Chapter 5

Overload

“What the hell happened back there?” “What,” Rhint said innocently as he continued to walk alongside Arias. “I killed two guys, big deal. Besides, they stole my wrist blades.” “That’s not what I meant.” “Well then I have no idea what you’re referring to.” Obviously Rhint was avoiding the subject. “It’s quite apparent that you aren’t injured, so that throws out your battle injury excuse.” “Look,” he said while turning to Arias, “You’ll know about this when the time is right.” “And just when will that be, Rhint?” “How the fuck should I know?” Arias still wasn’t satisfied. “At least tell me what those bulges were.” “It’s... a Lyrid thing.” “So that happens to all Lyrids? Is it like a power limitation? Transformation perhaps?” “No, no, and kind of.” Rhint didn’t feel like talking about this now, but Arias was curious so he figured he’d ask a few questions. “So this only happens to you?” Arias questioned on. “As far as I know, yeah.” “Why just you?” “Cause I screwed up when I was younger, alright?” “Alright.” The day was calm and bright. Not too humid. Not too dry. A rare day to have in the middle of summer. The wind was as gentle as a soft kiss and the sun’s rays were warm like a mother’s touch. The leaves were still and silent, laying a beautiful patchwork design across the forest floor. Wildlife prospered throughout the woods as the animals took advantage of the glorious day.
Arias was still curious about Rhint’s behavior in Solumb. “Have you ever had that happen before?” “Which do you mean? The pains or the bulges?” “Well... both I guess.” “I’m afraid we don’t have time for me to explain both. It’ll take too long.” “Why don’t we have time? You mean we’re almost to the castle?” Very nonchalantly Rhint replied, “Because there’s three Dycids right there.” Drawing attention back to the path in front of him, Arias saw three figures of what appeared to be mere men. “They look like ordinary humans to me.” Rhint laughed at his friend’s ignorance. “They are more than just humans,” Rhint emphasized. “Dycids are very swift, strong, and agile creatures. Their bodies are the exact of a human’s, but they are not mammal. Dycids are a highly evolved reptilian species.” “But, most reptiles have tails, they don’t appear to have one.” “That’s because their tail is chopped off at birth so they appear to be humans. The wound is then burned to stop bleeding and any possible regeneration of the lost limb.” Arias examined the three creatures. He could now see the gleam of their skin as they stepped into the sunlight. “So that means they have scaly skin as well?” he asked. “In a sorts. Evolution has allowed them to mask their scaly skin with a another layer of skin on top of it; that’s the gleam that you see now. This allows them to pass as humans much easier. And this skin must be shed every few months so it can grow back again, just like other reptiles. Many people believe they are meant to be the next step in evolution; killing off any intelligent race.” Arias continued to look at the three. “So do they just go around killing off humans and other species?” “That’s the thing. They’re not a violent race. Many people have found them useful as bodyguards, assassins, hit men, occupations like that. And the Dycids have embraced this because it’s an easy lifestyle and money.” All of them stood in calmness. Each Dycid looked the same as the next. Long, blonde flowing hair, small and well toned. Height of about five foot seven. Their skin was a very pale, almost white, green. This came off as odd to Arias. He would have thought a definite green, or a brown perhaps seeing how they were reptiles. He also noticed they had no shapely nose or ears like humans do. They still obtained the reptilian characteristics in that area. ‘They aren’t that much like humans after all,’ he thought.
The middle of the three Dycids spoke with an almost un-noticeable hiss in its voice. “We protect the eastern portion of the Chronis castle. Should you attempt to proceed past us, we will be forced to kill you. If you wish to continue your travels, you will have to go around the perimeter of the castle to the other side,” and stepped back into the shade.
“Well, we have no choice but to go through them, and it won’t be an easy fight seeing how we’re outnumbered,” Rhint said somewhat excited. Arias nodded and raised his guard. Rhint announced their intent. “Looks like you boys get some action today. We are proceeding through you to the castle.” All three of the sector guards stepped forward into the sunlight.
“Razen, Gull, take the big one. I’ll handle him,” the middle Dycid ordered while looking at Rhint. The two acknowledged the leaders commands and ran at Arias full speed. He raised his guard as the agile creatures moved in on him. Razen threw a punch at Arias' left leg while Gull positioned himself behind the Traykian. Pivoting on the right leg, Arias avoided the attack and lunged his right fist at the reptile. Gull acted quickly, attacking the left leg. Un-phased by the attack, Arias spun around throwing a backhand punch at Gull. Both Dycids easily avoided the attacks with their agility and speed. Razen jumped back from his punch and Gull ducked under the backhand. Following up the dodge, Gull utilized a jumping uppercut to Arias' exposed face while Razen leapt at his back. Arias smiled as he took advantage of the situation. Pulling his left arm back in he pinned the airborne Gull against his chest with a tight bearhug. Then, quickly sliding to the left, Razen flew over his shoulder leaving him wide open for a hard right hook. Gull screamed in pain as he felt his ribs begin to break under the enormous pressure. Razen was sent through the air crashing to the ground at least 40 feet away.
As Arias pressed on with the bearhug, now using both arms, Gull’s fingernails protruded a little becoming claws. Pulling both arms back was a struggle. He buried his claws deep into Arias' neck forcing him to release the hold instantly. Gull fell to the ground hard as he gasped for air, struggling to move. Arias stumbled back and placed his hand over his neck, pulling it away covered in blood. His jugular was untouched so he wasn’t too concerned. Razen was quick to rise. Quicker than Arias expected, anyway. Doing like his comrade had, Razen’s claws were now exposed. He quickly rushed in on the unfocused Arias and slashed at his ribs. Arias slid back avoiding the attack and was forced to react to another as Razen went for the inner thigh. Taking the hit Arias' hand sparked as he released a stream of lightning at his foe’s shoulder. Reacting on impulse more than instinct the Dycid rolled forward avoiding the blast. Quickly controlling his balance, he pushed off from his crouched position swiping at the back of Arias' leg. This forced Arias' stance to weaken as he almost went to one knee. Finally mustering up the strength, Gull pulled himself back onto his feet.“Looks like I get the pleasure of killing the leader,” said Rhint as he engaged his wrist blades. “Come now, you seemed to be an educated man a few moments ago. You should know your death is assured.” “You got a name, or should I just call you the first thing that comes to mind?” The Dycid laughed. “Ironically enough, it’s Scale.” Rhint had to chuckle at this.
Wasting no time, Scale exposed his claws. “A fighter that gets right down to business. You don’t see that often.” “I like to finish my work quickly so I can lay in the sun.” Scale charged forward and slashed at Rhint. His claws clanged of the metal blade as Rhint reacted. It was soon followed by another as Scale pressed on. Rhint capitalized as Scale took a swipe at his head. Ducking under the attack Rhint charged forward running the blade against the Dycid’s ribs. Scale pulled to the side avoiding the attack and kneed Rhint in the stomach. He then followed it with a hard blow to the back of the head. Rhint crashed to the ground and rolled to his feet. Scale looked at Rhint calmly, “Is that your best effort?” Rhint rose and dusted off, then cracked his neck. “If I showed you half the techniques I knew you’d be dead in three minutes.” A smile went across the guardians face. “Is that so?” he said tauntingly. Positioning himself, Rhint was preparing his favorite attack. “Oh, it’s true. I’d rather just take you out with this one though.” His hands already cupped into position behind his back, the energy ball had materialized and started to swell. The Dycid smiled again. “Ah, you must be the Lyrid, Rhint,” he said unexpectedly. The ball dissipated as Rhint lost his composure. “How do you know that?” he demanded. “Lord Chronis has told us much about you, perhaps even your life story.” ‘How in the hell does he know about me!’ Questions plagued Rhint’s mind as to how a man he had never encountered knew his identity. “Lord Chronis also knows of the tragic end of your sister. You remember that. Don’t you?” Scale was toying with him purposely. Rhint looked over to see how Arias was fairing. Both guardians were having trouble fighting him, Arias was holding his own. “You leave what happened to my sister out of this!” Seeing that the subject was sore for Rhint, Scale pushed it more. “You loved Iris, didn’t you Rhint?” “Shut up! I’ll ki-,” Rhint’s words were cut off by the pain that surged within his chest and stomach. He could feel it taking hold of him and was forced to keel over. Scale laughed as he walked up to Rhint. “It’s sad that you’ve taken yourself out of the fight. I didn’t even have to try that hard.” Scale kicked Rhint hard in the ribs forcing blood out of his mouth. Rhint was paralyzed with pain and unable to move. “Now that you’re out of the equation, I can help Razen and Gull take down your giant friend,” he uttered as a loud crash came from behind him.

Both Dycids rushed the weakened Arias. Leaving his feet, Gull attacked Arias high. A stream of lightning struck his chest sending him through a tree. Razen leapt onto his back and sunk his claws in deep. Letting out a short lived groan of pain, Arias reached behind and took hold of the Dycid’s neck. Razen was thrown violently down to the ground on his head. Arias grabbed his foot and pulled him across his body sailing into another tree. He let out a deep sigh from the exertion and was ready for more. The thrill was getting to Arias. The surge of adrenaline that pumped through him, he didn’t want it to end.
He turned around to see Gull wearily rising to his feet, unfocused still. Razen had yet to move from the footing of the tree. Extending his right hand forward as if to grasp something, Arias began to concentrate energy into his attack. Sparks and surges ran down his shoulder into his hand as it pulsed with power. Particles of ever changing light that seemed to materialize from nowhere a few inches from his hand were sucked into the coming attack. Gull fell back against the tree from exhaustion, unaware that he was being targeted. The Traykian clenched his fist for a moment and grunted as he pushed more into it. The massive surge streamed into his hand. His arm began to tremble from the gathered power, it was becoming unstable. Arias placed his left hand on his bicep to steady the attack.
Gull let out a sigh as he readied his mind for battle. “Temperius!” His focus drew to Arias. His eyes shot open as he saw the stream of energy coming at him. Arias' feet slid back into the ground from the kickback of the blast. Thin streams of yellow, indigo, purple, and blue swirled around the massive light purple core. Arias struggled to maintain the steady stream. The Dycid was paralyzed with fear unable to move. The gathered lightning attack struck Gull’s chest. The surrounding streams spread over his body consuming him in pain as the core pushed through the barrier before it, escaping to the other side. Arias discontinued the stream of energy. Gull’s body fell to the ground lifeless as the tree behind him crashed to the ground. Feeling weary after the attack Arias stumbled back a bit but maintained his balance. He heard a faint grunt of anger and turned in its direction. Scale’s fist connected hard and sent the hulking Traykian crashing to the ground. “Bastard! You killed Gull!” Arias looked out into the forest as he lay on his side in the soil. The trees were still swirling a little bit but he shook it off. He rose slowly as he placed his right hand on the ground and pushed himself up. The bulky Traykian stood wearily and dusted himself off. His new attack had taken it’s toll on his body, more than he had predicted. The rage built up within Scale, his eyes gleamed with resentment. Razen was up and ready again and walked up to his leader’s side. Scale moved swiftly to the opposite side of Arias, much too fast for his weary mind to follow now. He noted that Rhint was still down and probably out of the fight. He was left to fend for himself against the reptilian defenders. Razen and Scale both dashed at the enemy. Arias swung down at Razen but he quickly dashed to the right and planted his right foot into the ground and slashed up into Arias' chest. He reared up and stumbled back. Scale leapt up and slashed across his back forcing Arias to arch in pain. Razen delivered a hard right into Arias' gut. Arias keeled over and fell to the ground. He quickly rolled to his feet and unsheathed his sword.
“And what good do you think that will do you?” asked Scale tauntingly. “Well,” Arias said somewhat exhausted, “it can’t hurt now can it?” Arias knew that he couldn’t allow them to surround him like that anymore, otherwise he wouldn’t last long. The odds were against him, but somewhere in the back of his mind he was still determined to go on, to fight Chronis. His awareness had returned, his body wasn’t as tense from the move now. Razen tried to position himself behind Arias, but Arias was quick to cut of his path with a well placed blast of lightning at Razen’s feet. The Dycid came to a halt as it struck the ground, he looked up to see Arias on top of him. The large Traykian slashed down at Razen who quickly jumped to the left avoiding the blow. Arias shifted to the side, he had to keep moving to space himself from the two. He then darted over to Scale and slashed at him. Scale easily rolled to the side away from the attack. Pivoting on one leg Arias spun around and shot an aimless blast of lightning. His suspicions were correct as Razen was struck directly in the chest and sent back a few feet onto the ground. Scale returned with a well placed punch to the kidney. Arias responded with a back hand slash narrowly missing Scale’s head as he ducked under again. Arias was left wide open as Scale scored a few more hard punches to the ribs and kidneys until he was knocked away with a hard left hook. Razen sprinted up and slashed at the back of Arias' left leg. He winced in pain as his leg buckled and dropped to the ground. Razen and Scale met in front of the fallen Arias. “Seems like your sword didn’t help you,” confirmed Scale. Arias looked into the Dycid’s eyes as he stood on one knee and let out a sigh. “Well, it hasn’t yet,” he said while slowly rising. Holding the sword out in front of him, Arias ran his hand along the dull side of the blade. Preparing for battle again, “now it will help me,” he claimed. Scale and Razen looked at each other perplexed. “It doesn’t matter what he did, he will soon fall!” Razen nodded in confirmation of his leader’s words. Both guardians charged the intruder. Scale was the first to approach and went for Arias’ wounded leg. The Traykian spun his sword down as the claws clanged off the sword. Scale let out a moan as the lightning surged through him and stumbled back. Following the defense, Arias released a heavy blast of lightning into Scale’s chest as he blocked Razen’s attack. The Dycid’s body was jolted with electricity and Razen closed his eyes from the sudden shock. Immediately after blocking the attacking, Arias brought his sword down hard on Razen. Opening his eyes to see the blade mere inches from his face, Razen quickly knocked the sword away at the cost of being shocked once again. Scale shook off the pain as he returned to the fray.
“I will not fall here!” Arias shouted as he brought his sword down upon Scale. Pulling his arms back, Scale positioned his feet and pushed his arms up to catch Arias’ sword in between his hands. He closed his eyes as the blade came bearing down upon him. Arias’ eyes grew wide as his sword no longer continued. Scale gritted his teeth in pain from the shock being sent through his body. He refused to back down and held his ground. Arias smiled to see the Dycid’s attempt. “We’ll see how much good that does you,” he boasted arrogantly. Arias released his left hand from the hilt as if to release a heavy stream of lightning at Scale. “Razen, now!” Hearing the call from his leader, Razen leapt up and delivered a hard blow to Arias’ face. His grip on the sword loosened from the attack allowing Scale to take it. The giant stumbled back a short ways, but was quickly on guard again. Scale laughed as he threw the sword aside.
Arias felt cornered as both opponents marched towards him with arrogant looks plaguing their faces. He quickly released two streams at them. The Dycids smiled as they disappeared before the blasts hit, then reappeared and continued walking. “What?!” Arias proclaimed in amazement. “Come now,” replied Scale. “You didn’t really think we were fighting you with full potential did you? I could defeat you myself.” That being said, Scale appeared in front of Arias and punched him hard in the stomach. He keeled forward in pain. “Do you see now what you’re up against?” he mocked as he delivered an uppercut to his stomach causing Arias to drop to his knees. Scale looked down at the helpless Traykian with a smile of pity before delivering a knee to the face, knocking him to the ground.
Arias managed to rise to his knees again after much effort. He was badly bruised and no longer had the energy or strength to launch another offensive. Scale and Razen stood over the fallen intruder with smiles stretched across their faces. Arias lay breathing heavily with thoughts upon thoughts running through his mind. He thought several ways to get out of the fight, but realized they wouldn’t work. Concocted a way that might allow him to be victorious, but realized it was far fetched. After exhausting every thought to its fullest, he was left with only one option; surrender.
“Well, would you look at that Razen? It doesn’t look like the mighty Traykian has any fight left.” Arias swallowed his pride hard. “I surrender. Kill me.” Scale began to cackle. “You think it’s that simple? Have you forgotten about your little friend so soon?” Arias’ eyes widened as Scale stepped aside to reveal Rhint laying face down in the soil, thriving in pain 20 yards away. Razen stepped closer to Arias as Scale turned to walk towards Rhint.
“No! He poses no threat to you now! It’s me who came for revenge, leave him alone!” Arias began to rise but was halted with a hard kick to the temple. He rolled over and opened his eyes to see Scale pick up Rhint by the shirt collar. The expression on Rhint’s face clearly indicated extreme pain, while the bulges across his body became larger and more sporadic.
“Leave him out of this! He’s of no threat to you!” Scale just laughed louder as Arias pleaded.
‘You’ve failed us,’ Arias turned his head to the side towards the voice he’d heard. ‘You’re a disgrace to your people,’ said another in the other direction. Arias began to look around for those tormenting him, but only saw Razen watching over him.
“Do you see this, Traykian?” Scale taunted as he punched Rhint in the stomach increasing his already excruciating pain. Rhint’s body fell limp moments after as he slipped into unconsciousness. This only gave Scale more reason to laugh.
“I wouldn’t be laughing if I were you.”

Scale looked at Rhint still laughing. “What did you just say?” Rhint’s motionless body gave no reaction or signs of life, yet the voice continued from within him.

“You’ve only sealed your fate, fool.” Scale looked dumbfounded as he held the Lyrid in his grasp. A large bulge in Rhint’s chest forced Scale to drop him to the ground. “What the hell is this?” Rhint’s body lay face down in the grass as the bulges became larger, more frequent, and concentrated in-between his shoulder blades. A split down Rhint’s spine slowly opened emitting a dark purple light. The voice began to cackle as a hand emerged from the void. “Yes, finally I’m free!”