Soul commander, p.16
Soul Commander, page 16
Chapter 17
Raphael and Akai appear in a crater and out of enemy sight. They peak at their surroundings from amidst a crater. Dust covers their armor as well as their hands. Akai isn’t entirely confident in his own ability to go about the situation he’s in.
"What do we do now?" Akai asks.
"I’ll take control of as many as I can. For now, sit tight." "You sure you can do this?" asks Akai. Raphael crawls to the center of the crater.
"Not really," Raphael admits.
He sits on the ground and turns his focus inward as he had done before. Akai watches for oncoming threats. He becomes anxious. A few foot soldiers draw near. Akai glances back at Raphael, hoping for something to happen soon. One soldier spots them. Akai ducks down. His hearts race. He wants to yell for Raphael to hurry but doesn’t wish to break his concentration. The foot soldier approaches the crater with a spear prepared. He stretches his neck forward and spots Akai. Akai’s back is turned away from the enemy but he can still sense that he has been found out. His eyes grow wide and his body temperature falls. The soldier lifts his spear and opens his mouth to scream for reinforcements. A single short lived cry emanates from his vocal cords before Akai gestures for the ground, which makes up the edge, the crumble away. The soldier falls into the crater and Akai stabs the enemy with ‘Hope Breaker’. He checks on Raphael again who is still idle. A few nearby soldiers had heard the cry of their comrade. They talk amongst themselves and leave their positions to see what the commotion was about. Before they come close enough to spot the two of them, Gradier leaves Raphael. She flies out of the crater and touches both their heads, putting their very souls under her command. They come to the enforced epiphany that Gradier is the one they should follow rather than Cavlov and the leaders ordained. Gradier moves with purpose, attempting to bring down the enemy conscious. Those who remain tainted by Cavlov's control become aware of those who no longer fall in line. As Gradier puts more under her thumb, an uproar begins. The number of those Gradier persuades constantly increases though, the number of the enemies are too formidable at first. They fall like drops of rain. Akai leaves the crater to witnesses the ensuing battle. He wants to save them all from Cavlov and from each other. None of them asked for this. They are innocent. But he knows that this is an unrealistic dream. All that he may hope for is that those who are truly innocent have a better home waiting for them beyond this threshold. He’d seen many awful things but the execution of people who have no control over their own actions would prove to be a new tier of horrifying circumstances. He doesn’t want to participate in any of this. He just wants all of this to be over. He wants to drop his sword and depart. Alas, he cannot. This is his reality now and it is his moment to mold himself enough to fit the situation he’s trapped in. Akai lifts his blood soaked sword and moves through the plane. He analyzes the movements of those he saw Gradier touch. He then compares them to those whose movements are drastically different. He makes the assumption that those who amble in a heavy and stiff manner still have Cavlov’s puppeteering strings attached to them. Gradier turn and makes eye contact with Akai as he moves past her. She calls to him. Her voice is like a far echo traveling through the wind.
"H-H-harden your heart. W-W-we can't afford to show mercy. M-mercy," Akai's adrenaline increases the rate of his heartbeat. War is a new experience for him. Avoiding death seems near impossible but it's now or never that he adjust to circumstance. Do or die.
As the approaching soldiers prepare to cut him down, Akai forces the arm which they use to wield their weapons to cease in movement. This frustrates them. Akai multitasks, stabbing and cutting each of while keeping a telekinetic hold on their arms. His conscience bothers him but he manages to bring them down, despite his guilt. He can’t afford not to make haste. In the meantime, Omero and Nophra sink ships as they are fired upon. Omero has placed a protective veneer around them. Any projectiles that come their way disintegrate once they make contact with them. However, it does drain Omero to maintain the veneers. Nophra flies completely through eight ships which causes them to proceed into expiration. This reckless behavior causes Omero to struggle more so to protect him. Nophra tears away a turret from the eighth ship and takes a moment to figure out how it works. He alters it’s mechanics so that he can use it in its isolated state. Once the weapon is structured to his convenience, Nophra begins firing at surrounding enemy ships. The turret brings them to their end. The elongated dracos enter into the ships in the very manner as a wraith through a wall. While Nophra escorts pilots to their graves, Omero redirects swarms of dracos back toward those who projected them. Seventeen ships remain. One of the pilots fly toward Nophra at full speed. Nophra is unable to perceive its movement. While his back is turned, the ship makes contact with him but doesn’t force him in the direction of its travel or impact him in any way. Instead, the pilot performs purposeless kamikaze. Omero takes hold of two enemy ships that have an adjacent flight pattern. He forces them to stop moving. The pilots frantically make use of their controls, attempting to jettison from Omero’s hold. They cannot. Both Nophra and Omero’s shields flicker. Nophra glances at Omero with a concerned look about him. With a gesture of his hands coming together, he causes the ships to collide, leaving only metal and flame as proof of their existence.
Omero feels his stamina getting rather low. He looks to Nophra with concern in his eyes as well.
"If I keep protecting you, I shall no longer be able to defend myself," He deflects incoming projectiles as he talks.
Romasu speaks to Nophra in his mind again.
"It is time."
Nophra agrees. He remains conscious though he forfeits function of his body. The seal is somewhat weakened. His body begins to turn charcoal. The color spreads across his body like the hair of an elderly man aging backward. He lets out a cry that instantaneously becomes dressed as a roar. The strands that make up his mane turn white and grow three inches in length. Omero releases Nophra's veneer of protection. Nophra is struck with dracos in his chest and neck. This ordinarily would send Nophra to the grave. However, Romasu does not need to accept death so willingly. He pulls a draco from his neck and a few from his chest. His teeth sharpen. Omero sinks two more ships. Romasu laughs. He teleports each of the ships on top of each other in a neat stack beneath him. His skin glows bright with heat. Romasu releases a ray of light from his mouth and burns through the ships. Cavlov witnesses the event. He hadn’t expected Nophra to pose such a threat. Nevertheless, he is beyond prepared. Romasu moves to Omero’s side. Omero expected Romasu to join the struggle early on. He was right.
"Come. We have many enemies," Omero says.
Omero heads downward. Romasu follows. When they land, Omero analyzes the plain. He uses the enhanced vision that sorcery grants to locate both Raphael and Akai.
"My son is up ahead. Clear the way"
Romasu releases another ray. He disintegrates many that fall in its direction. Omero grabs Romasu's mouth and forces it shut. Romasu looks at Omero with momentary contempt. The light dims. "Be more careful. You could harm my son" "A spoil of war," Romasu replies.
Romasu hears Nophra cursing at him through his thoughts.
"Do anything like this a second time and you will remain no longer," Omero yells.
"You need me".
Omero knocks an oncoming enemy to the ground and commands the wind to force another onto their back.
"I do not. You are but a measure of safety," he bluffs.
"I am your key to survival. Deny me not"
"Even after all these centuries since your birth, you have matured none," Omero says in observation.
"If you don’t like it, there are other beasts out there"
"I suggest you be silent. Don't think I can't expel you from Nophra and turn you to cinders."
Romasu grows short claws through his fingers and uses them to tear at the flesh of his enemies.
"I do not fear your pathetic threats. You are nothing to me."
Omero throws an enemy onto their stomach and forces their head into the ground.
"You fool only yourself," Omero scolds.
"I am the most powerful, jester. None can-"
Choronus appears seemingly out of thin air and throws his fist at Romasu’s face. Romasu is sent backward. Omero halts amidst battle to see Choronus head for Romasu. Despite his disdain for his attitude, he knows that he must aid him. Romasu lifts himself up and spits out several of his teeth.
"Ah, an opponent," Romasu says, impressed.
Romasu takes his focus off the countless enemies targeting him. He is struck in the back of the head and stabbed in the lower back with a spear. Romasu grunts. He turns and snatches the spear from the hands of the one who used it and attempts to stab Choronus in the eye. The end breaks off. Romasu swings the staff and snaps the shaft upon his head. To no avail. Without hesitation, Romasu strikes Choronus twice. Two small dents appear on his face. Cavlov is shocked. Romasu tries to throw another fist but Choronus catches it and squeezes his hand, crushing his knuckles. Choronus lifts him off his feet by the very same hand and ignites his body in flames. He maintains his grip as Romasu struggles to free himself. Romasu turns the air above him into water and coats himself in it but Choronus does not allow for the flames to disappear. Omero turns the dirt beneath Choronus soft, causing him to sink below. Choronus releases Romasu and grabs onto hard soil. Omero expands the area of soft soil so Choronus may sink further. Once he is completely engulfed, Omero hardens the area and traps him. Rather than immediately rising to the surface, Choronus heads below and breaks through a ceiling underground. A cluster of Elletauri are distracted from their assignments. They're surprised by his sudden entrance but return to their duties when they realize it’s him. Cavlov opens Choronus' face and orders one of his men to bring a prototype armored vehicle out onto the surface. He demands that the rest ready themselves for the voyage. Choronus airs out through the opening. It had gotten rather humid for Cavlov on the inside. The Elletauri begin collecting their weapons and armor. Cavlov watches as they work.
Omero takes this time to force enough wind in Romasu’s direction to put the flames out. Omero approaches him to ensure that he is still living. His flesh is crisp but regenerates rather quickly. "I believe gratitude is owed," Omero taunts.
Romasu roars to the sky. The entirety of his structure rapidly expands and horns arise from his crown. His teeth enlarge and those he lost grow back. He starts to look more like and less of a Seteran. The pain that comes with shapeshifting becomes too much for him to manage in a single sitting. This halts him from gasping his original state. Romasu becomes slightly larger than Choronus. His expression admits that he is reverting to his primal nature yet he still remains in control of his actions. Omero deters enemies while dividing his attention and sharing it with Romasu. He is concerned about Nophra's ability to contain Romasu one all is done. He considers Akai and sends a telepathic message out to him.
"Stay as far as you can from where I am," he orders.
Akai is distracted by the message. An enemy catches him off guard with a jab to his right ear. Gradier witnesses this and concludes that Akai will not survive without her aid. Gradier had managed to gain ninety-one Elletauri under her hand. She commands her army to fight toward Akai’s direction and help defend him. She hadn't acquired the amount of soldiers she wanted but does have enough to make an impact. Gradier returns to her synthetic body. Raphael comes to. Choronus breaks through the ground and rises to the surface. Romasu immediately spots him and barrels toward him on all fours. Choronus notices the recently formed horns protruding from his head. When he is close enough, Choronus grabs onto his horns. Romasu claws at his chest and leaves long marks. Choronus lifts Romasu and throws him in Omero’s direction. Omero telekinetically catches Romasu and lowers him. He feels painfully drained. He fears that his stamina will soon be depleted. Romasu begins to grow again. The sound of his bones churning and restructuring themselves is audible from afar. His gaze becomes increasingly ferocious. Choronus sends intense heat waves in Romasu’s direction. The air wrinkles.
He evades each wave as he moves closer to Choronus. Romasu tackles Choronus and proceeds to tear away at his armor. Chunk after chunk, Romasu rips away the metal flesh. Cavlov’s face and stomach are exposed. Romasu opens his gaping mouth and moves for Cavlov’s face. Cavlov grabs the lower and upper tiers of his mouth and tries to keep Romasu from devouring him. Cavlov’s soldiers beat Romasu from behind and try to pull him away from their leader but they cannot. Cavlov offers a psychotic smile.
"You are much stronger than before," he admits.
Cavlov immediately notices flames brewing in his throat. He replenishes the metal of his face a moment before the light erupts from Romasu’s mouth.
Cavlov sweats from inside the safety of Choronus. While he waits for the light to cease, he replenishes that of the metal on his torso as well. He can’t afford to risk exposure, at the moment. Choronus grabs Romasu on both sides of his ribcage and forces him onto his side. Choronus gets on top and strikes him in the face over and over again. Romasu's anger increases each time he is struck. Omero inhales deeply. He commands pieces of the ground to rise from their stagnation and flow toward Choronus. He sees them coming but his impulse reflexes don’t activate in time. The flow of rock sweeps him up. Romasu is granted time to heal. Omero gestures for the flow to ascend to the skies. Omero is beaten as he does this but doesn’t break focus. Romasu does his best to keep enemies from tearing him apart. Cavlov explores the peak of his knowledge pertaining to sorcery that he thinks could help him in this situation. To his dismay, each time he comes close to removing himself, more rocks comes to seal him back within the flow. Omero increases the speed in which the rock flow moves in. He manipulates the form of the flow and encases Choronus within a sphere. Try as he might, Choronus still cannot seem to break free. Omero’s hands shake. He has vastly exhausted his soul’s stamina. He strains his eyes in trying only to keep his telekinesis synchronized with his concentration. He lets go. His bones feel weak and calcium deprived. His vision goes dark and he finds it difficult to breathe correctly. Everything feels bland as though his passion for life has suddenly been vacuumed out of him. He is overwhelmed with fatigue both physical and mental. No longer can he muster the will to move. He stands in place, waiting for his soul to replenish in grace, at least a little. Choronus breaks free from the stone sculpture and takes all its fractions into his orbit. Choronus sees Omero and finds opportunity in his weakness. He sharpens the stone fragments into rhombus figures and commands all to act as disdainful projectiles. Omero’s vision resettles just enough for him to see the hundreds of fragments cutting through the wind in an abominable flock. He reluctantly accepts that which he cannot change.
"Let it be written," he says.
He is forced to take several steps backward as his life’s culmination finally greets him. His body is punctured time and time again. His spirit flees upon the eighth wound but his body continues to be vandalized. Though he does not see him appear, Cavlov hears Dammormoth laughing with spiteful consolidation. Akai freezes. He feels something is amiss. His sage intuition notifies him that he is more alone than he’d previously been. He can’t shake this feeling and its weight garnishes too much importance for him to simply ignore.
In the meantime, Raphael combats his way to Akai. The enemies Gradier controlled have greatly relieved Akai of the quantity. Raphael recalls the enhancement made to the eagle he hadn’t gotten to use. He searches for an enemy and fires the pistol. The recoil is awful. It brings pain to his right arm though, the adrenaline begat by his astonishment allows him to ignore it. A swift bolt of lightning had ejected from the nozzle and freed the soul of his target, in an instant. He smiles and studies his eagle as if it were the first time he’d received it. He feels a slight difference in his stamina. Raphael puts away his other pistol and chooses to exclusively use the lightning gun as both hands are required. He fires, without hesitation, at all enemies that disturb his sight. His index finger is unyielding. Amidst his excitement, he hears the loud roar of an engine. He looks around to see where the noise is coming from. There, in the distance, is the large armored vehicle. It surpasses the size of any weaponized machine he had seen before. Judging from the lack of paint, Raphael figures that it is merely a prototype and does not expect others to come out of the horizon. He fires the desert eagle at the vehicle. Each bolt causes only slight damage to its exterior. The vehicle crushes a few enemy soldiers that failed to evade in time. Dracos flock in Raphael’s direction and strike the ground leading to his feet. He runs in the opposite direction and grabs enemies to use them as shields.
Akai sees his father remaining motionless at the edge of the horizon. Akai’s right heart beat pattern is disrupted and his left heart must adjust its rate to make up for the lack of synchronicity. Adrenaline taints his blood and the air disappears like patience in the irritable. All aspects of current events fade from existence. Nothing matters except his father’s lack of vitality.
"Father!"
Akai rushes to Omero’s side hoping to squeeze. few final words out of him. He receives none and isn’t granted the chance to say goodbye. He drops to his knees and tries to cough up a hate and pain filled scream but all he can do is cry. He hadn’t been struck with the possibility of his father’s demise until now. Life seemed to make sense to him for a while but all it takes is a single tragedy to remind the grieving that life is nothing more than a chaotic series of events. He remembers their last few moments together and tries to retrace what his last words to his father were. “Yes, father.” They were simple. Not the loving words he wishes he’d said but they weren’t negative. Therefore, his conscience is spared unnecessary heaving sessions. Akai says a prayer over his father in the language of the old sages and hovers his palm over Omero’s body. the carcass melts into the light and Akai receives closure. Raphael had been keeping the enemies away to buy Akai some time but he’s only one man. From Akai’s peripheral vision, he visualizes his enemies coming to cut his mourning period short. Akai’s rage frees itself and he forgets his merciful ways.
