by Jeff Gunzel
The imitation of life standing before him seemed to deflate, withering before his eyes. Its face crinkled inward, imploding, shrinking as its body dried up. Those crystal blue eyes pulled inward, leaving lifeless black holes. But that smile—that horrible, knowing grin—remained until the shriveled pile before him was too emaciated to recognize. He watched the flattened mass of black cloth steam and hiss. With the being no longer any threat, he turned his attention upward.
Looking down at him were a series of faces lined up along the top of the mountain. Four, five, then nine. More approached what looked to be a manmade wooden rail bordering the top ledge. Heads shaved and generally middle age or older, they gazed down at him with curiosity. “Are you men the reason I’m here?” Eric called up. “So many have lost their lives to stand where I stand now. Did they all die in vain, for you?” No one answered him; they just continued to gaze down casually, as if watching the rain fall. Eric began to head towards the final set of steps that led up to the men. But after a few steps, he stopped. The air around him seemed to change. He gazed around suspiciously. Something was wrong.
A line of yellow slashed the air in front of him, forcing him to leap back. It stretched downward, then opened into a shimmering golden hole. The man in white stepped through, Morita right behind him. Braced against his back, her hands ran circles around the man’s chest. She peeked over his shoulder at Eric, hissing like a snake, then melted down his back. Now on her knees, peeking out from behind his legs like a shy child, that long, forked tongue flapped around wildly.
“The trials were never meant for the likes of you,” said the madman, his white hooded cloak flapping and waving in some unfelt wind. When the doorway snapped shut behind him, his clothing stopped moving, hood drooping low, covering his face. “How you ever got this far is beyond me, but it ends here.”
“How dare you show your face here, coward?” Eric growled, raising his red blade, pointing it towards the madman. Brilliant red flames erupted as the sword came to life. Eric could feel its anger, feel its hatred. It hungered for this man’s blood. “You escaped me once before, and that’s a mistake I don’t plan to repeat.”
The man in white reached back with both hands, slowly unsheathing twin swords from his back. The blades on each were jet-black, nearly invisible in the darkness. They were each shorter than Eric’s sword, but he moved them with skill and ease, spinning the blades in tight circles to either side.
Suddenly, breaking out of the spins, he brought them up over his head. The blades crashed against each other as a jagged bolt of blue lightning crackled down from the sky. The man was bathed in light while lightning rode down the swords, and seemed to soak into his body. “My power has far surpassed yours, false god,” his voice boomed out like thunder. “You’ve stood in my way for the last time. It is time to finish this.”
Eric whirled his own blade around in a sweeping circle, leaving a trail of fire and black ash. They rushed at each other, roaring like wild animals. From her knees, Morita whipped two daggers at Eric as he streaked across the platform. With a single slash, he shattered both daggers in mid-air, incinerating the metal into shards of glowing ash. A second later, the three blades collided in a spray of orange and blue sparks. Swords locked together, crackling with energy, the two stared into each other’s eyes, face to face.
* * *
Jade turned away from the pearl, unable to watch any longer. “That’s enough!” she said, strapping a green dy-chita across her forehead. “To hell with these trials, I’m going in.”
“You will do no such thing!” barked Wara. “No one must interfere. He must complete the trials on his own.”
“He’s already done that,” said Kelus calmly, always the voice of reason. “What more can he prove by dying at the hands of a madman? All I ask is that you consult with the spirits first. Do not make such a critical decision on your own.”
Wara gazed at the little man, considering his words. After a time she nodded, then glanced at the twins. They nodded in turn, then tipped their heads back, eyes closed. After a few seconds had passed, their eyelids began to flutter rapidly. Faster and faster they blinked, the smacking sound reminiscent of a flock of bats. Suddenly, they stopped, eyes opening wide, shining a bright orange. “Violation!” they called in unison, heads cracking up, then down. “The Gate Keeper has been named. The trials are over.”
They stood, faced each other, then pressed their hands together. As they backed away, a golden ring began to form between them, which turned into a shimmering golden doorway displaying the same image as the white pearl. They could see Eric battling for his life.
Jade was already at a dead sprint towards the doorway when Wara whispered, “Go, Guardian. Aid the Gate Keeper.” With the fluid movement of a born killer, Jade launched herself off the table, gliding effortlessly through the air. The others watched in stunned silence as the assassin splashed through the doorway.
* * *
The men watched calmly while the battle took place down below. It was clear they weren’t going to take sides, even appearing disinterested. They were nothing more than spectators. But a distracting flash of golden light from behind caught their attention. They turned in dismay as the yellow portal ripped the air, tearing open a doorway, formed from nothing. Men dove left and right, scrambling to get out of the way when a black-robed figure burst from the light.
Ignoring all in her path, murder in her eyes, the assassin sprinted straight ahead. Fast approaching the wooden rail, she transitioned smoothly into a series of handsprings. Flipping along faster than most can run, she planted her feet and sprung high into the air, turning slow circles as she drifted over the side. With a click, then a glimmer of steel, daggers flashed into each hand. With a flick of her wrist, still twisting circles in the air, she sent them streaking towards her redheaded target down below.
Morita laughed wildly, hands gripping two more daggers to hurl at Eric. She was good, her aim perfect more often than not. But to this point, Eric had proved to be better. Over and over he had been forced to disengage from battle only to slash at Morita’s well-thrown daggers. He turned them to ash, then returned quickly to defend against the onslaught from the madman. The two were working well as a team. Eric was not sure how much longer he could fight both of them.
Sensing danger, Morita looked up at the last second. With surgical precision, she deflected the oncoming blades using her own. With a clang they ricocheted harmlessly to either side. Jade drifted down from the sky, her flapping black cloak making her look like some sort of giant bat. Despite the long fall, she landed smoothly. Down on one knee with one hand braced against the stone, her head snapped up. Piercing blue eyes filled with rage locked onto Morita.
A wicked grin split Morita’s face. “So the Gate Keeper has summoned his little pet. So be it. I would love nothing more than for him to watch you bleed like a stuck pig,” she glanced over at the two swordsmen exchanging blades with relentless savagery, blooms of sparks raining down with each thunderous clash, “but he’s a little preoccupied at the moment. No matter, I’ll be sure to bring him your head as proof of your demise.”
Jade threw her wrists into the air and cold steel flashed up into her hands. Jagged lightning illuminated the sky behind her, making her hooded face disappear for an instant. With her daggers outstretched, face shrouded in darkness, she appeared to be the reaper himself. A second green bolt split the sky, lighting up Jade’s face for an instant. Morita took a step back. Raw, seething hate burned in those eyes. “It is not my head you need to worry about,” hissed Jade, the ice in her voice sending shivers down Morita’s spine. “Before I’m through, you will be begging for death.”
With a flick, Jade sent a dagger zipping towards Morita’s face. She swiftly dodged the attack; a sheared lock of red hair drifted to the ground like a dry leaf. Jade rushed in, a flash of silver reloading her empty palm. With the speed of a viper, she flurried into a five-strike combo, three slashes high, two low. With her own dazzling bladesmansh
ip, Morita intercepted each blade with a high-pitched clang.
Morita spun, leapt into the air, then brought down both her blades at the same time. Jade crossed her daggers, parrying the heavy attack at the last second. There was a thunderous clang and a bloom of orange sparks. Jade’s arms immediately went numb from the impact. This thing was far too strong. She needed to keep Morita on the defensive, or this fight would end quickly.
Jade’s primal instincts kicked in as they had so many times before. Rarely had she ever been the strongest combatant, but she was always the most skilled, always the quickest. She unleashed an all-out frenzy of whirling steel. Her arms pumped with inhuman speed, sending rapid strikes from multiple angles.
Morita’s eyes went wide with shock, her own skilled blades twirling about to intercept the vicious flurry. This human was the fastest thing she’d ever seen! Lines of red zipped across her chest and shoulders while more and more slashes seemed to be getting through. She twisted and turned her body at the last moment in order to protect her vitals, but she was still receiving a heavy amount of damage.
* * *
The man in white backed up the stone steps, blades working hard in defense while being pressed. Eric’s flaming blade spun in vicious circles, crashing again and again against black steel. The madman had been counting on Morita’s help, and was ill prepared to go toe to toe with the Gate Keeper alone. Despite having two swords against Eric’s one, he found himself constantly backing up. “There will be no glory in your death,” said the madman breathlessly. “Relinquish your title to me, and I just might spare you.”
“I would move the stars to see my title surrendered,” Eric growled, his blazing sword working feverishly. Each swing had his full power behind it, attempting to shatter right through his foe’s steel. “A fish cannot become a lion, no matter how badly he wishes it so. I am what I am, whether I wish it or not!” He swung again, cutting deep into the stone next to the madman’s head, emphasizing his point. “And the gods bear witness to my promise to you. This is the last time we’ll ever meet.”
In full retreat, the man in white scrambled up the final steps and stood at the top of the mountain. Here, the space was wide open. The men with shaved heads backed away, yet still watched curiously. “The last time we’ll ever meet, you say? That much we can agree on.”
He threw his hands in the air. Lightning flashed all over the sky. It was nearly blinding. Golden doorways formed all around them, enclosing them in a circle of light. Black, catlike creatures sifted through the openings. Flat headed, with yellow eyes perched high on their foreheads, the growling dark creatures began creeping towards Eric.
* * *
Jade’s blades worked in furious stabbing, slashing movements, clashing against Morita’s steel. Colorful sparks bloomed out in all directions, creating a light show similar to the stormy sky. Morita’s flesh wounds were already beginning to close, but new ones were appearing at an alarming rate. How long can this human keep such a pace?
Desperate to turn the battle and regain the upper hand, Morita twisted in place, firing out a deadly heel kick. Jade rolled to the side while the foot crashed into the stone behind her. The crushing kick sunk deep into the stone, crunching rock like brittle ice. The wall cracked outward in all directions, deep lines resembling a spider web. The force would have easily killed Jade, but the miss still accomplished exactly what Morita wanted: separation between herself and this dangerous assassin.
Jade completed a dive roll, then sprang back to her feet. She turned back, steel in hand, determined to keep the pressure on. But before she could blink, her feet slipped out from under her, her body sailing through the air. She crashed against the stone with a jarring thud, all the air instantly forced from her lungs. Again she felt her suspended body pulling away from the wall. Slowly floating through the air with her arms and legs stretched outward, she resembled a drifting crucifixion.
Morita cackled, her long, grotesque tongue flapping around wildly in her excitement. With her hands stretched out, eyes glowing green, she flung her helpless opponent back against the stone. Jade crumpled to the ground, her body burning with pain. Morita had determined this skilled mortal was not one to cross blades with. I’ve had my fun with this one. No sense in taking any unnecessary chances. Best to just finish her off from a distance.
Morita took a moment to gather her strength. All her Chi was summoned from deep within her. Her eyes blazed a brilliant green, her hands dancing with energy. All at once, Morita released a torrent of energy, intent on driving Jade through the stone behind her. But instead of turning Jade to dust, the energy split to either side, the way a river parts around a stone. The violent force slammed into the wall behind, crumbling a fair amount into gravel. Orange dust rose up in a dry, choking cloud, obstructing Morita’s vision. She strained her eyes, gazing into the dust cloud, trying to see what had just happened. What went wrong?
A dark outline surfaced from the cloud. “It can’t be,” Morita whispered to herself, watching the dark figure draw nearer. The dy-chita on Jade’s forehead glowed a brilliant green, her gleaming eyes mirroring the same light. Her wild, dark hair feathered upward, frayed and staticky. Lightning flashed multiple times in a row, briefly revealing her sadistic expression: lips curled back in a snarl, drool flowing freely. Morita took a step back from the harrowing sight. She’s not human.
“Why are you here?” Jade growled, her steps slow and deliberate while stalking her prey.
“I-I,” stuttered Morita, continuing to back away.
“Because you blindly follow the man in white, like a lost sheep. That’s why. It is you who are the pet, not I! I will protect the Gate Keeper until the day my body no longer draws breath. I do it because I choose to. I do it because I love him, and in order to stop me, you will have to kill me!”
Solid green light fired from Jade’s hands, bathing Morita in its brilliance. She immediately warped her Chi, twisting it into a defensive shield, but Jade’s power was astonishing. Her feet began to slide backward along the stone. “Impossible,” Morita screamed in a strained voice, her flesh beginning to sear and steam, her shield withering, disintegrating under the pressure. “You can’t be stronger than me. My power was a gift from— You can’t— It’s not possib—”
Her shield shattered like glass in a burst of white and green crystals. Launched into the air, her smoldering body was flung over the side of the mountain. Morita’s screams could be heard for miles as her plunge off the mountain seemed to go on forever.
* * *
The beasts came at Eric from every angle. He whirled Spark with skill and precision, sending them into the afterlife one after another. The sickly sweet scent of burnt flesh filled the air, his blade feasting on muscle and bone.
Instinct alone warning him of the danger, he spun back, his blade intercepting black steel at the last second. The madman cackled, pressing forward with impossible strength. Eric pushed off, shedding the stronger man and creating some distance. An explosion of pain shot up his leg. Long, sharp teeth sank deep into his calf. With a whirling slash he dissipated the cat, but the damage was done. Blood flowed from the open wound.
The madman lunged in again, blades whirling and slashing with ferocity. Eric blocked each strike, steel crashing against steel, but braced for what he knew was coming. A set of claws tore into his back while a second bite took a chunk from his side. He screamed at the searing pain, then turned back on the cats.
He slashed one across the face, its lower jaw coming unhinged. It crumpled to the ground like so many others had. The cats’ bodies were everywhere, forming mounds of steaming pieces of heads and legs. Two more cats leapt back and joined the others, circling patiently like sharks, waiting for their next opportunity. At least another two dozen remained.
Eric cried out shamelessly when black steel penetrated the back of his shoulder, protruding out his front. The man in white began to twist his blade, moving it from side to side. Eric tried not to scream again, but the white-hot pain was
beyond anything he’d ever felt. Unable to remain standing, loosing blood at a rapid clip, he fell to his knees, his left arm dangling limply. “I could make this quick and painless,” said the madman, grinning widely. “But what fun would that be? I have the mighty Shantie Rhoe right where he belongs: down on his knees, worshipping the true Shantie Rhoe.”
Eric knelt there helplessly. His hair was soaked with sweat, matted down over his eyes. Multiple open wounds pumped out blood, soaking the ground around him. “I’m still going to kill you,” he mumbled, the soft, gurgling words barely audible.
With a final twist, the madman ripped the blade free, causing Eric to double over from pain. Eric placed his other hand on the wound, applying pressure. He looked around at the bald men who had witnessed this entire fight. They watched on, expressionless and emotionless. He tried to get up, but fell back down to one knee.
“What drives you to fight on?” asked the man in white. “You know it is hopeless. An insignificant worm like you could never beat me. The people closest to you did nothing but feed you lies. Don’t you understand that yet? You are nothing special, and never were.” The cats circled closely around Eric, waiting for their master to give the order.
With a second effort, Eric pushed off the ground, hobbling up to his feet. Wiping the bloody hair from his eyes, he stared at the madman, ignoring the surrounding beasts hissing and growling. His voice was soft and controlled, “ I fight on because there is no other choice. I am the Gate Keeper, and I was born to kill men like you.”
His eyes began to glow a golden yellow. His multiple wounds began giving off a strange soft, milky, white light that made it seem as if his blood had changed color. A translucent cloud of white vapor drifted up through one of his wounds. It hovered in the air for a moment, then whirled around him like a mini tornado.
Flash
Instantly, Eric’s head was filled with memories not of his own. A blademaster’s memories, from a time long forgotten. Ancient sword techniques, forgotten by scholars centuries ago. The gaping wound mended, sealing itself shut. Another cloud of mist floated up from a second wound, then spun around him.
