Arc 5: The Stars Against Anarchy
The Siege was coming. All too soon.
Lincoln: "That was too easy!"
Holding his aching muscles, sweating, and drinking, Lincoln still wiped the dirt off his body as he stepped away from the crumbling down. To break through any more anarchists barricades or reinforcements up ahead. Lincoln had left the small town filled to the brim with anarchists completely flattened, east of the Capital. Various connecting rides south of Walgonia's capital were suddenly pushed by Walgonia's forces. Still underway was a battle across a wide road block. Where hundreds of anarchists were met by the erupting arrows from Gordon Hill himself, standing in the few trees surrounding the area. Over his roaring mix of Knights, Leviathan soldiers, and even the magic of Jong.
Gordon {So many distractions, but still not a single Upper Pillar. I wonder if none of them attacked, or went toward Lincoln at least. If they arrived at Symbol…no, that can't have happened!}
Gordon's large, thick, dark wooden bow lit with dense mana from the seals carved into it. So he could pull back his tight string, and send an arrow blasting through the sky to smash into the center of some anarchists like a cannon ball. Before doing it again, again, again. Faster and faster, beside Jong's large ice attacks, the magic and might of his knights. Breaking them apart bit by bit, while trying to burn and destroy that large wall of wood, iron, and earth magic made to block the roads. But inside the fire and destruction, all around the Capital, and under the same moon, was Gordon's exact fear. In the coming hours, they'd push to take more land around the Capital. Before they'd fully separate, and push toward the Siege. But right now, in Symbol, they had to face hell. The feared Upper Pillar. And one incredibly angry at the damn Knights who dared to hurt her.
Pandora: "NOW LET YOUR SINS FINALLY DESTROY YOU!"
Sore and smoking from Leo's attack, she flew facing the scattered group. Standing between the broken fountain, facing Pandora, and the massive flaming pile of rubble that used to be the Gol Manor. All ready to run, to fight, to jump together, before her intense glare washed past them all. In an instant, powerful, corrupted pulse, their eyes lit purple once again.
Gray: "NOT AGAIN DON'T GIVE IN DON'T DON'T -
Gray took in Spirit mana, Rosemary forced her fourth stage around her hands, Edward tried his best to keep rushing into battle. But Muther was still laying flat on the floor, Lanner lost his footing the second her gaze took hold, and the unprepared Leo instantly fell onto his back. Grabbing at his head, before forcing himself forward. To crawl, to stand, to step forward. Even if his brain was screaming, his body was held down by an unbelievable weight, he knew it was all Pandora. That he was strong enough to stand, to snap his fingers, and grasp his flying spear tightly.
Pandora: "JUST BECAUSE YOU CAN HANDLE YOUR SINS, DOESN'T MEAN YOUR PURE! KIOSHI WAS ABLE TO ALMOST COMPLETELY RESIST IT, BUT EVEN THE STRONGEST IN HISTORY WASN'T PURE OF SINS! So WHAT ARE YOU!? FILTHY CREATURES!?"
Unable to move while forcing their sins through their screams, Leo pulled back his spear, and hurled it forward with a streak of lighting. Forcing her to break her gaze, and burst through the sky as a black streak before spinning in circles. Throwing out thin, incredibly deadly, and incredibly fast slashes of air that broke them all apart. Forcing Rosemary to fling down some air pressure, Soku to erupt with wind, Edward to brace with his blade, even Julius to push his monocle to the maximum. But Gray almost got cut in two, before the Cloak pulled him just enough out of the way, for the explosions of power to send them all flying forward anyway.
But like a bullet she crashed into Leo, forcing him through the stone before being held tightly. As Leo unleashed an intense wave of Lighting all around. Breaking, burning, eating through her dense black armor. To rush her entire body with lighting, to sink it deeper, to cause her eyes to erupt with a bright yellow light. Before her head curved upward, and her large beak-like helmet ripped open.
Pandora: "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA -
It got louder and louder too fast to handle. Pushing, shaking, destroying, cracking the sky. The ground. Their control. All Leo could do was cover his ears, all the others could do was collapse into the pain onto the broken stone.
Gray {MAKE IT STOP MAKE IT STOP MAKE IT STOP -
It only lasted a few seconds before Leo punched Pandora back into the air, but it was enough to leave the entire group laying broken on the floor. So Pandora could land, and unleash a large constant wave of purple mana around them like a dome. Instantly stopping Leo's flow of lighting, along with all of their Marks and Mana. But still, when Pandora readied to cut off his head with her wings. Tear their hearts out with her talons. They tried to put up their blades, and Leo leapt just as hard anyway. Forcing Pandora to dodge into a spin, before throwing out a paper thin slash far into the sky. Missing Leo, right before he slammed his spear right into her leg. Digging deeply into her armor before ripping right through, and giving him the opening to bash her back with his shoulder.
Pandora: "STOP IT STOP IT STOP IT!"
Right into Edwards slash.
Edward {COME ON! PLEASE!}
Filled with rage, despair, he could only be thrown back as she'd caught his blade. However, under his large body, moved Julius. Cutting toward her wing before getting kicked into Lanner, and leaving another opening for Leo to bring down his spear toward her other wing.
Pandora: "YOU PUTRID BEASTS!!!"
Lanner: "DAMMIT DO YOU EVER SHUT UP!? JUST FLY OR DIE OR KILL US OR SOMETHIN! YAH DAMN STUPID BIRD!"
Without his mana, his Spirits, or even control over the Cloak, Gray could only watch on. His ears about to bleed from her previous scream, his body still unable to stand after her constant and mind breaking gazes, his life constantly on the line. It was all enough to have him crashing onto the stone, to pass out. But he held himself up. Even without the mana to unlock his Wrist Talon, he had his blade. Even without his mana, he still had his body. And without the Spirits to use, he had his life.
Gray {NOW DO SOMETHING!}
Pandora spun mid-air, throwing out another few slashes to separate them before rushing against Lanner. Slashing through his side with her talons, before rushing to chop at his head, and get tackled instead. By a desperate Rosemary, rolling away instantly so Leo could try and stab his spear into her heart.
Pandora: "AAAAAAAAEHEAHHHHHAHHEHEHAAHAH! -EKAH!"
Focused, pure, almost like Shioreta's banshee cry, Pandora screeched. Blasting Leo back into the air with an intense burst. And yet it had broken her hold over their ODs, after being forced to use mana of her own. And that was all Gray needed to throw everything into that single chance. Pulling in Spirit mana, pulling out his blades, and slamming his foot on the gas.
Gray: "CENIC!"
With his next hard step into the breaking stone, he let out a burst of mana along with smoke. Creating a dense, thick, small cloud closely around them for just a moment. As it took just long enough for Pandora to stop her foot and force it away, for Gray to land his shot. If he'd attacked her head, her body, her arm, her heart. She would have cut him to pieces. And yet, through a mix of fear and ingenuity, he'd aimed toward her already damaged wings. Slicing them further before she rushed back into the sky. Attempting to hover over and think, before she instantly began to head toward the ground. Where Rosemary lunged into a hefty Fourth stage strike against her arm, flinging her across the stone with the intense blast of wind force, so Soku could throw out her own bright blade of wind.
Pandora: "GET AWAY GO GO STOP IT STOPP STOP IT!"
The blade pushed her back once again, so Lanner, Edward, and Julius could all burst past and leave their own slash. And open her up for one final bolt of lighting. Dense, screaming, and held tightly by Leo, before he sent it rushing right into her body. To leave her screaming, burning, and smashing back against the ground. To stare them all on, in absolute terror.
Pandora: "GEET AWAY!!!"
Her mind flashed with the thoughts of the future. And all she could see was putting herself, or her vessel on the line. Scars, missing limbs, any weakness. It was sin. And Pandora was nothing but sin. So her soul melted down past her pride, to anger. Then, completely lost to another wave of fear, Pandora forced out her mana. Not to attack, but to cause her black wings to ooze back together. So she could rise back into the air, and fly toward the moon. She couldn't believe it. She couldn't accept it. But the surrounding homes were crushed, burned. The large sum of remaining anarchists were still falling to Walter, Carlos, Dershia, and Yui against Togi. And the Mansion destroyed, the shapeshifting Lower Pillar likely dead, the expensive three skull Bounty Hunter Titan Dead, and no idea where Yoru is, she had nothing. Maybe she could kill one, maybe permanently injure them all. But it could mean losing everything. Losing her vessel. So she'd have to fly and fly, faster and faster. To the stars, to the moon, through the clouds. Away from the valley, from Symbol, and barely leaving them with their lives.
Leo: "...She's… gone?"
Leo stood ready for anything, but everybody else collapsed to their knees once again. Out of breath, filled with pain, and looking back toward the moon hoping Pandora was long gone. Before the loud eruptions of force nearby took their eye, and reminded them that Symbol was still yet to be over. Lanner moved to hold Muther and use a healing spell, Gray moved toward his friends, but Leo instantly stared back toward the others. Ready to use his strength yet again, and return to the fray. Before looking right back toward the others.
Leo: "My job is not finished, but you all, it's time to end this. Gordon told me after Symbol that we needed to start moving into the Capital, so I wanna send you guys off now. This battle is done for yall, you need healing, and you could start early. I heard Soku knew the area well."
Soku: "I'm good to leave if you all wanna, this place sucks almost as much as Athens, no offense Leo."
Gray: "Wait what!? We need to help you though! And what are we even supposed to do in the capital!?"
Julius: "Do we not need to stay in a group?"
Edward: "But even then we still have strength! We can fight, and then leave together!"
Rosemary: "Yeah I don't know if it's a good idea to move in alone either, what if we discover or mess things up!?"
Filled with worry, only Lanner moved forward. Handing the unconscious and healed Muther to Edward before standing right beside Leo. Fixing his helmet, his blades, and hitting his burning OD.
Lanner: "I'm staying to fight, but they need to get Muther somewhere else anyway. The plan was to meet up with the resistance in the west district, somebody in charge of the thieves guild -
Soku: "HELLANA!? I DO KNOW HER! She lived near my old house! If they're building some kinda rebellion then I can lead the way."
Gray: "Really? Do you know her? Why didn't you mention her?"
Soku: "I know a lot of people you guys don't know, I was doing pretty good for myself before all this Knight crap happened! I'm a pretty well known thief!"
Edward: "But I can still stay and fight -
Leo: "Then protect them with that strength. Now I'm sorry, but we don't have time to waste. I hope to see you soon in Walgonia, a day or two, maybe three tops!"
Without another word, Leo took hold of Lanner before leaping into the air. To fall toward the commotion in the woods with Togi, while the others just walked closer together. Worried, resistant, but ready to move on. All they needed was for Gray to put his hand into the air, and send a large pulse of mana through the Spirits. Thinking of Dema, she could come flying like a missile from the darkness, and come sliding in front of them licking all over Gray's face.
Gray: "Okay - bleh - we gotta - we stop! - go right? - quit it!"
Rosemary: "I guess so, it seems pretty sudden but he's right we need to start as fast as we can. This is just the next step."
Edward: "Well then let's get going, we should get to the Capital by sunrise, or even earlier."
Soku: "Then common! I'll guide yah Julius!"
Julius: "Wow, do I look forward to that."
Still sweating, they lifted Muther onto Dema, before all getting their seatbelts ready.
Gray: "Hey mine's broken I think -
And with a powerful rush, Julius sent Dema soaring forward into the sky. Before quickly curving back, to rise up the valley and move toward the Capital. Even if Gray was screaming the entire time from panic. Until they all looked back, to see the smoke, and eruptions of earth still down below. Before all they could see was the massive fire of the Gol mansion, and the fading Symbol slowly moving into the distance.
Gray {After all that, even if she actually left! Is this really the right choice!? What if she comes back, attacks us!? Would an Upper Pillar just leave like that!? Even if it's a vessel or something!? I guess Leo really is that strong, or all of us together break her powers, or if it was luck of the draw, but did we really win!? The maze, that shapeshifter, and the Rosine Pandora thing!? Even that giant Demi-human! What the hell is the Sect is Anarchy!?}
They rushed through the wind, and it all felt so sudden. But in the distance, over the broken roads and villages, Spirit Biomes and battles. Was the massive Capital. And the closer they got, the quicker they realized they couldn't hear the battle anymore. And had to hope that nothing bad happened to any of them, like that had ever worked out before.
Togi {GET BACK!}
Pushing herself to the brink, she blasted past her forces inside the forest. Clashing fists with Walter, blasted back by ice, getting hit with arrows or slashes from Yui. Even if they were breaking her down bit by bit, she was actually reaching her limit. Slow enough for Walters' tail to smash into her back. Weak enough for Yui to slash through her air pressure. Dazed enough for Dershia to fall out of the trees, and slam a mace made of ice right onto her head. And still, she had the strength to break Dershia's armor and a few ribs with a quick strike. The speed to turn and kick Yui through the trees. And see Carlos right over here in the trees, so she could clap her hands, and send him flying along with Yui into the air.
Yogi {Crush them one by one! Now dammit, where are they!?}
But in the clearing, lit by the moon and crackling lighting, was Leo and his spear. Accompanied by Lanner, coated in mana and Spirit mana with his twin blades spinning. Before he sent out two large slashes against a few anarchists, Leo sent a wave of lightning against another group, and left Togi charging head first. Distracted to the blade swinging down from above, until she barely clashed with her wrist.
Yui: "I KNOW YOU!"
Yui's corrupted blade went into the tight metal inside of her thick dark skin, before she kicked off of Togo to roll back right in front of her. Blade drawn, eyes focused, and the Spirit mana around her quick;y corrupted into something more pure, more dangerous. Something that left them fading to ash right after, just like Arthur's flames. Something that would make Gray or Ryo sick to their stomachs. But it gave her the power to speak proudly -
Yui: "A FOOL WHO CHALLENGED KIOSHI! WHO KILLED HOW MANY KNIGHTS TO PROVE A POINT!?"
And blast right against Togi, letting out a slash strong enough to force her through the wounds. Cutting her robe, or armor, her skin, and the metal all throughout her body. While the residual corruption dug, burned its way through her skin. Fading just as quickly as it spread, before finally fizzling out with deep bleeding wounds.
Yui: "A joke who was defeated in a single strike by Kioshi! We all laughed about it for months! What's it been!? A year or two!? You just want some revenge!? You wanna feel strong!? You're just garbage! Filth who deserves to die!"
Togi: "WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE!?"
Togi went to throw all of her might into her next attack, until the lighting rained forth. Against her back, against the ground and trees, before it all focused around her. Throwing her forward right past her own wave of anarchists, before leaving her crawling up to stand. Surging, twitching, oozing with steam from the lighting. She was able to feel every bolt, every scar, every wound so deeply.
YogiWHY IS THIS HAPPENING!? WHAT DID WE DO TO DESERVE THIS!?}
Togi saw flashes of Kioshi slashing through a few Bounty Hunters. Her friends. Her family. Gone in a single sword slash that broke them into pieces. And then, a few years later. After so much training. After so much bloodshed. She stood in the Capital proudly, and crushed as many people as she could. Before all she felt was the presence of a God, and heard her voice -
Kioshi: "That's as far as you go."
She swung with a second of effort, taking in a burst of Spirit mana that only rose. It got stronger, faster, wider as it picked up everything in its path. Before it left her a shadow, breaking, burning to ash. Into a cell, to be barely healed. Barley brought back to existence.
Togi: "WHY DO YOU ALL LOVE THIS HATE SO MUCH!? THE LAWS, THE POWERS, THE NOBLES! EVERYTHING THAT HOLDS WALGONIA HAS BEEN BUILT ON PAIN! SLAVERY, GREED, WRATH!? WHAT MAKES YOU BETTER!?"
Carlos, barely pulling himself along, still shot out arrows. Lanner sliced through as many Anarchists as he could. Walter continued to bash through the forest to clear out the forces. And Dershia screamed out, with all the mana she had left.
Dershia: "ALL-WIGURG!"
Absolutely everything. So much so it had her flash frozen in frost bite. But still, it roared. Through the spirits and the world. The air, the trees, everything in her path. All washed over with building, condensing, collecting ice. That broke past a small section of the woods, and completely around Togi, in one massive iceberg. Leaving Dershia sighing in relief before collapsing right into Carlos arms. And forced to feel the strain of the battle at the worst point.
Lanner: "BACK OFF!"
Pushing himself even further with mana, Lanner curved around the anarchists to leave them in pieces. Until he saw the unconscious Dershia. And the eyes of a quivering Carlos.
Lanner: "Leo, maybe we need to go too! Gordon said we need to focus on evacuating no matter what! That this was just an attack to attack! So we need to start leaving!"
Yui: "What!? I've still got a lot of fight left in me! We all do! We're in the final stretch now so let's just go!"
Carlos: "...Look I'm not doin to good -
Yui: "NONE OF US ARE -
Leo: "STOP IT!"
The hundreds of remaining anarchists were coming. They surround them with who knows what kind of powers. And then, beside the chilling statue of ice, shutters in fear. As it cracked. More and more, louder and louder, before Togi's screams seeped through the cracks.
YogiI CAN'T LOSE AGAIN I CAN'T! FIRST ZHAO LEFT ME, LINCOLN ATTACKED, NOW THIS!? I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO DO ANYTHING! I'LL JUST DIE A DAMN FAILURE!}
It didn't matter that she trained. Fought Spirit Beasts. Claimed Bounties. It didn't matter that she was in her mid-twenties. It didn't matter she was originally from Valatroctius, and ran into Kioshi for the first time with her friends on her first Bounty in Walgonia. The Knights she killed, the buildings she crushed, the homes and lives she ruined. It all didn't matter. Because Kioshi left her with nothing, nothing but a joke. Something to laugh at as she was pierced back together like a monster. Before Prometheus reached out his hand from the darkness, and fixed her. But what came of it? Escaping? Being saved by him?
Getting the title of Lower Pillar from strength alone, yes she's helped. But Guren was a failure. The Town of Shells was a failure. And now Symbol, left to waste. But she had to do something, to make her mark on the world, and she'd have to burst the iceberg apart first.
Leo: "MOVE OUT MOVE MOVE -
Yui: "WE CAN JUST KILL HER -
Leo: "I SAID WE NEED TO MOVE DAMMIT!"
Even enraged Yui followed. Lanner and Leo rushed Carlos and Dershia away, while Walter began rampaging through the trees to close in with them. Even if anarchists leapt, flew, shot out magic, they ran together. Away from the quakes. Away from the bursting ice. Away from the crumbling iceberg. And definitely away from the massive force of pressure erupting behind them. Taking as much wind as she could forward, no matter how badly her body was suffering. Collapsing, breaking off into bits, bleeding into the collapsing earth behind her. Fingers, her armor, bits of her face plate. To show the scorched, scared body Kioshi left behind. And yet, she saw herself. Tall, muscular, with dark skin and long curly black hair. Before she was burned over, rebuilt, only to decay into the forest.
Yui: "MOVE BACK!"
Yui prepared to unleash all of her mana. To corrupt and take in as much Spirit mana as she possibly could. Until Leo's hand grabbed hold of her dirty and torn white scarf, and threw her back toward Walter. So Leo could take in a deep breath, and face the beast ahead.
Yui: "WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?"
He saw Raylice. He saw his father. The flames of Athens. And yet, behind him, he saw Toll. Garly. Stern, his mother, even his brother. It had all been lost to the flames that had burnt everybody in this world. But with his strained Mark, with his weakening body, with his almost broken hand, he took the chance. He wouldn't kill himself like he did against Raylice. But he couldn't hold back anything either. So, like against Pandora, he took it to the next level.
Leo: "Just watch me -
Togi got closer and closer by the second. Throwing trees, stone, dirt, anything in her path all around. Even the anarchists are desperately trying to join the battle. All so she could aim her fist forward at the center, screaming with all she had. Against Leo, who wasn't screaming. But crying out in pain, in hope. By using his Dragons Fist, while pushing his Mark to its limit at the same time. From his Mark, across his arm, right out of his scared fingers.
Togi: "PLEASE!"
It was enough force to break his hand, to send him flying back. But it was deafening. Bright, sudden, all encompassing. Instant. Crackling through the sky in a focused stream of bright blue, Volatile Lighting, right against Togi's heart. And left her instantly crashing against the earth, twitching, and letting out her final breaths. With a crushed nerves system, insurmountable amount of pain, and a failing heart to finally put her to the ground. While also leaving Leo in Yui's arms smiling, and barely holding onto his own conscious puns, before the last thing he saw was her aggravated face. Reminding him of so many of his family members.
Togi saw her family alongside him. Fading away when she left to be a Bounty Hunter, fading away when that life burned to ash. All fading
Gone
Gone
It's over
It's coming
It's terrifying
It's so painful
It's scary
Scary I'm scared I'm so scared
I'm -
Togi: "...One…Shot…?"
But before it all faded with her collapsing heart, she saw something - not a lie, it had to be a lie.
Kioshi: "ARE YOU ALRIGHT!? SPEAK SPEAK! PLEASE I'M SORRY! I THOUGHT YOU WERE STRONGER! OH MY GOODNESS OH MY GOODNESS!"
Kioshi, running to heal her after she was so badly damaged. Kioshi, ensuring she was put back together. Kioshi, smiling to visit her in prison before she was told to stop. That maybe, maybe a lot of her pain really was her fault.
Togi {Well…what am I supposed to…do with that now…? What, what a joke…}
And then, watching as the Knights ran into the woods, it all faded to black forever. Her soul, her life, stayed at rock bottom. Half-dead, maybe all the way. She didn't feel dead, but her body sure did. It was only a matter of time. However, neither Togi nor the Anarchists could do anything to stop them. They just had to follow, to charge behind in their pursuit, while they used the last of their collective strength to smash them all away.
Togi {...why….}
Inside the valley. Like rings of homes and forests over another. And yet their walls had been crushed. Their homes, shops, and streets were all burned and destroyed. The earth is scared over by Togi's rampage. And the manor that used to stand tall over it all, laid as a massive pile of burning stones. Soon, even with so many running behind them, Leo's group would burst out of Symbol and back into Walgonia.
Yui: "KEEP HOLDING THE LINE!"
Walter held Leo and Dershia in his large arms, still slamming his tail to send anarchists flying back from eruptions of force. While Carlos used the last of his strength to fire out arrows from Walters shoulder, taking out any flying or leaping anarchists trying to stop him with arrows to the throat. But jumping between trees, throwing out slashes, dashing all around them with constant pressure was Yui. A true Head Levithan, even if she was technically the weakest out of the Seven, although aside from the top spots those rankings weren't as set in stone. Because outside means like being a Scholar of Valor, or three slots taken by Gods of War, even getting here meant you were truly something. Maybe one of the only half-elves in Walgonia, one of the few cursed people in Walgonia, the youngest Knight in this group, and the only one keeping the anarchists at bay. Leaving them either retreating, or trying their best to keep up.
Symbol, no matter the struggle, had been saved from the Sects control. Left in a slightly better shape then they would have left it. However, just outside of the town, the bird of sin crashed down through the trees in a desperate rage. Cutting open a large Spirit beast sniffing at the ground without a thought, before struggling to step across the dirt.
Pandora: "FILFY FILFY FILFY! ALL OF THEM! EVERYTHING! ALL OF IT!"
With her screeches she scared off flocks of birds, Spirit Beasts, before her armor began to unravel. Winding away, back into the egg shaped charm dangling by Rosine's next. Rosine instantly fell to her knees, and yet she still reached into her pocket. For her own communicator. Her Ravorian armor was broken, burnt, ready to fall to the dirt along with her blood and bruises. And yet, the pain was nothing compared to the burden of letting Pandora take over. As her eyes weighed heavier than any of her wounds. Although those wounds were pretty bad.
Rosine: "Symbol was lost! We'll collect ourselves here, but we need to discuss things now! So get ready for the morning! It seems Walgonia is preparing for something, and they're breaking us apart right before it happens!
She spoke to the nearby Pillars, but to Arthur directly. Even if he was half asleep in his chair drunk, tired, and bandaged from his recent battles. Who just signed, and turned off his communicator like an alarm clock. Leaving the surrounding parties of Walgonian Knights to rush past their battles, and back into the shadows as the sun began to rise. Leaving Leo's group to rush into the valley, leaving Lincoln and Gordon's group to locate everyone else, and leaving Gray's group flying through the cold dark skies with Dema. Watching on as the sun was soon to rise, and the Capital got closer by the second. Where they'd soon be past the trees, flat open roads, farms, and villages. To the biggest thing in sight.
Gray: "I guess we're finally back, huh?"
Edward: "I was hoping when we got back this thing woulda been solved. I didn't think we'd be right back in the heart so soon."
Soku: "Soon? I guess it has been a few months, like four? It feels like it's been a year or two! I've been in way too many fights way too soon! When is this random stuff gonna stop happening!? Spooky mansions, random attacks, always somehow getting targeted by the strongest people instead of just some grunts!"
Rosemary: "I guess we've got some harsh luck. Enough to live, but what's really living?"
Julius: "Living is enough. But we need to be smart so survive. Who is this Hellana, what should we expect? If we are going to speak with the leaders of the Rebellion, we cannot fail. And we cannot waste a second."
Soku: "She's awesome! One of my moms friends, she helped me and Soku out a bunch! She's got a lotta friends, basically united Walgonia's underbelly. Not the scum, slavers, but people with an actual set of passions! The Thieves guild is always moving but I know a few spots, we just gotta drop by my old house and it'll be a few minutes of walking!"
They passed down through the clouds, all to face the past. Gray's memories of his first day in this world. Soku, Ophelia, Rosemary, the Sect. Everything started that day. His purpose had been given to him. And now, stronger than ever, with more trauma and scars and pain and burdens, he'd look on and face it whole heartedly.
Gray {I've messed up so so many times. Anybody else could have done it. Been smart enough, strong enough, nice enough to actually be a Hero. Nobody in any show or anime ever loses a country, gets all these people killed, ever turns out to be the good guy. But if I'm not that, then I'm just a soldier, then I've gotta act like one.}
His wide eyes from fear, narrowed tightly from experience. Looking on through the distorted sky rushing behind them. The lights of the capital grow only closer under the clouds. The Capital that broke Conner Kyojin. The Capital that took Ophelia, Al, Musashi, Kioshi, Julius brothers. So many Knights, so many innocents. But Gray's scars, his abilities, even his control over his mana. This Capital didn't make that. It made him who he was. It was just the beginning, and now, he'd return to those beginnings with absolutely everything he had. But that strength was nothing compared to his experience, his knowledge. From a boy with no idea of the world around him. And now a boy, burned by all of it. Although, all of their minds went to the same place. Their eyes, their souls. All shook and shook, before solidifying as hard as iron.
Rosemary {This Capital gave me my life, so I'll make sure I return it to you, for all the family you've given me.}
Soku {Don't worry Ophelia, I'm here. I'm here and I'll take it all back, I'll make sure you can rest easy. No matter what happens to me.}
All Soku could think about was an easier time. Running through the streets of thousands tightly packed together and swiping wallets, bracelets, rings, necklaces, before jumping off some heads or up walls to escape and sell them off later. The short scuffles she'd get into with Knights, people, other thieves. Snagging food on top of it all, to bring it back to their quiet street in the West district for Ophelia. It's all they could all think about. Rosemary's short time alone, trying her best to find jobs or housing without getting called a betrayer of her people. Or just turned away because she was a woman without anything to her name aside from the Goldenwind title. Before she'd met with Soku and Ophelia, and spent a few months actually relaxing. Talking, making food, working a job, all for an actual family. And Edwards' quiet life in the mansion. Training day in and day out under Musashi's harsh gaze, Al's soft teaching, and Kioshi's insane abilities always hanging over him. Bit by bit it had all been burned away.
Rosemary: "....What are we supposed to do?"
They had to reach the Thieves guild, the resistance. They had to unite with Walgonia. Unite the Capital. Take it all back. And yet, between them all, it felt absolutely impossible, and incredibly confusing. But as always Julius spoke proudly, with a smile and closed eyes, peering past the darkness to the Light he knew always existed.
Julius: "We have to take the Sect into account. They will likely have treated the Capital as the heart, so I would assume they have some kind of detecting. Spirit Knights, Demi-humans, maybe an Upper or Lower Pillar, a Bounty Hunter. We have no idea if entering the Capital is already giving us away, or if we will be targeted the second we cross over the walls."
Edward: "Well the Capital used to be looked over like that, at least broadly. Musashi and Kioshi talked about having old seals inside the walls that would flash to the Castle. But it seemed to just be annoying, because of everybody always coming in and out, it was basically always going off. The biggest thing was Power. If they had corrupted mana, or some incredible Mark or unique trait or something, then the thing would really start screaming. But -
Gray: "WHAT!? BUT I'VE GOT CORRUPTED MANA! And Rosemary's got a unique mana trait right? Soku has what seems to be a pretty strong Mark! And Julius has a weapon of Alfheilm right? You've got Helsing blood! We're all gonna make that alarm go crazy!"
Soku: "Wait, what if it already went off or somethin!?"
Edward: "Just let me finish! I was gonna say Greenvale's got the same stuff! Like when they all rushed to us when we used that Sect transporter! But they sinked us up, so hopefully that transfers to the Capital, somehow. I don't think it will, and if it did the Sect would probably have altered it anyway. But either or, we have to be ready for it."
It took a few moments of silence between them in the star night. Rushing over the roads, trees, screams. For Grays eyes to widen once again.
Gray: "Then how powerful is the magic!? If we go high in the air, over the Capital, over the walls, could we break past!? I know it would be pretty sketchy, but if we soar down, we'll be dropping right in. Right after, we run like hell! So maybe we land somewhere away from the West, so when they close in, we'll be long gone! If we just went in with Dema and landed, they'd probably detect us before we could get far. Or we'd give them right to the rebellion!"
Soku: "You wanna nose dive miles in the sky right into Sect infested territory, before running across it all the way to the West without alerting any of the Sect!?"
Gray: "Yeah! I hate it as much as you so if anybody else has a plan say it, but if not, then we bite the bullet"
Rosemary: "I don't know what a bullet is but Gray's right. Everybody else has been running head first into the Sect. All the time we've spent staying away, working slowly toward it, has us lost so much already. It lost us all of Athens. It's time we stop running to the shadows, and soar right into the heart."
Across them all, Rosemary was almost the most confident. Not in the same way Julius was though. Because that confidence all came from rage, pain. The Capital was supposed to be her new life. And it really was, but it was a life she'd have to fight for to keep. She may have run from the GoldenKnights. Killed and ended the bloodline with that monster, traitor, creature, Calgary. But the Walgonian crest on her armor laid true. Her allegiance, her world, her purpose. It was all here. Everything, everybody. Saga was the land of Legends, Stories. A land of kingdoms, of constant war, of powerful and ancient bloodlines fighting against each other. It was all of their homes, their lives. Their stories. Of Stars shining over, and symbols of decay.
For the people, for the history, for everything that had been lost. They'd fly high into the air for it, higher and higher above the Capital. Before they prepared, all on their own, to leap through the clouds and right into the Heart of Walgonia. The Heart of The Sect. The Heart of All their Pain. Under the shining stars and massive moon. The glimmer of the rising sun and its warmth coming forth. But across the districts laid the Sect. Inside homes, shops, alleys, sewers. With roads blocked by barricades, crowded with terrified civilians and Sect patrols. Even bridges had been built across the roofs, holes smashed into taller towers, alleys transformed into small camps, to make the Capital a truly fortified base of operation. Not a city, but a fortress for Anarchy. All with Walgonia's massive castle in the center of the districts, looking over a flaming land covered in Sect flags and banners.
Edward: "So, I know you can glide with the Cloak and wind or whatever, but how am I supposed to survive this drop!? Me, Rosemary, Julius? We don't really have anything for that!"
Gray: "I've been thinking of just the combo move for that!"
Walgonia moved forward around the Capital, including Leo's group escaping from the Valley. And up above, soaring down through the sky, was a strange sight. Rosemary and Edward all held onto Gray, while Gray had the Cloak expanded above them with Soku standing on his head. Pushing wind against the Cloak, as well as pushing the wind around them. Almost like a hot air balloon, but more like riding an umbrella down through some harsh winds. Without hardly any control, filled with panic, and soon to draw in the sights of the many anarchists down below, they fell and fell. Against the Capital. Down into the Heart, into Hell.
Gray: "Cenic!"
With a burst of mana he expelled from his body toward the Spirits, the dark cloud of Cenic quickly coated them. Masking the light and sight of them all hanging from the Cloak ballon, all of the anarchists looking on only knew there was some kind of danger. Until another Black streak carved down through the sky right past them, with a pink haired prince riding atop. Drawing all of the attention as he blitzed past them, and soared far into the distance.
Julius: "Kyojin, you truly are something, I do not know what, but it is definitely something."
As all of the Sect eyes around the block were distracted by Julius sudden appearance and disappearance, Rosemary ignited the fourth stage. Pushing Cenic away before everyone grabbed hold of her, and tried their best not to scream as she kicked against the wind with Soku. Pushing them toward the buildings below, so Edward could roll across a roof, Soku could kick off the wind, Rosemary could grab hold of a ledge, and Gray would use the Cloak to swing inside an alley way. Before landing on two Anarchists backs, pushed mana forward, and used them as a launch pad to jump forward toward a wall.
Rosemary: "Guys!?"
Rosemary pulled herself up the building to see Edward waiting, Soku sliding across the flat stone, and Gray using the Cloak to grapple upward. Flipping mid-air with an attempt at a cool landing, that left him face planting against the roof.
Soku: "Nice, looked really cool."
Gray: "Yeah yeah I know I know!"
Rosemary: "Please stop, we need to move, now! So go go go!"
In the border of the North and West district, they were forced to leap building to building as fast as they could. Until the archers and mages looked forth, and saw nothing. As they'd pushed back to a momentarily empty alley with their back to a home. The moment they peered out of the alley they had to jerk their head away from the sounds of rushing anarchists, and look on for anything they could do.
Rosemary: "My stages are far too bright and loud to use, same with Grays mana and Sokus wind. We still need to meet up with Julius, but how are we gonna do that without any abilities?"
Edward nor Soku spoke. They just looked to Gray, and made him blush from embarrassment.
Gray: "Why are you guys lookin at me!?"
Edward: "Well you've had some good plans so far, what else you got?"
Soku: "Yeah how are we gonna get through here!? Edwards massive, even if I don't use my wind I'm still an elf, Rosemary's got her golden hair. And you're wearin Knight gear with the Cloak of darkness! How can we sneak when the Sect have the skies and the sewers controlled?"
Gray: "Well, I might have an idea. I saw it work in a old movie once."
Edward: "Great, so what's a movie?"
Gray: "Something I miss very dearly -
Rosemary: "What!?"
Gray: "No no no! It's not like that it's like -
Soku: "Shut up and do somethin!"
It took a few moments, but like clockwork, a small group of anarchists rushed into the alley. A large Demi-human sniffed the air with vigor, before looking on at an armored warrior swinging his fist. Edward struck the large anarchists in his stomach with one quick and devastating blow, while Soku knocked out another two by bursting them against the wall with wind, Rosemary threw out a few quick jabs, and Gray sent out the Cloak to slam their heads against the floor. So by the time another group came by, all they saw were four anarchists shaking with fear.
Anarchist: ""Did you see something!? It could be a prank or rebel stuff but we still gotta figure it out! You know what Arthur's like."
Another Anarchist: "Are you sayin Arthur is wrong!?"
Yet Anarchist: "It don't matter enough to sit here and argue!"
Out of the four anarchists the small crowd faced, the second tallest walked forth. His Sect robes barley fit overtop armor, his mask barley held on, and his voice sounded far too chipper compared to the harsh and worried anarchists.
"We saw somethin but it was headin around the North! I think it's a Spirit beast, cause I didn't see anybody with it."
Anarchist: "Well then keep movin that way, we'll go around! If we stop something big we could get somethin from it! Now move move move!"
The crowd, mixed with men, woman, Demi-humans, all rushed down the dull and dark, empty streets of tall homes and shops. Leaving the four to sigh with relief, before they rushed in the opposite direction they were told to go. Right to the West.
Soku: "Are you sure this'll work!?"
Gray: "Not if you scream stuff like that! It's like skippin class, or gettin caught something you're not supposed to do. Move with purpose, and lie like hell if you're caught."
They had made it in. They had survived Symbol. They had even managed to overcome Sin itself, for the time being. And now they were soon to reach the Rebellion. It was just a matter of time, before this long stretch of hell came to a close. From the moment the Sect attacked and killed the King of Walgonia, ever since Azalea was killed that same day and Gray had arrived, the Sect had been moving. Moving, winning, and pushing the Upper Pillars to the for front for the first time in the Sect history. And hopefully, leaving themselves open to be destroyed for the first time along with it. As the only way to truly rid the world of them, was to make a world were hurt people didn't have to take over a country to change it. A land were Heroes could rise, and the corruption would finally be burned away. The Stars just needed to Shine over the Heart of Darkness.