Arc 4: What families entail
A grueling time was the best to describe it; Gordon spent every day writing letters to desperately connect with the fading lights in Walgonia, Rosemary was thrown in the Athens Castle dungeon in chains alongside Julius, Leo was held beaten on a bloody wooden post within the heart of the capital surrounded by even worse off Red Arrows, and Arthur laughed along as he murdered anyone who came against him. Moving through Walgonia to leave large stretches of black fire, scars over the Knights and Soldiers banishing together to stop him and his Sect turned knights. Treated like Royal guards, and if not, they got quite angry.
Gray: "I don't think Ryo said these were toxic."
Trying his best to live past it all and be the best person he could be, to truly do the things he wants, needs to do, was Gray Kyojin still marching up the mountain. Currently sitting by a thick bush of frozen berries, small ice like blue berries with white frosty stems.
Gray: "Wait he did say they were! Or no, that was Snow Berries! Can't this world think of better names than saying frost snow froze or frosty over and over, it makes these things way too confusing."
Still, unable to make a fire, unable to eat raw meat, and chilling down to the bone from the constant rising harsh winds, he needed to eat. Trying his best to warm himself with his mana, like a heater was all around him to pick him back up from an icy demise, he slowly let it flow out around him while his hand waved in front of the berry bush. Feeling a sense of impending doom with a high amount of mana nearing him, he quickly grabbed as many of the berries as he could and shoved them into his recently fashioned pockets. Putting one into his mouth to chop onto, sending frosty chills through his core. Like a ball of snow exploded in his mouth, the juice freezing him even further. But, it didn't feel too bad, and it tasted quite sweet.
Gray: "I guess if I eat the wrong berries and get sick Ryo will save me, I hope."
So he had even more, again and again, coming to a halt after feeling like a walking glacier. Breathing heavy through the burning lungs, shaking his head through the brain freeze, and spitting the snowy juice into the air to freeze away.
Gray: "Bleh, still good though. And I'm not as hungry."
His eyes flared, dodging a large vessel of mana swinging its large paw behind him. Rolling forward to stare back at the roaring white Bear, Wolf like hybrid beast. Its eyes and oozing mouth are foaming at the delicious feast that would be Gray Kyojin.
Gray {A Winter Bruin! I don't know if I can beat this!}
Sensing Gray's fear and hesitation it lunged forward, ready to tear through Gray's body with its massive teeth. However Gray would barely step and roll forward, running over the monster's face while dragging his short sword against its back. Jumping toward the air to latch the Cloak onto a branch and swing away, passing around a few trees before releasing and throwing out the other side. Quickly soaring up the mountain while the beast pinballed between the trees, collapsing them as it readied its claws. So, he spun upside down, shooting out the Cloak to wrap around itself before consuming the beast's paw.
Gray: "COME ON!"
Twisting through the air and grabbing hold of the Cloak, he fell over a thick branch as he wrapped the Cloak around it. Causing the beast to go swinging through the forest, detaching it for the Winter Bruin to smash against a thick tree.
Gray: "Yes! Finally I wasn't the one getting slammed into a tree."
But the beast clamped on, staring back as Gray fell closer. Roaring and roaring to send constant shivers through the boy.
Gray: "CENIC!"
Ingulfing with mana and erupting with a cloud of black smoke, he fell through the trees before crashing through a bush. Leaping out with mana ready to sprint up the steep hill, leaving a torrent of snow rushing behind him as he trailed upward. Rocketing past it to see glaciers piercing out of the ground, sliding across the icy floor with his built momentum as he beard closer to the top. Rushing through the clouds, struggling to breathe, trying his best to adapt as he forced himself upward. Clamping onto the massive, sloped, and jagged spikes of ice to swing forward.
Gray {I think I'm really getting better at swinging forward, no jinx this time please!}
Swinging on, the Cloak began to freeze and crack, shattering as Gray flung forward. Rolling over the dense snow and seeping mana around him to try and melt the Cloak, while also trying not to freeze into a block of ice himself. Flooding out with even more mana, the Cloak flowed out around his arms to tighten and mix around it, and closed the hood. Letting out two large eye holes to stare forward.
Gray: "Might seem a bit lame but It's warmer."
He held himself, shaking and shaking, chattering and chattering while pushing on. Rubbing his arms and breathing and wiping off the snow and charging through the flooding frosty air -
Gray {DAMN ITS COLD!}
But, flowing with mana and a bit light headed from the altitude, he tried his best to push on. Melting through it all to run run run.
Gray {BUT I CAN DO IT! IT MIGHT BE COLD AND MY LIMBS MIGHT FEEL LIKE THEY'RE GONNA SHATTER OFF BUT I CAN DO IT! MANA WILL HEAT MY BODY, NO FROST BITE! AND HEALING MAGIC IS ATOP THAT MOUNTAIN, RYO I'M COMMIN! I PROMISE I'LL MAKE IT THIS TIME!}
So he thought about his training in an attempt to raise his conviction. A week of taking in Spirit Mana and adapting to his mana, a harsh week of even more Spirit mana and trying to move with it, and now a week of being a true spirit night. From being pushed to his astral form, to achieving the Spirit Sense, and now his solo three day truck up this mountain.
Gray {COME ON!}
Collapsing from the strain, his mana dropped, and he instead went to the Spirits. Focusing, relaxing, trying to become one with the rushing winds. Letting out a soft flow of mana around him at the same time, turning his bright purple mana brighter and brighter, until it splintered into a blue light.
Gray {Please, I think this is what I need. Not my mana, not the Cloak, but the Spirits. They'll help, they gotta, or I'm not gonna make it to the top.}
He shook his head to push through the overwhelming senses, wobbly stood, and took a step into the snow. Melting through it with his aura of blue mana.
Gray {It's not enough for the Spirit Sense, but it's enough to push me forward.}
The Spirits within felt like a massive burden being taken, whether it not be numbing pain or warming his body. Weighing about as heavy as his large mana flow from before, but with far less waste. Managing to go forward, smiling as he did. However even if Gray was free, rising higher and higher, his friends were far lower. Broken, shattered, all left in a daze. Whether it be Soku, barely awake while her wagon passed through a cave and into an abandoned mine. Julius, in chains and being hardly interrogated by Irsa Thorn. Leo, still on his post in an even worse state. Or his dear Rosemary, bandaged, chained, and dressed in her damaged armor in the dungeon. A mana dampening crystal chained around her neck with a brace. Breaking her brain with panic. Shaking back and forth with her face hidden in her legs.
Rosemary {What do I do what do I do what do I do -
Calgary, far more powerful than her. Irsa Thorn, someone who managed to defeat Julius, and so must be more powerful than her. That powerful Dark Elf, the many Pirates, Athens Warriors, and the Elite Warriors. Edward, Julius, people that were supposed to be their best, fallen and nowhere to be found. She didn't know if Edward, Soku, Peter, or Leo were dead. She didn't know if Athens had won. She knew nothing other than the fact that she had absolutely lost, and couldn't help but feel it was all her fault.
Rosemary {DAMMIT! If I was stronger I could have gotten us out of there! If I wasn't so selfish I could have listened to Leo and run with Julius! Or take us all into the cave instead of pushing Soku in! Or helped Edward or helped Julius or Leo or anybody! Why! Why did this have to happen!? What did I do to bring on this wrath!? Is this for leaving the Golden Knights!? For failing Ophelia!? Kioshi and Musashi, Al!?}
She couldn't cry, she couldn't scream, all she could do was fall into despair. Unable to save herself, unable to think she was worthy of saving herself. Thinking she was unworthy of being saved at all.
Irsa: "Alright brat. I believe you're the Prince, but how do we know that the Mad King would even do anything to save you?"
A few levels up and across the dungeon was Irsa, staring up at Julius. Bound and suspended by chains. Dripping blood and smiling like always.
Julius: "It is true my father likes to disdain war, but he would do anything for his family. He is considered Mad after all. And I do not think Athens can take on the wrath of a God of War, not without Lincoln at least ."
Iris: "What of Walgonia? Is Arthur and that entire country not on your side?"
Julius: "If there is one thing my father hates, it's the Sect. It's a well known fact that the Sect have infiltrated Walgonia, and so Valatroctius will likely not want anything to do with them. Arthur included."
Iris: "But they'd have to cross Walgonia to save you, which means you might be stuck, boy."
She couldn't help but smile, leaving a brush across his face with a slap. Empowered by her innate mana to cut him. Looking on with a closed eye glare to smile all the same. But she would jump in fear at a loud knock at the door, the dragon stone cell opening for the King himself to step forward. Leaving behind the Elite Guards to shut the door, carrying a plate of three tea cups.
Beauregard: "You don't seem like a stupid person, so I don't think you want to die either. Work with me! Valatroctius or not we will win the war, wouldn't that look good for you?"
Julius: "And you need me, why?"
Beauregard: "Because you're strong, and you know what the Walgonians are planning do you not? You know Leo and the Red Arrows. So you should have all I need to get things movin. Now, do you wanna die or not?"
Julius: "Quite the choice is it not?"
Beauregard: "Just shut up and answer."
Beauregard handed the plate to Iris, along with a cup. Beauregard stares Julius down, almost like he's trying to stare into his soul, only to find nothing. A blank response giving no information. From what Beauregard can tell, Julius is completely serious.
Julius: "If I assisted you in defeating the Red Arrows, would you assist me in taking back Walgonia?"
Beauregard: "They haven't done anything for me! But if you do anything of note, then maybe."
Julius: "Then we can speak. But I would like to be taken out of these chains, and I would like my captured companion to be treated the same."
Beauregard: "I'll free you, but your friend will have to wait. I have my own companion that's going to speak to her first. But, we have a deal?"
Julius: "Yes, we do."
As Bearguard went to undo Julius bindings, Rosemary looked forward in her own cell. Watching the Dragon Stone door open to let in the armored and masked Leader of the Warriors, Calgary. Shutting the door before kneeling down to the ravaged girl.
Calgary: "Sorry about all of this. But things should be a bit better from now -
Rosemary: "What do you want?"
He couldn't help but laugh, hesitating before stopping himself from taking off his helmet.
Calgary: "I just wanna talk to a fellow Goldenwind."
Rosemary: "I don't want anything to do with that."
As she looked away he begrudgingly did the same, moving toward the door.
Calgary: "When you're ready we should talk. And I want you to know I might hate the Golden Knights as much as you do."
Before she could respond he left, leaving her surprised, confused, and alone once again to drift into hatred. Fear, hunger, desperately grabbing at anything she had left to keep her mind afloat. To live for Soku, for Gray, and for everyone else she might still have. Thinking about what Gray may be doing right now.
Gray: "GOT YAH!"
Gray himself was currently leaping down from a branch, having stalked a small bird until the moment he could strike. A Burning Snow Raven. A Low-Tier Spirit Beast with light blue and white feathers, a sharp red beak, and small black eyes. Jotting toward Gray in fear before darkness consumed it, the Cloak wrapping around and holding the bird in something like a sack.
Gray: "Finally!"
A small burst of flames burnt through the Cloak, leaving Gray to dash back to camp while trying to flow mana toward the Charm. Attempting to regenerate the Cloak long enough to reach base. Chugging through the mountain and into a small opening beneath a large tree, opening the cloak to grab hold of the Spirit bird.
Gray: "Fight the sticks not me!"
Holding tight he aimed it toward the fire pit, squeezing the bird to force its fire out of its beak. Sending a small puff of flames to fill the fire, turning back to burn Gray's face right after. Tossing him back while flying off right after.
Gray: "Thank you bird!"
He sighed, sitting up to warm himself with something other than his mana. Listening to his crying stomach against the roaring winds.
Gray: "Guess I gotta go hunting."
As he went on the day moved on, four weeks into this mission. A mission of trial and lots of error. A seemingly constant loss that piled up and up, but only one of them had broken. Something hardly alive, barely bleeding, and rocking back and forth in a wagon. Thinking of Al, Musashi, and Kisohi. The memories slamming against him with burning despair, the mansion, his home island consuming him. Listening to the laughter and screams of the pirates, the victims, his family. Trying to regret it all with it ate away at his soul.
Edward {I'm so sorry, I'm just so sorry.}
Every small movement he made he could feel his liquidy bones. The burning organs, boiling blood, and what felt like a hole in his head from where his eye used to be. The salty cold air blowing against him like knives.
Edward {If I was stronger, if I was the Helsing they wanted me to be I could have won.}
'Every breath the pain got worse, his injured lungs expanding into sharp bits of his ribs and sternum. Feeling the body that shouldn't be alive still kicking in all its fury.
Edward {An awakened Helsing would have been able to regenerate from this by now, it wouldn't have been broken, they wouldn't have lost. If I had a Mark at all it might have shifted the tides. If I had anything more than myself.}
The rage, the constant agonizing and building further of the Warriors Spirit began to arise. Picking up his conscience from the depths of hell to surround him in an undying flame. Gritting his teeth, and attempting to open his eyes with all he had. Getting a massive surge of pain along with it, as his right eye was completely destroyed. Unable to open, unable to see anything at all, like a hole had been made in his psyche. Hammering on the constant violent loss. Sinking back into despair with the roaring agony.
Edward {Musashi would be able to fight through this with pure skill alone! So could my father and any other Helsing!}
Musashi awakened at nine, was the strongest Walgonian of his era at fifteen, was a master swordsman at sixteen, was the world's greatest swordsmen by his mid-thirties; Edward was nothing in comparison to somebody so great. His father had a title at sixteen, supposedly his white hair, and so much more strength. Even his mother was considered a master at the time, and she's only a Helsing by marrying into the name. Somehow managing to still represent it better than Edward, holding it all over him to push him further down into his psyche.
Edward: {If I was smarter, If I trained harder, if I had any skill. Julius mastered the Dragons Fist without a teacher, Gray was using spells and mana like I'd never seen, and Rosemary pushed herself far harder. Why am I so weak!? What did I do to deserve this!? Who did I do wrong!? Why did you kill my mother, my father, everybody close to me! What did I do for you to take them all from me!? Why do I have to be alone!? If I hurt someone, if I did something, I would understand. I wouldn't complain anymore, I wouldn't cry. I just want to know, why am I still alive?}
He shook back and forth, gripping his fists, feeling the chains binding him. Trying his best to open his left eye to stare through the piercing sun, slowly adapting to the light as they passed under the many trees.
Edward {Am I not a true Helsing? Was I destined to fail? To struggle and die? I just want to know, how can I move from here?}
He took in the air, out and in and out again, taking in all in no matter the cost. His eye ignited with an unyielding fire of conviction, will, and hatred. The Spirit of Vengeance within him begging to be let out.
"Moro beat this guy's ass! I ain't never seen a man hit the floor so hard! He bounced for Spirits sake!"
The loud drunken yells of the Demi-human pirates driving the wagon instantly drew his mind, something to stand on in his attempt to awake from the nightmare. Feeling the harsh dirt road beneath them, hearing the gallops of horses and stomping on Carriage Lizard feet. Quickly rushing through the forests of Athens, heading toward the South East. The North East of the Country, to Valentine Bay. What was going to be the Gravestone Pirates base for the time being.
"You sure this dude isn't dead? Or has so much brain damage he's better off dead?"
"He's supposed to be a Helsing! I don't think he'd die that easily, awakened or not."
Edward couldn't help but swap from smiles at his situations to frowns of fury, his single eye waving through the haze and despair to look on. To exist in the world, no matter how much it hurts him.
Edward: "...Where do you think you're taking me?"
There were pirates all around him, pirates driving him, pirates in wagons both ahead and behind him, and still he spoke out against them. Getting a volley of laughs from the wagon. Unable to move from the tight bindings.
"You're getting taken to the Southern Islands to be sold off to the highest bidder."
His heart couldn't help but ache out to his home, to his friends, to anything he had left. But without a working body, without the ability to move, without armor or a blade, he was nothing more than a hardly talking corpse.
Edward {Is this really it? The end of my life? As a Knight, as a freeman?}
He was slapped, splashed with water, shaken to awake. Hit by more laughter and their thick fists.
"You're really awake huh!?", "So you're really a Helsing?", "How'd you live after that ass beatin?"
The bombardment of voices and questions stabbed into him as the pain, sharp air, and despair continued to do. Lunging out with desperation, wrapping his chains around the neck of the Grouper Demi-human beside him. Too considerate with drinking to realize the Helsing grabbing hold.
"Dammit all, what do you think you're doing!?"
A large Carp Demi-human swung her fist against the top of Edwards head, knocking his senses away in an instant while his body slammed to the floor. More laughs slamming down against him.
"You lost brat! You're alone! You're nothing! Just coin and a body yah understand! And a broken body at that!"
As they moved on Demi-humans around the wagons began to glance around the trees. Sensing something dangerous. More than a Spirit Beast, more than anything they could face. Causing horns, screams, and roars to sound out the panic. Forcing the pirates around Edward to hold him to the ground.
"Shit! What now!?"
Far ahead of them, the large wagon heading the way was turned into an exploding splintering mess. Screams, blood, and weapons flung all around. But the blitzing force of nature tore through it all. The ground, the trees, the air, pulling it forward to break past the bodies in its way. Throwing out punches strong enough to send the wagons flying back, left craters in the ground, and violently moved the trees. Edward was ravaged by thought, to what this might be, hoping it might end the suffering.
Edward {What now?}
Some fled into the forest, but most ran from the wagons to fight on. Tossing axes, swords, and arrows to no effect. Such weapons are thrown back from getting near the beast attacking them. Their faces, bones, and existences crushed to nothing right after. Fists harder than mountains causing bodies to implode and turn into bits. Causing the Demi-humans to splatter against the world, left as nothing more than a cut off scream of panic before panting the forest red. The Demi-humans, no matter their ages or power, were completely eradicated into nothing.
Edward {Dammit what is this!?}
Without Demi-humans to hold him down, he was able to squirm forward. Trying his best to stand with his shaking arms, witnessing the horror with awe. Turning back to see the wagons and carriages behind him soaring high into the air, crashing through the forest, and torn to pieces just as the ones in front of him did. The blur became more understandable, as a large man pulled the wind as he moved. Not through magic, but through pure skill and force alone. Laughing, smiling, and crushing the pirates with ease.
Edward {It's a man! This can't be right!? No, it has to be!}
He leaped through the trees, slamming his mighty fists down into a wagon to flatten it and send out a tsunami of pressure. Throwing back the surrounding wagons, Edward included. Sending him rolling through the forest to look on. The rumbling, the quaking, the sight unable to be looked away from. Until it finally ended, without a pirate alive. The leaves and broken debris settled to the floor as the monster that caused it all walked toward Edward. Staring down with a smirk before taking a large swig of his gourd.
"So, you're the Helsing right?"
Edward stared forward to see an older man, sixty, sitting down in front of him. He was tall, taller than Edward, far more muscular and bulky than Edward. Stunk of booze, had spikey short fading brown hair, scratched at his stubble, and wore torn clothes. An old black tank top, tan pants, and muddy boots. Sharing a bandage covering the side of his face.
Edward: "...You're him right? The Dragons of Athens? The World's Strongest Man?"
"Well I think I asked you first."
Edward: "...Yes, I am Helsing. Edward Van Helsing."
He smiled even more, lifting the boy onto his shoulder to take him up the mountain in front of him.
Lincoln: "And yeah, I'm him. Lincoln Valentine, at your service."