As Ifrit roared out his fury, I charged forward and drew Phoenix Heart at the same time. I delivered a power break and followed the horizontal slash with an overhead armor break. Ifrit reeled back then tried to swipe at me with those foot long talons. Azarael slammed into him from the side with a round house following that with a flying spin kick. Ifrit was knocked off balance by the surprise attack. He fired a fireball at Azarael in retaliation but I blocked it with a swing of my sword. Swatting the fireball back at Ifrit, Azarael took the opening to drive through the flames, he swung a wild haymaker and connected with his jaw. I had to admit, Azarael had skill. I didn't like the fact that i admire his smooth flow as he went on the offense then switched to defense with practiced ease.
As the man beat back Ifrit, literally, I could feel the temperature dropping as Musaki worked hard to put out the fire that tried to burn down the forest. Esqueezeme shot another buff round at Azarael. I knew she was giving him defense and attack buffs as well as fire resistance but it still shocked Azarael every time she shot him. The look on his face was entertaining. I dodged another fireball and began to focus on debuffing Ifrit.
Musaki burst out of the tree line and turned her back to me. "P.O.G is here, Captain."
"Damn, I had hoped we could avoid them. Azarael, you're on your own. Esqueezeme, keep him alive. I'll help Musaki."
I moved to stand just ahead of my Leftenant. She was grinning as I passed her. "I may have upset them." She whispered to me. "I figured that out for myself, Leftenant. Maybe I can upset them some more."
The small force of men wearing white uniforms and holding swords broke into their clearing. Their leader pointed at Ifrit and Azarael. "Stop that man!" His minions rushed forth to obey the leader's commands. My actions were immediate as I placed myself right in the path of their forward charge.
"I might have something to say about that." I shouted, interrupting their mad dash towards Azarael. Musaki and I spread out slightly to give each other room to move freely. I held Phoenix Heart in my right hand with little trouble. The blade was as light as a feather. Flames danced lightly along the glowing spine of the blade. I felt a slight chill and glanced quickly at Musaki. She took a fighter's stance her chakrams in her hands. The braided chains wrapped up to each elbow, a perfect guard to protect her better. "Go ranged, I will take care of the front line." I spoke quietly and quickly, Musaki has been with me for a long time, so she knew exactly what I wanted even if it was a short order.
She moved back slightly and loosened her grip on those chakrams, ready to throw them, and whatever blade she possessed as well. "We the People of Gaia, wish the destruction of all religions. You are a heretic and must die." The leader spat out in fury. I laughed at the nearly identical insult I got in Macalania. "I wish they could be original. Oh well, my turn now." I muttered under my breath. "Oy Dumbass, I thought my polite message informed your leaders of me. I guess I needed a stronger message, oh well. You'll do in a pinch. Musaki, leave that one alive." They turned a shade whiter than their uniforms and took a cautious step back from my tiny Leftenant. She began rotating the chakrams slowly in small circles on their chains. As they watched her I shot forward and swung my sword in a wide horizontal arc, taking two by surprise as they died screaming in agony. Musaki did a spin and launched both spinning blades at a group that were bunched up together. They froze solid as the weapons touched them, only to shatter when she yanked the chains and the discs were pulled free and returned, only for her to launch them again. I deftly blocked a sword as a poor fool tried desperately to save himself, only to be killed as I removed his head with a single swing. As we battled our way through them, Azarael was winning the game with Ifrit. Then, as if by fate or some twisted sense of humor, Ifrit roared in fury as he finally spotted the members of P.O.G. He landed in front of me on all fours facing them. Ifrit planted his four massive hands and feet. "Oh, shit. Musaki, get clear!" I backpedaled fast to get out of his way. Musaki ran for the tree line. A massive fireball slammed into P.O.G, once twice. Then he leapt into the air and launched one final fireball at them. He reduced them to ash. We could only watch as Ifrit vented his fury. In that moment the sickening realization that Ifrit was playing with us hit me like a ton of bricks. I glanced at Azarael to see how he was taking this new development. He looked green. I hope he doesn't throw up. Ifrit turned back to us and stared at Azarael for a moment the roared to the sky and vanished in a cloud of black smoke. On the ground, where he was standing a second ago was two matching golden bracers. "I think he gave those to you, kid." I muttered to Azarael in a whisper, hoping P.O.G was no longer in the area. Azarael walked over the gauntlets and picked them up. "Why me? I tried to fight him but he proved to be stronger."
"I don't know, why did Ixion give me a skill, why did Shiva give the chakrams to Musaki? We don't know the minds of these guardian deities. We can only accept and move on to the next mission." I started to walk to the temple. My team fell in behind me. Azarael admired the craftsmanship of the gauntlets as we walked. A symbol was embossed on the top of them and I could feel the heat coming off of them as we walked. The temple itself was barely even scorched. "Ifrit obviously took the fight to them so the monks were spared." I walked up and knocked politely on the door. An aged monk answered the door. "We have no treasure or money sir, tell your leaders to leave us in peace."
"I dealt with them dear Monk, I came as a friend of Macalania and Djose. We are here to make sure you and your disciples are all right."
The monks were surprised to hear that I was sent here by other temples. I spoke to them at length, told them not to worry about the remaining temples, I would see to them as well. I did a lot of ass kissing and made off with what money they had and made plans to send supplies to them. Win-win.
Azarael glared at me as we walked back to the docks where we parked the shuttle. I could have cared less, I'm a pirate, not a saint. Musaki ran in the shuttle to start up the engines and get ready for take off. I turned to Azarael.
"So, where am I dropping you and your bird off at?"
He started to speak but an explosion from my back yanked me around. Musaki had jerked the shuttle up to avoid the blast but the engines were smoking. She locked eyes with me 'I'm sorry' the words barely left her lips before the shuttle exploded.
"Shani!?" I could hear myself yelling out her name but I knew she wouldn't answer me. My Leftenant and best friend was no longer there.