Chapter 37 The Hunt 2

The cart stopped in front of them and Johnald jumped out and Mark followed him.

"Johnny" Levi exclaimed in shock as he jumped into his brother's arms. Johnald pulled back after a few seconds, "look we have to move fast there's no time, and where's Iris?"

"What is he doing here?" Kara asked harshly with her finger pointing at Mark. Johnald moved forward and placed a hand on her shoulder trying to calm her down, "it's fine he's with me, he won't make the same mistake again," but Kara swatted his hand aside and drew her sword and held it against Mark's neck, "what makes you so sure he won't rat us out again" Levi walked up to her and pulled her away from mark gently.

"Look we will explain on the way but right now we need to leave. "

They got in to the back of the cart and rode off.

Iris got up with a nasty expression on his face, "you look awfully familiar" Iris said to Derek Blade. Derek walked forward and pulled his spear out of the ground. Iris squinted his eyes, " that jawline, those eyes. You're his son, you're Chris Blade's son"

Derek chuckled out loud "hoho hello cousin. You are in so much trouble."

Iris looked at him with a complicated expression, "why are you doing this?" He asked in frustration.

Derek waved his spear around and answered, "Well because my king, your father sent me to do it, you've been a little thorn in his path, and he wants you plucked out."

But Iris shook his head, "no I know that. What I mean is why the war, why is King Steven so hell bent on conquering the seven kingdoms, the amount of death and destruction that his conquest has caused,....." Iris sighed "is it really worth it?"

"You see the seven kingdoms have always been slept on by other nations of the world, we are called a backwater continent, to top it off we had no one blessed vy the gods within any of the kingdoms. Uncle dreams of uniting the seven kingdoms all under one rule. His and his alone. He wants to create an empire, a great empire under the name Blade."

Iris looked at Derek, "and you what do you want?"

"Oh me " Derek said "I just want my seat at the table wether his dreams are accomplished or not, I want my own fare share of wealth and power."

Iris frowned and with a wave of his hand his sword appeared in his hand, " so you would kill me, your cousin, whom you've not even known for more than a day you would kill. Because you want wealth and power. You disgust me." Derek snorted, "all of you stand down, I can handle this brat."

Iris dashed at Derek his chakra flowing through him enhancing his body. Water coiled and swirled around his body. He got within Derek's range and made a slash with his sword which was easily blocked by Derek without stress. Swing after swing but he left no scratch on Derek Blade's armor.

Derek laughed out loud "looks like I struck a nerve. Oh cousin let me show you what power looks like"

Derek raised his spear and struck the ground causing a wave of purple energy to sweep through the forest, when it came in contact with Iris' body it knocked him back several feet. He rolled on the ground and stood up coughing. Derek spun his spear around causing several arcs of blue energy attacks to fly towards Iris at great speeds. Iris rolls to the side dodging some of them, where he previously was were deep marks in the ground. More came at him and with great precision and skill he knocked them away with his sword. After a few hits he noticed cracks on his sword. Derek lunged at him with his spear held above his head, Iris blocked the hit causing his knees to buckle under pressure, he pulled back and rolled to the side. Derek swung at him again and he attempted to block the attack but his sword shattered in impact, the spear hit him on the head and flung him away. He hit a tree and landed on the hard ground. He was bleeding the cut wasn't too deep but it was still deadly. He felt his head ringing, his arms were weak, he was tired. He tried to get up off his knees but he couldn't, he looked up as blood rolled down his face, he saw Derek Blade walking towards him with his spear in his hand, then he looked down at the broken sword beside him. It was his mother's, she isn't here to save him this time. 'That's right she died trying to protect me because I was too weak, they all died because I was weak. Am I dieing this time because my mother isn't here to protect me?'

Iris closed his eyes and everything turned dead silent 'this power I have been given' he took a deep breath and looked up, Derek aimed the spear at him, he pulled back and, Swioosh.

Water swirled round my feet it pulled me up to my feet as the spear approached me. I saw it coming and I moved aside causing the spear to miss me by a hair's breadth. Water swirled round my arms, it pushed me, and as the spear moved past me my hand wrapped around it, I turned round, held up the the spear and threw it back faster aster water spun round it. Derek caught it but was pulled back a few feet with great force.

Iris stood up on both feet, "I'm not done."

Derek's expression was one of shock then anger, " YOU LITTLE BRAT" Derek yelled and charged at Iris.

Iris stood up balled his fists and pulled his arms backwards forming large balls of water, "I should really change my fighting style swords just aren't for me anymore" the balls shrunk and more water was added until all of them were as dense as fist size metal balls.

Iris charged at Derek and released the balls with such speeds that it would put those flying arrows to shame. Derek stopped dead in his tracks and struck his staff into the ground and a purple wall rose up in front of him, but the minute the balls made contact with the wall, it shattered on impact leaving Derek vulnerable to the rest attacks.