Beyond The System

A dry breeze swept through the trees, rattling brittle leaves across the road. Shadows stretched long ahead.

But before any danger could come from the front, heavy footsteps approached from behind.

“Peter,” Griffith called out, voice sharp. “You’ve already been told, Lucan underestimates no one. You too, Elric!”

I shifted behind my cover, peaking my head out. That was so unfair. I wasn’t the one who rushed in. “It’s his fault!”

“What?!” Elric barked from across the trail. “You're the one who asked for volunteers to 'check it out!'”

“Both of you, shut up and get ready!” Griffith snapped.

He stood alone in the middle of the road, waiting. I wasn’t sure if he was planning to act as bait, blockade, or a combination of both.

They’re getting closer, Luna warned, her tone tight.

“They're here,” I said, already activating my Spirit Weapons. My gauntlets flared to life, Luna’s flat thorns lacing across the hardened energy.

Griffith did the same, showing off his new shield. A gold-plated kite shield, accented by spikes jutted from its face. A perfect mixture of sharp intricacy and crude deadliness.

“Elric, stay hidden. Jump in after Peter. Peter, use that System Shutdown once they’re distracted,” Griffith ordered.

“Elric’s better at control,” I argued.

“I still can’t copy that detonation you do,” Elric admitted. “No idea how you turn yourself into a bomb.”

I opened my domain and paused, stunned. It had changed. I hadn’t noticed during training, but now I could tell. My Precursor Sense was bigger, around double of what it was before.. Even the insects glowed faintly in its radius.

I've maybe got just enough for one, Luna said. Let me take their blood after. Yours isn’t enough to make more quickly.

Got it.

I could hear them now, and I'm sure the others could too. Pounding steps of heavy feet.

They emerged from the horizon. Four dark, furred avian beasts, eyes gleaming and breath turning to steam with every breath. On each sat a masked rider.

The tallest one in front, unsheathed his weapon, a long, thin blade sliding smoothly from behind his back.

I do not think any of these ones are civilians.

Then... The other three riders vanished.

And I mean, just gone, like they were illusions, ghosts. Their mounts stood still after, unbothered.

Can you see them? I asked Luna, scanning for the others with True Sight.

No. But they’re not gathering force at least.

Considering they all seemed to have weapons stored on their bodies, that wasn't exactly comforting.

Either way, Griffith didn’t move, so neither did I.

The swordsman dismounted with a jump, landing in a crouch. Then he flexed his leg muscles.

Crack.

He flashed forward, landing in front of Griffith mid-strike. His blade crashed against a glowing barrier which shattered it in an instant, only barely stopping the blow in its tracks.

But Griffith didn’t budge. He met the attacker’s charge with raw force, his spiked shield lunging forward and forcing the man to stumble, sliding backward.

The earth shifted, and the man slipped on a moving bump, falling backward.

I crouched low, power coiled in my legs, ready to jump in as soon as more appeared.

Just before the commander could fill his opponent with holes, a hammer-wielder reappeared mid-swing, descending toward Griffith.

I moved.

I was at the commander’s side before the weapon had a chance to hit.

Two more red pulses flared in my domain, one on the right near the fallen bladesman and the other on my left. They lunged at us.

And I detonated.

Silencing Current exploded from my body, blanketing the area in force. All of them, including Mister Ironscribe, froze.

It lasted barely a breath, but that was all we needed.

Two gold streaks flashed.

Thin lines of light flying through the air, piercing the skulls of the two newly unveiled assailants. Their bodies twitched, then fell like broken marionettes.

I didn’t hesitate either, lunging at the hammer-wielder, one gauntlet angled for his throat. My other hand pointed back, toward the swordsman scrambling to rise.

I unleashed both stored Silencing Currents.

The one near me couldn’t even flinch. He tried to recoil, but it was already too late. My hand clamped around his throat.

Snap.

“LET GO!” Luna shrieked in my mind.

I saw it too. The second my grip locked down, World Force surged into him.

His body convulsed, bones crumbling to dust in my hands as his veins bulged with dark toxin., but it didn't stop.

Even without True Sight, I saw the glow. A sickly, pulsing green radiance that was quickly building.

It was obvious, he was detonating.

“PETER!” I heard Elric’s shout from the trees.

I spun, placing Luna to my chest, bracing myself.

Just before the flash, I saw Griffith with a barrier around him and his captured prey, shielded pointed at the explosion's source, reaching toward me.

I forced every ounce of power through my body, cycling energy to its limit.

There was no sound, not at first. No bruning of fire or fire. 

Just the sensation of blades, hundreds of tiny razor sharp objects ripping into me from the back, quickly engulfing me, and reaching every exposed bit of my body.

BOOM!

My body was flung far away, spinning as the sound hit a heartbeat later, accompanied by deeper slashes. I felt my back slam into something hard, probably a tree.

Ringing echoed in my ears and my body felt numb. I couldn’t hear Luna or understand Wyrem, but I knew they were trying to reach me. Everything was just static.

My skin screamed with heat as I rolled. Pain stabbed through every nerve, even my groans refused to enter my senses.

My eyesight was blurry… when I had the ability to pry them open a fraction.

Then, I tensed, spasming as a second, deeper wave of agony ripped through my chest, stealing all breath.

The world gradually became quieter, more clear. 

“Can you do it?” I heard Griffith’s voice tense.

“That’s—how can he?” Elric responded stunned.

“You can’t mean? No good?”

“He’s fine.”

“Ughhh.” I could finally breathe again. “Fine my—Tss.” I hissed at my chest rising. “Ass. I thought you said… you could—”

“Are you really suffering just to insult me?” Elric responded, baffled at my dedication.

I struggled, but managed to nod.

“I can’t believe you're even alive boy,” Griffith not so gingerly picked me up. “Never seen someone come back from injuries like that.”

You alright Luna? I asked knowing there was no way she didn’t take some damage.

Yeah… thanks, She responded, though I could tell she was not too happy. 

I just happen to be further ahead in body strength, and I’m bigger. Don’t think too hard. I encouraged.

Okay. Obviously not cheered up.

Plus, I can’t grow you back. You can.

She didn’t respond

I focused my will on speaking to Wyrem directly while I was carried princess style back to our carriage. I would say I was ashamed, but large men handling me was just getting to be a normal occurrence.

She’s upset.

I can tell, Wyrem flatly said. Just leave her be, she’ll cheer up in no time. No one likes to feel useless is all.

She can instantly kill most people, how is she—oh! The bodies!

“Bodies,” I mumbled.

They slowed and Elric gave a confused response. “What?”

“I need bodies.”

“Oh. Dude… Gross. Even I wouldn’t—” 

I interrupted him, “For Luna!”

“Stop talking,” Griffith cautioned. I could feel his arms tensing. “Something’s coming. Take him back Elric. This too.”

“Wait, I can’t—”

“Go ahead. NOW!” He yelled just as something burst from the bushes. “RRAAAH!” He gave a warrior’s shout, charging to intercept the attacker.

“Rruff!” 

“Thud.” Something big fell over.

“Pfft. Ha. He. Hahaha!” Elric burst in laughter. “Commander, you’re so brave. Facing six on your own just to save Peter and me.”

Something shuffled off the ground quickly. “Don’t speak of this… ever.”

“Whaaat? I would never keep quiet about tales of your bravery.” Elric teased.

Were they closer than I thought?

Something jumped up and brushed a wet nose against me.

“Good boy,” I whispered, too sore to raise a hand. The best I could manage was a shaky breath and a smile.

The two bickered the entire walk back, which thankfully, was only a couple minutes.

Something about:

“I changed those filthy rags.”

“I bet you still have to for Dr—”

“Don’t badmouth your senior brother!”

I was unceremoniously tossed forward by Elric, only to land in another pair of hands, soft ones.

I got it this time. “Drake?”

“How—how did you know?” he asked, baffled.

“Same soft hands.”

“...What?”

I cracked an eye open, already feeling a lot better, but before I could speak, Griffith cut in from the front cart.

“Found this. On one of the attackers.” He handed over a golden orb to the oldest prince.

“OW!” I yelped, as Drake dropped me. “What was that for?!”

“Peter?” Thea leapt from the other cart, landing gracefully in front of us. “Oh… sorry.” She turned quickly, ears turning pink.

“What?” I followed her gaze then realized. “Elric. Clothes. Please.”

He sighed dramatically. “Fine.” He hopped into our cart, hopefully to find something wearable.

I glanced around. “Wasn’t Trevor here?”

“He’s up front, Peter!” Marcus called from the driver’s seat.

Okay.

Then Drake asked the question. “He died?”

Griffith, not missing a beat, nodded solemnly. “Shredded to bits.”

Drake slumped to the floor. “Then Luca's already started it. This really was the right time to leave.”

Griffith tilted his head. “Is it… a noble ally of—?”

“It’s the second prince’s orb,” Drake said flatly, cutting him off.