The Exalt Cultivation Fantasy

Act 4: Fallen Heaven - Chapter 659: Best And Worst Reunion

Marcus hurriedly raised his arms in a cross-block, securing the ribs and vital organs. Black scales grew and thickened into the densest armor. In an instant, fast as lightning, a fist swung fiercely, driving the brass knuckles it wore into the scales, breaking apart several layers like brittle clay, the sheer weight behind the blow comparable to earthquakes of terrifying scales. Before it could reach his bare skin, Marcus leaped back, but a tremendous force crashed onto every inch of his body, ravaging and tearing at him. Cracks spread all unhindered on his scaly armor.

Carried by the force of the blow, Marcus found himself in a sandstorm kicked up by the clash, struggling as he found his footing. Flying was restricted in Fallen Heaven. As he tumbled and rolled along the fierce gales, the sand clinking on his scales, heated and sharpened by their rising speeds, Marcus laughed and groaned, sprouting dragon wings. Marcus dispersed the sandstorm in a single swipe, hovering slightly above the dunes. Winged beasts had different restrictions that limited the height they could fly, and it seemed he counted as one.

Though, he had no time to relish in the newfound discovery. While he had been distracted by the sandstorm, Kragg exchanged several blows against the one named Adam, the great lion claws unable to overpower the foe, blown away by sheer force. Lightning pierced the sky as they met blow for blow, their brass knuckles and sharp claws resonating with a thunderous spark. Crackles of lightning burned parts of the desert into clear glass, but the resulting impact of Ein shattered and ground them back into fine sand.

'Reis…' Marcus observed Adam's power, believing Kragg could still hold on. The shockwaves rippling in each attack gave credence to his conjecture. A dragon's roar interrupted his thoughts, insistent and angered. Angry at the fact a simple punch had knocked him away, its pride unwilling and flaring. 'Shut up.' Marcus scolded the dragon's will, controlled his breathing, and stilled his heart. For the past decades, he studied and trained under the Dragnars. 'Quell the heat, the passion. A true dragon is cold-blooded and a hunter.'

He eyed Adam's movements, waiting behind the dune. His moment would arrive soon. The weakness of Reis users lay in their bodies, which could not contain the power for long durations. His pupils narrowed, and every grain of sand and wisp of Ein was within his grasp. As he stood, recovering his scales and Ein, he finally saw the faintest flicker of pain, a reaction not matching the timing of Kragg's blows nor the backlash of lightning and thunder. Something else caused this pain.

'It's here!' Marcus charged back in. Surely, the Reis limits had been reached, and if not, Kragg had already done enough soft damage, creating several openings for him. A few lightning spears stuck out of Kragg's hide, linking into chains of lightning that bound the beast, but they were shallow wounds, and the lion flickered his heated gaze at Marcus, roaring as he coordinated, exploding with tremendous Ein and breaking free before lunging at Adam. Despite decades of being apart and quarreling at every moment, they understood each others' movements well.

Adam flashed a wider smile, veins popping and writhing on the skin of his neck. A bright flash of lightning struck his brass knuckles, surging in an electrical current all over his form. An elbow smashed into Marcus's, diverting his attack to the side, and a fist pounded on Kragg's head, a loud thunk drowned out by the thunderous roar accompanying the strike. Marcus gritted his teeth and countered with his wings, slashing them like swords, but Adam stomped, glass forming under his lightning heels as he shattered them in a great leap, retreating.

"Alright?" Marcus addressed Kragg.

"Not as harsh as the lightning on that damned island." Kragg cracked his neck, palming the affiliated area on his head. He growled and pounded his chest, "I can take him. He's one little Reis user. Mere prey."

"No." Marcus grabbed Kragg and pulled him back. The chance had arrived. Before Adam could rouse the Ein and stamina for another onslaught, Marcus cleared his throat, coughing out sand, and said, "I am Marcus, the First, and this one here is Kragg, the Fourth. We are not New Dawn. You have no reason to fight us."

"Is that so?" Adam chuckled, clearly not believing the truth. "Your kind are known for their deception, little ingrates. I can ask you the questions myself while you're all bloodied and submissive." The man's pained breathing was beginning to diminish, with only a few seconds remaining until he was fully restored.

"Our Lord is against the New Dawn. He has more cause than any to hate them." Marcus believed the man truly despised the New Dawn. Rather than waste their time and energy fighting, he wished for peace. Adam would make a valuable ally. The simple exchange indicated so. His thoughts ran around all the options, his mind fuming and churning about, seeking an answer. As Adam clenched his fists, Marcus tensed up and spread his wings to take flight at any moment, still stuck on what to say.

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"Oh? Interesting. The White Hunter lies at my feet." Someone interjected as they were about to clash. Marcus quickly gazed at the sudden intruders who stood atop a large dune, three shadows extending down the slopes, stretched by light and warped in strange shapes by the desert heat. The tall, skinny man in the middle wiped the sand from his glasses and wore them. Underneath those clothes, Marcus could tell the man packed a punch, further noted by the craggy skin on his fists, clearly from decades, if not centuries, of battle. The other two smirked, strolling down in leisurely strides, wildness in their faces, shoulders broad and arms thick underneath their suits.

"It's been a while, White Hunter. How's your master's body? Cold in the dirt? What a waste for that precious resource to decay in a coffin." The leader smirked and rubbed his distinct jaw. "But, I didn't know you associated with abominations. Even for you, this is quite shameful."

"Strange. Why do you talk as if you were ever stronger than me? Want to remember what I did to you years ago?" Adam lost his smile, glaring deathly at Alan, who twitched slightly and stared with dark poison in his gaze. Adam turned to Marcus and Kragg and said, "It seems you are not one of them. Good. Take on the other two, I'll deal with this scum."

"Who the hell do you–" Kragg started a rant, but Marcus shut him down, clasping his shoulder. Kragg shoved off and stomped to the one on the right.

"Can we talk after this?" Marcus asked, nearing the left one.

"Fine. Don't die beforehand." Adam laughed and shouted a monstrous cry, bolting toward Alan.

…….

Avril panted, leaping over the overgrown roots. Trees, thicker than houses and taller than the spires of Dragonheart City, entrenched themselves into a dense forest. Above, branches intersected and intertwined in sturdy paths leading from tree to tree. Light fluttered past the sprawling leaves, somehow illuminating the entire forest. No one was around her. She couldn't help but feel concerned. Where were her children? Where was Oscar? Was there anyone familiar nearby?

Leaning on the trunk of a great tree, she spotted a pool of water collected in a bowl-like leaf. Parched, she snapped off the leaf, the water swishing around, and drank. The water tasted earthy, probably due to the leaf, but it satisfied her craving, moistening her dry throat. Avril calmed down, steadied her overworked lungs, the thick air of the forest not helping her breathing, and searched her vicinity. She didn't manage to spot anyone, wondering if she was alone in this entire damned forest.

'If I can find Erden, I'll know where Oscar is. I hope the children are fine.' Avril worried for Oscar the most. The elixirs she had concocted were surely gone. She gripped her staff, the only item in her inventory, and wandered deeper into the forest. A few piercing shrieks sometimes echoed, the death throes of others halting her steps, her heart racing as it drummed in her ears. For some reason, the way they screamed reminded her of darker times, and she held onto a tree, feeling faint. However, a twig snapped nearby, and she sprang into action, swerving around the tree, her staff glowing with Ein.

"Who?" Their voices aligned. Avril stopped, stunned witless. Across from her was a woman with gold eyes strikingly resembling her own, the same sparkle and dazzling pupils. The brown hair flowed straight down, but none of that mattered. What mattered was the face. Avril felt she was looking into a mirror, though slightly different in her sharp gaze compared to her round eyes. The woman lowered the bow, the arrow vanishing into motes of light, and cried, endless tears flowing.

"Is–is…." Avril stammered, dropping her staff. She wiped her eyes, trying to clear up the fogginess in her sight, but it persisted as tears spread and overflowed. "I–I–I."

Suddenly, the woman hugged her. Avril could feel a familiar and soothing warmth, one she had forgotten since long ago, now reemerging in her memories. She raised her hands and placed them over the woman's back, finally recognizing her. "Sister…." Avril called out. "Sister. Sister. Sister. Sister." Her delirious state, brought on by the sudden overwhelming delight welling in her chest, caused her to repeat endlessly. A cry escaped her lips, a childish cry of a lost child finding their home. Sobbing uncontrollably, Avril couldn't speak, only more sobs choking out the words she wished to speak. After a few minutes, she found the name and said, "Avila…."

"I know. I know. You idiotic brat." Avila smiled. "I found you at last."

After ten minutes, Avril separated from Avila, stifling the cries back down. Her sister ripped a part of her sleeve and wiped her eyes, mouth, and nose like a mother cleaning a child. Avila rubbed her head and squeezed the braided parts. "Who braided your hair? They did a fine job."

Avril grinned and dove into her sister's embrace. "I have so much to tell you. She can't believe she met her sister after decades. She wonders how her sister has been doing."

"Are you…." Avila sounded concerned. "That manner of speech…what happened to you?"

"Oh? Isn't this a rare treat?" A cold voice cut through the warm moment, and a chill spread, freezing Avril's veins and nerves, her heart dropping to a near halt. The voice contained no emotion, not a single hint of humanity. Jerking her head to the side, Avril widened her eyes, paling at the great scythe resting on the person's shoulder, the air seemingly cut apart as it swayed from her playful tugging. She wore the familiar white-laced shirt, a long black skirt, and a belt that held the skirt and shirt together. Beautiful beyond the norm, yet colder than the devils.

Avril fell to her knees, hitting some hard roots, but no pain ached. If there were any pain, it was the one slicing her face and carving her heart. No screams came from her mouth, clamped shut as she shakingly stared up at the figure like a prisoner awaiting judgment.

"Slave?" Lelith, her former mistress, had found her. "When did I say you could leave?"