Well I do believe that this feral pack is showing signs that make the pride of alphas of the city now worrying about them, moving closer to the prey, sniffing and snarling at the aging men who's system pulled them in all the meat but now being forced to gnaw at the fat and be pushed aside...But they have...had the moments that indicate that they are willing to defend the hunting grounds they have known for their whole life's against these berserk monsters that only wish to find themselves a free meal...But sad thing is that even know this is what the natives think it is the furthest from the truth when in reality the analogy should be switched...Hm? Deciding who is right in this world's clouded balance is not what I do with my afterlife, I watch and observe and write with the mantle of 'Ruler of the Archives'...Not that much to grasp is it or are you just a bit slow?...Nonetheless if you want to see the rest of their stories you need to stay silent and listen as i recall the False Heroes.
Time moved quickly with the group all sitting close. Silver and Kyu and worked away non stop for the last hour, Silver seemingly healing over and the charring receding back as Willabaar came over to the fallen one,
''You know you're going to have to move him soon right? almost time for the next round to start''
The fallen nodded before picking the elf up with his reserves and making his way over to the thrones, Treevoar stood tall seemingly ready to announce the next round,
''Right we have had a little vote in the last hour and decided that instead of two bouts of one versus one...Why not a free for all with all ye trying to move on! Wilt! me and ye will be taking place here as well! The light of the day is fading and we need to decide the winner before the start of the third day so the winner here is the victor of the second trail will be decided understood!!''
The group all looked confused expect for Orelia and Willabaar who only smiled at this news before moving into the ring, Wilt swallowed only to find his throat was to dry, closing on the gulp before being slapped by Bee before he laughed and told the goblin,
''Come on Wilt it ain't like your his only target anymore right? Ahaha!''
Wilt looked annoyed as usual but internally he realised that the dwarf was right, that he could now fight the way he liked to the finish he hoped that would be his advantage before moving at the back of the group into position with them all, Treevoar stretching in the middle waiting for the drum to sound, a old but tall elf holding a bouquet of flowers throwing them up into the air, standing at the thrones she began to proclaim,
Since Treevoar is fighting I will be sounding the final duel of the second trail! Please all do your best for this is the finals now! And as Treevoar would say, Fight true and hard!''
The drum went off as the crowd went insane knowing this was surely going to be a fight to end it all.
Treevoar turned his heel slightly readying himself in stance but then saw the prince, low to the ground moving fast with no weapon in sight as his staff still sat on his back, The tall elf smiled and spoke,
''AH! An honourable battle of monks! Maybe ya not as disgusti-''
His words broken with a sting of pain looking down seeing One the Shadow Imp using his claws to slice up the tendons making Treevoar drop to a knee, lifting his face to see the palm of the prince stop, inches from his face then hearing something buzzing in his head, in a haze he looked at the mans face and noticed his lips moved, not hearing what was said but he did feel the effects, from his palm came a powerful gust of air making the Elf fly back only to stop in spot in the air, his leg being pulled from it's socket and now becoming limp, he looked to see that Orelia had wrapped something around his leg, standing behind Willabaar seeming to be covered, he realised this was the plan, they were going to eliminate him before finding out between them who would win, Treevoar would not have this. Wrenching his body to face the half-mix, struggling to even move he winced in pain before seeing a shadow appear from his closed eyes only to become a giant light that made it feel as if he was opening his eyes to the roar of the summer sun and in a second it was gone with a crash, Bee dropped his hammer into the man then lifted his foot, catching the elf straight between his ribs as he bounced from the bark from the impact, sending him flying once more towards the Goliath, one Warhammer held with two hands preparing to strike at full strength, Treevoar tries to use what he had now, making his hands take a monkish stance before feeling another sharp pain, this time running down the leg, looking down seeing a green blur as he flew closer to the closing hammer now starting to swing with searing white embers on the weapons head, It crashed into the elf with tremendous impact sending him flying, covered in coals and scorch marks as he hit a tall tree, and another as he stopped half way threw the third, The older woman standing next to Kyu by the thrones spoke once more,
''Treevoar is out! A non native will win for the first time in fifty mortal years! Who will it be?!''
Wilt, Bee, Willabaar and Otto all started to move to the centre circle, weapons in hand except for Willabaar who only had One sitting and shaking on his shoulder, still sipping the crimson red blood from his giant claws, Bee smiled and broke the silence,
''Well time for me to prove I'm better than you lot! Don't think I forgot about how much pain I owe ya for the first round Willa..baar''
The group looked to where the half-mix once stood but only saw a elf, a aura of green and purple same as the prince but eyes of pure emerald green, he spoke soft and quick as the aura around him started to make him disappear,
''My family is now serving the prince of Recocto...I'm sorry to intervene...I am now part of the shadow princes soul...But you caster...you will feel the wrath of I, Vagnoman Hollywin will avenge the souls of my family''
The visage blew away with the wind but Willabaar was still nowhere to be seen before seconds later Bee decided not to wait any more, spinning his hammer looking up but changing the momentum last second to crush the ribs of the goliath but it only stopped with the sound of metal colliding with Otto smiling, lifting his shirt and seeing a small piece of metal on it with a rune that resemble a phoenix, Bee opened his eyes and went to jump back from the goliath but it was to late as the incantation was spoke from Otto,
''This heat that burns me, I wish to add it to the kindling of the great bonfire! Firendir lend me your power!''
As the words were spoke a golden aura started draining from the demon making him roar in rage before dropping to one knee, Otto waving his hand over the Phoenix as it seemed to come alive on the sheet of metal, becoming a brighter gold slightly tingling with a murky red, Otto took a deep breath and prepared to speak only to smell a sweet yet sour smell wafting through the air, opening his eyes to see a purple powder in his face, lifting his hand to swing away the cloud only for the smoke to be pierced by a magical arrow made from pure reserves and flying straight into the goliath's shoulder making him take a jump back and bring his weapon to a defensive guard, Bee now able to slowly get back to his feet only to hear the whistle of a projectile streaming through the air behind him, not standing but twisting his upper half he pulls one of his hammers to meet the arrow and create a cloud of white smoke from the impact.
Orelia saw this from the comfort behind one of the tallest trees seeing the strength of those fighting, she decided that this would be the best place to keep hidden until everyone had used all their strength and come in for the easy win but then she heard a snap of a stick right behind her, she turned drawing a ceremonial dagger, beautiful shades of grey and gold streamed down the handle and ended with a pure grey diamond looking jewel on the pommel, It raised to create the sound of swords meeting now seeing Wilt looking up at her smiling,
''Ya think I was going to let ya just wait around, your the one who is the most troublesome,,
Orelia smiled and spoke back quite soft,
''Aye...Maybe your not as stupid as I first thought''
''Aye? Even starting to sound like the prince shame ya ain't on the fast track to being his princess now ain't it?''
The girl blushed before pushing her dagger in but it moved through like butter, Orelia opened her eyes and the goblin smiled as the dagger cut a inch into the blade, it sent her flying into the tree a foot behind her not doing that much damage but she realised quick, she could not move her body of the bark before Wilt came up with rope to cover her mouth,
''Well There ya go, one Onomancer taken care of''
He smiled and hopped to pat the girl on the head to her rage, only interrupted by a arrow of green slamming into the tree a mear inch from her cheek, making Wilt turn and take a defensive stance before whirling his fingers around his back at Orelia and uttering his incantation to Orelia's surprise,
''Oh forgotten elders, hear this travelled souls voice and hide this young one from harm's way and let me fight the clean fight!''
A flash blinded the arena shining from behind this tall black tree making the crowd stop and awe. Bee and Otto take a second away from their stance to see this marvellous light before the demon crashes both hammers down on the handle of the Goliaths Warhammer, restarting the fight that had been happening the entire trip to this land before the light disappeared.
The shining like silhouette of Vagnoman in the distance now seeing nothing standing where he once aimed even his arrow, He smirked before picking a spider from the trees, wriggling and hissing as he took the shape of a archer as a bow of brilliant emerald green appears, taking the spider and watching it turn into pure magic with shades of purple toxins now flowing through this before uttering his incantation,
''My arrow still resides with the target, My arrows are true when travelling the winds, Now with the power of the Storm dragon god, Daedalus with me I ask for my shot to bend unnaturally to find it's prey!''
He let the arrow go with flares of the same shade of green flaring off as he let the arrow loose and it travelled around the tree it came back from the other side at greater speeds and now splitting into five all heading for the soul, he tried to jump but the arrow had found their new target as they pierced him one by one as the soul turned back into dust floating away towards the high trees back into a star shaped necklace being held by Willabaar looking down smiling at what he saw,
''So Wilt...That is your school...No wonder you tell everyone your a Alchemist, time to see how much control over it you have I think''
The half-mix stands stretching his arm as usual before pulling out a bladeless hilt, black on grip and guard sparking lightning then spewing a green cloud before Willabaar raised it to his eyes now looking at it,
''Farther...You never got to see my creations...But I promise you on the name of the forgotten kingdom of Recocto''
Willabaar squeezed the grip hard enough for a sound of stretching leather to be heard, teeth now gritted before being turned into a smile,
''I will surpass every legend you set and make my own name!''
The prince jumped back to the ground before he form seemed to change while falling, now resembling a comet coming crashing to the ground by the flaring tail a pitch black devoid of anything as it smashes between the still duelling Otto and Bee both being slung back ten feet, The goliath hitting the floor and rolling while the demon hit the tree behind and bounced back to roll in the ground, they both looked up to their shock and saw the form Willabaar now stood in, a aura of his colours but with a far stronger pressure being released, his skin now taking cracks that took the colours of nothingness adorning his body with a black hilt shooting out a blade of compressed water seemingly flowing from the handle like a fountain but at much higher speeds, as the two others stood regaining their composure the crowd seemed ready for a fight that would rival that of the gods.
Otto was stuck staring at this, now seeing the look on the princes face was actually the first time he saw serious anger, He raised his hammer before saying,
''Well ya finally turned up, Lemme just take care of Bumble Bee and I'll be right with ya''
Willabaar snorted and then sped towards the giant at great pace, Otto kicked the debris by his foot trying to distract the man before bringing his hammer down adjacent to the floor and striking hard, The monk noticed and placed his hand on the flat of the hammer, spinning on his fingers and twisting the rest of his body up only to pull out the blade of water slashing the goliath across the chest, The head of the hammer was spent spinning by Bee, smashing it with both heads of his hammers, sending Willabaar into a uncontrolled spin before being struck by the demons elbow sending him rebounded off the ground, Now all three look at each other all taking a breath before being interrupted by Otto and Bee being frozen and shaking violently before falling to the floor, now not moving only twitching as Orelia appears from the inside of the tree she had been hiding behind.
''Well they were easy...Shame Wilt is a small slippery goblin or I would have had him by now...Willabaar D. Price! My lady demands you kneel! Surrender to her favoured living voice!''
Willabaar's face twitched, dropping to one knee in a bow and spoke,
''Of course I will bow...Vocaburis knows all.''
He shuffled across the ground and proceeded to kiss the hand of the young elf, making her blush before Willabaar continued,
''Shadows touch can make those feel it's true emptiness!''
Orelia was shocked, she went to jump away only to see that the half-mix was still holding her and from his palm, veins of black started spreading across the elves skin before she was covered, not able to move anything but her eyes that were still frantically trying to look around almost as if wrapped in a cocoon , Willabaar walked over to her smiling and whispered in her ear,
''A true name is what you need. You should learn more of your school if you wish to be a Grand Caster.''
He turned towards the ground and sat in a meditative pose, the crowd all stopped their shouting and became silent wondering what the half-mix was planning, before leaning back quick and spinning on his shoulders, resulting in the princes foot over his head with a flurry of back flames being brought down and spreading out along the bark once again, turning the field into a sea of charcoal still burning letting of immense light, Willabaar looked and saw the green of the goblin in a tree where the smoke was rising and decide this would be it, he pulled his staff from his back and placed the hilt into his mouth before charging forwards, making sparks and embers fly up with every step before jumping up to the tree only to see a arrow of emerald green enter his shoulder, pushing back and making him drop the hilt. Wilt jumps from where the arrow came from, spinning and grabbing the hilt before rising it to meet the elder elven wood staff but to Wilt's confusion instead of a balde of water like last time it was a solidified blade of green poison that became gaseous again to pass through the wood, reshaping itself allowing Wilt to slice across the upper torso of the half-mix, leaving a gash from shoulder to shoulder pouring out with blood before hitting the ground and not moving, Wilt came down and checked on the half-mix but Willabaar responded before he could speak,
''So...Advancement magic...Tricky little fucker ain't ya..''
The half-mixes eyes closed as he seemed to fall asleep before the older woman on the thrones spoke once more.
''It has been decided!! Wilt Grove has won the first two trails! All he will need is to be in the final two to win it all and be immortalised by Nomadir!! That will be it for the second trial but please remember that the final trial will only consist of five, that being the final five of the round! Wilt, Willabaar, Otto, Orelia and Bee will all take part and I hope you all enjoyed the final trial! Remember to be here at dawn's first light to be taken to the stage for the trial! Good luck all!''
The crowds all started disappearing into the streets but the volume did not die down it only started echoing through the shallow streets as our heroes all made their way to the thrones to see Reev sitting in his throne but still leaning over one arm, not fully recuperated and Silver now standing with only a few burns still visible, handing the bandages back to the prince and bowing before the old women turned to speak,
''Demi-threads eh? You must be from somewhere nice and warm to be able to use such a rare plant in creations''
Silver turned and spoke seemingly excited by the news,
''Demi-threads were not natural to my home but I must say the healing properties they hold is truly outstanding, Where would someone find them on this land my lord?''
Willabaar began re-wrapping his hands, seemingly full of fresh scars before responding,
''My father was a bit of a eccentric I guess you could say...so he started growing the rarest plants, fruits and vegetables that had magic properties so he could do more experimentation...Was great for my lab as a youngling!''
All the party seemed confused except Kyu, Silver and even the old lady all asking questions so fast it became a blur as the second trail ends the last half of the second day is still to go one as the pack starts to explore the lighter sides to this land.
So the second stage of festivals has ended blooming into the true final trail. Forming into the main event that everyone has been looking forward to even though none of the crowd was expecting this, The twists and turns going against traditions of their land, What of these feral dogs managing to grease the wheels for their final meal? After all these tourists to the land have managed to fall between the cracks of this old sociality, fostering the mould and corruption at the foundation's very core. But what should they do? What would you do hmm? Just accept the house's stacked hand, run away from responsibility or enforce your law. It's not really for me to say but someone like you hmm that's a different matter entirely so think about it a little would you? Culture means nothing to these remaining in the events so winning will be done by their means and wills not that of the elder's wishes to stay in line with the traditions of the past...Shame that most civilizations on the land seem to think that time will let them live like they have forever, holding the sands for them alone, This is one of the greatest follies of the living, but one that does not seem to be shared with our False Heroes.