Sorry for the long delay. I had a huge writer's block to get around.


Honor of the Rising Sun

Chapter 7

Unveiling the Truth

Rain stood there, waiting for the enemies to move in and attack as they seemed to have the upper hand. He can remember a specific strategy when in this situation. However, he hopes that this strategy works even if the enemy doesn't use the same strategies as normal clans.

"An important note to remember is to let the enemies strike first if they have the upper hand."

He did keep one thing in mind, which is that the team has never fought against, or even heard of, the Dark Templar. Rain didn't even know of this sect still existing. However, he decided to give commands.

"Marche; I need you, Becile, Montblanc, and Shultz to keep the customers in this pub from harm! The rest of you are with me on the battlefront!"

Rain stood there with his Bangaa Spike readied. Everyone else has their weapons out and set for their commanded duty. As everyone is ready to fight, a Judge appeared in the pub, watching as the battle ensues and uphold the laws, stating that the laws to Combo abilities, Status Ailments, and Technique abilities are banned. At this point, it's as if the Dark Templar want something from Rain after hearing some rumors of mysteriously cloaked figures wandering the streets looking for someone.

"It's like they want me or something of those matters…I don't know what I'm important for, but I won't let my team down."

Rain then gave an order out, telling them to form the Delta 7 formation; a guard type formation used during the times of the old ages. However, before he could even set himself up, a sharp pain in his left arm began to cause him to kneel down, as he held his arm from the pain. Marche had thoughts of going to Rain, but he then heard Becile crying in pain as well. He looked down to see Becile kneeling on the ground holding her right shoulder as she seems to have the same sharp pain in her shoulder as Rain does in his arm. Marche started to speak, but couldn't exactly get what he wanted out when Nikolai began to yell out commands.

"Shultz, get Becile and Rain out of here! The rest of you, you're with me!" Nikolai ordered.

Shultz took his orders and began to gather the debilitated Rain and Becile as their bodies are racking with pain. However, Rain only shrugged Shultz's help away, seeing as to that he'd rather continue than to let someone else carry him out.

"Shultz, get Becile out of here now! I'll hold them back while you and the others make your escape!" Rain ordered.

"But, Rain, you're-"

"Shultz, you don't have much of a choice in this matter! I'll hold them all back while the rest of you leave for safety!"

Shultz acknowledged Rain's request and gave the order out to the others. Everyone else then complied with the order and began to run for the back door while giving cover for the people hanging around the bar, including the bar owner. Rain kept his focus while doing what he can to keep the pain in the back of his mind.

The Dark Templar stepped forward, who seems to be the leader, and began to speak with Rain.

"I ssee that you're not doing well as ussual, thankss to your 'sstigma'," The Dark Templar said.

Rain's face lit up into a smirk, recognizing the voice. "I see that you've somehow managed to get yourself into the Dark Templar Sect, Bingley Tarboyzhe!"

Bingley stood there, neither surprised nor baffled. Bingley is there on his mission, which is to eradicate the remaining memories of Clan Delta. He will follow his orders, and do what he can to take down any of the remaining members of Clan Delta, or anyone who would be a potential threat. In this case, only four would be considered a threat. He does know that Rain's skills on the battlefield are well known, but he does know a weakness to Rain's tactics.

"Clossed quarterss combat iss the only thing that Rain cannot win in, which thiss iss a perfect opportunity for uss!"

Rain stood there, knowing of his weakness of closed quarters combat. Even though he does have quite a bit of room, he still has the problem of enemies flooding in. He does know that there are ways around this, but he doesn't have the power, or the law, on his side. However, he heard the sound of a whistle and the sound of the Judge stating something outside the pub. Bingley, on the other hand, didn't care as this was a part of the plan that he was given.

"I ssee that one of your unitss hass been injured on the field of battle," Bingley stated.

"Yet, you'd sacrifice one of your units just for some status effect…" Rain mumbled.

"Not jusst any sstatuss effect, but a sspecial one that only I can enhance!" Bingley boasted. "You ssee, I have the ability to enhance one of my pawnss sso that they can use a sspecial life reducing ailment againsst any unit insside the field of battle and have the effect lasst even after battle. There'ss no cure to it, no matter how hard you try to find one, jusst like your sstigma."

With that, Bingley and the six other minions he has with him began to laugh, knowing that whoever they managed to get are more than likely to die from it. Thinking about that sent chills down Rain's spine as it could be anybody. And in a situation like this, he has no choice but to use an attack that he hasn't revealed yet.

Rain gave a solid glance. "Well, I guess this is where I make my exit then…"

Rain brought his right hand up and clenched his hand into a fist. Around his fist, energy began to build around that point as he steps back with his right foot. Rain brought his arm back, ready to hit something hard. Bingley can only laugh at this.

"Ha! You think that Earth Render will help you? It'ss againsst the law for one thing! The other being that we can dodge it no problem!"

"I know that Earth Render is against the law, but what makes you think I'm using that!"

Bingley's expression changed from a laughing gesture into a shocked gesture, seeing that Rain is serious about this. With that final thought in mind, Bingley couldn't imagine what else he could use.

"B-but…if it'ss not Earth Render…then…what…"

Rain can feel the energy around his fist, feeling that the time is right to unleash the attack.

"Bingley, this is the end for you!"

The energy around Rain's fist began to glow, as he began to call forth his attack. "FINAL HEAVEN!"

The Judge outside heard the commotion on the inside of the pub, but before he could set himself up in front of the doorway, the front walls to the pub burst out as the seven members of the Dark Templar sect came flying out. The Judge was about to call for a penalty against the use of Combo abilities, but after seeing who did it and what attack he unleashed, he reversed his decision before he could call it out. Bingley, however, stood up and disputed the decision.

"Judge! You know that it wass a Combo ability, sso send him to the jails!" Bingley said.

The Judge turned to Bingley, and began to state the ruling. "The ruling stands that Templar Rain Sagarouso did not perform a Combo ability. What he has performed is a special ability that replaces the Combo ability. The difference is that it isn't considered a Combo, but an ability that we cannot set a law against due to the Judgemaster's ruling."

Bingley began to grumble, very hateful for what's happening. Bingley would've been able to finish off Rain now, but because of the fact that most of his special techniques are Dark, he can't use them. However, what he does have is the advantage since Rain can't use his Tech abilities, nor can he use his Combo thanks to the special attack that Rain revealed earlier. Plus, he also has the "stigma" to debilitate Rain from fighting. However, what's holding him back is the fact that Rain has that attack, which there's nothing that the Judge can do against it. He finally can make a decision, seeing the situation.

"All troopss, retreat!"

Giving his command, this prompted the Judge to call that Clan Nutsy won by default.

"The members of Clan Nutsy have won this contest by default. The members of Clan Nutsy shall receive their award of Gil for winning in this battle," the Judge announced.

Most of the members are overjoyed to hear this, but Rain, on the other hand, is more worried about whoever was attacked by that special attack. Rain looked around, trying to find out who it was that was attacked. Once he found Marche, he couldn't help but asking.

"Marche, tell me who was attacked!" Rain demanded.

Marche couldn't help but have a sad look in his eyes. He then answered, "It was Shultz. Nikolai, Becile, Lita, and Theodore all went to the nearest medical center to see if he can be treated."

Rain turned on his heel and ran off to see Shultz's condition. If what Bingley said is true, then there's no hope for Shultz. To Rain, Shultz has been like an uncle to him ever since the news of Clan Delta's death by the hands of the Dark Templar.

Medical units have been constantly using every possible spell that is available to heal Shultz from this plague that's been infesting his body since the battle. They've been informed that Shultz's condition has taken into a strange effect that they've never seen before. Shultz has become short of breath as his heart rate has increased significantly. What's holding him from death is unknown. Theodore can only sit there, feeling great pity for the new member, despite for the experience Shultz has had on the battlefield with Clan Delta.

The wooden door to the entrance swung open as a Templar came charging through. What stopped him in his tracks would be his clan.

"Hey, how's Shultz doing?" Rain asked.

Theodore walked up to Rain, head down as he answered. "I'm sorry, Rain, but it appears as if Shultz can't make it. He said that he wanted to see you before he died…"

Rain stood there for a few seconds before he gave a nod of compliance to Shultz's request. As a Templar, he is required to take any logical request that is given by someone that is close to them. However, as Shultz's friend, he would see him regardless. Rain entered the room where Shultz lie in his sick bed. His breathing has become raspy, and his scaly skin is filled with sweat. Rain stood there, speaking with Shultz.

"Shultz, I have news of the battle if you'd like to hear it."

Shultz looked over to Rain with darkened eyes. "I…would like to…hear the battle…re…port."

Rain took a deep breath, and began to speak. "We won. The enemy retreated from the battle, giving us victory by default. However, the reasons why is unknown."

"I…heard…you used…Final Heaven…am I correct?"

Rain hesitated, but then answered. "Yes…I did use the Final ability. Why do you ask of this?"

Shultz made a small chuckle, followed by raspy coughing. He managed to recover quickly from the coughing and spoke up again. "It's…because that technique…is…feared by the Dark Templar. When…your father used it…he…put fear…in their eyes."

"I see…that's why he retreated." Rain thought for a minute before he spoke under his breath. "That's one more battle won against the people who killed my parents and destroyed Clan Delta."

"Rain…that's…not true…"

Hearing this, Rain couldn't believe what he heard from Shultz. He remembers every word of what Shultz told him on that day, and now Shultz is telling him that there's something else to it.

"Rain…there's…something…I have to tell you…"

Rain sat down on a chair and listened closely to what Shultz has to say. Shultz then continued. "It…wasn't the…Dark Templar. It…was…it was…a single man…that destroyed…Clan Delta. A…man with…one…wing."