Arc 4: What families entail
Athens was quiet so early in the morning. The Red Arrows stationed throughout Athens had moved to their designated city. All in The Warriors were spreading out through their many camps around the entire island. The Gravestone Pirates were split, half in the Coliseum city, and the other half by the North East Bay. The people, what was left of them, walked to work or home from work. Athens had many blacksmiths, many miners, farmers, singers, artists. A thick community all working together at different ends to create a big working country. Instead of the large, struggling, constantly arguing massive lands of Walgonia, Valatroctius, or even Ravoria in comparison. They fished, they talked, they went on dates, they had children. But were they? Were they really living?
The bags weighed heavy on their eyes. The spirits within were weak. Their flames, nothing but embers now. Years of fear, of the idea you might be called a Red Arrow, a traitor. At the same time the Red Arrows appeared so many stood up in an attempt to help. From protests, starting their own groups, fighting for their own voice, instead of the Valentine Bloodlines. Those hopes, for a better future, a better Athens that Athens wanted, and not the one these brothers thought they could create. Their dreams fell again and again. We're gonna fall again and again. As now it was up to the Warriors, Athens, or whatever is left of them to decide what was next. Weapons, strength, the little Marks, Affinities, all the blacksmiths they could find, anything that could win a fight, anything that could give the slightest edge. Athens was being ground up for whatever it had left from both sides to stop the other from doing the same thing.
Gray {It's…beautiful…}
The Red Arrows own the last soldier, arriving on Dema at lighting speeds, in awe of the massive island ahead. Thick, wide, filled with trees and buildings peeking over. You could see Athens' massive tower from afar, smoke stacks and snow. But his eyes were immediately drawn to the massive mountain. Mount Yelira. Just the sight of a volcano was stressful enough to make his stomach churn. However he was already exploding, sweating, trying not to pull back. But he'd made it. He was here. And the moment he crossed over the beach, far over the heavily guarded bridge to Athens, soaring through the clouds unnoticed. Any other country, aside from Valatroctius, would have Spirit Mages or Demi-humans constantly sensing for people no matter how high he was in the air. The fact he entered would have, and should have been instantly felt, but the broken Athens failed to do anything about it, letting him pass through over the sky to the last location he had gotten from the notes.
"Look! We got word they stayed here, even if only for a day! So talk, and we won't have to get you messy."
Erin: "I have no idea what you're referring to. And even if I did, lots of people stay here.
That location, in which Erin was staying near the large town they first met Leo at, was currently filled with Warriors. Five inside, standing right in front of Erin, and another five outside guarding the premises. All holding weapons, some drinking, others chugging Elixirs or smoking, but all glaring at the worried Erin with anger. Too tired to let this go on for longer, and too disgusting to let somebody they found any bit attractive off easy. The nation's Beauregard was at its finest.
"Records say nobody has stayed here since the owner was killed. Two years back. A Red Arrow on top of that. This place should have been burned already."
"You should listen to what he says. I've seen him get really feisty."
Erin: "Please just don't! We wouldn't want any trouble would we?"
Wearing thick leather armor, masking their faces, without any women in sight. Leaving Erin smiling, rubbing her arm, and trying to keep any sweat from dropping. They gripped their blades, nobody was coming, the sun would rise in a few hours. They got closer, they got angrier, they stomped their weapons and turned their blades forward. She was left without any idea of what to -
Gray: "BACK OFF WOULD YAH!?"
A figure cloaked in black, wearing the cut Sect Mask, dawning cracked old Walgoinain Elite armor over thick casts, flaring with a low power lair of blue mana. He came bursting through the door, his blade fuming with bright spirit mana, aimed right at the closest Warrior. But Erin moved faster than anybody. Using their distraction to strike the closest Warrior, take their dagger and crawl under his legs, leaving his achilles tendons cut and the next Warriors stomach folding open. Gray still managed to leave off a charged strike against the biggest Warrior, sending the thick man flying back through the inn and into her Bar. But she had already leapt, wrapped her legs around a Warrior, and slammed him onto his back with his neck snapped. Instantly flipping to dodge a spear stab, ran up such a spear, and let out five kicks with a spinning motion that broke through his leather mask, his jaw, and his consciousness. Allowing her to stand with his spear toward Gray, ready to take his life as fast as possible.
Gray: "Relax, relax! I'm with Rosmeary, Edward, Soku, oh and Julius!"
Erin: "Julius? You're Gray right?"
Gray: "Yeah, Sir Kyojin!!! But we gotta -
An arrow was launched through the broken doorway, causing Gray's mind to surge with spirit energy, only for Erin to move through the inn and catch it faster than he could react.
"Digvup!"
The front of the inn was instantly covered in a thick stone raised from the earth. Just as other Warriors sent out balls and streams of intense fire, instantly engulfing the inn and leaving them trapped for however long it remained standing.
Gray: "Shit! And also you're like really really good and fighting what's that -
Erin: "We have to go! I know where the Red Arrows main base is, I will take you to your friends."
Gray: "That's awesome! Wait, how do you know where they are? Isn't the main base super secret or whatever? So secret they couldn't put it in any letter -
Erin: "Come on!"
Hardly able to keep up, without any idea of what was really going on, and suddenly trapped in a stall igniting into flames, he just let the world pull him along. In this case that was Erin, dragging him by the Cloak to the nearest window.
Gray: "Wait fire fire!"
Without a thought Erin took out a wand of water, stolen from a Warrior without Gray ever noticing, which she used to instantly cast forth a spell. Pouring mana into the blue crystal, which began to glow as it went toward the Spirits, allowing her to speak to the water spirits without an affinity at all.
Erin: "Wignis!"
A thick bursting stream of glowing water swarmed forth from the air as it erupted forward. Through the weak stone and wood wall, to coat and wash out a small bit of fire just long enough for Erin to throw them both out the wall.
Erin: "Now go! That way!"
This time Gray had to act; he leapt into the air with Erin on his back, using his consistent and constant low power drizzles of mana to get into the air. Just enough to begin gliding down the hill, away from the torched in and the screaming Warriors, and snag hold of a branch.
Gray {Got practice swinging with Lanner, now I might be able to show off! Don't think about how many Warriors are after us, don't think about what Spirit Beasts might be sniffing for lunch! Just go go go!}
Erin: "Turn! Again! Straight straight! There should be a few caves or tunnels outside the Capital, cause no way are we just gonna go in there, not the two of us at least."
Gray: "So how do you know all of this? All I got told was you were a nice inn keeper that Julius knew."
Erin: "I'm a cool innkeeper that Julius knows! But I'm not important. Just keep going, you're doing pretty good, for somebody so obviously young."
Gray: "I don't seem that younger than you!"
Erin: "I meant young in the battle sense. You could find a guy with the strength of a baby and it's still obvious how much they've experienced. Still, it was supposed to be a compliment."
The trees were incredibly tall, thick and silver like iron, the same forest the others ran like hell from Irsa when they first arrived in Athens. Letting Gray share the panic, even if there weren't any Warriors in his tale. He pivoted off branches, swung from sticks and around stumps. It wasn't perfect, but from a normal person's standards, after a harsh month with Ryo and even more practice through Walgonia, he had really perfected moving with the Cloak like this. He couldn't believe it, he could never believe it, but all the suffering made it feel at least a little bit earned.
Gray: "I really hope I didn't show up late. And that I'm not gonna mess everything else up."
Erin: "I dunno if you meant to say the quiet part outloud, but Athens has been going to hell for four years. I got here a few weeks before your friends did, and even then it felt like the war could end tomorrow. You showing up at all is enough, and try to put on a confident face for your buddies. I know it hasn't been easy."
Gray {What is it with this world and having so many super evil crazy people, and then other people who spout super nice metaphorical sentences.}
He was trying his best to throw his thoughts to the side, with thinking of jokes, trying to keep a straight face instead of constant fear as they flew through the woods. However he abruptly shot the Cloak upward, swinging in a few circles to cancel his momentum, before dropping down to the incredibly dense ground.
Erin: "Why'd you stop?"
Gray: "For speed."
He took a breath, braced for a shock, and sent out a surge of mana through the Spirits. Not for a spell, and hopefully not alerting any guards, while definitely alerting the Spirit Beasts. The purple burst of mana turned into a blue pulse, slowly fading out into the darkness. The darkness then bent forward, the black flash, sliding across the stone grass with a trail of dust and pressure behind her.
Gray: "Good Dema! It worked too!"
Erin was in shock to see, what she assumed was in front of her at least, an Earth Bound Dragon rubbing its head against Grays. But still she leapt to the saddle, pulling Gray behind her and the reins at the same time, to immediately rocket through the trees.
Soku: "Come on! Less than a day till we go to save Rosemary! We have to be better, be smarter!"
Rosemary was still meditating in her new cell with Julius, Edward still sleeping, the Warriors preparing, and then there was Soku and Peter. Peter was working hard on his tools while Soku was bursting across the large tunnels against Red Arrows. Trying to use her base flow to its maximum, running forward before pivoting over her opponent and landing behind them. Jotting to the side, back, forth, below, above, throwing out instant but weak ranged slashes. Everyday and everynight since she first asked Julius for help she's been training her very soul. And she would show it, she had to, to save Rosemary. To pay her back for saving her life so many times, to prove she could do it. But there was only Soku. Peter had some weak tools, his brain, but no combat power to speak off at all. Without any Red Arrows willing to attack the Tower while everybody else fought in the cities, it was an instant death sentence.
The only place in the Capital that will still be filled with Warriors during the purge. To save two people, who to their knowledge might not be there, be in Athens, or might just be dead. Still she trained, and this time Toll watched over her from above. Beside Ceasar, sipping liquor and speaking with his Spartans. She leapt from above, hitting the stone floor with a hard burst of force behind Soku. Sighing like a horse before shaking her head to speak clearly. Resisting any inner anxiousness.
Toll: "We've got word that things are changing. Instead of everybody going for Cretan, we're splitting the forces."
Soku: "So even fewer people will be here to help me. Great. I'll just go save your prisoners, and two super strong allies by my self while you rush to your -
Toll: "Look! I'm trying to tell you that I want to target the castle! Athens will react to our attacks, and when they do, we strike their core! We don't have to destroy it all or kill everybody, we just have to do damage, and free your friends in the process!"
Soku immediately dropped her sour expression for an extremely happy one, jumping to hug Toll before pushing herself back with wind and crossing her arms.
Soku: "Finally."
But she immediately twisted around with an even bigger face of shock. Immediately exploding to the entrance to the massive mining tunnel.
Gray: "Sup!"
Dema was behind him, Erin at his side, and a few Red Arrows walking him forward. He was here. Smiling. His hair was a bit longer, shaggier. His eyes are heavier, smaller, but still round and wide. His smile was proud, and his new crescent scar shined with pain. With the Cloak, the blade, the armor, the Leviathan gear, he looked almost recognizable. If it wasn't for that voice, that award smile, and the feeling of intense joy Soku got from seeing him. She jumped to hug him, which caused Gray to suddenly drop to his knees in a panic. His eyes went wide. His body froze, until it shook violently. And tears finally formed. A complete break in his heart -
Gray {No…this…I'm just so happy. I'm finally here.}
Soku: "We need to go to Rosemary tonight. You're just in time dude."
He instantly stood, wiped his face, and gave an even greater smile. To the confusion and awkward smiles from the people looking all around.
Gray: "...You don't know how good it is to hear that."
He still couldn't believe it. All the people around, the fact he was in another country in another world. That Soku was right in front of him. Her hair is longer, her eyes heavier, but her presence is far bigger. And her smile is present, instead of being thrown away for the sake of her pride. Until she did turn away, and finally let off a small burst of wind into Gray's face to push him away.
Peter: "Are you a Levathian Knight!?"
Peter had run all the way up the stairs with his bags of tools, breathing so hard it looked like he was about to puke. But he was far too worried about Gray than anything else. Who he was, why he was there, and just why Soku cared about him so much.
Gray: "No, and I'm not technically a Knight. But I did just help them free a town, Bruge, Guren, reunite with Jong, and helped the Alpha camp. Fought a few Pillars, potential Pillars, oh and Crimson Zhao. He even gave me this scar."
Soku and Peter instantly squealed with a hint of panic, awe, and then fell back to not believing him at all.
Soku: "Yeah sure, you ran into Crimson Zhao and he didn't kill you or everybody else. If that makes you feel better you can say that but just tell us if you tripped and fell."
Gray: "I'm telling you I ran away from him and he liked me for some reason, gave me this scar!"
Toll: "Look you guys should go talk and rest, this is the last day before Athens throws itself into a battle for the end. Get prepared, get some food, and go to bed. As long as you can."
This time it was Toll that suddenly appeared. Pushing them forward to nod and walk off into the tunnels, waving to Erin on the way. Further and further, toward Peter's room of gear. In the meantime Gray tried to speak with Soku, but couldn't help but feel the horrible weight and fear that was Rosemary's life. Edward's life. Their lives. Or the thick bags of tools Peter was carrying, slightly open enough for Gray to try and understand just what they were.
Gray: "So are you like a toolsmith? A gadget or armor dude?"
Peter: "I can do all those things, but this bag is just full of my own junk. I've always wanted to make stuff you can find all over the Southern Islands, but all my stuff is weaker than a light breeze."
Gray: "Common! What have you worked on? What's your best tool!?"
Soku: "Is it the Glider you made for me?"
Peter: "Well yeah definitely, but the second best is something I've been working on for a while. I've been tinkering since I was a kid, but it took me a while before anything I made actually had an effect."
They stood in front of his large dragon stone door, barely sliding through the crack so Peter could soak everything. A room full of tools, gears, scraps, crystals, flags, so much so Gray could hardly walk through.
Peter: "Behold!"
He instantly took out the vambrace he had been seen working on since he first met the others. Thick, a dark silver, with the vented plate appearance that Athens was known for. Matching Grays older Walgonian Elite armor. A result of the first Valentine being from Walgonia.
Gray: "And it is?"
Peter: "I'm pretty bad at names so I don't really name them. But this is supposed to be a game changer, something that could be used in armies all across the world! And make a bunch of money!"
Peter placed it over Gray's bandaged arm, tightening the small straps on the bottom, and stepped back pretty far.
Peter: "Just focus some mana into the left side, a small amount, and it'll activate the crystal. When the crystal activates, it'll unlock, and -
Gray had already done it, triggering a blade from within the vambrace to extend over his palm. Almost cutting off his fingers. But after a quick pull back from fear and a check that they were fine, he immediately swung it through the air with a smile on his face.
Gray: "It's kinda thick, but pretty normal compared to most vambraces I've worn. And the blade, like the end of a sword, thick, but not long. This is great! Like an instant dagger or something! A weapon and armor! You're a weapon master then. Could you give or give me anything for the battle, if that's too much?"
Peter: "Well you can keep the vambrace, and I've got another prototype for you, but they're still a work in progress. The only other weapons I've got are stupid tools, and these little paper balls that burst in your face. Oh and my sting shot!"
Peter went to Gray's thick bags while Gray continued practicing with the weapon, and trying his best to think of a cool name. Right until Peter zipped upward with hell in his hands.
Gray: "Damn! One of the knights musta slipped that in my bag!"
Peter: "What is it?"
One of the Sects muskets, one of the last remaining in Walgonia after they destroyed the distribution centers and factories, and likely soon to be the last after all the others blow up in their users hands.
Gray: "A dangerous weapon, something that shouldn't be in the hands of anybody. And it doesn't work."
Peter: "it looks like one of those mana cannons from the Southern Islands! They use seals and mana to generate small focused bullets of fire, explosions, earth, water, whatever you need! What does it use?"
Gray: "Oh well…bullets I guess. Sorry I don't know much about guns. If they're common enough then I guess you can take it, call it a trade for the WRIST TALONS! Good name huh?"
Soku: "It's okay."
They all turned with a knock at the door, all confused to find Ceasar stepping forward. He had his casual gross smile on, ready to shake hands with Gray, until he saw the weapon in Peter's hands. His eyes widened, his mouth went dry, his stomach churned, but he kept that smile.
Caesar: "Where did -, what's that?"
Gray: "Something Arthur tried to make, but I stopped the factory, and hopefully there aren't anymore. Not enough to refine, perfect, and kill us all."
Caesar: "Dang. Well I just wanted to say hi and all. My Spartans will be going with you guys to the Tower with Toll, since the Red Arrows got their business."
Gray: "Really!? That's awesome! I can't thank you enough for helping me save Rosemary. And Julius, oh and the other prisoners. Do we even know if they're all good guys?"
Soku: "If they were, they'd be killed. It seems like he wants Demi-humans and Red Arrows to suffer."
The others' moods fluctuated, but Caesar kept smiling like nothing was wrong. Not like Julius' almost unnerving grin, but a true, almost crazed smile. His rotten teeth, greedy hair, and strange skull scars added to that crazy. However, Gray couldn't help but notice the slightest of accents on his voice. One not from this world. However he just thought of Caesar as one of the original people of Athens. Even if most of those people have died out, making his tanned skin stand out amongst the mostly caucasians around.
A lot of the people retaining the darker shade of the original Athenians were lost to prejudice, war, civil wars, the founder of the country bringing their Walgonian people. Leaving most of them old, or seen through the Demi-humans of Athens and their skin color. It was a shame that somebody who might be the last living Athenia has kept such poor care of themselves, but something else seemed to be wrong with him. Terrible, wrong and extremely dangerous, Gray just couldn't see past the person he believed he was looking at. And that was a man trying to do his best despite the world, which was more true than he could understand.
Gray: "I guess we have to wait now right. Until tonight. Then I, we can save her. After she's saved me so many times I have to repay her."
Soku: "I feel the same. And I know how much it hurts. But trust me, if we don't wait, if we go alone, we'll either be trapped in the same spot, or killed on the spot."
Gray: "Ugh, welp get ready Peter, cause we got gear to discuss! And Soku, tell me everything, I won't be a bumbling idiot of questions when we're fighting for our life."
They talked, the Red Arrows moved out, the Warriors went to their posts for the upcoming purge, even the Top Elites were talking amongst themselves between Raylice harsh orders. And then there was Edward, relieving the same dream over and over again, one he hadn't had since he was a child. Himself, twelve years old, running like hell from all the blood and fire, only to see Moro smiling and laughing. But this time, when he sprung awake in a panic like usual, he found himself still in his bed. But in the middle of some multi-colored trees, a spirit biome of some sort covered in flowers, and Lincoln standing with a smile .
Lincoln: "Good you're up! Now come on and collect your gear!"
Before Edward could even stand he was frozen in absolute confusion, as Lincoln grabbed hold of the air like a door on and turned. Causing the world itself to bend back; he had opened the forest like a door, waving for Edward to tag along. He rushed out of bed, wearing some torn tan pants and a white tanktop, to head toward a burning hot entrance. So hot it let out a large puff of steam the moment Lincoln opened it, while sounds of hammering followed. Echoing through the chamber, and out through the opened space. Still Edward charged in only thinking of getting left behind.
Edward: "What is this?"
Lincoln: "You think I can make good Dragon stone armor? I've tried but I figured you should get the best of the best. Nothing with enchantments since we're both too dumb to upkeep 'em, but for a set of Dragon stone armor, this is the best you can get in the world."
Edward walked right through the doorway, a bit fearful as it shut behind them. Allowing Edward to see the steaming hot cave he now stood within. Hotter than anything he felt in the maze, filled with stalactites and stalagmites, lit by rivers of magma. And they only walked further down, stone stairs after stair, to reach the core of Mount Yelira. It was magnificent, and insanely deadly. A thick stone casing, with magma pouring like water falls from various burned streams with ferocity. A fierce storm of mana, screaming, pounding, exploding again and again found itself at the floor. Sending out tremors that cracked, and let out more magma every few hours. It was covered by a weakening seal of magic, seals forming a bright green transparent barrier that connected to the seals along with walls. Extremely complicated magic, made by the best mage to ever exist, the only person who can repair and regenerate its power when the volcano builds like this.. And a single man in the massive circular cavern.
Edward: "And that?"
He was incredibly tall, bald, long thick white beard, incredibly lanky, and so skinny he looked more skeleton than man. His skin was blue, covered in scars from what used to be long winding horns, and he was bound legs, arms, and neck by an enchanted Dragon stone chain to the magic seal holding in Yelira's power.
Lincoln: "His mom was the best Blacksmith in Athens for centuries, and his father was the best archer to ever grace Athens, born almost three hundred years ago. But for most of it, he's been imprisoned here. Only to make armor for any Valentine who wishes it."
Edward: "What did he do to deserve it?"
Lincoln: "He helped the second Valentine, and some of the first Warriors family erase almost every Native Athenian human."
The elder, the Blue Horned Titan turned his head to show off his black pits for eyes. Speaking with an incredibly deep, loud, broken voice that echoed through the melting chamber. Giving a sight at his small, crooked, mostly missing set of teeth.
Ox: "So…it was not a dream…then was it?"
Lincoln: "You thought it was a dream!? Did you even make the armor!?"
Lincoln shouted toward the incredibly, and incredibly dangerous man like it was nothing. Standing barefooted on the unthinkably hot ground. Edward on the other hand had to move back toward the doorway, which still left him on his knees in pain.
Ox: "The armor…is -
Ox swung his massive Dragon stone hammer upward, coated in bright golden seals in the shape of Athens crest, right onto the set of armor by his crossed legs. Sending out a massive pulse of force, mana, and overwhelming presence. Allowing him to toss the gear into Lincoln's arms like it was nothing. Edward couldn't help himself, and leapt as hard as possible to Ox. Bowing his head slightly, unable to forgive or ever think of this man as good after Lincoln's story, but still thankful for the gift.
Edward: "Thank you! I will cherish -
Ox: "Go. Loud. Leave me alone. It was fun, four years, no people. It will be fun in a few weeks, when there are no more people."
Before Edward could speak Lincoln had snagged him by the collar, warping forward with intense speed before appearing right at the exit. Allowing Edward to be thrown through the air, sliding across the flowers instantly. Knowing Lincoln, he figured he'd just toss him, letting him finally react perfectly.
Edward: "So that was weird."
Lincoln: "Athens has more history than you could ever know, and it's younger than most places in the world. It's sad how things are gonna turn out soon. But you still have a shot at facing Moro right? Since that's what you wanna do so badly."
Edward didn't waste a second. He loved his friends. He missed them dearly. But he failed. He was dead, and they were doing fine without him right? He had to act, for his dead mom, for Bjorn. For failing his Dad in protecting them. For failing so many damn people. For being the last Helsing, without his white hair, without a Mark, without anything of substance. And only failures to his name. So he had to, he just had to, if Edward Van Helsing would do anything, it would be to kill Moro Gravestone.
Edward: "Yes. But why can't you do anything? I know you feel like you failed, but…you could end it in an -
Lincoln: "Don't ask me about this again! Now come on, but your gear on. The Pirates should be close by, they've been taking over more ground. Seems the entire Gravestone Army is here, which is a few thousand more dangerous Demi-humans to worry about. The runts and rejects of Blackbeard's crew, but still, Demi-humans from the Southern Islands aren't something to be taken lightly."
Edward shuttered the instant as Lincoln raised his voice. The world itself shuttered. But Lincoln just smiled and kept walking like it was nothing, just chugging away on his booze.
When Musashi was a teenager, even a young adult, he was known to be a bit of a brat. Or at least an ass with too much strength, less about his family name and more about what he could really do. Elizabeth Voria was a child like everybody else, not particularly cruel or hateful, she just grew up in Ravoria. Which didn't let her end up all too well. For the most part, Cornliues Cromwell was known as the Mad King, but in some circles he was seen as the best king out of them all. Ryo Hollis may have been born in Ravoria, but even when he was a child he had an intense love for the world and respect for the spirits. Not much was known about Virgil, and Kioshi was named God of War because of her absolute, undefendable strength. But Lincoln? The strongest man in the world, and his biggest fault, the reason he can't fight, was because he was also the most human. Ugly, brutal, unforgiving, beaten. Not a Helsing, not a Voria, not a Cromwell, but a man who married into the Valentine name. He was just Lincoln, and everything bad that came with it. After all the harsh words, beatens, brutal training that almost killed Edward everyday, he was finally beginning to see who he has been with for these long weeks.
Running forward, to the easy, between a long stretch of woods thick with disperses of Spirit mana and beasts. Around half of Mount Yelira, from the edge north East Bay all the way between the east end of Mount Yelira and the Coliseum city. The same forest Lincoln found Edward in, and now the forest Edward would mark his true victory. The victory of his progress. Not from some grand new move, crazy mental adjustment, or an awakening of a power he didn't know he had, but from vigorous effort and constant failure. He knew how to be better, how to fight like a beast, because he knew what he should do. As he'd most likely hardly faced it more than twice.
Edward: "How come Beauregard isn't using that Blacksmith?"
Lincoln: "Ain't it obvious? The dudes are Demi-human. That brat hasn't liked Demi-humans since he was twelve. What about you, after all the Gravestone pirates out you through, do you hate them? Think they're all brutal monsters?"
Edward: "Those pirates? More than anything. But Demi-humans? I've never understood why people could even hate them, or any other race. What you do is who you are."
Lincoln: "So we're both brutal killers?"
Edward: "Yes. And I've made a choice to live with that fact. That battle always risks love, and it's up to somebody strong enough to stop it."
Lincoln: "Well put, I didn't think about it much when I was your age, hell when I was a decade or two older. You have a real head on your shoulders. I just don't want you to make the same mistake as me, unless you're ready to hold the same burden."
Edward paused, staring at the thick set of Dragon stone armor, the long black blade, before locking both their single eyes together.
Edward: "What's the burden?"
Lincoln: "Turning your back on everything you know, to hold onto the only thing you've ever known."
Lincoln finally dropped the armor, almost blowing flowers. Right on the edge, the flowers slowly fading into a dull dirt and grass covered set of winding paths almost the forest. The Woods of Yelira. Holding an entire fourth of the Gravestone pirates forces. Split between their camp at the bat, the Coliseum City, and their ordered patrol zone for the upcoming purge.
Edward {What if…what if Lincoln doesn't have a good reason for letting all of this happen. But if he doesn't, does that mean Musashi and Kioshi really did make the wrong choice? Should they have gone all out, and fought the Pillars through Walgonia? Even if it was just through the castle…even if my friends and I died that day. Maybe it would have been much better than all of this pain.}
With each thought, he attempted to put on his armor. Made with such quality, given with such care, objectively better than any non enchanted armor, he could hardly put a single foot into it with how badly he was shaking. The armor was a sharp pitch black, more form fitting than the regular Elite Armor. It was incredibly dense, the ore itself being incredibly resistant to mana, blades, physical force, and is incredibly shock absorbent. Still it felt lighter than a feather compared to what he was used to. However, that was also because he's highly underestimating just how much he's grown.
Lincoln: "When Ox gave me my first set I felt like this too. But I didn't get to meet him till I was a bit older. If shit goes south you might be the last guy to see him."
Edward: "Why so dark?"
His feet went first, before he clamped on the leg guards, slowly going up his body with pieces. It completely sealed him in the vented black steel, seamlessly attaching all around his body faster than it takes to strap on his gear just right. Before he arrived at the helmet. An incredibly detailed skull, with silver teeth, and a single eye. The other slashed open like his branded eye.
Edward: "What's this? I don't wanna wear this? It makes me look like, well like I'm tryin' way too hard."
Lincoln: "You said your friend had a mask like that! I thought it was a group thing!"
Edward: "Gray's mask was a trophy, and it's more like a goofy looking skull, AND I don't think it's cool."
Lincoln: "Then just have it attached around this belt, I actually made this one."
Thick refined leather, with a dirt brown color, fitting perfectly around one of the only small seams in the armor between the waist and groin. It had a buckle for a knife Edward didn't know how to use, and wasn't even there, so he just strapped the helmet on through its eye. The very last piece of gear was gripped tightly by the hilt. The entire blade was the same incredibly strong but incredibly light black ore, but the hilt was wrapped in a thick tan cloth for a better grip with his gauntlets.
Edward: "Am I ready for this?"
Lincoln: "Just go and find out."
Currently, there were about a hundred or so Demi-humans of all shapes and sizes walking through the forest down a short hill. Preparing to make a camp, one of many in spots determined by Beauregards best to be a core escape route. To get all eyes everywhere, without a blindspot to even be thought of, except the land they lived upon.
And until that sun set, until the Red Arrows prepared to unleash, a few hours before the Purge began, Edward Van Helsing fought two hundred Pirates alone. And won.
"What is that thing?"
The pirates were mostly common types of fish, slightly different depending on the beast's natural affinity and region. There were a handful of sharks, two whales, a handful of birds and other Spirit Beasts. Ages that fluctuated from teenagers to old men, skin of all shades, hair types of all races, wearing old sailing gear and using rusted weapons. Drunk, tired, angry, just trying to get by with the life they found themselves in. And then came the Last Helsing. Walking slowly toward them from the forest, slowly putting on his helmet of Dragon stone. The ground shook with each step, their hearts skipped a beat when he grabbed his sword, and while some laughed their asses off, others ran like hell back to camp for their lives.
"Look kid, you don't wanna be sticking your nose in other people's business."
"Wait I think he's an elite warrior, Moro said we have to listen to them didn't he?"
"DONT MATTER IF HES DEAD!"
Edward only said one word through the hours, there were plenty of grunts and roars, but no real speech after he stood in front of them all. And he said it as loudly as possible. His Warriors Spirit ignited almost instantly, as against the Gravestone Pirates, Edward was even angrier than the Warriors Spirit itself.
Edward: "FOR ANYBODY WHO DOESN'T WISH TO FIGHT FOR THEIR LIFE, I ORDER YOU TO LEAVE WITH YOUR ARMS UP! AND ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO LIVE, LEAVE THAT BASTARD MORO, IN THE NEXT TWO SECONDS!"
One -
They all took a step, some extended claws and fangs, others clenched their jaws and weapons, a small few began to take in Spirit mana from the air for their unique Beast traits, and the closest in line to replacing Bella moved toward the middle.
Two -
A handful shaking in their boots dashed away, either from the pirates or the battle, while the rest began to roar. While Edward broke the floor with his leap, flashed through a handful of Demi-humans, and landed on the other end at the drop of the fifth second. Weaving his knife through arms, legs, necks of tough, thick, dense, and scaley Demi-human skin like it was nothing, to leave an eruption of screams, blood and body parts behind him. Back into a fighting stance, awaiting the closest attack while trying his best to control that blazing Spirit.
Lincoln {He really has made it.}
Gray finally got to relax, Soku finally got to feel some joy, Peter felt like he was getting real friends, even in Rosemary's imprisonment she focused and focused on her ways of escaping. Leo made it to Cretan, Garly prepared her forces in Panzor, and all the Red Arrows placed throughout Athens would come together with the Spartans near the Coliseum City. Which should have been led by Toll, but by her own wishes, she was now looking over a small group of Spartans and Red Arrows. Standing ahead of them all was Gray and Soku.
Edward {When I fight, when I grow, every kill, I don't do a thing do I?}
Edward had broken through Demi-human after Demi-human, slicing through them and their weapons, taking their weapons and throwing them like cannon balls. Jumping, leaping, vanishing off trees, dirt, or in pools of flinging blood.
Toll: "I don't know if we'll win. I'll say it clearly. I don't know if this fight will end with Athens. But I know…I'll fight for what we have left, to honor what we used to be. What we've been fighting to be for four years."
Garly and Leo spoke to their massive armies, the Warriors were trying to get their last bit of rest before the not so secret purge can begin, and Edward kept dropping Pirates. A forest of blood and bits, spinning like a vortex of bloodlust. Screaming, roaring so hard it began scratchy. He took every hit, every slice, and chop. His armor was perfectly clean, and the force smashed through him. A crushing cage keeping him alive from the crushing world.
Leo: "The Red Arrows came together to bring Athens back, to fight for it, and this is the first time every single Red Arrow is fighting the exact same battle. This is the first time the Red Arrows will soar over Athens."
Everybody shook. Everybody tensed up. Everybody struggled to breathe. But they all had a burning light to fight for. Even if it was just trying to stay alive. Edwards light was a raging fire of his life's hardship. And Athens' own fire was ever building in the thing that brought them the resources they used to stay standing.
Garly: "IT'S TIME! IT'S FINALLY TIME TO SEND THE WARRIORS BACK WHERE THEY CAME FROM! SEND BEAUREGARDBACK WHERE HE CAME FROM! ALL BACK TO ECLIS, TO HELL DAMMIT!"
Still there were cheers, drinks, elixirs. There were friends, forming and old families, holding weapons and smiles for their shared lights. The will to push yourself through anything, for a good reason or not, would always be stronger than an endless hatred. Because they're strong, and they're not clouded by anything. Free to act. To fight. Edward climbed back toward Lincoln, hardly alive.;everybody in Athens was gonna fight, had stopped fighting, or died from it. But they all looked toward their leaders with passion in their eyes. Except for Caesar.
Garly & Toll & Leo: "The Purge of the Warriors, begins now."
May the Spirits have mercy on them all.