THE HERO
CHAPTER 11
FINISH THE FIGHT
The battle rages on my psyche still intact, no fatigue. The battle is flowing like normal.the deviant puppet bitch is cackling in the back like a hyena.
The abomination is not a particularly dangerous opponent. However his Endurance is ludicrously frustrating.
I've hit him with numerous critical blows yet he gets back up. A blow from The Abomination does nothing more then set me back a few places but this stubborn fucker wont die.
I need to improve my resolve. Instead of leaping for another attack I shift my foot firmly into the ground. I scan the surrounding arena for anything that may help,
Unfortunately for me there's nothing. I've had enough of this shit. I pounce in the air but redirect myself at the last minute and come soaring towards the puppet master.
Of course it's true the abomination must protect its master, however I've spent enough time memorising his patterns that I know how to cut through it.
The strategy is quite bold but I must score a hole in one. Upon seeing me the puppet master breaks into laughter. The Back bulge on the abomination bursts open and spews hundreds of decaying corpses raining from the sky.
I weave my way out of the first then shoot my neck back to avoid the next, I dart my feet in the air to kick the next one to the side, causing a domino effect sending many of the homing corpses sinking to the floor.
I continue my pursuit forward and more come my way, I lean to the left on the first, the second I roll to the left, the third one gets a little too close for comfort to slash my sword up and parry it to the ground.
The 4th one comes down like a speeding train. I bob my whole body to the right. Then use evasive footwork to shoot off the 5th.
I am in close proximity to the puppet master, and the 6th one curves and homes towards my face. I slice my sword straight through. For the first time in this whole endeavour
the puppet master's face shot up in panic. Her eyes twitched and she gritted her teeth. It was plastered all over her face that she fucked up the abomination failed.
I would not get so easily fatigued. I raise my sword instead of slicing her down there. I shoot my palm forward and grasp around her neck. Still with the speed I had while airborne I pin her to the wall until she begins to struggle.
I raise my blade against her neck and press down leaving a small cut on her neck. But not deep enough to kill.
The Hero [You underestimated me. Took me for a fool, you really thought i disgusting creature compiled of dead men was enough to make me fatigued, i see what you were going for. After my relentless pursuit of trying and trying, I came to the realisation that you knew all along. Why you were barking like a rabid dog was because you knew my efforts were in vain. Of course there is no way to vanquish the abomination, it's goddamn indestructible, but I see through your deception]
She presses her hand against the one that has captured her neck. So I may hear the confession of the wild dog.
The Puppet Master [gee choking a woman, what kind of man are you.]
she tries to hide her fear behind a pained smile. I glare at her with the daggers in my eyes. Demanding her to confess.
The Puppet Master [i have underestimated you, i wasn't familiar with the Orchid guardian. No - the failure boys lapdog]
without speaking another word I give her an antagonistic stare. And she retracts her statement.
The Puppet Master [okay i suppose i dont have the luxury of insults here. Its true guardian is Ningyo, the brilliant Puppet Master, and your beloved sister Puppet master is the name I quite like. I'm well accustomed to it. I Created the abomination, well that's not correct we did, or you created it and i put the finishing touches on it. Without you it wouldn't even have the bodies to be constructed. I needed you to slay them down so they could be reborn. For what you cut down weren't corpses. They were people, they still had life dreams, hopes, morality to them you were a monster who wanted to do them harm. You killed people Brother]
People? They were people the ones I cut down without any concern for. The ones who ran towards me like mindless husks. No, they were already long gone, when my blade pierced their skin I found no drops of blood,
not even a single one, therefore they are not people. It is impossible for a human to be critically injured without shedding blood therefore they are no more but beasts. I did what I must, but now I have no time to dwell on meaningless blabber. Puppet Master Ningyo smiled.
The Puppet Master [you think you can hide it, you think that mask you wear. Covers your face, you think it covers who you are. The mask is all the exterior sees. But I see through it, oh the guardian, a strong capable but cold and efficient protector. No you're nothing more than a killer, gee you think you're better than me because you have reasons to cut people down, that's absolute horseshit if you ask me. Murder is murder. But that's not the mask you wear, that's not what I see through. You know it's wrong, you will see the faces of every individual you killed today. It will haunt you. Feeding yourself lies doesn't hide the truth and you know deep down that only a beast could justify their own sins. It seems you forgot dear Hero, we spent so much time under the same roof. Nobody knows you better than your illegitimate sister]
All of this is pointless. Ninyago has always been a thief and a cheat. A scum there may be merit to what she said but I can't let that affect me. No, actually there's no merit in slay beasts like her, they were beasts and I'd do it as many times as I needed to.
Now she brings up nostalgia about how we grew up with its deception, none of that matters in the heat of war. I don't want to let her infectious words plague me anymore, but then her hood drops down and her long blank stitched up hair flies down.
Her one sapphire eye gleaming of innocence. The stitched up maroon button in place of her left eye stitched and stabled in. and her pure smile.
The display of pain on her face, the only thing that loomed in my mind, Sister? I froze in place for a minute. But no, I must not go easy on her. There's still information to be gained. It's true I haven't spoken since she started. But now was the time to press her.
The Hero [You usually come in twos. But no maybe that's not your style. Either way I need you to confess why you're truly here and if you have company. Your no sister of mine, just a dreaded member of the utopian choir Ninyago is dead]
The Puppet Master [gee you don't really believe that, you always did have trouble with expressing your feelings. That's alright you don't have to. Oh gee aren't we supposed to be enemies, go to hell, You know it doesn't have to be that way. We don't need to be enemies. Remember when you were the bloody Pale Blade. The hero of the choir, you may not agree with the cause but wouldn't it be a wonderful thing to you know reform it]
The pale blade is over sometimes I feel like a comeback is needed. I have my purpose now and that is to be kekkan's guardian over all. The Choir wants to erase him. I can't allow that to happen. Maybe if i perfect him they wont make an attempt on his life, no i cant trust them. It was nice then but nostalgia is a memory not made to last.
The Hero [who else if anyone at all]
The Puppet Master [gee I'm getting to that. Don't rush me think it over though we will take you back anytime. And if they don't then let's kill 'em and do it again, although it's not the option I'd be eager to take. Well hey it's still there. And oh yes my partner. I don't know anything about that.]
her breathing is still and calm. She's lying. I know her well enough to distinguish what's true and what's a lie. There's no shaking ninyago, nothing I say will change that.
I release her from my grasp and turn around. Since I had got my hands on the Master the Abomination lies dormant.
The Puppet Master [wha- just what are ye doing Hero]
I shut my eyes the dark engulfed my vision, and i begin to count
ONE
TWO
THREE
FOUR
FIVE
SIX
SEVEN
EIGHT
NINE
TEN
The Hero [all the strings will be cut]
I direct my gaze back to find the fearsome puppet master fleeing like an ant. The very woman who created an armada of armed soldiers.
That could rival a military level of power. The same woman who conquered whole nations of corruption with nothing but a few strings attached. And yet she flees with just a count of ten.
The Hero [Just why did you run dear sister, to regroup with your brethren you think they will save you. Or perhaps you run so you can construct a strategy in which to fight back. I see the sweat on your brow and your hands are quaking. So tell me why you run. I'll tell you the reason behind your cowardice. You run because you're afraid to die. The choir thought you invincible but all it took for you to abandon your mission was a single count from ten. My sword is mightier than the string]
I walk slowly but dominantly. I gain distance every step as my boot clanks into the ground. Stomp stomp stomp
The Hero [Finish the fight]
Stomp stomp stomp. I get closer and closer every second she trips and falls but regains herself all just to run
.
Stomp stomp
The Hero [Finish the fight]
I drag my blade against the steel surface. And clang my feet once again. Stomp stomp
The Hero [Finish the fight]
I accelerate at a rapid speed. Stomp stomp
The Hero [finish the fight]
It would bring me great regret to kill my sister. It's true that i didnt want to i didnt know if I could. But I must have turned her back on me because she didn't take my side. She sided with them, The Choir
she wants to erase Kekkan. I will not allow that. I am his protector, I am his guardian and he needs me. I shall not abandon him and turn him over. So I must kill her, she won't give up. The guilt may kill me but I must learn to bear it.
Stomp stomp
The Hero [Finish the fight]
I kick my blade off the floor and twirl it in my hand. As I approach Ninyago my stomps become more aggressive.
STOMP STOMP
The Hero [finish the fight]
I am almost in striking distance STOMP STOMP
The Hero [finish the fight]
I will not falter
The Hero [finish the fight]
She is nearly in my reach STOMP STOMP
The Hero [Finish the fight]
One more step STOMP STOMP
The Hero [finish the fight]
She is in my crossfire STOMP STOMP
The Hero [FINISH THE FIGHT]
I let out my final scream. But it's not in anger, it's one of desperation, Ninyago can see that as she is stuck against the wall with no way out and my blade is raised ready to strike.
My calling out to my sister wasn't a way to insult her. I know it is in cold blood to strike my sister down without a fight. Its how I was raised. That is why I lower my blade.
Stomp
The Hero [finish the fight]
I get down on my knees next to my sister.
The Hero [am i really that terrifying]
Ninyago [gee you think so. You always were bro]
I get off my knees and plant myself down against the wall next to Ninyago.
Ninyago [you were wrong about me. Gee i thought you would know i wasn't running out of fear for my death for crying out loud]
The Hero [i know]
Ninyago [i am terrified bro. I'm so damn terrified but not for myself gee. Its for you. You kept telling me to finish the fight and you know that's what I'm supposed to do. What my mission is as a member of the choir, but i just couldn't]
The Hero [neither could i but im pretty sure you know that already. You do know everything always did]
Ninyago [oh gee stop praising me. Take me off that high horse you're really giving me an ego boost you know. In all seriousness I didn't want to kill my own brother. Everyone knows I can easily take you on. Probably beat you because I'm just wayy stronger.]
The Hero [keep dreaming sis]
NInyago [it's been a long damn time since you called me that bro. Gee I was waiting for it in fact. I've been pondering a bit now. I was always planning on it actually that's a lie. But now I've decided it doesnt matter. anyways . il tell you the partner here cause there is one. You better get out of here fast, go back to kekkan i wont tell him i saw you. You know he is tracking him down he doesn't communicate well so I assume he is either that or just sitting on his ass. Lazy prick i say.]
The Hero [quit dragging it out and tell me already]
Ninyago [naw il have you guess]
The Hero [im not guessing]
Ninyago [Mado]
The hairs on the back of my neck stand up. The damn sorcerer they really send him after me. They usually have a duo that compliments each other Mado and Ninyago dont even match in any fucking way.
He is quite oppressive on his own either way so I should keep my guard up. Ninyago hits me on the side as if to tell me to go. She closes her eyes and plays dead, great fucking plan dipshit.
I use the walls to haul myself back to my feet. I feel a heavy wind blow against my chin. I draw my blade at my side and walk forward. Crased up rotten fingers pear from the end of the hallway and. An old wrinkled man.
Whose appearance screams one foot in the grave reveals himself. Mado