Chapter 10: Red skies, Cracked stone

Agi rose from the stone, his mind had been cleared. He was ready to do what must be done.

Seeing Vistar gave him a shock, but Vistar was a duty bound man, and he would likely not hesitate to take his head, so Agi pushed his feeling away and looked forward. If Vistar stood on the other end of his blade, he would not hesitate.

Tenebrous had been all too active, he met many hunters and had even taken the life of one, Agi couldn’t get a read on him, but he had already stopped being observed by the time the Warriors arrived.

Now that he was prepared he would not be observed again, even though he could feel Tenebrous’ gaze searching for him.

Agi dropped down, landing near the village outskirts, he could feel the hunters converging, like a hive mind they all settled together.

Tenebrous looked around coldly, he was surrounded by a mass of hunters, all hiding in different manners, it was clear they had experience, to be sent to The End, this much at least is expected.

To a normal person it may have even seemed like Tenebrous was alone, but Agi kept a comfortable distance as he observed.

However he was slightly surprised to see Yiv approaching the Exalted.

“Exalted Hollow,” He gave a small bow, his earlier arrogance seemed to fade in the wind, “I am the Seventh Lord of the Blood Temple.”

Tenebrous gave no outward reaction, his expression cold, “Move child. I cannot entertain you.”

Agi widened his eyes slightly, he looked at the boy in front of him, and all of a sudden the visage of a woman overlapped with the boy.

He too looked just like her, “How…?” There were few things that could still surprise him, but it seemed recently he had received shock after shock. For this child to be around sixteen…

Agis eyes narrowed into a feral glare, the temple had once more toyed with him, they had hidden even more from him.

“One day I’ll return.”

Agi controlled himself, listening as Yiv began speaking once more,

“I’ve come to suggest a partnership.”

Tenebrous seemed to be getting irritated, “I told you dog, I don’t have time to play games, if you want a treat go wag your tail to the Emperor.”

Yivs expression contorted but he heaved a breath and pulled his expression back, “I will assist you, my warriors will guard your hunters for your task.”

Agi nearly cursed aloud, this was getting more complicated.

Tenebrous raised an eyebrow, “Why would I need your help?”

Yiv laughed to himself, “Surely you know.”

Agi looked deeply at Yiv, he should have killed him.

“Fine. we don’t have time for this, you can play guard, but if you get in our way even slightly, I will pay the Temple a visit.”

From others Yiv would only laugh in their face, but from an Exalted he narrowed his eyes.

“That won’t be an issue.”

With Yiv and his warriors now in tow, the hunters began to move once more.

Agi felt them continuously observin their surroundings, looking for anyone following them.

But they would never find him like this, using their Instinct was their mistake.

The hunters walked under the veil of the loud partying villagers, their laughter and clamoring acting as a perfect cover.

They didn’t really need to hide, but the village had an agenda to maintain.

Finally the group stopped behind the chiefs house, behind was a large basin, and within sat the mighty trunk of the colossal hundred year oak.

The hunter that had mocked Tenebrous walked from his cover, settling beside the Hollow.

“These things never fail to make me feel small. Really puts into perspective, huh? We’re just a couple of humans.”

“Ban, Do me a favor.”

Ban looked up at him.

“Shut up.”

Ban clicked his tongue, “Always so two faced.”

He shrugged walking away, “Whatever, fine. I’ll just go get in position like a good hunter.”

He waved his middle finger at him as he settled at on the side of the tree.

Two more hunters came over the first, with dull eyes and pale skin only gave tenebrous a curt nod.

Yihan didn’t linger, walking to the other side from Ban.

The last one was a woman, “Do we really need to do this? WE might be fine, but how many will you put to death for the order, Ten?”

Tenebrous regarded Carina with a stern expression, “We do what we have to. Don’t forget that.”

Carina frowned, wanting to retort, but in the end she just gave her hair a flick and grumbled storming off to the other end, going all around to the back of the tree.

The other hunters filled the gaps between them, other hunters stood behind them, almost as if… in reserve.

Agi knew this formation he had been studying a bit under Mireille, and could recognize this was a rune formation.

Yiv and his warriors merely stood around them, weapons drawn.

As expected the hunters put a palm up, while their other hand began to draw on the air.

they drew tens of symbols, compared to the ones who drew the runes for Agis sealing, it was clear the capacity of hunters was much more massive.

However soon the weakest amongst them began to reach his limits, seeking to swap out, however the runes engraved on the tree began to light up.

Glowing from top the bottom, the canopy began to drop shimmer scattering runes from the sky, like rain–they were translucent, their surface slightly reflective, however within their core a faint bluish hue was glowing.

A burst of color revealed the long spear within Agis hand.

Many hunters began attempting to stop drawing runes, but they became unable to control their bodies, the soul fleeing from their body as they age rapidly.

Before long a multitude of hunters became dust.

The ones behind looked on with horror, but they found their legs moving on their own.

Agi decided he couldn’t wait any longer.

He shot forward his body feeling weightless as a small rune glowed on the spear.

Stepping down with forward he stopped right before a warrior.

The warrior took a step back in horror, A man had appeared right before him, and before he could react, a spear pierced through his body.

Tossing the body away with a flick of his spear Agi continued moving.

He brought a hand to his lips, tasting the tainted purple liquid his veins showed through his skin, his body immediately became stronger, and as scales crawled up his body they took a deep purple color.

His eyes became a green and purple mixture as they elongated into slits.

He immediately decapitated another Hunter in their distraction, flying toward Tenebrous he through a heavy kick into his head.

Tenebrous didn’t even budge.

“Exalted beast.”

He spoke steadily, but it was clear his voice was strained.

Seeing his lack of movement Agi vanished again, as he expected, Tenebrous could not move.

For the duration of his immobility, Agi would slay every last hunter in this village.

He would not let them interfere with him, by proxy, or unintentionally.

A hunter hurriedly raised a blade, defending the spear and took a leap back.

“Crazy fuck… who the hell are you?!”

The commotion immediately snapped several hunters out of their stupor, many falling out of line and surrounding Agi.

A pressure exerted upon his body, a hunter outside the encirclment exerting his inheritance.

Agis body felt heavy, and soon his mind dulled as he set his sights on another.

“This… will… be… Hard…”

A massive billowing flame nearly engulfed him as multiple blades shot toward him at the same time.

Agi raised his forearm, catching a sword on his scales he brought his knee up, shattering the blade as he lunged forward.

He caught the mans neck in his teeth and tore at it, rushing over his body he escaped the encirclement as fire errupted from his previous location, melting several baldes and leaving a deep black pit on the ground.

Leaping over another blade Agi twisted in the air, slicing right through them.

He may have been physically weaker than his prime, but his skill, and his weapon were untouched.

Suddenly, a tail burst from his lower spine!

Meaty and covered in thick scales, mirroring the ones covering his body, on the end the had a collection of multi colored feathers—

landing deftly his tail began to flick, the feathers shaking as a thick purple haze encroached upon the area, and everyone within found themselves struggling to breathe.

Agi ran within it, and every step he took caused his blood to change shades, his scales changing in accordance.

He struck out, another dead.

He spun taking another.

The Warriors rushed in, some being decimated by the inheritance of other hunters, and some sitting on the sideline, looking in horror as a beast raged in abandon.

A blade whistled through the air, a twisted expression crawling upon the face of the man with dark eyes.

Agi felt a pain in his side, groaning as a red vapor seeped through his scales, tinging them slightly red as the man screaming in agony.

Agi felt the familiar pain, gritting his teeth as he spun around brining his spear down, cleaning him in two.

Some suffocated within the purple cloud, others writhing in agony within the red.

Yiv stared on while shaking, Agi had held back in their fight.

Tenebrous roared out, “Agi! You fucking animal! What do you gain? What do you possibly gain!?”

Agi didn’t respond, the blood dulling his senses as he turned toward a man in the distance.

He was the one making him feel so heavy, such a troublesome foe.

The closer he gets, the more intense the power becomes.

He rushed forth, Warriors and hunters attacking in coelencence.

The wounds began to rack up, azure clouds sprouted forth, and the wounds on Agis body began to stop seeping blood.

Some ran to the Azura cloud, relishing in the release as Agi left them.

He barrelled forward, every step leaving an indent on the ground.

He pushed his soul into motion as little particles within his body would collide before exploding.

Every explosion pushing his physical force further in bursts.

Agi growled and lunged forward, he twisted his body and–

BOOM!

The air shattered as his spear left his hand, the man barely had time to react as his upper body became minced.

Agi heaved, his breath coming out in heavy long bouts.

He turned back toward the carnage, He still had to fight, the ritual was not yet done.

Yiv ran forward to engange, and A feral beast attached itself onto Agis body, crawling and snickering, it began to mock the deaths of his opponents.

its shadowy body felt colossal, its claws raked on the air as Agi turned his gaze toward Yiv, “Because you happen to share some blood with me, I’ll spare you.”

He stepped, and before Yiv could react a powerful fist sent him lurching forward.

For the second time, he was easily dismantled by Agi.

Covered in blood, he could only taste Iron.

A man stood before him, “Exalted beast.”

Ban greeted him respectfully, his long black hair flowing, “For the sake of my brothers and sisters you have slaughtered, I will kill you.” He had tears flowing down his face, blood dripping from the side of his mouth.

Tenebrous looked back faintly, “You fool! Don’t abandon your post!”

Tenebrous wished he could just grab him.

Ban pushed his hand forward, the air moving like waves as tendrils of thick blue snakes crackled.

Agi narrowed his eyes, his wounds were already reopening, the heat made him sweat.

He poised his spear forward spinning it he caught lightning, he took a step forward, his spear finished spinning and he thrust, the lighting dispersing.

Ban looked forward, deciding to take this a bit more seriously.

He stopped targeting Agi with the lightning, instead he spread it out, covering the ground in bouncing sparks.

Agi observed the battlefield, taking careful steps he rushed forth again, Narrowly avoiding a strike to the head Ban twisted his hand, the lightning nearby bouncing toward Agis foot.

Agi shook and bent his knee before forcing himself up with grunting.

He immediately began to change his steps rapidly, turning and spinning, changing direction, before finally lunging again.

Agis spear connected lightly against Ban’s side.

Ban took a step back.

The world around him was dark and hazy, smoke lingered, scattered atop a mass of corpses.

The world was drained of its color, left a viscous red he felt his world was gray, or that’s what he had wished.

Ban and Agi competed through several more blows before Ban finally took a knee.

He gritted his teeth and stared at Agi in hatred.

He knew what would happen to those who followed them here, but he believed that by taking it all upon himself he could at least save a few.

But now… Now Agi had ruined everything, his friends, his comrades lay lifeless.

And the man who caused it all, he simply stood, covered in blood, like a demon who only just crawled from hell, he was covered in scales and stared coldly. Like the fight was predetermined.

Like he wasn’t worried at all.

“You fucking beast… Are you even human?”

He had fury in his voice, and before he stood he felt a hand on his shoulder, he looked up… “Yihan…”

Yihan was pale, he had lifeless eyes, but he seemed to hold great vigor.

His voice was light, “Ban, today we will avenge our brothers.”

Yihan began to draw on air, but the faint blue did not appear, instead thick, wet, ink spattered across the air.

The word, “Life” was written clearly.

All of a sudden the wound on Ban closed slowly, and Agi didn’t wait another moment.

Thrusting forward repeatedly, slashes rapidly appeared on ban and Yihan jumped back, writing the word,”Slow”

and Agis spear immediately slowed down, allowing Ban to escape back.

Agi stared at Yihan coldly.

But Tenebrous roared desperation in his voice, “Come back! Come back damn it!”

Ban looked up, and Yihan stared deeply at Agi, “Sorry, Hollow, I can’t just let this monster run around.”

Tenebrous shook, “She’ll die, You idiots! You’ll kill her!”

“It wouldn’t be our fault.”

Exalted Hollow screamed out, the entire village shaking vigorously, “If she dies! Damn it YIHAN! IF SHE DIES I’LL KILL YOU MYSELF!”

Yihan became frozen as a powerful instict rolled over him, and immediately Agis spear ran through his skull.

“Fool.”

Agi looked toward Tenebrous, truly a weak, twisted fool.

Ban cried out, seeing Yihan die before him he leaped forward, his hand, covered by gray stony scales, struck right beneath Agis heart, Agi coughed blood and took a step back.

His hand struck to the side, piercing through Bans eyes, but Ban lit his body ablaze with bolts sticking closely to his body.

“AHHHH!”

He screamed as Agis hand clawed deeper, Agi cried out loudly as his body contiuously spasmed, the lighting battering his body until finally.

Ban had died.

Tenebrous fell to a knee, Tears of blood pouring down his face, “Idiots… This wasn’t supposed to happen…”

Tenebrous felt the restriction force lightening and he shook, he bursted forward, vanishing.

Before him lay a beautiful woman, she had long brown hair, and sparkling eyes…

No, she had sparkling eyes, compassionate, she cared for the weaklings, for all of those things Tenebrous had grown to great to waste time with.

He fell down, looking upon her, “Carina…”

She had no final words to give, her body already crumbling to dust.

If the four of them stayed in position, it would have been possible for them to lose minimal lifespan… but now, now they were all dead.

Agi faltered, falling to a knee.

A thick fog spread throughout the entire village, Agis sight became lost as the wild look Tenebrous appeared before him.

“I get it now… Fear of man. I always thought it was such an arrogant title.”

He looked around, “But no, you aren’t the fear of man because they feared being killed, they fear what you’ll take when you come.”

Staring upon the man he had taken from, Agis victory felt hollow.

He felt like laughing at himself, “What am I even fighting for?

Then he came to a realization,

“Because… I can?”

“Because I know I’ll win?”

“…”

“Because it’s all I know.”

Around him, a small portion of the hunters began to stir, killing an inheritor was notoriously difficult.

“Just die.”

The hollow sought his life as the fog billowed around his hand, before a loud roar cleared the surrounding fog.

A massive serval walked from around Agi, it circled in front of him, its fur standing on end, its whiskers pointed forward as it hissed.

Agi looked at the beast, the pet he had used to protect their camp in their absence, “You were here… Yu.”

Tenebrous huffed, “Just a fucking house cat.”

A faint crackling noise sounded around the giant cat as lightning bounced around his fur, and little ink droplets formed in the air.

Before the cat and tenebrous engaged a man billowed from behind, “Halt! The Emperor forbids violence within his territory.”

Vistar walked down, bowing to Tenebrous momentarly, “I understand your troubles, but please hold back.”

Tenebrous was about to bring down his fist, but a knight jumped in front, splattering like a paste.

But within seconds his body reformed, Tenebrous repeated this as more and more knights appeared.

Half the knights restrained Agi, while the other half were brutalized by Tenebrous.

As Tenebrous was distracted by the knights, Agi pulled his wrist back, and a powerful elbow completely shattered the helm of the knight closest to him.

His head caving in momentarily before reforming, however in that moment Agis wrist became free.

Taking the oppurtunity he grabbed the other by the shoulder, pulling him down his knee slammed against his chest as he collapsed.

finally free Agi spun his spear with great strength, and a powerful gale pushed back the knights momentarily.

Yu crackled with lightning as the ink shot forward like needles, It let out another roar

It lept into another group of knights, clawing its way through them.

Agi inhaled the red gas, his body spasmed ferociously before he coughed a glob of blood.

He had long since reached his limit.

killing Hunters who were already drained from the ritual and that were lax, unsuspecting of an attack was one thing,

However, fighting the knights of the Temple with their immortal bodies was a challenge he may not be capable of handling.

His skin turned red as his scales burned a brilliant orange glow.

He dismissed his spear, opting to use his body.

Spinning he swept the floor, catching a knight his fist slammed into his face, pressing him into the ground with such force that a spiderweb of upturned land shook their immediate surroundings.

The knight, despite being healed already began to writhe in pain.

Agi ran around like a wild animal, every piece of his body became a weapon as he tore through the forearm of another knight with his bare teeth.

Vistar looked on and began to move, he had not desired to fight Agi, but it was clear his knights may sooner lose their minds than defeat him.

Vistar took strange steps, and before any of the knights could react a blade was at Agis throat.

“With a seal like that, you can never defeat me, Agi.”

Staring viciously at Vistar, Agi materialized scaled on his neck before throwing his head down, slamming Vistar and sending him stumbling back.

“Do you think…”

Agi huffed his breath heavy,

“I’ll die in some backwater place like this!”

Agi shouted, showing real emotion as he spun his spear, the ground became scared as Agis spear pasted over it.

Vistars head was ringing as he attempted to block repeatedly.

Agi pulled his spear back shoving his foot into Vistars chest.

Vistar rolled across the ground before standing again, his form completely healed.

He took up a more cautious stance,

Agi inhaled a completely orange gas, his veins changed colors, while his body and scales stayed the same.

His body became much more powerful, full of vigor as he pointed his spear forward.

Tenebrous was calling out in rage, “Oracle! YOU CAN’T STOP ME!”

A hazy mist grasped tightly around him, it seemed like he was fighting through a current as he crushed the knights mercilessly.

Agi sent his spear forth in a burst of strength,

Puffing his cheeks in exertion vistar deflected the spear, spinning and maintaing the momentum he sent a slash toward Agis head.

Ducking Agi spun his legs attempting a sweep,

however Vistar did a small leap, his feet finding a foothold on nothing he sent a kick at Agis face.

Agis head flicked back before he finally regained his balance.

Standing back up they exchanged no words.

Agi sent his spear forth once more, however instead of flying true like before, at the last second it shot upward, aiming at his neck.

Seemingly used to such unconventional combat, Vistar moved his head, attempting a pierce with his longsword.

The blade shot down at the last second, giving Agis leg a slash.

Agi took a few steps back, and behind him sat Yu.

The knights it had been fighting laying on the ground, their gift blood had been exhausted, and all they could do now was heal.

Yu let out a cry as lightining bounced off the ground, the knights shook repeatedly, their bodies healing before being destroyed, the cycle repeating over and over again.

Agi was about to take another step when a massive axe landing before his feet, the ground spliting like butter.

“AGI! Do you seek to ruin my village?”

The chief stormed down from his home, the basin was filled with corpses, Tenebrous was roaring out toward a figure that wasn’t even present, his hands covered in the blood of knights.

Agi looked like a demon, and a strange feline monster stood behind intimidatingly.

Agi looked at the chief, he had already gone too far. He would not be able to stop now.

Until he lay dead, this fight would continue.

“Will you let outsiders fill your home with unknown runes, and treat you as toys to play with?”

The chief scoffed.

“Do you think theres anything I could do about that?”

He looked at vistar, giving a bow, “One of my own have caused you trouble. I implore you to forgive him, for my sake.”

Vistars gaze lingered on the chief.

And Agi was confused as he stared toward the chief.

“Is it not true that the Human Order is taking unknown action within the Emperors territory? We must not let this go.”

Vistar felt a headache at The Chiefs words, the knights looked around in confusion, it was true. Runes were falling from the sky, their hundred year oak had been undoubtedly tampered with, and they had no knowledge of it.

They looked toward Vistar for answers.

The Emperor had naturally known of this situation, he simply ignored it for the sake of mutual benefits.

However, now that his honor had been pulled into this, Vistar could not sit still.

“The one before you had attempted to intervene with the sorcery the Human Order sought to infect this territory with.”

The knights looked toward Agi, and opened their mouths repeadtedly, but in the end stayed silent.

“He is however, guilty of breaking the Emperors law. He is a criminal, the Human Order, too has broken our law.”

Tenebrous finally shook off the knights trudging forward, it seemed as though he was covered in a haze of mountanious proportion.

“Shut… Your… Mouth… DOG!”

“This has all been previously agreed to, do not twist this for the sake of your little traitor!”

Vistar closed his eyes, “Return to the Order, and I will forget your offense to his grace.”

Agi leaned back on Yu, honestly speaking, when Vistar had slashed his leg, he had already lost.

The next move would have killed him.

Yu had finished narrowly, and arrived in time for him to feign strenght,

However, Yu alone would never be able to defeat Vistar. He was not physically as strong as an inheritor, however he held a colossal supply of gift blood.

Tenebrous gritted his teeth.

“Today, he dies.”