Chapter 201, The Monster of the Mind

The mist has creeped to close for any of our liking, I ignore it it and focus on the task I at hand. Stall the Ophiuchus for Arata for atleast 90 seconds.

"Child of Fate which dwells within me, primogenitor of Braves, era of Ancients, protector of heroes and deliverer of destiny!" Arata chanted and his body was engulfed by a golden glow. "The time for a glorious battle is upon us, head the voice of the Flower and rush to this land! Fashion a shield of hope for the heroes who offer their lives! Open the gate! L'espoir!"

Suddenly over head a gigantic spell circle appeared. From the circle, petals begin to fall, dancing in the wind as they fall upon us.

"L'espoir. The spell of fallen petals." Van who stood beside me stated.

"Please don't stray too far. L'espoir can keep Ophiuchus' mist away but even it's power is bound by the space the magic circle covers." Arata said. "We still need to drive away the Chimeras."

Just as Arata says that a giant snake head appears over head.

"Sweet Arms! Bullet Rain!" Will fired at it without restrain.

"Ataraxia; First Arrow, Wind Trail!" Alexis' new Article, a beautiful long bow releases a single arrow that splits and pierces the snake head.

"The mist may have been held back but the Ophiuchus are alive and kicking." Touya said as he held his sword.

"Ranged Braves should hold gather and form a defensive formation at the center. Shoot down any Chimeras you see." President Mayumi stated. "Melee Braves hold the line a few meters from the mist line. No body is to enter the mist."

"A formation like that will only turn into a battle of attrition." Hiro stated.

"I know but it's the best we can do." She stated.

"Why don't we attack the Chimeras in the mist?" Reina asked.

"Because Rasalhague is here." Arata stated. "It's ability is to show you what your heart desires the most when you enter its mist. During the ancient era, many died as they were tempted by what they saw in the mists of Rasalhague."

"How do we defeat it?" Moyu asked.

"We hold our ground. Rasalhague will eventually reveal itself." Zander stated but I shook my head. "Why not?"

"Will, Liam, Al, Rein, Alex, we're going into the mist." Arata stated as he reached into his shadow and pulled out seven necklaces. "Why seven?"

Arata thought for a moment then he turned to me. He hands me one of the necklaces.

"Arata?" I was a bit confused a sto why he gave me one.

"It seems that Zhen is meant to go with us into the mist." Arata stated.

"What about Ethan and Andrew? You aren't bringing them with you?" Theo asked.

"Normally I wouldn't bring Zhen with us either. Because only Awakened Sacred Braves can resist the voices of the mist but since fate has given me seven amulets of repose, it means that he is destined to go with us." He stated as he fixed the last necklace on his neck. "Petals, Unseen Path."

Arata's petals spread in theist revealing a path. Arata then takes a strand of his hair.

"Bloom." He whispers to the strand of hair and suddenly it becomes a seed.

He plants the seed into the ground and it blooms into a sole flower.

"If anything happens I can teleport all of us back to this flower." Arata stated."Let's go."

We all enter the mist without knowing what we may face inside. As we enter the mist we are immediately faces with an errie silence. Nothing here? Where could the Ophiuchus be.

'Everyone maintain our silence. Communicate telepathically. Be wary of the slightest changes in our environment.' He communicated.

'Why is it so silent?' Alexis asked.

'I don't like this. What do we do now?' Liam asked. 'Do we stay together?'

'No, that'll take us too much time to find the Ophiuchus.' Arata stated. 'We'll split up. Zhen and I will go together. Everyone else split up and try to find the Ophiuchus. If you feel your in danger, use the necklaces to teleport back to the flower."

'Okay. Stay safe.' Will answered.

Arata and I move swiftly and silently as we search for the Ophiuchus. My knives are poised to kill at any given moment while Arata covers himself in petals.

For a while it's too silent, like they've disappeared. But this mist is proof that they are here. Where could they be hiding.

We take a break and I see the shadow of a tall building. Arata takes this chance to drink some water and then I turn to the building. For some reason I don't like it one bit but I can't find out why.

'Zhen, you okay?' He asked me.

'Arata, here are we right now?" I asked him.

'Judging by how far we've come, I'd say... The old residential district.' He answered and the realized it.

We both stood still, and slowly backed away.

The old residential district was attacked by the Chimeras and everything was reduced to rubble. If so why is there a building in front of us. The answer, it's an illusion.

'Back away slowly.' He stated.

We backed up slowly and just then we see red eyes,and before we can react, a pair of eyes stare at me. A giant snake head begins to creep closer to me.

"Gaze at that which your heart fears the most!" A voice states and my body immediately covers Arata and I end up gazing at he eyes of the Ophiuchus.

"Zhen!" I can hear Arata's voice but it feels so distant. I can see a golden light shines before the Ophiuchus disappeared and I begin to feel dizzy. My vision blurs and before I know it I've closed my eyes.

I can hear some voices, unsure who they are. My world is only a darkness.

When there is finally some light, I stand before the scene I dread the most. The body of Arata is cold, covering me and the others lay scattered in the ground in the mist.