Believing in Myself

FINALLY!!! After so long of not being able to update, of writing and writing, but nothing happening... I can post again! My ideas have been botled up... I feel so free! So a double chapter update! First one, coming right up!

Chapter 25


Atrois let loose his tentacle whips out, causing John and Jessica to move out the way, while Aivon stood there, ready. He thrust out his arm as the tentacles wrapped around it, trying to pull him away and closer for a more direct assualt. But Aivon pulled back with near equal force, forcing Atrois to strain hard, as a tug of war began between the two. John saw his chance as he rushed toward Atrois, sword at the ready. Atrois saw this coming however and readied himself, despite being slightly preoccupied with Aivon.

\"Wind Cutter!\" Atrois made a slash motion with his hand and the wind energy shot out. John continued his rush, crossing his arms over his head, plowing straight through the attack, not caring that the attack was hurting him like knives being pressed into his skin. Breaking through, although weak, he was able to raise his blade for a strike. But Atrois would not let him get away with it so easily. \"Air Shield!\" The sword came down hard on the shield of wind Atrois made. His tentacles retracted so he could focus more on the attack, but it allowed Aivon to get close.

\"Rock Shower!\" He punched the ground heavily, sending shards of the ground flying into the air. They froze midair, and glowed a dark color before raining down upon the shield Atrois made. Having no choice but to pull out, Atrois jumpped back, breaking the shield, but completely exposing himself to another attack.

\"Water!\" Jessica\'s attack struck Atrois from behind, which knocked him foward to meet with Aivon\'s awaiting fist. Being knocked around was not good for Atrois, as he tried thinking of a way out of the situation.

\"Grr... You little... Wind bomb!\" He raised his hand and a concentrated ball of wind into his hand. He shot it out with tremendous force toward Aivon.

\"Earth Wall!\" Aivon pressed his hands on the ground, causing the earth to rise up and form a barrair between him and the attack, but the wind was able to tear apart at the shield, knocking Aivon away.

\"Flare Storm!\" John shoted, trying to attack once more, but Atrois, now fully enraged, knocked the attack away with his claw. It seemed that he was starting to lose control of rational throught, for he charged the next minute, reaching his claw back to strike, when a water spell by Jessica knocked him away again.

\"He just won\'t quit! No matter what we throw at him!\" She exclaimed.

\"But he has to have some limit to his power! If only we could wear him down a bit more...\"

Atrois stood up, the insane smile on his face as he gazed to each foe. \"You fools... I am a true demon! I will not go down that easily!\"

\"In that case...\" Aivon spoke calmly, and started to remove his gloves. \"I had better not hold back anymore...\" He tossed his gloves aside, and where hands should have been, claws instead took thier place, as he once again, got into fighting stance to attack. Atrois seemed to take this as a threat of attack, for he instantly sprang forth and rushed Aivon, ready to strike. Aivon lashed out as well, and the two claws struck each other, fighting over who would recieve the upper hand.

\"Earth!\" John placed his hand on the ground, channeling his power through, causing it to unleash right under Atrois. He moved quickly out of the way, while John fell to one knee. All the magic he was using was starting to affect him again, and it wouldn\'t be long before he would pass out of complete exaustion. Atrois saw this, for he started to laugh again.

\"Fool... look at you. Already you are starting to fel the limits of your human body. Beras said you were a strong foe, but I guess you aren\'t nearly as strong as you think you are. But I... yes, I shall be rewarded, for doing what Beras could not... killing you!\" Atrois tried to move foward, but found he couldn\'t. Aivon was holding his body down, forcing him still. \"What!? Insolent! You dare think you can stop me!?\"

\"Hurry! You must end this now, I can\'t hold on very long! Hurry John!\"

John got up and raised his blade. \"Alright... time to see if you really can live up to your name...\" He ran foward, holding his sword like a spear as Atrois struggled to free himself from Aivon\'s grasp. John thrust out his sword, striking where Atrois\' heart would normally be, just as Aivon let loose his grip to pull away. The blade sliced through Atrois, who let out a gasp as he felt his body go numb. \"Atrois... your finished!\" John pulled away the blade from Atrois\' body, and saw him grasp at his wound, as if the mere touch would make it go away.

\"No... I can\'t... be beaten by... this human...\" Atrois fell to his knees, and stared out into space, as if the whole world had become obvious to him. \"I...we... are so close now... Chaos and destruction... will rise up... I will be... be avenged...\" Suddenly he looked to John and started smiling again. The playful simle he wore when he made it seem that the whole fight was just nothing to him. \"Looks like you win... our little game... but don\'t think... it\'s over...\" He started to laugh, however weakly it may have seemed. \"Maybe... maybe you really are... the one...\" His body looked to be dissolving away, as he fell foward. He was gone before he hit the floor.

John sat down, trying to regain some of his strength, while Jessica ran up and hugged him. \"John, you did it! You really did it!\"

\"I must admit... that was quite impressive of you.\" Aivon walked foward, his gloves in his hands.

John stared at the claws for a moment. \"Aivon... you... are you-?\"

\"There is no time for that.\" Aivon said, cutting him off and replacing his gloves on his hands. \"I will tell you later. But not here, and certainly not now.\"

Aivon and Jessica helpped John to his feet, as they headed out the door. Outside, the land had changed. he flower beds, once so beautiful, were gone, leaving only the scarred ground and dirt in it\'s place. The fountain which had once been there, now too was gone, although some slight remains of it could be seen. The tree which had once bore fruit, was dead and barren, and looked as though someone had tried to uproot it, although they only finished halfway. John peered back inside the castle and saw it too had changed. The floors no longer were perfect and shined, but were cracked and covered in grime. Several holes were in the walls, and the staircase leading up to the higher levels, looked as if it would collapse if it tried to bear anybody\'s wieght.

\"This whole thing was an illusion, set by Atrois.\" Aivon explained, as the two saw the destruction of the land. \"He made everything look and feel exactly how this place might have once been. But in truth, no one lived in his place for years. It slowly began to bend to the fate of all things under the hands of time.\"

They all walked away past the destruction and out the outer door, which looked as if someone had broken down. Up above, someone looked down upon the trio as they left, the morning sun at his back, as he watched them, while his cloak swayed gently in the morning breeze. \"So... they managed to do it... after all. Then the time is coming...\" Without another moment\'s hesitation, he vanished from sight.

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\"He\'s gone...\"

Beras stood before the gaint of a demon, the one who seemed to be in charge of him. The demon gazed to Beras and sighed.

\"I know Beras... and it is your fault.\"

\"MY fault!? What do you mean my fault?!\"

\"As I recall, your orders to kill this Destined... you failed. And look where your failure has led us. Another of us gone... and now, we are the only ones left.\"

\"You don\'t seemed to be taking your brother\'s loss like I thought. I figured you would be more... I don\'t know, angry.\"

\"Angry... yes, I do feel that way. But misplaced anger is foolish and a waste. Do not compare me with humans, who tend to take out thier anger instantly on whatever they may come to see. There is a time and place for it... now is not either.\"

\"Then what now... we are still no closer to gettig the last key, and there are still others that need to be killed.\"

\"Forget the Destined for now. Just find the key. I think we have done enough damage on them as it is.\"

\"Are you certain? And what about-?\"

\"I will not let let some foolish words stop me,\" the demon said, cutting off Beras. \"I have come too far now to let something like that stop me from executing my plans. Now go... get out of my sight.\"

Beras nodded and left, causing the demon to gaze to the two orbs they possessed. \"Soon... dear brother. Soon, I will avenge you... by making the humans pay with thier very lives...\"