Alright, guys! Here's chapter eleven of Extinction! I hope to have this story up and finished by this weekend, but we'll see what happens! Alright, let's get into the action! Storm Out!
Erin took a wide stance, drawing the staff that he had strapped to his back, a four-foot long piece of pinewood carved into the likeness of a dragon. Laying it across his shoulders, he crouched, facing Erza. "So you really intend to sacrifice yourself to occupy Erza?" Jose's voice sounded again, excitement barely contained. "Oh, this will be so enjoyable. I'm going to make her watch as she kills you slowly, painfully, and laugh at her anguish of knowing that she caused the light to leave your eyes!" "Shut up, you old windbag." Erin snarled, his entire being focused on the redhead in front of him. He waited while a glowing light enveloped her, fading to reveal her Purgatory Armor. "Nice choice." Erin remarked, hoping to throw off Jose with his sarcasm. "Going all out from the beginning? Are you that scared of me?" "Get him, puppet!" Jose's voice screamed, and Erza rushed at him, swinging her mace directly at his chest. Sidestepping to the left, Erin allowed Erza to rush past him, whacking her across the back with the tail end of his staff. "Dude," he said, once again directed at Jose, "if this is going to be that boring, I wouldn't have bothered wasting magic energy on the wall." He emphasized his statement with a fake yawn. Erza turned and rushed in again, this time swinging her mace horizontally at his waist. Stepping back, he planted a hand on the mace and vaulted over it, landing behind Erza and sweeping the head of his staff at her feet. Jumping, Erza swung with all her might down towards where his head was, but he wasn't there. Dodging right this time, he jabbed the head into her stomach, forcing all the air out of her body, then danced backwards as she requipped into her Fairy's Legend armor. "Alright," Erin said, fire in his eyes, "NOW we're getting serious."
"Can't they ever just give up?" Natsu complained, slashing through yet another group of enemy wizards with his katana. They had entered the main compound and were following Soul's directions towards the prison cells. Around every corner they had encountered resistance from the Alliance, and it was seriously beginning to tick Natsu off. "OH COME ON!" He screamed as they rounded the corner and faced yet another group of soldiers. These were different, though. They seemed to be…fleeing from something. The answer turned the corner at the far end of the corner while the guards tried to decide what to do. A tall girl with blonde pigtails ran around the corner, followed by Cana, Levy, Evergreen, and Mira. "Finally!" Gajeel exclaimed, relieved. "How's everyone doing?" "Battered, but alive." Mira responded. "Now, let's take out the trash!"
Erin panted as he parried a jab from Erza's blade staff. They had been fighting for around ten minutes, and it was starting to show on Erin's part. Damn, he thought, as he swung his staff to block a slash at neck height from Erza. I should have finished the fight early, but I couldn't. I can't hurt Erza like that! He cried out as Erza's follow through swing caught him in the leg. Hopping backwards to avoid a stab, he took stock of his wound. It was long and shallow, and it hurt like a bitch, preventing him from putting as much weight as he wanted to on that leg. Damn, there goes the "delay and deny" plan. Gonna have to face her straight up, and I won't last long like that. Come on, guys! Hurry it up, or I'm toast!
"So, who's this?" Gajeel asked Levy, indicating the blonde girl currently locked in an embrace with Soul. "Oh, that's Maka." Levy answered." She was a prisoner we found, and she's a wizard! Who's the guy she's with?" "His name's Soul." Gajeel responded, a mischievous glint in his eye. "He's a lieutenant in the Alliance." Levy jerked back and looked at him, shock and fear evident. "Relax, shrimp," Gajeel said, laughing, "He's with us. He's the reason we found you guys." Levy sighed, relaxing, then smacked Gajeel on the arm. "Don't you scare me like that again!" "Understood, shrimp." Gajeel said, turning to the group. "Is everyone ready for a fight? We're going to find Jose and end this once and for all." Everyone nodded, grim looks of determination on their faces. "Where's Erin?" Mira asked from her position by Laxus' side. The guys bowed their heads. "Erin stayed outside to hold off Erza and buy us some time." Natsu said, fury in his voice. "He put up a Hurricane Wall and now he and Erza are fighting." "WHAT?!" Levy exclaimed, shock and worry in her tone. "Jose Porla found Erza, and now she's under some form of mind control." Laxus explained, head bowed. "She can still speak and think like herself, but her body is under Jose's control." "We have to find Jose and break that spell, before we lose Cyclone." Gajeel said. "Wait, is this Cyclone guy strong?" Maka queried, confusion in her voice. The group nodded. "Then he should be able to hold his own rather comfortably. I mean, Erza's a strong wizard, but if he's as strong as you guys are making it sound, then he should be fine." "You don't understand." Natsu stated bluntly. "Erin and Erza have been together longer than anyone. Their feelings are true, and deep as they go. Erin won't be able to harm Erza, but Jose doesn't give a shit about things like love and feelings. He'll laugh if Erza strikes down Erin. It would be like a sick joke to him." The group bowed their heads. "So, let's go find him, and put an end to this, once and for all!" With that, Natsu dashed off, the others close behind him.
Damn. Erin panted as he parried a slash at his ribcage. If this keeps up any longer, I'm history. Blinking away blood from a cut above his eye, he leaped over a swipe at his midsection, landing catlike and parrying the following downward slash. I'm going to have to go on the offensive if I want to hold out, he thought as he backpedaled, but I can't! This is Erza! I won't hurt her! Suddenly, his world flipped upside down as he tripped over the fallen body of an Alliance member. Unable to keep his balance, he fell to the ground, crying out in pain as his shoulder dislocated from falling against his staff. Looking up, he saw Erza, tears in her eyes as she held the sword over her head. "Don't do this!" she whimpered, sobbing. "Please, I beg you, don't make me do this." "Ah," Jose's voice said, malice in his tone, "true love. How easy it is to wipe out." With that, Erza's blade began it's deadly descent. Erin closed his eyes. This is going to hurt.
And that's why they call him Cliff Hanger! Yeah, just gonna bask in the evil glow for a little. Chapter twelve should be up sometime Wednesday! Storm Out!