Tides Of Protomis CXLV
Head Of The Serpent
The situation the Commander of the invasion order found himself in, was by no means a good one, the strikes he received battered his body, and yet, it almost seemed as if the Demonic emperor was simply toying with him. His attempts to react to the strikes slamming into his body, the flourishing of his blade, resulted in an equally unchanged result, as his opponent bobbed and weaved around his strike. What was he to do in this situation? He’d already received damages against the one who killed his father, and now the head of the sneak showed himself, What had become of the council? He couldn’t fight against him, not now, he knew that much from this exchange alone. The Slayer launched himself in the opposite direction, attempting to create some distance between them. But, before long, he found himself pursued by the Emperor, with a gleeful smile on his face.
“Just where do you think you’re going?!” Volker tsked, as he cleaved through the ground below, and launched its debris up, cutting it into dust, to somewhat obscure himself, as he burrowed underground with the spinning holy arm in his hand. There were doubts in Volker's head about the measure holding Maleggan back for any significant amount of time, but he had to take anything he could get… This thought was confirmed in short order, as the demon was soon enough, rushing toward him, and slamming a fist into the small of his back, before launching him into the air, to those observing, as if a large groundhog emerged, and flew into the sky. While the slayer hurtled through, he attempted to stabilize himself, and turn upright, but the quickly approaching Maleggan was very much still a threat.
However, he found himself defended by another… A youth of dark skin, arms crossed over his chest, just managing to stop the fist sent toward him. Though, it shook his frame as well, to no surprise. Volker looked down upon this with widened eyes.
“Corde the Agium?!” Arctaius glanced over his shoulder, slightly.
“Commander Volker… Gilga told us about how effective your troops have been…. But, enough small talk. We have more pressing matters to attend to.”
“Indeed… So you are the one Sebastian Heinrich wanted dead… You bested him, so perhaps you will entertain me as well.” Maleggan retracted his fist, and spun his body, slamming a roundhouse kick into Arctaius’ side that sent him barrelling away. Though, he stopped himself shortly after, and went back in to return the favor, and, in little time, so did Volker. Arctaius sent forth rays of plasma, which, to no surprise, his opponent weaved around. But Volker would act quickly in moving into the beams’ path… But he did not move, not just yet, staying there until it seemed just a smidge too late, before he shouted out “Switch!”. In a moment, Maleggan found himself striked by the rays.. And yet, he remained nonplussed, as he flew toward them, ready to attack once more. At the least, until he found a construct, the azure dragon, launching him into the ground below, though he himself sustained no damage. The two looked to the source, finding the master of Chuojiao, Yu Liang floating above.
“I’m here as well, We need to make sure we all get out of here. I’m sure Cuifen would be cross with me if she figured I allowed you all to die.” As distant as usual, it seemed. To Arctaius, that was fine, it simply meant another hand on deck to battle this new opponent.
“The others are still recovering, and I don’t know where Gilga and the other members of the council are… It looks like it’s just gonna be us…” Arctaius noted. Volker placed his hand upon his chin, as he considered the facts he knew now.
“We won’t be able to hit him, that much has been made clear.” As Liang heard this, he nodded.
“Then that Switch ability of yours may work well in this case - If we make our attacks go wide, and make them converge upon Volker, and let him use that Switch ability again, we could be able to wear him down over time, as long as he doesn’t catch on…” It wasn’t as if they had much of a choice either way. The demonic emperor had levitated to their height once more. And just like that, their attack had begun, Arctaius launched himself forward, as did Liang, and Volker. Soon enough, the three began to split off their approaches, Laing gripped his shuriken between his fingers, as he launched them forward, while golden streams streaked across the sky, though, seemingly, in the direction of the Emperor himself, but to nos surprise, he was already out of the way before they could get anywhere near him. The martial artist was his first target, a powerful fist slamming into his gut, and subsequently, as his body conroted, intertwined fists slammed into the back of his neck, something which caused a jolt, so to speak, to flow through his body, nad for some moments, he found that he could not move, and that his opponent was preparing for yet another attack. While elsewhere, The second stage of their plan was in motion, Volker entered the path of the two’s attacks, and within an instant, the two fighters had changed their positions, and Maleggan found the blades of the shuriken implanted into his body, and the plasma crashing against him leaving patches of darkened skin, and yet, he seemed nonplussed.
But that much wasn’t enough to stop the attempts at attacks to cease. In a moment, he was already flying toward Arctaius, while the latter took his stance in defense, and shouted out.
“Solis: Arderns Arce!” The luminance around Arctaius grew to his defense, as the Demonic emperor appeared in his range. The fist that was sent toward him was slowed, just a bit, but not enough to make a difference in the end, as he was launched into the ground below. But the other two were soon to jump back in. The Wings and Halo that constituted Holy drive appeared once more, but the difference was clear, the color less vibrant, the glow, duller.
“Holy Drive’s energy needs are high. This could get bad… I’ll need to activate it in short bursts at most.” The slayer shot forward at high speeds, his charge supported by One Liang Yu, who’d drawn the Zhi Nu, his characteristic chain whip from his waist. As Volker attempted to bisect him, Maleggan simply moved back, and in that instant, the sharpened edges of Liang’s weapon had cut across his back, though, it’d just barely managed to break the surface of the skin. But he did not stop there, spinning his body, and continually re-directing his strikes. While, in that same instant, Volker attempted to carve into him once more, and yet, nothing seemed to come of their attacks. It did not take long for Maleggan to exit their striking range by appearing behind Liang, almost as if he’d teleported, before slamming a foot into his back, nearly sending him crashing into Volker, had his switch not changed their positions, allowing Liang to go past and regain his composure, as he flew forward, exiting his holy drive state. With a war cry, the man heaved the blade back, sending a downward diagonal cut toward the emperor that left naught but a small cut. The youth tsked as he sidestepped, and to the demon’s surprise, Arctaius Corde was behind him, a fist cocked back.
“Solis Illusis!” He shouted. The plasma covered fist which slammed into the Emperor’s cheek had managed to make him move, with the tiniest dripping of red coming from his lips as a result. Something that was met with a smile.
“So you’ve managed to draw blood, even a tiny amount… You’ve disappointed me so far, but perhaps there is potential in you three.” Before any of them had time to respond, Arctaius felt a crack emanate from his side, as a kick was slammed into his ribs, Liang, found the two horns on the demon’s head, emerging from his torso, and Volker, his holy arm launched out of his hand, and his opponent’s palm covering his face, and in little time, he was already slammed into the ground, as the Emperor began to use this as a point of leverage, to drag him across the ground, tearing it apart, scarring it, with a gleeful expression, and hearty laugh coming from his maw. This would be an ea-
His thoughts were interrupted by the glint of a blade being made visible above his head, which was enough for him to leap out of the way, even if only to see who this interloper was… The blade itself had changed in direction, facing upward rather than its previous descent, and the one who had the shaft of the glaive in his hand was in his sights as well. The head of the Holy order himself, Lyle. Though he was very clearly worse for the wear, his body marred by numerous gashes, his formerly pristine uniform had clearly been cleaved from his upper layer, his bare torso for the world to see, itself, covered in gashes, bruises, the source of which were clear. It did not take long for him to be joined, Francisco, Farid, and Gilga would arrive next. Similarly, with their own heavy injuries.
“Oh? You live?” The demon questioned.
“Of course, we are not so easily killed. Do not take the heads of the Holy Order as weaklings…” Fransisco responded. It did not take long for the three who were fighting before to join them. Arctaius, Liang, and Volker would join the line, the latter glancing at his inspirations, those who stood at the Apex of their order.
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“Sir Fransisco, Sir Gilga, Sir Farid… Sir Lyle…”
“Volker, Corde, Yu. Injured as well, Eh. ” Gilga responded.
“Clearly… So, it’s 7 against one, then… We have the numbers advantage. Let’s make it count.” Arctaius stated, Gaining nods from all of those on their side. While Maleggan said nothing as he flew into the fray, letting out a laugh once more, and in no time, the council had gone forth to meet his charge, quick thrusts of Lyle’s blade forced the emperor to continually bob and weave out of the way, nearly finding himself on the receiving end of a return strike, had Fransisco not created a field protecting him, in that moment. The bubble shattered like glass, but it’d done its job regardless. Gilga descended from above, attempting to bisect the demon as well, but his strike missed, and instead, cut the earth below them, a crack spreading across it. But before long, Farid nearly dragged his blade across the demon’s back, but he did not let this take place, knowing very well what it could do, leaping backward, and kicking the man into the air as he landed, causing searing pain to run through his being.
But he himself was stricken by fransisco’s Gauntlets.
The ebb and flow of battle continued, as the council members attempted to weave around their opponent’s attacks, misdirecting him, striking when they could, keeping their bodies going as long as they could manage. But with their injuries, the flickering of their holy drives, this wasn’t sustainable, not in the least, especially with an opponent on this level.
“Volker, Corde, Yu. I’ll need to create a longer lasting seal, at this point, it's the only way, but I need time…” Something which caught all of their attention.
“A seal?” Arctaius questioned.
“Yes, it is my Holy art. At the moment, we have little chance of defeating him. We need something to last long enough to get us through the rest of this battle.” The three nodded, and launched themselves forth, as the head of the order began to weave threads of holy energy, and begin to form the very same circle on the ground out of his energy. The battle itself, was a differing affair, where only glancing strikes, that were quickly healed, had been the only results of their attacks. Even as Arctaius slammed a Solis Illisuis into the man’s chin, and Liang’s Azure Dragon rush slammed into him, to a similar lack of effect.
“Well then… Seems it's about time to end this…” Before any of those knew what those words meant, the demonic emperor had disappeared from sight. Giving pause to their rapidly moving minds.
“Dammit.” Francisco cursed. “I can’t sense him.” Beside him, Farid tightened his grip on his blade.
“He’d have no reason to run away. Keep your guards up, whatever he did, he has to be somew-”
The shade of a hand came through his chest in an instant… No more movements, no more words, Farid Shibani fell limp.
“FARIDDD!” Gilga shouted. The expression on his face was unreadable. Somewhere between despair, and rage, and the same could be said for his 2 oldest comrades. As for Volker, the expression he had was something different, surprise. How could a member of the council fall so easily? But before they had much time to process the death of one, Francisco had been bisected by a blade constructed of the same shade, his innards spilling outward, as he fell to the ground with a thud, and a bloody puddle was created beneath him…
“Sir Fransisco!” Volker shouted in his surprise. While the fact of the matter marinated, the one responsible revealed himself. A vague outline of the same emperor they’d battled earlier. Though, any features he once had on his visage were no longer made visible to their eyes. All the while, the head of the holy order watched, as one by one, his oldest comrades, his oldest living friends, were cut apart, one by one. How could he let this happen, let this so-called emperor take those close to him…
The rage that was visible across his visage, was very clearly not directed at his enemy only.
“Dammit, Two of us that quickly?!” Arctaius questioned. In scant moments, Arctaius and Liang alike had already begun leaping away, as had Volker. Their situation was by now means a tenable one, if they were going to survive, something needed to change. But what was the solution? Volker considered the answer to this in his head, but he did not get to do so for long, as found that the shade of the emperor had disappeared. Re-emerging from the shadow of a nearby boulder. The unexpected move caused his eyes to widen. Could he get out of the way fast enough?! He attempted to do so, but he saw it clearly, at this angle, his opponent was too close, what was he to-
Once more, the battlefield had changed, as a flash of orange and blue barred the emperor's path. Causing the fist that was formerly to impale the Slayer’s chest, to go through his own instead…
background music, it fits, I believe.
A deafening silence had set in. One too long for Gilga’s taste, so he decided to break it.
“Volker… You have to win, to survive… If you’ve approached our level of power, and skill, at our age, then you are the future of the Holy Order…” His words were broken up by a fit of huffing, coughing, as blood came to drip down his chin.
“You, and all of those you brought with you. Who put their lives on the line, blood sweat and tears in defending our plane, that which we call home. Who have grown so much, and made us proud, I daresay you could take your place at the head of the order when all is said and done-”
“What are you saying, Sir Gilga?! You can’t die, Not here, Not now!” Volker shouted, cutting him off.
“I’m already one foot in the grave, Volker… And I know your cynicism enough, I can tell you’ll say you aren't ready for such a thing. but I must disagree. You nurtured this growth, and allowed as many of our brethren, our comrades, to survive this campaign, this war… Our powers had stagnated far before now. Perhaps it’s time for old Geezer like us, Whether we be slayer, Demonic, or Proto-human, to take the back seat, and allow the young blood to step into the forefront… Arctaius, Liang, as I traveled with you all, I could truly see how you all managed to do what you did in Tsugashuan. You are strong already, but you will go further, I guarantee it. And Lyle, it would seem that you are the last of us. Remember what we said in Versailles, on that day…” This man, this one who he always saw as somewhat foolish for his tendency to act at random, and yet, such thoughts had swiftly disappeared from his head.
The wings and halo that holy drive created appeared once more, though somewhat brightened by his will, every last inch of his power pushed into the now gleaming, and growing Axe in his hand.
“Looks like it's our last run, Enkidu! If nothing else, we can try to take him with us…”
“Holy Cleaver!” With the name of the attack invoked, the shade of the demonic emperor began falling to the ground below, an indent made down the center of his body, and the ground below him split into two for miles, and miles…
This was not the end that Gilga was expecting, not in the least, some part of him thought he would grow gray, and retire on an island somewhere. But alas, the Chaos of life, or rather, the chaos of death, surely had a way of changing things.
“Joking in your last moments…Eh? Sounds just like me… It would seem I'm joining you in the great beyond, everyone.”
As his vision went black, and no more thoughts roamed within his head, his body descended from the sky above… Volekr’s expression had not changed, not in the least, and even as the man died, all he could do was clench his fist, tightly. His knuckles now white as snow. Arctaius and Liang did not know the man well, but they respected him, his power, and, despite his joking mood at most times, his wisdom. But nobody was affected by this more than Lyle himself, who looked upon this field of his dead allies, and thought back to that day.
For those there, for young men were visible in a verdant field, the flowers blooming around them, around them, a ragtag group, comprising of those from many walks of life, an exiled Yamato Prince, one who was formerly “Employed” by space pirates, all united for one purpose, for the creation of this new order.
“My friends, we stand united here. Diverse we may be, but we all share the need, the want, to protect which we call home. Mark my words, even if only one of us that stands here remains, we shall not falter…”
Lyle extended his fist, followed by the young Gilga, Francisco, and Farid. With nothing more to say, smiles came onto their visages, as they bumped their fists between them, and cheers emanated from those around them. As the head snapped out of his stupor, he wiped the tears which dropped from his eyes, even in having acknowledged that this was possible, it seemed that the sting of loss was felt regardless. Their words on that day were only more relevant now, the other founding members of the order had since died over the years, but with Gilga having given his life...
“Gilga, Farid, Francisco, Jinsei, Caterine, Agyenim, Michele… I stand here as the last of us… If there truly is an afterlife, and you are watching from above, then please, rest well, knowing that we will not lose.” With that thought, he began to activate the finally complete technique.
“SEAL!”
TO BE CONTINUED
つづく