Cherreads

Chapter 11 - Light

Ophieus moved through the grass with the golden orb drifting near the side of his head. As they passed by the color flowered and stepped into the fog at the edge of the meadow.

Ophieus saw grayn pass by as once more the sounds on the ground were swallowed and the color around was gone. He walked forward feeling his boots sinking slightly into something while gray branches were twisted above. 

Ophieus glanced up to see their shadow silhouette and then he glanced to the side to see no abomination around. Although to his amusement Riley small gold form was shining on the gray fog around like a lantern. 

"Can you tell me exactly what you recall?" Ophieus asked with a smile. 

Riley paused for a second, the light dimmed and flickered a bit before he said softly. "My first memory is the foggy forest… I can't seem to remember why I ventured into it but I think it had something to do with…"

Ophieus said nothing as Riley seemed to be frozen before he then said. "Sorry but I can't seem to force anything to come up. All I know is that I was searching and it was very important as I still recall the anxiety."

Ophieus nodded, picking his way past a tangle of roots. "And the things chasing you?"

The golden ball froze before then bobbing up and down as he said. "Yeah, I recall them…I forgot how many there were but I think it was enough to surrond me but don't know what they are-"

"They're called Abominations," Ophieus interjected gently while glancing around the fog once more. "The ones that were chasing you are called the Beast Festivals and the other with feathers are called the Black Feather." 

Riley moved up and down as the light shines a bit bright as he says. "Y-yeah, those! The Beast Festival… I killed some before I started to run away to escape and go deeper into the forest… I think I still had my memories then, so don't think I was just running away, maybe I was looking for something or somewhere."

Ophieus nodded as he thought about what Riley could have been looking for a second. He recalled Riley was surprised at seeing Lacus and then implied both of them were planning to enter into the forest. But it seemed she went on ahead and he didn't know that she did.

But how could he not know?

"Then I found your body after defeating more Abominations." Riley says, leading Ophieus to nod his head as he continues. "Then I recall picking you up and then everything else came in fragments… Then I recall the battles as I tried to protect you."

Ophieus paused and glanced at the golden orb. "So you remembered what I saw in the World of Memories. At least we know your current state." He then tilted his head as he continued. "Did anything come back when you entered the fog?"

"No," Riley replied as he moved side to side, leading Ophieus lips to twitch before he fell into thought. 

So, everyone's memories come back differently and it won't be as straightforward as I wished. 

They continued deeper into the foggy forest with more bushes appearing on the side and the fog getting denser. Ophieus had to move a branch out of the way at the last second, noting it was becoming a bit harder to see their silhouette. Ducking down to pass by another branch, he felt his ears twitch as something snapped from his right. 

Ophieus halted and Riley closer to him. He glanced to the side but then his gaze shifted to the front as he heard the sound of bushes rustling ahead. He narrowed his eyes as he saw the shaking of silhouette trees and the faint sounds of footsteps. He outstretched his hand before a faint silver light shined as a black sword appeared in it. 

Just as the fog parted as dozens of abominations pushed through the fog. Ophieus saw they were standing on two legs cloaked in black feathers with the fog curling off them. Their faces were an alien birdlike face with hooked beaks and pitch-black eyes with white around it. But what caught his attention was the bone spears in their right hand that left a trail in the fog. 

Above them was the name, [Black Feather] and below was [Abomination].

A warmth spread through Ophieus chest as a gleeful smile appeared on his face. He gripped Dark Animas as he felt the gaze of the Black Feathers as they spread out a bit.

"There are twelve of them? Why are there so many?" Riley mutters in surprise. 

"Possibly the battle from before attracted them. But it's fine." Ophieus says.

"...Why do I feel like you're more excited than weary?" 

"You're overthinking it." 

Just as Ophieus says this a silver screen appeared in front of him with words.

[Master, you can call upon your knights to attack. When one of the Black Feathers comes, simply call upon your knight in your mind.]

The words echoed in his mind as well before they faded away from the screen and the screen dispersed. 

Then Ophieus felt his sense screamed as the fog above parted!

A bone spear pierced through the fog from above but Ophieus didn't glance up but he called upon Riley's name.

A bronze light shined on the side, illuminating the area above Ophieus. Then instantly, a massive golden hammer swirling with a bronze light rushed through the air in a swinging motion. 

A cracking sound rang out!

The golden hammer crashed into the side of the Black Feather, caving in some of its body but that wasn't the end. As the hammer forced it down into the ground in front of Ophieus and shook the area around. The ground produces cracks as black mist bursts out and rocks scatter through the fog. 

Riley's voice rang out in glee. "T-that's my golden hammer! How did you… Is that what you meant by knight? You can call upon my power or an attack from me?"

"I just tested it and it seemed that's right." Ophieus says with a chuckle while his gaze watches as the other Black Feathers tremble.

Then they instantly acted!

Three Black Feathers lunged forward, pushing off their legs as they plowed through and hurled their bone spears. Ophieus shifted to the side to evade the first and second, then his figure blurred and evaded the last one before appearing past the three Black Feathers.

A black sword hacked out as he passed them in a thrust, chop and slashed. 

One Black Feather died after their heads were pierced through, the next from their body splitting and the last from their head flying in the air. But this didn't stop four others rushing forward Ophieus who continued walking towards them with no worry.

In the next instant, the four of these black beasts and Ophieus collided! 

Claws and spears pierced through the air, but Ophieus still moved without care before his sword once again hacked out. He evaded the multiple bone spear that tried to puncture his throat, stomach, and arm while unleashing lightning-fast sword slashes.

One of the Black Feathers was cut in half and another had its head separated from its body. While the other two were sent flying backward, missing their right arm and their bone weapons shattering. Before then a hammer appeared from above as Ophieus rushed in front and hacked out Dark Animas. 

The Black Feather on the right was smashed into the ground while the one on the left was split in half. Both of them fell to the ground with black mist spilling out and Ophieus slowly moved past them. He smirked at the remaining Black Feathers, watching them silently start to move around him. 

Ophieus grin grew from the Abominations trembling before two of them began to release a roar. Ophieus' only warning was his body instinctively stepping back, before pulsing pain spread through his mind. 

Ophieus face contorted in agony as he staggered backward as multiple veins appeared on forehead before he clutched it. Then three Black Feathers rushed towards him, all of them thrusting out with their spear and claws from different sides. 

While the two continued their attack on Ophieus's mind, keeping it frozen in a constant state of pain. The bones and claw reached Ophieus in the next moment, aiming to puncture through his body. They were only an inch away from his chest, neck, arm, and head before his body instinctively moved.

Dark Animas sweeping out to block the spears and evading the claws. 

Ophieus body trembled, even though his mind was frozen with agonizing pain. His instincts still wished to resist and fight against the Black Feathers in front no matter what. 

A feeling of rage yet exhilaration seemed to come over Ophieus, that started to push away the pain. Anger at his pitiful circumstances that almost resulted in the same end as Riley and then excitement of overcoming this.

"Yes. This is how it should be, utilizing each and anything you can overcome all obstacles!" Ophieus felt a wave of power boiling inside of him, as he spoke those words, not to the Black Feather but himself. "If it's a wall, break it down! If it's a roadblock, move around! No matter what lies ahead, you shouldn't let it stop you from moving forward!" 

As if reacting to his words, the stirring inside erupted as another Black Feather lunged towards him.

Crest Awaken - Light Of Destruction!

In the next moment, a red light swept out in the area before it faded away. The one Black Feather that lunged was instantly erased and destroyed, leading to the other Black Feather to freeze. 

But Ophieus ignored that as he felt a rush surging through him as if he discovered something important.

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