Curseborn Saga - Fade to Black (14 page)

What seemed like shades of constant fighting wore on, and Remi did not know how much longer she could continue listening to what sounded like an entire civilization crumbling. Remi soon realized that the training grounds were encased in their own unique wards, for each time one of the pillars was about to crumble from one of their deflected blows, it seemed to repair itself in that very instant and remain standing. Their fight soon took to the outer sky, each of them landing on one of the giant floating chunks of earth surrounding the Valyti. For a second they paused, and Remi could make out dabs of blood that dripped from Sakura’s lips and a triumphant smile that was curving across Lady Enies’s face. Sakura seemed to collapse to her knees momentarily, grasping the earth beneath her fingers to balance herself. Lady Enies launched at the opportunity and the two resumed their fatalistic battle in the sky.

She can’t win,
thought Remi
. Enies is just too powerful . . .

XIII – The Master of the Forest

S
torm’s eyes were completely locked on Caim when it happened. Out of the shadows, a massive creature with scales of midnight and eyes redder than blood exploded out of the trees. He watched in terror as the demonic beast launched upwards, closing its razor-lined jaw over the tail of the unsuspecting Chameleoth and started falling back to the forest, dragging the flying beast down with it.

“CAIM!!!!”

Storm was forced to stop and clamp his hands over his ears as the Chameleoth released a deafening scream that made him feel like his eardrums were splitting. He stared forward in anguish. There, before him, was the Chameleoth, fighting with all its might to stay airborne. He could see the predator clearly, its crimson eyes flaring in the night, the dark black scales smeared with the Chameleoth’s blood. The wings running up its forearms were powerful and thick, balancing the creature as it retreated from its initial attack. The monster clung to the side of a tree, sending jagged
cracks
down the trunk. It was nearly as big as the Chameleoth. Storm watched as it hammered its black spiked tail into the side of the tree, releasing a stench that made him feel instantly nauseated.

Storm’s face filled with horror, for he immediately knew what had befallen them.

“CAIM!” he screamed. “RUN!! IT’S A FLARE!!!”

Caim swore as he lost his balance. He watched the ferocity of the beast as he fell, as if in slow motion, digging its massive claws into the trunk of a tree, stabilizing itself before launching upwards again into the sky, violently slashing at the legs of the Chameleoth with its claws. In mid-fall Caim caught a branch, swung his body underneath and back-flipped onto the branch, landing on his feet. His hand instinctively shot to the hilt of his Fallblade and without a second thought he was dashing straight at the Kushala Flare. He watched the monster jump again, right before him, and sink its massive fangs into the Chameleoth’s tail. Blood splattered in giant puddles on the ground beneath the clashing giants.

“Let him go!!!” screamed Caim, raising his blade above his head as he shot upwards out of the clearing like a white flash.

“Are you crazy!?” roared Storm as he saw his brother swatted out of midair like a fly. Caim’s body shot into the forest and disappeared. The screams of the Chameleoth echoed throughout the entire forest. Storm saw the blood drip down the Kushala’s pearly white fangs and over its mouth just before the Chameleoth’s tail was ripped from its body. The tail fell downwards and crashed through the branches, snapping them like twigs. The Chameleoth struggled with all its might to keep flying, but he knew that the creature had already lost a great amount of blood.

I can’t believe I’m about to do this.

Storm landed on one final branch for a half second before grasping the hilt of his katana and Flashing straight towards the black-winged monster, which was coiled against the side of a tree preparing to attack again. Just before it did, Storm Flashed before it, drawing his blade. He felt like he was colliding with a mountain as his katana
screeched
across the metallic black scales of the demonic creature. His hands shook violently as he tried to pierce the Kushala’s steel-like scales. High above them the Chameleoth was frantically attempting to fly away, only managing to crash into the far off treetops before descending beneath them. A loud crack was all Storm could hear after it fell beyond the trees. And then all he could hear was deep, treacherous growling.

Storm ducked as the beast rushed towards him. In an instant, he retreated back and landed on a branch, slowly turning to face the Kushala Flare. The monster seemed injured from Storm’s blow and was scraping along the sides of a tree with its claws trying to steady itself. Two crimson eyes full of anger and fury glared at Storm as he made eye contact with the great beast. A spike of fear ran through his body as he watched the tree holding the beast crack down the center and begin to fall, causing the dark monster to dash into the depths of the forest. A flash of silver caught Storm’s attention as Caim took off underneath him towards the fallen Chameleoth. With only the sound of growling behind him, Storm dashed toward the edge of the forest. Moments later he landed softly on the ground before the lake Senyria. The last bits of silvery mist faded from Storm’s body.

The Blood Aura wore off already!? Not now!

Storm felt a great surge of pain and his hand shot to his chest. He fell to one knee as the fatigue of his technique came over him. From his side, he could hear scratching and crying as the Chameleoth dragged itself across the cold dirt. Storm’s limbs felt extremely heavy. He could barely keep his eyes open. If only he could just rest them for a moment …

This … isn’t good. Talk about bad timing.
He could taste blood in his mouth.

A second later, Caim burst from the trees, Flashing past Storm and stopping next to the maimed Chameleoth. Whimpering like a newborn animal, it could no longer walk, and one of its rear legs had been broken in the fall. A giant hole was pouring blood where its tail used to be. The sight was horrifying. Storm stared into the eyes of the creature that was no longer fierce and bold, but weakened and full of fear. The stench of blood was strong in the air, smarting Caim’s senses—the Kushala Flare would not give up so easily. It was then that a voice resonated within his mind.

“
Leave me be, young ones …”
The voice was incredibly weakened. “
For you do not have the power to withstand the might of that which hunts me.”

For a second Storm didn’t understand. Did something just speak to him? And then his eyes fell upon the eyes of the injured beast. Before he could answer, Caim spoke.

“Never,” said Caim, turning to face the growling of the forest. Taking the deepest breath he could, Caim screamed at the top of his lungs. “If you want to hurt my friend, you’re going to have to go through me!!”

A sudden roar ripped through the forest like thunder. Storm turned to face the Kushala Flare stalking out and into the light. Its clawed feet sank heavily into the ground as it came closer, saliva dripping from its sharp and bloodied fangs. It was staring directly at him. No, not at him—its complete attention was on the injured Chameleoth, as if the scent of its blood brought on a visceral craving within the creature. Storm reached for his katana, and felt the presence of Caim walk past him.

“Caim, no …” Storm croaked. So much of his strength had been drained. Caim’s body was blurring, and it seemed as if three forms of his brother were walking away from him. Flashes of himself as a child bleeding in the dark forest alone came unto his mind. A silhouetted Flare stalked out of the trees. He shook away the thoughts.

“Caim …” he tried again, but still only a whisper.

Storm froze as he felt Caim’s aura emanating strongly from his body. His brother was glowing furiously, white flames rippling from his very being and his aura resonating in a way that Storm had never seen before. He could feel him like the sun on a hot day. Caim walked straight towards the Kushala Flare, clenching tightly to the hilt of his Fallblade.

“Caim, wait!” Storm tried to yell. And that was when he saw it. Directly underneath the Kushala Flare’s throat was a silvery white patch of fur. His eyes grew wide as memories of that night long ago came back to him. He was a child back then, no older than eight cycles young. He had been crying. It had been raining in his memories and all he could see was the massive body of the same Kushala lurking towards him from the shadows, rising great and tall, and just before it struck …

“
It seems fate has brought us together once again, Fangless.”
But this voice was different than the voice of the Chameleoth. This time, it was cold, like a whisper of Death.

“Caim …” Storm gasped. “It’s him!” He watched as the Kushala came to a stop and raised its head, glaring at Caim.

“
How long has it been since that rainy night, I wonder? Too long, I imagine … yes, I remember now. Hearing the sound of your howling as you cried. If it wasn’t for the Ghost of the Forest, neither of you would be standing before me.”
Storm could feel the monster glaring into him, and he felt as if its gaze was ripping him apart from the inside.

“
Black Rain … how you’ve grown.”
The monster diverted his eyes from Storm to Caim.
“And you, Silvers Fangless, this would be the second time you stand foolishly before me.”

Caim slowly turned to face Storm, then pointed at the Kushala. “Do we know this giant black tree spirit? I didn’t even know tree spirits got this big!”

Storm nearly fainted.
Are you kidding me!?

“
I AM NOT A TREE SPIRIT!!”
The Kushala Flare stood proudly and forced out its chest.
“I am Kreitos, son of Beliosr the Great—and Master of this Forest!”
His tail twitched around behind him.

“Sure look like a tree spirit to me,” said Caim. Storm smacked his own forehead.

“You idiot, he doesn’t look anything like a tree spirit …” muttered Storm.

“
You will pay for your insolence, Fangless! Do not insult the Master of the Forest and expect to live. But before I kill you – I will devour that which you protect! I will crush the last life from the Cloaker you so foolishly defend! Never forget that this is my forest!”
He released a second thundering roar that shook the trees and sent a strong gust of wind past Caim’s face.

“Like I’ll let you,” said Caim, his voice growling with threat.

“Oh? You think you have the strength to protect the Cloaker? It has been bitten. It will die whether you want it to or not. And so will you, Silvers Fangless!!”

Caim’s stared fiercely into the cruel eyes of the beast. He stood only a few feet away, easily within the reach of its blade-like claws. The monstrous beast towered over Caim, snapping its jaw ravenously but not moving forward, as if it were somehow intimidated. It slammed its tail down on the ground and began pacing back and forth, yet still not daring to move forward.

“I do have the strength,” Caim said through clenched teeth. “Try me.”

Storm struggled to move forward but he was completely drained. Using Blood Aura outside of Inner Depths had proved to be at least twice as draining on his body than he had anticipated, and his shaky legs would not support him. But he had to do something! He had to help Caim—he didn’t remember what he was getting himself into. He wasn’t remembering that night from long ago when Death had nearly taken them. Storm swore loudly and tried to stand again.

He froze as he saw a flash of movement from Caim’s direction. Kreitos lunged at Caim, swiping its claws straight towards Caim’s face. With surprising agility, Caim ducked and struck the black beast straight in the chest with his free fist. A terrible gasp came forth from the beast. Quickly recovering, it lunged forward, sinking its claws into Caim’s shoulder. A half second later the beast was opening its jaws, inches away from Caim’s head, but in a wisp of wind, Storm watched his brother vanish.

“DAMMIT THAT HURT!” screamed Caim, reappearing behind the monster. He grasped his shoulder with his right hand; blood quickly soaked through his fingers.

Kreitos roared at the smell of Caim’s blood and lunged again, this time faster and more bloodthirsty. Caim drew his Fallblade just in time to slide its blade against the sword-like teeth of Kreitos. He could have easily fit in the creature’s mouth with room to spare. Its purple tongue had thousands of deep-set grooves used for peeling the fur off of beasts before consuming them. Long, thick strands of saliva seeped down Caim’s blade.

“
I’ve been waiting too long for this, Silvers Fangless! I will have my vengeance for that night long ago! We Kushala never forget those whom we have chosen as our prey! Unfortunately, the Ghost is not here to save you this time.”

Caim closed his eyes as Kreitos slid his teeth down the Fallblade; the sound was of screeching swords. At the last second, Caim dropped his guard, spun just inches out of the way of the descending fangs and drew his sword across the monster’s body in a silvery flash that left a streaking line across the air. Kreitos howled loudly in pain and recoiled, blood dripping heavily from its side.

“
You’ll bleed for that, Fangless! You’ll bleed! I’ll devour you whole and then rip the bones from your kin one by one!”
Caim stood up and turned to face the creature; a dark shadow covered his face.

And then he heard it. Two words that sent chills straight down Storm’s spine.

“
Get lost
,” said Caim, his eyes a fiery blue under the shadows.

Storm’s eyes grew wide and he felt a strange sensation come over his body. The moment Caim had spoken, he had felt as if an invisible force had passed over him, rendering his body completely motionless. It was as if the very strength of Caim’s inner will had become solidified in the form of his energy. For a second, the Kushala Flare shuddered as if it had felt threatened.

“Caim?”

Suddenly, the trees of Neverend began to move and sway; leaves arced back and forth as a strong wind came upon them. Something strange was happening that Storm couldn’t put his finger on, almost as if the trees had suddenly become a part of Caim. He felt the forest was now Caim’s ally and was feeding him more power, empowering him far beyond his normal form.

No … it’s not just the trees,
thought Storm, looking around
. It’s everything. The Spirit of the Forest … is it protecting him?
Storm could feel the same movement of energy in the air from the lake, the trees, the creatures and the ground.

Kreitos’s flaring eyes darted back and forth. Slowly, he circled away from Storm and the Chameleoth. The fur on its back stood on end and its small wings stretched outwards, as if trying to intimidate Caim. And then Caim started walking straight toward it, an ardent white aura flaming from his body, growing more and more powerful by the second.

“I said
get lost
!” A huge blast of energy cracked the ground around Caim. Storm had to shield his eyes from strong gusts of wind. Kreitos crept away from Caim and came before the base of Neverend, turning around just before the towering trees. And then Storm saw it. A flash of unrest among the darkness, moving slowly towards them from the trees. He squinted his eyes, attempting to glimpse what it was. An uneasy feeling came over him, and his fingers found his hilt. Just then, the figure of a young girl, unlike any other he had ever seen emerged from the lining of dark trees.