Omega Wars Chronicles

Chapter 32 Episode 31: Inseparable

At the Court as the audience stared in shock as Meeno was on his knees bleeding severely while Dam coldly stared down at him.
"What you are waiting for?" Dam asked, "Weren't you going to show me what you are made of? Well, i'm still standing... Brother."
"Would you look at this, folks!" Trengal said, " Dam just brought an unexpected attack on his younger brother and he is bleeding like crazy!! Can Meeno get back up and fight?!!"
  As Meeno was still kneeling on the ground, Meeno coughed out blood on his palm and stared at it. While staring at the blood on his palm, Meeno smirked.
" It seems that all those times we spent being separated from each other has made you forget the secret of my kan ability." Meeno said, "My kan ability is that of my mother, the red bane lady Yagura of the Kenar tribe and secret of the red ice... Is that it runs on blood."
At that moment, numerous spikes made of red ice sprung out of Meeno's blood and rushed towards Dam which he evades by hopping back.
"The more i bleed, the stronger my ice becomes!" Meeno said as he swung his arm, sending another flood of red ice towards Dam which was moving at an astonishing speed.
"His ice...! It moved faster..!" Trengal said within himself in shock.
Dam quickly leaps high in the air but noticed the blood on his shoulder which instantly turned into ice and exploded.
"That was an unexpected attack!" Trengal said, "Meeno dispatched an attack just to subtly throw some of his blood on Dam to dispatch another attack!! That's one hell of a thinking, folks!!!"
"Not bad." Cloud said.
"Yeah, not bad." Sting said, "Even i didn't see it coming."
Dam, however, lands on the ground, unfazed by the attack while having a slight black swirl around him.
"What do you think, big brother?" Meeno asked while smiling, "Quite strategic, right?"
Dam turns around and stares at his brother with a cold demeanor.
"Come on. You used to smile a lot back in the old days." Meeno said while smiling.
Dam still remains mute while coldly staring at his brother.
"Yeah, a life time ago." Meeno said with a raised eyebrow while scratching the back of his head, "Things have changed for you ever since that incident, hasn't it?"
"What incident? What is he talking about?" Cloud asked.
"Five years ago, our former leader, Chief Dai lost his life." Rish said with a stern look while having his arms crossed, " And the people of the Kenar tribe believe that the person responsible for his death is Dam."
This revelation instantly left Cloud and Sting stunned.
"How is that possible?" Sting asked, "A Chief is elected based on being the strongest in the tribe. It would take someone of their caliber or above to even do such a thing.
Are you trying to tell us that Dam is powerful enough to kill a Chief? "
"Well, it  happened." Rish said, "And when it did, Dam ran away and escaped trial."
"So, that's what this is all about." Cloud said, "Meeno is trying to prove Dam is innocent."
"Yeah, he is." Rish replied.
Meanwhile, among the audience, Yagura recalls years ago as her and a black haired little Kenar boy were sitting on a grass and discussing with each other.
"So, it's true.The founders of Agaroth were really strong." The little boy said.
"Yes, they were, Dam." Yagura replied, "They were the ones that brought the first five major tribes of Agaroth which were the Dreygars, the Ripars, the Tenplars, the Kenars and the Graundars. The Ski Kipars and the Bi'krus were major tribes that came later.
The founders were so powerful that they almost wiped out the god race and the other races trembled before them but they weren't after ruling all races, they just wanted to send a clear message to anyone that dares threaten their nation.
They weren't dictators. They had so much power but they didn't allow themselves to become corrupted by their own power. They could have looked down and ruled non kan users with an iron fist but instead, they chose to unite the human race to stand and fight against other races that would dare threaten their safety and because of that, Agaroth evolved in civilization. It's  a shame that the founders vanished without a trace.
Ever since they disappeared, the other races that acquired kan began to wage war on us."
"Lady Yagura..." Dam called while facing the ground, "Do you think it's possible for me to escape my fate as a black ice user? Even the founder of the Kenar tribe almost got corrupted by the black ice until he stopped using it."
"People fall in two categories of fate." Yagura said, "There are those who their fate has been decided for and there are those who make their own fate. Which one do you fall under?
My husband Dai, chose to adopt you, regardless of what you are and what others think. Are you going to disappoint him or are you going to break that chain?"
"I won't let you down or your husband down, lady Yagura." Dam said.
"I'm glad to hear it." Yagura said while smiling with her eyes closed, "Oh and please, you can call me mother, likewise my husband, you can call him father. We're your family now."
  Hearing this, Dam smiles and hugs Yagura.
After recalling that moment, Yagura clenched her fists while staring down at the arena.
Back at the arena, Meeno and Dam were still staring at each other from afar.
"What? Got nothing to say?" Meeno asked with a smirk, "You went missing for a long time and when you finally made your appearance at the Pilgrim academy, you wouldn't even speak to me, your little brother."
Dam still remains mute while still staring at Meeno with a cold demeanor."
"Alright then. I guess I'll ask." Meeno said while smiling, "Dam, were you the one that killed our father?"
Dam, however, ignores the question and continues staring at Meeno.
"Come on, big brother!" Meeno said, "With this answer, we can decide if you are guilty or not."
"What if i don't want to answer?" Dam asked.
"Then I'll have to use force." Meeno said.
"You're funny." Dam said.
"You wanna bet?!" Meeno  asked as he quickly sends a flood of red ice towards Dam with a forward swipe of his arm.
With a single stare from Dam, the red ice suddenly halts, turns black and shatters, sending black ice shrapnels towards Meeno, piercing and grazing his body despite him setting his guard against the attack.
"Dam doesn't learn, does he?" A woman asked within herself.
"You're repeating the same mistake, big brother." Meeno said while smirking, "It's only a-"
Meeno suddenly falls on his knees and began to vomit, catching majority of the audience off guard.
"What in the..?" Meeno asked within himself.
"Don't get too full of yourself." Dam said while staring down at his brother, "Since your ice only gets stronger with you bleeding, i infected your blood with my black ice.
  The infection will spread each time you try to use your red ice and will spread faster if you try any big move with your red ice. Now, with that being said, tell me, Meeno, what will you do next?"
  Meeno coughs out a bit and advances towards Dam at high speed to punch him but Dam easily evades. Meeno tries several attempts to punch and kick Dam but Dam easily blocks and evades them all.
"Using physical attacks, huh?" Dam asked while blocking and evading Meeno's hits.
Dam appears behind Meeno and lands a backfist on him which sent him roughly tumbling on the ground. Meeno stabilizes himself with his hands but noted himself to be bleeding on his lips.
"Go ahead. Feel free to use your ice." Dam said, "In the end, it doesn't matter what you throw at me."
"Woah! Dam is showing the older brother superiority here!" Trengal said, "He's made it clear that no matter what Meeno does, it will never be enough!! Can Meeno defy that or will he bend to it?!!"
At the teachers center as Zotek, Schroeder and Leorona were sitting together, Leorona's eyes rolls towards Schroeder ( whose arms happened to be crossed during the incident) .
"Hey..." Leorona said.
"What?" Schroeder asked.
"How're you feeling?" Leorona asked.
"I'm doing great." Schroeder replied, "And if it's concerning the current Zera incident, I've gotten over it. After all, this isn't the first time she has tried to kill me."
"Oh. That's great!" Leorona said with a slight smile, "I'm just glad tha-"
"I'm calling off the wedding." Schroeder cuts in.
"Huh?" Leorona asked in a confused manner.
Schroeder lets out a deep sigh with his eyes closed.
"I've given it some thoughts and to be honest, I'm not sure i can continue with this anymore. Granted, this Kaijira incident was on me but what about the other times?
I remember when we were supposed to have a simple spar but she ended up breaking half of my bones. I also remember how she almost turned me to glass when she used her beast soul: phoenix mode. Oh, let's not forget when she tried to drop me into a blue lava.
All the years I've stayed with her, there has barely been a time when she hasn't tried to kill me and I'm sick of it. Warriors are meant to deal with life and death situations when engaging in battle but I'm not prepared to deal with a life and death situation with my own wife.
Sorry, Leorona, but the wedding is cancelled."
"So you're really going through with it, huh?" Leorona asked while facing the ground, "Well, i can't say i blame you. I completely understand."
  Hearing this, Schroeder's eyes rolls towards Leorona.
"Dealing with Zera can be taxing and extremely vexing most of the time." Leorona said, "She's wild, she's crazy, she's fiesty, she's dangerous, she's devious, you name it. She's so many things that makes her... Zera.
But i can't forget the first time i saw her look at you, i could tell how far the both of you would get and also the dangers in the both of you staying together.
Schroeder, do you remember when you first met her? You talked about how injured she was and how you helped her... Though she ended up biting your arm because she thought you were trying to attack her but eventually she got to learn that you meant her no harm.
The thing is, i remember everything. All those moments i watched between you and Zera. Do you remember when we were younger... When we were training to become Pilgrims? I remember how  Zera had to gather enough courage to even meet you at your room and give you flowers but yet, she didn't have enough courage to tell you how she felt about you. It was so embarrassing but yet, i felt happy for her.
Do you also remember what Zera told you? Your wedding will be a beautiful wedding but the y is silent? I remember all those wonderful moments that got me excited for your wedding with her."
  Leorona exhales with her eyes closed.
"Schroeder, i can't tell you not to marry Zera and i can't tell you to marry her but whatever your decision is, i hope you make the right one."
  After hearing her out, Schroeder smiles at her and nods his head.
"He's still standing?" Zotek asked while facing the arena.
Back at the arena, Meeno stood on his feet while breathing heavily and clutching his arm.
"So you still want to continue, huh?" Dam asked.
"This fight... Is far from over." Meeno said, "I'm not giving up until i get what i want from you."
"Is that so?" Dam asked.
"Did you do it?" Meeno asked, "Did you kill father or not?"
Dam ignores Meeno's question again and continues staring at him which quickly led Meeno to frustration.
"Answer the question, damn it!!" Meeno said, "This is more serious than you think!!"
"I'm aware of how serious this is but i just don't care." Dam said.
"Are you kidding me?!" Meeno asked, "This is our father we are talking about! And plus what kind of brother would i be if i can't prove my older brother's innocence?!"
"Foster older brother." Dam said.
"It doesn't matter!" Meeno said, "You're still my brother no matter what! You're the one i grew with. You were always there for me and you're the one that taught me to stand up for myself.
Do you remember, big brother? Do you remember when you saved me from the others that ambushed me?"
A flashback occurs as little Dam was standing in front of little Meeno (who happened to be battered) against multiple Kenar children.
"Move out of the way, accursed one." A Kenar female said.
"Why don't you make me." Dam said while emitting a black aura.
"Don't act so tough!" The Kenar female said while emitting a menacing aura.
"I'll break you in half!!" The Kenar female said as she advanced towards Dam with her fist set in a position to punch him.
Minutes later, all the children laid on the ground, battered while Dam stood in front of them and glared down at one of the them.
"Scram." Dam said.
"Let's get out of here!" A male Kenar child said as he stood up to run.
  At that moment, all of the Kenar children stood up and ran away. As they were running, a Kenar female (the one that charged at Dam to punch him) stops and turns around with a glare.
"Freak!" The Kenar female said, "Don't think because you're adopted by Chief Dai that you are one of us. You are and will forever remain the demon of the Kenar tribe."
The female quickly turns her back and resumes running away.
As the female ran away, Meeno stood on his feet and walked towards Dam from behind while clutching his arm.
"Hey, are you alright?" Meeno asked.
"Yeah, i'm doing great." Dam said as he turned towards Meeno, "How are you feeling?"
Meeno smiled at Dam and quickly ran to embrace him,which caught Dam by surprise.
"Because of you, I'm feeling great." Meeno said while still smiling and hugging Dam, "Thank you, big brother."
Initially shocked at Meeno's sudden reaction, Dam smiled warmly with his eyes closed and embraced Meeno back.
After recalling that moment, Meeno smiled.
"Big brother, do you remember the promise we made to each other?" Meeno asked as he stretched out his fist, "That no matter what happens, we'll always be inseparable. No matter what life throws at us, our bond will never be broken!"
"That was a long time ago." Dam said.
"It doesn't matter!" Meeno replied while smiling, "Our people branded you as an evil being without understanding the type of person you are. They judged you because of your Kan, not your personality but i didn't! Mother didn't and father didn't as well!
Blood may be thicker than water but bond is stronger than blood! Big brother, i know you didn't do it. I know you didn't kill father. I know you were falsely accused because they wanted to get rid of you!
When Zera announced your name at the Pilgrim academy and i saw your face, i was so relieved. I wanted to hug you, i wanted to speak to you but seeing your behavior towards others, i knew i couldn't. So i had to work hard to get to where i am as an A ranked candidate, hoping to cross paths with you at the tournament, so i can finally get the chance to prove that you are innocent.
Now go ahead! Go ahead big brother and prove to them that you're innocent! Tell them that you didn't kill father! All you need to do is say it! Go on! Tell them!"
"You're so naive." Dam said, "The one responsible for the death of Chief Dai is me."
This revelation quickly left Meeno and majority of the audience in shock.