Chapter 19. Friends Reunited 2

I stood there in the mixture of dirt and stand, confident and steadfast with my training beside me, there's no way I can lose when facing these two men. The man I deems as Jade got to me first with Jade using his gravity manipulation to pull me towards him as he reels back his right arm. I immediately cross my arms in front of me to tank the shockingly devastating blow, that launched me back quite far. My heels getting dragged in the mixture of dirt and sand, keeping me grounded. Meanwhile I noticed other warrior known as "Jackal" predicting where I'd get launched to attempts to round house kick me with his right leg. However I plunge both my hands into the ground to further slow myself down, while also simultaneously avoiding the blow. His leg flies over my head as I retaliate with same momentum that sent me back, to intact sweeping motion with my right leg to break his sturdy footing in the ground.  

It was thankfully successful, with the only reason being the amount of force that sent me back, making the sweeping motion that much more effective.  Luckily I finally stopped two feet behind him and  cease the moment to lung forward to him while he's off balance. Clenching my first as hard as I can before winding it back, closed the distance between us within milliseconds and delivering a punch to his gut with my right hand. The blow was solid, it was true, and it was a devastating shot. I watched Jackal gets sent back a couple feet, with my arm reeling in pain. Immediately I recognized that pain was from the shock of Jade's initial blow wearing off, honestly despite this amount of pain I could tell that I was more fortunate than most men. A strike like that could've easily punched a whole through serval pieces of layered steel.

 Taking that into consideration, and in all honestly; I might be able to withstand seven to eight blows if I'm lucky. However I only had time for those quick thoughts as Jade appeared behind me and attempts to throw a punch. Jade's first weakness noticed as I dodge and retaliate by turning left a bit to avoid the punch he threw before spinning fully around and landing a direct reverse arm bar with my right arm against his right shoulder. Jade used his magic to propel himself back to avoid the full brunt of damage; sliding backwards to where Jackal might've landed.  Jade looked at his arm as it was jammed into his own shoulder socket. However to my shock he grabs his arm before having it pop out with a simple tug; meanwhile my right arm is once again reeling from the previous damage it took.

"Are you done goofing around Jackal? You're only proving Avorion right, so let's rush him together."

I hear Jade said in a disappointing tone, while we both watched Jackal arise from the blow I had delivered to him as if it had no affect. Jade's power was close to that of a "Gift" perhaps he's related to one of the disciples of the "Great Sage". Meanwhile Jackal from what I can tell is a full blown indominable tank. I take a nice slow breath and close my eyes as focus on the cold feeling in my armor, taking in the sand and dirt beneath my feet. I hear both jackal and Jade getting closer, and I welcome this war of of endurance. I focus on my will to survive and let that take the wheel. This is what "Channeling" is all about.

I then open my eyes feeling bolstered as the pain in my arm subsides for now and start to walk towards them both as they did the same. Eventually we started to run towards each other as Jade and I leaped into the air with the winner having a decisive lead on the second round. I windup my left arm, and Jade followed suit with his right. However I launch my fist first to disrupt his charge up, as he did so as well with that little power behind his spell being enough to cancel out my enhanced strike. The force behind the clash sent out a small shockwave, as we both get pushed back before landing on our feet with Jackal circling us for a moment to strike. Jade and I both close in on each other immediately trying to jab at one another. Somehow neither us landed blows each other, whenever one jabbed, the other masterfully deflected the attack. 

Eventually the more we fought, our strikes kept progressively getting faster and more unpredictable with him using his hands enhanced with his gravity magic to deliver a powerful blow to both sides of my head and leaving me staggering. He then tries to jab again before but I grab his arm and deliver a powerful punch to his torso. Despite the blow, Jade just kept coming as he gets close and tries kicking, but I raise my knee to stop it. What I hadn't expected was him trying again with the other leg as he successfully deliver a kick to my right left shoulder to send me back a couple feet. Staggering me once more as catch myself, but before I could do anything more a set of chains come from the stand and wrap around my arms as Jackal had set the trap while I was too focused on Jade. I try to break free but within a moment Jade was in front of me with his arm radiating dense magic. He looked at me smirking before uttering.

"You let your guard down old friend. Now here is your penance for your arrogance!"

 He then then windup's his arm before releasing it and delivering a powerful blow to my stomach. I could feel several over my ribs being broken as the attack made me cough up blood with under my helmet. The force behind this punch was so great that the parts of the chains that held me in place broke into pieces, as I got launched back a hundred feet. In fact the blow was so devastating that broke my focus and knocked out of the channeling technique. Unable to slow my momentum by any means I land on the ground a with a hard thud. I gasp for air as I held the center of my chest where I was struck, with my right hand.  I was shocked to find that my armor in that spot severely cracked, if it weren't for this armor; I'd most certainly would've been killed. I move my left hand to weakly grasp at the sandy soil to make sure I'm actually conscious. 

After feeling it's course and rough texture through my armored hand, I can confirm that I am somehow actually remained conscious after a hit like powerful. I struggle to even get up as my legs are shaking, almost slipping underneath my own weight, with my breath being quite labored at this point. I know their still coming for me though, I can see them taking their time to come over here; although I admit it's quite difficult to keep a steady focus on them as my eyes are becoming a bit heavier. I take a deep breath and force myself to stand up straight while shut my eyes; I take a moment to look back on my life till now.

Oddly enough, even with all I had done till now. I don't think much over truly ever mattered. I had seen a man in a dark robe and a long beard. A brother I had abandoned, due to my love for him that I couldn't uphold to my father's standards. Before my mind flashes to it's next point where I had kneeled to King Xavier of Fortis Gelu who made me vow to never used my Gift and forfeit my old life in return for me being made his first royal knight. He knew about my origins and where I came and must've known that most who came from Arcana Verba would've seen it as a betrayal of their lines. Yet he told me that he wanted his knights to be built on the foundations of strength and cunning. Seeing the vision my Lord had in mind, I accepted his terms and became his most staunch warrior, with his training that reforged me into a panicle of physical perfection.  

I snapped back reality as I see Jade and Jackal stand a couple dozen  feet in front my beaten self. I could tell by their postures alone that they were both satisfied by their collaborative effort. Jade stuck his hands into his pockets and began to taunt me in his arrogance.

"You see Avorion? We're friends after all. Only those equal to you could've done such a fantastic job. However I couldn't help but notice that you were holding back the entire time. You never pulled out your Soul Forge or even once attempted to use your godly gift. Tell me. Do you think that low of us?!"

I stood there in silence as he continued, trying to gather what strength I could to get through this next bout; while he continued to taunt. 

"I could've crushed you Avorion! I could've flung you into the sky and flatten you! Probably punched even able hole through you at the first chance possible. I chose to honor you in fair combat out of respect, I thought that maybe by lowering myself to your standard of doing things. That maybe you'd re-"

Jade had stopped himself from saying more, probably but he knew I had nothing to say that would've provided any substance at this point in our fight. He looks at me with a look that was a mix of frustration, sadness and disappointment. However I couldn't deny his claims either, as much as I hate to admit it. If it were a true one on one, I very well may come out short against him. I watched as Jade then looks at Jackal and they both nod and walk to each side of me. This is it. They're gonna finish this with a flurry of fists. I'm now more aware of Jade's speed, but I can't stay for Jackal's I haven't been paying too much attention to that mad dog and it's costed me dearly. 

However I'm not totally out of this fight just yet, back at Fortis Gelu, I wasn't fully able to release my weapon's full potential.  Since I am on the brink of losing my life, there's no better time like now to risk it all. I lowered my head and thought about my Lord, would he deem this an honorable end; or I have been scolded for being unable to keep my vow? None the less I ask for someone of higher station to watch over me. Watch over me and view me with favor as I give myself over completely to the fight in honor of my Lord. 

I channel all my power into my hands, giving what's left of my life energy into this. Both Jade and Jackal are at first taken aback by the amount of energy I'm releasing as they witness my aura reach the heavens like theirs did when this fight started. I force my body into it's channeling state, forcing my injuries to heal before summoning my Soul Forge.

"I've answered prayers, and lead many to the path of salvation! I now beckon you to answer mine! Lead my soul to both brothers and sisters who've fallen in battle!  Let me hear their cheers upon my arrival home. Now answer my call....Praying Lady!"

Upon my summoning of Praying Lady, a massive explosion of power burst from me as now I was at my peak. Both of my challengers looked in shock as I stood there in a mix of my azure and a white energy outlining my body. My bladed tonfas in a reverse grip as their obsidian sapphire blades glow with power. Jade, thinking he could still best me in speed, tried to rush me, but to his shock, I ended up punching him in the gut with the blunt end of my weapon; gut checking him in the process as he looked at me with a smirking face. Jackal's body then begins to have fire bursting from the back of it as he tries blitz me from the right side. In response I stab one of my blades into the ground using it as leverage to flip myself over Jackal and slicing at his back with some of his fire being absorbed into my weapon. 

Now seeing the danger Pray Lady held against a mad dog like Jackal, Jade rushes in as Jackal turned around. Both of them try to jab at me a could times as Jackal attempted to trip me up like i did to him earlier. I stab the left blade into the ground to block his leg as more of his energy was taken into the blade themself with the same resulting from Jade's fist being deflected by the elongated shaft of the weapon. Jade's excitement reached it's pinnacle as he wanted me to himself, his actions speaking for itself as he gathered his magic into his finger and flicked jackal's to launch Jackal far away. We both traded glances with one another as both of Praying Lady's blades glow brightly with power. 

"Finally getting serious huh, old friend?"

I remained silent as he rolled his eyes before shaking his head.

"It's fine, you don't have to remember me. At least let me enjoy this as we reached the Grand Finale!.

We both stood there amongst  the sandy soil, now silent as we both knew this battle deserved only conclusion. Honestly I don't even know I'd have lasted if we continued in any other way. Jade jumped high into the sky and began to release more of his power as his blindfold flew off, with intense green aura bursting into the sky. I thew the bladed ends of Praying Lady into the ground and began to channel the well of power that had been siphoned off Jade and Jacket. We both completed the following steps in sync as if rehearsed for some grand show of some short. 

We focused the power into our arms and hands before clapping our hands in front of us. I drew my left hand back as he did his right an as we did so, we conjured an arrow from our condensing of power in this shape with their colors being what you'd expect. Mine being blue and his being green. I don't recall what happened next but I awoke within a massive library. 

Meanwhile on the other side. Jade looked at Avorion's standing corpse as his chest had a massive whole in it. His crushed ribs and organs being seemingly pulled out by some kind of vacuum and smashed into the area behind him along with shattered fragments of armor being amongst the pile of gore. Jade looked upon his fallen friend before running his hair back before turning around. Jade then said in great confidence. 

"You were magnificent Avorion. I shall remember you for as long as I live. Farewell.....my best friend."

Jade said as he teleported away as Avorion's heart laid there deep in the bloodied sand and dirt. Still beating to the drum of battle without his body as a blue chest of his kingdom appeared on it; glowing brightly.