Chapter 5: The Golem
A/N: The quest for Soul Calibur starts now! Lol as always please enjoy and review. DarkNovelist out.
A few hours after heading out into the desert, the group decided to take a rest and plan their course of action. Reaching into her travel pack, Notokishi pulled out a map and laid it out in front of the others.
"Right now, we're about here." she said, pointing to a plateau on the outskirts of Windbloom. "We already know the sword isn't at the excavation site, so that's out. I also doubt it's in Wind, otherwise this trip would have been pointless."
"That leaves the Republic of Aires, the Chaldean Empire, and the Artai Dukedom." Verona added.
"Aires doesn't seem approachable, not with all those creatures swarming about." said Kaia.
"Agreed. I suggest we head to Chaldea, it's the closest kingdom to Wind. All in favor?" Notokishi asked.
The others nodded their heads in agreement.
"Then let's be on our way."
The five began to make their way to Chaldea, stopping only now and then to relieve themselves and eat. They covered nearly 200 miles before the sun began to set. Satisfied with the ground they had covered, the party set up camp for the night under a nearby rock formation. That evening, they sat around a fire while Miyu surveyed the area around them.
"Notokishi, I've been wondering," Kaia started, "Back when you encountered Nightmare, why did you not materialize? Why didn't you become an otome?"
"I made a promise to mom, that I would never again use the power of an otome as long as I could avoid it."
"What is an otome?" Cassandra asked.
"I forgot, you're unfamiliar with most of the modern world. An otome is a girl who possesses great power, and serves as a bodyguard to a king or queen. When battle is necessary, an otome can call on the power of her G.E.M, a device that resonates with things called nano machines implanted in an otome's body, and will create the special armor known as "Robe" and the weaponry "Element". Verona, would you please demonstrate?"
"Sure thing." Verona stood up, and stroking the stone pierced into her ear yelled, "MATERIALIZE!"
Within moments, Verona had dawned a pink and black dress with a black rose adorning the center of her chest.
"What the-what kind of magic was that?" asked a surprised Cassandra.
"It's not magic, it's science." Notokishi continued, "While wearing Robe, Verona is easily ten times as strong as the average human, she can fly, recover from injuries at a much faster rate, and can move at incredible speeds. However each Robe is different in its abilities and in the element it provides. Back in Aires, you saw Verona use two large shuriken. That was her element."
"And you can use this power as well?"
"I can, and so can Kaia. Normally, someone of nobility or high stature must provide certification to use Robe by kissing the otome's G.E.M. The three of us, however, are exempt from that rule. We are of the highest ranking otome, the Columns, and can activate our Robes whenever we please."
"Incredible…"
"I used to think that as well, until recently. Last year, a dark entity took hold of me and I was forced to harvest the gemstones of my fellow otome, until only Kaia and Verona were left. I gained a stone of supreme power, and only Kaia was able to stop my mad rampage. She succeeded, but…"
"In order to gain the power to defeat her," Kaia said, "I had to surrender myself to this sword, and I ended up like this."
"Perhaps when we find Soul Calibur, I can use it to restore your body."
"You think so?"
Notokishi smiled. "I promise that I will help you find peace, just as you did for me."
Miyu returned shortly after this, and declared the area free of hostile life. With that, they put out the fire and went to sleep. The next day, the group continued their march to Chaldea. Just as they entered the outskirts of the empire, a loud roar broke out over the dunes.
The group turned around in alarm. Charging at them from over the dunes was what looked like a small army of demonic warriors. The soldiers resembled the corrupted citizens of Aires, only now they wore armor and held deadly gleaming blades in their hands. Leading the swarm was a gargantuan man wielding an ax as big as his body. He stood at least 7 or 8ft high, and had dark skin, pure white eyes, and had an organ resembling a heart pulsating in the center of his chest.
"Astaroth…" Cassandra whispered.
"You know that thing?" asked Verona.
"I know he's a servant of Nightmare, so he's probably not here to say hello."
"A servant of Nightmare you say?" said Miyu, walking toward the oncoming mass. "In that case, I shall exterminate him." suddenly, a light surrounded Miyu. When it vanished, she was wearing a silver combat dress.
"Is she an otome too?" asked Cassandra.
"No, that's 'Mithril Dress' she's wearing. It's something only an android can use." answered Notokishi. She then withdrew a short sword from her pack, and pointing it at the army shouted, "Charge!"
The five heroines rushed into the oncoming horde, weapons raised. All around them, steel clashed, bodies fell, and screams of pain and rage soared. The corrupted soldiers fell with relative ease, but they were as numerous and as savage as a colony of angry scorpions. Sooner or later, they would overrun the five. Sensing this, Kaia leapt into the air to get a better view of the army. Her eyes scanned the horde of deformed monsters. Dammit, if I can just find Astaroth, I can take him. Maybe once he's gone, the others will lose resolve and retreat. She then saw the massive man making his way toward Notokishi, who was busy facing four soldiers at once.
"Oh, no you don't!" Kaia shouted as she flew towards the giant.
Astaroth saw the winged girl approaching him. "Spread out maggots! Make some room!" he ordered. The winged girl seemed to be the strongest of the group, perhaps the only one who could provide a challenge for him.
Kaia landed in front of Astaroth. The soldiers had formed a large circle around them.
"This battle will be decided between you and me, monster! I challenge you to a duel!"
"Fine by me, worm! I'll crush you on an instant!"
"We'll see about that…"
Astaroth made the first move. He swung his ax in a deadly arc at Kaia's neck. Kaia ducked under the ax and thrust Angheol at the golem. The sword stuck into Astaroth's gut, forcing a steady stream of blood to escape his body. The golem retaliated by kneeing her in her mid- section, knocking her back a few feet.
"Is that it? That tickles!" taunted Astaroth.
Gritting her teeth, Kaia dodged a series of swings from the golem's huge ax. Shit, he's fast for his size. How can I beat this guy if I don't even have a w- then she realized something. Wait, maybe I do still have a weapon. I haven't used it since last year, but it's worth a shot. Kaia then stood up straight and smiled at the giant.
"What are you smiling about, maggot? You can't win if you don't have your sword!"
"I just remembered, that sword isn't my only weapon." then brushing back her hair, she revealed the dark blue G.E.M pierced into her ear. "MATERIALIZE!"
A sudden blue light blinded the golem. When he was able to look back, the winged girl stood before him wearing a blue and black Robe. She now clutched a long blue halberd in her hands.
"Wha-?" he started.
Kaia dashed toward the golem, halberd raised. Astaroth swung his ax to intercept the attack. To his surprise, the girl's halberd cut his ax clean in half. Kaia then brought her halberd down on Astaroth's unguarded shoulder. While the golem howled in pain from the blow, she retrieved Angheol from Astaroth's gut. Kaia then swung her halberd across the golem's legs, causing him to fall to his knees. The halberd disappeared, and Kaia now gripped Angheol with both hands.
"Time to die, arrogant beast!" Kaia said, smiling wickedly.
Astaroth stared into the girls eyes. They had now turned silver, and were like those of a wild animal. Those eyes were the last thing he saw before Angheol pierced his exposed heart. Blood spouted from the golem as he fell over, dead. Terrified by the loss of their leader, the soldiers immediately ran for their lives. The other four heroines went over to where Kaia stood. Notokishi was about to congratulate her sister, but something strange caught her eye. A faint light flew from Astaroth's corpse to Angheol and disappeared.
"Kaia, what was that?"
Kaia turned around. Her eyes were orange again, and blood covered much of her Robe.
"What?" Kaia said, obliviously.
"Nothing. It's good to see that this part of you is still intact, and nice job taking down that guy."
"Thanks. I'm just glad the blood will be gone when I wear this again."
The group treated their injuries and resumed their trek to Chaldea. Notokishi didn't bring up what she had seen with the others, she would tell them if it was important. Still, she couldn't help but worry. Just how much did that black sword change her sister?