Frost had fallen through a portal, now standing in a world full of perfect brown grass, thousands of shooting stars in the sky, and a smooth wind breeze. "You landed here also? I was swinging my axe around and I found myself looking down at you, brat." Blizzard said, holding his axe tight. "Stand up. You know exactly where I'm going with this."
Frost stood up and dusted himself off, looking around at the great empty field. "This must be the Nomain planet. Well, the universe." Frost ignored Blizzard and immediately caught some powerful energy readings far away. "That's Adisa?"
"DON'T YOU DARE IGNORE ME!! You killed our father! Your sister! Members of your clan! You are…a murder!! You WILL answer to me!!" Blizzard yelled.
Frost slowly turned his head, he could feel the intense gaze from Blizzard's eyes.
"Why did you do it? Huh? Why did you…" Blizzard fell to his knees and began to cry. "Fight me! You deserve to give me that. Fight!" Blizzard demanded.
Frost said nothing. He stood there completely still, hands in his pockets, and a straight face. He thought of his sister, mother, and father immediately.
"Blizzard. Father was going to wage war. I had to stop him. I had to make a difficult decision-"
"WHY?! For who?! Adisa?!" Blizzard shouted.
"Because I knew it would destroy our home. I made the choice…to slaughter the king of the clan in order to protect the island from war and death. Because Adisa was a threat to us, father wanted him dead, even if he needed to be wage war."
"So that's the reason? Because father was going after someone who can cause all of THIS?!"
"Yes. I knew…once I had defeated father, I needed to seal away Adisa. To stop other kids or people from going through what I did."
"No. You're a coward. Even with that blindfold, brother, I can see your eyes. You…you can't even look me in the eyes. That blindfold symbolizes the blind truth. The truth you kept from me for years."
"Yeah…I know." Frost said with a crack in his voice.
Like the ice I control and wield. It is but a reflection. A reflection of me. I hid behind my powers…for so long. I…I only showed the reflection of what I wanted you to see. U never cracked the mirror and took a look on the inside. And who would?
"Blizzard-"
"No more talk. Only…only action, brother." Blizzard said as he stood tall, slamming his axe into the ground.
"We fight. For it…is what I only know."
"What you only know?"
"I was never taught to express myself in that way. Only to swing my axe. It's the only thing I've ever known." Blizzard said.
"I'm not going to fight you."
"You are and will, Frost. If you are truly chosen or fated to live, then you will live and I will die. My axe is all I've ever known. Father gifted this axe to me when I was just a little boy. He tossed it at my feet and said…"this is your father now." He said. He tossed it and left me alone in the woods with this axe for a year! He wanted a son that was an absolute brute in strength and power. I survived alone…alone in the wilderness since the age of 5 to 6, proving I could be the powerhouse he needed."
"The powerhouse he needed?"
"To take down the son…who would pose a threat to our clan and bloodline." Blizzard said. "You see, brother? This…this fight is fated and bound to happen. You will raise your sword and clash."
"Blizzard, believe me when I tell you, don't be…what father wants you-"
"It's not what he wants! It's what I want! If the gods are truly on our side, then you will die today! Here! I want this fight. I want…to kill you, brother! I want to be the one…who'll put an end to this family curse!"
******
Rue walked alone. Silent around him. He walked in what seemed to be a desert with all the heat and sand. However l, this desert was something out of a dream or nightmare.
The sand was green, almost resembling that of a great grassland. The sky above was dark and morbid, seeing great lands and mountains that pointed at Rue from above, like gravity and physics didn't exist in this area.
"The hell?" Rue sighed, continuing his long walk. (This place. It's something you'd only dream of. A dream you'd never want to wake up from and continue searching for a deeper world and meaning. This is all real though. In this world, dreams don't sit in a different world from the physical realm. They coexist within the same realms entirely. I believe, that the beast zone is much larger than that of the galaxy alone. That's only one zone out of much more we've yet to explore. We're…so small in this world." Rui began to chuckle and sat down against the sand, his back pressing hard against the ground.
"There's no way he win. Humanity is finished…right? Or did they finally get the lions to come? I wouldn't know…seeing as I'm-" Rue stopped talking and lifted his head, hearing something in the distance approaching him. Rue used his energy and leaped across the great opening. He pulled out his sword and jumped over the massive hill of sand. It was Charlie who stood in the field. "The hell?" Rue asked.
"Listen, I don't know myself. I was sucked into a portal and ended up here. But, I think I know you. You're Rue, right? You also have mist abilities like myself!"
(This kid just spawned out of nowhere.) "who are you kid? You with Jade? Frost? Who?"
"Umm….island x?" Charlie said while raising an eyebrow.
"Tsk." Rue looked around and back at Charlie. "Well…can't sit here all day. We've got a mission, brat! Let's find a way out of this desert and keep it moving, yeah?"
"Okay!"
*****
The two walked and talked for 2 hours, wandering what seemed to be the infinite desert. "You said we aren't lost, but we've been walking for a couple hours now. Are you sure-"
"Be quiet, brat. Can't you sense it?" Rue asked as he sped up his walking.
"Sense energy?!? Not as accurate or far as you apparently!"
Charlie matched Rue's speed and the two hurried to wherever the energy was. (This energy, it's what they described during the meeting! This is…it's him!)
"Rue, wait for a moment! Let's think this-"
"No time to think! All we can do is act!" Rue yelled as he reached the top of the tall sand hill. He looked down and saw thousands of people…dancing?
"The hell?" Rue asked, drawing his sword and spectating.
"They're being forced." Charlie said, pointing at a woman who was seemingly dead, but still moving.
"This isn't who I thought! This is-"
"PREEETAAAA!!!" A massive voice yelled from out in the distance. Rue and Charlie lifted their heads and stared out. They could see a giant being with swords for hands, a tornado-body with blades, red glowing eyes, long black legs, and sharp metal teeth. Preta was much larger than before, standing at 400 feet in height and more menacing.
"PATHETIC HUMAN TRASH!!" Preta announced as he sat down on the large mountain that was behind him. "I made you all fight, mate, and now dance. I'm…about three with you all." Preta laughed, causing the ground itself to shake.
"That…bastard! That's one of the giants Splinter's been looking for!" Charlie said. Rue glared at Charlie and then shifted his focus to the surrounding area. "Damn….what…a clever bastard." Rue sighed.
"Huh? What's happening?!" Charlie asked. Rue looked up and pointed his sword. Charlie lifted his head and squinted up at one of the giant mountains that were over his head. He could see him…Lapris was hanging above.
"LAAPRIS!!!" Rue yelled, getting Preta's attention. "Charlie, handle the group coming!" Rue yelled. "What group-" Charlie turned and noticed a large crowd of humans running towards their locations. "They already knew we were here! Stand strong! Hold out while I kill Lapris!" Rue said.
"We aren't supposed to kill him!" Charlie said. Rue ignored him and launched himself into the sky and towards Lapris.
Charlie pulled out his sword and took his stance, looking at the controlled humans. Some were dead, while others had a terrified look in their eyes.
(I've always come to ask myself…how did all of this happen? The humans have one singular god that is very popular amongst their world, so why? Why…did this happen to them? To everyone? I've always believed that there are dark entities trying to guide the world into chaos, but learning that the world is much bigger than I ever imagined, learning that there are more species of life in this massive world…I've come…to believe that we are all alone. Spiritually, at least, but…what we are doing. Fighting. Struggling against the dark forces of our world, that alone, even with how the universe is layed out…that alone is proof that something or someone…truly is the creator of all. A god or gods, forgive me…for what I have to do to you all…)
Charlie dashed towards the crowd, using his mist to cause confusion amongst all of the people who were being controlled. Without them knowing, Charlie was already moving around the crowd.
"Help me!"
"Oh, god!"
"Make it stop!"
People shouted and cried, begging to be released. (Damn bastard! I'll kill him!!) Charlie dashed through the crowd and immediately went for the corpses of the dead humans. He sliced off their heads quickly and continued running around. One controlled man spotted him and began begging for help. "PLEASE, HELP ME!!" The man cried, jumping at Charlie.
Charlie flipped and avoided the man, watching him face plant to the ground. (I'm sorry!)
Charlie ignored him and continued chopping away at the dead. Everyone in the mist knew of his whereabouts and ran at him.
"DO NOT RUN!!!" Preta roared, his voice shaking the ground. "Tsk!" Charlie spat, leaping into the air and gripping his sword. While in the air, Charlie spun and locked eyes with Preta the giant. "Preta…I swear, I'm gonna-"
"RRAUUUUGHHHHH!!!!"
Preta lifted from the mountain and flew at Charlie, his wings produced winds that pushed Charlie and his mist away.
(Turn around, Rue. This ain't like you.) A woman's voice said. Rue stopped in his tracked and looked back. "The hell are you?! Charlie is an akie like myself! He can handle-"
(I didnt expect you to remember, but I'm…not real. I died a long time ago, Rue. Please…help the child. This…isn't…you…my son.)
Rue stopped and stared. He was in between two situations. Go after Lapris or help Charlie with Preta. While floating between the beautiful view of different colors and lands, Rue couldn't help but feel at peace, even if it was just for a few seconds. (I'm gonna….kill that brat for being trash!)
Rue dashed downward, turning his head to see the little green beast crawling away. "DAMN YOU, LAPRIS!!!" Rue yelled, flying towards Preta.
"THE MIST CHILD!!!" Preta roared. Preta waived his arm across his face, creating a slash that cut through space, time, and reality itself, cracking the reality around Rue. Rue dodged the slash, as it cut through space and began having a sucking effect.
(That power…that's just-)
Rue quickly touched the ground and planted his sword in the sand. "Always something with you damn mythical beast, huh?!" Rue laughed, his aura showing. "Rue!" Charlie yelled.
"Handle the humans. I'll take on Preta in the meantime!" Rue yelled as he dashed towards Preta. (A head-on attack!? This akie is a fool-)
"Mist." Somehow, an even more thick and distorted mist covered Rue's area. (He's using his abilities to blind me…but that won't work!) Preta swung his massive arm, slicing through the mist and cutting Rue in half, his blood gushing out. "AHAHA!!!" Preta laughed.
"You dumbass!" Rue said from behind him. Preta spun around and was met with a powerful punch that knocked the giant down, cracking the ground beneath him. (He can make clones of himself!)
Preta thought as he lifted his head and locked eyes with the akie who was falling from the sky. "The bastard's skin sliced my hand open. I'll have to put aura around my entire body if I wanna penetrate him- no, it can't be that simple. His slash…is cut through reality it seemed. Can his slashes…disrupt the flow of aura and even destroy aura itself?!"
Rue landed on a mist cloud and flew around the air. "CHARLIE!!" Rue yelled. Charlie was still ahead, fighting off the controlled humans. "You can't save everyone, boy! You…you have to kill the ones who are already deceased and injure the ones who are alive!"
(Injure? He means…like breaking their legs?)
Charlie flew around and dived the incoming attacks. "Help!!" A man yelled as he swung his blade at Charlie. (You guys…) Charlie began to think. As Charlie zoned out, he began thinking about his brother in the forest.
"You know, Charlie, you're a good kid…I just want you to be ready." His brother said as he loaded his gun.
"Ready? For what?" Charlie asked.
"We're living creatures on earth. Life…ain't easy. We always have to make difficult decisions in this life. It's part of living. Difficult decisions will either make or break you. Even if you do have to hurt others to succeed, greed in this life…takes you a long way. I'm not saying to go out and be a ass to people, but I'm saying…to simply go. Move foward. Even through the tuff times that require to make hard choices that might even hurt others. Go."
Charlie opened his eyes with a bored expression in his face. Charlie looked around and saw the fear, pain, and suffering on their faces. They looked at him like a wild animal backed into a corner with no where to run. Trapped by a large predator that waited to eat them. (I'm…sorry.)
Charlie then made a hand sign, his aura rising. Preta and Rue turned their attention towards Charlie.
"What's he.."
"That brat can do that?"
Charlie took a stance and lifted his head. "Expansion: Hidden mist of chaos!" Charlie shouted. A thick and mist shrouded with aura covered the battlefield, throwing everyone into confusion. (I'm sorry.)
The mist reached Preta and Rue, the sounds of screams and bones cracking echoed all around them. "The kid…his expansion in amazing!" Rue laughed. "Don't you dare…ruin my toys, boy!!!" Preta roared. Preta sent out two slashes that barley missed Rue. (What's he aiming for?) Rue turned around and notice the slashes distributing Charilie's expansion.
(It's slicing then expansion apart! He's trying to cancel it out!) Rue turned back around and pointed at Preta.
"Mist attack: spiraling valley strike!"
A massive hand came from above and smacked the giant to a knee.
"WHAT-"
"There's more!!" Rue laughed as hundreds of hands began striking Preta. (My toys….are biwng broken!!! Rue and the boy…they share the same anilities, but with such a wide range of attacks to choose from! I'm Preta! One of the great servants of the king! To be even struck by such inferior toys…it's…) "MADNESS!!!" Preta roared, hundreds of slashes appeared around his blade-like body.
Rue could see them approaching him in slow motion, his life flashing before his eyes. (This is too many! These slashes cut through a world I can't even see. Reality itself or beyond! I get it now, Preta's ability! "Conceptual Cutting" to cut anything in existence….anything! I can't…block this! I'll have to avoid them!)
Thousands of slashes went and scattered across the desert, leaving large cracks all around. Like a painting being left undone, there were white openings of nothing. No space. No time. Absolutely zero.
Due to the amounts of damage done to the expansion on the inside and of Charlie's level, Preta was able to completely shatter his expansion. Charlie's expansion allowed Charlie to have complete control over the mist and trap his opponents on the inside of it while his body became mist itself, allowing him to turn into anything rather than make anything. Due to the slashes slicing the mist…Charlie was undoubtedly hit with a few slashes.
Rue had managed to avoid them, lifting his head to see Charlie having 5 small cuts. Two cuts on both his shoulders, leaving nothing but a massive hole. One on his left thigh and two on his right foot.
"That's what you get, brat!!" Preta laughed a he sent another slash at Charlie. Rue flew at Charlie and took off into the sky with him. "He killed them all…what was the point in crying about them?!" Rue asked as Charlie was passed out already.
"I know it's a lot to ask…but don't you dare call it quits already! Rue shouted while avoiding more slashes.
"Fight me!!!" Preta laughed.
Rue tossed Charlie to the side, landing him on a cloud of mist that carried him away. (His done fight this damn thing?!)
Rue landed behind Preta, holding his sword tightly in both his hands. Preta turned to face Rue, a smile made of shape metal teeth glaring down at Rue. "Heh…it's been a while." Rue chuckled.
Preta gave Rue a confused look. "What are you-"
"Mist soldiers…come!"
******
A tall man with white jogger pants landed in the sand. His long black hair dropped to his shoulders as he rolled his shoulders back and looked up at the sky. The man was slim, but built. Broad shoulders and a perfect midsection of abs. The man wore a mask that covered his mouth. The man placed his hand on the sand and immediately looked towards Charlie and Rue's direction.
This man wasn't a complete man. It was…project alpha.
"Target….there." Alpha said as he used a piece of ash and teleported directly in front of Rue, standing between him and Preta. "Who the hell-"
"Threat…giant. Threat…Rue…Akie!!" Alpha leaped at Preta, pulled his left arm back and surrounding it with black aura.
(That aura…is almost identical to Adisa's!) Rue thought as he ran at Preta.
Preta opened his mouth and unleashed a powerful energy blast that pushed Alpha away. Alpha opened his hands and absorbed the energy.
(He-) Preta began to think, but Alpha had already sent the energy back at the giant beast. Preta opened his wings and dodged the beam, causing an explosion greater than a nuke itself. Rue used his aura to guard his body. Rue raised his sword and flew at Preta. "Mist attack: Mist face slash!" A cloudy slash headed towards Preta, who swiped it away. Preta slammed his blades together and charged up an attack.
"Beam of-"
"Ash fist: Puase and play faint swift blows." Alpha said as he flew past Preta's ear. Before Preta could even react, he was hit with multiple blows that sent him crashing towards the ground. As Preta was knocked to the ground, Charlie flew in and landed a powerful punch to Preta's stomach.
"Atta-boy!" Rue said as he hit the ground. (Keep the attacking up! Preta's offense is-)
"Expansion: Slashes of the unlimited universe!" Preta roared, his aura spreading out the desert and trapping the three inside with him. "His expansion…" Rue said to himself. "Charlie, use your aura to-"
One slash had already priced through Rue's arm. Rue quickly used his aura to heal his arm immediately after. (One slash from the dark! His expansion cut off all my senses!) Rue thought as he ran and dodged incoming slashes at the last second.
Charlie hit the ground and flew to where he believed Preta was, but couldn't find him. More slashes appeared and sliced Charlie. (These slashes are different! His expansion…he can't use the absolute slashes inside here! But, he could easily use a vow and make it happen.) Charlie thought as he used aura to protect his body.
On the inside of the closed expansion, there was another fighter who lurked in the distance and began to move towards the battle. His name was Scorpion. Scorpion was one of the ten super soldiers who protects earth. Scorpion gained his name through his unique ability and machinery. Attached to his back, was a metal scorpion tail that contained all of his aura and life energy. Life energy is heavily involved with humans and humans alone.
Scorpion pounced onto the barrier that trapped everyone. He lifted his head to reveal his wild green and purple hair, purple eye pupils with a purple sclera. He wore an outfit that was tight and had multiple technology attachments with a metal arm. "Power drive…crushing mode!!" Scorpion laughed as he jabbed his needle into the expansion, ultimately destroying the barrier and causing it to end.
Everyone fell and looked up at Scorpion, who stood with both his arms out. "Hello there…you damn rats!!" Scorpion laughed.
"Who the hell is that?!" Charlie asked.
"One of ours!" Rue replied while falling from the sky. "I never thought…you were also a akie, Rue! This…is a amazing discovery!" Scorpion said as he landed. Preta attacked while Scorpion had his back turned. Scorpion dropped to all fours and avoided the slash.
"Big ass!" Scorpion yelled as he ran into a portal and teleported above the beast. Preta looked up and shot at Scorpion. Scorpion teleported once again and was now beside Preta. Scorpion stopped himself from attacking when studying the principals of Preta's aura.
(I see…what amazing aura!!) Scorpion thought as he leaped away. "I see what it is now!" Scorpion laughed.
Alpha flew through the sky and towards Preta. Preta immediately opened his arms, revealing a powerful and glowing chest piece. "Deadly barrage of slash!"
Alpha's arms and legs were immediately sliced and removed from his body in an instant.
(The man with the tail is within my range! I'll cast another expansion and end this fight!) Preta thought as he slammed his blades together.
******
I was created….created to kill Adisa and all the Akies who dare to roam this earth. But there's some part of me…who remembers being human.
From its point of view, there was a woman who looked down at him with the bright beautiful sun gazing upon them, covering her face. "I promise to give you everything…George."
Who is this….woman?
******
Alpha opened his eyes and regenerated his limbs. Alpha flew back in and pushed through the slashes that activated when approaching Preta's body. (He's going through my slashes?!)
"Rauuughhhh!!!!! Ash attack: Fading roar!" Alpha's body disappeared as Preta looked around. A thick mist covered the area once again, however, this time, Preta noticed his small slashes slicing at the mist around him. "What's the meaning of this?!" Preta roared.
Rue was headed after Lapris while the three fought the giant Preta. (Thanks, Charlie! Great distraction! I'll leave the rest…to you three.)
******
Rue flew through the mountains that were in the sky, looking up to see the desert above him. "Confusing as hell." Rue sighed. (I placed a mist cloud above him without him noticing. I can see you, Lapris!)
Rue saw the mist cloud still inbetween two massive mountains with purple grass at the bottom. Rue pulled out his sword and slowly approached. "LAPRIS!! COME OUT HERE!!" Rue yelled. Rue couldn't help but notice the beauty that surrounded him. The night light sky…truly lighted up the darkness. "Damn akie." Lapris said, his voice echoing through the area. "Face me! Don't you dare run away!" Rue yelled.
"Run? From you?! Ahaha!!! Don't you dare make me laugh, child!!" Lapris said as he fell from above and landed on the ground. "Little runt." Rue chuckled. "Runt? You're the small one here. Your entire existence…is frail and tiny."
"Then why bring such a large army?"
"Large?! This isn't even 10% of the entire population of the world! You…have no idea what's beyond the beast lands and never will. You all die here!" Lapris laughed.
"I could care less." Rue replied. Lapris's smile left his face. "People. Humans. Beings. All are flawed. All I care about now…is taking you down in this flawed system. This messed up world-"
"A world…earth. Didn't you and other powerful leaders have authority over earth? Ahahaha! Foolish akie, you don't understand do you?!"
"What?" Rue asked.
"Life is cruel….yet it is filled with beauty. Humans. Akies. Even insects have their evil ways. Even us beast. Power…power is the reason why people die. The same powers who fought humans against other humans, are now dead today…witnessing what war truly is! You are one of those people, Rue. You orchestrate lies to the public, start wars, and much more! It's only right…that you join the evil that rained over that twisted little world!" Lapris laughed.
"You're right." Rue said. Lapris stopped laughing and looked ahead. "What did you just…"
"You're right. Humans. Akies. Beast. All the same. All…the evil. The past month, I've learned a great deal about humans and my own kind. The world is ruled by evil, but despite all that…life is still worth living. To experience these things…it makes it all worth it. People like me and you will soon earn the deaths we deserve. This war…ain't just a war. It's a damn clean-up party." Rue said as he took his fighting stance.
"Tsk! All that talking to just die!" Lapris said as a burst of aura exploded beside Rue. Rue was sent flying. He quickly created a mist cloud and stood on it to catch his footing.
"Damn runt!" Rue laughed.
Lapris leaped over Rue and begun transforming into someone. "Here we go with bull-"
"Deadly force!" Lapris roared, as he transformed into a mythical beast.
A force crushed Rue's body in an instant, but thanks to Rue's fast reaction speed and mastery of his aura, he was able to heal almost instantly the attack landed.
(He was able to stop an instant attack? React to instant itself?!)
"Oh, yeah. This…is gonna be good." Rue said as he flew at Lapris.
Next chapter: Rue vs Lapris 2