Tales Of Elementia The Astral Return

Chapter 17: The Stronghold Battle

The doors slowly swung open as Blaze walked in with everyone behind him. The entrance lead to a room with two floors. The first had three hallways and the second hand two. "Shit... where are they..."
"Second floor, first hallway, middle door."
Blaze looked at Marie. "How-"
"I can hear them."
Blaze nodded as he quickly rushed up the stairs and into the hallway. "Something's not right, where are the guards?" Asked Rider.
"They rushed out to protect the stronghold... and clearly didn't last long." Said Nyli. Blaze slid to a door and opened it. Inside was a large battle arena. This was the sparing room. Blaze practiced in it when he was young. At the end of the room, Pheno and Ezra stood. "Hmm... I thought you would have made it a fair fight Blaze... this is clearly not enough..." Blaze glared when he felt Aqua walk forward. "Ezra... I trusted you..."
"You should have... You could have walked away and we would have spared you..."
Aqua snarled as she spun her staff. Pheno chuckles as he suddenly pulls out his sword. Blaze stood in front of Aqua. "I know its really you Dindari!" Others turned to Blaze in confusion before Pheno starts laughing. "Oh really now! Who told you that?!"
"We did." Kovu and Akari slowly walked in front of Blaze. Kovu had a spear drawn and Akari had a claymore. Pheno's face changed from cocky to a glare. "I see... No point in hiding it anymore..." A black mist suddenly formed in front of Pheno and Ezra. Out came a black and grey wolf. Her hair was long and purple at the ends. Her clothing was a like a cloak that is decked with a purple vein design. She carried a sword. This must be Dindari.
"Long time no see, comrades."
Kovu's eyes seemed to fill with hate and Akari's with anger.
"You are no longer a friend of ours you cock sucking traitor."
Dindari rolled her eyes as she twirled his blades. "You two... finish the others."
Ezra and Pheno immediately rushed past them. Pheno charged at Blaze, sword ready to strike. Blaze quickly countered, swinging one of his swords and knocking it away. Blaze swung his other in an attempt to hit Pheno when the blades was stopped. Pheno held his hand by it. A black mist surrounded the blade. Blaze tried to pull it away but Pheno kicked him, sending him back. The others yelled as they all charged. Blaze fell back when he smacked his head on the ground. Everything spun for a good minute. "Shit... am I concussed?" He quickly sat up when he saw he wasn't in the castle anymore. He was in a dark void. The ground beneath him was a light blue circle.
"Blaze..."
Blaze looked around. The voice was soft and masculine. "Hello?"
"Channel your true strength. Hino fire is rare for a reason... it boosts the user's limits. The users were used as warriors for the gods. You yourself are already strong enough to survive against one. Channel it. Anger may be helpful to use when releasing power, but determination is the best form to use. It is no hate, no pain, just willpower. Fight Blaze... Fight!"
"Wait! Who are you!?"
Blaze immediately opened his eyes. The others yells had become more quiet. He looked up and saw multiple of his friends on the ground. Adieu lay face down, his leg broken. Bio had blood pouring from her shoulder. Mazzy's arms were severely dislocated. Marie had black spikes piercing her body. Stryke lay on Miso, both bleeding from the head. Roushe was laying on the side, holes in his shoulders and chest. Aqua was laying on her back, holding her hand on her chest as her water flowed into her wounds. Blaze could sense they were all alive but very injured. He looked up to see Kovu and Akari fighting Dindari, and Nyli, Damian, Pheramone, Rider, Roren, Kendal, Tenel, Okami, and Keiko fighting Pheno and Ezra. Damian charged up a lightning bolt from his hand when suddenly-
SHNNK
Damian yelled in pain as his arm came off. "DAMIAN!" Yelled Kendal when he was smacked by a large shadow blade, lashing his chest. He flung into Damian and the tumbled to the ground.
"Jesus fuck." Said Tenel.
"TENEL MOVE!!" Keiko pushed Tenel aside as a long ice pillar flung into her. The ice smashed her into the wall, crushing her. Blood and bones splattered all around the area of damage. "KEIKO!!!" Okami yelled. Tenel stared in horror as he watched the remaining of his friend splatter on the ground. Tenel turned to Ezra, his eyes full of hate. He quickly walked over to Keiko's remains and grabbed her claymore. It was jagged on the blade. "So... Thats how its gonna be..." Tenel grabbed a chain and pulled it. The claymore revved up like a chainsaw. "THEN LETS FUCKING GO!!!" He quickly charged forward, holding the chainsaw claymore in his hands. Ezra aimed his hand up as ice shot out of it. Tenel moved his hand in an upward as a ramp if ice formed, blocking Ezra's ice beam. Tenel slid up the ramp and jumped. He yelled as he swung the claymore down. Ezra yelled in pain as Tenel slashed his arm off. "I've had... ENOUGH!" Ezra's arm grew back as ice, and he grabbed Tenel's face. He reared back and slammed him into the wall of ice. Tenel flew back, slamming into Okami, knocked out cold. Okami fell back, holding Tenel. He tried to stand but Ezra suddenly blasted them with an ice beam, freezing them to the ground.
Move Blaze... MOVE!!!
Blaze tried to move but he couldn't. His heart was racing, his head hurt, fear was crawling up him. Was this how they loose?
"Now!" Blaze looked up as he saw Nyli, Roren, and Pheramone fire beams at Pheno and Ezra. Each beam correspondingto their elements of water, sonar, and poison. Both Ezra and Pheno yelled in pain as they were hit. Blaze then spotted something above them. Dindari was floating and her eyes glowing. "GET BACK!!" Yelled Akari. Immediately, Dindari released a large set of black mist tentacles, smashing into Nyli, Pheramone, and Roren. The all flew into the wall and fell unconscious. Only Rider was left. He shook as he held his katana, but his eyes were fixed on Pheno and Ezra.
No... He'll be killed!
For fuck sake! Help him!
Blaze tried to move but his body wouldn't let him. Rider charged forward, yelling in anger. "RIDER NO-"
Suddenly, a beam of light struck Dindari, knocking him to the wall. The beam suddenly hit Ezra and then Pheno. Pheno yelled in pain and fell to the ground, violently shaking. Dindari turned. "WHO DARES TO ATTACK A GOD!!!" Blaze turned as he small pile of dust form around a figure. "Kovu?"
"N-No-" Blaze turned and saw Kovu and Akari laying on the ground, injured. "Thats not me."
"Then who-"
"Light Type Apollo..." Spoke an unfamiliar voice. "Rays of Dawn!" The figure jumped up and held out their hand. Multiple sun rays blasted onto Dindari. Dindari flew back and landed on the ground. Blaze looked up at the figure.
"I will make sure you never hurt my friends again!"
Blaze stared in shock as he saw Roushe, standing there, his hand glowing.
"Roushe!?!?! You can speak?!" Blaze said stunned. Roushe looked at Blaze. "No... this is just an ability with any sun type element..." His mouth didn't move when he spoke.
"Of course... I made light type for those who were born with handicaps. Deaf people could hear vibrations, Blind could see the outsides of people... and mute could speak through their minds..." Blaze looked back at Roushe. Roushe turned to Dindari who was slowly standing up. She laughed softly before bursting out in a psychotic laugh. "Oh you fucked up now!"
"Rider! MOVE!" Blaze yelled. Rider immediately rushed towards Blaze and grabbed his arm, pulling him up. Dindari held out her hands before firing a black and purple beam. Roushe quickly fired a light beam back. The beams immediately connected and burst. The beams swayed back and forth as both Dindari and Roushe held their ground. Yet Roushe seemed to be growing weak, and the beam was swaying more towards him. "ROUSHE! NO!" Blaze immediately held out his hand and shot a fireball at the beams. On impact, it exploded. Everything went white in Blaze's vision and his ears rang. He felt himself hit the ground from the shockwave. Slowly, the ringing stopped and Blaze's vision cleared. He could see the sky. The sky was a dark purple that was starting to turn blue. Dawn was close. Blaze slowly sat up and looked around. The room they were in had its walls and roof blown off. Now it was the sky and the city surrounding them. Blaze could see all his friends unconscious laying on or against rubble. Blaze then heard a chuckle. He turned and saw Dindari kick Pheno to the side. "You're useless..." She then slowed approached Roushe who was trapped under the rubble. He struggled, trying to get out. "And you... I'm gonna make you suffer for eternity!" A long shadow tentacle came from her back.
Blaze felt as if his heart stopped for a second. No... I won't let him! Blaze pushed off the ground with his feet, he drew his swords. The world moved in slow motion as he felt his blade slash through the tentacle. Blaze turned as he felt himself slide to a stop. Dindari slowly looked at Blaze. Blaze glared, his teeth bared. "You... will... not... TOUCH HIM!!!" Blaze quickly dashed forward and slashed at Dindari. Dindari blocked the attack with her blade and lunged at him with a stab. Blaze weaved around it and slashed again. Dindari bent backwards as the blade barely missed his muzzle. "How are you moving so-" Blaze ignited his other sword in fire and slashed Dindari. Dindari flipped back and landed on his feet. Blaze charged forward again and threw his sword. The sword stabbed into Dindari's shoulder. Blaze yelled as he pulled the cable towards him, yanking Dindari towards him. Din tried or block but Blaze jumped and spun sideways mid-air, slashing Dindari with the blades and throwing him. Blaze landed and twirled his sword. "Fire Type Hino." He made an L with his arm, holding the sword horizontally in the sky, and holding the other underneath it. He slowly pulled them simultaneously. "BLAZING CURRENT!!!" Blaze moved his blades toward, dancing with them as the red, orange, and yellow aura followed them. Blaze then charged forward. Azar and Inigo formed next to him, running by his side. Blaze let out a loud yell as he slashed upwards in the air. Dindari was hit by the aura and launched in the air. Blaze jumped, followed by Azar and Inigo. Both followed the aura as it weaved back and forth, striking Dindari multiple times. Suddenly Blaze slammed it down, hurling Dindari at the ground. Dindari slammed into the ground and Blaze landed. With one final yell, he dashed forward and slashed Dindari across the chest, striking him with his swords and aura. Blaze slid to a stop, breathing heavily. He felt like he was gonna pass out. He looked down at his body. Dripping with blood, he saw he was more injured than he thought.
"Blaze... Mortals... can't hurt gods..."
Blaze felt the fur raise from his neck.
"W-What... so... we lose either way!?"
"N-No... Just... How... did you make her bleed..?"
Blaze turned as he saw blood pouring from Dindari's slashes she received. Her blood was a sparkling gold and black. She slowly pressed her hand against it and looked at it. She immediately turned to Blaze. For once... her face wasn't psychotic... it was full of fear. "H-How! HOW!!!" Dindari turned, ran a few steps before disappearing in a cloud of black smoke. Blaze swayed his body. He felt like he couldn't stand. He collapsed to the ground as everything became dizzy. He then saw someone stand above him. He looked up to see Ezra, his face bloodied and filled with rage. "You ruined everything..." He raised his sword to slash into Blaze's neck. Blaze slowly closed his eyes as he heard something hit the sword.
"Touch him... and I'll rip your jugular out..."
And just like that... there was silence...