- Heaven's Last Breath -

Snake in the Grass

With a devastating crash, I felt myself hit the exterior of the dormant volcano. A large crater had been formed on the side of the mountain as I stood to my feet. A wide smile crept across my lips as I stretched out my arms. After cracking my knuckles, I looked up to the sky, seeing something closing in on me with blistering speed.

Then at once, I leapt into the air, meeting Death mid air. Now that we were airborne, I had the advantage and I knew exactly how to get back at the cloaked reaper for that attack.

Death raised his scythe to block but I was quick to react. With one swift motion, a rolling wind redirected me around to the cloaked reaper's back.

"Water seal: Limitless Waterfall!"

Stranded in the sky, Death had no chance to evade my counter attack. A roaring torrent of water was thurst into the cloaked reaper's back, sending him flying into the crater he had made for me.

But it didn't stop there. Death crashed through the mountain's side, a tunnel from the outside leading to the central chamber of the dormant volcano. I didn't hesitate to follow, rushing through the newly made tunnel.

Now stood on the inside of the mountain, Death and I found ourselves standing on the volcano's rocky core. The few remaining pockets of magma illuminated the interior with a faint, warm glow.

"You better not think shit's sweet just because you can't feel pain!"

The cloaked reaper looked up to me, a half smile on his face, "Ha! This is only the start Aaron! Don't get ahead of yourself!"

I mirrored my close friend's expression, lowering my stance as I readied myself for round two. With my left hand, I pushed forward, feeling a wave of fire materialise before me.

But Death wasn't going to sit by. He swung with his scythe, countering with a burning slash. The two attacks collided at the centre of the volcano, a cloud of smoke filling the area.

Then through the cloud, Death burst forward, his scythe at the ready. The blade's edge began glowing a fiery yellow, the cloaked reaper not letting up.

"Bennu's Sacred Flame!"

Within an instant, I felt myself wrapped in glowing yellow flames. I reacted quickly, not wanting my clothes to be burned away.

"Fire Seal: Flame Eater's Wrath!"

I opened my mouth wide, vaccuming the burning flames away. But it wasn't easy. Death's attack wasn't based on natural fire, meaning it took a lot from me to eat his attack.

I burped out a small smoke cloud, feeling the fire raging inside me. It would be subdued eventually. The only exception to eternal flames was that they couldn't burn forever when sealed away.

"That one's just for you Death!"

The cloaked reaper looked up to me, a half smile on his face. His scythe was raised by his side, no doubt scheming of another plan of attack.

I wasn't going to let him rest, ocean blue sparks jolting from my fists as I readied my counter. Death was ready too, lifting his scythe as he charged forward.

"Hold it there you too!"

---

- Ariel -

---

"Hey Jade, you can help me out you know?"

The noirette was no help as I almost dragged her all the way back to the place we had stayed the night before. Seeing my best friend wiped out after a few drinks was definitely disappointing but I guessed this was the reason Jade didn't drink often.