And here it is! Wander VS Malus!
I'm sorry for keeping you waiting so long, but this will be a battle worth remembering!
I own nothing, except for my custom colossi mentioned after the story.
(By the way, this story will have 4 parts. We're almost at the end of Part 1.)
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Dormin's Speech
Sound Effects
Thoughts/Minor Sound Effects
Chapter 18
The Psychic, Part 1
Wander held his sword up as the gale wind pushed against him. "What in hell--?!" he yelled, one eye closed against the wind. He couldn't advance and was being slowly pushed out of the circle. Agro whinnied nervously and pawed at the ground as Wander was driven back.
Hmm? Thou carries the Ancient's Sword but cannot break the Gate of Souls? We art disappointed in thee, young Wanderer. Perhaps the Maiden would be best left dead.
Wander clenched his teeth and slowly made his way through the wind. It seemed only he could feel it, for Loki and the other hawks merely cocked their heads to the side and stared at him. "I will not give up!" he grunted, forcing himself to go forward. "Not when I've come so close!" he raised the sword as high as he could and, with one last effort, swung it down.
The wind stopped as if he had cut through it, and the gate fell apart right before his eyes as he gazed at it, disbelieving.
Oh ho! That was quite the performance! Now impress Us more, little Wanderer.
Wander mounted Agro, who now seemed more than happy to step past the gate, and soon found himself in front of an alter. He looked at it for a moment, then saw a lizard with a white tail in front of the praying stone. It took off as soon as it saw him, and he knelt before it. O Gods, please let Mono awaken safely. he prayed. He then got on Agro once more and set out. Up a hill and over a ramp, he finally came to a giant structure on the opposite side of a bridge he faced. He looked down and gulped: this was higher than where he was from the bridge that led to the Forbidden Lands. Below were sharp rocks and a river. He shook off the feeling of doom and hurled a large rock he'd found at the bridge. It did not collapse, so maybe it was sturdy after all?
Agro leaped onto the bridge which immediately began to crumble. Wander shouted in surprise and was almost thrown off as Agro set into a gallop. One of the tiles ahead fell, and Agro leaped across the gap to land on the lasr square. However, under the horse's weight it began to collapse, and Agro bucked Wander off with a neigh before vanishing from sight. "NOOOOOOOO!!" Wander screamed, running to the edge and seeing his horse plummeting below. "AGROOOO!! AGROOOOO!!" he shouted, tears running down his face. He lifted his head and howled to the sky.
"DAMMMITTTT!! AAAAGGROOOOOOOO!!"
He sobbed for hours...or perhaps it was only for a few minutes. In the end, Loki approached with a screech and landed in front of him. He looked at the bird which emitted a sad cawing sound, and stroked its head before embracing it. "At least you're still here." he whispered. Loki allowed itself to be hugged by Wander for as long as he held it, much to his surprise. When he let go Loki immediately spread its wings with a screech and took off, landing on a perch about five meters up. Wander looked around and spotted some ivy, and he hastily climbed, wanting to get to the bird. However, as soon as Wander was reaching to stroke the feathers on Loki's head the bird took off again.
They played this little game for several minutes, until Wander was halfway up the structure and panting for breath. Loki positioned itself next to Wander and once again allowed itself to fall victim to his death-bringing hug of self pity. Then it spread its wings and Wander looked up to see the other hawks above, circling around. Slowly, day turned to dusk as a thunder storm approached. Wander felt an evil breath on the wind, and it seemed to say, I've been waiting for you. Come, young Wanderer. Come to your death.
Loki lead him down a granite hall, up several flights of stairs, and he suddenly came to a platform with two pillars on either side. Both pillars had handholds for him to climb up, and Loki was at the top of the right pillar, golden eyes staring him down. It seemed to be challenging him to try and catch it. He growled and lifted himself up, then stepped onto solid ground and pointed at the bird. "Hah! I did it!" he said. Loki suddenly lost interest in him and screeched continuously at something to Wander's left. Wander turned and his heart stopped beating as he saw a 650 meter tall giant looming in the distance.
Its silhouette was illuminated as lightning flashed in the distance, and revealed a large garment made of stone. The creature was a living fortress! Wander's eyes filled with tears once more, and it slowly started to rain. Wander remembered at the beginning of his journey, it had also rained as he carried Mono. "Are you Dormin's true body?" he called, barely hearing himself over the rain and thunder. The Colossus slowly turned itself to look at him, blue eyes seeming to pierce his body. It then flexed its arms, and Wander saw electric bands on it. One at its right wrist and one near its left shoulder.
I am Malus.
Wander fell back in surprise as an unknown voice resonated through his mind. It was not harsh and savage as he had expected a Colossus's voice to be, but rather calm and collected. It was a voice that made you think nothing done to the owner would ever make it change. "D-did you just talk to me?!" he spat, getting to his feet again as Loki took off.
You, Wander, have slain fifteen of my brethren. That cannot be overlooked.
"They tried to kill me!" Wander shouted.
As I seem to remember, all of my brethren would have waited for signs of aggression before attacking. Such as that sharp stick you carry.
"Sharp stick?! Eh?!" Wander gaped, then noticed he was holding the Ancient's Sword. "You mean my sword?"
So that is what it is called. Regardless, you have killed my kin. Valus, Quadratus, Gaius, Phaedra...
"Stop it!" Wander shouted, clapping his hands to his ears and dropping the sword in the process. "I don't want to hear you speak any more!"
...Avion, Darbus, Hydrus, Kuromori...
"STOP IT!!" Wander screamed, falling to his knees. The Colossus's voice, ever calm without a hint of anger despite what it was saying, frayed his nerves and made his hair stand on end.
...Basaran, Dirge, Celosia, Pelagia...
"I'll kill you!!" Wander said, grabbing the Ancient's Sword and dashing forward.
Wait, Wanderer!
Wander ignored the voice in his head, charging with a cry with his sword raised. Malus raised its hand and it sparked. Seconds later Wander was thrown back against one of the pillars as Malus went on.
...Phalanx, Cenobia, Argus...and now me. You would make my species extinct.
"Species?!" Wander hissed with a groan. "You were all completely different!"
You humans look nothing alike, either. Does that mean each of you is a different species?
Wander had nothing to say to that. This Colossus seemed to know everything about humans, despite being trapped in this giant cage. Wander then noticed for the first time that he was on a huge plain with several bunkers, likely a battlefield. "Oi, Malus! Why don't you come after me?"
This garment restricts my movement. The most I can do is turn.
"Then this should be easy!" Wander said, getting up with a grin. Then he remembered the flash that emanated from Malus's left arm. He shoots lightning! Wander thought with a gasp.
What is wrong, young wanderer? Were you not about to slay me?
The words were mocking, but again the Colossus seemed as neutral as it could be. Wander somehow doubted that it even cared its siblings were dead. It would probably use that as an excuse to kill Wander. It seems to only be able to shoot up to 300 yards, so I'm safe where I am. Wander guessed. It seemed he was correct, as Malus had not yet shot him while he was at that spot. Wander surveyed the battlefield and his eyes fell on a hole in the ground, five feet ahead of him. He dashed for it and Malus raised its arm.
You will die for what you did to my family!
Wander rolled and fell into the hole as a split second later, Malus's lightning bolt hit the edge of the hole and erupted, showering Wander with dirt and small rocks. He looked around to find himself in some sort of tunnel. "All right, Malus." he whispered, sword at the ready as he advanced down the tunnel. "Let's even the score."
End of Chapter. Read and review, please!