Chương 64: KING TO KING

"Monan, I think they're finished. We can move on." Sam was rubbing holy water on himself to heal up, but Monan only scoffed at his comment.

"Not till I get my prize." He closed in on Cannon, seeing that he wasn't dead yet. Still breathing, though struggling. He was flat on his back, trying to come to terms with the hole in his stomach.

"You bastard…"

"I thought I was some mediocre asshole…" The entire ceiling suddenly burst into chunks, rubble flying everywhere. One of Vikram's explosions had launched T'balt straight through the top of the building. But by the grace of his hardening, the attack didn't damage him as much as it could have. T'balt skidded across the floor as Monan had to readjust to dodge the incoming debris and people. Vikram landed in the building while Chosa stalked them from the origin of the hole.

Acelin flew in to protect Cannon and Ellie from the destruction, his psychic power coming in handy for both of them. T'balt regained himself to prepare for the next explosion, guarding his head with his limbs hardened to the point of being impenetrable. When he looked up, though, Monan was pulling Vikram back by the neck.

"The hell are you doing? This reckless shit is pissing on my parade."

"I'm sorry." Vikram struggled.

"I didn't… I'm just doing what you asked! I'm trying to kill him!" Monan then seemed to remember T'balt, turning his head to see his rough, jagged skin.

"Hardening, huh?" He dropped Vikram, who fought to recover his breath.

"Ellie. Ms. Ellie. Wake up." Acelin pushed her body, but it barely moved. The damage from its intense burns was too much for it. Then he saw Cannon bleeding at the mouth, struggling to pick himself up from his back. T'balt gritted his teeth. Of course, this was what happened. He let himself get taken away by Chosa and Vikram, and the others suffered for it. They were all in bad shape. Even Acelin. And it was all his fault. He was doing all this so he wouldn't have to see them suffer anymore. Ever again.

But with everything the way it was now, Monan was going to win again. He wasn't going to make them die for another lost cause.

"Acelin. Get them out of here."

"What are you talking about?"

"This is my fight. If you all keep fighting, you're going to die." Acelin raised his voice.

"I thought you said it didn't matter if we died!"

"No. It didn't matter if I died… But this battle has gotten out of hand. We have to try again." He stood in front of their four opponents, all looking down on him from atop a mountain of rubble that covered the Seraph's head.

"Like hell…" Cannon said. He was struggling to move, but he could function enough to tell that statement to go to hell.

"I'm not going anywhere. Your fight is my fight… We are brothers in arms now. And I don't abandon my people."

"He's right." Ellie struggled to say. She was still alive, barely functioning, but could move enough to put some healing on some of her burns. It was miraculous, but she knew that while she was still alive, she was going to fight.

"I'm not going to leave you alone, T'balt. Not ever." Acelin helped her to her feet, and when she could hold her own, he sparked himself in neon.

"I'm not some loser kid that'll run crying home when things get tough. I want to win."

"But you're all hurt…"

"I can still go," said Ellie.

"I'm your attack healer. As long as I can still go, everyone will be okay. We're still going with the plan." He remembered who they were. The group of people who were always saving him, even when they knew that it didn't matter. So why would they quit now when everything was on the line? Looking at them, trying to smile at him, even within all this, he saw only family coming to have his back.

"Okay," he said. Monan thought to himself, seeing them all trying to persevere like some kids' show. It really made him want to take a shit on their parade, but the group had proven crafty so far. Overhearing the word plan made him thoughtful, considering T'balt still hadn't used a third loot.

"Sam. What kind of plan could they be talking about?" Sam shrugged, eyes returning from the red.

"I can't tell. Looks like that guy T'balt has a sack of loot he keeps at his back. I'm guessing there's some surprise attack in there. But he'll need the others to do it. It's probably best to separate them again." Monan chuckled.

"Good. I'm tired of the sideshows anyway. Monan flashed down in front of T'balt without saying another word. With the power of his light, he threw T'balt up through the hole in the ceiling. T'balt blocked with his steel-like arms when Monan leaped to punch him from below. The connecting impact sent him further into the sky, and Monan kept sending him flying until the last punch torpedoed him to the ground, far from the building.

He was saved by hardening his back before impact, skidding on the ground, and landing in the street.

"What the hell?" Monan flashed in front of him.

"What? It's been a while since we had a good scrap, king to king." Out of the others, only Acelin was capable enough to give chase, but Vikram was there, cutting off the path. He tried to think of a way around, but then, looking back at the other two, if he left, he'd just be leaving scraps behind for the Bear and the others to clean up. He wanted to pull his hair. But then Ellie touched him on the shoulder.

"It's okay. Have faith in him." She had restored enough of her strength to be somewhat viable, but she didn't know how long she could keep fighting. Cannon couldn't have been much better off. He was dealing with an open hole in his stomach that Ellie hadn't had the chance to heal yet. Ellie regarded herself, wondering why the Seraph's light had done that to him and yet only burned her. By all means, she should've been disintegrated and dead.

But she remembered that after Monan attacked her, he seemed frustrated for some reason.

"Can he not kill me for some reason?" But she couldn't think about that anymore. Acelin was lost, and Cannon was badly hurt.

"Acelin. You have to cover me while I heal, Cannon. He won't last much longer like he is." Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.

"But are you okay…"

"I'll manage for now. Just do as I ask."

"But…"

"You can do this… trust me. Have faith." Acelin nodded. And with that, Ellie took off towards where Cannon barely stood. The man had the God Slayer Sword equipped in one hand. He had to aim its light at those rabid hellhounds who were looking to take a chunk out of him. One latched onto his hand, but a fist to the snout caused the thing to burst into flaming smoke. In revenge, Vik decided to launch his series of combustions at Cannon, who didn't have the strength to dodge.

Luckily, Acelin had the speed to get there in time. Ellie slid in behind him, forcing her hands on his injured abdomen.

"Just in time. You two," Cannon wheezed.

"Hold still… we won't have long," Ellie said, focusing on the wound. The cracks were already starting to form in the forcefield. The explosive force of Vikram's attacks was devastating not only to them but to the entire building around them. What was left of it was starting to crumble around them as Vikram was throwing his full strength into the explosions.

"Die! Die! Die!" Vikram laughed maniacally. Chosa crossed her arms.

"No use jumping in that mess while he's high on his own supply." There was really nothing her wind and scythe could do in the middle of his explosions. But she noticed Sam sitting and looking incredibly thoughtful. He'd been sitting down ever since Monan had taken off with T'balt. She always thought it was creepy how the guy would just stare out into space with those bleeding red eyes. But this time, he didn't even seem to be focused on the fight. She kicked him out of his trance by leaning into his view.

"Yo… Whatcha thinkin about?" He seemed to notice Chosa for the first time in a look that pissed her off. Like he was forced to pay attention to a lost child. She wanted to smack the smug look off his face, but didn't know if Monan would approve. She bent over to him, letting a seductive finger touch her lip.

"Hey, mister… I know we're not supposed to do anything without your planning, but I'm getting so tired, and I want to wrap this up soon and find somewhere to lay my head." She squeezed her arms, emphasizing her breasts next to his face. That got his attention.

"Sure. I'll... I'll think of something."

"Well, if you don't mind, I have an idea."

"What's that?"

"See that healer girl over there…" She pointed to Ellie sticking out in the midst of hellfire.

"Don't you think it'll be better to get her out of the way? Otherwise, this fight will take forever." Sam nodded his head like he was listening to a political lecture.

"I think it should be me that does it. But since Monan likes you so much, I'd understand if you wanted Vikram to do it since he's so reliable…" They saw the man screaming manically, blowing up everything in sight.

"Yeah, right, not a bad plan at all," Sam agreed.

"Great… be right back. I'll come see you after, mkay."

"Mmkay." Cannon's wound was nearly healed. Though it was hollow, it had stopped bleeding for the most part. Which was just in time since an explosion was seconds away from smashing the protection sphere. Risking the healing Ellie had just given him, Cannon threw Acelin back, jumping headfirst through the explosion, sword in hand. Vikram sped away as soon as he saw him. Cannon focused his strength to jump at the speed of a cannonball.

In doing so, he easily ripped through one of the remaining hellhounds with the sword. Then he saw Chosa charging him, but when he went to cut her down, she ducked his swing. She zipped straight past, never intending him as the target. Instead, she flung her chained scythe in the air, its trajectory aimed straight for Ellie. Acelin pulled the scythe with his mind. But that was a feint. Chosa kicked precisely above her own head, showing off her pristine flexibility.

And from it brewed a sharp wind that gusted Acelin straight through a window.

"Paybacks a bitch, kid," she said.

"Acelin!" Ellie called. She didn't have time to go after him. Chosa was running straight at her. She readied herself to dodge the scythe. Though Chosa had other plans. Instead, she dropped her scythe, letting the ghostly steel drag across the floor, producing an excruciating sound. Ellie suddenly felt like she wanted to vomit and deactivated her hypersensitivity. But that left her open to a straight kick to the core, amplified by wind. She careened back into a wall.

She then rolled to the side, narrowly dodging the scythe's follow-up attack that nailed itself to the wall. Chosa leaped feet-first into her, letting the momentum carry them through the wall entirely. Ellie was kicked to the outside, forcing her down the steep hills where the capital building stood. Chosa glided on the wind down towards her. Though she had to dodge several holy arrows loosed at her head. Ellie landed and tumbled the rest of the way down the hill. Chosa tried to land right on top of her.

She was met with dirt as Ellie used her hypersensitivity to strafe to her right just in time. Chosa stalled her attack, taking the measure of Ellie.

"I finally got you alone, you man-stealing pig."

"What are you talking about?" Chosa slowly paced around her.

"You know, T'balt's a sad, desperate boy. When he's feeling all lonely, he'll take anyone with a pair of tits on 'em. Even dainty gutter trash."

"I haven't stolen anything. But I can say that T'balt's better off without a manipulative woman like you."

"You don't even know me. But you act like my name's in the New Testament. Manipulative? T'balt just used me and threw me away. And I'm the one who's manipulative."

"You killed him…"

"Did I… Or is that just something he told you so you wouldn't mind killing me?" She tilted her head.

"You can't possibly tell me you know exactly what happened in any of the lives before this one. Did he tell you that he's killed me, too? Or that he left me to die on multiple occasions? I'm sure there are so many things he's never said besides those, but you believe every word, little puppy. How can you be sure he's never killed you?"

"No... T'balt wouldn't…"

"He could've molested you, and you wouldn't even remember. Because he's the only one who would tell you. That man… is not the T'balt that I know. T'balt is frail. He's trusting. He's lazy, but he was always too afraid to start a fight. Whatever he is now… isn't something I would trust."

"I trust him… being of the church, I've learned that with these things we must have faith, and I have to live or die by that faith." Chosa scoffed.

"You still believe in God? That blind faith is the reason they run all over you."

"It isn't blind. I have faith in God, yes, but I also have faith in what I see and what I hear. T'balt truly cares for us… Can you say the same for Monan? What makes you think he isn't lying to you?"

"I know he is… Pft. That's why I trust him. Every time he speaks, I know he's full of it. His type are so into themselves, they think everyone buys into their garbage just because it's them that's selling it. But he can't betray me because he never gave a damn about me. Not like someone who thinks they're in love with you."

"Then why are you defending him?"

"Because what else is there to do!?" Chosa yelled.

"These men, they… they live, they die. They do whatever they want with us, and it doesn't mean a damn thing. People like you and me no longer have any say in what happens to us… For the rest of eternity, T'balt and Monan are going to manipulate us to do exactly what they want. And if they can't, we'll die. And they'll try again, and we won't remember a thing. This whole thing is one big nightmare, and the only ones who can wake us up are these fucking Redeemers…

but they're too focused on killing each other to do anything for us. In that case, what I do doesn't matter. So I might as well beat the brakes off the bitch T'balt left me for." Ellie chuckled.

"When you put it that way, it really does sound insane. But still… the woman T'balt described to me is the same one that I'm seeing now." Chosa seethed through her teeth.

"I'M NOT HER. I'm... me. There's only one Chosa. And I never…" Her fingers were twitching like they were ready to tear her hair out.

"I don't remember. Everything they say is a lie. I didn't do any of it. I never said it. I didn't do it. It's not me…" Her speech patterns and movements had become increasingly erratic. The more she thought, the more reality and fantasy ceased to be entirely. Then she started to laugh with a maniacal twinge gleaming in her eyes.

"Eh, who cares anyway… I'm gonna kill you now."