Onto the next chapter. First, an apology. My computer contracted another virus which led to me wiping it clean, and my efforts have been spent to restoring it since then. To make up for it, I will try to make this chapter as long as I can.

I AM still accepting custom Colossi, in case anyone thought up an idea in my absence.

I own nothing except for Lexus, Azgarot, the Colossi of Sealing and the Ghost of Erageo.

Chapter 7

Carnibel, the Bear

Memories that weren't hers flitted through Lexus' mind.

Basaran, made of stone instead of flesh and bone like the current day.

Darbus, striking a stone structure with such force that the earth itself quaked.

And a massive bipedal figure, silhouetted against the lightning bolts of a storm that howled with its displeasure. It took a moment for Lexus to place this as Malus; she wondered why.

The images were fuzzy; the more Lexus focused, the more they faded from her. A boy with a sword at his side and his face wrapped in shadow extended a hand to her, but as she reached to take it, a massive black claw grabbed her from behind and pulled her away.

The crumbling of Ciarog's idol woke Lexus. She blinked, the images of her 'memories' fading fast. Soon, she lost all recollection of them.

Deep breathing caused her to glance to the side, and she found Celosia curled up and alseep next to her. Smiling slightly, she rose to her knees. The young heiress to the warrior's blood let her eyes fall across the idols of the fallen; Runtus, Cancer and Ciarog.

"So thou doth awaken."

Lexus turned to Azgarot as They approached, Their sandals clacking against the ancient stone flooring. She nodded, standing. They stopped in front of the girl. "And thine thoughts?"

"I apologize for the immature way I've been acting, Azgarot." Lexus said. "This is a job that clearly only I can do, yet I wished to leave it to someone else and go home. That isn't what a warrior should do."

"Now thou art talking sense." Azgarot murmured. "Perhaps We can make use of thou yet."

A beastly yawn came from behind the pair, and Lexus turned to see Celosia rise to his feet. He shook off the light layer of dust that had collected on his fur, then turned to her. His electric blue eyes passed between them once.

I am to assume that it has been resolved?

"Quick to wake, and to catch on. For a mutt, that is." Azgarot replied. "Aye, the maiden hath realized her purpose. We should have no further problems."

Thrilling. We do not have long; the Colossus God stirs.

"Azgarot, where is the next Colossus located?" Lexus asked, placing a hand on Celosia's bulk. Azgarot cleared Their throat.

"Thy next foe is...prowling within the shade of the forest...a natural predator stalks at the cliffside...terrible anger accompanies great strength..."

"I understand." Lexus said, vaulting onto Celosia. The Colossus grunted, then charged out of the Forgotten Temple's gate, leaving Azgarot alone. The Colossus watched as they left, tilting Their head slightly.

"How nostalgic..."

Your personality has taken a complete one-eighty.

Lexus blinked at the sudden remark from the Colossus padding beneath her. The maiden thought for a moment, then shrugged.

"I told him how I felt back in the temple; even if he is the Deceiver who tricked my ancestors, he is putting faith on us to save this place and I was wrong to shove that away."

Don't become too subservient, however. Despite your irritating mortal flaws, you were somewhat interesting.

"I'll stay interesting just for you." Lexus promised with a smile, holding her sword to the light. Their journey took them across the plains, past the cave where Cancer's remains undoubtedly still lay, and into a dense forest. The trees were so tightly packed together that Celosia slowed his speed to make sure they didn't hit anything.

After travelling for an hour, Lexus noticed that the light was too dim to guide her way. "Celosia, can you...I don't know...smell the Colossus, or something?" she asked.

Impossible; these new Colossi confound the senses, we would be even more lost than before if I did such a thing.

"Oh..."

Lose no heart. Surely, we are close.

No sooner had Celosia said that then they stopped. A sharp incline lead down into a small valley, with high cliffs surrounding it. It was roughly the size of Cancer's cave - which did not ease Lexus' suspicions about the size of this beast. Celosia padded down into the valley as Lexus gripped her sword.

After a minute's walking they reached the bottom. The forest was high above; the trees here were fewer and more distant between.

"Is it here, Celosia?" Lexus asked.

It must be. The stench is overwhelming.

Lexus dismounted, drawing her pistol as she moved forward. Her eyes scanned the surroundings until they fell on a large abnormal shape leaning on a thick tree.

It was a bear; encased in stone apart from its back, the nine-foot-tall beast slumbered peacefully. Until Lexus stepped on a twig, snapping it and alerting the Colossus.

With a roar it awoke, pausing for a moment before shifting itself to its back feet. Celosia snarled as the bear Colossus moved towards Lexus.

"Okay, it's a lot smaller than the others. Easy, right?" Lexus asked, glancing at Celosia. In that instant, the Colossus charged at her with a speed that she didn't know it possessed.

FRRRSSHH

The swordswoman fell back as the Colossus ripped through her cloak with its stone claws. She felt it pierce her skin and draw blood. The silhouette of the great beast towered over her as it raised its arm again.

Maiden!

Celosia jumped into her view, ramming the bear and toppling it. The two snarled as they clashed, then the hostile Colossus picked Celosia up and flung him into a tree. The Colossus of Sealing whimpered as it collided with the plant, causing it to crash to the earth. With another bellow the bear followed him.

"Azgarot, are you there? What do I do?" Lexus asked, wincing as her hand went to her side. That would need treatment...

No elements of nature shall stagger Carnibel; rely on thine mortal ingenuity to prevail.

"My what?" Lexus shouted, drawing the bear Colossus - Carnibel's - attention away from Celosia. It bounded after her. Remembering Ciarog, Lexus dodged to the side and the Colossus rushed past her. She ran to Celosia, who was slowly regaining his footing.

It is stronger than me. If we fight toe-to-toe with my new, fleshier body, I will not win.

"I just need you to buy me some time! Azgarot's being cryptic!"

You state that as if surprised. Very well, I will attempt to divert Carnibel's attention. I can promise no more than one minute.

"That's enough! I owe you!" Lexus said with a smile as Celosia charged, catching Carnibel in the back; the two fell to the ground, roaring and clawing at each other.

Lexus racked her brains; Azgarot had said something about mortal ingenuity, but she had no clue what that was supposed to mean. Perhaps something in the past...

Her thoughts went to her 'duel' with the God, as if guided by a mental guardian. How she had been overpowered and outmatched by the ancient being. How she had pulled the gun and shot Them in the shoulder, leading to her victory.

Mortal ingenuity...

"My gun? Damn it, Azgarot!"

She reached for her gun, then remembered she had it drawn when she encountered Carnibel. She must have dropped it when the beast assaulted her.

Maiden, be quick!

Celosia's pained shout pierced her mind as he sliced at Carnibel. The Colossus of Spirit fell back, snarling, before striking the boar in the torso and toppling him.

"Just a minute!" Lexus cried, frantically searching the tall grass for her weapon. A glint caught her eye, and she seized the pistol from the plants. She shakily pointed it at Carnibel as it bore down upon a thrashing Celosia. Where do I aim?

The answer came to her, just as strange as her 'memories'. A pale, weak light shone from the backs of Carnibel's claws. She took aim and fired.

The shot rang in the forest air, then thumped as it pierced flesh that she hadn't seen at first. Carnibel wailed and dropped onto all fours, snarling at her. She aimed, fired; another claw pierced. The Colossus bent double, howling.

And she raced to it, bent her knees, and vaulted onto its back. She lifted the Ancient's Sword high and brought it down, hard.

Just as the previous Colossi had, Carnibel gave an unearthly shriek when pierced. Unlike the others, however, it stayed on its feet; more than that, it began to run.

Lexus bounced up and down on the broad back of the Colossus as it ran, smashing itself into trees in an attempt to shake her. She noticed Celosia coming up from the rear, panting and snarling at Carnibel. She gripped Carnibel's fur tightly, wrenched her sword free of its body, and pierced it again.

Blood flew into her face, momentarily blinding her as Carnibel wailed. It lost its footing, tripping over itself and falling with great force. Lexus was flung from its back, rolling into a tree as the Ancient's Sword was sent into the dense grasses.

"Shit, shit, shit!" she muttered angrily as she eased to her knees, wincing from the pain; she'd cracked at least a rib from the impact, and added to the slash wounds from earlier she was having difficulty standing. Carnibel also strugged slowly to its feet, red eyes leering in the direction of the maiden.

Celosia dashed to her side, and she used him to pull herself up. "The sword...it's gone...!"

Retrieve it. Now that Carnibel is injured the fight will be more even; I can keep it at bay, perhaps knock it down, but only the sword will slay it. You must find it.

"I will!" Lexus nodded, moving away. Carnibel roared and started towards her, but Celosia answered its bellow with one of his own and charged. The two collided again, Carnibel crying out as its wounds lanced pain through its body.

Lexus looked around for the Ancient's Sword, brushing aside the thick grasses. "Come on, come on! Where the hell did it go!" she whispered furiously, beginning to rip up the flora. A tremor from behind her signalled Celosia falling to the ground from one of Carnibel's strikes. At that moment, she found it.

"Celosia, hold on!" she cried, sprinting towards the clashing forces. Celosia saw her, steeled himself, and thrust outward, catching Carnibel in the chest and knocking it down. Lexus jumped high into the air and brought the ancient sword down with all her strength, burying it to the hilt in Carnibel's unholy flesh.

A pitiful wail escaped the bear Colossus as it attempted to stand, then succumbed to the pain and lay still. Lexus sighed and wiped a bead of sweat from her brow.

Then a white flash erupted from Carnibel's carcass. Lexus was blinded as something hard and warm struck her torso, then she fell backwards into the cool darkness of unconsciousness.

I deeply apologize for the extended hiatus; I hope this chapter, and those that follow, make up for it.