Chapter two. The Familiar of the Moon.
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“I am your Familiar, Master,” Artemis replied to Isaac.
“My familiar?” Isaac said, flabbergasted.
Two black monsters approached the two. Artemis glared at them, took hold of his katana again, and rushed to them, dodging their strikes and cutting them down with ease. He looked back to Isaac. “Master, there are at least three more of those creatures and I sense more throughout this building. What are your orders?”
“My orders? Wait, you said there's more of those things here!?”
“Yes. If you'd like I can clear us a path for escape, or if you'd like I can dispatch them all here or take out their leader.”
“W-wait, hold on! Just… This is a lot to process.” Isaac said, holding his head with his free hand.
“I understand. Allow me to dispatch the rest of the monsters while you think.” Artemis turned and walked toward the three monsters in the room to fight them.
Isaac watched, like looking at a soldier go into battle, baffled that that was the same cat from before. ‘This is crazy…’ He shook his head. ‘Think about that later. Think of what to do to get out of here. I could just wait for the guardians to show up but who knows how long that'll take or if they, or anyone, even knows what's going on here? Wait! What if I try-’ He brought out his phone thinking of calling the outside.
“That won't work.” The woman from before said, holding up her frightened child, herself being just as terrified but not showing a lot of it but enough to have it be known. “I just tried, the signal’s blocked.”
“Damnit!” Isaac snapped.
“Um… That cat… It's yours right?”
“Uh.. we well technically ye-”
She took hold of his arm, giving him a pleading look. “Please, can you get us out of here!?”
“Huh?”
“We don't know when or if help will arrive and you and your cat are the only ones who can save us!”
“I uh-” Isaac didn't know what to say.
“Please!! My son is terrified and my husband is waiting for us back home!”
“Ho-hold on!”
“Please, sir!” The son reached out, shaking, grabbing Isaac by the shirt. “Please save us…I…” He started bawling, “I don’t wanna die…”
“....” Isaac couldn't deny that child's face, taking his and the mother's shoulder. “We’ll protect you,” Isaac said. ‘How though!? Think Isaac, think! It's not just them, but there are also other people in this place, not just this room.’ He could see the other people looking towards him or Artemis who just finished with the last one. ‘I can't just leave with them and leave the others to die… wait…”
“Master,” Artemis approached them, “That was the last of them in this room. Have you thought it over?”
“Artemis, you said there was a leader right?”
“Yes. I can sense someone whose energy resonates with these monsters, the way it resonates shows command.”
“If we take out the leader, will the monsters stop?”
Artemis nodded. “I can confirm that doing so would cease their functions.”
“Think you can find him?”
“Hm.” He nodded.
“Ok, are there any of those monsters coming here or close by?”
“A few close but none coming.”
“Alright,” He turned to face the mom and kid. “Stay here, it'll be safer. Artemis and I are going to take out the one responsible.”
“Ok, thank you!” The lady said.
“Let's go, Artemis!” Isaac said to his cat.
“Master, if you wish to join in this fight I would suggest using a different construct as that combination won't be enough,” Artemis suggested.
“You mean that thing with all those stars?”
“The star points, yes.”
“Ok. Dismiss.” He dismissed his light bow and brought back up the display. “Hmmm.” He went with one that looked like a blade. It had six stars, one at the top, two below on each side that was angled 25 degrees from two more slightly below those that were angled 15 degrees from them, and another right at the bottom in the center aligning with the top one. He then pulled two lines and connected them to the bottom, making a pole.
“Light Spear.” His voice said.
“Ok. Li-...ah…ah..achoo!” he sneezed, making an accidental adjustment to the pile, bending each segment to the side.
“Sparking Blade Whip.”
“Sparking blade whip?”
“Realization.”
The circle enveloped his hand and materialized a rope of light with a long blade at the end. The blade fell to the ground, the rope being attached to Isaac’s hand. “Whoa!”
“That should work, Master,” Artemis said.
“A-alright.” Isaac pulled the blade out by pulling the rope. “Let's go!”
“Hm.” Artemis nodded, running to the gate along with Isaac. “I'll open the way!”
“Ok!”
Light gathered around Artemis's blade. ‘Light slash!’ He thought, slicing a wave of light at the gate, busting an opening right in the middle.
“...I don't know what I expected.” He noticed Artemis dashing off with great speed. “Hey wait up!” He increased his pace to try and keep up. He wasn't the fastest runner but he wasn't a slow one either. Once they got outside they were met with two black creatures, Artemis already jumping over one's strike before cutting through its chest. Isaac targeted the other swinging his Blade Whip at it, embedding its edge into its neck, killing it. “Yes!”
“This way, Master,” Artemis told him, jumping up to the second floor, and landing on the railing.
“Hey! I can jump that high!”
“You can with your enhancements.”
“My what?”
“Say Enhancement three.”
“Enhancement three?”
“Enhance.”
Isaac felt a surge of energy course through him and saw his glove glow with an insignia on it. The insignia was five lines trailing off dots on the knuckles to an intersection that went down to his wrist. What was noticeable was the symbol in the middle. It was the Zodiac sign for Gemini. “What's this?” He tapped it, it lit up and nothing happened. “Hm?”
“Master, we really should keep going.”
“Oh right.” He snapped back into it, jumping up, soaring high, nearly going to the roof which was fifty yards high. “Whoa!” He managed to grab the rails. “Holy crap!”
“You alright, Master?”
“I'm ok.” Isaac managed to pull himself up. Five creatures that were nearby on the floor were rushing to them, two on one side and three on the other.
“Master, would you prefer to take care of some or leave it to me?”
“I'll take the two on the left.”
“Understood!” He rushed to the three.
Isaac gripped his whip blade, and ran to the other two, finding that he was moving faster than usual, stopping abruptly when he got closer than planned, the two being a few yards away. “Ah!” He noticed them about to leap and he quickly and somewhat in a panic, swung the whip, the blade traveling just far enough to meet them, cutting through them with ease and breaking through a nearby pillar. “Eep!” He managed to grab it on its way back, almost getting stabbed by it. “Phew, too cl-” he heard a loud crash and looked behind him. “Hm?” He saw that Artemis had flung one of the monsters into a nearby display on the wall, crashing it through the glass pane. “AAAH! Artemis!” He ran to him.
“Hm? Something wrong?”
“Artemis, you gotta be more careful!” Isaac looked in, finding the item inside that was on display was undamaged. He sighed in relief before frowning at his cat. “You could’ve damaged this!”
“Would that have been a problem?” He cocked his head.
“Yes! Artemis just be careful will you?”
“Understood.”
“Ok, now let's keep going.”
“Yes, master.” Artemis led the way again.
The two came across other monsters, Artemis mostly taking care of them, being more careful like Isaac said which meant he mostly used counterattacks, dodging or swaying away from strikes, going for their openings to cut them down. Isaac on the other hand was adjusting himself to the sword whip, becoming more close range with it in fear of damaging it, holding it mostly near its end and swinging it like an actual blade with some success even though the way he held it was way to lose for it to act like an actual sword. He did throw it a few times, getting it stabbed in a few chests and heads, getting the hang of it but trying not to get a big head over it, especially since he's still not yet used to the strength. They got closer to their destination.
“I won't ask again, where is the real one!!” Said an angry voice in the nearby room.
“You hear that?” Isaac asked.
“This way.” Artemis rushed to the room.
“I-Im sorry!” Said a fearful woman.
“You have to know something! Think, you idiot!” Yelled the first voice.
“I really don’t know!”
Artemis and Isaac came in. The room was a display room for one of the unknown shuttles found a few weeks ago. It was an oval-shaped pod and had a huge hole on the top. The color was silver, with black rims to show certain hatches, and there were two jets on its side. Surrounding it were various items that were contained in it, including something that looked like what Artemis came in when he fell from the sky.
In Front of the stadium was a five-foot-tall pale-skinned man. His hair was shaggy and white, his eyes were blood red, and he wore gold earrings. His attire was an armored black sleeveless vest with a red middle, long solid dark pants, his one-inch heel shoes having a slight tint of purple, and on his forearms were thin fingerless black gloves that went up to his elbows. Attached to his waist was a small deck of cards, there being about ten cards. He was holding a purple gem and glaring at an attendant who was cowering before him.
“I’m telling you I don't know where the real one is, I promise!!” The attendant swore, shaking in fear, close to tears.
“Well find it- hm?” He turned his attention to Isaac and Artemis.
“Huh?” The attendant also looked at them.
“Who are you?” Isaac asked.
“That is my question! Who are you and how did you pass the Knights!?” The man asked.
“Knights? You mean those monsters?”
“Master, this is the one controlling those monsters he calls Knights,” Artemis informed.
“I thought I lost a few signals. Knew it couldn't be the Guardians so I thought I was imagining it.” The man said.
“Who are you and what are you doing?” Isaac asked.
“Hmph. The names Jink. As for what I'm doing, I'm just collecting what belongs to us.”
“Us?”
“At Least I would,” He glared at the attendant, “If this bitch would lead me to the stone!”
“I don't know!” The woman squealed.
“You little-” he raised his hand.
“Bow of light!” Isaac called.
“Realization.”
He pulled the string and shot it at his hand, knicking it, making him drop the stone he was holding.
“Why you-!” Jink glared at Isaac.
Isaac looked at the stone that dropped. It looked a bit different but similar to the one Dex showed him. “That stone!”
“Hm? I know it?”
“Uh,” Isaac didn't want to answer, not wanting Jink to know where he could find another if he was going to these lengths to find this one.
“You do, don't you.”
“What if I do?” Isaac glared, readying his bow.
“Then you’re,” He reached for his cards and pulled out four cards.
Artemis jumped in front of Isaac. “Master, watch out!”
“Going to tell me!” The cards in Jink’s hand glowed a dark purple before he threw them at the two. They shined before growing and changing shape, turning into four large monsters. They had the same designs as the Knights but they were nearly three times as big, had a second set of arms, their fingers were sharp jagged blades, their teeth shark-like, and on their chests were a red orb, seemingly injected in, with dark black veins trailing off it. They roared. “Rooks! Deal with the cat while I question the boy!”
The monsters moved, closing in on Artemis and Isaac.
“Master, it seems he plans on separating us. Don't worry I can handle these beings and I will be careful. I believe if you use enhancement five you can handle Jink. I would suggest a Zodiac Attack.” Artemis suggested.
“A wha- Whoa!” Isaac jumped back from the incoming strike of the Rook. “Artemis!” He saw them try to surround the cat.
“I'll be fine, good luck Master!” Artemis said, dodging the strikes from the monsters.
“Thanks but what's a Zodiac Attack?”
“Gemini Burst.”
His bow was dismissed and his right hand was imbued with a red and blue aura. “Whoa…”
“Excuse me,” Jink called his attention.
“Hm?”
“While your cat is busy, I want my information.” Jink glared.
“Sorry?”
“You know where a stone is,” He pointed to the fake stone that Isaac made him drop, “It’s shaped like that but it’s made of sturdier material, plus it feels less cheap. You recognized it when you saw it and I want to know where.”
“What is it?”
“None of your business. Now tell me where.” Jink’s glare became more intense.
“...” Isaac put up his fighting stance, sticking his left foot out while sliding his other foot back, raising his fists, his left one being in front and his right one low and to the side. “Enhancement five! Sparking Blade Whip!”
“Enhance. Realization.”
He felt a surge of energy in his body like the last time and the blade whip materialized, him grabbing it by the hilt. He furrowed his brows at Jink.
“Hmph,” Jink took out two cards from the other side of his deck, “fool.” He placed one card on his chest, it shining like the cards that summoned the Rooks. It changed shape, giving him armored sleeves, armored leggings, a black helmet with a purple visor with a wing-like decal on the sides of the helmet, and a small round device on his chest that looked like some engine, plates of his vest slid out to cover it, the device whining and a veiny pulse of red coming out of it, going across all his armor. He held his other hand out, holding the other card, changing into a regular-sized rapier with a dark purple guard with a scale pattern and a trigger on the handle. “I'll make you regret this!” He pulled the weapon back and pressed the trigger and a dim dark magenta wave came from the bottom of the spike and to the tip, gathering at it. He thrust his rapier at Isaac, an ethereal stab coming out and towards him.
Isaac jumped out of the way, jumping further than expected, even though he tried to prep, going sixteen feet from where he was originally. “Whoa!” He managed to land safely. ‘That's gonna take a bit to adjust.’ He thought before leaping away from the next thrust, going a shorter distance.
“You're a good jumper, rabbit!” Jink taunted, shooting another stab.
Isaac managed to duck under it, running towards him very quickly, his speed surprising both of them, Jink jumping back to keep the distance, prompting Isaac to throw the blade at him. Jink deflected the blade and stabbed Isaac again, the boy ducking under the shot, quickly grabbing his blade whip, and swinging it at him. Jink used his rapier to block it at the rope, wrapping it around the blade. He planned to pull Isaac to him but Isaac thought it first, yanking it back to pull Jink forward. Jink got pulled hard, flying to Issac. He managed to regain himself, placing his feet on the ground and yanking back, making Isaac lose his grip with his left hand. Once he let go, the rope vibrated, a spark trailing up to the sword, once the spark hit the end the blade lit up and let out a shocking explosion.
“GYAG!!” Jink flew back from the impact, flipping back, and grinding on the ground to stop himself.
“Whoa.” Isaac was surprised by the action, the bladed whip now gone. “Hey, where'd it go!? AH!” He dodged an upcoming ether stab. “Sparking Blade Whip!”
“Realization.”
Isaac gripped the weapon, resuming battle.
While Isaac was fighting Jink, Artemis was dodging the Rooks' attacks with ease, their claws barely even scratching his fur. One tried backhanding him, making contact, only for it to be what the cat wanted, grasping the monster's claws with his teeth, and holding his sword with his tail. A second one came from behind, attempting to slam its fists down on him. Artemis twisted back, pulling the beast he was holding onto, and throwing him at the other, pushing them back and knocking them down. He got pincered by the other two, attempting to swipe at him. He tossed his sword up, jumped up to catch it, avoiding the slash of their fingers, and spun down, managing to cut one in its face, gashing its eye. It screeched in pain. The other tried to grab him, Artemis twisted around and jumped on its arm, launching off and cutting at its neck, making a deep enough cut for it to hold and make a raspy groan. It wasn't deep enough to kill, however. The red gem on its chest glowed, the damage he made healing on them.
‘Their skin is thick and it seems they have a healing ability. Normal cuts won't be so effective so I'll have to empower my slashes. Master wants me to keep damage to a minimum so I’ll have to keep it to the katana.’ Artemis thought. He charged up energy into his blade. A rook came from behind, attempting to cross-slash him with all its claws. He turned and slipped behind it through its legs, it turned and tried to stomp on him, the cat jumping back before leaping onto its knee and launching to its neck, managing to grapple around it, sliding onto its back, holding his blade to its neck, having twisted it around so the edge was pressed on it. It tried to reach and pull him off but couldn't get a hold of him, Artemis was able to move it back by pulling its shoulders and with the press of his sword. He maneuvered it around, bringing it face to face with another Rook that was coming by in an attempt to hit him off, having slashed its chest, making a gash in its jewel. At that moment, Artemis yanked his sword back, cutting through the monster's neck, the beast was barely able to groan as its throat was thoroughly cut through. He jumped up, the Rook in front thrusting its claws at him, hitting the corpse instead, making it fly back right towards the lady.
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“AH!!” The lady screamed.
Artemis noticed this and acted quickly. A purple circle with a moon symbol in the middle appeared at his feet and he vaulted off it, disappearing after the jump, skidding on the ground beside the lady before leaping at her, grabbing the scruff of her shit with his teeth and pulling her out of the way. A rook took the opportunity and attempted a body slam. Artemis placed his sword back in his mouth. ‘Razor!’ The light along the blade started sparking, gaining sharp small tips running on the edge. ‘Grazing Light Slash!’ Slashed at its chest, pushing it back, the cutting wave ripping into it like a saw, constantly shoving it until it cut all the way through, its other half crashing into the display. “Crap! Sorry master!”
Isaac looked back to see what happened. “It's fine it was just a prop….I hope.”
Jink however was surprised at how he had already taken down two Rooks. ‘Two already! This bodes a problem!’ He turned back to Isaac, grabbing two cards and swiping a blast at the human.
He jumped up but with too much strength, crashing into the roof. “Gng!”
“Fool!” The cards in his hand glowed and he was about to throw them at Artemis.
Isaac acted quickly, throwing his blade at him, missing by an inch as Jink tilted back to avoid it. He planned and expected that so when Jink threw his cards he pulled the rope and let go, a spark going down it, hitting the end and causing a stronger explosion than last time, knocking the unexpected Jink away. “Bow of light!”
“Realization.”
He prepared his follow-up but Didn't expect Jink to respond so quickly, a cutting wave from his rapier coming at him. “Woah!” He tilted back to avoid it, inadvertently pulling his bow with four fingers instead of two, causing three arrows to appear. “Huh?” He noticed but quickly put his attention back to a safe landing, pulling the bows and firing at Jink before he could do another attack. He blocked against it but the extra arrowed focus pushed his blade slightly and him too. Isaac continued this, pulling and shooting the best he could, being inexperienced with a bow, some of his arrow shots veering off which nearly proved useful as it came close to nicking the man. Jink glared at Isaac, ducking under his last shot, a surge of red going over his legs.
“Hyah!” He zoomed forward, stabbing his weapon at Isaac. Issac managed to dodge but barely, making a small squeak as he swayed to the side. Jink screeched to a stop. twisting around, swiping the edge right at him.
“Ah!” He raised his arms to guard, the tip going to his right hand. A white opaque round shield emerged from the back of the glove, having the same zodiac symbol in its center. Once the rapier made contact there was a small repulse pushing him back slightly. It surprised them both but Isaac took the opportunity and stepped forward. “Zodiac attack!”
“Gemini Burst.”
His hand glowed a bright red and blue, his fist striking right at his chest. Jink attempted to block, crossing an arm and the side of his rapier, taking the hit. “GUFOH!!” He flew back, a wave of red emanating from the impact, going a few yards away before grinding on the ground. Cracks formed in his armor, pieces of it having been broken off, a large tear having formed in the middle of his sword. He groaned, raising to see Isaac looking at his hand, shocked at the strength of the punch. ‘What an attack!’ He felt his chest, feeling an inner pain. ‘Whatever power that was hit from the inside as well,” He struggled to rise, getting to his feet, “I felt it in the moment of contact, that burst emanating from within.” He coughed, feeling some blood come out of his mouth. He glared at Isaac and composed himself. That's when he noticed Artemis take out another of his rooks, seeing only one left. ‘He took out more!?’ He drew two cards.
“No, you don't!” Isaac pulled the string of his bow, having materialized it as Jink rose, firing three arrows at him.
Jink managed to jump out of the way, ducking under the next sloppy tri-shot, throwing his cards to make more Rooks appear. He ignored his pain and rushed to Isaac, thrusting and swiping his sword at him. As he did so, the teen managed to avoid and block most of his swipes, making use of his newly discovered shield. He did cause a scratch or two but they were becoming less and less as the fight continued, Isaac beginning his counterattack. He thrust downwards, Isaac swaying to the side to dodge, hitting his fist across his face, causing Jink to stumble back before getting hit again from the other side. ‘Damnit! I thought he was the weaker of the two, especially with how he acted to those powers but he knows how to fist fight!’ Jink thought, trying to retort the best he could, only managing to get hit himself. ‘Seems like he's getting a hold of his strength and such, something he looked to be surprised at first, or was that a fluke to get me to attack close range? Grg!’ He was strict in the gut. ‘Ugh! I'm not gonna win like this and at the rate his cat is going in killing my rooks he'll soon join and I’m running out of rooks to send out to keep him busy!’ He jumped back. ‘I'm gonna have to keep him at bay and send the rest out!’ He pressed his trigger but when the energy tried to gather at the tip, it sparked and frazzled, the sparks hitting him. “What the-!?” The sparks didn't hurt but they did startle him, enough for Isaac to close the distance. “Shit!”
“Zodiac Attack!” Isaac yelled, swinging his fist at him.
“Cooldown.”
He punched him in the face but it was just a normal empowered punch. “Cooldown!?”
Jink braced for another one of those strikes from before but was surprised at it not coming. Hearing him say cooldown made him realize that he couldn't for whatever reason. Now was his chance. He grabbed all the cards out of his deck and double-tapped his trigger, throwing the rapier at Isaac’s feet. Sparks blazed out of the crack, creating a distraction as it caught him off guard. He threw his cards out, creating more monsters, and surrounding Isaac with them. ‘This should at least overwhelm him! Hate to admit it but I need to escape!’
“Ah, crap!” Isaac looked around seeing the creatures look at him as their next target.
“Master, duck!” Artemis called out.
“Huh?” He looked at the cat and once he saw him, he ducked.
The ring with diamonds appeared around Artemis, one coming out behind him, his tail swinging at it as it changed form, becoming a large white one-sided ax, his tail being in its back, acting as its pole. He twisted around, bringing his sword to one side and the axe to the other. ‘Yin yang moon stance!’ He gathered power in both the ax's edge and the swords. The power gathered in the blade changed shape, arcing, nearly looking like a crescent moon. ‘Heavy moon slash!’ He spun, slashing out the moon wave but before it could travel, his axe met with it, releasing the energy within it, causing its force and strength to increase, the power of it raging as it enlarged, crashing straight through, slicing through the multitude of Creatures like messy butter, hitting Jink as well who screamed in agony as the giant cutting wave took him away, the slash crashing through the opposing wall.
“Whoa…” Isaac looked at the giant gash in the wall, seeing Artemis’s slash go across the distance.
“Are you ok, master?” Artemis asked, approaching him.
“Uh, yeah I’m ok. Thanks.”
“I apologize. In order to save you I determined that that Moon Slash was necessary especially since you’re not yet used to your power.”
“It's fine, you managed not to hit any displays.”
“I'm sensing the other creatures ceasing function, likely due to Jink being dispatched.”
“Is…Is he dead?”
“I don't believe so. While I can't sense him now, I still sensed a quantity of his energy as he traveled. He's most likely to be heavily injured once the attack dissipates.”
“Oh, well…that's good I guess.” He breathed, a bit relieved that his cat didn’t kill.
“Master, the threat has been suppressed, unless there is anything else I will resume the control art two seal.”
“The wh- ah!” The lady from before tackled Isaac in a tearful hug.
“Thank you!! I thought I was gonna die!!” She cried while crushing him in a hug.
“Y-you’re…welcome.” Isaac found it hard to breathe.
“Hm? Hey, what's going on?” Artemis said.
“Huh?” Isaac looked at him, seeing him without his armor or weapons, his eyes back to blue, looking around confused. “Artemis?”
“Isaac, how'd we get- HERE!?” He was startled when the woman turned to him, rushing to grab him and embarrass him in an equally crushing hug. “MREOOOW!”
“Thank you too! I don’t know what would’ve happened to me if you didn't show up!” She said to the feline.
“Wh-what did I do!?” Artemis tried to get out of her grip. “Isaac help!”
“Uh, miss, I don't think he can breathe,” Isaac said.
“Oh! I'm sorry!” She let him go.
“You're strong.” Artemis sighed, relieved to be out of her crushing grip, being set down.
“But seriously, thank you so much Mr cat!” She bowed. “You saved my life!”
“I did?” Artemis cocked his head, confused.
She turned to Isaac next. “You too! I'm in your debt!”
“Uh, y-you're welcome,” Isaac said, a bit bashful. Sirens were heard from outside. “Oh hey, the police are coming…” ‘Police. Questions. Artemis. Possible press…’ Isaac thought. “Nope! C'mon, let's get out of here Artemis!”
“Huh? Why?” Artemis tilted his head.
“Last thing we need is the police asking questions about you or where you come from. Also, miss, please keep our names out of this,” he bowed respectfully. “Let's go Artemis!”
“Right!” Artemis rushed up and behind Isaac. “Wait, where's the backpack?”
“You broke it when you crashed out of it! Hop on my shoulders!”
“I what?”
“Tell you late, hop on!”
“Hup!” He jumped and latched onto his shoulder.
“Alright!” He ran out, his enhancements making his speed much higher still.
“Whoa! Were you always this fast?” Artemis asked, trying to keep holding on.
“You were just as fast if not faster!”
“Huh?” He noticed the monsters from before just laying on the ground, passing by a few killed. “Who did that?”
“You did,” Isaac answered, hopping down to the second floor.
“What?”
Isaac stopped for a moment, grabbing Artemis. “Do you seriously not remember?”
“No.” He shook his head. “Last thing I remembered, we were nearly surrounded by those things.”
“And after that?”
“Nothing. I figured I ju-”
“Hello? Is anyone there?” A feminine voice called out from across the gallery.
“Oh shit!” Isaac turned around, running back, going around the corner.
“Hey! Who's there!?” The female said, having noticed him.
He saw a wall across the way with a sign that pointed to what was where. He got an idea. “Enhancement eight!”
“Enhance.”
He gained speed. “I'm gonna owe this place!” he punched through the wall, busting through.
“Whoa!” Artemis said in awe.
“Brace yourself!” When he got outside he got close to the gates and leaped high over it, going far. “Too high!” He flailed a bit, seeing the roof of a nearby building coming up as a landing spot. He tried to quickly adjust, managing to land on his feet but skidded on the ground, barely managing to slow down before getting to the edge, coming close to tipping over. “Eeeeeeee!” He swam back, falling on his butt. “Phew. You ok Artemis?”
“Y-yeah I’m fine. May have clawed your shirt though.”
“It's fine.”
“Still I didn't know you were so strong!”
“It's thanks to that enhancement thing you told me. How do I turn that off by the way?”
“Enhancements?”
“You really don't remember anything?”
Artemis shook his head. “M-mm.”
“That's weird.” He got up. “We should go see Dixon and Dex and tell them about all this.” He looked at his glove. “Still how do I turn Enhancements off?”
“Disengage.”
He felt a tingle and the lights on his glove faded. “Hm?” He flexed his finger, feeling slightly different. He hopped up a few times only going the normal height. “Huh. That easy, huh? I guess I'm back to normal.”
“So what happened?”
“I’ll tell ya on the way.” He went to the ladder.
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Isaac rode to the observatory, explaining what happened.
“I was using a sword? Cool!” Artemis said.
“Yeah. You seriously don't remember huh?” Isaac replied.
“No, not at all. I told you I blacked out.”
“That's weird.” He stopped and parked his bike near the observatory entrance. He went around to the back, bringing Artemis up to his shoulder. He went in, heading up to the roof where he told Dex and Dixon to meet him. He saw them sitting on the grass, talking while looking worried. “Guys!”
They both turned to him, getting up and approaching.
“Isaac!” Dex came up, “I saw on the news about an incident at the museum! You ok!?”
“We're fine,” Isaac answered.
“We saw something blast out of the place. Guess you're lucky a Guardian was there to help.” Dixon theorized.
“Actually…” he pointed to Artemis, “that was Artemis.”
“Huh?” Dixon and Dex cocked their heads.
“Lemme explain. You guys might wanna sit down tho.”
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“And he doesn't remember any of it!?” Dex questioned, looking at Artemis with shock.
“Nope.” He shook his head.
“Wait, can you show that construct thing?” Dixon asked.
“Sure.” Isaac reached his hand out. “Bow of Light.”
“Realization.”
The bow appeared and they looked at it in awe.
“Still weird to hear my own voice come from this thing,” Isaac commented.
“Hm? What voice?” Dex questioned.
“That voice that sounded like me saying Realization.”
“I didn't hear anything.”
“Huh?”
“Neither did I,” Dixon added.
“What?”
“I did,” Artemis said.
“Course you did.” He deadpanned.
“So you made these from that constellation display thing?” Dixon asked.
“Yeah. I gotta combine them into some sort of image using the…Star points?” He looked to Artemis for confirmation.
“Hm?” Artemis tilted his head.
“Oh right. Don’t remember.”
“So you could make others?” Dixon wondered.
“I guess, yeah.”
“Hmmm,” Dex was thinking.
“Think up something, Star guide?”
“Well…this other side of Artemis seemed to know quite a bit about your glove and supposed powers yet this Artemis doesn't, nor does he remember any of it.”
“Yeah. I would’ve been lost if he didn’t tell me, especially on the enhancements and the Zodiac Attack.”
“Gemini Burst.”
His fist lit up with a blazing red and blue aura. “Ah! Dismiss! Dismiss!”
“He called you master….I wonder if there’s a way you could bring out that other side of him.” Dex surmised.
“How?”
“Voice command? Seems like that's how the glove works.”
“That's the glove, not Artemis.”
“It is synced to him so maybe it works through it?” Dixon wondered.
“What do I say though? He said something about placing Control Art Two Seal so do I just say release Control Art Two?”
“I doubt its tha-”
“Master,” Artemis said in a different tone.
“Hm?” The three humans looked down to see Artemis with yellow eyes and a calmer more stoic demeanor.
“What would you request?”
“....Uh…it is that easy,” Dex said in surprise.
“Artemis?” Isaac called out.
“Yes, Master?” Artemis replied.
“Yep, he's acting like his other self.”
“Well, ask him some questions!” Dex encouraged.
“R-right.” He knelt. “Artemis I have a few questions.”
“What are they, Master?” Artemis asked.
“Ok for one, what are you?”
“I am your familiar, Master.”
“Ok but what's that mean? When did you become my Familiar?”
“When we synced together I became your Familiar.”
“Y'mean when I grabbed this glove?”
“Yes. Our Dusk Energys synchronized the moment you got that Meteor Glove.”
“That's what this is called? Also, what's Dusk energy?”
“The energy of dead stars. Unlike Star Energy, its applications are normally only usable for storage and enhancing.”
“Normally? And what's Star energy?”
“Star energy is the energy of bright living stars, they awaken one's powers and unique abilities, allowing the use of star skills as well.”
“Sounds more useful than Dusk Energy. How does someone get that?”
“You get it by walking in the night, letting the stars themselves shine their power into you.”
“Oh, so how do I use Star Energy then?”
Artemis shook his head. “Sorry master. Star energy can only be used by females.”
“What, why!?”
“They are the only sex that can have the power imbued into them. Males can only use dusk energy.”
“Seriously? That sucks….but wait, you said the only applications for Dusk Energy are enhancing and storage so how was I, and you, able to do what we did in the museum?”
“That's because of our sync. The synchronization of Dusk Energy creates the usage of abilities similar to Star Abilities and also something unique, SP Constructs and the power of Zodiac.”
“SP Constructs? You….do you mean that bow and whip I used?”
“Yes. By aligning Star points on the display, you can use Realization to make them into actual constructs making skills and weapons.”
“Skills? Do you use this too?”
“No, it's only usable by you, I gain the use of elemental powers, my element being light.”
“Light huh?”
“Wait so does that mean you can’t use skills?” Dex asked.
Artemis glanced at him before looking back at Isaac. “May I answer his question, master?”
“Uh, yeah,” Isaac answered while Dex looked a bit annoyed.
He turned to Dex. “I can use skills but not those created from the SP Construct. For instance, my Light Slash is an Elemental Skill of mine. I guess it's better to say I use Elemental skills while Master uses construct skills which can be infused with his Zodiac.”
“My Zodiac? You mean that attack I used?” Isaac asked.
“Yes. The Zodiac attack is an attack that uses pure zodiac energy. You can infuse your Zodiac into your constructs as well.”
“I can? How?”
“Just say Zodiac infusion when you create a Construct.”
“Can I still use it when there's a cooldown? Cause I tried another Zodiac attack but it said cooldown.”
Artemis nodded. “You can. When it's on cooldown your zodiac energy is just collecting back into your glove.”
“Collecting? Like after the attack the energy it collected is dispersed or something?”
“Yes. The glove channels the energy inside to release the Zodiac attack. Once it's been used it needs time to store more. The same goes for when a charge is stocked.”
“Stocked?”
“Yes, you can stock up to three charges to empower the Zodiac attack or be able to release multiple at once.”
“Cool.” Isaac looked at his glove, interested.
“Anything else, master?”
“Well,” He turned his attention back to his cat, “why do you keep calling me master? Also, how come you didn't remember the museum when it was over?”
“You are my master since you are the owner of that glove and now synced to me. As for your other question, I assume what you mean is why does this side of me remember but my regular self does not?”
“Yeah.”
“Well…” He looked down pondering, “It is..difficult to answer….when the seal is removed this side of me, the side that has my abilities and sense unlocked comes with a…setting.”
“Setting?”
“It's like it's something programmed into me…it's that same program that gives me information on the Meteor Glove and its functions…this side of me suppressed my emotions and has me follow your orders Master…I…don't know why.”
“You don't?”
“It could be cause of his amnesia.” Dixon thought.
“That is a factor.” Artemis acknowledged.
“So I was wondering, is there a Control Art One?”
“Am I allowed to answer, Master?” Artemis looked to Isaac.
“Yes.” Isaac nodded.
“I have three seals. Control Art Zero is my final seal unlocking my true power. There is a danger to it so that’s why I have these seals.”
“Is it hard to control?” Isaac questioned.
“I assume so. I don’t quite know, sorry.”
“It's fine Artemis,” He reached for him and patted his head, “we’ll figure it out.”
“...Thank you, Master.” He smiled a bit. “Is there anything else?”
“Hmmm nah that's fine…uh…place Control Art Two?”
“Understood.” He closed his eyes, keeping them shut for about two seconds before they slowly opened, being back to blue. “Hm? What happened?”
“And he's back,” Dixon noted.
“So that's how it works.” Isaac looked at his glove.
“Hm? What works?” Artemis tilted his head.
“Oh sorry Artemis. We found a way to bring out that other side of you. Apparently, you don't remember that side of you.” Dex informed.
“Well, that sucks. What was I like?”
“You kept calling him Master and you only really answered us with his permission.” He pointed to Isaac.
“So…I become some servant…that…really sucks.” Artemis kinda sulked.
“You're a badass fighter tho,” Isaac tried to cheer him up, “like seriously you kicked ass in that museum.”
“Wish I could remember it.”
“You…saved some people though.”
“I did?” His ears perked up.
“Yeah, you didn't forget that lady hugging you did you?”
“Oh yeah!” He smiled. “She was really happy!”
“Isaac,” Dixon called them.
“Hm?” Isaac looked at the man, seeing him give a serious look at him.
“There's one big question I have for the two of you.”
“Yeah?” Isaac was a bit nervous.
“What do you plan to do with this power?”
“Huh?”
“Isaac, that glove won't be able to come off, at least not with any means we know of, and it's given you these abilities which I would say make you some sort of substitute Guardian.” He looked at Artemis. “Artemis, from what you said and what we heard about you in the museum, you're an amazing and powerful fighter, however, you don't seem to remember what you do, and that power and side of you is sealed unless he,” He points to Isaac, “allows it. So what do you two plan to do with this power?”
“I….” Isaac pondered for a moment, “I want to help Artemis get his memories back.”
“And this power can help you do that? Do you need it to find evidence of his past?”
“Well….” He looked down at his glove, thinking about it. “...” He looked at Artemis. “Artemis?”
“I…um?” Artemis looked unsure himself. “Do…I have a choice?”
“Huh?”
“You’re…you’re my Master apparently….can I even defy you?” He looked down, saddened by that fact. “So why even ask me?”
“Artemis…” He genuinely felt sad for the feline, not knowing what to say to make him feel better.
Dixon sighed. “You don’t have to answer that now, but I want the two of you to think about that. ok?”
“Alright….we will.”
----------------------------------------
Isaac and Artemis sat in the living room, watching tv while Isaac started making SP constructs. Isaac wanted to cheer Artemis up so he used a media player from his tablet to show some anime on the tv.
“What's this show called again?” Artemis asked.
“Call of the night,” Isaac answered, making a new combination.
“Judgment blade.” The glove said. The combo he made was a circle with an arrow-shaped blade coming out.
“What are you doing?” Artemis asked.
“Mostly just messing around,” Isaac answered, closing the display.
“Well it's good to have a way to protect yourself I guess…though you could just or-”
“Artemis…you’re your own person….I don’t want you to fight if you don't want to.”
“...What choice do I have?”
“Yo-”
“And how will I know you won't make me fight? I don't remember anything when that side of me is out so for all I know you could be sending me into battle and saying I was just sleeping or something.”
“I-”
“Look I understand your trying, and you seem nice…I barely know you but…let's face it…I’m your-”
Isaac grabbed him and pulled him close. “Artemis I didn't pick you up cause I wanted a servant! I didn't decide to help you regain your memories because I wanted you to owe me! I never asked nor planned to have this power and even if you were just a normal cat, or just a cat that could talk, I wouldn’t be disappointed!.... When I found you I was….surprised, curious, and in awe… You're right…we barely know each other…but I want you to know this…I’m not someone to force others to be something they don't want to be…”
“Isaac, everyone is different. They have their own motivations, personalities, goals, etcetera. Who they choose to be isn't really anyone's choice but there's…best anyone could do is just…advise them.”
“It's not my choice on who you want to be…so I won't force you to be someone you don't want to be…I meant it when I said we’d get your memories back…” He smiled, “Because honestly….I always wanted to befriend an alien.”
Artemis was taken by surprise by his words, feeling…lighter inside. He made a small smile, still a bit unsure but happy anyways. “Thanks.”
“You're welcome.”
“So…you know what that opening is called? It's real ca-”
Isaac's phone rang, Dex was calling. Isaac took the phone and put him on speaker. “Hey Dex, what's up?”
“Hey dude, come over to Aldin station when you get a chance. I got something to show you.” Dex said.
“At Aldins?”
“Yeah hurry up dude!”
“Alright alright, be there in a bit.” He hung up and faced Artemis. “Wanna come? This might be memory related.”
“Sure,” Artemis answered.
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Isaac parked his bike at a different observatory than the one Dixon was at. There was no space station connected to it, and the color scheme was also not the same. The lot was empty which made sense as it was closed that day but there was a van near the entrance. Isaac didn't pay much attention to it, grabbing his backpack, placing Artemis inside, and going in to meet Dex inside.
They went to one of the planetarium rooms where Dex told them to meet, the one in question sitting at one of the seats, waving at them.
“Hey, Star Seeker!” Dex greeted.
“Hey, Star Guide!” Isaac replied.
“Star what?” Artemis questioned, climbing out of the backpack, and hopping on the seat.
“I'll explain later.” He walked up to Dex. “What’d you wanna show?”
“Remember that crystal I showed you? The one with the map?” Dex asked.
“Yeah?”
“Check it!” He hit the button on his remote, turning on the projector. What was displayed was the map portion that Dex showed him last time.
“Oh cool, it's the segment you showed me before,” Isaac said unenthusiastically.
“Now with,” He pressed another button, the display zooming out to show another segment that connected with the previous one, showing a continued path, “Another section!”
“Whoa!” Isaac was now interested.
“What's that?” Artemis asked.
“I'm thinking it's a secret map, purposely hidden within these crystals,” Dex answered.
“Why? And what does it lead to?”
“Who kn-”
A loud explosion was heard from outside.
“The hell was that?” Isaac asked.
“That didn't sound good.” Dex got up and went out of the room with the others. They heard heavy footsteps coming from around the corner. They went to the end of the hallway and peeked around. “What the!?”
There was a horde of black creatures coming from the front lobby. They were six feet tall, their heads were diamond-shaped. They had scaled skin, and they looked to be very buff, with huge forearms and armored-like gauntlets, only having three fingers and their legs were equine-like, even having hoofs, stomping into the ground.
“What are those things!?” Artemis asked.
“No clue but they look dangerous and a little familiar too,” Isaac answered.
“Hold on…why's the security system not responding!?” Dex realized.
“Hey that's a good point, doesn't this place have some drones or something?”
“Yeah, but they're not activating for some reason! Somethings wrong!”
Isaac thought back to the museum and had a realization. “What if it's been shut off?”
“Huh?”
“In the museum, some guy took over the system, even spoke in the intercoms to speak with his soldiers. This could be the same thing.”
“Someone shut off the system!?”
“Uh, guys, they're getting closer!” Artemis said.
“Well, what do we do?”
“I…” Isaac looked to Artemis, thinking that maybe he could help get them out but remembered his promise. “...Take Artemis and hide!” He looked at Dex.
“What!?” He looked at him shocked along with Artemis.
“I’ll get to the security room and turn the drones on!”
“Alone!?”
“It's fine, I made a few longer-range constructs, and if I use enhancements I should be ok!”
“Isaac this is crazy, you're not used to this power yet!”
“Then I better learn! Artemis,” He looked at the cat, “I'm gonna make sure to keep a distance so I don't somehow accidentally activate your seal.”
“What?” Artemis looked surprised at what he said.
“I'm not gonna force you to fight…So run.” Isaac stood. “Enhancement eight!”
“Enhance.”
He felt the surge of energy course through him. “Go!” Isaac turned around and ran off, disappearing around the corner in nearly the blink of an eye. The monsters saw him and turned their attention to him. Isaac reached his right hand out. “Shard Blitz!”
“Realization.”
His palm glowed and out came a flurry of blasts shaped almost like lightning bolts but more so broken shards. He hit one and after a few shots, it fell back, damaged but still functioning, rising back up slowly. “It's hurting them at least.” The ones surrounding it charged at Isaac, moving faster than expected. “Shit!” He ran away, managing to keep a distance.
“Isaac!” Dex called out, still at the corner. One creature stopped, turning to face him and Artemis. “Uh oh.”
An arrow lodged in its head, being fired from Isaac's Bow of Light. “Go!” He ran off again, being chased.
Dex groaned, grabbing Artemis. “Let's go!”
“W-wait,” Artemis protested.
“I think we’ll be good if we go outside!”
“You're just gonna leave him!?”
“I hate to say it, but I'd just be a liability, it's not like I got any special powers or anything, so really this is all I can do!” He said with heavy regret in his voice.
“...” Artemis looked down, thinking back to what Isaac said.
“I won't make you fight if you don't want to.”
“I always wanted to befriend an alien.”
“I'm not gonna force you to fight so run.”
His words echoed in his head. “...I have the power…”
“Huh?” Dex looked at him curiously.
“Sorry about this!” He bit into Dex's arm.
“Ow!” He reeled back allowing Artemis to get out and run the opposite way. “Hey! What are you doing!?”
He moved as fast as he could, managing to see Isaac tumble across, quickly getting on his feet and running. “Isaac!”
“Huh?” Isaac stopped for a moment, turning to see Artemis come into the area. “Artemis!?” he saw the large group coming close to the cat. “Shard Blitz!” He aimed up and blasted the displays in the air, breaking the area that held them up, causing them to crash down to form a temporary blockade to stop them. “What are you doing!?”
Artemis got close to Isaac, panting a bit before giving him a determined look. “Release me!”
“What!?”
The monsters started to break through.
“Bring out my other side so I can fight!” Artemis demanded.
“Artemis I told you I'm not gonna force you to fight!”
“So you're gonna force me to run!?”
“What!?”
“Isaac…I don't know anything about me…I don't know what this power in me is, or why it makes me some servant…I don't want to be anyone's servant, or be used against my will…but…” He smiled at Isaac, “I wanna try to be your friend too.”
“Artemis….” he was shocked to hear him say that.
The monsters were nearly through.
“Are you sure?” Isaac asked again.
“...Yes.” Artemis nodded.
“...Ok.” He reached his hand out, facing his palm to Artemis. “Release Control Art Two!”
Once those words were uttered, Artemis’s eyes turned yellow and his demeanor changed. “Armitizing.” The magic ring from before appeared at his feet, doing what it did before, the strands of light forming his armor and the diamond coming out, turning into his Kodachi which he wielded in his mouth.
A few of the creatures fully broke through, dashing to the two.
“Scissor Guard!” Isaac said, a construct of a sharp spade-shaped shield with two blades coming out the end positioned like scissors and having the same shape as the bow arches albeit thicker. He ducked under one punch and thrust the scissors at its neck, managing to lob its head off. Two more jumped at him but swiftly sliced by Artemis who met them in the air, their severed bodies going past Isaac. The two looked towards the numerous black soldiers who broke through the barrier. “Let's do this Artemis!”
“Yes, master!” Artemis replied, getting ready to fight.
----------------------------------------
End.
Next chapter. Reason to fight.