Squad Seven

The dragon-like creature rampaged through the cityscape, tearing buildings apart with its breath. It's breath resembled a jumbled of flickering runes packed together. The runes would swirl into a ball, and destroy anything it came in contact with. 

"Eyes on target." West commanded over the radio. 

"Engaging." Anto yelled. 

The large man was equipped with a pair of iron clad gauntlets. He called upon Earth Nin, large yellow runes appearing in a circle around where he stood, strengthening his legs and using the power to launch himself at the airborne creature. He slammed into it with a hard right straight, slamming it into a skyscraper and causing a shockwave that shattered the glass in the surrounding buildings. 

"Jeez, learn to take it easy..." West sighed. 

"I'm coming into support." Mara said. The woman emerged on a rooftop, equipped with a long bi-dent spear. 

She called upon Water Nin. the runes formed like floating rain drops around her, dancing through the air till she willed them together, forming four jagged spears of ice. With a snap of her fingers, the spears soared from her reached, slamming into the dragon and piercing its body, sending out a plume of black blood and smoke. 

"I have it pinned." 

"Roger." West affirmed. "Taking my shot." 

A long distance away, West stood atop a skyscraper, a silver sniper rifle in his hands. He called upon Fire Nin. The floating runes erupted around him like glowing embers, forming a ball of fire at the tip of his weapon. 

"Boom." He pulled the trigger, an explosive ball of fire bursting out of his rifle and slamming into the creature. 

The creature let out a shrill cry, sending out random balls of words that disintegrated everything in their path. 

"Don't let them touch you!" Mara warned. 

"Don't have to tell me twice!" Anto huffed, rolling out of the way of several balls that flew at him. 

The balls hit the ground, before spiraling in random directions at high speed, leaving a trail of destroyed earth behind them. 

"It's still not down." West clicked his tongue, peering at it with his rifle scope. "Where's Alicia when you need her?"

"She was still caught up with that Leviathan class attacking the shelter. This one is just us." Mara replied. 

"What about Rell? I doubt that guy would be much help to Alicia, where the hell is he? Hiding?" 

A man stood on the rooftop above the dragon. He wore a hood over his head, and had his sword drawn. With a step, he fell off the roof directly on top of the dragon. His sword dug into it's flesh, sending out another surge of black blood. 

"Right here." Rell said, pulling his weapon free and leaping off the dragon. 

"Took you long enough." Anto said, taking a fighting stance next to him. 

"Let's finish this guy off." Rell said. "Follow me. West, I need some support fire. Keep this thing down. Mara, another ice barrage please." 

"I'm the captain here!" West growled. "But fine. I'm guessing you have a plan." 

The dragon rose to its feet to face Rell, only to be met with six more fiery sniper shots from West. Rell lunged forward, gashing deep into the dragon's chest and drawing out more blood. He danced out of the way of its attack. The dragon opened its mouth, ready to let out another ball of destruction, only for an ice spear to dig into it's head, jamming it's mouth close.

"Anto!" Rell yelled. 

"Quivering fist!" He attacked, smashing into the dragon and sending it flying back against the building with a loud crash. "Damn, this thing just won't die." 

The dragon picked itself up once more, tearing the ice spear from it's mouth and letting out a ball of words. The ball slammed into Rell, his body fading away as it tore into him. 

"Rell!" West yelled. 

Rell suddenly appeared near the dragon's head. He landed atop it, spinning his sword, before burying it into where it's eye would be. The creature bucked, slamming into more buildings as Rell held on for dear life. He twisted his blade, making it hurt more and drawing out more smoke from the wound. 

"Just die you bastard!" he cursed at it. 

The dragon tripped, sliding on its stomach before finally tumbling over. Rell flipped off, turning towards the beast. Smoke poured from its various wounds, making it hard to see, but it no longer moved. 

He sighed, walking towards Mara and Anto who came to greet him. 

"You did it!" Mara cheered. 

"Why are you so surprised?" Rell gasped, catching his breath. 

"That was a behemoth class. Not every Holy Knight could kill that." Anto pointed out. "Even groups of Knights like us struggle with those types."

"I guess that shadow Nin is good for something every once in a while huh?" West said over the radio. "That thing was probably on guard after the first couple of hits it took from you." 

The dragon sat up, readying another blast of its breath. The three of them panicked, readying a counter attack, but it was too late. 

An object slammed down from the sky, severing the dragon's head off and sending up a plume of dust. As it cleared, Alicia stood before the body, long sword in her hand, her long blonde hair stained in black blood. 

"Jeez, you guys let your guard down too easily." She pouted, tucking her weapon into it's sheath. 

"Ah." They said in unison, taken aback by the girl's extreme display of power. 

Alicia was probably the most powerful Holy Knight in the world. She has had the ability to call upon all five elemental Nin since she was a small child. Fighting came naturally to her. She learned how to use a sword at twelve, and by the time she was fifteen she had already surpassed her master. Many believe her to be the destined child of light, a prophesized savior that would vanquish all darkness in the world and bring about a new paradise. 

Rell didn't know how he felt about that, but he at least knew one thing: Alicia was strong. But she was also...

"Ah! My hair! It's such a mess!" She cried, pulling at the sticky of strains of hair covered in Shadow blood. 

She was also an airhead. She was forgetful about anything that didn't involve fighting. And she slept in too often, and she was usually late to things cause she would get distracted... Rell could go on and on about all the little things he noticed about her. 

"Here." he sighed, pulling out a water flask. "Let me help you wash some of that stuff off." 

"Rell!" She smiled, grasping his hands. "Thank you!" 

"Wait don't come so close! You're gonna get it on me too!" he protested. 

Mara and Anto chuckled as they watched them banter.  Alicia took a seat on a rock, letting Rell wash her hair out with his water flask, using a rag to wipe the grime from the golden locks. 

"Another city almost lost." Mara sighed, leaning against a pillar. 

"Mhm. We're losing more and more territory each day." West said, walking towards them, rifle slung over his back. "At this rate, it won't be long before we're back against a corner." 

"We still don't know where these Shadows came from, or what their goal is, if any." Anto noted. 

"It seems they intend to kill every living thing they come across." Rell noted, wiping off the last bit of gunk from Alicia's hair. "Even plants get eaten by them. They're like locust." 

"They hate us." Alicia said. "I can hear it in their voices." 

"This again. We've analyzed their vocals. there isn't an intelligence in any of them." West scolded. 

"You wouldn't understand." Alicia shook her head. "It's like Nin, the way they talk. When you hear Nin like I do..." Alicia sighed. "Nevermind."  

"We..." West stopped, pressing his finger to the radio in his ear. "We're regrouping back at forward base. Let's finish resting up and meet up with the other squads." 

"Roger." They said in unison. 

"Oh, we're going back? Wonder what'll make for dinner tonight..." Anto placed a finger to his chin. 

"Dinner?" Alicia and Mara jumped in unison. 

"I'm so hungry..." Alicia sobbed. "I want pasta!" 

"I'll have that spinach dish you made the other night please." Mara asked. 

"If we still have any spinach..." Anto sighed. "Food supplies are getting pretty low on account of the Shadows eating everything." 

"Rell. We need to debrief after this. You're strategies are too risky." West addressed. 

Rell clicked his tongue. 

"I'm serious. We'll discuss it more later. If it wasn't for Alicia, you would've gotten yourself killed."  West said. 

Rell started towards them, before turning to the dragon corpse. 

"Shouldn't that have faded away by now?" He wondered. 

The corpse suddenly bloated up into a large, glowing red ball. 

"Rell!" Alicia screamed, rushing towards him. 

"Dammit..." Rell cursed as the explosion over took him. 

It swept over him, consuming him in a wave of darkness. Rell realized, suddenly, that he could not see. Nor could he hear. No breath came out of his mouth, and he had no hands. He didn't even think he had a body. He was just a consciousness floating in a sea of shadow. 

He didn't know how long he sat in the darkness, but it was a long time. Was he dead? Was this what death was like? He wished it would end. The darkness, the inability to do anything, it was maddening. 

And then, he heard it. At first it was incomprehensible to him. A cacophony of noise. But as he listened, he realized that it was words. No, it was a song. A beautiful song, one filled with life and warmth. He noticed it. Light. It was so far away, yet in this darkness, it gave him hope. The song was coming from there.

He willed himself closer, and found himself slowly drifting towards it. The song was clearer to him. It made much more sense. It was the song of plant growth. The song of a star forming. The song of a child being born. The song of each breath that a human being took. It was the song of life. It was everywhere. In the fire, in the water, in the earth, and in the wind. 

Then, another noise appeared. It was harsher, sharper than the voice of the last song. It was a song spiked with jealousy, and hatred. Rell turned and saw the darkness he had been in. It imposed over the light, blanketing the area around it and looking down on it. It was the song of a decaying flower. The song of a piece of iron rusting. The song of an old man's last breath. The song of a fading fire. The song of the deep, empty void of space. It was the song of death and decay. And it hated the light, and wanted to snuff it out. The song stretched for the light with deep tendrils of shadow. 

Rell turned back towards the light, and found Alicia standing there. 

Alicia. He tried to call out, but no noise came from his non-existent mouth. 

She smiled. 

Rell turned to the shadow, and found himself. The shadow Rell walked past him. 

Alicia's smile beamed as he approached, reaching his hands towards her. She must have thought he was going for a hug, because she didn't back away or show any signs of fright. His hands wrapped around her neck. Her face went blue as Rell choked her. She fell backwards but he did not let up. 

No! Stop it! Leave her alone!  Rell cried and cried, but no noise came. 

Finally, she stopped kicking. The shadow Rell released his grip, before turning towards the real Rell. His eyes were like two small, glowing red coals. The shadow Rell grinned at him. 

And then, Rell was in darkness again, floating perpetual in a sea of shadow, screaming the whole time, powerless to do anything ever again.