While the tides came face to face with the apostle, elsewhere, a different battle was taking place. Standing outside of the Ceron manor’s walls, in a clearing between the trees, were Valiego and Augilla. The area around them was littered with small craters, with the two’s clothes torn. If that was anything to go by, the two had been fighting for some time now. Only confirmed as they rushed at each other, Augilla launched a kick at Valiego’s stomach, only for his opponent to weave around it, moving behind him, and sending a punch at the side of his torso. However, his fist was caught, courtesy of Valiego, who followed up by flinging him away. His opponent did not go far, however, as he soon skidded to a stop. They gazed at each other in silence, with Valiego being the first to break it.
“How unfortunate, for our first meeting after all these years to be like this.”
Valiego began to slowly approach his opponent. Soon, Agilla followed suit, doing the same.
“Quiet yourself-- Traitor..”
“Do you really believe that they have your best interests in mind? Come to your senses man, Enough with this Ceifado-”
Augilla stopped walking, as he bent his knees, the ground buckling under his feet as he yelled in response.
“I said, quiet yourself!!!”
Augilla jumps forward as he twists his body, thrusting his fist forward. Augilla moved his feet, digging them into the ground as he bent his knees. As the two got closer to one another, their fists crashed between them. Valiego was pushed back a few inches, and Augilla’s charge was forced to a halt. As the ground under their feet was ripped apart from the force. The two jumped back from one another as they proceeded to get back into their respective stances. As it had been before, their faces retained the very same intensity…
“1984, in the slums of Niopolis, the boy known as Anrique Valiego was born... Though much of his circumstances remained shrouded in mystery. Abandoned when he was but an infant. However, around this time, he was picked up by an agent of the Kaemerge.With him as well,was Edgar Augilla… Niopolis was a very different place at the time. The country had fallen behind, with modernization failing… Even then, through the violence and lawlessness- The two Survived. They were very close, one could say that they were brothers''
A rather run-down building lies on the edge of the road. The concrete rife with cracks and overgrowth. The door, just barely hanging on its hinges, is thrust open, as, out comes a boy wearing a black shirt, as well as a short sleeved shirt, his hair flowing as he runs. A younger Edgar Aguilla. Soon followed by another boy around the same age, Anrique Valeigo. They ran down the streets, though Anrique trailed behind him.
“Come On- Anrique, The captain said he would train us if we got there quick enough!!”
“R-Right!”
It was but a few years later, that these two found themselves within the same building, older, seemingly just getting into their teens. Augilla, his hair having grown to its present state, with a small amount of hair dotting his upper lip. And, on the other end, is Valiego, his head shaved low. Both of the two, holding their own hands of cards. They sat in silence before Augilla placed his on the table as he looked up at his ally.
“We’ve been trying hard, but I still don’t think we’re doing enough... Training ain't combat, after all.” Augilla mumbled
Valiego nodded in agreement.
“Yeah. We got a lot of people here who think we can get ahead. Shoot up into the high ranks, maybe even get our own titles.” Responded Valiego.
“Yeah... We could really bring a lot of money in for everyone here… Alright, let's get as strong as possible-- we can’t spread the word of Ardam otherwise!”
“As if you had to tell me that…” Valiego responded.
Valiego was much quieter and more reserved - in the meanwhile, Augilla was loud and social. But the two made it work, and they were the best of friends. However-- This all changed-- with the attack on Niopolis in 2000
In the remains of a destroyed, yet, still standing skyscraper stood a boy in his teens, his hair touching his shoulders, wearing a black button down jacket - that was somewhat reminiscent of the kaemerge uniform. Though, it was noticeably torn, ripped. His body was littered with cuts, and his mouth leaked blood. He kept his gaze on the youth across from him, a younger Augilla. The two both breathed heavily as they slowly, but surely, moved into their stances, fists covering their chins.
“You’d really do this...After all, we’ve been through- You’d betray us just like that?!
“I don’t agree with this-- I don’t agree with this at all! Shaking up the "World Order?", unite the Solar System under Ardam, spread his word? As if! This is nothing but mindless slaughter!!!”
The two stare each other down before charging at one another, Valiego throws a punch, which Aguilla ducks under, attempting to hit his opponent with a right uppercut, Valiego moves his hands, stopping his punch just under his chin. Augilla does not stop there, however. As he lowered his body, he spun his legs, Sweeping Valiego off of his feet. As Valiego falls, he maneuvers himself, pulling Augilla off the ground as he slips and throws him over his shoulder, suplexing him. Augilla was driven into the ground, as it cracked on impact. After a few moments, the two raised themselves. Then, without any hesitation, they threw a punch at one another. However, their fists went past each other,coming in contact with their opponent’s cheeks, with their heads sent reeling back, A cross counter. Soon, both were sent barreling away by the force of their respective punches. With the husk of the skyscraper falling. Augilla skidded, stopping himself as he landed on the ground. No sooner, Valiego did so as well, jumping toward his opponent with his fist outstretched, with Augilla throwing a counter-punch as he got into melee range. But it hit air, as his opponent quickly changed his direction, moving right past him, and unclenching his fist, before launching a kick into his right side, and sending him flying, with a burst of air following, devastating the area around them.
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Augilla would stand to his feet once more, easily pushing the rubble off of him, as he made his way back onto the street... As the youth put his gaze on his former friend, Valiego did the same. The two glared at one another, a clear sign of any unwillingness to fight their opponent gone.
“You… We’ll finish this some other time. When we can both fight at full capacity. Then-- I’ll slay you myself!”
As Augilla floats, and then slowly flies away. Valiego collapses onto his hands and knees, coughing. He was there for quite a while, until, rolling down the street behind him, was a convoy of armored cars. Surrounded by HAUs. They soon stopped around him, as the door opened, out came Juancho, and surrounding him was the royal guard.
“Your majesty, we need to keep m-”
“That can wait!” Juancho cut in.
Juancho walked toward Valiego, kneeling by his side.
“Hey, you okay?!”
Back in the present, the battle between Valiego and Augilla continues. Almost as if a mirror image of their previous battle, the two dance around each other's strikes before attempting to make their own. Augilla threw a right hook and Valeigo dodged as he followed up with a kick, Valiego sidestepped, before moving to punch his opponent’s neck, however, Augilla put his arm up, stopping his strike. He pushed forward, in an attempt to get him back, And, though Valiego stumbled, he soon regained his balance, and threw a punch at his chest. Even so, Aguilla stood, unaffected. He soon threw a kick at Valiego, sending him back. Though, he skidded, coming to a halt.
“Fool-- Did you forget about my abilities? Your hits will only empower me!!”
Augilla put his hands out as the hum of high winds was heard and the trees in the area began to weave wildly, sending verdant leaves through the air. as the concrete of the manor walls began to break off.
“Typhoon Fist!!!”
Augilla jumped at his opponent, reeling his fist back, before it flashed forward as he got within close range. The force of the winds alone uprooted the vegetation surrounding him. Even so, Valiego stood unfazed as he threw his arms up and invoked a single word.
“DISPERSE!!”
Within moments as a black glow surrounded Valiego’s hands, the gales stopped blowing, as the trees stopped weaving. Augilla’s eyes widened in surprise, He planted his feet into the ground, Stopping himself.
“What?! Since when could he d-”
Valiego soon took advantage, charging at Augilla and punching him directly in the stomach. He was soon sent barreling backwards as a result.
“I-Impossible… I should’ve been able to absorb the Kinetic energy from that punch… And yet I don't feel any stronger!!”
Valiego kept his gaze on his old friend as he began to yell
“Edgar, think about this, People like Tsumetai, Livert, And Minoru!! You can’t trust anybody there-”
He was cut off as Augilla charged at him.
“You no longer get to address me by that name, it's Augilla to you!”
He threw a punch as he got into close range, and Valiego jumped over Valiego, landing behind him, though Augilla was quick to look behind him, it was much too late, Valiego grasped the back of his head before lifting him up and smashing his face into the dirt. A crater formed underneath.
Part B
“All My Life , when nobody was there for me-- they were... Why should I Betray them? Why should I? I won’t, I won’t!!!”
The hum of winds began once again, he pushed the valiego off of him with his winds, before lifting himself up. He stood there for a moment, before leaping into the air. As the force of the winds intensified, he directed himself toward Valiego.
“Tempest Bomber!!!”
Augilla descended, both of his fists outward. Valiego put his arms up in front of him, in an attempt to guard himself. Even so, as Augilla came into contact, his guard was shattered. As he stumbled back, Augilla began to launch a flurry of strikes at his opponent. A left, a right, and a number of shots to his body. This continues, for quite a bit, until Valiego dodges a strike and begins to fire back with his own... The firing of attacks continues. Elsewhere , the aftereffects of this are felt in the underground tunnels, the tunnels quaked with the force of the respective battles all over, rubble falling from the ceiling. Junacho pulled his daughter closer, as Maeda moved closer to them as well. They soon began walking. While they were all worried, one who was especially, was Valaria. She had friends in this city, Valiego, one that she’d known since she was an infant was up there, fighting to the death.
“Father-- Are… Are our subjects going to be okay?”
Juancho glanced back at his daughter, taking note of her worried expression.
“I assure you, our forces can handle this… Valiego, and the others.”
Maeda averted his eyes, as he thought back to Arctaius.
“Corde-- I saw him and those friends of his. Perhaps he’s a proto-human like the rest of them. Hm- Why am I worried... I'm sure the “Emperor of the north” can handle himself.”
Maeda turns his attention forward. Soon, the three of them were sent cascading to the ground with yet another attack from above ground. Augilla throws yet another punch at Valiego. Who dodges his strike once again, and punches him in the chest. This time, however, it went through his torso… The two remained there for a few moments, nothing was said between them as Valiego pulled his hand out, with a grotesque appearance setting in, dripping with a red liquid, and covered with pink bits of tissue.
“You know, now that I think about it… Perhaps I was being blind. I guess that I simply refused to believe it at the time… Then again-- I suppose that doesn't matter now… It seems I've awakened too late. Goodbye-- Anrique”
Augilla falls onto the ground, As his eyes, slowly but surely, become empty, and his body goes limp.
“Goodbye Edgar”
Valiego took one last look at his old friends… No, His brother’s corpse, as he moved his hands across his eyes, closing them. And from his, there were even some tears streaming. Even if the two hadn’t been in contact for nearly two decades, even with how their last meeting ended. It still didn’t change the memories they shared. He stood up, as he turned, moving his gaze away from the subject of his thoughts.
“What’s done is done... I still have work to do.”
He reached into his pocket, pulling out his communicator, and tapping the side.
“Squads 1 and 2 - Status on the lower levels?”
“All Clear, Sir!” Yelled the Squad 1 captain.
“Here too!”
Valiego nodded.
“Acknowledged. Squads 3 4 5 6- Status on upper Levels?”
“All Clear-- Sir!!”
As he heard all of the captains speak at once, he smiled. It looked to him like they’re still the troops he trained, even if they hadn’t had an incident in years.
“Sir- the army and any fleet are moving into the capital to suppress remaining hostiles, they should be here soon.”
“Good… Continue Looking for the enemies. Weber, Moreno, continue to guard his majesty,and her highness…”
It is only then that Valiego falls back, breathing heavily as he taps a button on his communicator, closing the line. Soon, he thought back to his past. Laying on the hospital bed was, in fact, Valiego. Sitting by his side was Juancho. He eyed the man with an apparent look of confusion. Though Juancho may have taken note, he just looked at the ceiling.
“I don't get it, why would you help me? As far as you know, I'm just some random guy on the street.”
This caught Juancho’s attention as he looked over at the man. He tapped his foot as he thought about his answer.
“A better question would be why not…Considering my dad is gone, I’m gonna have to take over for him. I need to start somewhere if I'm gonna live up to his legacy. I may be young, but I get that much. It’s part of my duty, after all.”
It looked like that was enough for Valiego. He put his gaze on the window, and looked at the city just outside.
To Be Continued
When one thought of Niopolis, one thought of the vibrant nightlife, the constant hustle and bustle. The wealth of culture and food. Despite what happened just 16 years ago, a citywide ruin is not usually what one would think of. And yet, that’s what appeared in a certain man’s view. Walking through a row of destroyed buildings, stepping over the rubble on the street. Was an older man in a leather jacket, with a cigarette hanging outside of his mouth, as it usually was. As he glanced around, He removed it, Exhaling the smoke.
“Man... I only came here to get him, but I would've enjoyed already seeing the nightlife here. Looks like that won't be possible. Guess I should’ve expected that, knowing how he fights… Alright, Let’s get to work.”