Chapter 54

  Swords of the Sky

  Mere moments after they had been spotted, an arrow was flying through the air towards the party. With enough distance to dodge, the party scattered out of the way. As the shot struck the crystal behind them it detonated in a furious gale of sharpened winds. Small cuts dug into Wolf and Sebastian, setting the Phanokai Champion ablaze with small pockets of blood fire.

  “That’s it!” Wolf said, his Dragon Energy pulsing around him as he readied for battle. “I’ll deal with them.” He charged off without another word, leaving a trail of fading erratic energy and fallen embers from droplets of blood.

  “Stick to the plan!” Sebastian said, a futile attempt at stopping the bloodthirsty warrior. “Damnit.”

  “We need to move.” Yan said, pushing the others into action. “Vero will have seen that attack, we are exposed!”

  Sebastian opened his mouth to reply when a black fiery eyeball slammed into a crystal nearby. It oriented on the three of them, flashing red. Hyato cut it in half with a quick draw, banishing the spell. "Go." Hyato shouted.

  Yan and Sebastian scrambled over the hill and ran. The momentum from moving down the slope gave them worrying speed. "Gaaaah!" Sebastian hollered, trying to stay in control.

  Sebastian tripped and began to roll down the hill, taking a nasty bounce along the way. In a blur of motion Yan dashed forth to head him off. She caught Sebastian and staggered to a stop, still standing. "Woah... My head." Sebastian complained, "I don't wanna do that ride again."

  "You alright? Where does it hurt?" Yan asked.

  "Arm. I'm fine." Sebastian said. "Put me down."

  Yan set Sebastian down, "You're lighter than you look." She said.

  "I watch my figure." Sebastian said, adjusting his pink shirt. "Are we far enough away?"

  "Nope." Yan said, pointing back up the hill. Velicio had already made her way up to their former hiding spot. From the way she looked around, Hyato must have moved.

  "Well, looks like it's you and me against Velicio." Sebastian told Yan. "I hope my spells and your jutsu are up to the task."

  "And Michael's trickery." Yan said, spotting something. She moved at a slow speed, careful not to make too much sound. Up the hill Velicio smashed a crystal and searched with narrowed eyes. Then she glared.

  "Yan!" Sebastian said, "She spotted us!" Velicio was on the move, so Yan dashed the last distance and positioned herself behind a floating octahedron of a murky white crystal that glowed from within with a pale green light. As Yan touched the Aero Crystal she let out a burst of earth mana.

  Velicio dove to the side without slowing, diving against a crystal growth and avoiding the impact of the Aero Crystal. The launched elemental mineral left a hole where Velicio had stood a moment before.

  "What was that?!" Sebastian exclaimed.

  "Aero Crystals are repelled by earth mana." Yan said, smirking.

  "Are they now?" Sebastian mused, "Interesting."

  Near where the head sized crystal had been, Yan found a few small chunks of Aero Crystal. She nudged them in front of her, leaving them floating between herself and Velicio. The knight peered out from behind the red crystal growth, ducking back as Yan shot another Aero Crystal her way.

  "Good job. You've forced a stalemate." Sebastian said, weaving elemental forces in his hands.

  "We can't win with a stalemate." Yan said. "You have a plan?" Sebastian nodded, sending soft wind up into the air. It had a different quality from Elemancy. Weak, fragile, sensitive. The forces of Elesense were short-lived. Sebastian began to scour about, feeling out with the power of wind.

  Velicio peered out again, and Yan fired off another crystal. It struck with a sharp thunk as it bounced off Velicio's metal quarterstaff. A soft chuckle escaped Velicio's lips, then she stepped out into the open.

  Yan fired another crystal, but Velicio deflected it with a swift sweep of her staff. Another shot was met with the same swatting skill, shattering the little crystal out of harm's way. Velicio closed in and swept aside all of Yan's ordinances with grim determination.

  Saving three crystals in her pockets, Yan drew her kunai and adopted a defensive stance. Velicio sneered, "Your comrades could not match me in skill, power, or speed. What can you lot hope to accomplish?"

  "An excellent question, my dear." Sebastian said, opening his eyes. "Neither of us can beat Hyato's skill or Wolf's strength. And by extension, we cannot defeat you as such either."

  Velicio stopped several yards away from them, close enough to make a sudden attack, "And your point?" She asked.

  Sebastian spread his arms, "In a direct contest of might, we are no match for you. But we do not fight like that, do we Yan?"

  Yan looked at Sebastian, and saw the whisper of elemental power he was using. He was up to something. "No, we don't." Yan agreed. "When it comes to deception, you cannot defeat us, Velicio."

  "I can already see you, so you cannot hide. Try another smoke bomb, see where that gets you." Velicio warned.

  "But there is one attack that made you tremble." Sebastian said, drawing his hands together. Velicio raised her staff to parry or block, but instead six large crystals floated in on currents of magical wind. "If one repels, the other must attract." He said, assembling the Aero Crystals before him.

  Velicio lunged to attack, but did not close the distance before Sebastian set off a wave of earth. The crystal reacted like the others, shooting forth with terrifying speed in a violent magical reaction. The crystal struck Velicio in the belly and forced out a grunt of pain.

  The flying attack picked Velicio up and threw her backwards, moving uphill a ways due to the angle. She rolled to the side and ducked behind a Shard, coughing from the blow. After taking a moment to recover, Velicio ground her teeth and snarled. "Didn't think the twink had it in him." She muttered.

  The battle of Yan and Sebastian versus Velicio ground once more into a stalemate. In the absence of sound from their struggle other clashes of forces could be heard. Whatever fights were unfolding, they grew more intense.

  Wolf had leapt from the hiding spot on the mossy hillock away from his comrades, rushing towards the bounty hunters to head them off. If he could handle those three alone, his four friends could face Vero, Velicio, and Vy together.

  Another arrow was fired, which missed Wolf by just an inch. He stopped to reassess his approach, taking cover behind a crag of stone.

  The ebony armored man, Rex, had just nudged the sniper Evan to the side. "Don't be so hasty." Rex chided, "He can tell us where the target is."

  "Whatever." Evan grunted, side stepping away from Rex.

  Rex faced forward, bringing his crew to a halt. "Come on out, just tell us where that scarfaced white haired prat is."

  Wolf stepped out and regarded the would-be bounty hunters with a frown. "The insults seem a bit unnecessary." Wolf said.

  "Don't get full of yourself, empty eyes," Rex said. Wolf's eyes narrowed, "Your flimsy little flames won't pierce my mastercraft armor. And," he held his greatsword aloft, "Your swordplay won't beat a student of MAW."

  Rex wore a helmet, but Wolf could imagine the arrogant grin plastered on his face. Even his allies cringed.

  In front of Wolf were three brazen bounty hunters. A short academic girl wielding magic and wards, an annoyed archer armed with accurate arrows, and a huge warrior of menacing metal and mettle. After a moment of glowering, Wolf grinned, "I'll take you all!"

  A massive wave of crackling amber lightning and fire exploded into existence around Wolf's swords. With a roar he swept forth his powers with a mighty swipe of his swords, to consume his foes in flame and force.

  Even the amount of power Wolf was using now none of his flames or sparks bit back. The gift from Mystia worked like a charm. Wolf felt a rush of euphoric adrenaline as he loosed his attack.

  Evan withdrew from the oncoming storm, fleeing for cover. Fara and Rex did not react with as much alacrity, instead bracing and outputting as much energy as they could to mitigate the blow. At first their efforts protected them, but their surges did not last as long as Wolf's onslaught.

  Of the three targeted Bounty Hunters one was not afraid. Rex rushed forth through the amber elements, allowing his armor to protect him. With one free hand Rex reached forth and grabbed Wolf, closing down with an iron grip.

  Gripped by the neck and lifted off the ground by his towering foe, Wolf coughed and struggled. His flames and lightning ceased as he fought for breath, kicking and slamming his swords into the ebony armor wherever he could reach.

  A hollow laugh rang out from inside the armored helm, "So weak. After all your bragging. You're nothing." Rex said.

  Wolf stilled, glaring in defiance as he calmed himself. His vision was blacking out, the pain in his neck was unreal. Then he saw a flash of red and closed his eyes.

  The pain vanished and Wolf fell to the ground, coughing and sucking in breath as new pains replaced the old. The heavy clank of metal sounded as Rex stumbled back, his armored arm dropping to the ground and rolling towards him.

  "Be more careful," the Red swordsman said as he sheathed his sword. He reached down and helped Wolf to his feet.

  "Thanks." Wolf said, standing, "Again." He and Hyato faced forth.

  Rex picked up his sundered arm and pressed the bloody ends together. "You're such a pain." The Kuldo complained as his arm melded back together.

  Fara placed her hand on Rex's arm along with a ball of golden light. "Look who's talking."

  "You attacked us!" Hyato said, eyes darting at the archer. Evan was crouched behind a crystal, nursing some burns. He moved a little farther back from Hyato's glare.

  "We saw the mess you left at the gates," Rex said, "Your reign of terror needs to stop."

  "Reign of...? If you are speaking of the towns that were destroyed that was all the work of Vero." Hyato explained, "The sorcerer we were fighting last time, we are here to stop him."

  "The one who animated corpses? Is that so?" Fara asked, a look of concern growing on her features.

  Rex grunted, "None of that matters does it? He isnt the one with a price on his head."

  "Rex!" Fara exclaimed, "Why are you trying to be a Myrrhmidon if you wont fight injustice."

  "I have no authority, therefore no responsibility, to punish criminals." Rex said.

  "Not even ones that massacre entire towns?" Hyato asked. "Cold, dude."

  "I don't have time to care about that nonsense." Rex huffed, stalking off a few paces. "I'll forget the arm and the burns, piss off."

  "Rex, this isn't something I can ignore." Fara said, folding her arms, "This Vero character needs to be stopped. If he is behind all of these murders, then surely Cryston and Myrrh would be willing to pay forth a reward."

  The ebony armored man paused, "You think so?"

  "Absolutely." Fara said, "Evan, you agree right?"

  The archer waved his arms in front of him, "Woah, woah. Leave me out of this." He said. Fara fixed her gaze on the archer until he spoke again, "I mean, yes. Obviously. There's always a standard bounty for catching criminals, and high profile ones would earn a bonus."

  Rex let out a pensive hum as he considered everything. Wolf and Hyato waited for them to finish their conversation, anxious to hear the decision.

  "And." Fara said, "You can keep the full portion of the reward for turning him in." She added.

  "Hey!" Evan said, "If I help I expect to be compensated."

  "Fine. My portion then." Fara said, "And I'll help capture them too."

  Fara's offer made Rex turn around. "Alright. I'll accept your terms," He said, then shot a look at Hyato, "But I'm not leaving without the bounty target as well. I'm capturing Michael."

  "That's not happening," Hyato said, drawing his sword. Rex drew his greatsword at the same moment, while Wolf and Evan also readied their weapons. Not one to lose initiative, Rex started to charge forth!

  Fara moved in between the two groups and became surrounded in an opaque pink sphere, "Wait!" The barrier stopped Rex's charge and broke line of sight. "Before we go chopping each others heads off, lets call a truce for now." Fara's voice sounded distant within the orb.

  "Screw that," Rex said, "The only reason I'm here is to capture Michael. This whole venture is a grand loss without him."

  "It doesn't matter," Hyato said.

  "Shut your trap!" Rex said.

  The barrier Fara erected faded, "Let's not jump to conclusions! We don't even know whats going on, so lets go find out."

  Rex sheathed his sword. "Fine." He said, turning away.

  Fara looked up at Hyato and Wolf. She was half their height but carried twice their presence in her gaze, "Truce? For now at least?"

  Wolf waited for Hyato, and when the swordsman sheathed his sword the champion did as well. "Alright." Wolf said. "Then you'll help us take down Vero. He's a Sorcerer."

  "We'll help." Fara said, "We need to work together to stand a chance anyways."

  "Then let's stop wasting time!" Rex said, stalking off. Fara gave an apologetic shrug and followed after.

  Evan moved with them, but Wolf caught up to him. "Sorry about the fireworks." Wolf said, "I should have tried talking first."

  "I'll live." Evan said. "Don't worry about it." They walked towards the sounds of battle, "Thanks."

  Hyato trailed behind, watching the others walk. He knew bits and pieces about what was about to occur, he'd lived days after this one, but didn't have the details. If he knew how things played out, could he change them?

  "It's worth trying." Hyato decided, moving to catch up to the others. "Maybe I can stop it."

  Michael approached his enemy from the shadows. Despite being surrounded by massive light filtering crystals, there were more obscured areas than Michael expected. Sunlight filtered through the Shards and mixed over the ground in arrays of color, making the whole area have a kaleidoscopic array of colors. While there were open areas with clear vision, there were also colorful areas of darkness to sneak through.

  Within those shadowy patches of color, Michael crept closer to Vero. With each step he felt the cloth package of the sword tied to his back, bouncing a little. If he had the choice, Michael would have preferred to fight out in the open. It would be easier to use his attacks that way, but his couple of tricks for facing Vero would only get him so far as anyways.

  Velicio charged up the hill towards the others. She must have seen them. Tempting as it was to give chase to protect his friends, Michael held himself back. He had to try to take out Vero while there was a chance.

  "Velicio, did you catch them?" Vero called. He waited for a moment as Velicio vanished from sight. "Or just ignore me." Vero leaned back against a smooth crystal outcrop.

  Despite relaxing, the Sorcerer still seemed alert. He did not move much, but had a wide view of the area around him. There were no clear blind spots to approach from.

  Near Vero crouched the Bandit Caller Vy, or what was left of her. She was unkempt. Dirt and scratches covered her exposed arms and legs, and what was left of her robes was tied about her chest and waist. Her eyes were foggy and distant. The fire of the Revenant was there, shackled behind unseen chains.

  "You could do more than just sit around." Vero grumbled with disdain, looking at Vy. He wore a mask that hid his features, but not his emotions.

  Vy tilted her head at a snail's pace. "Blood... Moon..."

  "Yes, yes." Vero said, exasperated, "We'll find you people to slaughter later."

  "Chains... Broken." Vy mumbled, drooling a bit. Her eyes remained unfocused.

  "Do you remember what we discussed? If you follow the rules, I'll loosen the leash." Vero said.

  This was bad, Michael moved closer through the colored shadows. Vero and Vy were out in the open, there was no way to approach without revealing himself. If the Revenant was leashed, it needed to stay that way. That would mean one less enemy to deal with.

  "Fight... Steal..." Vy said, her speech still slurred. Vero conjured forth the image of a chain in his hand. He was about to unleash Vy!

  Michael leapt from the shadow and swept one hand before himself, creating elemental ice. Then he thrust his sword to unleash Dark Wind. A flurry of furious frost spun through the air with aggressive intent.

  Most of the ice chunks missed their mark, but a few slammed into Vero and Vy before dispersing into spent mana. No dust was stirred in the attack, so Michael saw a flash of red sparks as the ice bounced off a barrier around Vero's skin. Vy was struck and fell back.

  "For a sneak attack," Vero said, "You used far too little force." In the span of an instant, maroon mana gathered around Vero's hand before firing forth a lance of power. The further it traveled the faster it moved,until it slammed into Michael's chest like a lightning bolt!

  Instead of being knocked back, like Michael expected, searing pain shot through him. For a moment it felt like numerous lacerations all over his skin. The pain lingered and Michael read the spells intent, to paralyze him with pain.

  Vero sauntered towards Michael, a victorious aire about him. The Sorcerer seemed to be certain he'd already won, but he underestimated Michael's endurance.

  Fire exploded from Michael's feet to propel him forth and he delivered a right uppercut, elemental earth surrounding his fist for the moment of impact. The sudden attack was absorbed by Vero's ward. The shower of red sparks lit up barrier with dazzling mana lines for a moment, and Vero flinched.

  Michael pressed his attack, slashing at Vero. His ward repelled the blow and knocked Michael back, but the enemy sorcerer also staggered away, "Gah! Cease your futile struggling!" Vero said, "My spell won't be broken."

  "If that were true, you would not be afraid." Michael said, moving back into his stance.

  "We'll see." Vero lifted one hand and began to cast another spell, sending a crackling grasping hand that swiped with clawed fingers.

  Michael managed to destroy the spell with a surge powered slash, "Are all of your spells one use or something?" He questioned.

  Vero cast another spell, evoking a small cloud of spikes to assail Michael. "I've created dozens, each with a different weakness. You'll never overcome my archive of sorceries."

  Michael ignored the weak attacks and threw the Oronbyr, causing it to spin it's dark energy to life. "Should have made no weaknesses." Michael said.

  The Dark Chakram technique cut through the air towards Vero. As the attack struck a violent flash of red sparks mixed with the shadowy spiral of energy. In a show of force, Michael's anti-sorcerer technique shattered Vero's ward and knocked the maniacal magic user to the ground. The Oronbyr spun through the air and embedded into a crystal.

  Vero coughed and removed his mask to suck in air, "You broke my ward." He said, standing up, "But now you've lost your sword. And you don't have another one, do you?" Vero smirked.

  This was the first time Michael had seen Vero's face without a guise or mask. The sorcerer had angled features with skin a shade paler than Velicio's. There was a slight purple tint to it, they must be Aaphuso, like Den. Or perhaps half breeds like Yan and Michael.

  Michael looked into Vero's smug brown eyes, then chuckled. Vero's smirk faltered, "You think I've lost my sword? You're dead wrong." Michael said. He glanced over to the Oronbyr, "I can recover..." He trailed off.

  Vy, or rather the Revenant, stood holding the Oronbyr. It had managed to pry it free from the crystal while Michael was inspecting Vero. Vy looked awkward holding a weapon, but also had a dangerous sheen in her eyes.

  Vero cackled, an unrefined shrill imparting his amusement, "You can recover it any time? Then by all means, enjoy yourself." Vero cast a spell that lifted him up atop a pillar of crystal, "Vy, this is the man that killed your beloved King." Vero said.

  Vy's eyes narrowed as she became fixated on Michael. Holding the Oronbyr with a unskilled hand, she snarled, "I'll eviscerate your corpse, heathen!"

  "Woah." Michael said, taken back. The Revenant charged and went for a sword attack. It was sloppy, Michael dodged without much effort, but the Revenant kept trying.

  Atop his perch of safety, Vero cackled in glee. "The tables have turned, Michael. Not used to killing intent? If only you had a sword to parry with." He mocked.

  "Not so bad." Michael said, avoiding another failed swing. "I've felt worse animosity, and faced better fighters."

  Michael swung a cupped hand towards Vy and flexed open his fingers, releasing a ball of energy he'd held flexed. The expanding Surge made Vy stumble back and flail her arms. In that moment Michael pried open her hand and reclaimed the Oronbyr, pushing away Vy with a blast of wind.

  The smug smirk on Vero's face faded into a scowl, and he donned his mask. "Stop playing around, puppet, use your magic."

  Something changed in Vy's demeanor and she stood up again. Despite her unkempt appearance, she seemed to have a threatening presence. Twisted mana began to pool around her, the black swirls of the Revenant inhabiting her. "Swordplay, Elemancy, Rhoko." Vy said in a far away voice, "All is feeble before Calling."

  "Yeah..." Michael said, "Well, you weren't using it right anyways." Michael struck the ground, emitting Dark Blade towards Vy. The cracks zipped along the ground, only to be blocked by a barrier. The energy launch from Michael's technique went nowhere.

  Vero chuckled, "Now now, no interrupting the best part." He chided. Michael glared.

  "Glimmering, shining, piercing..." Vy chanted, "Ceaseless rage above. Scour the lands, burn the soil, let loose your blazing fury." Her voice echoed, amplified as she summoned power together, "I Call upon the Light!"

  Far above the Hidden Kingdom, the Shards of the Sky that can be seen on no maps, the light of the suns still pierced the sky. It was a docile light, until Called forth above Michael and Vy. The air shifted, and the light was magnified all around them. Colorful shadows stretched out towards Michael, the diluted refractions of the Shards and crags of crystal all around. Michael attempted another attack, only to be blocked once more by Vero’s warding sorceries.

  Michael sent a surge slash at Vero to test him, and found that he was indeed also protected by his ward. Vero cackled and Vy's Call intensified.

  The light on it's own was no great threat, but as it magnified so too did the heat around Michael. In his heavy clothes and extra padding, Michael began to sweat. He felt soaked in heat and sweat, and his lips felt chapped. This wouldn't do him any good to continue like this.

  He couldn't tear open his shirt, so Michael tried water. Conjuring forth water nearby was simple at this point, but it too grew warm under the magnified rays of light. Water alone was not enough. He needed Ice.

  Michael started to feel dizzy, sore, and stumbled. He could hear a faint shrill sound, Vero cackling above. Vy's chanting as well seemed to hum about him. These distractions Michael pushed from his mind. He needed Ice. He focused on the coldest thing he had ever felt.

  The darkness of that place, trapped alone with that man. Though his eyes were red and yellow, they were cold and heartless.

  Deep purple octahedrons formed around Michael, four icy stones that gave off a chilling mist. Though they were colder than Michael had ever felt, their chill melded with the heat enough to feel comfortable. It was a little chilly.

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  Michael unleashed Dark Wind at Vy, to test if Vero's ward remained. The attack was diverted, though Michael got the feeling he could break it if he had to. From his perch above Vero gave a halfhearted chuckle, "So, you've improved at Elemancy. You've beaten the heat."

  "So I have." Michael said, waving one hand to make his ice stones orbit about him. He didn't want them to be targeted.

  "Very good." Vero said, "But did you really think that heat was the effect of her attack? Calling takes time to activate."

  As if brought forth by Vero's words, Michael noticed the tips of colored shadows converging on him. Within those shadowy centers were bright white dots... Michael threw himself to the side.

  Beams of concentrated light blasted the ground, turning the stone surface red and black with condensed heat! They struck where Michael had been, but also in several places around the clearing. The beams began to move towards Michael, converging to blast him to death.

  Michael swerved and dodged the pillars of light. True to their form, the beams of light were fast. Not too fast for Michael, he swerved out of the way of a red beam and then a green one. The light bore the color of the shards they were magnified through. Perhaps Michael could sunder them to end their beams, but no. To break them was to invite crystals to crush him. Avoiding beams and falling crystals did not appeal.

  As Michael sought an opening to strike Vero, the dancing pillars of blazing color caught up to him. A yellow light struck one of his orbiting ice stones, melting it into naught in just seconds. There was no window to strike out at Vero, and to flee would not resolve anything this time. Michael saw no escape routes anyways.

  He needed to take a risk. It felt too early to use his technique, but there was no longer time to be holding back. Michael focused on dodging for the time being, looking for a chance to attack. The beams were too strong now, and as the battle wore on they seemed to only get stronger. Where red and black scars were blasted into the grounds, in some areas the rock started to liquefy. There were no openings.

  “I’ll make one.” Michael muttered. He charged towards Vy, and one of her beams moved to intercept. Michael sent an ice stone crashing into the beam, causing a small cloud of mist to obscure him for just a moment, diluting the power of the light. Michael clutched the Oronbyr with both hands and pulled the force of his will together around it.

  Rivulets of darkness began to pour out of his sword, shadowy tendrils that spiked out from every facet of the Divine Sword’s black crystalline surface. While obelisks of light gathered near, humming a requiem of bright fury, Michael called forth a conflux of darkest shadows. “Dark Aura.” Michael said, unleashing the power of Morrofyr’s sword in purest form. Vero looked shaken, stepping back on his overlook.

  He couldn’t use Dark Chakram here or risk revealing his other card, so Michael struck the air in front of him. His sword cracked the air like a pane of glass as he unleashed his technique, even as the light neared him, “Dark Wind!” Would it be fast enough?

  A cone of super powered shadowy gales rushed forth and smashed Vero’s ward to oblivion, spreading wide in a show of raw force. The attack struck the possessed Caller, lifting her from her trance and slamming her back. Vy did not have the stamina or endurance that Velicio did, and collapsed in a heap. Faint glowing runes shone from her body, emergency wards perhaps. Whether they were Vero’s or Vy’s, Michael did not know.

  Flame and heat struck Michael with all the rage of the suns! For a moment he felt the whole world burn, then the pain subsided. Vy’s Called light filtered away, the magnification ending as she lost consciousness. It took longer than Michael would have liked, leaving him feeling like a toasted snack around the campfire.

  “Well,” Vero said, “Well, well... well done. You’ve gotten stronger than I ever expected.” He did not sound pleased about it.

  Michael stretched his shoulders and pointed his sword at Vero, “You’re next.”

  “Overcoming even the mighty ritual of a Caller.” Vero said, his hands moving before him. He was manipulating deep maroon mana, forming a Sorcery perhaps? Michael gathered his strength to ready his next action. “She put up more of a fight than I expected, don’t get me wrong, but in all her bravado she overlooked the most important detail.”

  “And what’s that?” Michael asked, lowering his sword, ready to throw it or ignite the ground with energy at a moment’s notice.

  “Calling? Ancient magic? Greater than all others?” Vero said with a snide sneer, “A boorish joke. As if any form of magic, any form of combat, can stand up to the sheer... supremacy... of Sorcery!” Vero thrust his hands skyward, casting his fresh formed Sorcery above. Glimmers of light that had faded away resurfaced with a fury faster than any Caller could muster.

  Vero brought the beams of light back, with a vengeance!

  Three craters had dug themselves into the walls of one battleground within the stone landscape. Three times Velicio had moved to close the distance between herself and Sebastian, only to be forced to dodge from the concussive blast of an Aero Crystal. Each one could have torn a hole in her body, and each time Velicio managed to get ever closer to Sebastian and Yan.

  “You only have three shots left!” Velicio said, “Then you are dead!”

  Sebastian frowned, the instinct to talk back drowned out by the truth in her words. He had yet to overcome her speed, and if he waited too long she would close the gap. If it weren’t for Yan’s reflexes, he would already be dead. She could interpret Velicio’s movements better than he.

  “This plan is doomed to fail.” Sebastian said, speaking in a hushed tone.

  "Do you have a better idea?" Yan asked. She held one hand on Sebastian's elbow, ready to squeeze if he needed to fire a crystal. He could summon more force than anyone in the group when it came to the elements.

  "I'm working on it." Sebastian said. He examined the surroundings for something more to use. There were many types of crystals around, but he was not versed in their uses. Only the basics came to mind, elemental crystals and what little they'd learned about combat crystals.

  Two figures appeared in Sebastians periphery. Hyato in his white acrobatic suit and red mantle, and Rex in his full plate of black armor. What were they doing together?

  Yan squeezed Sebastian's elbow and he unleashed a blast of earth mana as they had practiced. The Aero Crystal shot towards Velicio, who had rushed out in the moment of distraction. She dodged at the last possible moment, the crystal cutting through the brigandine armor at her side and drawing blood. The Aero Crystal slammed into the stone hill with concussive force, letting out a shockwave of winds that imitated a tremor. Small stones were launched out from the craterous indentation it left on impact.

  Velicio took cover behind a crystal growth, but she was much closer now. Just one or two bounds away, and they could only retreat at a slow pace. Sebastian only had two shots left, lining up the next Aero Crystal to be ready to fire.

  The crystals that had already been fired lost their potency. Within those craters makeshift ordinances had crumbled into pale gray color crystal fragments. All the power they once held lost. If Sebastian could not finish off Velicio with these two shots, it was game over.

  Or was it? Sebastian blinked as an idea struck him. It was time to change tactics.

  "Well this looks interesting." Rex shouted, drawing his sword and rushing towards the impact site.

  "Stop!" A feminine voice called, Fara's voice. Rex did not heed her, and Sebastian watched as the armored figure charged out with Hyato on his tail.

  Sebastian's fears were realized before they formed as Velicio charged out towards Rex and Hyato. Whatever happened, he couldn't allow her to take control of the situation. Sebastian let loose another crystal, launching it at Velicio with maximum force!

  Velicio spun at the last moment with her arm outstretched, an elemental Vibe engulfing her hand. She caught the launched Aero Crystal, allowing it to push her back a few feet as she slowed the projectile. In a show of power, Velicio closed her grip and stopped the crystal short.

  "Well... Fuck." Sebastian said. Velicio smirked, a smug sense of victory on her face. She fired the held vibe and launched the crystal back. Even at half speed from being fired once, the crystal slammed into Sebastian with a resounding crack and launched him back. He flew through the air for a moment and fell.

  Water engulfed Sebastian as he fell into a creek. The small water flow was a mere foot deep, but Sebastian's chest was burning in too much pain. He couldn't move, couldn't breathe. Would he drown like this, in this facsimile of a puddle?

  Sebastian's gruesome thoughts ended as he was pulled from the creek and felt air touch his lips. He sucked in a breath and focused on recovery.

  "You alright?" Yan asked.

  "Yeah," Sebastian coughed, sitting up and looking around. He sat amongst a cluster of crystals of various types. A Pyro Crystal warmed him as he sat in soaked clothing. To his left the Hydro Crystal that spawned the creek was perched atop a cluster of stone growing out of a Terra Crystal. "This works."

  "Things are getting worse again." Yan said, drawing Sebastian's gaze.

  Desperate battle had broken out before them. Rex slammed into Velicio and unleashed a wild swing. His attack went wide, avoided by Velicio and almost striking Hyato at the same time. Velicio reacted with a staff strike to the air, creating a wind burst enhanced by a surge that struck all three of Rex's group, as well as Hyato and Wolf. Evan and Fara moved back in retreat, but the other four warriors all entered the melee. Hyato and Wolf seemed to be focused on Velicio, but Rex used huge greatsword techs with no regard for any around him.

  "This could get bad." Sebastian said, bracing one arm on the Hydro Crystal to stand up, "I need to stop this before it gets any worse."

  "This can get worse?" Yan asked, tracking the battle as she looked for a way to help, "How?"

  Black wind exploded through a crystal wall, and with the flying fragments came Michael running into the battlefield. A wave of heat rolled in with him, followed by multicolored beams of light that scorched the ground in an erratic chase. Vero's cackling punctuated the violent hum of his lightshow as he arrived with a battered Vy in tow.

  Sebastian glared at Yan, "Did you have to say that?"

  "I didn't, it's not because of me that... It would have happened anyways." Yan protested. She looked worried at the battle unfolding and Michael's arrival.

  "Go help." Sebastian said, "I'll be right there." Yan nodded and rushed out towards Michael.

  Yan wasn't the only one running towards Michael. Vero still gave chase, taking careful steps while dragging Vy along on a floating crystal. The beams of light scoured the battle as well, following Michael and spreading out at the same time. Hyato rushed towards Michael too, but none matched the fervor and fury of the Ebony Armored Bounty Hunter.

  Rex abandoned his indiscriminate slash to charge at Michael, "You're mine!" He snarled with zealous focus. With each heavy step he let out a surge to propel him forth, crossing the expanse between them like a stampede. Though Rex had been farther than the others, his fervor and force carried him towards Michael faster than any other.

  Hyato and Wolf diverted to rush towards Rex, while Fara shouted for him to cease, but Rex drowned out the distractions and slammed into Michael at a full sprint. The enormous armored Kuldo tackled at the last moment, exploding a burst of energy as his reflective armor collided into Michael’s fleeing form.

  Michael had only just registered that Rex was even present when he was thrown back. No time to react, Michael braced himself for a heavy impact on the ground, and felt blistering heat instead. The two tumbled into a beam of light and let out cries of pain!

  White hot pain seared Michael, and he thrashed in agony to get away from the fires. He felt a heavy impact to his chest and rolled along the ground as his assailant experienced a similar system shock. Scrambling to hit feet, Michael lunged away in a random direction until he felt the pain of the light beams no more, blinking until his eyes adjusted.

  "You're on fire Michael!" Yan called. Michael blinked again and noticed the flames. For a moment he panicked and patted himself, then he regained his sense of control and doused the flames with elemancy.

  Rex escaped the beam of light he had crashed into with Michael and unleashed a heavy surge slash that tore through the air. It sundered the crystal that Vero's beam originated from, darkening half of the light rays on the battlefield. "Evan!" Rex roared, "Kill the Sorcerer!"

  Evan loosed an arrow by the end of Rex's command. The sniper's shot crossed the battlefield in a blink, slamming against a sorcerous ward. "No matter." Evan said, drawing another arrow. This time he shot the arrow with a surge, bringing to life a spinning energy around his attack. The arrow slipped through Vero's barrier.

  Vero took an arrow to the knee, letting out a frustrated grunt, but maintained his beam spell. Vero returned his focus to Michael, while Velicio turned to rush towards Evan. The siblings seemed to be working as a team without needing to speak. Vero focused on the target, Michael, while spreading out beams to keep others back. While Vero was being targeted, Velicio moved to take out the aggressor.

  Evan fired another shot, but was forced to dodge as a staff wielding Velicio intruded on his space. Fleet of feet as they were, neither could outspeed the other. Evan muttered curses in fear and frustration, dodging for his life and unable to attack back in time.

  Velicio snapped her staff forward and thunked Evan on the side of the head, hard enough to knock him down. She swept forth with another strike, hearing the ringing of metal as it came down. Wolf, swords crossed to block, arrived just in time, “We aren’t done yet.” The Phanokai Champion said.

  “I don’t have time for you,” Velicio said, shoving Wolf back. He didn’t budge, pushing back with equal force.

  “Not giving you a choice.” Wolf ignited his swords with fire and lightning, which made Velicio jump back. She avoided the initial shock, but Wolf swung forward to hit with his elemental force.

  Instead of retreating further, Velicio charged forth towards Evan as Wolf did his attack. Through her charge, she avoided the majority of the blow, forcing Wolf to once again go defensive and put himself between Velicio and Evan. The sniper, in the meantime, tried to back away further.

  “Do your job, Evan!” Rex snapped, shooting a glare his way. Evan grumbled and focused, ignoring the enemy trying to kill him, and the enemy trying to save him. He took up his bow and aimed, leveling the point for a moment at a certain ebony helmet.

  Evan aimed his arrow and fired, shooting an energy bolstered arrow at Vero. Once more, the shot pierced his wards, breaking through and grazing the mad sorcerer. Despite being sniped, Vero retained focus and drew his light beams closer to Michael, continuing to force his opponent to weave around the battlefield.

  As Michael dodged, Rex pursued. The colorful beams of light that scorched the air served a dual purpose, chasing and defending Michael both. Rex could not proceed without putting himself in harm’s way again. As the moments passed, his frustration grew more intense. He cared not for how many people paid him mind.

  Hyato crept closer to the large armored Kuldo, trying his best to imitate a ninja as he made his way towards Rex. He looked for an opening in his foe’s armor, waiting for a chance to strike.

  “This battle.” Sebastian said from far afield, “It has too many variables.” He gathered a few crystals together, assessing the field.

  Michael was caught in Vero’s trap, moving about without focus. It seemed to be all he could do to avoid being burned. Rex pursued him, a relentless fervor. He did not seem to be in the state of mind to listen to reason.

  Yan had rushed forth for Michael when he first arrived but was now holding back, looking for a way to enter the fray. Hyato sought to take out Rex, in defense of Michael perhaps.

  Evan was attacking Vero with increasing accuracy. His shots could pierce the wards, but went off course when they did. Velicio was trying to stop Evan, but caught up in battle with Wolf. Fara was moving as well, for what purpose Sebastian could not glean. The Sennish healer was headed towards Rex and Hyato. That left Vy, the Revenant, wounded and inactive behind Vero’s wards.

  “Vero. If we can take him down, everything will fall into place.” Sebastian said, stepping forth. “Yan, I have a plan.”

  In the heat of combat, time proceeded at a crawl. As adrenaline and energy coursed through them, combatants found themselves reacting to things they registered in the span of a heart beat. With enough skill and training, that heightened state could make someone aware of an attack on instinct. The instinct to survive, or to shed blood, it didn’t matter what it was. The greater a warrior’s expertise, the greater their chances of experiencing these moments.

  Rex lifted his sword and turned, just in time to deflect a small knife traveling at high speed. As he looked back he saw the little wolf girl, her hand surrounded in a cone of emerald green wind. Rex wondered if he had awakened that sense just then.

  “You’ll need better aim to slip through my armor.” Rex gloated, half watching both the girl and his quarry.

  “Then have another.” Yan said, flicking her wrist and launching another kunai knife. The blade soared towards Rex’s breastplate, so he didn’t bother dodging. At the last moment the kunai curved, a thin trail of wind tethered to it. The edge of the knife turned up and cut through a joint in the armpit, making Rex wince and recoil as it dug into his flesh.

  “Damn you!” Rex swung his sword at Yan to launch a surge slash, which Yan sidestepped without any effort. Rex fumed but did not attack further, eyeing Michael as he continued to dodge Vero’s spell. The man must be close to tiring by now.

  No opening broke in Vero's attack, and Yan didn't let up either. From just far enough away to be a hassle, Yan launched another three kunai on wind tethers. The knives swerved midair to attack Rex in the joints of his armor.

  Rex dodged and swatted away the kunai before they cut him again, but Yan kept throwing more to harass him further. Rex raged as kunai orbited around him as they waited to strike.

  As Yan pestered Rex, Hyato crept forth. The big man was distracted now, he could knock him out with a single blow. Hyato gathered as much energy as he could, red force swirling around the hand he kept on the hilt of his sheathed sword. The red force condensed until it was almost solid, the strongest energy Hyato had made. This was his chance to change what happened, and he was not about to miss it.

  Hyato drew his sword with all his might and bounced back to the ground. His landing was soft, springy somehow, but he let out a groan and clutched his arm. The incomplete release of energy pulled the muscles of his right shoulder, and his sword hung half out of his sheathe as he looked around in confusion.

  Pale pink bars surrounded Hyato in a cube shaped cage. The gaps between the bars were enough to stick a hand out, but not a foot or an arm. The bars were below him as well, feeling sturdy enough to remain rooted, but soft so he didn’t hurt himself. “What is this?” Hyato wondered.

  “I can’t believe I had to use that on you,” a woman said. Just outside the cage was the Senne woman that was traveling with Rex, she sounded like she was twenty or thirty despite being as short as many children. That’s just how Senne were. “I was saving that item for transporting the actual target.” Fara said.

  “Listen!” Hyato said, pushing himself against the cage closest to Fara and causing her to step back in caution. “Listen! You need to stop Rex, or get him out of here.”

  Fara recovered her poise, “Look, I know you are upset about your friend’s bounty, but he is a criminal and needs to face justice.” She said, “We won’t kill him, we are taking him in. The Sorcerer too. Just because he uses Sorcery doesn’t mean he should be hated, that’s a boorish stereotype.”

  “That’s not important!” Hyato said, “Flee. You need to-”

  “Shush!” Fara said, snapping a finger. The cage wiggled, and the words Hyato spoke did not escape them. She turned away to watch the battle, hoping this stoic swordsman wouldn’t figure out how to open the cage. Well, he wasn’t quite as stoic as usual.

  As Rex was harried by Yan’s attacks, Vero cackled from his newest perch. Wolf and Velicio continued to be locked in a stalemate. Wolf did his best to distract Velicio to let Evan fire, but he was unable to let loose like normal. Evan, for his part, managed to get a few pot shots off. None of his arrows built up enough force to do much against Vero.

  Then, as the battle seemed to be attrition on all sides, two crystal Shards cracked above Michael. The Shards had been the foci for the beam sorcery, and all but three of the pillars of heat and light flickered out in that moment. Vero flinched and looked around for the source of the sabotage.

  Several things happened at once. Vero spotted the saboteur, Sebastian was beneath the Shards bearing crystals of his own. Vero shifted the focus of his beams towards him. At almost the same moment Rex made his move, lunging towards Michael fist first now that the beams of light were gone. Michael threw himself to the side, but Rex’s punch hit his shoulder and sent Michael tumbling with a clattering noise.

  Then red sparks of light shone at the back of Vero’s head and his neck, while he let out a groan of agony. Three of Yan’s Kunai reached Vero in the same moment. Two hit stronger defenses, emergency wards Vero had placed on himself. The third dug into his back, ending his attempts to burn Sebastian in the same breath they began.

  “Heh heh, got you now.” Rex said, looming over Michael. He lifted his fist to deliver another blow when acrid smoke bloomed out from nearby. The object that had been knocked loose when Rex punched Michael had slid into one of the remaining beams, and was now burning with noxious flames. Rex recoiled from the fire as the cloth burned away to reveal the hidden item beneath.

  Laying in a bed of dying flames was the wicked blue bladed sword Michael brought on Mystia’s behest. The sword once wielded by Mexizu himself. Michael rose to his feet and moved away from Rex while he could, wondering how to transport the sword without that Annoph cloth.

  Through an onslaught of arrows and even a sneak strike by Kunai, Vero had managed to maintain his beam spell. The moment he laid eyes on the sword Michael dropped, his sorcery ended. “The sword...” Vero said, “The Sword! Velicio! Get the Sword!”

  “They had it!?” Velicio exclaimed. She turned and sprinted away from Wolf, rushing towards the fallen armament. Michael was the closest, but remembered Mystia’s warning and backed away. He had no intention of being the first to pick up that sword.

  As Michael moved back, Rex’s attention shifted away from Michael. Upon seeing Vero and Velicio drop everything for the sword that had just been revealed, Rex sensed an opportunity. He dashed forth to claim the sword for himself, reaching it before anyone else.

  Rex picked up the fallen sword to examine it, wondering what kind of weapon could excite a Sorcerer. A powerful foci, an Artifact? Who could say? Even though he claimed it first, Velicio continued to charge for him, so Rex turned to face her and brandished the indigo weapon. “Too late, this baby is all...” Rex trailed off, an abrupt stillness in his stance.

  Velicio reached Rex moments before Wolf. Both the Purple Knight and the Amber Champion reached out to disarm Rex and take the sword. "What are you doing?!" Michael cried out in vain.

  Wolf and Velicio tried to both pry the sword away from Rex. It appeared to be a contest of strength between the strongest member of each party, but it became clear that Rex was not putting up a fight. Velicio wrenched open Rex's hand and grabbed the sword handle, while Wolf latched on to the edgeless back of the blade itself. Wolf managed to overpower Velicio and tug the sword away, eliciting a look of shock from the knight. Then, they both flinched and shook.

  A sharp crack silenced the sounds of struggle as deep blue arcs of lightning bounced between the sword and the three fighting for it. Wolf and Velicio shook with pain as the buzzing power struck them, and Rex staggered back once the electric current that kept him stunned had been torn away. A ball of lightning formed around the sword where the blade's base and it's purple guard met.

  All three warriors vying for the sword let go and recoiled in pain and fear. The sword of Mexizu dropped to the ground, falling point first. As the blade struck stone the ball of lightning burst in all directions, expanding to engulf the sword, then the three around it, before exploding in all directions! Humming electric force pulsed out over the entire battlefield, causing a sharp pain to course through everyone for a moment.

  The buzzing lightning blinded them in a flash and made everyone's hair stick out as they cried out in pain. Almost everyone cried out, Michael looked around at the others in apprehension.

  The violent electric force made his teeth buzz and his hair spike up, but he had felt no pain. Yan and Fara were nearby and had yelped in pain. Others too let seemed to be struggling, including Vero, as the pulse of lightning ebbed away into naught. Michael had not been harmed, and one other also seemed undamaged.

  Vy stood up. Bruised and battered she looked undead as she rose. Any other would need serious medical attention to keep moving, but Vy surged forth with a zealous focus. One arm slumped down and walking on a twisted leg, the Revenant dragged herself forth towards the sword that now stuck a foot into the ground.

  The Revenant pushed Vero aside, causing the Sorcerer to snap out of his pained daze, and trudged on at a slow pace. Michael watched as Vero came to his senses, so Michael moved over and shook Yan by the shoulder.

  Looking dazed, Yan blinked several times and shook her head. She looked up at Michael, "Thanks." She said, then smirked, "Your hair looks like a sea urchin."

  "I don't know what that is." Michael said, reaching up to touch his static spiked hair, "But you have an afro."

  "What?!" Yan felt at her poofed up hair and tried to smooth it down as Michael moved over to rouse Fara. She may be part of Rex's crew, but she didn't deserve to be left there. Fara blinked and looked around when she was roused, giving a small nod of thanks.

  After fixing her hair, Yan created three tiny dirt clods with Elemancy and threw them. Surrounded by the jutsu she used to control her kunai, she struck Wolf, and Sebastian to wake them from their daze. When she didn’t see Hyato she frowned as she looked around.

  Vy dragged herself up to the sword in the ground, causing Wolf to back away. The twisted remnant of a person reached forth and grabbed the sword with her strong arm. She struggled for a moment, tugging at the sword with a futile display of strength, before the sword itself gave off another burst of lightning. Much smaller than the first, the blast freed it from the stone, and roused those who had remained dazed.

  The Revenant brandished the sword, giving off a menacing aire that sent palpable fear out like an arkpulse. Rex, Velicio, and Wolf all retreated farther away, the latter moving over near Yan and Michael. “That sword...” Wolf said, “It’s like yours, Michael.”

  “What do you mean?” Michael asked.

  “It rejected me...” Wolf said, “Pain just for trying to wield it. It must only obey its Master.”

  Michael frowned, looking at the Revenant in her pose brandishing the sword. She had used the Oronbyr just fine, Michael had forgotten that others could not use his sword.

  Vero cackled, a dark hollow laugh that echoed throughout the area. “Good. Good!” He said, “Now, you shall learn what true power is. Vy! Destroy these interloping bounty hunters!”

  The Revenant lifted her sword, gathering power around her that began to thrum like the lightning from before. Her gaze moved to Rex, Fara, and Evan as she focused on her new targets. Evan recoiled away, moving behind a crystal growth. Fara clenched her jaw and gathered mana together, preparing a spell.

  Rex was much closer, and the wave of gathered force pushed against him. He drew his sword, and blue mist began to flow off his ebony armor as he flexed energy around him. “True power, huh. If that’s what you really want.” Rex said, the emotion gone from his voice.

  Vy lifted the sword of Mexizu skyward, gathering a dangerous force around it. The buzz of power darkened the air, and Vy swung the sword.

  The gathered power began to rumble like a rockslide as it moved to follow the swinging sword. The Revenant aimed at Rex with it's furious malevolent gaze and let out a gurgle of rage. The Ebony Armored target, however, was faster.

  With a pivot closer Rex brought his palm up, catching the spiked purple guard with his gauntlet and stopping the swing. With a push Vy toppled back, that chaotic storm of energy dispersing into fading sparks like fireworks. Before Vy fell all the way down Rex swung his greatsword and released his gathered energy, slapping her side with the flat of his blade and sending the woman tumbling in a heap towards Vero and Velicio.

  "Power is skill as much as raw force." Rex said as he faced the Sorcerer and Knight. Vero looked from the fallen Vy to the student of MAW. For a moment he gathered magical energy around him, but paused as Rex shifted his gaze.

  "And the greatest power in this world," Rex said, turning and pointing his sword at Michael, "is money. Whatever else happens, I'll be turning in that bounty."

  "I'm afraid you'll find that was never a possibility." Said the smooth scholar, Sebastian, as he rejoined his party. He carried four crystals in his arms and stood with an eerie calm for someone in the middle of battle. "The bounty was canceled. Even if you brought Michael in, there would be no reward."

  "I'm not going to be tricked by such a poor attempt at deception." Rex said, "You can't talk your way out of this." He started towards them.

  "I have proof." Michael chimed in, reaching into his bag. Rex paused, ready to deflect a sudden thrown weapon, but Michael withdrew a scroll. "Mien gave me this, he was the one who told us the bounty was canceled."

  Michael opened the scroll to show it, and Fara approached to take a look. Her eyes darted from the words written to the official seal. She cast a small spell, causing the scroll to light up along the edges. "This is real." She said, looking up at Rex. "This is an official document, Rex..."

  "Are... You serious?" Rex asked, his shoulders slumping.

  Fara checked again, then gave a slow nod. "It's... It's real. The bounty was canceled, and," She took a breath, "The date marked here is the day before we first caught up to them in the mountains." She said, cringing.

  Rex leaned back and stumbled as if struck in the forehead. He stared up at nothing in silent shock for a long moment, then let out a breath. "No." He whispered. "No. No no no..."

  His fist tightened around his sword and Rex slammed it into the ground with tremendous force, "This is fucking bullshit!" He roared, causing enough of a tremor to make Fara wince and other hop back to take defensive stances.

  The outburst caused a crystal to fall loose from a shard towards Vero, which Velicio knocked aside. She glared at Rex and moved towards him, but Vero held out a hand to stop her.

  Rex punched the ground and roared again, slamming the ground several times, "No! No! No!" He snarled, "Do you know how much money I spent on this venture?! Months of work saving up, all siphoned into the trash!"

  With a loud clank he dropped onto his knees, his enraged complaints still commanding the full attention of those around, "This was supposed to be my break! Such a high profile bounty with such a high reward! My third feat of strength to become a Myrrhmidon, and make serious Gil at the same time."

  The fury around Rex was growing, energy gathering around his arms as they trembled with rage. "I, Rex, I..." He seethed, "I slayed a Dragon in Anamos. I killed a Greater Mist Demon in Keenafrio. I did those things," he punched his chestplate, "Me! I am important! I am strong!" He rose to his feet and gripped his greatsword in both hands, raising it above his head, "I deserved this!"

  Rex brought his sword crashing to the ground with all his might, exploding energy and fury into his attack. He struck a red combat crystal growth, and stung the air with a resounding cacophony of crackling crystal and breaking metal. His sword and the crystal shattered, and Rex stood panting over the wreckage he wrought.

  Shaking her head, Yan leaned over to the others and whispered, "Geez. This guy has some anger issues."

  "Yeah, his tantrums are almost as bad as Dark Michael." Wolf said.

  "Hey..." Michael said, "Lay off. I don't want him to come out."

  Fara approached Rex, raising up to her tiptoes to pat him on the shoulder. Despite his armor being in the way, Rex deflated a bit from the gesture. "You all done?" Fara asked. Rex sighed, silent for a moment as he gathered the will to speak.

  A sharp clap rang out, and hollow laughter as Vero clapped again to draw attention. "How quaint. Touching, really. Stop. You'll move me to tears." He said, dripping with sarcasm. Rex growled.

  "You've really proven yourself there, Rex. It's clear to me and all else what you truly desire. You claim to seek money, to seek fame and glory. To hone your skills and become a Myrrhmidon." Vero pointed at Rex and his tone grew serious, "But none of that will fill the void, Rex. Because I know what you want, and you will never achieve it as a Myrrhmidon. Your ambition is too great for them, your true objective cannot be reached by Gil or skill."

  Rex faced Vero, but waited to hear his words. The Sorcerer lifted the struggling body of the Revenant with the flick of his hand. "If you truly wanted money, you would have become a merchant. If it was skill you sought there are many skill schools in every city. Your fixation on money and rank are distractions clouding your path." Vero indicated the bandit woman next to him, and the sword she yet grasped. "That which you desire, Rex, is Power. You cannot tell me I am wrong."

  Brandishing the fractured hilt of his greatsword, Rex stepped closer to Vero. "No," He said, "You're not wrong. But who cares?"

  "The kind of power you seek, to be beyond the reach of consequence and law, is not so easily attained. To be able to sweep aside those that bother you, to claim whatever you seek, such is a power only my Lord has achieved." Vero's voice grew to a fervent chant, "To this day his might is unrivaled, even in our age of adventurers, none are greater than Lord Mexizu."

  Arms raised in praise, Vero took a moment to breathe as Rex waited with bated breath. Vero's gaze lowered to meet Rex, "And that power, True Power, is something you can attain. It is within reach." Vero reached forth, "Rex. Join me."

  Fara frowned and tried to speak, only to find she had no words. A sly sorcery around her dampening her sound. She made a swift motion to disrupt the mana around her and ended the spell, and could hear again. A rattling drew her attention back, and she turned to look at the cage only she could see.

  Pressed up against the bars of the pink cage the swordsman, Hyato, was rattling and screaming. The silence she had cast was not broken, but the man was trying to pry open the bars by force. Fara took a few steps closer to be in range and canceled the silence effect. "Stop! Don't do it! Stop Rex!" Hyato cried, voice hoarse from screaming. Fara turned back with an astonished expression. She was the only one who could hear or see Hyato, because of the cage spell.

  Before Fara could intervene, Rex nodded and extended his hand. "Alright, I'll at least see what you have to offer."

  Vero clutched Rex's hand, then grabbed Vy's hand and pressed it into Rex's grip. "As if you have a choice." Vero pulled his hand back, leaving sorcerous chains tying Vy to Rex.

  "Sorcerer! What is this?" Rex exclaimed.

  "This is the beginning, Rex." Vero said, brandishing a knife. "Of something great." Vero plunged the knife into Vy's head, ending her life before she drew another breath.

  Freed from the confines of flesh, twisted dark spiritual force spilled from the bandit caller's warm corpse. Rex tried to pull away, but the Revenant crawled up his arm like a swarm of insects. The spiritual force that had used Vy and many others as unwilling hosts since Michael released it now engulfed the mighty Rex. As darkness surrounded him, Rex screamed.