any kind of demonic beauty contest for sure.
"You'll pay for that, humans!"
Ryu ran towards him, using the kithkin battle-stance. Katt saw him, and recognized the move. 'His sword is busted, so he has to resort to knives, but they won't deal that much damage to the beast. Fortunately the kithkin style was made to face larger opponents, or ones armed with longer weapons with a certain ease. Resourceful guy.'
Katt saw that Argus was facing Ryu in full and had his back towards her. She smirked, and went for his other head. Ryu, by the moment had gone near the demon, which saw his battle style and used now the cudgel with one hand and the other with just his wolfish claws. Ryu taunted him into attacking and the monster lounged towards him.
Ryu rolled below him, and used his knives to hit the monster in the legs. At the same time, Katt's attack landed on its good head, and used its back to bounce away from Argus. Ryu stabbed the demon in its back once, and flipped away.
Argus roared in pain from both of these attacks. Ryu saw that from his blades the blood was being consumed in a white fire, as well as the wounds he had made on the demon. 'So, Marlok did not cheat me out. The knives truly are blessed.' Ryu thought and smirked.
Argus was now standing ready to charge towards them, when Rand's voice was heard. "Anger of the Earth, show yourself! Land Pillar!". When he finished his chanting, a circle of force started marking itself on the ground, surrounding the demon. Rumbling was heard, and a column made of rock rose several meters lifting the monster from their level towards the ceiling, and then it disappeared, letting it fall, making the werewolf grunt in pain. After that, Rand started a sprint towards Argus.
"This has gone long enough!" Argus shouted and then roared, as a dark aura engulfed him again. For a moment, no one of the three companions was able to move. When the aura faded, All of Argus wounds, save for the burns caused by the blessed knives were healed.
"Damn!" Katt exclaimed, charging towards the demon while spinning her staff. Argus saw her and threw his remaining stone cudgel towards her at an incredible speed. She was barely able to deflect it, but it threw her off balance, making her fall to the floor grunting in pain.
Rand hit one of its heads with a punch that would've easily shattered stone. Ryu used this instant to stab the monster again, slashing on the side. This time, the knives met their mark and slid easily through its demonic hide and the white flames started to make it lose concentration. He saw a chance and buried one of the knives in the beast's foot, while using the other blade to destroy one knee from its back part. Argus roared in pain again, as he fell.
Rand now saw what it had to be done. He held Argus's good leg and one of its arms, while Ryu stabbed the knives in the monsters chest, trying to make wounds as large as possible; those had burst into white flames as well. The pain, made the demon get enough strength for getting free of Rand and sending him not so far from him, as Katt's staff now had hit again one of its heads, cracking and crushing it again.
Argus's other hand, grabbed Ryu from his throat, making contact with the Dragon Tear. There was a brief white blinding flash in the entire battlefield. For a moment, the demonic grip was so strong that Ryu started gasping for air, as his bones started to give in, but then he felt that the monster had released him. He used this instant to back away, and heard the werewolf roar louder than before. But it was a pained howl.
Argus's body was now engulfed in white flames that were consuming him mercilessly, not giving any quarter, and making the whole stadium glow with an eerie light. Then he stood, looking as a blackened husk of fur. It knelt, giving in, and it started reverting to his human form, but it had several vicious burns, which would spell his certain death, in a short time. He still could speak though; his words were amplified somehow, allowing them to hear him clearly.
"It does... not matter.... now. Our god... is coming... and... Nothing... shall stop... him..."
"Who is that god you speak of?"
"In time... you will... see... you... shall know... his glory... there are... others.... who will... take... the mantle..." Then he looked towards Ryu and gasped. The Dragon Tear was shining with a white light, the same color of the flames. "You! … It can... not be! "
Argus did not complete what he was going to say, for another batch of white flames consumed him, turning him into blackened dust, leaving nothing but a scorched cinder in the form of a human figure marked in the ground. The Dragon Tear stopped glowing, and now the gems were transparent.
--
Meanwhile, in the office of the manager, the ebony flame on the fireplace flickered, and extinguished, as if blown away by the winds of change. In the office where the desecrated statues were, the one that was still whole but covered in blood had its eyes shining again for an instant. It was ready to be cleaned and reinstated on the shrine.
--
Katt, Rand and Ryu stood, coming over to look at the blackened shape.
"That was really weird. Ranting about gods, demons and what else." Katt stated.
"He also said there were others..." Rand sighed. "I don't like this one bit."
"Me neither. Also, he was a tough bugger, and now I can only fight with knives." Ryu sighed.
"Man without him wasting that sword, maybe we would have never defeated him." Rand said.
"Yeah... but that sword had cost me about 1500z years ago. It was my favorite."
Katt put a hand on his shoulder. "I get your point, but better a sword than your butt, right?" and now she winked at him.
"Point taken kitty-Katt." Ryu smiled at her, but winced shortly afterward, because she had punched him. It seemed like an intentionally strong hit.
"Hey! Cut it, blue-boy!" Katt snarled.
"Ok, ok... peace... Katt." Ryu sighed. "Now let's get ourselves outta this creepy arena." Rand used his healing magic on all of them, soothing their wounds.
--
They were going out towards the balcony, when they saw Lady Ornella coming towards them; she did a deep curtsy to each one of them.
"Please, I want to thank you for freeing me of that... thing."
"It was nothing... I'm sorry to say that it was either him or us." Ryu sighed.
"I know... in fact, I knew that he had changed since some time ago... when he came back from a trip... I noticed something different about him. For now, let's talk while we walk to the manager's office." she said, and they went there while talking.
"How didn't you do anything?" Rand asked. "There were lots of rumors."
"But no solid evidence that pointed to this." Ornella stated.
"Well, a point. What's the story behind this? You seemed to know Argus... I mean... the real Argus, before he came back as this... demon." Ryu asked.
"We were... childhood friends..." she seemed about crying. "... But when he came back from that trip... he was different, more ambitious, with a lust for blood I would say. With cunning he quickly became the manager, and started staging the fights for the past three years. But who would've thought that it would come to this extent."
"Even being responsible of desecrating the shrine of the Dragon God?" Ryu sighed.
"Yes, we had quite a lot of troubles with the Wyndian overseers about that point. Not that the St. Eva church complains, they haven't been affected... but the local priest has condemned severely these attacks. It's not their way to do those actions, or so they say."
"I don't know." Rand sighed.
"Whatever. They can't speak favorably of that in public. It would not make them seem good, although the true believers in the Dragon God are really few nowadays." Ryu said.
"Yes. Anyway, now we should be able to restore the shrine, and put a better watch over the town. Now our only problem is the Joker Gang, but it should be addressed as soon as we can."
Now they were in the manager's office.
Lady Ornella looked throughout some furniture and brought them a bag of money.
"It is not much a reward, but since you did save the city from a really dire menace, and that will allow us to get the local economy back on its feet, It's the least I can do for you. I only hope it helps you. I'll see to restore as soon as possible the Shrine, but with those Jokers on the loose, I can only hope it lasts."
Ryu received the money; it was no use discussing this matter. Maybe it would help in the long run, who knew. A total sum of 5000 zenny, all of it in coins. Rand and Katt seemed pleased. They bowed and said farewell, and exited the Arena, after storing the money.
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"Well, scratch one demon." Rand smirked. "What do we do now, Ryu?"
"What have you planned?" Ryu replied. "Since my main lead is no longer valid, I think I'm going back to the ruined town beyond Mt. Futabi, to think some other ideas. And maybe help rebuilding it."
"Rebuild? That sounds good. I'd like to put my hands to some use. It would keep my mind off about things like these creepy god babble. I'll go with you man."
"Hey!" Katt interrupted. "What about me?"
"You?" Rand asked, and ruffled her hair, scratching behind her ear, making her purr. "You be a good little kitty and stay here as a champion. Your fans will like it."
She punched Rand, making him wince. "Told you to stop that, big oaf!"
'Oh Ladon! This is going to be a long trip to the Ruins...' Ryu smiled now, while Rand rubbed where she had hit him.
"I know, I'm going with you as well. Since there is no manager, there won't be fights for quite a time, so I won't get paid. Then I gotta hit the road, and the more the merrier, right?" Katt now grinned.
"Whatever you two. Just don't bicker... or try not to overdo it. But I'll tell you now... It's about two days of hard running towards the ruined town. So you'd better be fit."
"Hah!" Rand now smirked. "You remember my rolling trick?"
"Yeah, packed quite a punch to that fuckin' hell-puppy." Katt chided in.
"Well, you can hitch a ride, and go faster than a horse could. We'll be there in no time. Also, any nuisances better get out of the way or they'll end up turned into a flat pancake." Rand smirked again.
"Take what you're given. But we stop when hungry." Ryu smiled.
"Agreed, let's hit the road!" Rand said.
With that, the three of them left towards the Ruined Town, getting used with some effort to their new way of traveling. Hitching a ride on a shell-clan member was no easy thing to master, but they were able to do so after some attempts.
While riding the idler that had become Rand, packs of BilBulls or other pests that crossed the way of the rolling ball, were quickly bashed away, or as Rand said... turned into flattened paste, as thick as a stamp.
They arrived at the Ruined town, one or two hours past midnight. It was time for new introductions and following a new trail for proving Bosch's innocence. Four days had passed since Ryu had to set out alone in his mission, and they had come out dry of results.
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So, Destined Child. You have overcome the first Agent of Our God in your land.
He was right... he was but one of many. Amusing as it has been until now... you're still a whelp.
I commend you for defeating him, though you still haven't awakened yet.
You still don't know how lucky you were... The tool of an Exorcist...
I underestimated that whore who gave you birth...
We will meet when you open the Gates....
--- o ---
End Chapter 06.
Author's Notes:
- I hope the per-ally nightmares aren't that startling. Well... I must say they're quite graphic, but that's plot-device :)
- About Rand and the Bilbulls in his way as a sphere... think about a bowling alley :) (Rand would be like a 500-pound bowling ball, and the monster-pigs the pins; poor defenseless and passive boars).
- Chief Madison is Chief Allen Madison from the Ranger Guild; in his days he was a knife fighter.
Special Thanks:
- Ryusui, for his Retranslation.
- Lady 'Kestre Wynde' from ; your proof-reading has helped me to understand about English language and improving the quality of my writing. Thank you very much.