The Chain Sickles Assault!
The large chain ball came soaring through the air once more this time coming downwards upon them, falling to the earth. "Move!" commanded Ash once again as both him and Michael simultaneously dodged the deathly blow watching it smash into the ground causing a lot of debris to fly up into the air. Michael lunged forward and grabbed a hold of the large iron chain ball. The problem with using a melee weapon, even one with such an impressive range as an iron ball on a chain, is the fact that if your opponent can get a hold of your weapon it several limits your movement.
"No!" shouted Ash, "let go of it!" Michael's knowledge on melee weapons was severely limited and lacking. He learned the basics to countering them and that was it. The iron chain ball was a weapon in a whole other class from weapons. Michael didn't let go of it fast enough. The wielder quickly twisted the chain around swinging it around and around Michael and then pulled it tight. The chain was wrapped completely around Michael sealing him tightly. Michael grunted as he tried to break free from the vice-like iron grip.
Ash could only let out a quick sigh of relief. If it was him in the iron grip of the chain he would be dead, the chain would burrow into his skin and squeeze him to death. Michael's body wasn't as feeble as his was, nor did it require any more room to let the organs move freely. While it felt cruel to say that he was happy that it was his teammate in trouble and not him, he really was. And just as importantly, Michael was still managing to hold his ground with the chain wrapped around him, which meant on the other end of the chain was his target.
Ash took off like a rocket with a wave of his hand to Michael to tell him everything would be alright and headed off in the direction of the chain or at least he wanted to. Just as his feet were about to burn down the chain to the opponent another loud whooshing noise made itself apparent. Ash spun around and quickly jumped back alongside Michael. He brought Xander up and deflected the flying sickle that came slicing through the air back to where it came from.
Ash breathed heavily as he took note of his opponent. The iron ball on the end of the weapon was just the counterweight that traditionally adorned a chain sickle. The weapon was said to be one of the deadliest ones invented. Not only could the user adjust its range by letting more of the chain become slack, but it wasn't a stiff weapon like a sword making its attack pattern easily adjustable and hard to read. Combo that with the devastating strength of the counterweight alongside the precision cutting abilities of the sickle...and that was the weapon they were facing. Shi's yo-yo was similar to it, except it was no way near as devastating.
The bad news just kept piling on as well. The location they were in was designed for long-ranged weaponry. It made the location of the attacker even harder to locate. If it wasn't for the fact that Michael was tied up they wouldn't have a single clue as to where their attacker was due to the interference of the buildings. Not that it would help at this point. Since Michael didn't have his weapon, there was no way they could turn this into a long-range versus long-range fight...and since Ash couldn't leave Michael's side due to the threat of the sickle coming in they couldn't turn it into a close-range versus close-range. The only logical move would be for Ash to abandon Michael and hope that the sickle didn't kill him before Ash found the attacker. But he wasn't about to do it.
Ash looked back at Michael who was, in no doubt, probably coming to the same conclusion. Ash had to keep calm, he had to figure out some way to beat this Kishin...or whatever it was. Ash looked back down at the chain...he highly doubted that he would be able to cut it and free Michael. The sickle came flying through the air once more this time its blade aimed directly at Ash's neck. Ash brought Xander up once more and deflected the chain to the side. "He's far away," stated Ash as he watched the chain disappear into the darkness. "The time in between his attacks is far too long for him attacking from just behind the buildings." Ash looked back the chain that was tied tightly around Michael. Ash took Xander off of his hand, "Xander, we need to free Michael." The reflection on the gauntlet's blade nodded. It began to glow and returned to Xander's original form. The two of them each reached into the space between Michael and the chain and began to tug and pull while Michael tried to squirm free.
Finally through luck they managed to free him.
Michael landed on the ground, within seconds the counterweight slithered back to its owner. Xander lit up once more and wrapped around Ash's arm, returning to his weapon form. "Michael, go get May and come back here...I don't think we stand much of a chance if we can't engage these two from a distance." Michael nodded and dashed away down the path, running to May's apartment. Ash returned his attention to the darkness in which the chain sickle users were hiding.
"Ash," stated Xander, "be honest with me. What are the chances of us surviving long enough for Michael to get May and return here?" His reflection was also staring into the darkness trying to find the Kishin who was preparing to launch an even deadlier attack. The number of targets they had was just reduced to one.
"Probably very, very small..." muttered Ash as he braced himself preparing to charge forward. "Do you want me to call him back? Cause I'm pretty sure we can handle two stupid Kishins by ourselves." Ash was smiling as he stared down the path towards the weapon user that was trying to kill them.
Xander's reflection shook his head, "no way, we don't need him. Heck, I'm still not sure if I even need you." Ash nodded his head in agreement and dashed off down through the alleyway that the large iron ball disappeared into. "We just got to keep our eyes open for whatever attack comes from whatever direction."
"You freakin' jinxed us!" shouted Ash as he threw himself down onto the ground avoiding the sickle that was sent flying through the air and at them. He breathed out a sigh of relief as the sickle passed across above them. Ash's eyes widened as he heard another weapon cleaving through the air. Ash rolled over to the side as far as he could go and watched as the large iron ball smash into the ground next to him smashing a large crater into the ground. Debris clattered all over the ground several small rocks flew into Ash's side. Ignoring the minor pain from the stone shower, Ash quickly brought himself back up and dashed off towards the direction of the weapon keeping his eyes on the iron chain as it slithered off to its controller.
Ash took off hunting down the path to the attacker and his weapon. Ash followed the chain down the path, never letting his eyes leave it. His footsteps sounded loudly as he charged down the stone path. Once more he dodged downwards as the perilous sickle came flying around through the air once more, swinging rapidly with its sharp edge at him. He felt the scythe graze his tuft of hair that perpetually stood up on his hair. Ash quickly stood up and quickly dashed off. He was refusing to slow down on his pace. He had to find the attacker before they launched another attack on him or Michael.
He finally saw the building he had to assume housed the attacker. It was a large and abandoned old church. It was like straight out of a horror book. The stained glass windows that normally would let the light in and out had been smashed wide open allowing for the two weapons of the chain sickle to come through and hit Ash. Ash had to wonder if this location was chosen for its functionality with the broken windows and shelter or if it was just chosen for the eerie aura it produced. Ash was about to turn away and check the other nearby buildings when he saw a form muddied by the shadows of the building, it disappeared deeper into the building and to the bottom floor.
Ash charged in through the door and faced the attacker. He froze as he saw the worst case scenario. Not even that. This wasn't even a scenario he had played out in his mind. He had assumed that the attacker would be big, strong...he assumed that the location would lay in favor of the chain sickle weapon rather then a gauntlet...but he hadn't assumed two Kishins would be waiting for him. Each of them wielding their own respective chain sickle, one of them using the chain to attack and the other relying strictly on the weight to hold off and defeat Ash. The two of them each had a cruel smile on their face as they looked at Ash with the same interest as a predator on his prey. "Kind of wishing we didn't have Michael run away now..." muttered Xander as he looked at the two opponents.
They were similar in appearance. Each with a bright clown-like mask over their face with the same stupid red lips contorted. One of them with a big, sadistic smile, the other one wore a big, nauseating frown. The two of them both slumped forward one step. One of each of their legs were oversized and with massive toes running out of their feet, with gnarled yellow toes. The other leg was much more well-kept with neatly clipped toenails and small, slender, almost womanly legs. They each stretched their arms back and sent both of their weapons flying. The weight swinging down across the ground, just barely an inch above it with the sickle flying high above the ground aiming at Ash's neck.
Ash ducked and ran underneath the high swinging chain and then quickly jumped up bringing his feet up above the weight, successfully dodging both of the two swings. The Kishins quickly rushed him, rushing after him letting their chains fall down behind them as they attacked him They brought their small and slender arms around aiming for Ash's head with their bulky fingers. Ash quickly brought Xander up to his side blocking Smiley's swing, but Frowny's swing came through smashing into Ash's gut knocking him down. Ash grunted as he quickly flipped back onto his feet.
The two Kishin's backed up and began swinging their two weapons again preparing for another attack. "We are lucky brother, aren't we?" Frowny stated, his creepy frown just opening and closing as he formed the words. "We found the first Meister and we are gonna take him out!" His attitude was in stark contrast to his facial expression.
"I thought we saw two of them," mentioned Smiley with a mopey voice, "Vigrid is not going to be happy when we report that two of us could only take down one..." his voice trailed off as he muttered more, but Ash couldn't distinguish what he was saying due to his voice not to mention the fact that his mask was messing with his voice.
"Who cares!" shouted Frowny with a loud booming voice, "We will bring this one back to him and then go back out on the hunt! We'll be able hook another ten or so stupid Meisters with our tricks! We will easily take him down and then another ten or so like we were planning to do originally. So, let's get going on defeating this young kid." Smily nodded, reluctantly.
"Looks like we have our work cut out for us," whined Ash as he looked at the two Kishins who began to swing their two weapons around readying to strike at them to knock them out.
Okay, the war is finally getting to the exciting part with Ash running into two possibly opponents at the same exact time. Not only that but the rest of the group is currently without their partners, these chapters are starting to become dangerous...how much longer will the students be able to survive?...I'm sorry...that is a pretty pathetic closing, isn't it? I apologize...