A deeply red, crimson aura of magical energy flared up around the childlike form of Johann, his two black, trembling eyes locked on Vés. He had no choice. He had to fight his way through, eliminate the guards and take the first opportunity that presented itself to make an escape towards the others. He knew he was outclassed like this, and he knew it would be difficult to escape Vés at all with the man's abilities, but he had to try. He just had to. It was certainly not an optimal situation, and he would rather have avoided fighting the Neo Cor Torva assassin completely, but he had to help Cirven. If Vés was true in what he was saying Ruvel, Sol and Cirven would all be in danger, and he couldn't bear the thought of losing any of them. He had lost enough family, enough friends for a lifetime. He would charge his opponents and hope for the best. Before Johann could do even as much as move a muscle, though, Vés opened his mouth. As expected, the black haired male had foreseen the Vice President's actions. "Fire". Johann bit his lip, drawing his rapier as the guards simultaneously all fired their weapons, a hail of projectiles raining down on the young VP.
Where Johann wasn't sure what to do, today it was Vés who was intent on eliminating his target with the same hatred that Johann held. Ever since he had stumbled over the Vice President of the West Fiore Trading Company and Keeper of Onyx Moon on the streets of Hargeon he held nothing but disdain for the other's perceived arrogance, presuming he could hold himself against his future sight ability. In his opinion, Johann was nothing more than a busybody who managed to land a lucky hit on him. Another reason why he despised Johann. Only very few people outside the family actually managed to keep up with him and his abilities that, beside future sight and clairvoyance, included his transmutation magic, but the old man had somehow exploited a window and launched him off his feet and through a building. He had broken a rib in the process, and while his tolerance for pain had been altered so much that it had proven to be an annoyance at best, Johann was exactly that to Vés: an annoyance. He couldn't help but wonder what Trase had been thinking making him one of his direct subordinates. In his mind the other had been a role model, something to chase after, something inspiring, until the day he had betrayed the family by killing one of them. As much as Vés had hated Taisun for what he was, an annoying show-off with a disgusting personality, he had still been a part of their "family", and Cirven had overstepped his boundaries when he had killed him in cold blood. Or at least that was what he was told by the others. It's not like they were his real family, he had been taken from them due to what he was born as, an Oracle, but they were all he had. A part of him was hurting, hurting that the man who was calling himself "Cirven" now had abandoned them, hurting that he surrounded himself with a new family, but Vés was still loyal to his own family, and he was convinced that Trase could be brought back, too. The others ? As far as he was concerned they should be eliminated, but the others had their own plans. If everything would be going according to plan they would've already captured Trase, though. Still, he couldn't rid himself of that one thought that played in repeat in his mind ever since he had seen the airship approach with his insight "Why have you come back to us voluntarily, Trase ?". Was it to tell them something ? To convince them to defect ? Or, the most plausible situation, he had come to take them all down and eradicate the facility. Even Vés with his abilities couldn't be 100% sure, but the attitude and killing intent they had displayed convinced him he was in the right. And so, Vés would show no mercy to those that posed a threat to his family., much like Johann would in the same situation. Perhaps the two weren't so different, after all ?
Johann, on the other side of this wide hallway, now had to try and execute his plan somehow. There was no time to dwell and think about it as the myriad of projectiles zoomed through the air towards him, Johann using his rapier to deflect them, impacting into the walls, the ceiling, the floor, cracking parts of the solid concrete construction, a neon light spewing forth sparks with a zapping sound as it was struck above, hit after hit, projectile after projectile deflected by a strike of the rapier so fast it would be impossible to follow the movements with the naked eye. Despite the constant bombardment of bullets, Johann pushed forward, projectiles ricocheting off the smooth steel blade until he had gotten closer, leaping forward in a moment of stunning acceleration, bursting through the group with incredible speed. "This is my chance !". Johann could hear the voices of the others behind the bend of the hallway, he was so close, only a little more. Of course, he had made his calculations without Vés. Stopping suddenly Johann found himself held in place, unable to move with sharp pain, his eyes widening as he realized that a spear had dug itself through his chest and into the ground, blood trickling from the corners of his mouth. For a second Johann could feel his consciousness slip from his grasp, feeling as if watched, a subtle giggle echoing in the back of his head as the runes flared up, a surge of adrenaline rushing and rage rushing through his body. The Vice President grasped the hilt of the spear still stuck in his torso before breaking apart the weapon, the blade still firmly embedded into the ground before pulling out the shaft, the piece hitting the ground with a metallic clinking sound, blood briefly seeping from the wound before it closed. Johann tried to turn around but before he could react, Vés hand grabbed his throat, lifting up the young Johann with one hand, the Vice President clawing at the man's arm as he gasped for air. Vés gave a sadistic smile, glad he could finally get his opportunity at payback
"Today is the day of our reckoning, little Johann, so ...", still holding the VP up he turned before building up momentum, stretching out his arm and throwing Johann back into the direction he had come from "... it's a little early to run away so soon !", Johann impacting into a concrete wall, the material shattering by the force of the impact, a cloud of dust swirling up around. Johann opened his eyes, pulling out his partially embedded, broken arm from the concrete wall, coughing out blood as he came back to his senses, the bruises, the broken bones, the cuts healing in merely a few moments. Was he really that much weaker in this form ? Or had Vés simply gotten stronger, too ? It was probably the both of these circumstances combined that formed a gap between the two mages abilities that Johann couldn't bridge. Not like this, not in this state. While Johann was still getting up, sheathing the rapier he had managed to hold on to to free his hands, Vés approached rapidly, his movements shrouded by the dust cloud, Johann noticing the clawed hand rushing towards his head only at the last second, even with his speed barely managing to dodge the strike, dark, metallic claws strafing his cheek, drawing deep, bloody lines across it. This, however, left oe of the Cor Torva mages sides wide open, air rushing to the kids fist as he swung it towards the man's torso. But, as with many things, Vés had seen it coming, and, with almost graceful elegance, swung his body around, lifting one leg up before swinging it down on Johann's back with a swift, yet unproportionally powerful kick, Johann skidding across the floor for a couple seconds before coming to a halt. His teeth grinding against each other, an expression marked with pain on his face, he lifted himself up, taking a horrified look to his left as he saw the 20 odd rifles pointed straight at him, muzzles flashing with light as another storm of projectiles was unleashed. Johann quickly unleashed a burst of air from one hand that launched him back violently, uncontrolled, more out of reflex than anything, managing to dodge most of the magical projectiles. Most. One had struck his shoulder, piercing right through before he impacted the concrete wall behind with a loud thud, hitting his head. Once again Johann felt his consciousness slip from his grasp, a voice briefly speaking to him "Unleash meeee" before the wound closed and the damage repaired itself. Johann immediately raised his voice, more out of reflex than anything, screaming out loud "NO" as he sunk to the ground, growing ever increasingly more desperate. "What's wrong, giving up already ?"
A viciously grinning Vés approached from the one side, gridding his steel claws against each other, the guards with shouldered rifles closing in from the other. He had no choice. He had to thin them out before he could even think about getting closer to the others, and even then Vés would still be a problem, but there was no other alternative. Like an animal backed into the corner Johann desperately accessed his last, but also strongest reserves. Something that he had sworn to himself he would keep in check. He was at his limits. He had to, for his family, he would take any punishment from Cirven or Demi if it meant that he could protect them. Though only syphoning a little of the demon's power, his eyes changed their colour, the glowing, crimson red of his pupils shifting, an amethyst hue flooding in in its stead, wind swirling around his hands, streaks of amaranthine purple crystallizing around his fingers to form sharp, long claws. Immediately, Johann's aura changed, subtly, though still noticeable, a twisted grin spreading across the young mages face. The Neo Cor Torva guards reacted, firing at will, trails of white magical energy following the bullets as they zapped past, Johann's speed exploding, shaking the ground behind him with an enormous sonic boom as he leapt at the nearest guard, one strike at mach 14 taking the man's head clean off, a fountain of blood erupting from the spot it had been just a second ago, his limp body falling to the ground. "I can't give up here. It's on, Vés. This time I'm coming for you", the two bloodshot, black eyes turning towards the Cor Torva mage who, retaining his pleased smile, simply stared, unmoving, with unchanging expression as the next guard stepped forward, drawing a knife and charging towards the silver haired boy. With unchanged speed an aura of dark, swirling stormwind formed around Johann's right fist, the battlecry of the charging guard stopped when his fist dug itself into the man's chest, exploding with black, pressurized air that launched the guard off his feet and away, impacting into one of the walls with a rumble. "Oh, there he is. The fierce fighter I remember. Would be boring just beating up a helpless child now, wouldn't it ?" Johann responded, with childlike voice, but still trembling with hate "Yeah, but it's gonna be fun beating you up anyway because you're still the same insufferable asshole", a vein swelling up on Vés temple. What he lacked in patience he made up as a fighter, and so Vés wouldn't tolerate this insult, storming forward, clawed hands swinging for Johann who countered with his own clawed hands, sparks flying as the two exchanged blows, both not managing to land a single hit on the other due to both their respective abilities.
The rage inside Johann, however, was still swelling up more and more, reaching threatening levels, and his mind went blank with burning hate and anger as he kept slashing at Vés who blocked the attacks with his own metallic claws. "Very well, little Johann, I think it's time to stop playing around, I've toyed enough", clenching his hand to a steel fist, pulling it back wide before throwing a punch at Johann that audibly cracked his jaw, hitting the VP mid swing, again delivering a kinetic force that launched him into a wall. Johann's head was spinning. He could barely even see, let alone manage to keep himself awake. Pressed into the wall he lifted his head, Vés touching the ground, pulling out the metals in it with his magic before shaping it into long, needle like steel javelins that shot off, two hitting Johann's arms and two his legs, pinning him to the wall, a scream of pain and surprise echoing out from his mouth, the pain only helping to amplify his rage. Vés laughed to himself, getting closer, playfully swirling around another one of the steel javelins in his hands, displaying same attitude from when they had fought in Hargeon, arrogant, condescending. "Looks like you're all big words but can't actually deliver, boy. But ... very well, I've had my fun and I grow tired. Rhul should have dealt with the one you call Sol by now, Ruvel would be gone too, and Trase ... Cirven, he will be back with us once more. Time for you to say goodbye, little Johann. See ya", he had walked up to the VP, bringing around the Javelin and, with one large swing, rammed it into the boy's heart, all light fading from Johann's eyes as the world around him turned black, and consciousness slipped from his grasp.
This was when Vés heard a familiar voice. A voice he hadn't heard in a long time. A voice telling a story of betrayal, a story of lies, a story of injustice, a story of his past. "D-demi ?" tears lighting up in the corners of his eyes "I-is that true ? You and Trase ... all those years ... I believed that you betrayed us ... I believed them" his eyes trembling at the realization that he had hated people who used to be like family for him because he naively believed the lies he had been told. But ... this all made sense, it sounded like Taisun to pull exactly that, and it didn't wonder him one bit that he had gotten what he deserved. How could he have just believed it like he did. "I have been loyal to Cor Torva for all this time ... What have I done to deserve this ? I trusted the family ! I trusted Lucan !", Vés was in shock, his hands forming cramped fists, his tears only adding fuel to the fire that was his disappointment, his anger "Cor Torva ... I will never forgive you for this ! I will-".
"Finallyyy, about time ... felt like an eternity", a deep, distorted voice whispered from Johann's mouth, interrupting Vés in his monologue, entirely different from his previous, altered voice of a child. "Oh ? You smell familiar. Yes, the old man lost it when you fought him before, the first time I had seen the light of day in ... centuries. Weakened the cage just enough for me to catch a glimpse ... tseehehehe" Vés taking a step back in confusion as the echoing voice spoke from the VP's mouth. A wave of magical pressure exploded from his form, obliterating the javelins into tiny pieces as Johann's limp body fell to the ground, swirling, black wind, then fog, then smoke starting to surround him, the black substance getting denser and denser before, ultimately, crystalizing, forming a deeply amethyst purple sphere around him. A few moments passed, time seemed to stand still as nobody made a moved, confused looks meeting each other before the sphere cracked, one guard catiously getting closer with slow steps, approaching the cocoon of crystal, taking the stock of his rifle to tap it, with no reaction. He pulled back the rifle, this time for another, more forceful tap, but couldn't execute his plan as before he was eviscerated violently, the crystal sphere exploding outward, sharp shards and shrapnel spreading throughout the entirety of the hallway, cutting down all of the guards in a storm of blood and purple crystals. Vés, of course, had foreseen this, his face going pale as he ducked to the ground and touched it, raising up a barrier of steel in between himself and the center of the explosion just a moment before it happened.
Where the crystal with Johann inside had been there was now just a cloud of black smoke, ominous movement inside before it dispersed, revealing what had become of the VP. A monstrous, wolf like demonic creature standing in his place, antlers decorating its head, a skeletal frame around what seemed like swirling black smoke, a long, skeletal tail extending from its back, letting out a deep, bone shaking roar that echoed through the hallways of the facility, an aura of intense magical energy sending ripple after ripple through the air around the creature. From this point on, the events that unfolded after happened fast, spanning only a few seconds as Vés cried out loud "What the Fu-", raising up his arm in confusion to unleash a spell at the demon, his future sight not alerting him to this whatsoever, but in less than the blink of an eye the demon opened his mouth wide, a laser like ray of darkness and flame shooting from it, seperating the arm cleanly from the shoulder, the hallway behind bursting into a blazing firestorm, shaking the entirety of the facility with loud, booming noise as a good portion of it was obliterated. Vés was frozen in shock, tumbling back a few steps before falling onto the ground, the creature slowly stepping towards him, towering over his form, a clawed hand ready to end his existence. About to strike towards the man on the ground the creature suddenly froze in place, the colour in its eyes fading. "NO ! I told you to get out of my head" "And you will do what exactly to make me go away, old man ? Tsehehe", the eyes flaring up again, but instead of slashing at Vés, the hand firmly grasped him by the collar before launching him through a wall with seemingly playful ease, hurling itself in the air to hurry after him with incredible speed and agility. Reappearing on the other side of the hallway, the others would see Vés emerge from a wall and smash into the other side of the hallway, missing an arm, staring with empty, confused and shocked eyes at the roaring demon that came to a stop, now catching glimpse of the other Cor Torva members and some people he hadn't seen before, though in obvious opposition to the members of the dark guild. But two of them Johann recognised instantly: Demi, who, despite her obviously younger self, still retained her physical appearance. Then there was Sol, who looked like a younger version of himself, though still recognisable. Did this mean that the other two ... ? Johann couldn't give this a second thought as he laid eyes on Sol who, clinging himself to a wall for support, was bleeding profusely from a deep wound on his chest. It didn't look good.
At this moment, all limits broke, and Johann finally got his act together, assembling all the strength he could, speaking, ironically, to himself, his own body controlled by another consciousness. "If you do not leave RIGHT NOW, I swear, with all my heart, with all my strength, I will find out who you are, what you are, and why you are here. I will find out how to cause you pain beyond what your vile imagination is capable of. I will drag you through hells unimaginable to an abomination like you, and I will make sure you never come back, no matter the cost. OUT. OF. MY. HEAD", a loud, ominous cackle the only physical reaction that followed "Tsssehehe, I like you, old man, you have spirit. Fine then, but I'll come back to play another time, see you later ... tsehehehe", the form around the childlike VP slowly dispersing before Johann dropped to his knees, regaining his consciousness and wasting no time rushing over to Sol as fast as he could. Every single muscle in his body ached, but he couldn't stop now. Sol was as much part of his family as everyone else around, and he had sworn to himself he would never let one of his family die. Not if he could at all do something about it. Pressing his hand against the wound a sizzling sound could be heard as the skin evaporated from it, but Johann barely noticed the pain, his eyes still black, bloodshot, though returned back to a crimson colour, a crazed, almost fanatical look on his face as surge of magical energy rushed down his arms and towards Sol, accumulating at his head before forming two antler like horns. His wounds would close, his broken body would heal, and all damage would fade away in a matter of moments. For Johann however, he was way past the point of his limit, stumbling back with a semi happy smile, glad that he had managed to reach the others, glad that they were okay. "Everyone ... finally", whispering before his feet could no longer support him, breaking away from under him as he collapsed forward.
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Word Count: 3.639
Word Count Total: 7.794 / 6.000 (wc met)