Altiris Knights:The Fall

Chapter 2:Attack

Reaza's red energy blade moved swiftly, blocking Rokal's saber staff as it descended in a high arc. She leapt away as an ice spear was launched at her. Rokal launched two more, but Reaza melted them with fire. Rokal unleashed a rain of ice shards, but she attacked his mind, distracting him, and the ice melted into harmless droplets of water. Her mind wielding powers had laid dormant within her, until a year ago. Since then, she tested them, her skills improving with each use. She had quickly surpassed her instructor. Few had managed to resist her suppression abilities.

She retaliated, unleashing a flurry of attacks. Rokal blocked and struck back, but she evaded. Thus, they continued, blocking and countering each other's strikes, until they were both drenched in sweat.

Rokal grunted, and attacked again. She blocked his attacks with her energy blade, and pushed him away with a slam kick to the gut. Pillars of fire erupted around him, distracting him. Before he could recover, Reaza closed the distance between them and stopped her weapon inches away from his neck.

"Better luck next time", she said, extinguishing the flames, and releasing his mind. "I suppose. Come on, we should head back", Rokal replied. He wielded ice, molding it into a slide. They slid down from the hill, back to the academy. Rokal slowed them, and they came to a halt a few meters away from the building.

...

Virneas, Ilturis, Unzelar and Eruma moved through the abandoned ship, their weapons at the ready. "This isn't good. We should have seen at least one survivor by now", Ilturis said. "I don't like it either" Unzelar replied, adjusting his grip on his spear. "Wait. Did you hear that?" Eruma asked. "What are you- Virneas pushed them out of the way of a projectile, and cut through another with his daggers. Eruma released ice shards, intercepting more such projectiles, and Unzelar conjured a ball of air around them, protecting them from those Eruma missed. Screeches of anger sounded, as creatures surrounded them.

"I can not keep them away for much longer! There are too many of them!" Unzelar yelled over the noise. They moved out, back to the hangar. Suddenly, the metal under their feet groaned, and vines burst through, entangling Unzelar and Eruma. Another vine pinned Ilturis to a wall, from where a fourth burst through his neck. He convulsed once, and then was still. "NO!" Virneas cut through several vines around Unzelar and ripped off another. Unzelar took care of the rest. "Look out!" Eruma yelled. They turned, and barely managed to duck, as another projectile passed inches away from them, and struck Eruma, bursting upon contact, and sending thick, foul smelling green liquid down her throat.

They stared in horror, as she transformed, her skin turning green, spores and growth covering it. Her hands changed into claws, and she emitted a loud screech, not unlike those of the creatures.

She hissed, and wielded earth, through which more vines burst, threatening to envelop them in their deadly embrace. Unzelar cut a few with his spear, and struck her with a blast of air. Virneas protected his back. "We can not stay here", Unzelar said. "Couldn't agree more", Virneas replied, as the two rushed past the still stunned Eruma, back to their ship. Before they could enter, vines burst through the floor around them, and through the ship, destroying it. More projectiles flew at them, and the creatures flooded them. They killed a few, but the rest closed the distance and incapacitated them. As the green liquid poured down their throats, their sight dimmed, and they saw no more.

...

Kirtan tried again, but neither Eruma, Virneas, Unzelar or Ilturis responded. He closed his eyes, and searched for the earth energy of Eruma. All element wielders had the ability to sense those of the same element, but earth and mind wielders even more so than others.

Kirtan searched for the energy, but with no success. As he was about to pull away, he sensed a weak flicker. He focused on it, concentrating all of his power on the flicker, but it was hidden before he could pinpoint it. He tried to find it again, but it was completely hidden now. His last link to them had been severed.