Well Link Fangirl01 That is probably the most flattering praise I've had thus far, and it is very encouraging. I'm trying so hard to lead up to this battle, it will be epic.
Author's Note: Still missing my table, so still kinda doing this haphazardly when I have time. Also my motorcycle broke down and I had to pass off editing a final project to my friend, who misinterpreted my messages and did not edit it, so now here I sit three days late for finals waiting for the project to render… best time to write for now I guess, at least I have the use of a table.
Chapter 15: Council.
Chibi didn't really understand what was happeneing around him, he knew that he had been brought with Grougal to some dusty place in far away from home, he knew his friends Flopin and Elely were here and he knew that an older boy named Lucian was in charge of watching him and the others. He also knew how to give inexperienced babysitters the slip.
He was giggling as he approached a hallway he hadn't been to before. He looked around, Flopin and Elely had disappeared now, he wasn't sure where they ended up. Didn't matter, Grougal was still with brother would protect him against anything dangerous.
As he rounded a corner he caught sight of something, something white and brown, unsure what it was he approached cautiously to see. What he saw surprised him, there was brother Adamai quietly reading a book.
"Brother Adamai!" Chibi said gleefully, Adamai stiffened and slammed his book shut, he stood up. Grougal began to growl angrily at the other dragon, Chibi started to feel worried when this happened, grougal wasn't that nice to anyone, but this growl was genuine, he didn't want adamai anywhere near chibi, and that worried the little white haired eliatrope.
A slender, feminine hand touched his shoulder startling him, he looked up into the face of the woman they were calling 'echo', it was a strange name, she was named for a copy sound?
"You should leave him in peace little one," Echo said calmly "He must find himself."
"But he's tight there!" Chibi said.
"It is hard to explain little one," Echo said "But one day, you will understand. We must all find ourselves eventually."
Adamai turned his head momentarily, Chibi became worried, he didn't look the same, he looked angrier and harsher somehow. He turned back and walked away down the hall, chibi had lost his will to follow. Grougal became calm and stared up at echo. That was weird, usually Grougal didn't like most people, but he seemed to like echo enough.
"Now then," Echo said "You should return to Lucian"
"Okay," Chibi said. The little eliatrope walked back down the hall, then stopped. "Which way?" he asked innocently.
"Come," Echo said "I'll take you."
Flopin was the only one who had stayed with Lucian, he suspected the other's didn't know how young he was. Unlike the Elely, Chibi and Grougaloragran Flopin understood that Lucian wasn't with them to babysit, rather they had left him with them because he was inexperienced like them.
Lucian knew how to fight, but Yugo was too busy with Percedal and Seraphin to teach him more right now, and the Eliatrope preferred playing with Flopin and Elely to the rather stiff company of the adults, except Cleophee, she still had some kid in her. In fact that's where they were headed now, to see if Cleophee could help them track down the others.
The Cra was whittling a stick absently while her older sister cared for Percedal in their temporary quarters here.
"Cleo!" Flopin said excitedly "Hey Cleo!"
Cleophee turned and saw the two boys walking towards her she smiled broadly "Hey there my favorite nephew!" Cleo said matching his excitement. "How's that aim coming!"
"Mama says I'm getting real good," Flopin said "But not enough to match you or her yet!"
"Don't worry," Cleo said assuringly "You'll get there."
"So Cleo," Lucian interrupted "We kinda lost track of Elely and Chibi…"
Cleo gave Lucian a knowing look "Not too hard to do is it?" She said "That girl is as Iop as her father."
"Well," Lucian said "I think she looks at me as her babysitter."
"Aren't you?"
"Not really," Lucian said "I just, sort of, ended up with them."
"Whatever," Cleo said "Let's go find them then, It's not like I have anything better to do."
Cleo rubbed Flopin's hair endearingly messing it up and smirking all the while.
"Hey!" Flopin yelled "Cut it out!" he had a hint of laughter in his voice.
Cleophee led the troupe as they walked down the twisting halls of this cavernous place the Brotherhood of Guardians called their home. Valley of dust indeed, there was nothing but dust and rocks here. How could anyone stand to live so isolated from the world? She supposed the random ice crystals helped, but at the same time, it just reminded her of the psycho Xelor that had tried to steal her friend's hand in marriage.
They heard some voices from a room ahead, they approached slowly until Cleophee recognized one of them as Otomai. When they peeked inside He was teaching Ogrest something about Alchemy and potion making, but the young ogre seemed less than did not envy him, but she passed with Flopin and Lucian as quietly as possible in order to not interrupt.
The three continued on like this, they ran into Ruel and asked hi if he knew anything, but he insisted he hadn't seen The red head or the Eliatrope all day. Though he also said that he would give Chibi a piece of his mind for running off on his caretakers. Cleophee had laughed at that, but they seemed no closer to finding the missing kids, the caverns were pretty extensive and Cleophee was running out of patience, as was Lucian.
"C'mon guys," Flopin said "She's my sister! We have to find her!"
"Find who?" A voice stated from behind them "This little one?"
Cleophee turned to see Lady Echo who held Chibi's hand in her own while Grougal sort of hovered above the eliatropes head by flapping his wings really fast. "I'm pretty sure Chibi here is a he."
"Well, we were looking for him too." Cleophee said "You shouldn't run off on your friends like that!"
"Sorry," Chibi said "I saw Adamai, he's really angry, miss Echo says he has to find himself, but I don't know what that means."
Echo chuckled at the little boys description of events. "I wouldn't suggest much interaction with Yugo's brother at this time," She said "Adamai is very sensitive at the moment, he's shook up about something he did I think."
"He should be," Cleophee said "He humiliated his brother in front of all his friends!"
"I'm sorry," Echo said, she sounded genuine "I do not control the members of this group, but I certainly did not want such an event to occur."
"Whatever," Cleophee said
"Don't be mean to miss echo," Chibi said innocently "She's really nice."
"It's okay Chibi," Lucian said "Cleo just doesn't like something Echo did before."
"I apaologize for our actions four months ago," Echo said "We only wished to protect this world from destruction."
Cleo grunted "C'mon guys, lets go."
Echo stared after them sadly as they went, it was so unfortunate, she had been guardian over this world for so long, but nevertheless she was hated by the heroes it spawned, a curse she felt was never ending.
Cleo continued marching angrily, not watching where she was going. Her leg hit something and she tripped, nearly falling over.
"Hey!" A young voice yelled "What was that for? You wanna fight?"
"Elely!" Flopin yelled
Cleophee looked down to see the redheaded girl staring up in mock anger, she seemed to be alright.
"Well, that takes care of that." Cleo said "You shouldn't ditch your friends like that Elely."
"I didn't ditch them." Elely said.
"Well, at least we're all back together," Lucian said relieved.
The twelve had insisted on meeting within the ecaflip dimension, Ecaplip herself had made a council chamber for them to meet in, though the way it was constructed made it look more like Serphin was on Trial. Yugo understood that they feared this man that was able to crush god's effortlessly, however Seraphin had proved he was not here to harm, he shouldn't be treated this way. Yugo frowned, he was unsure of how well this would go.
"Well Golden knight," Goultard said "It seems that we meet under more benign circumstances."
"Indeed," Serpahin said "I no longer sense the same aura around you however."
"It has returned to it's proper owner." Goultard said, "Though I hear you gave him a thrashing as well."
"If you mean the other red head," Serphin replied "then yes, he lasted longer than you did."
"No surprise there." The man answered simply.
"We are here to discuss The plans of the golden knight," Xelor said in annoyance "Not reminisce."
"Serphin," The knight said.
"I'm sorry?" Sadida said back.
"My name," Seraphin said "Is Seraphin, Seaphin Bartoleme, at your service."
"I see," Said sram "And why have you come to our realm?"
"I do not come entirely of my own volition," Serphin said "My enemy, Achron seeks to claim this universe as his own, if he succeeds he will have a flanking position to attack my kingdom from, I cannot allow this as I am responsible for my kingdom's protection."
"Then you act for selfish reasons." Enutrof said bluntly "Why should we even care?"
"You have never met Achron," Seraphin said "He is evil incarnate, He will destroy everything he makes contact with, that which survives does so only to serve him, twisted and polluted from its original self. I may act for my own reasons, but I do wish to save you from such a fate."
"In any case," Yugo said "We should take advantage of this opportunity, he has forces to help us repel this threat."
"How do we know it is a threat in the first place?" Sram said darkly "How do we know this is not a trick?"
It dawned on Yugo that the gods could not feel the dark presences that Chibi and Seraphin could. It was hidden from them as they remained in this dimension.
"My brother has sensed the darkness," Yugo said "Chibi can sense the presence of those who serve Achron in our dimension."
"But who do they serve?" Enutrof said "Is this Achron merely a fabrication made up to direct our efforts away from the battle that truly matters?"
"Enough of this all of you!" Sadida yelled "He offers to come to us willingly and even offered to be bound! Why should we treat him this way? I say we hear him out!"
The other gods mumbled among themselves for a few minutes, then Enutrof turned "We will hear what you have to say."
Serphin told them of the realms beyond their own, told them of his kingdom, and finaly of the hierarchy of beings. The gods were less than enthusiastic to learn that there were many who were more powerful that them.
"Achron will come first to the world of twelve." Seraphin said "He always goes for life's brightest light. He corrupts all he touches and will burn every world in his path. I have a fleet that, with permission, I would deploy as a defensive measure around your world. I would engage Achron, while my fleet engages his own, the immortals will fight with his Deum Tenebrea. This I believe is the most feasible course of action."
"Why do you care?" Ecaflip asked "Why even try to fight this man off."
"To you I am known as Seraphin Bartoleme," He said "But I was once known by another name: Seraph, Guardian of Stars. I am Guardian, I am keeper of peace, I am king, this is my responsibility and no one else's."
Yugo swallowed, so this is how a king spoke and acted, he had only had the privilege to see a The King of the Sadida Kingdom act and only during times of peace. Only once did he watch Oakheart make commands for war: when Nox attacked the tree of life, and even then he was not with him, he was instead inside Nox's clock working to defeat him. A king geared for war, a kind king at that, he had never seen it before.
"The golden knight speaks benevolence," Sram said "I believe his words, he radiates honest light, no darkness is present in his speech."
"Sram is the best judge of character among us." Cra said honestly "If he believes you, than I to will put faith in your words."
"I will fight with you then!" Yugo said
"Your power is great," Seraphin said "You may be an asset, but you need training."
"We should call upon the Brotherhoods," Sacrier said "Tofu and Guardians to aid in the battle."
"I agree," Sadida said "Send word to Joris that he is to be summoned, he will guard this realm here, while we fight in skies."
"Yugo," Goultard said gravely "This is likely the greatest and hardest fight this world has ever known. You are yet young, are you certain you wish to accept this responsibility? No one will fault you for turning away, you have saved this world thrice already, no one is questioning your honor."
Yugo had never heard Goultard speak this way before, it was unsettling, it was also aggravating. Of course he had saved the world, and he had not done it by shrinking away like a coward in the face of insurmountable odds. He had saved the world from a power crazed madman at twelve years old dammit! Why would the gods question his courage now.
"Of course I accept it –" Yugo began, but was unable to finish
"Well I don't!" A voice rang out in the council.
All eyes turned to see a newcomer stride into the council chamber, he dragged Ush Galesh behind him and tossed him aside. Adamai stood angered his eyes glaring from beneath his hat.
"I do not accept putting the world in the hands of this child again!" Adamai cried.
"Adamai…" Yugo uttered, he didn't know how to react, he wasn't sure how to feel, he felt Adamai had the right to be angry, but also felt he had brought that anger too far.
At exactly the same moment Kain threw the dark energy orb, Rip unleashed a volley of lightning bolts at Mortis. Jack dodged and mortis caught the blow with his scythe. The Great Dragon curled his tail and swung it aiming to hit Mortis, the dark being swung his scythe as though to but the dragon's tail, but Rip intervened blocking the scythe and sending a jolt of energy up it's shaft to electrocute Mortis. The death bringer let go of his scythe which became dust causing the lighting to be absorbed.
"Don't attack rashly," Rip said "He can decay anything he touches."
The Dragon pulled back reverting to humanesque form. "I see, then a smaller target would be better."
"Indeed," Rip said "You attack from a distance and I'll flank."
The two implemented this strategy rather well, The great Dragon breathed fire and lighting forcing Mortis to dogde and black, occupying himself while Rip swooped in slamming his hammer against the aetherien's armor again and again.
Jack implemented a similar strategy with Eliatrope, he used her portals to move quickly strinking at kain from multiple directions as eliatrope rearranged her portals, occasionally two would overlap and send energy blasts flying at Kain. The betrayer was getting quite annoyed.
"Enough!" He yelled, he moved with speed greater that eliatrope could match and appeared behind her, however jack pulled the creator goddess away from Kain just in time firing some shots at the man cloaked in black. Kain blocked them effectively, but remained angry. He charged forwarda dn the duo disappeared into one of eliatrope's portals reappearing behind him. Jack stabbed hi blade into Kains back, but to no avail, the aetherian's armor stopped it cold.
Kain spun around and backhanded jack forcing his body to the side long enough to fire a powerful blast of energy at Eliatope, easily enough to destroy her outright. Eliatrope acted on instinct summoning a portal in front of her as she simultaneously opened another to Kain's right, he was too focused on her to notice. The blast was consumed by the portal leaving nothing but a circle of blue energy behind, but also blasting kain with his own energy at the same time.
Kain was dazed for a moment and Jack used that time to strike, he rushed into Kain's blind spot and drove his knife into his armor between plates. The Betrayer yelled in pain and swung his arms erratically firing off energy blasts from his fingers.
Mortis reconstructed his scythe and swung it using it to create a wave of black energy, Rip really hated fighting this death guy, his energy was very hard to see in space. Rip dodged it, but the Great Dragon wasn't so lucky the energy wave struck him in the chest, ripping through his cloak and causing his epidermal layer to begin decaying as though dead, the necrosis spread fast soon his entire body turned grey.
"Dragon!" Rip yelled, he cursed at himself for failing to protect his charge, but then something happened. The grey skin molted revealing that the Great Dragon was in fact unharmed and possessed incredible regenerating abilities.
"Another who resists death," Mortis said "Why? Why do you fight so harshly against our unity?"
"What?" The Great Dragon asked
"He believes that all will be unified and at peace through death," Rip answered.
"Disturbing," The Great Dragon said
"His energy is black," Rip continued "Hard to see in space, watch out."
Mortis rushed Rip looking to slice him in half, but rip expertly dodged landing his feet on top of the scythe blade and using his body as a conduit he sent electricity flowing through the metal again, this time he hit his mark. Mortis's body lurched and twitched violently under the effects of Rip's spell unable to dislodge himself the lesser aetherian was instead forced to endure the pain as thousands of volts ripped through his system. When he had been thoroughly burned by white hot light Rip finally let him go.
The dragon smiled, but that expression was lost an instant later ans mortis moved his head up to look at them.
"I too resist death," Mortis said "For I am it's messenger!"
An explosion of black energy surrounded the Death Bringer and engulfed the space near him. Rip moved back with the great dragon in tow, he used his hammer to shoot out a huge arc of white hot electric energy, The great Dragon added his fire to the mix attempting to undi the darkness before it consumed them. The failed, inside the sphere was no light, The Death Bringer's playground.
Despite earlier efforts, Kain was taking little damage, with the exception of the permanent wound caused by Jack's Primordial blade he hadn't given an inch. Eliatrop with all her powers of teleportation couldn't get any closer to landing a hit. Kain was fast, incredibly so, he also was a master at energy beams and blasts. He had not repeated his earlier mistake, nor would he most likely.
Eliatrope kept an array of portals open for her to warp through, she would do so regularly changing position and firing beams at her enemy. She also summoned Wakfu weapons and threw them as him, her right arm bore a wakfu shield that she used to block the aetherian's blasts. But he was only using light ones, if he got truly angry that little energy shield would shatter in an instant.
Jack simply remained in close trying to get hits in with his knife, this wasn't going well. He was a ranged fighter, he backed off, choosing his guns over his blade and fired a volley at the Aetherian. The volley did little more than scratch Kain's armor.
"You pathetic little immortals," Kain said "You'll never beat us!"
Kain's body began to glow an unearthly blue, he was mad now, and that meant trouble for them all.
"What is that?" Eliatrope asked
"Duck and cover!" Jack yelled.