A Knight's First Battle

Chapter 7

The fire was extinguished, fragments of black ash and pieces of branches. A haze of dark gray smoke hung over the fireplace. The grass was moist. The trees sang in the wind. Along the foot of the Mount Crimson.

Rising the sun was. Shining upon the land, melting frost of the night. The skies clear and blue, no clouds seen.

Soon the grass was dry by the heat of the sun. Leaves danced in the wind. The fields of a bright green.

A dead half-eaten boar dropped down! Its tongue lied in the dirt. Eyes half open, looking straight down. Its legs and some his torso ripped apart. Blood leaking out of its torso. The skins were burnt and black crispy. The fur shaved completely.

The sound of crunching of teeth ripping and chewing. A hand holding a limb of the boar. Blood poured out its mouth. Chewing and chewing the teeth worked. In the other hand, a bloody sword. It was Mr. Frank Bale's sword. The blood dripped and dripped from the sword.

Sounds of roaring, loud and strong. As it roared, birds and rodents ran in fear. Giant wings flapped, blowing the wind. White fur and black strips it was dressed. Its great teeth took hold of the remains of the boar. The teeth caught the torso and its massive paws planted on the boar's head. The torso and head were ripped apart! The teeth dug into the torso, ripping pieces off. Chewing and chewing the ripped pieces of meat and tissue.

Suddenly! The hand that held the limb of boar. Its fingertips morphed into stone. Taking hold of the wrist that was almost stone. Rustling around the fireplace in panic and terror. Heavy breathing echoed through the fields. Falling on the ground, kicking and squirming. As the entire was stone, it stopped growing over the entire arm. Standing tall, the mouth opens and spoke.

" Two souls, two souls, only two souls of the innocent we must take," The mouth speaking in a sadistic, insane tone of voice." Leon, watch the camp. I sensed two hostels that want to play."

The Lylionyx roared in agreement. Calling out for the two he sensed. He felt the watching of eyes. He smiled. Looking to the ground of his shield, he kicked the dirt it laid on. The shield floated in the air for a brief moment. In that moment, he kicked the shield directly at the watching eyes.

The one with the watching eyes evaded the shield as it broke through the rock of Mount Crimson. The shield had ripped through rock clean off, coming to a stop. Only half of the shield exposed into the air.

He smiled as he seen the man with the sword of tissue. Launching like a rocket after the man with the sword of tissue. Frightened but open and vulnerable. His knee found the invaders gut. The knee bent through the armor plates, ripping the chain mail clear apart. In the moment, he quickly pulled his knee and with the other leg swung around crashing into the invader’s head. The invader spanned and twisted straight into the ground. His body bounced once hard against the ground.

Badly hurt, he looked up seeing the man he been watching. He covered from the sun as his opponent blocked it. Feeling dazzled and fainting as he struggled to keep awake. He dug his sword into the ground and kneeled before his killer. He closed his eyes and awaited the final blow patiently. Hoping his killer would put him out his tremendous misery.

" Do it, I have longed for this. Do it!" He demanded.

His killer pulled his sword, looking at both sides over and over. Staring at his weapon as though not knowing what to do with it. The man with sword of tissue grew angry about the wait and no action.

He put down his sword and an UN-breaking gaze upon the sword as it was attached to the hand, pulsing. One side had no desire to murder a killer and the other side recognized the man. The man pleaded for death.

" No he will not die. He's not innocent, find another," He in the same sadistic tone, staring at the arm." Its Red!"

Confusion had come over the man with the sword of tissue. Staring at the boy but not recognizing him from anywhere. He didn't who the boy was, but the boy knew who the man was.

" I am Red, but I do not know you young man," Red answered.

The boy was surprised that his childhood hero was real. All the years Cole spent hearing the stories of Red, the consumed knight. As Cole got older, he concluded that why he was cursed, was his own temptation for power that consumed him.

" Its Red! The consumed knight of the Sword of Blood!" The boy explained." My pops told me many stories about you but I never knew you were really alive. Strange how dad would tell me stories about you, he used you as a explain for the lust of power and what it does."

Red was completely shocked. He had no idea he was a story told to young ones before bedtime. And this one knowing so much about him but he knowing nothing of the boy. His feeling was suddenly overlooked as he noticed the hand of stone. He knew then and there that this boy had met Ippiki-ookami.

Cole noticed the look on Red's face. He thought if anyone would be shocked. It would be Cole; star-stroke. Thinking he realized it might be quite ackward being someone's hero when he didn't he even was a hero. Red wasn't a hero, no not anymore.

" I am Cole Steel of Monic Earth, brother of this Agin you all call him," Cole introduced." I feel you came across him. I smell the Omio's presence within you."

Red eyes widen. How did this kid find someone he had searched for, for fifty years? And what deal did he make with her? Had being stricken of pride as he lost to a little kid. Was it anymore worse than his own curse?

" You, you seen Ippiki-ookami to?" Red asked with excitement in his eyes.

Cole nodded.

" Please you must help me find her!" Red demanded greatly.

Cole looked upon him in confusion; he looked to his hand and understands. A voice in Steel's mind spoke,' Take this one's soul, freeing him of the Sword of Blood. He could teach us much. Our swordsmanship is incomplete, it must be perfect.'

" But, if he gets another chance, he'll be longer evil," Cole thought to himself.

The voice spoke more,' If he disobeys, we shall kill him. Now, in Mount Crimson. There is a cave with a host-less body. Kill the consumed knight’s soul and take it the body in the cave.' Cole was convinced.

He turned to Red, rising his sword. Red smiled with a tear rolling down his cheek. Cole smiled and walked away. Crying to die, Red crawled towards Cole. Steel stopped, he looked down to his left. He seen his shield and looked ahead. Red cried for death. Cole smiled.

Suddenly! Cole kicked his shield into the ground. It busted out of the land. Dirt and grass were throw into the sky. Red never felt so happy. The shield flew through the air as blood spluttered all over as it spanned. Digging itself into the rock of the mountain. Red's body fell, headless. Blood pouring out into a puddle of blood.

Something walked beside Cole; it was the soul Red. The spirit didn't like this, but it was much better than being with that sword. Cole walked to the wall of stone, taking his shield. Pulling it over him.

" Follow me, Red," Cole ordered.

Cole jumped high into the sky! As his momentum torn him down. He took his leg and pushed on the wall of stone. It catapulted him higher. He saw as he flew past the cave. He starts to fall. Landing at edge of the cave's entrance.

The cave wasn't that deep. Cole already could see a man dicing in the dark. He felt to reach out and touch the dying man. And he did. Cole absorbed the dying man’s soul. Red was sucked into the dying man's body.

A voice inside Cole's mind,' Now, put your hands over the wound. And I shall heal him.' As crazy as it sounded, Cole did what he was told. Placing his hand over the wound of Red. Suddenly, the wound heals. And Red felt like a new man.

Red was over excited as he paraded around to small cave. He stopped as he seen the seriousness upon Cole's face. Red wondered what he was thinking, what he planned on doing. Red stopped forward.

" You will do what I say now," Cole demanded." If you disobey I will kill you and your soul will be forever devoured into the Diamond of Akuma for all eternity."

Red felt his second chance fade quickly. He couldn't do nothing but listen to Cole. There was no way out. If he killed himself, he is sent to the Wasteland of Burning Rock where he would be torture for night and day, forever and ever.

He felt powerless, and he truly was. He was human again, but with no honor. Suddenly, he left the weight of all his wrongdoings weigh down upon him. Feeling like he was going to be crushed under the weight.

" What will you have me do, Cole sir?" Red asked shamefully.

Cole smiled.

" I'll have you teach me to be a legendary swordsman," Cole answered." Once your job is done, I will free you."

It didn't sound so bad to Red at first, and only at first. Until he began to wonder what he planned to do with his skill. Hurt others, take their souls and continue to do it forever and ever.

Red thought, what's one more wrongdoing? When he an entire lifetime to repay them. He nodded to Cole, telling him he was convinced. Red soon thought if he lies about letting him free.

(In the Antinite Region)

The sun weighed heavy on the land. In the dusky arena of the Antinite Region. Swords clashed and denting of shields. Long days of training were in the two combatants. Driven only by thought when all additional energy is drained.

The arena was large. The building material they used to build it was stone. The stands were empty. Old and worn down the arena was. The sunshine gave the stands a yellowish color when they were a dark brown.

The two stood at a standoff. They struggled even to breathe. The dust blew in the wind. Their armor cut and dented. Struggling to stand the combatants felt. They charged for the final duel.

Shield and sword flying in the air. Giving all what they had left. Smashing and crashing of swords. They kicked each other away. They felt to fall and quit, but they didn't.

" Why don't you give up? Your no true Antinite!" The Master Swordsman asked.

The Master Swordsman of the Antinites had known nothing of Fred. Fred committed all his life to Taekwondo, honoring himself 4th Dan blackbelt. Days and days of intense training he underwent. In Fred's eyes, this wasn't very different, and very similar.

Rod and Chloe sat in the stands watching Fred's trial to be a Swordsman. The Antinite he fought was a master swordsman. He wasn't too old, he wasn't too young. He was a warrior in his prime. He was the one trained the whole Antinite Forces. They just asked and the Antinite gave Fred a sword and forwarded to the fight.

" I'll fight to the bitter end!" Fred yelled as he charged wildly.

The Master Swordsman pulled his sword, ready for Fred's strike. Suddenly, Fred tossed his sword at his opponent. Frightened, he ducked under the swinging sword. He stood back up and stared out. The Master Swordsman lost sight of his opponent.

Suddenly! The Master Swordsman flew up, flipping in the air. Crashing on the dusky ground. As he got up, Fred had his sword at his throat. And Fred had won the two days long of fighting.

" Yield?" Fred asked.

Fred was changed back to human. It was too different being an Antinite, but Rod stayed an Antinite. Fred knew Rod wasn't good at being a human, but being something else made it different.

The Master Swordsman smiled as he got to his feet. He nodded. He nothing more to teach Fred. Chloe introduced the two. If he was an Antinite, he should know how to fight like one or at least know how to know the sword.

The Master Swordsman had strict rules on accepting new students. Words of Fred being Agin Gumo forced him to let go some of his rules. And Fred proved all doubt wrong by defeating the teacher in battle.

If he had fought a valiant battle and lost, he'd receive the Master Swordsman's teachings. Winning a long battle had shown him that Fred needed not his teachings. Fred understood an unbreakable spirit, great swordsmanship qualities, and good heart. He knew the bitterness of hard training, the salty feeling of criticism no one likes to hear, and finally the sweet feeling victory. He was the complete warrior.

" Will you teach him Growler?" Chloe asked.

Growler looked to the benches that surrounded the arena, where Chloe and Rod sat.

" No need, he already is a great swordsman," Growler answered.

Fred couldn't believe it. He didn't think he was worthy to be told that by a master swordsman. This renewed his lost strength. He felt stronger than ever, his training and hard work had paid off. He was now a worthy Antinite Knight of the Insect Empire.

Growler walked over, standing face-to-face with Fred. He smiled. Fred knelt down, and hung his head. Growler laid the blade of his sword lightly over Fred's left shoulder. And soon over his right shoulder.

Rod and Chloe jumped to their feet. They were shocked, having Fred being deemed a knight so soon. Chloe the most surprised. Rod knew Fred was a master in the martial arts but in the swordsman art, not so much. He felt surprised being shown that Fred can be master in anything that dealt with war and conflict with weapons and pure force.

" Now, rise Sir Fred, Antinite Knight," Growler announced.

A look of feeling honored was upon Fred's face as he risen to his feet. Standing straight in his armor, sword, and shield. Wearing the insect emblem along with the colors, green and yellow. It was a strong and wonderful feeling.

Growler seen that Fred knew sacrifice. To keep going when your body disagrees. Muscles ache and ache even more as you push more. Sweat and more sweat pour like water down your face. As the salty feeling of your sweat burns your eyes, but you don't wipe it off. In the burning heat of early morning, when your dressed in full uniform. For years you do this, Fred knew what it meant.

Three scouts stepped foot onto the arena. They were in full Antinite Knight uniform. The chain mail and the emblem of the insect colored green and yellow. Their feet thumping on the ground. Growler and Fred stood waiting for them to meet face-to-face. Soon they peered into one another's eyes. Growler awaited for the new they were here to report.

" Commander Growler, Crocs and Stingers are camped outside of the Antinite Region," The leading scout reported.

Growler sat beside King along with Henry in rank and friendship. King ruled the Antinite Region out of wisdom and reason. War was Growler's business. Henry controlled the supplies and maintaining the Antinite Region.

Rulers of the Antinite Region are elected by the concern for his people, the ability to act, and skills with the sword. He needs to center all his decisions on what's best for his people. He can't hesitate or be afraid to run into action. And he needs to rival Growler with the sword. These are what define the rulers of Antinite Region.

Fred watched what course of action Growler would take. Would he attack head-on? Or fortify and await the aid of allies? Fred remembers that the Battletoad Forces were already on their way.

Growler took awhile to think about it. He didn't want to fight, but he just didn't want them to gain more man. And he knew that Joseph would be arriving late in the day. He decided to attack at nightfall.

" Tell King to prepare to attack at sunrise and the arrive of Joseph with his forces," Growler decided.

The scouts agreed completely that it was the correct course of action as they bow to their superior officer. So did Fred, he assumed that Growler was wise in the fields of battle. Fred would follow him anywhere, had he be wise and hard when he had to.

Rod and Chloe stepped into the arena with the others to see what was going on. War did not concern those two. One was a priestess and the other a low-life of earth. They were only concern of how many widows and fatherless children war created.

" Right away sir!" The leader of the scouts answered.

Rod and Chloe watched the three scouts leave. They looked to Growler and Fred on what he decided to do. Looking with curious eyes.

Growler and Fred walked to leave the arena. Rod and Chloe ran after them. They thought it was best not to ask. They left to the West Gate of the Antinite Region.

Hours passed, it was already the middle of the day. Fred and the others had gotten some food and rest. And so they sat and waited for Joseph and his forces to arrive. The sun began to set.

The sounds of a thousands feet marching. The great high gates were being pushed open slowly. As it opened, rows and rows of Battletoads marched. They gazed unblinking on where they walked. Their armor had a lot of spikes and shiny. Great thick swords they held. Large wide shields. Some with big flails and axes. Wearing the insect emblem with the colors green and yellow. This initialized the alliance the Antinites and Battletoads had. Companies upon companies march into the Antinite Region. At the last to walk through the gates was Joseph the greatest of all Battletoads.

His troops marched and marched into the courtyard of the Antinite Region. As Joseph met with Growler. They walked off alone. Fred and the others followed by behind.

It seemed Growler and Joseph was the best of friends, like a brothership. They laughed and walked. Getting caught up with all the new things they’re going through. Looking that they haven't seen each other since the last war.

" Chloe, how did Growler and Joseph know each other?" Fred asked.

Fred felt to know there was still a lot he didn't know. Feeling eager to know, he was.

" Ten years ago in the last war they served together," Chloe answered." Antinites and Battletoads were paired up in companies. And Growler and Joseph were in the same company."

It made sense to Fred. He wondered how the last war was, and why it was. Who was the ruler in that time? Was he wise or headstrong and only wanted power? The question just gave Fred more questions.

Suddenly, Fred felt sleepy. He looked to the others, asking if they were tired as well. They nodded. They all followed Chloe to the Inn. Rod and Fred got rooms free for being soldiers in the Antinite Militia. Chloe left them and headed to her own house.

Their room had two beds. One big dresser, a closet and a bedside table with a lamp on top were found inside. Curtains and bare walls decorated the room. No special paintings, only white colored the walls.

Rod and Fred took off their entire armor, setting down their swords. Fred fell in his bed, so happy to be at ease. All his muscles were sore and tense. Rod didn't know how great a cozy bed was after a long day of training. Fred was at peace and finally let go of everything. Feeling all his sores and bruises, it all gave him the feeling of accomplishment.

Rod wondered if Fred was really going to join the battle tomorrow. He felt concern about his friend. What if he got stabbed or hurt or worse? Rod was too scared to even think about fighting in a real battle.

" Fred, are you really going to fight tomorrow?" Rod asked." That's really a 'Cole' thing to do."

Fred looked at him like he was crazy. Why wouldn't he want to fight in war? It was for a noble cause, to protect and fight for this land. Fight for those who can not defend themselves. Philosophies Fred grows up with. And he finally got a chance to go live it. To feel what it was like to go through. Cole would only fight to see how'd it feel like to kill someone, to hurt someone.

" It’s the right thing to do," Fred answered solemnly.

Rod was shocked by his answer. He thought, Fred didn't even know how these people were. They could be on the wrong side. What could Fred bring to do fight? It’s just one more warrior thrown into the mix. Fred was no Demon; the Omio brings so much to the battle. Where Fred will only kill a few, where Demon will kill so much more.

" Let’s hope so," Rod added.

Fred didn't think of much of Rod's words. He rolled to his side and trying to sleep. For Fred, it was always difficult to get to sleep in a new bed. He did try. Rod closed the light and fell asleep.

Next morning, Fred rolled over. He opened his eyes, seeing Demon standing over them. A serious look in his eyes. Fred knew something was wrong.

" What's happened? They didn't start without his did they?" Fred asked.

Demon smiled, and gave a little laugh.

" No, and its why I come," Demon answered." There would be no battle without you. Take your socks, and follow."

Demon walked out of the room. Fred got up, seeing Rod wasn't dressed in his armor. Fred quickly got dressed. Sliding on his chain mail, the shoulder plates, breastplate, gauntlets, the green and yellow cloth, and his specially made helmet. He peered at Rod with his eyes, only visible thing on his head. He grabbed his shield and sword. Smiled at Rod and ran out.

Rod just sat there, bitter and unwilling. Staring at the floor wondering. He felt cowardly and scared.

Outside the North Gate, the sun looking down on the land. The cold wind of the night still hung over the land. The grass was wet as dried in the wind. Dust blowing in the wind.

Antinites and Battletoads lined up behind the gate. They spreaded out to each side of the horizon. Standing in full plated armor and weapons. Their faces unbreaking and unshaken. Willing to face death honorably.

In front of all the men, stood King, Joseph, Demon, Henry, Growler, and Fred. The men found hope standing behind Demon. They knew he was a Leoryi and Omio. Even if they die, it was an honor to fight along side a Chosen Warrior of Gaia.

Demon had his wings fully expanded, as feathers floated down onto the ground, but his wings were black now. Fred stood on his horse; he called his horse Philip. The Antinites stood their back legs, with four arms holding swords in each.

At the North horizon, Giant Stingers flew in the air. Crocs snarled and growled standing with their weapons swinging, eager to start the battle. Covering the top of the hill from West to East. Looking very intimidating if you stood between the two warring sides, alone.

King and Joseph looked to Demon. They felt proud to have Demon fight with them. Looking back at their man, admiring their loyalty. They looked to each other, pulling out their swords and holding them up.

" For the good of the Insect Empire!" King yelled out.

The Antinites and Battletoads erupted in cheers! Waving their weapons up in the air. King ran into the battle, the others ran behind him. The Crocs ran into battle snapping their great jaws as the Stingers ascended down to attack.

Nearing closer and closer the two factions were. King leading his army. He smashed his shield into the Croc he faced. His three swords slashed the Crocs on his sides. Stabbing those around him and those that challenged him.

The two sides rammed into each other. Flailing swords and axes. The jaws of the Crocs snapping at those that aimed to kill them. Battletoads leaping high in the air by their hind-legs, stabbing into the Stingers. Some Battletoads got the end of the needles of the Stringers. Antinites was swinging all four swords at their opponents. Some four Crocs all jumped jaws opened at a single Antinite Knight. The Antinite fought one or two but the jaws of the Crocs snapped off its neck.

One Croc managed to break all four swords of an Antinite Knight. The Croc jumped at him with his axe ready to strike, but the Antinite’s pincers caught him. The axe came up, cutting up the thorax of the Antinite. Suddenly, the Croc's head was snapped off. Both warriors dying.

Battletoads jumping at the Stingers and Crocs. Stingers defending against the attacking Battletoads as they some go after Antinites. Antinites on guard for both Stingers and Croc or any combination of the two. Each faction losing equal amounts of soldiers. Needles, jaws, pincers, and tongue were used as weapons. Antinites and Battletoads used a good mixture of swords and shield along their pincers and tongue.

Antinite Knight fighting off five Stingers. One Stinger moved in for a strike with its needle. The Antinite turned a swinging sword he threw. The gena of the Stringer was sliced off. At the moment the four others moved in for the kill. Their wings flapping so fast as they speeded at the Antinite. All were stinging at once. Stabbing their needles into the Antinite's thorax. Knowing he has little time. He takes hold of the remaining of his three swords. The ends of the swords dug their selves into the scutum of the Stingers. Their body juices leaked out of the wound. The Antinite snapped his pincers a few times. The Stinger grew scared, before he could fly away. His gena was snapped off. The venom of the needles took its toll and the Antinite fell died.

Four hovering Stingers surrounded a Battletoad. He turned and looked at each one. He knew he might take one, but they'll get him. If he doesn't jump, they all get him anyway rather he attacks or not. The Stingers closed in little by little. The Battletoad jumped at one. Held up his shield, the needle stabbed through his shield. He leaned over, looking what was behind his shield. Takes his sword, slices off the Stinger's gena. At that second, other three move on the one Battletoad. He looked back, pulled his shield out of the needle. Pushing off the dead Stinger. Pulling it front him once more, it got caught in another needle. He stabbed his sword through his own shield, jamming the end of his sword into the gena of the Stinger. He takes his right leg, kicking the gena of the Stinger on his left. The one on his right got its needle into his torso. He fell, feeling the poison injected into his body. The Stinger laughed in victory. The Battletoad smiled as his tongue wiped out. Catch the Stinger's gena, ripping it off.

An axe flew through the sky, catching a lot of heads of the Antinite at sharp end. One Antinite Knight knocked it out of the way. They step face to face with each other, some distance between the two warriors. As killing and stabbing went on around them. They drop their weapons, snapping their jaw and pincers. The Antinite was the first to strike. Its pincers were by the arms of the Crocs. The Croc struggled to hold back the pincers from breaking his arms. The gaster came up behind the Antinite's back legs! Croc frightened jumped back. As he jumped, the two arms of the Antinite smacked him. He fall flat on his back, he looked up seeing his enemy moving on the final strike. The Croc hesitated. Out of desperation he leaped at the Antinite, jaws fully extended. The collided, the Croc had the Antinite's head completely inside his jaw. The Antinite's pincers fit around the Croc's head nicely and then some. They stood in that position in for awhile. At the same time, the Croc crushed its enemy’s head. And the Croc's top half of its head was cut clean off. The two warriors died instantly.

A tongue wiping everywhere, snapping necks and gena's clean off. Speeding back into the Battletoads mouth. Five Stingers swarmed around, shooting out each of their needles. Two caught both his legs; the poison disabled his hind-legs. Three other needles aimed for the torso and head. The Battletoad thought quickly. He leaned down, his tongue snapped out. Its tongue catapulted up at the same level as the Stingers. His tongue quickly recoiled and came wipping out again. He spanned a complete three-sixty around, the gena of all five of the Stingers were caught. Breaking them clean off their scutum. Falling, crashing onto the ground. The poison spreaded through his whole body. Destroying all nerves as its body went from green to blue. Finally attacking its head, living the Battletoad lifeless.

Two swords flew through the air spinning. Killing a hand full of Crocs. The Antinite still holding two. Spinning his arms in an up and down and around motion. Cutting anything that came within the motion of the swords. His arms came together, covering his frontal side. One Croc noticed up coming towards. Thinking quickly, he leaped up over the Antinite. As he turned facing the back of the Antinite. He threw his axe, catching the Antinite in the back of its head. The Antinite fell limp as the Croc landed on its feet. He looked to the corner of his right eye. A Battletoad jumped at him but only hit the tail of the Croc he aimed to kill. The Croc leaped at the Battletoad, jaws extended fully. Scratching against the land, the Battletoad flipped landing on his feet. As he looked up, his whole body was caught in the Croc's jaw. He snapped it shut, biting the Battletoad into two. The Croc felt something in his stomach. He looked down, seeing a sword jammed right through his body. He looked at the Battletoad he just killed, died with a smile on his face. He turned in front of him. A spear came flying, pierced right through his head. The wooden end of the spear was still inside the head of the Croc as the sharp end was caught in the ground. The Croc fell, sliding the spear back in as the sharp end was in the head of the Croc.

Flying through the air, slicing Stingers left and right. Demon ruled the skies, until a grouped assault of needles caught his wings. His wings paralyzed, he began to fall. A swarm of Stingers attacked him needles first. Demon sliced off countless gena's of stingers just after cutting off their needles. Flipped, as he landed. His braced, creating a small crater. Crocs streamed into the crater, axes at the ready. He jumped slightly, he stomped down hard. A wall earth and rock shielded as Crocs rammed straight into it. One took hold of his axe before he could swing; Demon's large thick sword busted out the earth. Catching the Croc in the torso. The Crocs regrouped and ran for another strike.

Suddenly! Demon leaped out of earth shield. He came crashing into the land crater, sword first into the ground. Between the earth and Demon's heads was his sword and the Croc he killed. Pulling it out, he looked at the dozen of Crocs holding thirsty axes. Demon's eyes looked up so did the Crocs. Demon smiled, he jumped through middle of the Crocs. Swings his great sword, all the right half were sliced into two at their torso. One Croc looks down, seeing all the right side of his friends killed with one swing of the sword. Angry he charged, Demon laughed. His left foot stepped forward, his right came up. His knee came to his stomach; his foot pressing against the Crocs stomach as he turned to face the Croc's frightened face. Watching his friends run for their lives, he looks back into the Omio as he smiles.

" Should have ran," Demon said as he gave a little laugh.

His leg fully extended, the Croc shot like bullet into the ground. Breaking every bone in his body. He re-surfaced blasting out of the ground inside of the North Gate of the Antinites. Clouds and the wind picked up. It began raining, the droplets splashed on Demon's wings. Curing the poison, he flapped his wings as he jumps into the air.

A spear catches Fred's horse, he jumps off. As he gets, he begins throwing crescent-kicked left and right, catching each and every Croc or Stinger that came his way. Crushing, smashing the their heads on contact as the foot connects. One Croc comes charging, Fred looks. He jumps and twists, his back leg comes up for a jump spinning-kick. Hitting the right jaw of the Croc, snapping his neck instantly as he is sent flipping. He falls limp. Fred lands down, looks behind as a Stinger swoops down needle first. He doesn't turn, instead smacking his two heels together. Leans down, launching himself up for a backflip. Flipping several times in the air. As he is directly over the Stinger, his feet catch the vertex of the Stinger. The Stinger is throwing in a forward in a one-eighty degree, crashing into the ground. He lands down, hands up and readies protecting his torso. He looks to his backside once more.

A Croc rushes at him. His axe flies down, but the end is come between Fred's two hands slapped together just in time. Fred notices another one challenging him. Bale takes hold of the axe's wooden part, pulls it down slightly. His right comes up for an axekick. Hitting where the shoulder meets the neck. A sidekick to the neck, killing the Croc in that moment. He quickly turns to the other, he notices his jaws are open. He jumps, placing his feet at each end of the Croc's jaw. The jaws begin to snap shut. In that second, Fred gives off a bone-chilling yell. His higher is forced down as the left his forced up with such force ripping the top end of the Croc's head clean off.

" There's too many!" Rex, leader of the Crocs yells out." Retreat!"

The Battle is ended as the Crocs and Stingers retreat. Soon the fields are empty of living Crocs and Stingers. The field exploded in cheers and applause’s as weapons are waved high in the air.

Fred couldn't believe he lived through a full out war. He jumps and cheers with proud and happy feeling, but that is short lived as an Antinite walks by with a serious look. He suddenly felt hurt.

" We lost Henry and King," The Antinite told him.

Fred didn't know great people could be lost just like that. Such great warriors you don't think would fall had fallen. He felt a little better as Demon walked up to up.

" Hero always die young, dying for what they believe," Demon said." Don't feel bad kid. You just lived through a real life battle without swinging a sword."

Fred smiled as he looked back with his sword still in its sheath.