Aetheral Space-Chapter 540 - 17.12: With The Beasts Among The Trees

DAY 2

Three bodies moved with all they had, becoming points of light -- purple, red, and silver -- that weaved around the branches of the great tree like ribbons.

"Les Fauves!"

As she pursued Atoy Muzazi up the trunk of Ward 7's mighty oak, Oé swung her Black Brush in three great sweeping arcs -- and with each swing, a red deluge like a mixture of blood and paint poured forth, weaving into transitory life. The beasts that resulted, lunging towards Muzazi, were not quite wolves and not quite boars -- indistinct creatures, specialized for the act of running forward and biting. Their lifespans consisted of this one attack, after all. These beasts were not built to last.

Even as Muzazi retreated backwards, even as Muzazi suffered with only one arm, he was still able to defend himself. The white light of a Radiant danced fluidly through the air, like a strobe passing over the face of the world, and the wolf-boars flew past him in pieces, cleanly dismembered. The humours that had formed them sprayed indelicately through the air.

But that was Sōngshǔ's chance.

She burst through the cloud of blood, lips spread wide into a grin, fist already pulled back to deal a devastating blow. Muzazi braced himself, raising his arm to block. Despite this girl's stature and build, she was somehow absurdly heavy -- he already knew this punch would be devastating.

Thump.

The air vibrated as Sōngshǔ's fist met Muzazi's forearm, sending leaves flying off the branches all around them to form an emerald blizzard. Muzazi grit his teeth. He'd managed to block the punch, but he'd still felt his bones creaking under the impact. This girl's strength wasn't the sort he could withstand without due preparation.

Oé slashed her Black Brush again -- and this time the life-paint formed a massive disembodied claw, trailing after her weapon as she swung it towards Muzazi. Thrusters blazed from Muzazi's feet as he swung off a protruding branch, letting the claws pass beneath him, already decomposing -- and, as if on cue, Sōngshǔ was upon him once again, her face just as giddy.

Radiant Lustrous!

He had a feel for the girl's strength now. It was significant, but not insurmountable. Muzazi span his spear of light as Sōngshǔ brought her fist in, ready to block the blow --

-- but the fist that had struck him the first time was nothing compared to the fist that struck him now.

Bang.

Muzazi's Radiant shattered instantly like glass -- and he himself was sent flying backwards.

Sōngshǔ didn't even give him time enough to land. In an instant, she was upon him again, her fist slamming into him -- and this time, her strike was even more powerful. A boom like a cannon going off resounded through the air as Muzazi was spiked back down into the branches of the tree.

He was caught again as soon as he landed. Oé thrust her Black Brush into the bark below -- and a disembodied set of wolf-like jaws burst out from beneath Muzazi, holding him tight between its teeth.

Radiant Ablaze!

Muzazi tried to ignite Radiants below Oé, intending to force her to reposition, but she was ready for it. Another twist of Black Brush brought forth a flood of a bubbling tar-like substance that ran along the surface of the branch, smothering the nascent Radiants and preventing them from fully igniting. If anything, the jaws clamped onto Muzazi even tighter -- and as they did, Sōngshǔ came down for him again.

One punch. A bomb.

Two punches. A missile.

Three punches. A natural disaster.

The world became a horror show of blood and static as, once again, Atoy Muzazi was sent flying. He could taste bile trickling through the lining of his throat, and unconsciousness tugged insistently at the back of his skull. For a moment, he sailed over the void, the floral cityscape of Ward 7 spread out below him, but with a lightshow of split-second thrusters he was able to get back on course and land on his feet on a great protruding branch.

He skidded to a halt, his arm swinging limply. It had been dislocated. Sweat prickled against Muzazi's skin as he looked forward.

Oé and Sōngshǔ slowly advanced along the length of the branch, forcing him to step back in order to stay out of their range. It was like he was being made to walk the plank. It wasn't like he had no recourse if he fell from this branch, but in his current physical condition he wasn't fully confident in his ability to make a sustained flight.

Steam was rising from Sōngshǔ's fist as she lifted it, still smirking.

"Twin Fist Utter Destruction," she named her ability. "Every time I hit you with a punch, the next punch is twice as strong. Pretty neat, huh?"

Oé frowned, glancing down at her companion. "Is there a need to explain it to him?"

Sōngshǔ shrugged lightly. "Eh. It's no fun if they don't get why they're fucked."

That really was a nasty ability. This girl's raw physical strength was monstrous to begin with, but to add a recurring doubling effect on top of that… a few hits in, and Sōngshǔ would be someone who couldn't be opposed. Muzazi scowled. He was willing to bet there were conditions she'd left out of her explanation, but under the circumstances he couldn't spend time trying to figure them out.

Sōngshǔ blew on her hand, scattering the steam, and grinned wickedly as she curled it into a fist again. "This next one will kill you, you know," she giggled. "Cover me, babe."

The small woman in red kicked off the ground, becoming a crimson bullet that hurtled directly towards Muzazi. At the same time, Oé slammed Black Brush down into the bark below, scattering a flood of paint that transformed mid-air into a colossal swarm of brightly-feathered birds, pouring towards Muzazi as a smokescreen. Surrounded by colour and pursued by death, Atoy Muzazi prepared himself.

He understood their strategy. So long as Sōngshǔ could continue hitting the enemy with her punches, this team of two would eventually win. Oé's job, then, was to set up opportunities for those strikes to land and to prevent the enemy from dodging or counterattacking.

But, in this case, that was exactly what Muzazi had to do.

He was reasonably certain about at least one restriction on Twin Fist Utter Destruction -- if a punch missed, the ability was reset back to the start. That was why Sōngshǔ was throwing these punches only when she was certain they would land. If Muzazi simply avoided this next strike, he could counter in the next instant and win… or at least buy himself a few more seconds.

The birds circled without end, a rainbow assaulting him from all directions.

His Radiant waited in the air, still as ice, ready to be swung in whatever direction was needed.

Bang. Bang. Bang. Like a ricocheting cannonball, Sōngshǔ repositioned herself again and again.

Any second now.

Any second now.

Any --

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Aquarius Covenant!

-- one tiny shining fish drifted into Atoy Muzazi's vision, and then another, and another.

Their uniform blue was a stark contrast to the myriad colours of the birds around them. They formed a second layer of circling life as they flowed into Muzazi's body one after another. With each tiny fish that dove into his skin, he felt his pain lessen.

Scratches closed. Bruises faded. Wounds snapped shut. When he took a breath, it felt easier than it had ever been.

And his arm…

By the time he turned to look at it, it was already over. The phantom pain from his missing arm had become real pain… and then that real pain had become no pain at all. His arm was back. He flexed his fingers experimentally. Yes… it really was like nothing had happened.

A second Radiant joined the first…

…and Sōngshǔ burst forth, ready to deal the killing blow.

Full Throttle: Overdrive.

It felt like it had been a good while since Atoy Muzazi had been able to tap into his full strength. He was gratified to confirm that it hadn't been reduced any. Each and every bird around him exploded into blood as they were sliced cleanly in two, the deluge washing over Muzazi and Sōngshǔ both.

Painted red, she'd already realized the mistake she'd made. Caught in the moment of crisis, time stretched so thin it was nearly frozen, she tried to pull her fist back, to kick away -- but she'd already committed herself to failure. Muzazi wasn't nice enough to let that go.

The Radiants danced. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"Far too slow," said Atoy Muzazi.

The next instant, Sōngshǔ went flying, blood spraying from her arm. The limb that she'd intended to end Muzazi's life with was now a scorched red, with a vicious slash running down it. Her durability truly was impressive -- Muzazi had fully intended to send her arm flying off with that strike. Sōngshǔ crashed into the trunk of the tree, face twisted with pain as her damaged arm twitched.

Oé's eyes widened in shock and horror as she saw her comrade's defeat, but she wouldn't just be observing it for long. In a second, she'd experience it too.

Thrusters burst into life down Muzazi's ankles as he readied himself to rush forward, to blitz through Oé's defenses before she could react -- but she'd already realized the situation. She spun Black Brush in her hands, and a thick red cloud poured out of the blade, consuming the entire area around herself and Sōngshǔ. The tall woman turned to look at Muzazi, her face set into a heavy and grim expression.

"Your weakness is overheating," she said, voice shaking -- more from anger than fear. "This cloud is boiling blood. Come inside and see how long you last."

Muzazi cracked his neck as he looked into the red smog. To be sure, being in that cloud would limit just how fast he could go… but that didn't mean he would automatically lose. With his body restored, he still held the advantage.

But… that was also why the best move now would be to leave.

The reason they'd come here in the first place had been to restore Muzazi's body. Right now, in order to create this miracle, Wyrm was surely writhing in pain from the same injuries that had just been tormenting Muzazi. If he persisted in fighting here, and suffered new injuries -- wasting Wyrm's sacrifice -- how could Muzazi face him?

No. It was time to withdraw.

Muzazi took a step back, dispelling his Radiants. "If you must thank something for your survival," he said, voice low. "Thank the fact that I am an honourable man."

He turned to leave, his senses still sharpened to their utmost… and with those sharpened senses, he heard it.

A scoff.

"You are not an honourable man."

Muzazi looked over his shoulder at Oé's words. The tall woman was glaring at him with everything she had, a great crack now visible in the dignified calm she'd maintained throughout the entire fight. Those disciplined eyes now burned with a wild and burning hatred.

"How so?" he asked.

"The way you fight," she spat. "Those techniques. They're his. Nigen Rush's."

It seemed Haisley wasn't the only one who could recognise his variant of Rush's fighting style -- Oé had clearly been paying attention too. Yet, her reaction couldn't have been any more different. When she said the name 'Nigen Rush'... it was like she was forcing something disgusting through her lips.

"They are indeed," Muzazi replied quietly, his grey eyes probing. "You disapprove?"

"Of course I do," she snarled. "The teachings of a monster are just as monstrous."

Ba-dump.

Atoy Muzazi paused. He has heard Nigen Rush be called many things, but this was the first time he had heard 'monster' -- at least with that tone. Clenching his newly returned fist, he spoke.

"What do you mean?"

Oé's eyes widened. "You don't know?"

Ba-dump.

"No. I don't."

Oé narrowed her eyes. "We know which way you came from. Ward 8. You didn't wonder what happened there?"

Ba-dump.

No.

Muzazi thought back to the things he'd seen in the darkness of Ward 8. The dried rivers of blood. The mounds in the dirt. The signs of battle. The stench of a death that had come for each and every soul.

"Nigen Rush was a beast," Oé growled, full of a genuine simmering rage. "A beast that came to Ward 8 nearly five years ago… and killed everyone."

Ba-dump.

No.

He wouldn't. I wouldn't.

The response nearly came to his lips without thought. There was no way that was true. It was too absurd, too atrocious. But… was it really impossible? Atoy Muzazi had been betrayed by so many things already. Was it that unthinkable that his past should betray him, too?

Still, he opened his mouth to deny, to disparage, to argue, even if he didn't know what words would trickle out.

In the end, no words came out at all.

There was just a flash of silver Aether, and a roar of wind as Atoy Muzazi took his leave.

By the time Muzazi returned, his comrades were already in the tunnel back to Ward 8. Both were visibly exhausted. Haisley from the combat she'd just gone through without the aid of Aether… and Wyrm from what he'd just gone through in order to heal Muzazi.

The Panacea had taken care of Brother Wyrm's wounds, but they still showed on his face. There was an exhaustion in his eyes, trying to conceal itself, making itself worse in the process. Muzazi felt another strand of guilt join those waiting to be born.

Still, his focus was not on Wyrm right now. His grey gaze was fixed directly on Haisley. The girl looked up as Muzazi approached, a wide grin already on her face. This had been a rare win for her, he supposed, who was used to simply hiding from Pandershi's eyes.

"We did it!" she said. "I saw a little when you were fighting the Rangers. You were so good. Almost as good as --"

"Nigen Rush," Muzazi finished the sentence, voice dull. "You said you were his pupil."

She nodded, the grin still on her face. "He taught me. I couldn't use Aether, but he showed me how to use a sword… and how to think about a sword, I guess."

Muzazi's eyes searched Haisley's face for any twinge of resentment, any hidden hatred. He couldn't see any. Surely that meant it wasn't true, then. Surely she couldn't have watched Nigen Rush slaughter everyone she knew and still speak of him with such admiration.

And yet…

Muzazi felt his hands fall on Haisley's shoulders, and he felt his fingers dig in painfully. He didn't mean to -- or did he? Was that the sort of person he was? Was that who he had come from?

He relaxed his grip when he saw Haisley wince, but he couldn't bring himself to let go -- not even when she looked up at him with wide eyes, not even when Wyrm turned to look at him with disapproval.

"Uh… sir?" Haisley mumbled, stuck in his grip.

"I need you to tell me everything," Muzazi said, his mouth dry and his voice a rasp. "About Nigen Rush. About Ward 8. About what happened here. All of it."

A shadow passed over Haisley's face, and it looked like she was going to retreat into herself, but Muzazi couldn't allow that. He hated himself for it, but he couldn't. His fingers dug in once again as he leaned in, a note of desperation entering his voice for the first time.

"And I need you to tell me now."

For a good long moment, Haisley just kept staring up at him. Her gaze was steady, her eyes still wide, but there was clearly something going on behind them. It was like watching someone slowly pick a lock.

And finally, she opened her mouth.

"Okay," she whispered. "I'll tell you what happened."