Arc 4: What families entail
{I'm so sorry. I really failed you all. But I saved her, I can live with that.}
Rosemary wore the clothes given to her by Calgary, now ripped, dirty, and bloody. She had a blank stare, her ears filled with haze. But still he spoke.
Calgary: "You gotta eat y'know."
She didn't answer. She just sat in her wounds. Until Calgary yanked her by the chains to toss her out the cell, slamming into the floor beside the other prisoners. On the bottom floor all the way to the third, the prisoners were outside their cells in a row. One of the Bearguards knew of plans to break the Red Arrows, and the Demi-humans.
"STOP STOP STO -
Crevasse slammed his balled fists against the head of a snake Demi-human, crushing their skull and slamming their body into the crowd. Irsa chased three prisoners, stabbing away from their vitals to prolong their pain. Men, women, children, humans, Demi-human. Even falsely captured civilians. All lambs to the slaughter. With each loss of life Rosemary shook. They all did. Crying, screaming for them to fight, cursing at Irsa and Crevasse, trying to flee. However the many Warriors holding the prisoners back let out their axes and blades, taking limbs in moments. Causing bloodshed all over the hell.
Rosemary {I failed Athens too. I couldn't even imagine something like this. Dropping so low. After Ophelia…I don't know how the world's gonna top it next.}
Irsa hated fighting with Crevasse more than anything at the moment. Glaring, spitting, stepping on his feet, even tripping him. Crevasse couldn't react, if he wanted to keep his job, or his life. Forced to take the punishment. The slurs. He kept that smile however, as his pockets got heavier every week he stayed. Letting him sleep sound at night while he mindlessly and brutally slaughtered during the day. Hands strong enough to crush skulls. His Battle Aura that turned his body to stone created the impossibility of defeat.
Rosemary {Please, just choose me.}
Guards threw in prisoner after prisoner to clear the cells.
Irsa: "ANYTHING!? ANY WORDS!? EVEN THOUGH IT COULD STOP YEARS OF HARDSHIP!?"
The Red Arrows that attempted to speak out were instantly killed by other Red Arrows, who were then brutalized in the process. Her lances impaled again and again. Ripping through sternums, hearts, spines, flesh, without struggle. It was her stamina that was slowly beginning to struggle. But she wouldn't show it, not ever.
Calgary: "You can speak to y'know."
Rosemary {I was never taken to their base. I don't know. The same could be said for some of these people. But you're killing them anyway.}
She said it in her mind; she couldn't even speak. Held so low. Edwards fate, Soku left by herself, Julius captive in Beauregards chamber, and Gray all alone to pick up the pieces. The mana dampening crystals stole all she had left. Again and again they were pushed to their deaths. Off the railing into the pit, either to be killed or die in the fall. The bodies were stacking, the drains were flooded with bits and blood, the smell was beginning to grow horrid, but it was a sight all too familiar for Rosemary. As all she could see was the Golden Knights going through another campaign. There, she saw mass fires, mass killing. So much worse than this. But it would always be sickening.
Rosemary {What do I do what do I do what do I do what do I do what -
Calgary: "Please don't get yourself killed."
Before she understood what he meant Calgary killed her forward and unlatched her chains. In the fraction of a second between Irsa and Crevasse seeing her, her golden aura lit alive. First, second, third, fourth stage all across her body. It sent out a wave of hope and power, before she erupted into Irsa. She blocked with lances only for them to be shattered by Rosemary's punch. The wind sent her back against the wall, giving her space to leap and bash Crevasse' nose in with her foot.
Calgary: "You weak bastards! What are you doing!?"
Crevasse: "Gimme a second she caught me off -
His body hardened into stone but Rosemary kept going. Punch after punch, a minigun of blows to crack and force him away just as Irsa shot a lance forward.
Rosemary {NO! NOT WHEN I HAVE A CHANCE!}
She flicked a blast of wind that shattered such lance, before she shot out another few shots against her. The surrounding Red Arrows cheered loudly, even when the guards tried to harm them. Leading to more Warriors stepping into battle. She was rampaging on with adrenaline, despair, and a completely absent mind. Just fighting, like a Helsing overcome with the Warriors Spirit. The fourth stage was her maximum. And now, while her sleeves were tearing, her body was combusting, she was fighting. She was flowing it. Holding it tightly without pushing too far. Just existing as a vessel.
Calgary: "This is just sad guys!"
Jump spin kick across the face. Land leap into a shoulder bash. Flick faces, Kick legs. Punch punch -
Rosemary {SHIT!}
She threw out another punch to a Warriors gut just as a lance grazed her shoulder. Her weakening mana flow was unable to guard against it, leading to a balled fist stone slam from the back. Crevasse managed to bash her against the ground, knocking her to stage three, before grabbing her by the leg and spinning around and around.
Crevasse: "HAH! I'll show you how we do it in Gaia! In my clan seeing a woman fight is blasphemy! So take this as retribution yah hear!?"
The cheers passed, her breath passed, and she went round round round. Losing stage after stage, until she was bashed against a Red Arrow. She broke through his body, rolling to Calgary before Irsa stopped it with her foot.
Irsa: "We're not done Goldenwind."
Rosemary managed to spit the first stage right into Irsa's eye, leaving her screaming so loud it hurt the other prisoner's ears.
Irsa: "SHIT SHIT SHIT!"
Under her hand was blood, as Rosemary managed to take out her eye.
Irsa: "YOU BITCH!"
Ursa slashed Rosemary's back open with her Lance before Calgary smashed her to the ground -
Calgary: "ROSEMARY!"
She began to lose blood rapidly. Her life was fading along with it. Calgary ran up the stairs with Rosemary in his arms, knocking over anybody in his path to get to the third floor. Rosemary gasped for air, leaving blood drilling out of her face. Calgary's heart was beating almost as fast as hers, so he had to save her. His only light left. His love. Taking her into the only cell with a prisoner still inside.
Calgary: "HEAL HER NOW!"
"..."
The prisoner didn't answer. While Rosemary saw Gray, Soku, Edward, and her world fading away, she just sat with her back toward Calgary, until she heard Rosemary's bloody gasps.
Calgary: "PLEASE! SHE'S A RED ARROW FOR SPIRITS SAKE!"
The prisoner turned around. A snake Demi-human, incredibly old with long hair put into twists. She had dark skin under her thick grey scales, teeth fallen out due to age, so many wrinkles she didn't have skin, but still she grabbed hold of Rosemary's head. The old woman's shoulder lit up greenish blue, pouring into and around Rosemary's body. The older woman began to roar with agonizing, violent pain, while Rosemary's began to dissipate. Like it was being ripped out of her, while the woman took it in. She leaned like her own back was being torn open, crying the same tears as Rosemary, while Rosemary fades into unconsciousness.
Calgary: "DON'T STOP UNTIL SHE'S FINE!"
with a large puff of steam the older woman looked even older, collapsing into her back.
Calgary: "Good."
With that, he strapped her chains back on and shut the door, to continue the ritual like nothing had happened. She was suffering. She was the lamb. Now I'm in darkness. Where her light rested as well. In his own veil of shadows.
Gray {Man I how Rosemary is okay.}
Everything was dark, foggy, while he wore his new gear completely refreshed. Before squeaking and screaming out at the soul in front of him.
Azalea: "You fall unconscious a lot."
Gray: "EEEE -
Azalea:"And stop saying eek all the time it gets old!"
She was sitting in a chair made out of the oozing darkness. She had that same prideful, anger glare, but she didn't seem as mad. Just bored. Laying against her hand with her leg over another. Staring down at the wiggling Gray.
Azelea: "What's wrong? You weren't this scared when we last spoke."
Gray: "It's been a while. I'm not used to yah! And I just figured you wanted revenge. Isn't that why I'm in my gear?"
Azalea: "You're in your gear because that's how you think of yourself."
Gray paused and stood straight, awkwardly wobbling side to side anxiously. Her hair was still slick and sleek, her skin pale white, her eyes black with white pupils, but the cracks were fading away. The cloak's charm was still present on her collar, leading to a concentrated stare at Gray's own Cloak of Darkness.
Azalea: "Nice to know my legacy lives on past your mana. Wonder when you'll become your own Witch of Darkness."
Gray: "It's too bad that's never gonna happen! This thing is a tool, nothing more!"
Azalea: "Always starts out that way. A shame really, for Walgonia, I'm loving it. Also why aren't you killing the Sect? So boring."."
Gray: "You are a really confused lady, you know?"
Azalea: "I think it's fun. Like I'm one step ahead or somethin. But I'm just along for the ride. Watching you…it's been interesting. But stop almost getting yourself killed. And you're putting way too much pressure on your OD! Two months of training and now all this fightin isn't good for it."
Gray: "I'm fine. Even if I'm not, everybody else is feeling a whole lot worse. I don't care if I have to suffer a little bit."
Azalea: "We both know that's just a lie."
Before Gray could deny her she waved her hand and darkness washed over him. Forcing him out of such darkness.
Gray: "It's not a lie!"
He flung upward, looking around to find strange looks from wounded men and women.
Gray: "Uh, what?"
Chris: "Kid! You made it! I don't know how you did all that but it was awesome! Without you we wouldn't have been able to evacuate most of the town! And the mayor!"
Gray went to stand in a heroic pose but fell back to the wooden floor in an instant. Finally looking around with clear eyes, he found he was in a covered wagon. Everybody around him was either refugee or fired knight, smiling and cheering Gray on. Gray still couldn't move. Stuck in a body covered almost entirely in bandages. His Cloak was still in a thick cast around his shoulder, along with his chestplate.
Chris: "Sorry I couldn't get your arm bandaged, we couldn't get that Cloak off without it sticking all over us."
Gray: "...Sorry about that."
Chris: "Don't be! You're awesome! How much mana do you have? Or is all of this some Mark of Providence? Most people can only get a little mana out, not explode over and over like that!"
Gray: "No it's mana, and a newbie amount of Spirit Arts. If you said the average human had one percent of mana, then I'd have about a hundred."
Chris: "What!? That's incredible! That's more than The Witch of Darkness!"
All the pats on his back were painful, but the idea he wasted so much time was even worse. Causing him to lunge toward the front of the wagon and look out at the snowy wasteland Walgonia was becoming.
Multiple wagons pushed forward alongside them, with a noticeable majority of male humans compared to the Sect Ranks or even bounty hunter classes.
Gray: "Where are we headed?"
There were trees all around, but the land was open and clear, letting Gray see the waving hills and other wagons passing through. The sun was beginning to set as well, meaning Gray had been asleep since around two in the morning.
Chris: "You kept muttering Bruge, and Rosemary but you also said Bruge. So we're headed there."
Gray: "That's where an anarchist said he got those muskets from."
Chris: "Muskets?"
Gray: "Those blasters the Sect had!"
Chris: 'Oooh! I didn't know they had a name!"
Gray's eyes instantly widened with fear, causing Chris to be confused while Gray looked all around in a panic.
Gray: "Dema! Where's Dema!?"
Chris: "Who's Dema!?"
Gray: "My Earth Bound Dragon!"
Chris: "Oohhh! She's sleeping right there."
Chris pointed toward the wagon behind them, which was taken up by a sleeping Dema, driven by the same carriage lizards all the wagons were pulled by.
Chris: "You gotta relax kid. It's okay. And you can't get knocked out like that in a fight, who knows' who'll come by you."
Gray: "Yeah I should probably stop doing that. It's happened a lot."
Chris: "Through fighting?"
Gray: "Kinda. Mostly through training."
Chris: "Dang you're hardcore! You're a knight right!?"
Gray: "Yeah I passed the Knight exam -
Everybody around him instantly perked up in surprise and cheers. Some recognized him, others heard about him, others kinda heard about him, and others were just surprised he passed or attended it at all. Gray's heart couldn't take all the eyes, and his spirit couldn't handle the weight of the praise. Every pat, every cheer, every look, all he could see was Rosemary in some sort of danger. And the others. It was, even if he didn't want to admit it, because he cared for Rosemary so much more. He didn't know how to feel about that. But he couldn't think with all the commotion going on. So he stood and really took it in, ripping the bandages off his face and letting the Cloak flow back around him.
Gray: "I didn't get Knighted. And technically I didn't get knighted as a Leviathan Soldier either. But, either way, I'm here. My name's Gray Kyojin. And I'm leading a charge to free Athens, so we can take their forces, and save Walgonia."
The crowd choked up at his words. Triggering even more anxiety to wash over his soul again and again like tidal waves in a geography changing storm.
Gray: "Wait wait I think that was supposed to be a secret -
Chris: "Damn kid. You're a real one."
Gray: "A real what?"
Chris: "A damned Hero that's what! I only saw Musashi from afar once, and I never got to meet Kioshi or any other kids of War. You're like a growing legend!"
Gray: "Legend!? I don't know about that."
Chris: "Doesn't matter! You're still strong as all hell compared to us!"
"Man I thought all the Leviathan Soldiers died out or somethin!" "Great to know Walgonia's still fightin." "How old are you kids!?"
Every time Gray moved he felt pain from some part of his body. His face was still swollen and bruised, his bones hardly together, his muscles barely stable. Both of his vambraces were now broken as well, the rest of his armor cracked and slightly warped. The only thing in perfect condition, even accounting for shaggy hair, dry mouth, and starving gut, was the Cloak of Darkness. The Golden Crescent charm shines as brightly as ever against the bright orange setting sun. The only bit of warmth over the freezing land.
Gray: "I'm nothing compared to the others. I'm just trying to do all I can until I can reach the others in Athens."
Chris: "Well lucky for you Bruge is on the way. You don't have to stick around, we just wanted to make sure you were alright until you woke up."
When Gray looked back toward the sky, back to Dema, and all the people who needed him. The country that needed him. He had to help, no matter what.
Gray: "No. I'm going to Bruge. Those weapons were coming from there. I need to destroy all of them, it's my duty. Since they're from my home."
Chris: "Well then, thank you. In an hour we'll be at Bruge. It's a pretty big town, heavily contested. Sect Elites, Potential Pillars, many knights."
Gray: "Wait wait hold on, what? Sorry I don't really know much about the Sect."
Chris: "It's simple, all the Sect with skill and strength kept the robes, while all the weaklings and newbies became stand in knights. Since you and your friends killed the previous Pillars a bunch of anarchists have been stepping up to take their spot!"
Gray: "Well then I'll stop em all the same!"
His heroic delay was promptly cut off by his roaring stomach. Which led to all the people around graciously shoving food into Gray's mouth and hands. Potatoes, dried meat, balls of chocolate covered slime, magically flavored and nutrients filled grass balls, and about anything else they could fit in their pockets. to his mouth before he finally got them to stop. He scarfed it down though, managing to say thank you every time through his chews, trying his best to ease his rapidly beating heart. Rosemary. Rosemary. Rosemary, her safety. Edwards safety. Soku, Athens, Julius. Over and over. Pushed back with each bite, only for it to seep through the quickly forming cracks.
Gray: "Should I go ahead?"
Chris: "Hey man, use the time to rest. In times like these, you never know when you can breathe easy."
He still worrily looked all around, to Dema, to himself, to Chris, and the family plopped down out of his own will. He laid against the back of the wagon, extending his sore legs between the others feet. Eating, drinking, breathing for the first time in a while. As the time passed, his wounds felt better and better, while the sun fell over a chaotic world. Rosemary was stuck in the darkness, quivering in shock hours after being healed, reaching out for somebody still so far away. Somebody who had no idea of her condition. Somebody who might take his own life if he learned. After all he'd done to get to this point, the training, the loss, all it would take was one big loss to crush it all. Some were crushed already, while others like Soku and Edward trained through the hardship. Either by forcing Mark to its peak to understand its power, soaring between trees on her glider, or Edward sitting and meditating even through battle to find his internal mana. Blindfolded he roared forward just as dangerously, carving and cleaving through a pack of Molten Wolves. Moving up the mountain while reaching deep within himself.
Edward {I don't think I'm ever gonna reach it. But that's all I have…and this is my only chance!}
The second to Last Goldenwind was on her last legs, the Last Helsing was struggling to stay standing, an elf of a dying race trying to throw away the impossible sorrow in her life for power to save a country that caused such sorrow, and a boy from another world trying to prove he really is a Hero on a mission to get himself killed.
"The world rejected you! Left you behind! Told you that your life is for a greater cause, one you had no control of! No benefit from it!"
That world, more specifically the only part of this world the boy knew, was slowly being sucked in by a lullaby. Their will snuffed out and sent to sleep. Either breaking and succumbing to the lies, die in resistance, die either way, always die. Give up. Give your life for another lie. A trade, one of action and the other of action, to die the same. It didn't matter in the end. And that was why everyone was fighting. From a child rushing around while listening to Sect Whispers to give it to the local newspaper printers in her city. An old Leviathan veteran giving his life to save a group of Rebels against Sect Elites in a far off village. A rogue member of the Sect sabotages a shipment of the muskets to insure they didn't take or maim anymore of the Sect. Road, to village, to forest, to city, town, dock. Through every moment of everyday life. Slowly moving toward the boiling point.
"As a family, we're nothing like the Knights of Saga! The Navy of the Southern Islands! The Samurai of Oni-mas! Or the Warriors of Gaia! United, not by tribe or clan, not by coin, but by real ideals! By shared bloodshed! Experience! And that's stronger than any real bloodline bond!"
After each hour the Spirits sealed Gray's bones and muscles into place, sped up by his decision to get into a mediating position and practice taking in Spirit mana along the journey. Everybody around him tried not to bother his concentration, while others loudly spoke and ate on their way to Bruge. They slowed their travel for night fall, ensuring a cloak of safety overtop. Even if they had taken out small groups of Sect Knights patrolling the dirt paths. The bright blue mana eased the pain, eased the process, and even let him get some well needed calm. As calm as this warzone could get at least.
Chris: "You hear that?"
Gray: "Bruge."
Through the clear land, they saw Bruge. It had a few streams running through the town, large rectangular towers all around made of light brick and wood, and many shops and armories creating weapons for the Sect. However the streets were filled, not with rebels, but with Sect Elites. People wearing variations of the dark purple or black robe and white mask, with whatever weapons and magic they had. From Ravoria, Valatrocitus, Athens, and Walgonia. Even a few from the other continents. All over the decades. However, mostly Demi-humans filled the ranks, fighting against Walgonia. Burning homes, taking people out violently, and spreading their words through the streets with communicators.
"THE SECT IS THE FUTURE! THE UPPER PILLARS DEFEATED THE STRONGEST PERSON TO EVER EXIST, NOT EVEN IN THEIR TRUE FORMS! LOWER PILLARS APPEAR EVERYDAY! OUR MASTER CAN HEAL, OUR MASTER CAN BRING OUT YOUR STRENGTH! ALL YOU MUST DO IS PROVE YOUR WORTH AND BECOME A PILLAR!"
People wearing faulty wooden and iron prosthetics were healed rarely over the years, however it took energy and parts of their body from other wear to replace the wound. If the sickness needed magic to be healed, they could do as much as any other mage. The Sect weren't like the Southern Islands; they weren't incredibly magically advanced. Those from Ravoria and Valatrocitus knew more about Potions, Elixirs, and Black Magic. The few from the Southern Islands and Oni-mas knew about complex seals. And those from Gaia knew about Talismans. To create a strange, random, and disorganized family of angry and lost people.
Gray: "I'll go ahead."
Chris: "Kid!"
Chris grabbed Gray's wrist, staring into his shaking eyes. He quickly placed his own vambraces over Gray's forearms, which he tried his best to deny.
Gray: "I can't take your armor!"
Chris: "Then take this extra pair."
Chris quickly swapped the iron vambraces for leather gauntlets that covered his fingers. Managing to ease Gray's heart a bit before they cheered him off. Watching in awe as he got onto Dema, took in another burst of Spirit energy, and entered the Spirit Sense.
Chris: "Wait! Cover your face! It'll hide that scared look you always got!"
Gray lit red with embarrassment, which made him realize all the more why Chris was right. So he desperately looked into his bag, pulling out something a bit haunting.
Gray {I can't believe I forgot I had this in here!}
The mask he got from Jeremiah. Still with the three slashes where the mouth would be from the daggers he threw. He felt the chill he did that night. The fear, the shame. And put it over his face. Holding the agony, covering his fear, and pulling his hood over the cover of his hair.
Gray: "I feel kinda lame. Like I'm tryin way too hard to look cool."
Chris: "Nah that's only if they know you! This way you might spook them."
Gray: "...Thank you! And I hope to see you in the field, alive okay!?"
Chris: "YOU TOO MAN!"
Dema looked up with a smile, before bursting into the air. Like clock work rain began to fall, the moon was brightly lit through the thick clouds, and thunder soon followed. Sect Elites continued profiling, taking out people and rebels all throughout the wide land. From each alley, under each bridge, under each roof, under each star. Then came bursting Gray like a shadow through it all. Although some shadows down below took notice. A single laid against a water tower, kicking away a musket. Another across the town picked up their musket. And at the cost of their hands a bullet flung out through the air, right past Gray.
Gray: "SHIT!"
He took the reins and dove down toward the town. Instantly more shots rang out, while other members using their spirit connections warned each other about the large mass of mana approaching. Gray's Cloak of Darkness, and his Mask gave off an effect that slightly cloaked his presence, however he was exuding in mass and holding a heavy amount of Spirit mana. Dema was also a beast of high spiritual presence, he was screaming with fear as he dove down through the air, and every other shot fired from the muskets left the anarchists yelling in pain at the top of their lungs due to the destruction it left on their bodies.
Gray {THIS IS INSANE INSANE INSANE I'LL NEVER GET OVER HOW INSANE THIS IS! WAR! BATTLE! SHIT! HOLD MY BREATHE! HOLD MY MANA! HOLD IT HOLD IT HOLD IT! AND HOLD ON TIGHT! DON'T FALL DON'T FALL! EEEK! DON'T EEEK!}
He let out his breath without eeking -
Gray: "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH"
He pulled upward as horns, flashes of mana, screams, and bloodshed caught the attention of every anarchist in the town. However it also took the attention of the many rebels, and people yet to become rebels. For now Gray would have to push on as the burning example, the hope to pull out their will. Screaming, crying, and rampaging on with fear and mana atop his Earth Bound Dragon. Glowing a light blue, with a Cloak violently flapping, and his mask covering his face, he finally looked like a fighter. But now he had to prove it; he leapt off Dema into a drop kick to throw a large Demi-human Sect marksman off the roof. Others around the short square roof took out their claws, bows, and muskets only for the Cloak to snag some of their faces. He stopped the Anarchist from blowing their hands off first before using his boosted might to yank them into the foes slashing forward. Last came the arrows, which the Cloak instantly moved into the way to stop, while Gray rapidly ran across the roof to shoulder slam the archer off.
Gray {Can't waste all my strength on a couple of guys!}
The Sect were rushing up the stairs, other archers and marksmen got atop nearby and far away roofs. He caused chaos this time. And he'd have to stick around till the end. Leaping forth off the roof onto Dema just as she burst past, soaring close to the cobble and dirt roads before twisting into a tight alley way.
Gray {Gotta fight smart! Gotta hold my mana! Breathe, breathe!}
He took out his blade and held onto the reins, flying toward the rooves to slash at archers and marksmen's.
"THE PHNATOM!" "WHAT A BOUNTY!?" "DOESN'T THE MASTER WHAT THAT KID!?"
Similar thoughts fell just like the rapid rain drops and strikes of lighting. Gray threw out the Cloak into the muskets to yank them into the sky, along with as many anarchists as he could, as Dema smashed and smacked into them through their flight. It was easiest and safest to stick to the air, flying like a bolt of lighting past the arrows and bullets.
Gray {I can't believe Arthur's making guns! Terrible guns but guns! I gotta stop them! But it doesn't seem like they're making them here. But they've got a lot of them. So they've gotta be getting them from something even bigger!}
Looking through windows he saw a few members of the Sect harassing a young tanned woman. He leapt through the window the next second, using the Cloak to hold the glass and throw it out as he landed.
Gray: "Back off!"
"You! Come calmly and -
Three anarchists, two Demi-human, and the single human pushed the others away to extend his bulky purple bandaged hand.
"Ignis!"
Gray dashed and slipped to the slide like a snake through fear and pure agility, curving around the small bed room before bashing one of the anarchists into the human. The fire blasted out the window and into the building across the alley way, but due to the rain it was quickly put out. Letting Gray rest easy as he sliced through the leg of the third anarchist.
Gray: "Are you okay?"
At the sight of his Cloak and mask, and the blood on his sword, and his mana and the bodies and the chaos -
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"
She screamed and instantly ran, which Gray tried to warn due to the danger to no effect.
Gray: "Oh man I'm bad at this."
He looked toward the groaning anarchist, apologized, and went to jump out the window. Before almost puking in his mouth from the anxiety. Trying so hard to force past his adrenaline.
Gray {COME ON!}
He swallowed it, bit the inside of his lip so hard it bled, looked up toward the roof's edge across the alley, and leapt. Grabbing hold and picking himself up to barely move past a swinging dagger.
"For the future of the World!" "You'll regret killing those Pillars!" "You shoulda died in that castle!"
The larger rooftop held eight anarchists with more on the way. Four were taken out or died due to their musket exploding the moment they pulled the trigger, three Demi-humans rushed out to fight together, and the sole human aimed their water wand against the cobble roof.
"El-Wigo"
The wet ground froze underneath Gray's feet, causing him to slip and lose control of his mana just as a bulky Deer Demi-human jabbed his gut.
Gray {SHIT!}
Gray almost got knocked out right there, yet he bit his lip even harder and burst out with mana.
Gray {DON'T BREAK!}
The anarchists backed off with fear due to his rampaging purple aura. But Gray pulled it back, took in Spirit mana, and ran over the ice floor by stomping down hard. He took a stance, slammed his shin against the Deer's shin to send him to the ground. Squeaked, ducked a long kick from a Grasshopper Demi-human, and punched him in the groin so hard he was sent flying into the Rabbit Demi-human.
"EL-
Gray threw his sword right into the side of the human before bopping him across the face, pushing the Cloak around, and pulled her head against the ground to knock her out.
Gray: "Yes! Now again!"
He ran toward -
Gray: "OW!"
He was on the ground after a surge of pain. Forced to lay under the rain and realise just how much pain he was still in last night's brawl. The freezing rain was beautiful. A blessing. Easing the burning wounds. He held his mana close to a bandage, his Cloak like a blanket, his arms like a shield. Slowly standing and moving toward the edge just as more Anarchists burst onto the roof.
Gray: "Sorry gotta bail!"
They screamed, stepping over each other while taking out daggers and swords, forcing Gray to jump off the edge without Dema underneath.
Gray {My first quip! Real quip anyway!}
There was a large street between him and the next tall building, forcing him to extend his body. Then his Cloak, then his reach and hold of the Spirit mana in the air.
Gray {YES!}
He began to glide through the air right across the Sect filled streets and through the window of a large apartment building. Once inside he rushed upward to see Sect members all around the tight hallways.
Gray {Of course!}
But he could hear Chris and the others arriving; more screams from the Sect came nearby. Loud and constant musket fire leaving behind mutilated bodies and horribly screaming people. Flashes of fire magic flares, horns, claps and stomps. Then came the cheers of the Walgonians, and the rampage of the other rebels hiding away in the crevasses. The same shadow watching over Gray threw the window from the edge of a nearby building that came from those cracks. Making sure each of his many, many blades were in place before moving onward.
Gray {Come on! What's next!?}
Through a crowd of scared people running out of the building he fought forward. Blocked a blade with his blade pushed it back into a sprint to slash side side side burst mana slash again, to clear the hall through every week squeak and scream.
"DIIIIIEEE!"
Gray squealed even louder when a Sect elite came charging from his left. He swiftly pushed off the ground and slid back out of the way, letting the Demi-human bear charge through a door, break and stumble through a table in the living room, and fall right out a window three floors down.
Gray: "Phew."
He stepped into the room for a second, trying to make sure anybody inside was okay, but surged with fear almost instantly. As the crystal light hanging from the ceiling was shattered, and his right shoulder was grazed by a dagger right after. The same attack, redirected and ricocheted through the window, through the light, off the wall, and against Gray's mana. Before he could breathe more knives came bursting all around, leaving light grazes on his skin and armor even with his mana in the way. It felt like getting caught in a swarm of hornets he couldn't see, until the shadowy figure came flying feet first through the window and landed right ahead of Gray.
Gray {Shit!}
"Sup Kyojin."
The man wore purple wrappings all over his body, but covered it with the Sects pants and robe with the sleeves torn off. Tucked into those wrappings were daggers and knives of all sizes, jingling with each step. His blond hair was pushed back to show his white cracked mask, staring right into Gray's quivering eyes.
"I see you've taken our gear."
Gray: "This mask is a present from Jeremiah!"
The anarchist was a bit shorter than Gray with thicker limbs, carrying the most nonchalant attitude a member of the Sect could, while taking out a handful of daggers between his fingers.
"Then I'll be taking it back as a present. Along with your body."
Gray: "Oooh so scary. What are you a Pillar I've never heard of? Or some random dude."
Marker: "Names Marker, and yeah I'm almost a Pillar. After this I'll definitely be one!"
Gray still had his mana and Spirit Sense held, he had mana and stamina to drive from; he was ready, but so was Marker. They dashed out at the same time, however Markers blades all bounced around like a flock of swarming birds. Bouncing off or sliding across his mana, slightly grazing his skin or his armor while he slashed his sword. He tried to stay in the proper stance but Marker slid all around without thinking, kicking and punching whenever he could. Those punches didn't pack much of a punch, but they only served to keep him stunned while more blades broke him down.
Gray: "Back off!"
Gray burst with mana to throw the blades off course, using the moment of strength to slam his fist into Marker's gut. For a moment Marker roared with pain, before he was sent through the wooden wall into a bedroom and through the next wall to crash into the alley below. Gray slipped through, apologizing to the sleeping couple, and perched in the shattered wall to try and spot just where Marker ran off to.
Gray {I can't lose control like that. I'll bust my arm and be on my last legs again. I'm already not in top shape, I gotta fight right dammit!}
He jumped across to the rooftop to run along, drawing musket fire and eruptions from nearby anarchists before jumping off the building and gliding down across the streets.
Gray {They said I was a real hero in that wagon! I have to prove to them that they're right! All my training, Athens, all of it! Every time I'm in a fight I risk it all! So I won't lose, not before the last gamble!}
His head surged with pain, forcing him to dodge and crash against the chaotic ground to dodge something. He looked forward, watching as the missed glass bottle of glowing black liquid smashed onto a fighting Sect Elite. In an instant the toxin turned to steam, burning over the anarchist and sending him into a blinding bloody rage right toward Gray. Gray simply shot out his Cloak to pull himself away, right toward where the bottle had been thrown from, to spot something cloaked in black dashing into an alley. So he swung toward that alley, over a few anarchists he kicked with his legs to help flip onto his feet.
"YOU! THAT BASTARED WHO MURDERED A CHILD!"
Chills went through his body, masked by a need to keep fighting. So his eyes jotted toward even more anarchists fuming with the toxin, enraged and bleeding through their cloaks, forcing Gray to lunge away to safety. He rolled and rolled in the mud, coated in fear, desperately trying to get away from the rampaging cultists. Screaming for his murder, his blood, foaming at the mouth with blood in fury. Behind them was the hunched over anarchist in black. It was leather tied to her frail body, while the cloak hung down to her knees. Across her were belts holding many vials of various ingredients, all to create her own special toxin. The only bit of humanity that existed were the small eye slits on her slightly too big hood right under the large Sect crest, and the v-shaped opening for her scared nose and mouth of shattered teeth. Revealing her scorched scaly Demi-human flesh.
"You must face your past Kyojin. The consequences of your horrific actions to our family!"
Her voice was so scratchy and hoarse it was almost impossible to understand what she was saying, but Gray got the message. Quaking with fear again and again. The more the battle swarmed the streets. The closer the anarchists got. All the strong anarchists in every dark corner. It all felt almost mindless at this point. Fighting fighting fighting. Prissy. Saving the mayor, Marker, now this. Over and over, lost to the fire. If he made it out of this it would be washed over by more names, more fights, more people that needed to be saved. He had to remember. He had to really take it in. And he had to ensure he never lost sight of himself. Along with all those who need them.
Gray: "If you really want to do something then throw away those horrid masks and fight for a peaceful future! Instead of trying to shatter everything already built without anything in mind!"
Gray threw out his Cloak to trip the large Demi-humans ahead of the crowd, causing them all to pile atop each other and get stuck due to their broken, bleeding, rageful souls. Gray had to fight, and he did, flaring with mana to take in more Spirit mana. Like the snowmen and Spirit Beasts he trained against in Godrick mountain he twisted and pivoted, slashed, ducked, turned , slashed, jumped, and slashed the back. Fighting through it while keeping his momentum, mana, and will all flowing to the next strike.
Gray: "Everything you do doesn't have a real purpose! All you do is let out your anger, all you do is fuel it, you're all insane! Fighting again and again to get your people killed and then killing more because of it!"
Gray cut closer to the burnt anarchist, leaving a bloody but alive pile of raging and decaying cultists. Eroded by their own family's magic. She had used the time to mix even more, throwing them all around while dashing to another alley. Gray threw the Cloak toward the alley's high walls while swinging past the small glass round bottles. He even managed to grab one, instantly feeling both its weight and disgusting toxin, forcing him to throw it right at the back of her head.
"NO!"
She took out a dagger with the Sects crest holding the blade and handle together, ready to slash through the bottle, before another dagger shattered it mid air to save her.
Marker: "Come on Red you gotta stay sharp! You're never gettin that spot if you keep fightin like a burnt piece of meat!"
Gray pulled down on the Cloak so hard it broke the wall of the building it was snagged onto, launching himself through the air to swing right toward Marker on the roof of a lower building. His feet bashed against Marker's face to send him sliding against the roofs edge, before he threw out a volley of knives against the building to their right to bounce toward Gray as a storm of metal. Gray extended the Cloak out like a flat shield for the knives to submerge into while he leapt toward Marker, easily defending before sliding forward and managing to kick him right in the jaw. The force sent him crashing into the building ahead, while Gray jumped off the roof and swung right toward Red.
Gray: "Names Red right!? Nice to meet yah!"
She ducked just as he swung overhead, forcing him to flip and barely land on a stone arch at the end of the alley. Behind him were Sect Elites screaming against Rebels, Dema charging through the air to help wherever she could, civilians running to safety, while ahead Red charged with vials in her hands.
Gray: "What are thoughts by the way?"
Red: "BLACK ELIXIERS!"
Gray: "No idea what that means. Seems racist."
Red: "UGGGH!"
She poured multi colored dark vials into each other before it swirled with a bright purple and green shade -
Red: "No matter how confident you try and act, you'll always be a scared rat deep down."
She slammed the vials against the buildings near Gray. The bright smoke formed into a thick cloud that flowed with the air and rain right through Gray. He held his breath, closed his eyes, and launched toward the air to freedom. But the moment he opened his eyes he felt a shock to his systems. Even his eyes, darkened by the Spirit sense, were bloodshot with purple veins. As the toxin was flowing through his system, forcing his heart into overdrive. He instantly lost control of his mana while he swung through the streets, desperately holding on even with the immense pain without his mana to help, before he was forced to let go and bounce across the dirt and cobble streets. When he stood all he saw was fire, hatred, swarming hazes and screams. Until he took in as much Spirit mana as possible.
Gray {GOTTA FORCE IT ALL OUT!}
It was a gamble, one based on the fact that when he pulled Spirit mana into his body it took away pain, and quickened his healing factor. A gamble that instantly paid off; while he flared with bright blue mana, his body separating and screaming to stop, a wave of purple steam washed out of his veins. Freeing himself from the weak toxin just in time to get smashed across the face by a large Demi-human fist. It was a hulking Demi-human with thick stone spikes emerging from beneath the Sect robes, standing beside another anarchist tugging on chains.
"SEEK HIM DOWN!"
Those chains were attached to collars, holding Mid-Tier partially tamed spirit Beasts that flung toward Gray with deafening roars.
Gray: "SHIT SHIT SHIT!"
Because Gray took in a mass of Spirit mana, it sent out a beacon to his own Spirit beast; Dema burst between them just in time for Gray to jump on.
Gray: "GO -
Before he spoke Dema vanished with him on top, right into the air to leave the beasts behind. A Four eyed, hulking Spirit Bat that flew forward and a purple tentacled one eyed monster held together by thick bone segments charged on all fours. The Sect member controlling them jumped atop the Spirit Bat to keep up, while the Cleaver below gargled and squeaked with grunts. It stood like a lion, oozed like a corrupted beast, and stared forward with its singular crazed eye like a starving predator.
Gray {This shit never ends! I might really be in over my head this time…WHATEVER! I'LL MAKE IT WORK ANYWAY! THAT'S WHAT A HERO WOULD SAY RIGHT!? Or think in this case.}
Through it all he saw Rosemary, the constant sun in the constant darkness, letting him fly on Dema with only a lot of fear.
Gray: "FUCK IT! LET'S GO COME ON! MARKER! RED! MONSTER! SECT! WHO CARES! I'M ONLY GETTING STARTED!"
He took Dema and grabbed the reins, took a big gulp, and tugged as hard as he could. Sending Dema faster than he ever had, almost faster than his Spirit Sense could preserve. Sending him over building over street twist turn building alley street up down over spiral barrel roll scream shout almost fall off tug tug tug -
Gray:"WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHH!!!!"
A blast went off, bouncing off the top of the water tower, and right through Dema's wing. Marker instantly through the combusting musket away, but he made the shot. Sending Dema falling instantly. Scrapping like a plane against the ground on roof tops, breaking through the stone before falling floors down to another building to do the same, until they reached an alley filled with Sect members to crash against. Leaving Dema quivering with immense damage, while Gray couldn't move. From fear. From anger. He broke. The rubble and dust settled quickly under the harsh rain. But all he could do was slam his fist into his chest. It was the only way to get out his frustration -
Gray {WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME!? JESUS CHRIST! OH MY GOD WHAT AM I DOING!? WHAT WAS I THINKING!? I'M GONNA DIE I'M GONNA GET HER KILLED! I'M GONNA GET ROSEMARY AND SOKU AND EDWARD AND WALGONIA AND ATHENS AND MYSELF AND - FUCK!}
He was running so hard for so long. From the moment he stood up in that cell under the castle, and stepped out of the darkness for the first time in his life, all it did was burn down what he made. That resolve, that willpower, forced and tried through the world's chaos. Jeremiah, Kioshi and Ophelia's horrific death, Musashi's silently horrific death, the harsh training he put himself through with Gordon and Ryo, the battles day in and day out. It was only the second day of his travels to Athens, two days of being alone, and it had already left him absolutely shattered. Every time he felt joy, every time he felt like he could do it, forced himself to think he could do it, it always came back to bite him. Nothing was a victory. Nothing got him closer to the end. Every day he only realized just how weak and useless he really was. He realized how all this training got him to a starting line. The first step to power. And all he could feel was how unfair it was.
Gray: "What am I supposed to do?"
"I'll tell you what you should do."
For a second he felt hopeful. Like Musashi in the slums. Like Al at the mansion. Like Kisohi at the castle. And Chris in the last town. Every time he hit the ground, every time this world broke him, it also gave him a hand to -
Marker: "You should join the Sect, or let me kill you."
No. This was War. This was a bloody brutal war. It was in his world, it was throughout every world. It was undeniable. He wanted to be a Super Hero. He wanted to be invincible and have a base and a lair and go on missions and save the world. But that would never happen. He had to fight. He had to cry. He had to train day in and day out. He had to almost die again and again, just to fall and get up and almost die again. That was this life. That was being a fighter. And before he could be a Hero, he had to be able to survive.
Gray: "How about I let some steam off instead."
Breaking down, that was a constant. He wasn't going to grow after a speech and some cool climatic moment. He would always feel this pain. But standing, that was where he had to act. To stay standing, to keep going. From this fight to the next. To Athens, to Walgonia. Till the end of his life.
He'll fight, he'll get his happy ending, and he'll be the Hero he's always wanted to be.
But first he had to get beaten to a pulp. And leave Bruge victorious.
Either becoming a Lamb, or sending everybody else to the Slaughter.