Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ The Beginning of the End ❯ The Master ( Chapter 2 )

The Beginning of the End

Part 2

 

In the world, there exist several religious sects. The Drunken Monks of Glarg, god of alcohol and stuff. The Unified Love clerics of Tyr, goddess of unity and love. And the most infamous, the Cult of the Red Death, followers of Alsavan the Brutal, god of destruction. And it is with this last group that our tail continues with.

"Hey Mahiko!" Raryn shouts as he walks through the burned out husks of buildings. "You still alive or what!"

 

"Of course I am. What, did you think these guys would be enough to kill me?" responds Mahiko. "Are you okay?"

"It would take a lot more than these guys to finish me off. Are you up to walking? If so, we need to head north up to that place. I sent Syriantus up ahead. She should be there about now, if she didn't face anything difficulties.

 

"Ok then, let's be on our way," Mahiko says heading toward the exit of the destroyed town.

 

~Several miles up the road~

"Head north he says," Syriantus grumbles to herself. "You'll find someone that will be able to help you.....why couldn't you have given me better directions!" Ever since she had parted way with Raryn, she has had a whole lot of trouble. Namely the several forks along the road leading in different directions and a new found fear of sticks.

 

 

Ashura was sitting on a high pedestal, calm and meditating. Around was a bloody mess of soldiers of the RDF. Ashura was clean of blood as if he never touched them. Ashura is actually not sitting but holding the tip of his foot on the small but high pedestal, about 7'0 feet tall. Ashura opens his eyes instantly. Smiling Ashura talks to himself.
"Well, I've got company."

 

As he says this Syriantus comes crashing out of some underbrush. "Finally, out of that stupid underbrush. I swear, when Raryn gets here I'm gonna....I'm gonna.....I don't know what I'm gonna do, but it won't be pretty!"

"Looks like someone has a problem with one of my apprentices," Ashura says, silently landing behind Syriantus.

 

Syriantus keeps walking on, not hearing Ashura land behind her. "Ok. I've made it through that, now i guess I'll head this way," She starts to go off to her left.

"Raryn and Mahiko shall be here within the hour." Ashura suddenly says. Syriantus actually jumps a bit as she turns to face the one who spoke to her. Ashura starts laughing, as Syriantus steps back she trips. Before she hit the ground Ashura catches her with ease.

"You should watch where you go, don't wanna take the wrong trip."

Ashura laughs at his pathetic attempt at a joke.

"I'm sorry I'm not good with conversation. Anyway I sense that your friends will be here shortly, wanna wait?"

 

 

~Down the road a ways~

"I think I should have given Syriantus some better directions," Raryn says.

"You think," Mahiko replies. "You told here to head north along the road. Did you forget how many times the road forks? Not to mention that it's not directly north. When I told you that, I knew that you knew what I meant. You were supposed to take her with you, not stay there with me. Anyhow we need to hurry and find her." Mahiko starts to sprint faster then before.

 

 

Ashura had enjoyed a serious and yet smooth conversation with Syriantus. Noticing that Mahiko and Raryn were coming in closer Ashura had stand up and helped Syriantus up too. They waited.

"So what's up Raryn and Mahiko, Long time no see eh?"

 

"My oh my, if it isn't Ashura!" Mahiko replies. "It's been what, three years now? How, have you been?" Mahiko walks up to about three feet away from Ashura.

 

"Hey wait a minute," Raryn says. "He was who you meant to send Syriantus to?"

 

"No, no, no!" Mahiko quickly says, "We are heading to the master's house of course!"

 

"Well this way," Ashura says taking a path.

Ashura led the way, forgetting that the other three members were not as fast, Ashura left running. After remembering Ashura came back running to join the rest.

"Oops. Sorry about that." Feeling a little embarrassed, Ashura walked alongside them, not saying anything with his head down.

 

 

"I'm relieved you guys were able to escape uninjured, for the most part. So, if this is not who you meant for me to meet, who is?" Syriantus asks as they continue walking along the path.

 

"Well it's pointless to tell you now, you will see later," Raryn said, as they walked down the road.

Syriantus was very curious now. Looking at Ashura walking with his head down, turning to look at Raryn and Mahiko to her right side walking straight up, she giggled to herself for some reason.

Ashura looked up and sensed someone.

"We have trouble!!"

 

Everyone goes on guard expecting another wave of RDF members to rush them. But instead, all that appeared was a winged warrior dropping out of the sky right in front of them.

"You!" Raryn shouts at the sight of this new creature. "I remember you from Yogsoth!"

"Raryn what are you talking about," Mahiko states bluntly.

"This guy was the one who shout that guy, remember."

"How do you know that?" Mahiko asks.

"I heard something heavy fly away after he died, this guy has wings. Coincidence, I think not."

"Raryn," Syriantus says. "He belongs to the avian race, a sort of off breed from elves since they have wings and can fly. And there are in fact many of them around nowadays."

 

"So is he an enemy? Or a friend?" Ashura asked as he prepared himself. Everyone gets ready, but Raryn is still yet to answer.

 

Instead of readying himself like everyone else, Raryn walks right up to this new comer. "Hello, I am Raryn Fo'Aldren, a wandering bard and fighter. I am glad of your help back in Yogsoth, even if it was unneeded."

"Raryn, I don't think that is a very wise thing to say to him," Syriantus says cautiously.

"Nonsense, he was also the one helping us back in that town just awhile back."

"You mean trying to kill us," retorts Mahiko.

 

"Well what happened?" Ashura asks. Calming himself down, standing up in a straight position, he notices the stranger talk. Ashura sees his mouth move but hears nothing. He looks at Syriantus and notices that she can hear him. Ashura instantly thought mind communication. Dangerous, so Ashura kept on his guard. Mahiko notices the same thing and so does Raryn.

 

"Excuse me, Mr. Avion," Raryn says politely. "Could you please use words like the rest of us simple folk here."

 

"Well aren't you the spunky one," retorts the avian creature.

"Calm down, these guys are my bodyguards. They agreed to help me get revenge for what the RDF did to my village," Syriantus says. "Raryn, this avian is an old friend of mine from back when I was much younger, before the destruction of my village."

 

"So then no fighting?" responded Ashura with a saddened look. Ashura looks behind the avian creature and notices an army of RDF soldiers coming.

"My wish is my command!! YES!!" Ashura shouts, looking happy at the new visitors coming in.

"Be careful" says Raryn, "Yeah" says Mahiko, both getting prepared.

Ashura rushes in ignoring the both comments.

 

The avian turns around and takes out the RDF member in a single shot.

"HAHAHAHAHA" Mahiko starts laughing hysterically!

 

"Hey anyone wonder where all these guys come from," Raryn says but gets no answer. "Oh I see, action time is now, question time later." He says as he joins Ashura's headlong rush toward the enemy.

 

Ashura runs, smiling

"I hope you RDF punks are gonna entertain me!!"

From the left of the RDF members come orc's too. Ashura, fearing nothing gets in the middle of the action.

"Hey, I think the RDF and the orc's are in an alliance now!!" Ashura says as he punches an RDF member in the jaw, knocking them out. As they gather around Ashura, he pulls out a beaded necklace. His appearance suddenly appears much buffer and he movements are faster. In the blink of an eye, the members surrounding him all get knocked out by the power emanating from him.

Mahiko has five RDF members in front of him, a quick flick of his sword, and in a one swift forward motion, hacks them to bits. Raryn takes out his sword and goes under an orc, immediately being surrounded by four others. In the midst of the fight, he starts singing a solo, creating an electric tornado and sending the orc's flying. Syriantus casts a spell which removes air from a space, leaving three orc's gasping for breath. The avian shoots five simultaneous arrows and hits five different enemies in the head.

But the army just keeps on coming; Ashura begins stepping back, signaling Raryn and Mahiko to step back. After they retreat a few feet, Ashura charges up a new attack, an energy wave which forces the RDF and Orc's to bunch together.

"I may faint after this so cover me"

After saying that Ashura pushes the air, with one hand's fingers facing up and the other's hand's fingers facing down. A beam of energy light blasts through and destroys a large percent of the enemy.

"We've got the rest Ashura, thanks" Mahiko says as both he and Raryn catch him.

 

"Mahiko, I don't think we need to do anything about the rest of our enemies," Raryn says.

"What do you mean?" Mahiko asks.

"The survivors are all fleeing."

"Well that is good," Mahiko says with a sigh. "Now we can get going to where we are supposed to be. And we need to get him somewhere safe for him to rest." indicating Ashura.

"Yes, but something more important then that is, who are you!" Raryn says indicating the avian.

"Fine," the avian says. "My name is Akiru No-Senjestoshin."

 

"And as Syriantus said, my village was a close ally of hers. When her village was attacked, much of my village came to their aid. But we weren't strong enough then to help them defeat the RDF."

"I see, well where are you headed now. And why were you following us so discreetly?" responds Mahiko.

 

 

As the conversation ensued, Ashura woke up slightly grunting a bit. Trying to hold up his hand, he struggled just for it. Breathing deeply, he struggled to regain control of his body as he continued his breathing exercise a strange aura seemed to emanate around him.

Concentrating it into his palm of the raised hand, a little ball appeared. Everyone saw this and marveled at it, as Ashura raised his palm towards his mouth and ate it. As it fell through and touched the acids in his body, his belly stretched which you have to do in order for this technique to work. As the event finished Ashura stood up and joined in the conversation by

"Well it feels good to be back" Stretching his arms after a tiring day.

 

Syriantus and Akiru stare at Ashura as he gets up and joins in the conversation as if nothing happened.

"What was that?" asks Syriantus.

"Ahh, that is Ashura's infamous healing technique..." begins Raryn.

"Raryn, you must at least let me explain my own techniques" says Ashura as he cuts Raryn off.

 

"But if you explain the technique then it doesn't make anyone look cooler. However if one of us explains the technique then we look cool for knowing about it and you still look cool for being able to use it!" Mahiko explains to Ashura.

 

"Then explain it then, see if you know," Ashura says, sitting back as if in his own house, which he has none. "Go ahead."

 

"Regrettably, I have only heard rumors myself, however Raryn here seems to know it." he indicates for Raryn to continue from where he was interrupted.

 

"Well, what the technique does is it absorbs all the wasted or unused nutrients in the body and expels them through the pores of the skin. Then with a little added help of some conjuring and alchemic bonding, the user is able to recreate the essential nutrients for revamping ones system. In other words, it's like eating a ball of lightning," Raryn elaborates.

"Did anyone get that just now?" Ashura asks to the party.

"What! You didn't get it either," Mahiko exclaims.

"Ok, I see now," Syriantus says. "So how does one manage to extract the nutrients?"

"Did you understand what he said?" both Mahiko and Ashura say in unison.

"Well yes," she replies. "Do you think you can become a mage without understanding the basic laws of science and life?"

 

Ashura smiles, "Well, look at me. I guess I'm a mage or something, but I don't understand a thing. Ha ha ha ha ha," Ashura laughed as everyone laughed with him.

 

 

The day was long fading, so they set up camp and laughed the night away. Sleepy times comes, but Ashura cannot sleep. Syriantus wakes up and sits by him.

"What's wrong?"

"It's just that, how do you know that? I can do it just by feeling it, and through continuous training, but if that's what happens, and you understand it and I don't how come I can do it and you can't?" Ashura asks as he is chewing on his nails.

 

"I never said that I couldn't do it," Syriantus says. "It's just that I would need to know the exact nutrients that are expelled and the exact way they are reformed, or I could very well end up killing myself. I've heard of several a wizard that was killed of by their own spell being off by less then one word."

 

"But you see, I just know how it feels and stuff. But I guess you're right, I shouldn't think about it too much and keep to what I know, Ha ha ha. It's getting late; you should go to sleep."

"What about you?"

"I will venture around and gather some more wood for you all"

"Ok...thanks"

Ashura ventures off.

 

 

The next morning passes with no problems:

"Raryn!," Mahiko shouts. "Stop raiding the bodies of our slain enemies!"

"Why?"

"Because it is not moral, you are desecrating the dead, and they stink."

"Do you always have to give three reasons why something shouldn't be done?" Raryn says sarcastically.

The day passes with relative ease for the adventures:

"Sticks! Everywhere!" shouts Syriantus. "Take this and this and this!" she shouts as she sends of random fire spells and sets a nearby copse of trees on fire.

"Mahiko do something quick!" Ashura shouts.

"Fine," he replies as he draws his sword and swipes through the flames allowing his sword to feed on it's energy.

And they manage to avoid any creatures that would bring them harm:

"Hey look over there," Raryn says. "I think I see a large herd of grazing omnivorous creatures that have a taste for human flesh, let's go see."

Listen to the narrator already!

"Who said that?" Akiru says looking for the source of the voice.

"Oh that," Raryn says nonchalantly. "That was just the narrator."

"Then I think we should listen to him from now on," Syriantus says.

This was met with votes unanimously in favor for it.

 

 

Ashura and company steer clear of all the monsters for the rest of the day and travel, the night and day go by as if seconds were ticking. They finally arrive at their destined place.

"Umm where are we?" Ashura asks

 

"We're at Raryn's and my old teacher's house!" Mahiko says with some relief. "He will be able to train us, make us stronger, and hopefully, strong enough to defeat all the RDF."

 

"Well, I do love training. Let's see what this guy got for me" Excited, Ashura starts doing push ups. Then with one hand, then with one finger. He then even goes as far as to jump with one hand snap his fingers and land with the same finger.

The four just look at him, then Mahiko's old master comes out. They all bow, while Ashura keeps on doing Push ups.

 

 

"Well, well, if it isn't Raryn and Mahiko! What brings you two here?" Master asks them.

"We have a problem, sir. We need some training in order to dispose of the RDF once and for all!" Mahiko says then he explains everything that has happened so far.

"I see... You there, Ashura I believe it was, since you're so energetic, bouncing there on your fingers, go do 20 miles using only your finger tips. I expect you to be done within the hour."

"What!" Ashura exclaims, "That's impossible!"

The rest of them follow the master into his house for dinner.

Before he goes in, Mahiko says to Ashura, "It's better to not show off Master. Doing so will only make your training that much harder."

 

"Hmm, Fine, I'll get done what i can. AKUMA!!!!"

Ashura powers up and gets his beads, with two fingers he balances himself, and starts walking.

"Oh yeah, don't expect me to get done with in the hour."

Ashura walks around the house, letting the rest do what they gotta do.

 

"So who are these other people that you brought with you? Do you believe they can handle my training style?" asks the master once dinner begins.

 

"Ah, yes, this is Syriantus." He says indicating her, "And as you've already guessed that is Ashura out there. I think they are capable of handling your training, at least as much as we were when we first arrived."

 

"And what about this feathered friend of yours over there?" he says as he points over to Akiru.

"Well Syriantus says that he's a friend of hers. And if she says someone's good, which is quite rare, then I believe her." responds Raryn.

 

"Well master, where's the food" Mahiko and Raryn exclaim.

"Mahiko, Raryn, don't think you two get off easy, everyone to work. Whoever runs 20 miles will get food. You guy's have to get it done in 30 minutes. If you would have stayed and ran with Ashura you would get most of it done, but your hungriness has blinded you to food. Isn't that one of the first things I taught you two?"

"Yes master," both Raryn and Mahiko sigh.

"Go now," master says.

After 28 minutes of running, Mahiko was done, Akiru was done, Raryn had a bit to go, Syriantus was on her first mile, Ashura had finished after 56 minutes. 2 minutes before Mahiko.

"Ashura!! No food for you!! Now go run on your fingertips again, without your deity's help!!" Most of the crew laughed, except for Syriantus.

"And for laughing the rest of you get no food either. Syriantus, was it? You come in here and start studying.

With a sharp reply everyone says, "Yes master"

 

"Damn... might as well get some extra training in, eh Raryn?" Mahiko says to Raryn as he starts doing some physical training.

 

 

"You wanted to see me master?" asks Syriantus as she enters into the house.

"Yes. I have a special training plan designed for you. Obviously you are a mage, and a decently skilled one at that. But you have great potential, I can see from the aura that surrounds you."

"Thank you master. So what will my training plan be?"

 

"If you are to succeed, you must learn all kinds of magic, not just wind. You must learn to utilize all elements. You must learn 50 spells of each by the week's end."

"Water, healing. Fire, Destruction. Earth, Balance. Air, Body."

"Well you do know a lot don't you? But as a mage you must be smooth and fast, that's why you will run everyday before studying got it?"

"Yes"

The master then proceeds to see to the others.

 

"Raryn, where is your guitar?"

"Well, it sort of broke over goblins little heads, and I haven't managed to get a new one."

"Well, in that case," the master says as he pulls a guitar out of a cabinet and starts to play a song that makes Raryn look like an armature.

"Work on it, everyday, you will practice to get faster and faster got it?"

"Yes master" Raryn says, taking the guitar and tuning it to his liking.

"Mahiko, your sword."

"Master, I cannot just lend you my sword, you know that as well as any other samurai." Mahiko exclaims

"Good Mahiko, but you will learn how to continuously hit 100 opponents with moves that are to fast to be perceived, got it?"

"But sir, I still don't know if I can do that a hundred times," Mahiko retorts.

"That's why you will practice!" says the master.

"Yes master," says Mahiko

"Akiru, your bow."

"Yes sir!"

The master shoots 10 arrows quickly. "Bah, I'm getting old." says the master as all 10 arrows hit the middle. "You will practice this everyday, and you will move and fly with it. No stationary got it?"

"Yes sir!"

"Ashura, you have potential, but you are blocked from it by putting faith in your deity too often. You must over exceed him by yourself."

"I know master, that's what I have been trying to do more often than not."

"But you still rely on him, you must learn not to rely on him, but on yourself only. That is why, you will walk everyday on your fingertips for one hour and try to finish it before the time is up, then you will practice your blast wave."

"HOW DID YOU KNOW ABOUT THAT?" says Ashura shocked

"Because I can do it too."

The master goes out and shoots a Chi blast wave to the air. Not feeling fatigued, he tells Ashura, "You will do it until you feel normal after got it?"

"Yes master."

"Disperse!"

 

Mahiko runs out to the weight room, where he puts on about 300 pounds of weighted clothing. He then goes out and starts running laps as fast as he can.

 

 

As their training continues, the Master begins talking to Raryn.

"Raryn, I wish for someone to meet you. I found him the other day wondering the paths outside. He has been working for me for awhile. His name is Staim."

 

"Hello there Staim," Raryn says to the man standing before him. Then with no reason behind it, the newcomer whips out his sword and strikes at Raryn. Raryn dodges at the very last second, flipping through the air a draws his sword in time to see that Staim is charging him. Staim charges forward slashing downwards, Raryn side rolls out of the swords path while striking his own blade out against Staim. Both then turn to charge each other. They collide and the force of the impact sends both flying back.

"You're good," Raryn says pulling himself off the ground.

 

Staim stands up coughing a bit and holding his side.

"Likewise." Says Staim as he shakes hands with Raryn.

 

 

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH," Ashura screams as he practices his first blast wave, holding it down for a good minute. Afterwards, Ashura feels as if he would collapse, but struggles to regain his consciousness.

Mahiko and Raryn are ready to go after him, "Leave him, he will learn," says the master. "Staim you know your training schedule, but you have been slacking off lately, don't think I have not noticed!!"

"Yes master," says Staim.

 

 

~Two weeks later~

Mahiko now wearing 600 pounds of weighted clothing now has twice the speed he had previously, but its still barely enough to do the 100 hit flash technique that he has been working on.

 

Staim begins stretching his limbs cracking everything with in his body. He draws his cutlass and starts cutting tatomi mats.

 

Ashura can now do three energy blast waves and still feel alright. Holding them about three minutes long each. Making him a lot faster and stronger. During his training he managed to use his new found energy more wisely. He can control it and punch faster with it and run faster with it. His fighting style and reflexes, senses, knowledge and his punches and kicking, have all improved.

 

Raryn on the other hand, headed out into the woods on the first day of training and has yet to return.

"Master, do you think it is alright to leave him alone like this?" Mahiko asks.

"It is his way," he replies. "It is his way of over bounding his own limits. Though, even I do not know what he does."

 

Staim walks up to Mahiko and shakes his hand. "Well I have trained with all of you but I have yet to discover what you all are here training for."

 

"We train in the hopes of taking down the RDF. No, we train in the need to take down the RDF!" Mahiko tells him. "And what is it that you are here Staim? If you don't mind us asking."

"Ahh, my own personal goals are mine own to know, for the time being. Sorry," responds Staim.

 

"Well, I just like training." Ashura says still working out. "But we are here to defeat the RDF members and god Alsavan."

 

"What is everyone talking about here?" Raryn says appearing behind everyone.

"What? Where? How? When?" stammers Ashura.

"Good, good. Now lets try talking in something other then single word questions."

"Where have you been and what have you been doing?" Syriantus says.

"Glad you asked, now listen carefully, because I don't know what kind of effect it will have on you all." Raryn proceeds to tell everyone what he did with his training and all the new things that he can do. "And that is it."

"So you're telling us that you can erase sound from your body and travel in perfect silence no matter what the terrain?" Akiru asks.

"Yes."

 

Ashura, scratching his cheek with one finger says, "Well I can travel lightly with my feet, even silently, but if one can hear my breathing even if it's as low as it will ever be. They can catch me. Well while you can deafen sound, one can always sense you. Unless you can play your guitar and have it's vibrations interfere with their energy sense."

"That is true Ashura, even with this newfound power, you must all be on your toes, for a God is not so easy to take down."

"We understand master," the company says.

 

"One last question before we leave," Raryn says. "No wait two. One, why does everyone rely so much on sensing stuff, I can't do it so I don't care. And two what have you been up to Syriantus?"

 

"Wait, surely you must have developed it by now no?" asks Ashura. "Either way, I can help you with that!!" says Ashura.

"Well how's it going Syriantus?" Raryn says ignoring Ashura.

"I'm fine, I have gotten a lot of spells now. I can say them flawlessly," she replies.

 

"I think they would like a demonstration, Syriantus" says the master.

"If you say so master. Will you guys attack me with you're strongest attacks? " she asks as she begins to walk outside.

 

 

"Well, I have yet to perfect me 100 hit flash technique so, Raryn, Ashura, one of you be my guest!" Mahiko says.

 

"Well you all know what I can do, how about we let Raryn attack with one of his new moves, that way they both have to think on their feet." says Ashura.

 

"That is fine with me", replies Raryn "It'll give me a chance to practice these techniques on actually moving and fighting people."

"That is fine with me as well" replies Syriantus.

The group walks outside the master's house and into a clearing in the forest.

Syriantus begins by creating multiple fires all over the ground without having to say anything out loud. She then creates water bubbles over top each of the fires, they fall and create a large all-encompassing smoke screen.

 

 

"Hmmm, a smoke screen, interesting, I wonder what is to happen now!" Mahiko says with excitement.

 

 

Raryn takes the first moves, rushing forward and using his guitar as a club, all the while singing a battle chant to increase his speed and strength. Feinting and swerving, he hoped to wear out Syriantus, or at least open her up to a direct attack. When he found one he immediately struck, only to find that Syriantus had raised a wall of earth. Namely to say, his guitar broke.

"Well it seems that you now have no weapon to use," Syriantus says seeing that Raryn did not bring his sword with him. "What now?" She then summons shards of ice and flings them at Raryn.

"Only this," he replies as he says a quick phrase and opens a portal in the air. He steps through, and vanishes.

"Where are you Raryn!" Syriantus shouts.

"Behind you," he replies. As Syriantus turns to face him, she briefly sees that he has regained his guitar, only to be whacked over the head. "I won," Raryn says happily.

 

 

"Ha ha, that was an excellent match! You have improved greatly Syriantus! But, you've got a ways to go before you can beat us!" Mahiko says as he applauds the fight.

 

"Well, I have done some secret training, but you will all see my new moves when the time is right. By the way Mahiko you still can't do the 100 flash hit?"

"It's '100 hit flash', and I can do it, but not very effectively," says Mahiko.

"Well, how about taking those weights off first and then trying it?" Ashura says happily.

"Wait, I had these on?" says Mahiko.

 

 

As Mahiko removes his weighted clothing, Ashura gets some metal armlets.
"Ok, GO!" Ashura says.

"100 HIT FLASH!!" Mahiko yells as he begins to moves beyond light speed, slashing away at Ashura.

Within a quarter of a second it was over, and there was little left of the armlets.

"Wait! That was only 90!" Ashura states, "Where's the 100?"

"I TOLD YOU I CAN'T DO 100 YET" Mahiko yells.

Then Mahiko does another flash attack, and leaves 90 scratches on Ashura's arm.

"My speed may not be quite on par for the technique, but my accuracy is!"

 

"Hmm, true." says Ashura as little scars ran across his forearm. "You know I didn't expect to block your attack with the gauntlets. I just thought I would save myself some scars." Ashura says,

"Well this is where I can come in." says Syriantus, healing Ashura's arms, and starts to heal the scars. "Well thanks, but I'd prefer if they were there. Not to be ungrateful or anything, I just let my body act as it is, and have it regenerate according to what it thinks is right," Ashura replies smiling.

 

"Does anyone want to know how I got my guitar back?" Raryn says.

"What do you mean back," Ashura asks.

"Well, I mean that during the fight my guitar was shattered against a earth wall," Raryn explains. "You can see it over there." He points to a spot where there is in fact the broken remains of a guitar.

"If that's your guitar, where did this one come from?" Mahiko asks sheathing his sword.

"I'm glad you asked. Well over the past two weeks I believe, I decided that I needed some replacement guitars for when mine breaks. So I spent a lot of time making new ones. Then I opened a portal to another dimension and stored then there."

 

"Can anyone enter this new dimension?" asks Ashura. "If we can, then we can come up with some good battle plans. I might be a muscle head, but if we are to take down armies stealthily or anything of the sort, I am your general." Ashura says, standing up with a clenched fist in the air.

"Oh shut up already" says the narrator. Ashura notices where it came from, "Why you little, Wave Blast!!"

"AAAAAAAAAHHHhhhhhhhhhhhhhh" narrator is dead.

"We can handle our own story" Ashura says flicking his nose.

 

 

A dark shadowy figure walks in. "He was getting rather annoying, oh were are my manners, I'm Nyxrith I wish to fight for you that is if you will allow me," proclaims the Nyxrith sitting down.

 

"Who are you? How did you find us? And how rude can you be to just walk into another persons house without even knocking!?" Mahiko starts interrogating the newcomer.

 

"Huh" answers Nyxrith, the smell of cheap wine rests upon his every word.

 

"Oh god, a drunkard." Mahiko takes Nyxrith outside over to the lake and throws him in, "Sober up fast!" Mahiko yells to him.

 

He quickly sinks to the bottom of the lake bed, seeing he is fully armed, "To drunk to swim...." he mumbles as he sinks.

 

Ashura goes in after him, "Stupid Mahiko, he has armor!!" Rising with Nyxrith, he puts him ashore. "Well, let him rest. He is worth nothing if he drinks. He will only hinder us. Anyone who drinks will hinder us. So we must move out and seek the RDF base. He will stay here and train."

 

"Ok red haired person......" Nyxrith whispers as he fades to slumber.

 

Ashura looks down at the fully armored stranger. He quickly kicks him when everyone looks away and walks away himself. Everyone rests for the night.

 

 

During the night Staim awakes, dresses and wanders outside. He walks outside to find the drunkard sitting by a fire singing to himself. "So who are you, why are you here?"

 

"Ahhhh don't speak so loud. My head. Ughhhh," mumbles Nyxrith forgetting he was asked a question.

 

Staim grows an angry glare. "Shut up and answer the question drunkard."

 

"I am Nyxrith and I'm here to find a good battle to quench my blades thirst," replies Nyxrith in more of a distinguished manner. Though he is hung over he is no longer drunk.

 

"Well Nyxrith tomorrow we shall test your skill to find you worthy."
Staim begins walking back, he stops, turns, and grabs the bottle of whiskey. "Its mine now."

 

 

Ashura appears, sitting, behind them. "Well, your body is useless if it's intoxicated. See that doll? Go and attack it with your best technique." Ashura commands as he is sitting. "I wanna see your technique right now, while your at your worst."

 

Nyxrith, with his lungs contracting pushing out his inner flame, he breathes in the cold dead air off the night. "Fire warm. Sleep good" Nyxrith mumbles drawing nearer to the flames as he passes out again.

 

"Bah, I can do that in my sleep." Ashura says disappointed as he lays down and sleeps where he sat first.

 

"Ha ha haa" Mahiko mumbles to himself.

"What is it?" Syriantus asks.

"If fire is his power, I will gladly be his opponent!" Mahiko responds, "He will be no match! I am the master of fire."

"I bet you're nothing compared to the 'Master of the Black Flame' though." Ashura responds while trying to go to sleep.

"Ha ha ha!" Mahiko laughs again. "I am the perfect match for him! Want to know why? Because I am him!" Mahiko then lies down himself to go to sleep.

 

"It's no match versus energy," Ashura whispers quickly so that no one hears. Chuckling a bit to himself, he goes to sleep. "I know you all heard me," says Ashura before he went to sleep, still silent and fast.

 

 

Ashura wakes up, realizing he was the last one awake, he quickly rushes to the food table.

"Oh, you guys are bastards," Ashura says, as the rest were laughing. "Meh, Oh well." Ashura begins training, the rest were slow, they were full of food, so they were real slow on training.

The master laughed at the event, but offered Ashura some food. Everyone had the master's respect now, and Ashura was grateful for it. Still showing his kindness and respect, he eats a little and goes back to training. Everyone else was still full.

 

"Hey where is Raryn?" asks Staim.

"He's right over there practicing his swordsmanship," the Master points to an open and empty field. "Well he was over there."

 

"Well where did Nyxrith go?" proclaims Staim.

"His whereabouts are unknown to me as well," says the master.

Staim shrugs, "Well I'll just go looking for Raryn."

Staim steps out of the master's house.

 

 

Unbeknown to Staim and the rest of the party, Raryn had taken Nyxrith into the woods to test his skills.

 

 

Another Day of training, everyone had improved several fold. Everyone was somewhat equal to the other. The night was on, and everyone slept like a baby. Little do they know, the enemy had spotted them from afar. The RDF and the orc's combined themselves, and now know each other's way of combat. Meaning they improved too, they sneaked into the house, ready to assassinate all of them. Sephiroth suddenly appears.

"What are you fools doing?"

 

"We are just doing as you instructed, high lord," one of the orc assassins replies.

"I said kill them, not assassinate them. It is not honorable to do that."

 

The orc commander looks at him.

"but sir-"

"No I want you to kill them! Go do it!"

 

"Orcs...you can never trust them..."

Sephiroth lifts up his hand and strikes the orc.

"Who cares about honorably?"

 

"Oh, looks like someone has a little split personality problem," Raryn says as he walks into the house.

"You were just in there!" shouts an orc in startlement.

"Yeah well, let's just say that I am better at stealth then a band of orc assassins and their high lord guy."

 

Sephiroth smirks, "Oh, you think you can do better then me? Someone is overconfident."

He walks into the house.

"If your scared of me then leave. I have no time to listen to this...nonsense."

 

"Hmph, I personally don't like minions to hang around when we're talking to their leader!" Mahiko says, "100 hit flash!" within the blink of an eye, all the orcs were dead.

 

"Pah, useless technique against me," he says as he bats Mahiko away as he tries his move a second time, rendering him unconscious. "Now for the cocky one." He looks for Raryn only to find empty air. "Remember what I said about the stealth?" Raryn says from directly behind Sephiroth. "You have no chance of beating me." In an instant, a giant katana slashes inches away firm Raryn's neck. "Ah, a Masamune if I'm not mistaken."

 

"Don't you dare touch me fool. Ill rip you in millions of pieces if I have too."

 

Sephiroth turns around and starts heading back into the house to check it out.

 

 

"What have we got here?" the master asks as he walks out the door to face Sephiroth. "You, who have come to my house, with orcs, and an intent to kill those who are under my protection, you have gone too far!" With a shout, he lunges at Sephiroth in an attempt to surprise him. The battle rages on with neither giving in.

"Raryn!" the master shouts. "Wake the others and get away from here, it is no longer safe!"

 

"And who the hell are you then?" says Sephiroth.

Sephiroth looking at the person who just entered the picture is called "master" and getting caught in a quick daydream of some kind... and ends up with a fist in his face.

"What the hell? YOU hit ME? Worthless piece of-"

Sephiroth shuts up because he sees another attack coming straight at him. It was from Raryn!

"What the hell!? Two on one?!"

Sephiroth jumps backwards to avoid the attack. And looks at the master running at him and tries to sideswipe the master.

"What the hell is up with you people!?"

 

"You align yourself with evil....(Thawk!)" Raryn starts as the master knocks him unconscious.

"Mahiko," he says. "Are the others prepared to go?"

"Yes master," Mahiko replies.

"Then get going, and take him with you," the master says tossing Raryn to Mahiko. "Leave now!" With the shout he lunges for Sephiroth again, but this time Sephiroth is prepared for it. With a quick side step, he dodges the master's attack and with a quick turn, impales the old man through the chest with his sword.

 

But, what Sephiroth had attacked was an after image. The master appearing a few feet from the attack.

"I told you! Why the hell are you attacking me?!!?"

Sephiroth rushes forward, spins around behind the old man, and slams his sword right into the back of his head, knocking him unconscious.

"Good, now -"

Sephiroth sees the master starting to move.

"How the.....AH so it was not hard enough for you old man?"

Once again, Sephiroth gets behind the old man and with his swords sheath chokes the guy till he faints.

"OK! Now-"

The master again starts moving and grabs Sephiroth's leg.

"Let me go you old coot!"

"I....wo-" the master starts

With a swift kick to the face from Sephiroth the master is once again knocked out. Hopefully for good this time.

"Damn old coot he made me lose time on those bastards. How dare they attack me for no reason!"

With that Sephiroth starts a dash down into a cave were his minions are.

"Minions! Go, and get those who run away!"

"AYE SIR!" the minions shout as they dash off into the woods.

 

 

Out in the forest:

"That Sephiroth was one strange guy. He commanded the orcs, yet it seemed as if he needed to talk to us. It was strange, the aura that surrounds him. It's very confusing," says Syriantus as they run through the forest.

"Indeed. I think I know what you mean Syriantus. He seemed like such a confused soul. Lost and not sure where to go." replies Mahiko

"Speaking of lost, do you know where we are going Mahiko?" asks Ashura.

 

"Not a clue, Ashura," Mahiko replies. "The only ones who would know are Raryn and the drunk, which is a bad thing being that both are unconcious at the moment. Avian guy, Akiru right? Can you fly up and see where we are going?"

"No," he replies.

"Why not?"

"It is dark out and I don't feel like running into things as I fly around," Akiru replies. "Just keep going straight until we are free."

"Well, that's as good a plan as any, let's go," says Staim as he charges off into the darkness of the forest.