AGNOMAKHOS

by Ulquiorra9000

Chapter 23

"It would seem I've underestimated you, Alex," the two remaining Kullas said together. They glanced at the charred crater where their ally had stood.

Alex didn't answer, but just kept his eyes on his opponents and panted for breath. Although he had scored a major hit, things were looking rough. No way would Kulla fall for that trick again, and worse, Alex was losing strength fast, while Kulla still seemed fresh. How much mana did that man have?

But still... Alex clenched his hands into fists again. I've got one thing Kulla doesn't: conviction of what's right! I've got to get into that city hall and show Kulla that I'm right. Then, it's all finally over. Come on, Alex. Find a way.

"That's quite enough," the two Kullas declared. They raised their bladed arms into an attack position. "I'll force you to submit, then take you to the council to decide what to do with you. Maybe another prison term. Maybe exile. We'll all find out together."

With a cry, Alex charged on a carpet of enchanted flames. He didn't care that his mana was growing thin; his fury and grit would sustain him, at least for now. Drawing back his right fist, Alex gathered mana on his fingers and swung a wide, flaming punch.

The Kullas ducked and whirled around Alex in two blurs of white mana. Suddenly, they were in the air above him, swinging their white mana blades down. Alarmed, Alex frantically threw up his arms and endured the blows with a fire shield, his arms trembling as the Kullas pressed down harder, ever harder.

"Get... off!" Alex shouted. He squirmed out of the way and let the Kullas slam back down to earth, their blades carving deep into the street. Alex kicked out and caught one Kulla in the ribs with a thump, and Alex saw his mana quickly burn through the man's gold armor. Just a few more seconds...

In a flash, the other Kulla swept past Alex and scored a glancing blow across the stomach, and Alex stumbled back, shocked by the sudden pain. The other Kulla closed in, intending to finish the job.

Alex scooted back on a cushion of hot air, hurling fireballs as fast as he could. THe Kullas bobbed and weaved as they approached him, and the fireballs flew right past them. Alex didn't give up; he kept pumping out fireballs, desperate to keep Kulla away.

By now, the machine's archers had decided that Kulla was the biggest threat. They turned their attention away from the battle and loosed a volley of arrows, which Kulla dodged as easily as Alex's fireballs. The arrows clattered uselessly on the street.

Still, it gave Alex his chance. He pounced on one Kulla and sank his fist into the gold man's stomach, pumping as much mana into the blow as he could. Seething red mana boiled away the armor, and Alex's fist punched clean through the man's body, popping out his back.

It was the other clone. Alex stepped back as the gold man slumped to the ground, his body melting into a thick puddle as his mana lost cohesion. Alex huffed, his body shaking from exhaustion and mana lost. I can't do much more of this... but I'm nearly there!

"Well done, Alex," Kulla said, and for the first time, Alex heard a compliment in the colonel's voice. "I suppose it's down to you and me."

"No, it isn't." Alex realized that with one Kulla left, he'd stand a chance at escape. There were enough rebel archers around here to cover him, and he could make a break for the city hall. He glanced at the looming building; it was now or never. He couldn't stand up to Kulla any longer.

Alex crouched slightly and bunched up his muscles and red mana. He'd have to be fast enough, or Kulla would catch him and slice him apart. But if he used up too much mana...

"What's the matter? No more fire shows?" Kulla commented. He took a few threatening steps forward, raising his arms into a combat stance. He, too, tensed his legs for sudden movement.

GO! Alex sprang into action. Dust poofed into the air as he blasted himself away on a cushion of hot air, and he madly dashed into the crowds of clashing warriors, knocking them aside as he went. Just a few more seconds, and he'd be clear...

"Not so fast." Kulla was suddenly there, dashing right alongside Alex with a slightly amused look on his face. In a flash, he swept his bladed arms through the air.

Shocked, Alex ducked just in time. A rebel swordsman took the brunt of the attack instead, and the man shrieked as Kulla's fierce mana blasted him easily to the side. Again Kulla slashed, and Alex frantically scooted away, his body now aching with each movement. Kulla didn't even look remotely tired.

"Get him!" Alex shouted. "He's a colonel!"

At once, nearby rebels turned from their Army opponents and swarmed Kulla with their clubs, maces, and swords. The colonel knocked them aside in seconds, but it bought Alex the time he needed. The fire mage rushed on ahead and broke free of the crowd, now in the bare street past the Reverent Army's lines. Nearby hoplites turned to face him, spears at the ready, but they were too far away to strike.

Kulla pushed through the crowd just like Alex had, and with another burst of speed, he placed himself before Alex and kicked him aside. Alex tumbled away, fighting for breath as his chest burned from lack of air. He scrambled away from the approaching Kulla, but he knew that it was over. He'd never get away in time -

Blue and black mana hissed through the air. Kulla leaped back just as an enchanted arrow shot past, his eyes suddenly wide. He looked up at something on a rooftop, and Alex craned his neck up to see Estello the archer standing on a shop's tiled roof. She grinned adn nocked another enchanted arrow.

"Get up, kid!" Estello called to Alex. "You gonna let this guy kill you?"

"N... no." Alex finally drew a breath and got to his feet. His whole body shook, and he knew that by now, sheer determination was all that kept him on his feet. He gathered up his feeble red mana and dashed to the city hall's front steps, and at the same time, Estello loosed another arrow.

Alex heard Kulla dash across the street, but it sounded far away. Estello had done it; she kept Kulla occupied with her deadly arrows, and now Alex was finally sprinting up the city hall's front steps. His eyes were locked right on the front doors. I'm coming for you, Perisophia!

*o*o*o*o*

This isn't worth it. I've got to get back to friendly lines.

Kulla had had too much experience already with Estello. His insides went cold as he recalled the crippling sensation of her arrows piercing him, the freezing grip of her mana...

Another arrow flashed through the air as Kulla ran, and he dodged just in time. He saw the arrow puncture the street, its deathly mana melting the bricks as though they were made of wax. Furious, Kulla reached First Battalion's rear ranks, where the battle-wise mages stood. As soon as their colonel came close, the mages threw up several white mana barriers to cover his flank.

"Sir! What's going on?" a mage cried. "How did that rebel get away?"

"He's faster than I expected," Kulla huffed. He powered down his gold coating, unwilling to waste mana on it any longer. He wiped the sweat from his brow. "He gave up trying to fight his way past me. Wise move on his part."

"But what are we going to do?" the mage spluttered.

Kulla glanced back at the city hall. "That boy plans to confront the council and uncover the source of their 'corruption'." But what Kulla didn't say is that a small part of him approved of Alex's plan. If the boy was right, then the city would benefit from rooting out tainted council members. If he was wrong, which he probably was, then he'd be brought to justice for his treason.

All right, Alex. It's in your hands now, I suppose.