Post by Hayate on Jun 19, 2009 20:50:12 GMT -5
Tales of the Epitaph
Chapter 16: The Return to LeGable
~ Valley of Sif Berg, Kingdom of Mac Anu ~
~ Sayaday, Gorre-Lunae 30, AC2038 ~
*the underground battle between Ren and Hartz rages on*
Ren: Lei Zas!
*Ren shoots multiple beams of light from her staff; Hartz dashes about the chamber and evades the beams, letting them crash into the walls of rocks behind him; the relentless abuse to the landscape continues to shake its foundation*
Hartz: Ani Zot!
*with his palm pointed forward, Hartz opens a toothy pit to the darkness; Ren rolls out of the way of the attack, but not before one of the pit’s “teeth” grazes her ankle*
Ren: Nngh!
Hartz: Heh! Ready to concede yet, Renanthera?
Ren: Hmph! Does this answer your question!? Zan Rom!
*swinging her staff in a back-to-front motion, Ren sends a fierce gust of wind Hartz’ way; Hartz attempts to defend himself against the whirlwind, but the sheer force of it sends him flying back into a rock wall*
Hartz: Agh!
Ren: (There’s my opening!)
*Ren dashes forward in an attempt to strike at Hartz up-close; sensing Ren’s approach, Hartz recovers and retaliates with several flying bolts of black lightning; Ren evades the lightning bolts coming at her and, once several feet away from Hartz, jumps up and brings her staff down upon him; Hartz defends with his blade*
Ren: Argh…!
Hartz: Grrrr…!
*with Ren in close quarters, Hartz pours black electric energy from his blade*
Ren: *gasp*
*the proximity of the two causes them both to be jolted by Hartz’ attack*
Ren: AAAGGGHHH!!!
*Ren pulls away and distances herself from Hartz to recover her strength*
Hartz: *panting*
Ren: *panting* That was…rather impulsive of you…Kenpachi…!
Hartz: *raises blade* When one is driven to the thin line between victory and defeat, one is forced to resort to…unconventional tactics.
*raising her staff, Ren assumes an attack stance again*
Ren: …
Hartz: …
*at that moment, Kazuto’s group enters the group from an entrance on one end of the chamber, while Shiro and Kaori enter from another end*
Kazuto: Ren!
Ren: Kazu!
Hartz: You still live… Then Kyuzo has failed…again…
Saber: …
Shiro: First was Kyuzo… *draws dual swords* …Now it’s your turn, Hartz!
Ren: Stay back!
Shiro: R-Ren?
Ren: *raises staff* …This is my fight.
Kaori: But, Ren! He’s too strong for you to take on by yourself!
Ren: Even so…this is something I alone must do. I’m sorry. I know I’m being selfish.
*as Ren turns to face the party, she and Kazuto meet eye-to-eye*
Kazuto: …
Ren: …
Kazuto: … *nods* Alright. I understand.
Ren: …Thank you.
*facing forward again, Ren charges towards Hartz alone*
Ren: Hyaaaaaaah!
Saber: Are you certain about this, Sir Kazuto?
Kazuto: Ren and Hartz are both Gadelican survivors. Whatever problems they have to sort out, they have to sort them out on their own. It isn’t our place to interfere.
Kaeion: …Plus two magic users going head-to-head ought to make for one hell of a show.
*thrusting his blade down, Hartz sends several bolts of black lightning through the ground towards Ren; Ren immediately leaps up to avoid the attack*
Hartz: Heh! Nowhere to run to now!
*pointing his blade forward, Hartz sends another black lightning bolt at Ren, knowing full well she couldn’t evade while airborne*
Ren: Holy waters, dance madly! Rue Kruz!
*Ren conjures water and whips its around her body; as it travels, the water absorbs Hartz’ attack, forming an electric “snake” of water*
Hartz: !!!
Ren: Right back…at you!
*upon accomplishing this, Ren propels the lightning-conducted water at Hartz, both drenching him and sending electricity through his system*
Hartz: AAAHHH!!!
Ren: (Now!)
*once again, Ren attempts to strike at Hartz up-close; Hartz struggles to recover and fends Ren off with his blade, and the two meet in a clash of weapons; unfortunately, Ren’s most recent attack had left Hartz weakened, and he finds himself being forced back*
Hartz: Argh…!
Ren: Now it’s your turn to concede!
Hartz: Tch! I think not!
*in that instant, the chemical makeup of Hartz’ body collapses and he vanishes in a swirl of black dust*
Ren: *gasp*
*moments later, Hartz’ body reassembles behind Ren and he slashes deep into her back with his blade*
Ren: GAAAAAHHHHH!!!!!
All: REN!!!
*now motionless on the stone ground, Ren weakly watches as Hartz positions himself above her; he raises his blade and prepares to end Ren’s life*
Ren: *groan*
Hartz: This…is where it ends, Renanthera.
Ren: …!!!
*just before Hartz could deal the final blow, Ren jerks her fingers to conjure magic; several stalactites from the ceiling are loosened and fly into Hartz’ back…*
Hartz: Gah!!!
*…coercing him into dropping his blade*
Ren: (Now’s my chance!)
*leaping up to her feet, Ren brandishes her staff and positions herself to strike; fearful that she was gonna strike him, Hartz shields himself with his arms*
Ren: HYAAAAAAAH!!!!!
*however, Ren’s target was not Hartz, but rather his fallen weapon; swinging her staff with all her might, Ren strikes Hartz’ rapier with such a force that causes the blade to break in two*
Hartz: *gasp*
*weakened and defenseless, Hartz falls to his knees before Ren*
Hartz: … *looks up at Ren*
Ren: *points staff at Hartz* …I win, Kenpachi.
Hartz: …Heh. I suppose you do. Well done…Ren.
*in the wake of Ren’s victory, Kazuto and the others cheer loudly for her*
Kaori: Yay, Ren! You did it!
Kaeion: Huh… Not bad.
*returning to his feet, Hartz looks ahead at Ren intently*
Hartz: …You’ve grown impressively, Renanthera. It’s amazing how much you’ve changed from the little girl who always ran to the comfort and safety of her brother’s arms.
Ren: I’m not as helpless as I was back then, Kenpachi. And it’s like I told you before: Even though Kaga is no longer alive, his spirit lives on within my staff…and within me…
Hartz: …Before I pegged you and the rest of your party for sentimental fools. But after seeing you best me here today, perhaps I was mistaken. Your resolve is of a kind I’ve not witnessed before, Renanthera. Both yours… *looks at Kazuto* …and his.
Kazuto: …
*just then, the structural integrity of the cavern reaches its limit due to the battle, and the earth shakes its most violent*
Kaori: W-Whoa!
Shiro: Another quake! And it’s a big one!
Saber: We must escape from here before we’re buried alive! Miss Ren!
Ren: Right!
*looking back towards Hartz, Ren notices him vanishing in a swirl of black dust again; before vanishing completely, Hartz’ voice calls out to Ren once last time*
Hartz: …When next we meet, Renanthera…
Ren: …Likewise, Kenpachi…
*as soon as Ren joins the others, the 6-man party makes towards the cavern exit and manage to make it safely just as the cavern collapses into itself*
Shiro: *panting* Yet another close shave… I sincerely hope I don’t have to make a living of this…
Kaori: Here, Ren. Let me tend to your wounds.
Ren: Yes. Thank you, Kaori.
Saber: …
Kaeion: …Take a picture. It’ll last longer.
Saber: …You’re sure about taking this man back to LeGable, Sir Kazuto?
Kazuto: No point in splitting up now. Besides…I made a promise. And I intend to keep it. …But…just to be safe…
*under Kazuto’s instruction, Saber takes out a thin cloth and binds Kaeion’s hands together*
Kaeion: *sarcastically* Awww, what’s the matter? Don’t you trust me?
Saber: To be blunt, no, I don’t. I do, however, trust in Sir Kazuto’s judgment. So mark my words: If you do anything that would betray that judgment, I won’t hesitate to strike you down.
Kaeion: You knights of Lumina Cloth sure are big on honor, aren’t you?
Saber: Someone such as yourself wouldn’t grasp the concept.
Kazuto: How much farther to LeGable, Ren?
Ren: Hmm… *glances at the surrounding landscape* …A little over a day, judging from our position.
Shiro: Time to set out already? *sigh* Never a moment’s rest for this group, is there? Heh.
*once Ren’s wounds were completely healed, the party sets out for LeGable once again*
~ Atrum Neux Headquarters ~
Nanao: …I received word from Hartz a few hours ago… Kyuzo is dead.
Beatrice: …
Nanao: …Beatrice?
Beatrice: And Hartz? Where is he right now?
Nanao: Uh, he…hadn’t included that information in his notice.
Beatrice: … *sigh* Little by little, my patience goes thinner and thinner…
Nanao: You want us to go after them, boss?
Beatrice: …No. They were on their way back to the capital, right? As soon as they’re inside the city walls, we won’t be able to touch them.
Mitsuru: …Back to square one…
Beatrice: Keep an eye on them. The second they’re outside, move in. And do NOT let them get away again.
Nanao: There’s something else, Beatrice. Remember the captain of the S.S. Twilight?
Beatrice: What about him?
Nanao: He apparently made contact with engineers from the aerial city some time yesterday.
Beatrice: …Really…? Now I wonder what the good captain Ciel’s up to…
~ Albaday, Gorre-Lunae 31, AC2038 ~
*a little over a day later, Kazuto and company reach the outskirts of LeGable sometime after the sun had gone down*
Shiro: …There it is. The Mac Anu capital of LeGable.
Kaori: Wow… It must be five times bigger than Arche Haokar.
Saber: It certainly is impressive.
Kazuto: …
Ren: …Kazu…
Shiro: So, Kazu, what exactly is your plan for getting us into the castle?
Kazuto: Huh? …O-Oh, right. Actually, would it be alright if we waited until tomorrow. We may not be able to get into the castle, but we should be able to go through the main city streets with no problem. So let’s stay at the inn for tonight, and we’ll figure out how get inside the castle in the morning.
All: *nods*
*taking Kazuto’s advice, the group enters the capital city and stays at the inn for the night; Kazuto, unable to sleep, walks out onto the inn’s upper-floor balcony; there, he’s treated to a panoramic view of the castle*
Kazuto: …
*before long, Ren would join him*
Ren: Kazu? What’s wrong?
Kazuto: Hmm? *turns around* Oh, it’s you, Ren. It’s nothing. I was just…having trouble sleeping, that’s all.
Ren: …You’re afraid to face your father…aren’t you?
Kazuto: Heh. You can read me like a book. *looks up at the castle* Getting into the castle is one thing. But facing Father is another thing entirely. I… I dunno if I…
*just then, Ren takes a hold of Kazuto’s hand*
Ren: You’re not gonna face him alone, Kazu. Your friends are here to back you up. Shiro, Saber, Kaori…and me. We’re all here for you.
Kazuto: …I’m grateful to you, Ren. For everything. If Risa Fujino hadn’t sent you that day to protect me…
Ren: …
Kazuto: …
: *ahem* Am I interrupting something?Kazuto/Ren: …Hmm?
*glancing to the side, Kazuto and Ren discover Zero standing on top of the balcony guardrail*
Zero: Greetings.
*almost immediately, Ren releases Kazuto’s hand from her grip and the two distance themselves from each other while their faces glowed bright red*
Zero: Hehehe. Perhaps I should’ve come at a later time.
Ren: *ahem* W-What are you doing here, Zero?
Zero: Stargazing.
Kazuto/Ren: *sweatdrop* …
Zero: …What? LeGable happens to have a breathtaking view of the moon and stars at this time of night.
Ren: Zero…
Zero: *sigh* Alright, alright. …It appears that man Hartz has severed all communications with Atrum Neux. At the moment, I’m unsure if that means he’s left them, so I’ll investigate further.
Ren: I understand. Thank you, Zero. Is there anything else?
Zero: …As a matter of fact…there is.
*reaching up to his face, Zero removes his sunglasses and glares at Kazuto and Ren with his deep blue eyes*
Zero: …I’ve discovered what Sakaki is up to.
Kazuto/Ren: …?
~ Magiday, Gorre-Lunae 32, AC2038 ~
*the following morning, Kazuto and the others assemble outside the city limits to discuss their plan to infiltrate the castle*
Shiro: Well? Enough with the suspense, Kazuto. What’s your plan?
Kazuto: My plan, Shiro…is this.
*lifting his leg back a little, Kazuto pounds at the ground with the tip of his boot; the ground makes a metallic thud-like sound*
Kazuto: Guess what we’re standing on right now.
Shiro: …Wait… You don’t mean…
Kazuto: Yup! The castle catacombs!
Ren: Like the ones under Lia Fail?
Kazuto: Mm-hmm. Around the time Shiro and I first met, we’d use to play hide and seek in the catacombs all the time.
Shiro: So this was your big plan to get us inside… Heh. I should’ve seen it coming.
*reaching down to the ground, Kazuto sifts through the fake grass and grasps the handle to open the entrance into the catacombs*
Kazuto: There might be guards patrolling down there, so keep your guard up.
*one by one, the party climbs down into the tunnels below the city, with Kazuto following close behind them; just as Kazuto had warned, the party indeed encounters members of the Mac Anu Royal Guard; upon catching sight of Kazuto, they attempt to take him into custody, but the party easily overpower and subdue them and progress further through the tunnel; eventually, the group’s trek leads them to another ladder that leads up into a castle corridor several passages away from the throne room; peeking out through the iron lid, Kazuto glances around in search of nearby guards*
Kazuto: …Okay. Coast is clear. Let’s go.
*now inside the castle walls, the group sneaks its way through its various passages, inching ever closer to the throne room and making sure they aren’t seen by kingdom personnel*
Shiro: The throne room should be right down this hallway. It’s now or never. You ready, Kazu?
Kazuto: *nods* Completely.
*walking out into the open, the group begins its final approach to the throne room*
Shiro: …
Ren: …
Saber: …
Kaori: …
Kaeion: …
Kazuto: …
*just then, a group of Mac Anu guards steps out to intercept them, each armed with swords and shields*
All: !!!
Shiro: It’s an ambush!
Saber: They predicted our arrival!?
: Of course we did.*from out of the group of armored guards emerges a man with green hair*
Sakaki: …Welcome home…your Majesty Prince Kazuto.
Kazuto: *grits teeth* Sakaki!
Sakaki: I do hope you’ll forgive me for the discourteous reception. But like I said -- for the sake of the world, I have no choice. *points palm towards Kazuto* Dispose of them!
*at Sakaki’s command, the guards charges towards the party*
Kazuto: You leave us no choice either! *draws sword* Let’s go, guys!
*the others draw their weapons as well, and an all-out battle erupts; the party overpowers the guards, but more simply appear as the battle progresses*
Kaori: *panting* There’s…too many of them…!
Ren: We can’t keep this up much longer!
Sakaki: Then by all means…allow me to put an end to this…myself!
*Sakaki raises his arms and points the palm of his hand towards the ceiling; as he concentrates his energies, a magical seal appears on the ground below his feet*
Sakaki: O power born from the depths of nothingness, o divine elements of creation…
Ren/Shiro/Saber/Kaori: !!!
Sakaki: …Heed my call and cast thy holy judgment upon thine enemies…
*as Sakaki chants, six spheres begin to materialize around the party -- one red, one blue, one yellow, one green, one white, and one black*
Kazuto: W-What are you…!?
Sakaki: …I condemn thee with the heavenly light of destruction! VANQUISH!!![/b][/size]
*with the completion of Sakaki’s chant, the six spheres converge upon the party and engulf them in an explosion of elemental power*
All: AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!
*when the smoke clears, the party is left on the ground, immensely weakened; only Kaeion was left standing, as he was outside the range of Sakaki’s spell*
Shiro: …Nngh…
Saber: …Ugh…
Guard 1: Your orders, milord?
Sakaki: …Lock them all up.
Guard 2: *points sword at Kaeion* Him as well?
Kaeion: …
Sakaki: …So much for the infamous “Adept Rogue”. Twice the expertise of Atrum Neux, and three times the amount of weaponry at your disposal, and still you failed.
Kaeion: …
Sakaki: …Lock him up with the rest of them. I shall finish the job that Lumina Cloth was unable to. At sunset…they’re all to be executed.
*the guards lift up the lifeless bodies of Kazuto and his friends and carry them towards the prison area, but before they could be carried away…*
: What is going on out here!?Kazuto: …That voice…
*everyone turns towards the throne room to see…*
Guards: !!!
Sakaki: Y-Your Majesty King Shirai!
*before the group now stood the king of Mac Anu, Shirai Ryo Anu-Takeuchi*
Kazuto: (…Father…!)
TO BE CONTINUED…
