Kenneth and Teresa hid behind their respective trees as they waited for the tension to calm. Things began to get blurry for some reason. They watched as the blood that had spilled into the air fell into a limp puddle on the floor. The redness of the tiny pond sickened Kenneth. He began to fight off wave after wave of nausea.
"What…happened?" Teresa murmured lightly to herself, her voice half-gone. Her words spoken clearly, she also revealed Kenneth's thoughts as well. Two different pairs of eyes stared across the barren field and into the scene, observing it as much as they could from their distance.
At the scene, Daniel had his eyes wide open, as if he had been petrified into stone. His cheek was caked with blood, and his mouth hung open solemnly. His glasses reflected bits of sunlight, like tiny stars that refused to give up their nighttime comfort. "What… did you do…?" their opponent asked, her face also caked with a splotch of blood on her cheek, finding it hard for her mouth to move. Her eyes were wide open with even more shock, and her mouth hung wide open like a never satiated hunger. She choked on her breath as she tried to move, but could find no easiness in her body.
Slowly, Daniel's fake surprised expression faded away and into a normal, clever, smiling one. "Fooled you," Daniel smiled, his emerald green eyes showing his trickery. Taking a look at the two people from a distance, it seemed that millions of glowing, white strings connected the two rivals' bodies, taking away the female's control over her body. The wires struck through her, and spilled blood beneath her clothes. They looked celestial in the rising sunlight. Slowly, Daniel brought a hand to his cheek and brushed away the blood. "It took me a while but I finally figured out how your defense works," Daniel told her, smiling in pride.
"What did you do?" the opponent demanded, struggling in her restrained position, trying hard to move an inch of her body. Her efforts were worn out. Kenneth and Teresa stared in amazement. "How'd you find out everything?"
"It's useless, don't try to move," Daniel began. "I bound your soul with mine, so I control it now. You shouldn't push yourself too hard unless you want a quick death," Daniel told her. "Your two disks make a good defense, I'll admit that," he began to explain. "But, once they've been watched long enough, they're easy to get by. The only challenging thing was your invisible defense, though."
"Invisible defense?" Kenneth's eyes widened in shock. There was more to the red disk? How'd he find out? That was the same exact question the foe asked herself as the pain seared through every inch of her body like a parasite that kept sucking out her energy.
"First, you combine your two disks together so it looks like you only have one to fool the enemy, and spin the two in opposite directions to cause friction while installing your own energy between them, mixing it with the friction of the disks and creating that red energy you use for defense, right?" Daniel asked cleverly. "Next, the area in between the two disks releases red fumes on purpose, to create an invisible aura measuring about seven meters so you could detect any attacks that come toward you in that radius. I found this out when I sent those four different sets of needles from different directions."
The opponent took a sharp gasp of realization. No way, she thought. This kid is that smart to figure out my complete strategy? "You were able to detect each army of needles when they reached a seven meter distance away from you, and then you were able to block them accordingly," Daniel went on. "That's your defense. Your attacks are even simpler. It's just hurling your disk at a mid range position. But, since you use your second disk as a backup for the first one, you reveal the fact that you have two disks, and not one."
Damn it… their rival thought as more pain piled into her body. I can't move… and at this rate… "After finding out your strategy, I pretended to want to give up so I could walk into your fourteen meter diameter field of watching without getting attacked. This is why defense type enemies like you are just a pile of junk once their shield has been pierced. You guys make me sick," Daniel scoffed. "This time, you'll learn that going all out on defense can still be beaten. You're just a tiny crybaby hiding behind a rock," Daniel insulted. The foe scoffed. She had no words to say, because now, she realized that he was right. "I told you all ready our spirits are connected, right? If I pull these strings and you soul just happens to come out -" Daniel was cut off by a few last words of the foe.
"Wait! Don't be too hasty!" she said in fear. Her eyes shuddered as Daniel pulled the strings slightly, and a stream of blood came from the corner of her lips. "Who says you're not an all out defense type as well? You're just mocking yourself!" she suddenly accused at him, smirking at her comment.
"What?!" Daniel screamed in her face. His emerald eyes peered right into hers, as if invading her thoughts. His teeth were tightly grit like an angry dog's. He tightened his grip around one of the many strings, warning their antagonist to watch it.
"You worked so hard trying to take me down for the sake of your teammates. You barely made them do anything. You're just a protector, and the protector is always the first one to go down! I may be the one who hides behind the rock, but in this case, you are the rock!" the foe pointed out in a dreadful screech, making Daniel realize what she was trying to point out.
"That may be true," Daniel began, calming down. His grip loosened on the strings. The foe's features blanked, and then an evil smirk grew on her lips. "But… I made a promise," Daniel said, surprising the foe. She didn't think he would say anything more. "A promise to myself that I wouldn't be the one who was protected anymore. A promise that told me it was my turn to help the ones I cared about… and not be a nuisance!" Daniel yelled back. "So I could protect my brother since he's guarded me like an angel for all of my life!" Daniel finished the rest of the comeback in his thoughts. He's been protecting me all the time since I can remember… and I was always the one hiding behind him, using him like a shield while I was too scared to do anything, Daniel thought, imagining his old self curled up into a ball, waiting in the darkness as his brother stood strong before him, taking all the dreadful hits. The sounds of imaged punching and kicking filled Daniel's mind. It made him gulp hard. But when he almost died… Daniel remembered. He remembered waiting in the Inner World's room, listening to the slowing beat of the heart monitor, looking at his brother's sealed up face, the friendly eyes locked away into a prison of hell. And hell for his brother meant hell for him as well. So I won't take another second hiding behind him like a bug under a rock, so I won't put him in any danger again. I owe him my life… and its all the more reason to die for him when the time is right!
"What's the matter?" the foe provoked. "Too afraid to pull the strings?" she said, noticing his hand falling to his side as he continued the thoughts. Teresa watched in awe as she realized something deep in the corners of her mind. Kenneth smiled as he watched his little brother become so much more independent than he ever thought he would. I see, Kenneth thought. So you really wanted to get out of that rock I put for you after all, he realized with a smile he couldn't seem to wipe off.
"I…" Daniel began to shoot back. "I'm not afraid to do anything for my brother!" Daniel snapped, screaming in her face, giving a shock to her as he suddenly brought his hands quickly to a string and pulled strongly, choking her. She cried out as the sudden pain became overtaking. She couldn't seem to breathe anymore as her eyes widened so much; they looked like they would pop. Her mouth hung open, trying to catch her nonexistent breath. Damn it! She thought. This pain… isn't natural! Her last thoughts reined her mind as the strings slowly pulled out a glowing, yellowish figure that came from her body. The figure was shaped like her, and slowly it was taken out as the foe fell to the floor, weak and helpless, dead. The strings reeled in the spirit closer and closer until it went inside Daniel, giving him more energy. The sudden intake became overwhelming for him as he dropped to his knees, hurling loudly, retching horridly. He coughed as he began to take big breaths, a sudden headache growing in the back of his mind. He stammered on his knees as the dead body next to him slowly began to discolor, turning gray into stone.
Daniel looked up and met eyes with his brother who peered from the trees, who ran up to him quickly to help him up. "Thanks," Daniel muttered as he wiped his mouth weakly, his legs feeling light.
"No," Kenneth told him. "Thanks to you," Kenneth smiled. Daniel smiled back. Teresa watched behind the bushes, amazed at what she just saw. He… how did he become so powerful? She thought. He seemed much more powerful than I ever saw myself, using all those tricks to gather information and those new techniques that he built up on the spot… amazing. Teresa was speechless. She couldn't find her voice anywhere, and her legs were as weak as sticks right now. She thought hard, something interfering with something else. Is it… because of his brother? He's so much stronger because of his connection with his brother? Does that mean that bonds don't always end up in heartbreak? Suddenly, her talk with Eric replayed like a video in her mind.
"What if two people have a connection all ready, and one of them reads a note, saying that connections are pointless, and you're the one who gets hurt in the end by the other person. Then the other person sees it lying around, and starts to believe in it as well. Then, who's the one who gets hurt in the end? How can anyone get hurt like that if both of them think the other one is going to hurt them in the end? If they are truly scared of losing the other one, then they will not harm the other one, since they do not want to give that feeling to the other person. So if it goes like this, then, how will the connection end by someone getting pushed away?" Eric had told her with his arms tightly crossed, his eyes friendly and eager to solve her problems as his tough grin showed her he was capable.
I see, Teresa thought to herself, returning to the real world. Bonds may not be useless after all… but… why am I always the one who gets hurt in the end? Also, being in a team like the Minors that has such relevance and importance to it, it's going to be impossible to avoid bonds. What do I do…? Teresa thought, getting a headache as she shut her eyes in denial. I don't want to get hurt again! Suddenly, Eric's voice popped into her head again, and suddenly, she opened her eyes, ready to take on the world. She gave a sharp gasp, and in a flash, all her worries were wiped away. She felt strange of the sudden change. That Eric… she thought to herself. What's with that guy?
"We should get going, Teresa-san," Kenneth put a shoulder on her. Teresa gulped and nodded slightly. She watched their backs as the two walked on, Daniel's arm laid across his brother's shoulders. Maybe Eric was right… maybe he will get new people he cares for and will protect happily. That is his purpose in his life, isn't it? However… I still have yet to find mine, but I have a feeling… a strong one, too, that I'm going to find it here somehow, Teresa finished up her thought. She stared blankly into the depressing sunlight that filtered through the grass blades to her feet. The calming light made her comfort level rise. Yet, there's something else, Teresa thought. Something I can't let go of… the thought of losing someone else again that I care about, her worries rose up again. She sighed as her steps became less energetic across the dirt ground.
PoVS
"I'm not done yet!" Kyou declared as she rushed for Dylan. Dylan watched her swift movements carefully, his emerald eyes making quick movement across the air. Her power's increasing like hell… Dylan thought as the last beads of sweat rolled down the side of his face. With a surprising burst from a random shrub of bushes came Kyou, her devilish grin and stare an obvious look for a demon. She growled hungrily as the two fought with hand to hand combat, the sound of shaking glass echoing through the rising morning as her arms swung across the air. If she hits me with a glass shard, I'm dead, Dylan realized. Though, she looks too clouded and overtaken by her power to think of such a basic move at this point. All she's doing now is attacking me with some really good moves, Dylan realized.
Dylan blocked expertly as crazy hits came at her like a kung fu master's moves. She's not making any wasteful movements, Dylan realized as he watched her kicks and punches come from all different directions. He actually feared her as he tried to make some hits on her. Her eyes were widened like a crazy, psychotic killer's. The two continued to fight with the limbs, the sound of impact going through the air. Dylan jumped in the air, swirling as he jumped over her, trying to make a kick from the air but missing as the kick landed on her forearm. As he came down, he flipped to his feet and began kicking and punching again. Swift combat moves continued and as she made one punch, Dylan jumped to her arm and gave an expert kick to her head, knocking her backward a few feet.
Getting back up from the ground, she smiled, wiping her mouth. She scoffed as she gave a hard stare. Dylan's breath began to form heavier and heavier patterns, holding his arms in front of him in preparation, giving a hardcore stare. I have to keep stalling her while Derek and Zack get ready, Dylan thought to himself. I can't let them down now! That means not using my Half Spirit at all, Dylan demanded of himself. But, I can still use this, Dylan thought as he bent down on one knee to the floor, holding a hand to the dirt ground beneath him. Cracking from the dirt began to form as roots emerged into Dylan's hand, thick, carroty roots that had a sharp touch to them like a dagger. He clasped the root tightly in his hand, taking it from the ground as he got back on his feet. The cold surface was numbing to his fingers.
Not bad, Kyou thought of her opponent as her body was consumed in glass shards, kind of like Eruption with those craggy rocks. He's an expert fighter, but I bet there are many people in his group that are better than him. It'll be fun ripping this rat apart, Kyou thought. His teammates even left him here for me to eat, she scoffed. Kyou smiled evilly as she clasped her fingers together. They traded warmth somehow, their glassy exterior sharp and edgy. "Let's see how much you can grow!" Kyou screeched as she disappeared into the air again, rushing towards him.
Shoot! Dylan thought to himself. She's getting faster and faster by the second! Just what did she do to herself when she rebuilt her arm? Millions of thoughts fell like storming rain in Dylan's mind as Kyou appeared behind him unexpectedly, pulling back her hand, readying herself to swipe her claws at him. Dodging quickly at the last minute, Dylan turned and jumped away from her. I have to keep my distance from her for now, he thought to himself. Pressing his fingers against the palm of the same hand, he reopened his fingers to reveal a handful of seeds. As he continued to float through the air, he hurled them at Kyou with expert aim.
"Seeds?" Kyou smiled, mocking his attempts. "You've got to be kidding me!" Kyou blocked the seeds easily with her forearm. The seeds filtered through the shards protruding from her and glowed brightly, as if they were about to explode. "What?" Kyou cried out as she caught her voice in her throat, her expressions tightening. Suddenly, on cue to her surprise, the seeds flashed an immense light as popping explosions took over her arm, leaving it mostly unharmed.
Dust piled into the air around her as she lost the right to see. Dylan breathed heavily as he lay by the trunk of the tree, resting his energy for only who knows how long. Marks covering his body that showed his tiredness were overtaking. The cold dirt felt comfortable on his back as the sun piled on his emerald eyes. He breathed in a chockfull of soil scented oxygen each time he inhaled. It was a disgusting aroma to have inside your throat, but he didn't care. He was just looking for the coolness inside the dirt. The intense heat from the glass cage from before hadn't worn off just yet. It never seemed to give up. Dirt began to cake the back of his neck and some of his hair as he watched the wisps of dust from the explosion die away.
Suddenly, Dylan felt a tapping from the shadow of a tree nearby. He turned to his side to find the shadow in the shape of a hand, lightly tapping his arm. It's about time, he thought as he struggled to get up. He breathed one last heavy breath as he called out to his opponent. "Hey!" he cried out. Kyou stared at him with demonic, hungry eyes as she wiped the surprise away from them. Dylan carried a careful grin with his glimmering green eyes. "Bet you can't catch me!" Dylan shouted to her, mocking her.
"You brat!" Kyou screeched at him. She rushed out of the cloud of rising smoke and shuffled at amazing speed through the trees. Dylan gulped. She's fast! He noticed yet again. He took off through the trees as well, and headed for the rest of the plan. The sun seemed to filter through the needled holes of clouds and poured to the waiting trees below as panic was what pumped Dylan's blood as he raced through the weeding grass and damp dirt.
Nothing was heard for miles but the blood-thirsty feet of the pursuer hot behind his trail and the Minor's own heavy breathing. Derek should be around here, Dylan told himself as he watched the trees go by like zooming cars.
PoVS
Team one, Eric, Walter, and Mark continued to jump from branch to branch, the sunlight slowly fading away. Eric didn't know what it was about Walter, but he suddenly seemed more willing to work with them. He had a feeling Walter would be a close friend in the future. Someone definitely worth protecting. He was so talented and so cool-headed. He was a prodigy at being a Minor.
Walter rushed through the towering trees with their limp leaves almost half dead, their bodies crooked in a jagged attempt to touch the sky, their fingers cragged like an eagle's claws. Suddenly, his other side of him came to surface, the inner voice ready to make another confrontation. "You've become more willing," the voice echoed in his mind. Walter pretended on the outside like nothing was wrong. "What's wrong?" Nothing, Walter told the voice. Even if my objective is revenge on Void Core, to wipe out the organization and its members, I still must gain power. Gaining power comes from teamwork as well. I'm going to savor the moments I spend here. The voice scoffed at his words. "Fine," it said reluctantly. "But don't forget the task at hand!" it demanded. "Your one and only objective is to wipe out Void Core by gaining power. Not dozing off with some stupid friends you made and wasting your time with picnics in the grass!" the voice reminded. I know, Walter thought seriously. You don't have to tell me.
When Walter spoke to the voice, he always imagined himself back to back with another figure of himself, shaded a light astral blue as they sat cross legged, surrounded by the wrapping darkness known as his inner mind. "What's wrong?" it asked again. "You are just using an excuse to bond with others. You once told me that bonds were useless, did you not?"
Darkness began to wrap the imaginary image of himself, as if choking him to the depths of his thoughts. The darkness wrapped around his neck and body, and enveloped his legs. Walter squinted as he muttered slightly, his voice bouncing off the mind walls. Bonds are useless, Walter told the voice, the sound muffled by a wrapping darkness. His eyes remained calm and narrow, as if there were no shadows strangling him from behind, wrapping him in ebony cocoon. But… in a situation such as this, there is no choice but to receive and give bonds. Being a Minor forces you to create bonds with the other ones, does it not? Walter said, his voice even more muffled now, the darkness becoming thicker and thicker. Suddenly, the shadows stopped. They began to thin and stretch away, retreating back into the depths of Walter's mind.
"I see," the voice echoed, the astral green figure of him disappearing, almost ending their conversation. "How convenient…" it whispered lastly. "For you." Walter sighed inside his own mind as he was slowly brought back to the real world, ready more than ever to face the dangers that awaited him. It's the only way to prove that I've actually got some power now! Walter realized, gritting his teeth tightly as he felt more frantic and willing to rush through the trees with amazing speed.
As they continued to speed by, Eric watched Walter. He sensed that something important, something very relevant had just happened. But he didn't know what. All he knew was that it involved Walter and his own personal thoughts, something he was sure to never share with anyone else. Just what is he struggling with so much? Eric thought. What is the problem that he has such a problem with…? Why won't he let me help? It's one way I take care of the ones I care about… Eric thought as the wind brushed by, solemn and quiet, shy as the wind spirits commanded it to.