“And do what? Your people don’t want you! We’d get nothing out of helping them,” Asher said.
“It matters not…I cannot deny my blood. Do what you want, Asher, but I’m helping them!” Omurai declared.
“If that’s what you want to do, then so be it. I’m with you all the way,” Asher said calmly.
“…you don’t have to do that, Asher,” Omurai said.
“No, but what kind of friend would I be if I left you to run into a battlefield alone? If you’re going to go kill yourself, don’t forget me!” Asher said with a crazy gleam in his eyes.
Omurai laughed, “We’ll live. We still have to find that assassin and beat him down, remember?”
“There’s plenty of my fire to go around, I assure you,” Asher replied, readying his full blade.
The two friends exchanged grins and charged down the field.
***********
Thalys slashed his way through Bladenheart soldiers with his two sabers until he met back up with Rowe, who was taking on the soldiers with two katana. The two met up back to back. The two found it surprisingly easy to mirror each others moves, and in no time they were protecting and attacking in unison.
Suddenly, Thalys saw a fiery explosion in the distance. When he took a better look he saw two lone figures tearing through the Bladenheart army with ease.
“Rowe, who are those two over there?” Thalys asked, motioning towards the eastern battlefield.
“That scarf…I don’t believe it,” Rowe gasped as he took a moment to look at the two figures.
“What? Do you know them?” Thalys asked.
“The one who looks like one of my soldiers with a scarf…I believe that’s Omurai Failyn, but how can that be?” Rowe said in disbelief.
“Who is this Omurai Failyn?” Thalys continued.
“He was a radical nobleman of Altem Tier who used to lead a small portion of our royal guard. However, conflict arose between himself and the royal family, and they basically asked him to leave. Ever since he has been rumored to be roaming the surface of Liteo in search of a new name for himself. He’s dangerously powerful, but can’t control himself at times,” Rowe explained while taking out a few more soldiers.
“Wow…what about that fire adept with him?” Thalys asked.
“I wouldn’t know. Probably just some mercenary he met along his travels,” Rowe answered.
“Do you want me to head over there and greet them?” Thalys offered.
“Oh my no…the last thing I want is that maniac working along-side my soldiers. As long as he stays away from us and keeps killing the enemy, he’s fine,” Rowe said grimly.
“Very well then,” Thalys said calmly.
“I think we have this battle under control for now. You could probably proceed into the fortress after the Adept’s Stone now if you wish,” Rowe said.
“If you say so, then I’m off. Well met Rowe Halzezem!” Thalys said, pushing his way away from the lieutenant.
“Same to you! And good luck!” Rowe said with a smirk. “That kid is crazy…reminds me of myself sometimes,” he said to himself once Thalys was out of view.
Thalys worked fast to close the ground between himself and the southern bridge to Tier Bastion. In no time he was rushing into the fortress walls.
**********
Meanwhile, Ezekiel finally reached the eastern hills where the giants continued to lay waste to the Cloud City soldiers. A pillar of earth shot from the ground, propelling Ezekiel up into the air in front of the first giant. He came down on the giant hard, slamming his scythe into the giant’s shoulder blade and dragging it all across its chest. He hit the ground only to find a boulder flying towards him from the second giant. He raised one hand and the boulder turned to sand, falling to the ground harmless. Ezekiel then turned the ground under the second giant into a puddle of mud, tripping it up. He closed in and brought the blunt end of his scythe to bare. He slammed the blunt end into the giant’s legs, causing it to fall over. Next he jumped on the giant’s back and crushed the back of its skull with a mighty slash of his scythe.
The earth adept looked up to find a third giant jumping down at him. Hundreds of vines sprouted from the ground then, tangling around the giant and hold it in midair. Ezekiel heaved his scythe into the air, using it like a boomerang. The blade hooked into the giant’s left socket, tearing off an entire half side of its face. The vines tossed the limp body aside and reached out towards the soaring scythe. They caught the scythe and swung it towards the remaining two giants. Both giants got tripped by the scythe and rolled down the hill near Ezekiel.
“Mother gaia!” Ezekiel shouted as he caught his scythe and slammed it into the ground. A large cracked formed in the ground and spread towards the two stumbling giants. Suddenly the fissure opened up, shooting out walls of golden energy and rocks upon the giants. Both fell to the ground, dead.
The first giant, which was surprising still alive stood up and stared defiantly at Ezekiel. It had a single hand held to its chest. Its single wound was glowing with a purplish hue…Ezekiel’s scythe’s poison had taken hold. With a final grunt, the giant fell to the ground, also dead.
Triumphant, the earth adept turned towards the battlefield below and grinned. Quickly, he headed back to the battle.
**********
Garis looked up at the lone figure in the eastern hills with amazement. “So, he managed to pull it off solo after all. Truly amazing! I guess he is a ‘Giant Breaker’ after all,” he said with a chuckle. “I’m still not fully sure who these three are or where they came from…but they’re going to determine the outcome of this battle, I feel.”
Kara and Faux continued to work together to keep the enemies at bay. When they noticed no boulders continued to smash nearby, they looked up and nodded at each other knowingly. Their earth adept friend had done his job well. Eager to not let their friends work go to waste, they worked harder at fighting.