Chapter 32- At Least I wasn’t...

Chapter 32: Chapter 32- At Least I wasn’t...

Skydancer flew up into the Sky, making sure Arthur was safe from trouble. Arthur’s eyes glanced down.

He sighed softly and moved to sit up slightly against Sky. He wasn’t going to be useless. His eyes looked out towards the encompassing city. He tapped a hand against Sky, "Hey buddy... Can we survey the area? In... case there are people still around...?" He whispered as Sky shook slightly and flew above the city as Arthur used his eyes to search the streets. He was useless in battle right now, but it wasn’t always about the fights. If he saved lives, he wasn’t completely useless, was he? He wondered if he understood that as well... He shook his head and tried to focus on his mission.

Alaric launched into the air, zipping through as he began to close the distance between him and the Alien. He sucked in his breath and wiggled his fingers. He’s not used to fighting without his staff. He knew only a small amount of hand to hand combat, not enough to rely on it. But it would have to do due for now... his best friend needed it more than him right now.

Alaric swung his leg as the Alien grabbed it tightly. ALaric’s eyes gave a bug-eyed look before using his other leg to push off its chest, pulling himself free. He flipped and landed onto a building as various icicles shot towards him. He flipped back and evaded them with ease. He pushed back into the air as he used [Cloud Step] to disappear from sight. He landed on the building and jumped away as the Alien looked around for him. He clenched his teeth, oh how useful it would be to have a skill that was a projectile.

Oh well, he can make due. He clenched his fists, veins bulging from them. [Strength Boost] was in effect. He pulled his fist back and landed a clean strike directly to its face, a shockwave roaring from his punch. He didn’t let up. He swung his other hand in a jab, but the Alien recovered quickly, weaving past him as he pulled back its own fist and tossed an attack of its own. Alaric blocked and shoved its arm back before pulling his left arm back and throwing his right hand out in a right hook, cracking the Alien’s jaw, its head snapping to the side. He followed up with a blow to its face and a knee to the gut. Before he could continue his assault, the Alien aimed its hands towards him, using an explosive force of icy wind to blow him back, causing him to crash against the building behind him. He opened his eyes, but the Alien was on his trail, dragging its leg back to deliver a kick to his face, pushing him further through the building.

Alaric’s body skipped across the building’s flooring, trying to find his footing again. But the Alien was relentless, as he chased him, grabbing him by the collar, shoving his head deep into the ground, his head ripping through the solid stone floor. As he rolled along the ground, ice began to coat its foot, as it threw it forward, crashing into Alaric’s gut, ice exploding and shattering against him, sending him crashing through the wall of the building.

Arthur and Sky flew above, the boy jumping at the sound of the destruction. He wasn’t sure if Alaric was winning or not... he tried not to worry about it for now. He had something else to worry about. His legs were slowly getting better, he could at least feel his toes so that was something, right? He could only hope he could get back into the fight soon. But, below, he heard people on the streets, it seems they were trapped, unable to reach the police vehicles due to snow. He narrowed his eyes and pointed towards them, "Down... there Sky..." he strained as Sky lowered towards them. Once near the ground, he called out towards the group, "E-Everyone... it... will be okay..." He said as he slowly climbed off Sky, even as the cloud ride protested. He used Alaric’s staff for support, which meant they were no longer warming his legs up. He turned towards the Cloud, "C-Climb onto Sky and... it’ll carry... you..." His voice was wavering, his lack of rest beginning to catch up to him. "It’ll carry you all towards the nearest police vehicle... trust me..." he pleaded, as he waved for Sky to make travel easier for them.

They were hesitant, clearly. But as the cloud ride neared them, they realized that obviously this guy was some kind of warrior, due to his injuries... Yet he was so young. They looked among themselves, before nodding to each other. Sky was big enough to carry all of them.

They slowly climbed the cloud ride before the cloud turned towards Arthur, bouncing in place. He smiled softly, "It’s alright... just make sure enough makes it home safe... that’s all we can do right now..." Sky floated there for a moment, hoping he would change his mind. But... At this point, there was no chance of that happening. So, it reluctantly flew off into the sky, searching for a police vehicle.

Arthur had made sure everyone flew away safely on top of Skydancer. He could still hardly stand, but at least he wasn’t useless, right? He was doing the best he could with his situation. Regardless, his work wasn’t finished. He had to make sure more people weren’t still around.

Alaric had thrown a kick, in which the Alien ducked the strike. Its hand shot out and struck Alaric in his chest, before spinning and landing a drop kick to his chest as well, knocking him back.

Alaric coughed, struggling to breath. The Alien’s attention shifted behind him and launched off, like a homing missile. Alaric’s eyes widened, sweat dripping from his head. He launched after it, even as his movements were slower due to the frost bite in his lungs. Where was it going? Was it still trying to achieve whatever its goal was? But ever since it froze over the city, it has been laser focused on fighting him. He narrowed his eyes, and they shot wide, nearly bulging out of his sockets.

"Arthur!!" He screamed, his voice loud enough to carry across the sea.

Arthur turned towards his booming voice, and his eyes shot wide as the Alien was racing towards him, an icicle protruding from its palm. Arthur tried to move as fast as he could, but the intense freezing trapped his leg against the ground. Along with the frozen floor, he couldn’t run successfully anyhow. His dull eyes tried to dart around for any kind of answer.

The only thing he could think of was his [Barrier] skill, and he knew it was futile. But it could buy him only a second... but was that enough? It was the only answer he had. He had Alaric’s staff, but he didn’t know how to operate that thing... not to mention it wasn’t even his, he couldn’t use its skills like making its size bigger.

Once the Alien was close, its hand shot out and struck against the translucent barrier, shattering it in an instant. Arthur saw it coming, and the world slowed.

What now? It bought him less than a second, but he was out of stored momentum. He couldn’t just use it and blast himself out of the way.

Alaric’s eyes were wide and shrunken. His gray eyes dulled to black and lifeless.

The Alien’s hand shot out and stabbed deep into Arthur’s chest, blood squirting from the wound.

Alaric was running low on mana already... but it didn’t matter! Not now! His eyes glowed blue and he used [Dash], becoming nearly a blur in an attempt to pull the Alien off his best friend. It was just a stab, he would live... he had to!

But as he neared, it was as if he paused in the middle of his sprint. Everything had come to a stop around him. Everything besides Arthur and the Alien.

Frost began to erupt from Arthur’s chest, the area around him was freezing cold, enough to freeze someone solid. Alaric’s mouth opened wider, trying to scream, but nothing came out, not even a squeak.

In an instant, a blast of icicles and ice crystals exploded out of Arthur’s back, the tips of the crystals soaked in blood. Blood escaped Arthur’s mouth, trailing down his chin and the Alien’s icy blue skin. The staff Arthur used for support fell away, clattering onto the ground.

Alaric stared, his face sinking. Time seemed to resume as the Alien grabbed Arthur’s shoulder and pulled its icy blade from his chest. It narrowed its hollow eyes and glanced back towards Alaric who had come to a stop nearby. It stared for only a second, and knew he wasn’t going to do anything. The Alien looked ahead and flew off, Arthur’s body suspended by the mountain of ice crystals. Alaric’s face went pale, his mouth hanging out. He stepped forward, his steps slow and hesitant.

’Am I dreaming?’ He thought to himself, as the freezing cold began to pierce his skin from the air surrounding Arthur’s suspended body. As he neared, his gaze slowly trailed up his battered body. Until he arrived at his face, which was hidden from shadows, his mouth hanging open, blood continuing to trail down his chin.

Everything was silent, aside from the dripping blood from his exposed chest, dropping onto the frozen ground below him. Alaric’s eyes went dark as he flew down onto his knees, his pants soaking up the pool of blood underneath him. He was completely still, even his breathing wasn’t visible.

There was no way this was real. How could it?

They were supposed to become the strongest together. Arthur can’t die yet. Not here. Not now.

Then... Why is he there, and not moving? He had to be fine. He can’t be gone... not after... everything...

Alaric’s eyes began to become misty, his eyes frantically searching Arthur’s empty gaze. He searched everywhere. For even a small sign of life, he waited for him to wake and tell him to stop worrying so much.

Why isn’t he saying anything?

Tell him something... anything!

Tears slipped from his eyes, and he didn’t care to wipe them away. If he did, he’d miss some kind of hint of life from his friend. He wasn’t gone... he couldn’t be!

They were the strongest! Right?!