Fenrir

“You liked that one, didn’t cha?” Joshua smirks smugly.

“That reminds me of back when I used to scorch the grounds beneath your feet. Good times.” The dragon's voice is left giddy.

Rushing off from Orthon, he pours his aura into his steps as he races to his destination. “I hope everyone else is okay, that’s why I chose the furthest place away. It’ll probably be swarming.”

“It’s interesting to watch you care about your ‘friends,’ you know that kid. Unlike your prick of a founder, you actually have a heart.”

“I always had a heart, it just only brought me heartache. I’m still not used to working with other people like this, but they trust me and I can’t let them down.” Clenching his jaw, his feet dig into the ground as goes into double-time.

“I can tell, if you could have done this by yourself you would have. You self-sacrificial moron. You should already know I’m not gonna let you get me killed.” Draxis’s eyes glow from within Joshua’s pupils. An all consuming fire radiating.

Thirty minutes later he finally arrives to the forest. Dense blackwood trees pack the scenery as he carefully enters to not attract any immediate attention. Creeping along the tree line, he pulls out his map. “Draxis, sense my surroundings for me? The hairs on Joshua’s neck stand up.

“Do I look like your pawn? Don’t tell me what to do. ASK!” One of Joshua’s eyes becomes slit like as it begins to glow red. Rolling his eyes Joshua looks down at his map, a rough sketch of the forest staring back at him. Sketches of caverns and clearings outstretch scattered across.

“About a mile north of here. Let’s get going.”

Placing the map back on his side he heads deeper into the forest, walking right past a marker made of wolf teeth. He’s just entered Fenrir’s den. As the bones jingle, the wind howls. Leaves rustle and branches snap as heads forward.

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At the summit of the mountain, Layrn looks around for her pupil as she and Weil perform a head count; most of the cadets were all accounted for.

Looking down at the blade on her side she shakes her head. “Just where did that girl go; she didn’t disobey a direct order did she…” Her left eye twitches as she walks up to Weil as he’s busy watching over Gytha’s unconscious state.

“Just how did Andric take control of her mind?” he groans aloud.

“People with more darkness in their hearts become susceptible to possession and demonic influence.” Layrn retorts

A sly smile forms across his face before opening his mouth. “Yeah, that would do it.” Layrn raises her eyebrows. “What do you mean? I know she’s sick in the head but that’s usually not enough. I live for battle yet I'm fine.”

“Forgive me my dear, I’ll tell her a little bit of your story.” Gulping Weil raises his eyes to the dark elf. “You may know that she grew up with the Zephyr Clan.” Layrn nods. Weil’s gaze drops. “The experiments those damn elves did to her to re-create shadow magic…” Layrn stops him. “Thats enough, I can only imagine what they did to her. We’ve got bigger issues to take care of right now.

Weil shakes his head, taking a deep breath. “You're right.”

Placing his hand on his face he turns around, looking Layrn in the eyes. “Go help the commandant, you can use that weird natural mana thing, right? He was busy fighting Andric with Gyles when I was down there.”

“What about you?” Layrn questions.

“The cadets are soldiers, if they were afraid to fight, they shouldn’t have enrolled. Besides that, I’m here; we should be fine.” Weil draws his own weapon and flexes his arms. “There aren’t any demons here after all.”

Closing her eyes for a moment, she thinks about his proposition and agrees. “Very well then, my blood is already pumping. Take care of the students.” Layrn’s sclera shifts as a disturbing smile creeps across her face as Weil’s eyes widen.

She immediately runs off, acrobatically jumping over the front gate as she draws her great sword, skating across the ground with precision.

“I need a drink. These battle hungry people…I just don’t get it.” Getting back into character, he stands up straight, walking up to the panicked cadets raising his voice. “BLACKWOOD CADETS ATTENTION.” Everyone gets into formation, even if its a bit shoddy. “Starting right now, I’m the one responsible for you brats. Everyone will participate if you wish to graduate from Blackwood and not die here, Understood.”

All the cadets mumble amongst themselves before crying out, “YES SIR, Captain Weil.”

Looking at the rag tag bunch before him he chuckles to himself. “God, I hope this barrier holds up; these kids look hopeless.”

As he begins dishing out orders and positions to the cadets, he makes his way up the shoddy ‘watchtower’. Eyeing the full destruction of Blackwood, most of the buildings have fallen down, windows shattered, the terrain scarred and ravaged, the sky polluted with that sickening red, and the abomination that is the sun.

“I guess this is what we all deserve, none of us have been taking our jobs seriously for years.” Weil sighs as he grips his club's hilt. “Roderic Von Terra… it seems you may have been right.”

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Back in the plains, Wilhelm finally figures out what he’s supposed to do. Gripping the runic cube in his shield arm, he starts pouring his green aura into it. Sparks of green light fling outward as the arctos hunting him now seeing its target again rushes forward as Wilhelm has to roll out of the way. “Damn, you abomination. Leave me alone.”

Darting back to his feet, he lifts his shield up blocking the fangs of the beast. Pushing the creature back; he swings at its head, tearing one of its ears off alongside a massive chunk of flesh. Whipping its left front claw around at him, the arctos knocks him back dropping Wilhelm to a knee. His stamina clearly has not recovered from their earlier encounter.

The beast growls maliciously as green smog flows from its mouth. Wilhelm's vision begins to blur as the creature charges once more, slamming him backwards into a tree. His armor plates beneath his uniform dent and crack in the process as blood spews from his mouth. “I can’t fight this thing without my aura...” Heaving, he stands back to his feet.

As he barely holds on to his mission, a green sphere forms around his left hand as he loses his grip on his weapon. The mace falls from his grasp and skids away from him as the beast approaches. “Damn it all.” Swapping his shield to his dominant arm he readies to use it as a weapon as his left hand clutches the cube.

Side stepping another charge, he slams the pointed end of the shield into the beast's side, reopening a stitched-up wound as its entrails begin dangling about. Breathing heavily, he rushes towards the beast not giving it a chance to recover.

Pouring what excess aura into his feet that he can, he jumps over towards its head barreling down his shield, lighting up with a bright lime green light. His next aura node bursts open from a need to survive. The metal collides with the ‘arctos' skull, as a bone shattering crunch rings out. "That makes three, I won’t be left behind..."

Dropping to his knees, he coughs up blood. His body bears the toll of the hell he just put it through. His vision gets a blurrier as in the distance a horde of creatures make their way to him. Closing his eyes, he accepts the inevitable. “Guess this is it, Joshua don’t let me down. Protect Vil for me.” A solemn smile crosses his lips.

As he loses consciousness a massive green light shoots up into the sky piercing its red glow as a soft green light wraps itself around Wilhelm. A crevice opens up in the ground underneath him swallowing him up as a tiny little fox bounces out of the dark crevice yipping with delight as its pink glowing eyes stare down the horde of monsters.

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After clashing back and forth, a green ethereal armor wraps itself around Andric. Gazing towards his former comrade, the echoing voice of Astaroth yells at him to finish the job.

In the distance a green beam of light pierces the sky as the domain begins to crack.

“Not now Asta, I’m at the crux of my revenge.” Andric’s voice bellows out with a twinge of madness. Swinging down towards the commandant he fires a green blast from his blade as Ghislaine is sent skidding back a few feet. His outfit now charred and torn.

“DAMMIT ANDRIC, COME TO ALREADY. TELL THAT DEMON TO GET OUT OF YOUR HEAD. WE ARE SOLDIERS OF TERRA.” Thrusting his blade rapidly back and forth red streams of energy launch at his green shell.

“Ghislaine, don’t you understand that Asta doesn’t control me” Gripping his own face, he begins laughing maniacally before launching back into a deadlock with his former friend. Their hair swaying with the wind as a fierce look crosses the commandant's face.

As this goes on, Gyles finishes clearing out most of the smaller creatures as he watches on at the two conflicts before him; Fenrir and the 6-headed creature, as well as Ghislaine and Andric’s bloody feud.

As he begins organizing his thoughts however, Fenrir is grabbed by the opposing chimera and thrown his way. Jumping out of the way, in a blur he rushes towards the beast avoiding a blast of green energy from the creature's mouth.

Swinging his blade down in a kendo motion, a large slash of orange aura cuts through another blast, severing one of the 6 heads permanently.

“Okay then, so using my full power I can sever its heads. Now as soon as Fenrir gets back into the fight, I can take this bastard.” Turning his head to where the albino wolf was thrown, he sees that it’s nowhere to be found. “Bloody hell." “Where did the damn thing run off too.”

He’s not given any time to think about it though as the remaining heads fire blasts of demonic energy in succession. Jumping out the way, he avoids four of the blasts as the fifth strikes him in the back sending him spiraling into the ground.

“You didn’t think that I was solely focused on Ghislaine now did you? This is war and you’ll all be sacrificed for my ascension.” Astaroth’s voice ripples through the air.

Gritting his teeth he stands back up quickly dusting his self-off, his back singed from the attack, blood dripping down his side. He rushes back towards the chimera as a massive shock wave tears through the ground as something slams into the creature's side.

A blood lusted Layrn coated in blood screams out in ecstasy. “THE CALVARY AS ARRIVED.” Front flipping with her great sword, it's quickly coated in fire as she slams down onto another one of the beast's heads, cutting it clean in half.

“Only the head… That should have done more damage, I must be getting rusty.” Shaking her head, she jumps back to Gyles side. Eyeballing her state, he questions why she’s here.

“Thats simple, Weil said he’d handle the kids for me. I couldn’t let an experience like this pass me by.” A twisted laughter trickles from her mouth.

“Woman, first thing you are completely crazy, secondly cover my back.”

“Sure thing.” The two rush towards the behemoth of a chimera blade in hand.

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Back in the forest, Joshua watches all the fighting and howling as the wolves of this place defend their home. Circumventing them, he slides down the side of its entrance and makes his way into the cavern. Stalagmites reach down from the ceiling as fallen creatures litter the floor. “Sheesh, this place is a blood bath.” His eyes dark around the place as his face wears a cringing look.

“You’re telling me kid; it looks like the battle here was gruesome.” Draxis gazes out from the eye he’s occupying. “How much longer until your destination.”

“Should be the center of this place. We’re almost there. Any updates on my surroundings?” Joshua narrows his eyes.

“Currently you're clear, but something is on its way here. Fast.” Draxis replies with urgency. Picking up his place Joshua races deeper into the cave making his way out into a massive opening. The black sun shines down right above them. As a massive altar rests at its center as the black and purple light illuminates it.

The corrupted corpses look fresh, as if they were just killed. Looking around this place, a chill suddenly goes down his spine as silence deafens the air. The apex predator has arrived. A massive howl rips through the air as Fenrir stands before Joshua. His fierce red eyes glare down into his soul. Joshua uncharacteristically freezes up, the sight of the wolf causing him to tremble.

“WHAT ARE YOU DOING STANDING THERE, DODGE.” Draxis yells as he moves Joshua’s body out of the way of a massive stream of fire.

Knocking his equilibrium out of whack, he struggles to maintain his balance. Tightly gripping his blade, his three nodes of aura scream to life as a deep red energy begins pouring from his eyes.

“Draxis… I’m going to need your help here. He’s out of my league. Only someone with six cores can beat this thing.”

“Yeah kid, I can tell. I hope you’re ready for the consequences when this is over.” Draxis replies in a panicked breath.

“Better alive than dead as they say.” Joshua grits his teeth. Blood trailing his lips.

As if no longer in control of his own body, he dodges to the side as the beast lunges for him. Swinging his blade down a ripple of red spectral energy cuts into the beast's hide. In response, the beast swings its massive claws towards him, the nails extending outwards tearing through his tunic barely missing his flesh.

Jumping back out of the way of another strike, he swings his blade down as another shock wave of aura hits the wolf’s face. Bearing its fangs, it sends another torrent of fire his way.

Running to his left and rolling behind a pile of rocks he avoids its heat as the rocks are scorched black. Quickly Joshua draws on the ground with the blood dripping from his hand and activates it. A massive cyclone of wind launches Fenrir back into the chasm's outer walls.

Slamming into the stone, it howls in pain twisting its head around. As Fenrir's eyes burn with malevolence, it lunges forward slamming into Joshua, sending him flying back 20 feet into another wall. His spine recoils, bones shudder as he drops to the ground. “Urgghh.” Blood drips from his eyes as his breathing becomes shallow. Draxis takes control again as they rush to the other side of the chasm.

“Kid, what the hell are we waiting on?”

“I told you earlier that we have to wait on the others to finish activating their runic artifacts first.” Draxis scowls from within as they stare down the beast.

The slug fest continues as Joshua’s breathing becomes ragged as a massive plume of blue light shoots up and pierces the sky in the distance.

Joshua looks up at the sight with a ragged smile. “Okay, that's the twins and Orthon, now it’s on me.”

“Are you sure you can even last that long?” Draxis replies with their voices overlayed. “I don’t think I have much of a choice.” Stretching his left arm backwards towards his blazer pocket, he reaches for the cube. Feeling around, he quickly notices its absence, beads of sweat drip from his forehead. Frantically looking around the battle field, he notices no sight of it.

“Draxis!” Joshua speaks up in a panic.

“Yeah kid, what's the problem?” Draxis replies with a concerning tone as he avoids another stream of fire from their beastly adversary.

“I may have lost the fourth totem.” A fake smile crosses his face. “And I don’t have a clue as to where it would be.”

“Kid if I had arms, I’d choke you right now, but since I don’t, I’ll have to settle for yelling.” “ARE YOU FUCKING STUPID BRAT, THIS WAS YOUR PLAN AND YOU STILL SCREWED IT UP, BY SEROX.”

Clutching his left ear, the echoing of Draxis pounds in his head, jumping out of the way of another strike, he quickly swings his blade in an X-motion, as a strike of red energy finally breaks through the beast's tough hide now littered in scars of its own. “Took long enough,” Joshua pants as Fenrir reels in pain, finally jumping back as blood stains its ghastly fur, eyeing the boy carefully.

Ready to press his advantage, he steps towards the beast when suddenly a massive pain shoots all throughout his body. His aura immediately deactivates as he collapses to the ground, coughing up a copious amount of blood. Unsure if this is a part of a ploy to lower his guard, Fenrir stands his ground not approaching the boy as he lets out another howl into the sky.

Unable to fight, Joshua struggles back to his feet as he eyes the beast. “I refuse to die here you damn wolf. I’ve come too damn far to give up now! ”

“I’D HOPE SO JOSHUA.” A female voice screams out as Susanna lands in front of him riding Nanatsumi. Her black and red uniform in tatters as her hair flows with the wind. Her crystalline eyes matching the Jikan’s gaze as yellow tribal tattoos glow across her olive skin.

"Damn."