Chapter 21: The Return of the Warlocks
Dark Viper slowly raised his free left hand, almost resembling a signal. In an instant, a large number of armed cultist appeared at the rooftops of the buildings surrounding the party, all jumping out of cover. All of their rifles are aimed at the party and they can easily overwhelm the party should the order to open fire be given.
“Try anything stupid and my men will shred your pathetic hides.” Dark Viper taunted.
Jaden looked around, thinking hard on how to escape their sticky situation. Regardless, she knew well enough that any sudden movements would mean her death. Still, Reed turned to Viper with a smirk and replied, “Nice one Viper, but we have our own tricks up our sleeves.”
Suddenly, a massive, blue laser penetrated the skies of Qurrentine and instantly incinerated one of the buildings holding a number of the cultists. The laser could have killed Dark Viper but he rolled away in time from the impact zone. The impact was so intense that the ground shook lightly, causing everyone to lose balance, even Dark Viper. A strong wind bursts out of the laser’s impact zone and it brushed through everyone in the area, causing Jaden’s long hair to flow with it and her blindfold to almost be carried away.
Despite not knowing where the laser came from, Jaden began to realize that the laser distracted Viper and his men. Capitalizing on the distraction, Jaden darted at Dark Viper for an attack while the rest of her party opened fire at the cultists. Viper turned around in time to see Jaden’s approach and brought up his katana to parry her strike. He then ordered his men to open fire, although his order came too late as some of the cultists were already shot down by Jaden’s party. The duo traded blows with one another before being locked into a struggle.
Using her pure anger, she ushered all of her strength to push her katana against Viper’s. He struggled to push against Jaden’s push but his expression remained emotionless. To free himself of the struggle, he shoved his head into Jaden’s, head butting her and causing her to stagger back. He dashed at her and thrusts a strong kick to her abdomen, sending her onto the ground. He then made a Magic-induced jump and dived down at her in an attempt to finish her. Jaden looked up to see him in the sky and rolled away, barely saving herself from his powerful attack. A cloud of sand and dust enveloped Dark Viper’s landing spot and as it was fading away, all Jaden could see was him recovering from that hard fall.
Jaden quickly stood back up and reentered her fighting stance, waiting for Viper to make his next move. He turned to Jaden, his green glowing eyes still visible amongst the dissipating sand cloud, and walked out of the cloud. He shook his left arm slightly, almost as if he was stretching it, before twisting his head in an attempt to crack his neck.
“Not bad.” Dark Viper commented. Almost immediately, his left arm began surging with electrical Dark Energy. Jaden anticipated a Dark Lightning spell and brought up her Light Energy enchanted katana, remembering that Light Energy absorbs Dark Energy. However, instead of casting it, Viper placed his left hand on his katana and began sweeping it, enchanting it with a concentrated amount of Dark Energy. Once he was done, his katana was glowing brilliantly with red lightning and he thrust his katana onto the ground.
“I bet you never seen a Dark Shockwave before.”
Both his hands clasped the hilt of his katana and with full force, he forced his katana forward, slicing the ground open and sending a massive, electrical shockwave towards Jaden. Never seeing such an attack before, Jaden panicked and attempted to roll away from the shockwave. However, while she was away from the brunt of the force itself, she was still close enough to be tossed away by the force.
The force slammed her back into one of the concrete buildings before falling face first onto the dusty ground. Her blindfold fell onto the ground, revealing her glowing eyes. The excruciating amount of pain she felt surging from her back made her recovery difficult. She tried, again and again, to stand up but her arms had no strength to lift her. Her vision began to blur and her hearing began to muffle. Not even the gunfire from her party member’s gunfight can be heard.
“I dare you…to stand up!”
She heard a familiar voice saying that familiar sentence not far from her ears. Knowing what was coming, she ushered all her remaining strength to recuperate. As she stood up, Dark Viper stared at her and noticed her eyes, glowing brilliantly with blue and was surprised to see her fighting against Iblisan despite her seeming Magical Overflow. Hence, he decided not to attack her, but attempted to convince her to stop the rebellion.
“How pitiful. Your eye glow is the very indication of your strength, your power and fortitude. You are to be feared, respected, worshipped. Iblisan would’ve welcomed you into his ranks with open arms, yet you run around, forming a rebellion which you thought I had no knowledge of. You rely on others to do all your fighting for you. You’re weakening yourself with your friendships and alliances. It is a shame. You’re young, younger than Elysia, and still you’re being an immature brat by fighting a losing battle.”
Once Jaden stood up, she glared at Dark Viper, angered that he even bothered to try and sway her thoughts. Instead of attacking, as Dark Viper usually would once his prey stood up, he gave out a hand to Jaden, as if he wanted her to shake it.
“If you come with me now, there will be no need for all this fighting. We’ll be unstoppable. Not even Iblisan could hope to stop us together.”
Infuriated by the offer, Jaden charged her hand with Dark Lightning and attempted to electrocute Dark Viper, only for him to dodge out of the way.
“To hell with your dealings. There’s no human in this world powerful enough to defeat you and that’s why everyone fears you. But now that I am here, you’re the one who feared me and now, you’re trying to eliminate me as a threat by making me join forces with you? You’re the one who’s pathetic. You knew well enough that I defeated you once...and I will gladly do it again.”
“You’re no better than your mother.”
At the speed of light, Dark Viper dashed towards Jaden, stopping right next her and sending a strong gust of wind brushing past them. He thrust his free hand into Jaden’s abdomen and a stinging pain surged through Jaden from it. She yelled in pain and looked down to see blood, pouring out of Viper’s hand. He pulled out his hand, revealing several Magical claws that he summoned and Jaden kneeled down from the pain.
“If you’re not with me, then I have no use of you.”
Viper raised his katana in an attempt to execute her with a fatal blow to the back of her neck. Just as he was about to swing his katana, several bullets flew past him. He turned to the gunfire to see Reed, Tareshah and Gavin, shooting at him, apparently done with their gunfight and surviving it. Her deflected some of the bullets and began to throw Dark Vines at them. Using the vines, he grabbed Reed’s neck and sent him crashing into Tareshah, knocking them both out. He then grabbed Gavin and tossed him towards a nearby dumpster, knocking him out too and revealing Damien, who panicked and ran out of his hiding spot.
At the same time, Jaden was beginning to lose consciousness due to the excessive amount of pain she felt. Attempting to remain awake, she used her Light Energies to heal her wounds. Fortunately, since she was wearing clothing rather than armor, her spell was able to penetrate her apparel and heal her wounds properly. The relief from the pain was so great that she let out a heavy sighed. Ready to continue her fight, she stood up and turned to see Dark Viper, staring at Damien who ran out of hiding.
Dark Viper turned to Jaden to reveal a sinister smile on his face “This is what happens when you rely on others. You weaken yourself.” As he spoke, Jaden could see his left hand surging with Dark Energy. Immediately realizing what he was about to do, she gasped and dashed towards Damien swiftly, aided by her Magical Energies.
She stopped by Damien and immediately pulled him in. She hugged him tightly in an attempt to shield him while he curled up, fearful of what was coming. Then, Dark Viper unleashed his Dark Lightning spell upon the duo, electrocuting Jaden.
Jaden let out an intensifying scream from the excruciating amount of pain she felt but refused to let go of Damien, whom she was protecting from the spell. Damien whimpered in fear while Jaden tightened her grip around him. Her screams began to soften as blessed unconsciousness was about to befell her.
Reed woke up upon hearing Jaden’s loud screaming. He sat up to see Dark Viper, electrocuting Jaden, who held Damien in her arms. He looked around for his rifle but saw it several feet away, too far for him to reach out for. In a desperate attempt to save Jaden, he dashed at Dark Viper and tackled him, interrupting his spell casting. Jaden, no longer being electrocuted, ceased her screaming and almost went limp from the pain.
Reed and Viper landed onto the ground, with Reed mounted on top of him. Angered by what Viper did, Reed began throwing punches into his face. He then slammed Viper’s right arm onto the ground, forcing him to disarm his katana. As he was about to punch Viper one more time, Viper stopped his fist by blocking it with his left hand. Raising his right hand into Reed’s face, he unleashed a strong force of Kinetic Energy, sending Reed off his body and landing several feet away.
As both men recovered, Dark Viper told him, “You haven’t changed Reed. You’re still the cold murderer I knew from before. I can still feel the desire to kill from within you. Don’t ever deny your thirst for more blood.”
“My murderous past is over Viper and you know that! I will never work for a wretch like you ever again. Jaden’s my boss now and I will aid her until my last breath if I have to.”
“We’ll see if you remain loyal to her once you know her connection with me. Not everything is as it seems Reed. You’re making the same mistakes as good old Blaze Hazard.”
“Blaze Hazard? Who the hell is that?”
“Jaden’s father.”
“What the hell are you trying to say? Do you always have to be so cryptic?”
“You’ll find out, soon enough.”
Using Dark Vines, Viper grabbed his katana and pulled it back into his hand. He then directed the vines to Reed, wrapping him up and beginning to strangling the life out of him.
“Now…you must be thinking…I am helpless eh? Hehehehe” Reed managed.
Reed placed his hand on the vine and it began glowing white, releasing a burst of white Omega Energies. In an instant, the vine vanished, revealing the spell that Reed cast to be an anti-Magic spell. Dark Viper’s brow rose slightly and he said, “Still keeping in touch with your natural weapons I see.”
“Don’t count on it Viper.”
“Still, you know well enough that Omega Energies can’t save your hide from a Dark Shockwave.”
Dark Viper charged his katana with Dark Energies was about to do another Dark Shockwave. However, suddenly, a huge, muscular being jumped out of the corner close to Viper and began swinging its massive axe around. Viper turned around and dodged the swing in time. In retaliation, he cast Dark Lightning upon the being, flinching but seemingly causing no damage upon it.
As the being recovered, a figure walked out of the corner. Though darkened by the darkness, a pair of glowing purple light can be seen on its head. As it walked into the light, it was revealed that the figure was a young teenage girl. She was dressed in several dark, revealing leather apparel, almost resembling some of the gang clothing seen all over Qurrentine. She had blood red hair, a pair of glowing purple eyes and lips reddened with lipstick. Her skin was fare and her body was somewhat skinny. Held on her right arm was what seemed to be a spear-staff hybrid weapon.
“Dark Viper.” The girl spoke.
“Kida Mors. Betraying your master? How unwise.”
“Trust me Viper. This is personal.”
Charging her hands with a dark purplish Energy, she unleashed several Energy projectiles towards Viper, forcing him to dodge or deflect them while her muscular minion charged in to attack. Viper occasionally attack Kida’s minion, though the minion seemed to be resistant to most of his attacks. Reed simply watched, unsure on how to react. He then turned to his rifle and quickly picked it up before opening fire on Dark Viper, forcing him further into defense.
After blocking and dodging some of Kida’s attacks, Viper exclaimed, “You’ll pay for this betrayal Kida. Iblisan will make sure of it.”
In an attempt to save himself from being overwhelmed, Dark Viper raised his arm and sent a massive, kinetic wave flying around him. The wave forced Reed, Kida and her minion into the ground and just as Reed was about to recover, Dark Viper was gone and nowhere to be seen. Reed sighed and said, “Are all bad guys always so cowardly?” He then looked at Kida and told her, “Thanks for the save.” although she did not react, merely staring at him.
Jaden breathed in and out heavily, resisting the pain she felt from that extended amount of electrocution. Tears flowed down her cheeks and her heartbeat was incredibly fast, almost as if she was going to suffer from a heart attack. She was also amazed that she was able to survive that. She released her weakening grip around Damien, wanting to reassure him that everything will be fine. However, there was no answer and the boy’s body was limp.
Jaden looked at Damien and realized that his eyes were closed. His body felt cold and barely any movement was felt. Jaden closed her eyes and began to sense for Damien’s heartbeat. She heard none.
“Damien?” she muttered out. Still, there was no answer. More tears began to well up in her eyes as she began to see the reality of Damien’s fate. She began to sob and pulled Damien in one last time, embracing the boy’s lifeless body. She closed her eyes and laid her head on Damien’s shoulder, while crying her heart out for her old friend who got tangled with her own problems.
Reed turned to the crying noises to see Jaden, crouched onto the ground and sobbing. Kida walked past Reed and moved to Jaden’s side. She knelt down and placed a hand on Jaden’s shoulder.
“Damien..” she muttered out. Upon hearing Kida’s voice, Jaden’s head rose and she turned to Kida.
“Kida…” she managed. “I’m sorry…” Jaden gently place Damien’s corpse onto the ground before pulling in Kida and hugging her. Kida then began sobbing herself, crushed by her younger brother’s death.
Reed had no idea what to do. Damien was a stranger to him but he knew well enough that he was a friend of Jaden’s. All he could do was to stare at the pitiful sight.
Suddenly, he heard a rifle reloading behind him. He turned to see Tareshah, awake and aiming her gun at Kida. Reed shoved her rifle away and asked, “What the hell do you think you are doing?”
“That’s the agent! That girl’s one of Viper’s Warlocks!”
“Yeah I know. And she just betrayed her master.”
“What? Are you sure?”
“I wouldn’t be alive if I am lying. And besides, she just lost her brother. Show some sympathy.”
Tareshah, though still angry at Kida for turning her into a child, acknowledged Reed’s words. She lowered her rifle and simply looked at Kida and Jaden, crying over Damien’s corpse. Gavin, who just woke up, moved to Reed’s side and asked, “What just happened?”
“A lot of things my Mannihilator friend.”
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