originally posted in:The New Dojo
"Nope. He stabbed and murdered his son in front of us, plans to take over the entire planet, actually attempted to murder me..
..Said some pretty vulgar things too." Isaac noted.
English
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As the crows blade crashed into the ground and the pavement exploded around the impact, it hardly reeled at the attack Ari made. It slid its blade across the floor and slashed upwards At Arianna, which cut across her armour plated stomach and sent her flying across the room and crashing into the throne.
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Slamming into the throne, Arianna groaned as she pushed herself off, steadying herself as she charged right back into combat, energy surging through her. Isaac was staying on the sidelines, although he had taken position behind the crow, and began to approach silently.
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The crow walked across the floor, its blade grinding through the pavement like a spike as it slowly made its way towards Ari. It's arms began to tense up and the smoke gave off of it in plumes.
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As Arianna kept charging, Isaac took advantage of his lithe posture to run towards the scarecrow from behind, his footsteps muffled by Arianna's charge. She was drawing steadily closer, aiming her sword towards the scarecrow's chest.
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The crow had its stare gazed on Arianna. It dragged its sword out from the ground and the steel from both blades touched as it walked closer. [spoiler]Certain hit permitted for Isaac[/spoiler]
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[spoiler]Yay![/spoiler] Isaac reared back his left hand, Arcane charging to his knuckles as he slammed his fist into the neck of the scarecrow: he doubted that would kill it, but the sheer force and charged energy sent the scarecrow flying forwards, straight towards Arianna. Arianna suddenly strafed to the scarecrow's sword side so that she could avoid the blade. She suddenly swung, with energy rushing through her so that she could cut through the scarecrow.
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As the crow was propelled forward Arianna felt it's weight hit her blade as it left the floor from the force. Her blade cleaved through the crows waist, and it twirled as its upper body was separated from its legs. It was thrown forward as it's upper half fell against the throne while its legs fell to the ground limply. The torso of the body moved its arms weakly as its greatsword had dropped beside it. Straw was falling out of the bottom of its body as the smoke dissipated and left the scarecrow alone. It looked around weakly at the two who stood in front of it, its arms barely moving and its head held upright shakily. "W-what's...going...on?" It asked in its child like voice. "Why...is everything...going dark?"
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Arianna silently sheathed her sword, while Isaac merely stood still, sputtering as if attempting to speak, yet failing. Arianna sighed sorrowfully, as she had predicted that it would come to this: Isaac did not. "...I-I'm sorry." Arianna said, kneeling next to the scarecrow, as she futilely held its hand. "...Felix did this, and we were forced to... God. I'm so sorry.." Arianna went silent afterwards, closing her eyes as she thought of something merciful. "...If you want, I can...end the pain. Make it quick, if you...if you think that's alright."
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The crow looked at Arianna for a moment with its blank expression. Then, with its free hand, it reached down to its side and grabbed the ocarina from its pocket and handed it to Arianna. "C-can you...give that to Zane, please? And...the other instruments...to Rorek and his sister? Please?" It asked Arianna with weak breath.
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Arianna opened her eyes and looked upon the ocarina, silently nodding as she took it with her free hand. "I shall. I don't know Zane very well, or his son, but...I'll get these to him." She smiled, pocketing the ocarina and sighing. "...Is that all, then?"
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"Y-ya...that's...it. Hehe." It let out its weak laugh as its head fell limp to the side. It hummed the song the two had heard from before, but then it faded away until the room was silent...
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Once Arianna had made sure that the scarecrow had finally died, she sighed, letting his hand fall limp as she let go and rose up, facing Isaac solemnly. "Get the Instruments. And get your kamas. We're killing a Coldbourne - or torturing him to death, I don't care at this point." Isaac gulped, as he grabbed his kama, the tambourine and the horn and pocketed each, although he was forced to hold the tambourine. He'd find a safe place for it...later. "...Do you think that's it, here?" Isaac muttered. "Dunno." Arianna sighed once more, shaking her head in disgust.
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Isaac suddenly felt a sensation of thirst come over him as his vision beat a blood red. It only lasted for four seconds before it subsided but it had surprised him.
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Edited by Weeaboo Of War: 6/1/2017 12:39:35 AM"F-Fuсk!" Isaac gagged in surprise, as Arianna immediately jolted to his side, holding him up. "Isaac? What's wrong?" "N-Nothing, it's.." "Bull. Tell me. You never swear unless something's wrong." "...Red flashes, feelings of thirst - is this the infection? I-I can't succumb to it, not now, I need to survive for Pan-" "Isaac. Calm down." Arianna sighed, forcing her brother to look at her. She shook her head, letting go after a moment. "...When we get back, we'll cure it. If it is the infection...when did it start?" "W-When we came in..." Isaac murmured, while a dreadful thought came to his mind: issuing out the blood from his clawed arm, or amputate the wound entirely. "Should we amputate, o-or.." "What? No!" Arianna shouted in surprise, knowing that Isaac still had blood manipulation - or at least, some form of it. "We can't take that chance, it would be.." "Ari, if it's an infection, we have to!" Isaac yelled back, sighing as he considered his options: he wouldn't last long if the infection was already spreading, and it had already begun to effect him mentally. Either these were the beginning symptoms... ...or Isaac was already doomed.
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As the two spoke, Ari saw light come through the massive set of doors past the doors to the throne room. Presumably, that was the entrance to the castle.
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Arianna sighed, lifting Isaac up and leading him to the entrance. Isaac meanwhile had begun to scour through his blood, attempting to discover any forms of infection that he had contracted - specifically, where he had been clawed. Manipulation of the liquid allowed him to do so, really.
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Edited by Inflatablepants: 6/1/2017 12:49:10 AMHe discovered anomalies in his blood stream. It was as if his blood was being eaten away at by some form of micro-parasitic creatures that were reproducing by the thousands. It was isolated to his lower arm but he saw that it was slowly making its way up to his shoulder.
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"A-Ari, it's spreading through my arm-" "...Hang tight, Isaac.." Arianna muttered, pushing open the doors and breathing in the air. Isaac was sweating now, his entire being was shaking, as he gulped and carried on.
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As the two kids stepped outside, they saw the bright blue sky shine down on them. There were no more dead in the streets, and everything was quiet. They stood in a courtyard as they exited from the front of the castle.
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"...We got this, Isaac. It'll be fine." "...If I ever seem like I'll hurt you, or anyone, o-or... ...just kill me. Please. Promise me." "I-" "Promise me." "...Fine. I promise." The two said no more, the conversation finished with Isaac's last sigh. The two carried onwards, searching for the entrance from where they entered via boat.
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Edited by Inflatablepants: 6/1/2017 1:11:20 AMThey found the docks, which were all but a wreck with destroyed boats and blood splattered everywhere. However, they found a functioning boat. After an hour of trying to start it, the two were off, out towards the sea.... And their final trial. [spoiler]end of chapter 29[/spoiler]