The Forsaken Arts

Chapter 24: Outclassed

Not letting up, Naitosai continued his attack.

"I clearly underestimated you. You are skilled, there's no doubt about that. Nevertheless it won't be enough." Cheyk  said as he dodged away from his attacks.

"Only one way to find out!" he replied.

Cheyk cackled speaking, "Kentai said the same thing."

Naitosai stopped dead in his tracks, stunned by hearing the name Kentai.

"Naitosai what's wrong, what is it!?" Dai shouted while watching him drop his spear.

"Ken...Kentai? Kentai was the first Dragon Knight to reach the level of Dragoon. I've heard stories about him, I just never thought they were actually true." he uttered in disbelief.

Entertained by his expression, "I see you're familiar with the name, well let me tell you the part of the story you don't know." He paused as he pulled his sword from the ground, realizing that he now needed it. "I was the one who killed him!" Cheyk boasted.

The Legion and Naitosai didn't speak but probably had the same thought running through their minds. The foe who stood before them was the one to murder the first Dragoon.

Naitosai, relied on the story of Kentai ever since he was a little boy. He heard stories about how much of a strong yet humble and honorable man Kentai was. To hear that his childhood hero was struck down by this villain was hard for him accept.

Furious, he erupted in a whirlwind of rage as he rolled to retrieve his spear and charged blindly, lead only by instinct.

Cheyk manipulated the earth once more in an attempt to stop his advance, but Naitosai was far more agile than you'd expect from a spear wielding Dragon Knight. Dodging effortlessly and using the pillars to gain altitude, he jumped from the highest peak and threw his spear down at Cheyk's head.

At first he created an earthen wave and arched it over him for protection, deciding not to chance it, he rolled out of the way instead.

In hindsight he was glad that he did as Naitosai's spear shattered the construct and pierced the ground with thunderous force. The Legion and Cheyk looked on in disbelief as the debris fell.

"I know you're there, come out!" Cheyk screamed, losing his composure as he launched another wave of fire into the dusty cloud. Instead of going through the debris, Cheyk's jaw dropped as his attack began spinning rapidly in a circle.

"Naitosai!" Osyrus yelled out.

"He's fine." Dai insisted. A diamond in the rough. He thought as the debris cleared to reveal Naitosai unharmed and twirling his pole arm so fast that it actually caught the wave of fire in its cycle. Now ready to release it, Naitosai abruptly stopped the spin and pointed his spear at Cheyk, launching his attack back at him.

Cheyk stood in disgust over his opponents amazing skill. He reached out and caught the wave in his hand.

"Did you really think you would get me with my own..." The deciding moment came with Cheyk's arrogant mistake. In the second it took to look at the fire swirling in his fist, Naitosai had lunged and crushed his helm with a full swing.

The fight finally slowed down and for the first and last time Cheyk's face was revealed as the helm shattered into pieces and fell to the floor.

Dai and Osyrus stood by watching in awe.

"Well done young dragon knight, well done." Cheyk proclaimed, still wearing the arrogant grin as blood trickled down from the top of his head.

This wasn't enough to satisfy Naitosai, Cheyk was still able to breathe. He charged once more, thrusting his spear through his enemy's neck. As the fire Cheyk was still holding slowly died out, so did the grin he wore so proudly.

Naitosai, coming to his senses was taken back at what he had done. He released his grip from his spear and watched as Cheyk's limber body fell to the ground.

It's...over... he thought. He started to turn towards his allies, but suddenly gripped his chest while grunting in pain.

"Naitosai, what's wrong what's happening to you!?" Dai said as Osyrus ran to check on him.

Heaving, Naitosai screamed, "No, stay away from... aahh!"

Suddenly the shattered pieces from Cheyk's helm began to glow as it slowly levitated off the ground. Naitosai abruptly stood up straight as if he were paralyzed. The pieces flew over and rebuilt itself around his head, then absorbed itself into his skin. Both his eyes and mouth emitted a bright orange beam of light that released the spirit of a dragon in front of him.

"How in the hell?" Dai said while stepping back cautiously.

The majestic and mystic creature swirled into the air, as its gaze set upon Naitosai.

Witnessing an actual dragon, Osyrus fell to his knees and managed to stutter the word, "A..a..m..a...z..zing."

The spirit began to speak with a thunderous and booming voice, "It was you who released me from my prison. I am Kentai's dragon spirit, for your valiant efforts I shall grant you my power in the battle to carry on the legacy of the Dragoon."

The spirit then reentered Naitosai's body through his chest and a blinding light pulsed from where he stood, causing Dai and Osyrus cover their eyes. Once the light finally died down, Naitosai stood before them fully suited with lavishly decorated armor.

It was plated with uniform tungsten fragments on his chest & legs, the helm pulled essence from the dragon himself. His simple spear morphed into a glimmering pole-arm that had not one but two large lance heads on each end.

Dai and Osyrus jaws dropped as they stared in sheer amazement. As they drew closer, a jolt of lighting struck the armor. When the blinding light died down once more. All that was left was Naitosai who was lying on the ground.

They dashed towards him. "No... I'm fine, please check on Guru." He said breathing heavily.

"Right, I'm on it." Osyrus said as he made his way over to Guru.

He was badly hurt but still alive. Osyrus, despite his comparably smaller stature than Guru, threw him over his shoulder and sluggishly returned to Dai and Naitosai.

"We shall abort our mission, return to Faxon and report these new events, I think we all could use some rest." Dai said as he looked at Guru barely hanging on to life.