Zarius moved; almost against his will, but yet as he desired. It was as if Lucien was at the helm of a vessel, and at the same time Zarius was also controlling the steerage of the vessel’s course. A blend of ebb and flow, back and forth, pull and push as both controlled Lucien’s body.
They dashed to the left, letting out a loud cry as they used Growl. The audible shockwave of the sound blasted out and the Haunter visibly recoiled from the sound before it spun to face them. It’s mouth opened, and a spray of deep, purple mist shot out.
Zarius and Lucien tried to dodge back out of it, but the mist chased them and brushed against their fur. It burned their fur and bit into the flesh below, eliciting a yelp of pain from the duo as they regained their footing. Ground Type moves are useless, Lucien thought.
Then we Bite it! Zarius thought back with bloodlust as they opened their mouth and chomped. Spectral, phantasmal jaws appeared above the Haunter and clamped down, ripping away some of the shadowy substance the Pokémon was comprised of.
Another acid spray was flung out at the duo, and they took the hit on the rear, left flank – suffering the burn before retaliating with another Bite.
It became a battle of endurance – Lucien and Zarius’ single attack that could affect their foe, which was twice as effective, and the Acid Spray that it used in retaliation. There was no dodging their Move, and the duo could feel their bloodlust rising. The scent of copper hit their nostrils, and their rings turned a deep crimson as the frenzy for battle surged up.
It was comforting, to Zarius, in a way. Not the same as when he was in his body fighting which was more like a rapturous, religious experience. This was primal, guttural. It felt like when he was mating with Corina, when he gave into that animalistic side that sought nothing more but base instincts. He could feel the pulsating blood oozing out of the burns on his flesh, felt the matted fur, and felt alive.
Hurt, but alive.
And yet that pain was alleviated by the Pact of Yveltal, as shadows gently danced underneath them and slowly soothed the wounds away.
The Haunter, on the other hand, did not seem to have any way to heal, and the fight was all but a foregone conclusion. Yet Zarius and Lucien reveled in the carnage, using Bite over and over as the Haunter kept recoiling away and faltering.
After a pain, anger, and frenzy-filled thirty seconds, the Haunter fell to the ground. Zarius and Lucien made to leap forward; to rend, to tear, devour. Destroy. Utterly annihilate and show dominance.
But the Duelist’s Ward glowed a bright, green hue; the soft glow encompassing the Haunter. Despite Zarius and Lucien using another Bite, the billowing, fluctuating barrier absorbed the hit – though it was greatly reduced.
Then, a blast of water slammed into them, bowling them backward into the dirt and mud. Zarius and Lucien looked up with pure bloodlust as they saw the Lapras and Bayleef take up protective positions over the Haunter.
“It’s over!” Bradley shouted. “You won!” his voice sounded more pleading than authority filled.
Zarius and Lucien glanced over at Wilson, watching the man stalk towards his body. No! Zarius thought.
Return to your body, Lucien thought back. Focus your will on that.
Zarius focused his gaze on his body, felt the world go back, and woke up back in his physical form. I’m back.
“You are. The Grass Type approaches,” Yveltal stated.
Mary stirred and stood up, rubbing her temples, “Ouch,” she muttered.
Zarius stood, with Corina right next to him, as Bradley stomped over and screamed. “You had won! You kept going!” He made to push Zarius back, but Corina’s wing flicked up and got in the way.
Zarius frowned, “I was caught in the bloodlust.”
“That’s not natural!” Wilson shouted. “Nothing about that is natural!” He looked to Mary, “This fucking Trainer, he’s not just a Trainer. He’s something else.”
Corina scowled and barked back, “You’re just jealous of Lord Zarius’ power, and that he has me serving him in every way.” She filled that word with as much innuendo as she could muster.
Wilson’s face became redder, “I don’t know what you’re-”
Mary got in between Wilson and Zarius, “Enough. We all know you and Corina had a short fling. She’s not into you anymore. Leave it be.” She glanced back to Zarius, “You bested me fair and square. Hand me your silver badge.”
Zarius reached to his belt-bandolier and handed it to her. She took it, moved her hand to her hip pouch, and produced a gold badge that Zarius slotted into the belt. “Thank you,” he stated.
Mary sighed and looked back to the still-infuriated Wilson, “Just let it go. He’s never done a merged battle before. And given that Dark Types tend to be battle hungry, well, I figured this might happen. It’s why I told you two to show up.” She looked over Wilson’s shoulder, “Thank you, Bradley.”
“No problem,” the young man sheepishly replied.
Lucien padded over to Zarius and merged with his shadow, drawing on the healing powers of Mending Darkness to cure his wounds.
Mary threw her Apricorn at her downed Haunter, and after a brief flash of white-grey, the Pokémon vanished and the seed flashed back to her hand. “Now, if you don’t mind – I’m going to go and get something to soothe my Haunter’s wounds.” She left the training field and began walking away.
Zarius looked to Wilson and scowled at him, “You should go with your guild master.”
The man looked between Zarius, and Corina, and shook his head. “No! You’re not natural. You’re something else. You shouldn’t be a Trainer.” He shook with rage, “I challenge you to the death!”
Bradley gasped, and even Mary who was partway down the trail back to town turned around suddenly. “I forbid it!” she shouted.
Zarius felt his blood pumping. The Urge coming on him as his vision narrowed down to see only Wilson’s angered face. “I accept your challenge,” Zarius replied. He looked to Mary who had stomped back to the training area. He drew his sword and pointed to the Duelist’s Ward, “Remove that, Herald.”
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Corina walked over and pulled the object from the ground, returning to Mary and shoving it into her hands.
“I can’t allow this,” Mary stated as she reached a hand up to an Apricorn.
Wilson’s teeth grit ever tighter, and he barked out, “You don’t own me.”
She sighed, “Very well. To the death. I will witness.” She sat on the bench. “Zarius, as the challenged, you get to choose the terms.”
Zarius felt full of vibrant energy as the moon rose ever higher into the sky. He could feel the shadows billowing around him, the sheer power of the Dark infusing him with vitality as Lucien used Helping Hand on him. “We fight, one on one. Moves and Abilities. No Pokémon.”
Wilson nodded in affirmation as he turned and stomped to the center of the field, “Done.” He took up a ready position with his short spear and shield.
Bradley walked over to Mary and sat on the bench next to her, almost shrinking into her as she wrapped a comforting arm around him.
Corina shouted, “He was lousy in bed, and he’s a fool for challenging you.”
Wilson looked at her and screamed, “I’ll fucking come for you next once I kill this one!”
Zarius glanced down at Lucien’s eyes, barely visible in the shadows next to the nape of his neck. “Go sit next to my Herald. And keep an eye on his Bayleef. If the Pokémon tries to get involved…”
Lucien popped out of his shadow and walked over next to the Bayleef, giving a slight nod of understanding as Zarius squared off against Wilson.
Zarius gripped the Claw of Yveltal and could feel the surging energy along the blade. He felt his heart hammering, The Urge rising up in him as he felt a desire to conquer. To show dominance. To utterly destroy and proclaim sovereignty over his foe.
Mary shouted, “Begin!”
Wilson was fast, instantly throwing up his hand as a storm of razor-sharp leaves burst outward and sliced at Zarius. They impacted him and began tearing holes through his clothes and cutting into his flesh.
Bite, Zarius thought as he raised his hand and clutched down in a claw. The maw appeared, snapped down on Wilson’s shoulder, and interrupted the stream of leaves. Double Team, he thought as his body vibrated and his evasion increased. He ran forward, bringing the sword around in a lopping swipe.
Wilson raised his shield and blocked the blow, but there was extra force behind it as a shimmering screen of pink appeared to blunt the damage. He stabbed forward, and Zarius tilted his hips to the left as the end stabbed past him.
Bite! Zarius used the Move again as the shadowy mouth bit down on Wilson’s head, eliciting a scream of pain from the man as blood began to pour down from the wounds.
The man lowered his head and delivered a vicious headbutt to Zarius’ face, sending the Dark Trainer staggering back as he tasted the blood on his lips. It caused his heart to race even faster, and he could feel the pulsating go all the way up to his head, resounding in his temples like a drum being bashed by mallets. Every pulse carried the intent behind it. Kill. Kill. Kill.
Lash Out! Zarius thought as he reversed all the damage. A beam of black energy surged forward from just above his shoulder, slamming into Wilson and knocking him backward. The beam carved a bloody gouge along his chest.
Wilson growled out in pain and slammed his foot onto the ground. A spire of rock shot up and slammed into Zarius from below, sending him into the sky a good five feet. As he tried to spin to land on his feet, Wilson’s spear came in and jabbed him from below, impaling him as he fell down onto it. Right through the gut.
Corina screamed in horror, “No! Lord Zarius!”
Zarius felt the intense pain shoot through his body, and as Wilson dumped him to the side, he made eye contact with the man. Lash Out, Zarius thought with glee as the shadowy spike darted out and impaled Wilson through the stomach. He staggered back as a hole appeared in guts, and he coughed up blood as he kept his footing.
Zarius felt the Mending Darkness fix his body, but he also had other gear. I will win this. Winning is all that matters. Surviving is all that matters. Showing my dominance is all that matters! As he stood up, he made sure to keep his action hidden as he drew and quaffed a potion from his bandolier, slipping the vial back into place as he finished his turn to face Wilson. We never agreed to no items, he thought with manic delight as Wilson still stood, heavily injured.
The man glowed with a green light as his wounds sealed over. “I can heal, too!” he shouted as he unleashed another storm of razor-sharp leaves that sliced into Zarius.
Double Team, Zarius thought as he stacked another two uses of the Move to increase his evasion even more. His skin vibrated; he could feel the buzzing along his flesh as he moved deftly through the leaf storm. He was still hit a few times, but much of the assault missed as he raised his hand and used another Bite to interrupt the attack.
Rushing forward to the flinched Trainer, Zarius brought his sword up for a stab. But Wilson was able to slam his foot into the ground, sending a pillar shooting up into Zarius once more.
This time, however, Zarius was able to roll mid-air, and was close enough that he could swing out. Wilson screamed as his arm was severed and flopped onto the ground, the shield held in the hand completely useless as the muscles flexed. Blood poured out of the stump, and the man looked queasy as he vomited.
Zarius landed and grabbed him by the stump, eliciting a scream of pain as he pulled the man onto the point of his sword. Zarius laughed, a maniacal laugh as he stabbed over and over and over into Wilson’s body. His form kept glowing as he blew through whatever healing Move he had at his disposal, but Zarius kept his grip on the stump and kept stabbing into his ribcage, up and into the organs.
The squishing of flesh, the schlorp of the blade retracting, the spurts of blood that coated Zarius left him in a state of religious ecstasy as he felt fulfilled. This is what we were meant for, they thought. No more calm, gentle death! Violence! Blood! They exalted in the slaughter of the Grass Type Trainer.
When the body finally stilled, Zarius let the corpse fall to the ground. He was sucking in deep breaths and looked over to the audience.
Mary looked resolute. Horrified, but resolute. As if she knew this was a possible outcome, or had maybe even seen such an event before.
Bradley was terrified. He was hiding behind Mary, and his Lapras had moved over to him to protect him.
Corina looked utterly enthralled, her mouth agape as she practically worshipped Zarius with her gaze alone.
Wilson’s Bayleef let out a cry of sadness before turning and running toward the fields. Zarius was about to order Lucien after it, but Mary’s voice interrupted. “You have won.” She stood up and walked over to the still-blood-soaked Zarius, “I will take his Apricorns and release his Pokemon back to the wild. You are still welcome at the Guild Hall and may take Quests…but I would encourage you to leave.”
“I planned on it,” Zarius replied as he sheathed his sword and looked over at Corina and Lucien, “Come, Herald. We depart.”
Mary gently grabbed the hem of his cloak, causing him to turn to her. “Be a gentle legendary,” she whispered. “I saw the shadow of Yveltal over you, and have an idea about what is going on. But you calling Corina a Herald has confirmed it…maybe keep that part quiet.” She sighed and let him go. “Please be a gentle death.”
“Death will come for those whose time has come, in whatever form necessary,” they replied.
“I suppose that’s the best I can ask for,” Mary replied as she knelt, stripped the Trainer Belt and bandolier with the Apricorns from Wilson’s body, and threw them to the side. A large boulder appeared from one of them and immediately tunneled into the ground. “I’ll deal with the corpse.”
“Let me,” they replied as they raised their hand, the shadow essence billowing out and consuming the Trainer’s corpse.
-----
[Combat Concluded]
[Experience Awarded: 350]
[Bonus from Harvester of Life: 175]
[Total Experience: 525]
[You have Leveled Up!]
-----
The corpse vanished, and Mary glanced at Zarius, “Handy.” She sighed, “Wilson was a good man, but even good men make poor decisions.” She stood up, “Our Guild will be short on Trainers for some time, but I can find more. Take care.” She turned and headed to town.
Bradley stared at Zarius with fear and some level of either remorse or anger – Zarius could not tell nor did not care. The young Water Trainer turned and followed Mary along with his Lapras.
Corina walked over to him and gave him a kiss on the lips, caressing his body as he returned the passionate expression. “My Lord,” she said pulling back and heaving deep breaths. “Let’s depart.”
Zarius cracked a smile, “To more bloodshed and Experience. To our ascension.” He ran a hand along her forehead, brushing her hair out of her face and leaving a bloody streak. “Where to next, my Herald?” he whispered.
She smiled softly, “Wherever you like…but the two closest Guild Halls aside from the capital are north in Laverre, and south in Anistar.”
“Laverre it is,” Zarius replied as he faced the north, “Come. We depart.”
Thus concludes the first arc of the story! Next up in the Kalos Kingdom they travel north, which will see Zarius encountering his first dungeon (taking inspiration from Pokémon Mystery Dungeon), making his way to the new Guild Hall, and dealing with the nobility for the first time in a significant fashion!
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