Post by Shadus on Nov 17, 2023 3:25:53 GMT -6
Decided to rewrite this story, because it was horribly written. I want to try painting a much better narrative now that I've improved as a writer.
CHAPTER 1:
New Atero had nearly been saved. The Tower had been vanquished. The Vanguard had beaten Torok's challenge. However, one final battle raged in the streets of New Atero. The clash between Nyxos' forces and New Atero continued to rage. In the Stone District, Shadus, Toa of Light and Flame, was locked in battle with the leader, Xantha. Shadows clashed with light; ichor met flames as the two's weapons flashed among each other.
"Surrender, Xantha. You can't hope to win this. Stop this needless slaughter." Light Shadus begged as he lashed out with his golden scythe, creating space between the two entities.
Xantha responded with her maniacal laughter before blasting a bolt of dark energy past Light, destroying the, fortunately uninhabited, residence behind him. "Surrender? When you're so hopelessly weak? I thought Toa didn't have a sense of humor, but you're hilarious!" She flourished her greatsword, lashing out at Light, who parried with his rapier. Were his weapon made of any other material than the condensed light he had forged it of, it would've broken a long time ago. Xantha was a fierce opponent.
"You've left me no choice, Xantha. I hope you can forgive me for what I am about to do."
Xantha smirked in response, levelling her greatsword so it was pointed at the Toa. "You're the strongest warrior I've ever had the pleasure of facing. I've not had this much fun in YEARS! As thanks, when I kill you, I'll make it nice and quick!"
Light raised his weapons, prepared for one, decisive strike against his opponent. He prayed to the Great Beings that this would work.
"What a moronic spat."
Light looked around, the sudden voice interrupting his thoughts. It sounded like...
"Dark? Where are...?"
"The name's..." Suddenly, the shadow below Xantha's feet erupted, and Dark Shadus formed in front of him. "Kage. You can thank Valla for that one."
Before Xantha could react, Kage thrust his hand forward, partially dissolving right before it hit her side. As soon as his hand entered her side, Xantha's eyes glossed over, as if she had lost consciousness despite being completely awake.
"Allow me to handle this." Kage assured his Light counterpart. "There may be a much more...effective solution to our current problems. One that doesn't involve moronically killing our one lead to Nyxos."
Light thought for a moment. While every atom that made up his body screamed that it was too risky, he couldn't deny that Kage had a point. And besides, perhaps if this could result in an outcome that didn't result in more needless death...
"Okay." He said. "What did you have in mind?"
Kage smiled wickedly at Light. Despite now fighting for the sake of the city, Kage still made Light uneasy. Despite that, however, Light saw a look in Kage's eyes he hadn't seen before. Purpose. Kage had something worth fighting for. Perhaps this was why Light trusted Kage now more than ever before.
"Keep her distracted. I need to get close to her so I can invade her mind. Perhaps if I can sever her connection to Nyxos, we can save her."
Light's eyes widened. Save her...? Kage, instead of trying to destroy Xantha, was actually trying to save her? What in Mata-Nui happened in that tower?!
"We're going to need her as an ally if we have any chance of defeating Nyxos. Shadus is out of commission, and the remaining vanguard don't understand exactly how much of a threat he is if he is left unchecked." Kage continued, turning to face Xantha. Despite the current conflict, she, oddly enough, hadn't moved a muscle. Almost as if she were waiting to see what they would try.
"Are you all done? This is getting boring."
"Oh don't you worry. We're just about ready to end this idiotic conflict." Kage said, crossing his arms arrogantly. Light couldn't fathom what made him so self-confident. It was almost as if he couldn't ever fathom the possibility of himself failing. He hoped that, one day, it wouldn't come back to bite the Kra-Toa.
"Now!" Kage commanded, and Light sprang into action, his blazing sword poised to strike at Xantha. She parried easily, but Light continued locking his sword with the greatsword.
"Kage, go!" Light yelled, but Kage was a step ahead of him, already flashing behind Xantha. Before she could react, his hand dissolved into shadows, and he thrust it into the back of Xantha's head.
Xantha's eyes widened...then faded, and she slouched over, beginning to descend, alongside Kage, to the ground below. Light watched their slow descent, praying to whatever great beings were left that his companion would succeed his mission.
New Atero had nearly been saved. The Tower had been vanquished. The Vanguard had beaten Torok's challenge. However, one final battle raged in the streets of New Atero. The clash between Nyxos' forces and New Atero continued to rage. In the Stone District, Shadus, Toa of Light and Flame, was locked in battle with the leader, Xantha. Shadows clashed with light; ichor met flames as the two's weapons flashed among each other.
"Surrender, Xantha. You can't hope to win this. Stop this needless slaughter." Light Shadus begged as he lashed out with his golden scythe, creating space between the two entities.
Xantha responded with her maniacal laughter before blasting a bolt of dark energy past Light, destroying the, fortunately uninhabited, residence behind him. "Surrender? When you're so hopelessly weak? I thought Toa didn't have a sense of humor, but you're hilarious!" She flourished her greatsword, lashing out at Light, who parried with his rapier. Were his weapon made of any other material than the condensed light he had forged it of, it would've broken a long time ago. Xantha was a fierce opponent.
"You've left me no choice, Xantha. I hope you can forgive me for what I am about to do."
Xantha smirked in response, levelling her greatsword so it was pointed at the Toa. "You're the strongest warrior I've ever had the pleasure of facing. I've not had this much fun in YEARS! As thanks, when I kill you, I'll make it nice and quick!"
Light raised his weapons, prepared for one, decisive strike against his opponent. He prayed to the Great Beings that this would work.
"What a moronic spat."
Light looked around, the sudden voice interrupting his thoughts. It sounded like...
"Dark? Where are...?"
"The name's..." Suddenly, the shadow below Xantha's feet erupted, and Dark Shadus formed in front of him. "Kage. You can thank Valla for that one."
Before Xantha could react, Kage thrust his hand forward, partially dissolving right before it hit her side. As soon as his hand entered her side, Xantha's eyes glossed over, as if she had lost consciousness despite being completely awake.
"Allow me to handle this." Kage assured his Light counterpart. "There may be a much more...effective solution to our current problems. One that doesn't involve moronically killing our one lead to Nyxos."
Light thought for a moment. While every atom that made up his body screamed that it was too risky, he couldn't deny that Kage had a point. And besides, perhaps if this could result in an outcome that didn't result in more needless death...
"Okay." He said. "What did you have in mind?"
Kage smiled wickedly at Light. Despite now fighting for the sake of the city, Kage still made Light uneasy. Despite that, however, Light saw a look in Kage's eyes he hadn't seen before. Purpose. Kage had something worth fighting for. Perhaps this was why Light trusted Kage now more than ever before.
"Keep her distracted. I need to get close to her so I can invade her mind. Perhaps if I can sever her connection to Nyxos, we can save her."
Light's eyes widened. Save her...? Kage, instead of trying to destroy Xantha, was actually trying to save her? What in Mata-Nui happened in that tower?!
"We're going to need her as an ally if we have any chance of defeating Nyxos. Shadus is out of commission, and the remaining vanguard don't understand exactly how much of a threat he is if he is left unchecked." Kage continued, turning to face Xantha. Despite the current conflict, she, oddly enough, hadn't moved a muscle. Almost as if she were waiting to see what they would try.
"Are you all done? This is getting boring."
"Oh don't you worry. We're just about ready to end this idiotic conflict." Kage said, crossing his arms arrogantly. Light couldn't fathom what made him so self-confident. It was almost as if he couldn't ever fathom the possibility of himself failing. He hoped that, one day, it wouldn't come back to bite the Kra-Toa.
"Now!" Kage commanded, and Light sprang into action, his blazing sword poised to strike at Xantha. She parried easily, but Light continued locking his sword with the greatsword.
"Kage, go!" Light yelled, but Kage was a step ahead of him, already flashing behind Xantha. Before she could react, his hand dissolved into shadows, and he thrust it into the back of Xantha's head.
Xantha's eyes widened...then faded, and she slouched over, beginning to descend, alongside Kage, to the ground below. Light watched their slow descent, praying to whatever great beings were left that his companion would succeed his mission.