Wreckage smoked vigorously.
The burned grassy plains were swept in sludgy essences of mucus-like water, washing the blazing black tarmac-like texture off from the ground. The wanderers watched the situation unfold, hiding behind structures so they wouldn't get caught by the swoop of debris.
Aletha covered her neck, Asahi examined the fight behind a tattered wall. Hopeless, they couldn't do anything but watch.
As the ground trembled, Asahi hastily tilted to his sister and demanded her.
"Aletha, continue to cover your head. The fight…"
* * *
Far in the distance, Belial rushed across the debris and pushed wooden planks aside.
He slowly tilted his head to the right and saw a glowing figure floating over a crater, unleashing gushes of water into the air from a distance. Belial stumblingly stepped back, gasped for air, and gritted his teeth.
"Sally is using that now? I told her… to only use it if necessary!"
Belial knew exactly about Sally's secret.
"Come on…"
"Araaagh!"
The goblin beast roared as its large pointy ears darted up to the sky. He squinted his eyes, realizing that the battle was too far for Belial to see what was happening.
Abruptly, a spike of fury and shock filled Belial's mind, having the thought of ceasing in his mind. He resisted the ushering urge and continued.
With anger, adrenaline, and determination, Belial clenched his fists, raced across the meadow, and saw in front of the figure was a massive green figure with two glowing red eyes pushing through the puddles, swinging its arms and unleashing ruckus upon Milmoor.
"The Fruit." He faintly muttered.
(Boom!)
Loud blasts erupted from a distance. Belial's eyes widened, he darted across the mushy field, with his legs losing balance. Reaching the forest of sky-piercing roots, he gasped, seeing in front were…
"Are those… the wanderers?!"
From the glittering horizon, nearest to a group of villagers, was the sight of two white-haired individuals gazing at the fight. Not only the wanderers, the villagers, and a few other children spectated the battle too. He couldn't believe they were just standing there and not evading the area.
Swiftly, Belial accelerated through the fields of puddles and damp water, with his heart rushing with essences of hope. He staggered, with his legs cramping up and his veins pumping in with adrenaline. As Belial approached a hill, he ran across the shriveled cobblestone roads and hollered to the wanderers.
"Asahi, Aletha, I'm over here!"
The wanderers quiveringly tilt their heads behind. Their round silver eyes widened, their eyebrows raised, and a streak of faith flew over their heads.
"Belial?!"
He accelerated faster through the corridor of smoldering debris, his breathing quickened, and hastily he hollered to the wanderers.
"What the hell is Drimi doing? Doesn't she know that she is weak without her weapon?"
His staggering footsteps echoed over the walls. The villagers pushed their bodies aside and made way for Belial like water, repelling away from a fallen block.
Belial tilted his head and saw a dark-haired woman coated in crimson getting knocked and tossed from the beast.
(Are you serious?!)
Belial noticed each time she was forced to the ground, she forced herself up and tried to charge at the beast. Another explosion ruptured from a sinkhole. Drimi and the beast crushed buildings and formed craters across the vast rolling hills and forest.
As Belial was phased in shock, both the wanderers' voices neared closer, and they approached him.
"Belial!? You're back!"
He shook his head and wiped away the shock.
"Yeah, I know. I apologize! There was an anomaly."
The wanderers raised their eyebrows.
"….Anomaly?"
Belial shook his head and hollered at them with sweat sliding down his face.
"F-Forget about that. What is Drimi doing?! Did you allow her to do this?"
Both of them shrugged.
"N-No…"
He clenched his fists and bit his lip, trying to hide his visible frustration.
Noticing that even Drimi, the one they thought was the strongest among the group, was screaming and whining in pain, Belial knew that he had to do something. He shook his head, looked directly at the wanderers' gleaming silver eyes, and informed them.
"Doesn't she realize that we are weak without our weapons?! It's our primary source; it's how our powers function correctly! Without it, our powers are only half of--
Belial squinted his eyes toward Aletha's chest and saw a glistening white object caressed in-between her arms. He stepped closer toward Aletha and asked.
"Aletha, you have the fruit…."
She slowly stepped back. Belial stepped forward and raised his voice.
"The Fruit, you have it on your hands! That's the source that will stop the beast. I don't understand why you're not giving the beast that now!"
"B-Belial… There is a truth hidden in that beast! We can't let Drimi kill it; there's something fundamental in it. It's not supposed to act this way. I think… i-i… it's possessed!"
Asahi's round silver eyes widened, his hair bangs flew upward.
"POSSESSED?!"
Both Belial, Asahi, and Phthonus screamed confusingly.
Belial peered his emerald eyes toward the fighting area and ignited his palms with a pale green flame.
"You're telling me… that the beast isn't doing this on its own?!"
Aletha swiftly nodded her head, fiddling with her long white hair, still trying to recover from the shock of Belial.
"Y-Yeah…"
"THEN GIVE THE FRUIT TO IT THEN!"
He clenched his fists, gritted his teeth, and sighed. As Aletha looked nervously at Belial swiftly, he shoved Asahi to the ground and tried to roughly pull The Fruit away from her hands.
"Just… give it… to me!"
Phthonus got irritated and furious at Belial's rushing actions. He thought that Belial wasn't acting like himself, more like a mischievous child. Hastily, he stepped forward in front of Aletha and raised his voice sternly in front of Belial.
"I bet this girl knows a lot more than you could ever have! I…"
He took a deep sigh and pointed to Aletha.
"Also believe there is also something within that beast. And I don't think just giving The Fruit to it would heal and resolve its problems."
Asahi stomped his foot on the ground and shouted.
"Not only that! Sally is still out of control!"
Belial stepped back and asked confusingly.
"Why is Sally like that?! Why are all three of you not doing anything?!"
The wanderers, Phthonus, and the villagers silently stared at Belial with slight hints of fury. They knew that they were powerless in comparison to the raging green monster.
After a few moments of silence, Phthonus tore his scarf off from his mouth, raised his eyebrows, and his arms into the air. He shrieked and stomped his foot.
"She's like that because Drimi was hurt! Speaking of that, why were you not here sooner?!"
Belial stomped his foot on the ground and sneered at Phthonus.
"Because I never thought this madness would happen!"
The wanderers shook their heads valiantly, understanding his thoughts. They, too, never thought that such chaotic events would happen after they slew a prying Kitsune Beast.
Phthonus, on the other hand, was enraged by Belial's act, so he stepped back and turned away from all their faces.
Asahi nervously chuckled, trying to stay calm despite the situation. He knew that the course of events would end horribly if they did not act sooner. He pushed Aletha out of his way and approached Belial, informing him in a matter tone.
"Belial now's not the time to fight! We have a possible death in our hands. We have to act sooner now…."
He raised his foot and turned toward the villagers. Asahi cleared his throat, pushed his white bangs to the side, and raised his voice.
"That means all of us! Though we are weak, I know for certain that we can persuade the beast with The Fruit. What would be the point of traveling to Dreamtoe if it was for nothing?"
The group paid attention, acknowledging Asahi's leadership and confidence. Phthonus deeply sighed and slowly tilted his head to Asahi, hearing…
"Belial was always a decent man. One who took the effort to train us and acknowledge the dangers of this world. If it wasn't for him, we wouldn't be standing here…."
Belial slowly nodded his head, wiped the dirt off his face, and lightly smiled, gaining respect for Asahi.
Aletha closed her eyes and grinned, knowing how her brother can sometimes be a leader. Blasts ensued, and the smoke lifted; Asahi turned to Phthonus and pointed.
"I had a conflict with this guy… too. Despite our hardships and fights in that forest, it all led to resolution and reflection. It made us closer than before. The fights changed us, and I respect that."
Finally, Asahi turned to the villagers and crossed his arms.
"If only all of you knew what happened at that place. It was a life-changing moment for me…."
He pulled Aletha to his shoulder.
"And my sister… along with all of you. Every one of us did our part, but now we have to finish it."
Their eyes glitter, they fell silent, and slowly the audience started applauding him. Though the flames ensued and the fight burst strong, the rest all reflected on their lives and decided to prepare.
"Now, let's put an end to this. An end to the problems, an end to this tragedy, and start anew. Let's persist, and do anything we can to settle this beast down and finish this disaster once and for all! That's what all of this is about."
Tumultuous applause sounded from every direction. Left and right, the villagers cheered and rejoiced, whistling and hopping around, ignoring their injuries, and pushing themselves up toward new light. Now was the moment. The moment to redeem and create a new beginning.
Though the wanderers have little to no knowledge about their present world, the beating, pulsating actions, determination, and god-like will still course up and nourish their presence.
* * * * * * * *
Meanwhile, Sally was filled with uncontrollable power on the battlefield, releasing gushes and eruptions of water from all directions. She teared up and sobbed, seeing the destruction she caused; she never asked or wanted this.
She presumed that her' father's gift was the only thing good about him, but even that wasn't helpful.
Sally mumbled as she floated and examined the fog, water, and fire.
"W-Why… I thought the gem was helpful. It hurts; It hurts so much. Please forgive me! I'm sorry! Don't leave me Don't leave me, please! I did nothing wrong. Don't abandon me… like my mother did. Please, I'm… sorry. I'm so so sorry."
Those were unneeded apologies. Sally did nothing wrong but try to help the villagers.
Suddenly, the blue luminance diminished, she fell to the ground, with crimson luminescent lines surrounding her body. She wept and flew gushes of water toward the approaching beast, who smiled in a blinding sense.
(Thump)
(Thump)
(Thump)
Almost there, it was close. Its legs stomped on the slushy ground, Drimi was on the floor, paralyzed from his attacks, and the rest of the group was uninformed. As the beast's large beefy green hands were about to skim Sally's skin…
"GET YOUR HANDS AWAY FROM HER!"
A loud scream sounded out from the smog. A dark silhouette flashed in the air at the speed of light and pierced through the beast like a swift lightning bolt.
(ZZZTTT BOOM!)
A powerful purple orb of electricity spewed out and erupted from the collision, unleashing numerous amounts of spiraling darkness into the air. The violet essence flared and glazed the field with a hazy purple smog, spewing out to the sky like a growing blossom.
The impact of the collision swiftly tossed the beast and the mysterious figure hundreds of meters away from Sally, forcing the goblin to the ground, and forming a massive crater.
As the smoke cleared, the wanderers and Phthonus raced through the walls of water and saw Drimi painstakingly climbing up the hill with crimson sliding down her body.
They knew that Drimi was forcing herself to pass her limit, and they couldn't accept it.
"Hurry up! She's going to try and attack again!"
Belial clenched his fists and sprinted up the hill.
"Don't worry, I will… try to do this."
"What?! No! You can't--"
They chased Belial. Phthonus and the wanderers kicked themselves up the ledges and slippery, muddy streams, Phthonus ordered.
"Asahi, Aletha, run up that hill and go toward the forest and unsheathe your weapons! I will try to find Belial and stop the beast from hurting Drimi and Sally…."
Aletha couldn't hesitate but to question.
"Phthonus, you don't understand the beast! There is much you don't know. Please, listen to me--
He was too busy and rushed to even acknowledge Aletha's warnings.
"What?! I can't hear you! J-Just go to the forest, now!"
The chalked and gray dust filled the air, bleaching and intoxicating the scurrying villagers. It was too loud and chaotic for anyone to realize what was happening.
Aletha faintly murmured as she and Asahi rushed up the slippery, muddy hill.
"I don't understand. The beast just wanted…."
Asahi hastily grasped his sister's hand, accelerated toward the forest, and interrupted her.
"Sis, just pull out your weapon. I'm sure that the beast--
(BOOM!)
A massive earthquake convulsed the ground and forced trees to collapse and topple along the sinking hills. Asahi and Aletha lost balance and fell toward the ground.
"Agh!"
They tilted behind and saw the bright yellow floating figure of Sally, rushing toward the beast, releasing puddles, leaving a track of white, and fabricating geysers from the reservoirs. Asahi faintly whispered to Aletha as his fingers reached for the handle of his blade.
"Sally is losing control. Sis, stop messing around, grab your blade now and follow me!"
Hastily, Aletha unsheathed her blade from the luminance on her side and turned toward her brother.
"Please, when we are finished; I need to tell you some--"
Before she could even finish her sentence, Asahi swiftly grasped Aletha's wrist and dragged her down the steep hill. Their feet slipped along the slippery soil, unable to balance themselves.
Their white hair slid against the murky brown mud, staining on their bristles and clothing. Aletha shrieked and closed her eyes, feeling mud splatter on her skin, whilst Asahi grasped onto her hand as tightly as he could.
"HOLD ON!"
* * * * * * * *
"You have made all this happen! You let everyone else perish because of your greed.! You slimy, repugnant, idiot! Do you know what you have done?!"
She wiped the blood off her fist, cracked her knuckles, and stepped forward.
Crimson flew over her bruises, her legs trembled, and her dark mask was torn in half. Her attire was tattered, injuries flew everywhere, and her eyes burned to a menacing purple.
"All these lives were at the cost of you! Don't you understand what this nation is?! Do you realize how many people you made suffer?!"
The massive beast stood there, with its two glowing crimson eyes peering right at her silently. Shuffling footsteps sounded from above. His long braided hair flew into the air, with his cloak fluctuating with the heavy gusts.
"Drimi! Stop it! Nothing you do will work! Push your anger aside, ignore the mistakes and let the monster be--
Anger, fury, guilt.
Drimi couldn't take the spiraling emotions anymore. She was so heartbroken and angry that all she wanted was to kill the beast. No mercy, nothing. Combined with the surging memories and rage, she sprinted to the beast and ignored Belial's calls.
Phthonus raced out from the crater and blocked her path. Drimi sneered at him and ignited her palm with a blazing purple flame.
"H-Huh?!"
Phthonus stomped his foot on the ground and screamed as loud as possible.
"Grrr… stop!"
Drimi ruthlessly pushed Phthonus into the ground, ripped her mask off, and stepped forward toward the crater. Despite the rushing streams, filling smoke, and cries, Drimi painfully chuckled and screamed as loud as possible with pure fury.
"SHUT UP! I need to deal with him now! You really don't understand how much this village has gone through, don't you!?"
She raced across the hill, ignited her palms with her dark glow, and hastily swung at the beast thirty times. Drimi backflipped cartwheeled her way, striking and injuring the beast.
"AGH!"
She then got tossed, swung, and flung into the air. Her bones shattered, her eyes widened, and crimson covered all her clothes. Tears flew in her eyes as memories upon memories flowed inside her.
(You're our hero Drimi. I can't believe you continue, just to keep our village safe from the monsters.)
Drimi clenched her fists and dodged a swift attack.
(She carried boxes, helped build structures, save lives, and fend off the beasts from attacking the village. A hero, indeed.)
Something deep inside her made Drimi persistent in being the village's protector. She wanted to feel like a hero-- to be a reflection of her father.
She did everything she possibly could, tried to act like her feather, save civilians, and did heroic tasks. It's just that there was a feeling that made Drimi think that reflecting her father's personality was impossible.
And so, even with all the bruises and stinging pain, the strong woman persisted and continued to battle the beast.
. . .
"HEY!"
Asahi screamed from the distance as trees toppled down to the ground. He swiftly tilted his head and gasped in shock. Though he wanted to save Drimi, he felt incredibly and drastically drained.
"A-Asahi… A-Aletha?"
He collapsed on the ground and fell to the floor, flames, and embers surrounding him. Aletha and Asahi's eyes widened in fear. They dashed across the burning, muddy, wet fields; they screamed.
"PHTHONUS!"
Drimi slowly tilted her head, sneered at them, and jumped over the beast's head. Despite seeing her allies in danger, her fury made and forced her to continue fighting the goblin. Aletha hyperventilated, formed tears, and frustratingly shook Phthonus, screaming.
"Wake up! WAKE UP!"
Asahi heard Phthonus whine and groan in pain. He knew that his sister was making the situation worse.
"W-Why…?"
Asahi slowly shook his head, gritted his teeth, and roughly pushed Aletha away from Phthonus. His face turned red. He slammed his fists on the ground and screamed at her.
"STOP! He's… groaning in pain!"
"B-But… we ca--"
Suddenly, a bright crimson beam struck the wanderers. The strands of red wrapped over their legs, and instantly, both Asahi and Aletha were tossed into the air and dragged up a hill. Belial turned upward and gasped, recognizing that red stream.
Hastily, he turned to Drimi, then the wanderers. As time slowed down, Belial closed his eyes and thought.
"I have to make a choice. Either I save The Wanderers or Drimi. I-I don't know if I can handle this much pressure. There must be another option."
In desperation, he tilted to his hip and saw a gleaming white crystal shine from the red reflections of the flames.
"Do... I have no choice?"
He heard the strings of a guitar play in his mind. The melody of a sweet, acoustic tune sounded like from a land afar. The rocking chair, the beard, and the mug; Belial remembered it all.
As he peered into the crystal, he saw a gray beard, wrinkly skin, and a priceless smile.
A tear slowly fell down Belial's pale cheek.
"He was almost like… an uncle to me. One that gave me a cup of coffee every day, one that cared for me, one that gave me money despite being poor; it's as if… he--
The elderly man's voice echoed in his mind.
(I do all of these great things because… young man, you remind me of me when I was your age. A persistent boy who always was determined to help individuals. A man seeking adventure, love, and happiness. You reflect… that personality… and I want you to know…)
The loving 'grandfather' neared Belial's face and whispered.
("Be like me. Never give up, even in the hardest of times. Use your problems, and make them... solutions. Like a cup of coffee, at some time… you will have to give it up and use your own energy. So make that your life, and do the same. You… were like a grandson to me…)
He was losing his breath.
(Please, promise me this…)
Young Belial kneeled on the floor, disbelieving the elderly man's passing. Despite the pain, the elderly man slowly lifted his brittle arm toward his cheek and wiped a tear off Belial's face.
("Promise me that you will take my old-brown cloak wherever you go. I want to travel with you… even if I'm…")
…
(Away…)
Those were the last words Belial remembered.
Presently, Belial hunched to the ground, and his tear fell against the soft glass of the crystal. He pulled his brown hood over his head, painfully smiled, and whispered; as if the man was alive.
"For you… grandpa…"
He clenched his fingers against the Adcrystal and stared straight through the beast. Green energy rushed out from his body toward the crystal, expelling and merging it like water and lava. The shimmering stone slowly floated up into the air, suspending Belial up from the ground.
The wanderers were released from the crimson lines and tumbled to the ground. Asahi, Aletha, Phthonus, Sally, and the villagers watched as…
(DING)
Belial's presence merged with the crystal.
Suddenly, his vision hastily flashed to white, and a green beacon formed, piercing through the clouds.
* * * * * * * *
A wretched, brittle, and devious monster-like voice asked as the memory faded in.
"Tell me, Belial… Supreme Ruler of The World of Auguya; what is that you are warning us about?"