Heeeeeeey Alllllll! So after a very long hiatus the story is back! I apologize for the fact that this took so long, this chapter was a tough one to figure out. I have a lot of specific points in the story already thought out, but nothing in between those points is concrete. So, when this chapter came up, I had a general idea of what I wanted to do after a brainstorm session, but actually coming up with something that I thought acceptable was a long and painstaking process. I ended up re-writing this chapter 4 (/4.5) times. And naturally there was schoolwork and a job and my now boyfriend taking some of my time during that process, it was to say the least slow. But now this chapter is up and I know for the most part what I wanna do with the next one so keep a look out for it! :D
P.S. I still wont be on all that regular of an update schedule since I am now working a full-time job, but I will shoot for every 2~3 weeks :D. Enjoy!
"So where is the complex supposed to be again Jake?" Chance asked of his partner as the two hiked through a mountainous setting
"Well after we get past this mountain, there is supposed to be a small inset forest, the complex is supposed to be there according to the intelligence that Shinigami-Sama gave us."
Chance, Kid and Jake are standing in front of a mirror in the hall way of DWMA
"So how does this work?" Chance asked Kid
"Alright, all you have to do is write the numbers 42-42-561 on any mirror surface, like this..." Kid then
breathed on the surface of the mirror, "WAIT! IT'S OFF-CENTER BY .1 CM!" Kid yelled referring to the patch of condensation on the mirror. He quickly went up and started "erasing" the patch. "Here let me just start over...NOW IT's off by .2 CM!"
"Here, let me do it Kid" Jake cut in as Kid began erasing it again. Jake stepped up to the mirror and breathed on it, he then wrote 42-42-561 on the surface and stepped back. There was a slight flicker on the surface when...
"HELLOOOOO!" Shinigami yelled as his image appeared on the mirror. Chance and Jake drew back and covered their ears at their..."principles"...enthusiasm
"Hello Shinigami-sama!" Chance and Jake said as they bowed
"You said you wanted to talk to us sir?" Chance questioned
"Yes yes, go ahead and come to my office"
Chance and Jake shared confused looks as Kid directed them down a hall. About a minute later they came to the large doors that apparently led into Shinigami's office.
"Go ahead and go in. I have to go take care of some things." Kid said as he walked away
Jake nodded at him as Chance opened the large set of doors. The two walked in to be greeted with a long stretch of space that was similar to the open sky with an archway leading to another set of doors.
"Woooooow, not exactly a hallway hunh?" Chance mused
"Yeah, it's different at the very least" Jake commented as the two approached the doors
Chance knocked on the doors when they finally got to them. "COME IN!" Shinigami-sama's easily identifiable voice called. Chance and Jake promptly did as their principle asked. As soon as they got up to his desk, the two politely bowed
"Hello Shinigami-sama" Chance said
"Oh boys no need to bow, you don't need to be that formal!" Shinigami answered back at him. The two promptly stood straight. "So you are probably wondering why I called you here, yes?" Chance and Jake nodded in unison. "Well, I've been watching your performance lately, even though you two have only been attending this school for a few months now your progress has been amazing. You two are already at 26 souls and are at the top of the E.A.T class right now, rivaled only by Callie-chan and Felina-chan." Shiniami stood from his desk, " I want to see if you two will be able to handle something more, so I'm sending you two on a mission that I'd usually wait to give to a student who's been here for at least a year." Chance and Jake shared an equally excited look. "So, the mission is..."
"Still can't believe he sent us on this!" Chance said as he climbed through some bushes, having cleared the mountain and now in the forest
"Yeah I know! We have to be careful though, these guys are supposed to be really dangerous. There's only four of them but according to the info that Sid-senpei managed to get, Tehy call themselves thew Bon gang and they've all taken quite a few human souls and at least three of them are known to be dangerous. They most likely have guns. And I his report Sid-senpai said that one of them always had a claw like weapon with him. He couldn't get info on the fourth, other than visual confirmation. So, we have at least two long range and one short, with a possible plus one to eaither. So..." Jake looked over his shoulder to see that chance had stopped dead in his tracks and was shooting a blank, unenthused expression toward his partner. "...I talk to much don't I?"
"Bingo!" Chance said giving his friend a thumbs up.
"Hey! You can't use my catch-phrase!"
"Since when have you said that?"
"Well, I used to say it all the time back in high school apparently. Jackie never stopped giving me crap for it, so I guess I just stopped one day." Jake said with a shrug
"Hunh, maybe you should pick it up again, I like catch-phrases, I think they're quirky...in a good way!" Chance said with his tongue out
That caught Jake's attention, "Well, I guess I might have to hunh?"
Chance responded with a chuckle, "You know, we should prolly be a bit more serious, we don't wanna alert them before we even get to their hideout."
"Yeah, good point. We'll also have to be on our A game if we are going to take on all four of them at once."
"Hmmm, wouldn't it be nice if we could separate them somehow. I mean, we are better at fighting only a couple people at once, if that."
As Chance and Jake continued their conversation they came up on a clearing. "Chance stop!" Jake said in a hushed tone
Chance immediately did as he was told and ducked in behind a tree while Jake knelled in a bush next to him. "That look like it?" Chance asked, his tone having immediately changed, now serious
"Yeah. Wooden cabin in forested outskirts. Fits the bill to me, but lets wait and see if any of the bon gang comes into view." Jake said as he slowly peaked out from his hiding space, his tone mimicking that of Chance
The two waited for a few minutes, but saw no activity whatsoever. "You think we could get up to the cabin and peak inside?" Chance asked
"...Yeah, we probably can. See that section of forest that's close to the window? If we move up from over there we have a much lower chance of being found." Jake responded. Chance nodded in acknowledgment. The two slowly made their way over to the spot Jake mentioned, making sure to keep the cabin in sight just in case. When they came up to it they both took their place behind a tree and waited a few minutes. Following Sid-sensei's advice that, when doing recon, they should go slow as not to be discovered. Chance peaked out from behind the tree at the nearby window. He saw a figure pass by the window and pulled back behind the tree.
"Yup, definitely saw someone pass by the window. I couldn't confirm if it was actually who we're after though." Chance informed his partner
"Well they all look the same apparently so if I see one, then we can make the call."
"How the hell is that even possible?" Chance asked
"I don't know! Don't ask questions." Jake replied with a slight humor in his voice
"Yeah, yeah, screw you too. So how do you suggest we get a visual?" Chance replied
"If only you would." Jake thought while he rolled his eyes and smiled a bit. "Well..." Jake looked around trying to find a good vantage point. His eyes moved to the roof. "Hey! There's a window there on the attic! IF we could get to that then..."
"One problem Jake. There is nothing we can use to get up there."
"Well..." Jake shot a glance at Chance, "You could boost me up to it and I could climb in and then..."
"NO WAY JAKE! I'm NOT letting you go in there alone." Chance said, raising his voice a bit, but still keeping to a dull whisper
"Chance, I'd just go in there to confirm it's them. I'd come back out when I get visual and then we can plan out the rest. They won't even know I'm in there."
"Jake, you have no clue what the layout of the house is! What if that window leads right into one of the rooms their in?"
"Hang on." Jake said raising a paw, Jake took a deep breath and focused. Chance didn't even have to ask what his partner was doing, Jake had gone through a lot of practice with this ability for the past few weeks. Chance couldn't help but smirk when he remembered how he and Jake practiced in their apartment.
Jake pulled out his phone after it vibrated. The text was from Chance "Give it a shot!" it read. Jake took a deep breath in and focused, trying to find any hint of a soul wavelength. After a few seconds, he found what he was looking for. His eyes shot open and immediately Jake saw his friends soul. It was like everything else was transparent, or just not there. "Your in the kitchen!" Jake called. After a few seconds Jake got another text. "Now?" It read. Jake repeated the procedure. "Hallway!" He called.
"Good Job!" Chance called out
After that Jake heard nothing, no text either. "Guess he's just waiting on me," Jake repeated all of the steps for a third time. "Your in the..." Jake blushed a little "...bathroom" he finished. After which he promptly heard the toilet flush.
"Well, that wasn't part of it...but good job all the same!" Chance called back
(Insert break)
Jake's eyes shot open and he immediately saw the souls of what he thought were the Bon gang. They were red, just like they had learned in class, but they looked just like a normal human soul. "Yeah, they're in there. Wait a sec... Chance, I only see three of them."
"What, but I thought..." Chance looked back toward his partner to see light reflecting off of something. "JAKE!"
"Wha?!" Jake snapped out of his trance when Chance grabbed him by the wrist and pulled Jake close to himself, a set of sharp claws narrowly missing Jake's back. Had this been any other situation Jake would have probably been blushing, enjoying this position, but this was not the time. Chance jumped back, with Jake firmly in his arms to distance them from their unknown attacker. Chance let Jake go, who immediately got battle ready beside him.
"You must be some DWMA brats! Im gonna love the way your souls taste after I gut you!" the attacker shouted
Chance's eyes quickly shot toward the house to see if any of the other Bon gang had heard their altercation, to their luck none had. "Yup definitely one of the Bon gang. Jake, we gotta take this guy out fast." Jake responded with a nod and quickly grabbed hold of Chance's hand, instantly changing into his weapon form.
"So kitty does have claws. Well SO DO I!" The Bon gang member immediately rushed at the duo with unabashed fury, slashing his scissor like claws wildly at Chance.
"Fuck!" Chance jumped back to try and distance himself, but the target was definitely fast. Chance had no choice but to guard. He put the blade up to block the first claw coming at him, he was able to wedge the blade in-between the individual claw blades, stopping the target in his tracks. The target only grinned wickedly, bringing up his second claw aiming straight for Chances expected as much though, and shifted his stomach to the side, avoiding the would-have-been fatal attack. Chance promptly grabbed onto the targets wrist and held him in place. "YOU DWMA FILTH!"
At those words the door to the cabin burst open and the other three Bon gang members came out from the house, with two of them carrying what looked like SMG's. "What the hell?!" One of the screamed
"Damn it!" Jake called out, "Chance finish him quick!" Chance did as he was told and threw the target against a tree. The target hit the tree back first, he hit it so hard that he actually bounced off of it. Chance wasted no time, he darted at the target, still in air, and thrust Jake forward straight into the targets chest, pinning him to the tree. He let out one cough, then his body flashed as his soul was released.
"Get em!" One of the other Bon gang members called out. Immediately the two with guns started firing.
"Dammit! Those are actual bullets!" Chance said as he hid behind a tree. "Jake absorb him quick! We gotta get outta here!" Jake immediately turned back into a kat and put his palm up to the soul, pulling it into his body. "Come on, let's pull back!" Chance said making a motion with his hand. Jake nodded and the two broke into a dead sprint through the forest.
"Chase em' down!" One of the Bon gangs yelled. They broke into a firm chase, never failing to let bullets fly.
"Dammit how are we gonna lose them?" Jake asked with a slight tone of worry
"We can't go to the mountains, we have to duck outta sight here soon!"
The bullets continued to fly as the duo tried to escape their pursuers. They flew past tree after tree, which thankfully blocked many of the bullets. Chance ran close to his partner, he did not want them to get separated by any extension. As they were running Jake noticed a small lake with a dock to the side of the forest "Chance!" Jake called, getting his partners attention. He pointed at the lake instead of saying it, as not to give away his plan.
Chance shifted his gaze to the lake and immediately noticed the dock. The hairs on the back of his neck immediately stood up. "Jake, no I can't..."
Chance was cut off by a bullet that came wizzing by. "AHHH!" Jake screamed as he fell over.
"Wha?!" Chance exclaimed. Not a second later he was by Jakes side, having come to a full stop. Jake was holding his arm. "Oh fuck did they hit you!?" Chance moved Jake's paw to see a deep red mark across the length of Jake's upper arm with some skin and fur missing, it was bleeding more thanit looked like it should. "The bullet didn't go in, it just scrapped ya. Damn that looks like it hurt." Chance could hear their pursuers getting closer, bullets still flying by. Chance remembered the idea Jake had come up with. "Fuck!" Chance picked up Jake with ease and got him on his back. Chance ran as fast as he could over to the lake. Thankfully the dock was close by. Chance got right ext to the edge of the water near the dock, "Please be really shallow!" Chance thought to himself. He put one foot in checking how deep it was. Then he thought he heard the voices of the Bon gang behind him so he went right in. The water was deeper than he thought originally. Even where the dock was right next to the shore the water came up to Chances midsection. His breathing quickly picked up, which Jake quickly took note of.
"Chance! Whats wrong!?" Jake asked hearing their pursuers get even closer. Chances grip had loosened enough to let Jake move. He wiggled his way out of Chances grip and lowered himself into the water, it came up to his chest. "Chance?" Jake asked, circling to his friends side.
"Shhh, don't worry about it Jake"
"But.." Jake was cut off by Chance's hand clasping over his mouth. Chance took in a deep breath and held it
The sound off footsteps stopped dead right around the shore of the lake. "Where he hell did they go!?" one of the Bon gang yelled out as they searched the area. "Check everywhere!" another yelled
Chance and Jake could hear them completely as they canvased the area. After a few seconds Chance would not be able to hold his breath any longer.
"Hey! I saw something over there!" one of the Bon yelled and they immediately rushed back to the forest.
After they were sure that they were all gone, Chance let out a huge breath and started breathing hard for a bit. After he had caught his breath, Chance was met with a concerned look from Jake. "Ummm...I was just out of breath from all of that running."
Jake dropped the look, but he didn't believe it for a moment. "Alright...well..." Jake looked around, they could easily get back into the forest, and, as long as they were careful, they could navigate to safety and hide out for a bit, but... "It would probably be safer if we swam to the other end of the lake. It's not too far away so we could just hold our breath until we get to the other side." Jake immediately did as he suggested, or at least acted like he did. He went underwater a swam back a little so he could still semi-see Chance through the murk. When Chance didn't do anything, Jake swam back to him and emerged to see Chance looking down with a disappointed demeanor.
"I thought that's what you were gonna do. Damn it Jake...I can't swim"
"Yeah, I gathered that. So let me guess, you got all anxious when you stepped into the lake because you knew you couldn't swim and were worried about..."
"Drowning? Yeah, a bit, but I was more worried about...being able to carry you." Jake cocked his head with some confusion. Chance responded by pointing at Jake's arm. Jake looked at it, having completely forgot about it...and the pain associated with it, he winced a bit and immediately understood. He couldn't help but blush at his friends level of concern. "You honestly think that this would have stopped me from being able to swim?" Jake said pointing to his wound, wincing once more
Chance's stupor immediately ended, "Well, I didn't know how bad it was, I was just worried buddy. Here let me at least wrap that up." Chance grabbed a piece of his shirt that had gotten ripped during the run and tore off a section, big enough to cover the wound. He gingerly grabbed Jake's arm and pulled it up, he then tied the torn piece of cloth around Jake's still bleeding wound. "Sorry, it's gonna have to be a bit tight if we wanna stop the bleeding." Chance said as he slowly tightened the makeshift bandage.
"It's fine, I can take a little pain." Jake said with a wink. Chance couldn't help but smirk,what Jake said wasn't even funny, it was more the quirky action in light of the situation. Chance finished tying the knot on Jake's bandage, "All right, that'll do it." Chance said adding a pat to the shoulder.
Jake smiled, "Thanks! Alright, lets get out of this water finally!"
Chance peaked out from beneath the dock, he didn't realize how long he had to duck down, his neck was stiff. "It's clear" he and Jake promptly climbed out onto the shore. "It is gonna to take for-ever for these to dry." Chance said after he was firmly on the shore.
"Yuuuup." Jake agreed, climbing up next to Chance, "If you're not comfortable being wet, you could just strip." Jake added a playful smirk and wink.
"Yeah, yeah you just wanna see me naked." Chance said while poking Jake in the chest, with a playful, devilish smirk of his own
"Yeah, suuuuure" Jake retorted, chuckling. Chance chuckled back, non the wiser as to the semi-obvious literalism
"Hey! I think I heard something over here!" The calming funny moment was over, The Bon gang had returned and Chance and Jake quickly ran to a hiding location in a part of the nearby forest. Jake changed into his weapon form soon after they hid, his bandage had even become part of his weapon form, tied around the palm of the glove. A few seconds later, the two gun-toting members of the Bon gang came into view at the clearing near the lake. "Damn! I know I wasn't hearing things!"
"Alright, how are we gonna handle this little buddy?"
"Well if we can just get at one of them, and take him out quick, then the other won't be much of a problem. I mean we have sparred with Callie enough that we know how to deal with a gun."
"Right, let's wait until they get a bit closer, then pounce." Chance affirmed. Jake's image flashed on the blade surface and he nodded.
"Alright, we better get back to Reggie before he gets pissed." One of the Bon said as they made their way back into the forest, passing close by where Jake and Chance were hid.
"Now!" Jake yelled.
"Wha!?" Both Bon members spun around when they heard the sudden outcry. Chance dashed from his hiding place so that he was right in front of one of the confused members. He made a wide slash at the Bon's abdomen and was rewarded with a floating evil human soul. "You bastards! I'LL KILL YOU!" The other Bon let out a constant flurry of bullets from his SMG. Chance ducked behind a tree, leaving the evil human soul where it floated. Chance ran from tree to tree, skillfully dodging the bullets until...*click click* the noise of an empty clip came from the Bon members gun. Chance was immediately behind the Bon after he heard the noise. "Looks like your time and your clip have something in common. Chance said just before impaling the Bon with Jake. "They both just ran out." he said as he was greeted with another floating evil human soul.
"Really?" Jake said as he reverted back to his kat form, "they both just ran out." he said in a mock-Chance tone
"Bitch, just get to absorbing!" Chance said with a serious face, followed by him sticking his tongue out
"Yeah, yeah." Jake said with a light chuckle as he went and absorbed both of the floating souls. As Jake absorbed the second soul, his body flashed slightly. Jake looked down at his hands as the faint white glow quickly faded
Chance's eyes grew wide as dinner plates when he saw his partner glow. "What was that!?" He couldn't help but express his excitement
"I don't know."
"You've gained some power."said a voice from behind a tree
Chance and Jake immediately took fighting stances as the person whom the voice belonged to emerged from behind the trees, it was the final member of the Bon gang
"After a demon weapon absorbs so many souls, their power increases. Usually it's very slight, but I suppose it changes based on the weapon in question."
Chance and Jake didn't respond, but merely held the glares toward the final Bon member.
"Come now, is it proper to act like that to someone who just so generously answered your question?" The Bon member chuckled. "I like to know the names of the people I fight, you may call me Stray."
Chance couldn't help but answer back, "Chance"
Jake decided to follow his partners lead, "Jake"
Stray laughed, "Now they decide to speak to me. Well, I must say, I'm slightly saddened that you killed my lackeys. Without them I have no pawns to do my work."
Chance and Jake drew back in surprise
"Didn't think I'd say that hunh? Yes, those three were my brothers, but they could never be as powerful as I am. All they were good for was getting me souls and doing all the dirty work that comes with it." Stray let out another maniacal cackle
That, if nothing else was the cue, Jake grabbed Chances hand and turned into his blade form.
"Oho, so, ready to fight are we? Good," Stray's body began to twitch in certain places. "because I've been waiting for a good fight!" His arm began to twitch madly about. "All of these human souls I've eaten! I can feel them all coursing through me!" His whole body began to twitch, his arm stretching out, almost touching the ground. "I can hear their screams, their cries. This is wonderful!"
Chance and Jake couldn't help but wear a look of disgust. This...thing truly was no longer human.
Stray's arm began to take the form of a long sickle, as he continued to laugh wildly. Chance and Jake weren't going to wait for their enemy to finish transforming if it meant they could finish him. Chance darted forward at full sprint.
"Could this be?" Stray's arm became a full-fledged sickle his other arm began to spasm uncontrollably as his body took it's new grotesque, hump-backed shape. "What they call...madness?" he said rather calmly as his other arm stopped moving, adorning holes at his fingertips. A wide, wicked smile sprawled across his face as he raised his arm, pointing his fingers at the sprinting kat.
"Chance move!" Jake yelled
Chance knew to immediately take his partners advice and quickly rolled to the side as something flew past his face.
"What the?!" Chance didn't have time to ask again, Stray quickly aimed his hand at Chance and fired off another mysterious bullet. Chance wasted no time running into the nearby thicket to avoid the upcoming onslaught of bullets.
"YOU THINK THOSE TREES WILL SAVE YOU?!" Stray yelled as he continued to fire and laugh menacingly
Chance didn't catch a break, he had to keep moving or risk getting shot, or hit by the wood that was splitting of the trees that got hit. "What the hell is he firing at us?" Chance managed to ask as he narrowly avoided a large splinter that flew past him
"I can't tell, the bullets are firing so fast that I can't get a fell for them." Jake responded. As Chance continued to run, the number of trees that we're readily available to block the incoming bullets were dwindling, at least within the viable space of fighting their enemy. "Damn it! Chance we have to split up! He can only fire at one of us!"
"But Jake!"
"Chance don't worry, I can handle myself!" Chance responded with a semi-despondent nod. He quickly removed Jake from his wrist, Jake sheathing his blade portion into the glove. "Hey Stray! Catch!" Chance said as he stopped briefly and threw the glove at Stray. Stray cocked his head to the right, easily dodging the thrown object. Stray didn't skip a beat and kept firing at the tabby. Jake quickly returned to his kat form and darted at Stray, hoping that he actually caught him off guard. Jake changed his arm into his blade and got within striking distance. Still not having alerted Stray over the cacophony that was the myriad of trees being shot. Jake came in with a quick slash...only to be effortlessly blocked by Strays new sickle arm.
"You didn't think that I didn't thought that little glove-throw was for nothing did you?" Stray asked aloud without even looking at Jake as he continued to fire at Chance. Jake drew back in surprise, but then continued to slash at Stray with a mad fervor, all the while Stray continued to shoot at Chance and blocked Jake without even looking at him.
"Damn it! What are we gonna do?" Chance thought as he continued to dodge the array of bullets
Jake was still slashing in a crazed fashion at Stray, nothing connecting. Jake made a big slash upaward, to which Stray stuck his sickle in the path of, holding it in place. With this Jake saw an opening at Strays midsection. Jake quickly spun around moving Strays arm, and sickle to the side as he brought his elbow into Strays stomach. Stray let out a cough and keeled over a bit from the sudden pain. Chance heard the bullets stop and immediately darted from the trees...or at least what remained of them. Jake tried to move out of the way, but Stray grabbed him by the scruff of his neck. "You didn't think that was gonna weaken me that much did you?" Stray stood up straight and threw Jake abruptly forward, making him roll. Chance couldn't stop his run, and Stray made a wide back hand straight to Chance's chest with his club-like gun-arm. Chance was lifted into the air and thrown off to the side, all of the air escaping his body on impact. Chance tumbled a bit, landing a slight angle away from Jake. Stray stood and admired what he just did for a second before he aimed his gun-arm at Chance. "Well this was fun, but..." Stray's maniacal smile played across his face, "I'm afraid I have to end this!"
Chance looked up to see Stray aiming at him and out of instinct raised his arms to block whatever was coming at him. Jake looked up and saw what was about to happen to his friend. Jake instantly got up and ran over to Chance. "Chance!" He yelled as he jumped in between Chance and Stray, just as Stray began to fire off the bullet.
Chance looked up, reacting to his name being called, "Jake no!" He yelled seeing his friend came between him and Stray. Jake braced for the impact by attempting to put his arm into weapon form. Jake's eyes slammed shut as he awaited the bullet. Jake's preemption was met with only the noise of something bouncing off metal. Jake immediately opened his eyes, but was met with a sight he had not expected. Where Jake's sword would have been was instead a small shield clad in an array of black,red,and blue coloring. "What the..?" Jake questioned
"Oho, so it seems you did gain a new power" Stray said, his smile never faltering. Chance had gotten up and now stood beside Jake. They clasped hands and Jake took on his new shield form on Chance's wrist, the shield itself being a bit larger than it was for Jake. "But, let's see you block another!" Stray fired another bullet at the duo. Chance raised his arm to block, but he was completely unaware of where the shot was going. The same bouncing off metal sound echoed again through the destroyed forest. Chance and Stray shared a look of astonishment. "What!?" Stray yelled firing again. And yet again the shot did not connect. "How!?" Stray fired again, same result. "HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE!?" Stray began to fire madly at the duo, but none of his bullets were connecting. Chance began to pay attention to where the bullets were going. He only saw a couple of them actually bounce of the shield itself, but the rest were nowhere to be seen. Out of the corner of his eye, while he remained in a defensive stance, Chance happened to see something out of the ordinary. He turned his head to see a sort of ripple effect in the air. Chance couldn't help but cock his head slightly. He began to look elsewhere around them and saw the exact same effect. Stray began to take note as well. Stray stopped firing and lost his crazed smile. "I see, your new shield...it radiates an aura." Chance lowered his guard just a bit, he'd be able to react in time if Stray started firing again. "No projectiles will even get close to you, they'll all just bounce away. So..." Stray stuck out his arm to a 90 degree angle and it almost instantly became the exact same sickle-like appendage that he adorned on his other arm. "I suppose this will have to suffice now."
"Jake, can you change to blade mode?" Chance asked as he stared down his opponent
"I think so." Jake said. Not two seconds later did his familiar blade protrude from its location on the glove, but the shield vanished into the plate atop the glove. "It looks like we only get one at a time, but I can change between them quickly."
"Alright, LET'S DO THIS." Chance roared as he darted at Stray. Stray mirrored him, running full force at the tabby. Once in range Chance made the first move with a wide sweep at Stray's abdomen. Stray jumped back and swung both of his sickles at Chance. Jake changed himself into his new shield form and Chance blocked both sickles almost effortlessly. Even though this was still something new to them, they seemed to immediatelytake to it. Chance pushed upward with the shield and knocked Stray off balance. Stray immediately jumped back, he didnt have the appearance of it, but he was an adaptive fighter.
"You two are a bit stronger than you appear. I suppose I will have to put all that I have into this fight. I'm sorry, but if this is all you have...YOU ARE SURE TO DIE!" Stray tookno pause and bolted for the tabby, positioning himself righ in front of Chance as he swung down his twin scythes as hard as he could. Chance again raised his shield to block the twin blades. Upon impact Chance grunted, but otherwise the attack was completely blocked. Chance smirkedwhen he and Stray's eyes met. Stray jumped back. "What are you smiling about boy?" Stray asked rather calmly
Chance stood up straight, "It's really funny..." Chance started. Jake turned back into his kat form and stood beside Chance, elliciting a questioning look from Stray, "...that you think that's all we have!" on his cue a wave of soul energy emitted from the duo. Stray flinched back.
"HOW! THERE IS NO WAY YOU TWO CAN..."
"Nope." Chance cut Stray off
"We like to call this one..." Jake started
"MIND SYNC!" Chance roared. Which was followed by another pulse of energy, but after that there wasn't much
The cobatants just stood there for a bit, with nothing happening. "I dont sense either of your soul wavelngths increaseing. Did you even accomplish anything?"
Chance and Jake smirked simultaneously. "Well, yes our strength didnt increase any, but..." Jake started
"We'll show you just what we've done." Chance finished. Jake changed his arm into a blade and took a couple steps from Chance.
Stray started laughing, "HA, what? Do you two plan to try and fight me seperately again?! We already saw how that works, besides, whats blonde and hefty over there going to do?"
"You forget, kitty's got claws" Jake said with a head motion toward Chance, upon which Chance pulled out his claws
Strays laughter grew, "You MUST be joking!"
"Nope!" both of them said as they sprinted at Stray
Stray sprung into action, Chance let Jake get in front of him, Jake got right in front of Chance and slashed down at Stray. Stray raised a scythe to block, and he did so with less effort than he needed for Chance. He brought his other scythe around to slash at Jake, but he didn't notice Chance who was right in front of him now. Chance thrust his unsheathed claws at Strays chest. Stray jumped backward, trying to space himself, but Jake gave him no room. Jake lunged at him, blade at the ready. Strays eyes grew wide, he swung his scythe down out of pure instinct. Jake changed to his shield before impact and blocked the scythe. Stray was not able to put too much force into the swing, so Jake pushed upward and threw Stray off balance, leaving Chance a more than large opening. Chance brought his foot up and landed a straight kick to Strays midsection. Stray flew backward past a tree and landed on his knees, the wind utterly knocked out of him. Chance grabbed Jake's hand, Jake turned into his blade form and Chance sprinted straight for Stray. Stray brught his head up to see Chance mid-sprint for him. "YOU THINK YOU CAN KILL ME!? YOU THINK YOU CAN WIN?!" Stray screamed. He brought his scythe arm up and readied a wide swing. With Chance almost directly in front of him, Stray brought his arm down only to be stopped mid swing. Stray looked up to see that his scythe had been firmly stuck into the tree he had been flung past. Stray looked up with a bewildered exression on his face, one he surely had not expressed much before. Chance stoped in front of his enemy, Stray immediately snapping his gaze at Chance whom had his blade ready to slash.
"What was that line about the trees?" Chance asked as he made a powerful swing across Strays body, dislodging him from his arm stuck in the tree and flung several feet away. Stray landed with several bounces until his body rested on the ground, no blood came from where his arm once was.
"So this is what power can also look like...but where.." Stray craned his neck to see the duo that had slain him. Jake had turned back into his kat form, the faux-bandage still wrapped firmly around his arm. Instead of Chance reveling in the fact that they had won, he was swooning over his friends arm, which looked as if some fresh blood has soaked up in the bandage. "...heh...never would have …. fathomed..." Stray finished as his head fell back down for the final time as his red soul manifested mid air.
Chance and Jake's focus shifted, having decided his wound was fine. "Holy hell...WE DID IT!" Chance yelled pumping his fist in the air. Jake's smile grew extremely wide.
"Oh my God, we did do it!" Jake was beside himself. Without thinking he got Chance ina huge hug.
"Whoa bud. A bit happy are we?" Chance said with a slight chuckle. Jake's eyes burst open, having been shut during his hug. His cheeks were immediately a rose red and he quickly let go. "Oh hell no!" Chance pulled Jake back in and gave him the bear hug that Jake was at the least semi-accustomed to.
'Cough' "Chance...can't...breath...buddy."
"Good!" Chance said as he squeezed Jake a bit harder
"Can I...just absorb...him..now?" Jake asked
"Oh guess that would be a good idea hunh?" Chance said with a bit of sarchasm is his tone. He let Jake down and they both turned to Strays floating red soul. After a slight pause of silence, "Go on bud." Chance said to Jake shooting him a slight smile. Jake returned the smile and walked up to the floating soul. He Stretched out his arm and faced his palm to the floating soul. It was quickly absorbed and Jake turned back to face Chance. Chance walked up and placd his hand on Jake's shoulder.
"We did awsome today Chance!" Jake said
"Yeah we did, hunh bud?" Chance then broke his gaze with Jake and looked around. "Uh, Jake...which way is my truck?"
Jake's eyes grew a bit wide, "Uhhhh, ummmmm, that way" Jake said pointing in a random direction.
"This is gonna take a bit hunh?" Chance asked his entire body visably dropping
"Yuuuuuuup"