Axel pointed his sword directly at Adrik, his grin widening as he spoke.
Axel: So… what are you waiting for?
Adrik's gaze locked with Axel's. A slow breath left him, steadying himself. His hand gripped his sword tightly, the steel shimmering in the arena lights. A small smile formed at his lips—calm, confident, and ready.
The crowd held their breath as the two warriors squared off, the air between them crackling like a storm about to break.
Chrono Guardianz
Episode 11: Back to Future part 2
The world exploded into motion. Axel and Adrik lunged at the same time — two blurs of steel — and when their swords met there was a thunderous blast that threw dust and smoke everywhere. The crowd jumped back, for a heartbeat the whole arena looked like a lightning strike had hit the ground.
When the smoke thinned, both fighters were locked — blades pressed together, each forcing, each gritting teeth. Sparks flew from the clashing metal. Sweat ran down Adrik's temple. Axel's grin was wide, hungry.
Axel twisted, slipping his blade along the ricochet and darted behind Adrik in a smooth, animal move. He swung low — a quick, snapping strike — but Adrik brought his sword up just in time and blocked it, metal screaming on metal.
Adrik (thinking): damn it. he's fast…
Adrik countered with a sharp kick. Axel caught the kick with both hands, arms like iron, but the force pushed him back a little. Axel looked up — expecting Adrik where he had been— but Adrik wasn't there. A shadow slid across the ground.
Axel's eyes flicked down. Then he looked up — and Adrik descended on him from above like a falling star, sword aimed for Axel's shoulder. Axel twisted, the blade missing by a sliver. Adrik didn't stop; he flowed into another strike after another, a storm of slashes. Axel's grin wavered; he started to breathe harder.
Axel tried to regain control. He blocked one, two, three of Adrik's strikes, then in a flash he slipped behind Adrik and delivered a crushing kick. Adrik slammed into the ground and rolled to avoid the follow-up. Axel brought his sword down hard, the blade ringing as it struck the ground and threw up a smoky cloud.
From the smoke, Axel exploded forward with a brutal uppercut — fist straight into Adrik's gut. Adrik flew upward, his body twisting like a twig in a gale. He spat out air and grit, tasted dust and fury.
Adrik (thinking): shit… he's strong too. I need to do something.
Adrik scanned the arena as he dropped. The world slowed. Faces in the crowd blurred into color, the noise muffled until it felt like he was falling through cotton. Then — in the middle of the slow motion — he saw her.
Lyra sat three rows down, small and bright between the screaming crowd. Her little brother Lior clung to her, eyes huge and frightened. Lyra's arm wrapped around him, holding him like a shield. She wasn't cheering. She wasn't yelling. She was watching with a calm that felt like a hand reaching into Adrik's chest.
Adrik's mouth opened a little. His breath hitched.
Adrik (thinking): who is she… am I dreaming? She's… an angel. She's so pretty.
Time broke. Draxil's shout cut through the vision like ice.
Draxil: ADRIK!!!
Adrik shook his head hard as the slow-motion ended. Sound slammed back — the crowd roaring, the clink of armor, the referee's whistle. Adrik drove his legs, landing in a crouch and lunging to attack. Axel slipped aside like smoke, coming around for a finishing swing that would've cleaved Adrik's face.
For a second everything looked like it would end — blade glinting, Axel's eyes wild — but then there was a ringing clang as metal met metal and a shout.
Adrik's eyes flew to the sound. Draxil was there, standing between them with both hands on Axel's sword, fingers on the blade. Sparks showered from the impact; Draxil's arms shook but he held steady, grin wide and a fierce light in his eyes.
Axel: What the—?
Draxil (calm, dangerous): hey — killing someone is against the rules. If you break the rules… I'll break your bones.
Draxil grabbed Axel and hurled him aside. Axel landed on his feet, spinning like a cat, shaking his head in surprise more than pain. The referee blew the whistle hard. The crowd went wild — half in anger, half in relief.
From the Red Team, Colt and Rex watched like statues. Colt's face was flat; Rex's eyes were sharp, measuring.
Rex (cold): That one… Draxil. He's strong. I'll fight him next.
Draxil walked back to Adrik, clapped him on the shoulder with a laugh that was equal parts brotherly and cocky.
Adrik sat slouched on the dugout bench, pressing an ice bag against his stomach with a grimace. Every now and then he winced as if the bruise itself was laughing at him.
Draxil (squinting at him): hey… Adrik. What happened back there? I saw you get distracted in the fight… first time I've ever seen you slip like that.
Adrik (sighs, staring at the ground): man… it's just… I don't know. While I was falling onto the arena floor, I saw a girl. She's… too pretty. My heart just skipped a beat, I guess, and—
Draxil (cutting him off, gasping): WHAT?!
He grabbed Adrik's shoulders like a proud father, eyes filling with over-the-top tears.
Draxil (sniffling dramatically): I'm proud of you, Adrik… so proud!
Adrik (confused, squinting): ughh… are you crying? And why exactly are you proud?
Draxil (voice trembling): it's nothing… I just thought you had no interest in girls… always hanging around boys. But today, you proved me wrong. You've grown.
Adrik (blankly): ooh.
He nodded slowly, then realization smacked him like a brick. His eyes widened and he bonked Draxil's head hard.
Adrik (furious): ARE YOU SAYING I WAS GAY ALL THIS TIME?!
Draxil (sweating nervously): no…
Adrik's glare sharpened, his aura practically screaming "say your prayers."
Draxil (gulping): …maybe a little?
BAM BAM BAM! Three solid hits landed on Draxil's skull, leaving him with three perfect bump marks like cartoon mountains. He sat there rubbing his head, chuckling nervously, while Adrik folded his arms in irritation.
Draxil (still grinning): anyway… who's this lucky girl, huh? Do you at least know her name?
Adrik (shaking his head, softer now): I don't know… I just saw her in the crowd, that's all. I've been studying here for four months, and never once did I see a girl that beautiful… someone who could actually steal my heart. It's the first time I've ever felt like this.
Draxil blinked, then smirked.
Draxil (teasing): ooooh… that was so romantic without even using romantic words. Who knew Adrik had this side? Next thing, you'll start writing poetry "The first spark of love came in the middle of chaos—"
Adrik (snapping): shut up.
Before Draxil could tease further, a teammate ran up, panting.
Teammate: hey, Draxil! It's your match now!
Draxil stood up, stretched his arms and back like he was about to nap instead of fight.
Draxil (grinning): time to work out.
Adrik (deadpan): don't get your ass beaten.
Draxil: don't worry about me, bro. I've already won matches without even using my sword, and I'll win this one too. And…
Adrik (interrupting): don't make the match a draw.
Draxil chuckled, cracked his knuckles, and walked toward the arena. At the same time, Rex rose from the red team's bench and entered the arena too. The crowd roared, excited — the strongest fighters from each team about to clash.
Draxil (smirking at Rex): guess you don't smile like your little brother, huh?
Rex didn't respond. His eyes were cold, empty, calculating. Then the referee raised his whistle—
The ground shook.
The referee never even blew. The arena floor split open with a deafening crack, and a gaping hole tore itself in the center. Both Rex and Draxil leapt back in shock as chunks of stone collapsed into the darkness. The crowd erupted in panic, murmurs turning into screams.
Draxil (alarmed): what the hell?! Is this some kind of trick of yours, Rex?!
But Rex didn't answer.
A sound came from the hole — a screech. Then hundreds of shapes burst out like black lightning.
Skyclaws.
Human-sized, bat-winged monsters with claws sharper than steel. Their screeches cut through the stadium as they swooped, tearing through the air. One by one, they grabbed students from the stands, dragging them screaming into the hole. The protective barrier flickered and shattered under the sheer number of beasts.
Panic spread like fire. Students ran in every direction. Some Skyclaws sank teeth into victims mid-air, ripping them apart before vanishing into the pit. Blood sprayed across the seats. The once-cheering stadium turned into a slaughterhouse.
A Skyclaw lunged at Rex. Without hesitation, Rex caught it by the skull mid-flight, crushing its head in his bare hand before tossing the twitching body aside.
Colt walked calmly to his side, his expression still cold, and cut down beasts barehanded with precise, brutal strikes. Axel moved next, sword flashing as he sliced through Skyclaws like they were paper, his grin unchanged.
Meanwhile, Adrik and Draxil fought side by side.
Adrik (gritting teeth as he slashed one apart): there's too many!
Draxil (grinning even as he elbowed one in the throat): then kill more!
A wave of Skyclaws dived at them. They split apart, carving through the swarm, but the numbers didn't seem to end. Adrik ducked, barely avoiding claws tearing across his chest, and spun, his blade slicing another clean in half. Still, he struggled to keep up with the overwhelming tide.
Then suddenly— three bladed chains whipped through the air, tearing apart a cluster of Skyclaws in an instant. The chains retracted, slicing another as they spun back.
Adrik followed the trail of the chains with wide eyes. His breath caught.
It was her.
Lyra.
She stood on the edge of the stands, her little brother Lior behind her, clutching her arm in terror. Lyra's eyes burned with determination as she swung her chain weapon with deadly precision, protecting Lior while cutting down every monster that dared get close.
For a heartbeat, Adrik froze.
(Adrik thinking): Lyra…
But then another Skyclaw screeched in his face and forced him back to reality. He clenched his teeth and roared, cutting it down before charging again.
Minutes passed like hours. Screams, steel, blood, wings, dust. Then finally, silence.
The last Skyclaw fell, its body collapsing in the dust. But most had already escaped back into the hole. Thousands were dead, many more dragged away. The once-bright arena was covered in broken stone, shredded seats, and blood.
In the middle of the chaos, five figures stood.
Adrik. Draxil. Rex. Colt. Axel.
All facing the giant dark hole at the arena's center, their shadows stretching toward it.
Adrik: Man... we have to jump before the Skyclaws kill all the students.
Rex, Colt, and Axel exchanged a cold glance, then—without a word—they dove into the abyss.
Draxil (smirking faintly): Looks like they think ahead of us.
Adrik (tightening his grip on his sword): Maybe... so shall we?
They hesitated only a heartbeat before leaping down. The darkness swallowed them whole.
The air grew colder. Their boots echoed against stone as they fell, until a faint glow appeared below. They landed with a heavy thud—only to freeze.
Blood. Everywhere.
The floor was painted red, torn limbs scattered like discarded dolls. Eyes still wide in terror stared blankly from severed heads.
Draxil (grimacing): Ughh… Where is everyone? We jumped right after Rex and his brothers… seconds apart, and yet—
Adrik (sharp, whispering): Shh... do you hear that?
From deeper in the cavern, voices echoed—men laughing low, sickening. Then came a scream, shrill and raw, cut off mid-breath.
Adrik and Draxil rushed forward. What they saw stopped them cold.
Rex had a trembling boy by the throat, squeezing until the boy's legs kicked uselessly. Colt's blade flashed, severing another student's head in one merciless swing. Axel dragged a girl who tried to flee, his sword slicing her body into pieces that hit the stone with wet thuds.
Adrik (horrified): What the… WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING?!
The three stopped, their motions eerily calm. Slowly, they turned, blood dripping from their weapons. Colt's expression didn't change.
Colt (flatly): Killing the infected. If we don't, they'll kill us.
Adrik's eyes darted—then froze on a little girl, no older than six or seven. Not a student. Her small frame trembled, her arms torn and bleeding, her wide eyes begging silently for help.
Adrik (desperate): Killing isn't the only way... there must be a cure! We'll take them up and—
Colt (cutting him off coldly): There's no time. They'll turn before we even reach the surface. So either stand aside... or join us.
The little girl's lips quivered as she whispered, barely audible:
Girl (weakly): ...please… help…
Adrik's grip tightened on his sword, fury burning in his chest.
Adrik (growling): I won't let you kill them.
Colt's eyes narrowed. Without hesitation, he turned and cleaved through another wounded student's neck. The body crumpled at Adrik's feet.
Adrik (snapping, screaming): BASTARD!
Rage consumed him as he and Draxil lunged. Their swords clashed violently with Rex and Colt's, sparks flying in the blood-soaked cavern.
But before they could strike again, the ground quaked.
The walls cracked, stone raining down. Then—emerging from the shadows—a monster stepped forward.
It wasn't like the others. Taller than any man, its muscles rippled under dark, leathery skin. Its arms were long, tipped with claws sharp enough to carve stone. Its wings stretched wide, but unlike the others, its arms weren't fused to them—this thing was built for both flight and brutal combat. Its eyes glowed an unnatural blue, piercing through the darkness.
The lesser Skyclaws screeched and swarmed, forming a wall between Adrik and the others. Their claws linked together like chains, blocking him off. He hacked at the wall—his blade sparked but didn't break through.
Adrik (snarling): Guess you want me all to yourself, huh?
The boss Skyclaw stepped forward, unblinking. Adrik roared, charging in, his sword gleaming—
CLANG!
The monster caught the blade mid-swing with its claw. Adrik's eyes widened.
Adrik (thinking, panicked): He's… faster than me.
TO BE CONTINUED..