Dumnorix, confused, asks, "Do you hear something?"
"I am hearing some weird echoing. The ground, I think it's hollow underneath."
Dumnorix says, "Then could that mean there is some kind of passageway beneath here?"
"There might be."
"We should go inform the ministers."
"NO!"
"Why?"
"We just can't, we can't let anyone else find out about this Dumnorix, please just trust me on this. But we still need to find a way to get down there."
"If I used my legacy to break through the ground, the tremors would alert everyone, and I don't think you can freeze and shatter the ground quickly enough for that."
"Then we will just have to find someone who can, and I already have our star picked out." Orb points his finger into the distance, where it lands on the Nightmare with giant drills for arms.
Seeing this, Dumnorix and Orb start to stretch before dashing towards him at full speed, bringing terror onto the man's soul.
-Break-
Location: Fallen Pirates Bay, Cave
Φ Gathering a large amount at his side, Merid condense it into a thin line and slices some rocks in front of himself, into smaller chunks, and Franny quickly pushes them out of the way.
Looking at the space the rocks have been removed from, they both see an opening into the ground, and Franny says, "What is this?"
"While cleaning, I found multiple entrances like this. They lead to what I believe are tunnels, and it's where the 2nd seats went when they were trying to escape."
"Their escape routes? Why didn't they tell us about them?"
"Because we are here to serve as distractions. I am sure once they saw they were bombing the cave, they knew that any cave-in would make finding the entrances next to impossible within the next 24 hours. So all they needed to do was make sure that everyone else was fighting to escape to make it seem that all the unaccounted-for leaders just got buried deep under the rocks, and nothing is amiss. But now we have to go."
Hearing the cave shaking even more, Franny grabs Merid and charges down into the cave's tunnel, and as she does, more giant rocks drop from the top down and crush everything they come across.
Running at full speed, Franny says, "What are we going to tell the members of Blamator we meet?"
"Just say we were ordered to make sure the tunnels were hidden by an upper seat member, and we accidentally fell in."
"Sounds a bit convenient, but I guess, regardless of whether they choose to believe or not, I doubt they can give up able-bodied people right now. You're going to need to find some water, or they might abandon you in the middle of the land."
"Sorry that not everyone can be born with a combat curse like you."
With a smile of superiority, Franny says, "But don't worry, I will protect you, princess."
"Maybe you should just let me use the liquid in those tubes. Since it refills so fast."
"Hey, I told you time and time again, no one will ever touch this liquid."
"You don't have to be so stingy; it refills almost magically, and besides, if you sold it, I am sure you'd make a fortune as a battle supplement."
"The very idea feels gross to me. I am not a cow that should be milked for financial gain. Besides, all those kids from the orphanage who used to accuse me of drinking this stuff will make fun of me if I sell it. I don't want to relive that event on any level."
"I am just saying a lot of money is a great way to shut up people and show you're successful."
"You're caring one second, and the next you're trying to look for ways to enrich yourself. Wait, don't tell me all of this was just so you could figure out ways to make money off me!"
"No, I actually love you."
Feeling her face turn red, she says, "Can you say it again?"
Turning his face, he says, "No. My heart can't take it. I only said it this much cause you'd start trying to get yourself killed."
Seeing his embarrassment, her face turns red, and she asks, "How long have you liked me?"
"I am not going to say that!"
"Then I guess you must be lying."
"You're manipulating me!"
"Yes, now answer."
"Since you punched your bullies in the face. I thought it was pretty cool because I wasn't able to do that when they were picking on me."
"Really? I did that cause I was angry, wasn't really thinking."
"I know you weren't, but at least you had enough self-respect not to allow yourself to get hurt like that. It is the core of when I began my self-preservation above everything else."
"Yet you still protected me."
"I did say self-preservation above all else, didn't I?"
They both start to blush, yet their faces both move upwards as a sound from above gets louder and louder. Soon, from the top, a break occurs and falling down, Orb, Dumnorix and the Nightmare with drills for arms.
As the rubble spews everywhere, Orb quickly freezes and smashes it into pieces, stopping it from landing on Franny and Merid. Then, crouching in front of them, he asks, "Are you two okay?"
The Nightmare behind him says, "There really is a tunnel system with her. I need to go report this."
Dumnorix brings out his rapier, presses it against the Nightmare and says, "Valters, please behave because we wouldn't want to let anything happen to you while in this cave."
He quickly nods his head in obedience, and Orb stares at the two in front of himself, waiting for a response.
Φ Who the hell is this boy? He kinda of looks human, but no human has animal ears. So he must be Anathematised. He looks harmless enough, but I am not sure what to do going forward. We could lie since he seems like he won't attack us for being members of Blamator, but I can't guess what might set him off.
I quickly move my head over to Merid, who glances at me as well, and as I do, he grabs my arm and quickly moves around my body like a manic. Merid swipes towards him, but the boy grabs Merid's arm and drops his arm right onto the ground, then says, "You have way too many injuries across your body, the bruises, tears and fractures are too great."
Turning to Merid, he says, "You're just as bad; the pain and fatigue are clearly across your entire body. You must have been overusing your curse? Are you stupid? Don't you know the consequences of foolish use? We need to get both of you out of here right now. You Blamator idiots really don't think, do you!"
The boy quickly throws Merid and I over his shoulder, and says, "One, two, one, two, one, two," as he cutely stamps away towards the hole in the sky.
My eyes cross Merid, and the both of us let out a sigh of relief. It seems we lucked out. I guess I can relax now. Taking a moment, I close and open my eyes, and in front of me, a series of talons move right next to the back of the boy's head.
Φ In a single instant, Orb both throws Franny and Merid up as he ducks down, dodging the attack sent against him. Then, glancing up without fully raising his head, Orb sees a large Nightmare dash overhead.
The Nightmare, with its elongated arms, smashes Valters in the chest, sending him flying towards the back. Then it turns its arm and swipes at Dumnorix, who dodges back towards Valters.
The Nightmares tries to strike Orb again, and using his legacy Orb, creates pillars a large wave of ice that freezes the Nightmares solid.
He takes a moment to try and grasp what is going on as he tries to take in the strange form of the Nightmare covered in blood right in front of him. Yet his attention is taken as Franny says, "Dobitoc?"
Valter screams, "YOU KNOW HIM! I TOLD YOU GUYS THIS WAS A TRAP! I KNEW IT!"
Dumnorix says, "YOU KNEW NOTHING!"
Orb glances backwards, and in that moment, radiating from Dobitoc's core a large amount of green fluid moves through the lines emanating from its core throughout its body, and soon all of the ice starts to melt, freeing his body.
He strikes at Orb, who easily side steps the blow, and creates another wave of ice from his foot up towards Dobitoc, who grabs and begins to melt it.
Yet wasting no time, Orb jumps up and smashes Dobitoc in the face with his fist, sending his head right into a wall. But a burning sensation quickly overcomes Orb as the flesh on his hands starts to burn ever so little.
Orb quickly deactivates his legacy, and as the exact mass of it vanishes, the acid on it drops and falls off. Dumnorix, from behind, dashes forward from behind with his needle-like sword in tow and tries to pierce through Dobitoc's skin.
Yet he quickly moves his arms and uses the large rectangular blocks of hard flesh attached to his arms to block Dumnorix's strike. Then from its back, each of the hairs across its tomahawk starts glowing green and shoots out at both Orb and Dumnorix.
"Red branch battle arts; Tulip," Orb and Dumnorix say as they jet around the tight area dodging the projectiles.
As some distance exists between the three of them, Orb says, "This battle is already over. The members of Blamator have been decimated. And all the remains are some stragglers. Please stop fighting us."
Sticking out his tongue, Dobitoc speaks and says, "Over? It's never over! We will not allow our cause to be routed out here, and if we must fight tooth and nail to survive, we shall. You already know too much, and your filthy existence as a Suflete Corrupte is enough for me to pass out judgment."
Orb's hair turns bright red, and Valter shouts, "STOP BEING A FUCKING IDIOT! DO YOU REALLY HATE HUMANS SO MUCH YOU'RE GOING TO BE WILLING TO THROW AWAY YOUR LIFE FOR NOTHING! OR ARE THE LIVES OF NIGHTMARES JUST THAT WORTHLESS TO YOU THAT YOU'LL THROW THEM AWAY FOR JUST THE IDEA OF BEING ABLE TO HARM HUMANS?"
"I don't need an Anathematised Nightmare to tell me the value of our lives. Now, Franny, Merid stand and block their exit."
Dumnorix, patting Valter on the back, says, "Do you think those two could stop us?"
"No, but they can delay you for even a second, allowing me to strike a critical blow. Franny, Merid, rise now! Or maybe you believe the orphanage you were raised at should be melted down."
Franny says, "You wouldn't?"
"Siding with the ministers is already the same as killing them slowly. Doing this is nothing but a mercy."
Merid and Franny stare at each other, but slowly start to stand up, but Orb quickly move behind them and wraps his arms around their waists, then lifts them up into the sky, and spins them around to everyone's confusion.
Dropping them, he whispers, "It will be okay."
Then, walking forward, Orb says, "Enough with your distractions. Let's stop with the talk and start going full out. Dumnorix, this will be a one-on-one; don't interfere unless I die."
"Whatever you say."
"Don't underestimate me, I have ripped countless soldiers to shreds to come here."
With a cocky smile, Orb beckons Dobitoc forward, and they both lunge towards each other.
Φ Seeing the two clash in front of me, I twitch my arm. Should I help Dobitoc, or should I stay with the boy? Dobitoc is the strongest Nightmare in combat prowess we had at the base. As far as I am concerned, he should win. I should use my curse to control water to send some of Dobitoc acid right at him and secure the victory.
From my left, I hear crying, and turning to see tears streaming down Frannie's face, I say, "What's wrong?"
"My father. I don't know why, but when he hugged me, it felt like my father. Confident, strong, and full of will to protect me."
Grabbing her hand, I relax my body and say, "I see. Then let's believe."