Waves of crimson twisted to the sky, reaching distances so far, it seemed as if they wanted to reach the heavens. It went above and beyond the lighting powers.
Cry of panic and fury growled in dissatisfaction. It also seemed that Allan’s body was at one point, engulfed in flames of unknown origin. Raging flames engulfed him in a defensive manner, resembling a whirlpool, but it was ever-encompassing, and everywhere.
Though, the source of the danger for the Orb of Red was yet to be over. They continued with pillars and beams of lighting, dealing with everything unconstitutionally. Suddenly, a wide pillar emerged, accompanied by a dozen beams. They all smacked down as the flames slowly melted away exposing the bloody crimson below.
What were the flames?
They weren't part of the Orb of Red.
They condensed above Allan in the form of a small ball of fire. They appeared from the haggard cloth in Allan's hand, which was enough reason to believe, it wasn't part of Orb of Red. It seemed that some part of its anger was also towards this ball of fire, while the majority was pointing toward the heavens. The flaming waves stabilized or tried to do so. The force that went against these flames was too much.
Alas, the flames had a huge amount of vitality. They reassembled, even within the destruction. The flames engulfed the ball of fire, resembling 4 human-like limbs around the ball. It had no heads as the ball was its core, while 2 limbs resembled arms, and 2 were for the legs.
The ball of fire also wanted to protect, thus it didn't flee. Its glowing flaming body kept floating right above Allan in the warm light, appearing like a knight to protect its kin. It would be quite shocking for Allan to see this sight above. He would recognize its obvious resemblance to something he saw not too long ago.
The appearance of the ball of fire strongly resembled the soul-fire that he had seen in his father's forge.
The attacks never stopped. A storming pillar and another wave of beams pushed their way into Allan's postilion, while the source of the crimson was below the flames.
The ball of flame was lost in a moment, disintegrating by a might of attacks that were beyond the defenses it had. Its body was pushed to the limits, pulling down towards Allan's body. It struggled in vain from the effects of this power. The flames screamed, wanting to clutch onto the heavens, and form some form of defense. It was a futile attempt. How strained and willing its body language was, it did not want to stop.
A huge pillar followed afterward. It was a final hit that cracked apart the ball of fire, crashing it into Allan. Its body flowed towards him in a tide of flame, and orange energy waves. At this moment, the Orb of Red pushed its power forward, wanting to overpower this sudden intrusion of another force. It wanted to eat this ball to turn some of its essences for its own power, but it was too late. The ball of fire - or what was left of it - forcefully disappeared into Allan by the push of the lighting pillar. The pillar wanted to crush everything in its way, and it made the ball of fire helpless.
Before it even had a chance to absorb its power and life, the flames disappeared into Allan's body and not into the hammer emblem that was its previous home
Orb of Red was thus, pushing its limits with anger and fury that remained. It could not defend that well or spent time forcing itself into Allan's body. It glowed with a sheen of utter blackness for the first time. There was a strange vibration force, shaking the place around Allan’s surroundings. The power of gravitation pulled each strand of Orb's energy toward the single entity, rising some strain above Allan's body.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
Sounds of beats echoed. They didn't sound like heart, but not exactly wrong either. From the blackness that engulfed a singular entity, appeared an expanding black globe. It surrounded Allan and his surroundings yet the attacks from above still didn't stop.
They started hitting the globe, trying to destroy it as many previous attempts. Alas, all attacks bounced outside into the surroundings, damaging them instead. It was as if the shield was suddenly faced with weak arrows.
There, not so far away, laid the scarred, unconscious man. He was not kept under attack, which spoke to his luck, more than anything else. Perhaps it was a miracle that he was alive. In such a fierce collision between hegemons of power, it was quite a surprise. No one knew what power these attacks possessed, apart from the source of these attacks themselves.
It was the same for Skoll and Lord Gao who were mere witnesses as the striking lighting traveled kilometers far. Some scrapped past them, but none hit them as they watched everything. The beings above wanted something else, while the destruction in Allan's surroundings wasn't good. It was the cause and effect that they could not change.
The origin of the ball of fire was questionable, to say the least, but it mattered little if any, to them.
Next, another change occurred. Lighting pillars after another continued, endlessly descending to push against the black globe.
Alas, something changed. In a blink of an eye, the black globe stopped expanding and did the exact opposite. It disappeared from its location, and like a blip, disappeared within itself. Like a clap of thunder from the heavens, it was nowhere to be seen. What was left was half a globe of destroyed stone and ground. It also included Allan's body and bag. It was as if someone clutched everything, making everything disappear like a black hole.
Attacks continued to fall down but were stopped shortly after the disappearance of the black globe.
Skoll and Lord Gao ended up at loss for words as the next bombardment was so strong that they had no chance but to flee far away. Not glancing at anything else, upon the end of this heaven-defining fight, they both decided to end their own battle outside of this dammed place. Perhaps no words could describe today’s encounter. No amount of information was in their minds to get any representation of common sense.
“It. What in the world just happened?” Skoll thought, fleeting from the location while turning his attention back to Lord Gao. It was strange to him. This situation, and the last course of this battle. Allan’s scent was no longer present anywhere. He couldn't smell him. Thus, his goal and everything failed. He failed Clayton’s request at the bitter end. Skoll saw everything from his own eyes, as everything the destruction power took, overwhelmed his senses.
“Old man! Are you willing to withdraw or not? The situation no longer matters.” He barked angrily at Lord Gao, who was not that far away. At this moment, he was probably thinking about capturing him, regardless of this heavenly battle.
Giving himself some time and being ready to roll, Skoll knew that if they fought right now, it would be hard to say who would be the winner. Each got better while glancing at the battle. Skoll's and Lord Gao's wounds no longer played a big part in their battle.
Fighting on the ground was now equal to the current theme because the suroudnigns were hardly recognizable from the past. The forest disappeared, but some valleys may have survived. Although, one of them was more wounded than the other. The other was without a mount. Now, it was a deciding factor who was smarter, not stronger.
“I will get you, no matter what.” Lord Gao sneered. “Do you think what I just witnessed can change my mind? You are mine! There is no point in arguments, nor a time for such things.”
“So it is a fight, then.” Skoll unhappily said, drawing his fangs and retreating backward.
“You wanna run again? You seem like you have no pride in your abilities.” Lord Gao taunted him. The disadvantage of being on the ground pressured him quite hard.
“Hmph! Attack me then!” Skoll shouted, becoming to circle the enemy instead of fleeing. He was not cowardly. It was plain, not stupid to not do it. Carefulness and rationality took his mind from before.
Effects that caused Allan’s circumstances made his mind scream with chaotic thoughts, but as with Allan's smell, the encompassing fear in his bones was gone as well. Skoll finally retained his focus. Now, his sole purpose was to defeat this foe and see if he can get Allan's scent somewhere else. He wanted to get back to his promise of freedom. That was his will.
He only feared if he could restart his path. “That was probably a wide-range space technique. Twisting space itself to escape. THAT red orb was harmful to Allan and wanted to take over his body? What sort of being is that? Is it even human, or maybe it was some beast nucleus?” Skoll's mind was full of these questions. He tried his hardest to recall all unfamiliar secrets, and topics that may be familiar to the sight he felt and saw.
Lord Gao carefully weighed his limits and ability. “I have enough power for 15 minutes of the full-on clash. Let’s just go for it, I guess.” Energy swirled around him once more. Layers of thick green energy from his hands reached the sky, forming 4 twisted javelins.
“Same attack? You seem like you know nothing else!” Skoll taunted him in return.
“This is more than enough for you, beast!” Lord Gao said in confidence.
A fight broke up at the high speed. Skoll flashed behind the hills and destroyed mountains. Dodging around the hills, and trying to outwit his foe, he was doing all he could. He couldn't be as physical as he hoped. The defenses of Lord Gao were even tighter for some reason or another. After all, now that Lord Gao was on the ground, he focused on his safety. Skol felt like those weapons could easily take his life if the old man wanted to, yet, he did not choose that for obvious intentions. He wanted him alive, and not killed.
“I hate the feeling of being hunted by someone who can deal with me.” Skoll helplessly thought. His perception of the old man showed that he was not exactly more powerful than him, but he was significantly more skilled. He wielded his energy in a reserved manner, making defense and offense go hand to hand with his technique.
Fierce clashes went on, destroying the suroudnigns, but not to the point that Orb of Red, or lighting did.
High in the sky above them this clash. The foggy red-colored clouds were gone, and the sky cleared once more. Though, the storm of lighting still remained.
The bright glow of stars and catchy field of light was high in space. Still, it could be seen as a natural phenomenon by normal folks.
However, the storm and the lighting were anything but ordinary.
Inside this space, 2 figures were floating in this space with crisscrossed legs in a lotus position. They kept floating in nothingness, contemplating their next move. They faced each other. The old man was frowning heavily. His wrinkles deepened upon being the sole attacker this time around.
The lady in front of him looked as indifferent as ever. Her eyes were shining in the blue light and tensity of terror.
“He is gone just like that. This attack… Are you sure of why it could defend against you?” She asked, glancing into the old man’s eyes.
“I expected that, actually. This was a gamble from the very start. It is of the strongest kind. This being... His belief and resolve are clear and strong as well. He is no different from us, my lady.” He said nonchalantly,
“I know that. I just don’t want to admit it aloud.” She sighed to herself.
“Like everyone from the Council…” The old man denounced her words “No surprise. Can you at least track him down? There must be something that we can do one more time before it is too late for me.” the old man asked.
“Of course, I can. Only once, possibly more if the situation will change. It will be rather taxing for me since traveling as I wish is easier than forcing one's destiny onto someone else.”
“Please. Do so.” The old man looked away warily. He watched the scenery outside and below. Their attack had some form of repercussions that were known to him only. Yet, he decided to go for a kill at the very beginning, yet he failed.
“Someone is watching? What? Who is there?” He muttered inaudibly to himself. His eyes pierced the space, but he did not see anything and no one. His vision penetrated every nook and cranny in the surrounding space. His senses must have not been wrong, but he had no choice but to ignore it for now.
Lady in a white robe with gold outlines slowly rose up, floating away from the old man. Rising as twisted rivers of blue came from her body, she started using some of her own techniques. Changing the shape of her rivers in indescribable ways until a singular object came from them.
It was an azure globe of overwhelming power that reached the space surrounding their location. It formed from her own being, undulating power that spread wide and clear, engulfing her and the old man in deep layers.
Within a moment, everything went null. The storm dissipated, as the sky cleared from the unnatural brightness. Both of them disappeared as well.
Far away from their former space. Twisting door to an unknown flickering space flung open. An old man with a haggard appearance looked away, glancing down, up, and to a certain location. Shaking his head in a helpless manner, he laughed at himself or something else.
“Good. I suppose there will be a new beginning. The end will go and Maker’s tools will become players. It is what was meant to be. This fate of this universe.” he mumbled.
“I am just a spectator to this… ploy of that man. I am not him. My path and for that boy matters not to this. I will become what matters. Not the other way around.”
He turned in sharpness unbecoming to him. With a gaze that was strangely out of his character, he glanced into the distance. Taking a glance one last time at a planet that was in his line of vision, his thoughts weren't voiced this time around. What he did there were just a few pokes and small minor changes in the enigma of the universe. He could do so since the past, present and future were always ever-changing. Space twisted from his couple steps as he disappeared back to the flickering door.
Down below. In the planet that had a special destiny.
Oblivious to the unknown beings from above, none knew of what occurred in these couple dozen minutes.
Bloodied Skoll was fighting more and more grim-looking Lord Gao. Crashes of fierce power penetrated the earth as the flow of battle took place on the ground.
Surroundings that had earlier suffered massive damages calmed down. The night was long in place, and two moons hung in the cloudless sky. It wasn't much different from any other night in the past. After all, with the source of destruction gone, nothing else matters to the ground and this planet. True that this region will never be the same as before, but it didn't matter. A destroyed lifeless place will become a place for a new beginning. Life will return, as always.
Twisted javelins pierced the grounds. Lord Gao fell backward, choosing a retreat from his current position. He changed directions many times already as he faced a corridor of cliffs under his careful plot. One lone figure faced off an enormous beast. Skoll wanted to strike out as he retreated, but he failed. The old man retreated farm fearing for his life.
Skoll faced him in the most serious manner of his life. He wanted to taunt his cowardice, but he was nothing better than him.
The night lights of the moons made the last duel very intense and magical, yet they had no time to marvel at the sky.
“You are mine now…” Lord Gao slowly thought to himself.
Skoll took his charging stance with flickering light around his fur. He flew in a predictable way since he was forcing himself.
To get it all right, he had no choice.
This old man caused his suffering and failure. Without him, Allan wouldn't suffer. He was sure of that.
Beng!
Stone walls of the surrounding cliffs twisted apart. Rifts and crevices left deep wounds on them as twisting pillars of stone blocked Skoll in an incredible display of controlling nature. Like the first time when an ambush caused their clash, Lord Gao used it for the second time.
Twisting stone pillars wrapped around Skoll's body as if they were vines. However, Skoll continue to charge, even though the stone pillar wrapped his body. He went along with them, yet he reached his limit about a meter away from Lord Gao. A gust of killing intent burst from Skoll, forcing Lord Gao to take a couple of steps back. He was so close, yet so far to kill this Immortal.
From the position of the Skoll’s end, twisted javelins flew towards him. They pierced through the stones, twisting apart to divide into thick strings of green rope. This rope twisted around Skoll’s body as the stone crumbled apart, and so did Skoll.
He was shaking uncontrollably. His unwillingness to be tied in such a manner was obvious. He was so furious to fall for such a lackluster end, yet he did not want to admit that the loss was thoroughly his own fault.
Lord Gao collapsed to a seated position. His head was itching with pain and exhaustion. This fight made one thing obvious to him as well. The killing was easier than not killing. He swore to himself that next time, he would think twice before engaging in such a hunt.
“You freaky beast… You made things difficult for me.” Lord Gao said with an exhausted expression. Seeing the beast struggle with his chains did not ease his mind much.
“Ughgghghghhhh Release me, you dying old man!!” Skoll shouted in anger.
“This won’t do. You are mine from now on… Huehehehe” Lord Gao laughed uncontrollably.
“I am no one’s and I will serve no one! Do you think you can make me your pet? Dream on!” Skoll barked at him. It wasn’t just unwillingness. He was unable to force himself to do such things until he solved Clayton’s offer or got another one.
“Oh... That is true. Restrictions are flowing in your heart. That boy. What was that about? I will probably ask Meng about it. You seem like you won’t answer anyway.” Lord Gao came to his decision so he got up, walking towards Skoll in a free manner.
“Even then. There won’t be anything else you can do to me. Unless you dare to kill me I won't yield.” Skoll threatened the old man. He was a little apprehensive about his intentions. of becoming his slave.
“I would rather not try that. But, If I have to…” Lord Gao hinted at his words. “I won't hesitate to force things up.” He knew that this was not easier or the best deal he did. He was quite unsure if this beast would even be willing to serve him. There was a correct way to do this whole situation so he accepted Skoll's unwillingness. Being true to himself, he will await what will come.
“I will somehow deal with your previous contractor…” Lord Gao said, unworried about the present issue. He did not know the full details of this mess, but with the beast bound, he had all the time in the world to make it work. Adding another complication - him, being part of it, Lord Gao was wondering if his sheer tries to bind this beast was worth it. It wasn't his finest performance. That much, he knew. It went downhill and his injuries do not even need to be counted. He was equally bloody as Skoll.