Ben, the Biker and I walked through the ruined city, keeping our eyes out for Dawson and his allies.
“You sure they'll be around here? The Biker asked.
Ben stopped in place and looked around for a moment.
“Yes,” he said. “This is the place. No we just need to wait for-”
“YO!” shouted a voice out of nowhere. “WHAT'S UP, FUCKERS!”
A tall woman, at least a head above me, stepped out from an alleyway, waving us down. She had jet black hair, and gray eyes. I'm not talking about that one shade of blue that some people's eyes are, that looks kind of gray. Her eyes were a more literal shade of gray.
“Not... quite how I was expecting them to make themselves known,” Ben said. “But... okay...”
Dawson phased emerged from the shadows on a wall nearby, sighing. With him was a younger girls, carrying a wooden staff. She seemed... out of place? Like she didn't really belong on a battlefield.
“All I asked of you was subtlety, Flyt,” Dawson said.
“Pfft,” the tall lady, or I guess Flyt, said, brushing his words off. “Whatever, man. Who gives a shit?”
I heard movement behind us, and turned to see that Dawson's other allies, Myrir and Puppy Dog had also entered the scene behind us. Ben turned to acknowledge them as well.
“Myrir,” he said.
“Benjamin,” she replied, somewhat bitterly.
“You two know each other?” I asked.
“It's complicated,” they both said.
“So!” Flyt said. “You know that bitch Kieda, right!? How's that cunt doing!?”
“Kieda?” I asked. “You mean HELLFIRE, right?”
“Yeah, yeah, whatever,” Flyt said. “Whatever that jackass is calling himself now.”
“Less than a minute, and I'm already furiously annoyed with this chick,” the Biker said.
“So I'm guessing you're the Dying Man shard,” I said.
“You got it!” Flyt said, raising a hand. “And don't go thinking that old man Kieda is the only shard wielding another Fear's power!”
With that, a pair of black wings sprouted from her back, and a sword formed from black mist manifested in her hand.
“The Archangel,” Ben murmured.
I drew my sword, growing my own wings and gauntlet as I did.
“Oh, this oughta be fuckin' fun,” Flyt said, grinning back at me.
“Oh, would you shut the bloody hell up?” the Biker said, stepping forward. “I'll take the big guy.”
“Ah, yes,” Dawson said, stepping forward as well. “Just how easily is your loyalty bought, mercenary?”
“I ain't cheap,” the Biker said, drawing his falcion.
“I'll take the shard and the sorceress,” I said, nodding to Ben. “You, uh... settle your personal history or whatever.”
Ben looked toward Puppy Dog and Myrir, and let out a sigh.
“Let's not do this, love,” he said.
“Sorry, Benjamin,” Myrir said, drawing her blade and shield.
“No choice, mate,” Puppy Dog said, arming himself with a khopesh in one hand, and a sawed-off shotgun in the other.
Ben sighed again, and drew his wakizashi in a reverse grip.
“I guess this is happening,” he said. “BURN!”
The blade of his weapon burst into flames, and he took up a fighting stance. I turned my attention back to Flyt and the younger girl. Flyt chuckled.
“Leave all the heavy lifting to me, Molly,” Flyt said, confirming the young girls name. “Just cover my ass when I need it.”
Molly nodded meekly, and muttered a soft “Okay.”
And then the fight began.
Flyt and I took to the air and began clashing blades. It didn't take me long to realize the problem with wielding a sword as large as mine in midair. Without being able to plant my feet, I couldn't put as much force behind my attacks. Flyt, on the other hand, was wielding a much lighter weapon, and could make up for the lack of force with speed. She was able to dodge or deflect all of my attacks and land a couple slashes of her own on my chest. They didn't cut very deep, but it was enough to drive me back a bit.
Flyt chuckled a bit before slashing at me again. I was able to block her attacks, but it was clear she was beginning to toy with me. I needed to come up with something fast. I couldn't risk fighting a Dying Man shard unarmed. There was only one other trick I could think of at the time. I swung my sword upwards as quickly as I could, which didn't accomplish much, aside from making her back away from me for a second, but that was all I needed. I beat my wings quickly, ascending higher into the sky.
“Oh?” Flyt chuckled, as I continued flying upwards. “You trying to get away?”
“Uh, yeah, sure,” I said. “Let's go with that.”
She seemed confused by my response. Good. Having gained what I felt would be enough altitude, I allowed my wings to vanish, and I began falling. I let myself go limp as my body entered a free fall. This further caught them off guard, and it took them a bit too long to realize what I was doing. I couldn't deliver much force on my own.
But I could always let gravity do the work.
I straightened myself out a couple yard before coming within range of them, pointing my sword forward to deliver a stabbing attack. She panicked for a second.
Then she smirked, as a force field suddenly manifested between us. It seemed Molly was able able to throw up a barrier just in time.
Vibrations rippled through my arms as my blade collided with it, and I nearly dropped it. Flyt then vanished, reappearing right beside me. Using the force field as footing, she planted her feet, and punched me in the gut, sending me flying, I crashed into a nearby building, and began falling to the ground from there. I managed to sprout my wings again in time to slow my descent and hit the ground softly.
Flyt appeared a few feet in front of me, grinning sadistically. I immediately took note of two facts. First of all, she hadn't bothered transferring to my body when we made contact. It seemed she was intent on keeping her current host for the time being.
Secondly, she was making use of the God's Way. I know Fears can use the God's Way freely, and Daniel could use it extensively with minimal harm, but normal humans suffer extreme pain if they spend even a moment there. I've experienced that myself. And while the Dying Man is a Fear, the same can't be said about their hosts.
I had a plan.
I rose to my feet, gripping my weapon tightly.
“Neat magic trick,” I said. “Let's see how it holds up!”
I charged at her, swinging my sword. She teleported behind me as I did, which I had predicted. I spun, swinging my sword sideways at them. They vanished again, appearing a few feet away. They shuddered slightly, but only for a second, before straightening up.
“So, that's a replica of the legendary Fear-harming sword, right?” Flyt asked. “The one the Ace of Cunts used?”
I felt a surge of Mana flourish in the air around me. My first thought was that Molly was doing something, but my instincts new otherwise.
“Not very useful if you can't land a hit with it!” Flyt said, mockingly.
“Don't get too cocky!” I said, stabbing forward at her.
Another force field went up between us, and Flyt smirked. She then teleported behind me, grabbed me by the throat, and slammed me against the barrier.
“Same goes to you, bitch!” she said, tightening her grip.
I suddenly heard the voice off my ancestor, the Ace of Chaos, in my head.
The God's Way! He said. Use it!
“Wh... what?” I uttered.
You're part Fear! He said. You can manage it!
I looked Flyt in the eyes and manage to get out a “Fuck you!” before closing my eyes and focusing. I remembered the time Daniel dragged me through there, and focused on that feeling. I suddenly shifted out of the physical world, and felt that same pain again. It through me off, because I wasn't expecting it to actually work. But I pulled myself together and thought about the battlefield I was just at, and I was instantly back there, a few feet from where Flyt was standing. The pain of entering the God's Way subsided a bit as she turned her attention to me.
“Well shit,” she said. “You can do it too.”
She teleported up to me and kicked my sword away. Her body was noticeably quivering, but she didn't seem to notice. She grabbed me by the throat, and lifted me up to look me in the eyes.
“Too bad you aren't used to the pain,” she gloated.
Then, she spun me around, and threw me directly upwards. I crashed into something that took me a moment to recognize. I spread my wings, regained my composure, and glanced backwards. I couldn't see anything there, but I could sense the presence of Mana there. The first barrier Molly had thrown up was still there. She had seemingly neglected to dispel it.
My sword then returned to my hand, surrounded by the presence of more Mana, and I heard the Ace of Chaos's voice again.
Show this bitch what happens to shards who disrespect my title, he said.
Flyt flew in a beeline towards me, weapon ready to deal a finishing blow. But I was prepared. I twisted myself around, planted my feet firmly against the barrier above me, and turned to face her, gripping my sword tightly. She had used the God's Way multiple times, wearing her host's body down. And I finally had some proper footing in midair. As she charged a me full force, she realized too late that she'd lost the advantage.
I swung my sword full force, shattering hers, and cleaving her across the chest, sending her flying. And, in an oddly convenient twist, Malkator, at that same moment, managed to kick Puppy Dog into the path of her descent, causing the two of them to collide. Puppy Dog was instantly knocked out, and Flyt's wings faded away into black mist. She struggled to rise to her knees, clutching her wounded chest. I felt the barrier behind me vanish, as Molly realized I had managed to take advantage of it being left up.
Flyt coughed up some blood, and barely managed to utter out “Ow... fuck...”
Molly rushed over to her to try and help, but with no warning, the Biker's chain flew towards her, wrapped around her throat, and lifted her into the air.
“You are so! Fucking! Annoying!” the Biker exclaimed, as he slammed her down into the middle of the road, completely splattering her entire body all over the asphalt.
Molly reeled back in alarm and horror, and Dawson glared at the Biker furiously.
“That was my most useful ally,” Dawson hissed.
“Well, now its a useless stain,” the Biker retorted, withdrawing his chain. The biker then charged at Dawson, in a blur of crimson and steel, and shouted at me to “Deal with the magic bitch!”
Okay. Sure.
I landed on the ground, and let my wings vanish again. I returned my sword to it's place across my back.I turned and began approaching Molly.
“Stay back!” she said, raising her staff.
“Look,” I said. “Molly, isn't it? This can be easy, or difficult. Your choice.”
She closed her eyes, focusing on me. I suddenly found myself elsewhere. I was in a burnt down forest, with several of the scorched trees still smoldering. A pair of dragon-like creatures circled the sky above me, letting out distorted shrieks.
I looked up at them calmly. I was expecting something along these lines. Not this specifically, but whatever. I planted my vision forwards again, and activated my super eyes.
“Not bad,” I said. “But I've trained with Dyson Malrick.”
The world around me melted away, and I was back at the battlefield, still facing Molly.
“His illusions are way more convincing,” I mentioned.
I took a couple steps forward, only to be met with another barrier.
“I mean it!” She said. “Stay back!”
I raised my gauntlet up, examining the energy in front of me. I could always break through Dyson's barriers, but his were always pretty weak. This one was different. This girl was clearly gifted when it came to defensive magic.
I sighed, and slipped into the God's Way yet again, appearing before her. It still hurt, but I was ready for it this time. She stepped back in alarm.
“For the love of God, woman!” Dawson's voice cried out. “Fight back!”
She hesitated for a moment, before pointing her staff at me, and channeling mana through it. I raised my gauntlet, palm facing her, as a ball of fire errupted from the end of her staff. I caught it, and held it in place.
“You're playing for the wrong team,” I told her, before crushing the fireball, dispelling its magic.
Her staff cluttered to the ground as she stared at my gauntlet.
“H-how did you...?” She stammered.
I raised my gauntlet calmly, showing her.
“My gauntlet's grip can contain any eldritch energy I catch it it,” I explained. “Useful for stopping magic attacks.”
“You okay over here?” Ben asked, approaching us. He had apparently managed to restrain Myrir with some handcuffs. Didn't even know he had those.
“All's good over here,” I said, kicking her staff u into the air and catching it.
“And her?” Ben asked.
“Oh. Molly?” I asked. “She's gonna need a teacher.”
I tossed her staff back to her. She looked u at me, confused.
“Her white magic is on point,” I said. “She seems to be a natural at it. Her blackmagic game could use some work. Think you can handle it, Ben?”
“So what, we're sparing her?” Ben asked.
“Sure, why not?” I said, stepping forward and patting her on the shoulder. “My instincts are pretty trustworthy.”
“But... I...,” Molly said.
“What?” I asked. “Do you have any objections?”
She hesitated for a moment, before shaking her head.
“No,” she said. “I suppose not. But... what about Dawson?”
“Oh, you won't have to answer to him much longer,” I told her, before nodding to Ben. “Let's go back up that rival of yours.”
Ben nodded, and we went to go assist the Biker.
Both the Biker ans Dawson were standing across from each other, kneeling down and panting. The Biker chuckled, and spoke up.
“You're tough, old man!” he said. “Unfortunately, you've lost.”
Dawson noticed Ben and I approaching, as well as Molly standing off to the side, no longer taking part in the conflict.
“Oh, you traitorous bitch,” He muttered before straightening up. “You're wrong though. My defeat is far from set. I still have a trump card left.”
“You mean Tyler, right?” I demanded. “Where is he?”
“Tyler?” Dawson chuckled. “I've no idea where he went. He's his own Demi-God, with his own goals and aspirations. I'm not his baby sitter.”
A glowing crimson energy Cell, one of the ones they had stolen from Daniel, appeared in his shadowy hand.
“This is my trump card,” He said.
He then casually flicked it in our general direction before melting into the ground beneath him. I rushed forward, gauntlet outstretched. I new that I couldn't let the energy contained in that Cell out into the world. I managed to catch the Cell, but the glass shattered against my hand. I clenched my fist, trying with all my might to keep it contained. As I did, I felt an intense wave of anger wash over me.
I immediately realized which energy Cell this was. The Brute's.
The energy held in my palm spread through my body, and I fell to my knees, struggling to fight back against the overwhelming rage taking a hold of me.
“David?” Ben asked. “Are you okay?”
“Stay back!” I ordered.
I couldn't staay there. I knew if I lost control of this anger, I would hurt the others. So I did the only thing I could think of, and used the God's Way one more time.
I didn't pay much attention to where I wound up after that. All I new was that I was still in the overrun ruins of Seattle, and no one else was there. Good.
I focused all my willpower on resisting the Brute's influence, but it was useless. The rage was too strong. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't resist it.
As I was on my knees, head in my hands, struggling to keep myself in control, I became aware of a pair of feet in front of me, and a staff planted firmly on the ground in front of them. A part of me began to panic at the sight.
“What are you doing here!?” I managed to get out.
“Did you think I wouldn't notice the Brute's power suddenly erupting within the city?” Daniel asked.
My mind was being flooded with every bad memory I had of him. Every time I had seen him hurt or manipulate others. Myself included. I remembered the night I met him. How he had used me to gain more power. I remembered being in his Enhancer, and nearly dying from it. I remembered looking into his future, and seeing how much pain and despair he was destined to cause.
“You need to leave!” I yelled, knowing I wouldn't be able to restrain myself much longer.
“Not gonna happen,” he said calmly.
My body moved on its own. In spite of the pain I was still in from using the God's Way so much, I drew my sword and lifted it above my head, bringing it back down where he was standing. The blade struck the ground. He had managed to et out of the way in time.
I was seeing the world through a crimson haze. My body was being completely piloted by rage, and there was an obnoxious ringing in my ears. But I could still hear Daniel's voice. It was somewhat muffled, but it still managed to reach me. And the first thing he said to me was a little surprising.
“I'm not going to fight you, Kallaway,” he said.
I turned to where I had heard his voice and swung at him, yet again missing.
“You're going to overcome this,” he said. “I trust you.”
“I can't fight it!” I snapped, swinging my blade again.
“You shouldn't,” he said, from somewhere behind me. “I've been face to face with the Brute myself. Overcoming its influence isn't as easy as just fighting back.”
I spun around and swung my sword in a wide arc, that he still managed to avoid.
“The hell does that even mean!” I demanded.
He was silent for a few seconds before pointing something out.
“I know this place,” he said. “When shit hit the fan. This is where we were when we used the cards we got from Abdalin.”
My eyes darted around a bit. He was right. In spite of the angry haze I was viewing everything through, I did recognize the street we were on.
“I remember,” Daniel said. “When I got my legs back... I thought about leaving. Abandoning everyone and saving myself.”
He was right. That did happen. He had nearly left innocent people to die. I turned to where I had heard his voice, and raised my sword again.
But I didn't bring it down.
“You stayed...,” I said. As I did, I felt the rage controlling me... I don't know, shudder a bit?
“I did,” he said. “Because of you.”
I felt my grip loosen slightly.
“You encouraged me to do the right thing,” he said. “And I... I did.”
I felt his hand on my shoulder.
“Like I said before, I trust you,” he said. “Do you trust me?”
I released my grip on the sword's hilt, allowing it to fall to the ground behind me.
I did trust him. Despite everything he's done, or was destined to do... He was a good man, deep down. And I trusted him.
I closed my eyes, blocking out the crimson haze, took a deep breath, and gave him a silent nod.
“Then trust me when I say that you can do this,” he said. “I know how strong you are. And I've seen how strong the Brute is up close.”
His grip on my shoulder tightened.
“And it's pretty damn clear to me which of you is stronger,” he said.
I suddenly couldn't feel anything physically. I couldn't feel the ground beneath my feet, or Daniel's hand on my shoulder. It was like I was floating in some kind of void. I opened my eyes again, and before me was a massive, distorted creature, bound in chains. The Brute.
I looked down at my right hand, still in its gauntlet, still gripping the Brute's power.
“Daniel's right,” I told the creature. “I am stronger than you.”
The creature shrieked at me, and I felt a wave of anger wash over me, but I shrugged it off.
“And I'm not going to let your power control me,” I informed it. “In fact...”
I clenched my gauntlet's fist, embracing the energy it was holding.
“I'm claiming this power as my own!” I said. “And I dare you to fucking stop me!”
The creature cried out at me, but I simply closed my eyes and ignored it.
I opened them again to find myself back in the city, with Daniel standing before me.
“Good to have you back,” He said. “How are you feeling?”
I looked down at my gauntlet, which had changed a bit. The fingers were now tipped with sharp, serrated claws, the forearm was now more rigid, and had some spike running along it, and there were some violet lines mixed into the natural red of the chitin.
“Stronger...,” I answered.
He chuckled.
“Good,” he said. “We could use some stronger right now.”
At that moment, we both noticed a sudden spike of eldritch energy nearby. A familiar energy.
“Tyler!” Daniel gasped.
Before I could stop him, he teleported away. I wanted to go after him, but I was too worn out. Damn it. I had to get there before things escalated...
I didn't have much time to think before the Biker suddenly zoomed onto the scene on his bicycle.
“Good!” He said. “Got to you. You better?”
“Yeah,” I said. “Did you feel-”
“That was thorn boy, right?” he said. “Figured...”
He gestured to the pegs on his bac tires.
“Hop on,” he said. “You want to beat the Doc there, right?”
I hesitated for a moment, before tightening my resolve and nodding.
