Yumi starred at Bard's broad back, steam rising off of it as though he had been bathed in fire and just stepped out of it, she gave a small smile,
"Bard, why are you here", she said, her smile giving way to a face of confusion, she took a step up towards bard,
"stopping the two of you from getting distracted", he said, looking back at yumi and Amon, "it seems like I always have to keep both of you on task",
"that's what you're great at big guy, and I'm very appreciative of it", Amon said, teasingly towards Bard,
"enough of the chit chat though, you two need to get going, I'll deal with this guy", Bard said, refocusing on the person in front of him. Yumi and amon exchanged a puzzled a look, with amon giving Bard a slight nod, he knew that he could leave bard to take care of things like he always did, the two battered and bruised picked up the pace running through the large palace doors.
"it's just you and me, sorry but I'll have to make this quick", Bard said,
"I agree, your death should be quick, a traitorous bunch like you three shouldn't be allowed to linger in this world", Kosh said, gripping his sword even tighter in an attempt to raise it. Slowly the large sword was being pulled off of the ground with Bards foot on it, in a quick surge Kosh forced it upwards, pushing Bard's foot off of it. The sudden surge surprised Bard, he jumped backwards giving himself room from his opponent. A smile quickly popped up on his face, he was amused by Kosh's sudden strength.
"you might make this interesting after all", Bard said, one of his swords rested on his shoulder, the other he pointed towards Kosh, who dragged the tip of his sword along the ground, with both him and bard moving in unison circling each other. Soon kosh raised his sword taking a step in, the broad claymore inched closer to bard's own sword, round and around they circled, each step drawing in closer and closer, now the tip of both sords crossed the other.
As if reading the others thoughts, they both drew back their sword, both swinging for the others throat, the clash of metal rang out in the silence of the city. Repeatedly their blades clashed with each other, each swing as viscous as the last, Kosh gritted his teeth, feeling the weight of each attack, locking eyes with Bard he noticed the smile he had on his face, he was having fun. Bard lifted his other sword into the air, bearing it down on Kosh, the sound of heavy swords clashing against each other filled the air again, Kosh brought his sword upwards this time, the force from the clash pushed one of Bard's arms into the air forcing him to let go of one of his swords. This had only caused the smile on Bard's face to intensify, Bard grabbed onto the other sword with both hands this time, the weight behind this strike forced Kosh back.
"want to know my natural Blessing", Bard said, taking another step forward, Kosh grit his teeth again, fighting against the mountain of a man who now stood in front of him,
"what are you trying to throw away your chances at winning", Kosh said, "I did not take you for a quitter",
"I wouldn't be so sure", Bard said,
"then enlighten me", Kosh said,
"You're looking a them", Bard said, As Kosh felt the resistance that bard had been putting up quickly disappear, causing him to lean forward shifting all of his weight onto his front leg, Bard raised his hand, swinging down as if he held a sword in his hand, as his sword that was on the ground picked itself up and flew into his hand as he completed the swing,
Kosh saw the metallic edge of his opponents blade coming straight towards his face, as the sword collided, a loud screeching sound of metal being raggedly raked on each other filled the air, Bard's sword found itself cutting into the white stoned ground beneath his opponent,
bard looked on even more excited than he previously was, as half of Kosh's face glistened a shiny black tone, with a small scrape mark running across his darkened cheek,
"You seem to have forgotten my name in battle Bard", Kosh shouted out, "I am the one blessed by Heva herself, my skin is of the same ilk that she forges her weapons, born from her fires, it is a direct blessing from her", Kosh said, standing proudly with his chest pumped up, his cheek returning to normal without a scratch on it.
"this battle will end in your death, and like always not a scratch on me", Kosh said, goading Bard.
"ohh Challenge accepted", Bard said, crossing both of his blades into an X shape, charging forward,
Back with The Boys
Labored breaths, heaved from Levants mouth, his knees buckling under the weight of his exhaustion, steam quietly rose from his body, he looked around at the destruction followed by his attack. Levant hadn't noticed Aster quickly making his way over towards him,
"holy shit Lev, you took out him, and a good chunk of the city", Aster said, gripping Levant's arm to help him up. At the slightest touch, Aster's skin began to sizzle, burning from the touch of Levant's skin,
"you are literally burning up", Aster said gritting his teeth, as Levant stumbled to his feet, the red hue that had taken over his body slowly faded.
"yup….hopefully…..that took him out", Levant said, taking in deep breaths. Aster hadn't noticed at first but hands had been visibly shaking. However he simply smiled, Aster's silverish sking fading back to it's natural dark brown.
"I…... didn't…. want to bring it up….."Levant began to say, sitting down on a nearby collapsed wall to catch his breath.
"I didn't want to bring it up, but, earlier, when you fought, what's her name, the female pillar", Levant said, looking around at the part of the city that once stood in his way,
"kiara", Aster helped,
"right kiara, you went all the way didn't you, and just now also, you're using a hundred percent of the unholy wrath", Levant questioned, studying Aster's stunned expression. "Yumi warned us that the technique is dangerous and that we shouldn't go all the way, what if", Levant paused,
"what if you lost your blessing, worse, what if you died", Levant said, his face riddled with concern. Aster dropped his hammer onto the ground, leaving it so that the handle stood up in the air, he let out an exhausted sigh, taking a seat next to levant,
"well at least I didn't die and can still use my blessing, besides I feel fine, look around lev we've been risking our lives", aster said, taking in a deep breath looking towards the sky, "lives that you, Pol and Rak have made much more of than me, out of us four you are the kindest, Rak is the bravest and Pol has more heart and loyalty than any of us, so I decided from the moment she taught us the unholy wrath, that if any one has to give up their powers or their life it should be me", Aster said,
"that isn't your choice Ast", Levant said, gathering his strength to argue against his friend,
"and yet I already made that decision, I know it's selfish, but I made the decision so I'll live with the consequences" , Aster said, getting up from the piece of rubble and walking away.
Poaris jolted upwards, his sudden movement pushed the light rubble that sat on him away, his head pounded and his eyes felt strained, as he opened them he remembered a wave of fire rushing towards him, Polaris looked around greeted by molten buildings, charred streets, and a portions of the city he was fighting in obliterated,
'everywhere you go', a voice whispered in his mind, 'deaths takes it toll', Polaris looked down at his hands, a somber look floated onto his face, "maybe he was right", Polaris said to himself softly. A few feet away a piece of a broken wall shifted, revealing Barak's unconscious body,
"oddly enough, I'm not surprised", Polaris said when seeing Barak unconscious, he made his way over to Barak picking him up from out of the rubble, he slung one of his arms over his shoulder, taking another look around he spotted Levant sitting down and Aster walking towards him, so he made his way to them.
"well looks like the two of them aren't dead yet", Levant said, pointing towards Polaris, almost dragging Barak's unconscious body,
"hey wake up", Polaris said, forming a ball of water within his free hand, he dropped it over Barak's face. Barak slowly opened his eyes, holding his jaw upon waking up, "that bitch almost broke m jaw", Barak said sitting up.
'what the, what happened ?", Barak said, looking around to see the city in an even worst state than how he remembered,
"was there so much space before", Barak asked,
"looks like the flaming retard is useful for something after all", Polaris said, a slight smile coming across his face,
"and why do you seem in a much better mood than when I found you earlier", Barak said,
"can't I be happy that all of us are somehow alive, besides I just finally realized something about myself", Polaris said,
"huh, whatever that's suppose to mean", Barak said,
" so where is Aluric, because it looks like we wo...", Barak said,
A bright golden glow, filled the area, causing Polaris and barak to turn around, what stood before them was Aluric, his skin, was strewn with burns, cuts, bruises, and a manor of other injuries, , his green eyes glowing, as a golden Halo, with spikes pointing in the four cardinal directions formed above his head, the once pristine armor he wore was in tatters, chunks of it missing, some of it melted, seemingly beginning to fuse with his skin from the intense heat, and from that armor one of his hands held the same golden color with the tiger stripes running through it, his hair frazzled, with an even wilder look to it now,
Aluric felt a searing pain coming from the back of his hand, as he looked down he saw a single stroke being burnt into his hand, he felt a surge of power from it,
"ohh you've fucked up now", Aluric said,