Arc 4: What families entail
Birds fluttered through the snowy mountain, passing the many snowmen made around. Small bodies, round heads, with angry faces drawn in. On top of the intertwining, massive frosty branches. Across the ground, behind trees, some holding snow weapons. All made to be destroyed by the light blue glowing boy and his blade. Falling through the air to swing his blade through the angry snowman's face, splashing frost against the other snow men atop the branch.
Gray: {All of my time with Musashi was about pushing through, flowing my anger and attacks into the next one! I just have to keep going!}
For a boy with so much always on his mind, a joke, fear, panic, some form of despair, being able to do so much at once would either be impossible or second nature. Through the last few days, slowly making their way back down the mountain, Gray and Ryo have been in almost constant combat. Beginning with throwing him off a Summit, he made his way forward while the Greatest Spirit Knight pushed him along. Giving tips upon tips, saving him from any sheer deaths or injuries, and constantly pushing him. Till Gray awoke until he passed out. Practicing stances, strikes, foot work, and mana flow all at once. And now, early in the morning he continued his momentum, quickly stepping forward and drawing his blade back to slice through the next, next, next snowmen before leaping into the sky. Stretching his Cloak out to snag hold of a tree trunk, soaring quickly through the sunny freezing air and slamming his legs threw another snowman. Bursting out on the other side, atop another branch, before seeping off the side to hit the floor running.
Gray {Alright Ryo you better be right!}
Step, slash, turn step slash turn step slash. Making sure he didn't step over his own foot, didn't lose hold of his Spirit Mana, didn't stop his slight flow of mana, making sure he didn't panic. To think of his sword as just another limb and seamlessly flow mana around it, to only look forward, to try and think multiple moves ahead. Slashing all around the clearing of tiny snow soldiers. Through the head, keep spinning, through the gut of another. Lung, roll, slash, roll again to slice low, roll again to get back on his feet and plunge his blade into the snow behind him. Drag it through, into the air, to pull it back down through another. Jotting his eyes to man man man snow sword snow shield the air the wind the mana -
Gray {Damn the Spirit Mana hurts!}
But he would hold it, he would continue to take more in, he would push himself forward without stopping. He already knew he could handle it. He already knew he could handle a lot. But running and fighting were different. Trying to fight with fear, anger, and pain. To ensure absolute zero failure. It was so much harder. Staying fully upright, keeping the stern focused glare, and holding his breath to keep going. Plunging his foot, leaking mana, into the ground to force the dense snow down. Don't slip, don't fall, don't get hit, don't lose control, don't break yourself, keep going. Fight fight fight. Around and around again, until he finally slipped and fell on his face. Standing up to see all of the snowmen defeated, and his mana gone. Letting go of a large wave of Spirit mana on top of that.
Gray: "Ouch."
Before he could catch his breath his mind surged with an overwhelming sense of Spirit mana. Causing him to pull back, brace for impact -
Gray {NO IDIOT DODGE AND FIGHT!}
He leapt, letting his mana out slightly. Like moving the water faucet ever so much to drizzle out a weak stream. All for him to look back at an eruption of snow and force to throw him back into the forest just where he was standing.
Ryo: "Good reaction, but you shouldn't have let your guard down in the first place."
Gray could only smirk, panic, and hold out his blade. Preparing for Ryo to burst forward. He did such that, delivering a rapid flurry of blows just fast enough for Gray to barely keep up with.
Ryo: "Use the flat end for blocks, sharp to counter, kinda like your striking back but without leaving yourself open."
Gray: "Oh really now?"
Gray could hardly move. Lifting the flat end up, down, to the side, other side, always stepping backward. Through snow, over branches and roots, falling and standing, to keep dodging. When he slipped he still moved his sword. When he stood he still blocked his head. He put his all into always thinking, moving, and acting. Like Ryo instructed, like Musashi would have wanted, what Gordon expects, and what his friends need.
Ryo: "You're guarding well but you can't do this forever y'know."
So he didn't. He exploded with purple mana, toward the spirits themselves, before screaming out with all he had.
Gray: "CENIC!"
By focusing his mana toward the Spirits, refining his connection over the weeks, and growing far in control, he was able to unleash a small torrent of thin smoke around the two. Giving Gray the chance to vanish the moment Ryo flung the smoke away.
Ryo: "I can still sense where you are but most wouldn't, good job!"
Lunging toward Ryo's back, and sliced to bits, were the extended ends of the Cloak from atop a tree branch. Covering Gray erupting forward, slamming his legs against Ryo's forearm with all he had a second after. With mana, with might, with a smile and light in his eyes, he pushed on. Ryo couldn't help but smile along with him, before grabbing his leg and slamming his face first against the snow.
Ryo: "Consistent foot work, mana flow, and skill. Only overloading with mana when you're ready, control. That is control. And you're doing it."
Gray: "Thanks. But it doesn't sit well when I'm smothered by snow."
While Ryo looked toward the forest, Gray flung his hand to smack Ryo across the face. Smiling and smiling.
Gray: "Shouldn't let your guard down y'know."
Ryo began to smile along with him, before moving like a torrent of force to blast him across the forest. Running faster than Gray could think while he pulled him along, before flinging him through the tree line.
Gray: "EEEEEK!"
To stop himself, he shot the Cloak out backward. Holding tight around the trees, stopping mid-air, before snapping backward as fast as he was flung to fly all the way back toward Ryo. As he screamed and panicked, he pulled in as much Spirit mana into his blade as possible. Causing it to ignite in a bright blue hue of flaming mana, before being slammed against Ryo's blade. The force erupted out, pushed Ryo into the ground, and left him impressed before he swept Gray's legs and caught him by the Cloak.
Ryo: "Your speed at gathering mana is increasing quite well."
Gray: "So you're gonna teach me a bunch of new spells!?"
Ryo: "Um, no. I want you to get a handle on yourself before you begin to pile more on. But you will have to get more used to your companion."
Gray: "Companion? Like Rosemary?"
Ryo: "No, like her."
Ryo pointed through the forest, toward something Gray couldn't see at all. It was only getting closer at a break neck pace, through the forest, like a rocket. Spiraling high through the air, between tree after tree, bringing its spiritual presence over Gray.
Gray: "Hey I recognize that mana!"
He looked up with joy sparking in his eye, toward the Spark of Black Lighting flapping its wings toward him. Dema herself, landing atop Gray before licking him across the face with her thick tongue. Before staring him eye to eye, reflecting his face in her large green ones.
Ryo: "Even though Musashi and Edward raised her, she seems to have developed a great attachment to you."
Gray: "I mean I did name her after all. They probably would have just treated her like a war toy or somethin, no offense to them."
Ryo: "I agree. It saddens me to see so many Spirit Creatures in poor conditions forced to their deaths. I'm happy to have given Dema the space to fly and be free while we've been training. But she's strong. She's an Earth Bound Dragon, a rare find."
Gray: "What is that by the way?"
Gray stood alongside Dema, walking with her and Ryo as they spoke. Under the bright sun, feeling calm, with the thought of his friend's danger temporarily gone. Seeing Dema fly around, toward birds, toward branches, just for the joy of existing, filling him with a warmth he could never give himself.
Ryo: "An Earth Bound Dragon is a High Tier Spirit Beast, found mainly in Oni-mas. When Musashi first told me of her appearance he said a Winged Drake. But I'd say he was mistaken, even if she's a bit different than most. With a Spiritual presence far greater than any I've seen. To a degree you could say she's a different entity entirely."
Gray: "Dang why's she so special?"
Ryo: "To be honest we don't know. Her egg appeared on Musashi's door step one day, and hatched a little while ago. She's grown extremely fast, but lacks the elemental power found within Earth Bound Dragons. For now at least. And she seems extremely intelligent."
Gray: "Cool to have such an important thing as my companion though! Guess that's what comes from stealing the Strongest Swordsmen pet."
Ryo: "I wouldn't say that. More like it was passed on to you all. But favorites can't be helped."
As they walked, calm and peacefully, the chaotic world moved and moved. Toward Athens, under mount Yelira, having been charging since Gray fell off the mountain, was Edward. Alone. In the darkness, only lit by the magma and lava pouring past. The cave itself was light brown, filled with stalagmites and stalactites. Large, filled with tunnels once carved by lava, all swirling around the depths of Athens. The heart of why the many mining tunnels exist in the first place, and how the Red Arrows have found sanctuary under war. But here, in the core, it was different. It was spiritually rich, and filled with monsters.
Edward: "This damn maze never ends!"
When he started it seemed like all he had to do was find a path leading up and out. But that was done and done, failure after failure. Up, down, around, twisting. Climbing, swinging through hot lakes, and being forced to eat the many Spirit Beasts. Their skin was hard like stone, their bodies flowed with magma, and their spirits were entrenched in rage. Screaming out like feral animals no matter their Spirit level, to kill the Last Helsing. From Mid-Tier Beasts like Lava Golems, the Magma Gina, or Burning Centipedes to Low Tier monsters like Charcoal Rats, sizzling Worms, and Ash Moths. Edward would charge away from most, if not anything that got into his path, in fear the flames or magma may tear him to pieces. However he couldn't always get so lucky.
Edward: "Shit!"
Hissing with flames spewing from its nose was the Magma Gina. It scales like stone, as big as a truck, with fangs red hot and eyes bursting with fury. Edward was only an hour into his sprint, with burns cuts and a shirt barely hanging on. However he was trying his best to stay sane and see the way through. So he'd charge head first while the beast slithered around the Stalagmites, leaving them burning away while it shot out magma toward Edwards eyes. He listened to its hard body against the smooth ground, the bubbling lava, its pounding breath, to leap high into the air just as it rammed past him. Its large body is easily pushed around the tight cave, for its head to lunge toward Edward. However he held tight, grabbing both of the fangs with all he had. Letting his hands burn for a brief second, before he roared with pain and rage, to snap the fangs and turn them into weapons. He took the fangs, to plunge it into the bottom of its jaw, sending the snake surging with fear. Flinging Edward away before slithering its massive body away, leaving him to stand and run back into the maze.
Edward {Maybe all that practice with Lincoln did get me used to stuff like that. I won't tell him though, if I do he'll probably break my neck trying to up the training.}
He continued like this for hours. Punching the Ash moths to burst their bodies, stomping the Sizzling worms, using the Stalactites to swing over pools of lava, with the boiling rage still kept in control.
Edward {I spent my whole life trying to master and hold in my rage. But I needed it to win, to finally win. If Lincoln wants me to focus and use it, I have to understand it. Get used to it. Find a mediator, instead of just losing my mind to the Warriors Spirit.}
Edwards' survival would be a complete gamble. By The World's Strongest Man himself. The loss of his right eye made it even harder. The last few days have gotten him used to it, but still the constant attempts to open the destroyed eye left him reeling in pain. The skin was burned closed with the brand, while the eye itself was torched by Moro's cigar. Melted down into nothing, before being sealed away. He couldn't help but be glad it wasn't a hand or leg, but he would have preferred to lose a finger or a few toes. On top of the loss of his eye, he was beginning to lose his bulky look. Even though he was training and eating a lot more, for whatever reason it seemed like it all was being pushed and condensed. His frame became larger, without looking like a muscle head. Instead begging to step into the same figure as a mighty Helsing.
His hair was growing out and becoming more shaggy, even if it was still spikey and pushed back. His eye was held down by far heavier bags, while the increased rage and loss left his soul and eyes tightening. His voice grew heavier, somber, and hurt. Yet he moved far faster, far harder. Sprinting like a charging bull, scaring off weaker beasts. Bashing through anything in his path no matter the pain.
Edward: "DIE DAMMIT DIE!"
Whether it be bashing the stone skull of a Lava Golem until it shattered and melted into a pile, kicking through the heart of a large Charcoal Rat, or breaking off a stalagmites tip to throw it against the roaring head of a Mountain Bear.
Edward: "Ah damn."
Even in one of the many, many tunnels, he found his way to a rare sight. A High Tier Spirit Beast, covered in thick stone, with a jaw leaking lava. Its forehead was cracked by Edwards' attack, but it only gave Edward the chance to head off into the somewhat darkness. Sliding down into another tunnel to evade sight.
Edward {No matter how hard I try I always get pushed back down! If I don't have a clear head I'll keep getting killed but if I stay stuck in my head I'll get overwhelmed. Dammit Lincoln, why did you do this!? At least so soon! Three days in and you're putting me in hell!}
In truth it was about five days now, but even then it was true that it was all moving so fast. He was still hurting from his loss to Moro a week ago, and yet it felt like it had been so long since the battle. Forcing himself to adapt to Lincoln four basically seventy-two hours straight, before being plunged into the Volcano. Any time he wasn't fighting Spirit Beasts, dodging or getting hit by Lincoln, he was eating and sleeping. Eat a feast, and try your best to hold it all down while you work it into yourself. Now Edward felt like he was starving, about to pass out from sleep deprivation, and losing his mind. Now, he had been running around for almost half a day. But he had lost track after the first ten minutes. As, whether or not he could even acknowledge it, he was charging around like a mad man. Covered in sweat, rage, and the need to prove his worthless to Lincoln.
Without the sun or another person to talk to, all he had was his own drowning psyche. The true sight now would be to see what kind of monster Edward would become if he truly indulged in the Warriors Spirit. Because now, even roaring and fighting like a wild animal, he still felt like he was in somewhat control. It all seemed like a loop. Spirit beast after beast, pivoting through tunnels that took him nowhere, climbing and leaping over rushing waves of lava, but he felt none of it. Lost in his mind. Seeing Moro's face, hearing his laugh as he pummeled Edward like a ragdoll. Seeing Conroy plunge his blade into Al's heart. Kioshi's body was burst by Prometheus. Musashi's soul getting torn out by the Litch. His step fathers body being broken to pieces, and his mothers head being eaten right off. Playing over and over, even more so now than ever. To spark a rage like no other. An ocean of chaos that could break through any chain.
Lincoln's constant pummeling did give Edward an idea of where he was. That, if he focused hard enough, he could anticipate anything. That if he could take those hits and keep going he could take any. Moro's caused great pain, they shattered him. But Lincoln's held back hits were just as if not worse. And yet Edward pushed on. He was growing, faster than maybe the group itself. Whether it be his Helsing body adapting and growing with the ever growing battles, the twenty years of living and training he's put himself through, or everything finally coming together. He wasn't awakened, he was never going to get a Mark of providence, and if he did awaken he would lose the Warriors Spirit. However he was here. He was rising. He didn't know if there was a limit, he didn't know when his end would come, but he knew he had to push. For whatever end. But to grow. To rise above his failures, to avenge all those lost because of his weakness, and maybe then he could find his purpose.
Edward {I have to stop fighting the mountain. I just have to keep going.}
Roaring, letting the fire take over. Forging himself through the Warriors Spirit. Dodging charged flame blasts from Mid-Tier Torch Scorpions before ripping its tail off and plunging the red hood end into its own skull. Ripping off the wings of a Mid-Tier Ash Bat while bashing his forehead against his face. Beating Flaming Hounds into the caves stalagmites until it was nothing more than a bloody pulp. Growing, breathing heavily, steaming from the fire Spirit Beasts. Covered in ash, burns, cuts, and bites. His eyes blinded with fury, his body with only a pair of burnt pants, and his muscles raging. It didn't matter how much stamina he had anymore. It just matters if his body could push on. It just matters if the pain was weak enough for the tsunami of anger in his mind to keep control. He just had to swing his fists, and he would survive. Until finally, he stopped in one of the many tunnels. All looking, feeling, smelling the same. Just with new challenges to face, for the morning. Having fought for over twelve hours straight, to rest for four, and stand for another twelve. But now the Last Helsing would sleep, under Athens, under the boiling death that might be for the country, until his rampage could begin again.
As Edward was lost in his maze Toll got ready, Peter continued crafting away, Gray rode upon Dema while desperately avoiding branches and Ryo, and Red Arrows battled Warriors across the land. Gray also jumped through the forest while maintaining mana flow, swung from tree to tree with his Cloak, and practiced all sorts of flips and tricks in an attempt to land properly.
Ryo: "Come on, it's like a dance."
Gray: "Saying that over and over isn't gonna help me!"
Or just dodging, swinging, and spinning around Ryo like a dance to get better at it all. But, like Edwards spirit, the sun fell. And their stamina. Beauregard moved in for rest, Julius stared out his balcony in silence, Rosemary stared up at the ceiling in her bed with a wide eyed glare, and Calgary sneered towards her door from the other side. People were going to rest, leaving the limelight. For Soku to take the stage once again in the night, patrolling the east district to hinder the heavy Warrior Presence.
Soku {If I wanna save Leo, I have to be ready!}
She was panicked, sweating, with only the thought of Leo's rescue mission on her mind. Whether or not she could do it, Leo would live, or their entire faction would be destroyed. Placed on the shoulders of a fourteen year old girl trying to mourn her murdered little sister. Staring through her burned short hair with bleeding, unyielding, flaming conviction. However the Warriors moved through the shadows, with Irsa and Crevesse even further hidden. Staring through the quiet, broken streets, while Soku bounced through the skies.
Peter: "Soku I finally finished it! No longer the prototype that crumbles in seconds, now official! Metal, with - Soku?"
No where to be found. Leaving Toll in a panic, Peter in shock, and the Red Arrows without their key to Leo's safety.
Toll: "Where is she!?"
Peter: "I dunno! She goes out at night! For the last three days, she came back all beat up."
Toll: "Oh hell."
She neighed in annoyance, loudly stepping through the tunnels trying to think of where she might be. Now she was on everyone's mind. Placing herself in the eye line of them all, with confidence and power, even if she could hardly breath. She would take it all on for Ophelia. To show her that she really was as strong as Ophelia thought she was. That her big sister was a true Hero, who would save thoughts in the same situations they were, who would save anybody that couldn't save themselves. Even if it gave her a nasty taste in her mouth, she would wear the mask of a Hero. For her.
"HEEELP!"
Screaming out for the first time was a young girl in the distance, cloaked in brown rags. Charging away from a lone Warrior down the tight, destroyed, street. As he pulled out his blade, ready to send it flying into her back, Soku landed atop his head with wind shooting down from her feet. Launching his armored face into the cobble while shooting herself forward, before sliding right to the woman.
Soku: "You're safe, now get outta her!"
Irsa: "Thanks kid."
She erupted out of the rags, enveloping her hand in a bright blue lance like construct of mana. In an instant she let out a flurry of strikes, forcing Soku to block with her cleaver-like blade before rolling back. Pancied, her heart dropping, all she could do was flee. So she erupted with mana before leaping high into the -
Crevass: "COME ON DON'T MAKE US COME ALL THIS WAY FOR NOTHIN!"
Coated in stone, the bulky Dark elf plummeted from a building above to grab hold of Soku and slam her to an alley below. But instead she pinballed forward, pivoting between the tall cramped towers with bursts of gale force, to all the archers aiming and ready on the rooftops.
Soku {Shit this is bad this is super duper bad! Gotta get back to the base! But I can't lead them there! Dammit what do I do!?}
Instead of trying to fight the small army there to stop her, she took further to the skies. Swirling, bending the air, pushing out waves of wind to soar like a small tornado. Swimming through the air burst by burst, taking small portions of her stamina each time. Behind her were arrows, small balls of fire and earth, screams, and a bright glowing Vice Captain.
Irsa: "Where are you off too in such a hurry!?"
Soku: "Wouldn't you like to know, uh, stupid blue haired woman!"
Irsa: "That was terrible!"
Soku: "It's hard to make fun of you when I'm running for my life!"
Soku slid across the angled roofs while Irsa sprinted with everything she had. Leaping over drops, climbs, and rooftops with sheer strength. Running from captivity, atop rooftops, with nothing to lose was what Soku was best at. Where she started her life after waking up in Ophelia's home, and where she started her life as a thief after their mothers death. With each step, with each rapid heavy heart beat, with each of the many drops of sweats, came forth memories. Ophelia cheering her own, training with Gray and Rosemary, her home. Each time she had to snap herself out of it and send a blade of wind backward, with Irsa sliced with her unique mana trait. Creating spike after spike of pure spirit mana, before shooting them out behind Soku.
Soku {If I can get into the sewers then I can lose them, then I can get back! I just gotta get away from her!}
So she would, jumping downward off the rooftop toward the streets below. Filled with rushing wagons holding Warriors, below buildings covered in archers, all moving to stop her. Her face was stuck between fear, horror, and rage. Jumping over wagons, throwing out large gusts of wind with her Marks power to send Warriors flying, and carving past them into alleys. Leaking more and more mana by the second, trying her best to flow and gather as she went. To take all of her lessons and survive. Jotting around to see and take in everything, feeling the wind around her, her body, her emotions. To -
Soku: "FINALLY!"
A grate, one she struggled to lift. Forced to push mana through the holes in the stone, before pulling back up to such it out of the ground. As she did, she barely used it to block a downward strike from a Warrior. Then, surrounded and screaming, she let out her fear and wind without control. Like she did against Arthur, to push her Mark to its limit and destroy everything trying to take her. Letting out an explosion of wind that destroyed the alleys walls, pushed away all of the Warriors, and knocked down the archers above. In a massive, momentarily use of half of her remaining stamina. Giving her the chance to fall into the sewers and pull the grate over top her.
Soku {Go go go go go! Don't breathe, just go!}
She held back the tears, trying to push through it all, throwing out blades behind her to cave in the tight tunnels. Stomping through the disgusting slushy water with her boots, sending it all around with the torrent of wind around her, and crashing it all down atop her to make it. And still she slammed into a mighty stone wall, a smiling stone wall.
Crevasse: "Figured you'd head down low. Rats do love places like this."
Soku stepped back, looking all around for what she should do. Behind her was collapsed stone and bricks, beside her were small pipes twisting all around, brick and stone walls with who knows what behind them, and the path forward blocked by the Dark Elf. Cracking his stone knuckles with his stone arms connected to his entirely stone body. A strange sight to say the least, but one Soku got rid of by throwing a blade of wind directly above his head. With the rubble hitting him, it gave her the chance to blast under his legs and shoot for the exit. Only to be kicked across the face, get her coat grabbed, and get thrown further down the tunnel. Splashing into the vomit inducing water, staring at the darkness. Lit by Soku's wind, and now the bright blue mana of Irsa.
Soku: "Dammit."
Irsa: "That's better. So you wanna stop now?"
Coming from the interconnecting tunnels were Warriors upon Warriors, laughing and readying their blades. Pushing the pressure even more. Each second passing began to feel like an eternity. Every sound was painful. And the sight of her loss grabbed hold of her coat once again, before spitting in her scared eye.
Irsa: "Filthy Elf."
Around Soku's neck was a mana dampening crystal, while chains took her arms and legs. Leaving her completely at a loss.
Crevass: "Come on, I'm getting her to Beauregard before you do anything too far."
Irsa: "When did you grow a heart?"
Crevass: "I get paid more if I turn them in better shape idiot."
Soku was taken two days before Leo's rescue. Soku, along with Rosemary, Julius, and Edward, were now in some form of captivity. Their mission, their lives, and Walgonia, remained in the hands of fate. But it would be their connections, their strength, and the lives they still had to get them through this.
And Gray Kyojin of course.