Akisane followed the flashes of light around the sky island. A tiny figure descended and met Whitebeard, and a confrontation ensued. When the gray pall closed the sun off again, all that remained was colored lightning where they fought. Unfortunately, the soloknight appeared to tell the truth about the Chaos Lords. Hopefully, he’d prevailed, but every story of them says they’re invincible.
A quill scratched over a page of parchment, and it stilled when Hawk looked up at a knight with a dented breastplate who loomed over the scholar. But he didn’t look intimidated, not even when the pure sword came out of the scabbard.
Darksun tried to free itself as any danger caused it to become agitated.
The knight’s eyes blazed in a grizzled face. “You can’t control me.”
Hawk’s codex slammed shut as he returned it to his pouch. “Get back to your order. This mock battle is about to begin.”
To Akisane’s surprise, the knight followed the scholar’s command, though an internal struggle surfaced as a clenching of a fist and a baring of teeth. What was all that about?
The Black Order formed into rows with Marstonic spreading out from the flanks. The Duke raised his voice above the din of the crowds. “Akisane, leave now, and I’ll spare your life.”
This time, Darksun shoved itself into Akisane’s hand. “I’m tired of you using people. That’s all you ever do.”
“You would be nothing without me. But I offer you freedom. Leave.”
Akisane neared the rows of his father’s knights, and more than a few worried glances fell on his demon sword. “Even now, it’s all manipulation. You want me gone so Thailoc will chase me through the countryside and destroy the armies gathered against you. Well, if I leave, it’ll be over the Great Divide and into the deserts.”
“You little brat. If you don’t respect me, you’ll respect my power.” Shining Armor shone purple and encased his father in seven layers of protection.
Darksun, can we win?
You barely use me and stop me from draining those around you.
I know, but is it possible?
Anything’s possible.
Kichi materialized with a plate of food. She scooped the fry bread into her mouth as if she were trying to make herself sick.
Darksun went transparent in Akisane’s hand. “Why are you here, and what are you doing.”
Her bread-stuffed cheeks flushed. “I have to eat to fight. Can we work together once more?”
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“I don’t need your help.” But was that true?
She crammed in one more fry ball and looked like she wanted to heave it back up. “It’s not just me. My companions will be here soon, and we have the Order of the Arc.”
He didn’t answer. What would happen would happen, and none of them knew his father’s power. One couldn’t conceive of what would happen unless one were at the Glass Dunes. “If you’re smart, you’d flee.”
The girl smirked! “And let it be game over? I don’t think so.”
The Duke’s booming voice made her drop the plate in her hands. “Knights! Take your positions. I am the King, and the Black Order and Marstonic are my forces. You are the Empire, and let those who are worthy fight their way to me. This is the end of the tournament, so bring your all to this fight.”
Akisane watched Hawk step down from the arena beside Lopside, and another knight approached the scholar. There was more to the little man than he’d realized, but it didn’t matter now.
Three pivotal events pushed Akisane to the edge of a cliff. The Chaos Lord above could win and put an end to everything. The tournament could see any number of deaths, including his own. And Thailoc could appear at any time. It’s madness.
“Where’s Masahide?” Kichi asked herself.
He shouldn’t ask for her help, but time wasn’t on his side. But he’d never see her or this place again. “Can you make an opening for me to get to my father?”
Her head dipped as she fastened an amulet around her neck. “I will, or I’ll die trying.” She stepped forward with her sword a flash as it left the scabbard.
Yasukatsu’s figure moved before her, and he drank an elixir before tossing it to the ground and wiping his mouth. His eyes glinted with an internal light like a wolf in the dark.
She was dwarfed but didn’t back down. “A knight died for that elixir, crushed to death in an iron maiden. Yes, I saw the whole thing.”
The sky and arena traded places back and forth, and the ground smacked Akisane in the side of the face. One moment, he’d watched Kichi talking to the Marstonic knight, the next he lay on his side. Darksun, what happened?
You weren’t paying attention, and I saved you.
He looked down at the blade in his hands and impaled on its length, a Celestrial of no more than twenty and dead.
Kichi and Yasukatsu caught his attention again. They were moving in an unnatural dance as if they knew every move of the other. It was a perfect choreography.
Akisane sat up, pushed the body off of him, and stood. It was mayhem, with so many knights crossing swords and summoning Shining Armor.
Wouldn’t it be nice to create armor that would keep one alive in this bloodbath?
Darksun moved lightly in the hand, parrying a sword from the crowd. I can’t drain someone who can create that armor. It’s always inside them, warding off my ability. But let me take from the weak.
A jolt from behind sent him sprawling, and the ice grew from the ground and trapped him in thick ribs. He’d turned on his back and saw Whitebeard still hundreds of fathoms above the arena fighting the Chaos Lord before a figure eclipsed the view. A sword came through the ice ribs towards his face.
Henry (Akisane)
Level: 20
Vertical Rings: 15
Focus: Telekinesis
Secondary focus: Shadow walker, fire walker, Tandem Fire Decay
Weapons: Darksun Sword - 85% corrupt, decay+12