Plague (3)

After his wounds were completely regenerated, Natsuo changed the playlist again to the one with SPEED and STRENGTH attributes to face Plague.

This time, he didn’t wait for the knight to do the first move. He swung his scythe and unleashed a blast of red sound waves against him.

While Plague was intent on dodging, Natsuo leapt forward and tried to slash his neck.

The scythe’s blade hit the white armor, instead, but the impact didn’t make any sound. Taking advantage of the run he took, Natsuo spinned around Plague, using his neck as a pivot, to bring himself back in front of him. In mid-air, he withdrew the scythe and kicked the knight directly in his face to unseat him.

Plague’s body was pushed back with force, but he dragged back his horse too. It seemed like they couldn’t be separated.

“Well, then, I must kill the horse first” said Natsuo.

Plague shot a volley of arrows to keep the distance and his horse took flight.

Natsuo replied with a blast of sound waves and their attacks collided.

The knight unsheathed his sword and glided at fast speed toward Natsuo.

This time, the boy reacted in time and dodged, moving to the left. He twirled his scythe, putting the blade behind him, and thrust the tip into the horse’s lower side, where the armor didn’t protect it.

The scythe wounded the horse and the sound of the electric guitar’s strings was released: sixth, fifth, fourth and third string in order.

From the wound gush out white mucosa, instead of blood.

Plague turned to his back and made a lunge.

Natsuo bent forward, avoiding the sword by a whisker, pushed back his scythe and hooked the blade on the horse’s neck.

He pulled the weapon toward himself and slaughtered the horse. The guitar’s B string resounded in the area and white mucosa flowed out in torrents.

Plague’s horse stirred up and reared up against Natsuo.

It was about to kick him, when, suddenly, all of his four legs were cut off.

A familiar figure stopped next to him, holding a sword.

“Idiot, what do you have in mind to fight Plague alone?”

Hearing her voice, Natsuo smiled. It was Alice.

A dark substance enveloped the white knight, holding it still, and metal thorns took shape around him, skewering him completely.

“Natsuo!” Olive was running toward him.

When she stopped in front of him, she gave him a worried look.

“Are you okay?” she asked.

“Yes, thanks to you” Natsuo replied in a soft tone.

“W-What? What do you mean? It’s not the right time for jokes” Olive complained, blushing a little. “I was really worried about you.”

“I know, I appreciate it, even though you know I never lose.”

Alice unexpectedly hit him behind his neck.

“The only thing we know is that you’re an idiot. Don’t ever do it again” she scolded him.

“Ouch, that was personal!” Natsuo put his hand on the sore spot. “You could just tell that you were worried about me.”

“I wasn’t, it’s just that you’re important for the sake of humanity” Alice replied.

“Yeah, sure…” Natsuo mocked her.

Alice held her sword with both hands and lowered her gaze, a bit embarrassed.

“Well, maybe just a little bit…” she mumbled.

Her voice was covered by Gregory, who put an arm around Natsuo’s shoulders and spoke loudly.

“Mate, you almost gave me a heart attack! But I’m happy that you’re alive, I would be lost without you!”

Natsuo chuckled. “Don’t worry, I won’t leave you so easily.”

“Natsuo! Natsuo!” William exclaimed.

He ran toward him and hugged him affectionately.

“I thought I’d never see you again!” He whined in tears.

Natsuo patted his head, a bit moved. William was like the cute little brother he never had, he felt a little guilty for making him cry.

Alan approached him and glanced at him with a serious expression.

“Please, don’t do something like this ever again. We were all worried for you! And did you think of what would have happened to all the soldiers if you died here?”

Natsuo put a hand on the back of his head.

“Yeah, I’m sorry about that. I promise I won’t do it again.”

“I hope for you to keep your promise” said Alice menacingly.

“Yeah, yeah, I’m too scared that you will knock me out” he replied.

Natsuo glanced at all of them, a bit moved. He didn’t expect them to worry so much about him.

Olive smiled at him. “See? We all care about you!”

Natsuo nodded. “Thank you, guys.” His lips curled into a smile.

Suddenly, Alice’s eyes widened, crossed by a rush of fear.

“Guys, it’s not the moment. The Vassal is still alive” she said.

Everyone turned to Plague.

The white knight rose from the ground, picked up his crown and wore it. He spread his arms toward the sky and lifted off the soil, emanating a white blinding light. He ran his hands through the air and materialized his sword.

He grabbed his weapon and landed on the ground. The light around him expired and he pointed his sword toward the group in a provocative way.

“No one told me there was a second stage” commented Natsuo ironically.

Gregory clashed his fists together.

“We just have to kill him, right? With our team it’ll be a breeze!”

Olive stared at Plague, frightened. She had seen what he was capable of and beating him was anything but easy.

“We have to be careful, it’s still a Vassal of Silence!” she replied.

“Yeah, and usually the second stage is stronger than the first” added Natsuo.

Alice glanced at him, a bit confused. “I don’t know where you got this knowledge from, but it’s highly possible.”

Alan twirled his halberd. “Everyone, get ready to fight!”

Plague grabbed the sword’s handle tightly and got into position to leap forward.

Natsuo immediately understood what was going to happen.

“Watch out!” he yelled.

Then Plague flashed before their eyes, looking like a luminous trail.