Pokémon XYZ: Life, Death, Order, and Chaos (book 2 of the HBoD series)

Chapter 20: Escaping the Chaos

Clara panted, stepping away from the punk dude, who held the knife. He was also panting, both of them having done a complicated dance of slash and dodge.

"Damnit," Clara growled. "You're just putting on a show for them."

"I don't care," his eyes were wide. "I just want to live."

Clara clenched her teeth, both of them unsure of the other's next move. Then, Clara lunged forwards. The guy jabbed the knife forwards, but Clara sidestepped, flipping his wrist around so he would drop the knife. Then she kneed him in the gut and punched him in the face. He fell to the ground, groaning in pain.

"Geez," Clara picked up the knife. "I guess I could kill you, but that would be living up to his image of me. That's not me. I'm no killer."

She turned swiftly and flung the knife towards the cloaked figure who had been announcing. The knife simply bounced off the cloak, clattering on the rocks.

"Tch," Clara backed up as all the cloaked figures stood, faces still hidden beneath hoods.

"It seems," the announcer picked the knife back up. "We will have two sacrifices instead of one."

...

I rushed forwards, swinging my right fist. Bradley didn't move, allowing the punch to strike his cloak. I grunted, the fabric slightly harder than I had believed it to be. 

The cultist grinned widely, unaffected by the punch. "Pathetic."

I glared at him. "It wasn't meant to take you down."

His eyes darted down just as I brought my left hand up in a blue, wielding the knife I had snatched from his very hand. He barely managed to stumble backwards, the knife slicing through the air. He stared at me as the Cultists around us didn't move. A thin line of blood appeared on his right cheek. He felt it, grinning again.

"How lovely," he cackled. "You are truly worthy to be a sacrifice to the All-Powerful One."

"Damn you and your All-Powerful One!" I spat. " I refuse to be a pawn in your stupid game! Now, tell me where my friends are!"

"Unfortunately," Bradley cocked his head to one side. "You need to stay here. As long as you aren't killed, you are still our precious sacrifice."

"Oh, Chaos," he chanted, the others repeating his words in a mantra. "Hear your followers prayers, give us the strength to bind those who oppose you. Give us the dexterity to prepare your sacrifice."

The symbol on the floor glowed even brighter along with the ones on the hoods. In the blink of an eye, Bradley rushed forwards, fist heading for my stomach. However, a shield of energy erupted in front of me, blocking the attack. I looked at Lunatone, his eyes glowing.

"Thank you," I said with gratitude. "I don't know what you can do, but let's make sure to work together."

Lunatone hummed with agreement, eyes glowing again. The room shook, dust and small rocks falling from the ceiling. The cultists struggled to maintain their balance, the glow of the symbols fading in and out. A large crack formed in the center of the floor, disrupting the flow of energy. 

"NO!" Bradley clutched the sides of his head, shouting over the sound of breaking rock. "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!?"

A crack split between me and him and I glared at him. "WHATEVER YOUR 'ALL-POWERFUL ONE' HAS PLANNED, I WILL STOP IT! YOU'VE MADE AN ENEMY OF ME TODAY! AND I PROMISE, I WON'T STOP UNTIL ALL OF YOU PAY FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE!"

I heard the sound of the ground ripping up on both sides of me and I heard the cultists grunt in pain. I looked to see Lunatone moving the earth to pin the cloaked people against the wall as well as the Lampents.