Battle of Mythics Page 8

  Ohitekah tried to not shake his head.

  "Oh good, I was told his training would begin soon. This is a good way to start." His voice was deep and low, very strong. He looked to Ohitekah. "So you're the Thunder Mythic... I thought you would be older?"

  Ohitekah frowned again.

  "Sierra. He's all yours now. Take it easy."

  She smiled. Sierra walked to a corner of the courtyard and pulled out a few wooden weapons.

  "What do you want?"

  Ohitekah thought for a moment. "I'll take a samurai sword."

  "Katana," she corrected. "If you use one, know what it’s called. But for our purposes, it’s now a 'bokken'. A training katana." She pulled one off the wall and tossed it at his feet.

  Ohitekah bent over and picked it up. He held it for a moment, the wooden sword was covered in dents. It was lighter than the sword he was used to. Sierra pulled two wooden swords off the wall and held one on each hand.

  "These are the same size and weight as my real dual swords... Only these won’t kill you. Just hurt a lot." She spun them in her hands to feel the balance. She walked to the center of the square and stood in a fighting stance.

  "In our order, we believe the only way to trust someone, and truly understand who they really are, is to fight them." She gave a smile and stared into his eyes. "Come here Ohitekah, I'd like to know you better." She angled the tip of her blades to face him. Marcus stood in the corner, watching quietly.

  "You're sure she will be okay? Just her against me? I'm a Mythic."

  Marcus looked up to Sierra. "Are you sure he won't need pads?"

  She laughed and shook her head. "As he said, he's the big bad Mythic. He can tough it out."

  Okay... These are warriors, I need to gain their respect. I'm a mythic. I beat the Thunderbird. I can beat some girl.

  Ohitekah held his sword in front of him like Red showed him how.

  "You were trained by a samurai?" Sierra asked.

  Ohitekah nodded. "Yes, Daisuke himself actually." He gave a prideful grin.

  Sierra nodded. "We'll see how well you paid attention."

  She ran forward without taking her eyes off him. Ohitekah blocked the first strike, but the second sword whipped from the side and smacked the back of his neck.

  "Dead," she said and jumped back. "I thought you would be faster?" She rushed forward again. Stabbing straight with both blades. Ohitekah blocked them and moved for a counter strike. She crossed her swords around his and stopped the attack. She twisted her body around and whacked the back of his neck again.

  How do I fight against two swords?

  "Dead," she said again, sliding back from him. "That’s two for me, Mythic. You need to take this seriously." She tossed one of her swords to the side. "Here… I'll lose one. Sorry, I overestimated you."

  Ohitekah grew angry. He looked at the girl. Her dark hair covered her forehead but not her eyes. It only fell down a few inches. Short hair for a girl.

  No, he thought. Not a girl. A warrior. The short hair makes sense in a fight. I need to take her seriously.

  He adjusted his stance.

  Who she is doesn’t make any difference. All that matters is how strong your opponent is.

  "You're a Mythic," Marcus spoke from behind him. "You have two weak spots. Don't get stabbed in the heart, don't lose your head. Protect those points at all costs. Everything else will heal. She's being hard on you because the enemy will not take you lightly. Focus."

  Ohitekah stared down Sierra. She was breathing steadily.

  She can get tired, I can't, I need to wear her down.

  Ohitekah ran forward and moved in for a stab. She leaped into the air and flipped over his head. Landing softly behind him she spun and sliced his neck.

  How?!

  "...Dead." She moved back again. "Maybe I should just be the Mythic? Seeing how easily I can defeat you."

  Ohitekah gave a shout. He faced around and swung his sword. She deflected it. He continued to attack, swinging wildly. She stood in place and effortlessly blocked all his strikes. She made a deliberately girly laugh then pretended to yawn.

  Ohitekah's eyes furrowed. In a swift movement, he punched his hand forward and into her stomach. There was a crack of thunder and a bright flash of light. She was launched across the square.

  Oh god, I killed her! What did I do?

  She spun in the air and landed on her feet. She stood up and cracked her neck.

  "Finally!"

  Without hesitating for a moment, she bent down and ran back at him. She picked up her other sword off the ground and attacked with the dual blades again. Ohitekah lowered his sword.

  He's lowering his weapon? She thought.

  She swung forward with both swords. Ohitekah did not appear to move. She followed through with the swing. She hit nothing.

  What? How?

  Ohitekah appeared at her side and swung down on her.

  He's fast!

  She had just enough time to block it with her right sword. She swung with her left to strike again. Ohitekah raised his palm to his face to block the strike. There was a crack of electricity from his hand that blew her sword out of her grip before it had a chance to follow through.

  Left with one sword again she rolled out from his range. He followed her, not giving her a chance to recover. She managed to block his strike again. Ohitekah sent a surge of electricity through his bokken that connected to her sword. The jolt knocked the wooden weapon out of her hand. Sierra slid back and raised her fists.

  Ohitekah sliced down on her. She grabbed his wrist and moved around to his back, the motion pulled the sword out of his hand. Now he was unarmed.

  "This is how you fight like a samurai! Pay attention," She mocked.

  She sliced down with the bokken. He reached out his palm to block and shocked the blade again. This time she held on. Taking the pain. She grunted and slid away from him again.

  Ohitekah hesitated.

  I don't want to hurt her.

  "Don't worry about me. I certainly won't feel bad about hurting you."

  He glared. "Stop reading my face like that!" He swung his fist at her. She dodged back, staying out of range.

  "Stop making it so easy!" She yelled back with a smile.

  He is only shocking with his hands, if I keep back he can't hit me.

  She kept her distance. Keeping the blade in front of her only as a guard.

  I can’t hit her!

  He swung his fist at her face, she dodged it.

  I need to use Mythic speed again, she can't dodge that.

  Ohitekah glanced to her side and saw the best opening to strike from behind.

  He appeared at her opposite side in an instant, ready to deliver the unexpected blow. He froze.

  "Dead," she said. Sierra stood up tall. The tip of her blade pointed into his chest, right where his heart is.

  "How? You can't be that fast!"

  She smiled and pushed the tip harder against his skin. "You're right. I'm not that fast... You're just that predictable." She pulled the tip away from him and turned around. "Your eyes gave your next attack away, I was ready for the next strike before you even moved."

  Ohitekah dropped his arms. He was defeated.

  It’s just like Lance said while sparring with Red, ‘body signals can give away your next strike.’ I need to learn how to control them.

  Marcus walked into the square and Sierra handed him the bokken. Ohitekah was too embarrassed to lift his head. She walked out of the courtyard and gave him a smile.

  "I'll see you tomorrow, Ohitekah." She gave a wave and walked into the hall. She swung her hips side to side as she walked deliberately, rubbing in the fact that he lost to a girl.

  "You lasted longer than most honestly," Marcus spoke with his low voice. "We have a few things we need to work o, however."

  Marcus tossed him his bokken back. The two of them trained through the night and into the next morning. Ohitekah realized quickly one of the additional benefits to being a
Mythic. His muscle memory worked exceptionally fast. Once he was drilled in something, he remembered it and could repeat it flawlessly. He could even watch Marcus' moves and replicate them to perfection. Marcus mostly fought with a staff or spear. He said that was the weapon Falko uses, and Ohitekah should be familiar on how to fight against one, should that day ever come.

  Marcus was a big man. He was not nearly as fast as Sierra, but he was strong. With his learning ability and no need for rest, Ohitekah picked up many fighting skills in one night. Marcus was proud but said that every chance he gets Ohitekah needed to be training harder and harder. Being a Mythic, he had no excuse to.

  As the sun rose, Ohitekah was excused to go back to his room to meditate on what he had learned. He remembered the way and walked back upstairs to his door.

  He cracked it open and felt a presence, he hesitated before stepping inside.

  "Hello?" He asked the darkness.

  "Your spirit cognizance is improving." Red stood up from the corner. "Come in and close the door. We need to talk."

  Chapter Ten

  Shadows

  "Understand, now that the Fire Mythic is here... In our city... He is the one who burned down our great library. They are trying to weaken us, bring us down to their level."

  Daisuke could hear the roaring applause from the courtyard to his left.

  They are going to start targeting northerners and Ronin. I need to disappear.

  He turned to Blaze. He snapped his finger and pointed out of the city. The horse turned and raced away. Ohitekah's horse was gone, it must have been scared off.

  Daisuke casually turned and entered an alley, trying to not bring unwanted focus on himself. He paused, there were two men in robes escorting Bolt into the alleyway in front of him. Daisuke moved out of sight.

  "This will lure the tribe boy to us, we can take him then," a female voice spoke softly. "When he arrives I'll drop down and take him out. You can carry him back to h.q."

  The taller figure turned to her. "Why do you always get the fun part?"

  She faced away. "Why does it matter? We need to make sure the job is done right. Did you keep an eye on his friend? The northerner?"

  The man hesitated.

  "Damnit, you only had one job!"

  "Sorry, Sierra—"

  She smacked his head and glanced down the alley. "What did I say about using our names? Who knows who's listening? Shh... The rally is over; let’s get into positions."

  Daisuke reached for his katana in silence, eyeing up the best way to strike the girl before the man noticed.

  "If we fail at this our order will have no way to defeat Falko. He is our only chance."

  The man nodded. Daisuke lowered his hand.

  Can they be? Are they the same Order we met before? The Blood Red Spades?

  The girl kicked off the walls and jumped to the top of the alley. The man looked around and hid behind a wall. Daisuke stayed where he was, hidden in the shadows.

  Could they be our allies?

  He gripped his sword again. Everything was still for a moment. Cheers and shouts flooded into the alley as the riot moved towards the burning library.

  Times running out. I need to make a decision.

  Bolt made a sound, he was looking straight at Daisuke. He could likely smell his position.

  If the horse runs, I'll kill them. If it trusts them, I'll follow and see where he is taken.

  Daisuke heard footsteps behind him. It was Ohitekah. He walked straight by, unaware of the trap or Daisuke's presence. The horse did nothing.

  I’ll see where this goes.

  "What are you doing there, boy? We need to get out of here." Ohitekah spoke to his horse, he walked further into the dark passage. Daisuke sensed the girl drop from above. She landed softly behind him and struck his head with a hard blow. Knocking him out.

  "This is him?" The man walked out from behind the corner.

  "Yes, this is the boy we were looking for, good work." Sierra studied his face. He was younger than she thought. She expected an older man, a tribal warrior. Not this young man. He looked to be about her age. There was something peaceful about him, Sierra actually felt bad about hitting him, a sensation that was new to her.

  "Well let’s take him to the hideout, quick." the man spoke to Sierra, breaking her moment of focus. He lifted Ohitekah over his shoulder and turned around.

  "Where is his friend? The Northerner?" Sierra scanned the alley. The boy wasn't followed.

  "I already told you, I lost him." The man began walking down the alley. Sierra wasn't convinced. She shook her head. She gripped her sword.

  We're being watched.

  "If we're lucky, he will come looking for him then, let’s go." She turned and followed. She grabbed Bolt by his reins and turned him around. The horse followed as well.

  "Yes, sir." They both began moving quickly down the alley and out of sight.

  Daisuke stood up and pursued them. Keeping constantly in the shadows. He had years of experience navigating there. They moved quickly through the dark and empty streets. The citizens were gathering around the library, keeping t rest of the city empty.

  Daisuke thought he heard footsteps. He tuned in to listen carefully. It wasn't coming from the two he was following; it came from above.

  He wasn't the only one following them.

  If it's spies from Falko. They deliberately let Ohitekah get captured. If they follow him, they will know the location of the Spades hideout and Ohitekah. I need to intervene.

  He gave a leap and landed on the building above him. He landed silently behind three pursuers, dressed in black outfits. They ran spread out on both sides of the alleys, jumping from rooftop to rooftop. They all carried a belt of small knives. The one that appeared to be the leader carried two swords on their back.

  Daisuke wished he had a bow right about now.

  Falko is smarter then I gave him credit for. This was his plan all along.

  Daisuke ran faster and caught up to the assassin in the rear.

  His mistake is thinking he could get away with it.

  He pulled a knife out of the man's belt and stabbed him in the side. Daisuke covered the man's mouth so no scream could be heard. Daisuke let him collapse on the roof and continued running to catch up with the other two.

  The leader turned their head and noticed Daisuke chasing behind, only a few rooftops away. They signaled for the other man to stop and fight.

  They think if one man can stall me long enough, I will lose sight of the pursuit. I need to be fast.

  Daisuke picked up the pace and rushed to the assassin standing in his way.

  The man reached down into his belt and pulled up a fist full of throwing knives. He started launching them as fast as he could.

  Daisuke drew his sword and deflected the ones that were close to hitting him. Which was surprisingly most of them. He never stopped running. The man ran out of knives and reached in his belt for more. Daisuke stabbed him through the chest before he had a moment to attack again.

  Daisuke pulled his sword out and continued to chase the remaining assassin.

  Now it’s my turn to do the stalling...

  Before he could catch up, the leader came to a stop and turned around. Giving up the chase. Daisuke paused.

  The Mythic of Fire. Daisuke could hear the thoughts of the leader in his head. The inner-voice was unexpected. The leader was a woman. Daisuke stopped his run and held his sword to his side. She knows exactly who I am at a first glance, she’s dangerous. Red was satisfied with just letting the Order escape, on the condition Falko's men also lost the chase.

  "Perhaps you could show your face?" Daisuke spoke. She was one rooftop ahead of him, her face was shrouded in a black cloth. Only her eyes were visible.

  Her black eyes.

  She unraveled her mask and let her hair fall. She was young, her face was pale. Her hair was dark as night.

  "Who are you?" Daisuke asked.

  Deyanira. She thought for a brief mo
ment before speaking. "Why would I tell you my name?" She reached into her sleeves and pulled out throwing knives in both hands. Daisuke readied his sword.

  Her knives were thrown faster and harder than the last man, but Daisuke managed to deflect them all. She ran towards him, throwing as many knives as she had. She jumped the gap between buildings and drew a sword from her back. She landed on the roof and rolled, leaping at Daisuke for her first strike.

  He blocked and moved back, expecting her to throw more knives. She did. He dodged and deflected what he could.

  Now I strike.

  He moved in for a slash, she dodged, moving to his outside. He cut again, slicing off part of her hair.

  I can't start a fire, people are looking for the Fire Mythic. I can't be seen.

  They exchanged several sword attacks, the woman moving all around in swift strikes. Daisuke noticed her blade. It glistened in a strange way.

  Poison. Her weapons are coated in poison.

  He moved in close for a stab, she deflected. She spun around and clawed his face with her nails.

  She stood back, Daisuke let out a groan. The cuts burned his blood. He could feel the toxins eating his face.

  He rushed forward again. She blocked the strike but his force blew the sword out of her grip. She was knocked back. As she tumbled, she flicked another knife. It stabbed into Daisuke's stomach.

  He halted his attack. Daisuke pulled out the knife and looked it over. The toxins were gone, replaced with his red blood. He could feel the poison move through his body. Deyanira stood up and watched him carefully.

  In a blur, she let loose a barrage of knives; every one she had left. They flew forward and stuck into Daisuke's chest. He felt several knives stab into him, littering his torso. He fell to one knee and coughed up blood.

  "Any one of those is enough to kill a normal man... That should be enough to at least knock you out." She drew the second sword from her back.

  She deliberately missed hitting my heart.

  "Who… are… you? Really?" Daisuke asked, unable to stand.

  The word Oracle flickered through her thoughts. She refused to speak. She approached him slowly without saying a word.

  It’s working, I only need her to think the answers.