A Losing Fight

My body laid completely without motion, refusing to obey my commands.

I wanted to help Okami, Robius, and Ibu avenge everyone.

But my legs wouldn't move, it was as though I was paralyzed from the hip down.

My chest felt heavy, and my throat began to tighten around itself making every one of my breaths an enduring endeavor.

I recognized everyone that monster slayed, all of their faces, their clothes, even in the awful condition he left them.

I remembered how each of them once shared a meal with me, a story, a tip before I departed on a quest.

But now they were all dead, so many bodies, so many people, so many memories, all gone just like that.

And it was his fault. The bastard was right in front of me and all I could do was sit in a puddle of blood and whine to myself.

 "How Impressive. Last I checked you're a null. You can't use any form of magic and yet you still are able to redirect my blows." The murderer said in a devilish voice referring to Ibu who managed to do just that, creating an opening for Robius and Okami.

As a close ranged fighter Robius made use of the opening with a quick lightning infused jab.

Whereas Okami simply used her wind to propel a seven-foot javelin at him at the speed of sound.

The man was able to swiftly dodge Robius fist, yet the javelin still nicked his chest.

"Not in the mood to chat then?" The beast asked nonchalantly.

It was in that moment when another Azure Ursine member leapt into the fray.

I recognized her as soon as I saw the miniature wooden bear mask resting atop her head.

Her jet-black hair weaved through the air like a shadow as she flipped onto the man's back and raised her hands to the air.

 "Wakizashi!" She exclaimed; her violet eyes filled with determination.

A small, curved blade with a single edge appeared in her hand before she immediately sunk it into the Smiler's back with a powerful stab.

 The man fell to his knees in pain as the other Beta of Azure Ursine proved her worth by twisting the blade inside him.

 "Cloris! What are you doing here! Run, get out!" Ibu ordered stoically, yet his voice was rich with worry at the same time.

 "No! I can't just leave you here to die! He already killed Master Tuma! I won't let him take you away too!" The female Beta known as Cloris said with pain evident in her voice.

Ibu looked to Okami for a moment, nodding his head. "Remember your promise Okami." 

 The giant of a man reached around his back grabbing Cloris before throwing her across the hall skipping her helplessly across the blood covered floors.

 "No!" Ibu cried as he charged at the man in anger.

He struck fiercely with his Ninjató, like an unleashed tempest.

His foe raised his own blade to block, only for it shatter on impact forcing him to dodge in order to escape Ibu's flurry.

Which was exactly what Ibu planned.

Waiting for the smiler was Robius who planted a powerful fist into the smiler's spine then charged it with lightning finally gaining a reaction from the man as he was forced to collapse to the ground where Okami used another javelin to pierce his chest and pin him to the ground and Ibu followed suit with Ninjató.

 "Damn bastard. Thought he'd never go down." Robius said as he admired his broken hand. "Who would've guessed, if I punch then send lightning through my hand it's more effective then if I just charge it before hand."

 Ibu immediately ran to check on Cloris who was unconscious but alive.

 "Okami, get her out of here, Kenki too." He said in a serious tone.

 "Interesting, you cannot use magic yet that sword of yours is filled with Ether, it also came to you when called. An artifact then?" The man spoke in a weak voice. "The kid with lightning, he has potential, a quick study when it comes to fighting, he learned that delaying his lightning will allow it to surge through me with more power. And finally, the dog, her wind magic is incredibly refined, and her usage of those bronze leaves are truly astounding."

 Okami readied a bronze blade and aimed it at the man's throat.

 "What are you getting at?" She interjected.

 "It's a shame. If you joined us, you could've been great assets, I would've trained you myself, the great Krim himself." 

 Okami felt a shift in the man who identified himself as Krim. His power had grown exponentially.

She pressed her blade forward attempting to take his life, but he was already gone.

 A flash of brilliant white light blinded the whole hall as Krim appeared behind Okami with a blade of light in his hand.

 "Didn't expect someone like me to use light magic, did you?" Krim spoke as he lunged at Okami, his blade aimed at her heart.

Okami conjured a wall of bronze leaves, but Krim made short work of it and carried on his path.

But Ibu once again managed to save Okami's life, only this time it wasn't free.

Ibu stood in front of Okami, he had the time to intercept the blow, yet he hadn't the time to block leaving his own body wide open.

The blade of light pierced Ibu's chest and protruded out his back.

 The sound of blood dripping onto the floor echoed throughout the halls as if it was the only sound in the entirety of Rexia.

 "Remember your promise Okami. You have to save her. Please save my little sister." Ibu pleaded as his voice faded.

Krim lifted Ibu into the air with his blade before pulling him close to his ear to make his voice clearer.

"Nobody is being saved. You're all gonna die. It's nothing personal but in case you forgot we are assassins so we can't exactly allow any witnesses." Krim spoke in a terrible voice.

Ibu writhed as Krim twisted his blade within him making his wound all the more fatal.

Robius dashed to his aid caked in golden lighting.

But with a single swipe of his blade, Krim launched the limp body of Ibu at Robius throwing him back.

 "It's a damn miracle you guys managed to hold us back from assassinating Jiroki all this time." Krim proclaimed arrogantly as he admired his handiwork with a grin.

Robius was occupied with Ibu who was barely holding on, Okami was launching a constant barrage of javelins at him which he effortlessly avoided given his newfound speed. And my body was still broken refusing to move.

 "Seriously, what a bunch of pushovers. You barely managed to hold me back when I wasn't using my Ether and now you guys are just a bunch of jokes." Krim said as he began to approach me whilst dodging Okami's barrage.

Robius and Okami rushed to my aid standing in front of me.

I could feel the soft trickling of tears down my cheeks my eyes welled up.

 "I won't let you die so easily." I exclaimed as I placed my pen in the blood.

I learned from watching Sieg fight that ancient runes were written in the blood of their victim; I couldn't dream of actually creating an ancient rune. But if I just created a new run that was activated the same way. Perhaps I could mimic its power. However, taking away his magic wouldn't be enough.

"Blood Rune of Revenge." I exclaimed the name of my new rune. Fortunately, I was able to filter out everyone else's blood and allowed him the full effect.

The rune would reflect any pain he experienced within the last three days back at him at once.

Even he couldn't stay standing as he fell to the ground allowing Robius a chance to finally put an end to this.

"You made a mistake messing with Draconum Familia. But you sealed your fate the moment you made Kenki cry." He cried out as lightning arched off him in every direction filling the room with a glorious golden light. He expelled everyone ounce of Ether in him before reabsorbing it condensing it all into his fist.

His last punch when he delayed his discharge was impressive, but the one he had just conjured dwarfed any other spell I'd seen yet.

 "Storm God's Fist!"

The blow had such force that it lit up all of Torik's if only for a brief moment and turned most of our fort to ash whilst simultaneously rendering my former guild members bodies unfazed along with myself and Okami.

Robius face filled with concern as he looked upon his newly charred and broken hand, before he passed out flat due to Ether exertion.

"Robius, not you too! Get up!" Kukiri pleaded sincerely.

Yet even now, after a blow that could sink, and island had Robius not held back its full potential. Krim still stood.

His face was seared and broken, his clothes tattered and burnt.

But he still smiled in such a way that instantly destroyed all hope.

 "Light magic is extraordinary, isn't it?" He said as his body began to regenerate including his severed arm. "No other magic heals quite like it."

 Krim then placed his foot on Robius head before applying enough pressure to crumble the stone beneath it.

 "It's also the quickest magic. Even quicker than lightning, which allowed me to not only block, but to siphon some of his Ether into a heal just before he landed that blow." He added as he continued to stomp on Robius head. "Now then, I think it's time we stop playing princess." 

Okami got between us, but Krim effortlessly pushed her to the side with his superior speed and strength.

He really had been holding back the whole time.

 "Don't you dare touch her!" Kukiri growled as she put herself between us again.

Krim lifted the fox into the air by her scruff as he drew his blade to her throat.

 "I hate animals, always have." 

 An ear-splitting sound echoed for a brief moment followed by absolute silence.

And following that was a man falling from the sky onto Krim with enough force and speed that even he could barely dodge.

The man was black of hair with steely blue eyes, he was donned in a black sleeveless tailcoat and looked absolutely pissed.

Fortunately judging by how comfortable Kukiri was in his arms he was on our side.

I could only hope he would change the tides of our fight.