Cling! Shing! BOOM! As the metallic tips of their weaponry continuously began to collide against one another, the positions were clear. Ben had been on the defensive with Griffith on the opposite, and yet despite this clear disadvantage, there was no visible signs of his disgruntled nature. The talons attached to his right extremities meeting with the slim shape of the katana repeatedly, the Sir King went for a complete overhead strike before the Emperor raised the katana to block it.
Scoffing as the sparks radiated out from the metal meeting metal, Ben simply used his other skills, then raising his leg so he could kick at the center of Hanniel's frame. Watching him stumble back for a moment, he lost his balance, shaking his head to throw himself out of the daze before tilting his head up. Spotting the incoming above attack from the Requiem, he weaved to his behind quickly, without wasting any time, some of the grass began to rip out of its implanted position on the ground to hover around his legs. Slamming the tip of the blade into the ground, blue Requiem energy generated from his soles, hearing the ripple affect of Griffith's arm descending to break the back of his skull with the gauntlets he donned.
Spinning around so the blade would move with him, his fingers tightened as hard as they could against the rear of the weapon, about to raise it so he could defend his head. Just then, however, he'd realized... it would leave his chest open for a kick, and he managed to come up with a simple counter. SLICE-GUSH! A simple and swift cut to the forearms had cut both of his arms off without question, watching as they went flying into the ocean to the left of them, Griffith fell to the ground. Unable to scream from the shock he'd just induced, the Sir King's breaths were labored and gradual, chest raising then falling in a continuous movement, pupils shrunken; Ben towered over the inferior Griffith below him.
Their tied up hair moving in the wind together at the same time, the heat of the summer morning began to crepe up their backs, their arms, circulating their napes. The Emperor brushed his hands over the sockets he'd left for the life energy he controlled to make something anew, sparks of electricity, the lightning bolt of life shocking something inside of his nervous system and heart to the point where it fueled the lack of flesh and skin. And just then, thanks to the aid of the Requiem Emperor of Time, the Sir Hawk King Griffith abruptly had both of his arms once again reappear out of nowhere, as if they'd never been gone in the first place.
Unleashing out a gentle breath of relief, the lone steps of Ben rang out to enter the ears, shoes stomping onto some of the singular pieces of grass- the Requiem lifted up his brother's heirloom. Watching the new azure lightning circulate around the sheathe, the audio of the sword clicking into place as it pushed against the cover attached to his waist invaded his ears' processing. Turning his head to gaze at the surprised Griffith, he couldn't help but roll his eyes at the act he was playing, and decided to head back to the Castle as the victor had already been decided.
None of them had been knocked out, and both of them were still conscious, however, it was apparent to them both, the pride and confidence of the Hawk King had been broken. Shattered to their present form, shards of glass scattered on the floor of his mind, a comforting touch on the shoulder, and the words,
"See you," Sounded out by Ben, neither of them aided, but the Emperor kept moving onward. Maybe he did this on purpose, or maybe he didn't, either way, despite his future regrets, this was for the best. He could tell he was becoming too attached to this man from the way he spoke so elegantly about his dreams, maybe part of him envied that fact, and maybe he wanted that freedom, the ability to freely express yourself without having to worry that your feelings... are useless. Was Griffith a murderer? He was a King, and he was able to show his vulnerabilities so easily, so what did that make Ben? Was he truly a ruler, or just another sheep in wolf's clothing, the line between the truth and the false was so blurred. Rivera could never truly live up to the expectations of the Hawk King, he could never let the future paradise flourish like the petals on a flower blooming in the season of spring, for he was the pinnacle point of destruction. He was foretold to bring about the end to all things, and so, he couldn't let a trivial mortal king, no matter how noble his beliefs- win him over. He was his own person, Ben needed to move forward without hesitation, and with a singular step out from the field, he started to run away from this feeling called happiness.
Back in the assigned quarters of the quartet that'd arrived in the Mage Kingdom, Kristina laid in a bed, the covers up to her stomach- arms draped over her chest. Exhaling forcefully, the glitter of morning began to shine against her discolored eyes, beginning to sit up as she heard the sound of metal rolling closer and closer. August used his back, yanking in a cart full of breakfast assortments such as eggs, bacon, sausage, pancakes, all on plates. Some on top of one another, the Reaper smiled at the ginger, both of them sharing that signature wideness of their grins- just staring into one another's eyes for just a moment.
Realizing and gazing as if lost in their own world, Kristina looked away, pulling up the covers to hide her chest- the blush apparent over her white skin. Aug, meanwhile, had turned away as well, back to the girl and his face toward the window so he could park the cart against a specific area. Taking a singular plate from the bottom, then a spatula so he could slide some of the food onto the dinnerware, there was but one singular thought that managed to wander about in the back of his mind,
~Still got it~
Smirking to himself, he searched for his glasses in the pockets of the sweatpants he wore, and then shoved the shades over his peepers. Having made a platter for the girl, he pushed it onto his palm so it could a balance against it against his hand, then sliding it right onto her lap, August grinned widely. Yet, she chuckled sheepishly, scratching at the side of her face and cheek, he crawled onto the bed to pepper kisses along her face bringing her closer so he could do it to her neck as well. Gently pushing him away so she could explain to him such a simple predicament, he quirked a brow over his eye,
"I need to brush my teeth..." Kristie whispered shyly, to which he casually laughed at the information he was just given, pecking her cheek- he placed her plate back on the cart. Just loving his head away for about a millisecond, he managed to turn back just in time to spot the wondrous sight of her... just her. Dragging along the covers across the floor as she made her way into the bathroom, turning the knob on the shower so the hot stream of water would slide droplets all over her body. Exhaling gently, she felt the tiredness fly away out the window as if a creeping bird had been spotted, meanwhile, August had been making his very own plate,
"Little bit of this... and this, oh- and can't forget-" Just about to finish whatever stupidity he was staring out loud, he turned his head, the crimson eye on his left sparkling at the realization.
Gentle footsteps across the carpet began to sound out into his ears, causing him to gently put the cover back over the plate, and his hand to reach into his pockets. Feeling the glove snap right onto his wrist, his hand whipped right to the side of his head, just to catch a stray knife that was about to embed the tip into his forehead. Taking a seat on the bed for a second, he rubbed at his nape casually, with that same arrogant aura radiating off of him, August pushed down his shades to reveal the shade of his duo pupils.
Searching around and around, he leaned back with his hand around his knee, just as he'd expected, they all appeared from the invisibility they'd cast into themselves. All of them scattered around the room with different weapons and all, he couldn't help but smirk as the Phoenix walked into the room without a care in his mind, hands behind his back. Right in front of the entrance, both the Requiem Reaper of Death and the Right Hand Phoenix of the Hawk shared a similar look, before the latter of the two had simply turned his back to the so-called all-powerful god,
"Capture the boy, disregard the girl. If you're unable to capture him, lethal force is authorized, but get his body to me the moment the second he dies," Casually strolling out the door, the Reaper wiped his lip, and giggled, yanking off his sunglasses and revealing the craziness in his eyes. The man pushing his knuckles against his fingers, he crouched his back, with a sadistic smirk painted right over his features,
"Great, now... let's have some fun."
To Be Continued!