Departed

Chapter 32: Greatest Love

A/N

I've strayed away from author's notes for most of the book, mainly because I want it to look more professional. However, this chapter calls for something a little different. As you might have noticed, I have a link to a song at the top of the page instead of the usual chapter heading. I think this song really goes well with one of the characters in this chapter, and I recommend that you listen to it AFTER YOU'VE READ THE CHAPTER.

Once again: if you do not want spoilers, then please listen to it AFTER you've read the chapter. I hope you find it endearing; I certainly was surprised a song that good came out of a straight-to-DVD Swan Princess movie. Anyways, thanks for reading, and onto the battle!

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Harumi's POV

     It hurts to be slammed against the ground by a warrior; but that's nothing compared to the force that accompanies a missile discharge. My chestplate protected my back from most of the blow as I slid backwards across the rough soil. An inhuman wail accompanied the blast, nearly shredding everyone's eardrums.

     In the midst of the bright light shone sparks of golden energy. As the force faded, the Overlord came into view, panting and clutching his chest. He glared at the rising ninja in front of him, who had used his golden energy to protect himself from the blast.

     "Protected by the prophecy, I see." The Overlord said, his voice so low one could barely hear it. "So, the son finally reveals himself."

     He lunged towards Lloyd so fast I was afraid the next sound I would hear was the cracking of bones. Lloyd was miraculously able to maneuver out of the way at the last second and started matching the Overlord blow for blow.

     That's when it hit me. The reason why there weren't as many Vermillion as usual. The reason why this attack was so uncoordinated and weak.

     The Overlord wasn't concerned with winning. He was concerned with finding the identity of the son. And he thought Lloyd was the son. He wouldn't stop attacking until Lloyd was dead.

     I yelped when a dagger buried itself into my boot. A Vermillion was slowly reforming on the ground, holding up the bloody weapon to stab again. I used my other foot to kick its helmet off. The dagger clanked uselessly against the ground as the snakes disassembled.

     I pulled myself to my feet, noticing several more small snakes slithering for armor. I kicked the nearest helmet as far as I could and searched for the harpoons, which had to be on the field somewhere. We had to secure the Overlord again if we were going to kill him.

     Yet, there the ropes were, dangling broken off of the Overlord's body as he launched himself into the air to join the hovering Lloyd. Lloyd's energy looked more ethereal than usual, each green spark turning gold the minute he ignited it.

     I rushed as well as I could with a hole in my foot through the slithering masses towards Cole and Zane, who were trying to keep the helmets away from the snakes. Zane froze the helmets, then Cole would launch the encased armor into the sky with earth. Both of them looked like a hurricane had hit them. Their hoods were gone, leaving their faces coated with dust. I'm sure I looked the same way. The mud had clogged any scratches the rocky soil had inflicted, covering my face with filth.

     "The harpoons are broken!" I called to them, ripping another piece of armor out of the snakes' reforming bodies. "Do we have a backup plan for how we're getting the Overlord back on the ground?"