Don't you love it when you got one serious guy that acts as a straight man to immature antics? Anyone? Just me? Okay.
Sora stared at something. He blinked.
And the red…eye on a barrier blinked back at him.
"…What is that?" Sora asked.
"That's one of the barriers I told you about," War answered.
"…Oh." Sora got out his Keyblade to point at it…but nothing happened. "Huh." He puts it back. "I guess you're right."
"Did you doubt me?"
Sora shrugged. "Well…it doesn't hurt to check, right? But since that didn't work, what are we going to do to get through there?"
"We'll need to find the Beholder's Key," War answered. "There should at least be one nearby."
Sora scratched his cheek a bit. "Well, let's look around a bit more. Maybe the way to where Tiamat is, is probably around here."
The Watcher appeared, a bored look on its face. "Well, did you figure that out? What's so obvious?"
"Well, I don't see you come up with anything," Sora said, instantly bristling at it.
"Are you implying that I'm not helpful boy?" The Watcher narrowed its eyes at him.
"Well, War pretty much figured out what to do with the statue a while ago," Sora pointed out, recalling that War tossed the Crossblade at a sticky bomb attached to it before telling Sora to check the back, where he blew up the other. It allowed the man to turn the switch to raise the statue. "And…how would that switch be protected from lava? Magic?"
"Yes," the Watcher said.
"Umm…I…GUESS that makes sense?" Sora asked, crossing his arms. This world is weird.
…Then again, some of the other worlds also have some weird rules and such.
"If you two are done, let's move on," War said, sounding mostly bored.
"Hmm…right. Let's get going," Sora nodded. Though while the man's back is turned, the two gave each other looks. Sora put his hands on his hips with a look, while the Watcher sneered at him. The Watcher pointed at him while Sora shook his fist at it. Someone clearing their throat got their attention, and they looked to War who had a deadpanned look on his face.
The two of them put their hands behind their backs, looking away from each other as Sora whistled.
The man gave a look before he turned away. The two gave each other glares- before he looked back, with them looking away.
War gave a sigh before he crossed his arms. "Are you two done?"
The man gave a look that made Sora cringe a little. "Uh…yeah," he nodded. "Sorry."
…That…felt a little strange. It feels like… Nah. He can't exactly picture the guy as a, dare he say, dad. He feels more like one of his teachers whenever he gets into a bit of trouble in school. (One of them not paying much attention to class…)
"Then let's get a move on," War said before he turned to head off.
Sora glanced at the Watcher as it floated by, looking like it was snickering before going into his gauntlet. Sora pursed his lips together a bit before he followed the man.
It took a bit of maneuvering around on their part – with having to explode those sticky bombs on certain areas to make a platform (even Sora knows that his self-made platforms wouldn't hold up on their weight), they went on the other side of the room to get in through the door.
Sora looked around the new area they entered. It's a mostly rounded room with a round platform in the center, with lava around it. On the platform are three statues of hooded people with wings…yet only two only had swords in their hands. The boy gave a look before he jumped, landing on the platform to look them over. "Hmm…" he muttered, crossing his arms.
War landed by him, the boy hearing his heavy footsteps on the ground as he walked. "Hmm…two pathways are blocked," the man noted. Sora blinked before he looked. Indeed, two of the pathways are blocked by the bigger gates. The path that doesn't have a path to it, and a path that has stairs but elevated.
Sora looked around, seeing the only open door. "Yet…that one isn't," he points at said door. He soon regarded the statues, looking over at them curiously. "Not to mention that those statues have swords in them." He lightly tapped a sword with his knuckle. They sound…real. The blades are odd looking, with the edges glowing red.
"…So, a Beholder's Key is in there within the last room," War mused.
"Yeah…and I'm getting a feeling that these statues may be important," Sora remarked, having his hands on his hips. "If we find the last one…" He nodded. "Well, one way to find out. Let's get that key!" The boy hurried down the stairs towards the only gate not blocked. He gripped the bar and tried to pull it up. Keyword 'tried'.
Even with the amount of grunting, he can't pull it up. Even with his strength (which isn't much in the grand scheme of things). The boy gave a look before pulled with his might…and slowly it raised up. He then pulled it up over him. The boy gave a smile. "I did it!"
…But then he looked to his side. War's the one who pulled it up.
A part of him died inside, the boy lowering his head with a sad whine.
"Stay out here," War told him.
"Huh?" Sora jerked up at him.
"Stay. I won't be gone long," War said, lightly pushing him back.
"Hey-!" Sora let out before the man walked in, and the gate slammed onto the ground behind him.
Sora gave a bit of a huff. He looked at his arms with squinted eyes. "Why are my limbs basically noodles?" He questioned, poking at his bicep and pulling at the skin a bit. Even though he had been asleep, he barely grew a few inches, and he didn't develop ANY muscle? That's just not fair. No wonder Ulthane said he's practically a twig. The boy gazed over the gate before he leaned against the gate, pressing his ear against it. He heard a lot of fighting sounds on the other side of it. And then silence. The boy blinked before he backed up, looking up. "…I…guess he got that covered."
But, now left to his own devices, he walked back to the center platform, rubbing his chin. A while back, the 'Watcher' said that War is the one who caused the premature apocalypse. Then…that makes War one of the Four Horsemen guys? But what exactly are 'Nephilim'? He didn't even think to ask Ulthane about it a while back. Now he wished he should have. He COULD ask War…but even Sora could tell that the man is, well…cold. Much more stoic than Auron, that's for sure. Or maybe Cloud. Hard to tell, really.
Sora can admit that he is naïve to some of the things in the world. And at times, still is. And yeah, he would miss a few things as well at times. But…he's not sure why but he can just feel that there's something wrong here. Something…more, going on.
The boy's first impression of the man was…well, when he saw him kill a demon and had him pinned. War is…cold and serious. Terrifying even. But he's experienced, Sora will admit. And considering on how old he is… he's…probably gotta be like that, since he lived for a REALLY, long time. Probably had to do a lot of things and seen a lot during those years.
But…somehow, the boy just… knew that War doesn't look like the type of guy who would set off the apocalypse early. From what Ulthane said, the Four Horsemen are the enforcers. So, they would take their job seriously, right?
Something just doesn't feel right. He just can't figure out what!
The boy gave a look before he shook his head. He only knew the man for a little while, so…maybe he should at least get to know him a bit better. You obviously can't judge a book by its cover. Yet…the only problem is that it's temporary. Their partnership that is. It seems unlikely that he'll convince War to let him come along for the duration of…whatever he's doing.
…Now that he thought about it, they never mentioned on what War's 'mission' is. He was accused of a crime he didn't commit…and he has someone 'watching' him. Would that mean that…? He's trying to find the true culprit? To…punish them? Why target Tiamat? Is she a part of this mess? Or…?
Sora sighed. There's no way that either of them will tell him the true reason. Their partnership is just…temporary. They wouldn't care about what happens to a lone human, would they?
…Then he's gotta survive. No matter what.
The clanking of gears made Sora jump a bit. Turning around, he saw that it was pulled up, revealing War. He emerged from the room before he let the gate slam onto the ground behind him.
"Oh, uh, how'd it go?" Sora asked, quickly trying to regain his composure.
War looked over at him before he held up something. It looked to be a small…dagger? It looks like a dagger with a red eye on it, yet the handle looks like it can be gripped horizontally, rather than vertically.
Sora stared down at it, blinking a couple of times. "Uh…that's…the key?"
"Yes."
…Sora had a blank expression as he thought of the key barrier they saw a while ago. If that's the key, then…
The boy gave a shudder. Despite it being…demon made, being pierced in the eye must not be pleasant.
War puts it away. "We got the key. Let's move on."
"Ah, right," Sora slowly nodded. They then back-tracked to where the barrier is. Though…
It's one thing to visualize what would happen…but to see it happen is another.
The boy cringed as the barrier demon wailed when it's eye was pierced, and turned, like unlocking a key. The man pulled it out, the key and the demon disappearing. Soon enough, the barrier dropped.
It took a lot of willpower to not dry heave after witnessing that brutality (and funny that's where he drew the line, huh?). "Um…that…happened," Sora mumbled. War merely lifts the gate. Sora walks under it, before he moved in himself, letting it close behind him.
The new area has lava (of course), looking a bit more like a cavern. There are several fire bats around, but the two wordlessly took care of them with their long-range weapons and magic. One got close, but War merely jumped up, grabbed its face with his left hand and used the other to stab it through the chest. It struggled a bit before the Horseman quickly got off it before it fell to the ground.
Sora slightly shook his head at it before looking around. "Well…I guess we go right," he muttered to himself, looking as War looked over at few things himself before he jumped onto a part of the pillar near them. The boy looked at it a bit before he nodded. He backed up, and took a running start to wall run. Using a piece of the wall jutted out, he renewed his wall run before he gripped onto the part of the wall that he saw War use to get to the other side.
Sure enough, the boy landed on the other side, with him looking around a bit. "Okay…now where do we go?" He asked out loud. He noticed War looking over at something before he pulls something out. A rotating lever from a statue. The man twists it counter-clock wise…and emerging from the lava on the other side is a square shaped platform.
"Oh," Sora let out, surprised. He looked around, to try to find another. A spot directly across from the first statue is empty. But when he looked down, he saw that there's a grate. And it looks like that's where the other statue is. The boy looked over at the gate that's with them. Sneaking a glance, he saw that War has the same idea he had, looking at the gate himself.
For once, there aren't any words, the two of them approaching the gate. War pulled it up, with Sora walking under it before the Horseman walked under himself, letting it close behind them.
The new area is square in shape, with four pillars up. There are a couple of empty cages hanging over head.
…But then Sora narrowed his eyes. "Wait a second…" He muttered. He looked around, trying to find…something.
"What is it?" War asked him.
"…This place feels like it might have something big we gotta face. Or…even a horde," Sora nodded with his hands on his hips. "Trust me on this."
The Watcher appeared, looking bored. "I think you are over-exaggerating, human," it jeered.
"I'm not!" The boy quipped (and trying not to act like a petulant child). "Watch!" He walked forward. "I'm going to bet you at least 100 munny that it's gonna come!"
"…You do realize that we have no idea what 'munny' is do you?" The Watcher pointed out.
"I know that!" Sora turned back to them. "I'm just saying, it could happen, right about-!"
And the ground somewhat shook as something landed behind him, making him stop. He looked back to see that a cage had fallen. Though it seems that nothing had happened. Sora turned to look at them- but turned back, if it decided to pop out when he's not looking. Still nothing.
"Well, looks like you were wrong," the Watcher said as Sora looks back with a miffed look. "I guess it was just your-"
And then something bigger landed behind him with a loud impact. Sora looked behind him to see that dust had covered it…before it's revealed to be something huge.
…And ugly.
Sora looked back at the dumbstruck Watcher (feeling a bit satisfied at proving it wrong), before gesturing with his hands. "Told you!" He said before he ran back. Once at a safer distance, he got a better look at the thing.
The skin is mostly a putrid orange color…and it looks like it might be a combination of all sorts of…things. The left arm is nothing more than a hook, with a bloated…part of it that has puss on it, and a cage hanging from it. In its chest is a light green zombie, stuck in a cage. It has a large, gaping mouth, and yet it has no eyes.
Sora stared at it with a blank look. "…Okay. That thing is, by far, the ugliest."
It then roared.
"And you've gone and insulted it," the Watcher jeered. "Well done." It added in sarcasm.
"I'm familiar with sarcasm," Sora said with a look. "And…would it even HAVE a capacity to feel insulted?"
"Well, why don't you go up and ask it?" the Watcher suggested, sarcasm dripping from its voice.
"No thanks," Sora got out his weapon. "I don't think it's in a talking mood."
"…You two bicker like children," War deadpanned.
"He started it," Sora pointed at the Watcher.
"Focus," the man chided, with the creature swinging the cage around a bit- and a few Undead were flung out. Well that's typical.
~o~
"So, uh…what's the plan?" The boy asked as the two eyed the mutated beast.
War wordlessly looked over at it. This one is new, and it won't be easy. "We'll need to find a weak point," he said. "Once we find it, it can be used to take it down."
"Okay…easier said than done," the boy remarked. "…How do we do that?"
"We'll figure it out," the Nephilim answered. "Everything has a weakness." The puss looks like the likely weak spots…however…
His eyes went to the green Wicked in the cage. The cage is a part of the monster…so it would make the Wicked a part of it as well. And with no eyes…
Hmm…
"…If you say so," the boy said. "Though, we'll have to take care of the stragglers."
"It will only produce more," War pointed out.
"Well…just enough I guess," he shrugged. "Let's go then."
The boy then started in on a couple that had gotten near them. War's eyes lingered on him before he got out Chaoseater, joining in on taking care of the Undead. Taking care of the Undead is easy enough. Just as fragile as the Wicked, but they are still things to watch out for. Yet the fight isn't easy, with the monster (that he heard the boy call 'Jailer' during the fight) trying to get into the fight, waving and smashing the cage about. It would usually go after him, or the boy. Mostly the boy.
More came along. He parried an attack, jostled it into the air and used his artificial hand to destroy it. He didn't wait for the body parts to land before he moved on to the others. He severed the torso from the legs of one. He brought his blade down on another. Something was destroyed during the process, but he ignored it. He ducked under a swing. Grabbed the attacker by the leg. Used it as a weapon, smashing it all around the ground. He jumped. He curled himself in. The steel sings as he spins in the air, before slamming the weapon onto the ground.
He spotted a part of the pillar on the ground and climbed onto it, taking a few moments to survey the situation.
The boy had been dodging the mutant, jumping around, and whacking an Undead away. He continued to run from it…but he can notice him looking at the mutant occasionally, scrunching his face.
War turned his attention back to the Undead as they made their way to him. Back to matters at hand. He jumped behind the pillar. He reared his left arm back…and punched it. The Undead who were unfortunate to be behind it were caught up with it, and crashed against the wall. He got out Chaoseater, making quick work of the others that weren't behind it.
After what felt like forever, he cut down another when he heard:
"Hey!"
There was a crackle of ice. The boy had gotten to him. "I think I got it. That green…thing in that large guy is the brain. We gotta try to damage that."
War gave a look. "And how do you suppose we do that?" He asked.
The boy glanced back at something. War heard a couple of cracks. The boy had used ice magic to immobilize the mutant. "Well…I got an idea. I'm kind of asking if you'll trust me."
The Nephilim raised an eyebrow at him. "What are you planning?"
The boy looked back at him. "How high can you toss me? It's related to my plan."
War gave a look and chanced a glance at the mutant. It's pulling at the arm that's stuck to the floor, getting it out. It won't be long until it would get its arm free.
"…How far?"
"To toss me behind."
He gave a look. "…Very well."
"Well, that's the best I'm going to get," the boy said- before the mutant broke free of the ice.
It looked around for them, and War can see the green Wicked seeing them. It gestured wildly at them, with the Jailer looking over at them. It lumbered over to them.
"Here's your warning," War said as he grabbed the boy by the back of his jacket. This time the boy is ready. Before it got close, he threw the boy, over-head it. The green Wicked in the cage looked up, making the mutant stop and trying to look up.
…Leaving it open.
So that's his plan.
War summoned the Crossblade, and threw it. It hits all three of the pusses, making them explode. It roared as it fell onto its knee, stunned. It made the cage open, and the Wicked to lean out, stunned itself. The boy twists in the air and got out his weapon. The top sparked with electricity before he held it up. A rather strong bolt of lightning strikes the mutant and Wicked both, the two groaning from the shocks.
But a moment later, the shocks wore off. The pusses grew back and glowed red. The Jailer smashed the cage in anger. War narrowed his eyes, eying the cage.
"Take care of the Undead," he ordered the boy.
"Uh, sure," the boy called out.
~o~
Well, that didn't work, Sora thought as he went to take on the Undead. During the fight, he had been watching its movements…even testing to see if it could even see him at all. The green…thing is the brain, and the monster is the muscle. By at least distracting it, it would have given a lot of damage to it.
It was a good attempt though…
Not to mention that he's running low on mana. He ought to at least save it for later.
With that in mind, he quickly picked up one of the fallen swords and quickly got to work. His speed and agility made quick work of them, taking them down.
"Okay, I think that's all of them," he muttered- before the area shook. Startled, he looked to the source.
War looked to be in a power struggle with the Jailer (that's what he had called it, considering that they're somewhat in a jail area and it has cages on it). The boy turned around- and War forcibly wretches it out of its hand. The fingers are bent, with bone sticking out (with Sora cringing a little). Its fingers must have broken when that happened. War then uses the cage to smash it's arm away, making several holes onto it with the spikes peeking out. Followed by a jump, doing an uppercut with the cage- before he turned in the air and threw it at the Jailer. The guy must have been REALLY, strong to make it fall onto the ground with such force, kicking up dust. He even saw the green thing's cage fall open as a result.
"…Wow…" Sora muttered, startled. The man turned a bit and made a shush motion. Sora glanced at the Jailer before nodding. He quickly hid behind a part of the intact pillars that managed to survive the fight. Slowly, the boy poked his head out as the dust settled.
The green thing pounded its fists into the Jailer's chest, trying to resuscitate it. However, it must have noticed that the two had suddenly disappeared, looking around for them. It didn't even notice War sneaking up behind it, holding his sword ready…before he pounced. He stabs the blade under it, while using his left hand to grab it by the head. It struggled as blood spewed out…before the man snapped its neck. He wretches the sword free as he jumped off…before landing on the ground, the sword back on his back. Blood fell freely around him, with green gas coming from where the two are severed.
Sora emerged from hiding as the Jailer faded away. "That's…something," he said. He crossed his arms, feeling disappointed at himself. "I thought for sure that would have taken it down, though…"
…Well, it's not like he tried. It was the effort that matters, right…?
"…It was a good attempt," War spoke up.
Sora blinked in surprise, looking up at him. "…Really?" He asked, surprised.
"You spotted it's weak-point, and took advantage of it," the man said. "One of the warrior's greatest tools is knowledge. How you can know about your opponent, and use that knowledge to take it down. It's not always brute strength that can down a foe." He looks up and heads towards the gate that is opening. "Make sure to remember that."
Sora stared at him in surprise. And then…it hits him.
He knew. He also knew where the weak-points are at. Yet he didn't say anything. Why?
Was he just…testing him? To see how he would do?
The boy frowned a bit. Did...does War want to make sure he could do this? Or is he just teaching him? Using experience more? Ugh, it's just so hard to tell with this guy. But, at the end of the day, they just need to keep going.
He looked through the grates under them. '…And who knows, maybe I'll find something down there,' he thought. The boy looked up and hurried towards the elevator.
~o~
As the platform (serving as an elevator for the two) descended, the two stood there, patiently waiting for it to get to its destination. Soon enough, it hits the lower level. The gate rises, allowing them to enter the new area. Sora slowly peeked out, looking both ways. No enemies to the left- just one of those sticky bombs with a black aura around it. No enemies to the right- just a cluster of red crystals.
Straight ahead is a hallway with lava at the floor…and another set of red crystals.
War had walked out to look around himself. Eyes lingering on the crystals to the right with a look. He glanced over at the boy as he looked over at the hallway before them, looking at both sides of it. The boy looked back at him.
"I'm going on ahead to see," he said. "Be back soon." The boy took a run at the wall, and wall runs along the left side first.
At least he's doing his job, War thought. The man looked over at the red crystals near him. He glanced over at the inert bomb growth. The man's eyes glanced at where the boy went before he went over to it. He grabs it and threw it at the crystals near him. After that, he waited…
…Which isn't long, as the boy poked his head out. "There's a switch over here," he said. "I don't think I could turn it."
War glanced over at the bomb growth on the crystal. "…See if you can make it to the other end," he said. "There is likely an ambush hiding in there."
Sora blinked. He looked over at it…then perked up. "Oh. Okay. Do I wait for your signal or something?"
The Nephilim gave a slight nod. Sora nodded back before he made his way to the other entrance, before he pokes his head out. The boy gave a thumb up, to show that he's ready.
War summoned the Crossblade. He aims…before he flicks it. It hits the torch, before heading to the bomb with fire on its aura. It flew back to his hand as the bomb has fire on it…before it exploded, destroying the red crystals. The Nephilim made a gesture to tell the boy to go.
Sora nodded before he quickly jumped to the other side…just as several enemies came out. They dealt with them rather quickly in the pincer movement. Distracted by him, it made it easy for the boy to take them down from the back, with War finishing them off at the front. One of them, he did the same for another earlier – after he had made it stop spewing poisonous gas out of its body, he runs Chaoseater through it, before he rams his artificial hand into its head. Then he backs off, his sword out…and its head in his hand.
War merely tossed the mutated monster's head aside as the blood and poisonous gas escapes from its head, the body lumbering a bit without its head. Sora looked a little…disturbed, before he backed away from it.
"…That explains how," he muttered, at a safe distance from it before War tossed the Crossblade at it, making it explode. A body part bounced by him, with him watching it go. "…Well. Okay. Let's get going." He looked over at the head and kicked the creepy thing away. It incidentally landed in the lava near them, quickly burning away as it sinks into it.
The boy had to suppress his shudder (he's gotta get used to it eventually) as he looks up. He walked forward. "Gotta keep moving…" he muttered.
War watched the boy during it. How well do these humans handle things like this? He asked himself. He had been fighting for eons, before and after he had become a Horseman. It had given him ample time for him to get used to such things, brutal or not. It's obvious the boy hadn't seen true horror…at least, not yet.
The boy had proven himself useful, true, but…he is still a greenhorn. The Nephilim doubted that the boy would take a life – either for duty or not. Demons and angels can produce more of their kind. Other means were utilized outside of reproduction. But even with numbers, eventually there are some who dies. Life is like that.
An inevitable thing that can happen. An inevitable reality. Though it seems that humans don't have the luxury to live long lives. Perhaps that's secretly a blessing for them. Who knows?
As the boy kept moving, he followed along.
It didn't take long for the two of them to get to the switch that Sora had mentioned. War turned it counter clockwise…before a grate opened with the two noticing it. A torrent of water came out of it, hitting the lava. Heavy steam covers the area for a while…until the water is emptied out.
In place of the lava, is a path of rock. Water covers the top of it, parts of it steaming a little.
Sora gave a look…before he aims the Keyblade at it. He concentrated a bit as the tip glows ice blue…before it shot an ice ball. A single shot completely froze the top. The boy tapped the top. "Okay. If it's still hot, the ice would melt," the boy said, before standing on it. "Though, it looks like we can use this."
War glanced at the other set of red crystals before he headed towards where the inert bomb growth is. "Do you still have enough mana?" He asked.
"Uh, sure," Sora answered. "Why?"
War didn't answer at first…but when he came back, he has the bomb growth in hand, holding it up. Sora blinked…before he looks over at the torches. They look…a bit wet. The boy looks back at the red crystals. "Oh." The boy hurries over to where the man is, at a safe distance from the explosion.
War tosses the bomb at the crystals, before Sora carefully aims…and fired a fire ball at it. It lit up…before exploding. It revealed another room behind it.
"All right!" Sora cheered. His foot slid a little, making him lose his balance a little. He quickly used the wall to save himself, slipping a bit. He didn't expect it to be THAT slick!
…Though, War merely walked over it, heading towards the opening. Sora watched him go before making a look. The boy carefully used the wall to follow the Nephilim over the ice, before he enters the room. He didn't walk in the room all the way as War looks over at a statue. It looks identical to the one they saw on the upper floor, with a rather old switch before it. One of those lever kinds on the ground. Looking over at it, the man grabs it and pulls it the other way.
The statue shook a bit before it elevated towards the upper level. "Well, that's one thing done," Sora said. "I guess we better head back up."
War gave him an 'isn't it obvious?' look before he turned and left. The boy glanced at him before following him back to the elevator.
~o~
There was little to no incident on their way back to the top. Hardly anything had tried to attack them, to try to impede their progress. An omen? Or will there be a bit more of a fight in the room on the other side of the room across from them. If there will be, there must be something of importance in there. Something that they don't want him to get.
Either case, there will be a fight.
They reached the room where the statue had gotten back with its twin. "No bats this time," the boy said as War went over to the other statue.
He turns it like the other previous. And sure enough, another platform rose from the lava.
"Hey, a gate opened up over there," the boy called out.
War took a glance. Hm…he did recall there being a metal gate. Activating both may have raised it. Interesting.
All this effort should at least be worth it.
The Nephilim approached the first platform as the boy sizes up the distance. "Hm…Don't think I can jump that far…" he heard the boy mutter to himself. He looked to the paths that he had used to get to this side a while back, then to the other side. "Hmm…"
He left the boy to his own devices, backing up a bit before he took a running start...and jumped. He landed on the platform with no problem, before he jumped to the other. He made the final jump to the other side. He may not be as power as he previously was, but at least he's still capable of doing his feats. Not to mention that he's not as fragile as a human, so a fall from the height of a two-story building wouldn't hurt him much.
As for the boy…well, he can get over here in his own terms. If he's as resourceful as he looks, he can come over here. The Nephilim headed over through the opening, getting to another gate. On both sides are the switches, like some of the others he had seen so far. Although…
He went up to the parts of the wall around the gate, looking over at them. He ran his hand on it. These are jutted out from the wall, so this will be most likely impossible for him to use the Crossblade…ordinarily.
The man got out the Crossblade, looking over at it. Its Maker made, true…but the energy imbued into it is powerful.
…Also, it felt familiar…
After examining it again…he felt it.
Ah. So that's it.
He recalled a while back – centuries before the premature End-War in fact – that Death had told him that Abaddon asked him for help. That a demon had taken down ten of his best warriors on Earth. When he had gotten there, it turns out that it was an angel…yet what was disturbing was that, when her 'charm' was taken off, did she exude some…substance. It was black, made her eyes (and the other humans worshiping her) glow yellow with black tentacles coming out of her. The charms in question are shaped like the item he has in hand. They protect the person who wears them…but everyone else has the same 'sickness' – that black substance.
War never heard of or seen anything like it before. Granted, he had heard of a few instances of that substance – that Death had titled 'Corruption' – but he never actually seen it. (Well, there were exceptions, like the Ginner from…a long, long time ago. The Animus incident still haunts him to this day.) While things become corrupted in time, 'Corruption' doesn't exactly turn certain beings in Creation evil. Some things are just evil in nature, or it's just hidden deep within. During all this time, not did War find or see anything like it.
Now that he thought about it, he hadn't seen it at all ever since that day. It's just…strange. Is just this area free of that 'corruption'? And how did this Crossblade end up here? He didn't personally meet the angel, but he can feel the rather powerful angelic magic within it, all the same. And knowing most angels…
Hmmm.
The Nephilim slowly backed up to get to a considerable distance- until he felt something on his back. And then heard a thud behind him. He glanced behind him, seeing the boy on the ground, holding his face.
"Ugh…is your body made of steel…?" The boy muttered before moving his hands, showing his face. His nose is a bit red.
"So, you made it over here," he said to the boy.
The boy slowly stood up. "Well…it wasn't easy," he said. "I don't think I could even wall run on the wall near here, so I had to jump over here."
"You jumped?"
"I can't super jump, I just managed to jump to the first platform," the boy explained. "I nearly didn't grab onto the edge in time, but…well, I'm still here. Anyway, I guess what matters is that I managed to get over here safely."
War grunted.
"So, what are you doing?" The boy asked him.
War holds up the Crossblade. "To test something." He concentrated…before he threw it. It hits one of them…before it practically slices through the pillars between the gate, and hits the other. Both lit up gold before turning red as the Crossblade returns to him. The grate covering the gate rises, allowing them access.
"Uh…what just happened?" The boy asked, surprised. "It…went through the pillars? That doesn't make any sense!" He went up to the pillars and looked over at them. "It's…a nice clean cut? How'd that make sense?"
"It's not an ordinary… 'shuriken' as you call it," War said, dismissing it. "You noticed the 'aura' around it, haven't you? It's what lets some elements – like fire and the poison gas – to be transferred to objects or enemies. That aura lets it go through obstacles like that."
"But wouldn't that cause physical damage to the environment?" Sora asked. "That wouldn't exactly make sense."
"This building is already falling apart," War pointed out. "And the Crossblade is a sacred weapon used by a Corrupted angel before Death dealt with them. I would assume that they used magic to enhances its ability to slice through anything- even the environment itself."
"…Really? It can do that?" The boy asked.
"Yes. I've seen for myself on how some Angels can use their energy and magic to make their weapons cut sharper. To slice through things cleanly. It takes years upon years of diligence and practice to accomplish that, however."
"Huh," the boy let out, intrigued. "The more you know."
"You're taking this in stride," War remarked, walking up to the gate.
"Well…I've seen a lot of weird things. I can't even tell you."
"Then don't talk," the man said before he lifts it open. "Focus on now."
"Uh, right," the boy said as he lifts the gate…but not all the way.
He looks to the boy and jerks his head. The boy's eyes lit up before he crawled under it. He hefts it a little higher, crouched under and over to the other side…before he eased the gate down. There is a reason why he doesn't just announce his presence at times. (He will admit, he was like that back then, reckless and brash, but time had made him wise.)
On the walkway suspended from a lowered platform, the two looked over from the edge. There are several Undead…but there is also an undead with huge, ornate armor and an axe.
"That guy is new," the boy whispered. "Though the armor makes it look tough."
At his current strength, his defenses are weakened. Before, he could have, at the very least handle that kind of damage. That sort of armor looks to be made to withstand heavy attacks. It would have been easy to deal with them if he has his Chaos Form. But that power is gone, along with most of his other powers.
Yet there wouldn't be one (or there are more lurking) here…unless…
"Hey, that sword looks important," the boy whispered to him.
War looked up. In a pedestal before an angel statue is a sword identical to the others previously seen a few rooms back. But the edges are colored blue instead of red. "…That must be what we need," he muttered.
"So…how do we deal with those guys?" The boy silently asked him.
The Nephilim looked over at them all. "We'll have to do the usual," he said.
"Me keeping the runts and you taking on the big ones. Right…"
"However, since it's what we need, there is a possibility that there would be more coming in," War pointed out. "More being summoned."
"Oh. That's typical," the boy muttered.
"At least you are no stranger to danger," the Nephilim said.
The boy looked at him. "…I can't tell if you're trying to joke or not."
"I wasn't joking."
"Okay, sorry." The boy looked down at the enemies. "Hmm…well, we won't get any progress at all if we just sit here, right?"
War gave a slight nod at that.
"Well, all right then," the boy muttered, looking down at them. "I'll get their attention first. Then, you do your thing."
War gave a bit of a grunt. "Very well. Try not to get yourself killed."
"Right…" The boy muttered, looking over. After a few moments…he jumped. He landed on an unsuspecting Undead, stole its weapon and quickly killed it. It got the attention of the others, the Undead closing in on the boy…
…Before he jumped down behind the armored Undead. It noticed him behind it and turned. "Who daresss?" It hissed.
The Nephilim got out his weapon, not saying a thing.
The rest of the battle was mostly a blur. He mostly focused on taking down the enemies. It isn't exactly easy to keep any or all from damaging him, or to get a lucky shot.
In a span of a minute…it's over.
War looked around the area. Most of the Undead are down, from the weapons on the floor. Several are cut in half – horizontal or vertical – and there are several who have slash marks on them. The armored Undead is severed from its legs, the right arm cut off, pieces of its armor scattered…well, now that he looked, there's two more of them. An axe is put to one's head, and the other is decapitated. A mutant that has the poisonous gas around it has an axe sticking out of it, nailed to the ground.
The scent of blood hits his nose. At least these creatures were not truly living, otherwise he would have smelled something else by now.
He then registered heavy panting. He looked at the source, seeing the boy, panting. In his hands are dual blades, most likely taken from the Undead that he utilized. There is mostly blood on him, but with his clothes dark, it's hard to tell if he has any on them.
After a few moments, the boy regained his breath enough to look around. "Oh…it's over?" He asked.
War looked around at the area. No enemies in sight. "…Not that's to be seen," he answered.
The boy heaved a sigh. "Thank…goodness…" he let out, falling to his knees.
The Nephilim noticed that he had gotten a few wounds on himself. He was hoping to at least save it, but…
Sheathing Chaoseater for now, he held up his gauntlet, the skull facing up. It glowed before a small green crystal appeared from it. Using his artificial hand, he takes the crystal, and crushes it. Green colored souls appeared from his hand before it covers him. He gave a bit of a hum as its energy covers him, healing the wounds he had gotten in the fight.
But, sure enough, the glow went away.
It would do, for now.
He lets the boy rest as he came to the crystal sword, looking remarkably intact after all that. He looked over at it before he sighs. He couldn't exactly carry it around, while also carrying Chaoseater. He could, but he needs his hands free for any other fights they may get into. It looks sharp enough to be used as a weapon though.
He gave a hum before he reached for Chaoseater. He held up the sword, looking at it.
'Go on,' he 'said' to it. 'It won't be long. Just enough for us to get the sword to its place.'
He heard a hiss in the back of his mind.
'Don't give me that. You can stand to be patient, can you?'
A low hiss is heard…before the blade glowed a blood red aura before going into his artificial arm. With that done, he reached out, grabbed the sword by the hilt and pulled. It came out easily. The blue light it had and the flames by the sides faded out. The Nephilim twirled the sword a bit before placing it onto his back.
The platform under them jerked before it began to rise. "Oh," the boy let out, as War turned to where the entrance is. "It's just the platform rising."
They just waited until it's level with the exit. He watched the boy move around a bit, looking around. After a few moments, the boy sighed. "Well…nothing here…" the boy muttered before he walked over to him. "Well, I'm good. Let's get going."
War tilted his head at him. "Were you hoping to find clues to get off this world?" It's somewhat the reason the boy is with him after all.
"Well…yeah," the boy admitted, crossing his arms. "I mean…I guess a part of me knows I won't find it…but, I guess I can't help but be hopeful."
The man looked over at the boy. At the time, he was more focused to get to Tiamat. Now though…a question lingered on his mind. How did the boy get through the barrier?
As a Horseman, he knows of it, but not exactly the whole detail. When the pact was forged eons ago, between Heaven and Hell, a barrier is formed around the world – literally, the world. That means not even Angels and Demons – no matter how powerful they are – would not try to interact or mess with the worlds outside of the connected realms. The world known as 'Earth' would serve as the final battle ground for both forces. It's mostly for fairness, that neither side would get any ideas to try to branch out to several other worlds, where there are, perhaps, thousands if not millions of humans out there.
And lastly, there can be NO. Outside interference. All is aware of the key shaped weapons that steals the light, produced by humans to 'fight back' against the darkness. While he admits, there are some that try to do the right thing…but none truly can resist temptation of power. After all, power is dangerous for a reason. Absolute power corrupts absolutely. Truer words that had been spoken. No one was sure how they eventually went to war against each other – some had speculated that their greed had gotten to a point where they fought against each other. Some say that there are those that fear the darkness, and their disagreement with their fellow Keyblade Wielders, who saw darkness as a necessity, and that caused the war to erupt between different ideals. Whatever the case, and what the real cause was, the Keyblade cannot even make an opening in the barrier as well. And so far, there seems to have been none who tired it, or even realize this part of the universe existed…
…And yet, how did this boy get through? From the look of him, he isn't exactly experienced – with him having said so himself when they started their temporary partnership – yet on the other hand, not even true masters know of this location.
Was it just pure, dumb luck then?
War doesn't believe in something like that. That everything was decided by chance. Nor that everything is decided by fate.
In either case, he may as well ask the boy about it later. They're getting close to reaching Tiamat.
"Let's go," War ordered the boy before heading to the gate.
"Uh, right," the boy responded before following him along.
They had backtracked all the way to the platform where they first discovered the swords and the statues. Very little stood in their way – the crystal sword did rather well to help fight them off. But it wouldn't easily replace Chaoseater.
Soon enough, they returned to the room, where little had changed. The two jumped onto the platform, with the boy looking around. "Nothing here," he said.
"For now, at least," War pointed out, looking at the statue that doesn't have a sword. He took it into his hand and climbed up slightly. He noted a notch where the tip of the sword can be put into, and places it in. He jumped down and backed up. He held up his gauntlet and summoned Chaoseater again, placing it onto his back. As he did that, the statue's arms moved on their own to grasp the hilt of the blade- and the blue color turned red with a glyph appearing on it.
Suddenly, the area began to shake.
"Uh…what's happening?" The boy yelped as pieces of the ceiling falls to the ground.
"Just stay calm," War told him.
"How can I be calm right now?" The boy exclaimed.
"Panicking won't help things, would it?" War shot back.
The boy let out a bit of a groan- before the place stopped shaking. "…Uh…" Then the ground under them shook. "Oh!" And the platform begins to rise. "What's happening now?"
War looked up, but he didn't answer. There is a grate over them that retracts back into the ground above them…and rain hits them. It rises until they appear to be in a courtyard. The downpour had become a light drizzle since they were last outside.
The Nephilim gazed around the new area that they had entered. There is rubble around, a couple of them that looks recent. Some even blocked an entrance near them. It looks like Tiamat and the Angelic Beast's battle had done more damage than he thought.
"Huh…we're in a different courtyard," the boy remarked, looking around. "Where do we go…" the boy trialed off as he looked at something, "…now?"
War looked in the direction he's looking at. There is a seal over a pair of doors, connected to a tower near them. The seal has a sigil on it and a couple of glyphs on it.
"…Think that looks important?" The boy asked- before the seal disappeared. "Oh. Uh…okay. That answered my question."
The two approached the doors, the boy reaching out and pushed against it, opening one side of it. Walking inside, there is a spiral staircase leading upwards.
This must lead to Tiamat's roost then.
War looked at the boy, who was about to close the door. "If you want to leave, this is your chance," he told the boy. "Tiamat is likely at the top of the cathedral." And she would not hesitate to kill him. He didn't say it, but the boy would get the message.
"Uh…" the boy let out- and then the door slammed suddenly, making him jump. "Whoa!"
The seal appeared once again…effectively trapping them in the tower.
"…That's…not gonna happen," the boy muttered, backing away. "Though, that's kind of typical," the boy then added, arms crossed as he glared at the door.
Typical indeed. Tiamat must have sensed that they're here then.
"Well, since you're stuck, be careful," War cautioned him. "Tiamat isn't your average beast."
"So…she's not a demon?" The boy asked him, tilting his head.
"She is, one of the few that are the oldest to emerge from the Abyss," War corrected. "Some say they are powerful, but no one has seen just how powerful they can be, really."
"…And you're after her why?" the boy questioned him.
At least he is questioning things, instead of just naïvely taking it. (Where did that leave the Horseman though?)
"She has something that I need. That's all," War answered.
The boy sighs. "Why can't you give me straight answers?"
"You won't get straight answers at times," the man told him before he walked up the stairs. He was given cryptic answers at times himself.
His heavy footsteps walked on. He heard the boy following him. As they got near the top, rain fell onto them. At the top, there is a path that leads to a wider area, a large, circular platform that looks like it can fit Tiamat on it…or a place to fight her.
Wordlessly, the two walked on, over the bridge connecting one of the towers to it.
A trail of blood leads to the center of the platform, before the trail is gone. There are several corpses on the ground, nothing more than dry husks. They look as if they had been there for many years. On the other tower, the Bat Queen is perched on the top. In her hands is the Angelic Beast. The body is limp, unmoving. She was feasting on her latest prey then. It will be her last.
The Bat Queen took notice of them. Or mostly him, moving away from the Angelic Beast. "Has the Council reduced the Horsemen to common assassins?" She demanded, her voice raspy.
"Uh…what?" The boy asked in a confused voice.
She dropped the body, climbing down. "Or has Samael bought your loyalty?" She asked.
"Who?" The boy asked again.
She got onto the platform, to stand before them. "Because, if you are for sale, Rider…perhaps we can strike a deal," Tiamat proposed.
War remained stoic. He drew Chaoseater. "You won't like my terms," he answered.
Tiamat growled, before standing on her hind-legs and roared before taking flight.
The cliffhanger before the big fight. Fight scenes are NOT my strong suit. I can imagine it in my head but putting it down on paper is a different matter entirely. My ADHD brain is my enemy at times.