1.8: Corrupted
Meynaur sat, shackled, watching helplessly via Jahki-like orbs as his allies struggled with the opening assault of the Seventh Reality. “He needs help.” He commented, as Shio, in a final effort to spare the First City and its citizens from destruction, attempted to close in on his doppelganger, only to be met by the “dark” version of Cazo – who exchanged lore techniques with the hero. Despite the former’s vast knowledge of his world’s technique base, Cazo managed to prove himself an equal.
From one world to the next, it appeared as if the experiences of the heroes did nothing to prepare them for the unique approach of the Seventh Reality. Chris, and Thomas searched hopelessly for Jasper, as Kalvin aided John in getting out of the sinkhole Kalvin had caused. After searching a few moments more, the team conceded – transporting back to Haven. For Teddy and his team, time had seemingly come to a halt as everyone looked at the conflicted ogre - who couldn’t remove his gaze from the appalling woman in front of him. “We have no strategy.” Meynaur thought, “Allens, Data… they should just call for a full retreat and regroup.”
Off to the side, sat the alluring one – her eyes fixated on Meynaur.
--
“I want to thank you for agreeing to spar with me. With everything I’ve learned these last few days, I’ve needed a distraction.”
“Heh, truthfully speaking – if I’d passed up the opportunity to fight with a hawk, I’d have never forgiven myself.”
“I assume you don’t have any hawks in your world?” Hiro asked, stretching himself in the process.
“Oh, we do. They just don’t talk, or fight.” Roun replied, an eager smirk on his face. “So, how should we judge this? First one to give up, or first to pass out?”
Hiro entered his fighting stance, “The first to pass out.” He replied.
The arena, where Xodara’s tournament had been held, the training ground for the heroes of the war with the Corruptions – would now host a sparring match between two first-timers.
--
“I-I don’t understand… I thought we killed them?” Xiana’s concern was shared by no one else but Rex, as the rest of them were meeting the Corruptions for the first time.
“Aside from them having the coup, I don’t really see much of a problem here. Most them don’t look too intimidating.”
Xiana looked over at Mary in disbelief. “Seriously?”
“Eh.” Mary answered, shrugging off the toucan.
“Go find out for yourself then.” Xiana muttered as she shook her head. “Idiotic humans no matter what Reality we go to…”
Data’s voice cracked to life in the teams’ ears. “Listen to me. If they’re not moving, they’re not real. You have to ignore your eyes, it’s just an illusion!”
“I thought the sea of cloaked figures was the illusion.” Rex replied, squinting his eyes with the hope that the line of Corruptions would disappear.
“They were.” Data answered. She began flipping through her notes chaotically, tossing aside sheet after sheet. “Where, where did I…” Her eyes lit up as she found the paper she’d been searching for, “Okay! Samadaya, I’m reading the file I made for you, and per it; you can summon some sort of fire snake… could you please do that?”
“She made files?” Xiana mouthed silently to Rex, who gave a confirming nod.
“It’s sort of her thing.” He whispered.
“What would you like for me to do with the serpent?” Samadaya asked, unsheathing her blade. The action brought the Corruptions to life, each of them beginning to take a few steps forward.
“They’re moving!” Rex informed Data, urgency in his tone.
“Do an area attack!” Data commanded. “It needs to be in position to hit each of them at once.” Shifting her gaze to the monitor displaying the situation she was guiding – Data watched as Samadaya brought her blade over her head; and then down to the ground – where a fiery serpent broke through the desert-beaten terrain. She watched as it charged forward, lunging in right before its body burst in to a wide-angled barrage of flames that littered the still-approaching Corruptions. “There!” She shouted, pointing her finger at the monitor. “Rex, look at Gia! Her body has flames on it, her body has flames!” Data struggled to contain the excitement from her discovery, offering the slightest of leaps in the air.
Rex and Xiana looked on intently. The Corruptions had entered a full-sprint, quickly closing the distance between them and the heroes. “I don’t understand!” Rex replied to Data, as he clutched his hooks in preparation for the approaching conflict.
“Her defense!” Data screamed desperately. “Gia’s body would’ve reacted immediately to the flames! It’s an illusion – whoever’s the cause of it wasn’t aware of Gia’s ability – now, see past it!”
Rex perked up, “That’s right!” He looked at the Corruption line, trying to weed out the source behind the illusion as they inched closer and closer. “Who’s doing this?” He asked himself. His moment of focus was broken by Mary, whose statement rung an alarm with each team member.
“If they’re illusions,” She began, aiming her axe behind the line of Corruptions. “Then why are the flames from Samadaya’s attack not fading?”
Rex reacted to her question by tossing one of his hooks to his side, opening a portal for him to travel through. “I need to get rid of all the sounds around me. Ten seconds…” Rex let the momentum of his hook take him. He entered the void of the portal and shot his second hook in to the darkness. “Eight.” The hook open another portal, this one leading back to the mysterious illusions caused by their opponent. As Rex traveled, he set his eyes on the battlefield, “Six.” The silence of the void granted him what he sought – an uncompromised view of his teams’ target – a man with unruly black hair, dressed in a white military uniform adorned with gold and silver accents, a blue cape draped over his shoulders. “Five.” Keeping Mary’s question in mind, Rex looked toward his team. His eyes widened as he saw the massive wall of fire closing in on them – the devastating attack clearly being masked by the illusion of the Corruptions. “Four.” Rex tugged hard on his chain, increasing his movement speed substantially. “Three.” Rex emerged from his portal, back on to the battlefield. “Xiana, put up a wall!” Rex landed on the ground, and immediately shot his hooks at the man, who narrowly avoided them by rolling away. “Two.”
“Right!” Xiana charged her fist, and slammed it on the ground – erecting a mountainous portion of land that shielded her teammates.
“One.”
“Hmph.” Samadaya rolled her eyes as the flames slammed in to Xiana’s barrier. Though they were safe, the heat from the attack could still be felt on their side. “Lower your wall.” She commanded, pulling out her war fan.
“We have to wait a bit more.” Xiana argued.
“No, we don’t.” Samadaya took her weapon and swung it with tremendous force, simultaneously shattering Xiana’s barrier and blowing the remaining flames away. “Next time, listen to me.” She walked off, leaving Mary and Xiana behind.
“This one’s worse than Aura.” Xiana said to herself, her fists clinched tightly.
--
“Who are you?” Rex asked, his focus on containing the man long enough for the others to arrive; rather than fighting him alone.
The man smirked, “I suppose an introduction is the respectful thing to do.” Straightening himself, the man adjusted his collar before speaking. “I am Grand Marshal of Academy, Vincent Oukura! You should be bowing at the very least.” Oukura allowed a moment to pass, when he saw the lack of reaction from Rex, his expression turned smug. “I guess my rank, and the accomplishments that come with, do nothing to impress you. That’s fine…” Shaking off his disdain for his enemy, momentarily at least, Oukura pointed at Rex and made a booming declaration. “The Seventh Gods have asked a service of me, and I intend to fulfill my duty!”