Myth//OS - Chapter 45

AN: Haven’t had much time lately. I’ll be back home Tuesday, maybe. I’ll try for an Outrun chapter Monday if I can find the time to write? That’s up in the air. I was an idiot and got super sun-burnt on my hands though, so I dunno.

— — —

The fight itself was at an arena owned by the Bureau. It was the first time I went back to the Bureau since registering, and so not how I thought I’d come back. I always assumed promotion or getting caught doing something illegal would draw me back.

We flew in on a HAT. It looked like it was Cernobog’s corporate transport rather than the normal Hovas that other groups used. It’s fine though. HATs offered way better protection if the worse came to pass. Sure Lucia was shot down in a HAT, but they really were pretty defensive when not targeted by an expert’s hand.

Lucia led the way of our ‘little’ group. It was us, the three heads, and a whole contingent of Tenok grouped up around us. The arena itself was on the back side of the bureau. Once we got off the HAT, her exhausted posture shifted to that of a regal ruler deigning to grace us with her presence.

Most of the group split off from me, going to sit in the stands. The stands were already super full. This was getting way more attention then a fight between a Disruptive and Feeble rank deserved. They weren’t kidding about Tzon inviting a bunch of people to watch.

Lucia was the only one to follow me down into the arena. It was classic gladiatorial style. Basically just a pit in the ground with seating surrounding the place. The entire thing shimmered faintly with ether.

”Hope the walls hold up.” Lucia muttered when we approached the side. Could she not see the enchantments?

“They will.” A man approached from the side. He gave a slight bow, exposing patches of scales around his neck. His eyes were reptilian slits. Must be a Ryken. “They’ve been enchanted to hold up to Acute rank, CEO Orien. Ah- I’m Impartial Prejudice, the judge for this match.”

Lucia sunk back into that regal leader mode. ”Quite the name… I hope it won’t affect your judgement calls?”

“Not unless they’re some kind of monster.” The man laughed. “Besides, I hope you guys win this. Temoc always pisses me off when he wins.”

“…” Yep, no monsters around here.

[Nighteye shoots up a paw. What even are you?]

Oh, I’m a-

“Their they are! The bitches that are about to suffer a crushing defeat.” A snide voice called out. A skinny man with flaming red hair approached. He looked like a skeleton with skin barely stretched out over his bones. Two axes hung from his sides, clattering on a belt.

”Temoc.” The judge immediately lost all cheer. He looked like a guard forced to deal with a prisoner. “You’re still alive.”

”Not gonna get rid of me that quick, ole Prejy.” Temoc smirked. “Still have to judge several dozen of my victories.”

Impartial Prejudice shook his head like it was a massive shame. ”I’ll keep praying for a hit, then. Only a matter of time till someone else gets tired of you.”

”Not gonna happen.” Temoc approached me. His eyes traced me from head to toe. “You must be Moon… I always did like my women tall. How about after I smash your face into the ground, you and me-“

”Aylin.” Lucia called out to me in a smooth voice. There was a slight chill to it that I wasn‘t used to hearing from the young CEO.

“…?” I turned back, completely ignoring the stupid twig. 

Lucia waved her hand to the surrounding stands full of chattering spectators. Her expression shifted slightly, though went back to complete, regal neutrality. “They tried to embarrass us… I trust you know what to do?”

”Yep.” Another request to humiliate a Warden. What was up with today? Seriously… Looked like it’d be another decisive defeat. For the flaming skeleton, that is. 

“Are we ready?” Impartial Prejudice asked us. I looked back over my shoulder to see Temoc backed off and talking to someone on the far side. “As soon as you’re ready.”

Lucia patted my hand. “Show ‘em hell.”

“…” I stared at the vicious teenager for several lingering moments. Was that… a genuine request?

[Nighteye’s whiskers twitch. It’s like saying good luck.]

Ah, yep… that made more sense. I gave Lucia’s hand a comforting squeeze and backed off, letting her leave the arena. This guy wouldn’t be an issue to defeat. He did have an interesting build though.

Impartial Prejudice motioned me to stand one one side of the arena, and for Temoc to stand on the other. “Now, I want a good, clean fight. You both understand the rules of a Throne officiated duel?”

”Yep.”

”You bet I do, Prejy.” Temoc pulled out his axes and clanged them together.

Prejudice backed away to the side of the room. Ether surged around him, and he turned ethereal. His voice took on an echoey quality. ”3. 2. 1. Fight!”

I drew out Ebonshroud, allowing the white substance to smoothly flow out of my skin. It converged on my hand, turning into a simple shortsword. Details filled out across it like the blade was some kind of holy sword. 

Temoc flipped his axes, catching them by the handle. “Why don’ you go ahead and surrender? Save us both the trouble, eh?”

“…” I pointed my sword at the skeletal man. I snapped my fingers and pointed down at my feet.

”Oh-ho-ho!” His face flushed red with anger. “Now you’ve done it. Bone Burrow!”

I recognized the Skill from the list sent to me by Lucia and dodged to the side. Ether churned under where I just was, and bone spikes shot out of the ground in an impaling strike. It was slower than I thought it was. Could probably dodge it just by reacting to the ether.

He darted toward me, swinging his axes into a heavy twirl. Ether clad his entire form, leaving trails of deadly sharp ether slashes. Whirlwind, I think it was called. The trails of the ether filled in the gaps that a normal spin attack would leave behind.

Ebonshroud flowed from me, creating a simple kite shield. Ether reinforced it, and I Braced for impact. The spinning attacks hit several times in quick succession, though I blocked most of them with no issue. 

Hitting me wasn’t his goal though. He dodged back a moment later and kicked the spikes summoned by Bone Burrow. His frame filled slightly, and muscles grew along his skeletal body. Ossuary, his suspected Trait. He could absorb bones to strengthen himself, or something like that.

Ether pooled underneath me. I flicked forward, charging the man with my shield raised high. I paused just short and put my entire momentum into a horizontal slash aimed at the guy’s chest-

Clang!

His double axes caught the heavy strike, though he still staggered away from the sheer force of my blow. I followed it up with a shield slam to his chest. He fell back even further-

“To me, Warrior!” He shouted at the top of his lungs. His order had an ethereal twinge to it, and seemed to slightly echo.

A skeletal form intercepted my next strike aimed at his head. The skeletal warrior slammed forward with a heavy two-handed axe, forcing me back a step. As soon as Temoc had a gap to recover, he absorbed the skeleton and got out from in front of me. 

He looked even more muscular now. Not quite to an orc’s level, but I had a feeling he’d surpass them if this kept up. I wasn’t sure what the limit was on Ossuary, but it was a damn strong Trait. It’d probably be even stronger if the man had actual muscle mass to begin with.

Ether surged underneath me once more. This time, instead of waiting for me to move, he threw two more attacks in quick succession. “Mictal Fog!”

A heavy, thick fog spilled out from his body in an aura. It was sticky, pulling at my body and slowing me down. My blood pumped slower, and I could feel tiny needles prick into my skin all over. It was an AOE debuff and one of his signature skills.

Whirlwind came again, slightly more of a threat thanks to the slowing effect of Mictal Fog. Just before impact, his chrome arms extended unnaturally in an attempt to throw off my tempo. “Bone Barrage!”

Bones formed all around him and shot out at me. A thin layer of Ether Reinforced Ebonshroud underneath my white jacket blocked all of the sharp bones, causing them to shatter upon impact. They fell uselessly to my sides, having absolutely no effect.

I met the enhanced strike with my shield, sneaking in a slash between ether trails. My shortsword flicked forward, catching him in the side. Blood flowed freely from his now muscular form, though was stopped by a layer of armor stuffed under his skin. Subdermal armor, I thought it was called.

He stepped back and dropped a hand to his side. “Ha- hahahahaha! How dare you injure me?! Very well- you want to play hard? I’ll play hard.” 

“…” I wasn’t even trying yet though? I wanted to see the rest of his skills.

The man stretched out, chrome arms extending much further then they should’ve once more. ”And after I lop off one of your limbs, I’ll have Tzon do the same thing to that little rat of a CEO. I’d love to see her face twisted in-“

An ivory spear clad in fire flashed forward, slamming into the man. He barely managed to block it with his twin axes, though the frown on his face showed just how much force had been put into it.

I took a deep breath. It didn’t help the rage slowly building up inside of me. He could talk bad about me all he wanted, but about Lucia? Some dogs were better put down. I formed another spear of Ebonshroud.

”Ah-ha! There it is. That beautiful face twisted in disgust!” Temoc casually kicked my spear aside and touched a mound of bones, strengthening himself even further. “Was it my comment about your boss? Oh I can’t wait till we rip her apart piece by piece. Why so angry about someone who only got her position by spreading her-“

A Flame Spear flashed forward once more, interrupting him. He swatted it to the side, causing one of his axe heads to crack under the Ether Reinforced strike. A heavy two handed sword formed in my hands. 

Pling!

Without hesitation, I plucked an Ether String and brought the great sword into a heavy overhead slash. Frost Fang, a first string magic, coated my blade in a layer of magical ice. He had no choice but to block it or suffer a debilitating blow. 

“To me, Warrior!” A skeleton popped out of nowhere to assist the block. It lifted its two-headed axe, standing in front of its summoner.

My sword cleaved straight through the bone warrior, destroying the summon before it could have much of an effect. It continued down, freezing and completely shattering the cracked axe. Jets of flame burst from his chrome legs, allowing him to barely dodge out of the way.

”Bloody hell!” He shouted, holding at his wrist. The metal was pointed in the wrong direction, though he still held onto the haft of his broken axe.

On the ground, my sword transformed into a deadly scythe, the edge pointed up to him. Ether Physique channeled through me, strengthening my body. Ether Reinforced the scythe, and Brace kept me stable when I slammed the back of the scythe head with my foot.

“Argh!” Its head arced up toward his chest with far more force than it had a right to. My ivory scythe slammed into his chest. He was lucky he had subdermal armor. Otherwise, it would’ve shot straight through his chest. As it were, my enhanced strike still had enough force to spike him up into the air.

Heh- honor? There was a time for honor. That time was long dead. I’d show them what happened should they even look at Lucia wrong, let alone threaten her. No one would stand in my way.