Arc 4: What families entail
Gray stood outside of a small tent, warmed by the camp fire as he trained under the rushing freezing snow. Atop Godrick mountain and four days into their expedition, he worked and worked while Ryo went to clean their clothes. Leaving Gray in only a pair of black shorts, layering a thick coat of mana around him to pressure and heat his body. Strained, trying not to scream, red with over exertion, but only able to think of his friends. What trouble they would be in, what he should be doing and why wasn't he doing it. Alone in safety with a God of War whilst they snuck into a warring country.
Gray {No matter how much it hurts, it's the least I can do for being such a burden!}
Ophelia's screams, Arthur and Prometheus' devilish laughs, the last faint and sorrow filled glances of Kioshi and Musashi. Al, the mansion and Sokus home. Everything he had done continued to pile on, getting heavier and heavier than ever while he stayed alone. Even after deciding to choose reality by embracing life when he had given his body away to Azalea, made a new declaration of life, and forged a new will to go forward, it would never undo what he saw as absolute failures. Wearing the cloak, wielding a blade or breaking his body is nothing in comparison. Punching and punching, taking the steps to truly begin understanding and controlling his mana. To rid himself of a fighting style, as Musashi had said, consider constantly grabbing at fleeting straws. He would have to undo a mindset of pure survival, of reckless lashing out to win, and truly focus.
Sugar: "See you on your merchant trip!"
Gray would continue his training while the others made their way past the guarded bridge of Athens, getting all of their things and even their dire wolf within a new covered wagon. While the guards of Athens, dressed in thick leather, green cloth, and chainmail armor, begrudgingly attempted to let them pass. If it wasn't for the tall blue haired woman stepping forward, scoffing at the guard with a handful of papers in her hand.
"Did yah even look!? Bunch of lazy asses."
Edward and Julius stood in front of their things, Soku annoyed and hiding in the chest while Rosemary hid under a sheet. All quaking while the guards followed the yelling woman. Flipping through paper after paper, fixing her long wavy hair over the scratch scars on her cheek and smiling with glee. Licking her blue lip stick at the sight of a worried Edward and content Julius. While Julius attempted to walk forward and talk things out while Sugar did the same, she held her hand out to stop them.
"You too are cute but you're also worth a good amount of coin. I would say I'm sorry but I don't really care."
Smirking and taking out the long axe strapped to her back, Edward and Julius dashed toward the carriage while guards screamed toward them. The woman wore dense dark leather armor, with guards all over. Thick dark chainmail between the gear, protecting her elbows, lower chest, hands, knees, and neck. The triangular Athens crest on the shoulders, a short blade at her hip, and a devilish smile brightening with her illuminating mana. Flashing purple.
Edward: "What's up with her!?"
Julius: "Most likely a unique mana trait, and a strange life."
Edward and Julius leapt to their seats, Rosemary and Soku bursting from their hiding spots to push the guards away from the doorway. Rosemary sent forth stage four flicks, hitting the large muscular guards and knocking the wind out of them while flinging them all back. Soku instead threw out large gusts of wind around their feet to swoop them into the air, screaming while focusing on her Mark. Managing to send a massive gust of wind forward, taking a massive amount of mana but managing to clear the path for their Dire Wolves to charge forward with intense speed. Sugar could only wave goodbye as the guards went to seize and speak with her, the blue haired woman quickly sprinting behind them.
Soku: "GET BACK!"
Hanging off the side of the carriage, struggling to stay stable as Julius took the reins and dove into the thick forest. Focusing and focusing, feeling the wind slashing against them, and screamed out while the air lit green. It was enough to push away at the arrows coming toward them, smashing into the wagons on their tail. In the commotion Edward leapt into the sky, leaving the others' hearts sinking into despair.
Edward: "GO ON!"
Then, leaping right behind him and coated in gold, was the sword to his shield.
Rosemary: "There's no way I'd let you go off and die!"
Edward slammed his arms against a wagon, breaking it in two as Rosemary kicked another. Slipping under the arrows, slamming their fists against the swords and shields, throwing them all back. Edwards fist hit like a truck, breaking through their bodies the faster he got, the more the warriors spirit bubbled and boiled within. His knuckles coated in the blood of the Athens warriors. Rosemary was instead focused on dodging, flipping, spinning, and smashing her fists against them to fling them away. Clearing the path for the others to flee. However, right on their tail, was a beast charging and charging. Called by the loud whistle ringing out. It was a mid-tier spirit beast, the Bull Horse. A large muscular horse, with a wide face and red horns pointed back, coated in thick dark hairs with immense resistance to all forms of magic. The innate ability to charge its strength as it charged straight forward. Its nose outputted wafts of flames.
Soku: "We can't leave them!"
Julius: "We have other problems."
Jumping atop that Bull Horse was its master, the blue haired Warrior of Athens. Still lit in her bright purple aura, condensing and spreading around her arm to create an insanely sharp blade.
Soku: "The hell was that!?"
Julius: "She must be of the Thorn Family, the last remaining family in Athens with a unique mana trait. I am surprised any managed to survive after all Zhao, the Guild Hunter, and the Sect had put those families through."
Soku: "Okay yeah I know that! But what about how we're -
But before they could continue Julius yanked the reins, sliding their wagon across the muddy ground and swinging it out of the way of the Bull Horse, running forward with bright red mana built up. Slamming right into a Stone tree, breaking right through it and sending its rider flying back. That rider was thrown further back by a massive gust of wind sent by Soku and her Mark, flinging her far into the trees. Leaving Soku holding her aching arms with pain, her OD burning and her mana plummeting toward its ends.
Soku: "I don't know how much more I got."
Julius: "As long as we pass the Stone Forest we will be able to go on."
Julius looked forward while Soku got back onto the wagon, watching as Edward and Rosemary ran and ran with more guards behind them. Rosemary flared into the fourth stage, grabbing hold of Edward and kicking into the sky to run and run. Stepping off of the trees, pinballing between them while the bark erupted, heading toward the small Stone Forest of Athens. A type of Spirit Biome found nowhere but Athens, the insides holding valuable and pristine iron to be sold off. Along with the many elemental crystal mines, the Volcano and all of the Dragon stone, allowing Athens to be an island of prosperity.
Soku: "What do we do!?"
Julius: "Like I said, the Stone Forest is the road to our sanctuary."
Julius stepped up onto the wagon to get ready, instantly slamming on the reins as Rosemary and Edward broke through the cover of the wagon to land in the back. Running and running, barely swinging and swaying past the tall thick stone trees, the branches without leaves and the ground covered in a mix of snow, thick mud, and flakey stone grass. The sides of the wagon breaking away as it slammed against them, the wolves beginning to tire as Julius continued forcing them into over drive. Fleeing from the screaming warriors, the Bull Horse, and the flaming arrows raining down. Sticking into the stone, their wagon, and almost through Julius' head. Ducking without wavering.
Julius: "I have a friend, they are currently staying within Athens to assist us! So get ready!"
Before any of them could ask or say anything, they watched as explosions went off around some of the stone trees. Sending them plummeting through the dark sky, smashing against the other trees and turning them into plummeting rubble. Each pillar of stone slamming barley behind them, all around them, the dire wolves jumping and pulling the breaking wagon behind them. Slamming into everything, the wheels are about to go. However, staring back, they watched with glee as the warriors struggled to continue. A handful of them crushed while the others' wagons broke into each other, creating enough chaos to let them go forward.
Rosemary: "We made it!"
While Julius still pushed on as hard as he could make the dire wolves go, the others let out loud sighs of relief. Rosemary held her aching body beside Soku, who was doing the same thing. Edward thought, looking toward them and how much effort they put in, how he needed Rosemary's help, it only peeled away at his glee. A victory he didn't think he could share. Standing up and moving toward Julius instead.
Edward: "So what's next? What do we do after we meet this friend?"
Julius: "Should we rest and go into the city in the morning?"
Soku: "If we wanna learn stuff we need to be out at night, asking around. Mainly in bars and such, I'm used to things like this; it's what I'm good at."
Rosemary: "Alright then, so you and Edward will go out then?"
Edward couldn't help but feel a bit flustered, as he would be a worse liar than all of them put together.
Edward: "Why me!?"
Rosemary: "They wouldn't take me seriously and I'm a bad liar, then there's Julius. And uhhh, they won't like his personality."
That was something Edward could agree with, and Julius found rather confusing.
Edward: "Didn't you do this kinda stuff when you lived with Soku?"
Rosemary: "I just cleaned around the house. I also helped Ophelia sell stuff but Soku helped us with that too."
Julius: "I agree with your thought process. We will act on your plan, but let us get to the inn first anyway."
Rosemary: "Alright then."
As they moved forward, passing any blockades on the main roads and drifting from their previous paths, they would eventually make it out of the stone forest. Passing through the town of Pericles. Made with white stone, the roads are made with pentagon patterned stone. The streets lit by bright street lights, mana crystals empowered with seals illuminating the darkness. Allowing the many people moving around to see, the carriages and wagons, families and merchants, all lively so early in the morning. However instead of passing through they would pass around it, toward the back of the town and into the woods once more. A two story inn within, made with old wood and brick coated in vines.
Julius: "We are here."
Soku: "Finally!"
As they stepped toward the door, a young woman came bursting out. Taller, lean, with short straight brown hair and an Inn keeper's garbs.
Erin: "Names Erin, and I hope Julius told you all about me?"
Edward: "Um, he said you were a friend."
Erin: "Good enough. Now, I don't want the guards to see yah."
Erin grabbed Edwards hand and pulled him forward, causing him to get embarrassed and look toward Rosemary and Soku for help. Only getting small laughs, making him feel all the more embarrassed. Even still he tried to keep up as she pulled him forward, making it toward the center of the inn. Past the tables toward the table at the end, the upper floor overlooking them with stairs on the sides.
Erin: "I've managed to get in contact with the Red Arrows like Julius wanted me to, but they're going to meet at a bar within Pericles. The Drunken Serpent, and they said as long as you make it there they'll appear."
Soku: "How does that work?"
Erin: "I dunno, they just said get here within a three day period and you're right on time. But I'd get a move on it."
Rosemary: "Well uh…"
Rosemary turned to Edward and Soku standing beside each other, stepping down to Soku for a moment. Leaving Soku confused and scoffing.
Rosemary: "Please be safe."
Soku: "I'm fine! Now let's go."
Soku quickly stepped out with Edward, Erin following behind them to see their wagon crumbling to pieces. The Dire Wolves licking their paws and sleeping after pushing themselves so hard.
Erin: "Guess you can't use that one."
Again she grabbed Edwards hand, leaving him red and bumbling through the snowy grass as she pulled him. Snapping her other fingers to alert the Dire Wolves and point them toward the stables. A small uncovered wagon right in front of it.
Erin: "So you ready?"
Edward: "Yeah, I don't think they'd like me walking around in bulky armor or a giant sword."
Erin: "Giant sword? You're Gotsu's son right?"
Edward: "Yes! Yes I am, Edward Van Helsing, and it's nice to meet you."
While red, he still extended his hand, trembling and trembling. Erin couldn't help but smile and smirk, but she would never admit the small bit of hesitation she held when she shook his hand.
Erin: "Nice to meet yah."
Soku: "Quit flirting and get on the wagon!"
Edward, getting more and more red, was thrown back by wind before he would call out in dismay. Falling back into the wagon while Soku stood atop it. Stepping forward while Erin took the reins. Whistling to call forth two brown Spirit Horses, Low-Tier Spirit Beasts tamed and widely used around Athens. Their reins attached and ready, quickly moving forward toward the town. The large farm land, wind mills, and water mills surrounding it all coated in snow. With Edwards' struggle and confusion as to why he was acting this way, the weight and strain pulling against Soku, and Erin's mission first attitude, they moved into the town and down the streets. Right toward a two story building, the largest bar in Athens. Aside from the one in the Capital built by Lincoln Valentine. But there was the scar of the ongoing civil war. The large groups of guards slowly piling up, the broken and smoking buildings from the battles, the medical tends and wounded warriors all around. The warriors within the homes of the people living there, taking anything they want and doing whatever they want. In order to win this war, saying it over and over again. Their flags all around, mostly burnt or drawn over. Paint on the walls with the Red Arrows symbol, few with blood of the fallen rebels.
Soku: "Looks a little better than the slums I'm used to. But it's about to get worse."
Edward: "I'm surprised there weren't any guards blocking the gates."
Erin: "I am as well, and that's why I'm waiting. You all go in."
Edward: "Wait, we're going in alone!? I thought you were gonna go with us!"
Erin: "Can you not do it?"
Edward, trying to cover his face and push forward, got out of the wagon with Soku and stepped toward the door. The outside of the bar was packed with drunken guards, warriors, and civilians. Not a single Demi-human in sight, and legally, not a single Demi-human on the island. The Non-human rule was far harder to enforce, since many people had multi-colored hair and Soku covered her ear with her hair and ear muffs. Moving on, a tall warrior would slam into Edward, crying into his arms.
Edward: "Um, are you alright?"
"I lost my money! All my money!"
He ran off, leaving Edward confused and Soku laughing.
Soku: "Have you ever been to a place like this?"
Edward: "Why have you been!"
Soku: "To sell stuff!"
Edward: "Ohhhh."
He turned, taking a breath and gave Erin one final look. Entering through the slightly open wooden doors and moving into the large filled bar. Multiple floors, lots of barkeepers and baristas, and drunken guards all around dancing and chanting with the music around, Lutes, flutes, banjos, bagpipes, drums, singers and dancers all around. All brought by the people.
Soku: "You ready?"
Edward: "As I'll ever be."
Moving toward them they tried to look for anything that stood out, and nothing.
Soku: "We don't know what this guy looks like."
As Edward went to answer he felt a hand grasp his shoulder, thick reinforced leather with iron. A large and muscular man with a round nose, manly face, and fluffy brown mohawk.
Horace: "Names Horance, and I'm the owner of this tavern. And you, why are you here?"
Edward instantly stood stern, any fear leaving and being replaced by a boiling rage. Soku turned and faced Edwards back, jotting around to see the Drunken guards and Warriors standing.
Edward: "To see the Red Arrows."
Horace: "Oh, so you're with them then?"
Soku and Edwards eyes instantly flared, diving to the side to dodge an axe flinging toward them.
Horace: "EVERYBODY -
As he screamed Edward pulled his fist back, slamming it across his face while screaming with flooding anger, sending Horace into a building crowd of guards behind them. Soku, still drained and running low on mana, struggled and dove under each of the tables and people to dodge dodge dodge.
Soku: 'Need a little help here!"
"I GOT TWO SILVER ON EM'!", "IT'S A DAMN ELF!", "KILL THAT MONSTER!", "NO TURN HER IN FOR A BUNCH OF COIN!"
All of the people competing against each other fell against each other, becoming a pile of chaos and battle while Edward fought through it. His eyes fading away to anger. Landing hefty kicks and punches to peoples guts and chests, sending them crashing into the floors above. Fighting through the crowd screaming and fleeing past them, the commotion began to spread. Leaping into the air from the second form and screaming, dragging down his large axe and preparing to break Edwards skull, was Horace. But Edward dashed forward, jumped off of the bar table, and slammed his fist against the side of Horace' head. Cracking his skull and sending him into the guards below. Protecting Soku and sending waves of fear into the guards, realizing just what they were facing.
Edward: "ANYONE ELSE!?"
A man goes to stab Edward in the back, but he's quickly stopped by a back handed strike so powerful it broke the man's neck instantly. The crowd quickly turns hostile, getting closer and closer. With more weapons, more rage, more fear and the need to win. While Edward was slowly getting weaker, Soku was on her last legs. Shaking beside Edward, who was quaking with the burning warriors spirit. Before Edward could turn and Soku could scream, Edward was hit in the back with a large iron hammer. Thrown through the door of the bar and sent tumbling across the street. The guards leaping and pushing Soku to the ground while the others chased toward Edward. Erin and their wagon are gone and even more guards are running forward.
Edward {Not good not good!}
They got closer and closer, held Soku with a torch under her, and forced Edward into an overdrive. Screaming and screaming, punching through the dense armor and weapons. Breaking everything in his past to save her, but he wasn't enough. There was too much, too many arrows, too many weapons to dodge, too many fighters. The Warriors of Athens weren't like The Knights found in Walgonia, Ravoria, or Valatrocitus. They were far more resilient, they focused on their strength and rage. Their armor or materials didn't matter, their teammates didn't matter, thinking didn't matter. There was no pride, nothing to pray to, nothing to do but fight and train and fight again. Large weapons and thin armor, massive muscles and stern, often drunken demeanor. Their body and soul was all that mattered, battle and victory. Stabbing Edwards sides, hammers clashing against the back of his legs and back, hefty strikes across the face and to his chest, all around. Chains wrapping around his arm, arrows stabbing into him, another chain, chains and chains. Binding him, coating him until he could break through. Screaming and screaming while they stomped on him.
Horace: "HAH! Athens might be stronger than the nations, let alone a little girl and a little boy!"
Horace was broken and bleeding but still standing, holding his large hammer and swinging it forward to bash Edward across the face.
Edward {This is gonna hurt.}
Soku: "EDWARD!"
But Before anyone can react, before Soku could force her OD to use the last of her power, a golden spear coated in yellow lighting is thrown into the ground, letting off a burst between Soku and Edward to shock the guards. Then, standing atop the spear, was a drunken man with messy wavey bright yellow hair, a goatee with a long split mustache, dark thick leather armor with the Red Arrow crest on his chest, and a dark headband with the Red Arrows crest on it.
"Holy shit! IT'S LEO!"
They screamed out while the others were electrified, leaving Edward and Soku to look on with a mix of fear and hope. But that name, Leo, was all the needed. Giving Edward the strength to roar, attempting to break through the chains with everything he had. One by one they snapped, until they burst, allowing him to rush toward the fried Horace and lunged toward him with all he had. Slamming his fist so hard into his stomach that he threw up blood, his eyes went blank, the wind was knocked out of him, and he was thrown back into the bar. The front of the bar collapsing in on itself.
Leo: "SHIT! That was awesome!"
Soku: "Hey -
Leo: "HOLD UP!"
Grabbing his spear and leaping high into the air, past the arrows and swinging guards, Leo came soaring down. His spear broke through their weapons, his yellow electrical aura zapping and freezing them. Leaving them burnt, smoking, knocked out, or dead. Dashing all around, throwing his spear and calling it back with a snap of his finger, charging large blasts to knock back great waves. Slamming it onto the ground in a rapid motion to send out focused eruptions each time. Taking them all down with his incredible speed, strength, and Mark of Providence: The Mark of Lighting, converting his mana into a yellow energy that gives off an electrical property. Faster than all other forms of magic but not nearly as fast as true lighting. The power of Lincoln Valantine, the strongest man in the world, strongest son, and the Leader of the Red Arrows.
While a good portion of the ground flees, screaming and taking their broken bodies away while the other Red Arrows appear to fight, Leo takes the chance to speak with the huffing and puffing Leviathan Knights.
Leo: "Sorry about those guys, my brother is on high alert against me. And names Leo! But you probably know that. I've been drinking in that bar for the past three days planning with my men and waitin on yah! Sorry I was kinda sleepin' before in the corner."
Soku: "Soku, just Soku. And you think!? Also it seems like you're "
Edward: "My name is Edward Van Helsing."
Leo: "Wait, YOU'RE A VAN HELSING! That's awesome! Is Kioshi or Musashi with you!?"
Edward instantly froze, swallowing his emotions to speak like nothing had happened.
Edward: "No, but other Leviathan Knights are with me. We want to help you win this war, and in turn we'd like a little help with something."
Leo: "What!? Sure dude! Hell I woulda helped yah just cause you said you were a Helsing but win this war!? You shoulda come four years ago!"
Edward: "Uh, sorry."
Leo: "No problem! NOW LET'S GET THE HELL OUTTA HERE BEFORE WE DIE!"