072

 

72.  Divergence of Power

 

Far above the Belmarcian Tournament complex, the sun engaged in a losing battle against the moon and the dark clouds that shadowed it. At the top of a spire in the rear of the complex sat the committee room, which had not only lost its outer wall, but also its electricity, leaving it a dark and brooding cavern. The five members of the council remained huddled in the corner, where they had stayed through the last nerve-wracking hours. Van Kaen stood motionless against the wall next to them, either guarding them, sleeping, or possibly even both.

 

"Welcome back, Grayson," Roufas said, greeting his ally as he returned.

 

"Hello." Grayson walked calmly inside with a smug grin on his face. "I see you had a visitor, Roufas."

 

Roufas paused for a moment. "What are you talking about?"

 

"Oh, don't play dumb." Grayson rolled his eyes. "He's been downstairs the whole time, hasn't he? Tao Fukunaga."

 

"He came to deliver some dire information," Roufas said nervously. "An Apostle is en route to the tournament complex as we speak."

 

Grayson seemed unfazed by the information. "I just have one question. How could you have possibly let him enter and leave this room without killing him?"

 

"Do I really need to answer that?" Roufas asked with a sigh. "We need to stick to the plan here, Grayson, or else all of this could go down the drain!"

 

"Spare me," Grayson said as he raised a hand. "Your anal-retentiveness about these plans of yours is starting to make me feel ill. You did not kill one of our greatest enemies because you fear the Church?"

 

Roufas balled his hands into fists. "And you don't?"

 

Grayson smirked. "A simple yes was all I needed, Roufas. And what about the Daughter? Why did you not kill her protectors?"

 

Roufas’s eyes narrowed. "We’ve been over this, Grayson...we can get her later."

 

"Later? After the Church scoops her up and imprisons her within their citadel? Please," Grayson said. "Be honest with me this one last time. It was Victoria, wasn’t it? She stole the Daughter away. When you saw her that night, you remembered Victoria...and that memory linked up with pity inside your sorry mind."

 

Roufas was silent for a moment. "Fine. You’re right. What we did to Victoria was wrong, Grayson. She wasn’t on the Church’s side, or anyone else’s. She had her own ambitions and plans. We could have worked together with her...if only we hadn’t behaved so rashly. We didn’t have to attack her..."

 

"She insulted us," Grayson said with dark eyes. "You, me, and all we stand for. But I suppose you forgot that little detail. In the end, it really was just as I thought...another fantasy from an old man who’s lost touch with reality. Do us a favor and save your breath, Roufas. After all, who knows how much you have left?"

 

"What's that supposed to mean?"

 

Abruptly, Grayson spun away from Roufas and faced the window to the arena. A demonic smile decorated his face, and his glasses seemed to glow with an eerie light.

 

"Grayson..." Roufas took a step toward his partner. "What are you hiding from me?"

 

Trunculo's voice pierced through the tense atmosphere in the room. "Our warriors have taken their places!"

 

*************

 

"Aaaaaand go! Beat each other senseless for us, will ya?"

 

Amyr studied Saffron carefully, taking note of the man's thick armor and the large bastard swords strapped to his back. The moment he saw Saffron flinch, Amyr wasted no time in producing two additional arms from his mid-section, then let loose multiple shining blasts of psynergy from each of them.

 

In an instant Saffron's ruby blade was out, and with a few slashes, he expertly deflected the attacks.

 

"A convenient skulduggery indeed," he commented.

 

"These four arms represent the four noble truths," Amyr announced. "The first, dukka: the idea known as 'suffering' exists. The second, tanha: suffering arises from attachment to desires. The third, nibbana: suffering shall cease when the attachment to desires also ceases. And the fourth, ariya-sacca: the way to attain that freedom by following the Noble Eightfold Path. Believe in these truths, and you too shall be free."

 

"Curious," Saffron replied. "I myself find partiality in suffering. Valiant doth suffrage and desire be, for both maketh the body stronger."

 

Amyr braced himself. "True strength comes from casting away one's vices."

 

Saffron rested his blade on his shoulderpad and gazed into Amyr's eyes. "Methinks I don't much like thy brains."

 

Amyr ignored the man's taunt, focusing only on his body's movements.

 

"If true strength art thine," Saffron went on, "then, to't, my man. Slay me!"

 

The Dog's eyes flashed, and he leapt forward. Gripping the ruby hilt of his sword with his left hand, he slashed out wildly at the vice-captain. Amyr side-stepped the initial strike, then spun back around and aimed a fist at Saffron's face. The Zodiac dodged, but Amyr adjusted his aim appropriately and connected his punch with the man's chin.

 

Saffron didn't budge. Even with psynergy coating his fist, Amyr’s thick knuckles hadn't even broken through his opponent's skin. They merely stuck to his smooth chin, pressing firmly against the swordsman's condensed psynergy aura.

 

"Ladies and gentlemen!" Trunculo explained. "If I’m not blind, I think Saffron just caught Amyr’s fist with his face!"

 

Saffron smirked. "Ay, like springes to catch woodcocks."

 

As Amyr pulled his fist back, incredulous, Saffron lifted his left arm high and brought his massive blade down. Amyr extended his two lower arms, attempting to trap the blade as it came down toward him, and even prepared a psynergy barrier in case he failed. When Amyr's hands met the steel, he pushed them together and stopped Saffron's blade in mid-air.

 

The swordsman nodded in approval and released his sunflowery aura. "Splendid. Thy body hath met my blade. But what of my psynergy?"

 

As Saffron unleashed his aura, his blade slid down through Amyr's hands until it was inches from the vice-captain's heart. Amyr quickly brought one of his extra arms up for support, and was shocked to see the sword slice right through his psynergy barrier and into his hand. As the blade ripped into his flesh, he desperately spun out of the way. Saffron's blade barely missed his chest, and Amyr cried out in agony as a chunk of his hand splattered to the floor.

 

Gritting his teeth and withstanding the pain, Amyr quickly reached to his sides and unsheathed his sabres.

 

"Well brandished." Saffron eyed Amyr's blades. "Thou hast subsided my ornamental fears."

 

Saffron advanced and slashed out again. This time the vice-captain was ready, but had to use his blades to block the powerful blow.

 

Both of the men’s auras flared up as they attempted to overtake each other. Saffron's sword seemed unusually heavy, and its ruby hilt sparkled in the arena lights as it loomed over Amyr's head. Then, after what felt like an eternity, Amyr summoned up enough psynergy and pushed forward. Saffron stumbled back a step, and Amyr swung out, aiming each of his arms toward a different spot on the Dark Zodiac's body.

 

Amyr's sabres went sailing toward Saffron's neck, left rib, and right thigh. It would be impossible to block them all at once.

 

Saffron swung his sword down diagonally to block the two sabres heading for the upper half of his body. In doing this, he left his right leg wide open, and Amyr's third arm had already closed in on it.

 

The vice-captain's sabre sliced through Saffron's mail and stabbed into the flesh beneath. Amyr leaned in and shoved his sword in as far as it would go, just as Saffron pushed his other two arms away and rushed him.

 

Feeling triumphant, Amyr slid his blade out and hopped back. By that time, Saffron had already brought his sword down, but his opponent was more than ready. Keeping his momentum going, Amyr twisted around on his leg and leapt behind the Dog, completely evading the blow.

 

Saffron tried to whirl around and follow him, but he was too slow. Amyr moved his trunk-like legs around Saffron's, locked them in place, then slid his two upper arms up from below the Zodiac's and pressed on the back of his head. Amyr's third arm snaked forward and touched its saber lightly against Saffron's neck, completing the classic Execution pose that Ravi had taught him years ago.

 

"This is your chance to forfeit," Amyr explained. "I don't want to murder you."

 

"'Zounds!" Saffron cheered. "I must say, I thought thee to be a fool's knave. Mayhap the fool was I."

 

"I take my battles seriously," Amyr muttered. "That's all."

 

Saffron slowly, carefully turned his sword around and pointed it at his own stomach. "Even this one?"

 

Amyr tightened his grip. "Just forfeit!"

 

"Nay!" Saffron boomed, then slammed his psynergy-enhanced chin down toward his chest, shattering Amyr's blade on the spot.

 

Pieces of sharp metal stuck into his shoulders and cut his neck, but it didn't seem to faze the swordsman at all. Amyr dropped the useless hilt of his weapon and momentarily released his remaining arms. Then, swerving his remaining two blades around, he quickly stabbed them both deep into Saffron's unguarded sides.

 

Saffron let out a mad roar, then shoved his body forward, letting Amyr's blades slide out of his flesh. The Dark Zodiac moaned as the steel slid through his body, reveling in the pain. Then, with a mad grin on his face, Saffron swung his body and his blade around. Amyr anticipated this and held up his weapons, coating them in psynergy as best he could. Saffron's sword passed through them like a wrecking ball, slashing through the left side of Amyr's chest and splashing rivers of blood onto the platform. Amyr bellowed in agony, but curled his fists and pushed himself to stay on his feet.

 

This is no man. He's a demon... The vice-captain shivered as he stared at the bulking swordsman, bleeding profusely from both sides. Blood continued to gush from Amyr’s own wound, and it wouldn't be long before

 

*************

 

his psynergy ran out. It had been a very long time since Kamo had fought an enemy who wasn't desperate to kill him, not to mention an enemy who could expertly create such a confounding stalemate. Due to the nature of her power, Rose's evasion techniques were impeccable, and there wasn't much he could do if she didn't come out to attack him.

 

"Well, Rosie?" Kamo called out to nowhere yet again, as he stood below the cliff he’d fallen from. "What's it going to be? You really want to run around here with me all night?"

 

"No. I’m waiting for you to give up." Rose's voice echoed out from another hiding place. "Even with your targets, you can’t beat me."

 

"Well, that's very unfortunate," Kamo said with a frown. "You know, it's really going to look bad if I'm the last one to meet up with everyone. The other three are probably all done by now!"

 

The 2^nd division captain twitched. For a brief moment, he’d sensed something odd.

 

"Did you feel that?" he called out.

 

"For a second," Rose replied softly. "But I can't find it again."

 

"What was that?" Kamo tried to concentrate. "I've never felt anything like it."

 

"I don't know," Rose said with a chuckle. "But I just noticed something else."

 

Kamo raised an eyebrow, then looked up to the sky. "Aw crap."

 

Floating in from beyond the mountains were heavy grey rainclouds. The first drops had already begun to fall in the distance.

 

"It's raining!" Rose shouted happily.

 

"Good for you." Kamo backed up as he desperately tried to think of a way to turn things around. Exhaustion and hunger were starting to kick in, while Rose's power would only be growing in a few minutes. "Guess I shouldn't have tried to play psychiatrist, huh?"

 

"This is the end, Kamo," Rose announced. "It's been nice chatting with you."

 

"Hold on now, I'm not totally out of options yet," Kamo said, as he turned to face the opposite end of the canal. "In fact, I have one very good option left. Later!"

 

With that, Kamo sprinted across the dirt as fast as his legs would carry him. Rose trickled out from the crags, hot on his heels.

 

As Kamo turned a corner, he was surprised to see Zhang Guo plodding across the ground atop the smooth, onyx shell of a gargantuan tortoise.

 

"Stop, Xuan Wu." Zhang Guo tapped the beast and it froze in mid-step. "You two. Haven't you felt that strange aura?"

 

"What?!" Kamo shouted, panicked. "Wh-what happened to Maximilian?"

 

"You have more important things to worry about," Zhang Guo said flatly. "A great power approaches."

 

"Tell me what you did to my friend!" Kamo screamed shakily. "Right now!"

 

Zhang Guo ignored the Knight. "It's headed toward the city. Stronger than any other..."

 

"Listen to me, dammit!" Kamo screamed.

 

Rose pooled herself around Kamo's feet, and he was once again locked in her clutches.

 

"You have two choices," the Horse said, as she phased back into her body. "Stay here and die, or come with us. I have no idea what's going on, but startling Zhang Guo is no easy task. Something bad's about to happen."

 

"Kill him here," Zhang Guo said, as Kamo was dragged to the ground.

 

Rose looked down at Kamo, thought for a moment, then shot Zhang Guo a defiant glare. "No."

 

Zhang Guo stared back at Rose with curious eyes. "Why not? He'll only get in the way."

 

"He's my prisoner," Rose answered carefully. "I can do as I wish with him."

 

Kamo squirmed and resisted, but he was far too debilitated

 

*************

 

to stop Azuka from binding his body with æsotech cords. Once she finished restraining Bruce, she let his body drop onto the pavement.

 

"Now we just need to find out where Kamo and Maximilian are," Azuka said to Ravi. "If things go well, we might be able to make it back before the final round of the tournament."

 

Suddenly, Azuka's eyes widened, and she looked up to the grey skies in confusion. A powerful, murky aura laced with gold had suddenly cut its way into her mind, and grew larger with every second.

 

Azuka paled. "This aura...it's..."

 

Bruce jerked his head up. "There's no way that's a Knight."

 

"No..." Azuka stuttered. "No, it's–"

 

"What's wrong with you?" Bruce asked, startled by the sudden nervousness coming from the woman who had just defeated him. "Hey! Answer me!"

 

"He seems to be making himself into a beacon," Ravi commented. "As if he wants us to sense him."

 

Bruce's eyes moved up to the rooftop of an old factory across the street. Standing atop the roof was a man in an olive green cassock, a dark silhouette on an even darker sky. An eyepatch covered his left eye, and he peered down on the group with a wan smile.

 

"Shit," Bruce spat. "This is really turning into a party, isn't it?"

 

Once he was spotted, the man glided down slowly, as if levitating. A foggy aura emanated from his body when he descended, dissipating into the air like steam as he touched foot on the ground.

 

"Hello, Azuka." The being moved a tuft of dark grey hair off from his eye as he addressed the Knight. "I expect you already know why I’m here."

 

"Zeigfried..." Azuka murmured, staring at the man in shock. "We had an agreement! You said I was all done!"

 

"The agreement would still stand..." Zeigfried's visible eye probed her like a needle. "If not for the Guild’s betrayal."

 

"Betrayal?" Ravi looked from Zeigfried to Azuka. "Azuka, who is this man?"

 

"Yeah, who the hell are you?!" Bruce joined in, albeit from the ground.

 

Zeigfried turned to Bruce with a scowl of disgust. "A Dark Zodiac, I presume," he muttered. "Please don't raise your voice at me, you godless murderer."

 

"I'll raise my voice whenever I damn well want to!" Flames rippled along Bruce's shoulders as he growled back at the man. "Now tell me who the hell you are!"

 

"You may ignore him if you wish," Ravi cut in, "but you seem to be an acquaintance of my partner's, and I would appreciate a proper introduction."

 

"So be it," Zeigfried replied. "If the fact that you do not know my identity torments you so much – despite all the other things you do not know – then I shall tell you."

 

Ravi and Bruce watched with curiosity as Zeigfried held his right hand over his chest, displaying a white cross on the back of his glove.

 

"I am Father Zeigfried Harknett Abaddon," Zeigfried began, "an Apostle of the Church of Holy Truths. My mission is simple: to detain both the Dark Zodiacs and the leaders of the traitorous Guild of Dimensional Knights, then assume our rightful control of the clocks and the Daughter."

 

"What?" Ravi asked. "Detain the Guild? What is our crime?"

 

As if to answer, Zeigfried returned his eyes to Azuka, who had begun shivering where she stood.

 

"So it was true!" Bruce screamed. "You really were gonna sell your allies out!"

 

Azuka shook her head, quivering with fear as a terrible realization washed over her body. "You used me..." she croaked. "All those questions...they were..."

 

Ravi slowly turned to face her comrade, then looked back to Zeigfried. "Azuka! What's wrong? What's going on here?"

 

As her legs buckled, Azuka fell to her knees, supporting her body weakly with her wooden blade.

 

Zeigfried watched Azuka with calm, cold eyes. "Oh, it’s quite a story: one of forbidden love, violent rebellion, and, lest we forget...ruthless treachery."

Next: Exhortation