A Final Fantasy

Chapter 6: The Tempest's Edge

Glass Jensen fired the first shot, the sound echoing sharply through the wind as his bullet struck one of the Imperial swordsmen in the shoulder. The Imperial soldier staggered back, clutching his wound. In retaliation, the Imperial gunmen aimed their pistols at Glass and fired simultaneously. He felt a sharp pain in his side as one of the bullets found its mark. Glass ducked behind a nearby crate. He gritted his teeth, refusing to go down, and steadied himself against the barricade.

"Glass!" Otsubara shouted, but she had no time to reach him. Reno and Roxanne clashed with the uninjured swordsman, their blades meeting in a deadly dance. The pair moved quickly, skillfully avoiding the line of fire from the gunmen.

Meanwhile Otsubara faced the black ooze. It slithered toward her slowly, its toxic form undulating with menacing intent. She took a deep breath, her nine tails fanning out behind her as she prepared for the fight. With swift movements, she raised her pistol and fired upon the ooze. The bullet immediately stopped in the sludge and was absorbed.

The active Imperial swordsman attempted to slash at Otsubara but Roxanne was quick to block. She and the soldier clashed swords numerous times. Reno stepped in to aid and the pair opposed the swordsman once again who remained in opposition.

The black ooze started to bubble ferociously and let out a burst of black sludge that headed in the direction of Otsubara. She narrowly avoided the attack, and the sludge produced a hole in the side of the perimeter barrier. It sizzled upon impact.

One of the Imperial gunmen turned and aimed its pistol at Otsubara noticing that she was distracted. Before the gunman fired, Glass Jensen appeared from behind the crate and fired his pistol, the bullets from the tri-barrel meeting the gunman's breastplate. The Imperial staggered back before falling onto the deck. The other gunman met a similar fate as Otsubara fired and disabled the assailant.

Reno and Roxanne were in contact with the remaining active swordsman. The clash of steel rang out as their blades met, sparks flying with each strike. Reno's movements were swift and precise as he parried the swordsman's attacks while Roxanne moved in from the side, looking for an opening. The Imperial swordsman knew its opponents severely outnumbered him. Reno thrusted his swords into the swordsman's armor, eliminating his target.

The black ooze was the only remaining threat. With Glass injured, Reno and Roxanne occupied with an enemy of their own, it was mano a mano. The ooze slid towards Otsubara and lashed out with a whip of sludge. She parried to the side, but the ooze made a counterattack as it bubbled again and spat another acidic projectile at the kitsune. Again, Otsubara narrowly avoided it. She threw herself across the deck landing face first on the wood. The sludge was preparing for its next attack.

Summoning her strength, Otsubara quickly rose to her knees, her eyes blazing with determination. She extended her hands in front of her, and with a swift, practiced motion, she conjured flames from her hands that crackled in her palms, casting a warm, flickering glow across her face. With a powerful thrust, she hurled a ball of fire directly at the ooze. The ooze writhed and recoiled as the flames made contact. The acidic body of the ooze sizzled and bubbled under the intense heat and melted away leaving behind a pile of black residue.

Otsubara stood up, breathing heavily but victorious. Glass also stood up but clutched his side as he approached Reno and Roxanne. The deck of the Halcyon was now littered with the bodies of fallen soldiers.

Reno collapsed on the deck, breathing heavily. "We've done it."

Glass nodded and gave an "aye" of approval. Otsubara smiled, her eyes still reflecting the intensity of the flames she had conjured.