"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 Azir," 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. There is also a federation of all of the island provinces in the Great Ocean. 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 nearly all of the races have wings. Though I've never heard of clear ones," replied Ethelyn.
"Hey," said Daniel. "They're fighting again."
~
It was time to end this.
Arin 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 Arin, nearly disemboweling him.
Arin snarled as he swung the spear at her.
Asha dodged, jumping back before those snakes lunged forward again.
"Those are really starting to piss me off…!" Arin muttered. "How about I cut them off!" He swung the spear, slicing one of the snakes in half.
The remaining stump of the snake disintegrated into stray Oblivinite particles, and it was quickly replaced with another snake.
"How bothersome!" Arin warded off the snakes, managing to scratch Asha a few times, but nothing serious.
Arin grimaced. If he wanted to end this, he was going to have to do something fast, because his stamina was draining.
He debated calling for Jocelyn, but cast the idea out of his mind. If he couldn't even win against this woman, then he had no right to pursue his goal.
Arin, in his momentary lapse in focus, was thrown against the wall of the arena, and he coughed blood, the red substance dripping from the corner of his mouth.
"What… a monster," he said, wiping the blood from his lips.
Asha's pupils dilated, and she lunged forward, lifting her arm before driving her claws and hand into the right side of Arin's chest. She pulled her hands out, before stabbing him again. Out of her mouth came a haunting, strange laugh of something that had been locked up for too long and had finally been free.
Arin coughed more blood, his mouth curling up in a wry smile as he stared up at those claws, positioning themselves to tear into his face.
Asha struck.
But it was blocked by a long, pure black scythe.
Arin'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...! Don't interfere!"
"It's over," the figure said, a shockwave knocking both Asha and Arin 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. She wore the same black robes that Azir did, covering every patch of skin from her head to her feet.
"Get these two into the hospital."
"Yes." The girl took off with both, leaving the figure alone.
Azir glanced around. "I'm not sure if I can really just ignore this anymore," she said. These two… both of them had the same ultimate plan, but why couldn't they just align their agendas? It would make everything so much easier. Azir sighed. It wasn't her job to doubt or wonder about her orders. She was just a piece on the board, one that need only keep silent and obey orders.
Azir put a hand to her chest before turning on her heel, vanishing with a swish of her cloak.