Helix

Chapter 19 - Ruby

I stood behind Toph. Even though it was the last match – supposedly the single most hyped and fast-paced battle of the academic year – I was strangely just standing by. A bypasser, a watcher.

Something felt off about him, like a dark veil was wrapped around him, cajoling him with darkness. It compelled me to place my hand on his shoulder before, and watching him from behind only confirmed that compulsion.

I couldn't see his eyes, but I felt it burn with anger and insanity. Instinctively, I stepped forward, extending my hands for comfort, but he was too quick and just lunged at Maverick and Cidris again.

They gritted their teeth to fend off Toph's attacks, but he just kept coming. It was as if his Skill stamina was endless; he called attack after attack, and sweat was pooling on Maverick's and Cidris's foreheads. Toph was a literal whirlwind now; with a Skill I had never even heard of, he transformed into a human whirlwind, hacking at everywhere mindlessly but rapidly.

"Toph!" I cried, but in the whirlwind, my voice was lost and even I couldn't hear myself. "Toph!" I yelled again, louder, but still unheard. My throat was parched and itchy, and I bit back a tear. I never realized it was so frustrating to not be able to get through to him.

Suddenly, Toph reeled back, but I didn't dare to believe it was because of me. True to my guess, he only stopped to do a greater attack.

Excruciatingly slowly, he pulled back Shadow, whose body was even blacker with the blood it absorbed. It looked like a black hole that sucked in all light. Toph slid his thumb across the sharp blade of Shadow, drawing a thin line of blood that disappeared into Shadow.

My heart threatened to leap out of my chest and I widened my eyes, not daring to miss a second. This was an entirely new attack that I was sure no one here had even heard of before. Because Skills were meant to be extended from the weapon. What Toph was doing was extending himself – his blood – to his weapon.

"Stop it!" I croaked. I bolted forward, but suddenly a wind picked up that pushed me away.

For a second, the entire arena was silent. Even Maverick and Cidris, whose tunics were now tattered and dyed with red. An indescribable sense of exhaustion leaked from their eyes, but they raised their axes anyway to brace for Toph's attack. "Pinpoint!" Maverick voiced, his eyes narrowing at the spaces around him.

Suddenly, Toph said in a low voice, "Surge."

Shadow blazed to life, illuminating with an iridescent purple glow that I didn't know weapons were capable of. But whatever it was, it didn't look good.

Toph moved.

Well, more like disappeared. He moved so quickly that all I felt was another gust of wind, and just as I registered that he was gone, his silhouette materialized in front of Maverick. Wham! Toph's Shadow was impressively stronger with Surge. Even though Pinpoint helped Maverick react quickly enough to block Toph with his axe, Shadow sliced right through his mace like it was cutting through butter. Luckily, Maverick jumped back, yet the tip of the sword still grazed Maverick's bangs. Small snippets of hair eddied in the air before circling down.

My paralysis disappeared. I suddenly realized that urgency of this problem, because Maverick was not going to be as lucky next time. If it continued, there was going to be real deaths today.

The wind dissipated. Before my legs wouldn't listen to me again, I sprinted forward, yelling, "Toph! Stop! Please!" I didn't know if my voice was heard, but for a split second, Toph looked up and locked eyes with me. His eyes were suddenly glowing red like the cranberry juice we drank last week. His mouth was open, but it just hung lifelessly, showing a few of his teeth. I gasped in horror. Like this, Toph looked like he was taken over by a spirit.