Icefall City
Arktis Skyland
Northern Space

As they ran through the streets, two explosions rang through the air. Alec and Areisha paused and looked up, finding clouds of smoke in the color of red and blue. One player from Parythian, and another from Icefall were out of the game.

“Looks like there is only one player left in each of the other two teams,” Alec said with a frown.

“But just because there’s still three of us, doesn’t mean we will win,” Areisha said. “Stay sharp.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

They continued their run, with Alec leading Areisha through the snow and ice covered streets. Up above them, Midnight flew close to the miniature version of the Cube that captured their every move for others to see.

It was a few minutes later when they slowed their run and reached their destination. After looking to the left and right of the empty road, and checking for other players on the roofs, they slipped inside the empty alleyway. A figure emerged from the shadow of piled crates, walking towards them with Rei’s familiar gait.

“What did you find?” Areisha asked.
Rei lowered the hood of his coat, and ran a hand through his fiery hair. “First, I’d like to apologize for shouting through your ear and causing you to injure your shoulder,” he said. Areisha looked down at the bandage Alec had wrapped around her dislocated shoulder a while ago.

“I can scold and punch you later for that,” she said. “Continue.”

Alec released a small chuckle, while Mindnight let out an amused rumble. Areisha gave them a look from the corner of her eyes. It shut them up.

“Second, you probably already know that only one player remains for each of the other teams,” Rei said. “Third, the last hammer is in Xaver Park…and lastly…”

“And lastly?” Alec prodded. He had detected the tinge of anxiousness in Rei’s voice.

Before the redhead could continue, an earsplitting sound of metal against metal filled the air. It was followed by grunts and battle cries. It was coming from Xaver Park. His eyes narrowed, he had an idea what made Rei hesitant. Looking at Areisha, she most probably had the same thoughts as him.

“Apparently, the game organizers wanted to surprise us with a little twist,” Rei said. He leaned against a wall and sighed. “As we speak, the Parythian, Sev, and the Arktin, Cyanz are fighting together against the people guarding the final hammer.”
Areisha’s eyes widened for a split second, before she spoke up. “Did you see the guard’s movements? How strong are they?”

“I heard that their trainees from the main base of the Ryder Regiments. From what I’ve seen there are four of them, and we cannot take them lightly.”

“Do you think we have a chance?” Alec asked Rei.

A small smile flitted to Rei’s lips. “Our main goal is to get the hammer. It doesn’t necessarily mean we have to fight them.”

Alec looked to Areisha when she smirked. With a knowing look in her eyes, she copied Rei’s smile.

“Tactic five,” she said.

“Tactic five,” Rei echoed with a nod. Together, they turned their heads to his direction. His face scrunched in bewilderment. His momentary confusion, soon turned to one of dread when he caught the evil glints in their dark eyes.

“My gut tells me that I won’t like tactic five,” he said.

Rei grinned. “Your gut is spot on.”

Alec could only sigh.
―――
Leaves rustled from the bushes as he sprang from his hiding spot. The moment his foot touched the ground, he leaped and swung his arm. Knives flew from his hands, sunlight bouncing off the shiny blades.

The men, who were fighting Cyanz and Sev, jumped away from the battle when Alec’s weapons rained down from above. Alec fell in to a crouch, his narrowed eyes watching their opponents.

Like Rei said, there were four of them. They look to be around their mid-20s. All of them almost had the same build as him, only they obviously had more muscle. Calculating pairs of eyes watched them, as if they were trying to predict their next move. Their stance and the way they held their swords, reminded him of Head Ryder Kreis. He sighed. His second guardian had probably trained them, and picked them for this event. It was going to be tough keeping up with them.

They all stood surrounding the white metal hammer, which lay across a stone table.

“Glad you can finally join us, Alec,” Sev said from his side. He was leaning against his spear, trying to keep his breathing in check. “I needed to catch my breath. I’m not cut out for fighting for a long time in this climate. I was just lucky that our fight yesterday ended quickly.”

“Can you talk later?” Cyanz said. “In case you forgot, we’re in the middle of a battle here.”

Alec wanted to roll his eyes, and smack the two on the back of their heads. He didn’t like Tactic Five before, but now he hated it.

Maybe he shouldn’t have told Areisha that she could order him around for this event.

“It’s nice to finally meet you, Alec Arden. My name is Flein,” one of the men said. “We’ve been wanting to meet the guy who managed to catch Head Ryder Kreis’ attention. He’s mentioned you a lot these last few months,” He had an amused smile on his face. In fact, all of them had the same smile. Alec gave a dry look.

“Please tell me what he told you guys about me, so I can decide whether I should personally rearrange his face or have Professor Meolie and Gael do it for me.”

All of them gave low chuckles, before a different man spoke up. “Only if you take down one of us, with help or otherwise.”

I’d rather not fight any of you, he thought. “Deal,” he said.

He charged, one of his daggers flying through the air. Sev and Cyanz followed his lead.

Flein, the man who first spoke to him, attacked and deflected Alec’s blade in the process. Alec’s eyes narrowed, intending to focus on taking the man down alone.

Flein’s sword swung from the side. Alec dived, the blade swinging inches over his back. He rolled on the snow, jumping to his feet with a kick on Flein’s torso. The man stumbled and fell on one knee with a groan. Alec was about to attack, when he felt someone behind him. In seconds, he pulled his second dagger out of the sheath, a clang resonating as something collided with it. The tip of the spear clashed against the flat of Alec’s weapon. He looked up at his second attacker.

“Hey, the name’s Tryst. Nice to meet ya,” he said.

“Sorry Alec, but can you take two?” Sev yelled, while fighting his own battle. “You just arrived, and you aren’t exactly,” he ducked away from a sword, “tired like Cyanz and I!”

“I am not tired!” Cyanz yelled in the background.

Alec grabbed the body of the spear, tugged and kneed the man on the chest. The spear broke right after.

He jumped away and glared at Sev, wanting so much as to yell back at the Parythian. He had been running all over the city quadrant for the past hour, he had to fight and take down the two players who followed him, aided Rose, and he had to run all the way here, never stopping to take a break. On top of it all, he was still tired from his battle yesterday with Sev and Varyn. If anyone was tired–exhausted more like–it was him.

He had the sudden urge to raise both his middle fingers, the same way he saw Kreis did once. Instead, he just raised his fist at Sev and glared.

Alec ignored Sev’s laughter, when Flein tackled him to the ground. Alec locked his legs around the man and tried to push him off, only to raise his dagger with both hands. A clang resounded as two blades met. With a cry, Alec pushed Flein off, swiping his dagger for his leg. A long gash appeared on the man’s trousers and flesh, as well as rivulets of blood.

Alec rolled away, pushing himself to his feet. He panted, trying to draw more air in to his lungs. Flein and Tryst stood a couple of feet away from him. From the corner of his eye, he saw Cyanz and Sev still fighting their opponents. It was hard to tell who was winning or losing.

He activated the commu-crima near his ear. “How long?” he asked.

“Rei, just needs five more minutes,” Roselintine said. “I can join you by then.”

“All right,” he said with a whisper.
He turned his attention back to his two opponents. They were standing there, scrutinizing him like they did before. They were waiting for him to make the next move.

“Are you tired?” Rose asked, a certain softness coating her words.

“Very much so,” he said. He took a couple of deep breaths. All of his tensed muscles relaxed, as he focused on the two men in front of him. He sheathed his dagger and shrugged off his coat, creating a dull thump on the snow where it fell. It was heavy and too warm, slowing him down. He bent and took out the remaining tiny knives in his boots, leaving only one in each. Flein and Tryst eyed him with knit brows of both curiosity and caution.

“What are you doing?” Areisha asked. He could hear a slight panic in her voice.

“Five minutes, right? I’ll hold out until then,” he said. His leather gloves soon followed his coat on the ground.

“Alec Arden, don’t you dare―” He ignored her next words as assumed a stance. 

He spread his legs and bent his knees, his hands crossing at the wrist near the side of his chin. “Sorry to keep you waiting,” he said.

He took note of how Flein and Tryst’s eyes widened at the sight of his stance. Their hold on their weapon also slackened, only barely though. “That…stance,” Flein said. “How do you…”

Alec ignored his musings and surged forward. Without the excess weight of his coat and knives, his speed made him look almost like a black blur. It took his opponents by surprise, causing them to jump out of his path instead of meeting him head on. Alec turned and angled his body toward the spot between the men, eyeing them both. Not waiting for them to recover from their surprise, Alec planted his hands on the ground between them, lifting his body in the process. He spun with his legs outstretched, striking Tryst in the head. Flein managed to duck and spin away from Alec.

A lot of people thought that he fought well with his daggers, never realizing that he was deadlier with nothing but his skills in hand-to-hand combat. It was the very first form of fighting he mastered, and focused most of his time on for the past years.

Alec steadied his feet. The heel of his palm drove up Tryst’s gut. The man, still dazed from the kick on the head, did nothing but keel over from the force Alec used. Without an ounce of mercy, Alec gave two consecutive punches on the cheek, grabbed the man’s arm, and threw him down over his shoulder. Droplets of blood fell on the snow when Alec slammed Tryst on the ground.

The Ryder-to-be lay half-conscious at Alec’s feet. Alec frowned at Tryst, then the bloody cuts on the knuckles of his own hands. I hope I didn’t overdo it, he thought.

“Dynami’s Fighting Style. That technique is commonly used by Special Officers in the Ryder Regiment.” Flein said. “It specifically aims at vital spots, and is followed by a relentless barrage of attacks that may or may not include aiming for other vital spots. When used seriously, it can end a fight in less than a minute.”

Alec turned to him, brows knitting in confusion. “Your point, Mr. Flein?”

“It takes years of training. It requires an enormous amount physical strength to maintain the speed and force of the attacks, and the mental skill to decide which parts to aim for in the seconds between each strike. Very few Ryders know how to fight with that strategy effectively.” Flein said. “It is a method used in quick, silent, and clean assassinations.”

Alec sighed. Professor Gravis told him weeks ago, that he would undoubtedly gain the attention of the Ryders even more if he chose to reveal the Dynami’s Figthing Style in the Sky Games. However, showing this skill was the only way he can stall for the remaining minutes. Other than that, Alec had no intention of hiding from the Ryder Regiments―not anymore.

“My brother told me about Fergor Dynami’s story and his combat style when I was six. It wasn’t until I turned seven did he finally cave from all the begging I did so he could teach me,” he said.  A small amused smile tugged at the corner of his lips. “However, he later made me stop when I started hurting myself more than my target dummy. Now that I’m older and with some help from my professors, I’ve recently learned how to control my strength and to avoid endangering myself.”

The sounds of struggle from the other pairs fighting filled the thoughtful silence that fell on Flein. The man looked so deep in thought as he looked at the Tryst’s unconscious form.

Tactic five still effectively in motion, Alec thought. I just wish I didn’t have to show them that I knew how to fight this way.

The hairs on the back of his neck tingled when he saw the wide and dangerous smile on Flein’s face. There was a bright gleam in the man’s brown eyes as he stared at him. Alec assumed his initial stance at once.

“Finally,” Flein said, “someone I can play with.”

He had only blinked for just a second, when Flein appeared in front of him. A sharp breath left Alec as a fist struck his stomach. On instinct, his arms rose, blocking the other fist that came flying to his face. Alec jumped away as far as a he could, clutching at the pain on his abdomen. He looked up at Flein, only to find the man wearing a grimace on his face.

“Drae’s shit! Holy Baby Kosmos! Blazen’s fiery gate! Drae’s shit! I need to learn more curses,” Flein said as he looked at him. “I forgot that you’re not at your full state. I’ll have fire on my ass for this.”

Alec was too busy soothing his injury and planning his next move to even give a damn about what he was saying. When the same pattern of curses continued spewing from the man’s mouth, Alec pressed forward.

With a jump and a twirl, his leg stretched and landed on Flein’s shoulder. The man stumbled, crying out when Alec heard a pop come from his shoulder. Flein didn’t fall from the force however, and caught Alec’s leg with his free hand. With a cry, he shoved Alec and sent him rolling across the snow.

Alec landed on his back, groaning from all the pain coursing through his body. From not too far away, he could also hear Flein’s grunts of pain as he clutched his dislocated shoulder.

“You’re good, kid. Great even,” Flein said. “You’re the first person to actually manage to move, fight back rather, after being hit with my first strike using the Dynami’s Style.”

Alec sat up, looking up at him in surprise.

“Let me reintroduce myself,” the man said. “Flein Dynami. Great grandson of Fergor Dynami. Special Officer and certified Combat Arts instructor of the Ryder Regiments. Nice to meet you.”

Alec stared at him, mouth agape. No words left his mouth as he sat there, his ears picking up the fighting in the background. Words flew around his head, trying to form sentences despite the shock and the light-headedness he felt due to his injuries.

When he managed to pull himself together, Areisha’s voice came back to his ear.

“Ready.”

Three balls of Roselintine’s Flame shot past him, landing on Flein and the other two pairs fighting behind him. Without wasting a second, Alec’s icy Flames joined Areisha’s. The two Flame’s, emerald green and crystal blue, fought and devoured each other, exploding in bright white lights. White and icy vines shot out from their combine Flames, wrapping around the men like a snake before they had a chance to register what was happening.

Shouts echoed throughout the park as Alec and Areisha’s vines tightened, causing the men to fall to the ground, wriggling like bugs wrapped in spider webbing. With a raise of Alec’s hand, the plants stopped constricting.

“This is not…the proper way…to answer someone…when they…introduce themselves,” Flein said, struggling to breath.

“If you’re…going to restrain me…at least do it with me not being tied together with another bulking man!” Sev shouted as he and the man he was fighting tried to avoid being pressed against each other. They failed miserably.

Alec looked, and Cyanz appeared to be glowering at Alec, while the man he was trapped with made an effort to break the binds.

“For the record, this wasn’t my plan,” Alec explained. “I was just following orders.”

A cloud of mist rose and swirled around the table where the hammer lay. They all watched as a figure materialized from the fog. The figure held the special hammer over his head like a trophy. In a sense, it was.

“Victory!” Rei yelled.

“Hurry and remove the rest of your illusion and go smash the Crystal!” Areisha’s voice sounded close by.

With a pout, Rei stomped his foot. A light surge of wind blew, dispelling the fog as well as the illusion of invisibility. Without another moment wasted, Rei ran straight for the arena.

Alec nearly jumped to his feet when Roselintine’s figure materialized next to him. When she crouched at his side, he felt the fight leave his body. The game was over.

“Don’t bother to struggle!” Areisha yelled at their “captives.” “Those vines can only be removed by either me or Arden. And it won’t be happening for at least a few minutes.”

Ignoring the yells coming from the restrained men, he leaned some of his weight against Areisha. It earned him a sharp intake of breath from her, which he ignored. His body was too tired to support his back, and he didn’t feel like lying on the lumpy snowy ground.

“Did we give them a Blazen of a game to talk about, like you said?” he asked. She’s so warm, he thought in his tired state.

He felt a small hand on top of his head. “I said we’d do it. But you gave them more than enough to talk about,” she said. “You did great.”

Those simple words shattered the remaining wall he had, giving more room for happiness to fill his heart.

####
Yeah its me. Hi. Sorry for disappearing for almost half a year. I got caught up with life and when I did write the chaps they turned out to be dumb and irrelevant to the plot so I had to scrap them. That's why it took me so long to get back to you guys. No double updates for now because like I said, the supposedly next chap for this was stupid (I recently decided it was). Thanks to those who stayed and waited for me to continue the story. Also thanks for the encouragements and understanding you all gave me.

-ShanaZeren

PS. No Krizton to explain for me. Alec told me to not use a child to get out of a sticky situation. Also, I posted the little memoir I wrote last year about how I started writing. Anyone interested can look up "Taking Up the Pen"