King of the Sky
Chapter XVIII
New Friends
Vrrithix panted heavily into his breather as he finished pushing back another of those small, Dark creatures.
He was getting tired and he was starting to feel what he could only describe as a type of sickness, as each swipe of Dark claw and cutlass though his flesh, left a wispy miasma in the wound.
It also did not escape Vrrithix's notice, that some of the Ether he was bleeding from those wounds was tuning from it's natural blue, to a sinister purple.
It was an unnerving realization as he continued holding off the monsters as best he could, but he knew this was a loosing battle and he had no way of knowing where the Guardian had gone to, especially with his speed.
So that had led to his current predicament.
After seeing these creatures attack a passing patrol of Hive, Vrrithix came to the conclusion that, even if they were a product of Hive magic, then they didn't play nice with them. Which wasn't really out of line with how the Hive worked.
So, while Vrrithix was still hoping to find a way to survive this, he still figured that if he had to die, then at least he could bye his people some more time and make the Hive hurt in the process.
Hence why he had led the monsters here, to the entrance of the Hellmouth. The entrance to the heart of the Hive's hollows.
Vrrithix would admit to feeling more then a little resentful towards these creatures though. Bringing him to death's door in more ways then one, just when his hope had been reignited.
A hope that was chipped away slightly, as one of the Fallen Heartless gave a mechanical laugh, like metal grinding against metal and sending sparks flying from it's red maw.
But then, another sound reached his ears.
A sound that normally brought dread and heralded smoldering doom for his comrades, was now music to his ears, as a Golden Gun was drawn and Solar flames rained down upon the monsters like judgment from on high.
The next thing he knew, Vrrithix saw the Guardian from before, still flaming, soaring over his head as crystalline Hearts ascended into the sky and he plunged his weapon into the pirate themed creature, releasing yet another Heart.
The flames died as the Guardian stood up with his weapon at the ready and looked around at the many monsters that remained, before looking back at Vrrithix and pausing for a moment.
"Oh, it's you" he spoke, though Vrrithix only understood bits and pieces. He was grateful nonetheless, especially when the Guardian healed him again without a second thought.
Vrrithix gave a thankful nod of his head in return, before raising his weapons again, ready to fight his way out with new hope for survival.
Vrrithix would be lying though, if he said he wasn't still intimidated by the massive number of Heartless surrounding them. Especially when a new, large and fat variant appeared, wearing a combination of cartoony space suit with a pirate bandanna and eyepatch, with a skull and crossbones flag patched on it's suit.
The Guardian at his side merely chuckled though as he held his Keyblade up. Then the Guardian did something Vrrithix wasn't expecting.
He held up is weapon, not like a sword, but pointed forward, with the teeth up. His off hand holding the top, now front of the hand guard, while the other held the handle between his middle and index fingers.
Then Vrrithix felt it.
A pressure in the air, as compressed and bottled up power was suddenly released from the Guardian as his cloths changed color. The grey bodysuit turned black while the armor and black parts of his hoodie turned a royal purple. However, the red accents of his hoodie turned a luminous light blue, while an intricate pattern like leafy vines of the same luminous color appeared on the sides of the hoodie and back, while his cape changed too, as if it were made of the same luminous Light, while the flame turned a combination of white and purple.
Then the Guardian pulled his hands away from each other and the weapon miraculously moved with him. The bottom, the handle and the shaft of the weapon, separated from the rest of the hand guard, as the sides folded out like arms and grew in size. The shaft spun like a drill as it shrunk and elongated. The back of the now separated guard, shrinking and sifting into fletchings, as a string of Light and Darkness connecting the two arms was caught on the back of the shaft, which had stoped spinning, as a four bladed arrowhead formed at it's tip. The horizontal blade of which was made of Light, while the vertical one was made of Darkness. Both of which connected to the lines of Dark and Light that coursed though the spiral shaft respectively.
Finally, the teeth of the weapon formed the holographic sights of it's new form, resting right above the arrow.
Vrrithix stared in wander and amazement at the magnificent bow that now resided in the Guardian's hands.
"Sweet" The Hunter said as he looked the weapon over momentarily, as if familiarizing himself with it, before nodding and aiming at the approaching enemies and loosing an arrow.
The projectile glowed in it's duel colors, before splitting into two. One Light and one Dark, and flew in a spiral path before homing in on it's target.
The arrows struck the large creature and the two opposing forces of Light and Dark clashed within their target, creating a singularity.
The miniature black hole sucked in the surrounding enemies as well. Tossing the survivors around before detonating and sending them flying.
Vrrithix was mesmerized for a moment, but broke free as another arrow materialized in the Guardian's bow and he proceeded to dance around while firing off arrow after arrow into the masses in quick succession, his feet never actually touching the ground and more arrows appearing simultaneously in the bow as he fired it. One, then two, then three before cycling back to one.
A few Fallen Heartless aimed their flintlocks at the Guardian and fired off bolts of Darkness.
Vrrithix acted without thinking and jumped between the Guardian and the shots so his own shields would take the hit. After the fact, Vrrithix realized the Guardian was probably the last person who needed someone else throwing themselves into the line of fire for them, but it was just Vrrithix's instinct to help those he saw as allies, and it appeared the Guardian appreciated it, as he flipped over Vrrithix to tank the last two shots himself, when the Fallen's own shield's failed.
The Guardian then stopped for a moment and Vrrithix saw his head almost vibrate, like he was rapidly looking between all of his enemies. He then aimed to the sky and the arrow glowed brightly with both energies, before shooting up into the sky, only the spit into a multitude of arrows as it arched back down and all of them homed in on an enemy, felling a whole swath of them.
Vrrithix was once again in awe but also noted that this particular Guardian was a little more versatile then the others he'd seen.
Filing that thought away for later, Vrrithix quickly stepped in and used his sword to parry one of the Heartless, while the Guardian fought with another that got in close. Two energy blades manifesting from the arms of his bow as he struck. Light on top and Dark on the bottom.
The Guardian parried with the Light blade then gave an upward slash with the Dark, before firing point blank into the Heartless. Sending it flying back before the singularity formed.
Vrrithix fired off a few shots from his pistol at the Heartless he was fighting, to little effect, and ended up back-to-back with the Guardian. A situation he might have laughed at the notion of, where it not for his frustration at his inability to slay these monsters.
An odd thing happened in those next moments though.
As he stood with the Guardian, he began to notice a subtle warmth that had been gradually building within him since the Hunter arrived.
It was a comforting and primal warmth, like when he held the Guardian's weapon earlier. And this time, when he swung his blade at the Heartless attacking him, he felt that heat, that Light, instinctively surge out through his weapon and the clockwork monster actually recoiled with a shriek.
Vrrithix paused with surprise. This was the first time he actually hurt one of the monsters. Every other time had accomplished nothing, and yet now he had caused the creature pain.
His hesitation only lasted a moment though and he immediately followed up with a shot to the face, and was pleasantly surprised to see the creature evaporate and release a crystal heart, just like when the Guardian slew them.
This did beg the question though. Why now?
Did the Guardian's mere presence grant this power, or was it more.
Vrrithix shook his head clear of these thoughts though. Now wasn't the time. And so he held that new power he felt within close, as he stood close to the Guardian and helped eliminate any that got close.
Of corse that act seamed almost redundant, given the Guardian's shear power and versatility…
We're it not for the absolutely MASSIVE amount of Heartless that we're appearing around them. In an increasingly diverse variety. From the almost harmless looking small ones, to the large fat ones, and some wearing knight armor, and the little flying ones, wearing pointy hats and ether red, blue or yellow coats, that were tossing ice, fire and lighting at them.
It was almost as if the creatures were feeding off the Darkness that saturated the moon to strengthen themselves and propagate further, while calling in more from wherever they came from.
It was becoming a truly overwhelming sight, and much more nerve racking as they were pushed further and further back towards the Hellmouth.
They were now on the bridge leading into the pit, which actually helped bottleneck the enemy, aside from the flying ones.
The Guardian must have noticed their predicament too, because he gave a frustrated growl, before holding his bow in front of him.
Then Vrrithix felt that pressure again, as the weapon once again transformed. The arms growing to three time the size and splitting into four, while the main body became a square tube, twice as long as it's wielder. A window ran it's length, showing the shaft of purple and white energy that ran through it, with a massive arrowhead sticking out the front.
The Guardian was left standing with a cartoonishly large ballista and Vrrithix heard children laughter emanate from behind his helmet as he aimed it down the bridge.
"See yah!" The Guardian called out as he fired the weapon, and a massive shockwave of purple and white energy, followed the massive arrow down the bridge, where it then exploded into an equally massive singularity, sucking everything in.
Vrrithix felt his shoulders slump slightly in befuddlement as much as awe, as the young Guardian fired several more bolts into the masses, creating more singularities, which proceeded to rag-doll the Heartless between them all.
Then Vrrithix felt the biggest increases in power yet, as the Guardian laughed yet again, and a spike grew from the back of the weapon, which he then planted in the ground.
Power then began to build up at the tip of the weapon and in the windows running down the side, before launching the largest singularity yet, strait up into the sky, where the massive black hole formed and devoured all without mercy for a good thirty seconds, before vanishing with a whisper.
Vrrithix stood in stunned silence as his mouth hung open and his arms hung limply at his side.
It was at this moment that it truly down on him just how insignificant their attacks against the Guardian had been…
And how unbelievably lucky they were that he was friendly to them…
"Whew! That was fun!" The Guardian laughed as he stretched his arms, and Vrrithix noticed that his weapon and clothes had reverted back to normal.
Vrrithix then blinked at the Guardian and his casual attitude to the situation. He then looked left and then right, at the area surrounding them. Not a monster in sight. The Guardian had wiped them out, with only minimal help from Vrrithix, if you could call what little he did, help.
There wasn't a soul in sight. Except for maybe that flying Heartless coming right for him…
Wait what!
Vrrithix was so stunned by what had happened, that he realized too late that one hand miraculously survived, and was now digging it claws into his shoulders as it tried to fly off with him.
Vrrithix grunted in pain as it flew up with him. He would have just stabbed it, if it wasn't flying RIGHT OVER THE HELLMOUTH!
Vrrithix felt immense pain from the claws in his shoulders. Almost like a Dark venom was being injected into him. Vrrithix was patient though. He could endure until he wasn't dangling over the pits of hell.
Unfortunately the Guardian appeared to have less patients, as he appeared above them and drove his blade into the monster's back, which also had the unfortunate effect of sending them rocketing down.
Vrrithix suddenly saw his life flash before his eyes as the horizon vanished over the walls of the pit.
Well…it was a good life… Vrrithix thought as they plummeted downward into the dark.
"I gotcha" the Guardian said as he quickly grabbed the catatonic Fallen and built up power to air-step to the walls of the pit.
Before he could do anything though, space seamed to distort around them for a moment.
"Huh!?" He gasped as his Keyblade appeared in his hand of it's own accord and aimed itself down into the pit, where a Keyhole appeared. A beam then shot out from the top of the Key to the Keyhole and the iconic unlocking sound rang out before the space around it shattered like glass and the two fell through.
Meanwhile, on a cliff overlooking the Hellmouth, a lone E.X.O. stood with wide, disbelieving optics.
"This…never happened before…" the mysterious stranger muttered in equal parts bafflement and wonder.
A small part of her almost wanted to hope this meant things would be different this time around. But the rest of her new better then to hope.
"He'll probably be dead within the hour…but just in case…" she muttered to herself as she settled in with her rifle, waiting to see what happened next.