"You're faster than I last remember," he said finally throwing her off. Chibi flew backwards into his wing, where she used her Azoth the create a long cut down the wing to slow her descent.
"You're more chatty than I remember," Chibi replied finally dropping to the floor. She glanced at Flyte who laid motionless on the ground. This is going to be difficult. Standing, she cast Heal. I wish I could pitch at myself.
"I see now what your future is suppose to be," Nidhogg swiped his claw and sent her flying into the darkness behind him to hit a door made of bloody red wood. "Go through the door." Chibi felt the link to her homunculus break. "You have a choice to make before you can get what you want."
Chibi shook, grieving the loss of her homunculus. She isn't dead yet completely. Chibi pushed the door open and walked in. Three maidens stood facing her, their faces hidden under long white hoods.
"You've finally made it here," The middle one said softly. Her hands held out a Seed of Life to Chibi. "Your life? Or your partner."
Chibi closed her eyes. Eir… Lack… Don't hate me. "I want my Lif back." Placing a hand on the seed, she called to her homunculus. Feeling a small hand on her shoulder, she opened her eyes. "Flyte…"
"For the truthfulness of your decision," The maiden on the left said. "You life thread from the past is strengthened."
"For your wish to save another life other than your own," The maiden on the right said. "Your life thread of the present is strengthened."
"And for your desire to destroy those who cut the life threads for personal gain," The maiden in the middle said. "Your future life thread is restored and strengthened. No God can cut your thread without our power."
Chibi smiled and bowed. "Thankyou… Skuld… " She nodded to the maiden on her left. "Urd…" Nodding to maiden in the middle. "And Verdandi." She nodded to the maiden on her right and bowed once more. She felt Lack's insignia glove go warm again.
"You must return home," Urd said softly. Her fingers touched an unseen thread nearby. "Someone's life thread near you is going to end soon unless you can stop it."
~~~
Lack jumped away from a sword falling in his direction. What the...? Lack threw spheres at Contra and moved back to BlackRose. "You should change back." he whispered. "Contra is willing to sacrifice everything. I can feel it in his strike. He won't care if there's just me, or if the whole guild was on him." Pressing his tattoo with two fingers he sent a warning to all guild members.
"I'll stay as Chibi," she hissed. "Hel is still to make an appearance." She pitched potions at him. She paused, her ears pricking up at voice Lack couldn't hear. "Call for Kashy when Hel arrives. He'll come when you do."
Lack nodded and cast Asura on Contra. Spinning, he stepped back quickly as Contra advanced on him without missing a beat. Asura still doesn't slow him down. BlackRose pitched Blue potions and raised her sword to block Contra's thrown shield. But he's predictable.
~~~
Syaoran walked through Velvet Touch of Enishi with JohnFlora at his side. The girls walked behind them looking around everywhere. "I want to speak to Mike if possible," Syaoran said quietly. Grabbing his forearm, he felt his tattoo burn. Looking back at the girls, they touched their tattoos as well. "As quickly as possible."
"He's in a meeting with the rest of the guild," JohnFlora replied showing them into a smaller room. "Rest here and when he's done I'll bring him in."
"Let him know it's about Yggdrasil," Feeling his tattoo burn more intensely, he added "And Chibi…" JohnFlora nodded and quickly left to join his brother in the Meeting Room.
~~~
Chibi walked back towards the Niflheim door. Her tattoo burned angrily. Lack's fighting and calling for the guild to gather where he is. I have to hurry. Chibi quickened her pace and ignored Nidhogg as she passed him.
"So you have both your life thread and partner back," he said. "Better hurry. My sister is going to be at the place you're heading now." Chibi slowed and stared at Nidhogg, her eyes wide. "She wants Lack's head. To be honest, I don't see her fetish in owning heads. Eating them is much better."
"I'd prefer neither to happen to Lack," Chibi replied and focused her power into her right earring. Just for now. Chibi darted faster than any creature in Rune-Midgard towards the door. Bursting through it, she skidded to a halt.
"Chibi…"Tadakono said holding his neck tightly. "Lack's calling us."
"I know…" Chibi gave athan a little kiss on the cheek in thanks before jumping into the Warp Portal Phenomenon had cast. "I'll come by again when things have settled down athan. It's a promise."
~~~
"Just minutes away," Hel said with a smile holding BlackRose tightly around the neck. "Then you can die and become one of my personal puppets. I regret losing your knowledge but your strength alone will suffice." BlackRose pretended to struggle and lash out at Hel. Lack accented her struggle by yelling at Hel and trying to get past Contra. His medallion BlackRose had given him visible while he snapped around. Hel gave one glance at it and smiled. "Why don't you call the Mediators to help you?"
Lack's eyes widened, then narrowing. His voice low and dangerous. "I'll do one better." He drove Contra away from him and yelled at the top of his lungs. "KASHY!"
"You called?" Kashy appeared in the room with Novus and Palidor. He grabbed Contra's arm and threw him into the pole on the opposite end of the room. Lack snapped over to join him. "I see you're more interested in gaining the information Chibi has." Kashy said preparing Asura Strike. "But she isn't the only one who knows that information." He pulled his gloves tight and settled into an offensive attack position. "I know it too and you know that I know it. You took their blood while they were frozen." Feeling Chibi's presence behind him nearing the door he added "You can release yourself from Disguise, BlackRose. Having Hel hold you like that must be incredibly uncomfortable."
BlackRose changed and stabbed an Immaterial Arrow into Hel forcing her to release her. "Definitely uncomfortable." She flapped her wings and flew towards Kashy, landing behind him and Novus.
~~~
Chibi touched the door. A familiar feeling washed over her. "You go in first," Chibi said to Phenomenon and Tadakono. "Something is telling me to wait." Tadakono and Phenomenon pushed open the door and went inside. At the same time, BlackRose ducked outside. "BlackRose…"
"I need to give you a small briefing before you go inside," BlackRose said touching her neck feeling a little faint as a voice rippled through her mind. "Hel doesn't know where you are at the moment. I need to know what happened." Chibi's eyes widened as BlackRose traced the faint scar-like line that spiraled up her forearm. "Kashy will hear this directly as well."
"I have my life thread restored," Chibi said still looking at BlackRose's arm. "The Norns restored it…" Chibi paused wondering if she should continue. "I chose to revive my homunculus with the Seed of Life because Nidhogg had attacked her and they decided to restore my Life Thread because of the apparently pureness of the decision."
"So basically you got two things instead of one," Kashy's voice sounded near BlackRose. Chibi squeaked and turned into a cat. "Don't worry. I can't have you come inside. You're useless as a cat."
"Then remove the binding," Chibi mewed. BlackRose picked her up and gave her a pat. "Or do you really want to keep me as a cat? I've been one for almost five years now." She added crossly. "I'm not entirely useless as a cat."
"The problem is," Kashy's voice said a little strained. "Not whether I want to keep you as a cat, but whether I want to unbind athan as well. You two share a binding. He chose to shoulder most of the blame. That's why you're a cat and not something worse than that." BlackRose turned to face the door. "BlackRose… I need you to come back inside. Bring Chibi inside as well." BlackRose pushed the door open and stepped inside.
Chibi jumped out of her arms and climbed up Lack's leg to sit on his shoulder. "I'll lend you my strength to increase yours." she mewed in his ear. Giving him a little kiss on the cheek, her Spiritual Power began to flow into him. She closed her eyes, curled herself around his neck and sank her claws into his shirt.
Lack gave her a little pat on the head. "Safest place for you at the moment," He cast Fury in preparation for Asura Strike. Flyte cast Emergency Avoid on him and floated cautiously behind him. Darting from left to right, Lack came at Contra and brought his hand up to use Palm Push Strike.
"What are you doing?" Chibi mewed in his ear. "That's not going to hurt him." Her words punctuated by Contra hitting the wall opposite them. "… At least not kill him…."
"I wanted to see what my strength is now," Lack replied looking at his hands. "Your… " Chibi rubbed his head against his neck in response. "This is good." Gathering his power, he launched a full on assault on Contra.
On the other end of the room, Tadakono and Phenomenon directed the rest of the guild against Hel. "Seen Syao yet?" Tadakono called to Phenomenon casting a Storm Gust shield to allow Kakaxi and FerrariSin attack more freely.
"Haven't seen him at all," Phenomenon supported leafye and Trelawney. "Brighteyes, illusions and Minna are missing too."
~~~
"What's this about?" MikeRex asked sitting in front of the three. "I doubt Lack has given you permission to talk to me about anything."
Syaoran tested his ability to talk about the current situation. "When you went to Yggdrasil with Chibi. Was there any difficulties that you two met?" Syaoran's voice caught in his throat.
"I see Lack's used his Guild Master abilities on the information," MikeRex said with a sigh. "Yggdrasil itself is a labyrinth. If you aren't mentally prepared in what you are trying to attain by being there, it becomes a cage more than anything else. But once you are determined, it becomes a long corridor. The door to the heart of Yggdrasil is guarded by Nidhogg."
"One of Loki's children…" brighteyes said shocked. "There's no way…" Her voice also caught in her throat. MikeRex looked at them and then at their tattoos. Brighteyes covered hers and added "Lack's calling us because Contra is there and possibly Hel." She looked at him in the eyes. "Come help us. It is possible Lack will tell you himself."
"Contra and Hel…" MikeRex mused leaning back. "I can't enter armed without the permission of the Guild Master or his 2nd in Command. That means only Lack and Chibi can give me permission to enter Fight Club Headquarters without me being practically killed as soon as I step in the door."
"I'm next in line after Chibi," Syaoran said quietly. "Myself, Tadakono and Phenomenon. You can enter with my permission until Lack or Chibi certifies it. It's a fail-safe the two of them created after the first battle with Contra."
MikeRex looked surprised at him. "You'll risk Lack murdering you," Syaoran nodded in agreement. "Then go get John and Caya and we'll come with you."
~~~
Lack cast Asura Strike on Contra, pushing him hard into the ground. His sweat stinging his eyes from the prolonged battle. The fur around his neck shivered slightly every now and then. This battle is going for too long. It's taking it's effect on both of us. He brought his fist up towards Contra's rib cage. He's showing no signs of tiredness.
Kashy cast Asura Strike on Contra as well. His anger increasing with the knowledge that Contra was not wearing down. Novus swung his Axe through the air across Contra's chest and took a look at Lack before nodding to BlackRose and Palidor. Palidor darted around and moved in front of Lack to continue his assault.
Blackrose moved to stand beside Lack. Drawing her bow she said "Rest. We'll take care of him for the moment. Chibi's going to pass out soon anyway from supplying you power." Lack didn't move from his spot. BlackRose drew a Flash Arrow and shot it directly at Lack's neck. Lack dodged and moved away from her. "Go rest or I'll fire more." Lack stared at her incredulously before nodding and snapping away.
"You alright?" Lack asked Chibi stroking one of her ears. "Release your connection to me." Chibi relaxed completely and mentally snipped their connection. "Chibi?"
"Dizzy…" Chibi mewed feeling a very familiar presence nearby. "Mike's going to be here soon… With Syao."
"Good…" Lack sat down hard on the floor. He watched the rest of the guild fighting Hel. "I hope he brought help cause they're wearing out as well."
~~~
MikeRex cast Spiral Pierce. His spear thundering down on Contra with increasing speed. He glanced at those fighting Hel and at Lack every so often. This is difficult. Hel, being a God, wont tire as easily. Contra, on the other hand, should be tired. Skidding backwards from Contra's thrown shield, MikeRex crouched down near Lack. "What's going on here?"
Lack took Chibi off from around his neck and set her on the ground next to him. "Hel was originally here to watch Chibi die but now that that plan had failed she's here to kill us all. I still have no idea why Contra is able to battle for so long now like as if he is a Hidden God." He patted Chibi's black fur. He could feel her taking very deep, slow breaths like she was sleeping. "I drained her too much of her power. I don't know if I can handle Contra without her power. Especially after seeing you battle him."
MikeRex scratched his head frustrated. "You'll need to explain to me everything later. If you're alright, come back to the battle. At least both of us against him is better than fighting one at a time." Lack nodded and got up. They darted off towards Contra noticing Kashy falling back towards where Lack has been sitting.
Kashy knelt near Chibi's cat-like form. "Since when could you and Lack join your power?"
"Since the day I warped Azoth." Chibi mewed quietly, staying still with her eyes closed. "You knew that already."
"Wanted to see if you'd answer me truthfully," Kashy replied stroking her fur gently, his power flowing into her to assess her status. "Can you answer me truthfully… Why did you give athan the secret to creating gold from stone?"
"Because I needed a secret that he knew and he wanted a secret that I knew," Chibi replied evasively. "So it was a trade."
"And that was?" Kashy prompted impatiently. Chibi stayed silent for a while. "Your answer could set you both free from my bindings."
"Before Contra," Chibi replied slowly. "There was a war between us and you guys… You remember?"
"You were in Velvet Touch of Enishi at the time," Kashy said uncertain about what she was meaning. "You mean when we first appeared?"
"Yes," Chibi said softly. "When you first appeared, no one knew how what or who you were. Because of this, I became worried that if something was to happen to Mike or Lack… Athan had returned from the outer world, namely Rachel, and he had found a secret there within Freya's temple that would increase strength for life or magic. I asked for that secret, athan in turn, asked for the secret for creating gold. I know that everything is equal trade in alchemy so I gave him the secret in exchange for the one I wanted."
"Was it worth the trade?" Kashy asked looking up at the battle. He was dissatisfied at the level her Spiritual Power currently sat.
"I don't know," Chibi replied after a while. "I have never needed to use it on either of them. Especially now that I'm able to link to Lack. But the secret itself is incredibly dangerous. More so than creating legendary items. If I was to use that secret on either of them, I could possibly kill them." Kashy stood and snapped back into the battle. Flyte floated down and sat next to Chibi. "Can still talk?"
"A little," She whispered to her. Flyte tugged at her green hair. "Lack was cautious but drained more than he wanted to. You sure you don't want to use that secret?"
"Only if I have absolutely no choice," Chibi replied with a yawn. "Besides, I'm sure Lack can take down Contra without it. He just isn't trying his hardest at the moment. He hasn't had many adversaries that can draw out his fullest." Chibi lifted her head and then moved slowly until she was crouching. "Can you take me out of this room?"
Flyte nodded and picked her up, flying off towards the hall that led to Chibi's lab. Lack looked up took a mental note that Chibi and Flyte left the room. MikeRex fell back and stood next to Lack, his breathing labored and heavy. "Where did they go?"
"Probably either to Chibi's lab or to the Guild Control room," Lack replied throwing spheres at Contra. "Either destination means Chibi has an idea she wants to try."
"And you don't mind her not telling you?"
"She already has…" Lack replied with a smile and Asura'd Contra three times in a row. MikeRex looked stunned before striking Contra with his spear again.
No comments:
Post a Comment