The Extermination Begins

The wind burst through their hair as Yusato and the others ran through the city streets. His heart hammered against his chest as he saw the explosions in the distance. Every few minutes there seemed to be a new one.

Some of the people in the city were panicking ruining for their lives, while others remained completely calm, continuing their daily activities.

Were they in on it? Were they helping King Aster or simply aware of his plan?

Those thoughts ran through Yusato’s mind as he continued to run.

“Where do you think you’re all going?” A man with long glossy blond hair cut off their path, holding his hand against his hip. He cocked his head and smirked. “You’re not trying to interfere with our spring cleaning, now are you?”

“Azteros…” Azalea scowled at the cocky man before her.

The man named Azteros widened his eyes as he saw Azalea. Then, he leaned forward and clapped his hands like a giddy child. “Amelia? Is that you? Wow, it’s been so long I barely recognized you!”

Azalea grabbed the edges of her hood. “Quit it. What are you doing here, brother?”

“That’s your brother?” Yusato’s voice dropped as he asked that.

“Unfortunately.”

“You’re so silly, Amelia.” Azteros flicked his bags off his forehead and spread his arms out wide. “I’m here to help our father, naturally. You should do that same.”

Curling her lips, Azalea let her hands fall to her sides, reaching into her pockets. “I don’t want to help him. His plan is sick, Azteros.”

“You think it’s sick to protect our kingdom from pollution, do you?” Azteros scoffed. “You should be ashamed. Huh?” He glanced over towards Saria. A grin sprawled across his face. “So that’s why. You’ve been hording and protecting one of those creatures.”

Sand gathered at his feet and morphed around until it took on the shape of a drill. The sand drill came right for Saria, but Azalea pushed out of the way.

Azteros clutched his shoulder blade as he realized daggers shot into it. He seethed at Azalea.

Hovering over Saria with a wounded back, Azalea took quick, short breaths. “You guys go on ahead. I’ll take care of my brother myself.”

“Azalea…” Yusato watched her with concerned eyes. “Are you sure?”

“Absoulutely.” Azalea got to her feet. “King Aster should be the top priority. He’s strong and is probably already in the midst of killing Sirhix as we speak. “Besides…” Daggers composed of magic energy formed in between Azalea’s fingers. “This guy won’t take long.”

Yusato nodded and took Mira’s hand. They started running along with Saria and Azumi at their sides.

Azteros just chuckled. “They don’t stand a chance, you know. Of beating our father.”

“Just as cocky as you’ve always been, huh brother?” Azalea launched her daggers at him and the sand rose up to block the attack.

“All I’ve ever done is state the facts.”

Azalea appeared behind him as he gaped. She swung her leg across his jaw and he flew back across the ground.

“You can’t stop the natural order,” Azteros said. “Survival of the fittest. The Sirhix were meant to die.”

Sand shot in every direction, pummeling right into Azalea. “Take that back.” She clutched her waist while walking forward.

“Why should I? Everything I said was the truth.” A wave of sand formed from the ground, coming straight for Azalea.

Azalea launched an array of pins and needles through the sand, striking Azteros in his pressure points.

“That old trick?” The sand surrounding Azteros’ feet thinned and shifted into nimble little fingers as they plucked out all of the pins and needles.

Sand burst forth from under Azalea’s feet and she nearly tripped but held her stance. She shifted her feet in the sand, leaving footprints before sprinting forward.

Jumping into the air, Azalea launched a flurry of magical daggers mixed in with real ones.

Azteros’ sand came covered the dagger and broke them apart. However the magic ones broke through, striking him in the shins.

He winced in pain just before Azalea came flipping through air. Her knee smashed into his face and she slammed her fist into his stomach. She turned it int he middle of the bunch, blowing Azteros back several feet.

Clawing at his face, Azteros scowled at Azalea through his fingers. “You make me sick. Protecting those things. Going against our father’s wishes. No matter what you do you can’t stop it! We’re going to kill all the Obsoletes!”

“You won’t.” Azalea stood firm, the wind wisping through her hair and cloak. She grabbed the middle of her cloak. “Saria, Mira, and Yusato…If you dare lay a hand on them…I’ll kill you.”

Azteros frowned and stepped back. Then, he pressed his hand against his forehead and started to chuckle. “Those are some pretty bold words, little sis.” The sand began to turn a murky shade of black. “How about I test it for you?”

***

Yusato kept running through the city with the others. He looked from left to right, keeping an eye out for any sign of King Aster. He had to be somewhere. Azalea said that he was going to start on the ninth floor. So then, where was he?”

Yusato came to a stop as Mahina ran up to him. She was hunched over and took a few moments to catch her breath. When she finally did, she looked up at him with swollen red eyes. “Have any of you seen Tomoki?”

“Tomoki?” That was a weird question to ask. Mahina should know that Tomoki wanted absolutely nothing to do with him at this point. Yusato noticed her shoulders quivering and her legs shaking. A sheen of sweat was on her forehead as well. “No, we haven’t. How come?”

“I’ve been looking for him. Those black spots on his skin got really big and he started growing horns. After that, he said he didn’t need me anymore and just left.” Mahina took another few deep breaths. “I was wondering if maybe any of you came across him.”

Leo tugged at his jacket. “If you’ve been looking around for him, then don’t you think there’s only one other place he could be?”

Mahina’s eyes widened. “You don’t mean…?”

Leo nodded. “The tenth floor. He should be there.”

“There’s no way I can go there alone…”

“No need. He won’t live long any way. King Aster will take care of him for you.”

That was a voice Yusato hadn’t heard in a long while. As he heard the sound of spellbook opening and closing, he felt sweat drip down his neck and into his shirt. “Court Mage Dadilda.”

“Sorry. But I’ll have to kill those two now.” She pointed two of her fingers at Mira and Saria. “Hope you don’t mind. Just following orders.”