Chapter 20:
When Legends Bleed.
DARK HIERARCHY
Tiger crossed his arms,
"Shade Naza is the heir to the founding family of all Reapers." He narrowed his eyes, knowing the weight of the information he just relayed.
Dark's eyes widened, sucking in the floating frame just in time to witness the callous attack on someone he just ordered around perfectly delivered.
His fingers twitched, his green eyes lost their glow, shaking gallantly.
"I don't understand, what was he trying to pull by being around me?" Dark stared into the merciless spiralling eyes of the demon who called himself 'Dark's vice', his breath grew heavy, he felt like he was burning in Shade's gaze, like it was directed straight to him.
Tiger peeled his eyes from the horrific scene, soaking in Dark's overwhelming expression, and a faint frown crawled up onto his lips, his once flat eyes tuned to judging daggers.
"I see— you didn't know after all. So the rumors about you being stronger than him were false then?" Tiger rolled his eyes away.
What a disappointment.
Dark scoffed, "I see,"
Tiger suddenly felt a shift in the atmosphere, and he abruptly turned back to Dark, only to spot him with a grand, mischievous smile, as he stared attentively at the stone frame.
His posture alone instilled alarm in those around him. His tall frame made others perceive him as a pillar of shallow, demeaning darkness.
Tiger narrowed his eyes, for some reason, he suddenly felt threatened.
Dark just kept his gaze on Shade, allowing himself to be consumed by his person, but the smile seemed unwavering.
I'm glad I told him to take the second spot, before he goes on a befitting rampage in my name.
↑→↓←↑→
"I think he was aiming for you." Shade pointed as he stared down at Claw, his spiralling pupils drawing Claw in.
"Remarkable," Claw sighed softly, watching Shade with a clear straight face, no signs of fear whatsoever.
Deckra was still airborne, gliding smoothly towards Claw, his limbs following the path of the forces around him with no signs of will.
Claw stretched out his right arm, his palm wide spread to receive the battered, so-called legend.
Inches from Deckra's jacket, the immobile body randomly twisted to the left, escaping Claw's grip by centimetres.
Claw glinted his eyes, the smell of rusted metal plagued his nostrils as Deckra's body crashed into the soil.
Deckra plunged his palms moderately deep into the soil, instantly projecting his body back to his feet, through a back flip.
"Wow wow!" Deckra yelled out, jerking up his face— what a horror,
Blood ran from his nose endlessly, his face had marks of impact and sores all over. His arms still moved like they were spineless, following whatever path the wind took.
"To think I'm still no match for you after that incident, talk about a let down," Deckra grinned wildly, his eyelids were spread to their limit, forming perfect circles.
He monitored Shade even though he wasn't moving.
Deckra's stance was as rigid as a thirty-inch cement wall, his spiky black and red striped hair scattered with the wind.
↑→↓←↑→
"No way, how is he moving after getting crushed like that?!" A male student jolted, but still couldn't take his eye off the stone frame.
"I.. I guess that's what it takes to become a legend, even from middle school." Another masculine teen shuddered, he took deep breaths, smiling awkwardly at the frame.His stance was flimsy and spineless, he could barely stand firm.
"I attended the same middle school as him, as well as Shade. They were monsters. Deckra would always pick fights with Shade and end up torn and broken after each fight; he didn't win a single one..." He added, his shoulders clamped down, his body vibrated within like a massage chair, but he wasn't getting relaxed at all!
→ → →
Deckra's lips curved up heavily, he released deep breaths one at a time, blood was splattered over his uniform, and his face was more like a broken dam, his nose ran uncontrollably till that very moment.
------- "But all those losses built his body like steel, reinforcing his nervous system too. Since then... he hasn't been bested by anything less than what felt like twenty of that." the student from earlier stated.--------
Deckra licked his underlip like a scavenger as he spread his legs, then he folded his fists with more determination than someone fighting solely for survival.
He was still hounding Shade's tiny, short movements, forgetting that another threat lurked within the blind spots he refused to consider.
"It's been so long, I'm practically leaking," he chuckled, wiping off the blood stains beneath his nose, but they only gave way for a new stream.
Shade tuned to him with a stolid look; his purple eyes lacked depth, showcasing his empty thoughts.
"I thought there were two of you?" Shade raised a brow, completely ignoring Deckra's offensive stance.
"He must've gone to find the exit then, he really acts like a soldier without thinking of how it may make him look." Shade's lips vibrated, but its words only resonated with him, not even reaching Deckra by a long shot.
If he finds the exit, then he would be first, then I just need to hold this guy down till he leaves. I should just knock him out. Shade concluded.
Deckra ground the dirt underneath his feet with the subtle sliding motion.
"Let's go again!"
Deckra's right leg skipped off the earth, he was on the offensive, or— at least he was.
Immediately Deckra kick-started his attack, and Shade appeared before him, fist launched low with unbelievable speed.
The sound of the howling wind mellowed out, the flow of air was crushed as tiny dust particles stood in place. Everything had slowed down, or at least it did in Deckra's eyes.
"Tsk.." You'd never know anyone could scoff with a smile as smug as Deckra's.
My my, I'm going to get pummeled again, this monster's on edge for some reason.
Deckra gnashed his teeth,
I know I can take his hits, but—
Deckra rolled his pale grey themed eyes, stealing a quick glance at Shade's rocketing fist.
He has never attacked twice in the same minute before.
Shade huffed. This should do it.
On impact, a blast rushed out, ringing like a bomb going off but more terrifying. What followed was jaw-dropping; all the trees beyond the clearing in line with Shade's attack were completely obliterated.
It was total destruction in a fine line, leading all the way to a giant rock, which was still cracked in two. The atmosphere was filled with dirt particles and pieces of wood, the green leaves danced on their way to the ground. They were all independent now, all ripped apart without exception.
"Hmm?" Shade looked through the haze of dirt, wood, and leaves but could not spot his prey.
"What the hell was that?" a voice snickered behind him, the cracks it had made the speaker out to be either poisoned or stabbed, or maybe in this case... nearly punched by a demon.
Shade turned his attention to the broken voice some feet behind him, only to spot Deckra on his knees, supporting his left ribs with his right arm crossed along his abdomen.
His breaths were uneven and haggard, his lips parted like he was trying to suck up all the oxygen from the field.
"What got you all riled up?"
I barely got out of the way in time, I could swear he didn't touch me. But I have three broken ribs if not more.One more hit in this condition and I might collapse.
Deckra's lips curved up again,
"This is getting fun," he whispered.
"Claw has exited the ultra space. First position, Claw of Spade's Class 1." Both Shade and Deckra's watches sang out, {really surprised they managed to stay on}
They both stared at one another, deeply sighing out at the same time.
"Finally" they chorused, with each a whisper to themselves, and with their respective meanings.
Shade started his journey, one stride at a time, his steps crushed the earth, heavy like the art of judgement, weighing towards Deckra.
Deckra couldn't stand, he just wobbled about. The smell of rusted metal he ave off slowly disappeared.
Suddenly Shade felt a different presence, familiar but heavier, stronger.
Within the blink of an eye, a figure zoomed past him with immense speed, he couldn't react in time, so he received a sharp cut across his right cheek, a very fine line.
"My my, see what you did," ...
Shade didn't bother wiping off the blood seeping out from the cut: he had far bigger issues.
He glared in Deckra's direction; this sight always gave him the creeps back in middle school.
The smell of rusted metal soared again stronger than ever, as the real deal was here.
Before Shade stood two faces identical to the letter, the body was a hundred percent copy too.
"You broke one of my special ones" another Deckra said, standing beside the bruised and weakened one, his smile forever reaching.The aura he emitted, he was the real deal.
He patted the bruised copy of himself, playing with the red stripes. At this moment, the kneeling version of Deckra faced the ground in silence, his eyes shut.
Deckra faced his broken copy; his eyebrows fell low, and his eyes relayed a warm glance like that of a proud parent.
"He's one of my independent units but still, to think he would last as long as he did." He disengaged his hand, turning his direction back to Shade.
"What did you think?"
"I thought he was the real you, seeing as he performed on the same level as you did."
"You're mistaken, this unit— is worth only a bronze card."
Immediately, the kneeling clone let out a crack sound, his body started disintegrating, his flesh turned into light particles, followed by the rest of him, until there was nothing left but a plain bronze card floating beside Deckra.
Shade didn't bat an eye; he had seen this happen a million times, though it always weirded him out.
"I brought him out because he was the closest resemblance to my old self, the battle fanatic you knew."
Deckra grabbed the bronze card, toggling it between his fingers.
"But that's the past." The bronze card withered away too, till nothing was left.
Deckra took a step forward, and he was instantly coated with a transparent white misty aura. It was thin but unavoidable; it moved like a controlled fire, wrapping itself around his entire body.
"Now, let me show you how much more powerful I have become." His eyes were dead focused on Shade, their grey colour imitating waste and distortion as he stared with intent, as placid as he could seem.
Shade stared back, less focused but determined.
"Shade Naza is the heir to the founding family of all Reapers." He narrowed his eyes, knowing the weight of the information he just relayed.
Dark's eyes widened, sucking in the floating frame just in time to witness the callous attack on someone he just ordered around perfectly delivered.
His fingers twitched, his green eyes lost their glow, shaking gallantly.
"I don't understand, what was he trying to pull by being around me?" Dark stared into the merciless spiralling eyes of the demon who called himself 'Dark's vice', his breath grew heavy, he felt like he was burning in Shade's gaze, like it was directed straight to him.
Tiger peeled his eyes from the horrific scene, soaking in Dark's overwhelming expression, and a faint frown crawled up onto his lips, his once flat eyes tuned to judging daggers.
"I see— you didn't know after all. So the rumors about you being stronger than him were false then?" Tiger rolled his eyes away.
What a disappointment.
Dark scoffed, "I see,"
Tiger suddenly felt a shift in the atmosphere, and he abruptly turned back to Dark, only to spot him with a grand, mischievous smile, as he stared attentively at the stone frame.
His posture alone instilled alarm in those around him. His tall frame made others perceive him as a pillar of shallow, demeaning darkness.
Tiger narrowed his eyes, for some reason, he suddenly felt threatened.
Dark just kept his gaze on Shade, allowing himself to be consumed by his person, but the smile seemed unwavering.
I'm glad I told him to take the second spot, before he goes on a befitting rampage in my name.
↑→↓←↑→
"I think he was aiming for you." Shade pointed as he stared down at Claw, his spiralling pupils drawing Claw in.
"Remarkable," Claw sighed softly, watching Shade with a clear straight face, no signs of fear whatsoever.
Deckra was still airborne, gliding smoothly towards Claw, his limbs following the path of the forces around him with no signs of will.
Claw stretched out his right arm, his palm wide spread to receive the battered, so-called legend.
Inches from Deckra's jacket, the immobile body randomly twisted to the left, escaping Claw's grip by centimetres.
Claw glinted his eyes, the smell of rusted metal plagued his nostrils as Deckra's body crashed into the soil.
Deckra plunged his palms moderately deep into the soil, instantly projecting his body back to his feet, through a back flip.
"Wow wow!" Deckra yelled out, jerking up his face— what a horror,
Blood ran from his nose endlessly, his face had marks of impact and sores all over. His arms still moved like they were spineless, following whatever path the wind took.
"To think I'm still no match for you after that incident, talk about a let down," Deckra grinned wildly, his eyelids were spread to their limit, forming perfect circles.
He monitored Shade even though he wasn't moving.
Deckra's stance was as rigid as a thirty-inch cement wall, his spiky black and red striped hair scattered with the wind.
↑→↓←↑→
"No way, how is he moving after getting crushed like that?!" A male student jolted, but still couldn't take his eye off the stone frame.
"I.. I guess that's what it takes to become a legend, even from middle school." Another masculine teen shuddered, he took deep breaths, smiling awkwardly at the frame.His stance was flimsy and spineless, he could barely stand firm.
"I attended the same middle school as him, as well as Shade. They were monsters. Deckra would always pick fights with Shade and end up torn and broken after each fight; he didn't win a single one..." He added, his shoulders clamped down, his body vibrated within like a massage chair, but he wasn't getting relaxed at all!
→ → →
Deckra's lips curved up heavily, he released deep breaths one at a time, blood was splattered over his uniform, and his face was more like a broken dam, his nose ran uncontrollably till that very moment.
------- "But all those losses built his body like steel, reinforcing his nervous system too. Since then... he hasn't been bested by anything less than what felt like twenty of that." the student from earlier stated.--------
Deckra licked his underlip like a scavenger as he spread his legs, then he folded his fists with more determination than someone fighting solely for survival.
He was still hounding Shade's tiny, short movements, forgetting that another threat lurked within the blind spots he refused to consider.
"It's been so long, I'm practically leaking," he chuckled, wiping off the blood stains beneath his nose, but they only gave way for a new stream.
Shade tuned to him with a stolid look; his purple eyes lacked depth, showcasing his empty thoughts.
"I thought there were two of you?" Shade raised a brow, completely ignoring Deckra's offensive stance.
"He must've gone to find the exit then, he really acts like a soldier without thinking of how it may make him look." Shade's lips vibrated, but its words only resonated with him, not even reaching Deckra by a long shot.
If he finds the exit, then he would be first, then I just need to hold this guy down till he leaves. I should just knock him out. Shade concluded.
Deckra ground the dirt underneath his feet with the subtle sliding motion.
"Let's go again!"
Deckra's right leg skipped off the earth, he was on the offensive, or— at least he was.
Immediately Deckra kick-started his attack, and Shade appeared before him, fist launched low with unbelievable speed.
The sound of the howling wind mellowed out, the flow of air was crushed as tiny dust particles stood in place. Everything had slowed down, or at least it did in Deckra's eyes.
"Tsk.." You'd never know anyone could scoff with a smile as smug as Deckra's.
My my, I'm going to get pummeled again, this monster's on edge for some reason.
Deckra gnashed his teeth,
I know I can take his hits, but—
Deckra rolled his pale grey themed eyes, stealing a quick glance at Shade's rocketing fist.
He has never attacked twice in the same minute before.
Shade huffed. This should do it.
On impact, a blast rushed out, ringing like a bomb going off but more terrifying. What followed was jaw-dropping; all the trees beyond the clearing in line with Shade's attack were completely obliterated.
It was total destruction in a fine line, leading all the way to a giant rock, which was still cracked in two. The atmosphere was filled with dirt particles and pieces of wood, the green leaves danced on their way to the ground. They were all independent now, all ripped apart without exception.
"Hmm?" Shade looked through the haze of dirt, wood, and leaves but could not spot his prey.
"What the hell was that?" a voice snickered behind him, the cracks it had made the speaker out to be either poisoned or stabbed, or maybe in this case... nearly punched by a demon.
Shade turned his attention to the broken voice some feet behind him, only to spot Deckra on his knees, supporting his left ribs with his right arm crossed along his abdomen.
His breaths were uneven and haggard, his lips parted like he was trying to suck up all the oxygen from the field.
"What got you all riled up?"
I barely got out of the way in time, I could swear he didn't touch me. But I have three broken ribs if not more.One more hit in this condition and I might collapse.
Deckra's lips curved up again,
"This is getting fun," he whispered.
"Claw has exited the ultra space. First position, Claw of Spade's Class 1." Both Shade and Deckra's watches sang out, {really surprised they managed to stay on}
They both stared at one another, deeply sighing out at the same time.
"Finally" they chorused, with each a whisper to themselves, and with their respective meanings.
Shade started his journey, one stride at a time, his steps crushed the earth, heavy like the art of judgement, weighing towards Deckra.
Deckra couldn't stand, he just wobbled about. The smell of rusted metal he ave off slowly disappeared.
Suddenly Shade felt a different presence, familiar but heavier, stronger.
Within the blink of an eye, a figure zoomed past him with immense speed, he couldn't react in time, so he received a sharp cut across his right cheek, a very fine line.
"My my, see what you did," ...
Shade didn't bother wiping off the blood seeping out from the cut: he had far bigger issues.
He glared in Deckra's direction; this sight always gave him the creeps back in middle school.
The smell of rusted metal soared again stronger than ever, as the real deal was here.
Before Shade stood two faces identical to the letter, the body was a hundred percent copy too.
"You broke one of my special ones" another Deckra said, standing beside the bruised and weakened one, his smile forever reaching.The aura he emitted, he was the real deal.
He patted the bruised copy of himself, playing with the red stripes. At this moment, the kneeling version of Deckra faced the ground in silence, his eyes shut.
Deckra faced his broken copy; his eyebrows fell low, and his eyes relayed a warm glance like that of a proud parent.
"He's one of my independent units but still, to think he would last as long as he did." He disengaged his hand, turning his direction back to Shade.
"What did you think?"
"I thought he was the real you, seeing as he performed on the same level as you did."
"You're mistaken, this unit— is worth only a bronze card."
Immediately, the kneeling clone let out a crack sound, his body started disintegrating, his flesh turned into light particles, followed by the rest of him, until there was nothing left but a plain bronze card floating beside Deckra.
Shade didn't bat an eye; he had seen this happen a million times, though it always weirded him out.
"I brought him out because he was the closest resemblance to my old self, the battle fanatic you knew."
Deckra grabbed the bronze card, toggling it between his fingers.
"But that's the past." The bronze card withered away too, till nothing was left.
Deckra took a step forward, and he was instantly coated with a transparent white misty aura. It was thin but unavoidable; it moved like a controlled fire, wrapping itself around his entire body.
"Now, let me show you how much more powerful I have become." His eyes were dead focused on Shade, their grey colour imitating waste and distortion as he stared with intent, as placid as he could seem.
Shade stared back, less focused but determined.
A second, I'm getting a second...
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