Arcanus

[15]

The room was empty, except for a lone figure sitting with his back facing them, half of his body dissolved, wreathed in black smoke.

"Welcome to my tower of evil,"

Katrina lunged forwards, her blades raised and ready to serve justice.

Hali stood, frozen. She dropped to her knees, her staff rolling out of her hands.

"K-Kakine." She gasped.

At once, the villain's arm that wasn't smoke shot out, and a red-orange cord shot out of his fingertips, binding Katrina's arms to her sides, and forcing her to drop her katanas.

"I advise none of you move," Kakine said, amusement in his tone. "Otherwise..."

He flexed his wrist, and Katrina held back a scream of pain as the bonds dug into her skin.

"Never met an opponent that could beat you before, have you, little miss assassin?"

Katrina gritted her teeth but said nothing.

"Let her go or I'll show you pain!" Mari shouted bravely.

"Yeah!" Everyone, including Hali and Katrina shouted.

Then all Hell broke loose.

Mari lunged forwards to attack Kakine, her broadsword obliterating everything in it's path.

Katrina broke free of her bonds in an impressive show of strength, and joined Mari in the fight.

Lis was chanting incantations that formed a blue warrior made of light that helped to attack Kakine.

And Hali stood behind them all, her skirt swaying the breeze caused by the commotion.

"Do you really think you can beat me!?" Kakine shouted gleefully over the noise. A staff made of black, withered wood appeared in his hand, and he closed his eyes.

Black and purple light burst from him, brighter than the day.

When it cleared, Kakine was whole.

Half of him was still the soldier, calm, masked emotions, and cruel thoughts.

The other half was no longer smoke and shadows. In it's place instead, was metal.

"Half of him.... A trained, powerful wizard. The other half, a robot!?"

Kakine pointed his finger at the group.

"Die!"