Asha was lost in her grief and anger. E-1 was a tool she could use, but quite often, E-1 tried to rise out of Asha and control her.
Asha swiped at Jordan, carving three long scratches in his arm. E-1 threatened to take over, but Asha just shoved her back down, along with the memories of Seven. 'Why?' she thought. 'Why did you leave me, after everything?'
"Enough!" Jordan shouted, jumping back a safe distance from the Oblivinite circling around Asha like a swarm of bees.
Asha watched him, the snakes of Oblivinite hissing and spitting.
"This will do nothing for us. Just tell me where you hid them," Jordan said, holding out his hand. He withdrew it quickly as one of the snakes lashed out, nearly closing its fangs around his hand.
"That secret will die with me," Asha replied, the two snakes splitting down the middle, creating two more, each of them writhing in the air, fangs bared. "I would never hand it over to a traitor like you." She lunged forward, the four snakes rushing ahead of her.
Jordan dodged the first, and forth, but the second and third bit him, refusing to let go. He was caught.
Asha punched him in the jaw, the other two heads splitting in half before the four bit and held Jordan in place.
Jordan struggled before shouting, "Seed!"
Asha's eyes snapped up as the huge foot of the dragon came down on her.
Jordan pulled free of the snakes as they went limp, hopping back. "Finally over," he sighed.
∽
"She lost," Tim sighed, slumping against his pillows. "Damn, and she was so close."
"I guess he was just too strong," Rosaria said. "Not even Asha in her... whatever the hell that was form lost."
"It's over," Blyke said.
"Oh well. We didn't disgrace Luminine," Ethelyn said.
"What do you think, Daniel?" asked Amelia.
He was silent, because he was the only one who knew what Oblivinite was like. Daniel just kept his eyes on the screen. "Like Oblivinite could be beaten like that," he said.
Everyone else looked to see the dragon step away, revealing a dome of solid Oblivinite. They gasped as the metal started to disintegrate back into particles that swirled around once more.
Daniel had a slightly wicked smile on his lips. "I wanted to be the first to show you that trick. To think I was beaten to it by that woman. Damn," he said. It took pure mental strength to condense Oblivinite particles into the solid metal, making it extremely hard to continuously fight like that.
"She looks pissed," Tim said. "Like, more pissed than normal."
"This is not good."
∽
Asha's eyes were glazed over, her consciousness sinking deeper. While her own sense started to sink, E-1's senses began to take over. The snakes on her neck shot forward, snapping at Jordan, keeping him on a constant defense, even as the Oblivinite around her hardened into a long spear, which she threw at the huge foot coming own on her again.
The spear sank halfway up the shaft into Seed's foot before shattering into particles again, turning Seeds large foot into a mess of flesh and blood and bone.
Asha lunged forward, appearing by Jordan, her leg swinging out, hooking his neck and throwing him into the floor. The particles rising off her skin left parts of Jordan's neck raw and bleeding as he stood shakily, still defending against the snakes.
Asha was already next to him, but she was thrown back by Jordan's kick. She landed on her feet, her shoes sliding on the floor until she came to a stop, looking blankly at Jordan. By then, he was already beside, her fist flying toward his face, wrapped in flame.
A sheet of solid Oblivinite met his fist, flesh coming away bloody as the solid once again disintegrated into particles, setting him on the defensive again.
Jordan jumped back, landing on Seed's back, the dragon taking to the air, sending torrents of water and fire, light and dark, electricity and ice at Asha.
A large shield of Oblivinite appeared on her arm as she guarded against the fire, dodging the rest. Asha looked up, judging the distance to be too far for her snakes to reach. She jumped, higher than any supernatural being should be able to, Oblivinite gathering above her, turning into a large hang-glider-shaped structure.
The loose Oblivinite that had hovered around her covered the floor in a blanket, the deadliest possible substance to fall into. A single touch and Jordan would be eaten alive by the particles.
Jordan looked down, his teeth clenched. How did she have such a precise control over the Oblivinite, a substance that was so hard to handle that many people with Oblivinite Amora were sent to underground bunkers?
Asha soared at him, snakes attacking.
The light and dark heads vanished and appeared as swords in Jordan's hands, which he used to slice up the snakes before they could bite him or Seed. Without those, she should be limited-- Jordan's eyes widened as the writhing Oblivinite started to multiply, regenerating the lost snakes before doubling yet again. "What... what a monster," he said with a slightly worried smile.
Asha flew away from them before banking to face Jordan again.
"You... you're not Asha, are you?" Jordan asked suddenly.
A cold, cruel smile mirrored in dead eyes.
∽
She was about to jump into the fight below, but a hand on her shoulder made her whirl around. "Who are you?" she asked, looking up at the hooded figure.
"Don't interfere yet," the figure replied. "This battle has just begun. Their power has drawn others here, and none shall be spared in the near future."
She bit her lip, gazing down on the two fighting figures. "He's going to lose," she whispered.
"No, he won't. He can't die before his plans have been carried out."
She looked directly into the shadowed face. "Are you sure? Are you sure the plans will work, will turn everything back into order?"
"Nobody can know that for sure. Nobody except for a god."
She nodded. "Fine. Dragon God of Ra, let's go."
The huge golden dragon roared as it flapped its large wings, rising higher into the sky. "I'll believe you for now, but if either of them die here, I will hunt you down and make sure you never forget your mistake."
"Of course."
She flew off, the wind sharp against her face as she raced across Artemesa. Everything was starting to pick up pace. It was her job to keep everything going on the timeline, not a second too soon or late. She smiled. "Being the sister of a future King and Queen, how can I fail?"
∽
Jordan was really starting to get fed up with the snakes. "Goddamn," he muttered, dodging them. He wasn't having trouble at all, but it was bothersome to have his movements cut off. "Respond to my heart!" he called, and a golden spear with a beautiful crossguard of wings appeared beside him. "Soul weapon: Spirit Spear Synasthia!" His fingers closed around it only for a second before it was flying through the air.
Asha didn't even try to dodge, rushing forward. The spear went through the shoulder, but then she was in front of Jordan, fist swinging, knocking him off his Amorai.
As Jordan fell, he ordered Seed to attack, the four heads snapping at Asha. He spread huge black wings from his back, landing safely on the ground, watching Asha dodge. "Ouch," he said, wincing, as Asha punched the water head in the jaw, nearly breaking his neck from the whiplash. He raised his hand and snapped his fingers.
Blood sprayed as the spear pulled itself from her shoulder, falling back into Jordan's hand. She didn't hesitate, just turned the hang-glider into particles and plummeted. The Oblivinite solidified under her feet, with a layer of particles under it, creating a flying disk of Oblivinite.
Jordan was on guard, his senses on high alert, as she vanished on the circle. He heard a slight whoosh and spun, slicing the spear down. He flinched slightly as hot blood fell on his face. "You won't be winning this, Asha. Or should I say E-1?"
She didn't have time to respond before the sky clouded over.
Jordan looked up to see the sun blocked out by several dozen figures in black. "Not now," he snarled, irritated. "Do you want to team up for a quick second to take these things down?" he asked.
She looked up and snarled.
"I'll take that as a yes," said Jordan. "Seed, let's go!" He flew up to Seed, landing on his back. Jordan ordered the attack, all six absolute elements shooting at the figures.
Several of those strange space portals appeared, shooting the elements back at Seed.
"Asha...!" Jordan called.
A wall of Oblivinite appeared between the two, standing strong against the elements. Light, Water, Earth, Wind, Fire, and Dark were Element Roots, the bases for all other elements until the Celestial Elements. Ice, Electricity, Metal, were all Element Variants, made by two or more Element Roots. However, Oblivinite and Plants were sub-Variants.
Jordan felt the rush of Oblivinite, quickly shouting, "Fifth Form!" The shield this time was a round bubble, which protected him from disintegrating as a mass of Oblivinite shot up into the shake of a huge tree, solidifying into a gleaming metal. "Good God," Jordan whispered, staring in awe as a the huge tree finished constructing. From the leaves, a fine dust started to rain down. He grinned.
One of the figures reached out to touch one.
Jordan was basically dying of laughter as the one spec suddenly swarmed, encasing the figure. When it pulled away, the clothes were the only things left.
The figures started to scatter, but whenever one of the particles touched them, they'd simply vanish into nothing, their clothes the only evidence they existed.
Jordan chuckled as he watched the figures, who had been a huge pain in his ass for his whole laugh, die so easily.
∽
"First Transcendent Skill. Cursed Tree."
Daniel just shook his head. "Good God. How in the hell can she do that? Does she have unlimited mental and spiritual power?"
"This is terrifying," Tim replied.
"Those people look like Argo," Blyke said. "Completely covered in black, no skin showing. Seemingly flying with no wings."
"Could they be part of a color Syndicate?"
"How could they? The Onyx Syndicate vanished years ago," Amelia replied. "These aren't humans, I can tell you that."
"What, are they supernatural?" Tim asked.
"Yes," Amelia and Daniel said. They glanced at each other.
Ethelyn sighed, "Everyone, I think we have to tell you something. You don't know this because it's not a commonly known fact, though it's not hidden."
"What are you talking about?" asked Rosaria.
"There are eight continent kingdoms in the world. Artemesa, Orlensil, Sophon, Kephri, Primis, Pyreus, Riqu and Yeilain. You know this, right?"
"Of course."
"Yeilain is the inhabitable continent, so far north not even absolute ice element users can stand more than a couple minutes. Artemesa and Kephri are the two continents furthest north, Artemesa in the East, Kephri in the west. Below Artemesa is the Kingdom of Sophon, and under Kephri is Riqu. Then the two southern countries are Orlensil and Primis."
"Yes," said Blyke. "So?"
Ethelyn took a breath. "Each Kingdom except for Yeilain is run by a different species, Blyke. Riqu is the human Kingdom, the largest by population. Artemesa is run by a species called Fae, extremely fast beings with wings. Orlensil is run by Arowolves, a species that excels in any kind of team situation, because of their way of communicating without speaking. Pyreus is run by Cheyfurs, the dragon-folk, who are extremely strong. Sophon is run by Volaro, immortal and smart enough to solve even the most complex equations in their heads with no difficulty. Kephri is home to the Vrykalans, a cruel species that has the best military because of their ability of a very strong mental strength, meaning they can kill without it turning into a trauma. Primis is the home of Aureolans, the shapeshifters."
"How come I've never heard of this before?" demanded Blyke.
"Like she said," started Daniel, "it's public knowledge, but not many know it despite that."
"Why?"
"I guess it's because people are so wrapped up in their own lives they don't have time to care," Amelia said. "I knew a Cheyfur before, so that's how I know this."
"I'm the Scion of Light. I have to know these things," Ethelyn said.
"And I know because my best friend growing up was a Volaro," Daniel said. "I grew up in Pyreus and my parents were important helpers to the Royalty there, so it was kind of important I know."
Tim sighed. "Why did the world just get that much more complicated?" he asked.
"I know," agreed Rosaria.
"Then what are they?" Blyke asked.
"I don't know. They really could be anything, as all of the races have wings. Though I've never heard of clear ones," replied Ethelyn.
"They're fighting again," said Daniel.
∽
It was time to end this.
Jordan attacked quickly, using his full power. If he could just get rid of her now...
Asha turned, clawed hands grabbing the sword blade, shattering the blade into pieces. She swiped at Jordan, nearly disemboweling him.
Jordan snarled as he swung the spear at her.
But it was blocked by a long, pure black scythe.
Jordan's eyes widened as the spear in his hand jerked away, snapping into the sheath on the back of the figure. "You... don't you...!"
"It's over," the figure said, a shockwave knocking both Asha and Jordan back, slamming them into the glass panels, the pressure coming from the figure enough to render both unconscious.
"Thank you," a new figure said, landing on the platform. She had curly brown hair and bright green eyes.
"Get these two into the hospital."
"Yes." The girl took off with both, leaving the figure alone.
Argo glanced around. "I'm not sure if I can really just ignore this anymore," she said, turning on her heel, vanishing with a swish of her cloak.