Ivan was faring a bit better. With Pompeii at full heat now, Agony could not approach without injury. Smoke billowed off of the man's steel from his failed attempts at a direct attack. Ivan and Agony were now locked in a long range magic duel. Each one waited until the other was distracted to launch an attack. They were looking for a chance to counter.Agony absorbed Ivan's magic in his claw. For every blow Agony launched, Ivan deflected it with his sword. A stalemate was reached before long. Now, each simply watched the other with angry looks.
Calvin was doing much better than the others. His foe, Doom, seemed only interested in a swift, felling blow. At every opportunity, Doom would trust his claw forward at Calvin's core. Twice, the Siren had managed to grab the Aeon's chest piece of shirt. Twice, Calvin had narrowly escaped. Calvin was trained to be a durable soldier, but his stamina was at his limit. Behemoth was too heavy for this kind of extended battle, and Calvin was feeling week from inhaling the smoke from the burning tower. He found himself longing for a Siren's mask in between dodges.
The three Siren's and three Aeon's lined up on opposite sides. "Commander, I can't...keep up...with him...any longer."
"Neither...can I...Calvin...But we...we have to keep fighting."
"What about...your leg, Tyrell?"
"It's...fine."
"Ivan, I need help with Doom. I can't...keep up with him any longer."
"But what about Agony? I can't let him run free." A rush of wind tore through the flaming keep. Alec landed behind the three Aeons, surrounded by a magical barrier. "Need some help, father?" Alec did some warm up exercises and drew his katana. "Indeed. Tyrell, you can still fight, yes?"
"Aye."
"Alec, take Pain. Calvin and I will tag team Doom. Tyrell, take your time with Agony." The four men split off between the three Sirens. "They've made their move. Siren's, attack!"
Pain lumbered up to Alec. The man was huge. Compared to him, Calvin was a child. At least nine foot tall and over six hundred pounds of muscle. His custom armor seemed to cling to his body as he swung his club. And his 'club' was nothing more than an oak tree he decided to rip out of the ground, roots and all. "Puny boy...me crush you like twig." Alec jumped back as the man slammed the tree down. "You much faster than other Aeon." Pain seemed to be struggling with something internally. Alec drew his katana and pointed at the man.
"Loc origin. Blade length, two-point-seven-five feet of sharpened steel. Hilt length, one-point-two-five feet. Designed for short range engagements and assassinations. Correcting tactics as needed." Alec lowered his blade as Pain tore off a branch from the tree. It was about the same length as Alec's weapon. The man took a seamless katana pose, perfectly suited for fighting Alec. The streamlined pose allowed him to move with terrifying speed and pinpoint accuracy. At the point-blank, The man simply used his massive bulk to push Alec around like a rag doll.
Alec took a moment to collect his thoughts. How can I beat him? He knows katana stances and even forms. I can't... Tyrell's words resounded in his mind. Well, I've got to try something else. I won't just stand here and die. Alec lowered his blade and took a deep breath. Then in one moment, he tossed aside every lesson any teacher had taught him. Letting out a terrifying scream, Alec rushed at the huge man. The Siren was too focused on katana forms that he was unable to react until the Aeon had landed three deep cuts that rent his armor in his barbaric attack. Alec delivered a jumping round-house kick. Pain had recovered now, and managed to catch the blow. Alec was then tossed twenty feet back to where the other Aeons lined up.
Tyrell was already lying there when Alec stopped sliding. "Gah! I don't think...I'll...be able...to move, Tyrell." Tyrell sighed. "Neither will I. He got me with a paralysis spell. I don't know where he went after that."
"Don't worry, Tyrell. I'm here." Agony and Pain were standing over the two Aeons. "Pain, get him. I'll grab the new kid." They stood up the wounded Aeons and pointed them towards the battlefield where Ivan and Calvin were still fighting Doom. "Watch. Watch, as all hope fades." Doom had no problem keeping up with the enraged Calvin and the sword of Ivan. Pompeii grazed mere inches from his exposed arm without so much as a flinch. Doom launched a straight jab at Ivan. Ivan parried the blow with Pompeii. Doom flinched from the pain this time. The same grimly sly smile crossed both Alec and Ivan's face. Almost simultaneously, they uttered the same phrase. "Check."
Calvin jumped back and lowered his sword to the ground. Ivan pivoted and performed a powerful side kick to the Siren's chest. Doom landed flat on his back. Calvin jumped into the air and thrust his blade at the downed enemy. Agony and Pain chuckled as well. "Now, it's checkmate." Calvin slowly rose to a stand. Ivan snapped Pompeii at his side, diffusing the flames. But then Doom also rose to a stand. Calvin turned.
His eyes were glazed over, giving a hollow suggestion that something once lived inside the shell of a man. A large spear made of dark magic protruded out of his stomach. "CALVIN!" Tyrell shook off the spell and rushed towards the battle. Alec managed to break free as well and followed him. Calvin's shell lifted Behemoth and swung. The blow sent the two Aeons flying again. Calvin's voice came out raspy and devoid of any shred of humanity. "Behold...the true power of the Sirens." The three Sirens spoke powerful chants in unison as Calvin warded off Ivan's attempts to interrupt. When they finished, the magic disappeared from Calvin's body.
"Ivan...run..." Calvin's eyes and voice had regained their old forms. "Ivan...I can't...control...my...body!" The Aeon let his blade drag on the ground as he menacingly approached his old comrade and friend. "Calvin...Calvin, stop this! You can fight it!" Calvin swung Behemoth. It was a slow and weak swing. Calvin froze and his form shuddered as the blade came to the ground with a thud. As He looked up at Ivan, his right eye became illuminated with a vile red glow. Calvin held out his right arm and it became coated in a blanket of dark magic. The black shades mixed with the night, but was still visible by the ominous light of his eye. "I'm sorry, Ivan. But I can't resist anymore."
The exhausted soldier raised Pompeii against Calvin, but the wear from the last two battles was too much on the man. Calvin, given new and demonic strength, launched out and trust a five-fingered talon into the Aeon Commander's chest. Ivan fell with nothing more than a whimper and a thud. No grand farewell, no last words. Just a sickening thud to tell the world he had expired. Alec just watched in terror. Tyrell let out a curse and tried to stand. The possessed Calvin looked at them. "No witnesses. Kill them."
What happened next can only be described as 'fairy-tale'. When the last of the Aeons were about to be killed, a group of mysterious and unknown characters jumped from the sidelines. A wild man from the Isle of Ken and a Siren stood between the attackers and the Aeons. The Northerner grabbed a discarded rock and formed a two handed battleaxe out of pearl using dust and magic. The Siren drew a sharpened scimitar and coated his free arm in the deadly blanket of magic. "Come on, Guile's lackeys. Feeling up for a challenge?"
"I ain't got a clue what you did 'ere. But I sure as heaven ain't lettin' you get outta 'ere alive!" The four men contemplated challenging the newcomers. "Very well. We shall leave you. Congratulations, Alec. You live another day." With that last remark, Calvin cast Blink and disappeared with the rest of the Sirens. The Aeons' saviors lowered their weapons and turned to the wounded. "Alec, they said? Can you move." The boy could only move. "Gotta be traumatic, watchin' yer dad die in fronta ya like that."
"Pardon my ungratefulness, but who are you?" Tyrell had his hand on a dagger and the Siren watched him. "I am Peterson of the Den. Y'all can just call me 'Pete', though." The Siren took off his mask and revealed his face. "My name is Kelvin. I am a church hunter sent to find and apprehend Peterson."
"I'm Tyrell, and this is Alec. We are...were, Aeons. The one with the big sword was Calvin. And..." Tyrell choked up and just pointed to where Ivan lay. "Ivan..." The two men nodded as the old Aeon's wept. "It is of no use to stay here." Tyrell wiped his eyes and agreed. He continued the along the Siren's thought. "With the Siren's possessing such Calvin, we need to inform the Emperor. The Loyalists don't stand a chance."
"We will take you there as soon as you recover, Tyrell."
"Yea...But I want to stop somewhere first."
"As you command. I shall make arrangements. What would they be?"
"I'm going to leave Alec with his mother. He is in no condition to continue." Alec didn't have the energy or the capacity to argue with the statement. The Northerner broke the silence. "Mmm'kay...so, what now?"
"We stop the Sirens. We have to now. It's partially our problem they got so strong."
"I admire your courage. Peterson and I will head to the front lines tomorrow. You are more than willing to join if you like." Tyrell stood and looked out at the moon. It was starting to dip, signaling the few hours of light was approaching. "'At the turning of the age...'" Tyrell sighed, "Suppose I should be used to it by now." He turned to his companions, new and old.
"Come then, we have a war to win!"
To be Continued...
No comments:
Post a Comment