Burning Shroud

Blood spilled from the boy’s gut where Kai had cut him open. The boy did nothing to stop the blood as it pooled by his feet endlessly. He smiled manically as he gestured to his two teammates to go for his uncle.

His uncle, the person Kai was supposed to be protecting at the moment. Fortunately, Everett Lagrimas was more than capable of defending himself, especially when in possession of the magic amplification relic.

He locked eyes with the young boy in front of him as intense flames flew by in the conflict behind them. Kai was scared, but forced himself to speak. At least he could buy a bit of time this way, then, perhaps, his uncle and him could take on this boy together.

“So you knew my cousin?”

The boy flinched slightly, but didn’t respond. Kai continued anyways:

“I am Kai Lagrimas, son of Zafiro Lagrimas and Dolores Drogo. Name yourself, so that we may duel honorably.”

“I am Pax, but I was once Adam Witherton,” Said the boy morosely, his smile long gone. “And that blade does not belong to you.”

I had a feeling it was him. Kid, you’ll die if you fight this guy.

The blood flowing from the boy’s stomach was still pooling on the ground, slowly inching its way towards Kai. Interestingly, the blood wasn’t running down the stairs that the attackers came from.

Even though Kai was being wary of the blood pooling on the floor, he didn't expect it to suddenly shoot up at his face. He blocked the smooth spike of blood with the sheath of Ryuzu’s Fang, but hundreds of crimson arms jumped towards him while he had been distracted.

He gritted his teeth as he unsheathed his blade –even just this much still required much effort— and swung it horizontally. Lightning scattered like snakes and fried the swarm of arms descending upon him. Each one spasmed, as if in pain, before dissolving. It disturbed Kai more than it should've.

Bam

An attack from behind sent Kai reeling.

“Pay attention to more than what's right in front of you. You're an embarrassment to the power you wield.”

Kai struggled as he stood up. The floor was completely covered in a thin layer of blood.

Am I really that weak?

Well, you're certainly an embarrassment. I don't think you should die for that sin though.

He held the sword in one hand and its sheath in the other. With a quick glance towards his uncle, he could tell that Everett wasn't doing well either. Vines as thick as tree trunks were slowly surrounding him, even though he was supposedly one of the strongest fire magicians.

Kai resigned himself to fight to the death. Summoning the full power of Ryuzu's Fang, he prepared to strike.

But then both of his hands slid off of his wrists. He watched, dumbfounded, as they pathetically splashed onto the floor. He stared at the stumps on the ends of his arms and made the split second decision to raise his hands over his head.

“I surrender,” he said.

Pax chuckled slightly when he saw Kai surrender. He had his River of blood swim it's way back to him. This ribbon in particular was wider than he was tall and over 100 meters long –this way, it could move fast enough to, say, chop someone's hands off before they could even react.

He sauntered over to where Ryuzu’s Fang fell, casually picked it up and sheathed it. It hurt quite a bit actually, particularly when it was unsheathed, the electrical shocks were strong enough to give a normal person cardiac arrest.

Unhand me, fiend.

Pax stared at the sword in his hands for a moment, in shock. “You can talk?” He asked.

I suppose Raya never told you about that. Well? Do you feel betrayed?

“Not particularly… It’s not like something as small as this matters. We never said that we couldn’t keep secrets from one another. Could you please stop trying to kill me with your electricity though?”

No can do, freak. You're just not comparable with me.

“Stop it or I'll snap you in half.”

You can't do that. You don't even know how.

“I can figure out a way. I have an infinite amount of time to figure it out, you know?”

…

“Thanks.”

Pax slung the sword over his back as he turned to Kai. The kid now looked like he was about to shit his pants, the adrenaline probably pushing down the pain of his bleeding wrists.

So Pax walked over and punched him in the face.

Poor guy went flying, then crumpled, unconscious, next to a column.

A fireball flew past him, burning off a few hairs from his head. Clearly, the others still weren't done yet.

DID YOU JUST KILL HIM?!?!

Before Pax could answer, the ground beneath his feet began to rumble. The thick vines consolidating on Edward Lagrimas (it’s Everett) suddenly began to go up in flames.

And then everything was falling.

After taking in the new scenery for a moment, Pax calmly responded to Ryuzu’s question, “No, he’s probably not dead. At least, my punch wouldn’t have killed him. I just wanted to stop the bleeding in his wrists, but to do so I would’ve had to touch him. I didn’t want to send the wrong message though, so punching him (while healing him) ended up being the correct choice back there. Though, he might die to this fall if no one does anything to help him out,” Then, turning his head to the side. “Oh, look over there Ryuzu. It’s the boy you were contracted with just earlier. Looks like he’s plummeting to his death right about now. It would be a shame if no one saved his sorry ass. Oh yes, what a pity indeed.”

Since the control room had been situated directly above the spiral staircase, there was still plenty of time before they splattered all over the floor. Pax did notice, however, that somehow Ivy’s beanstalk had mysteriously disappeared. That thing had been as tall as some skyscrapers from his old world, so it really was strange that it had simply disappeared like that.

“Well, it’s not my problem. Ryuzu, have you thought of a solution to the predicament your bearer faces.”

What makes you think that I care what happens to him?

“Well I certainly don’t. I’m more than happy to leave him to die, even if he is supposedly Raya’s cousin. In my opinion (and don’t tell Raya this) Raya’s family if full of insane fucked up psychos. The world is probably better off without him. Of course, you don’t seem to think so. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have been so interested in whether or not I killed him earlier. Now, are we going to negotiate or not?”

The fight was still raging on behind them, even as they fell. Strangely it seemed to be getting even more intense as time went on, the temperature inside the spire rising higher and higher with it. Ivy and Vincent were dancing around the flames. Perhaps they were struggling a bit. Maybe they could have used some help.

Fine, save him and give me back to him, then we can talk about compensation.

“Firstly, even if I gave you back to him, he has no hands, so he couldn't do anything. Either way, there is no chance you're going back into his hands.”

Your insolence knows no bounds, wretched hellspawn. What is it you want from me?

“I need you to tell me where Kael Drogo is. Also give me information on some symbols or history or something.”

…Deal, but I can't tell you anything I don't myself know.

“Alright,” smiled Pax. “That wasn't so hard.”

He latched a tendril of blood to Kai and slung him over his shoulder.

- - - - - - -

It's a strange feeling, when the ground beneath you suddenly disappears. Luckily, this wasn’t the first time that this happened to Eris… Or was it? She couldn’t remember any specific instances of this happening, but her instincts knew what to do instantly.

She augmented the air below her and her comrades, catching them, then carefully pulled them to safety. From the firm stairs, she surveyed where the beanstalk they had just been standing on had disappeared. There had been no warning when it suddenly turned to ash, then flew away as if carried by a gentle breeze.

There wasn’t even any wind. They were inside a building.

“Well, I’ve definitely seen stranger things, but that doesn’t make this situation any less annoying,” Derrick sighed as he looked at the empty space.

Eventually, the trio made their way back down to the bottom of the stairwell. They had barely made it up a quarter of the way to the top (by Derrick’s estimates) and no longer had a way to get to the top quickly. By the time they would get to the top, everything would probably be over.

After waiting for a while, and clearing out some more enemies, Derrick finally spotted something on fire descending upon them. It was still far away, but he had everyone stand ready anyways.

- - - - - - -

Everett Lagrimas couldn’t believe what he was doing. Flames burned intensely around him, blocking his vision and enveloping him completely. It didn’t matter, he could sense his surroundings clearly with Detection. In any case, it wasn’t the flames that he was regretting –These flames didn’t even hurt him in the slightest. No, for the first time in his life, he was doing all he could to run for his life.

His nephew –Such a strong and resilient boy– had already been killed. As soon as Kai had been defeated, Everett knew that everything had already been lost. New Artenia (or whatever his brother was calling their country these days) would lose not just the spire, but the port and eventually their capital. Fighting here would be useless.

Right?

He fanned the flames further to send him downwards faster. The orb in his hand glowed brighter still. The strange woman and obscenely strong man had continued trying to kill him, even as they fell down a several mile long shaft. He had to get away from those psychos.

Falling faster and faster, he pulled away from danger. He couldn’t tell if the ground was getting any closer though.

His mana reserves had been running devastatingly low for some time now, so what was it that he was burning?

Bright red blood pierced through his chest. Or maybe it was black? He flew higher and faster in response.

His vision became wider and more twisted. He barely even recognized the floor when it appeared before him. At the last second, he stretched his being as far as possible to soften the blow.

He couldn’t see anything but flames. Everywhere was burning. Where was the exit? He had to get away.

Why?

No matter. There, the only spot he couldn’t see. That must be where the exit is. Everything else was aflame. Here, a strange mist was quenching the flames.

He reached out. He ran as fast as he could.

Almost there.

No, something stopped him. An invisible wall? No, it was a wall made of nothing but mana and air. He pierced through it with his claws. Since when had he had claws?

It hurt.

He tore through the figure in front of him and forced his way through the mists.

He hurt.

Who was he hurting?

Something was burning inside him. Something that shouldn’t ever be burnt. Were his embers alright?

He ran. Where?

He kept going as far as he could. Was that the case?

“It’s so hard to run.... It’s so hard to run when you don’t have legs.”