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“I take it it’s too late to back out,” Pascal muttered.
Ten directed his attention to the young man. “Of course. It is all or nothing at this point.”
“Then can we ask you anything we want?” James inquired, throwing his knapsack to the floor. He dropped his guard. He was sure he wouldn’t be killed. The Ancient Knights could have done it already.
“Feel free. And then afterwards, we will begin your trial.”
“We can’t prepare for it?”
“My son, your life has been preparation. Just because no one has passed it in over a century doesn’t mean that it’s not passable. All I can say is that you will be tested to your limits and beyond.”
“Then, I have to know...are there Sages here? From the past?”
“I may not understand your question. Do you mean those that release their eidolons?”
“In a sense. Yes.”
“Then you are speaking to one now,” he replied. He kicked up his cane from the bottom and caught it in mid-air at the center. He twirled it over his head and then whipped it right at James’ face. The cane transformed in transit, becoming a rapier that just barely grazed the tip of James’ nose.
“Do you mean this, young man?” Ten asked.
“Yes,” James said, swallowing hard.
“I am one of the oldest...Sages,” the old man replied, willing his sword to turn back into a cane. He leaned back onto it and his body wobbled from the shift in weight but James was not fooled. He had barely seen Ten move.
“I came here because I want to know what the old Sages stood for.”
“Hmph,” the old man smiled. “Young one, what we believed then doesn’t mean that is what we believe now.”
“Even so, I would love to know.”
“Why are you old?” Ronan blurted and Gwen stifled a snicker.
The old man was not offended. His eyes smiled as he nodded toward the Sage. “It is because of my energy expenditure. Ever since the Great Collision, the worlds are becoming more like Terra. Surely you’ve noticed.”
“But we’re not old,” he frowned.
“That’s because you’re not. But I am centuries old. My body is catching up with the changes in the air, but don’t think that I am no match for you,” he winked.
“Then the Ancient Knights...” James’ voice trailed off.
“Yes,” Ten replied. “We won’t be alive too much longer.”
“All the more reason to teach us,” James said, clenching his fists. “I’ve been searching for where I belong for so long, and I finally think that I’m close. You have to help me.”
“I don’t have to do anything,” Ten laughed, which soon transitioned into a cough.
“What did the old Sages believe in?” Catherine asked.
The old man looked at the group before him, waiting patiently for his answer. “Nothing.”
“That doesn’t make sense,” James frowned. “What do you mean nothing?”
“Nothing is something,” the old man winked.
James sighed. “You’re not going to tell us unless we beat the trial, are you?”
“That’s how it goes,” Ten said. “Unfortunately for you, we’re not stupid. Though we’re sure we would be able to squash any attempts at escape upon learning our secrets, we certainly can’t be overconfident.”
“Then let’s get this over with,” James said. “I want to do this now.”
“Are you sure?” the old man asked. “Are you so anxious to die?”
“We won’t. Not a single one of us.”
“Then allow me to explain,” the old man replied as he waved his hand in the air in a circular motion. A hidden wall lifted up from the ground and several warriors stepped out, all outfitted in thin steel armor. James could already tell that it was all for show. They didn’t need the armor at all. He was more concerned about each of their demeanors. All seven were unimpressed, and their eyes were bored, as if they had gone through this many times over the years. This wasn’t a battle that they think they could lose.”
“There are seven warriors here, and they are some of the best that we have to offer,” Ten said. “You will face them as a team. But they will face you only one at a time. We will start with the weakest warrior, and then work our way up in rank. You will fight to the death.”
“I don’t want to kill them,” Catherine said.
“It’s okay,” the old man replied. He pointed high above to a tall man standing on the top of the fortress. They could barely see him being so high up. “My friend there has an ability that you will find most interesting. He can reverse death. He is a non-fighter but he has been invaluable in carrying out these trials over the years.”
“If he’s a non-fighter,” Ronan muttered. “Then how did he pass the trial?”
“That will remain a secret for now,” Ten winked at him. Ronan rolled his eyes.
“So what does he have to do with this trial?” Arimus asked.
“If you are killed, you will be resurrected a total of three times each. Once your third time has occurred, you will no longer be resurrected. If you are killed in battle, you will be left to die. Furthermore, there are seven rounds. One round for each opponent. If you die in a round, you have to wait until the next round to help your team face the next opponent. So...the faster you fall, the harder it will be for your remaining teammates to finish the job. It is very possible that you could all die in the first round and then the trial will end there.”
“You’re giving each of us three chances and we can work together?” James clarified. “And you’re saying that no one has passed this in a century?”
“That is correct.”
“And there are no rules as far as we are concerned?”
“None whatsoever. Now, we don’t have to begin the trial this instant. Please, take ten minutes to strategize and determine your course of action. You may also evaluate my fighters from afar. I will make my way to the top of this arena and I will be evaluating your progress from above. I wish you the best of luck.”
“Thank you,” Midori said and Ronan rolled his eyes again.
“These are mind games,” Ronan said. “How strong can these warriors be? Especially if their bodies are catching up with the times.”
“I can’t even believe you’re saying that right now,” Gwen said. “They’ve been training for centuries. The odds are against us.”
“We have the numbers,” Catherine said. “But even then, we might not have the collective strength. Anyone have any battle plans?”
“Hard to say,” Ronan said. “Not until we know what they can do will we be able to strategize.”
“Gavin had a specialty,” Midori interjected. “We can assume they will too.”
“We’ll have to use our three chances wisely,” James said, staring at each of the warriors. “And I don’t know whether we should be cautious or courageous.”
“Knowing about the three chances eases you,” Arimus stated. “But there are no guarantees. This trial may in fact be impossible to accomplish and Ten is instead looking for certain attributes to come out of the individual during the fight. Of course, there’s no way of knowing for sure. There might not be any hidden challenges.”
“You know what though?” Pascal said. “For what it’s worth, it’s been fun.” He turned around, grabbed Midori at the waist, pulled her in close and kissed her hard on the lips. She kneed him in the crotch and he fell over in agony.
“You did not earn that!” she yelled at him as he moaned.
“Worth it,” he muttered.
“You’re so gross,” she said as she wiped her lips with her forearm. “It’s a wonder why I ever went out with you.”
“If I’m going to die,” Pascal coughed. “I might as well do it knowing I got one final kiss.”
“Hope your crotch feels just as pleased.”
“If I am to die,” Ronan said. “It will be a worthy death. I am ready.”
“I’m not,” Gwen said. “But I will do my best.”
“I’ve lived a full life,” Arimus chuckled, putting his hands on his hips.
“I’m not ready,” Catherine whispered. “I’m sorry, but I’m not.” She turned to James and grabbed both sides of his face. “James...I don’t want to leave you again.”
“You won’t,” he said. “That’s not going to happen.”
“You can’t make that promise.”
“I can try,” he said as he kissed her gently. He then hugged her tight as he whispered in her ear. “Catherine, I’m sorry that I wasn’t there for you. I’m sorry for not looking for you.”
“It’s okay,” she said, closing her eyes. “But you owe me. Help get us through this.”
“I’ll do more than that,” James said, backing away. “I’ll learn how they’re doing these manifestations, and then I’ll take us back to our place.”
She beamed. He loved that smile.
“I would like that,” she whispered to him.
“A few more minutes!” Ten yelled from above. They couldn’t see him, but his voice echoed off of the walls.
“There’s nothing for us or them to use,” James said, preparing for the first battle. “No pillars. No weapons. It’s all that we see. That helps.”
“I wish Chloe and the others were here,” Catherine said.
He couldn’t deny that he felt the same.
“Is everyone ready?!” Arimus shouted. They all tightened their muscles and prepared.
“Conserve your energy as much as possible,” James said.
“First warrior, go!” Ten shouted, and the center warrior ran at them from the wall. He was a middle-aged man with dark red hair and a big muscular body. He bounded toward them in leaps and bounds as if he was running like a deer.
“Don’t be fooled,” James whispered as they waited for him to get closer. Their opponent had no expression on his face. He just came at them, and when he was a few feet away, Ronan moved first. The Solon removed his axe from his back, cocked it back as far as he could, and then slashed at warrior one.
The warrior was cut in two and he screamed at the sharp and sudden pain. James frowned as he saw the warrior’s two halves fall to the floor. It couldn’t be that easy...it couldn’t.
Ronan stepped forward and severed the head.
He waited for the first warrior to do something. Anything. But nothing happened.
Ronan looked up at Ten high above.
“Is this your best?”
“No,” Ten shouted down. “That one is a non-combatant. He is an analyzer. He takes in the statistics from your killing blow and relays to the others psychically. They now know the full extent of your power. I must admit though, we were hoping James was going to be the one to strike first since he is arguably your strongest. We assumed his desire to protect his loved ones would override his strategic mind.”
“You assumed wrong,” Catherine shouted.
“Perhaps,” Ten replied. “But maybe we weren’t wrong, only our assessment was misguided. Perhaps his protection comes into play when it comes to you. Warrior two will surely compensate.”
James didn’t like the sound of that.
“Warrior two! Go!” Ten shouted, and the second warrior advanced. He was lanky and he was bald. Wearing a long clergy robe, he stepped forward as his clenched fists glowed with white hot flames.
“It will get serious from here on out,” Ten said. “I would advise you to do the same.”
Warrior two opened one of his fists and stretched his hand out as if he was about to blast the team, but nothing that they could see shot from his hand.
Instead, they heard a burst of flames explode at their side. James turned around and watched in horror as Catherine was engulfed in flames. Her body was charred beyond recognition, and it fell face first onto the hard concrete floor. She hadn’t seen it coming, and neither had they.
“What did you do?!” James roared at the second warrior.
“I used her body’s heat and manipulated it until it burst into flames,” the man said. “That’s all.”
“You better bring her back!” James shouted at Ten.
“Then you better win this round,” Ten replied.
James glared at his opponent. “Fine.”
“James!” Gwen shouted. James glanced back at her and saw that her face was turning red and boils burst from her skin.
“You have to beat me quick,” Warrior Two replied. “I’m going to take you out like this one by one.”
James lunged at him, even activating his white Sage robe to give him a boost in speed, but Warrior two saw it coming a mile away. He leapt over James’ tackle and then shot a fireball at him from his left hand. It hit James in the back and he roared in agony as it began to burn through him completely, burrowing into his spine as if it had a life of its own.
NO! he screamed to himself. I can’t go out like this!
With another scream escaping his lips, he willed his body to transform, going into his Quietus mode until he blacked out completely. As he continued transforming, he noticed that the miniature fireball was not losing its heat or momentum. Although his Quietus body was healing his wound, the fireball was still trying to burrow through his thick hide. James grit his teeth and tried to stand, but the pain was still too great.
“Don’t bother,” Warrior Two replied. “That’s going to stay on you until I’m either unconscious or worse.”
“Good to know,” James muttered. He looked over at Gwen to see how she was doing. He nearly broke out in tears once he saw her steaming, charred corpse on the floor. He studied the rest of his teammates as he struggled to rise. Ronan was being targeted now, but he wasn’t taking it lying down. He was swinging at Warrior Two with all of his might, but his axe and sword kept missing, and his swings were getting slower.
Arimus, Midori, and Pascal all ganged up on Warrior Two, but he was dodging them so easily, they might as well have been giants trying to step on a flea. James tried to tell Arimus to roll out of the way, but to no avail. Warrior Two threw the same undying fireball at Arimus chest. James watched as his father-in-law fell onto his back and clawed at the thing burrowing into his skin.
He couldn’t watch the rest, as he heard the fireball finally make its way through the bones in his chest and into his organs.
James found the strength to rise to his feet just as he was hit by another fireball in the stomach, sending him right back down to the floor. He roared and screamed as the two fireballs chipped away at his skin, his energy and his resolve.
If this warrior was only the second out of seven, and they were already doing this bad, how were they going to win? What chance did they have?
James felt himself blacking out, but he fought against it. Still, what could he do? What could any of them do?
“Another one down,” he heard Ten say.
Ronan had fallen. Now only Midori and Pascal remained. He didn’t even know if he could count himself. He was barely hanging on.
What could any of them do?
