The Battle

A Note: This is a very violent chapter and consists bloody scenes, coarse language, possible OOC characters, and level of cheesiness. You are warned.

"You didn't expect this, did you, Karin Hanazono?" Hiroshi smirked, pointing his staff at her.

Karin almost choked. This wasn't possible. "How'd you get the ring?" She demanded, her heart pounding like crazy.

"Easy. I received one from Fuka."

"What?" Karin almost passed out. She looked back at Fuka, who was looking down on the ground with guilt. "How'd you get the ring then?" She said urgently, and then, turning back to Hiroshi, "And which God are you?"

Fuka started crying again, large sobs filling the air. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry…"

Hiroshi cut in. "I possess the power of Ares; one of the most powerful Gods." And with that, he yelled, "GOD, STRIKE!"

A powerful ball of light formed on the point of his staff and shot towards Karin. "KYAA!" Karin screamed and dodged. Hiroshi started chuckling. "Do you think the Goddess of Knowledge can beat the God of War?" Karin clenched her teeth and winced with pain.

"GOD, THUNDER!" She yelled, waving her staff.

Hiroshi immediately got hit by Karin's power. "Damn it!" He cursed, standing up again. He wiped his cheek, a smearing blood across it. "GOD, FIRE!" a solid red hot ball surged towards Karin. This time it hit her.

Karin managed to climb back up again, but her arms were badly hurt and were burning with pain.

Hiroshi muttered something under his breath, something like a spell. Then his staff transformed into a long, big, sword. An eerie smile formed on his face.

"Let's fight."

A moment later, Hiroshi was just barely standing, looking as if he was going to collapse. Karin was on the ground, a small puddle of blood forming beneath her ankle. They were both badly hurt, and could hardly continue to fight.

Fuka had run away. That stupid girl! She such a traitor! She left me here and ran off by herself! Karin thought angrily, watching as a fresh line of crimson drip down her arm.

Hiroshi glared at her, struggling to keep standing. He circled her cautiously, holding the sword so tight his knuckles were white.

"Karin… you really shouldn't have protected that bitch." Hiroshi said through clenched teeth. "She isn't worth it. You're much more valuable than her." With this, Karin looked up, alarmed.

There was a tinge of sadness in those golden eyes, and they were softened, just ever so slightly. "She's manipulative, with an outer image of an angel but an inner image of a devil." His eyes hardened again. "She isn't worth anyone's love or trust."

"I'm sorry, Karin." He lowered his eyes and brought upon his sword. He transformed it back into a staff. "GOD, EXPLOSION!"

Karin squeezed her eyes shut, preparing for her death. Instead, seconds past and she didn't feel any pain.

"Get up, woman!" Karin opened her eyes, shocked. She had never been so happy to hear that sexist boy.

"Kazune-kun!" She said happily. "Duh! What the hell are you doing here and what are you thinking?" He yelled, holding up his staff to shield them from Hiroshi's crazed blows.

"And who is that God?" He demanded, wincing as the blows increased. "He's Kagami. Well, he's Hiroshi who pretended to be Kagami. And he's the God of Ares." She quickly said.

"You woman are pathetic!" He scoffed, taking a step forward. "He's Ares for God sake, and you're Athena. Athena can beat Ares any day, any time! You got to know the history and characteristics of each God. Watch and learn."

His staff transformed into a large, elegant bow. "Karin, lend me your power!" He commanded, pulling at Karin.

Karin thought she was going to help Kazune-kun with the bow, but instead, Kazune-kun said, "Karin, give me your staff. It's going to be my arrow."

"WHAT?" Karin said incredulously, holding on her staff tightly. "You're going to shoot my staff?"

"Hurry up, Karin, we don't have time to argue! When I shoot out the staff, just use Athena's power!" He grabbed the staff from Karin's hand and rested it on his bow.

Karin was freaked out. What should she say? She hardly knew any of Athena's powers! Which one was she supposed to use? But she had no time to think about that. Before she knew it, Kazune-kun was calling out, "Deus poderi solaris!"

As the staff left the bow with a burst of light, Karin yelled out whatever came out of her brain, "GODDESS, WISDOM!"

Hiroshi dodged it. Karin felt her stomach drop. They had missed. Suddenly, the staff just followed him and hit with a powerful explosion.

The two stood there, frozen. The staff had followed the victim? This was not right.

They looked at the unconscious enemy on the ground before them, not knowing what to do. All they knew was that they won.

Suddenly, Karin felt as if the world was swirling around her. Everything became fuzzy and even her wounds seem to lessen in pain. She collapsed on the ground on her knees, holding her head. "Kazune-kun…" She murmured, swaying back and forth.

"Karin?" Kazune-kun turned around, rushing to her side. "What wrong—Oh crap!" He looked at the all the blood on the ground around her. "You're losing too much blood!"

And that was the last thing Karin heard as she went limp in his arms.

:::::::I hope you didn't mind. Hmm... I wonder what happens next...?:::::::