Casting Shadows

[Grave_Guardian]

Holy :O :O this is still going strong. Keep up the good work Mini.

[Mini_Bert]

It gets weak in the next few chapters....havent written 9 yet, but itll be good xD!
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Chapter 6 - Lift Off
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Zent was working all through the night, trying to get the Earth Skimmer ready for flight. The sun peaked over the treetops and into the hangar window as Zent closed a hatch to cover some wires. He looked at the sun, and squinted at the sudden light.

"Morning already? Good thing I slept 3 days straight...." Zent smiled to himself as he slided the nails of the claws into slots beside the door to the Earth Skimmer. The door quickly jetted open, hitting the left side of the ship with a loud crash. Zent flinched at the sound of the crashing, then withdrew the nails. He stepped forward into the ship, peering around into each corner as he did so. A small lobby with couches and individual seats sat in the back, and on the other side was a fridge and table. To the left of the table were a flight of stairs leading up to the bridge. The bridge was a plain tiled room, with a giant class window covering the front and back of the ship. Towards the front was a single old ship steering wheel. Zent walked up to the steering wheel, turned it to the left, the long arm like engines turned to the left, he turned it back.

Idris walked through the seemingly dead streets, and arrived at the massive hangar. As Idris proceeded slowly into the hangar, Zent climbed out of the Earth Skimmer, he turned and looked at Idris.

"Oh, Idris, sorry to hear about your parents." Zent said sympathetically, Idris nodded in approval. "What are you doing here?" Zent inquired, Idris walked over to the wall beside the door, and leaned against it, crossing his arms.

"I'm heading over to Legoria with Veron and Gaia. I have some buisness to take care of." Idris looked away, up at the rising sun. Zent tilted his head in wonderment at the swordsman, and nodded slowly.

Gaia got rose out of his comfortable bed, and reached for his sword sleepily, getting nothing. He opened his eyes quickly, seeing his sword was gone. He frantically looked around, until Veron laughed loudly in the doorway. Gaia turned and looked at Veron, who swung the sword from its leather holder, side to side.

"If it's that important to you, you should take better care of it." Veron said playfully, and laughed again as Gaia took the sword, swung it around his back and pushed Veron down the stairs. Veron hit the floor in a daze after falling head over heels down the stairs, Gaia laughed hysterically as Veron stood up and tried to gain his balance. Veron looked at Gaia and smiled as he regained his balance.

As Gaia and Veron arrived in the hangar doorway, the dim light shining behind them, Idris looked at them, uncrossing his arms and got off the wall. Zent leaned outside of the door, hanging on with one hand and one foot in the doorway.

"Come on already, you should have been here an hour ago!" Zent yelled as he went back into the ship. Idris followed, arms crossed. Gaia shrugged and walked into the ship, Veron looked stunned.

"Here I was thinking we were early...." Veron said quietly as he pulled himself into the ship. Gaia and Idris had taken spots on individual chairs, Veron jumped onto the couch and stretched himself out. Zent came down the stairs, shut the door and locked it, then went back up the stairs. He flipped his head back down the stairs, his hair falling loosely.

"It's gonna be a rough take off, get ready...." Zent said flipping back up and takeing his place on the bridge. He kicked a small switch beside the wheel, the engines began to light, and let off a loud noise. The back wall of the hangar was gone, leaving nothing but open sky. Zent smiled to himself and kicked another switch, and with a loud explosion, they took off.

[DarkMagician]

Only four words for you Albert...

YOU'VE
STILL
GOT
IT!

[Mini_Bert]

Thanks Dm ^^
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Chapter 7 - Life Alone
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As the cleared the hangar and the walls of Pey, Veron fell flat on his face with a loud crash. Gaia laughed quietly at him, Idris fought back the laughter, but a small smile broke through. Veron got up, hand on his beet red face, and looked at his two chuckling allies.

"Why didn't you two fall??" Veron said angrily, still holding his face. Gaia continued to laugh softly, Idris pointed at a belt around his waist. Veron shook his head and let his hand drop to his side. Veron walked quietly away from the other two, and fell backwards as Zent popped down from the stairs, upside down. "Watch it Zent!!!" Veron yelled at the upside down pilot, Zent looked at Veron apolegitcally.

"Veron, why don't you come up here, there's a much better view....and I think you've already suffered enough...." Zent suggested, Veron nodded and boosted himself up from the ground. Zent flipped back up, and Veron walked up the stairs two at a time until he was out of sight. Idris turned to Gaia.

"Back outside my house.....you said you lost your parents...." Idris started, Gaia looked at him, as though he stepped on a nerve.

"Yes....I lost my parents recently....they went out one day, and three days later I got a letter saying they had passed on in battle...." Gaia unstrapped himself from the chair, got up and walked over to a window in the back, "I felt alone, no one to turn to, nowhere to go...." . Idris unstrapped himself, and went and leaned against the wall beside the window. He crossed his arms and put his right leg against the wall, and looked over his shoulder out the window.

"I know that feeling all to well. When I came over that hill, and saw my parents bodies, I was in denial. I refused to believe that my parents were done in, they were too strong..." Idris let a single tear fall through, "I had no siblings, no other living relatives...." Idris continued, Gaia looked at him sympathetically.

"I wish my brother was still with me...." Gaia started a new thought, Idris looked at him as he wiped the tear from his cheek.

"Your brother?" Idris said, suprised. Gaia nodded.

"Yes, I had an older brother, he was lost one day. It was raining, we were all on a cliff, going home....when lightning struck....I jumped, and he fell....I don't even know if he's still alive...." Gaia looked at his feet, "I am responsible for his disappearance...." A tear hit Gaia's foot, Idris shook his head.

"No, its a natural reaction. You weren't responsible for anything...." Idris looked at Gaia, he was still upset, "What was he like?" Idris asked quietly, Gaia looked up.

"Well....he was very gentle....loved nature, and everything about it....he had the deepest eyes of anyone I knew....when you looked him in the eye, you would be lost in them, as if he was reading your mind...." Gaia explained quietly. Idris smiled.

"He sounds like a good man....You can take comfort in knowing you have someone out there....you'll find him eventually....all I have left of my family...." Idris moved his right hand onto the impressive sword, "is this, the KaoKara....it's a sword forged by Kao, the first knight in the family....its passed down from father to son, or daughter....but it's not that easy..." Idris shook his head, "That's a story for another day...." Idris looked away from the window, Gaia nodded, understanding.

The ship shook a little as it hit something, and Zent could be heard yelling from the bridge. "IDIOT! Watch where you're steering! You want to kill us all???"

"Shutup! It's my first time!" Veron yelled back.

"I don't care! Give me the wheel you clutz, before you drive us into the ground!" Zent yelled, the sound of Veron's armour clinking against the ground came from upstairs. Gaia and Idris laughed at the scene. Idris set his foot down, and went up to look at the two "pilots". Gaia stood in the center of the large window, looking as they left the land and water took the place of ground. Gaia leaned against the side.

"I'm coming for you, brother, and we'll finally know what my powers are about...." Gaia turned away from the window and went up to the bridge with the others.

[DarkMagician]

By the way Albert, Gaia? Is that perhaps a sneaky nudge back to Rannu's servant? If so, where's Mars?

[Mini_Bert]

lol, Gaia is....well if you really want to know, I could tell you over pm, but that would ruin the later chapters for you

Oh, right, chapter update. Chapter 9 and 10 are bloody....yay! almost done ten, should be done by 5:00 this afternoon (EST)
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Chapter 8 - Idle Thoughts
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Carissa leaned over the side of the long boat, dropping her hand in the cold ocean water as they slowly moved forward to Legoria. The gentle ocean breeze blew her long hair slightly. Soldiers bustled about on deck and underneath, preparing for the oncoming battle. Various weapons were hung along the side of cabins and below deck. The captain of the long army ship stood in front of the wheel near the back of the boat, haveing a view above all the others. The silent ocean calmed Carissa, but she knew not to get too comrfortable, because shortly they would dock at Legoria, and would begin their attack on the castle of Desi. Why is she had to fight so often?

"When you've stopped Kuris you can make your way to Desi and end their revolt against us." The general's words echoed in her head, "Desi will fall easily! Then the Hirajin empire will once again be peaceful!" The genral continued his speech, after Carissa asked how he knew it would fall easily. "Simple, you will have him!" The general presented a man, decorated in armour identical to Veron's. His hair was brown, but unlike Veron's, it was messy and untouched. Instead of two blades, he sported a giant mace, latched to his back. "I introduce to you, the Bladen Knight, Darren! He will be waiting for you at the docks of Pey with an army from Jurian." The general dismissed her.

The Bladen Knight was below deck, with the soldiers, no doubt planning something. Darren was different than Veron, he seemed more by the book. Darren's appearance would suggest he was he was unorganized, but he was the most organized person on the ship. He was constantly chastising soldiers for disobeying rules and forgetting rank. He was nice, but Carissa thought more of the Bladen Knight Veron, who she had met earlier on the battle field.

Carissa's hand moved out of the water as land came into sight, she prepared her sword and armour. Soldiers began to come up from below, led by Darren, weapons at the ready. As Darren and some soldiers appeared, the rest fell back down the stairs as the Earth Skimmer flew noisily past them. At the sudden noise, Carissa hit the deck and covered her head with her hands, looking up to realize it was only Zent, Veron and Gaia. But what she didn't know was that there was a fourth passenger aboard the Earth Skimmer, and that he just happened to be a part of the Royal Guard.

Idris sat in a single chair, and strapped himself in, while Gaia and Veron already sat strapped in. They prepared for landing, Zent eased the Earth skimmer to a slow speed, and stopped in mid-air. The engines flipped to face downward, slowly losing power, until the landed softly on the ground. Gaia and Veron unstrapped themselves, and walked to the door. Zent kicked a few switches, the door opened, then set the lock again. The wheel ceased moveing and the engines shut off. Zent then cames running down the stairs and opened the door. Gaia and Veron jumped out, but Idris sat in the chair, still strapped in. Idris began to think.... "What if I can't find him? It's a big continent....he could be anywhere....Will I ever get revenge for my parents?" Zent looked at the serious looking Idris.

"Are you coming, or not?" Zent asked, as if he was in a hurry. Idris looked at him, blankly, and unstrapped himself.

"Yea...sorry about that...." Idris got up slowly, and placed his right hand on his sword, jumping out of the air craft. Zent followed and shut the door.

"You're coming too?" Veron asked, surprised. Zent looked at him as though he was a moron.

"Of course blade brain! I've got no where to go while you're gone, I may as well help you." Zent said mockingly as he gripped his claws and rose them up in a fighting position, "besides, I'm quite a fighter." Zent smiled to himself and lowered his claws. Gaia shrugged, Veron smiled, and Idris stared at the ground, still thinking his idle thoughts.

[Tsumikiri91]

very impressive

[Mini_Bert]

Why thank you.

Anyone like my new avy? It's Shin from Gundam Seed Destiny

Time for bloody chapter #1!!!
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Chapter 9 - Cannon Fire
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The long military boat docked on and independent port on the shores of Legoria. Darren jumped off the boat and onto the dock, holding his hand out as Carissa attempted to get out, she looked up at him. "I'm fine, thanks." She said plainly as she got herself onto the docks, Darren shrugged. Soldiers of wearing different armour and carrying different weapons began to run off the boat and down the docks, forming themselves into groups on the shore. Darren took out a large bag of money and handed it to the man sitting at the pier. Carissa followed her soldiers slowly, stopping in front of all the groups, and began to yell orders.

"Archer's mount outside the walls in trees, Warrior's attack the doors, break them down. Infiltrator squad!" She yelled loudly, a small group with grapples at their sides, and crossbows on their backs stepped forward. "While they are distracted with the Archers and Warriors, you go in from all sides, pick off any sentries you can, and unlock all the doors. Finally--" Carissa was cut off as Darren spoke from behind her.

"Bladen Knight squad will follow the Infiltrator's and attack from the inside!" Darren yelled at his small legion of Bladen Knights, Carissa looked at him, suprised.

"Exactly...." Carissa said quietly, Darren smiled. "Move out!" Carissa barked, snapping back into reality. Darren jumped, and all the soldiers gave a salute, turning and running towards the castle of Durin, kicking up sand and dirt as they did so. Darren caught up with his Bladen Knights, but Carissa just stared into the sky, walking slowly. Her thoughts kept reverting to the Bladen Knight Veron, hoping she would have his assitance in this oncoming battle.

The 4 travelers were wandering through a dense forest, when Idris spoke up, "Where are we going again?" Gaia stopped, and turned his head to the left, his hair whipping around and hitting Zent in the face.

"Watch it will you? That things a deadly weapon." Zent said, as he placed his hand on the red whip marks. Gaia didn't move, Idris looked at him, and Veron kept walking.

"What's wrong?" Idris asked, tilting his head, Gaia didn't move, and put a serious look on his face.

"Cannon fire." Gaia said seriously, Veron stopped and turned, Idris listened, and Zent cupped his other hand around his ear.

"I hear it too." Idris said quietly, drawing the KaoKara. Veron reached for the blades on his back, and drew them crossed. Zent lowered both his hands to his sides and grabbed his claws. Gaia nodded and began walking slowly in that direction. A distant "Attack!" could be heard, followed by more cannon fire and the whizzing of arrows from bows.

"Carissa...." Veron muttered to himself as he burst into a sprint, holding his blades in their horizontal positions. Zent reached to catch Veron with his claws, and missed.

"Veorn!" Idris yelled, as he started after him, Gaia rose his arm to cut him off and shook his head.

"Let him go." Gaia said quietly, as he walked slowly forward. Idris and Zent followed.

The exterior of Duris had erupted into a battle as Carissa's archers fired wildly into the castle. In return, Duris fired large cannons at the archers and oncoming warriors. The infiltrators threw their grapples into the air, lodging themselves in the wall. The infiltrators tested the ropes and began to climb up the wall. Upon getting up they drew their crossbows and loaded them, knocking sentries over the wall, and snipeing oncoming soldiers. The Bladen Knights emerged from the forest and grabbed the ropes, and began to climb. As Darren jumped onto a rope, Veron came running out.

"Veron?" "Darren?" They asked as they saw eachother. Veron smiled and grabbed the rope next to him. "Just like old times." Veron said as he began to climb, Darren smiled and nodded. The two of them climbed over the wall, and looked at the chaos inside, Bladen Knights attacking random soldiers in the castle, Infiltrator's sniping off soldiers. Then the doors burst open, and the warriors flood through. Darren held his giant mace, and Veron drew his twin blades.

"Lets go." Darren said happily as he jumped onto the stairs, swinging his mace at some oncoming guards, knocking them off. Veron jumped into the courtyard, rolling as he hit the ground, and landing with one leg forward and one on the ground. He got up holding his blades horizontally in front and behind him.

Another wave of knights burst through the doors of Duris, wielding swords. Veron stopped the attack of an oncoming downward slash, and spun around cutting the knight along the waist. Another knight attacked him from behind, Darren jumped down from the stairs and swung the mace sideways, devestating the knight. The warrior's began to perish.

"They're out armoured." Veron stated, as he cut a knight through his helmet. Darren sweeped a leg off of an oncoming knight.

"I know *flinches* That wasnt pretty." Darren said, disgusted. Veron laughed and shook his head as he caught another knights sword with the left blade and stabbed him with the right.

Gaia, Idris, and Zent emerged from the bushes, Zent picked thorns out of his arm.

"Bloody bushes...." Zent whined to himself as he pulled out a deep thorn. Gaia spotted Carissa, her sword and bits of armour covered in blood.

"Lady Carissa!" Gaia yelled, Carissa turned to see him.

"Gaia? Where's Veron!" Carissa yelled, Gaia shrugged.

"Most likely inside, what's going on?" Gaia yelled back, Carissa ignored him and rushed inside, cutting a guard in half as she did so. Idris looked stunned as Carissa did this.

"Woah. Don't want to get on her bad side." Idris shook his head violently, "but there's a battle going on, c'mon we gotta help!" Idris ran into the bloody castle, Zent shook his head. Gaia closed his eyes.

Carissa and Darrens forces gained ground, forceing what little was left of their army into the king's throne room. The knights turned to their king as the warrior's beat on the door, attempting to break it down. The king lowered his head, and got up. He walked to a barred gate to the left of his throne. A pair of green eyes opened and looked out.

"I was hoping it wouldn't come to this...." The king said, as he lifted a lever, and the gate raised.

Darren pushed his way through the warrior crowd, with Veron right behind him. He threw his mace over his shoulder. "MOVE!" Darren yelled, as he ran at the door, holding his mace beside him with both hands. Darren swung the mace diagonally as he came close, causing wood and debris to fly everywhere, the door creaked open by itself. The soldiers ran in, and stopped in their tracks as they looked at what stood before them. Carissa and Veron came running in, only to stop and stare in awe.

[Mini_Bert]

Double post! Oh well. Bloody chapter number 2! I'm done up to chapter 12 so far xD
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Chapter 10 - Orios
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The massive creature that stood before them nearly reached the ceiling. All six of its legs ended with thick points, that dug themselves into the ground. It's skin was creased, as if it was clothes, and it was a mixture of green, blue and purple in different places. It's body, massive, with the same skin. It's back spiked out around the tail bone and just before the neck, makeing two long spikes. It's shoulders did the same, only leading up and falling horizontally. Its arms, massive, bulging muscles, veins could easily be seen throughout his arms. A massive seemingly organic sword was held in both of his hands. Its handle was his skin colour, and the blade a deep purple, almost pulsing. Its face, almost human, as if someone was wearing a helmet, that surged onto their face. It smiled and branded the sword diagonally across its body.

"Orios, attack the intruders!" The King commanded. Orios smiled and brought his sword beside his shoulder, and swung the massive blade horizontally across the room, cutting some of the warriors in half. Their bloody bodies fell to the ground, bathed in their own blood. Orios prepared his sword again. Carissa thought quickly.

"All units, fall back!" She yelled loudly, the warriors and archers scramble backwards, narrowly escaping the massive blade swing of Orios. Carissa, Veron, Darren and the Bladen Knights looked at the massive monster, as he prepared for another attack.

Gaia sat outside, his eyes closed, cross legged. Zent leaned against a tree, holding his claws loosely as the draped at his sides. "Are we going to help them?" Zent asked curiously, Gaia shook his head. "Why not?" Zent asked as he stood straight, "Aren't they your friends?" Gaia didn't move, and kept his eyes shut.

"Someone's talking to me." Gaia said plainly, Zent looked at him as if he ws insane. "don't give me that look, Zent. Someone is talking to me, and they are telling me to stay still. However, he says if you so wish you can go in." Gaia explained, still unmoving. Zent looked up at the castle.

"Nah....Someone has to stay out here and make sure you aren't mauled while you're in your trance." Zent resumed leaning on his tree, Gaia spoke up again.

"I don't need your protection, but Idris is going to." Gaia said, but his voice was different, harsh and raspy. Zent looked at him, suprised, then he nodded slowly. He gripped his claws and ran into the bloody castle.

Idris ran through the hallways, his hair waving in the passing wind. Bodies of knights and warriors were scattered across the ground, their blood stuck on Idris' shoes as he ran through the long halls. He heard a loud grunt, coming from the left. He turned, only to run into one of the warriors, sending himself to the ground. "What's going on?" Idris yelled at the warrior, who had his hand on a head wound.

"The...the creature....Carissa told us to run....she and the Bladen Knights stayed to fight it...." The warrior muttered, Idris got up.

"Where are they?!?" He yelled angrily, the warrior pointed down the hall. Idris took off running faster than before.

Carissa ducked under the massive sword, Veron jumped over it, lifting his knees. Darren was out of range, along with most of the Bladen Knights, however two wielding an axe and a spear were thrown against the far wall in a bloody mess. One of the Bladen Knights and Carissa got out of range and brought out their bows and fired arrows into Orios' hide. The arrows pierced his skin, lodging themselves in him, but Orios didnt even flinch. Orios swung the massive sword again, narrowly missing Veron. Darren made a jump at Orios, swinging his mace vertically downward from him shoulder, its skin was torn, but no blood.

"What does it take to hurt this guy?" Darren yelled angrily, as he took another shot, only to be thrown away by one of Orios' legs. Darren fell backwards, cutting one of his arms open. He winced in pain and grabbed at it with his other arm. Darren looked up, to see Orios standing over him his sword above his head, ready to strike. Darren closed his eyes and braced for impact as Orios brought the sword downward on him. There was a clinking of metal, and no pain. Darren opened his eyes, to see that Veron had slid under the blow, and held it up with his two blades. Darren let out a sigh of relief, but Veron's arms began to give out, weakening.

"This is it...." Darren said quietly, sweat ran down Veron's face as he tried to hold off the massive blade.

"I'm sorry my friend....I...can't hold on...." Veron said in pain, as he fell to one knee, blades still holding above his head. Carissa attempted more arrows, with no luck, she cried to herself, knowing she was helpless against Orios. A sudden yell came out of nowhere, and Idris came running like lightning past Carissa, one hand on the KaoKara, one on its sheath.

"KaoKara!" Idris yelled, as he drew the shining sword out of its sheath, and cut diagonally upwards, across Orios' right shoulder. Orios' screamed in pain, as his blue blood poure forward and he stumbled backward. Idris looked at the two Bladen Knights. "You owe me." Idris said mockingly, as he let a smile through. Orios' let his right arm hang limp, as he swung his sword vertically down with his left. Veron, Idris and Darren all rolled out of the way. Carissa ran over to Darren, helping him up and getting him out of the room. Carissa propped him up with her knee by his back, and held him sitting up by picking him up under his arms.

"Idris, I'll distract him!" Veron yelled, Idris looked at him suprised, and nodded, regaining is serious look. Orios swung it vertically between them, they rolled across the ground. Veron got up and ran over to Orios' right side, jumping up to his side and taking multiple slashes, makeing little impact. Orios turned his attention to Veron, and two of his legs throust themselves at him, Veron thought quickly, blocking them with his blades. However the block wasnt totally sucessful, as Veron flew back into the wall, making a large indent in the wall. Veron fell unconsious to the floor, Carissa nearly dropped Darren at this site. Idris didn't hesitate, he had to strike now. Idris jumped up, lining his right hand with the back side of the blade of the KaoKara, brining it to his right side. He aimed for the monsters neck, and swung the blade quickly. Orios smiled as he spun around, the blow landing on his immobile arm instead, severing it from his body. Orios barely flinched at the blow, and thrust his legs forward, catching Idris in the stomach. Idris screamed in pain as the legs pierce through his side, pinning him to the wall. Orios smiled, as he picked up his sword and brought it to his side for a vertical slash

"Freeze ugly!" Zent yelled, as his left claw flew from his hand, and lodged itself in Orios' back, he flinched at the pain, but focused on his trapped opponent. Zent jumped up from behind him, landing on the claw, balancing himself with one of Orios' spikes. "You can't hit..." Zent rose his claw, "what you can't see!" he finished as he brought the claw over Orios' massive face, cutting it severly. Orios let out a scream of pain, the sword attack going just over Idris. Orios stumbled backwards, bringing his hand to his face, trying to cover the blood. Idris let out another scream as the leg was drawn from his side and he fell to the ground. Orios began to swing around wildly, hoping to hit Zent.

"Orios, wa--" the king's words were cut off as his head fell to the ground, his crown rolling under Orios' leg, to be crushed. Zent grabbed the claw he was standing on and flipped over the monsters head, landing in the doorway.

Veron got up, slowly. He let his eyes focus. As the image came into focus, he saw the wild Orios, flailing around. Veron picked up his blades, and ran into the doorway with the others.

"Wait, Idris!" Zent yelled at Veron as he came through the door. Veron stopped in his tracks and looked over his shoulder at the young knight attempting to get up. Veron let out a look of disgust as he turned around and went for Idris. Veron stuck one leg forward as he slid across the blood streaked floor, catching himself on the wall by Idris. He let out his hand, Idris nodded and reached for it. Gripping eachothers hand, Veron looked at Darren. Darren nodded twice and picked up his mace.

"Listen Idris, attack the sword...." Veron said, as he helped Idris up, and gripped his blades, and ran into the center of the room. Orios turned, the blood from his face stopped flowing fiercly. Orios caught sight of Veron, and let a vertical slash down on him. Veron crossed his blades and caught the blow, driving him to a lying position. He let out cries of pain as Orios pressed harder.

"Attack, knight!" Darren yelled as he stood up with his mace in his left arm. Idirs looked, stunned, at the Bladen Knight. He gripped the KaoKara and slashed upward at Orios' sword. The sword lifted up quite a bit, so that it was diagonally faceing upwards. Darren spun and threw his mace at the sword, upon contact, it lauched the sword backwards. As it flew out of Orios' hands, it cut through his head, and flying to the back of the room. The mighty Orios fell to the ground in a bloody mess, alond with all the bodies previously executed. Veron, Idris, and Darren all fell the floor from exhaustion. Awaiting their allies help.

[DarkMagician]

Loooong posts Albert...