Using his ability to control sound, he was able to climb the tree without bringing any attention to him. He made sure not to flare his Aura and suppress it. Then on top of the tree, he put on put on black mask that covered only the lower half of his face.

The mask he got as a reward for gambling when he was going down the elevator. He liked its ascetics with the sharp golden teeth and the fangs at the end that gave it the feel of a demon’s grin.

It also had a secret.

There was a little button on its side that opened a small hole between the teeth. From the man he won this from, he told him it originally had been used to hide a poison dart. Subaru didn’t need to use it for that though, he had a far more nefarious use for it.

Subaru leaned on the edge of the branch, taking note at the battle’s progress…if it could be even called that.

It was one sided, like an adult beating a boy. His punches battered against his barrier like pair of sticks.

That confident grin the elf had, Subaru would wipe that clean.

He opened his Gate.

Aura flowed through and he gathered it all in at the hole in his mask.

He sucked in a deep breath that expanded his belly and whistled.

The condensed sound blew through his barrier and struck him in the chest. Kagami landed on his feet and landed a blow on his body.

Subaru closed his Gate, suppressing his Aura and sound. He jumped from branch after branch, hopping to the next tree.

The tree he had been on snapped in two. The elf held out his hand in that direction but had missed him by mere minutes

He hurried to his next vantage point.

#

True to his word, Cedar Oswell continued to act as a decoy. His punches meant nothing to his barrier, but he was a true pest. The prince kept on striking the barrier with the mad fervor of a berserker. Though the auraless fists posed no danger to him the blow the blow he landed on him still throbbed in pain.

The sound of the blows hitting his barrier bothered him the most.

His breathing was off, and his barrier was weaker. He searched for the man responsible for breaking his barrier. There was no sign of Aura nor did his ears pick up any sound.

To skillfully hide his aura, the man was a pro. Oberon wouldn’t doubt if he had been an assassin.

Oberon turned his attention back to Cedar. He wrapped his barrier around the man’s fist and wrenched him up by the wrist. The prince did not stop though, he kicked the barrier. The sound thrummed like a warped sheet of metal.

“What abilities does your comrade have?” He questioned him. “Answer me!”

Cedar stuck his tongue out.

“I’m not going to say shit.”

“Childish!” The moment Oberon swung his fist, his vision flashed.

His barrier broke like a glass window. The beam struck his back and it reverberated throughout his body, shaking the delicate machinery.

He gasped, and his concentration had waned. He saw the Prince’s fist before it struck his face.

Oberon was face down on the ground. Dirt sullied his perfectly crafted face. Anger and pride warred within him.

A failure had struck him again. A coward kept running and attacking him from a distance.

Unacceptable!

Once more they started the tactic again. Cedar struck his barrier over and over again, and he could not find the coward in the tree tops.

These people.

Bang. Bang. Bang.

They would not.

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Bang. Bang. Bang.

Be allowed to live.

Oberon stood tall. He felt a spike of Aura in the distance. He showed no concern for it. He focused on his Aura on his chest. A hatch opened up, revealing a beautiful blue orb.

Immediately, power surged through him.

A pleasant voice sounded with his head.

Overdrive Mode Activated.

#

Subaru released another whistle. The highly condensed sound turned to light, striking the elf. His heart was swelling with confidence. The legends about elves were always horror stories. The amount of time they lived allowed them to learn many, many things. There weren’t many stories about human triumphing against an elf.

That confidence died as soon as he saw his Whistle splash instead of pierce through the barrier. Aura flared like added oil to a fire. As the light died down, Subaru watched in horror as he saw the elf holding Kagami by the neck.

In the center of his chest was a blue orb that bled blue light. Blue lines etched across the elf’s skin as if they were veins. The elf turned to Subaru and Subaru realized far too late he should have been running.

“Got you.” He read the lips of the elf.

Subaru dove off the branch, desperation prickled his skin. He was like a rabbit that had caught a hungry wolf’s attention.

The air warped around him, and he was caught in an invisible trap.

He floated down, brought in front of the elf. The elf met Subaru with those ominous glowing blue eyes with a grin that relished his victory.

The rabbit was in the wolf’s mouth.

#

What had happened?

His consciousness wavered between the lines of life and death for a moment.

A vision of the fire bird flashed in his mind.

He didn’t want to go back there.

Pain awakened him. His throat was grasped by the elf, slightly loosened to allow him to breath. Blue light was leaking all over Oberon’s body. A victorious grin stretched across his face as he looked between Kagami and Subaru.

“So, I have caught both rabbits. Death is all but inevitable.”

His heart quickened at that, but he pushed that fear down.

“Then do it!” Kagami managed to say.

“Patience!” He hissed, tightening his grip on Kagami’s neck. “Do you think that I would kill you so quickly? After all the dishonor you have caused me? No, both of your deaths will be slow. Starting with you.”

Subaru gasped. He held his throat. Oberon tossed Kagami down.

“Your friend is dying. He lacks oxygen. If you can defeat me, I shall release him.”

He rubbed his throat as he coughed. His gaze was attracted to the cavity of his chest. Behind the blue orb, there were gears running in the background.

“You’re a robot?”

“A puppet!” He hissed. “I was once Prince Lennox Oswell. I too was thrown down here by our mother. She tosses us here, those that show potential. A test to see if one of us can make it out here. That was fifty years ago.”

His legs felt like jelly, he still managed to stand up.

“What are you talking about? That woman didn’t seem like fifty. Her voice sounded too young.”

To that, Oberon laughed. His blue eyes flared as brightly as his knowing smile.

“She is called the Eternal Queen. She has lived as long as any elf, but should you really be asking me questions? Your dear friend is losing air as we speak.”

Kagami leapt to Subaru.

“Too slow.”

He was met with a kick to the face. His back bounced off the wall, and he hit the ground. Blood dripped from his mouth and nose. He pressed his arms under his chest attempting to stand back up. Oberon laughter filled the air.

“Good. Good. Keep on trying.” The elf flicked his finger. Subaru’s face was purple, but relief filled his eyes as he took in a quick breath. “Can’t have him die yet. The game is still afoot.”

Kagami barked out a pained laugh.

“You’re really a sadist aren’t you?” Kagami slicked his bangs aside. Every part of his body hurt as he sucked in uneven breaths. “At least when I had strength, I never played with my food.”

Oberon snorted.

“Come now, I’m giving you a chance to free your friend.”

A crack of smile appeared on his face.

“You might regret that.”

Oberon sneered as Kagami stumbled forward like a walking corpse. He pointed his finger and Kagami bent over, his midsection struck by his barrier.

He moved his finger as if he a composer moving his baton. Kagami was hit in all sorts of direction. He couldn’t keep up with this onslaught of invisible attacks. He fell forward, but a barrier clamped on his midsection and he rose a few feet in the air. His feet dangling.

“Come on! Do something!” He waved his finger down, and Kagami slammed against the ground.

He could do nothing.

He was losing consciousness and in his desperation threw out a punch so weak that it may as well have been a cork gun.

It hit the barrier between Oberon and Kagami.

And Kagami finally fell.

The elf shackled his hands together with his barrier and pulled him up, suspending him in midair.

“I’ll give you this Cedar, your will is the greatest I’ve seen any Oswell that I’ve killed. None of that matters without strength. I can see it in you, you’re afraid, aren’t you? Of what?” He placed his hand on Kagami’s cheek, his glowing blue eyes stared through him. Kagami tried to chomp on them. Oberon pulled back. His face turned to rage. “Insolence!”

With a few more smashes to the ground, Kagami was surprised that he was still conscious. It was his way to resist, to give a big middle finger to the man who claimed to have the same cursed name as the prince’s body that he inhabited.

“Your body is broken.” He tapped his arm. “You haven’t used your ability to revive, instead holding on for dear life. Why are you scared?”

Kagami spat a bloody spit. It splatted on the invisible barrier. Kagami gave a toothy grin covered in blood.

“Anyone would be afraid to die.”

The bloody spit streaked down the barrier.

“But you can’t.” Oberon leaned in, digging deeper. “I know, because I saw you revive. Why are you scared?”

“. . .”

“If you won’t answer, then die.”

Oberon’s hand erupted from his back.