Beyond Souless

Chapter 9: Dance

   Mizu and Zeverous stood for a while, just sizing up each other before they vanished from sight. Mizu spun their staff, parrying both his blades before thrusting the tip of the staff into his chest, knocking him back. Zeverous wasted not even a moment as he spread his arms and pressed his hands to the ground creating stone spikes that tore through the ground heading for Mizu. Mizu’s eyes flashed with anger as they spun pointing their staff at Zeverous firing a huge burst of flames from it. As their attacks clashed the two rushed at each other again.There was no pause nor even a second of hesitation between these skilled combatants. I almost felt like I didn’t belong here. What even were these people? How long did one have to fight to not even hesitate for a second in such a grand fight. I saw Mizu’s claws shine for a moment in the midst of the battle and it shook me; I'd never even seen Mizu like this. I've always known they were a kitsune but I’d never seen the fox traits form like this. Hell, I’d never seen this much power from Mizu. I’d known them since I stumbled across their world as a kid and never seen even a hint of this kind of overwhelming power or force.

   When I was maybe 6 or 7 I came across a tiny fox in my yard. My father told me not to mess with stray animals and to go inside; Toshiro told me to follow it. I followed the little guy for a few minutes only to come to a small hole in a wall and as I snuck through the hole I was met with the kind face of the person I'd come to know as Mizu. If I ever needed a place to stay the night, or hide away, or even if I just wanted to visit Mizu’s door was open. They were like family; family that my family didn't believe existed, but family nonetheless. 

   Seeing that gentle and welcoming kind soul fighting on my behalf, fighting because i couldn't,well i wasn't able to handle that very well. I grit my teeth and as I did i could feel the spirit of the knight swell within me. It felt like lightning in my veins as my right eye glowed gold and I could stand again.

   I,no, we stood granted a new power.Like i had done hundreds of times with Toshiro i had bonded with this spirit that lay within me,I could feel metal on my skin but i saw nothing, I could sense Toshiro still healing us from within. I could hear a voice call from the depths of my soul “Serve...Slay...Slave...Save,” and I could only agree. We were a new being with an old name.We rushed forward into the battle and we slammed our entire being into Zeverous, and before he could even stumble Mizu followed up behind us blasting the powerful creature with a burst of blue flames. As Zeverous tumbled backward We rushed forward. His eyes narrowed as he swung his blade down toward our head. Mizu rushed in stopping the attack with their claws as we stomped, planting our foot into the ground as we turned, putting my entire body into a punch filled with power. We took a step forward throwing the man across the field. Mizu jumped forward spinning and kicking the man. Zeverous plunged his blades into the ground. He held up a hand creating a large rune surrounded by several small ones. We frowned and realized that the beams and blasts we used weren't there, they were from Toshiro, so instead we dug our hand into the ground and using our great strength we launched ourself forward like a bullet. We slammed shoulder first into Zeverous knocking him into the dirt.  Mizu was above us instantly and threw a fireball that blasted the man even further away. Mizu landed in front of us and slammed their hands onto the ground creating a giant series of runes all through the land.

   Mizu stood calmly “I cannot cast you out Miles,neither of us is powerful enough for that...But lets see if you can survive the realm collapsing in on your head.” they said, raising a hand as the land erupted and the air itself smelled of magics.

   Miles glared “You’d go this far for some mortal?!”He asked as he stood but the ground under him dragged him down.

   Mizu chuckled “I’d do it for my boy who needs help,” he said as a rift opened behind us. He pushed me through before walking through himself. I could see the event horizon in the world as I watched Mizu’s world collapse in on itself and vanish,Hopefully taking Zeverous along with it.