Chapter 137: The Last Wall
The river exploded beneath them.
BOOOOOOOM!
A colossal wall of water erupted upward, rising between the two warriors like a curtain as Zachia and Mirage launched themselves through it at the same time. Their blades met in the middle of the torrent.
CLANG!
The collision sent a violent shockwave across the dam, forcing the remaining Stars to stagger backward as several Freakers were blown completely off the concrete pathways. Their bodies tumbled helplessly through the air before plunging into the raging water below.
For a moment, Zachia and Mirage remained locked together, their faces only inches apart as their swords scraped against each other. Both men were exhausted. Both were bleeding. Both were struggling to breathe.
Neither was willing to fall.
Mirage growled through clenched teeth. "You just don't know when to stay down."
Despite the blood running from a wound across his forehead, Zachia managed a smirk. "I was thinking the same thing."
Their blades pushed harder against one another.
Neither yielded nor moved.
Then both warriors kicked simultaneously.
BOOM!
The force of the exchange sent them flying apart, and the river beneath them seemed to split from the impact as waves surged outward in opposite directions.
Mirage landed first.
Craash....
His breathing was rough, and his left arm was trembling uncontrollably.
Zachia noticed immediately.
"Your arm."
Mirage glanced down at it.
The limb shook slightly as he tightened his grip around his sword.
"Nothing."
"Liar."
Mirage clicked his tongue.
One of Monday's lightning strikes earlier in the battle had clipped him. The bolt had not hit him directly, but the electrical discharge had been enough to fry some of the muscles in his arm and weaken his grip.
It was a problem, a serious one.
But Mirage refused to acknowledge it since weakness meant failure. And failure meant disappointing the Boss. That thought alone was enough to make his jaw tighten.
Mirage raised his sword again.
"You're finished."
He pointed toward the enormous dam behind Zachia.
"The dam falls. The town floods, and your little rebellion ends tonight."
Zachia suddenly laughed as Mirage's eye twitched.
"What's funny?"
Zachia pointed behind him.
"The fact that you're still talking like you've already won."
Mirage frowned.
Then—
BOOOOOOM!
A gigantic monster slammed into three Stars nearby, sending their bodies flying across the battlefield.
Another creature grabbed a screaming Freaker and hurled it into the lake.
Several Royal Guards fought desperately against Nyx's monsters while the remaining Stars struggled to maintain their formation.
Chaos had consumed the entire area.
Mirage's backup wasn't winning instead they were barely surviving.
Zachia grinned.
"Looks pretty even to me."
Mirage's patience finally snapped and his Savage Power erupted.
WHOOOOOOOM!
Dark silver energy exploded from his body, twisting through the air and disturbing the water surrounding them. The river itself began to spiral as the space around his sword warped beneath the pressure of his power.
Mirage's eyes hardened.
"SILENCE!"
He swung.
SHRAAAAAAAAAK!
A gigantic crescent-shaped slash tore forward.
The river split apart and concrete cracked beneath the pressure. For a brief instant, even the sky seemed to have been sliced by the attack.
Zachia's eyes widened too fast.
As he immediately crossed his blade in front of his body.
BOOOOOOOM!!
The attack collided with him.
Zachia was sent skidding backward for hundreds of meters, his boots carving deep lines through the concrete as the dam wall shook violently behind him.
CRAACK!
Cracks spread beneath his feet.
Fwoosh.....
The smoke and dust swallowed his body and the remaining Stars immediately erupted into cheers.
"HE GOT HIM!"
"COMMANDER MIRAGE!"
"FINISH HIM!"
Mirage remained standing in the middle of the battlefield, breathing heavily as the smoke continued to spread around him.
Then they heard it.
Step....
Another step.
Step....
The Stars slowly stopped cheering and Mirage's expression darkened.
A shape emerged from the smoke.
A horse.
Its hooves struck the broken concrete as it slowly walked forward.
Step...
Step...
Step...
The Stars froze as Mirage stared. Then his expression changed completely.
Out of the smoke came Zachia.
He was still standing.
His armor was shattered, his shoulder guard had been completely destroyed, and blood dripped steadily from his arm, but somehow he remained mounted on his horse.
The Ghost Horse snorted as a thin stream of silver mist escaped its nostrils.
Mirage stared in disbelief.
"You survived?"
Zachia lifted his sword and pointed it toward him.
"You talk too much."
The Ghost Horse suddenly lowered its body.
Then—
BOOOOOOM!
Its hooves shattered the ground as it accelerated as Mirage immediately charged forward as well.
The two warriors became blurs.
Sword met sword.
CLANG!
Strike.
CLANG!
Block.
SHRAK!
Counter.
BOOM!
Kick.
BANG!
Punch.
CRACK!
Elbow.
THUD!
Knee.
The fight had changed as there were no grand speeches, it had become primal. Two exhausted warriors were simply beating each other with everything they had left.
Mirage landed a punch against Zachia's jaw.
BAM!
Zachia answered with a headbutt.
BANG!
Mirage stabbed forward.
SWOOSH!
Zachia twisted away at the last possible moment, the blade cutting through the edge of his armor.
PSSH!
Blood flew.
SPLAASH!
The river erupted and concrete shattered beneath their feet. The entire dam trembled beneath the force of their battle.
Then Mirage smiled, a dangerous smile.
Zachia immediately sensed that something was wrong. Several remaining Stars suddenly appeared behind him. Holding chains, spears and hooks. All aimed directly at him.
Mirage laughed.
"There it is."
His blade lowered slightly.
"My advantage."
He looked toward the soldiers surrounding Zachia.
"Backup."
SWOOSH!
SWOOSH!
DASH!
The Stars attacked.
Twenty of them moved at once as Zachia clicked his tongue.
"Tch."
CHIING!
CLANG!
Chains wrapped around his arms. Hooks locked onto his armor. Spears stabbed toward his blind spots.
Mirage raised his sword.
For the first time in the battle, victory seemed certain.
Then—
"Huffff..."
The voice echoed across the battlefield. Everyone froze as one Star slowly turned around. Another swallowed nervously. Mirage's eyes widened.
Standing on top of a ruined building was a figure carrying a massive weapon over one shoulder.
Dark smoke danced around its body.
It's coat fluttered in the wind.
The Ghosts of the Seven Samurai had arrived.
The Stars immediately panicked.
"Oh no."
"What in the world is that."
"IT'S COMING HERE!"
The ghost scratched its head as figures seemed to emerge from it
Their eyes moved toward Mirage. Then, toward Zachia. Then toward the enormous dam. A smile slowly appeared on their faces.
"Savage Skill: Impersonating Persona"
Zachia said while raising his head slightly.
Mirage, however, felt something entirely different.
For the first time since the battle had begun... He felt fear.
To be continued.....