*Seiya*
"Leave it to me!" Sayuri yelled from a distance.
Sou turned to look at her. "What do she plan to do?"
My brother and I both gasped as my blood glowed bright red.
"Sayuri, what are you doing?" Kai asked, his eyes widening.
"Trust me," she whispered. She closed her eyes. Her hands began to tremble, but she kept spinning my spilled blood around, forming a crimson sphere.
Davina clapped her hands and smiled. "I know, she must be cleansing your blood."
"What?"
Davina smiled. "She plans to return your blood to your body, but she's making sure it's free of any poison, toxins, and such. Sayuri's clan can manipulate blood. They can use it to heal or harm others. However, Sayuri appears to be quite talented, able to control blood in various ways."
Sayuri snickered. "You flatter me, but I'm still a novice."
Kai laughed. "You're doing great."
Sayuri smiled, her cheeks reddening.
I blinked as I watched the process. This girl was full of surprises.
I grimaced.
"Let me help," Sayuri's dad said. He placed his hands on Sayuri's.
Her mom did the same.
"We're here to support you," Sayuri's mother said.
Sayuri's smile widened. "Thanks."
My eyes widened as the blood flowed back into my body.
"You're amazing," Sou said, his eyes lighting up.
She grinned. "I have a long way to go, though. I'm nowhere near as skilled as the rest of my clan. For better or worse, I haven't had many chances to practice.
"Well, you did a pretty good job for your first time," her dad said, ruffling her hair.
She smiled. "Thanks."
"Your powers are certainly impressive," Davina said, grinning. Her smile faded as the claws bubbled, reforming the wolf.
Sayuri's parents pulled her way from the barrier.
"Are you okay?" Kai asked.
She nodded.
He smiled.
Sayuri turned to him. "Can I ask for a favor?"
"Sure, what is it?"
"I'm sorry, but I think I've exhausted my powers. If anyone gets hurt, it might be up to you and your father."
Kai gulped. "I..."
"We won't let anyone die," Davina exclaimed, glaring at the wolf.
"Are you alright, Davina? You haven't fought thus far," Dean said.
She lowered her eyes. "I've tried, but my powers are having a hard time working against that thing. While Abysmal are immune to space and time powers when used by non-abysmals, the crystals we were granted by the gods should be allowing to bypass that. Yet... our attacks seem to not be working."
Purpura flew forward. "Guess it's up to me!"
"Hmph, I've let you kids have all the fun, but it's my turn now," Pa said as he joined him.
Purpura gasped as Pa disappeared and slammed the wolf from above. The wolf growled as father applied pressure on it.
Purpura's eyes glowed. He unleashed a volley of psychic energy, but it didn't do much.
Earlier, Purpura had also tried to move the claws like Sekin had. Seemed only we Citrine, Obsidian, and Rose Quartz could use our powers to fight.
Purpura gritted his teeth.
"It's okay. Just go back and rest," Pa said.
He smiled. "Alright, Mr. Citrine."
Pa grasped the wolf from the back in a choke hold. His hand glowed bright orange.
"I won't lose!" the Dark Lord said, shaking his head.
"Pa, be careful!" I yelled as Sou patched me up.
"You have nothing to fear, boy," Pa said as energy wrapped around him, giving him a lion-like shape. He slammed the Dark Lord's wolf form to the ground with his 'paws'.
The Dark Lord transformed into a large dragon, wrapping his body around Pa's energy cloak.
"He's not absorbing Mr. Citrine's energy," Davina mumbled.
"He seemed to have absorbed mine," Purpura said as he made his way back over to us.
"What do you mean?" Sou asked.
"It was like he was draining the psychic energy out of me," Purpura said, his shoulders drooping.
Davina nodded. "Abysmals feed on certain energies. I suspect that the Dark Lord is avoiding Mr. Citrine's power because it'll erase him."
Pa struggled. "It appears you're right."
Sou stood up.
"But that won't be enough!" the Dark Lord said as his body wrapped tighter around Pa.
Pa groaned.
"Let go of my pa!" Sou yelled, rushing over.
"Sou, don't!" I shouted.
"Don't worry, bro, I can beat this guy. Watch me." Sou grinned.
Purpura flew after him and threw a knife hidden in his pants pockets at the serpent. "Take this!"
The snake dodged it.
Sou ran up and punched the beast.
The snake laughed and snapped its jaws around Sou.
"Sou!" Purpura cried, flying up.
Ava's eyes widened. "Sou!"
I pushed myself up but stumbled back to the ground. My body was to weak to move. But I had to save my little brother!
A bright glow radiated from within the snake.
The Dark Lord screamed. "No, you can't! Not yet!"
The glow intensified, blinding the area.
Sou smirked as the orange light subsided. He jumped out of the snake's mouth and landed on the ground.
The serpent's body fell limp.
Purpura flew down and helped Pa out of the energy cloak.
"I told you I could handle it, didn't I?" Sou said, grinning as he flashed a victory sign.
I smiled but then recalled what had happened earlier.
I watched as the black goo moved.
"Pa, Sou!" I yelled.
They turned to me and looked down.
Purpura threw knives at the goo, but it slithered away into a nearby storm drain.
Pa wrapped an arm around Sou and sighed. "Let's go home. We've done all we can."
I shook my head. "That's not true. The Dark Lord is still alive."
Davina gritted her teeth and glanced at Dean. "Dean, can you use water?"
"Water?" He sighed. "I'm capable of copying it, but not as effectively as fire. My body doesn't respond well to the element."
Davina frowned.
He ran over to the drain. "But, it's worth a try."
Dean closed his eyes. His hands glowed a faint blue.
Water spewed out of the drain, carrying the black substance.
"That's right. We're not letting you get away!" Sekin yelled.
Purpura nodded. "Let's try again."
Suddenly, the goo transformed into an eye, shooting a laser of energy at us.
"Seiya! Ava! Davina!" Sou yelled.
Ava's father rushed over and formed another barrier, redirecting the beam into the sky.
More beams shot at us.
Ava's father tried to block them, but there were too many. The ground underfoot shattered underneath our feet.
Davina grasped Ava and ran out of the way, Dean and Purpura joining them.
"Get away, kid," Pa said, pulling Sou and Purpura out of the way.
"Everyone!" Sayuri's mom yelled as the beams destroyed the street.
The Dark Lord chuckled as his body shifted into that of a snake once more, but this time, bat-like wings protruded from its sides.
"So, you've changed forms again?" Pa asked.
"I've had enough," Ava's dad said. He raised his staff and blasted the beast with a wave of pink energy.
The serpent fired concentrated energy from its mouth.
Pa grunted. He created a shield of his own, but the Dark Lord's power was too strong, breaking through.
Pa groaned.
Purpura gritted his teeth. "Mr. Citrine, we have to retreat."
Sou sighed. "That thing has more forms than a boss in a video game."
I nodded. "True, but it's not the end. We'll come back stronger and defeat him."
Sou grinned. "You bet."
The serpent's laughter echoed as he flew into the sewage system.
Purpura sighed.
"Well, that didn't work," Sekin said, crossing his arms.
Davina glanced down the sewer. "We've learned something important, though."
"What's that?" Dean asked, frowning.
"The Dark Lord isn't as powerful as our ancestors led us to believe, but his craftiness is the true danger."
I frowned as I touched my bandaged-up wound. The Dark Lord was crafty. He kept having an ancestor for everything we threw at him.
"You're right. This is bad. He could strike again at any time," I said.
Davina nodded. "I agree. But there's also a chance he won't."
"Why's that?"
"It could be that we weakened him enough. He did decide to flee rather than continue to face us. If anything, he might have been more interested in learning about our strengths."
"You think he only wanted to test us?" Sayuri asked, shaking her head.
"That's a possibility." She stared at her bracelet. "That other man also made it sound like there was test involved."
"That other man? Is he an enemy?" Ava asked.
Davina nodded. "I believe he is."
"Why do you say that?"
"When I said that he was the one worthy of being called the true Dark Lord, he agreed. If he's the one who's behind the abyssals, he might not be on our side."
"True. We need to keep a close eye out for him, then," I said, clenching my fist.
Davina sighed. "Sadly, only I'll be able to recognize him, given he only showed himself to me."
"But, that means..." Sekin frowned.
Sou nodded. "It's too bad that the guy could be anywhere. The so-called 'Dark Lord' just now also got away."
"That's true, but let's not forget that the Dark Lord is a title," Ava said. "Even if we defeat that snake, the one our ancestors could've warn us about could be the on Davina met, or someone else entirely. For all we know, that guy Davina met could even be the one who sent the Dark Lord to test us."
Davina frowned. "That's true. We still need to keep an eye out for the one who calls himself the true Dark Lord, even if we defeat the shapeshifter. And who knows? We might even need his help."
"Help?" Kai asked. "From an enemy?"
"He made it sound like he only wanted us to grow stronger," Davina replied. "If we are to fight the real threat, we'll need his assistance. And we'll have to trust him."
Ava's dad shook his head. "That's too risky. Who's to say that the 'Dark Lord' doesn't just want to eliminate his competition?"
"Maybe, but if he's as powerful as the legends suggest, then we'll need all the help we can get." She glanced at Dean. "We might have to depart to the other nations. Perhaps the other clans will know more."
Dean nodded. "I've had similar thoughts."
Purpura flew closer to Davina. "Do you really think so?"
She nodded.
"I see," Pa said.
"Let's hope they do," Ava's father said, sighing.
"We should get going," Sou said. "Who knows where that thing went."
Davina nodded. "True."
The adults looked at each other and began heading back to the cafe, the kids following after them.
I stared at the exposed sewer as Dean helped me up.
"We'll get him. Don't worry," Dean said.
"Yeah..." But, would anyone lose their lives before we did?
Sou walked over and hugged me. "We'll find him."
"Thanks, little bro," I said, ruffling his hair.
"Hey, quit it!"
I did it more.
He frowned. "Why are you being so mean to me? Are you angry?"
I chuckled. "I'm just teasing."
He pouted. "If you weren't injured, I would punch you."
"That's a lie," I said, laughing.
He laughed and stuck his tongue out.
I ruffled his hair and limped back toward the cafe.
"Seiya, you'll hurt yourself," Zivan said, pushing himself toward me.
"It's alright." I eyed the destroyed street again. The 'Dark Lord' was likely not at full strength. However, the 'real' Dark Lord could be anywhere, and there was no telling what he'd be capable of. Maybe all was lost.
I clenched my fist. No, I couldn't think that way. I had to stay positive. Our ancestors died to make sure we could live in peace. It was up to us to keep their dream alive.
Zivan grasped my hand. "I'm sure it'll be fine."
I smiled. "Yeah, you're right."
Although, our optimism would soon turn out to have been misplaced...