~Chapter 28: Fire and Flame~
Krystal P.O.V.
I had just grabbed the second key and made my way out of the door. I ran over to the chained door and placed the key in the lock and it disappeared. Two to go. I was constantly worried about Zero and the others. What was going on back at the castle?
Unfortunately, there was nothing I could do until I defeated the dragon here. I winced at the pain in my back had reappeared once again. The spirals were now up very close to my shoulder blades. I threw up a large amount of blood.
I was tired of "dying" all the time. As far as I knew my days were numbered. My big question was, even though I'm losing a lot of blood, how am I not dead yet? Maybe it's because I'm becoming the Immortal One. Yeah that seemed to fit.
Back to the mission at hand, I went down the right pathway that had a green goblin monster guarding the door. He had a small shield but a long sword.
"Step aside if you don't want to die." I said as I neared him. He looked frightened and did as told. But as soon as I opened the door, he cut my back in a swift move. It left a nice long cut, but it wasn't deep. He died afterwards after a bunch of chasing around the area.
Anyway, the new room was much bigger than the last. There was one long bridge made of stone, there were no ropes or anything holding it up. I was scared to walk across it. I literally took my time getting across, when I reached the other side, there was a steep slope that I had to slide down.
Standing up there was a patch of fog and something told me that the key was in there. I would have to use my hearing to a great extent. I felt a rush of wind around me as something cut me on the arm. I didn't see anything.
I keep my eyes and ears alert for it, whatever it was. I was shot in the leg by arrow; it had pierced the bottom half.
I began to run thinking that another one would surely hit me if I stayed still. All too soon I was pinned down by strong arms. "Nice try, but it's time for you to die!" A man said as I kicked him off me.
"I don't think so; I've got so much to do." I replied as the fog suddenly cleared allowing me to get a clear picture of the man. He was all green just like a goblin, except he was part human. His red eyes glared at me. All he had was bow and arrows for his weapon.
I ran towards him, deflecting his arrows with my weapon. As I swung at him he stopped it in midair with one hand. Apparently, this might not work. He has hidden skills. Jumping off his head, I put my scythe away and came down with a hard kick to his face.
He staggered backward as I tried to land a punch in his stomach but he ended up blocking it with his leg. Suddenly, I was kicked with so much force, I was sent into the nearest stone wall.
"Interesting, let's see what else you have for me." He taunted as he made a running start for me. He kicked me again but I ducked as I rolled out from under him. I had seen that he left his bow and arrows elsewhere.
I quickly turned and swept my leg under him as he jumped. He grabbed it and flung me skyward. After he jumped up there with me, after exchanging blows, I was able to punch him in the stomach and he fell. I landed right beside him.
Bringing out my scythe again, I pierced a giant hole in his chest and then he turned to dust. After reaching the cage where the key was, I stopped to catch my breath for a moment. Thank goodness I had these new abilities or like anyone else, I would've been dead.
After grabbing the key, I started to head out but that was when a voice said, "Not so fast." I was stabbed in my side with a yet another arrow. I said screw it and ran like hell back to the entrance. I had to save some energy for that dragon. I couldn't keep wasting time here.
I made it to the entrance as several arrows zoomed past me. Closing the door, the area had disappeared and once again I was in the main hall so to speak. After going through the painful process of pulling out the arrows, I was already running to the third key room.
I didn't stop to put the key inside the lock, just wanted to keep pressing forward. The pathway to the last room was decent, just a pain stone road. After getting through the door, I met was meet a series of traps. There were spikes sticking out in certain places in the ground. There was no lava pit, just grass somehow. The wall were made of stone just like the rest of them. There was a small window near and I decided to peak my head out.
I had seen smoke coming from the castle and even a few fires. Something serious must be going down. Turning back to the where the key rested on a pedestal not too far away, I started to make my way towards it. Stepping on a golden stone, it creek beneath me as several scythes were thrown toward me. I managed three back flips before I was grabbed and harshly thrown to the ground. Lifting my head up slowly as the weapons passed over me, I had seen Damon.
Rolling away from him, and picking my self up. I brought out my weapon, "What do you want?" I asked narrowing my eyes at him.
"You know why I'm here. At this very moment, the Kiryu family is falling apart. Soon it will all come to an end. All I need is your blood!" He disappeared from my sight. Something grabbed me from behind and kicked my legs out from under me. I had already known who it was.
He dragged me toward the spike pit and nearly threw me in it. I managed to get out of his grip by stomping on his foot. I elbowed him in the chest and turned around and sliced through his chest. He laughed, but somehow didn't die.
What the hell?
In all of five minutes, I was on the ground panting. All he did was smile and turn his head to the side in amusement. I had also ended up getting the last key because he cracked open the holding cell by throwing me onto it.
My backed burned because it was lit on fire by his magic. I dodged his fury of punches and kicks until one of them sent me through a wall. I felt blood trickling down the side of my face. I was holding my already bleeding shoulder. I was still lying in the dirt when he came upon me. "Oh my, is this all you have to offer?" I felt the key from my pocket disappear and then I heard the main door unlock and the chains move.
I started to back up from him, but then he stomped on my ankle so hard I swear I heard it crack. I screamed in agony. Just as he reached for my throat, a long sword went right through his arm. He only grimaced and did nothing more.
"Get the hell away from her." I heard Zero hiss as he stood directly behind him pointing his gun at the back of his head. Ichiru helped me to my feet and brought me a safe distance away.
"I have to go through that door. Please keep his busy."
"You got it." He replied as he protected me from a low punch from Damon. I slowly limped to the door and looked back at Zero and Ichiru once more. Zero was constantly shooting as well as landing some pretty hard blows on Damon while Ichiru was keeping him busy as well.
I smiled and then entered the dragon's den.