Arc 5: The Stars Against Anarchy
They tried their best to push away the Stars, and yet, they were beginning to shine even brighter than before.
Kioshi, Musashi, The Capital, spreading and spreading. From the guards, to soldiers, to Knights, to Elities, to Leviathan Soldiers shoved out of their homes. Killed, beaten, taken, infected. The light of Walgonia never seemed darker. But Gray was there first hand clearing towns, Guren. The Town of Shells, Symbol. To all of the battles he's only heard about, and the ones he'll never hear about. A constant tug of war, and the Sect couldn't keep up. Maybe the Upper Pillars weren't contested, maybe Walgonia couldn't just face the Sect in an all out war. But after all they've been put through, after all that's been taken from them, Walgonia had never been more connected.
Humans working with Demi-humans, guards fighting alongside Leviathan Soldiers. Nobles, Thieves, Ex Knights, and Bounty hunters all take up a sword to fight together. And now, in just the last few days, only a handful of Walgonia's fighters had managed to destroy Symbol, another neighboring town, their largest road block near the Capital, and hundreds of anarchists along with it. All of those Sect members, including the recent attacks on the Command Posts in the Capital, may result in around a thousand or more anarchists gone from the battle forever. That wasn't an extreme number, but for a group never known for their numbers in the first place, it was a true victory. But those battles weren't over, the Capital was no where close to safe, and even if everyone was convulsing. Even if letters were being sent toward the North to begin pushing back in an all out war, nobody was really connected. They had to survive the everlasting chaos first, and then they'd get the last taste of safety before all of Walgonia was on the line.
Hellana: "We can't keep talking! They're fighting right now and we're just sitting here!"
Lincoln: "Don't worry, those kids are strong enough to last a little! And I can pop over pretty quick."
After Hellana had gotten to the East, it didn't take long for Lincoln to simply wander right inside after feeling their movement through the streets. But after hours of going over plans and routes to get to the West, and hours of drinking, they'd just barely reached some kind of conclusion.
Hellana: "I can too! But how many anarchists will we draw in the meantime!?"
"Hey now you're dragging things!"
They were surrounded by another massive group mixed with civilians, guards, soldiers, knights, nobles, thieves, Bounty Hunters, even a few Leviathan soldiers. All together under another space built to protect Demi-humans during the war, inside a large circular and destroyed water tunnel. Using old crystals and rudimentary magic circles to try and funnel, redistribute, and purify water through sewers. However, unlike the massive cities of the Southern Islands, any kind of sewer only connected around the city block itself, and not some massive network. Leaving them in a tight set of dark, damp tunnels lit my magical crystals mounted on the wall. For their supplies, weapons, injured, and Rebels to all crowd together. And they were all preparing to move out, but Lincoln was waiting for just one thing. Something he couldn't explain, but something he knew was coming.
Lincoln {Come on Ryo, I know you're gonna reach out, just say the word!}
With the East side of the Capitals rebellion preparing to move toward the West, it was going to be a difficult and massive move. Where they'd have to hide, and slowly make their way over without drawing any attention, and if they did they'd have to die without giving up the others. But Ryo was moving everywhere, in Greenvale of course, but across Walgonia. Using astral projection to reach the Head Levithans in the North, Gordon, even Leo, but some how he still hadn't made his way to -
Ryo {Lincoln! Your mind is so clouded it's almost impossible to reach you!}
Instead of floating as a projection, Lincoln just felt an intense pulse of spirit mana through his head. Freezing him amidst the massive conversation, and letting Ryo's words echo through his mind.
Lincoln {Hey I've done a lot of work to make sure people can't just break my brain! And it's late, I've drank a lot today!}
Ryo {No matter what, wait, isn't the sun going to rise soon? Ugh. I've reached toward everyone else, or at least as many people as I could. And all sides are ready. They just need to word. So we need to be ready.}
Lincoln {Does that mean it's time!? I'm ready for some real action!}
Ryo {No, not yet anyway. We'll make sure we've taken the West, and that's when we'll begin. If we move quickly, the Siege could even begin tomorrow. So move out, and be safe.}
Snapping her fingers over and over, Lincoln finally snapped out of Ryo's trance. Rubbing his dry eyes in a rage, as the Spirit mana had taken his buzz. Leaving him tired and sluggish as he moved toward the center of the room, before snapping his fingers so loud it silenced them all. Under the might of the Strongest Man in The World. Instantly taking their breaths away, no matter how drunk, arrogant, young, or distracted they were.
Lincoln: "Alright then, -
And after a long tired yawn -
Lincoln: "Let's move."
And so they went, to be unleashed against the Capital. Staring from the rooftops, the alleys, the sewers, all in smaller groups. Soon to meet up in mass around the massive maze-like district in the West. Under what felt like an almost endless, violent rain rushing down the roads, sprinkled with hints of crying lighting in the skies. Illuminating the constant Sect patrols, their crests, their flames and destruction. All of the broken people without their jobs, their homes, their lives anymore forced to sit soaked and sick, starving on the streets. And the rebellion hidden under that light, hiding, awaiting just the right moment.
However, that rebellion was also fighting. In the North, the East, The South. But the West? From the destroyed training grounds rushing down the streets after Rosemary, Gerald, and Luca. The other horde closes in toward Gray. The large battle around the manor, or the one inside the industrial street. Stretching further apart, while the Sect would grow together. If they didn't win soon, or escape with whatever they had left, only the Spirits could save them from whoever it was. Another army, a Lower Pillar, maybe even an Upper Pillar. After the Castle, Athens, even Symbol, anything could happen. That was just their luck, and especially Gray Kyojins.
Gray: "SHIT COME ON COME ON!"
He could feel everything slipping, draining, closing in. But he tried his best to leap off the rooftop soon to swarm with an anarchist, throwing the Cloak up to try and swing away. And yet his body tightened up, leaving him screaming and soaring around a tall tower.
Conti {YOU CAN'T ESCAPE ANARCHY!}
He could still try. Hitting a tall spire, tried to swing and smashed his shoulder into a window, before hitting another tall Tower in this large North district.
Gray {COME ON! JUST A LITTLE FURTHER!}
Without anywhere left to go, without his control slipping more and more by the second, he just threw his Cloak upward. Yanking himself right onto a large, rectangular roof of a multi-story apartment. Where he smashed against the ground immediately, almost slipping and soaring to the streets below due to the rain. But his body forcibly jerked forward anyway, throwing him across the gravel rooftop. Then the moment he tried to stand, his body smashed against the ground with intense pain. An intense sickness so deep he had to throw off his mask to heave under the rain.
Conti {Deeper and deeper, fall asleep under the spell of our order.}
His mask stared back up at him, his black lenses reflecting the horror of Gray bleeding down into nothing. With tears flowing in his eyes, with his veins boiling, with his Cloak wiggling in an almost fearful fashion, Gray once again felt the pulse of Conti's Soul around him. Trying its hardest to dig its way back inside of him. And with Gray still suffering from some Spirit toxicity from bursting into the Spirit Stage earlier, he was struggling to pull in any Spirit mana to protect himself. All he had was his will, his grit, and the flame always alive. That fire, the thing that's always screaming at himself. The thing that makes him hit himself, hit other things, scream and cry and yell toward the world when he's pushed to the brink. Not sadness, despair, even anger. Maybe it was none of them, or a complete mix, but wherever it was, that was his will. Because even without his confidence, that anger, that agony would always be screaming at him.
Gray: "IT'S OVER FOR YOU! YOUR POST! AND IF YOU'RE IN MY HEAD, YOU KNOW THE CAPITAL'S GOING ALONG WITH IT!"
Gray was still crouched over the ground crying into the old gravel roof, but he was forced backward. Bending down toward the floor on his knees while staring up into the rain, before his left arm twitched and surged out. Snapping back, before lunging to take Gray's throat.
Contie: "I AM L, RIGAL CONTI!!! A FUTURE LOWER PILLAR OF THE SECT OF ANARCHY! AND I WILL LIVE FOREVER! BUT THIS BODY, THIS MANA, THIS SPIRIT CONNECTION!?"
His screamed forced its way out of Gray, yelling out into the sky with all he could. Distorting, breaking, filling with sweat and tears and blood -
Conti: "IT HAS TO BE MINE IT HAS TO! AND WITH THE CONNECTION TO THE BEAUTIFUL WITCH, THE QUEEN OF DARKNESS HERSELF!? I COULD EVEN BECOME AN UPPER PILLAR!? WE COULD RISE OVER A FLAMING WORLD TOGETHER!"
Conti's grasp over Gray's throat got even tighter, however his armor was helping him just a bit. Before the Cloak rushed to bind his arm tightly. So Conti forced Gray to step forward, almost falling instantly, until he began almost dancing around. Trying his best to laugh, to cry out as a new born, to stand in firm control. Turning off the drizzling intake of spirit mana, turning off any hold Gray had at all.
Gray: "YOU ALL! YOU'RE NOTHING BUT! BUT MONSTERS! I'VE TRIED SO HARD TO REASON, TO TRY! BUT IT ALWAYS ENDS THE SAME WAY! SO BE IT! COOONTIII -
As Gray's voice was finally pulled back, the winged anarchists finally made it up the sides of the building. From large thick brains, straight white, fluffy binds, or even boned wings under their arms, or similar sets, from birds to bats on the backs of others. All holding some kind of weapon, and all ready to kill what they presumed to be the Phantom Knight in the flesh.
Gray {PLEEASSEE!!!}
From what felt like possession, felt like a dream. He fell out of his shackles, and deep into himself. Falling away from his eyes and down, down, -
Further
Into the Darkness
Into the mist.
In front of the Witch.
Where he'd be bound by all he saw, in the pitch black abyss of his OD.
Azalea: "WHAT ARE YOU DOING!? GET UP THERE AND TAKE BACK CONTROL!"
Gray was struggling to see straight, but he knew she had him over the ground. Bound tightly by the Cloak on all his limbs, before he finally felt the one around his neck. Growing tighter and tighter the longer Gray took to shake himself awake.
Gray: "What are you talking about!? And what was up with that promise thing! What the hell is happening!?
Azalea: "You're useless as always."
With a look of absolute disappointment glimmering through the mist, Gray was instantly taken down further into the Cloak without a word. But instead of falling, it felt like he was rising. All while some anarchists burst through the rooftop entrance, and others finished crawling up the walls. There was a crowd forming, a horde of anarchist building to slay the dreaming boy. And staring at them now in his body, was Conti, singing and spinning with glee.
Conti: "RIGAL CONTI! CONTI! CONTINUE YOU DESPERATE FOOLS! DIG THAT NAME INTO YOUR SOULS MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS!"
Even with his crazed, constantly shifting demeanor, the anarchists began circling closer and closer. Ready to rush and kill him the second thing fell off, with orders to never trust the Phantom Knight. Especially when he looked so erratic, his eyes swollen red and leaking bloody tears. And they only got closer when his left eye went blank, before going back to red, while his right eye flashed a dead white instead. A constant fight, even when Conti felt in complete control.
Conti: I'VE TAKEN MY BODY! AND NOW WE WILL MOVE TO TAKE WALGONIA! WE JUST HAVE TO GET TO ARTHUR IMMEDIATELY!"
Conti was worried to go deeper into Gray's memories again, after what had happened when the mana surge activated in his attempt to access anything related to Earth. But with earth constantly inside Gray's head, it was becoming an immense strain to even try. Then. aside from all of that, something worse was rising from beneath the darkness. With Gray's soul completely out of the driver's seat, there was somebody else inside his OD with even more control over it than Gray.
Conti: "WE HAVE TO WARN EVERYONE! TELL EVERYBODY ABOUT WALGONIA'S PLANS! THEY ARE RISING! EVEN TOMORROW!"
The anarchists put up their wands, blades, claws, and pushed mana to the spirits. All ready to unleash hell onto Conti. While he just started toward them with a mix of joy, and absolute hatred. Swinging his drooling, bleeding forward under the rain like a wild animal.
Conti: "WHAT ARE YOU DOING YOU FOOLS!? LISTEN TO ME! LISTEN LISTEN LISTEN!!!, THEY'RE GOING TO START A -
As the words Siege attempted to leave Gray's stolen mouth, something from deep inside Gray wrapped its arms tightly around Conti's neck. Nobody else could see, but Conti could, and that's all it took. The feel of the Witch of Darkness reaching around his neck, reaching into the Cloak, moving in to whisper in his ear -
Azalea: "If you don't let go of this body, you will beg inside an infinite abyss of darkness for the rest of eternity alongside me in my prison."
With only what could be described as an endless, absolute, everlasting fear, Conti's psyche froze. His physical body was still letting out slower and slower, bloodier and bloodier breaths. And feeling the aura of the Witch of Darkness around him, inside of him, taking over him, he couldn't hold on any longer. And like a firework, Grays constantly fighting will shoot him back into the driver's seat. Erupting in a flash, both with his smile, screams of surprise and gasps for air, and the wave of his corrupted, bright purple mana washed over his body for what felt like an endless army of anarchists surrounding him.
Gray: "Now stay out, for real this time."
Up on that roof, after swinging around a city he may have been entranced by if he wasn't running for his life, fighting for control of his mind, trying not to die for the hundredth time tonight. He was drenched more and more, rushing with adrenaline. All he could do was put everything on the line. All while Conti slowly lost all feeling on that cold broken street. Scratching for anybody at all to help him, but atlas, they'd all run. They'd all thought, maybe even hoped he was already dead. And there was nobody with the right essence. That despair, rage, corruption that Gray had nearby. But he was pushing harder than he ever had before, and his mind was expanding to stretch and stretch closer to somebody he really could control.
Conti {...please….I won't go out like this…I won't be some rat…some failed Pillar in a hundred of them…NOO!!! I will be remembered fondly! I WILL LIVE FOREVER! JUST LIKE MY MASTERS!}
He grit his broken teeth together, pushed his crushed face deeper into the ground, even began to smile through the agony. As he rushed through the Capitals skies, past the waves of anarchists moving through the streets too closed minded to take control off. To what could be one of the greatest sources of hatred in the Capital.
Rosemary: "Come on! If we lose them we'll make it home! We can't let Gray's sacrifice go to waste!"
Gerald: "Dammit I already told yah I ain't letting you hold me again! It feels like my body's gonna burst already, blasting up and down's gonna smush my brain!"
Rosemary: "Ugh! You're impossible!"
Gerald: "Thanks!"
While Groms group was forced to face their stolen leader, while Edwards group was soon to be split apart by some sort of venom, Rosemary and Gerald moved as quickly as they could. Through the alleys, over the streets, vaulting over blocked roads. All while Rosemary held Luca, using the third stage to pivot towards the wall before kicking up further into the air. Leaving Gerald to simply burst through a wall with his axe, or just burst through with his shoulder. But he was barely dragging himself along, covered in wounds, pulsing veins. And a single eye struggling to stay open. The only thing pushing him was the need to survive, his hatred for the Sect. The perfect resting ground for anarchy.
Rosemary: "Gerald?"
It was just for a second. And without any Spiritual affinity, Rosemary still sensed it. The shift, the pause in Gerald's breath for just a second, and the blank look in his only working eye.
[Gerald]: " -
But he didn't get out a word before Rosemary smashed her fist right against his face, throwing him back and forcing the possessed Gerald to try and scurry away with what power he had left. Giving her yet another problem to worry about.
Rosemary {No! At this rate our attack was a complete failure! I won't let us lose! UGH, MAN! THE MISSION ISN'T OVER YET!}
Fired up and ready to stop Conti from taking Gerald ever, she rushed forward with Luca still on her shoulder. Even with the army of anarchists still looking for her just a block over. Although, across the Capital, that wasn't the worst thing happening. As even at this moment, Boid, JJ, and Sherly were all running for their lives without any idea of how to survive. While Grom, bound by his joints in increasingly spreading, tightening, drooling webs the more he resisted, was forced to smash his arms down against the already broken street with all his might.
Boid: "SHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT!"
JJ: "I KNOW RIGHT!?"
Sherly once again hopped forward with JJ in her arms, saving him from the intense eruption of force blasting toward them. Taking the road, the earth, and the wind all towards them to blow them all back. Leaving JJ and Sherly rolling across the street swarming with anarchists, and leaving Boid on the ground still trying to recover.
Boid: "Why is it always me!?"
Grom: "RUN YOU IDIOTS! I CAN'T BREAK FREE! DODGE MY LEFT FIST!"
The spider anarchist leapt between the roofs, over the sky, constantly tangling her strings between her four arms to move Grom. Although he still felt her hold, and helped Boid barley roll out of the way of a deadly strike. With such might it blew him backward, even if Boid was almost as tall and bulky as Grom.
Grom: "MY RIGHT LEG!"
Again Boid dodged, but he went for the web around his left leg instead. Grabbing hold with all he could to try and snap it, and instead sliced his hands open on the razor sharp ends.
Grom: "LEFT FIST"
And failed to dodge due to the sudden, deep pain. So he was hit right across the face, across the street, and right into a crushed home. Bleeding, unconscious, and choking on his breath.
Grom: "PLEASE STOP THIS! YOU CAN'T DO THIS! WHY!?"
With tears in his eyes, Grom tried even harder to break the webs. Digging them deeper and deeper into his thick flesh, before the webs finally wrapped around his mouth. Sealing his screams shut, before his eyes went along with them. Blind, deaf, gone from the world. But he could feel the rain, the intense pain, the horrifying feeling of his body moving on its own. The horrifying pain of being forced to hurt his family. It was enough to almost make him give up right there, but for them, he'd keep resisting until his hands sliced right off.
JJ: "The webs! Cut em!"
Sherly: "I know I know!"
JJ was trying his best not to collapse. Screaming, with tears in his eyes for his fallen brother. So he gripped his whip as tight as he could, but couldn't take that last step. Forced to sit in his fear. His weakness. And watch as Sherly leapt across the street, hopping right past Grom with her daggers. With one web cut through on his left arm, he managed to almost break the entire arm free. Invigorated, filled with will, he was ready to -
"You guys are pretty sad, figured I'd go up against something more fun than this. You're just a bunch of dirty homeless kids.
The anarchist rushed overhead, taking hold of Sherly completely in a burst of webbing. Snatching her further into the sky before throwing her up against a taller stone blacksmith shop to stick to the wall. And danced around mid-air before landing on a street post to tweeze an almost cast like hold around his entire arm to get an even deeper hold than before.
Grom {PLEASE!? WHAT'S HAPPENING!? I CAN'T I CAN'T! SOMEBODY! SOMEBODY HAS TO STOP THIS! WE NEED HELP! I'M BEGGING YOU!}
Rushing with even more anarchists, ready to take him down the moment the Commander ordered. Quivering, crying, barely able to stand. Was JJ. And he just couldn't do it. He didn't have the drive, he couldn't break past that fear. And collapsed to his knees, waiting for Grom to raise his further webbed arms into the air and crush him in one go.
JJ: "...I'm sorry…"
Through the sky, faster than anybody there, was the light. In this case, the lighting.
Grom {OOOOW -
Grom screamed with a burst of pain as a bright yellow wave of lighting washed over him, snapping and burning away the webbing to break the Commander's hold. And before she even saw what happened, before she even said her name, a spear came hurling through the air. Stopping her leap, and taking out one of her four arms. To leave her falling, screaming, and in even more pain after the spear came back to its user through her side.
Leo: "You guys okay!?"
With two fingers tightly focused, he let out a stream of tight blasts of lightning that instantly flashed through the air. Over their heads, over the anarchists, through the rain, to locate the Commander. Burning deeper and deeper into her screams, her nerves, past her armor, her thick skin. Before he flung her right into a shop to collapse it on top of her and defeat her in just a few moments. Saving their lives, and leaving JJ broken on the street. Staring into the abyss. But Leo already grabbed hold of him, to protect him from the crowd of anarchists. Already on Ryo's mission, and accompanied by a volley of arrows to free Sherly and protect Boid.
Carlos: "We can't chat! We gotta move man move it! All this walking has my feet killin me anyway!"
Everything was moving so quickly, faster than anyone could breathe or cry. But that was war. And it wasn't over yet. With Leo and Carlos together with Grom's team and starting their attempt to flee, the only real attack going on was on Edward and Sokus' side. Although, facing the disgusting and terrifying Pillar, while Joyce was amidst a bloodlusted rampage completely out of her control, was gonna make things a bit harder from now on.
"Now then, who's next?"
From beneath her Cloak was a short thick snake's tail, which curled and pushed her forward in a flash. Pushing past the anarchists in her way, while opening her massive jaw from beneath her mask. Trying to keep them all safe, Soku pushed both Edward and Tim away along with herself. Stopping the Commander for just a second, before Joyce leapt to slash the back of Edwards armor. Pushing him toward the Commander while Joyce lunged to the next anarchist, pushing her bright aura further and further than she ever has before. So much so it was even beginning to burn at the toxin sending her mad.
Edward {Shit!}
Forced to block the blade of a large Demi-human, Edward could only hope his Dragon stone armor would save him from the Commander. And yet her tail twisted around his legs quickly enough to get close, and sink her teeth in the back of his exposed head.
Edward: "GET AWAY FROM ME!"
With all his might, he threw his fist into the Commander's stomach. Hearing a slight crunch before sending her flying into the staircase, wounded but already rushing back through the anarchists to fight. Edward however was instantly left in a daze, frozen for a stray fire ball to blast him to the ground.
Tim: "NO NO! Are you okay!? What's happening!? How do we fix it!?"
Edward: "It's some kinda venom! The pain -
Edwards entire body flashed past anything the Warriors Spirit could stop. Every wound, every bit of strain, every sick feeling in his stomach, it all rose. From blood out of his eyes, from his swelling red veins quickly growing across his body.
Tim: "Dammit all! IGGON!"
She let out another large burst of flames, forming into a raging dragon before bursting into a bright display of flames to protect Edward. Although Edward was just screaming, slamming his fists into the floor, vomiting. Trying so hard not to pass out as his vision began to turn a bright red. Before everything went black. And all of that pain, his entire life, became nothing but rage.
Edward: "GET OUTTA HERE, ALL OF YOU!"
The Helsings were known for being completely immune to venoms or poisons, even some cursed, corrupted, or magical effects. But that was for awakened Helsings. For Edward? For somebody with such an intense anger, such a strong Warriors Spirit? He was taken almost instantly. But if Soku or Tim were infected? The venom may kill them long before Edward or Joyce.
Soku: "Edward! You -
Edward: "I SAID MOOVE!"
The moment another anarchist closed in towards his eye with a dagger, the blade erupted in a flash of shattered metal. Under the weight of Edwards armor, his might, and the first that broke their face in a single hefty strike. Letting Edward feel the heat of battle, the blood under his hand. Drowning out all of the voices, the pain under his fist. And pulling out everything else. He couldn't stop. He wouldn't stop. Even if his mind still existed inside all of the rage, it didn't matter. Because right now, the Helsing had been unleashed, in his full Warriors Spirit.
Tim: "Kid we gotta pull back!"
Snagging hold of the distracted Sokus collar, Tim rushed backward. Trying her best to keep away from the Commander and the chaos, by throwing Soku into a few anarchists. Forcing her to kick further up into the air and get back into the fray, and force her away from Edward and Joyce, just as they both rose to stand again. Roaring into the sky while tightening their body as hard as possible. Rushing blood, sweat, tears, and a rising infinite rage. One that forced Edward to drag his sword down into two more anarchists, and leap forward to force his blade into the stomachs of even more. Where he'd bash his blade side to side, shaking the manor, destroying the ground, and picking up more speed. Not for effortless slashes, not an insane showcase of skill. But to show just how much of a monster he really was, and began to bring them all down.
Kill them
Destroy them
Stop them
Break
Elimenate
Inilate
Forever, until his heart stops due to the venom, or he manages to survive the effects of the toxin, and live on another day.
Edward {Hold on hold on! I just have to outlast it! I'm Helsing right!? Even if I'm not immune, I can resist it! I have to! If I lose myself, if I hurt them, there's no coming back from that!}
Letting them lunge, leap, fly, hope their way towards him. Where his sword would always bring them down, where a kick of his leg would break theirs, where a landed punch or slice only told him he needed to stop them. And when a burst of water, flames, or earth came up from throughout the anarchist to stop him? He roared, slashed, and leapt through it no matter the cost. To scream and scream into the abyss, while his blade pierced their sternum. Where he'd roar and do it again through a neck, a side, a stone body, a set of wings, deep into some gills. Over and over again, before erupting through them to chaise what he sensed as the strongest in the room.
Edward {I…I HAVE TO KILL! I HAVE TO I HAVE TO I -
Bracing with his blade, he barely missed. As the Commander slithered around him as quickly as she could to save her own life, before lunging to try and sink even more venom into his body.
Edward: "DIE DIE DIE!"
Dropping his blade, he grabbed hold of both her hands, before sinking his own teeth into her scales. Biting through and tearing out a chunk of flesh, to leave her screaming in pain, before smashing his skull against hers. Breaking her mask, and revealing a distorted humanoid-snake like appearance, with an intense and drooling set of uneven teeth. And one massive jaw opened and roared in blood curdling pain, letting Edward kick her back and raise his arms into the air, slamming them down against her. Roaring and roaring like a beast, hardly able to even fight with so much blood lust. Forcing her further into the ground, where Edward could stomp and hold her tail down, while swinging down his blade with all he could.
"WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE!?"
Edwards' group was crumbling, but the battle was still ongoing. And all things considered, even with Joyce and Edward currently insane and all, they were cutting through anarchists so much faster than they were breaking down. Sokus' wind blades, Tim's weakening spells, Joyce's constant flickering slashes, and now the torrent of might that is Edward Van Helsing unleashed against the Commander ready to kill her the moment he got close. And yet, from Gerald's possession, Leo and Grom's side fleeing through the Capital, Ryo's orders out across Walgonia, and even the East unleashing toward the West, somehow the constellations weren't shining together. So close to being connected.
Gray {We can do this! I can do this! Breathe Breathe!!! BREATHE BREATHE!!! -
The rain was screaming down against the Capital, soon to fade with the rising sun, but the moon still looked over. The black skies still illuminated the sky over the grey clouds. And the lights of the tall, industrial Northern District lit the battlefield around Gray. Around the entire Capital. As they inched closer and closer together, so they could make sure everybody was together across the entire Country. And Gray, barely standing and trying his best to regain control of his body, the Sect were all ready to rush ahead -
"IGNIS!" "WIGNIS!" "DIGVIC" "IGNUM!" "WIGNUMS!" "WIGVIC!"
From arrows, to a barrage of magic, flying anarchists soaring down, all Gray could do was leap. Using that burst of mana to lunge into the sky, while slipping his mask over his face at the same time. Before letting the Cloak and its hood flow over him, almost happy to sense his return.
Gray {I can keep running now, but the entire point of these attacks were to weaken their hold! If I spent this entire battle running around destroying the Capital, I was just more of a pain than any kinda helper! I've gotta hold the line, just for a second! JUST LIKE EDWARD AND ROSEMARY! SOKU, HELL EVERYBODY! IF THEY CAN DO IT UNTIL THEY DIE, I CAN AT LEAST TRY A LITTLE RIGHT!?}
With his momentum gone, he began to fall right back into the erupting ring of flames, water, earth, and arrows. First he snagged hold of a flying anarchist, attaching to their back to crash right into a few mages trying to aim up toward him.
Gray {If I don't have my Spirit mana, then it's time to punch it!}
He slammed on the gas, and pushed his mana flow to around sixty miles an hour. He had to pull it back to forty after a few moves, but first to make his mark. Rushing out like a flame instead of a thicker stream, wasteful, but strong enough to keep him alive inside the army. And with his extended wrist talon, he sent his arm down slashing without anything held back to destroy the thick wooden water staff, and cut through the chest of an anarchist. Turn to kick and crack the chest of another, pivot to slide past him and spin with the Cloak. Pushing the thick crowd back for just a moment before he lunged up, and used the Cloak to pull himself right back down. Smashing two anarchists with his legs, and immediately jumped to smash through three more. Constantly knocking them over, but not taking them out. Even if they struggled to get up and fight again. He just couldn't take that step, not on purpose anyway.
Gray {Dammit! But if I back off even more people will chase me right!? That could make the Sect focus even harder on protecting the Capital! If I mess that up, it could destroy the Siege! No no no! Whatever then! I can't run! I just have to fight! COME ON COME ON GO GO GO KYOJIN GO! HERO TIME OR WHATEVER!}
They kept coming, but with all of them around each other it made it difficult for any archers, mages, or massive Demi-humans to do much without hurting their friends. That, and the fact the roof wasn't big enough for everybody trying to kill him to fit. But he still had to push. Pivoting to smash his elbow into a rock hard gut, spin and kick the side of a shorter turtle Demi-human, and instinctively roll from a dagger swipe from the back. Before immediately getting kicked in the back by a thick Demi-human into a thick ball of flames.
Gray: "WATCH IT!"
All he could do was twirl the Cloak around himself, taking the brunt of the flames before burning away to just the golden necklace. And opening up Gray to getting slashed against his shoulder armor by another swift dagger user, getting tripped by another member, and was kicked in the chest by an anarchist flipping into the air. Using the little mana they were born with all in a small flash of light blue mana at the ends of his feet, to send Gray sliding against the roof under the gaze of so, so many anarchists. All screaming, rushing, chanting under the rain.
Gray {Shit! Maybe running is a good idea! I don't know if I've got this!}
He still had to move, desperately moving out of the way from an axe swinging down before crawling under a large Demi-human's legs for cover. Getting just a second, before it all went black.
Gray: "CENIC!"
Gray's chest tightened from the strain, his quickly draining mana, but still he pushed even harder. Taking in as much Spirit mana as he could, even if he had to swallow the puke in his mouth. Turning his bright purple mana a light blue, then a lighter blue as he pushed into the Spirit Sense. So he could push through the quickly fading smoke and cut through one, two, three, and four thighs. Before ending his sprint with a small hop, and a hefty kick to the nose of a tall Demi-humans face.
Gray {COME ON! EDWARD COULD HANDLE THIS NO PROBLEM! ROSEMARY WOULD SENT EM ALL FLYING OFF THE SIDES! SOKU TOO! I CAN DO THIS I CAN DO THIS -
"DIGJIC!"
A thick burst of earth formed through the air, snagging around Gray's arms to form a tight binding of dark brown earth. Snatching him out of the sky instantly before throwing him down under a few anarchists. Getting kicked across the face, then in the stomach, before another lifted him up so two could draw their daggers.
Gray: "STOP IT STOP LET ME GO DAMMIT!"
"Should we kill him!? I thought the Master wanted him alive!?"
"I dunno! Just do it dammit before he kills us!"
Rushing with even more Spirit mana due to the fear, Gray managed to burst out of the tight restraints. Kicking himself away from the anarchists holding him to cut the arms of the dagger wielders, and skid across the roof to keep the battle going.
Gray {Breathe in, breathe out! Stabilize the Spirit Sense! Then the Cloak!}
Gray was trying to shake the daze from entering such a harsh level of the Spirit sense, but a dagger cut his arm the second he stood still. When he backed up, trying to push Spirit mana into the Cloak, another anarchist almost cut Gray's back open with a rusty katana, and even then when Gray barely dodged that a third flying anarchist came soaring forth to snag Grab by his throat. Lifting him into the sky, ready to cut his stomach open with her extending razor sharp finger nails, until the Cloak finally burst forth. Overwhelming even Gray's control to smash out of the charm, and right around the top half of the flying anarchist. Binding her arms and wings so tightly Gray felt it snap, and it sent him falling back into the battle. WIth the Cloak ready, and rushing around him all on its own.
Gray: "GET BACK! GET BACK ALL OF YOU! YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOU'RE REALLY INVOLVED WITH! WHAT ANY OF THIS MEANS! YOUR MASTER, YOUR FAITH, IT'S NOTHING BUT AN EXCUSE FOR THEIR MADNESS! EVERY PILLAR, EVERY UPPER PILLAR! THEY'RE ALL ABSOLUTELY INSANE DAMMIT!"
As he rushed forward to kick an anarchist back, another preparing to shoot fire arrows was taken by half of the Cloak. The Other half split off into two thinner pieces, to grab the faces of two Demi-humans and lift them into the air. Smashing both sides into more anarchists, growing larger, thicker, tighter as Gray continued to pull in Spirit mana across his entire body. It felt more alive, it felt wilder, it felt heavier. The more Gray felt rage. The more he felt fear. The more he needed it. The more it needed to protect him. Even his rushing adrenaline, the Spirit mana. It was all feeding the Darkness, even after Gray had survived its hold for months now.
"THAT'S JUST WHAT THIS WORLD DOES TO PEOPLE, EVEN POWERFUL ONES!"
"IT'S WHY PEOPLE LIKE YOU HAVE GOTTA BE CULLED!"
Gray: "UUUUUUGGGHHH! JUST SHUT UP THEN! IF YOU WANNA KEEP DYING I WON'T STOP YOU!"
Gray shifted from any techniques to a more feral style. Using his mana, his Spirit mana, and his Cloak like Edward would. To punch one anarchist, step and kick another, before bracing himself to unleash the Cloak in a burst all around him. Pushing back a few anarchists to give Gray enough space to pivot and cut down one anarchist, duck under a punch and slice another stomach, and once again brace himself to pull everything the Cloak had down against the roof.
Gray: "COME ON COME ON!"
His body was screaming, his mana was continuing to get closer to his limit, even with his body's Spiritual Strain he was cracking the Spirit Sense further toward the Spirit Stage. Which could mean he was a few steps away from completely burning out, and dying on this random rooftop.
Gray {EVERY HIT IS ANOTHER ANARCHIST WHO CAN'T KILL SOMEBODY! EVERY ATTACK IS A LIFE SAVED! I CAN'T STOP, I WON'T STOP! BUT! BUT! -
He wanted to scream so badly, that he'd die for this. But after causing Iris to die saving him in Athens, after promising Rosemary he'd kept himself safe, he just couldn't. He knew he had to escape, really it was the only thing other than surviving constantly on his mind. But then came those same screams.
Gray {BUT IF I DIE FOR THEM, IT'S WORTH IT! EVEN IF IT'S FOR JUST ONE PERSON IT'S WORTH IT!}
Lunging into the crowd like a spiraling force of mana, his Cloak surged along with his Wrist Talons. Cutting down a few members while his Cloak continued smashing others to the floor. Where his kicks to the sides, his punches to their collars, even his palm strikes to their chest all broke something. All collapsed anarchist after anarchist to the floor, not in eruptions of constant blood and gore like Edward, but with heavy breathes struggling to stand instead.
Gray {ONE TWO THREE, KEEP IT GOIN! TILL THERE'S MORE DROPPED THAN COMIN!}
But as much as he powered up, he simply wasn't strong enough to keep it going. It mana surged so he could punch through a shield, right through a dagger, but he had to hit the brakes just as much as he did the throttle so he wouldn' t start snapping limbs one after the other. He wasn't destroying his arms like he did against Calgary, shattering his fingers like he did against Donte, fighting to the brink of death time after time. Yeah he was, but not because he was killing himself, as it seemed the Sect were knocking him around just as much as his mana tore through his muscles.
He didn't have the power to knock back the anarchists slashing toward him like Rosemary did, so he had to send his Cloak toward them to smash them against the roof. He didn't have the nimbleness Soku did, so he couldn't dodge the slash toward his leg from a quick swordsman. So he had to grit his teeth, bare with the pain, and use that same leg to kick the swordsmen in his groin so hard he passed out. He didn't have the raw might Edward did, so he couldn't waste breaking his arm on the large Demi-human swinging down their great sword, so he had to move out of the way just as he slashed. Using the space given by the other anarchists for his attack to pull the Cloak in and send it around the Demi-humans neck, zipping right behind him to punch him on the top of the head as hard as he could.
Gray: "Down! Go down!"
That first punch shook him, and the second pushed him to his knees. Gray's glove may have burned away from his mana, his knuckles may be bleeding, but he threw out his third punch to force the man to the floor. Holding his arm and trying his best not to cry from the pain. Until the Cloak yet again moved on its own, and wrapped itself around his arms. Cushioning them, acting as a comforting cast, and giving him a stronger handle over the Cloak. Strong enough for him to send the Cloak out as tight twin bindings, and send himself flying past them. Pulling them back right into the crowd to knock down a few more anarchists, and got punched across the face right after. Almost turning his mana flow off, knocking his mask off, and even throwing his vision off completely.
Gray {PLEASE DAMMIT -
They could see the bruises, the sweat, the blood, the tears; they all saw his weakness. And they closed in further. Kicking him in the back of the leg to force him down, so another anarchist could swing his blade right across Gray's chestplate with an ice covered sword thanks to a spell.
Gray {COME ON!}
He tried to stand his ground, twisting around to jump into a harsh upper cut against an older, tough, dark green skinned Demi-human. Before immediately being tackled to the ground and forced to kick them back, kicked when he tried to stand, had his Cloak grabbed and tugged as he leapt. And when he pushed his mana, even with the building pain. Even when he punched them across the face, spun to dodge and let out another strike. Cracking his gauntlets to the point where his left Wrist talon even snapped when breaking through another blade after so much pressure. Leaving him open to getting grazed across his stomach, punched in the face, and once again dragged by the Cloak to get thrown towards a massive Demi-humans even larger hammer.
Gray: "JUST STOP IT ALREADY!"
Bleeding, bruised, struggling to keep a flow of mana or Spirit mana with the building pain. Struggling to even stay awake. All he could do was fall to his burdens, and take in everything. Erupting with a massive flash of Spirit mana, cracking and breaking through his Spirit Sense to burst right into the Spirit Stage.
"Shit!? What do we do!?"
"Keep fighting obviously! This is the home stretch!"
His senses, his mana, the pain all mixed into nothing. Almost like he fell unconscious, or found his own Warriors Spirit. But with the uncontrolled Spirit Stage, he moved, he thought, he screamed harder than ever, just like he'd done against Charlie in Guren. Leaving his eyes jotting all around, dodging, turning, dancing along with their kicks. Slashes. To bend under them. Trip them. Slash them. Kick them back, break the floor to throw out shards of mana covered debris, force through bursts of flames through his sheer spiritual pressure. And as he kept pulling in mana, all he could do was move for what little time he could. And with his Cloak rushing with even more mana, it rose up around him with about ten split tendrils. All surging to lift and slam anarchists into the air and back onto the ground. Surrounding and protecting Gray as he lunged forward to punch with his broken Wrist Talon, permanently destroying the weapon in a burst of metal pieces and rushing Spirit mana. Before he swung his right Wrist talon up to the side for a burst of Spirit mana, cutting into the side of a swordsmen, and spun around to cut down through a wooden shield.
Gray: "GOOO!"
First he punched through the crack in the shield, twisted while the Cloak spun another handful of anarchists into each other like a merry go round. But when Gray moved to punch down another anarchist into the roof, crushing the space around him in a burst of pressure, a massive burst of pain froze him. As he'd reached his threshold of Spirit mana, and had to hold the Spirit stage tightly. Ready to puke, ready to pass out, but his body still moved on its own. Yet they cut through the Cloak, stomped it, burned it away with mana. All while members got closer, striking him through his dense layer of mana. Breaking free of the Cloak, even with its might. Even getting close enough to hit Gray with an upper cut of their own, and throw him into the air. Staring through the blinding lights of the Spirit Stage, trying his best to gain some kind of hold. Trying his best to keep fighting.
"WHAT HAPPENED TO THAT MOUTH!?"
As the Spirit mana began to rush out of his body, he still tried his best to use the mana he had left. But he only got out one good punch, and when he went for the second one, the anarchists backed away. Almost unconscious, but still ready, while Gray was screaming in pain while clutching his hand.
Gray {SHIT SHIT SHIT!}
The blinding light of the Spirit stage began to fade out of his eyes, giving him control almost as fast as he lost it, but all he returned to was pain. And a kick to the side forcing him down.
Gray {I CAN'T DIE LIKE THIS! I'VE GOTTA BAIL I'VE GOTTA MAKE IT BACK! I PROMISED I PROMISED!}
But when he pulled the Cloak forth, another burst of flames caused it to sizzle away in front of him. Almost screaming as it broke apart, fading away back to the necklace. Pulsing with a dense, purple hue, drained of power. And when Gray tried to flare his mana, the pain held him back to his knees. Getting him punched across the face yet again, and thrown to the ground for the last time. He was surrounded by even more anarchists than he started with. Beaten, bruised, bleeding. Crying. Choking.
Is this how he dies?
No, he tried to lunge forward. Taking an anarchist to the ground before getting smashed back.
Is he dead?
Roaring, he tried to push himself forward, kicking two anarchists back before a surge of pain forced him to his knees. So another anarchist could let out a swift uppercut, and a second could grab his legs to slam him back down.
Was it all going to end under this rain? On this roof? Without anybody to help?
When another punch went out, he put everything into catching it. Slamming the anarchist into another, before swinging round and round to throw them through the crowd. Clearing a small gap he tried to rush toward, until his mana finally began sizzling away. Out from under his control, his threshold, his will power. And left his arms snagged back, and his chest plate cracked by a hefty swing of a mana coated sword.
Maybe it was better that way.
Gray {NO! NO IT'S NOT! PLEASE! PLEASE! I DON'T WANT TO! I DON'T WANT TO DIE!}
His face was swollen. But when he tried to take in Spirit mana, he just coughed blood. When he tried to leak the little mana he had, his body rejected it. And when an anarchist stepped over him, with their blade ready to step into his stomach, he went to try the last thing he had left.
Gray: "....I'm…From…"
And before the mana surge could stop him. He hesitated. And the world stopped. Because, for just a moment, he really thought -
Gray {It's better this way.}
And fate stole his "happy" ending. With an arrow through the anarchist's head. An arrow shot with so much force not only did the anarchists erupt, but so did the five anarchists behind him, and the ground they all stood on. Collapsing the roof down into the separate rooms of the building, and leaving Gray to soar for a short fall down to the floor. Yet, even then his savior moved fast enough to catch him, and rushed right back into the rain. Looking down at the beaten boy, with a proud smile.
Gordon: "You did good Gray, honestly. But when you wake up, the Siege might have already begun."