Arc 4: What families entail
Gray {It's finally done! And just in time for the sunrise!}
While the Athens group and Red Arrows were defeated by Beauregard and the Gravestone Pirates, Gray had spent his night sitting in a frozen cave trying his best to get warm. Without any knowledge of Rosemary, Leo, Julius, or Edwards capture. How their fate is in the hands of the king, a man who would do anything to get what he wants. Gray spent the night waiting out the night itself, as the freezing winds would only grow harsher while the Spirit beasts would become more vicious and powerful. Waiting it out by stitching white pockets into his Leviathan shirt, matching the thick black pockets his jacket had. While also flowing with the wide lined pockets and waist of the pants.
Gray: "Should be safe now."
As he moved toward the rising sun he quakes as loud roaring tremors coated the land. Creating an avalanche of snow to rush down the slightly sloped cave, forcing him down through an ocean of frost.
Gray {Dammit not like this!}
He thrust his arms through the snow while mana poured from his body, shooting the cloak toward the frozen stalactites to grab hold. Yanking the stretched Cloak right after to pull himself through the air and over the blanket of snow. Swinging between each large stalactite, the gooey sticky substance the cloak seemed to be made of easily grabbing hold.
Gray {All I gotta do is think of the cloak as a hand, grasping things around it to hold it in my palm! Visualize and act just like Ryo said!}
As he swung over the rushing snow and toward the light, he heard a crack, and a slam of the ice he was holding onto. Screaming as he plummeted into the snow, pushed, crushed, and blasting with mana to leap to safety. Holding on dearly to another ice spike.
Gray: "Oh thank you stalactite, or stalagmite? I can never remember."
Eventually the snow slowed as it packed onto itself, allowing Gray to move out of the frost cave and into the forest. Staring past the white trees to see the barely risen sun. Chattering to the frost and struggling to breath due to the rising altitudes. Nearing the top of this section of the mountain, the beast High-Tier, and his conviction shaking. But he would pull his Cloak's hood over his head, attempt to focus a small layer of mana around his body, and push on through the wind.
Gray {Feels like everything is freezing!}
So he tried to run to build up some body heat, and continued practicing, jumping lightly into the air before snagging onto a stone thick branch ahead of him. As he swung forward he was pushed all around by the Blizzard encompassing him, strangely getting more and more dense. It became so intense that the cloak itself froze and broke, leaving Gray tumbling to the snow below to stare back in a panic. Sensing a surge of intense Spirit Mana.
Gray: "What the hell is that!?"
A storm that took the shape of a yeti, small red eyes staring forward; It was a Blizzard Beast, a High-Tier Corrupted Spirit. Like most corrupted spirits, it was a cumulation of dead bodies and animals bonded together through loss and anger. Clumping together to form a new entity. Tasting Gray's delicious and enormous amount of corrupted mana, needing it so badly it would give its life to do so. Before it could attack or do anything more than roar Gray had already begun sprinting away, throwing one foot out after another with all of his might. Never turning back, never wavering for a moment, just running and running. Dodging large waves of spiritual, freezing, intensity thrown beside him. Barley lunging side to side, around the trees, up the rising slick hills, just to get away from the beast.
Gray {No no no! Not fightin that not fightin that!}
Again he felt an overwhelming wave of spirit energy slamming behind him, causing him to leap into the air. Wildly trying to aim toward the side of a tree, stepping off of it with his aura of mana to propel himself forward and crush the dense bark.
Gray {No matter how much better I get flying through the air will never not be scary! And it hurts so much!}
Falling and panicking as he spun and spun, he quickly shot the cloak ahead of him to swing forward. Slightly brushing over the snowy floor before arcing into the sky, his arms flying all around in panic while he soared through the thick branches. Before finally falling against a large branch to get himself together, standing and looking out toward the rising mountain.
Gray: "This isn't even the tallest part of the mountain and it's still taking so long to get up here! I'm getting really hungry, I'm thirsty, my body hurts, I keep having to stop! And Ryo is nowhere to be found!"
He sighed, only able to think of what his friends may be going through. With no idea of their true fate, only able to think of the worst and force himself through the air. Pulling in some spirit mana while he flipped through the air, crashing against even more branches before swinging forward. Grabbing hold of a higher tree, wrapping all around it, and flew forward. Slightly swinging against the air to curve around the trees.
Gray: "Swing, release!'
He let go, shooting out the other side of the cloak to barely grab hold of another tree just in front of him. Blasting past it to curve through the forest once again.
Gray: "AGAIN! SWING RELEASE!"
Curving up and flying forward, like his favorite superhero from old, he swung and swung, before trying his best to do something a bit different.
Gray {Alright, Ryo said to try it out, and they do it in games all the time! Now, go!}
Mid-air, with a bit of a clearing ahead, he tried his best to curve straight out like he was swimming through the air. Extended his arms out, tried to flow the cloak with him, and created a moon like crest with it. Trying his best to flow with the wind, only to fall through the air and slam against a thick tree. Sliding all the way down with his fingers and feet breaking down the bark to lay against the snowy hard floor with a bleeding nose.
Gray: "Or not."
Sitting up he could only sigh from the reality of it all, trying to stand and brush off the snow to keep his mind on track. Whether it be Ophelia, Musashi, Kioshi, or Al feeling like they were all watching over him and disappointed in what he was doing. The pain and stress of this constant, overwhelming, and harsh training Ryo was putting him through. All of the extra muscle stretching, bone crushing, and bloody work he was trying to put in. And the burden of his friend's mission to Athens, all culminating in a constant shaking. A constant smile, and focused glint in his eye.
Gray: "Just gotta get up and keep going, over and over again. Shouldn't be too hard."
He took a breath, quickly shifted from the tree so he wouldn't jump right into it like he had a few times before, and leaned toward the floor. Flowing out his mana as he did as lightly as possible, trying to hold the lighter aura to the best of his ability. Licking his chattering lips with a smile before jumping into the air. Off to rise and rise no matter how much his body felt like it was falling.
Peter: "COME ON WE GOTTA GO WE GOTTA GO!"
Soku: "I KNOW I'M RUNNING FASTER THAN YOU!"
While Gray continued toward the top of the mountain Peter and Soku charged through the inner connected mining tunnels, all of the Red Arrows within charging to grab all of their things. Around each tiny or large corridor, every barrel and box, every bottle of booze, all run toward the streets above and flee with the many wagons. As the City of Cretan was under attack by Athens itself, the many warriors and pirates from the bay made it into the city to destroy the Red Arrows hold. Running through the tunnels, the many openings around the city, and the many buildings within the city were even more soldiers and warriors. Cutting through the Red Arrows while they tried desperately to let their friends and found family free. Raining flaming arrows alongside the pouring rain. Weapons and shields are empowered and made from various elements. Blood guts and bone splintered and shattered, poured around. Whether or not they were civilians in the way or Red Arrows themselves.
Soku: "GET AWAY!"
Entering the main hideout, they found a large two story room once used for training covered in battle. Warriors Elite or not using their large weapons to break through the Red Arrows, overwhelming them with training and numbers no matter how much will or hope the Red Arrows had. Most of it being crushed with the apparent loss of their leader. Hope fell even more when they heard a loud voice raining out from the sky. By Bearguard, holding a powerful magic device from the Southern Islands. Given to him by Moro to speak to Cretan, standing atop a large tower in the center of the city. The small frail old mayor is in chains by his feet.
Beauregard: "Citizens of Cretan, Athens has finally reduced you from the Red Arrows grasp. You will no longer be bombarded by constant war and fear, you will be safe with the might of the Warriors, and you will be able to sleep safe knowing this War is that much closer to the end. The Mayor consumed by villany will be punished, and rule will fall to someone chosen be Cretan. Now, stay in your homes, stay away from any Red Arrows, and stay hidden safe and calm. Beauregard Valentine is here."
He almost fell to his knees in an instant, the pocket watch like a silver communicator taking most of his stamina to use. Tossing it aside to a stomping towering beast looming over the Mayor.
Moro: "Don't break that, it's expensive, and a token from the Navy."
As the Mayor trembled under the weight of Moro's presence, Moro groaned in annoyance. Lifting the small fat man in his large hand, almost crushing him in an instant.
Leo: "BACK OFF YOU BEAST!"
Chained and through the open door to the mayor's office was a beaten Leo himself, two bright mana damping crystals around his neck. Getting stomped on by Ju'stone right after to crush his head into the stone floor.
Ju'stone: "Who said you could talk!?"
But before Ju'stone could go further he was pushed back, staring down with a confused and blood hunger smirk toward Bearguard. Sending deep chills of fear through him, but he stood his guard anyway.
Beauregard: "Do not kill him."
Ju'stone: "And what are you gonna do about it, goldfish?"
Beauregard: "Take all your resources and throw it into Mount Yelira"
Moro instantly snarled toward Ju'stone, causing him to back off and allow Bearguard to check on his unconscious brother. Sighing before dragging him toward the hall.
Beauregard: "While this battle goes on I'd move your base. There is a beach, Valentine Bay West of the capital."
Moro: "I thought west was the Volcano?"
Beauregard: "On a flat map yah idiot yeah! I mean literally, look at a globe or something!"
Moro: "Hah! Globe!? You're an idiot if you think this planet is round. How would that even work!?"
Beauregard:" I dunno, how does being a monster work!?"
Moro: "Through a magical connection!"
As they but heads Cretan was thrown into more chaos and disarray. With large cannon balls of the Demi-humans and regular cannon balls of the Warriors blasting through the white stone buildings, collapsing the many columns and towers and rectangular buildings in on themselves. Libraries, Museums, Bars, houses, statues all consumed by flame and the decay of battle. Even causing the mining tunnels beneath the streets to begin collapsing, crushing anyone within and caving in the structures atop it.
Peter: "EEEP!"
The ground above them shook and crumbled under the weight of collapsing buildings and burning supports, all while Peter jumped and slid past as much fighting as possible. Soku however leapt forward, jumping off the Pirates and Warriors faces while tossing out barrages of wind blades. Jumping between the walls, through the air, over and over to build up and toss out wind. Keeping a path for the Red Arrows, and Peter, to charge through. Trusting slim spears and swords, holding large body sized shields, and sending arrows through the slim vents on the Elite Warriors Dragon stone armor to push them back. Cleaving a way out of the breaking tunnels and into the war torn Cretan.
Soku {SHIT!}
Flying through the air, Soku's shoulder was pierced by a large iron arrow. Smashing through her cloak of wind and deep into her arm, leaving her smacking the bloody floor. Dazed and unable to dodge an axe swinging down toward her head.
Peter: "NOOOOO!"
Sokus' eyes lit up, staring toward the Elite Warrior stunned by a large burst of explosive powder. Looking back to see Peter having stretched back a steel slingshot, Poppers had shot forward to stun the man. Giving Soku the chance to pull her cleaver like blade through the air, sparking with her Marks boost and slamming her blade against the man's gut. Halted by the armor, but the resulting blast of wind still shot him and the Warriors behind him backward.
Soku: "Thanks!"
Peter: "Don't thank me, just run!"
And so they did, through the tunnels and toward the rising steps. The Red Arrows fighting as hard as possible to live, Soku's green illumination lights a shining light of hope. But it was shaking, faltering; her mana was plummeting, her arm was drolling with blood while an arrow extended out of it, and things were only going to get worse. But Peter poppers and screams kept her mind on the ball. Throwing more wind, fighting harder, trying her absolute best and as much more as she could. Dodging, jumping, pinballing through the walls to deliver slash after slash after slash. The wind allows her blade to easily carve, cleave, and tear through the Warriors and pirates in between the Red Arrows. But she would slip and get hit and get up and get hit and run and fight and get slammed and bleed and hurt and break and fight and look around and throw out wind and focus her cloak over and over and feel her OD's supply plummeting and her Mark shaking and and and
- She just couldn't exist, she had to be nothing more than the wind of battle to survive. Peter however would dive, slide, jump, toss out poppers, and shoot them out with surprising accuracy. Using his sling shot like a revolver.
Soku {They don't end! More and more and more and hell these are just a handful! There's so much more in the city, so much more in Athens, and this is supposed to be a smaller country! The Sect are supposed to have more soldiers; how the hell are we supposed to beat them!?}
Like a wreaking ball coated in wind she blasted out of the tunnels, up a large set of stairs into a small desolate building. Sending Warriors flying into other Warriors with a path carved out behind her, causing an influx of roaring Red Arrows to emerge. In the chaos Soku would snag Peter's hand, bursting through the sky and through a window to soar over the streets.
Peter: "What are you doing!?"
Soku: "Getting us outta here!"
Peter: "To where!?"
Soku: "I don't know I don't live here!"
Peter held on as tight as he could while Soku rushed over the streets, running along a set of clothes lines before moving up a slopped roof. Launching up it like a ramp before floating down through the air, jumping between the buildings of an alley before flipping onto a flat long roof.
Peter: "You say you haven't been here but you're making it through these streets like it's second nature!"
Soku: "I got a lot of practice running away from guards and thieves, even with a kid dangling from my neck. Choking me!"
Peter: "Sorry sorry!"
Arrows and cannon balls, along with limbs and bodies flew through the air. The deafening sounds of war coating them while even more guards atop the buildings rushed forward. A mix of Warriors, Pirates, Red Arrows, and Cretan Guards fighting against each other. The guards separated between thoughts with Leo and thoughts with Bearguard.
Peter: "EEEE -
Soku: "I know! Quit screaming in here!"
Peter: "Sorry s -
Soku: "And quit apologizing! Save your breath for somethin' important!"
Peter barely held his head down in time for Soku to dash under a swinging sword, climbed up and over a large Demi-human pirate, and flipped with Peter's screaming face almost in the way of a large spiked club. Moving all the way around for Sokus legs to shoot forward, sending the wind against the blunt tool to knock him down. Landing on his chest before jumping into the sky, moving toward the walls of the city. The outer layer filled with carriages, wagons, animals, and Red Arrows running on foot to escape. Jumping down into the most recent wagon to relax along with injured Red Arrows, pushing toward the battle outside and under the large open Dragon Stone gates.
Soku: "Relax, breathe for a sec."
Peter: "You're telling me! You just made it through the city! All the way from Solon Bay. Thank you, really thank you."
Soku: "Well that's better than a hundred sorries."
Still they had to look ahead and ready themselves, to enter even more hell. The muscular Spirit horses in overdrive to pull the wagon rapidly through the battlefield.
Soku: "Where are we goin?"
Peter: "To the main base. It's got entrances all around, leading to the tunnels right under the Capital. It's where we'll see Toll."
Soku: "Toll? Like we gotta pay money to get in?"
Peter: "No! Leo's second hand man! Or a woman? She's a Horse Demi-human, and used to be the Vice Captain before Bearuguard took control. We just gotta make it through this."
They continued to venture through the wasteland, while Leo was forced to watch from atop the castle. The dead bodies of stacked Red Arrows burned and hung around, causing him to tear up from despair and rage.
Leo: "Why!? What did I do to you!? What did we do!? What did the Demi-humans do!?"
Leo looked up toward his brother, getting slapped and grabbed by his thick leather throat.
Beauregard: "ARE YOU A FOOL! IT'S YOU! IT'S YOUR PEOPLE! IF YOU WOULD HAVE COMPLIED SO MANY WOULDN'T HAVE HAD TO DIE! ATHENS WOULDN'T BE A LAUGHING STOCK! HELL WE MIGHT EVEN BE IN CONTROL OF WALGONIA NOW IF IT WASN'T FOR YOU! AND YOU KNOW WHAT THE DEMI-HUMANS DID TO ME, DID TO US!"
Leo: "THEY DID NOTHING TO US!"
Beauregard: "THEN YOU'RE A FOOL!"
Moro could only laugh, snacking on the Mayor. Causing Bearguards heart and stomach to sink even more, but unable to truly go against him. As he liked being alive. Only able to smile at a true victory for once. Taking Cretan back into his control for the first time in three years. But eventually, after hours and hours, the battle eventually came to a halt. Soku, Peter, and a thousand or so Red Arrows managed to flee. While many others fought on toward them, and even more were captured or killed. Cretan was left a smoking broken mess, the people walking around the destroyed body ridden streets for the remaining scraps, and Warriors all around interrogating anyone that came by. Red Arrows all around, burning in flames of their flags, supplies, or fellow Red Arrows. Chained and nailed to the stone collumes, hung and strung up like ornaments.
"Reminds me of what the Ravorians do to the Demi-humans."
The citizens spoke in horror and fear, looking away from the pain of rebellion to try and live normally. Hope gone gone gone. The sun rising over a broken land in the mid-day light. The rain is gone and replaced by a muggy frozen, salty and burnt air. The smoke plummed and constant from the fire all around, burning any strong holds and Red Arrows remaining away to dust. Digging out the collapsed tunnels for anything of use, forcing Red Arrows to do it themselves. Chained and used like slaves. All of the Demi-humans were swiftly executed without question. Acted out with laughs and cheers from Athens Warriors and Pirates. No matter their age.
Gray {I just hope the others are okay.}
Gray sat within another cave waiting to recharge his stamina, unable to know of the horror unfolding with his friends. Rosemary and Julius chained and taken to the Capital, Edward who knows where in most likely horrid conditions, and Soku nearing the heart of the conflict. Growing stronger day by day for the coming reunion.