Ch 24: Thunderfury Arrow and the Light of the Infinite

Grey and Scott show the fruits of Mythra's training, and everything seems to be coming along. Yet just as things are looking up, has Schmitt wandered into danger while off in Lamis?

            Gathering a mass of EDE in his hands, Scott crystallized it into a golden bow. Taking hold of it, he stood confidently before Mythra with Grey. An impressed look on her face, Mythra said, “Not bad, you already seem to have it down perfectly. Let’s see what your Anima Weapon can do!” Gathering her Elementum Orbis into a circle in front of her again, the seven colored rune circles appeared once more. Running his hand across his bow to generate static electricty, Scott pulled back the string, and crackling electricity came from his hand to form an arrow of lightning. As Mythra fired her seven beams of energy, Scott released the bowstring and the arrow shot forth and split into seven different arrows of lightning. Striking each other in the air, the two attacks collided and exploded. Then Grey, a mighty aura surging around him, rushed forward towards Mythra, all the while gathering EDE and channeling it into his blades. His eyes glowing, he leaped through the swirling cloud created by the explosion, and with a powerful slash he cleaved Mythra’s yellow crystal in half. Mythra turned to attack him in the air, but quickly dodged as Scott unleashed a barrage of lightning arrows. Landing, Grey quickly turned and pointed a sword at Mythra and unleashed a beam of volatile light energy. Barely dodging, Mythra looked back as the beam collided with the ceiling and exploded, thinking, “So his affinity is a light based enhancement? Astounding, it’s increasing his strength, speed, just about everything. Light is usually more of an enhancement type, but to have such an increase right off the bat? Then there’s how he also sliced through my Elementum Orbis like it was paper… Could it have been THAT?!” 

Raising her hand before her, as a dark green rune circle formed, bits of rock from all over the cavern sailed into the air and gathered at Mythra's hand to create a small shield of intertwined stones. She moved the shield to block more of Scott’s lightning arrows, and gathering her remaining crystals into two triangular formations, she focused one set on Grey and the other on Scott, firing elemental energy beams at them. Leaping out of harm’s way, Scott rolled across the ground and into a crouching formation, and taking aim he fired more arrows at Mythra, only this time they stopped short and headed towards the ground. From the points where they struck the ground, yellow lines formed a rune circle beneath Mythra. At the same time, Grey ran from the beams and up another crystal formation, lifting one sword before him as he chanted, “Geminus, Ego Voco Vos, Ventus Acies!” Leaping at Mythra as light green runes ran down the one sword, he lifted the other and chanted, “Geminus, Ego Voco Vos, Lux Acies!” As the yellow rune circle below her crackled with energy, Mythra gathered her crystals below her, and as they all glowed blue she shouted, “Ultimate Element: Glacial Wall!” A large blue rune circle appeared and a barrier of ice formed between Mythra and Scott’s rune circle just as a powerful bolt of lightning shot up at her from it. The lightning bolt was thwarted by the ice barrier, destroying it in the process, but Mythra had no time to relax, quickly dodging as Grey sailed at her and struck out, now wielding a sword of wind and a sword of light. His first strike dodged, Grey used his wind blade to propel himself at Mythra again, lashing out with his sword of light. Mythra quickly formed a black rune circle and attempted to block with a shield of dark energy, but on contact there was a strange light and Grey’s blade sliced right through it and as Mythra quickly backed away she could feel the blood dripping from the graze on her cheek. Mythra thought with wonder, “That… That was without a doubt EDE Dissipation! One of the most dangerous Infinite Abilities!” Slowing his descent, Grey was about to propel himself at her again when Mythra called out, “I’ve seen enough! Congratulations boys, you pass my test with flying colors!”

            Landing on the ground to join them, Mythra’s broom disappeared. Rushing at Grey, she grabbed him in a hug before he could back away and exclaimed, “I’m sorry I was so rough on you! I knew you could do it, you were amazing!” Caught completely off guard by her sudden change of attitude, Grey stammered, “U-uh… Th-thanks I guess…?” Looking on with a sly look, Scott headed for the door saying, “Ok… I guess if we’re done I’ll leave you two alone.” With a menacing glare, Grey yelled after him, “Hey, it’s not like that d****t! Get back here! Hey!” Turning his attention to Mythra, Grey said, “Mythra come on, it’s embarrassing how you keep randomly hugging me like this…” Releasing him, she smirked and replied, “There’s that cute shy side again…” Placing the palm of his hand over his forehead as though she’d given him a headache, Grey sighed in frustration. Turning to head to the door, Grey suddenly staggered as he realized his wounds from earlier weren’t quite healed completely. In the heat of battle he’d simply ignored the pain. Mythra quickly came up to him and said, “Oh right! I’m sorry, you fought so well in spite of it that I forgot you were injured! Let me heal you.” Placing a hand upon each injury, there was a blue glow as she healed the wounds. While healing, Mythra thought to herself, “Curious, these are almost healed. They were quite shallow to begin with, but his regeneration is still remarkable even for a half halman…”

            After Mythra had finished healing him, Grey remembered something and said, “Hey Mythra, earlier you were saying something about drawing EDE out of me? You still haven’t explained that.” With a look of realization, she replied, “Oh right! Well for now I’d better draw the EDE from you before I forget again. We’ll talk about this in a little bit…” Raising a hand in from of her with her palm facing Grey, a black rune circle formed as Mythra said, “You’ll feel a bit funny while I do this. The EDE you normally gathered will be drawn out along with the excess you have within you. Just try to ignore it.” Grey indeed felt strange, as though his strength was being pulled out of him. He could see dark energy starting to draw itself from him, and Grey could tell it was something other than normal EDE, something sinister. As it clumped in the air, Grey’s voice was weak as he said, “What the hell is that?” With a grave look, Mythra replied, “Corrupted EDE. It’s a power of the Nameless One. His affinity for darkness is so twisted that he can use his own corrupted essence and create a unique, powerful form of EDE. It served the Dark Crusade very well against Amanus. Being separate from normal EDE, it was immune to his EDE Dissipation. However its use will corrupt the user’s body over time, and if left unchecked, even their essence as well. Those who use his power must be aware of this…” Looking at the Corrupted EDE in disgust, Grey said, “Is that crap what’s been making me sick?” Mythra nodded and said, “Your lack of recovery is thanks to an oversaturation of an enormous amount of Corrupted EDE.” As she lowered her hand the black rune circle vanished and the Corrupted EDE she’d drawn out dissipated. Beginning to feel better, Grey said, “What’s EDE Dissipation?” With a giggle, Mythra replied, “You just used it in our battle silly…” Seeing his confused face, she smirked and said, “I see, so you really had no idea. Well that’s fine, you’ll learn eventually.” Speaking like she was teaching a classroom, Mythra said, “Your EDE Dissipation is one of your abilities as He of the Infinite, an Infinite Ability. Using it will interrupt your ability to gather EDE and use it, though abilities you already have in use, like sword enchantments, remain unaffected. It completely negates all EDE using unparalleled EDE interference. My Elementum Orbis is made up of hollow crystals of crystallized EDE that I fill with magical energies, making it easy to destroy with such an ability, but don’t count on it to dissipate other Anima Weapons. They’re usually made of solid crystallized EDE, and any enemy worthy of crossing blades with you should easily be able to sustain their weapon’s integrity against the rate of dissipation.”

            Making their way through the portal and back out of Mythra’s house, Mythra and Grey stepped outside to see Scott sitting at the table on the porch, laughing as Amy danced around happily, holding Lei above her. Glad to see Amy cheerful again, Grey smiled, and walking over to her and Scott, he said, “Hey you two! Looks like you found Lei huh?” Turning to him, Amy exclaimed with a joyful face, “I went down to the pond, and I saw him swimming around in it! I guess he ran off because he smelled the water or something.” Looking around, Grey asked, “Hey, where’s Alexander at? Wasn’t he helping you train, Amy?” Smugly, Mythra said, “Don’t tell me he gave up on you already?” An angry expression crossing her face, Amy was just about to say something when Grey suddenly said in an irritated tone, “Hey! What is it between you two Mythra?! Leave her alone already!” Taken aback, Mythra simply gave him a pouting look and said, “You don’t have to be so angry, I’m just joking…” Walking past him, Mythra took a seat at the table. Though Grey could not see it, she glared at Amy. Repeating his question, Grey said, “So where is Alexander anyway?” In answer to his question, Serius, who’d been leaning against the house to the right of the front door, said, “Alexander went back to the ship to see if Schmitt has returned yet. He was supposed to be coming back from Lamis today.” Remembering, Grey said, “Oh yeah. I hope they don’t fall into another pit on the way back…” Grey’s stomach suddenly grumbling, he laughed nervously and said, “Oh right, I still haven’t eaten anything! Anyone up for lunch?”

            After lunch, Grey helped Amy train by the pond while Alexander was away. Once several hours had passed, Grey began to worry about what was taking Alexander so long. Trying to take his mind off it, he glanced over at the pond from where he stood and quietly laughed as he saw Lei swimming around in it, making loud croaks. Having difficulty learning to gather enough EDE to really put her abilities to use, Amy said, “We’ve been training so long Grey. I think I could use a break…” Seeing as the sun was starting to set, Grey replied, “Alright, I suppose that’s enough for today. Besides, I think we may have to go get Scott and Serius and go looking for Alexander. He’s been gone too long, something’s not right…” Just as he said this however, Alexander limped through the bushes, his sword formed. Laying eyes on him, Grey could see he was injured, and he called out, “Alexander?! Are you all right?!” Staggering, Alexander stabbed his sword into the ground and used it to steady himself. As Grey and Amy rushed over to him, Alexander said, “I’ve healed everything that was serious already. In my current state it was all I could manage…” Letting Alexander lean on him, Grey asked, “What the hell happened?! What b*****d did this to you?!” Alexander’s shades slid down his nose, and they could see the serious look in his eyes as he said, “Lamis… It’s overrun with anomalies…” With shocked expressions, both Grey and Amy said, “What?!” Leaning on Grey, Alexander started moving towards the path to Mythra’s house, leaving his sword behind, and as it slowly evaporated, Alexander said, “We can discuss it with the others. Right now I need to sit and rest…”

            Getting Alexander to a chair at the table out on the porch, as the others took seats at the table as well, Mythra quickly went in the house to get a first aid kit and some tea. Looking at him sitting there, rather exhausted and clearly in pain, Scott said, “Jeez Alexander… What happened to you out there?” With a strained laugh, Alexander said, “I dare say I can’t find a better way to say this. I pretty much got my a*s kicked…” A little relieved to see Alexander still in high enough spirits to be kidding around, Grey said to Scott, “He said that Lamis was overrun by anomalies.” With a shocked look, Scott said, “You’ve gotta be kidding me! All the villagers, and Schmitt… We’ve got to do something!” Coming back out of the house with the first aid kit and tea, Mythra said, “What do you think you’re saying?! Do you want to come back looking like him?! He’s healed the outer wounds, which may have saved his life, but his injuries are severe. As it stands, my healing alone probably won’t be enough to completely heal them since the wounds are all closed up. I hope you don’t mind pills or needles Alexander…” With a weak laugh, Alexander said, “I’m fine with pills, but do you have to use needles?” Making a sinister face as she set everything on the table, Mythra said, “I haven’t done this in a while, so I may have to do a couple tries before I get the vein…” Alexander laughed again, and Mythra said, “Yes, laugh it up, but I’m only half kidding there… That aside, you haven’t really explained everything that’s happened. I recall hearing you’d gone back to your airship to get someone, and I’m guessing you went to Lamis when they didn’t show up. Yet how did a bunch of anomalies manage to get the best of the great Gabriel the Immortal?” 

Watching her draw some kind of medicine into a syringe, Alexander said, “When I arrived in Lamis, it looked like a ghost town. I made my way through the village looking for someone, anyone who could tell me what was going on. Then all of the sudden, I was ambushed by humanoid anomalies. They seemed to creep out of every shadow in the entire village. Against so many, I could only hold my own for so long. I fled the city, fighting all the way out the gates. They seemed to stop pursuing me once I reached the forest, which is strange. I stopped to heal my wounds as best I could, then I staggered through the forest until I finally found my way back.” In a serious tone, Grey asked, “Were they Altera Veritas’ anomalies, like the ones in Celestis?” Mythra began to focus on finding the vein in Alexander’s arm, and wincing as she stabbed it into him, Alexander replied, “I felt the strange fluctuation of EDE as they appeared, and while they were definitely much stronger, I feel certain they were indeed with Altera Veritas. My assumption is they turned the entire town into an experiment to create new types of anomalies.” Amy looked horrified as she said, “You don’t think Schmitt was also…” As Mythra began using her healing abilities on him, Alexander said in a grave tone, “I don’t know Amy. All I know is that I could not find him before I was attacked. Schmitt seems like a very resourceful person, but if he had escaped I would have thought he would have come back to us for help…” As Grey, Scott, and Amy all took this in, Serius said, “Judging by the situation I would agree. It seems only logical to assume he’s dead. There’s not much we can do, and for the sake of staying alive to defeat Altera Veritas, it would be better if we let the Special Forces sort out Lamis…”

            Rising from his chair and slamming his hands on the table, Grey shouted at Serius, “Look here! There’s no damn way I’m letting Altera Veritas get away with this, and if there’s any chance Schmitt’s still alive out there somewhere, I’m sure as hell not leaving him behind! Not after everything he did for us!” Pouring Alexander a cup of tea and handing him some pills, Mythra said in an understanding voice, “That’s quite honorable Grey, but at this point it’s just not rational. As far as letting Altera Veritas get away with anything, they already have. The entire town is dead, their remains transformed into anomalies… There’s nothing you can do.” Grey sat back into his chair, a look of frustration on his face. For a moment it was silent. Then suddenly leaping to his feet again, Grey formed his twin swords as he sensed the strange fluctuation of EDE. Also sensing it, Scott rose and pulled out his staff as Serius formed his Basilisk Armor on both fists. Mythra turned quickly in the direction of the fluctuation as well and formed her wand. From the shadow of the porch, a dark vortex formed and a lone anomaly appeared with one of its arms a blade and the other a humanoid arm, some sort of round metallic object in its hand. Raising its hand towards them, its breath loud and rasping, it seemed to be offering them the strange object it held. It continued to stand there, offering the metal object, and Amy said, “I think it wants us to take it…” Scott slowly stepped toward the anomaly as Grey said behind him, “Careful Scott…” Nodding, Scott moved over to the anomaly and slowly took the strange metal object. Quickly the anomaly backed into the shadows and vanished into a dark vortex, and letting his swords evaporate, Grey exclaimed, “What the hell was that about?!” Looking at the strange object in his hand, Scott said, “I don’t know. This thing, it’s some real advanced looking technology or something. I don’t have any clue what it’s for.” Alexander, staring at it from his chair, said, “Let me have a closer look at it.”

Reviews

[Ryan Henderson]

Very interesting chapter! The idea of summoning weapons using EDE is very original and it fits the story well, as I can see very intense battles in the future now that Scott and Grey can summon anima weapons. I like Mythra's cocky and playful attitude, but she has a certain sophisticated air about her that seems to always be there. I didn't find any spelling errors which is nice! I love how you ended this chapter with a note of curiosity. What could that object be? I suppose I will find out in the next chapter. Keep writing!

[KeithKVH]

They have only really grasped the tip of the iceberg concerning Anima Weapons. One point of feedback I'm really interested in from anyone who makes it to the battles far ahead is on how they feel on the way the weapons play out in them.

Mythra's past and character will become a bit more clear in the next chapter, and you will find out about the object yes. Thank you for the review!