As people were running and pushing each other out of th way, amongst the chaos stood Ahana. The blood on her face dripped and hit the ground.
Everything to Ahana was silent. Nothing but white in the background, a smooth and gentle breeze, with Harvey's body laying on the floor. Ahana dropped to her knees and took long and deep staggering breaths.
******
"WHERE THE HELL IS KAI?!" Xavier asked as he and Ghost jumped from building to building, heading towards the large crowd of yelling and screaming.
"Hell if I know! There's a lot of stuff going on! Did you see those flowers?!" Ghost asked. "Tsk. There's probably a lot of casualties, call th teachers-"
"No contact." Ghost replied.
(What?! All of the teacher ain't answering? No, something's up. Maybe someone jammed the signal? Or…are they occupied with something? All of them at once though?)
Xavier snapped out of it when seeing a little girl being dragged across the street by a low-level jinn.
"Tsk. Jinn slayer attack: unknowing tethering tides!" Xavier said as a black line followed his trail, striking the jinn down.
"Go find your mother! Get off of the streets!" Xavier told the girl. "Worse then I thought. The whole area…is under attack." Ghost said as he landed beside Xavier.
******
Somewhere on the opposite side of the ton, Wraith and Lily made their way to the dance stage. Wraith leaped over a building and landed on top of another. She looked down to see hundreds of dead bodies, just piled on top of each other. "Who…could do such a thing?" Wraith asks as she just looked down. (Wraith…RUUUUUUN!!!!) a voice screamed inside her head. Wraith closed her eyes and held her ears. "I…I can't keep looking at that! I…I just need to breath." Wraith said as she took deep breaths.
(What's wrong with her?) Lily thought as she quickly looked around and noticed a few people breathing. "Wraith, use your portal and get out of here. If you can't handle the sight, then go help people who're being attacked. I'll be in this area and find survivors." Lily said as she walked towards the edge of the building. "We're jinn slayers, Wraith. Not heroes. We can't save everyone in this messed up world. Please, don't feel bad about any of this. The only thing we can do is to kill the person or thing that caused this." Lily said.
"O-okay." Wraith said. "I think you should teleport to Jack-"
Suddenly, a massive…evil and pit of darkness energy made Lily's skin crawl. "Are you two jinn slayers of this time? How weak they've become. They even have women alone in such an event." Malice said as he smirked at Lily.
Lily turned around to face the massive jinn. His energy made Lily and Wraith want to cry. (Who…is this guy?! His body…it's human, but a jinn? People can physically see him! And his energy…this is unreal!) Lily took a step back, trembling in fear. (Damn it! My body won't stop shaking!)
"Fear is it? Right now, your brain is putting you in flight or fight mode. I wonder…just what will you do, little girl? For is you stand there a moment longer, I will rip you in half and feast on your flesh." Malice said.
Wraith quickly opened a portal for her and Lily, as the two were pulled in. Lily and Wraith disappeared. Malice smil d wide as he turned an looked to his right. Miles away, he instantly locked onto their energy. Malice then blinked and was now facing Lily, Wraith, Jackson, and Jodi.
"Ahh…here's the men." Malice said as he glared at the four. "I Malice…challenge the four of you to a fight." Malice said as he softly landed on th ground, his immense energy spreading across the land an area. The entire country was feelin his energy.
"Lily…and Wraith. Get the hell out of here and let us handle this one." Jodi said as he removed his jacket. Jodi stepped forward and put his hand on his sword handle. "I won't allow them to exit. I wish to fight the four of you…at once." Malice said with a smile. Jackson looked at Wratih and Wraith looked back at him. "Don't be afraid. We can handle this together." Jackson said as he pulled out his sword to reveal the red object.
Malice's eyes reflected the red in the moonlight. "How beautiful." Malice said softly as he took one step towards the four. In that moment, Jodi was surpassed the speed of light itself to clear the distance. With one finger, Malice had stopped Jodi's sword. (What-)
Jodi was then punched in the stomach, coughing up blood and was sent hurled into multiple houses and buildings for miles. (The white-haired boy used jinn energy to cover that spot which I hit, allowing as much minimal damage as possible. Smart.)
Malice turned around and faced the now three. "Anyone next?"
"D-don't piss me off!" Lily shouted as she used her jinn energy and put it around her hands. She ran directly towards Malice. A smile appeared across Malice's face, as took one step an uttered the attack… "Jinn slayer attack: Bloom step."
Flower petals covered Lily, Wraith, and Jackson's vision. The three of them put their backs together, as Malice appeared in front of Wraith. Wraith quickly swung her sword and sliced Malice…so she thought. Malice had laughs and disappeared. (The petals each have different illusions ?) Jackson thought as he felt a sharp pain at his side. Jackson then noticed himself in the air out of nowhere. "Huh?"
"Messed you up, huh?" Malice chuckled as he grabbed Jackson by his head an flew towards the ground, getting ready to slam him.
Suddenly, a portal opened up, with Lily charging up large amounts of energy into her right fist on the other side. Malice let go of Jackson an flew into the portal head first. (He's coming at me?!) Lily thought as she tried to land her punch on Malice. Malice smirked as he grabbed Lily by her head and pulled it into his knee, fracturing her skull. "I'm getting…bored of you lot." Malice sighed as he then grabbed Lily by her hair and held her in the air.
"Your body and energy…it's a rather unique thing. What exactly….are you, child?" Malice asked as he studied Lily.
"She's a damn human!" Wraith yelled as she swung her sword from behind Malice, trying to slice his head off, but her sword snapped when making contact with Malice's neck. Malice turned while holding Lily in his hand, looking down at Wraith with a disgusted look.
"You lot have to learn to utilize your jinn energy and put it into your weapons. You swung the sword with no jinn energy, only power. What a rookie mistake. And you call yourself a jinn slayer? Do not…make me…LAUGH!!!"
Malice dropped Lily and punched Wraith in her stomach. Malice felt the bones inside of Wraith breaking, as she fell back on her back with blood pouring from her mouth.
"That should've done more damage. I commend you for your durability." Malice said as he stood over her.
"Now…I know you're pissed. What will you do…demon sword holder?" Malice asked without even turning around to face Jackson. "I'm gonna slay you…an send you back to hell!" Jackson yelled as he drew his sword, taking a fighting stance.
"This weak thing is your lover?" Malice asked as he grabbed Wraith by her neck and held her out with one hand.
"PUT HER DOWN!!!" Jackson yelled.
"I could never….understand th concepts of love and partnership. Love is a very twisted curse that all humans share. Let's say the two of you manage to live after tonight and live together…one of you will die. You'll sit there with a broken heart…wishing it were you instead."
"That's called life! A commitment!! Do you not know of until death do us part?!" Jackson asked as he began to slowly show off his jinn energy.
"I'm aware. I'm also aware that such a thing doesn't add meaning or value to one's life. You commit yourself to a stranger, but not your family. Not the ones who've been there since day one? Besides, th person you're committing to…you don't even truly know them or their goals. It's easy to act one way and to think another. Such bonds…are what I call a weakness."
Malice dropped Wraith on the ground and walked over her towards Jackson. Malice lowered his back slightly. "Jinn slayer attack: Bloom step!"
(The same attack from before! I'll go on the defensive!!)
"Jinn slayer attack: demonic counter play!" A large spirit formed over Jackson's head. As a force field appeared around Jackson, the spirit began to drip at each and every petal.
"Ahh…a defensive technique. A spirit that's not a jinn nor a demon. A defensive spirit that will attack anything that moves and gives the user a shield. I can see why you didn't use this when your friends were caught in my blood step." Malice said as nothing but darkness and petals covered Jackson's vision. The red spirit continued to swip away at the petals as Malice stayed in the darkness and uttered the attack, "Jinn slayer attack: Petal-pressure strike!"
The illusion had worn off, as Jackson now could see a very thin line of jinn energy hitting against his barrier. Jackson looked in the distance to see Malice with his hands together, shooting and focusing a thin beam of jinn energy.
Jackson prepared to strike, but as he moved foward, he felt the attack piercing his skin. "How did he-"
"My petal-pressure strike can puncture any defense known to man. Nothing can stop that from hitting you if you allow it." Malice said as Jackson's spirit and barrier had disappeared. "It would seem…I hit you a little out of the spot I wanted. Whatever though…are you done already, demon-sword user?" Malice asked while looking down at Jackson from on top of the building.
(Due to hitting that shot, I gained even more energy output and damage output with my attacks. Thanks, brat.) Malice thought as he began to laugh.
"WHAT'S YOUR PLAY NOW, BRAT?!" Malice roared.
Jackson fell to his knees, the attack did more than just hurt him…it was damaging his flow or energy, making his body unable to move due to it never being hit with something of the magnitude.
"My body…d…damn it…"
Jackson whispered.
Malice held out his hand. "I was expecting more from you. In this year and time…you jinn slayers are nothing. What a waste of time and energy." Malice said as he build up enough energy to finish off Jackson.
"Goodbye…you damn rat-"
"Not so fast…" a voice said behind Malice. Malice turned to see Jodi and his jinn over his head standing behind Malice.
Malice smiled wide as he noticed the rare ability. "A jinn user!!!" Malice laughed. "I haven't seen your kind in many years!! This has excited me!! Show me what you've got, white-haired boy!" Malice said as he swung his arms and fired the ball of energy at Jodi. Jodi used his speed to avoid the ball, letting it hit a nearby building.
Jodi's jinn took a stance, identical to Joey's. "Let's do this…mother." Jodi said as he lowered his body and ran at Malice. Malice smiled as ran at Jodi. "Jinn slayer attack: Lightning barrage!!" Multiple strikes of lighting fell don from the sky. Malice was caught off guard, and barley managed to avoid the strikes.
Jodi's jinn attacked from the rear, while Jodi focused on the front with the lighting strikes also coming down.
(Making me worry about them striking from different angles and positions…all while having to dodge lightning strikes. Now you've come up with a strategy!! I'm impressed, white-haired boy!)
Malice blocked both of their attack, then looking up to see a bright light forming in the clouds. (Now I have to move.)
Malice let go of them and quincly jumped out of the way to avoid the strike. "Jinn slayer attack: Lightning strike!"
Jodi used electricity to move his body even faster. Jodi had put electricity around his sword and bolted at Malice. Jodi's jinn teleported above Malice, covering the view of the sky as Malice blocked its powerful punch. While Malice used one arm to block off the jinn, Jodi moved in, forcing Malice to use his other arm to defend himself against Jodi. (This…is a child's strategy. Easy to adapt to-)
A lightning strike from above had hit the jinn and traveled through it and almost connected with Malice, but Malice used his jinn energy to protect himself. "I didn't even know I could do that." Malice said as he grabbed the jinn and threw it at Jodi. Jodi jumped over his jinn and continued to run.
Malice put jinn energy into his sharp claws, and the two began colliding their attacks with each other, creating sparks that filled the area. Malice had to strike downward, due to the large height difference. "You move well, boy! Let me guess…a high-level?" Malice asked as he quickly grabbed Jodi by the arms and swung him into his own Jinn. Malice then ran at the two and threw a punch, trying to hit Jodi. But his Jinn quickly placed its hands in front of Jodi to block the attack, only pushing the two back.
"Jinn slayer attack: Bloombound Reality!"
Using the distance he had created, Malice twisted his two fingers together and used one of his favorite attacks. The area was surrounded by a pink-like gas. Inside of this domain, physics behave differently, such as gravity, wind, time, ect.
(In order to not worry about the lightning, I can use my Bloombound to slow the speed of light which they're moving…or I can even do this!)
Malice pointed at Jodi and pointed upwards. Lightning began to build up from inside of the building.
"What the hell?!" Jodi gasp as he could feel the electric feeling on his feet. "Jodi, jump!!" His jinn roared as Jodi quickly left the building, but instead of jumping…he began to float.
"Come on…counter it!!" Malice yelled as he flew in an kicked Jodi into a nearby building. Jodi rolled his body and popped up. His jinn used its massive hand to also stop him. "What a tough one. Right now…I'm consuming a large amount of jinn energy just to cancel out the effects of his attack. I need to break out of this and fast."
"Be careful Jodi." His jinn said.
"No need to worry mother. After all, this is something I can counter." Jodi said as he watched Malice floating towards him. "Ahh…so the boy can utilize his energy and put it around his body. However, I can sense his energy draining fast. I would assume he's about to do something that'll break this reality?" Malice asked as he waited for Jodi to make his move.
"Mother."
"Yes?"
"I'm gonna need your power. Your energy. I need you."
"Of course, Jodi. I…love you. I LOVE YOU, JOODIIII!!!"
A powerful surge of energy filled the area, as Jodi lifted his head to reveal a pair of glowing white eyes.
(That's why his energy was draining. The boy was charging up his energy. Almost like a battery that needed charging. He infused his electricity with his jinn energy. The jinn energy is the battery and the charger is the electric energy his body produces. Once connected or have enough jinn energy…his powers will shoot through the roof!)
A smile appreared once again across Malice's face. "Now you're showing me stuff I had no idea could be possible with jinn energy! Fascinating, Boy!!!" Malice laughed as Jodi, before Malice could even react, covered the distance and was now face to face with Malice.
Malice managed to use his hand to block Jodi's punch that sent him going backwards.
Malice quickly used his left hand and the claws to slow his body down by scrapping them against a building.
Malice then used his right hand and shot a pink beam at Jodi. Jodi used his sword to slice through the beam, creating a small explosion that covered Jodi's view.
"Jodi, watch out!" His jinn yelled as half of a building came flying at Jodi. Jodi avoided it with his amazing speed, flying higher into the air.
"I managed to shatter the reality he created. I guess from the large amounts of charged up energy? Or did he simply release it?"
"Jinn slayer attack: Nectar of Blinding." Malice said from below. A yellow-like substance began to spray out through the area, like rain. "This is…nectar? I've never seen some like this-"
(M-my body…it can't…it can't move?!) Malice teleported in front of Jodi, with his fist ready to throw a punch. "M-mother!" Malice delivered the blow to Jodi's jinn, who had managed to get in front of Jodi before Malice landed the hit. Jodi was sent flying to the ground, making a small crater from the impact and knocking Jodi out of his charged up state.
"Not bad, boy. Now…where is the girl-"
"You idiot! Don't you dare doubt me!!" Lily screamed from th street below Malice. Malice had an annoying look on his face. "Child, how are you even alive?! You should be-oh, you can do that…can't you?! You know about using jinn energy to heal yourself?!" Malice asked as he now turned his attention to her. "You've caught my eye." He said with a glare.
"Tsk. Bastard. Now or never…Jackson."
Jackson jumped up and was now behind Malice. "Demon attack: Unknowing Forces!!" A red line of energy made contact with Malice, but nothing happened. (What the hell?!) Jackson thought as Malice turned around and tried to slice Jackson's head off with his claws. A portal had opened up, letting Jackson escape. "Durable girl is alive?" Malice asked as he then flew down towards Lily. Lily jumped into a portal also and disappeared, as Malice landed and punched nothing but the street.
"I'm not a fan of cowards. Come out or this will end bad." Malice threatened, but no one did anything…just silence.
"As you lot know…we are near the area I attacked. I killed most of the civilians in the center of the barrier that's been placed by my sister. However, the people who're stuck…are free kills!" Malice laughed as he immediately flew towards the survivors.
"Don't let him go!!!" Jackson yelled as a portal opened up. Jackson placed two hands on his sword and focused.
(If I go all out…I'm not sure what will come of Lily and Wraith. Stop him! He's using the civilians as bait to draw us out! Damn it! Xavier and Ghost…they should be here. I'm certain they're dealing with the civilians, but what do we do to beat this guy?!) Jackson thought as he landed in front of Malice and began fighting with the jinn at close quarters. Lily also joined in, using jinn energy around her hands to make them durable enough to parry Malice's claws.
"Jinn slayer attack: Demon slash!"
"Jinn slayer attack: Power drive punch!!"
Malice slammed his foot down and blocked both of their attacks. Each on one side of him. "Power drive…an ability taught to those who don't truly know their own ability. How sad. You're…truly a weak human." Malice said as he kicked Lily away and now focused on Jackson. "If you noticed…I'm starting to lose patience with you. I simply am about to slaughter you all and find Ahana."
(Ahana?!) Jackson thought as Malice grabbed onto Jackson's sword and tossed him through a small house.
******
Joey ran and ran through the forest. He had no idea where he was…but the only thing he could hear was the laughter of Rose echoing throughout the forest.
Joey was bleeding out. He sat against a tree and leaned his head back to catch his breath. (At this rate…I think I'm gonna die of blood loss. I can't heal….my energy is all used up.)
"Jooeeeyyy!!" Rose called out in a loud childish voice, as if she enjoyed the chase. "Why are you hiding? You know I'm gonna find you, right? Why go through all this trouble? Let me save you. I can ease that pain…I can finally….set you free. Isn't that what you want?"
Rose walked along the quiet forest. She used her energy to try and locate Joey, but couldn't find him. "You're out of energy, huh? We both know you can't run away from me. So…come out, Joey. Before I get mad, okay?"
******
"Well, well, well….would you look at that!" Xavier laughed as he put his foot on the edge of a house and looked towards Malice. "It would seem…that you've hurt my comrades. Gotta kill you." Xavier said as he immediately pulled out a long whip.
"Jinn slayer attack: Tethering stride!" The long rope extended towards Malice. Malice immediately made a hand sign.
"Jinn attack: Pedal bullets!"
Petals from flowers shot at Xavier faster than he could react.
However, Xavier's energy reduced the damage.
(This boy.) Malice thought. Malice avoided the whip and flipped backwards to land on his two feet. "Boy. What's your name?" Malice asked.
"Huh?" Xavier said as he prepared his body for another barrage of petals. "Your name. What is it?" Malice asked again.
"Xavier Ironheart." Xavier replied.
Malice's eyes widened. "Ahh…so that family name never died out, eh? Xavier…yo and me are most likely distant relatives." Malice said with a grin on his face. "Why aren't you with that nasty clan?" Malice asked.
"Damn you talk a lot!" Xavier yelled as he dashed at Malice. Malice avoided each and every swing of Xavier's whip. (The boy doesn't realize it, but his body naturally used his energy to decrease the penetration of my petals. Instead, it caused them to only scratch an cut the bastard. Xavier is…a natural talent of jinn energy.)
Malice grabbed Xavier by his wrist and launched him in the air. Malice put jinn energy around his leg and landed a devastating kick that knocked Xavier out. "Already finished?" Malice asked as he grabbed Xavier by his hair and lifted him off the ground. "An Ironheart…why exactly happened to that family? I didn't see them when I stayed in the clan's residence."
"T-they…killed my family…" Xavier said in a soft tone.
"Ahh….you're the only survivor, yeah?"
"….screw you-"
Malice slapped Xavier. "How pathetic. You couldn't even save people who were important to you? That's not the Ironheart way-"
(Ahahaha! Daddy, it's a pedal!! Not Petal!! Who cares how you're supposed to say it!)
Malice quickly dropped Xavier and quincly slapped himself. "Who in the world was that?" Malice quickly looked ahead and squinted his eyes. He could see a short person in the distance crouching down with a long black cape and white mask on top of a building. "Who are you?" Malice asked.
"Who the hell are you?" Ghost asked as he jumped off of the building and used his cape to disappear into thin air.
(Invisibility?)
Malice felt a presence lingering behind him. He spun around and threw a punch to see Jodi with his sword, readying to defend. (That means…the cape-boy is attacking from behind?) malice used his other hand to immediately shoot a beam of energy behind him.
Ghost jumped out of the way, revealing himself to Malice. Malice threw Jodi at Ghost, causing the two boys to hit the ground. "Spread out!!" Jodi yelled as Makice followed up with multiple small beams of energy that sliced through objects like butter. (Why is it that I'm slightly irritated? Ever since that girl came back, it's bothered me ever so slowly. These weak little slayers have a strong resolve. It disgusts me!)
Malice took off and flew after Jodi and Ghost. Jodi used his ability to travel throughout the town, going in and out of buildings to avoid the attacks from Malice.
(He's too strong! Where's Kai?! Where's the teachers?!) Jodi thought as Malice flew above him. (He caught up to me?!)
"Tsk." Malice drove his knee into Jodi's back, breaking it on impact. "Rrraaaauuuggghhh!!!" Jodi yelled in pain.
******
The loud explosion went off in the distance. The cool wind brushed Ahana's hair to the side..as she continued to look at Harvey. "Hey…wak up already. We were…finally having fun, you know?" Ahana said in a shaky voice. There was not a single survivor where she sat, only corpses. (We should stay here!) Ahana began to remember Mandy's words. "You…were right." Ahana said.
Ahana grabbed her shirt tight and punched the ground. "Harvey…I…I'm so sorry. I'm such a damn idiot!! I got you killed…I did this! This is all my fault!!"
Another loud explosion went off in the distance. "I always imagined…that you'd be in my future. Either as a friend or…more." Ahana reached out and closed Harvey's eyes. "Forgive me…my best friend. As a yellow eye holder…it shouldn't be anyone who takes revenge for the innocent. Let me be your revenge. For my own mental sake and for the love I have for you…I'm going to slaughter the thing that did this!" Ahana stood up and removed her eye-patch. She picked up Harvey's body and began to fly towards the explosions and fighting.
******
"Joey….please don't make me tear down the trees. I really don't wanna do that, especially with that sniper out there. Just come out…and give up." Rose said as she quickly looked around a tree to try and find Joey. "So all that stuff about Dakota and your family was a lie?" Joey asked, his voice echoing through the forest.
"Yes." Rose said.
"Then why didn't you just kill me?! Why snoop so low…to make me…make me have even a ounce of care in my heart for you?! Do you know how bad this hurts me, Rose?! You hurt me…to really did!" Joey yelled out. Rose stood there in the dark with her eyes and hair glowing brightly. "Joey….I….no. I have to take you in. Your feelings never mattered to me. You didn't matter. The only thing I need…is for you to shut up and come with me." Rose said as she then unleashed multiple thorn-like needles, destroying all of the trees in her area. "I'm eventually gonna find you." Rose announced as she then noticed a blood trail. "Oh, would you look at that." She whispered.
****
Next chapter: Boiling point.
Above Ahana's head formed "1/3" in a misty and cloudy aura.