Chapter 5

“Let’s go!” Yuna unsheathed the rapier at her waist. And proceeded to jump from the edge of the wall into the forest.

“Yea!” Sakura followed, pulling the massive blade off of his back.

Fumia continued the trend as she unsheathed her katana and sent herself off with a front-flip.

Launching myself from the edge of the wall with my dual blades in hand. I dove headfirst. The feeling of wind pushing upward as I fell downward was thrilling.

Just before hitting the ground. I swung my swords back and above my head, parallel to each other. Followed by swinging them forward, as well as flipping myself in the same direction as my blades, in one single motion. Activating the sword skill Tide. I landed safely.

Yuna began clapping her hands, “Whoo!”

The three had landed before me. Using advanced sword skills from our respective weapons, we were able to break our fall.

“Now that we’re all here. Let’s kill them all.”

“Right on Fumia! Just what I was thinking.” Sakura exclaimed.

“Once they’re all gone, we still need a way to patch up the massive crater in the wall.” I looked around. Noticing there were only four of us.  “Looks like Kiriya’s leaving it all to us.” I sighed.

“You know how he is. If it’s something someone else can handle, he won’t intervene.” An agitated Fumia gripped her katana in frustration.

A tingly feeling rode up my spine as I heard a tree branch crunch in the distance.

Looking around, the four of us realized we were surrounded. Golden stares gleamed on us.

“Without further ado!” Yuna chuckled.

Bending her knees, she took a fighting position. With both hands on her rapier, she raised it slightly above her shoulders. And thrust herself forward in one fluid motion.

Her blade glinted in the night sky as she shot herself through the forest as if she were a shooting star falling in the starless night, throughout the surrounding area. Leaving a trail of MechaBeasts behind her.

And she wasn’t the only one. Looking to my right, Sakura went for a slower yet efficient approach.

Swinging that massive black blade of his in a counterclockwise motion. He swept the floor, defeating multiple enemies charging at him, in one fell swoop.

Plopping his massive weapon onto the ground, it made a thud sound. Placing his elbow onto the handle of the blade, he used his other arm to wipe the sweat dripping from his forehead.

“Haha!” He smirked and continued forward.

Glancing to my left. Fumia darted throughout the forest. Her fluid movement and dexterity with her blade were elegant, yet captivatingly intimidating. As she bolted forward, like a lightning bolt, slicing MechaBeasts in one swing of her blade. It looked as if she left a trail of white marks behind her as she swung her blade.

Jumping into the action. I pounced onto a pack of six Blitzwolves as they crept behind Yuna.

Digging my blades into the back of one that walked on only two legs. I pierced straight through its vital organs. And they fell to their knees.

The remaining five turned to face me, all of which were on all fours. 

This was my first time getting a clear look at Blitzwolves. Their wolf-like faces were covered in metal spikes, like the back of a porcupine. Some spikes were more protruding than others, while some were merely studs. The tusks protruding from their lower lips were coated in a dark yellow, compared to their dark-blue almost purple fur. Along with their golden eyes which illuminated in the dark.

They’re creatures straight from a fantasy series. I thought to myself.

The MechaBeast center of them leaped forward with its mouth hinging open. Waving my sword forward, I sliced its head clean off, splattering blood onto myself and my weapon. Their blood was red like ours but was much thicker. Almost like sludge.

The other four attacked me at once. Raising my two blades, I slashed my way through them, leaving their carcasses unrecognizable as to what creatures they were previously.

Dashing forward further into the vast forest. I felt the cold nighttime breeze whirl my snowy white hair upward and back.

“Gruaph!”

I stopped in my tracks, flailing leaves and dirt from the ground into the air.

What’d I just see?

Just a few seconds ago, a body flew across the forest. Followed by a loud thud.

“Graaaaa!” A painful scream roared.

That sounds like Sakura!

Going towards the scream, I found the spiky-pink-haired man laying flat on his back.

“Sakura! What happened?”

Lending him a hand, he shook his head in contempt as he stood up.

“Ahh, I’m not even sure myself. But this was no joke, they were strong!”

Finally on his feet, he patted the dirt off his clothing. “They was at least ten feet. Standing on only two legs, their claws just barely missed me.” He pointed to his torn-up shirt.

The two of us walked in the direction of where Sakura was thrown.

 “And once I started getting the upper hand, the bastard begins charging his arm up, like a spring. And he packed one helluva punch.”

“Seems like we’ll just have to outsmart this one together,” I smirked.

“Ah, oi, look out!”

A large mammal running on all fours came dashing towards us in full force.

Raising my swords in an x formation, I was flung to my knees. Blocking the massive metallic claws as the lone Blitzwolve pounced onto me. I lifted my blades and flung the beast to the ground.

“Sakura, each attack we’ll switch off. Use your large swings to your advantage!”

“Roger!”

Bending my knees, I pointed my swords to the ground, making an x formation. Performing the start-up for the sword skill Motion.

Shooting myself forward, I rotated like the blades of a blender. Spinning towards the large opponent, as I about to collide--

“Ouwah!”

-- I was tossed to the side with ease. Unable to even lay a scratch on them.

“Switch!” I coughed.

The MechaBeasts focus was on me as Sakura ran forward.

Swinging his massive blade--

“Roraaaaaarrrrrrrr!” Their jaw swung open like a door being kicked in. Releasing an ear-bleeding roar that sent Sakura flying.

Getting on all fours again, they began charging at my fallen comrade.

This isn’t looking good, their sheer strength. We’re practically ragdolls to them. I need to help Sakura.

Without hesitation, I jumped in front of Sakura. Performing the sword skill Frozen Bonds, a powerful defensive sword skill.

Colliding with my two blades, the large beast was sent flying back. Myself included.

Tilting my eyes upward, blood slowly began running down my face. Coating my left eye in a red tint.

“Sakura, are you sure you were getting the upper hand on this thing?” He didn’t reply.

“Sakura?” I tapped his shoulder.

“Ah!” He groaned in confusion.

“Get up, we need to go, it won’t be down for much longer.”

“What’d you say?”

“I said--” I paused looking closer at him.

His ears dripped with blood.

“Geez.”

Pointing in the direction I wanted to go, Sakura followed.

Just what is this thing? It’s stronger than most MechaBeasts I’ve faced. And it feels more powerful than the Original I fought not too long ago.

The ground shook as the MechaBeast was on our tail once again. Stopping behind a tree, the two of us took a long-needed breath.

What should I do? Our usual approach isn’t going to cut it.

An intense huff of warm air ran across my body. Interrupting my train of thought.

Glancing towards the direction of the air. Two glistening golden eyes looked down on us,  As saliva began profusely dripping onto me.

Before being able to react, they began unhinging their jaw. And a vibrant hue of blue light began shining from the pit of their mouth.

They’re going to roar again!

As the blue light flooded towards the top of their mouth, I pulled Sakura by the collar and leapt to the side.

“Roraaaaaarrrrrrrr!”

Less than a second later, the dirt we were just standing on became a small crater.

Dashing forward, I performed the sword skill Watergate. 

Blocking me with the daggers on their paws. I continued onward, running my blades through their metallic claws.

The metal prongs which stuck from their paws clanged onto the hard dirt floor. As I got a solid slice on their fur-coated torso.

Growling out of anger, the large creature dropped onto all fours.

Circling them. I jumped into the air, targeting their exposed back.

Just as I was about to land a large hit, the metallic porcupine spikes attached to their head began firing towards me. Like bolts from a crossbow, they struck me in multiple places of my body.

“Grah!” I dropped to the floor.

Backing me up, Sakura pushed forward. Taking the attention off of me, as he swung his massive blade towards the MechaBeast.

That now familiar blue light began trailing out of their unhinged jaw as Sakura took his swing.

“Sakura!--tsk!” He couldn’t hear me.

As I ran to his side. Sakura performed a defensive sword skill of his own. By slamming his massive weapon into the ground, he shielded his body from the ear-bleeding blast.

Shooting myself forward. I dove underneath the large creature, sliding my swords across the beast’s torso.

At their back, they once again began shooting their porcupine-like prongs in my direction. Prepared this time, I dodged the attacks.

If I’m right, we can win this. I just need them to roar one more time.

Sandwiched between the two of us, The MechaBeast began running, creating some distance between us.

Staring back at us, their golden eyes glinted as bright as ever.

Come on, do it.

Unhinging their jaw, once again the vibrant blue light began escaping from their mouth. As they fired their ear-wrenching blast, I observed the way they began their attacks.

I was right! It’s just like a sword skill.

The way in which sword skills are activated are what we call promotions. A set of movements necessary to activate a select sword skill.

The way the lone Blitzwolve moves while firing their attack is similar to performing a sword skill. And with that in mind, just like sword skills, we can also cancel their attacks.

Signaling Sakura with a finger in which direction I wanted him to go, the two of us nodded in silence.

As he dashed ahead of me to the left-hand side. I thrust myself headfirst towards the large beast.

Taking a glance at Sakura. They pounced onto him, sending him flying back.

Sorry Sakura, but thank you for being the decoy.

With all attention on me, they once again began performing their roar. The attack that kept us at a distance this whole fight.

With limited time, I quickly performed the start-up for the sword skill Motion. Shooting myself forward at inhuman speeds, I kicked their front legs out of place. Sending the vibrant blue light dwindling back into the pit of their mouth. As well as colliding my blades with their mouth. And slicing them on either side, permanently leaving their jaw unhinging.

The perplexed MechaBeast backed away slightly as their jaw dangled open.

“Gah! That damn ringing finally stopped.” Sakura pounded his ears.

“Sakura!” I shot him a surprised smile.

“Tsk, I never thought I’d want to hear yea of all people again.”

“Shut it will yea-- you!”

The two of us glanced at each other before Sakura began.“Oi, let’s finish this?”

I nodded. “Watch my back.”

Jumping forward, the lone Blizwolve reached their massive limb towards me. Just barely grazing my trench coat.

Extending my arms outward as I jumped over their head. Slicing at their shoulders. Squirting blood like a broken faucet.

Messing up my landing, I twisted my ankle and landed face first.

Sora’s already going to chew me out for these wounds, now a twisted ankle?

“Ahh!” Running forward, the spiky-pink-haired man drove his massive weapon towards the chest of the MechaBeast.

But unfortunately, was put to a halt before getting the seemingly final blow.

Getting back on my knees, I shouted to my partner in this fight. “I got this!”

Performing the sword skill Watergate. I thrust myself forward, and in one swing, I sliced the massive beast’s right arm off.

Following my attack, Sakura began performing a sword skill of his own. 

A loud slashing sound echoed through the forest as a white light flashed where Sakura swung his blade. Finishing the lone Blitzwolve off by slicing them in clean half.

Sighing, I began, “Always stealing the final blow, huh?”

“Tsk, shut up will yea?”

The two of us stared at each other before bursting into laughter.

“Yea look like crap.” He clapped his hands together.

“So do you!” I smirked, “Let’s find Fumia and Yuna.”

He nodded.

***

After an hour or so of maneuvering through the vast forest within the walls, the two of us finally bumped into Fumia and Yuna.

Waving our hands in the distance, the two noticed us and sent a wave of their own our way.

Approaching them, the two girls looked exhausted.

“You look exhausted--” Fumia and I said simultaneously.

“Looks like we weren’t the only ones who ran into a crazy strong MechaBeast.” Fumia glanced over at Yuna.

She stood in silence as she redid her pink pigtails with elastic bands.

“For the most part, the forest looks clear of danger…” I began. “Running around for an hour, we only ran into a dozen or so, that we cleared with ease.”

The dim starless night began to turn an elegant bright blue as the morning clouds rolled in.

“I highly doubt we’ll be attacked in the day. They’ll just be at a disadvantage.” Fumia sighed. But her bruised face was as stern as ever.

“We should go back, we’re all injured anyway.”

“Not yet Sakura, there’s still a massive hole in the wall.”

“What’s the point of going to the damn wall if we can’t patch it?”

“Kanade’s right--”

A tree branch snapped behind us, silencing all of us. As well as the faint movement of chains clanging together echoed through the, now silent, forest. 

Swiftly turning in the direction of the strange audio, I drew my swords. As well as Fumia unsheathed her katana.

A metal object shined through the branches of the trees. Just for a second, I became distracted by the strange metallic glint. I returned my gaze forward, realizing my two weapons had been snatched straight out of my hands.

Huh?

“Hey!” Fumia snarled.

Looking towards her, the katana in her hands was being snatched away by a sturdy black chain.

Gazing my attention to where the chain led to. I spotted the perpetrator within the trees.

“Serpent!"