Saint Seiya Fan Fiction ❯ Kage no Seinto (Saints of the Shadow) ❯ A Slash in the Darkness ( Chapter 9 )

As the threatening cosmo came to the final House, the last Shadow Saint awaited their arrival. It was Tamiel of Shadow Pisces. He was meditating, concentrating for the combat. He opened his eyes and saw the entrance. His memories rushed through his mind, but he managed to stay focused.
-That strange cosmo coming from Shadow Aquarius…So, you have come...
The Demoniac ran up the stairs. Only three were left: Virgo Demoniac, Sagittarius Demoniac and Aries Demoniac. As they arrived at the last house they looked back, they hadn't noticed that their comrades had disappeared.
-They're gone -Vlad muttered.
-Azrael's cosmo… It's... Very faint, but…
-Hikari's completely gone... Is she dead? -Vlad finished.

The Demoniac realized there was not time to lose, so they continued into the House. They entered the House, and they noticed that a very deep fog was appearing gradually.
-What is this? -Kumbha asked in quite a shock.
-It is known as a scarlet fog -Vlad answered, in a mocking tone.
-Why? Are you afraid?
The Demoniac stood in a guard position, but they realized that the fog was dissipating and they saw a figure.
-I, Tamiel of Shadow Pisces, will end your venture in the sanctuary! You will pay for your intrusion!
-I heard that before, haven't we? -Kumbha said.
Tida and Vlad nodded.
-Oh, right… From your partners.
The anger in Tamiel's face was evident, and his cosmo started to burn.
-Shadow Scythe! -He exclaimed as he ran towards them.
-I will deal with him -Kumbha said-. Satelite Absorption!
Both attacks met in the middle; however, after the light faded away, Tamiel was not there anymore. The fog started to reappear. The Demoniac looked worried. As they waited for the attack, a melody started to tune. It was a harmonious melody; they found it disturbing, although it was beautiful. They realized it was Tamiel's voice.
-I call this tune, Orcus Requiem -Tamiel said, as he continued to tune it.
The Demoniac were confused.
-It is a perfect melody, as you are going to die...
The Demoniac realized what the tune was doing. Each note made them lose bits of their energy.
-Shadow Scythe!
A scream was heard after those words.
 

The fog started to faint away, Vlad and Tida saw Kumbha's body lying on the floor with cuts on his cloth. He wasn't moving. Tamiel was there, looking at him with despite. With a cold look, he stared at the remaining Demoniac, repulsed; he was lost in his anger. Tida advanced towards him, with the same look.
-Mental Distortion! -Tida exclaimed.
Without saying anything else, he ran towards Tamiel. His face showed the indignation he felt for being unable to save his fellow Demoniac. Tamiel wasn't ready and received the entire blow. His body rolled through the floor, as his head started to hurt.
While dealing with a number of horrifying images being projected in his mind, Tida took advantage and hit him with his knee making the floor break, and he started punching him whilst he remained on the floor. Vlad watched this with amusement and surprise. He never saw Tida react like this.
-Bastard…
Then he stood up and went on to the exit of the house Vlad just followed.

-Wait…
The two Demoniac turned back.
-How could I have been considered a saint if I couldn't manage to receive a few hits? -Tamiel said, with a small smile in his face.
He stood up, still smiling. It seemed that he enjoyed fighting.
-I will kill you this time -Tida said, calmly.
-A… Apocaly...
Tamiel could hardly stand up. The atmosphere started to get darker and darker until only his hands could be seen. He hit his hands with each other and prepared to attack. It seemed as if in his hands an enormous power was being held. He concentrated and started to run. So did Tida.
-Apocalyptica!
-Mental Distortion! -Tida exclaimed right after him.
Both powers clashed, and Tida flew through the air while his cloth broke. Tamiel was thrown towards the wall and broke through it, due to the enormous power of the two attacks, falling down the cliff, disappearing into the darkness. Tida hit the roof but Vlad caught him before he landed. Tamiel could not perform his attack in optimum conditions due to Tida's first attack. Still, Tida resulted seriously injured.
-Con... Continue…
His voice could be hardly heard. Vlad left the House, and Tida fell unconscious in a matter of seconds.

Meanwhile, in the House of Shadow Scorpio, Rao's body was still frozen. Although his body had become numb, and he was about to close his eyes, he wanted to free himself from his cold prison. His cosmo started to glow dark blue, and the ice started to melt.
-Ah, finally! Damn them, Demoniac…
He looked right next to him. There was another body lying on the floor.
-Nice to see you too, Capricorn Demoniac! -He said, laughing.
In a matter of minutes, he was beginning to fully recover from the paralysis caused by his own attack. He walked to the entrance of the House, and checked if there was any person getting close to his House.
-There's no one.
But then he saw two beings moving rapidly towards his House. He identified them as Demoniac.
-Damn! They must have recovered from previous fights.
Ryu Wo and Bithet did not waste time on introductions.
-Venomous Claws!
-Acidic Spores! -Bithet exclaimed at the same time.
Luckily, Rao evaded both the attacks, and backed off.
-For your convenience, I haven't prepared any traps for you -Rao said-. But who cares? This House will be your grave anyways.
Both Demoniac saw Lorelei's body behind Rao, still frozen.
-Very clever of Hikari... -Bithet thought.
-Paralyzing Needle! -Rao exclaimed.

The dark blue rays hit Ryu Wo in the chest. He was blown all the way to the stairs. Rao laughed in his somewhat usual cruel voice.
-This Shadow Saint... -Ryu Wo muttered, as he stood up.
Bithet raised his left arm smoothly, pointing at Rao. Nothing happened.
-What are you doing? Pointing me to death?
-Not really -Ryu Wo said-, he has just used his most powerful attack.
-What?!
-My spores are not only acidic, you see... Some of them can create hallucinations -Bithet said.
It was true. Rao began to see the colors differently. The images started to become distorted, and he was losing control of his limbs.
-How... How couldn't I see them...?
He couldn't be defeated by just one attack. For instants, the colors went back to normal, and he could begin to move his limbs again. He screamed as his cosmo began to increase.
-Finish him -Bithet said-, before he goes back to normal.
-Venomous Claws! -Ryu Wo exclaimed.
-Too late! -Rao yelled.
He grabbed Ryu Wo's arm, twisted it, and pushed him away. He was still under the effect of the spores, and the only reason he still had control of his body was due to his cosmo.
-You've forced me to do this. -Ryu Wo said.
Rao gasped in horror as he saw how four pliers appeared from Ryu Wo's back.
-How...?
-You would not even understand it if I tell you -Ryu Wo said-. You'll die in here, so why would you care? Venomous Claws!

This time, Ryu Wo used his four pliers to attack Rao, who could not evade the attack and fell to the ground with his cloth broken. Ryu Wo kept attacking him until the point in which Rao could not defend himself.

-It's the first time in a long time I've seen you using your pliers -Bithet said.
He was standing next to a pillar, watching the fight. Rao's cloth was severely broken, perhaps even dead, and his skin had lots of cuts. Blood was pouring to the floor. Ryu Wo hid his four pliers and looked back at Bithet.
-I felt like I needed to use them.
-I think we should keep going.

As they left, Rao began to move again.
-Don't you dare... -He said.
The Demoniac turned back. Rao was standing up, with his cloth falling down, but his cosmo was still increasing.
-He might become pretty dangerous... -Bithet said.
-Let's finish him together! Venomous Claws!
-Acidic Spores!
Their attacks joined as they ran together to finish Rao.
-Excalibur! -Rao exclaimed.
Their attacks nulled each other, and the three are pushed back. Bithet and Ryu Wo's cloths began to break a little bit.
-Not even with your powers...Not even with them you could evade my gift...
-Fantasy Strike!
The attack hit Rao by surprise, in the back. He fell to the ground. Behind him, Lorelei stood up, with her cuts cicatrized and her body still covered with some pieces of ice. It was obvious that it was hard for her to breathe.
-Magnificent appearance, Lorelei - Bithet said.
-I...
-Now, let's go.
Lorelei followed Ryu Wo and Bithet. The three began running through the Houses, although Lorelei was far from them by the time they reached the House of Shadow Sagittarius.

 

 

 

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