by Liandra Jake
"You expect me to believe that? It sounds like something from a soap opera, a bad soap opera. Next you'll be telling me it was my evil twin brother who killed my sister, or that your sister is somehow pregnant with my child." Arend said
"I don't think-" King started.
"No! I will have no more of your bullshit!" Arend exclaimed as he continued walking to the coliseum.
"It'll prove itself soon enough." King said as he watched Arend leave.
"I may not fully believe your story, but Arend may find truths do lie in what you say. They may prove too sharp if he doesn't accept the possibility when they sink their teeth into him." Nojeski said as he followed Arend.
'A soap opera? That's such a weird way to describe it. I was half expecting him to demand we fight right here.' King thought to himself as he took to the skies.
Thanks to King's long winded discussion, Rusty had reached the coliseum first and was calling Kronth from the stands. "Kronth!" Rusty exclaimed when the call went through.
"What!?"Kronth yelled back.
"I need you to listen carefully." Rusty hastily described all what had happened so far. "We are going to need back up." Rusty said finally.
Kronth groaned. It was hard enough bringing all the S Ranked members together without this sudden development. "I can't spare anyone right now. I guess you'll have to deal with what you've got." As Kronth said this, a man walked through the lobby's doors.
He had a pair of charcoal black sneakers with metal plates surrounding the soles. A pair of black Kevlar socks would prevent damage to his feet if anything could pierce the sneakers. His black shorts were decorated by numerous chains that hung down and fed through metal loops in the shorts and small straps on the outer sides of his shorts.
A black tee shirt was under a puffy navy blue vest was all that was on his torso. Dragon's Den's symbol was stitched into the back of the vest in black. His hands were half tucked into his vest, the left having the same Guild symbol tattooed in dark blue. He had light brown eyes. His brown hair was cut short, covered by a red baseball cap twisted backwards on his head. A goatee made of light brown stubble covered his face. DUKE was spelt down the side of his right arm in bright red letters.
"Hold on, I think I do have someone to spare." Kronth said when she noticed the man walking up to her.
She quickly hung up of Rusty. "What can The Duke do for you today?" He asked Kronth.
"Rusty needs help in the Youkaki Mountains. A Pendragon has shown up and has a history with Arend." Kronth replied.
"Who's Arend?" Duke asked.
"The new guy, now get going." Kronth replied.
"Blue Blue!" Corenden called out as he flew through the doors.
"More mail?" Kronth asked.
"Yep, something from Isaac believe it or not." Corenden said as he pulled out a large tan package from his bag.
"Isaac? Are you sure?" Kronth asked as she took it. She quickly tore the paper off and opened the box. A light blue dress was surrounded by dark green tissue paper.
The dress was made from a very fine mesh of scales. Underneath it was a chestnut box with a cat carved into it and with Semi-fine jewels embedded around the edge of the bottom. Corenden lifted it out so Kronth could place the dress back into the box. Kronth took the box and opened it. A dark blue felt lined the inside of the box. The bottom had places where you could place an enormous amount of rings. In the center were a light grey ring and a letter.
'Dear Kronth, I'm sorry that I couldn't see you on your birthdays for the last few years. I've been working on these for a while. I hope you like them. The dress cannot be cut by any normal means and it can reduce the amount of Orenth you use when you call your monster friends.
That ring box should provide a safe place for you your rings for however long you choose to be an active member of this Guild. Now onto that grey ring; it's made from pure Grey Admantinium. It was the hardest to get and make out of the three. It isn't bonded to anything, so use it as you choose.
Hope to see you soon,
Isaac'
Kronth shook her head. "He still doesn't get it." Kronth said as she placed the ring box next to the package on the table.
"I'll be going now." Duke said as he turned back to the doorway. "
Corenden, go with Duke. Arend could use some help." Kronth said.
"I can't, I'm on duty." Corenden replied.
Kronth rolled her eyes. Grabbing the grey ring from the box, she gave it to Corenden. "Take this then. First class priority." Kronth said grumpily.
"Alight, I'll bill you later." Corenden said as he placed the ring in his bag.
"Go, go go, go!" Kronth said as she pushed Corenden towards the door.
"Alright!" Corenden exclaimed as he quickly flew out the door.
Kronth turned to her gifts. "At least he's improved." Kronth said as she ran her hand over the box.
[x]
Arend dropped down onto the coliseum floor. "Arend!" Rusty called down. Arend waved to him. "Kronth is sending backup, they'll be here in a few minutes!" Rusty yelled.
"Aye!" Arend called back.
Nojeski and King dropped in shortly afterwards. "If you two are ready, we can begin." King said.
Arend and Nojeski drew their swords. They remained silent as they strafed around either side of King. Nojeski's footsteps were completely silent as he moved around King. Arend on the other hand made a racket as his untrained feet stumbled as he moved around. His Drive filled the coliseum with noise as it picked up speed. It topped out and purred like a sports car. Arend' aura was a light shade of violet. King flashed forward, diving at Arend with his jaws open wide.
Arend rolled to the left, cutting up with his sword, aiming for King's side. With the quick flap of his wing, King forced Arend to the ground and hopped away. He spun around to face them again. Nojeski ran forward. In a flurry of strokes that Arend couldn't follow, Nojeski forced King to the wall. King opened his mouth and a spike an inch in diameter shot out from the back of his throat. Nojeski pulled his katana up as he stepped to the left, cutting it down the side.
Before the pieces could hit the ground, King leaped away from the wall and charged. Once he picked up speed, white flames coated his limbs and his feet lost all traction. Drifting around the arena, King used his wings to control where he was going. As he drifted around Arend and Nojeski, he released a volley of spikes from his mouth. Arend' shield knocked them aside as he charged at King.
King's fire disappeared and he ran to face Arend. As King brought his head down to bite Arend, Arend tried to jump over him, but ended up running into King's back. A thunderous crash filled the coliseum as Arend' shield collided with King's wing. The shape of the wing collapsed as the Orenth it was made of swirled around Arend' shield. Arend tried to bring his sword down on King's back, but a massive discharge of Orenth knocked him across the coliseum.
Arend hit the wall with a loud crack. His shield created a crater in the wall before collapsing under the pressure. Arend' back struck the wall shortly after. Bruised but not broken, Arend got to his feet. King's red Orenth still surrounded Arend, but was sucked up by the Dragon Drive before it could do any harm to him. It created a small whirlpool as the Drive pulled it all in.
King's wing was crippled. A large chuck was missing out of it. They both phased in and out as King tried to hold their shape. 'Damn it. The shield will take a while to recharge. Guess I have no choice' Arend thought as he drove his sword into the ground. "Overheat Release Level One." Arend said as he brought his hand over the Drive. "Overclock!" Like before, Arend drove his palm into the spinning Drive.
The Drive began to spin faster, soon after Arend' aura changed to a dark blue. A hazy blue aura also coated the blades. King started for Arend, but Nojeski seemed to pop out of nowhere as he drove his katana deep between King's ribs. The path he took across the ground had a faint shadow clinging to it. King let out a roar that cracked the earth around him. Nojeski released his grip on his katana as King whipped around to coun
ter attack.
Arend shot across the coliseum at King. His sword left a line of blue as he dragged it across the ground in one hand. King glanced at his wounds. A steady stream of blood oozed from the holes in his side. Arend let out a roar of his own as he swung his sword back handed at King's left forearm. It struck bone and reverberated as it bounced off. Arend turned around, his back passing in front of King's face.
He stepped around King and grabbed Nojeski's katana with his free hand. He dragged it along King's side as he ran. He was about to drive both weapons into King's side when a massive flare of Orenth pushed him back. Nojeski gathered his weapon from Arend. The red Orenth surrounded King as a fiery aura. As King struggled to his feet, the Dragon Drive began to sputter. Arend glared down at his misbehaving Drive.
King's fur suddenly turned a blood red and bristled outwards. It sharpened and grew a deeper hue of red with each wave of Orenth that passed across his body.
"This is bad Arend; I was hoping to finish him before he reached this stage." Nojeski said as King let out a roar.
"You ready for this?" Arend asked as he brought up his sword. A wide smile ran across Arend' face as King turned to them, his eyes blazing.
King dashed at them, pounding the earth with his feet. In the corner of Arend' eye, something flew by at an insane speed. King was sent like a rocket to the other side of the coliseum, cracking the wall all the way past the stands. A man was standing where King was, wearing a dark blue vest and his feet coated in a mud-like aura.
"The Duke as arrived." He said when he glanced in Arend' direction.
"Duke!?" Rusty exclaimed from the stands.
King coughed, his blood spattering the ground. "Even with a weak connection that kick hurt like hell." King said. An imprint of Dragon's Den's symbol was embedded where Duke kicked King. Duke walked over to Arend and Nojeski.
"Who are you?" Arend asked.
"The name's Duke, It's nice to meet you Arend." Duke said as he held out his hand to Nojeski.
Nojeski pointed in Arend' direction and shook his head. "That's Arend." He said.
"Really?" Duke said, tilting his head, looking Arend over.
Arend raised his malfunctioning blade. "I don't have time to waste like this; I have a fight to finish." Arend said as he turned to King.
Duke stepped into Arend' path. "Can't let you do that. You may not know this, but a Pendragon is a G ranked monster. I'm S Rank So I can handle it. I can't let you fight him." Duke said.
Arend threw a punch at Duke. He easily stepped around it, but he didn't notice Arend' leg. When he stumbled briefly, Arend knocked him on his back and held his sword up to his neck. "Trust me; I'm at least Double S at this point." Arend said as he glared down at Duke.
"Only double? I guess you won't be able to handle me then." A voice that embodied a darkness that devoured all light echoed across the coliseum, as if it came from the corners of one's mind. King had a terrified look on his face.
"Ace." He said quietly. A black Pendragon was standing at the center of the arena.
Its fur burned a pitch black that put Nojeski's to shame. A pair of electric blue eyes flashed as it glanced around. The earth trembled under its feet as it slowly stalked across the coliseum. Rusty, Nojeski, and Duke stared at the black Pendragon with complete terror in their eyes. Arend slowly walked forward. It stopped and tilted its head.
"You're a strange one." It whispered as Arend circled around till no one was directly behind it.
"I take it your name is Ace?" Arend asked.
"Yes; and too many others that have been stuck to my image." Ace replied.
Rusty pulled out his phone and held down the first speed dial. Arend held his sword in front of him, the Drive spinning at eye level. He spoke. "Overheat Release Level Two." He lowered the point to face Ace. Holding his hand over the Drive, Arend spoke again.
"Five pillars." Arend growled as he slammed his hand down on the erratic Drive. The Drive stopped for a few seconds, before two rapid clicks sent it spinning to the point where all you could see of the outer Korvan was a blended ring of color. As it topped out at over 300,000 rotations a minute, Arend' shield burst into life in a bright lime green.
Arend' eyes shifted from the darkest emerald to the brightest sea-foam. Arend ran forward, his eyes leaving a trail of green as he swung his sword at Ace's surprised face. Ace quickly bit down on the first blade, shattering it into a thousand pieces.
"That was too easy." Ace said with a smirk. Arend let a half smile creep on his face.
"Tell that to the blood from your mouth." Arend replied.
A steady stream of blood poured from Ace's mouth. Ace glanced down at the growing puddle of blood under his mouth. Arend kicked Ace in the side of the face, driving a piece of metal in his mouth into a nerve. Ace let out a howl. Arend ran to King. A look of shock flashed across his face as Arend drove the tip of his sword deep into King.
"You know something?" Arend said as King began to bleed. "If I was the one who caused my parents and sister to become Possessed, how could I carry so much dark Orenth in my body if my heart, now made of grey Adamtinium, turn into a Possessed as soon as they put it in my body?" Arend asked. King stared up with half closed eyes. "When Ace showed up, my memories of that day returned. A dark laughter from my sister in a voice that sounds all too familiar right now.
"Now tell me Ace, who's voice do you think it was?" Arend asked.
"No…" Ace said slowly.
"That's right, next time remember that a Possesed's eyes change to that of the Orenth that infects them." Arend said as he stopped the Drive with a hand brake on the handle. Taking his free hand, Arend gave it a quick spin counter clockwise. Arend' aura disappeared and his eyes returned to their natural color.
King's heart skipped a few beats from the sudden inflow of Orenth, but then he immediately converted it into his own. Arend pulled his half broken sword from King's side. The hole was closed and healed a few seconds later. An aura flashed around King briefly before disappearing. He quickly got to his feet. Arend leaned against his sword and breathed heavily.
"Arend! What the hell!?" Rusty yelled.
"I've made my peace with King. Neither he nor I was the cause of my parent's Possession. I don't think he was even the one who killed them in the first place." Arend replied with a glance at Ace.
King's side bumped into Arend. "I take it you believe what I said then?" King asked.
"More or less. Now then. You guys ready to take this bastard down?" Arend asked, looking across the field at Nojeski and Duke.
They glanced at each other. Ace let out a long laugh. "You really know how to turn things against people." Ace said with a half smile.
"It will only get worse for you at this point." Oragè said from behind Ace.
Ace whipped around. "You see Ace, this time I've got some friends." Arend said.
Kronth was sitting comfortably on Oragè's back. The loud roar of a Drive engine filled the station as Rusty's freshly painted car shot up over the stands.
It landed with a screech next to Kronth. Hunter, Matthew, Cris, Jenifer, and Vladd stepped out. From the sky, a small one person aircraft hovered in and landed on Kronth's other side. It was about the size of a small glider with an engine attached to the rear. Kyrel stepped out, one foot on the top of the cockpit windshield.
"Bring as many people as you like, it won't help you win." Ace said.
"DRAGON'S DEN!" Someone shouted from behind Rusty. A man in a crushed velvet suit and his almost yellow hair greased back was standing on the edge of the stands. He held up a fist. "We are all here to fight alongside you!" He called out as a large number of people flooded the stands.
Two large helicopters passed overhead the letters SNSD painted on the sides. "We've got at least six Syndicates worth of people here." Rusty said as he stood up. "People are tired of your rampages. We are putting an end to the Black Demon here and now."
Arend looked around. "It's a bit overkill." He said.
"Better
overkill than letting him escape." King said.
Arend tapped King's side. "We'll finish our business later." Arend said as he revved up his Drive.
There was a loud pop as Arend' Drive reset to the highest level. "I brought my own back up as well you know." Ace said.
"It doesn't matter." Arend replied as he walked forward.
"I think it does." Ace said as the loud call of a whale filled the air.
Descending from far above, hidden in the clouds was a gigantic flying whale. "Say hello to a leviathan." Ace said before a heavy rain poured from the sky.