Chapter 12: Ajal; Shauran 20th, 344SR; 09:00
Ajal looked around the circular field of grass surrounded by wooden houses. 'A lot is going on here...' Ajal's third eye opened as he quickly analyzed the situation. Multiple people wore white robes around the field, each holding iron polearms. 'They look just like the guards at the outpost...'
Reinhardt struggled to his feet behind a short man with black hair, his white shirt had red decals on it rather than green. 'His clothing looks a lot like Alexanders...' The angel wasn't focused on Reinhardt, instead, he was staring at Ajal with wide eyes. 'I just took down his comrade... But... I don't sense any hostility or fear from his spirit... He seems more surprised to see me...' Ajal looked across the field in the other direction. George anxiously struggled to untie a man with short black hair as angels in white robes surrounded him. There were two other slaves with him, both of their arms were restrained with rope.
Near the north side of the field, Sarah charged at a woman with blue hair tied back into a long pony tail. Sarah threw frantic punches, getting increasingly more frustrated as the nimble woman dodged effortlessly. The woman wore different clothing compared to the angels. A dark blue robe covered her body down to her knees, tightened with a sash that also secured a sword at her waist. For some reason the robe only covered her left shoulder. The woman caught Sarah's fist with her right hand, and then twisted her arm. Sarah winced as her knees buckled. She quickly maneuvered around Sarah, locking her arm behind her. The swordswoman pushed her down effortlessly, pinning Sarah to the ground with one arm. 'Her robe isn't like what the angels wear...' Ajal lunged down the field, making a massive stride in one step, speeding up into a full sprint. Ajal conjured a scythe overhead, slamming his foot down and coming to a sudden stop, and whipping it directly at the blue-haired woman.
"Riva look out!" another woman yelled from somewhere else on the field.
Riva looked up and noticed the scythe spinning toward her. She let go of Sarah, drew her sword out of the white scabbard and blocked it. The edge of the blade spun against her sword, sparks flew until her foot left the ground and the blade was knocked out of her left hand. Riva fell on her back, but she quickly jumped back up to recover. Ajal jumped forward at her with his leg raised.
Riva stood just short of six feet, and the blade that landed in the dirt a short distance away from her was just as tall. She had big blue eyes with sharp pupils, and an unflinching expression that brimmed with discipline. Under her blue robe was a sleeveless black top that hugged her body, and a chest plate that protected her torso. Riva raised her right arm to block Ajal's leg, a blue tattoo on her upper arm glowed bright blue. His foot slammed into her arm, the impact rippled through the air.
"Huh," Ajal uttered as his eyes widened.
Riva didn't budge at all from the heavy kick, she grabbed his leg with the same arm, pivoted, and swung him away from where the blade landed. 'What the hell...She didn't seem that strong earlier?' Ajal landed on the grass as Riva quickly dashed back to her blade and pulled it out of the ground. 'Her sword is huge... It's longer than Gale's sword...' Ajal observed the long silver blade, the blunt edge began to glow blue the moment she grasped it.
"That's an interesting sword..." Ajal squinted at its blue edge.
Riva collected her breath, her eyes locked on Ajal. She ducked down and charged back in with her sword in her right hand. Ajal conjured his scythe and spun it as she closed the distance. Riva kicked off the ground with her right foot, Ajal swung his staff the moment she swung her sword and the two clashed. A shock wave of force rippled outward. 'Huh- She's holding me back?'
"Isn't it annoying swinging a huge sword like that?" Ajal asked nonchalantly.
"Shut up!" Riva kicked Ajal back with her left foot.
Ajal squinted as he gauged the damage from her kick. 'Why wasn't that strike strong?' Ajal conjured a second scythe in his other hand, jumping forward and bringing both scythes down. Riva jumped, flipped in the air, and parried with a spinning slash. She absorbed the force of the impact, twirling in the air gracefully, and landing on both feet. Riva took a deep breath, keeping her stance and watching Ajal's next move carefully. 'That sword... Is that her gift? Or is it the tattoo? Both aren't normal...'
"Assist the Hirians!" the angels across the field ran toward Ajal and Riva.
"Hirians huh... So you're not an angel..." said Ajal.
Riva charged in front of the angels. Ajal's third eye opened and fluxed. The blue-haired swordsman charged ahead of the crowd, flipping her blade to and underhand grip to strike with the blunt end. The blade glowed a bright blue. Ajal jumped up, then fired the purple beam at ground in front of the approaching forces. The blast crashed into the ground, the houses shook. Ajal tilted his head up and angled the beam toward them. The angels hesitated, but Riva didn't. She made a horizontal slash with the blunt end of her sword, creating a glowing light blue slice in the air.
"Huh," Ajal squinted at the blue line.
'She cut the air?' The blue line extended vertically, creating a rift through space itself. On the other side, was just a dark blue void. Two stars on the other side sparkled brightly, but as Ajal looked carefully, he almost felt like something was staring back at him. 'What the...' Ajal angled the blast toward the gate, but it simply passed right through it, not hitting anything at all. His third eye closed, and the beam vanished. The portal closed, revealing the angels and Riva unscathed on the other side. The ground between them was scorched, glowing bright orange.
"Wow... I've never seen anything like that..." Ajal laughed.
"That... That was stronger than any of our cannons... What do we do against that?!" one of the angels hesitated.
"He took down a noble..." another fell backwards in fear.
The angels shook in fear despite their numbers. Riva glanced back at them, noticing their hesitance. She breathed out, then looked forward at Ajal. Riva stood tall and raised her sword to the right. 'Hm...' She pointed the blades edge to the ground, as if telling the angels behind her to stay back. Riva tilted the edge, then charged in. 'I can't budge her right side... But her kick from the left wasn't as strong... She hold's the sword with her right hand as well... Hm...' Ajal focused his spirit on his legs.
"Stay back! You'll only get in the way!" Riva ordered.
"Good intuition..." Ajal complimented as he raised his weapon overhead.
'Spirit...' Ajal swung the scythe down quickly, Riva raised the blade with her right hand. As they clashed, Ajal let go, Riva flinched as she knocked the scythe away. The massive man ducked low enough to the ground to be below her. Using his arms to pivot, he swung both his legs around and struck Riva with the back of his feet. Riva tucked in her left arm to brace herself, but grunted as the strike hit. 'Ignition!' Riva's boot dragged against the ground, her eyes widened. Her left side shoulder popped as Ajal's spirit ignition added to the impact.
"Rgh!" Riva winced.
Ajal swung his legs all the way, launching Riva toward the angels. The swordswomen tumbled against the grass, holding her left side tightly as she clenched her teeth. The angels tried to catch her, but were barely able to slow her flight and got knocked over as well.
Ajal's eyes widened as he heard a spark crackle behind him. As the sound came close, he swung his leg toward the noise, only to hit traces of green lightning left behind. The sparks bounced behind Ajal, where he was wide open. 'Shit-' A flurry of punches suddenly struck him in the back, each sending a series of shocks through his body.
"Ah!" Ajal shuddered as the electricity coursed through him.
Riva popped her shoulder back into the socket, moaning in pain and shutting her eyes as she bit down on her sword handle. She stood up weakly as she breathed out, shaking before charging in. Ajal squinted as he saw her come back. 'I thought that would take her down... She's tough... And this green lightning is annoying! It feels like a bunch of knives cutting through me, and dancing around while they do it...'
"Avery!" Riva called out.
"Riva! Strike now!" the ball of lightning ordered.
'Is that a person?' The green bolt of lightning continued to crackle as it circled Ajal at rapid speeds. It stopped, and for a brief second, the bolt took on the figure of a tall woman. In a flash, she charged in and swung her leg at Ajal. He turned and blocked. but the green sparks crackled through his body once more, stunning him in place. His legs buckled slightly from the pain. 'Damn!'
Riva jumped up with her sword raised, intent to deliver a fatal slash. 'Dark Abyss!' The wave suddenly passed right over Riva and Avery. The green lightning vanished and so did Riva's tattoo and sword, only the white and gold handle remained. Ajal clasped his hands together and dragged them apart, forming two scythes out of his shadows.
Avery was the same height as Riva, she had dark brown skin with short brown hair and two long braided tails. The robe over her left shoulder was brown instead of blue. Underneath it she only wore baggy pants, and tight black clothes over her chest and forearms, the edges of the fabric tipped with light brown fur. She had a lean and muscular build on full display, even wearing no shoes. 'It's like they're from Junipus... Their strength and reflexes at least... They look like normal humans though.'
Riva swung her empty hands down, landing and falling forward as she lost her balance. Her expression turned to worry as she realized the blade of her sword vanished. Ajal spun his scythes and swung them into Avery, but she dashed forward quickly, avoiding the blade. She blocked the scythe with her left arm. But she hesitated as Ajal swung his foot up. Avery quickly guarded with both hands, barely blocking in time, her eyes faded slightly from the hit as her feet left the ground. 'Spirit...' Ajal pulled the same foot back, and then pressed it into her stomach. 'Ignition!'
"Agh!" Avery groaned, the explosive force of Ajal's spirit launching her away.
"My sword! What did you do?!" Riva uttered in shock as she looked at her empty hands.
"Don't worry, you'll get it back," Ajal said coldly as he walked past her and grabbed the back of her collar.
Riva's eyes widened as Ajal effortlessly lifted her off the ground. He pivoted, dragging her by the collar and pulling her through the air. Riva shut her eyes and braced herself as Ajal whipped her toward a house, her body smashing through the wood. 'Stay down...' Ajal turned toward Avery as she was just getting up. He closed the distance in a single step and threw his fist, aiming for her head to knock her out. Avery just barely ducked out of the way, rolling to the left. Ajal's fist slammed into the ground, shattering it. Avery pushed off the dirt with her hands and landed on her feet. 'Spirit...' Ajal went for a direct jab to her stomach. Green bolts of lightning surrounded her palms, Avery took a stance with her hands held together and her feet firmly planted. 'Ignition!'
Avery swung her clasped hands and redirected his fist, his spirit ignited against nothing, rippling against the air with a pop. 'Huh?!' Ajal was caught off guard, he was even slightly impressed. Avery took advantage of the opening, spinning and swinging her leg at his head. Ajal blocked her foot, but she hopped off her other foot and locked her other leg around his head and arm. She spun her whole body to the left, pulling Ajal down with her weight and momentum. Avery grasped the dirt, then pulled Ajal off the ground. She spun him around in a half circle, then threw him toward the houses with her legs.
Ajal rolled against the ground, pushed off it, and landed on his feet. But when he looked up, Avery was nowhere to be seen, a green spark crackled where she should've stood. 'Above-' A sudden strike to the top of his head disoriented him. The green lightning coursed through him at the same time, slicing at every part of his brain like sharp wires. 'Rgh! If she hits my head it really hurts!' As Ajal's head was lowered, two kicks struck his knee, and another to his stomach. He conjured a black staff, and thrusted it into her abdomen. She coughed as the wind was knocked out of her, but she grasped the staff.
"Ack! Gr!" Avery gritted her teeth.
Avery shoved the staff to the side and spun, winding up a kick. But Ajal manipulated the polearm forged from shadow, creating a curved black blade at the end of the staff. He pulled it backward and cut the back of Avery's waist. She grimaced as she lost her footing, her body buckling as she winced from the pain. Avery was helpless as Ajal lifted his leg, then kicked forward. 'Spirit Ignition!' Avery jumped, pushing off the ground with her toes, raised her knee, and tucked her arm behind it. Ajal's foot pressed into her elbow, but she absorbed the impact. Avery flew backward, curling into a ball as lightning shrouded her body. She bounced off the ground and landed on her feet.
'Not bad... She's good at hand to hand combat...' Ajal caught his breath, his head was numb, and his body still tingled from every hit coupled with lightning. Despite the pain, he had a wide grin as blood dripped down his head. 'I feel a little stiff... Must be because I was out for so long...' Avery knelt on one knee as she caught her breath, she held her stomach as her bruised arms shook. An excited smile spread across her face as she glared at Ajal.
"What's with that face?" Ajal gave her a toothy grin as he steadied his breath.
"You're talking? I've never fought someone as strong as you... My name's Avery Sun, leader of the Monks of Welis... What's your name? Where are you from?" Avery huffed.
"Ajal. I'm the divine being of Imperion."
"The what of what now?"
"Imperion is my home world, and every world possesses a divine being. I'm surprised the latter isn't common knowledge..."
"Divine beings? Am I one of them?" Avery tilted her head and smirked.
"No, not even close," Ajal said nonchalantly.
"Oh?"
Avery dashed forward, jumping through the air with a spin and swinging her leg down. Ajal spun and threw his leg up to counter, clashing with hers as she came down. She locked her legs around Ajal's leg and spun her torso to the right, pulling Ajal downward to the ground again. 'Another grapple-' Avery let go as he tumbled forward.
Ajal quickly rolled over his shoulder and got to his feet, but Avery had already taken a stance with both her arms pulled back. With green lightning imbued in both hands, she lunged forward and jabbed both directly into Ajal's chest. A stunning pulse rippled through him followed by an explosion of spirit, crackles of violent energy danced around his body again. Ajal was caught off guard as Avery jumped forward, pressing both feet into his chest. Ajal grunted as he was knocked onto his back by the force of the kick. 'She's used her spirit! So people on this world do know of it...'
Avery flipped backward in the air as she brought the back of her foot down. Ajal got to his feet and focused his spirit into his forearm, blocking just in time. The force of the kick pushed Ajal's feet against the ground, his spirit helped control the impact. 'Focus!' Ajal breathed in and focused his spirit. Avery's eyes widened as she tried to combo her strike with two more kicks. Ajal parried both strikes with his wrist, igniting small portions of his spirit at the same time and making her lose balance.
"I thought I saw that earlier! You know Arken's Chambers! How?!" Avery yelled, sounding surprised, but also angry.
'Arken's chambers?' Ajal's spirit continuously drew into the center of his body, until shadows began to appear out of his skin. Avery flipped but Ajal pursued her as he continued to focus spirit. Avery threw a kick to get him away, but Ajal transferred his spirit to the spot she tried to hit. 'Spirit Ignition!' Avery was caught off guard as her foot was stopped by nothing, the force pushing Ajal's hair to the right as he perfectly deflected the attack.
"Huh! Without moving-"
Avery hesitated as Ajal grabbed her leg and spun, dragging her through the air before whipping her toward a house. Avery flew for several seconds, coming to a stop after crashing through a window.
"Avery!" Riva yelled as she charged forward with her katana in hand.
Ajal was out of breath as he observed the swordswoman approach again. Riva gritted her teeth as she stood between Ajal and where Avery was thrown. 'They just keep getting back up... Why are they fighting anyway...'
"Stay back demon!" Riva shouted.
"I'm not even walking toward you or trying to have this fight... How many times have I been called a demon today..." Ajal muttered nonchalantly. "Why are you fighting anyway?"
"I will cut off your head!" Riva hissed.
"Wow... But I am genuinely curious... Why are you fighting?" Ajal asked once more before Riva charged forward and slashed. "Ugh..."
Ajal leaned away from the blade, staying just out of range of her flurry. Riva lunged forward, swinging the blade down diagonally. Ajal bent just enough to narrowly dodge it, but as the blade moved past, Riva flipped the edge toward him and swung it again. 'She has good control of that huge sword... But if you swing like that...' Ajal looked carefully at the edge of the blade as it approached him, he focused his spirit into his palms and caught the blade.
"How- dammit!" Riva put both hands on the handle and grunted.
Ajal focused his spirit and held the blade firm. Riva continued to struggle, trying desperately to pull her sword away. 'She isn't using Spirit Arts though... Odd... Is it not taught to all of them? What's that about?'
Riva gritted her teeth. "What are you after!"
She raised her foot and kicked Ajal in the waist, but he didn't budge. Riva grimaced, her eyebrows raising as he just took the hit.
"That's a good question... I don't think I'm the bad guy. Why were you attacking the town before I was even here?" Ajal asked.
Riva paused for a moment with wide eyes. "We weren't-!"
"To my knowledge, your people are part of the alliance who forced them into this life, right?"
Riva's eyes quivered. Ajal felt a drastic shift in her spirit. 'She doesn't agree with this...'
"I don't understand why you do the things you do, but..." Ajal pulled Riva close. "These people deserve better, whether or not they were chosen by the Celestial."
Ajal struck her stomach with his fist, she gasped as her armor cracked. Riva dropped to her knees and coughed. Ajal raised his foot straight into the air. She looked up weakly as hit foot came down, slamming her in the head and and kicking her down.
"Agh!" Riva grunted as her face hit the dirt, finally losing consciousness.
"But at least you seem to know when you're wrong..." Ajal sighed.
"Riva!" a man yelled.
Ajal turned, the voice came from a short black-haired man running forward. He grasped the handle of the greatsword on his back. He had black hair and red eyes, the lower of his face was covered by a wide collar. He wore a similar robe to Avery and Riva, however not brown or blue, but gray. Underneath the robes was a sleeveless black vest. Despite his short stature, his arms were muscular.
"Damnit... Another one," Ajal groaned as he turned to see the black-haired man jump forward a great distance.
Ajal took Riva's blade off the ground and used it to deflect the short man's curved greatsword. Ajal knocked him away, but the way his body flipped through the air was odd. 'What the... That didn't feel right...' The Hirian twirled gracefully, spinning several times and descending slowly. Ajal pursued him, but stopped as he suddenly fell at a normal speed. The man in the grey robe landed on one foot, he gently rested the blunt edge of the blade on his shoulder as he hopped backward. Just like before, his movements were bizarrely slow. He barely put any force into each step, but stayed airborne for a long time regardless. 'The way he moves is weird... He's drifting like a feather...'
"Now I'm confused... You didn't use spirit arts there, yet you jumped that far," Ajal squinted at him.
"I'm confused too, I don't know what that is... And you just grabbed a fang of Ginpa despite the damage that causes... Who are you?" he asked.
Ajal looked down at his hand, the handle of the blade burned his skin as he held it. He tossed Riva's sword to the side.
"How many times have I introduced myself today... Ugh..." Ajal groaned nonchalantly. "My name's Ajal..."
"My name is Rolo, Rolo Kivan. Yeah, I heard your exchange earlier, the divine being of Imperion..."
"If you heard that... Then why did you just ask?" Ajal tilted his head and laughed.
"I've read about the divine being before... I always assumed it was just some myth... That or he died some time long before I was born..." Rolo answered as he stuck his greatsword into the ground.
"The divine being of this world... Is dead?" Ajal tilted his head. "That might explain why no one knows what Spirit Arts are... Unless someone's knowledge descended directly from Aka, it would have come from me, I assume this world would have worked the same..."
"Yeah, who knows... Maybe you're right..." Rolo sighed lazily, stretching his arms and back. "I don't know what Spirit Arts are, but we hybrid clans are gifted with an oath to the demigods of Hiria. That sword there is made from Ginpa's fangs. Avery wields Goku's lightning. And mine, is Ophi's grace..." Rolo balanced the tip of his curved sword on his pinky. "Ophi's grace allows me to remove the weight of any object."
'Remove weight? That explains how he jumped so far earlier... He lightened himself- wait, why is he telling me all this?'
"You're talkative... You should give the blue-haired girl some tips on being social..." Ajal smirked.
"I'm not being social, I do like to talk... But, I am actually buying time," Rolo concluded as he dashed forward while he effortlessly twirled his curved greatsword in hand.
'Time?' Green thunder struck the houses behind him. 'Oh...' A green projectile flew forward out of the rubble, it was spinning with a trail of green lightning on its edge. Ajal conjured both scythes and used one to block Rolo, and the other to block the projectile. However the projectile curved in mid air, and struck his left shoulder, a ripple of green lightning coursed through him. 'Ah! A boomerang?!' Ajal couldn't move for a moment. Rolo took the opportunity and closed the distance, grasping Ajal's wrist.
"Woah!" Ajal was caught off guard as the tiny man pulled him off the ground with one arm.
Rolo spun him through the air and let go, throwing him upward. Ajal couldn't control his momentum, he tried to move his legs but couldn't change direction. As he descended to the ground, he seemed to glide slowly. 'He can even lighten other people!' Before Ajal could hit the floor he noticed a green spark dash to where he'd fall. He looked down to see Avery with glowing green eyes, her right hand tucked in as she held a stance. With an enraged look on her face, she slammed her lightning-clad fist into his back.
"Ah!" Ajal grunted and grit his teeth as he felt the shock once more, flying back up into the sky at high speed.
Sparks coursed through him repeatedly and made his nerves numb. 'I can't get hit by that! Dark Abyss!' Ajal's third eye flashed and the sky around him went grey. As he released his technique, the color flooded back toward him. Ajal stopped spinning, and started to descend at a normal speed. The abyss from his third eye didn't touch the two clan leaders, their gifts remained active. Ajal looked down at the ground and saw the green spark of lightning crackle and dash across the field before it made its way underneath where he would fall.
"He can't erase our gifts repeatedly! Hit him with everything you've got!" Rolo shouted.
"Shura's array! First form!" Avery chanted ferociously.
'Shit... She's going to try and keep me in the air!' The green light glowed brighter as bolts of lightning rippled off her first and scorched the ground. Ajal heard a thunderous growl above him, he looked up to see green lightning spark in the clouds. 'What the...' A bolt of green lightning came down from the sky. Ajal tried to shield himself with his arms, but it struck him directly, driving him straight down into Avery's range.
"Thunder Clap Smash!" Avery roared.
She slammed her lightning clad fist into his side the moment before he hit the ground. Ajal clenched his teeth from the pain, he was hit from two angles and he could only block one with his spirit. Ajal went flying, crashing into the ground and dragging against it to a stop. Green sparks crackled all over his body. 'Dammit... Ah-' Ajal coughed up blood, and the wound under his chest began to ache 'She hit my scar... Of all the places!' Ajal wiped the blood from his mouth and stood up.
"That didn't take him down?!" Avery huffed and clad herself in lightning once more.
"Arthur! What the hell! He was open and you just stood there!" Rolo shouted.
Ajal turned to see the angel from earlier, he was still looking directly back at Ajal with wide eyes. 'That guy is still staring at me like that...' Ajal heard the thunderous cracks circle around him. Avery relentlessly charged back in. 'She's getting slower...' Before her strike landed Ajal caught her fist and stopped her movement. Avery tried to pull away, but Ajal simply tightened his grip on her hand. Avery winced from the strength of his grip.
"You've been a pain in the ass, but I guess that ability is tiring..." Ajal huffed.
Avery looked up and she saw his third eye open, his hand was engulfed in a pitch-black aura. 'Heart of Darkness.' The green bolts around Avery started to react violently, they were suddenly dyed pitch black.
"What the!" Avery grunted. "Ah!"
Avery tried to pull away but couldn't as the tainted ether started to travel into Ajal's body instead. The black lightning didn't injure Ajal but instead hurt her. She struggled to get away, but Ajal didn't loosen his grip.
"You really shouldn't use elemental abilities against me... Or anyone capable of black magic really," Ajal nonchalantly advised.
Ajal smiled as he pulled his hand away, sparks of black lightning coursed through his arm. Avery's wide eyes were no longer bright green.
"You... You took my lightning- my gift!" Avery stuttered in fear as she looked at Ajal with wide eyes.
"Dark cloud magic..."Ajal chanted raised his hand into the air, the black lightning collected around his hand.
"Magic?! Avery! Get back!" Rolo panicked as he jumped away.
"Dark Lightning's Roar!" Ajal chanted.
Ajal slammed his palm into the ground. The black lightning rippled outward. The center of the field was engulfed in a bright white explosion that filled the area with smoke and dust. The two Hirian's flew backward out of the smoke, tumbling against the dirt and coming to a stop. Rolo grunted as black lightning crackled off his body, he just barely evaded the brunt of the attack. Avery was right next to the blast, her eyes were wide as her body convulsed, she immediately lost consciousness.
"Woah!" Sarah raised her arms as a cloud of dust smothered her.
The angels in the area all stopped as they heard the explosion, but were confused as smoke filled the field. Sarah kept her eyes shut, but was caught off guard as Ajal ran forward and picked her up. He charged out of the smoke, his right sleeve was burned off up to his shoulder and his coat burned.
"W-wow... You... You beat two clan leaders..." said Sarah.
"Yeah, they were a pain in the ass..." Ajal huffed.
"Did you say magic back there!? You used magic?!" Sarah exclaimed.
"Not the time to talk! We need to get out of here!" Ajal ordered.
"Get out? But Ajal you won?"
"I can go and get Reinhardt, but who are those three with George? Friends?" Ajal asked.
"Them? That's Adam, Ben and Franklin... They are in the resistance, yeah... Wait... Why are we running... You looked like you were winning?"
"Go and get them to head south of town, Jack and John should be there... I'll get Reinhardt... Just go, I got you covered. There's more people showing up, and those three we're already tough to deal with. They will probably get back up soon!" Ajal explained. "We win when all of us our safe!"
"Uh- Right!" Sarah nodded.
Ajal set her down, and she made her way to George. Ajal turned and ran across the field. The one from earlier who wore the white coat with red stripes was gone. 'Huh...' Ajal was confused, he glanced around and felt his spirit somewhere on the sidelines. He looked to the houses on the north side of Logos, and noticed him. The man just simply looked at Ajal, almost surprised that he was even spotted. 'He's odd... Whatever...' Reinhardt was on the ground, still breathing with very minor injuries.
"Yo, Reinhardt!" Ajal looked down at the man on the ground.
"Ajal... Are they... Safe?" Reinhardt uttered, Ajal smiled as he knelt.
"Yeah, they're fine... Let's go, we're getting out of here...." Ajal lifted Reinhardt onto his shoulder.
As Ajal stood he heard heavy footfalls come from his right, he turned to notice a large pale fist coming toward the other side of his head. 'Huh!?' The fist slammed against Ajal's cheek, and the punch sent him and Reinhardt tumbling. Ajal's face throbbed in pain as he fell over. 'What the!' Ajal hit the ground and rolled against the grass. Reinhardt tumbled a short distance away and started to cough as he looked up.
Alexander Rael stood on both feet, his torso completely exposed. What was left of his shirt burned in green flames. Ajal froze. 'Hold on... What...' Ajal looked puzzled as he looked at Alexander's arms, they were back, but now paler than the rest of his body. Ajal looked past him, his severed arms from before were still on the ground.
"Wait, wait..." Ajal's thoughts began to race for a moment.
'He healed? Is that part of his gift? Then what about the sword he conjured... And the flames...'
"Ugh... My head..." Reinhardt struggled to his feet, but as he saw Alexander his jaw dropped.
"Reinhardt... Get to the south part of the town..." Ajal's third eye opened.
Alexander seethed with clenched teeth and furious eyes, veins on his forearms glowed green. 'That woman earlier in the blue robes... Her sword and tattoo were a part of her gift... These gifts are far different from what I've seen on Imperion, if anything, the one with the green lightning seems like something I'd expect to be a Celestial gift from Imperion... But this... If it was just his armor and flames, it would be slightly believable... But... To be able to heal severed limbs so quickly... I can regenerate... But not that fast... Is this some kind of extension of his gift?' Ajal raised his guard as green flames bellowed out of Alexander's body. The noble roared as he charged forward wildly.
"Reinhardt! Get out of here, now!" Ajal ordered and put his fists up as Alexander lunged at him.
Ajal dodged backward. 'I'll just send you flying again!' Ajal focused his spirit on his foot, spinning and slamming it into Alexander's head. 'Spirit Ignition!' As his kick landed, Alexander was knocked off his feet but he stumbled a short distance. The moment Ajal put his foot back down, Alexander charged in once more. 'What the-'
"Rah!" the noble grunted like a feral beast as threw his fist forward.
Ajal redirected his strike with his wrist, then focused his spirit into his other hand, and jabbed Alexander in the stomach with an uppercut. The large man's body rippled from the force, but he stood his ground. Alexander's arm engulfed in flame and he swiped at Ajal's face. Ajal tried to lean back, but hesitated as he saw Alexander focus his spirit.
"Huh-"
The nobles slammed his hand into his cheek, sending Ajal tumbling to the right. Ajal pushed off the ground and landed on his feet. 'That was- He ignited his spirit?!' Ajal hesitated as Alexander had already closed the distance. Ajal raised his foot, and kicked toward his head. However, Alexander grasped his leg with both hands and swung him overhead. 'The fuck-' Alexander pulled Ajal down, slamming his back into the ground.
"Agh!" Ajal felt every part of his body rattle.
'Something is different about this guy! Did he learn to use spirit from his brief fight with me?! But that was an ignition?!' Ajal jumped to his feet only to see Alexander's pale fist right in front of him. Ajal raised his arms, blocking the punch. Alexander's spirit ignited once again. Ajal winced, his forearms ached as his feet dragged through the dirt.
"Ajal!" Alexander shouted as he continued his onslaught.
The enraged noble swung his fists violently. 'It's not just his spirit? Where did all this strength come from?!' Ajal redirected Alexander's jabs and hooks, the two of them maneuvering around the field quickly. Ajal dodged and evaded Alexander's relentless strikes, he focused his spirit intently on where Alexander would strike to minimize the damage. Ajal adjusted to the flow of Alexander's attacks. 'I have to hit him even harder than I already did... It might kill him... But... If you're regenerating entire limbs... My only choice is to do serious damage!'
Alexander jumped forward, his greatsword appeared in his hand as he swung down. Ajal jumped backward as the blade slammed into the dirt, he turned before he ran at full speed toward a house. He focused his spirit on his foot, igniting and jumping straight to the roof. The moment he landed, Ajal's third eye throbbed as he sensed Alexander coming toward him.
"Rah!" Alexander yelled.
'Woah!' Ajal kicked off the roof and flipped backward. Alexander slammed his blade into the wood, and then ripped it out as he turned. Ajal looked down at the battle-scarred field as he fell through the air. But his third eye throbbed again, warning him of another incoming attack.
"Hraaah!" Alexander let out a guttural roar as he leaped off the roof with his greatsword raised overhead.
Ajal conjured a scythe and deflected his attack, but the impact sent him plummeting through the air. Ajal focused his spirit on his legs, landing on his feet in a crouched stance. He immediately jumped backward with a spirit ignition as the noble slammed his greatsword into the ground. A massive pillar of flame erected into the sky, engulfing Ajal. The green flames burned like the lightning, spreading across his body violently and burning as far as it could. Ajal dashed backward out of the flames and rolled against the ground, he felt dehydrated from the constant fighting and heat. Ajal looked up as another explosion from within the pillar blew outwards. Green fireballs descended upon the houses in Logos. 'His flames are insanely volatile!'
"This guy won't give me a moment-" Ajal saw a massive fireball fly toward the hybrids from earlier.
'Shit! Dark abyss!' The black and white wave extended, he kept the ability active to increase its range, straining his third eye. The wave passed over Alexander, and his greatsword vanished. Before the fireballs could hit the clan leaders, the black and white wave passed over them and extinguished them. Ajal's third eye closed as he panted, the wave receded.
"Why did... Why would you? What..." Rolo stuttered.
Ajal turned to see the short man on the ground. Rolo just looked at him with bewilderment.
"Just stay down... Please..." Ajal huffed.
Alexander walked out of the smoke, his gift had been erased as well. The noble fell to one knee, he huffed in and out as he struggled to stand.
"Alexander!" the angel who didn't attack earlier shouted. "You're burning Logos to the ground!"
"Shut up you coward!" Alexander suddenly snapped. "This isn't even the battle we've prepared for... This isn't even why the Celestial chose us... After all these years... You dare take the insult of having this fool defeat all of us! I refuse... I will win! And you... You've done nothing but stand there and shake in your boots Arthur Pendragon! I knew you had no right to call yourself a noble! You're nothing but a pale imitation of Shinra!"
'Those two don't seem to like each other very much...'
"Watch... Noble of House Pendragon! Clan leaders of Hiria! Watch as I, Alexander Rael vanquish this heathen," Alexander pointed his sword at Ajal.
'It's a good thing that Arthur guy isn't attacking... I don't know why... But it works in my favor!' Ajal charged toward Alexander, who had already raised his greatsword and was swinging down. Ajal watched the blade slowly descend. He took one step out of the way, efficiently dodging the blade and then dashing past Alexander.
"You dare try to run!" Alexander turned and swung his blade.
Without looking, Ajal ducked under the sword. 'What...' Ajal squinted as he turned, Alexander swung the greatsword horizontally. Ajal easily evaded. The blade came for his nose, Ajal leaned backward, turning his head slightly to the left. The blade just barely grazed his cheek. 'He's slower... Why?'
Ajal rolled backward, he squinted as wisps of smoke came off the small cut. 'What happened... His speed and power dropped significantly... Was it because of Dark Abyss?' Alexander raised his foot, igniting it in green flame. He stomped down, Ajal jumped out of the way, but a green explosion rippled out from his step. He blocked it with his arms but the flames still burned him. Ajal shielded his face, but Alexander was already above him once more.
'Was that power he gained earlier part of his gift... None the less, I'll have to let loose a bit... Dark Passage!' As Ajal jumped back to dodge another stomp, black and white flames shrouded both his fists. His back hit the back wall of a house. Ajal's third eye fluxed, purple energy spilling out of it as it began to light up.
"Damnit! That again!" Alexander rushed in.
Ajal immediately dodged to the left as Alexander stabbed his blade through the wall of the house. Alexander pursued him, dragging the blade through the wood, slashing through the wall and splitting it in half. Chips of wood scratched at Ajal as he jumped away from the edge of the blade. He flipped backward, landing on one hand. In that moment, he transferred the black and white flame to that spot on the ground.
"What's wrong?! Are you already out of strength? Damn weakling!" Alexander mocked.
As Ajal pushed off the ground, Alexander charged in close. Ajal quickly raised his arms as he couldn't dodge. 'Spirit Ignition!' Alexander tried to cleave off Ajal's arm, but he ignited his spirit where the blade would hit. Slowing the blade down enough to avoid serious damage, but still getting slashed by the greatsword. Ajal winced as he felt his arm throb, blood spraying out of it.
"Rgh!" Ajal winced.
Ajal was launched back, he rolled against the dirt but pushed off ground with his hands. He left the other black and white flame on the ground. As he landed on his feet, he took a deep breath, his third eye radiated an almost blinding light. 'I need him between those two spots, I'll strike him in one direction, then blast him in the other!' Alexander continued his charge, Ajal ran forward as well as he drew a black scythe from the shadows.
"Imperion must be a weak, pathetic world!" Alexander yelled as he swung.
"Haha-" Ajal deflected his swing, then quickly rolled to the right and dashed behind him. "The people of my world aren't as kind as I am in a fight... They'd have killed you all by now... Consider yourself lucky..."
Alexander grit his teeth, Ajal's nonchalant demeanor and words further enraging him. His greatsword ignited with green flames, he jumped into the air and swung down. Ajal quickly dashed forward, sliding under him before he landed. Alexander squinted as Ajal turned, his third eye glowing brightly. Alexander charged in, his greatsword still ablaze. Ajal channeled all his spirit into his right arm.
"Imperial Battle Arts!" Ajal chanted as he focused his spirit into a single point at the end of his fist.
"This is the end! Now die-"
Alexander was cut off as he noticed a bright green light suddenly soared through the sky toward him. Ajal's eyes widened as he noticed it as well. The noble turned to strike it, but right before the blade hit it, it bursted, engulfing Alexander in a green explosion. 'What the?!' Ajal covered his eyes as glass and metal shrapnel flew in all directions. Alexander shielded his face as he stumbled backward. Ajal didn't hesitate to take full advantage of the opportunity. 'Dark Passage!' Ajal appeared in front of Alexander.
"Cannon!" Ajal roared as he punched Alexander in the center of his torso, his spirit igniting multiple times at a single point.
"Agh!" Alexander grunted.
The noble was winded as he was launched back, the force of Ajal's punch was stronger than any other. 'Dark Passage!' Ajal disappeared once again, appearing behind Alexander as he flew backward. The noble's feet continued to drag through the ground as he tried to stop, unaware that Ajal was already behind him. His third eye burned as it could no longer contain the energy.
"Dark... Blast!" Ajal roared.
The charged beam released all at once from Ajal's third eye. In an instant, the beam blasted through Alexander, completely stopping his momentum. The beam ripped the center of Alexander's torso open, drilling a hole straight through him. As the beam dissipated, Alexander's jaw quivered, blood spilled out of his mouth. The noble dropped to his knees. Droplets of blood dripped out of his mouth, splashing into the pile that collected under him.
"Huh..." Alexander looked down at the hole in his torso.
Another stream of blood spilled down his stomach. The residual purple beam flew through two houses, soaring into a hill somewhere outside Logos. After a moment of silence, a massive explosion rippled outside of the town. The ground rumbled as a purple bubble of light bursted in the distance. Strong gusts of wind flew past Ajal as he looked down upon the defeated Alexander.
"Ah... Ah-" Alexander uttered, only for more blood to fill his throat.
The noble fell forward, slamming into the puddle of his own blood and splattering it across the dirt. The bubble of purple light dissipated, leaving a cloud of grey smoke in its wake. The area faded back to the green hue of the fire. Ajal took a deep breath. The flames that burned the houses of Logos crackled as the rest of the battlefield went silent.