Exodus Files: Gates of Hell.

Chapter 22: Brothers and Sisters.

"I WILL AVENGE HIS DEATH!!!" Archobos cried as he delivered his punch. The attack connects. Niv flew directly to the concrete wall and crashed right through it. The Oni's body rolled a couple of times before hitting a huge boulder outside the castle's courtyard. Archobos walked through the big hole in the wall, cracking his fingers while giving a menacing smirk on his face. "Look at you, fiend, you are as useless as a broken toy..." Archobos said as two discs came out of his greaves. The discs then floated. Archobos stepped on them and started to hover. "Taste speed at its finest!" Archobos shouted before running towards the fallen demon.

Niv rose from the rubble and started throwing large pieces of rocks to the charging Trygerstrife. Archobos was able to dodge all of it like flashes of light. The White Tiger swiftly managed to get close to the Oni and delivered a kick. Niv was able to duck. The disc buzzed like a saw. Niv was about to counter but in his surprise, Archobos was out of sight. All of sudden, Archobos reappeared behind Niv, successfully hitting the Pinkdevil in the back. The discs cut Niv's flesh and it got him real bad. Niv again tried to attack but the opponent is simply faster than him. The Trygerstrife clenched the Oni's knuckles with ease.

Archobos laughed at the wounded Demon "Look how silly you are right now, Nivrae. Just like a wounded, helpless cat." he then punched Niv's face, throwing the Pinkdevil across the field. Archobos ran and circled the Oni. The Trygerstryfe's laughter echoed across the field. The Oni was pinned down in the middle of a vortex. Niv got really annoyed "WELL, I AM THE CAT WHO GETS BACK AT YAH!" and attempted to kick the speedster. The merger was quick, Archobos then snapped his fingers. To Niv, it was a familiar pitch black scenario, and just like before, it felt like something humongous hit him. The next thing he know, he is already flying in the air, beaten up.

As he drops on the ground, Niv realized something. Archobos snapped his fingers, and after that it all became dark. Archobos boasted "Can't believe that I'm much faster than you?"

Just like a dream, the whole place was eaten by darkness. A familiar laugh echoed. Yes, it is the Hallowsoul. The clown said "Wow...I never thought that you could be this slow..." Niv looked angrily at the clown and replied "DARN! I AM THE FASTEST DEMON!" Hallowsoul laughed like a lunatic and continued "No, you dummy, I am referring to your ability to learn and observed." the jester then snapped his fingers and Niv is back to the battlefield. Archobos was about to make a hit and cut the Oni's torso but Niv rolled out of the way in time to avoid another fatal blow.

"Oh, snap! He's right" Niv mumbled as he knelt down. He then looked up at his adversary and gave him a smile. "I gotcha now."

Sora and Zai were cornered by the Aki mannequins. The two girls were fighting off their way to Shilu's casket but the dolls were really tough. The young mage was trying her best to fend off the mannequins but she is physically weak. Although the Wings of Zelodia is a big help, the huge wave of opponents and small space gives her difficulty in defeating them all. Zai was also exhausted, slashing and firing off wind gusts at the lifeless dolls.

The two unleashed their powers: Zai advanced to Tenshi state while Sora's aura boosted up tenfolds, making her skin glow and her hair turn to white. This time their attacks were stronger, destroying several Mannequins in one strike. But nevertheless the mannequins are really greater in number, although in terms of strength they are like mere humans, but their combined force made them unstoppable.

"These waves of dolls are endless, we're surely won't make it..." Zai lost her will to fight but Sora grabbed her arm and assisted her to stand up "We've made this far. Do not give up." Sora encouraged her friend. "Try to hpld them up while I try to cast a spell." Sora said while she pulls of an Ofuda and chanted a spell. Zai nodded. She then ran her hand over her Sword and "Blessed" it. The young Tenshi attacked the mannequins. Sora shouted at Zai "Get out of the way!" as Zai duck, Sora released her spell "Wind struck Missiles!!!" like small rockets, wind projectiles scattered across the whole room, hitting every single Aki doll, sending them all down.

Sora and Zai stood in the middle of the room, trying to catch their breaths while looking at the mess they've done. "Glad that was over." Zai exclaimed as she put her sword back to its scabbard. Sora was about to take a step towards her sister's casket when all of a sudden a doll grabbed her foot. The two girls were shocked. They are cornered. The dolls reanimated from the dead and are starting to build a wall. Sora hugged Zai. "Somebody help us!" Sora cried out loud. Like and answered prayer a strong gust of wind destroyed the wall and blew the mannequins out, falling to their immediate end.

As Sora opens her eyes, she was surprised to see her foster father, Arlaz. He came to the rescue and saved the lives of the girls. Sora ran to the old Elf and gave him a warm hug. "I know that you'll still go here even if it'll be very dangerous, I am sorry that I ignored your request to save your sister." Arlaz said as he pats the girls head. Sora shook her head and replied "It's okay, Sensei, what really matters now is that we're all together now."

The three removed Shilu from her casket. They lay Shilu down on the ground as Arlaz tried to heal her. The weak Santelmo opens her eyes and immediately saw Sora. Shilu hugged her sister tightly and bursts into tears. "Thank goodness, you're safe!" Shilu said as her embrace gets tighter, Sora hugged her sister back and said "Now we can live happily again sister." Arlaz joined his students and put his arms around the two mages. Zai was standing in the corner, smiling while a tear drops from her eye.

Back at the courtyard, Niv was holding his left arm that is filled with cuts and bruises. He was huffing, totally exhausted and jacked up. Archobos was still in his aggressive and arrogant mood. He cocked his right gauntlet like loading up a shotgun. The Furious White Tiger ridiculed Niv again "Whew, you've total gone nuts, Nivrae Lacronite. What are you trying to prove this time? That you're so strong that you can stop my Wind Cannon Punch and match my speed?" The Oni spits blood and replied "Well, to be honest...No. I know that for a fact. I am just trying to foil your trick. You're not fast...You just stop time and beat the hell outta me..." Niv then raised his hand and challenged Archobos to come forward.

Archobos was ticked off. He lost his temper and charged. Niv closed his eyes and concentrated. As Archobos punched the Oni, Niv opened his eyes and was able to catch the Trygerstryfe's fist. As he expected, Archobos was about to snap his fingers in his left hand. Lightning surged in Niv's arms as he crushed Archobos' fingers. The merger roared in pain. Archobos tried to attack with his right arm, but Niv blocked it with his wounded left arm. It was a trick shot. Archobos' gauntlet was charged. As the attack connect, the gauntlet released its wind charge, blowing off Niv's left arm. The Oni backed away as he tried to stop his wounds from bleeding. Archobos laughed maniacally "HAHA, FOOL! I CAUGHT YOU OFF GUARD!"

For a moment, Niv silently stood there as he looked at his left hand on the ground. He concentrates the lightning surge to his fingers and ran it across his ruined arm, stopping it from bleeding. He replied to Archobos "Yeah, given. But You'll have a hard time now snapping your fingers..." The Trygerstryfe realized it, cold chills ran to his spine. Archobos looked at his left hand, all his fingers are dislocated. The Pinkdevil then continued "You've trained your right arm to do more of the attacks, while the left was for your time-stopping technique, am I correct?"

The battlefield was silent. Both Niv and Archobos stared at each other. Quiet. Deep inside Archobos, he recalls his brother's face. All of a sudden, a loud explosion boomed. It was coming from above. As the debris fall, Archobos made his escape. Niv was about to follow him but was blocked by one of the large chunk of debris. Niv was left there. The Pinkdevil picked his left arm and walked inside the castle. As he searched for Pordoj, the Blacksmith is already gone. He found himself all alone.