Oath [BL; Book 2]

77

Xiao struck first driving his spear into the ground as Verdis had dodged. Aether came around blocking his tail from hitting Xiao, the impact nearly broke his sword in two.

"How is he getting stronger?!" Aether wondered not finding anything that could tell him so. Xiao's movements were so fast he could barely keep up, the battle was persisting without him, because of his failure to keep up Xiao had sustained injuries that could have been avoided. "Why-how are they.. so fast??" He blocked another incoming attack and swung his sword only to be caught off guard. "Gah!!"

One of the tails had snuck behind and stabbed Aether through the side, it ripped itself out leaving a small puncture wound that now forced him down.

"It hurts!" The wound stung.

"Aether!" Xiao was distracted lowering his guard only to put it right back up when Verdis tried to take advantage.

"HeheHAHAHAA!" His psychotic laughter, his crazed grin, "Don't look away from me!!" His very speech changed along with his voice. His victims became the body he wore, the voices he used. "I'LL KILL YOU!! YOU RUINED HIM!"

"Xiao.." Aether breathed trying to stop the bleeding. "No!" He didn't care for himself running in to stop another attack. Using his sword he reflected it, the claw from the shadow grabbed Aether instead by the arm and stole him into a dark portal.

"Aether!!"

Within this coldness there was nothing. Aether floated there, lost confused. He looked down at his wound seeing the blood floated away from him. "Huh?" Looking up he saw the entrance from which he was dragged and then looked down seeing nothing as he sank further into the depth. "Where did he take me? What is this place?"

It was cold the emptiness he felt here. There was a strong yearning, he could feel it. Aether gasped feeling the warmth in him. A light began to glow and his hair with it. The center piece of his armor flushed from the hydro element it had to a white element then to a celestial one filled with glistening stars. It was stunning as he felt the strange energy flow through him. From the light he gave off small creatures hissed being burned.

With this new power he knew what he had to do. Wherever it came from it was enough to at least stop Verdis.

Xiao ducked and went for his feet but Verdis jumped. From the depths of his own shadow he brought out a spear of his own. The blades clashed against each other echoing.

"I had him!" Verdis hissed, "He was within my grasp but you!!" He shoved Xiao back swuning his spear.  In a swift turn Xiao jumped and came down stabbing into the ground. The spears erupted but Verdis took little damage having prepared for it.

The two were neck and neck. Xianyun came in to help but she was blown away by the force of his strike. "!" Xiao was to help her but his attention was quickly taken when Verdis shot his spear his way. Moving quickly he dodged it. There was no time to help the others nor let his guard down for even a moment.

However, the tides would turn as from behind he saw Aether. "For Feiyu!" He drew his sword, but it was different. The sword was forged from an unknown element, one much like Feiyu's. Verdis' reaction was slow allowing Aether to cut off one of his arms.

"AAAAH!!" This did ample damage as he couldn't heal anymore.

"For his wife!" Another slash forced Verdis forward dropping him to his knees. Aether's rage was seen within the blade. Xiao was astounded.

"You traitor!!" Verdis rose again consuming his minions to regain some power. Knocking Aether back he fended off both of them but barely now. Aether could keep up a little better, able to see Verdis' movements much easier he blocked them from hitting Xiao and himself.