Chapter 20

15 Years Ago

Magister stood across the street from the Gambler, a small grin quirking his lips.

"Finally found me, eh?" he asked calmly. His eyes glowed with a soft blue light as he gazed at the hooded man watching him.

Without a word, the Gambler conjured a long sword and rushed across the street toward Magister.

"For Shareir!" Magister hissed, just before the Gambler reached him.

 A dome of pale, peach-colored light appeared over his body, deflecting the Gambler's blade.

"Ventaris Heorjara!" he said, dropping his barrier as a gust of wind swirled around him, throwing the Gambler away. He spoke a quick chant, and a sword of silver light appeared in his hand.

The Gambler regained his footing and charged again. Their swords met with each other, and they began fighting intensely. The Gambler lashed out swiftly, cutting into Magister’s arm twice and drawing blood. Magister struck the Gambler's blade aside and swept his sword in an attempt to finish him, but the Gambler vanished abruptly, leaving Magister's blade to pass through the air. He felt the air behind him become displaced, and turned around sharply.

He cried out in pain as burning agony engulf the right side of his face. He clutched his free hand to his face, feeling a deep gash where his eye had previously been. He opened his remaining eye, glaring ahead of him to see the Gambler standing with his sword tipped in blood.

Magister growled furiously. Reaching his blood covered hand forward. His blood shimmered with black and gold light as his anger and pain fueled his new spell.

"Die!" he hissed. "Vermialza Credus Hexalta!"

There was a blinding flash of light, and the curse engulfed the entire street. When the smoke cleared, Magister was alone on the street, and the Gambler was nowhere to be seen.

Present Day

“Gas’eo Edo Teltre!” Magister cried, firing a blast of flames at the Gambler.

A whip made from crimson light appeared in the Gambler's hand, and he struck the fireball with it, causing it to detonate before it could hit him. He then lashed out with the whip, striking the ground where Magister had been standing. Magister managed to dodge the attack and rushed forward toward the Gambler, sword raised. The Gambler swung the whip again, wrapping it around the blade of Magister's energy sword before it could reach him. The Gambler's blade expanded quickly, until it was about 5 yards long. He drew it back and thrust it towards Magister.

“Dal  Shareir!” Magister cried, raising his free hand. A diamond shaped barrier of green energy appeared, stopping the Gambler's stab.

“What!?” the Gambler hissed.

The Magister's sword suddenly dissolved, causing the end of the Gambler's whip to fall limply to the ground.

“Kaisyata Monjure!” he cried, freeing a bolt of lightning from his now free hand. The bolt struck the Gambler in the chest and pushed him back a couple feet, but it didn't seem to phase him much.

“You'll need more than that to beat me,” the Gambler snarled.

“Yeah, I thought so,” Magister said. “But I'm not really feeling it here.”

“What do ye mean by that?” the Gambler asked.

“Let's face it,” Magister said, spreading his arms. “This dingy little street corner isn't a grand enough stage for the two of us.”

“You've a point,” the Gambler said. “Let's settle things somewhere else. How does Hollywood Hill sound?”

Magister swept his arm in a wide arc and shouted “Elo Melora!” His body suddenly flew down the street at alarmingly speed. He drifted to a stop at the corner and looked back at the Gambler with a smirk on his face. “Meet you there,” he said, before shooting forward in the direction of the big Hollywood sign.

“So be it,” the Gambler said. A pair of giant black dragon wings sprouted from his back, and he took off into the air.

 “Hey! Wait!” John shouted after them.

“Don't let their fight distract you from ours,” Abdalin said, swinging his small staff down at John's head. John gripped the metal disc of his new weapon with both hands and brought it up to block the staff. As it did, it let out a loud, reverberating clang. Abdalin took a short step back, startled by the noise.

“Noise?” John muttered to himself. He quickly initiated his Lightning Thought, and everything slowed down. He could see the disc vibrating, and the air around it was rippling quickly. It made sense now. The weapon he held was an instrument. A gong. And he could see exactly what to do with it.

Time returned to normal, and Abdalin swung his rod again. John grip the gongs handle and swung it, charging it with the power of thunder as he did so. The gong smashed into Abdalin's chest, and he was thrown backwards by the explosion of sound. He crashed into the ground several yards away.

“Hey John! A little help here!?” Damien cried from a few feet away.

John turned to see Damien clashing with Cleopatra. She was attacking swiftly with her knives, and Damien was just barely blocking them with his falchion. John took a step toward them, but something hit his head from behind and he fell to the ground. A foot slammed onto his back, pinning him there.

“I'm not finished yet,” Abdalin said from above him.

John raised his head in time to see Anthony standing up, with the lid from a trash can in his hand. He flung it like a frisbee, and Abdalin didn't have enough time to react when he saw it coming. It struck him in the face, and he stumbled backwards. John quickly got to his feet, tapping one of the orbs around his wrist, so that his gong was replaced by his sword. He swung at Abdalin, who quickly parried the attack.

Anthony grabbed another trashcan lid and threw it at Cleopatra. It hit her in the arm, causing her to drop  one of her knives. Damien took advantage of her surprise and let loose some of the Crown's power that was sealed within his blade. Lightning shot out of it, driving Cleopatra backwards. She shrieked in fury and vanished from sight. She reappeared behind Anthony and struck him in the back of the head with the handle of the dagger she was still holding. She then charged at Damien, knocking the sword from his hand and grabbing him by the throat. She lifted him into the air as if he was weightless, and raised her knife to his throat.

“Any last words before I finish you off?” she asked.

Damien clenched his eyes shut for a few second. As he opened them, a red light began to shine from them. Cleopatra hesitated as an evil grin spread across Damien's face, and a pair of pentagrams became  visible in his eyes. Cleopatra was so transfixed by them, that she didn't notice him drawing his keys from his pocket.

“What are you?” she whispered.

“The guy who's going to unlock your face!” He said.

He stabbed, piercing his motorcycle key through her left cheek. She screamed in pain, releasing him. Abdalin heard her and abandoned his fight with John to go to her side. He wrapped her in his arms and drew her away from Damien.

“Are you okay, Cleo?” he asked.

“It hurts, Abby,” she replied weakly.

Abdalin glared at Damien, who's eyes had returned to normal.

“We'll settle this later,” he said, before disappearing along with Cleopatra.

“What was that?” John asked.

“No idea,” Damien said, wiping the blood from his key. “Where'd the Magister go?”

“Hollywood Hill,” John said. “Anthony! Are you okay?”

“Yeah,” he said, getting to his feet. “That bitch hits hard.”

John turned around and shouted his horses name. In a few seconds, Myrie descended from the sky and landed on the ground beside him.

“I'll go on ahead and find the Magister,” he said. “You guys get to Damien's bike and catch up to me as fast as you can.”

“Sure thing,” Anthony said, popping an elixir candy into his mouth.

“Will you be alright?” Damien asked.

“Sure,” John said, getting up on his horse. “I'll see you guys later.”

“Wait,” Anthony said, tossing John the sack of candies. “You may need these.”

“Thanks,” John said, taking off.

Meanwhile

David dodged an attack from Krysix's laser sword. Kaiser quickly slashed his own sword, but Krysix blocked it and tossed some disc-like machines into the air. They levitated in place for a couple seconds before exploding. Kaiser leaped back to avoid the blasts and released a barrage of feathers at Krysix. Krysix blocked them with a barrier of energy and then turned in time to catch the head of David's morningstar with its free hand.

“Why do you still hold back?” Krysix said, pushing the weapon away from itself. “I'm the one who killed your mother. Don't you want revenge?”

For a moment, a red haze of fury clouded David's vision, but he shook it off and said “I'm not giving in to my anger. I won't let you trick me.”

Krysix quickly parried a sneak attack from Kaiser and kicked him away.

“How disappointing,” it said. “I was hoping I might see that form again. Oh well.”

Krysix drew a large bomb from his waist and threw it toward David. David rolled to the side before it hit the ground and went off. It exploded, knocking David backwards. His sleeve caught fire, and he frantically slapped at the flames to put them out. “How amusing,” Krysix said, raising his laser sword.

“I'll show you amusing!” David said, swing his mace upwards. It collided with Krysix's forearm, knocking the laser sword from his grip. David then smashed his weapon into the ground, generating a seismic wave that caused Krysix to stumble. “Kaiser! Now!” he shouted.

“Got it!” Kaiser said, swinging his sword in an arc than dragged along the ground. “Kestrel Feather Shroud!”

A storm of black feathers appeared and flew around Krysix in a small whirlwind, cutting of its sight of the surrounded area. When the feathers faded, David and Kaiser where nowhere to be seen.

“Crap,” Krysix said. “Where'd they go?”

A few blocks away

David's horse landed on the ground of an alleyway. David and Kaiser dismounted and sat down by the wall.

“You okay?” David asked.

“Just tired,” Kaiser said, stroking Kestrel's chin.

“We got lucky,” David said. “We should rest up a biit and then regroup with the others.

“Sounds good,” Kaiser agreed.

Meanwhile

Magister and the Gambler stood beneath the Hollywood sign, their swords pointed at each other.

“So,” Magister said. “Shall we continue?”

“Aye,” the Gambler said. “Let's!”

 The two of them charged at each other and clashed swords.

“So, you're really serious, aren't you?” Magister said, parrying several attacks, then launching a counterattack of his own.

“Aye,” the Gambler replied, blocking the attack and summoning his whip. “I shall end your life.”

“You know,” Magister said, avoiding the whip and launching a fireball. “Being jealous is one thing...” The Gambler dodged the fireball and flew up into the air. “...But being homicidal is another.”

“She was mine,” the Gambler hissed, summoning a dozen swords, which hovered in the air beside him. “You stole her from me!”

The swords rained down on Magister, who managed to stop them with a shield of golden light.

“You never made a move!” Magister said. “She chose me! Not you!”

"Silence!” the Gambler shouted, and the Hollywood signs broke free from the ground and lifted into the air. With a wave of his hand, the Gambler sent them flying at Magister.

Master jumped into the air, slicing through most of them in quickly. With an effort of will, the Gambler accelerated the Y sign. It sped toward Magister, who raised his left hand up, with the palm outward. As soon as the sign hit his palm, he shouted “Ando Melora!” All of the kinetic energy in the sign reversed direction, causing it to fly back toward the Gambler. Master shot another fireball behind it. The Gambler managed to slice through the sign that was reflected back at him, but he was unprepared to the fire spell, which hit him full force and sent him falling to the ground.

“You know something?” Magister panted. “I can understand the jealousy, the anger. I totally get why you want me dead. But that doesn't excuse the others.” As he spoke, a silver light emitted from his left forearm. “My children. My descendants that you've systematically hunted down over the centuries.” The light solidified into a giant, spectral, gauntlet covered arm, hovering beside his real arm. “What the hell is your excuse for killing all of them!?”

“I won't let any of ye live,” the Gambler said. “Not ye. Not Yer brats. And definitely not her.. For what she did, she will join you in despair and death.”

“You're scum!” Magister shouted. He reached out with his left hand, and the spectral hand mimicked his movement, grabbing the Gambler. “And I'm going to enjoy killing you!”

He pulled the Gambler closer to him and prepared to impale him on his sword. However, the Gambler managed to break free from the giant hand and cut Magister in two with his sword. The Magister's two pieces fell to the ground, lifeless.

“And that's that,” the Gambler said. Suddenly, the pieces of Magister dissolved into silver light. “What the...”

“Hey douchebag!” Magister said, reappearing behind the Gambler with another spectral arm on his right side. “Fuck you!”

The spectral arm punched the Gambler, sending him crashing into the hills. The arm dissolved, and Magister fell to his knees, panting. The fragments of the Hollywood sign began rising into the air, and shot towards Magister. He tried to avoid them, but several of them hit him hard, knocking him to the ground. The Gambler reappeared over him, sword raised. He no longer had the strength to move, or defend himself.

“It was a great battle,” the Gambler said. “But ye've lost. Have ye any last words”

Magister glared up at the Gambler with his one eye, and his lips pulled into a snarled as he said simply “She never loved you.”

The Gambler roared in fury and lifted his sword, but before he could bring it back down, an arrow hit him in the chest and exploded in a burst of thunder. He was sent flying backwards as John, wielding his bow, landing with Myrie beside Magister. He got down and lifted Magister, throwing him on top of Myrie.

“Oof!” Magister said. “What the hell?”

“Get him somewhere safe,” John instructed Myrie.

“Hey, wait!” Magister protested, but Myrie took off before he could say anything else. John turned to face the Gambler, who was rising to his feet.

“So ye've chosen to fight in his place, 'ave ye?” the Gambler said.

“Yes,” John said, summoning another arrow and taking aim. “I need him alive.”

“And I need ye alive,” the Gambler said. “A pity I can't kill you along with him. However...” he raised his giant sword. “...There are plenty of worse things I can do to ye.”

Meanwhile

Xavier swung his sword at Manny Kinn, who caught it in her hand and shoved him away.

“You're annoying!” she spat at him.

“And you're a skank!” Xavier retorted.

He swung his sword again, but she was too quick and managed to get behind him grabbing him by the hair. He cried out in pain and tried to struggle against her. She turned her attention to the sword across his back.

“What's this?” she mused, reaching out with her left hand and gripping the handle.

“No!” Xavier shouted, grabbing the handle with both hands and holding it in place to keep her from drawing it.

“You seem to be intent on keeping it in its sheath,” she noted. “Could this be what I think it is?”

“Let go of it you cunt!” he hissed.

“Watch your tongue!” she snarled, releasing her grip on his hair, and raising her hand to strike him.

 Suddenly, Zero's ax came down o her upper right arm, embedding itself about and inch and causing her to recoil in pain. She released the hilt of Xavier's sword, and he scrambled away to pick up his katana. Hera charged forward and swung her scythe at Manny. Manny yanked her arm away from the ax and dodged Hera's attack. She then noticed Xavier moving and sent a kick flying at him, hitting him in the head. Hera and Zero both attacked her again with their weapons, but she avoided both of them and raised her left hand. Suddenly, Zero turned around and swung its ax at Hera, who blocked it with her scythe.

“Zero!” she exclaimed. “What are you doing!?”

“I don't know!” Zero replied. “I can't... control myself.”

Zero swung his ax again, and Hera blocked. Zero continued attacking, keeping her on the defensive.

“I'm sorry, Zero,” Hera said, before knocking Zero's ax aside and whacking the over the head with the shaft of her scythe, knocking Zero out. However, Zero continued to move and attack. “What the hell?” Hera said. “What's going on!?”

Xavier got back to his feet and turned to face Manny. She didn't seem to be paying him any more attention. He looked at her outstretched hand and realized what was happening. A series of strings were extending from her fingertips, and wrapping around Zero's limbs. She was controlling Zero.

 "Hera!” he said, charging at Manny. “The strings!”

Manny turned in time to block Xavier's attack. The distraction caused Zero's manipulated body to slow down a bit, giving Hera the chance she needed. She swung her arm in an arc, chilling the air and causing the strings to freeze. She then severed them with her scythe, causing Zero to drop its ax and collapsed.

“Why you little brat!” Manny shouted, grabbing Xavier by the throat. His grip on his sword slipped, and it clattered to the ground. She then threw him against the wall, where he slumped down, unmoving.

“No!” Hera cried, turning her scythe on Manny. Manny dodged it and punched Hera in the Solar Plexus. Hera gasped in pain, and Manny grabbed her by the throat with her right hand and lifted her into the air.

“Let's play a game called 'Asphyxiation',” Manny said, tightening her grip. “It's easy to play. All you have to do is DIE!”

Before she could finish it, Zero's ax came down again, hitting her in the same spot as before. Her grip loosened, and she screamed in pain.

“Not on my watch, Wood Bitch,” Xavier said,. Gripping he ax, he raised it into the air again and chopped her in the arm on last time. The ax went all the way through this time, and her right arm fell to the ground.

“You cut off my arm!” Manny screeched angrily.

“Fuck You!” Xavier said, swinging the ax sideways, hitting Manny in the temple and sinking in two inches. She slumped down, no longer moving.

“Holy shit!” Hera said, gasping for breath.

“Yeah, that was pretty- oh god, there's pain!” Xavier said, falling unconscious.

Hera rushed to help him up, but someone beat her to it. The ghost who had been following them appeared at Xavier's side and lifted him up, supported his weight.

“You... you can touch him?” she asked.

“Yes,” the ghost said. “For a little while, anyway. I'll need help in a minute or two.

“Shroud!” era called out, moving to help with Xavier. “Zero, get up!”

“Ugh. My head,” Zero said. “What happened?”

“We kicked Wood Bitch's ass,” Hera said, just as Shroud touch down beside her. Help me and ghost-boy here with Xavier.”

Meanwhile

John shot an arrow at the Gambler, who dodged it and charged with his sword in hand. John parried the sword attack with his bow and Sidestepped the Gamble, summoning another arrow in the process. The Gambler turned sharply, releasing a burst of energy that knocked John backward. John got up quickly and took aim. A piece of rumble from the broken signs rose up in between them, providing a shield for the Gambler. John activated his Lightning Thought again, hoping to find an opening. What he found wasn't quite what he had expected.

He saw energy, flowing from the Gambler's body. It extended from him, wrapped itself around the chunk of sign, and held it there in the air. That's how it worked. That's how he controlled objects. And the energy was spreading, picking up more sign pieces and preparing to use them as weapons.

And there was something else he noticed with his Lightning Thought. A figure was materializing behind the Gambler. John allowed his vision to return to normal, and saw Magister appear there. He raised a finger to his lips, and raised his other hand into the air. An orb of water began materializing above him. John understood exactly what he needed to do. Stall.

“What's the deal with you and Magister, anyway?” he asked. The Gambler had picked up a few more pieces of rubble, and the Magister's orb was now a couple feet in diameter. John hoped that this would work.

“He stole from me the woman I loved,” the Gambler said. He picked up some more rubble, while the orb of water grew to 5 feet. He still hadn't noticed Magister behind him.

“That's kind of sad, dude,” John said, keeping his bow raised. “I mean, don't you think that's a little immature?” John was almost completely surrounded by floating rubble now, and the orb was a dozen feet across.

“Ye don't understand,” he said. “She betrayed me. I was always there. Always trying to win her heart. But she chose him over me! Do you have any idea what that's like!?” John was circled by chunks of sign from every direction, and the Magister's orb was now 20 feet.

“Whatever it's like,” John said, “It can't justify murder. Nothing can!”

“Now, kid!” Magister cried.

The Gambler turned around, surprised by the sudden outburst. Magister threw his orb of water, which consumed the Gambler,, who was pulled into the center of the attack. The water cut of the energy the Gambler was emitting, causing the rubble to fall to the ground. John took the chance, and charged lightning into the arrow as he fired. Electricity sang through the water, shocking the Gambler with the force of a storm. The water disappeared, and his body fell to the ground.

John made to go check if he was still alive, but he was consumed by feelings of sadness. His father had never been there for him. His best friend, Ice, had been kidnapped by Conquest. He had failed to save David's mother, or Damien's home. And Deceit had been dragged off by Glasp while trying to save him. John collapsed, overwhelmed by the grief he had felt throughout his life. The same thing seemed to be happening to Magister, because he had fallen over and was sobbing. And as he did, a figured in a black robe appeared. His black hair was down almost to his shoulders, and hung in his face a bit. He had some light stubble, and his hands were covered by black, fingerless gloves. He picked up the Gambler's body, and vanished. And just like that, the feelings of sadness and grief were gone.

John got to his feet and approached Magister.

“You okay?” he asked.

“I'll be fine in a bit,” Magister said.

“Here,” John said, offering him one of the candies.

“Thanks,” Magister said, popping into his mouth. “I've never liked the taste of Elixir, but you can't argue with the effects.”

“Who was that guy just now?” John asked.

“No clue,” Magister replied.

Later

Everybody regrouped and treated their wounds.

“So, you're the Magister, huh?” Hera said.

“Yes I am,” he replied. “Now, You're all here because you need to get to Netherworld.”

“You already know?” David asked.

“Of course,” Magister said. “Deceit and I made the arrangements a long time ago.”

“So you guys all trust a guy who calls himself 'Deceit'?” Xavier asked.

“Of course,” Magister said. “3 or 4 centuries ago, I wouldn't trust a damn thing he said or did, but ever since... never mind, it's not important. What's important is that we get us a door.”

Magister approached a brick wall and placed a hand on it. He took a deep breath, before exclaiming “OPEN THE FUCK UP!!!”

A large door, about 15 feet tall and 8 feet wide, materialized on the wall.

“Whoa,” John asked. “Is that all you had to do?”

“Well, you have to say it in juuuust the right way,” Magister said, chuckling. “Now, before you go in, there's some things we need to go over. First of all, hide your horses and don't call them unless absolutely necessary.”

“What?” David asked, looking up at his horse, which was standing beside him.

“Some people on the other side hate Horsemen,” Magister explained. “Riding those things around will draw attention. And in Netherworld, you do NOT want attention. Understood?”

“Okay,” David replied.

“Second,” Magister said. “Getting in is the easy part. Coming back intact is a different matter.”

“Intact?” Damien asked.

“Soul. Minds. Lives. Various body parts,” Magister said. “You're all likely to lose something important over there. So watch your damn backs.”

“Sure thing,” Xavier said.

“And finally,” Magister said, “Whatever you do, DO NOT SPILL VIRGIN BLOOD ON THE ALTER OF LOSTA!!!”

Everyone stared at him for a few seconds.

“Great,” Magister said. “Now that we're all clear on that, I have to get outa here. Places to go, things to do, spells to cast, you get the deal. Have fun.”

With that, he vanished.

“Okay,” John said, reaching up to grab the doorknob. “Is everyone ready for this?”

“Hell yeah!” Damien said.

“We've come this far, haven't we” David said.

“Let's move,” Hera said.

“I am prepared,” Zero said.

“I ain't leaving you guys after all we've been through,” Kaiser said.

Anthony turned to Xavier. “Well?” he asked.

Xavier reached up and gripped the handle of his sword. The ghost, standing across from him, gave him a nod. Xavier smiled a bit.

“Alright,” he said. “Let's go already! I wanna see this place.”

“Count me in too!” Anthony added.

“Alright,” John said, swinging the door open. “Here goes. Get ready Deceit. Ice. I'm coming!”

Meanwhile, in Netherworld

“What do you have to report?” Conquest asked.

“My targets managed to escape,” Krysix said. “Gambler and Manny Kinn were both defeated.”

“What are their conditions?” Conquest asked.

“As for Gambler, he's suffered a massive electric shock amplified by water,” Krysix said. “Nothing he hasn't experienced before. Give him a week and he'll be fine. His assistant Cleopatra had her cheek lacerated. A superficial wound and nothing more. She'll be fine.”

“And Ms. Kinn?” Conquest asked.

Krysix sighed.

“Right arm chopped off with an ax,” Krysix said. “She was also hit in the temple. The damage is... problematic. I'll do the best I can, but I don't know if I can fully repair her.”

“Damn,” Conquest said.

“What's our next course of action?” Krysix asked.

Conquest paused for a moment.

“The children have just arrived in Netherworld,” Conquest said. “I would have preferred them to come here under my terms, but this will work. Keep an eye on them.”

“Yes sir,” Krysix said, turning to leave.

“One last thing,” Conquest said.

Krysix stopped.

“How is Ice O'Leit doing?” Conquest asked.

Krysix let out a raspy, mechanical laugh and turned his head to look at Conquest.

“He is coming along quite nicely, sir.”