Chrysalis

by Kayne Sampson

  Erisda glared at the woman. “I am not offering it, either. However, we are going to get nowhere if this man continues to interfere. Once we’ve dealt with this interruption, we can continue our battle.” The Xegin hesitated, but nodded in agreement.

  Oh great...now they are teaming up against me, Keta thought with a groan. How did Master Xehemoth manage this without pissing off so many people? He had no time to think on it any longer, as the Xegin and Erisda attacked from both sides.

  “Keta!” he heard Max yell from the distance. Keta had rushed ahead when he had seen the fighting, and his ally must have just caught up. But when he located his friend, he saw that he was being attacked by the other Xegin general, the one he had fended off. This one was even larger than Max, Keta noticed.

  Keta parried a blow from the Xegin swordswoman, but had to step back from Erisda, bringing his sword forward. Despite Keta’s superior speed, they were able to keep up with his movements as a result of him having to fight two at once. Beyond his own battle, the two armies clashed violently.

  He wanted everything to stop. It was too much for him. Everyone had told him that he was a fool for vying for peace in an era of turbulence. Well, if he was a fool for wanting a better world, then so be it. He would wear the mantle of fool proudly.

  And for everyone who clamored for war, he would be their bane. Gripping Reikon, he could feel the divine strength of the blade. He was a Kitaan. He could do this. And so, he let the radiant energy empower him.

  The Xegin attacked him, and he dodged to the left. But he was surprised at the ease that he did. There was so much time left that he rammed his shoulder into the woman, not remembering that she was armored until he had already made contact.

  But to his surprise, she was knocked back by the impact, and Keta felt very little in terms of pain. She recovered too slowly and was thrown to the ground. Keta had no time to revel in this, as Erisda was in his face right away. He could tell by the look on the man’s face that he too was surprised by this.

  Don’t be astounded by this, Keta. Now that you are in possession of Reikon, you are able to tap into the true powers of a Kitaan, Kataro’s voice rang out from the sword as Keta avoided Erisda’s assault with ease.

  Keta lifted his hand to form a fist and struck. Erisda raised an armored arm to block. Normally, this would have resulted in a broken hand for Keta and Erisda none the worse for wear. But Keta had become far from normal. The metal on Erisda’s arm became cracked and he stumbled from the impact.

  Keta’s hand still hurt like hell, but he was otherwise okay. He lifted his sword and pointed it at his opponent’s chest. “Yield, please. Erisda, I don’t wish for any of this to continue.”

  When the man looked up at him, his face was full of fury. “Damn it, Keta. What gives you the right to do this?” Erisda demanded. He began to raise his sword, but Keta was too fast, and he kicked with the force of the wind, disarming the Human.

  As Keta stared into those hateful eyes, he wondered what had happened to that cheerful man he had met when he had first come to this country. Had the war with the Xegin broken him, or was this his true face?

  He whirled around to face the Xegin general, and noticed that she was hanging back, watching him. Was she too wary to engage him? What is this power I have acquired...

  Keta was about to leave so he could continue his task, but Erisda lunged at him again. This man was too persistent. Why was he so angry right now? Keta didn’t relish the thought, but he was going to have to disable the man.

  But when he swung the sword, aiming to debilitate Erisda, the soldier held up his arm. The sword hit his armored vambrace, and rather than cut through, it smashed it, destroying the part it struck. But it didn’t matter. The attack had been deflected.

  Keta felt the sting of a fist striking his face and the world began to spin. The Human was so strong that the hit had thrown him off his feet backwards before falling to the ground painfully.

  Erisda was panting, and he walked forward, stumbling at first, but he recovered before he hit the ground. “I always keep that plated armguard on, just for swordsmen like you. It lets me block your attacks when you think I’m otherwise unable and turn the tides. As you can clearly see.”

  Keta lifted his head and flipped over, using his hands to try and push himself upwards. He didn’t get very far before he was kicked in the stomach, the impact of which sent him tumbling across the ground. He almost felt a rib crack. Keta hated that feeling.

  Gathering his second wind, he flipped himself to his feet. Erisda was advancing on him. Why was this man so damn resilient? He had never met a Human that showed this type of skill and determination.

  “I can’t let this continue, Keta. I have a duty to protect my people and these lands. And above all else, I have to ensure that something like this never happens again. For the sake of a future where my daughter can live without fear.”

  Keta was about to make another run at the man when he said this, stopping him in his tracks. Erisda was talking about his daughter, the one he had mentioned back when he had threatened Keta to not interfere.

  “Those monsters threatened my only daughter. I fought only to survive and to make peace between our people. They wanted us to be extinct. I won’t let them take her from me.”

  Keta could understand the man’s pain, seeing anguished eyes. “Erisda, things are not what they seem. Let’s end this fighting and I will help you.”

  If Keta had thought that this would placate the man, he was sorely mistaken. He could see the fire return to Erisda’s eyes. “Not what they seem? Like when they tried to destroy my entire city with a death cannon? Never again, Keta.”

  And the two continued their little dance, both without their swords. Keta was quick, but Erisda matched his speed. Every time he thought he was out of range, the Human surprised him. Separated from Reikon, he could feel some of his former radiance faded.

  Erisda stopped to catch his breath, giving Keta a slight reprieve. The two of them stood, battered and bruised. The other soldiers had left them alone, as if some unspoken voice was forbidding them from interrupting the duel.

  No, this wasn’t a duel anymore. This was a savage fight. Erisda wouldn’t back down. Keta needed Reikon. He needed to end this. He made his move. Erisda made his.

  But neither managed to finish what they started.

  ***

  Tianna ran as fast as she could.

  During her battle with Inferno, her communications had been damaged. Tianna had been cut off from her allies. So when she discovered that the Xegin army and the Human army were engaging each other at the ruins of Imperial Gate, she had to make haste.

  Only she knew that the war was being manipulated by the Demons of the Brotherhood of Shadows.

  Tianna used aether to fuel her sprint as she ran through the Humans, who were shocked to see a Xegin rushing through their flank. She was unable to avoid taking hits from the Human’s weapons, and though her Xegin armor protected her, she had to bear the pain with a grimace.

  Tianna scanned the battlefield, looking for one person in particular. She managed to find Sephiel, engaging one of the Human officers. When Tianna leapt in front of the two of them, Sephiel straightened up.

  “Tianna!?”

  “It’s good to see you, little one,” Tianna said. “I am sure you have questions for me, but they will have to wait until later. We need to get word to…”

  Tianna’s senses barely registered that she was under attack, and she dodged to the left to avoid the soldier’s sword. Right...I’m on the battlefield, Tianna cursed inwardly, letting her psionic sight focus on the Human before her. Am I really getting as bad as Keta?

  “Hold, Human. I have no wish to fight.”

  The Human scoffed. “Of course you don’t. We have finally got you Xegin cornered. You’ll regret ever trying to destroy us.”

  Tianna had no sword, she dropped it when she had fallen into the river during her escape. And even if she did, she was unprepared for the spe
ed this Human moved at, appearing at her side.

  Sephiel had come to her aid, blocking the sword with her bare hands. The girl had a special type of mystical magic that allowed her to do crazy things like that. “Be careful, this Human is unlike any other Human I’ve come across.”

  The blonde soldier made an agile leap backwards, brandishing his sword. “Don’t look down on me just because I am Human. I’ll not lose to you.”

  “I’ll handle this one, Tianna. Go and reinforce General Beta. He’s being attacked by Keta Night,” Sephiel said.

  Keta! This was the break that she needed. “Sephiel...we need to stop the fighting. We…” The battle between the three was disrupted as Tianna was cut off by a blinding light.

  17

  “What the hell!”

  Erisda Walker had ceased fighting as he stared in awe at what was unfolding in front of him. A brilliant translucent light had appeared off in the distance, blinding him. It was covering a wave of fog that seemed to be growing. He couldn’t look away, unaware of what exactly he was looking at. The great pillar of swirling color was captivating.

  The soldiers from each side had ceased their hostility, their will to fight sapped away at the sight of this unknown spectacle. They were eyeing everyone around them, unsure of what was going on. Erisda didn’t blame them.

  “And at last, the gods shall return to us and pass judgement!”

  The voice beside him was Ivaldi, who had moved towards him and was staring at the rainbow veil. His helmet was off and his eyes held an almost fanatical look to them. The eyes of a Demon, a closely guarded secret of the enigmatic young soldier.

  “General, your helmet! Are you…” Erisda began, but Ivaldi held up a finger and put it to his lips.

  “Shhh...none of that matters any longer, general,” Ivaldi said, and he began to run. And he was fast. Nothing like the way he had been when the two had crossed blades back then when they had first met. “The time has come for change. Rejoice, for the gods shall save us from ourselves!”

  Erisda’s mind was processing everything slowly. And then things started to click. What Keta had been warning about: Ivaldi’s erratic actions over the past few days. And he had been privy to it all. Ivaldi had left the battle and was headed towards the light. Could Ivaldi...be connected to the Brotherhood of Shadows?

  Erisda shouted out to his comrade, but Ivaldi was ignoring everything else. Erisda could not erase the image of Ivaldi’s face, the serenity, the clarity...it was as if he were waiting for this to happen. And if that was the case…

  “Ivaldi!” He sprinted after his ally, leaving Keta looking bewildered. He scooped up his sword as he ran by. He needed answers. Everyone had ceased fighting, enthralled by the chaotic light. The battle was over as far as they could tell. This seemed like the kind of thing that would occur at the end of the world. The old world at least. Ivaldi had said something about gods. Was this their doing?

  With a burst of speed, he caught up to Ivaldi and got in front of him. The young man intended to go past him, but Erisda spread his arms to the side, preventing this. Ivaldi looked confused. “Erisda, it’s all over. There will be no more fighting. We can finally rest.”

  Erisda frowned. “Ivaldi, what in the hell are you talking about? You aren’t making any sense. What is that thing?”

  Ivaldi was still looking up at the lights surrounding the fog. “That, my friend, is the future.”

  Erisda narrowed his eyes and stepped forward, grasping at the soldier’s collar and pulling him close to his face. “Enough games, Ivaldi! What are you playing at? Answer me or so help me, I shall strike you down here and now.”

  Ivaldi began to chuckle. Erisda hated him for his nonchalant attitude. He wanted to punch him. But the young man smiled and said, “Perhaps it will all make sense if I show you.” He lifted a hand and dropped something he had removed from his pockets. “You might want to step back.”

  Erisda held his grip firm, until the man began to glow. Uncertain, he let go and stepped back as the figure before him began to morph in front of his eyes. After a few moments, his throat became dry when the glow stopped and he was staring at somebody he knew all too well.

  “Hello, old friend,” Inferno, the Demon warrior, master of the Brotherhood of Shadows, and his old mentor said.

  In a flash, Erisda’s sword moved through the air as he struck. Inferno drew his own weapon deftly and stopped the blade. The Demon wasn’t grinning any more.

  The last thing he ever wanted to do was see this man again. And so he attacked. And the Demon repelled the attack. Erisda came from another angle, but it was no use. He was sure that his opponent was using those eyes of his to track his every move, anticipate every strategy.

  Demons would always be superior to Humans. It was why they would never see eye to eye. But even then, he knew he would never beat this man. He could never hope to best the man who taught him how to master his sword.

  Panting, he stopped his assault. Inferno stood still, his face blank. His Ivaldi persona had been a cover, but he was still having trouble knowing that the affable young man he had served with had been this Demon the entire time.

  “Forgive my deception, but it was necessary. Soon, I will bring freedom to all my Demon brethren,” Inferno said, walking away with slow, powerful steps. “Do not get in my way.”

  Erisda mumbled, and the Demon turned to him. Erisda realized his voice had been too low to hear. He opened his mouth again. “What are you planning? Keta told me what you’ve been doing.” When Inferno didn’t speak, he continued. “These girls you have been abducting have special abilities. And something about a ritual. So I must ask. You already know what became of my daughter after Ilia’s death. I’m not a fool. I’ve pieced together what has been happening from what Keta told me.”

  “You’ve been gathering the girls that had acquired the wayward powers of the Goddess of Shadows. After Ilia died, that power was passed on. I need the truth.”

  Erisda wanted to believe that the Demon was not so far gone, that his insinuation was baseless.. But the next words Inferno uttered were the ones he was dreading. “I am sorry. While you were out, my associate collected her. She is necessary for the greater good. Silvia’s sacrifice will not be in vain.”

  Erisda stared blankly. He had heard tales of soldiers who had gone mad before. But in this exact moment, he felt the world dissipate around him. And all he could feel was the darkness that welled up in him. The darkness he repressed for years.

  The same darkness that had caused him to kill his wife. A horrifying yet somewhat comforting realization came over him. He would become the devil himself...as long as it gave him the power to kill this man.

  Erisda was too fast, and he felt the blade penetrate the Demon’s flesh, who howled and reached up. Too slow. Erisda raised his free hand and slammed his fist into Inferno’s chest.

  When the giant Demon stumbled backwards, Erisda pulled free his blade and spun it in his hand, aiming for the neck.

  Inferno roared and caught the blade, barehanded. Blood burst from the hand, but it didn’t seem to bother the man. No, he was not the type to let pain and injury stop him.

  Erisda felt the bloodlust boiling in him and he was more alert than he had ever been in his entire life. He let out a feral scream and let go of the weapon, kicking out at the Demon warrior’s legs. Inferno went crashing to the ground.

  Inferno raised his weapon, but Erisda kicked at him with his boots, disarming his opponent. Reaching down, he pulled free his combat knife and went for the throat. He could end this now.

  Erisda’s hope was vanquished pretty quickly as the Demon moved to swat the hand aside, getting to his feet. This man was a trained warrior, it wouldn’t be so easy. But still, under the influence of this adrenaline, there was a chance.

  Tossing the knife aside, he retrieved his sword and charged at Inferno, who had rearmed himself. Erisda didn’t try to use any more finesse, hammering away with his weapon at the Demon, who was forced to retreat under
the relentless assault while attempting to block.

  “She’s just a child! The only thing I have left of Ilia in this world! Will you stop at nothing to destroy my happiness?” Erisda demanded, striking fiercely at Inferno.

  “I tried to make you strong, to become one of us,” Inferno grunted. “But I failed.”

  Fury welled up inside Erisda. He stopped his assault and held his sword accusingly at Inferno. “You failed when you made me murder Ilia!”

  Inferno diverted his eyes, but Erisda saw the look before the Demon could hide it. Was that shame? “Yes, you are right. You were my pupil, and I failed you. We were going to make the world a better place, and in my eagerness, I taught you things you could not...should not use. It enveloped you, threatened to destroy you. And in the end, it did. When you took the life of the one you loved most.”

  “DON’T YOU DARE BLAME THIS ON ME!” Erisda shouted. He began to attack, a formation of well executed strikes.

  Inferno blocked each one of them. As the two locked swords, Erisda met the Demon’s eyes, seeing sadness in them. “No, the one I blame for this is myself. I wish I could find a way to free you from this pain. But I cannot. As the master of the Brotherhood of Shadows, I must bring about the new age. I cannot falter any longer, not even for you.”

  Erisda pushed away and raised his sword over his head, gripping it with two hands. He came down with a powerful strike that would have ended the fight with most other opponents. But Inferno was not an ordinary foe, swinging his own sword upwards for the two weapons to meet.

  Erisda’s breathing slowed and he winced with pain. His sword had been shattered by the impact, and the broken remains dropped to the ground, his own hands incapable of holding them any longer.

  With a defeated look, Erisda stared up at the Demon before him. “I wish that you would stand aside and let me continue this. The new world is coming, and I wanted you to see it with me. We shared the same vision, back then. But I know that you cannot forgive me for the death of Ilia, nor my part in Silvia’s fate.”