by Liandra Jake
Alexander cut through the front of a flower shop. Half of the plaza was drenched as the flower shop exploded in a massive stream of water. "Kyrel, he's opened up the water main. We've gotten ourselves in a corner here." Vladd said as he raised Felsen Soul.
Kyrel pulled Aero Fìra off his back. "I know." He replied.
"Why are you here? Where's Arend?" Alexander asked as he strutted towards the two.
"He's got a previous engagement." Vladd replied as he shot at him.
Alexander didn't flinch. He moved his head left and then right to dodge the first two, spinning Aquaporus to deflect the others, all the while still moving towards them.
"So two long ranged fighters have come to fight a midrange fighter?" Alexander asked.
"Whoever sent you here is a fool. Your blood will be on their hands. "Vladd, try to keep him distracted." Kyrel said as he began to feed Aero Fìra.
"Easier said than done!" Vladd said as he shot increasingly more powerful attacks at Alexander.
Aquaporus was a blur. No matter the size, Alexander was able to cut through and scatter Vladd's attacks. "You're still inexperienced with your weapon. You two may have the potential advantage since long ranged Legendary Weapons were built with a wider range of Orenth attacks than the melee ones." Alexander was now within range of Vladd. He brought his scythe behind his back in preparation for a wide swing. "But you two don't have enough Orenth control to use them."
"VLADD MOVE!" Kyrel called out.
Vladd jumped back and fell onto his back. Alexander's eyebrows narrowed. He had forgotten about Kyrel. He stopped when he saw what he was doing.
"Natural Orenth!?" He exclaimed, taking a step back.
"Scatter Shaft!" Kyrel released an arrow. It had a small cluster of whirlwinds as an arrowhead.
In the teen feet from his bow to Alexander, the arrow fractured. A scatter of ten mini-arrows with whirlwind arrowheads streaked towards Alexander. He swung upwards, hoping to get Vladd at the same time. Alexander's plan was foiled when the earth around his blade right before he cut through to Vladd's groin hardened.
Seven of the ten arrows plunged into Alexander; one in each shoulder, three in his right arm, one in his chest and the other two in his left hamstring. The others became unstable a few feet behind him and exploded. Vladd rolled away as Alexander fell to his knees.
"We may not have the experience with the weapons, but we sure as hell have experience in teamwork." Vladd said as he quickly got to his feet.
Alexander slowly got to his. The wounds left from Kyrel's arrows began to bleed as the arrows themselves dissolved. "Cocky ass punk… I've got well over ten years with this weapon under my belt. I've had well over that in grueling training!"
Alexander popped Aquaporus out of the ground with his foot. He caught it with the handle level and the blade curling towards the sky. "Drenched Sickle!" He swung around, casting a thin crescent of water from the hole towards the front of Aquaporus. Vladd raised Felsen Soul to try and counter, but he felt a sudden crispness to the air.
"Icy Terma…" Kyrel whispered. The air around Kyrel suddenly began to chill. What Kyrel had said made Alexander's eyebrows rise. In the few seconds it took for Alexander's attack to near Vladd, Kyrel had gone through a transformation. The wet ground at his feet had frozen. His hair was drained of color, leaving it a pale shade of blue. "PALE BLUE UPSHOT!" The arrow Kyrel released had a barbed triangular head made of ice.
It flew from Aero Fìra faster than Vladd could keep up with. It hit Alexander's attack head on, scattering the water and pulling the crescent of water in its wake, freezing it as a gigantic extended blade of ice. It collided with the side of Aquaporus as Alex brought it up to protect himself. The arrow shattered, scattering ice across the plaza behind him.
Alexander was unharmed, but Aquaporus was frozen in ever thickening layers of ice. The water spraying down from above became his enemy as it built up on the Ice Orenth Kyrel had left on Aquaporus. A peculiar feeling washed over everyone in the plaza. Alexander's eyes widened. He gave Kyrel and Hunter a final glare before nodding. "You two have earned my respect. I want to fight you two again when we meet in the future."
"What?" Vladd asked.
Alexander sheathed Aquaporus and pulled his cloak over his shoulders. Even without it, he would have easily retreated through the Southern Gate into the hills beyond. Vladd bristled. "Enough Vladd." Kyrel said with a huff.
Vladd glanced over. Kyrel was on one knee, breathing heavily. Aero Fìra lay dormant beside him. "Call it in. I'll be fine." He said before Vladd could say anything.
Vladd pulled out a hand radio made of spare parts. "Hey. This is Vladd and Hunter at the Southern Gate. Alexander has retreated. Kyrel is exhausted, but we're both unharmed, surprisingly."
"He was probably holding back." Kyrel replied, still panting.
Vladd got a reply. "You ruined the thing we had going!" Nem exclaimed.
"I'm not going to play your games. Something spooked Alexander. It's most likely whomever Arend is fighting."Vladd replied. Nem grunted.
Vladd put the radio back into his pocket. Kyrel had finally caught his breath. He was sitting in the melting ring of ice. "What was that?" Vladd asked.
"One of the Termas. The Termas are writings about ancient techniques involving the use of Orenth. They were written well before the time of industrial use of Korvan and Orenth. You can't tell anyone what I did back there. Not even my father knows of this power. Everyone must assume I can somehow use Natural Orenth by some other means. The Termas are extremely dangerous and sought after. The few pages I had from whatever book they came from were destroyed with the BluZeph mansion." Kyrel explained.
Vladd nodded. "How many are there?" Vladd asked.
"Eighteen." Kyrel replied.
Vladd frowned. "There are only seventeen known types of Orenth."
"You're forgetting what a very powerful man once said. He who wields the Eighth Legendary Weapon." Kyrel replied with a sly smile. "Arend Myshcell, Master Kruxsetter and controller of all Orenth."
- - The Reaper- -
King flew over a man in black surrounded by people crying out in pain. "That's Death Orenth…" King said as he circled.
Arend revved the Dragon Drive. "It's time to scatter it." He said as he leapt from King's back.
He left his bag on King's back. Arend fell in a cloud of swirling Orenth. When he landed on the ground, the Orenth spread out. It moved like an engorged snail until it covered everything except the man in black.
Arend revved the Dragon Drive once more, driving it into the ground. The Orenth exploded outwards in a shockwave that scattered the purple Orenth clouding those trapped. Arend kicked it out of the ground, catching it on the second turn. He pointed it at the man. Arend and the man waited as the people around them retreated.
He stood about Arend' height. He had a long black parka-like jacket with black fluff trim on the edges, including his sleeves and up the top of his arms. He had black slacks with the same black fluff trim. His hair was grey, and was styled like Arend' with shorter hair. He had black eyes; his irises were connected to a hidden black ring to the sides of his eyes by blue arcs. They only became visible if he glanced to the side.
The black, thorny seal on his right arm proved he was the one with the Death Legendary Weapon, Death's Ring. "Who are you?" Arend asked. "The Reaper of Souls." He replied.
"So Mr. Ros, shall we dance?" Arend brought the Dragon Drive up in two hands.
"Doubt you'll survive. None survive my first attack." Ros replied.
Arend revved the Drive. "Try me ya' bastard!"
A purple halo formed in Ros' right hand. With a simple throw, it flew at Arend at high speed. Arend rolled past it, letting it hit the building behind him. The man laughed a little. "Was that truly wise?"
A very fine string of purple Orenth was left hanging in the air where the halo flew. The man flicked it at Arend. Arend ducked under it, severing it by holding the Drive up as the string passed.
Ros' smile disappeared. "What are you?" He demanded.
"Human plus Pendragon." Arend replied with a grin. The man readied two halos in his hands.
"So you're our target." He sent both in Arend' direction. Arend leapt over them, taking to the air in red flames. Ros send a third ring at Arend as he topped his second jump. Arend knocked it away midair.
Dropping slightly, Arend skipped over the air in Ros' direction. Ros brought the three strings inward, aiming to come at Arend from three directions. Arend countered him by cutting downwards, flinging a wave of sparkling Orenth at Ros. Ros let it hit him without flinching. The Orenth dissipated around him, barely stirring his fluff.
"Death is immune to all kinds of Orenth, and so, I am as well." Ros said.
Arend engaged Overclock. He was surrounded by a crisp blue aura. His blade glowed blue, a shade darker than the sky above. "There's no point to this fight!" Ros exclaimed as he scattered upwards of twenty rings at Arend.
Arend hopped off the ground, kicking the air with red flames, he forced himself into a back flip.
When he was fully upside down, he dissipated the rings above him with a wave of Air Orenth. He landed a few feet past where the others were forced down into the ground by the change in air pressure. He faced Ros.
"Where did you learn this kind of gymnastics?" Ros asked.
"My style is calmative. That moved bas born from a similar move a Pog friend came up with. Anything else is from movies, or just instinct." Arend replied.
"So you know none of the techniques that would make you dangerous with that kind of blade." Ros surrounded his fist by three rings joined closely in his palms.
Arend responded by driving the hilt of his sword into Ros' sternum. He was coated it white flames, leaving red back where he stood previously. Ros flew backwards down the street, bouncing and flipping like a rag doll. He skidded to a halt face down. The rings on his fists disappeared and his overbearing Orenth faded. Arend rolled his neck.
"That doesn't mean I don't have the strength to send you flying." 'But do I have the strength to kill in a single blow?' Arend thought as he walked down to Ros' immobile body. Arend wasn't sure if he killed him or just knocked him out.
A harsh, hissing laughter came from Ros."You're just as naïve as my previous targets. It doesn't matter what century, you fools are all the same to me." Ros' body slowly raised, arms limp and swinging back and forth. He was tangled in innumerous purple strings thicker than Arend' thumb.
Arend stepped back. "So I was right. Death's Ring controls its host." Arend said, raising the Dragon Drive. "Five Pillars."
There was a quick *Zing!* as the Drive's speed increased tenfold. Arend' aura shifted to golden yellow. "You silly Weapon Masters think that Possessed weapons can only kill mindlessly. My power allows me to utilize this body to fit my needs, one of which is completing my primary purpose for existence; winning the war."
Ros shot forward, body coated in numerous rings that fit him like an exoskeleton. Arend blocked his charge with the flat of his blade. "You and I both know," Arend kicked him back with an Orenth coated leg. "This isn't a war."
Ros laughed as he floated to his feet. "Yes it is. What other reason would I have been awoken?" This Fifth Great War has been a bloody one. There are so few warriors left."
"The fifth war happened over six hundred years ago. You must've been asleep for a long time." Arend said.
Ros paused. "You lie. YOU LIE!" He screamed, covering his ears.
"Look into the memories of the man you control! The war ended by a dragon's breath! Your purpose has been manipulated. They just want me and Dragon's Den dead." Arend said.
Ros' eyes had dilated slightly. "Emptiness. A void of a sacred wind, three broken letters remain. 'R. O. S.'" Ros stared out emptily. "All else is fear. FEAR OF DEATH!" Ros charged once more, purple Orenth pouring out of his body.
Arend expertly countered him, making Ros stumble in a cluster of purple and gold sparks. Arend whipped around, breaking off part of the rings on Ros' left shoulder and flinging him into a light pole. The pole crunched, leaning slightly.
The broken bits of Death Orenth dissolved, sucked into Arend' golden blade. "What manner of weapon is that? It's definitely not one of the Seven, but it's insatiable. It's absorbing every wisp of Orenth it can, and yet never overloads or becomes Possessed."
Arend raised it. "It's known as the Dragon Drive. Mark II seeing as the previous one was trashed. As for the resistance, I have a True Safeguard."
Ros got to his feet. "And you say this isn't a war. An airship above us, and God's Devine Gift facing the Reaper of Souls. Care to bring this facade to an end Aenfel?" Arend' heart stuttered, half beating. Arend clutched his chest. "Hmm." Ros said. "Your will is strong, strong enough to fight the consciousness within you. What is your full name?"
"Arend Heartfeld Myshcell, Master Kruxsetter, slayer of the Black Monster, Human Pendragon hybrid." Arend replied. He slammed his chest with a fist. His heartbeat returned to normal. "And wielder of the eighth Legendary Weapon; the Dragon Drive."
Ros narrowed his eyes. "You can never beat me. The beast within still sleeps, Aenfel of the Southern White Star, PenCore of the Darkness."
Arend raised his blade. "I'm tired of this banter. If I can't beat you, prove it."
Six purple rings appeared behind Ros. Three of one size arranged in an equilateral triangle with smaller circles arranged the same closer to his body. A different symbol appeared in each pair. Arend couldn't recognize it.
"The Sun, Moon, and stars shall rain down. I'll send you to the ream where there is no sound!" Ros declared.
The power coming from Ros was monstrous. Light bent around him, creating a twist in Arend' vision. Grass grew at his feet, before bursting into flame and then being doused. "Celestial Chaos." Ros whispered before attacking. Arend had no time to react. Ros' rings easily cut through Arend' aura shielding. Cut numerously across the chest, Arend was knocked back when Ros cut across his left eye.
While the damage was nominal, the pain was excruciating. Arend felt that his soul had detached itself from his body until the pain subsided to something he could handle. Left eye now filled with blood, Arend glared at Ros with his remaining good eye. Arend drove his blade into the ground. Pulling off what was left of his shirt, he tied it around his head over his bleeding eye.
His makeshift eye patch was already soaked in blood. Arend kicked his sword out of the ground, catching it on the second turn. He drove his palm into the Drive. "Supercavitation." There was a loud *Thunk!* as something opened in the Drive. Arend' sword became coated in red Orenth. It pulsated in time with his heart. Arend closed his good eye, holding the Dragon Drive firmly with both hands.
Ros paused. "What is this?" He said as he looked around.
His corruption of the surrounding Orenth had stopped, and a thin haze of rainbow Orenth surrounded them. Arend slowly brought the blade up. Ros glanced at him. The red Orenth had formed a solid form around the blade. Red flames burned on Arend' back. Ros raised an eyebrow.
"Blink," Arend whispered. "And you'll miss it." Arend brought the blade down in what seemed like an instant. "BURNING CAVITY!"
A vacuum shockwave rocketed out at over Mach 10. The void of air was filled with intangible, burning Orenth of every color. A ten foot radius around Arend had been cleared; plants untouched. A hundred feet out, pavement, concrete, and steel were melted into a perfectly spherical bowl. Plants began to sprout from the ground, all fruit of the Orenth, some Arend didn't recognize.
Ros was on his knees. Every ring was chipped or shattered beyond recognition. He gasped for breath that wouldn't come. "It seems I still haven't mastered that yet." Arend said as he looked around. His chest had been sealed and his eye was no longer bleeding.
"The Cavity Slash. I thought it could only be done by Light Blades." Ros wheezed.
Arend shrugged. "I handle this sword like a Light Blade, not a Heavy Blade. But it might as well be only for Light Blades; I wasn't successful. The Cav
ity Slash isn't supposed to be a 3600 attack. In time I can hold it together better and deliver a real Cavity Slash. One to cleave even the stars."
Arend collapsed completely. Ros rose to his feet. "And maybe you won't fall from exhaustion, and actually kill your target." Ros said as he approached Arend. Even with the amount of Orenth he expelled, Arend had enough strength left to rise up to one knee to face Ros. Ros readied a single ring. "Goodbye, Uxmaster Arend."
A shimmer of light caught Ros' attention. Just as he turned his head, he was thrown back as Corenden tackled him head on. Ros landed a few feet away. Corenden stood defiantly, sword in hand and bleeding from his head. "You've put on quite a show Arend. The other fights have ended. Finch is dead, Nem captured Helios, but Alexander escaped with Aquaporus. Celestial Rim has scattered."