I looked at my mask, my mind steady and my determination unwavering. I put on my mask then put on my cloak and walked down the halls to meet up with Team One. I entered the room, my presence commanding the attention of others.
Rose turned toward me then smirked, fixing her glasses. "Cipher. Glad you made it. Team Two is already on the move so we should head out to meet up with them."
"Understood." I said.
We all began to head outside to Rose's van. Once we made it outside, we got inside and Rose started the van then drove off.
To explain the two teams, the two teams were separated like this; Team One was The Zodiac Knights: Me, April, Nina, Lily, Amunet, Avery and Athena, and Sennie being led by Rose. Team Two was Melody, Onyx, Fizz, Sora and Feline, Husha, Nyami and Nyasa, and Calypso who were being led by Liao Ru.
Each team had two scouters, one airborne and one on the ground. Team One's scouters were Amunet for the ground and Athena and Avery who were going airborne. Team Two's scouters were Sora and Feline for the ground and Calypso who was going airborne.
April's gaze landed on me, noticing I was in deep thought. "August, are you okay?"
I stayed silent for a while before finally answering her. "Yeah...just thinking about if Darkness will appear again while we are at the base. If he appears again, we might have more issues than we can handle. We all know if he appears, he will target us Knights.."
"That is true...but we have the Zodiac Champions with us and we have Rose and Liao Ru for support. Nagini would not have given us this task if she didn't have faith in us. She trusts in our abilities. Especially you, August," Amunet said, placing a hand on my shoulder, giving me a reassuring smile.
"So who exactly is Darkness to you?" Sennie asked, sitting back in her seat.
"He is the man that changed my life forever. The God of Nothingness, a man of pure evil. He...also wields the Crest of Oblivion," I answered.
Rose glanced at me through the rearview mirror. "The Crest of Oblivion? Is that another Crest of the Eternal Emperors from Utalia?"
I closed my eyes, collecting my thoughts of my homeworld's history. "No, but it is one of the many powerful Crests of my homeworld. It is the direct counter to The Crest of Pleroma, a Crest that offers Completeness. Darkness is on a whole nother league of his own currently. Even Nagini wasn't able to deal the finishing blow to him when we first encountered him and when we went to Fluer Union, April, Nina, Lily, and I were barely able to make it out with our lives."
Sennie shuddered lightly, holding her arms. "The guy sounds super scary... Hopefully he doesn't show up during this mission..."
"Hopefully.." I said softly, closing my eyes.
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We finally made it to our destination inside the forest and met up with Team Two. Once we were all together, Rose and Liao Ru gave us one last rundown of the plan. As stated before, Team Two is to take down the outside guards whole Team One infiltrates the base itself and take down the leader of this current faction of The Fallen. Once the rundown was complete, we hurried off to execute our plans.
Melody gave the signal for Sora and Feline to head off and scout for the Fallen Knights while Calypso took to the skies in her Jellyfish Form and scouted for any airborne opponents.
"To your side!" Onyx called out then rushed to block an attack from a hooded figure.
He grunted as he was being easily overpowered then groaned as he was blown away by the sheer raw power of this unknown combatants. He landed on his feet then performed a hand gesture. "Fafnir! The rest of you go ahead, I'll handle this one!"
Shadows extended behind him, slowly rising to form the shape of a hound then Fafnir appeared, letting out a howl. The hooded figure watched as the others ran forward, leaving Onyx and the figure alone.
"You are a brave one for staying alone. If you think you can beat me with some Shadow Creations, you have another thing coming.." The figure said, summoning their sword.
Onyx began to sweat in the presence of the unknown figure, his mind racing to figure out who the person was. 'His power level is insane... He's focusing on me, so that's good..'
The figure walked forward, their eyes flashing as they were ready to fight. "Standing still huh? I guess this will be another easy win for me!"
The figure dashed toward Onyx, swiftly swinging their blade toward him, but Onyx managed to evade the slash in time. Fafnir rushed toward the figure and swiped his claws at them, missing the figure and looking up to see the person now in the air. They came down with a slash, defeating Fafnir in one strike.
Onyx grunted in shock then ran off, performing another hand gesture. "Atlas!"
Onyx's shadows extended once again and a black stallion neighed loudly, galloping next to Onyx. Onyx quickly mounted on Atlas, trying to get away from the figure. He looked back and noticed the figure chasing after him at incredible speeds.
'There's no way I can fight them alone. They took out Fafnir in one strike, that alone tells me everything..' Onyx thought to himself then looked forward, snapping Atlas's leash causing him to gallop faster.
The figure laughed as they chased Onyx, slowing gaining up to him. They prepared to attack then sensed someone beside them. They dodged an attack from Husha and came to a stop. Husha's eyes shone brightly with determination, getting into her stance.
Atlas came to a stop as well, allowing Onyx to get off his back. Onyx walked forward, releasing Atlas, turning his body back into shadow energy and returning to Onyx.
"Husha, they're too strong...We aren't going to be able to defeat them alone," Onyx warned, still hesitant about battling against the hooded figure.
"Yeah...but they're focusing on us and we won't be able to execute our plan so as long as they're targeting us! I'm not letting our allies get hurt because of our own incompetence!" Husha said, lowering her stance, her Chi Energy flowing throughout her body.
The figure laughed softly at the two, lowering their hood and revealing themselves to being a man. He glanced between Husha and Onyx, a sadistic smirk gracing his lips. "Oh my...I get a two for one? Darkness would be pleased to add two heroes to his collection!"
Husha glared at the man then launched herself toward him. "You won't be getting anything!"
The man smirked at Husha then dodged her first strike. He began to move with grace and elegance as he evaded each of Husha's strikes then countered her, striking her gut with the handle of his sword. He knocked Husha in the air with a high reaching kick, following with a swift kick to her chest to send her flying. Husha groaned as she slammed into a tree, coughing lightly.
Onyx's eyes widened as he looked back at Husha. 'He just easily handled our Third Strongest member of our academy...Who the hell is this guy..?'
The man noticed Husha getting up, seeing the scowl on Husha's face then chuckled excitedly. "Oh? You're not finished yet?~ Good girl, I was just starting to have fun!"
Husha chuckled, the scars on her body shining red from her activating her power. "You're gonna have to do more than that to take me down!"
The man watched as Husha launched herself toward him again, now faster than before. He dodged her first strike then groaned as Husha landed a second strike toward his ribs. Husha began to rush the man with a flurry of strikes before knocking him away with a palm strike, a pulse of energy circling her hand before sending him flying away.
Husha let out a battle cry then stomped on the ground, her power beads forming around her neck, one for each element. "Onyx! Get off your ass and help me fight! I refuse to allow your insolence to get in the way of our mission!"
Onyx snapped out of the trance he was in then shook his head. His expression became serious then he tossed off his cloak, manifesting scales upon his body and revealed his dragon tail and wings. "Right..."
The man noticed both Husha's and Onyx's power level had rapidly increased. He smirked and laughed, spreading his arms. "Come at me, heroes!"
Onyx and Husha exchanged glances, nodding at each other. They both rushed toward the man, synchronizing their strikes to land at least one on the man. The man evaded each of their attacks then parried Husha, knocking her away before blocking Onyx's strike.
Husha flipped backwards then propelled herself toward the man at high speeds using her Wind Power Bead. She twirled rapidly and bellowed, landing a kick on the back of the man's head, allowing Onyx to knock the man upward with a powerful uppercut. Husha launched the man away with a flying roundhouse kick and Onyx chased after him.
The man recovered, noticing Onyx rushing toward him then began to block and evade each of Onyx's swift strikes. 'These kids are amazing! Simply amazing!'
The man bellowed, knocking Onyx away with his Fallen Energy. "More! Give me more power!" The man laughed menacingly, his power level growing stronger by the second.
Without warning, the man lunged toward Onyx, his strike landing true. He began to unleash rapid strikes upon Onyx, slowly wearing him down. He knocked him away with a powerful strike then slashed down, launching a cutting wave toward him. Husha threw a Power Bead forward, causing it to collide with the cutting wave then an explosion happened.
Sora and Feline noticed the explosion in the distance and grew worried about Onyx and Husha.
"Should we go back for them?" Sora asked, her worries evident in her tone.
"No, we should continue forward. I believe in them," Feline answered before rushing forward and continuing their task.
Sora whined softly then followed Feline. "Hopefully they made it out safely.."
The man watched the smoke clear, noticing both Husha and Onyx were missing. He looked around then sensed a presence near him. "Gotcha!" He slashed behind him, striking a Shadow Clone and looking surprised.
Husha appeared to the side of him and landed a swift strike on the man before disappearing at high speeds. The man looked around then groaned as Onyx kicked him forward toward Husha. Husha kicked the man upward then propelled herself forward using her flames, coming down with a powerful kick to the back of the man's head, sending him crashing down to the ground.
Onyx appeared in front of him, letting out roar as he landed his palm strike, blowing the man through multiple trees. He and Husha chased after the man, using their environments to remain undetected from the man. The man recovered and his expression went from having fun to annoyance.
"These damn kids are starting to tick me off! Show yourselves!" The man bellowed then groaned as Husha struck him with a charging lariat.
Husha's eyes began to shine brightly, her bellows echoed through the trees as she kept charging forward and launching him toward a river. "Burst Skill!"
"Burst Skill!" Onyx roared as he flew toward the man.
The man got up onto the shore and noticed two bright lights and looked up, his eyes widened as he noticed Husha and Onyx charging toward him. 'Who the hell are these kids exactly..?!'
"Devastating Blow!" Husha bellowed.
"Draconic Vortex!" Onyx bellowed.
Both Husha and Onyx landed their strikes, lightning and draconic aura surging across the area. Their roars filled the air and their combined Burst Skills launched the man away, sending him flying across the forest.
The man rolled along the ground, his body slowly failing him. He slowly got up then noticed black clouds forming around him then he chuckled as he watched Husha and Onyx running toward him.
"Looks like the game's over, but this is only just the beginning...Heroes.." The man said before being saved by Darkness's clouds.
Husha and Onyx stopped running, catching their breath. Husha reverted to her base form and fell onto her knees, her scars now burning and prohibiting her from moving currently. Onyx picked her up then flew off toward safety, calling Liao Ru to report what had happened.
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Fizz cleared a wave for her team to advance, using swift lightning fast slashes and her lightning energy to clear the way. She noticed a Fallen Great Knight blocking her way and dodged his slash then groaned loudly as she was blown away by an energy beam from a tank. She slammed into a tree and fell to the ground.
"Fizz!" Melody called out then grunted as she looked at the Great Knight that towered over her.
Melody swift evaded the Grest Knight's attack then launched a strike, her eyes widening as she noticed the Knight's body turned into black clouds and reformed behind her. The knight raised his sword to strike Melody down, but grunted as he was taken down by Nyami.
"Zoom! Zoom! Zoom! Zoom!" Nyami giggled as she zipped around the field at incredible speeds.
"That girl is too fast! Someone deal with—" Another Knight started then felt a presence behind him.
"Surprise!~" Nyami meowed then smacked the Knight across the field with a swipe of her claws. "Kitty Smack!"
Nyasa appeared above the Knight, slamming her fist against his stomach, pulverizing him. She stood up and looked at the base, noticing more reinforcements arriving. "Dammit...there are more of them..?"
Melody looked at the base as well then grunted as she noticed multiple explosions running across the river and noticed two figures in the air. "It's VI and Mina!" Melody pointed.
VI bellowed as she flew down to the ground and sliced a knight in half with ease then tossed Mina her shield. Mina caught the shield and reinforced it with her aura, using it to deflect an energy beam back at a tank, destroying it.
Liao Ru looked over at VI and Mina while having a Fallen Knight in a headlock. "Great, they are still safe!" She said as she lifted the knight in the air then slammed him on his back.
The base's alarm began to blare out, the sound echoing around the forest. "Alert! Alert! Enemy combatants have infiltrated the base! Starting Level 10 Security Measure!"
A woman walked forward and looked down at Melody and her allies. Her light blue eyes shone as she focused on Melody. "Melody...You and your allies have no idea what you're doing.."
"And you do, Pendela?! Do you not understand the destruction that's happening around Exzodia?! You're siding with Darkness instead of us?!" Melody argued, her eyes shining with anger.
Pendela stared at Melody then closed her eyes, scoffing, The Crest of Death shining on her left hand. She held her hand out and all of the dead Knights rose up again, fully recovered. "I am siding with my brother because that is what's right! As the Heir of Arcania, and the Empress of Death, I condemn you all to Death!"
A reaper avatar slowly formed behind Pendela, the eyes of everyone watching her widening in shock. Liao Ru grunted softly and stepped forward.
"Melody...Who is this..?" Liao Ru asked.
"Pendela Balor, Darkness's sister and the current Heir of Arcania. She and I used to be friends when we were younger, but she changed slowly as we grew up. I know the old Pendela is in there, but she's influenced by Darkness because they're family," Melody said then adjusted her gauntlets.
Pendela's gaze never left Melody's and her expression was a cold one as if they were never friends to begin with. "Melody...once I take you down, the Peridot Kingdom will fall too. You will not interfere with our plan.."
Melody scoffed, bracing herself for one of the hardest fights of her life. She was not going against Pendela, but against the Eternal Empress of Death. "I will not fail them, I refuse. We will take back this Base and take back North Emerald!"
"Foolish dreams and desires. If your conviction is that strong, show me. Show me what you've got now," Pendela said, summoning her scythe.