Saint Seiya Fan Fiction ❯ Kage no Seinto (Saints of the Shadow) ❯ The House of Shadow Aquarius ( Chapter 8 )

The Demoniac were just arriving to the House of Shadow Aquarius when they sensed a cosmo was fading.
-It's a Shadow Saint's cosmo!
They all rejoiced, as they sensed Tida's cosmo getting closed.
-Let's pass through this House quickly -Kumbha interrupted.
-Let's wait for Tida, he's really close now.
-Yeah, he's really fast...
Tida reached his fellows in no time; then they all entered the House of Shadow Aquarius. Despite the fact that they had been told that there is no one guarding the House, they were alert for any traps or anyone in the House who would try to attack them. Kumbha and Tida were ahead, checking if there's no danger. Vlad was walking carelessly through the House.
-It seems like it's inhabited.
-Let's keep going.
Azrael was a little skeptic. He was looking around, trying to find something, but he didn't see a thing, and there was no evidence of a cosmo either. Hikari was behind him.
-This House...
 
Kumbha and Tida reached the exit of the House, and set off to the next one. Vlad was near the exit, and Azrael and Hikari were half the way. Vlad noticed they were too far away.
-Come on, run!
Azrael started to run, and he reached the exit of the House. Vlad had already set off to the next House, next to Kumbha. Azrael looked back the House. He noticed that he left Hikari behind.
-Wait a minute -he thought-, this House is no labyrinth. What takes her so long?
Afraid that something might have happened to her, he went back for Hikari.
-Hikari! Hikari!
No answer. He was right in the middle of the House again, and for some reason, he was beginning to become scared. Since Hikari did not respond, he gave up and decided to continue. But, as he looked back into the exit, he gasped. Hikari's body just appeared in front of him, frozen. Her face expressed fear.
-What... who did this?! -Azrael shouted, with his voice breaking.
He noticed a shadow behind a pillar. It was looking at him.
-There you are! Reveal yourself!
The shadow did not move. Azrael ran towards the shadow, but it had already disappeared. Then he saw it behind another pillar. The shadow moved from pillar to pillar, disappearing at the blink of an eye.
-Don't try to trick me! Reveal yourself now!
The shadow stopped moving from pillar to pillar. For some minutes, Azrael did not see the shadow anymore. Then, after a long wait, he heard some steps walking towards him. Suddenly, the sound stopped.
-This cosmo...!
-Frost Shattering. Aquarius Demoniac's body temperature is now Absolute Zero. Chances are…
Hikari's body starts to break into lots of small pieces.
-… You'll never see her again.
Azrael opened his eyes, shocked. How was it possible for someone to do this?
-Who are you?! -Azrael yelled.
-Does it matter? You will not have the chance to tell the rest anyways.
-How do you dare to talk like this to me! I am Azrael of Cancer Demoniac!
-Good for you.
Azrael noticed that the shadow was appearing from behind a pillar. Due to the lack of light in the House, he could not see his face.
-You will pay for killing Hikari!
-Leo Demoniac would have been on that list as well, but I think he escaped from my ice trap.
-I've had enough of you! Hand of the Dead!

Azrael's cosmo started to increase. Soon, it was big enough to take the shape of a hand. He pointed out that the hand was made of faces of his victims. His own face showed insanity; anger and bloodthirst had taken over him.
-You will be joining these faces soon!
The hand went quickly towards the figure. This one raised his right hand.
-Om...
Azrael's attack began to dissolve in the air before it touched the figure. The attack is repelled by what Azrael saw as an energy field. He became angrier; few people had escaped this attack without a scratch.
-You will die for this, whoever you are! Mask of Horror!
His mask started to glow black. He created black beams of light with his hands. He joined them together in the air, and blasted it to the figure standing behind a pillar. This one had already created an ice sphere charged at him. Both attacks destroyed each other when they met. Azrael was pushed away, and the figure was pushed back as well.
-Interesting. My attack has barely affected you. I must admit, Azrael, that you are very strong...
Azrael looked at his feet and legs. They were partially frozen.
-Who are you?! -Azrael yelled.
-… If I don't stop you, you'll become a serious threat to the sanctuary... You've forced me to use this attack sooner than planned…
-Who are you?! Tell me!
-Phantasmagoria...
The drawing of an eye appeared in the figure's forehead. Azrael could not stand being ignored and tried to run towards him, but he was frozen. He tried again and this time he was able to move again.
-Tell me, who are you! Or else!
-Or else what?
He was getting desperate. Azrael ran towards him, and his hands were ready to finish him once for all, but the eye in the figure's forehead shot a light into his forehead just when he was going to attack him. Azrael opened his eyes widely and started to scream.
 
His head started to hurt. The pain caused by the attack was pulsating; it was getting stronger second by second. The figured began to move towards him. Azrael noticed that it was wearing a golden-ranked cloth thanks to the shinning. The saint had been wearing a mask, but he removed it, letting Azrael see his face. Although, Azrael just saw a blurry picture of the saint, but it reminded him of someone he had seen years ago.
-How... You... You died... I... I saw you! I saw you dying!
His vision became even more blurry, and the only thing he could clearly see was the eye, which shot images directly to his mind.
-What have you done to me?!
These images had produced feelings inside Azrael, and these began to mix, forming voices which talked, screamed, laughed, and cried. Submerged in this sea of voices, Azrael quickly developed a fever. He was no longer sane. Due to the huge amount of things inside his head, he fell to the floor, unable to talk or move at all. The saint left him right in the middle of the House. He heard the sound of Azrael's mask falling to the ground; now he knew that he would not be able to stand up for a long time. He started to walk away, but he stopped for a moment and looked back at Azrael. He spitted some blood from his mouth.
-... Hikari...

Ryu Wo was half the way through the House of Shadow Virgo when he heard a voice calling him from behind. He looked back, and saw a figure in the distance, running towards him.
-It's me, Bithet.
-Bithet! It's good to see you well.
-The feeling is mutual.
-What happened to your cloth?
-Long story. I underestimated Shadow Cancer.
-I underestimated a saint as well. Anyways, let's get going. I sensed three cosmo near the Pope's Temple.
They started pass through the Houses, not paying attention to the fallen warriors inside them.

Meanwhile, Tsai's conscience and vision was clearing up, and he wished it didn't. As his mind recovered, he felt the pain caused by his injuries. Despite the pain, he realized that with some effort, he could still walk. Using his arms, he pushed himself up and grabbed a pillar nearby for support.
-Intending to go somewhere, Shadow Libra? -A voice inquired.
Tsai looked back. His facial expression revealed his willing to fight.
-Show yourself, I have no time for games -Tsai said.
He was exhausted, the Demoniac could tell from his voice. Ryu Wo and Bithet started to walk into the House.
-Very well. A little impatient, aren't we? -Bithet said.
Both of them appeared in front of Tsai, who seemed nervous.
-Not again...
Tsai bit his lips; he had a large disadvantage in this battle. He was injured and in no condition to fight, but he knew he had to do whatever he could to stop them. His cosmo began to burn again.
-Burning Stars! -He exclaimed.
He shot a fire beam at Bithet, who managed to evade it by jumping.
-You're rather slow too -he said-. Acidic Spores!
Tsai could not evade the attack, and received it all. He was pushed back until his back hit a pilar.
-Well, now... Let's see how strong you are -Ryu Wo said, laughing.
-What?
He noticed that his cloth was getting heavier and heavier.
-How...?! My cloth... Is dying?!
He was trying to adapt to the new weight of his cloth, which was really heavy. Ryu Wo took advantage of this and ran towards him, and scratched him on the left arm, which was now bleeding profusely.
-I see that you aren't any better than Shadow Sagittarius -Bithet said.
-You disappoint us Shadow Libra! -Ryu Wo said, in a mocking tone.

-What...? What have you... What have you done with Yuki?!
He was worried, ignorant of what the Demoniac were capable of doing. He feared for Yuki's life, probably more than his own.
-We? Nothing. But from what we've been told... Well, you'll never see her again.
Tsai could not believe what he had just heard. Not seeing Yuki again was something he had never even once given thought too, and he didn't intend to. He tightened his fists and felt his cosmo burning. The Demoniac felt this too.
His cosmo... His cosmo is growing in an alarmous rate! If he goes like this he will...
-... Reach the seventh sense...
Tsai's cosmo was glowing purple now, and he concentrated his power in the palms of his hands.
-Violet Sun! -He exclaimed.
A fire beam struck Bithet, who screamed in pain as he was starting to feel his skin burning. He fell to the ground, still screaming because of the burnt skin. Ryu Wo looked at him and ran towards Tsai.
-Venomous Claws!
Tsai was defenseless now, for he had used all his force to launch his last attack. Tsai screamed as Ryu Wo's claws destroyed part of his cloth and cut his skin. He fell to the ground, while Ryu Wo looked at him with hatred. Then he looked back at Bithet, who was standing up with great effort. He was seriously injured, and his skin was burnt and deformed.
-I'm fine -he said-, let's move on.
-Okay.
He didn't want to mention the fact that he looked horrible now. They left Tsai lying on the ground, with blood pouring out of his cuts.
-Yuki... -Tsai whispered, before losing consciousness.

 

This is a work of fiction. Original story by Masami Kurumada. Copyright 1986 Saint Seiya. All rights reserved.