WOLF
I woke up early the next day. I checked on Aramis quickly. He was lying with his back to me, barely breathing. He must be having some dream to be sleeping so heavily. I checked my watch. 7.47. The others would wake up soon.
Wake up Cath
No. I'm busy.
With what?
Sleeping. I smiled as I remembered saying the same thing to her a few months ago in the tournament. I shifted to a crawl, grabbed my trench coat and unzipped the tent as quietly as possible. I crawled out, stood up and zipped the tent back up. Jet looked up at me, begging with his eyes for affection
"No" I said, turning away from him and heading towards City A.
Why do you hate the dog so much?
I don't hate him. Jet eats our food, drinks our water and Aramis loves him. If he dies, that will be a lot of wasted resources and tears
He's cute though Getaway replied. I smiled
Very true. As I walked, I thought about why there wasn't that many Shades around. Probably because our camp was about a 10 minute walk away from a huge cliff that looked over the city. It was probably difficult for Shades to get to. After 10 minutes of walking, the forest stopped suddenly on the edge of the cliff. I walked right to the very edge with my hands in my pockets and looked down. I was about 150 metres up. There was a tower about 10 metres away from where I was standing. The tower was about the same height as the cliff. I could jump that.
Ax.
I'll be fine. I replied to Getaway as I backed up a few meters. I readied myself for a second, tightened my grip on trench coat, then started sprinting back towards the edge. As soon as I reached the edge I kicked off the ground hard, then I was in the air. For a few seconds, I felt weightless. The wind rushed through my hair and the beast inside roared in pure exhilaration as I felt my eyes change colour to yellow. I landed on the roof of the tower with a roll and got up.
You enjoyed that Getaway said
Yeah I did
You do know that you had wings when you were in Black Rage against Fox right?
I don't remember. But I don't think I could keep that up for long enough to be useful in this state I replied
Because that makes sense.
I rolled my eyes at my sisters sarcasm, unfurled and threw my tench coat to rest on my shoulders, pulling up the collar to hide my scar, then walked to the corner of the tower. I lowered down to a squat and looked down into the streets below. Shades were covering almost every inch of the city below, lumbering aimlessly around.
You're not going down there are you? Getaway asked. I thought for a second, then replied
No. If I had Hakku and Surasshu then I probably would. But as I am now, it's better just to scout out the city. I replied. I was about to stand up and move on when I saw the Shades moving weirdly. It's almost like they were making way for something. Then I saw who. The Shades were making a loose circle, with about 5 metre radius. And in the middle of this circle was a 9 foot tall with a muscular figure. His face was covered by a black mask with a turquoise skull painted on it, eyes lit up turquoise too. His body was covered with a sleeveless light armour piece. Grim. He had his scythe in his right hand. My fists clenched.
Ax. I know you're angry but you have to scout the area. Do not engage. He was right underneath me now.
The only reason he'd be here is because he wants to kill someone.
Turn around. I repeat, do not engage. I got up and turned. There was a second tower right next to the one I was on. It was about 15 floors taller. I was thinking how to get up it when my instincts told me something wasn't right. I turned back to look at Grim. He was staring back at me. Without a word, he swiped his scythe at me. A crescent of some black substance, not unlike my Imparticles, flew at me. I jumped high as I could, the crescent flying underneath me, straight through the top of the taller tower that was next to the one I was standing on. The top slanted, then fell onto the tower I was standing on a few seconds ago, shattering all its windows. Then I realised how high I was above the ground. I started falling. I covered my legs in Full Metal to stop them from breaking as I rushed to meet the ground and put my arms through the sleeves of my trench coat. I landed hard, making a crater in the street. The Shades started to charge. Grim lifted his hand and they all stopped and resumed the place in the circle. He was gonna fight me one on one. Brilliant. I summoned some Imparticles into a tightly packed ball, about the size of a cricket ball. I threw it straight up, then willed for it to explode.
What was that?
A flare I replied, then looked back at Grim. All my instincts were showing danger. He looked back at me. For a few seconds, neither of us moved an inch, the only interrupting sound was that of the falling glass from the tower.
"Imparticle Wave!" I opened with, the wave of black surging towards Grim. He swiped it away with his left hand. Fuck.
"Repulse" he said. Suddenly his eyes turned a putrid green colour. A very faint dome the same green as his eyes rapidly expand out from him. As soon as the dome touched me, some unseen force sent me flying backwards down the street and into a brick wall at the end of it. I left a hole on impact. Ow. I got up immediately, then lifted my thumb to my mouth
You realise if you go into Blood Frenzy, you'll use up all the adrenaline in your body right? Getaway warned
Your point?
If you don't take him out in the time you're in it, you'll have no adrenaline for a few seconds. You'll feel tons more pain from his hits and you'll be exhausted.
Then I guess I'll have to take him out before it wears off I replied, then bit into the wound I had made the day before when I was fighting Raven and drinking the blood. The beast inside roared at the fact I was partially letting it out. Suddenly I felt my eyes turn ice blue as a sudden desire took over me. The desire for blood. Grims blood. A desire for revenge for the defeat last time. I was gonna rip this cunt apart piece by fucking piece. I sprinted straight at him. It would've been a smarter move to flank him but I wasn't think smart. And his evident surprise at my new speed was worth it.
"Wolf Punch!" I shouted. My fist smashed into his chest. He grunted. That's about it. Fucking prick! Without missing a second I followed up with"Tornado Kick!", my foot slamming into his left side. He didn't even Grunt that time. Shit! "Jaw Breaker!" I shouted, my fist going straight for his chin. He blocked the hit with the handle of his scythe. He then adjusted his grip on it, spun, and swung at me. I jumped just in time, landed, then jumped back again, swinging my right arm up shouting "Imparticle Arrows!" Four dagger shaped Imparticle formations flew at Grim. One swing of his scythe and he cut them all down. I hadn't done any damage to him so far. Fuck!
You don't stand a chance
Jeez thanks for the confidence Cath.
Hey sarcasm is my job. You focus on getting your ass kicked. I ran at Grim again. He swung his scythe and another black crescent came slicing towards me. I rolled out the way and used Imparticle Wave again. While he swiped it away, I sprinted round him to his back and used Mirage Punch. He just grunted again. In a flash he turned round and swiped at me with his scythe. I jumped high over it, kicking him in the face. Again, nothing. Arghhh!! He turned and back handed me with his left hand. I smashed into another wall. Fuck. He was smacking me around and I couldn't even make him move a step. I rolled aside as he swung at me with his scythe. Suddenly I started feeling weaker
Cath?
You're seconds away from your Blood Frenzy ending. Shit! I needed distance. Fast. I started running back up the street, away from Grim. I turned back to see him launch another black crescent.I tried to dodge but was too late. It glanced past me, slicing up my arm. Agh fuck! I stumbled, fell and rolled down the street. My arm had a huge cut in it. I got back up and looked up to see Grim there.
"Repulse" he said, his eyes turning green again as the dome expanded. No. I wasn't going to let him do that to me again. No fucking way. I tried to resist with all my will. Suddenly I felt my eyes change colour and another dome expanded out. Except this one was expanding from me and had a white colour. The two domes collided with great force. Grim seemed amused
"Ah so you have Influence too? Very interesting" I tried to reply but realised I was too exhausted to even speak. I just growled at him. The clash went on for a few more seconds, then the two domes faded. I could barely stand. I was panting hard. I just felt so weak. He was right fucking there. Come on.
Cath, convert all my energy from every else put it all in my right arm
Ax you know-
Cath now. I suddenly felt my exhaustion hit a new level. However my arm felt great.
"Full Metal Punch!" I shouted, covering my fist in Full Metal. My fist screamed towards Grims chest. Then he caught my fist. I looked at him in disbelief. Fuck. Grim delivered two quick punches to my chest and head, then spun and smashed me in the side with the handle of his scythe. I went flying through the wall of the tower I was standing on before the fight and landed hard on the floor. I heard cracks as I landed and coughed up blood. Fuck that shit hurt. Now that my adrenaline was gone. All my injuries started hurting more. The cut on my arm was bleeding hard and had a dull throbbing pain. My ribs were aching. Even my thumb was hurting from me biting it. I stayed down for a few seconds, lying on the ground screaming in pain, my heels digging into the ground. After a few seconds, I slowly got back to my feet. I felt as if I was going to fall again but I knew if I did, I wouldn't get back up
Your adrenaline levels will start rising in a few seconds just hold on Ax. I had never been so relieved. I felt so weak. I stumbled out of the hole I made. Grim looked at me
"You're a persistent one aren't you?"I suddenly felt the adrenaline flow through my body, making every cell of my body tingle. All the pain started to dull until I couldn't feel it anymore. My exhaustion was replaced new energy. I smiled.
"Persistent? You have no idea" I ran at him again. This time, stroking my necklace. Pink electricity surged through my palm. I ducked under another scythe swing. "Whispers Palm!" I shouted, placing my palm on his chest. Grim shuddered a bit. I retracted my palm.
"Open Palm" I said, before slamming my palm back into the same spot. This time, Grim grunted louder than before. I jumped back, then jumped up. "Dark World!" I shouted. The sphere in my palm was three metres in diameter. I threw it at Grim. It hit him in the weakened spot. Grim groaned and took a step back. I smiled. I made him take a step back. It was something. Grim winded up a scythe slash. Suddenly a black burst of fire smashed into his back. He grunted again and turned just in time for a bolt of electricity to hit him in the chest. He grunted again. A second later. Aramis and Raven were on either side of me
"We saw your flare" Aramis said
"Good" I replied "where's Angel?"
"Packing up the camp. She'll be here soon" Raven replied
"And Jet!" Aramis added. I smiled.
"Reckon we can take out this guy before they get here?" I asked, my right arm slowly getting covered in Full Metal
"You know what? Bet you we will" Aramis said, his right leg setting on Hellfire
"I'll take that bet. He is The Death after all" Raven replied, a tornado in her left hand and lightning sparking in her right. Grim looked at us, then grabbed his scythe in both his hands.
"This should be interesting" he said, his scythe surging with that black energy
"Come at me with all you've got!"
