The Zodiac: Chapter 24

“Alright boys and girls lets hit it!” Capricorn shouted as he urged his horse forward. He and the other riders shouted in agreement as they charged forward. They had circled around as the two armies collided and they could see from this distance that the resistance was being pushed around. They were standing their ground but they were outnumbered. That was where they came in.

Capricorn stood in the saddle and leaned forward. His troops had spears in one hand and swords at their hips but he was just wearing his gauntlets. As they approached the army some were able to turn and see them approaching. However, it was too late to form any sort of defensive line. The riders gathered into a spear head formation two men thick with Capricorn at the lead.

Capricorn urged his horse to run to the side as he himself leaped high. He caught his arc and then forced himself downward energy coursing through his body. “Kick Capricorn!” He shouted and like an explosion he doubled his descent speed. He crashed into the army through dirt, smoke and soldiers into the air.

Seconds later the cavalry slammed into their side. The chaotic front end of the battle gained a chaotic side now as the charge pushed forward. Capricorn however became a one-man spear kicking and punching his way forward. He didn’t let his momentum take a hit as he carved his path.

He halted almost immediately as he saw Gemini. The twin was stranded in enemy territory, a line of retreating resistance behind him. This must have been a push that had gone awry. Running to his side he had to slide low to the ground to avoid getting his head cut.

“Yo Gem relax. It’s me.”  Capricorn shouted before realizing it was only half of the twin. “Not Gem. Luce. Where’s Umbra?”

Luce shook his head as he fought to catch his breath. Capricorn stepped forward quickly holding his arm out. “Capricorn Pierce.” His arm stopped a sword swing cold and he turned kicking the soldier back and into a cluster.

Capricorn stamped his foot on the ground before whirling around and kicking the air. The force from the kick was so strong it created a shockwave barreling over a group of soldiers. Leaning forward for a moment, the wind taken out of him he was a bit slow to react as a soldier came at him with a spear.

Luce jumped forward and swung his sword at them quickly, cutting the soldier’s head clean off their shoulders. Capricorn jumped backwards quickly raising his hands. “Alright, leave that kinda stuff to Virgo.”

“Got separated. Now Umbra’s looking for Cancer.” Luce said quickly. “Once he finds him, we merge together and we stop him. If we can do that much than maybe we can stop this before it gets any worse.”

Capricorn glanced at him with surprise. It was good logic but clearly Luce wasn’t at his best right now. “Be careful brother. You two aren’t exactly peak soldier when on your own.”

“I don’t plan on staying this way.” Luce said. “Good luck Cap.”

With that he started running back trying to make sure that their people were protected. He found the back of a royal soldier and jumped off it. With a quick flip he found himself by familiar bodies. Capricorn could still sense his brother in the distance but his mind was elsewhere.

He heard the boom of thunder before he saw the flash of lightning. There was an explosion in the ground and he saw horses flying. There was another explosion like the first and the sound of animals in pain made Capricorn cringe.

“Alright sheep. Let’s see how you like this. Zodiac Capricorn!” Like a focused lance his constellation shot forward and showed him his path. He dashed forward a total blur of movement and as he knocked soldiers aside in his slipstream.

His gaze filtered up as he saw the growing spot of light in the air. He could guess where Aries was going to land next and he was going to intercept. The first rumbling of the thunder hit his ears and he focused his constellation into his legs. “Kick Capricorn!”

Shooting himself into the air he spun around quickly his legs arced, slamming into the living bolt of lightning. Aries spear point collided with his foot freezing them in the air for the barest of a second. Aries glanced at the goat before his charge was redirected. The air exploded and both were sent spiraling in opposite directions. Capricorn crashed into the ground his eyes unfocused.

Dizzily getting to his feet his constellation formed around him almost like armor. He heard the sound of thunder and knew the sheep was back in action. Crouching low he stretched one leg and then the other before leaping into the air again.

The goat’s fist met the tip of Aries electrified spear and he fought to resist it. Almost a knee jerk reaction he punched him with his free arm. Aries didn’t see it coming and was sent spiraling into the ground. Surprised and still wired from the first contact he forced himself forward.

Exploding forward Capricorn angled down at the sheep. Aries landed onto his feet and quickly swung his spear around hammer first. The force behind the hammer blow slammed into his leg sending the goat crashing into the ground.

Letting out a cry he quickly flipped to his feet as Aries crashed into the ground. Capricorn raised his fist as Aries dashed, thrusting his spear forward. Capricorn slammed his hands forward catching the spear before it hit his chest. The electricity jumped up his fingers and he struggled to keep the blade in place.

Aries narrowed his eyes seeing the resistance and then pulled back. He yanked Capricorn forward and spun around crashing the hammer down onto Capricorn’s shoulder. Capricorn screamed in pain as he stumbled back. His eyes shut and he fell down to his knee. Aries turned on his heel and his hammer slammed the hammer into the goat’s other knee.

Capricorn didn’t have the breath to scream again but the agony on his face was clear. Aries turned and pressed the tip of his spear against Capricorn’s forehead. “Those breaks will heal. But stand down Capricorn. I don’t want to cripple you.”

Capricorn raised his eyes slowly as he glared at the ram. “Stuff it… stupid sheep.” His constellation surged forward out of nowhere and filled him entirely. His body brimmed with it and his eyes rivaled Leo’s.

Aries saw it happen and his surprise caused him to hesitate. On his good leg Capricorn jumped forward. “Kick Capricorn Pierce!”

His constellation wrapped around him and his fist shot forward. He punched him in the chest and his constellation crashed into Aries’s. He shattered Aries’s armor and Aries coughed blood eyes wide. Aries stumbled backwards before falling onto his back. Capricorn stumbled forward his legs unable to hold him up. He fell onto the ground right next time. The pair of them remained still on the ground, becoming lost in the chaos of the battle.

Umbra jumped and hopped backwards as an arrow shot into the ground at his feet. His sword spun around as he cut another from the air. He jumped aside as a spear was thrust at him and narrowly avoided it.

Swirling around he dashed forward as an arrow whizzed past his face. It cut his cheek deeply and he grunted. Stumbling forward he reached out as a man thrust his spear at him again. Umbra grabbed it and then jumped forward. Placing his foot on the man’s head he spun over him and his eyes lit onto another arrow.

With a swift swing of his sword he cut it out of the air but his patience evaporated. “Enough of this. Gemini Tempest!” His body faded away, dragged away by the air and launching forward.

Sagittarius could see the wall of wind barreling toward her and she was shocked. She hadn’t seen Gemini’s second power before. She had just heard about it from Cancer and Scorpio. She reached back and drew another arrow before aiming up and shot it.

Umbra’s wind turned into the shape of Umbra as the arrow flew through him. The wind clone landed and blew Sagittarius onto her back. It spun a sword of wind around before thrusting it down at her.

She rolled backwards again and fired another arrow but the wind parted and it flew by harmlessly. He surged forward again and swinging. Sagittarius raised her bow and blocked the blade but the wind followed the swing slicing into her armor.

Her eyes widened stumbled to the side avoiding another swipe. Going down to one knee she drew another arrow and aimed it this time at the ground. “Zodiac Sagittarius.” She said calmly and let the arrow loose. The ground at his feet exploded and Umbra threw his hand up.

The wind stuttered and suddenly Umbra was standing with his sword in hand. Sagittarius with her glowing constellation chuckled softly. “There you are.” She crouched low and fired off three arrows. Umbra managed to block one but the other two hit him in the arm, the force sending him spinning backwards.

She pressed her advantage and dashed forward. She drew another arrow and jumped, landing on his shoulders. Umbra stared at her, stared at the arrow above his face and once again Sagittarius hesitated.

Umbra stared at her and suddenly the wind swept forward. It swirled around her like a tornado and lifted her off the ground. She shouted shocked as she was spun around and then thrown across the ground. Umbra raised his hand and Luce grabbed it, pulling him to his feet. “Told you to wait until I found him.”

Luce shook his head. “I got worried. And looks like you needed my help anyway.”

The two turned to Sagittarius who forced herself to sit up. She had drawn another arrow and the pair tensed. She smiled at them both and shook her head. Taking the arrow, she plunged it into the ground and laid her bow down flat. Her constellation faded away.

“If you want to find Cancer, he’s there.” She pointed at the back of the army on the raised slope of a hill. It was far enough away to avoid the battle but from there he would have vision of everything. He could even order commands if something needed to change.

The twins stared at the spot and then turned to look back at Sagittarius. “Why are you telling us this?” Umbra asked.

Sagittarius shook her head. “I don’t care what kind of punishment he’ll inflict if you fail. I’m putting my faith into you Gem. Take him down. End this.”

Umbra and Luce merged into one body and Gemini nodded. “That’s the plan.” With that he turned around and started running a sword in both hands. Letting loose his constellation he shouted as the wind took him and he started flying. It was a low flight but it was faster than running.

“Lord Cancer, there is something coming this way.”

Cancer raised his eyebrow and turned. The soldier pointed toward the rear of their army. He felt the energy. He felt the untamed nature of it and chuckled softly.

“There you are my friend. Soldier I leave command to you. Our guest is someone I want to see to personally.” Without hearing a response Cancer started forward. He reached behind him, taking both katars and pulled on them slowly making sure that the blades were ready.

Cancer felt the tug of guilt in his mind. The drastic actions he had taken. The changes in him that had taken years to manifest. The man he had once been would never have done the things that he was doing now. But he could see the future Daze had shown him. See the future that belonged to them. There was no going back.

He could hear the wind roaring in his ears and let his own constellation crash down like a wave. It slammed into Gemini but he didn’t stumble. Gemini landed on the ground roughly, the sounds of the fighting armies fading behind him as he attacked.

Cancer raised his katars swiftly and blocked them both with a smile. “Hello brother.”

Cancer jerked his arms back and knocked Gemini off balance. Gemini hopped backwards before merging his swords and swinging at him. Cancer blocked it with one katar and thrust the other at his exposed stomach.

Gemini’s eyes widened and instantly he separated into two bodies. Umbra stepped to the side his sword still locked by Cancer’s weapon. Luce however jumped to the side and then lunged at Cancer’s exposed side.

Cancer glanced at him as water shifted and then gathered around before freezing. It blocked the sword at the tip much to the twin’s frustration. Cancer kicked Luce’s feet from under him before shoving his elbow into Umbra’s chest.

Both twins were thrown off balance and Cancer took advantage of that. Dropping low to the ground he kicked Luce in the chest and then use the momentum to throw him into Umbra. Both of them were sent tumbling across the ground before merging into one body.

Flipping to his feet Gemini grabbed his sword with both hands and leaped at the crab. Cancer caught the blades between both of his own and smiled. His energy began to gather between them and Gemini quickly jumped backwards. Cancer righted himself and pointed the blades. “Capricorn Impact.”

The sword moved as fast as the wind blocking each of the orbs of water. The blows jarred his arms and almost made him drop the sword. Cancer attacked then and kicked him in the stomach. He thrust with the other katar but Gemini split again. The twins stumbled across the ground getting their bearings and charging.

Cancer pointed his katars at both twins and fired off another shot. Luce managed to avoid one but Umbra shouted in pain as the ball hit in the thigh. Cancer dashed at Umbra thrusting his katar at his chest.

“Gemini Tempest!” Umbra said through gritted teeth and he vanished. The gust of wind struck at Cancer slicing at his armor and his exposed face. Luce jumped at his back and Cancer swung the katar to match the blow.

Luce attacked in a flurry of blade work as Cancer returned each attack with his own. Umbra struck when his attention was diverted. As wind he forced himself into a solid form instead of a blade and struck Cancer’s back. Driving the breath from his chest Umbra reformed and swung his sword down over his head. Luce thrust forward at the same time in a pincer attack on the crab.

“Zodiac Cancer.” The energy that slammed into them was enough to force the pair into one body.  The constellation that wrapped around Cancer was bright but the light was dark.

Gemini raised his sword and blocked the first blow but the next one sent him reeling across the ground. He kept the grip on his side tight however and forced himself to his feet. Spinning around he slashed with the blade but it was blocked by ice. However, the ice that had blocked the blade wasn’t just a regular sheet. Instead Cancer’s entire body had for a second been covered in ice.

Gemini pulled the blade back and walked backwards running short on ideas. Cancer looked at him with a raised eyebrow and then chuckled. Raising his katars he fired off two bullets, no beams of water. Gemini raised his sword and the first bullet shot the blade from his hand while the second shot him backwards.

Landing roughly on his back his vision was dimming. He couldn’t see straight and he could barely think straight. “Stop playing games Gem. Show me your power! Show me the power of a God!”

Forcing himself onto one knee and then to his feet he stumbled slightly. “Fine. You asked for it Cancer. Zodiac Gemini!” The air exploded around him as his constellation manifested and his eyes glowed. Holding his hand out the wind picked up and his sword flew straight into his palm. This was his second wind and he was going to have to make it count.

He flew forward and his sword became a maelstrom as Cancer retaliated. What his katar’s didn’t block his ice skin did. What blows Gemini couldn’t predict the wind would catch. Cancer reached forward his blade stopping inches from Gemini’s face.

Gemini retaliated with a kick to his chest. Instead of ice the water covered him and absorbed the force of the blow. He grunted but slashed with his sword again. The ice blocked it and Cancer laughed. “You won’t break my shield.”

“No but I can do this. Gemini Tempest!” In a sudden burst of wind, he turned himself into a tornado. Surrounding the crab with the violent winds he picked him off the ground while hundreds of blades of wind attacked. The assault from every direction was more than Cancer could easily comprehend let alone block. His armor began to crack and break.

He threw his hands in front of his face concentrating the ice. Gemini became solid and moved to attack Cancer in the air. Cancer shoved him backwards and threw his hand into the air and his katar. The two hovered in the air, gravity not taking hold just yet.

Gemini drew back his sword as he swung at him. Cancer reared his arm back before thrusting it forward. Both of their energies were starting to flash in a way that had never happen before. The wind gathered around Gemini’s blade adding its own sharpness to the edge. The tip of Cancer’s katar gathered water and extended with a vibrating edge.

“Gemini Tempest!”

“Cancer Impact!”

The two blows collided and the explosion of energy rippled across the air and through them. There was a magnificent flash of light from the collision point and then they flew apart. Gemini flew backwards landing on his side with a shout. He was dizzy and he could feel the pulsing of his constellation around him.

Standing slowly, he stumbled and then looked around. The area he was standing in was completely white and black. It was evenly split down the center and Gemini was standing on the white side. He turned and saw that Cancer was getting to his feet but he was surrounded by black.

“You should know this place.” Cancer said slowly.

Gemini nodded. “I do. But only in my dreams.”

Cancer looked around them slowly. “When two godlike powers clash they can open up a portal to this place.”

“But what is this place?” Gemini asked before a bullet whizzed past his head.

“Does that matter Gem? You’re either on my side or you’re in my way and you’ve made it clear on where you stand. I’m going to finish what I started.”

He raised his weapons and Gemini did the same tiredly.  “Fine. Let’s end this Cancer. Once and for all.”