Chapter 66 – The Meaning of Bonds
As expected, you guys were emotionally shattered from last chapter. I made Pavo a likeable character, and then you all cried when he sacrificed himself. You'll see how his sacrifice affects the next few chapters.
Guest Valvrave: For Vanessa being paired with someone, I haven't put much thought into it. So probably not.
Let's see how you guys react to this chapter!
To Recap:
Pavo and the others were defeated and put in cages. Pavo was the only one who never gave up hope, and so he cheered through his earpiece, and soon enough Nic responds, with him, Greninja, and Garchomp all at the darkest and revolting level in the Keeper of Hell, where they found the Andromeda Key. Nic was confronted by Hydra, but Garchomp and Greninja fended him off until everyone arrived, where they worked together to get the Andromeda Key back. Garchomp Mega Evolved into Mega Garchomp, impressing everyone and defeated Hydra with ease. They all ascended back up, and were cornered by Lysandre and the six subordinates once more. After a narrow escape, they reached the ship and got to the Heavenly Gates, where they realized it could only be opened up by the inside of the Keeper of Hell. The crew soon realized that Pavo was missing and used his Transformation Magic to trick the guards to open and close the gates for his crew, and is confronted by Lysandre. Realizing he wasn't gonna make it, Nic and everyone cried out to him in thanks, and Pavo expresses his happiness and yells for them to go on ahead. With no regrets, Pavo was killed by Lysandre, and everyone is left mourning for their loss.
Chapter 66 – The Meaning of Bonds
The waves crashed up against the ship, yet it didn't deter from its northward goal. The ship was so quiet, so unsound, that it was as though the waves themselves weren't enough to make it rock with invigorating energy. That's exactly what the crew felt.
Desolation and silence was all that seemed possible to accomplish. The entire crew didn't even speak a single word for the longest time; it was all because of one man who gave his life so that they could pass through the Heavenly Gates. Pavo. With his death, the crew could only mourn in silence for their close friend.
Lupus was sitting up on the upper deck, his tail and ears drooping as he looked down at the boarding, whimpering like a sad puppy. While he howled out cries before, literally, no more could be hollered out. It was as if he put a mute button on himself as howling would be pointless.
Volans was mentally scolding himself. He felt just as guilty as the rest, and he was there when Pavo took the gander. His single tear that he shed when Pavo died a while back was something he resented. He felt attached to the crew, and he felt it was an obligation to keep them all alive…only to fail.
Corvus was having arms resting on his knees. He looked disclosed, mourning with a few stained tears swelling in his gaze as he looked out. While he bellowed out like a sissy before, he couldn't muster up anymore tears because many were already shed.
Sophie was sitting on the opposite side of a small table, where Cana was. Both girls could only sulk and feel nothing but broken spirits. Sophie never felt so sad before; it was a scornful memory that she would remember for the rest of her life. If there was booze, Cana would've thrown it overboard. This was the exact same feeling from when Nic seemingly died back in the Tower of Heaven. She couldn't drink a drop, and she most certainly couldn't at this point.
But perhaps, the most affected of all was Nic. Nic had his sunglasses on his face, to cascade the tear stains his eyes had ascertained from crying. He sat atop of the mast, with Greninja sitting on the opposite side. Nic felt the most connected to Pavo, primarily because he was the first human friend to the peacock guy. He was never good with losses in terms of friends and allies, hence the remembrance of when his grandparents died made his core harden to the point of hurting.
The crew wasn't sure how long the silence went on for. An hour? Maybe two? It felt like forever to them, and it was as though they weren't getting anywhere.
Sophie looked at the plate of portions she had. It was the last bit of her share. After that, they wouldn't have any felt. She swallowed hard, and reached for her fork…her hands shook so much. Saying she was unsteady would've been an understatement. She hesitantly picked up her fork, but her breath hitched as her hand was so unsteady that the fork fell, clanging when hitting the floor.
The clang echoed through the ship, and eyes gazed up to Sophie. Nic and Greninja's teary yet stern eyes glanced down, seeing Sophie just looking down at the fallen fork.
"…the memory…it hurts."
Finally, Sophie was the catalyst, admitting her feelings. A small silence continued for a few minutes before another voice spoke up, said voice resonating from her brunette friend.
"This is how Fairy Tail felt a long time ago. We all thought Nic died at one point." Her sullen eyes glanced at Sophie. "We all felt horrible. This is no different."
Nic and Greninja both looked at the other in sadness. When they saw each other, they saw their own reflection of grim. An image of Pavo with his huge grin and posing poisoned their minds, but it faded away like a distant memory. They both clenched their fists and choked on some lumps.
The crew down below was starting to come around after Sophie and Cana began the conversation. Corvus and Lupus came around with uneasy footsteps.
"This sadness we feel, it's like an epidemic." Lupus said. "I still can't believe it…when I think about it hard, he wasn't a bad guy. He was a true friend."
Corvus gritted his teeth, sniffling. He looked like he was having a mental struggle. "Pavo…"
"This act of despondency won't do any good." All eyes and heads turned towards Volans, who turned back towards the crew.
"That man didn't give his life so we can just sit around and mourn. We've had our fill, but this we can't stand anymore."
"Volans! Can you be anymore insensitive?!" Corvus cried out. "Our friend just died for us! And you're casting it away like an old rag?!"
Volans's eyes closed. "It's what he would've wanted."
Corvus rushed up to Volans's face, exasperated. "What?! He was a friend and comrade in arms! We all cried out to him! We cared about him! And what did you do?!"
"Corvus, enough." Lupus insisted, but fell on the crowman's deaf ears.
"How many tears have you shed?! You're just bottling it all up! Just why can't you just cry out one lousy ti-!" Corvus was cut off when a blur pinned him to the mast, and the left side of him was barely touched by a fist that embedded into the mast.
Everyone remained calm, despite the scornful look Volans had.
"You don't know a damn thing I'm feeling!" He shouted in Corvus's face. "Do you think I never had a heart?! I cared for Pavo too, but the fact is that when we banded together, we all knew that there was a strong chance that some of us wouldn't survive! I was fully prepared for that time to come, and now you have to be ready, Corvus! Toughen up, for Pavo's sake!"
Corvus gritted his teeth and winced. Tears were beginning to fall from his face again. It was the hard truth, but Corvus learned the hard way that the truth hurts. The more he tried to resent that fact, the more effort it took to keep himself in check. It was hard, but Corvus knew that Volans's words were right. He had to move on, and continue on. Yet the tears just couldn't stop.
"*sniffe*…I just…" Corvus clenched his fists. "…it's hard to see a friend go."
Volans retracted and turned away, getting back to the steering wheel. "Accepting a loss is enough. You can mourn all you want, but that attitude won't benefit the group."
"He's right."
Everyone looked up, hearing the voice of Nic. He jumped down from the mast, with Greninja following behind. The two landed in the midst of the group, and both looked serious, yet even with the sunglasses on his face, the crew could feel the sadness still lurking around him.
"I'll tell you what we're gonna do, because we're not having Pavo die in vain." He looked at Greninja. "Erza was shattered and irreparable when I died, meaning neither of us couldn't be without the other…the same goes for me and my Pokémon." He looked at everyone again. "If we're gonna get through this, we have to stay together. That man was whom brought us all as one, so it's only right we respect his dying wishes. We can move on; we just have to keep looking ahead."
Corvus was boggled at how emotionally shattered Nic was, yet saw how he was using every bit of willpower to push himself forward. When he swallowed one last time, he took in a deep breath, and exhaled.
"…you're right." He said, looking as though he calmed down. "We've gotta save the mourning for after we achieve victory. We'll honor Pavo properly when this is all over." Having that resolve, everyone nodded individually in agreement.
Cana and Sophie stood up, with Sophie talking. "For now…we'll live up to his expectations, and stop Lysandre."
Cana nodded. "Yeah, we'll kick his ass and free those Zodiacs."
Lupus's tail began to wag again. "They are so going down! We're pressing onwards! To the tower!"
Corvus raised a fist high. "To the tower!"
Everyone cheered as their spirits were repaired enough. Nic and Greninja raised fists as well, having half grins on their faces. Volans still had a hand on the steering wheel, and had one fists up while looking ahead. In truth, Volans and the two former were still broken up by Pavo, but they knew the risks, and they had to live with it. They missed Pavo, but they had to keep going.
As their little motivation speeches were finished, some time passed and the dark fog ahead was clearing up, and Volans's eyes widened. His mouth parted as the dark fog was starting to fade, revealing something up ahead.
Nic and Greninja looked ahead. "What is it…" His eyes and Greninja's widened, and they were left in a state of awe.
Soon enough everyone followed their gazes forward, and they were all left with great disbelief and sheer awe. Their breaths hitched, and it felt like they all stopped breathing. The giant structure before them was left with no words to say. Their eyes barely shook as their own skins grew goosebumps.
"Oh my god." Sophie muttered.
Cana looked hesitant. "So, that's gotta be it, right?"
Lupus nodded. "There's no doubt in my mind."
The ship was closing in on a pitch black tower, giving off a vile and rotting smell that probably would've made anyone cry if not strong willed. The tower was more rectangular than cylindrical compared to the Tower of Heaven, while it did equal its extraordinary length into the sky. The sky, unlike the dark purple and darkness as before, was pure pitch black, and reached out as far as the eye could see. The water they all ventured in was dark, and vile winds spewed everywhere, making their goosebumps shrivel.
Volans kept his strong gaze ahead. "We've finally arrived…Andromeda Tower."
Corvus looked up, still uneasy. "Well, it's clear that Lysandre's done some redecorating."
"Ugly and repulsive; definitely something worth his tastes." Cana scoffed in disgust.
"Can you feel that energy? It's so dark and malevolent. It almost makes you fall over on the spot." Nic noted, feeling Lysandre's evil power all around. "I believe it's best to assume that he's waiting at the top for us?"
Volans kept the course ahead, the waves still crashing against the ship. "More or less. According to Lupus, the top of Andromeda Tower is the passageway towards Lysandre and where he keeps watch over all within the dark skies."
"Everyone, no matter what, prepare for the worst." Greninja said.
"Yes, do be cautious. Lysandre may have his six subordinates already inside. Prepare for a great fight ahead." Volans warned.
The ship soon came within shore distance, and already they saw the shores lined with a number of guards, all armed with weaponry. It was quite the welcoming party, which got them all ready for the shores. With fists clenched, everyone was ready to charge into the tower, with Volans holding the shiny Andromeda Key in arms.
Many guards had already begun attacking, throwing spears and shooting arrows into the sky, raining down on the crew.
"Sonic Howl!" Lupus fired a midnight blue soundwave from his glowing mouth, and the soundwaves expanded out and repelled the spears and arrows back into the air and at the several guards on the shore, making them all panic and get hit, getting knocked down.
Still, many went for the attack, and shot harpoons ahead. Corvus screamed as he carried his feet across the deck, dodging harpoons impale the deck boards. He ran and turned around, and saw more harpoons and arrows coming his way. In a hurry, he flapped his wings. "Night Storm!" He fired a tornado of black winds at the incoming attacks, which shot the harpoons and arrows back at the forces.
Sophie's eyes narrowed. "Is it me, or is there something wrong?" While she didn't digress from the raid, there was some questioning in her mind.
Nic understood it too. "Yeah, their numbers fall short. Why is that?"
"It's gotta be Lysandre." Volans figured, steering the ship towards the dock, where the forces were running off to. "I'd imagined his genocide and rampaging only left him this much in numbers…in all."
"Gee, the guy really did a heavy number. There's only like a hundred up there!" Cana flashed cards in readiness as the ship finally stopped. "Whatever the case, let's get them all what they earned!"
Nic charged for the dock. "Everyone, attack!" He jumped off the ship and readied a midair attack. "Boomburst!" The inside of his mouth glowed light blue, and he fired immense soundwaves that roared outwards, crashing into the many guards while blowing back their weapons in arms.
"Dark Pulse!" Greninja fired a jumbled beam of dark rings that shot into guards, causing a dark explosion and shook the dock. Him and Nic landed in crouched positions on the dock, and everyone followed their lead. Greninja sped on in and jumped. He twisted his body and shot Water Shuriken all around, all perfect aims and shattering apart harpoons and arrows.
Cana flashed her cards. "Try this! Thunderbolt's Fate!" She showed her card, and it was like Discharge, as many of the several guards remaining screamed as they were electrocuted on the spot.
Volans spread his feet apart and clenched his fists. He took in a deep breath and slammed his hands to the ground. "Deep Geyser!"
The ground and water ruptured all about, and the remaining guards felt an immense pressure shaking the ground beneath. They all saw the ground crack up, and then deep blue water spouted upwards, bombarding the guys and screamed violently.
The spouts all settled, and the remaining guards all screamed and slammed into the damp ground with painful thuds.
Lupus got on all fours. "Let's hurry!" He and the others hurried off towards the doorway, which was a large, purple door with black ridges. As they ran towards the door, they all heard a sound resonating from up above.
"What?!" Cana looked and saw something like a white Psycho Cut in a way, and it fell down from the upper part of the tower. To their shock and horror, their eyes cascaded towards the ship, and saw the attack split the ship in half.
They all gawked and shook as the very ship they've traveled on, the one that they've been using, the one they had many conversations on…get split apart. The remnants of the ship collapsed, and Nic and everyone watched with small sadness as the ship sunk.
Cana looked pissed as she looked back at the doorway. "…no turning back now."
Volans's fists clenched. "Let's go."
Everyone turned ahead, their fuel for vengeance filled to the brim. Sophie gave Volans the key, and Volans held up the Andromeda Key to the front. There was no handle, and no lock. The Andromeda Key slowly touched the door, and then the key and the door both shined a rainbow light. The light took up the entire doorway, and Volans retracted the key and himself.
Everyone watched as the doorway opened up from the center, and they all stared inside. All they saw was some lighting for the ceilings, but they also saw some corroded black vines growing all about.
Nic was the first to step in, being extremely cautious. Once inside, he looked up to see the ceilings were rather high, and a spiral staircase was immediately to his right, ascending all around the building interior upwards.
He looked back at everyone and nodded. "Let's go!"
Everyone followed behind, and they proceeded up the staircase with determination and fast hear rates. The more they climbed, the more pressure and energy seemed to pile on. They all ran up, and it felt like the longest time until they were finally getting to the second level.
The spiral staircase led to the ceiling, where a doorway was like the first, only much smaller. Nic and everyone made way for Volans, as he presented the Andromeda Key. He kept a stern face as he inserted the key, and the tip touched the door. Both the key and the door shined a bright rainbow color, and everyone saw the doorway open up.
They all made haste inside, and on the level they reached, it was a domain of red columns all around. It looked messy with seaweed all about, and kelp was rotted on the floor. As they stepped in, they felt the humidity and moisture weigh them down a bit.
"Geez, it's like the coast or some post-hurricane. Why's this place so humid and wet?" Cana questioned. She looked around, seeing how there were holes all over the floor, which struck her as peculiar.
"What's with these holes?" Sophie asked, seeing several all over the place. "It's like…" Her eyes cascaded downwards. "…storm drains?"
Lupus looked around, sniffing the air. "I smell water. You just might be right."
Nic stepped forward. "No." Everyone's eyes glanced at him. "If they were storm drains, they'd had lids and be caved in. I fear it's just the opposite."
Volans looked sternly ahead, contemplative about this room and its energy. His eyes widened when an epiphany struck him. His gasp caught some attention. "Oh no, Cetus!"
"Surprise!"
Everyone turned all around, seeing the holes in the ground spout out water. The holes thus revealed themselves to be geysers. The water immediately began to flood the flooring, quickly getting its water level to everyone's feet.
Corvus looked down. "GAH! What the…this room is a flood chamber?!"
Volans stepped forward, looking peeved, despite the calm face he had. "You can show yourself, Cetus. I know you're here. There's no point hiding it."
A dark, sadistic smirk loomed on the creature's face in the shadows. He slowly stepped out from behind one of the columns on the far side of the flooring. He presented his green and scaly form, and his tongue slicked in the moist air.
"Should've known you'd try something like this. You've had a level customized so as to fit your style of battling." Volans announced. "The way I taught you."
Cetus chuckled. "You're right, but I should ask how are you gonna stop me?" He brought an arm back, poised to swing. "Better yet, how are you gonna stop the big guy himself, when you can't get past us six?" His creepy eye widened. "Mariana Blade!"
Cetus swiped his arm in an upwards swing, sending a crescent of deep blue traveling across the rising water, now up to everyone's ankles. Volans brought his arm around slowly as the attack traveled after him. His pointed elbow glowed and grunted as he swiped in an arc, completely shredding Mariana Blade in half.
A long silence fell between the two, and anticipation grew. Seconds later, the two columns around Cetus, and the ones around Volans and his group, all were sliced up. They slowly crumbled apart, falling into the water with huge splashes.
Corvus swallowed. "T-there powers…they cancelled out!"
"Such vicious intensity." Greninja noted.
"Nic. Everyone." Without looking, Volans took the Andromeda Key in his one hand and threw it overhead, where Lupus caught it from behind.
"Volans?" Lupus asked.
"You guys go on ahead. I have a score to settle. It's time I put this dishonorable rapscallion in his place." Volans made it sound more like a command than a request. If Nic and everyone could argue, they would've, especially after last time when a certain someone was left behind.
But when a score needs to be settled, they did not intervene. "Okay then, good luck Volans." Nic led the group off towards the staircase right past Cetus. "Be sure to catch up to us!"
Volans put his hands up as the water level increased to his knees. "Don't worry, I promise." With those words, Volans watched on as his friends and crew went up the stairs, getting themselves out of the rising water.
The water didn't stop, and soon it reached the top of their knees. Cetus looked on with a sadistic smirk. "I've been waiting such a long time for this. Finally, I get to show that I've surpassed you…master!" He sounded spiteful when saying master, as it humiliating and degrading Volans.
"You have no more right to call yourself a student as I was a master. I gave you value, I gave you honor and my trust, and this is how you repay me!" He spread his wings apart and ascended into what air was left. He looked down at Cetus and glared at him. "It's time rather I show you the error of your ways!"
"Try me, you old timer! Mariana Blade!" He swiped his arm up, sending a deep blue crescent at Volans.
"How predictable." He flew out of the way, having the attack slice the top of another column, causing it to tumble down into the water. Volans growled as he flew about in the air, spiraling and maneuvering around the columns.
He looked back down, noticing that Cetus was gone. "What?" He lowered some, and looked around in the water. "Where did he go…?"
A sudden splash from below got his attention, yet it wasn't a good sign as Cetus arose. The sea monster embedded his claws and fangs into Volans, making the flying fish grunt in agonizing pain.
"Who's predictable now?!" Cetus muffled. He used his weight and strength to haul Volans underwater. Both amphibians submerged and found themselves in an underwater battle, with the water level now at least ten feet.
As he was freed, Volans looked up to the rising water, and his glance turned towards the stairs, where he saw the crew near the top, though he hardly saw through the water reflecting the dim lighting. 'Everyone…' He turned back towards Cetus, and saw the sea monster swim ahead towards him. Both headbutted the other, sending a shockwave through the water. 'I'll catch up!'
Cetus brought his tail around and slammed Volans on his side, knocking him away some. Cetus remained floating in the water. "Are you done holding back old man? C'mon!" His finned elbow glowed and raced after Cetus. "Hrraahhh!"
Volans brought an arm back and the pointed elbow tip glowed as well.
"Trench Shredder!"
But of their attacks met, clashing together like swords. The shockwave went all around, cracking apart the nearby columns. Both glares were set on the other, their rights and oppositions on the end of each spectrum.
Nic and everyone saw the water level reaching to the tip, and Lupus hurried to the doorway. "Out of the way!" Everyone made way for him to put the key in front, and they all looked back to find the water level finally stopping just ere inches from their feet. They all turned back as the door shined, and saw it opening up, allowing entry to the next level.
The next level looked like a wide expanse of low, dead grass, with some scattered boulders all around; a terrain well suited for an ambush if displayed correctly. They all ran inside, where they began running onwards.
"With Cetus being dealt with, do you think the other five are nearby?" Cana asked.
Nic turned towards Lupus. "Anything?"
Lupus was sniffing the air, and it was as foul as ever. His glance cascaded left and right as many scents loomed about in the atmosphere. "They're close. Everyone look alive!"
On their right, several pants and huffs were coming towards them. With that number rising up, and the sound increasing, they group had found out whom this floor was the domain of.
They all stopped and got into a circular formation. The boulders were hiding several dogs, whom crawled out and growled at the group. The crew's eyes were sharp and weary as the dogs had them surrounded.
"Canes." Greninja muttered.
"And when there's Canes, there's…" Nic's eyes widened as his sentence was cut off. He turned towards his left, and all eyes were set as a blood red soundwave echoed and smashed the boulders in front, causing the soundwaves and terrain to pound them. They all blocked and maintained footing, but they had little ground as Canes closed in on them; one dog snapped its jaws when Sophie got too close.
They all looked where the rubble and dust was, watching it subside to reveal the snarling mutt that made Lupus growl back. Sirius gave a smirk that showed all of his canines. He looked enthused to see them again.
"Well now, boy oh boy." He began salivating, his claws sharpening. "You've kept me very impatient. I was hoping we'd meet up again."
Lupus growled at him some more. "Hello, Sirius."
Cana flashed her cards. "We don't have time for this!" Her cards had a sun symbol and she pivoted. "Sun's Strength!" The cards lit ablaze and struck the area in front of her, causing an explosion of fire that made the dogs nearby howl and jerk away.
She turned towards the others as the fire was beginning to dim. "Hurry, let's get moving!"
Nic turned towards Greninja. "Greninja, Smokescreen!" Greninja made ninja hand signs and huffed out a thick, black cloud of smoke, obscuring all eyes through the area. Canes and Sirius jerked back as they were intolerable of the smoke.
"Let's get moving!" Nic and everyone rushed through the Smokescreen, rushing out and seeing the spiral staircase on the other end. They continued to advance onwards, having seemingly cleared the way, but a figure sprung upwards from the cloud and snarled. Sirius dropped down on Lupus, making the wolf howl on pain. The Andromeda Key fell out of his grip and hit the ground close to everyone as they all turned back.
"Lupus!" Sophie shattered.
Lupus struggled as he was pinned down, and the Smokescreen was beginning to fade. He saw no alternative and grunted as Sirius sank his fangs into his mane. "Grr! Guys, go on without me!"
"What?!" Corvus screamed. "But we can't just-!" He gasped as Canes slowly emerged from behind the smoke cloud, the figures coming into view.
Lupus struggled a bit before he got his legs beneath and fell backwards, now pining Sirius to the earth. He turned back towards the crew. "What are you standing around for?! I said get moving!"
Corvus clenched his fists and grunted. "Okay! Be careful!" He hurriedly grabbed for the Andromeda Key with his talons and flapped his wings upwards. "Come on, we gotta go!"
"Right behind ya!" Cana and the remaining crew kept on running, and they all ran towards the spiral stairs as Lupus was kicked off of Sirius and skidded backwards to a halt. The wolf didn't bother looking back as everyone was climbing the stairs, and his tail wagged.
Canes began to charge after them, passing Sirius. Lupus opened his mouth and fired his trademark Sonic Howl. The attack echoed and expanded all around, and it repulsed Canes and skidded back behind Sirius, and they all covered their ears from their sensitive hearing.
Lupus took a single step forward, and glared down Sirius. "Now this is more like it. Just you and me." He crept on all fours, his hair standing on end. His growling intensified.
Sirius also got on all fours and growled back. "Looks like it, but remember…" Canes began to advance in his stead. "You're outnumbered."
Lupus snickered. "Perhaps…but you know my Sonic Magic can cause some damage, so no matter how you look at it we're even."
"That's what you think, pooch!" Sirius fired a blood red kick, and the swing made a sonic crescent that traveled like Razor Wind would. Lupus jumped up and dodged the attack that shattered the boulder behind him, reducing it to smoldering rubble.
In midair, Lupus lashed a kick of his own, sending a midnight blue crescent slicing through the air like a Sonic Boom. The shockwave traveled at Sirius, but the Great Dog Spirit raked downwards, bisecting the attack and making it erupt on either side.
Lupus landed and lunged after Sirius and vice versa. Both snarled with their claws grinding outwards and each parried the other's blows. Both parties slashed and clashed claws, neither giving an inch. All they did was block and parry their claws, until finally they were caught in a stalemate.
Both sides glared down the other, yet Sirius was more relaxed. His eyes narrowed. "Don't forget, I have the number advantage!"
One of the dogs sank his fangs into Lupus's legs, making him grunt in pain. A second dog suddenly showed up and bit into Lupus's right shoulder. Sirius backed away and watched as Lupus struggled as angrily lashed and slashed, kicking the dogs off only for another to take its place.
"Get off!" The wolf howled, but found it that much harder to keep up his whole weight. Ultimately he cringed as their fangs sank deeper, forcing him to howl loudly, unleashing a strong shockwave from his mouth, rippling rapidly and bellowing through the air. They all pouted and flew off of him, hitting the ground with loud thuds.
However as Lupus panted, he wasn't clear as Sirius used this chance to get a good hit in. "Dark Sonic Claw!" His claws glowed blood red and he slashed at Lupus. The wolf howled as he skidded on his back and smashed into a boulder several feet behind him, reducing it to rubble that buried him.
Sirius laughed hardily as the dogs gathered around him, and looked on as the rubble shook. "I gotta say, Lupus, you've got quite the guts to become a traitor. While I do thank you for the position from before, it wasn't wise to turn against Lysandre like that."
His chastising only made Lupus grunt as he slowly arose from the rubble, standing fully up. He had a few scratches on himself, and looked rather disgusted. "What can I tell ya? My conscience isn't as black as everyone had hoped." He continued as he looked at Canes. "I may have left Lysandre and my pack, but I did it for the greater good. This world doesn't deserve such a poor leader who doesn't look after his own."
"How noble." Sirius sarcastically toned. "But that won't stop you from getting shredded to death." He nudged his head, and Canes slowly advanced towards Lupus. "So, what other tricks do you have up your sleeve?"
Canes kept getting closer, but Lupus didn't move at all. Much to Sirius's shock, he could've sworn that Lupus…was smirking.
"Just one." He spread his feet apart, his bold demeanor causing Canes to stop advancing. "Sirius, I claim the right of challenge, for control of the pack!"
Sirius and Canes alike looked at each other and looked surprised to say the very least. Sirius could've sworn he heard Lupus issue a right of challenge.
He scoffed. "Tch, don't make me laugh. You? Issue a right of challenge? You've gotta be out of your mind if you think a former pack leader can issue such a thing!"
Lupus's smirk grew. "That's where you're wrong."
"What?"
Lupus stepped forward. "I never lost to someone who claimed the right of challenge. I quit, remember? That means, I'm still valid to take the position back, if I win that is." That did the trick as Canes backed off, knowing that they cannot interfere in a right of challenge.
Reluctantly, Sirius found himself with no luck getting out of this. He got on all fours and smirked. "Very well; your challenge is accepted!"
Lupus got on all fours. "Winner gets control of the pack."
Sirius added his own measurement. "Very well! Loser leaves and can never again come in contact or be an Alpha for eternity!" Both had their hair standing on end. "Now, time to die!"
"You first!"
Both bared their fangs and claws and ran after each other. They met in the middle, where they savagely bit into the other's neck and thrashed about violently as Canes watched from the sidelines.
"This way, c'mon!" Corvus rushed everyone to the doorway, where they were at the top of the level. Down below, they could've seen the intense brawling Lupus and Sirius were throwing down.
Corvus lifted up the key with his hands. "Now, I just take this, and~…!" He touched the tip to the door, and both objects shined a bright rainbow color. Once again, the door opened up, and Corvus clenched a fist. "Okay then, let's go!"
They all ran inside, where they saw yet another scene change. The ground was all rock, and the ceiling gave off a rather peculiar light kind of like the sun on a weak level. Of course this prompted Nic to flip on his sunglasses.
"Geez, what is this?" Cana asked. "Some sort of smelly wasteland?"
Sophie uncovered herself, her body beginning to adapt to the sudden change in light. "Well let's not get our hopes up. This sunlight is starting to make my skin burn. I doubt we can last long on this level without our skin peeling off."
"And when people say don't go towards the light." Cana sarcastically implied. "I think we're gonna have it rough climbing the stairs. We might be shriveled up before we get there."
Nic advanced forward. "We can't back down now. We have a job to do." He led everyone off towards the stairs on the other side of the level. He and everyone made way, soon making it to the center.
Greninja's eyes darted up, and that's when a projectile shot down. He couldn't see well with the harsh light, but it was his instincts and reflexes that made him jump and dodge the attack.
"Greninja!" Nic turned back towards him. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah." Greninja looked out as the dust settled, and before everyone, standing tall and silent, was Aquila.
"Aquila?!" Corvus bellowed, shuddering with a gaping mouth.
Aquila's calm yet deadly eyes glared at them all. He was silent at first, then finally spoke up. "Not bad. Your reflexes are immense. That attack couldn't hit you even if it tried. Still, you all shall not reach Lysandre and his power."
Sophie grunted. "So, he's Aquila. I can already tell that he's a calculating warrior."
"Yeah, and judging by how fast he went straight down, it's hard whether or not he's holding back on that first blow." Nic said. "But we won't be taking any chances."
He lunged ahead, carefully keeping an eye on Aquila as he advanced with his great speed. He put his hands together and spread them apart to unsheathe Cut. He brought it back, and that's when Aquila's brown wings glowed and sharpened at the lower tips. He crossed them, and used them to block Nic's Cut. White sparks clashed with brown ones, and both grunted as neither were giving an inch.
Several seconds passed before they both backed away with a loud boom, with both skidding back. Nic's eyes narrowed underneath his sunglasses. "Interesting."
The wings stopped glowing and eased up. "You interested in my Valiant Wing Magic? My strong wings and feathers alike can give off a variety of properties. It's quite lethal if you're not careful."
Nic growled at Aquila as the eagle's feathers sharpened. He watched him shoot the feathers at them, and as Nic readied to intercept, sudden black feathers shot from behind, and clashed with Aquila's feathers. Both attacks met in the middle and surprisingly cancelled out, much to Aquila's slight astonishment.
"My sharp feathers, glazed in my valiance, cancelled out?" He looked on as a pair of talons touched the floor.
"You've gotta learn something pal." Corvus stood in front of everyone, darting his eyes right at Aquila. "This team's got a flock of its own!"
"Corvus!" Cana said in surprise.
Corvus glanced back at them. "Guys, as much as we have to go on ahead, these guys are gonna slow us down." He walked up slowly, and without looking, he tossed the Andromeda Key, and Cana managed to catch it. "You guys get moving. I'll buy you some time."
Sophie grew worried by her biting lip. "This isn't the time to play the cool guy, Corvus! Look at him!" Sophie pointed to Aquila, whom exerted a brown aura that made the atmosphere all the more uneasy to take.
Corvus was starting to get beads of sweat on his face. "I…I know, but just don't worry. We're all gonna get to the top, right?" He sounded so absolute, despite how easily scared he looked. Nic and Greninja looked at each other and back at Corvus, seeing how he was trying to get some courage. Whether he came out dead or alive, he'd be fighting to make sure they got to where they were intended to go.
"Alright then." Nic agreed.
Sophie and Cana turned to him, the former holding some worry. "But Nic-"
"You know Corvus is right. We have to make it to the top. Volans and Lupus are already buying us as much time as they can. We can't stop to worry, right?" The girls and Greninja knew that there was some hint of worry in his voice, but as much as it was hurting him, they had to keep on going, no matter what.
"Okay." Cana looked up at Corvus as he ascended into the air, followed by Aquila. "Make sure to catch up when you're done!" She and the others thus began their trek and went towards the stairs.
Corvus smirked confidently at Aquila. "You hear that? With my friends backing me up, I'm as strong as 100 falcons!"
Aquila still had his arms crossed as he was maintaining his position in the air. "You can say all you want about falcons, but that won't change the indefinite fact that you're nothing more than a crow. A bird of one's mourning sadness and pity." Aquila uncrossed and flapped, spreading his large wings attached to his arms. "Your black wings mean nothing to my valiance! Perhaps I should show you!"
Corvus continued to flap as he gritted his teeth. "Bring it on! I'm not afraid!"
"No, but you will be." Aquila crossed his wings and arms. "Defying Dance!" A large mass of brown, thick feathers at Corvus.
"Night Storm!" Corvus flapped his wings, unleashing a black tornado straight at the brown mass before him. Both attacks created a turbulence of black and brown that collided and expanded outwards. Eventually both attacks cancelled out, but the recoil made Corvus lose balance and grunt as he took a few scratches.
He looked up at Aquila, who wasn't even touched by the attack. When he saw his stern face, he only clenched his fists tighter. "I can't believe I looked up to you. You used to be so cool, talking about valiance and bravery…and I thought I could reach your height." He pointed an accusing finger at him. "But now look! Siding with the enemy?! That's a low height!"
"You'd be wise to silence yourself, fool!" He reappeared in front of Corvus with a talon stretched out. He jabbed Corvus, making him gag in pain as he pinned him to the ground below, making a thud. "Do you know why people look up to others?" His talons pressed harder onto Corvus's chest. "Do you want to know why I sought power from Lysandre?"
Corvus's eyes shook.
"Ambition. To be an eagle, it meant to look down on others as prey, not for someone to look up to…because I'll swoop down and make you dinner." He pressed harder than before. "You thought that you could reach my level of power, and it was such an ambition that you worked to achieve. Ambitions like those won't mean anything if you don't have power behind you." He lifted his foot, kicking Corvus and sending him crashing to the nearby wall.
"The greatest ambitions deserve nothing but the greatest power. And if that means killing and serving under eternal evil, then let it be."
Corvus slowly arose from the wall, struggling to get up. "You…bastard…"
"Such weak calls from an inferior bird. Try and take me down." He glared at Corvus, whom soon got his feet under himself and steadied out. The crow lunged ahead, arms and wings spread out and giving out a battlecry as he went to attack a calm and devious eagle.
Water filled the whole floor, bubbles popped and it seemed silent. Flashes appeared in the water, and a closer examination showed the flashed being Volans and Cetus's trademark Trench Shredder attacks colliding and parrying all over the place. Columns had pieces sliced off, debris was scattered everywhere, and all seemed like the floor was cracked, yet no water flushed out.
Both former master and disciple crashed their elbows again like swords, barely suppressing the other. Both reeled back from their attacks, and both seemed rather exhausted at most. Volans huffed, as did Cetus. Both parties glared at the other with deep hostility for only several more seconds before both swam towards the other.
"GRAH!" Cetus swiped with his sharp claws, in which Volans swam around and behind. Cetus turned around to swipe again, and Volans swam up and over him, sinking to his elevation once more.
"You're as vicious as you were in training, Cetus." Volans stated. "Why must you be filled with contempt?!" He rushed ahead, his left palm swelling with deep blue water. "Abyss Palm!"
"Mariana Blade!" Cetus swiped up, sending a shockwave of pressurized water in a crescent at the palm. The two assaults crashed into the other, making strong currents flourish and Volans grunted in trouble as the Abyss Palm was spliced.
"GAH!" Volans was struck by Mariana Blade, and he felt the shredding pressure nearly cut him in half. His face and fat nose had some blood, and he grunted as he lost momentum. That's when Cetus's shadow loomed over him and grabbed him by the thick neck.
He pulled Volans closer as his claws dug into him. "So, old man, still thinking I'm weaker than you?" He threw Volans aside, crashing into a column. The Spirit only had a few brief moments to get his breath back before he was pinned against the column by Cetus and his scaly arm.
He sadistically smirked at Volans. "You can't fight the greater power! You're nothing more than a coward, who was nothing more than a stepping stone for me. Now all I have to do is throw you away."
Volans growled in distaste. Out of sight, he had an Abyss Palm set in his right hand. "Your views are as murky as the depths you swam up from." He shot the palm right into Cetus's gut, making an explosive shockwave of water that made Cetus gag and shoot backwards into a column. Volans advanced. "I told you, you're the one being a coward. You threw away everything I taught you, just so you could be spared from Lysandre's wrath. You're the true coward, and you're the stepping stone that my crew needs to throw away."
Cetus's sharp teeth gritted as he snarled at Volans. He brought his arms together. "You're nothing to me! The biggest mistake you made was trusting me!" He began morphing a blue sphere that shined brilliantly.
Volans repeated the same motion, making his own shining sphere of immense pressure. "The biggest mistake I've made, was taking you in!"
Both made the floor shake as the pressure coming off of those was extraordinary. They shot their attacks, making shockwaves roar as they traveled through the water. "Tsunami Implosion!"
A turmoil of water erupted, making everything set off like atomic bombs. The water all around swamped and cleared away from the immense force given off. Volans and Cetus screamed and covered up, but that didn't stop them from smashing through shattering columns throughout the floor. Shockwaves kept up until they at last settled, and the turbulence and water settled back in.
Volans laid in a pile of rubble, and slowly got back up. Cetus was already on his feet and scoffed down at him. A snicker passed his lips and he lunged ahead with a punch. Volans jabbed ahead as well, their punches meeting in the middle, making a ripple, through the area.
Volans grunted and winced, feeling the most pain. "Damnit!"
Cetus saw the opportunity and struck with a tail swing, swatting Volans away. The Spirit recovered and saw Cetus advance with the trademark Trench Shredder, to which Volans parried with his own, while dodging some slashes from Cetus's claws.
"It's time for a new generation! You can't see that I was only being taught so as to keep your skills and techniques after Lysandre or someone comes along and takes you out, but you're too stubborn to fall!" He slashed with his fin elbows, patting Volans's Trench Shredder in return. "You're even too stubborn to shed tears in front of your own kin! You're nothing but a hard-scaled fish who's made of nothing but stone!"
Then Cetus said something that he should have never said. He was getting so arrogant, and that's what made everything turn south.
"You should just fall like your friend back at the prison!"
Volans stopped moving as his eyes widened, leaving him to get a harsh punch to the face, knocking him back a few feet. Cetus laughed at Volans as he was still stuck in a distraught manner. For him, all seemed to have stopped. It was like silence fell and Volans only heard his disciple badmouthing Pavo.
An image of the peacock man with a smile and pose was pictured, and Volans had thick shadows covering his shaking eyes. From remembering the last moments of Pavo, he remembered the bond he had with his crew, how they all had smiles, and how Corvus lashed out at him. He then remembered the single, shameful tear that was shed.
Cetus advanced on towards him, swimming in at great speeds. "Finally, I surpassed the old man!" He readied an Abyss Palm in his right palm. "Time for you to-!"
He was cut up when a harsh fist smashed into his face, and the bone-breaking punch echoed through the area. The impact was so strong that Cetus shot backwards and yelled in pain when hitting and shattering through a pile of rubble.
"Gahhh!" He gagged blood and winced as the pain his face took. "Where the hell did that punch come from, huh…?"
He looked ahead, and what he saw was something that defied everything he has known. While thick shadows still covered his eyes, Volans…was crying. Small tears were scrolling down his face, and his fists clenched so hard as light blue Magic Power was blooming all around him.
"…tears?" Cetus questioned. "What's going on?"
Volans kept on tearing up, and his head turned up and he winced as the tears kept on coming and the Magic Power kept exerting itself. His power just kept escalating, and he finally spoke outwards.
"You…" He roared low. "Pavo…WAS FAMILY!" He lunged ahead, swimming in a full lung at a speed Cetus couldn't stop. He was punched in the gut once more, and time slowed down as Cetus felt a great pain swell through his entire body. He smashed through several columns at once, each shattering from Cetus.
Volans glared viciously at Cetus through the clearing debris through the water. "That man Lysandre killed, the one you poorly stated, he was more family than you ever were to me. Family, protects one another, care for another, and cherish the other, no matter what."
Cetus got up and wiped away the blood on his face and looked up at Volans.
"You don't know me as well as you thought you did, which is why you will never win!" Volans rushed on ahead, immense light blue energy swelling with intense pressure around him, and his Abyss Palm. "I'll show you what real power comes from – Emotions!"
Cetus countered the incoming attack with his tail, swatting Volans as he zoomed in, but his spare arm blocked the tail, and Volans let out a cry as he brought the palm up and slammed it straight down on Cetus. The attack let loose a violent shockwave and Cetus felt himself get crushed by the attack.
He glared back up at Volans, his tears still fresh as his emotions ran wild for his crew and late friend. Cetus readied Trench Shredder. "Who cares?!"
They both parried again, their individual Trench Shredder attacks blocking the other; while he was on the defensive before, Volans was now on the offensive, blocking and making it hard for Cetus to get a clear shot in. Cetus broke it by getting a roundhouse kick in, but Volans caught it and swung Cetus around, letting go and sending him tumbling through the water.
Cetus narrowed his eyes. "You're really stubborn. This talk of feelings is pointless! Trench Shredder!" He lunged at Volans with all his might, swift and quick as he was taught. He let out a battlecry as he slashed his arm fins, but he fell short a decisive blow when Volans only grabbed it with only one hand.
"Impossible!" Cetus then saw Volans bring his right arm back, and his elbow shined a bright light than before. His Trench Shredder slashed across, making Cetus scream as his long arm fin was sliced right off. In his scream, he was delivered a gruesome kick in the abdomen, and cried out as he hit the floor again, hard.
Cetus looked up from his pain, looking like he was seeing a ghost. Ignoring the pain in his arm, he saw the power surging around Volans. 'No way. Did…did his power suddenly increase when he released his emotions?'
Volans still had small tears coming out and he growled as his power surged the more he thought of the crew. "We'll all make it to the top! Alive!"
"Tch, that's quite the statement, but that won't save you from me." Cetus said, recovering from his shock. "We know the exact same spells. So what if you got a little touchy and powered up? I'll just blast it away with Tsunami Implosion." He brought his hands and claws together, and a shining sphere of pressurized water began to shake the ground again with great magnitude. "It's over, old man!"
Volans growled some more and felt the light blue energy flowing and waving all around him exert more force. He let out a primal scream as light blue encased his body. Cetus watched as a pillar of light was summoned, and the force made him shoot back in the water. The pillar of light faded, revealing the blue markings on his body glowing a dark blue color as thick, plate-like, dark blue scales covered his forearms, legs, upper tail, and around his eyes and neck. His wings went from being feathered, to being pure scales.
The disciple's eye widened in shock. "What? How did you hide this from me?!"
"The better question is, why was I hiding my emotions, when they are what give me true power." Volans said. "And I'll fix what I've done wrong!"
Cetus let out a roar as he conjured energy for Tsunami Implosion again. "Emotions won't save you from this!" With the energy gathered, he threw the immense sphere of extremely dense water. "Tsunami Implosion!"
The sphere zoomed in like a missile at Volans. He was unmoved by the attack, and swiped his arm across. His dark blue scales swatting the attack away, exploding with immense force. Shockwaves roared, but as debris flew through the water, Volans wasn't even fazed.
"No way. This isn't right." Cetus looked outraged. "I'm supposed to win! Me! I'll show you I have more power!" He rushed on ahead, his remaining fin glowing and spreading out. As he swam ahead, he added a spin with his attack, making him a spiraling torpedo with a light blade jutting out.
Volans swam ahead as well, fists clenched and had an arm back as the huge scales over his pointed elbow jutted out, making it look like four glowing dark blue blades that lengthened. As he swam, the actual water behind sliced in half, open air taking in the gaps.
Volans and Cetus let out primal battlecries the other closed in.
"Primal Torpedo!" Cetus raced faster than before.
Volans closed his eyes, getting an image of the crew, and Pavo. His eyes then opened, and the markings on his body glowed brighter.
"Deep World - Sakratua Pala!"
A bright glint flashed and all seemed bright. A long time passed before it all faded, but as it did, Volans and Cetus were seen pass the other. Volans had shadows over his eyes as the immense energy around him continued to wave about. Behind him, Cetus had a gaping mouth, and a giant gash over his chest, penetrating all of his scales and his other arm fin sliced off.
Cetus gently floated down onto his back. "Impossible…the student…always surpasses…the master…" With those words, his injuries made him fall onto the floor, his dull yellow pupils devoid of any consciousness, let alone life.
The energy and scales on Volans slowly faded away, and the Spirit kept his stance, not bothering to look back at the fool Cetus was. The water in the entire room began to sink, and soon enough the water plunged back into the holes, leaving the floor wet.
Volans eyes were seen full of repent and resolute. "You may have been my disciple…but you will never be nor understand family."
Harsh barking filled the air as howling did as well. All around were shattered remnants of boulders and rocks. Canes was standing far away as they watched the scene continue on.
Lupus and Sirius were sinking their fangs into the other's neck, though mane and armor covered the other. They thrashed violently and kicked rubble away as they attempted to overpower one another. Lupus was losing ground and Sirius turn his body so as to drag Lupus along and shoved him back into a boulder still in one piece.
"Dark Sonic Howl!" Sirius shot a blood red soundwave traveling through the air, reaching out after Lupus. The wolf saw the attack echoing after him, and hurriedly used his wits to pick up the boulder behind him and threw it at the soundwave. The boulder took the hit, scattering into small fragments.
"Smart." Sirius admitted.
Lupus ran ahead on all fours and pounced, claws stretched out to grip into Sirius. Sirius sidestepped and watched Lupus fall forward, giving him the chance to drive an armored knee strike into the wolf. Lupus tumbled away to a skidding halt, shaking his head.
"Bastard." Lupus growled.
Sirius lunged forward, ready to snap his jaws at him once more. Lupus stood up so as to dodge, and he gave a kick with midnight blue energy, sending a midnight blue shockwave near point-blank range. The soundwave boomed upon impact, and Sirius howled as he zoomed back. He recovered quickly and grabbed the ground, stopping his sailing back. He wagged his tail and pounced again.
Lupus lunged at him as well. "Sonic Claw!" He slashed, sending a shockwave at Sirius, only for it to miss when the Alpha jumped up to evade. "Uh oh!" Lupus was then met with a kick of Dark Sonic Magic to the face, sending him skidding backwards and barely maintain ground before he was met with yet another kick, the blood red shockwave from the attack sending him skyward.
Lupus crashed down into some rubble with a harsh thud, sending dust flying. It soon settled, and his eyes opened up, only for him to get held by the neck and pinned to the rubble. "You were a fool, Lupus." Sirius spited to him. His teeth showed raging hostility. "If you really think that you can take control, you have to be willing to risk everything. That's what Lysandre did."
"What?" Lupus choked out.
"Perhaps you didn't know." The Alpha snickered lowly in a chuckle. He leaned in closer, his growling turning into a sinister loud whisper. "Lysandre was so mad that you guys got away, he killed every single thing in the Keeper of Hell. Hydra, the guards, and all. He even destroyed the entire prison while he was releasing quite the hysteria."
His hold tightened, making it harder or Lupus to breathe. "The only reason we were spared, was because that fox, Vul, used is sly tactics, and convinced that bloodthirsty gut-shredder that we can dispose of you guys so that Nic Pularis will be left for him to strike down."
Lupus snarled and snapped his jaws at Sirius, but he still found himself pinned by the armored dog. His snarling only seemed to make him chuckle. "Yeah, that's right. Keep biting at thin air, that'll show me." He brought a claw back, ready to strike down Lupus. It became enveloped in Dark Sonic Magic, and his glare sharpened.
"Now it's time for you to suffer the same fate at that pathetic waste of life!"
Lupus's solid yellow eyes widened when Sirius told the ultimate insult. Time seemed to have slowed down as Lupus still could've sworn that the armored dog just spoke ill-will of the dead. And that happened to be Pavo. His face, and his spinning; images of Pavo and the crew came to him, and remembering his final moments, Lupus was all choked up, and finally snapped.
"Goodbye-!" Sirius stopped in midsentence when a vicious knee strike crashed itself into his jaw, sending him straight up. He gawked in pain, but that didn't stop Lupus from spinning around and round-housing a kick to his face, smashing Sirius into the wall.
Lupus landed and growled up at Sirius. "Pal…you have just made me mad."
Sirius dislodged himself and sprung down after Lupus, readying a Dark Sonic Claw. He rushed at great speeds, but failed when Lupus swatted it away like it was nothing, sending the shockwave elsewhere. While his opponent was still in shock, the wolf opened his mouth.
"Sonic Howl!" He emitted another close-range soundwave of midnight blue, the attack bellowed and Sirius was seen tumbling away until he smashed into some fragments of boulder.
The Alpha shook his head and got to his feet. He looked back, only to find Lupus's fur prickling with midnight blue static, as if the molecules inside him were moving so fast actual electricity could be seen pulsing through his limbs.
"What? How did he…?" Sirius grew weary. "This Magic Power increase…"
Lupus took a step forward, which gave off a deafening boom like an explosion. "Alright you lousy mutt, now you're gonna pay for what you did." Lupus got images of his friends and crew. "That peacock you just insulted, he was a close friend of ours, a brother. And you and your boss killed him in ice, cold blood." His Magic Power was beginning to encase his limbs in his Magic through unconsciousness. "Lay even one claw on my crew, you're so dead!"
Sirius got over his shock and looked peeved. "Please, I can take you down right here and now! Come on!" He jumped into the air high above and gave a kick, sending a shockwave at Lupus. To Sirius's shock, Lupus disappeared. 'What? But he didn't even make a sound!'
Lupus suddenly appeared in front, and his Sonic-encased claws slashed so fast that the bone-breaking sound didn't follow until after Sirius was shot down, smashing into the flooring. The dust settled quickly, and he saw Lupus disappearing and reappearing all around, faster than what his sensitive hearing could trace. 'It can be, can it? Did his Sonic Magic get new and true power from the resolve of protecting his little crew?'
Lupus began running on the walls on all fours, his limbs still coated in midnight blue, glowing Magic. He was faster than the speed of sound – he was sonic speed fast. "My true power, comes from the hearts that I care for, and those in turn! I'll race faster than anyone to reach them in time!"
Sirius have having nothing of this and got a lock on him. He opened his mouth and fired a howl that traveled across the wall and following Lupus, but Lupus was too fast to even get touched. The wolf leaped off the wall to evade and lunged after Sirius. He moved so fast through the thin air he wasn't even there.
"Sonic Claw!"
He slashed in a fast blur, and Sirius didn't even have the time to block. His eyes and ears only heard air, which left his armored body to take a serious toll as he skidded back. He got to a knee, panting as he tried catching his breath.
"How is he moving faster than the speed of sound?" He looked up, and saw Lupus opening up his mouth wide. "You pathetic traitor!"
"Sonic Howl!"
"Dark Sonic Howl!"
Both soundwaves zoomed after the other, but Lupus's Sonic Howl was much different from before. The soundwaves were thicker, and it looked more like a high-speed beam of soundwaves that traveled faster than sound. Both attacks met in the middle, and an immense shockwave sent violent winds, knocking Sirius away while Lupus was unmoved.
"What is the meaning of this?!" Sirius shouted out, his canines showing. "You can't just get new power based on your friendship and bonds, it's inconceivable!"
Lupus howled up towards the ceiling. The entire floor shook as midnight blue energy swirled like a tower all around Lupus. The Magic Power and frequency was so high that a normal person could go temporarily deaf. The tower of spiraling midnight blue energy raged as Lupus glare at an astonished Sirius.
"You would think, but throughout this entire journey, I've learned many things." He said through the tower of Sonic Magic. "My comrades – my pack – has each other's backs, and if you think I'll let a cold-blooded dog like you rule the pack with iron claws…you're dead wrong!"
The tower's entire energy began to swirl and converged into Lupus's right claw. To Sirius's shock, the entire arm's energy manifested into an ethereal wolf with glowing light blue eyes and mouth.
Sirius clenched his fists in anger and frustration, and readied for a Dark Sonic Claw, but to his great horror and confusion, Lupus disappeared, and in less than half a second's time, Lupus lunged, with the wolf racing right by his side, encasing his clenched fist and arm. 'What?...It's like, time itself can't stop him! I can't be that quick!'
Lupus let out a devastating howl as he raced up as Sirius couldn't even move a few inches from his original position. He brought his fist forward, and the wolf's huge mouth opened up. The attack was so fast it was beyond Racer's speed even, breaking all points of sound.
"Great Wolf – Sound Barrier Fang Crush!"
He punched forward, and the ethereal wolf bit into Sirius. Everything was in a hue of white as it sounded like a dynamite explosion bellowed, shaking and shattering the ground to an immense magnitude. All that blasted about was an eruption and white.
Outside the tower, midnight blue ripple stretched out from high above, and the entire level ruptured. Sirius howled in agony and violent pain as he shot straight through the wall and fell into the earth outside the tower at a speed faster than sound. He was like a sonic speed meteor and the land ruptured outside.
The dust settled, and Lupus was standing in a huge crater that took up a large diameter. He looked down and out the broken wall, looking down to see Sirius far below in a carter, his armor destroyed. With the Alpha not moving, barely looking alive for that fact, Lupus had won.
He looked back at Canes, and the dogs all looked in awe as Lupus stood tall. The wolf howled up loudly, and Canes howled up as well, acknowledging Lupus as their Alpha once more.
After the howl of victory, Lupus grinned. "Feels good to be back in the saddle." He looked back up at the ceiling, knowing the others were still climbing. "Hang on guys, we're coming."
"Dusk Shower!" Corvus was overhead and flapped his wings, raining down black feathers onto Aquila. The bird's attack rained down, yet Aquila only stood still as every feather passed him. "What?"
"Such poor aim." He put an arm around and the end feathers sharpened and glowed. "Brave Snipe." He swiped his arm, and the feathers went up and stabbed Corvus was they passed him. The crow screamed in pain as he lost momentum, leaving himself open to get a knee strike to the jaw. The impact made him gawk as he fell to the round with a thud.
He panted as his breath didn't seem to be catching up to him. The strong light above also made it all the more unbearable, and he felt nothing but pain bloom as he was caught blind.
Aquila maintained his position above Corvus, seeing his battered form. "How feeble. Like a crow." He swiped his arm downwards, shooting down more sharp feathers hat glowed light brown. They all rained down and Corvus could barely.
"GAH!" He saw swift images of feathers and his teeth clamped mouth as he braced for the impact, but to his relief, the feathers all pierced the ground, barely inches from the head and limbs, but pinned him down.
"Huh? You missed!" He countered. But Aquila's facial expression was unmoved, instead, Aquila snapped his fingers.
"Wing Judgement."
The glowing feathers exploded, and Corvus screamed as he felt pain through all of his body as he was caught in the attack. He was sent flying in the air and his whole world was a haze and spinning. He barely flapped and pulled himself together, but that only got him another barrage of feathers that attacked, this time pinning him to the wall.
Aquila snapped his fingers yet again. "Wing Judgement."
Once again, Corvus was caught in an explosion, screaming and jerking his body as the pain only escalated. Parts of his arms, legs, and head had blood, including his witch's hat, which still stayed on. He fell to the floor with a thud, cringing and unable to move.
Aquila continued to look down upon Corvus, seeing as how he was unable to move. "I pity such a soul as yours. To have such a feeble dream of flying higher than an eagle, when in reality you belong scavenging and left on the ground."
Corvus couldn't move, despite seeing how he had to keep fighting. 'He's too strong. He's got more skill than me.'
Aquila raised an arm, and a bright light began to illuminate, and said light was beginning to burn all around his body, almost like brown flames taking up the gaps and outlines of him. "This ends now! Destruction Fall!" He called out like an eagle and the brown flames around him thickened. He charged in full force and sailed into Corvus.
The crow's body twitched as he could still move, but barely. 'Is this it? My body can't move well.'
The distance got slim, and Aquila looked like he was in a diagonal dive. "Perish! Even that peacock wouldn't compare to me!"
Corvus's eyes widened as he heard what Aquila called out. That same sentence fell on his ears about twenty different times until he felt a pulse run through him. Images of the crew went through his head, and individually saw the smiles on their faces. The last face seen…was Pavo. His huge smile and teeth while posing. Giving up now would be a major insult to him, and the efforts he put in getting the crew to the tower.
Corvus felt time slow down drastically, and he stood up with shadows over his eyes, concealing hidden feelings. He looked down as Aquila closed in.
As the eagle let out a battlecry, he was met with one hand shoving against his forehead, stopping his advance and brown flames surged throughout the area, raging briefly and diminishing into nothing. To Aquila's horror and astonishment, he found his forehead touched and held back as Corvus intercepted with just his hand to the forehead, though his hand was sizzling, but it only made him shudder.
"Impossible." Aquila muttered. He was pushed back when Corvus swatted at him, sending black feathers pounding him. Aquila skidded to a stop and looked back, seeing Corvus with his hand still sizzling and his eyes covered by shadows.
"You've got the audacity." He growled lowly. "My burned hand is nothing compared to the pain I've felt when Pavo died. He went out in style, just like he wanted. He wasn't someone you couldn't pick fun of." His fists clenched tighter and his body shuddered, and his gaze followed up to Aquila. He was mad. "He was like family to us, a brother. And you took pleasure in watching him die." He pointed an accusing finger at him. "Let me tell you this! That peacock was far better than what you could ever be!"
Aquila's eyes widened at the insult, and he glared with deep offense, but his glare wasn't startling Corvus like it did before. "You're gonna pay for your disrespect, fool!" He flapped his wings, sending light brown wings with light trailing behind.
Corvus brought his wings back. "Grrr…Night Storm!" He flapped his wings forward once, sending a tornado of dark winds ahead, but it was aimed low, bouncing up to make an updraft and redirected the attack upwards.
Aquila, frustrated, swatted his arm in an arc, dispelling the winds, but to his shock, the wall of black winds hid nothing. "What-?!"
"Night Storm!"
Right at his feet, Corvus was seen on his back. He smirked as he blew up at an angle, tactfully hurling Aquila into the air, spiraling with the Night Storm. The eagle barley straightened out, and grunted when the attack ended.
Corvus ascended upwards and met his height. Both birds glared the other down, both were clearly not backing down, and Corvus let out a battlecry as he flew on in. Aquila did the same attack again, and the feathers all closed in. Corvus kept on flying in, getting faster and charged in head first. The feathers all missed their mark as Aquila was rammed by Corvus.
The eagle tumbled back in the air and recovered quickly, and he saw Corvus clenching his own head. "Ow! Why did I do that?! Nobody told me headbutts hurt!"
"You moron! Why do you continue to fight?! I clearly surpass you! I am an eagle!" He screamed out in vicious retort.
"I hear ya, but from what I know, you're nothing but a chicken!" He looked up at the blinding light that was the ceiling. "I'll make you see that this phony light just hides your fear!" He twisted his body and began spinning. Black winds swirled all around him.
"Improvising? You are foolish!" But Aquila's warning went unanswered as Corvus shot up to the ceiling at ful spped, and as he went on, the black winds made a black tornado that followed him. The actual black winds enveloping him shaped into a large bird.
"Soaring Midnight!" He smashed into the ceiling, fists first that completely cracked the ceiling, and thus made the bright lights shatter. Darkness filled the entire level and black winds bounced off the ceiling, making Aquila grunt as he lost some altitude.
With everything dark, it was hard for Aquila's eyes to tell where his enemy was at. "Where are you?!" He heard some movement behind, and turned to find nothing. He was then struck by talons behind, and he turned again to find nothing there.
"Using the darkness to your advantage? How low."
"Not low, just smart! HRAH!" Corvus's talon went down, but Aquila heard it in time to stop it with his hands. As he held on, he noticed that Corvus's strength was much greater than before, and the resolve was seen even through the darkness.
"The biggest chicken here is you!" Aquila shouted. "My power shall exceed yours!" He let go and readied to flap, meaning another attack would come Corvus's way. The crow looked uneasy as the eagle let out a battlecry.
"Begone-!"
"HHRRAAHHH!" Corvus punched with every bit of force he had. The impact was so strong a ripple was seen, and Aquila crashed into the wall in a crater.
Aquila grunted in pain, and yet he was left in amazement. "But…" He tried dislodging himself. "Is he really that strong?!"
Shadows were over Corvus's eyes, and when they vanished, they showed his eyes tearing up and his mouth gawking. 'OOoooooowww! I thought my bones were gonna snap!'
Aquila dislodged completely and looked with distaste. "You're nothing but a silly crow!" He let out a primal battlecry as a ball of light was made, and it traveled from his arm down and outlining and filling the gaps with brown flames. "It's over for you!"
Black winds went around Corvus, encasing him as before. He also let out a battlecry and the swirling black winds turned into a bird. Both raced after the other with great battlecries.
"Destruction Fall!"
"Soaring Midnight!"
The two attacks met in the middle, both players fist-to-fist as a wall of brown and black took up the room. Brown flames and black winds were n opposite ends, and Corvus and Aquila were right in the middle. The ground shook heavily as the room was starting to become a turbulence of fire and wind combining.
Corvus was feeling his momentum slip, and grunted as pain was catching up onto him. "Tch!" Aquila's smirk only made him feel worse, but Corvus still held off as best as he could, with the flames beginning to overtake the winds.
Corvus was still not giving up. With a battlecry, greater than before, he took in the voices off all his friends.
'Corvus!' He imagined the crew cheering him on, and even saw Pavo's image, looking serious and full of hope. His eyes widened, and with not wanting to fail, he screamed even louder, and his body exerted a huge mass of black feathers through the wind. Black was all behind Corvus as he let loose as much power as he possibly could.
'What?! Is his power enhancing from his friends? And are those…?' Aquila was seeing Corvus with shadows over his eyes as black feathers and winds surged madly all around, so much and so fast that the feathers seemingly became black fire. 'No…no! Eagles are mightier!'
Corvus screamed as he let loose newfound power, and to meet the expectations of his fallen friend, he gave it everything he had. Soon, the black feathers that were in black flames and black winds began to extinguish Aquila's attack, and the entire room was a swirling typhoon of black fire, feathers, and winds.
Aquila was suspended in midair as Corvus was still surrounded by the enormous mass of everything he exerted, and zoomed up and high above, Aquila saw a giant crow exerting immense power while lit ablaze in black fire.
"Nooo!" Aquila screamed as he saw the huge crow cry out and descend, unleashing massive black winds with every step. Corvus sailed down, being the being's head.
"Nevermore – Amaterasu Sky!"
The entire being came down like a Dragon Rush, crashing into Aquila and making an explosion of black all around. Everything was cracking and shaking from the raging black winds, feathers, and fire. The floor continued to shake and rattle as the Amaterasu and everything Corvus exerted faded away, showing Corvus standing tall and very much tired.
He looked expectantly, seeing a massive crater with Aquila, still cut up and bruised to a near-death pulp, with some parts of him still lit on black fire, but dwindled. With Aquila devoid of pupils, that signaled Corvus's victory, and the crow narrowed his eyes.
"I told you, I'm more than just a crow." He turned away, looking proud. "I'm a crew member of those who call themselves family, and we never disappoint the other."
He turned forward, and despite being hurt some, he could still walk. He grinned. "Looks like crows can fly higher than eagles! My feathers aren't as smudged as yours!" He thus happily trudged onwards towards the stairs, leaving the crater filled with the bird who has fallen from grace, whose judgment was by the crow.
Big battles this chapter, and with Sophie, Cana, and Nic & Greninja still left, expect three more big fights next chapter! You all liked how scores were settled this chapter? How new powers and attacks came around?
Please Favorite, Follow, & Review this story and/or chapter if you guys love the action and battles!
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