Twenty Fourth Meow - Unreal Reality (2)

Anthony staggered back, his hands tightly gripping the long shears he's wielding. A grunt of pain escaped him as he spat crimson from his mouth, his breath labored. With narrowed eyes, he thrust his right arm forward, the shear's blade gleaming at it aimed towards the enemy amidst the chaos. The adversary's massive shield absorbed the onslaught of blows from Aegir, each clash echoing with a sickening crunch. Anthony marveled at the enemy's strength, their muscular frame allowing them to wield the shield with ease against Aegir's ferocious attacks. With each strike, the tension in the air thickened. Aegir's relentless attacks with only the use of his power coated fists and legs were substantial enough to leave solid cracks on the ground.

"Are you okay, Anthony? Are you sure you both don't need my help? " Anthony could hear Vin ask him while his arm was covering his face from the scattered dust caused by the discord ahead of him.

Vin was a few inches away from the battle front. Beside him were two teenage girls, a siren and a vampire, whimpering and hugging each other. Their bodies were covered with fresh bruises and their faces beaten black and blue. The two girls were the one they had saved from death's door when they were about to be trampled and crushed to bits by the ginormous shield their enemy-an orc were wielding.

Anthony knew every move could be his last, urgency driving him forward in the relentless fight for survival. He would certainly appreciate help from Vin who has a lot of experience more than his and Aegir's combined but he and Aegir already decided that they mustn't stay in their mentors' shadows every time; they must learn to challenge themselves by stepping out of it and apply whatever they learned from them.

"We're fine here, but you can help us by your heals and buffs y'know? " Anthony's bend his knees; forming a low squat then he charged forward, sending consecutive slashes using his sheers to his enemy.

But for the enemy, it's nothing but a slow and desperate attempt to break his defense. He twisted his body to the right to form his shield to repel Anthony's blades. With a heavy push, he managed not only to counter the blades but to push Anthony's body back.

"Nice try, boy. But you're not ripe yet to be on par with me! " Arrogance laced on his voice, laughing haughtily. The hefty armor he used to cover his body created a thunk sound. His body vibrated as he cackled.

Aegir, glaring on the man for making fun of his master used the chance to attack once again. "Taste this! " Aegir stifled an outcry; he jumped, his leg on a perfect high kick stance, aiming to reach the enemy's face.

With his face still mustering a smile, his hand went to effortlessly caught Aegir's foot. "Not too fast, kitten! " the enemy smirked, he propelled his body; advancing closer to Aegir, using his shield as a formidable weapon, he lifted it up above Aegir's leg. Aegir's eyes went wide but he wasn't fast enough nor strong enough to escape from the enemy's firm grasp over his foot.

It would take numerous tricks to penetrate his shield and not some mediocre young urns who only rely on their unorthodox fighting techniques with no own fighting style.

Anthony only watched in horror as he witnessed how Aegir's leg was hit by the impact of the massive shield. The sound of breaking bones and Aegir's deafening cry could be heard around the place. The enemy grinned like the Cheshire Cat, pleased on his handiwork but he wasn't finish yet, he charged forward and using his crumpled fist, one hit was enough to leave Aegir's body flying backwards until his back knocked mercilessly on the bricked wall.

Anthony was quick to rush to Aegir's side. With face full of worry and dread; he reached for Aegir's bleeding hand. He couldn't bear to look at Aegir's face covered in bruises, mouth coughing fresh blood. Aegir was shouting in pain, his eyes filled with tears.

"Aegir! " Anthony could only utter Aegir's name, his hands shaking, terrified. His heart was hammering against his chest.

"Hang in there! The pain will go away soon! Please. " A heavy rasp escaped Anthony's lips as his eyes began to blur with unshed tears. Aegir could only whimper in agony, trying his best not to lose his consciousness.

Vin, who saw the severity of the situation, went to extend his hand in Aegir's direction. It's a good call that it was him that was assigned to accompany them or else he's sure they'll not make it out alive on their first mission.

Vin's hand started to glimmer a striking yellow light. Music notes started to appear from his palm. Like a melody being formed, it made its way to where Aegir and Anthony was. It enveloped both of their body in warm light, a soft tune played on the background as both of their wounds started to mend.

Vin was also agile enough to bring forth his bow out of nowhere. Its limbs are made of solidified white light, there's musical notes coiled around it. The arrow grip resembles a crescendo note; illuminating in different colors of light. As he draw the bowstring, two arrows made of light materialized. His eyes focused on the enemy making its way to both Anthony and Aegir. With a steady aim, two arrows were released into the air.

It captured the attention of the enemy who stopped dead on their tracks when an arrow grazed his face, drawing blood. The other arrow that was released hit the ground a few inches away from the orc's foot. The arrows were incredibly thin but sharp enough for it to burrow deep into the cemented ground.

The orc's head slowly turned to the direction of the archer-Vin. His eyes were sharp and his face was twitching as his lips plastered a wide unsettling grin but Vin's expression remained unfazed and stern as his hold to his bow tightened. "Not bad, but you missed the vital spots. I thought you're just a worthless healer but it seems you're more amusing than those breakable toys. " The orc even motioned his index finger to Anthony and Aegir whose now all healed up and preparing to attack once again.

"Listen here, Anthony and Aegir. Magic is a limitless idea. Like creativity, it shouldn't be placed in a crumpled box. If one technique doesn't work, find another. '' Vin deliberately ignored what the orc had said and proceeded to lecture his two companions.

Vin didn't let the enemy to protest, his body enveloped into a blinding light, when the light died down. He drawn his bow once more, this time there were no arrows present.

With a mocking glance, the orc howled in laughter. "Are you joking? What are you going to hit me with? Air? " It took one swift second for him to take back what he had said, the arrows a while ago that were drilled on the ground vanished in thin air and almost like a show of light when it thundered, it launched itself without delay; hitting its sharp edges pass through the hard armor to the fragile flesh it's trying to protect.

The orc tried to remove the arrows stuck on his flesh, his throat released a pained groan as he desperately try to yank away what is causing him pain; a pain not only felt like being stabbed but also being burned by the light of the sun. His struggles were remained fruitless, the light he's trying to remove is something he couldn't even hold, just like the air he used to taunt Vin before.

"Reverberating Echo! " Vin bellowed.

Vin was smirking while the orc was struggling to get free from his attack. Their enemy was thrashing repeatedly, his feet was stomping on the ground. He released a massive amount of black colored aura, it has a foul stench; rotten just like how corpses smell.

"You should use your brain sometimes, you see? Light travels fast in... air. " Vin raised one of his hand, he fisted his knuckles then opened it; waving it to the right as if trying to symbolize 'light'.

The orc didn't answer; he was still persistent on using his power to remove the arrows from his body. As their enemy screamed, numerous ghostly faces came into view from the orc's shield. They were wailing incessantly, trying to claw their way out of the cursed weapon.

Anthony and Aegir could only gape in admiration on what they saw. Vin was even far away from the enemy, but he was able to damage him and by the looks of his arrows; he can even drill a hole to the huge shield their enemy was using.

Anthony was beginning to understand what Vin meant. Using magic is like writing a story; there's more to one single idea. If his weapon doesn't work, he needs to create another.

He also realized that there's a grave truth underlying the indestructible defense the orc has. As he continues to set his eyes onto the haunting faces reflected on their enemy's shield, a cold shiver ran in his spine upon realizing that there's more bound souls than what he expected this alley could hold; there's also souls who were exploited and was never at peace imprisoned inside the orc's weapon.

As seconds increased and the more Anthony put his attention to the sorrowful souls, his ears now started to pick up their muffled voices, some started to rasp as if they never stopped shouting and pleading for help that remained unheard. He could also pick up their woes; the heavily lingering energy populating the air-of those who wished to end their life but was met with a crueler fate.

Beside him, Aegir could also share the same sentiments. And the feline could also tell that the orc was controlling the souls for his own power. He was using others' despair to get even stronger. His fury for the damn pig ignited more especially that he broke his leg a while ago.

Aegir placed his hand on his master's shoulders, he suddenly has an idea and he needs his master help on that especially regarding souls and death. In a slow voice, he asked him,"Master, you feel you can do something about those souls? Like freeing them but instead of immediately giving them peace, can you supply them power like sort of they could touch physical things? Like that pig for example. I also want to try something, buy me time. " Anthony nodded his head. It's certainly a good idea to try and make another good use of his abilities.

Anthony's gaze traveled to Vin who was watching them. Anthony raised one of his shears in the air and waved them. "Please give us another chance. And thank you for the help! " Anthony beamed. Vin just thumbs up; with a snap of his fingers, the bow before him vanished but not the torment he caused to the enemy.

Vin turned his attention to the raging orc, with a mocking voice; he challenged him, "It'll be a waste of time if we just witness you here scream like a drama queen over a minor injury. I have a preposition for you, fight and defeat those two and I'll remove those arrows and I'll even give you the privilege to fight me, how's that? " Darkness obscured the orc's already piercing gaze, his expressions started to distort into a grotesque fashion. Saliva flowed like drops of rain from his mouth; like a crazed animal about to break and pounce its prey, he growled.

The orc pounded the ground below him with an earth-shattering stomp; bits of debris and dust flew into the air as his every assault sent ripples of shockwaves to the earth. His fists started to crash onto his shield; as if trying to end the discord the writhing faces of his now ghostly victims were making-trying to keep them still and under his control once more.

Dark and rich blood came gushing forth from his wounds, but it didn't matter. The crimson liquid already pooled down to his feet to the solid ground but the irrational side inside him-the animalistic one craving for more deaths won over. His ego won't ever turn it down. With another surge of his power, his dark aura changed into a crimson one.

A sinister look was thrown at both Anthony and Aegir. "You'll both be mine! I'll end your lives painfully as possible and I'll use you as a supplement to my power! " The orc charged right in; he was too unhinged to care to who he'll attack first, he raised his shield to deliver a blow to Aegir and from his left hand, using the energy he's getting from the souls, a set of claws emerged; trying to scratch Anthony who blocked it using the blade of his shear.

Anthony and Aegir couldn't help but to swallow a lump full of their saliva because they could tell by the orc's eyes that he had already ended lots of people's lives. But if they won't stop him now, the casualties he's causing will further increase.

"I could smell their worthless lives the moment they chose this alley to end their lives. I am just doing what's best for them. People who go to this place originally to unalive themselves just like those two bitches at the back. Can you believe it? They want to have a double suicide because they're being persecuted for loving one another. I am just a fairy granting their wish-to die. But the moment I start granting them their salvation, I see fear in their eyes and it drives me to help them feel useful at the very end. " The orc was laughing like a madman while he countered both of Aegir's and Anthony's attacks. Both, however, could not help but to still on what they heard.

Upon the mentioning of the two girls, the siren and the vampire girl's cries went loud. Their bodies were violently shaking as they desperately clutch on each other.

The orc even goes into detail how he let his victims beg for their lives first. Their weak bodies trembled as they couldn't do anything but to run as they played a game of hide and seek.

Anthony could feel his blood boil. He hated it that this animal is taking people's lives lightly, especially those who suffered from depression. Anthony's jaw tightened, his knuckles turned pale white; an overwhelming wrath coursed into his veins. Anthony's attacks became wilder and ferocious, as if responding to his sudden fury; the blades of his shears sharpened. He slashed through the enemy with reckless abandon. The sharpness was enough for the shield to have a long dent.

The orc cackled to Anthony's attacks as if he's enjoying the flow of negative emotions the young man has released. Aegir, who was worried about his master's impulsiveness went to hold him by his cold arms, trying to let him remember their plans.

But Anthony won't let go of these emotions though he'll certainly won't do any more impulsive moves. He knew about Aegir's plans and now he's also decisive that it's not his place for this horrible pig to suffer; instead using his powers-he'll give an opportunity to his victims to get back to him before they find peace in oblivion.

He drew his purple aura, breathing in and out he started to visualize the raven he had seen on the plane before. He imagined it being able to grant souls an extended time to grant their last wish; especially if those souls were victims of injustice. His eyes went to the souls trapped inside the shield, with his left shear that drains life force; he charged in and sliced through the orc's thick arms holding the shield. The piece of limb glided into the air as the orc howled in agony.

"Lachesis: Intervener of Fate! " he called out. A large raven emerged from his back, its eyes striking red like rubies. Its throat released an ear-piercing croaking call like a call for the dead to heed its call.

It opened its beak; numerous golden threads made its appearance inside of its mouth. It encased itself in the massive shield on the ground until the shield deteriorated and turned to dust. Several swirls of purple energy started to become visible on the floor. It wasn't long until ghostly figures started to emerge from it. Their faces were beaten and cracked; their eyes shed tears made from their own blood.

The orc could only watch how he felt powerless sitting by the ground; now that those souls had been freed, he now doesn't have the power to struggle. But his fright wasn't proved enough for the people he killed. The figures turned their attention to him; eyes with hot rage.

Aegir looked admiringly to his master. He was already far from who he was before. Aegir wasn't sure if he could match the same power he released during the conference, but he will try to support his master. Aegir found his left arm clasped on Anthony's arm, surprising the man whose anger started to slowly subsided.

Before the souls could attack the orc, Aegir encased himself with a pink aura; dark pink like what he had during the conference. Blowing raspberries to the orc, Aegir let his power slithered its way through their enemy. "Throne of the Mad Oracle! " For once he thought of a serious sounding name for a one hell of an attack. Aegir was also pissed.

An attack that controls the mind and body of its victim to feel tremendous pain without gaining injuries. For this orc, the pain he caused to his victims will be placed to him; everything at once.

It wasn't that long when the orc saw hell on earth.

No matter how hard he struggled; different pain started to register all throughout his body. Some were stabbing and tearing like it's making his limbs turned into mincemeat. While the others were burning his flesh and his insides. His screams of agony echoed to the place, he ran like a madman; stumbling and falling each time.

His sufferings weren't enough for those he sinned against; their spectral hands reached him, dragging his body; with their sharp nails; they ripped him apart. Until he breathed his last, not from their attacks but in utmost fright.

They had completed their first mission successfully but their intuition tells them they need to get out of the alley soon... for some unknown reason.

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