Hardlanding: Kingdom of Secrets

·15·

"Let the battle begin!"

Nightinggale and Ashlie shifted into their respected forms, the wolf creating a huge gust of wind that blew sand around into a storm. There were a few tense seconds of silence before a lone howl rang out, instantly gathering more as it echoed around the arena. The dust settled to reveal Nightinggale and Ashlie standing side by side, copies of them filling up the area, all shifting and growling as they eyed John and Risa. They each had two riders, the others with copies of their own as they surrounded the two generals.

"What the-?!" Risa screamed as Nightinggale charged at her, the wolf and her two riders bounding before they disappeared.

"You idiot didn't you listen?! That wolf girl is a CreaNoir werewolf!" John growled as he eyes the eyed the next wolf that stalked up to them. "She's creating illusions."

John growled before studying the area around him. Unsheathing his sword, he launched forward, slashing through the clones as he made a path. The ground under Risa's feet began to glow as she began using her magoc to boost John's abilities.

Before she could do much, UNi landed in front of her with Kat, the two revealing themselves to try to stop her. Their clones rippled and disappeared and John stopped and looked around, only to recieve a strong kick in the face.

The rest of the clones disappeared, revealing how everyone were scattered across the arena. John stood, wiping a thin trail of bloid from him nose as he eyed Nick before glancing to the side, spotting Nightinggale as she crouched to the ground, holding her head as Don wiped blood from her mouth.

John inched away from the vampire as Nick watched him, both waiting on the other to make a move. "I have to admit, I didn't see that coming. But You expected too much from your little friend. She looks like she won't be fignting much."

Nick smirked. "That's where your wrong. There's eight of us, and only two of you."

John wink. "Then maybe we should even the odds."

He watched the group fight his two generals with interest, a small frown making it's way across his lips. What was Winter playing at? She clearly knew that by making those illusions, John could take that and make it stronger, creating physical beings thag would make it harder for them to fight. He watched as the male did exactly that, two of the clones tackling Nick before Tommy appeared and pulled them off.

Realisation dawned on him and he smirked. That's exactly what she wanted to do. He watched as the crouched girl disappeared, scanning the area untill he found her crouched behind Ashlie with Cory. They both held bows as they waited for an opportunity to shoot John and Risa.

"Your smart Winter, but not smart enough," he grinned as Kat was thrown back, her smaller form crashing into Ashlie and sending the Werecat stumbling before collasping to the ground. "Sloth sins are heavier than they look."

Cory scrambled away, narrowly avoiding getting crushed by his friend as Nightinggale shifted, catching Ashlie as she fell and propping up the cat.

"You girls OK?" Nightinggale huffed as she struggled to support Ashlie and Kat's weight.

"Fine fine," Kat grumbled as she jumped to the ground. "I didn't expect those clones to be that strong. Two of them grabbed me and threw me."

"I'm fine though I might have some bruised ribs."

Ashlie stood before shaking out her fur. "Watch out!" She yelped as she rammed into Nightinggale, barely pushing the wolf out of the way of John, who had a sword ready to plung into her.

Ashlie shifted back to normal before grabbing the sword embedded in her gut, hissing loudly as she yanked the blade out before covering the wound with her free hand. John usheathed the second sword hanging on his waist as Ashlie leveled the sword in her hands.

"Night go help Don. I'll be fine!" She the wolf.

Before Nightinggale could intervene, Ashlie leaped at John, slamming her blade into his with enough force to draw sparks. He stumbled back before they began to fight, and Nightinggale and Kat backed away from the two.

Nightinggale scowled as she ran alongside Kat, heading into the main fray. Don was struggling with another clone of John, UNi and Cory not far away as they struggled with Risa. Nick was unmoving on the ground behind Tommy, who was fighting the real John.

"I'll go help Don. You help Tommy."

Night nodded to Kat before sprinting towards Tommy and John, catching the black haired boy off gaurd when she kicked the sword from his hands.

"Tommy, is Nick OK?" She asked as she backed away from John's second blade.

"Did the Attack Delta Squad destroy the green team?" He replied with a smirk.

She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye with a scowl and he sighed. "No, Nick's not OK. John got him pretty good. Oh, and the answer was no."

John leaped at Nightinggale before she could respond and she dropped, bringing her knees to her chest before kicking John with both feet in the stomach and flipping him over her body. Tommy winced as the other boy laid there for a moment, trying to catch his breath.

"Duck!" She cried before jumping to her feet.

Tommy shifted into his cat form before running away, barley avoiding an arrow with a green tip. Risa, she couldn't tell if it was the real one, scowled as another magical arrow formed as she drew the string back. Nightinggale smirked as a bow of her own appeared in hands.

Risa shrieked as Nightinggale drew her own string back, multiple arrows filling the air around her before following the path of the first. It was a clone, Nightinggale realized too late as she was shoved to the ground. A boot slammed into her back, knocking the wind out of her as she took a mouthfull of sand.

Before she could shift into her wolf form, she felt the air above her heat up and could see the long wand-like object glowing in her hands, the Priestess quickly drawing one of her infamous runes.

"I'm sorry." She barley caught the whisper due to the loud roars of excitement from the other students before everything went black.