Chapter 10: Battle at The Beach, Part 4

The army panicked, some running back to where they came, some carrying Duvont off. The man proved to be heavy as multiple soldiers struggled to carry him. Storm placed a hand onto Angel's shoulders, but the girl shrugged his hand off, moving away from him. She rubbed her sides silently, and Storm sighed. She clearly didn't want to be touched and he understood this. She was upset.

"Nanao," he called, and she walked towards them to help Angel.

What with all the commotion on the beach, it was a bit difficult for Nanao to calm her down.

"Deep breaths, Naeterou-it's alright-" she told her, Angel slamming her fist into the ground in anger.

"Damn it!" she yelled, slamming her fist into the ground more.

Nanao stroked her back softly, trying to calm her down. Storm sighed, thinking about what he'd done at that instant.

"-Ah...I blew it, didn't I?" he asked, not looking at Celeste, but he did speak aloud.

Celeste then hit him softly on the head, and he turned to look up at her.

"It's fine-I understand how hard this must be for all of you. I must think of you all, first-" she said softly, smiling at Storm. He returned her grin.

"Come, now. I think we've done enough here. Let us return and rest. We can worry about this later, alright?" she said to him, turning and carrying Nixanya, who barely had the strength to resist.

Storm began to walk and looked back, seeing some soldiers fall. A dark aura was spewing from the legion of soldiers.

"What-?" he muttered, confused.

"Storm?" Celeste asked, seeing the commotion.

Storm watched the legion of soldiers, seeing them go mad and running fearfully, some attacking the center of whatever was generating that black aura. Celeste stepped back for a moment, fearful.

"No-! This power-not him...!" she yelled.

Emerging from the legion of soldiers were other soldiers, but their armor was coated black, and the blades of their swords were black as well as their sclera. The irises of their eyes were red, and the soldiers frantically attacking. The dark soldiers slaughtered their own, turning the victimized soldiers into dark ones as well.

Red veins pulsated from the corners of their eyes, on their necks, and foreheads. The veins were on their wrists as well. The soldiers possessed superhuman strength, as they easily destroyed Duvont's forces.

"We need to depart. At this instant." Celeste told everyone, putting two fingers to Nixanya's neck, forcing energy into the girl's body and causing her to be able to stand.

Nixanya stood, cracking her knuckles and grinning as soon as she saw the battle. "You're not gonna tell me to stop, are ya?" She said, looking over to Celeste.

Nixanya wasn't going down without a fight. However, Celeste revived her and wouldn't do so without reason.

"No, Nixanya. You may do as you please. Besides, soon-I will end it all," she said, looking up to the mess in front of her.

Storm looked to her, confused. Nanao widened her eyes in fear.

"Celeste-! You can't--!" Nanao shouted but was interrupted by her again.

"I CAN AND WILL." Celeste turned, walking towards the battle. "Nanao and Naisyn, watch Nixanya, and take care of Naeterou. I will end this. Now." she said as the dark soldiers ran towards her in a crazed manner. Celeste created an energy blade, cutting the soldiers down.

She clenched her fist and punched the ground, causing half of the island to move up higher. Many of the soldiers were tossed from the shockwave, some moved near Storm and the others.

"Hey guys! We've got some here!" Storm said, calling a Wingblade at hand, but Nixanya pushed Storm out the way.

With a grin on her face, the girl ran quickly, beginning to laugh. Her nails turned to claws, green flames forming in a tail-like shape. The flames materialized her tail, the tail like that of a dragon's, four feet long and with tail bones. Between the bones, flames connected the bones of her tail together. Green flames formed at the points of her horns, and she laughed loudly, jumping to a dark soldier, impaling it with her tail, and then burning its corpse with green flames.

Nixanya cut another soldier with her claws, jumping from one to the next, killing one after the other without rest. Suddenly, the soldier that Storm had fought with earlier returned, attempting to attack Angel and Nanao. Storm jumped in between the two, parrying his attacks with his Wingblade.

"Nanao! Go! I've got this!" he told her, swinging the blade horizontally. One of the soldiers jumped into the air, attempting to kick Storm.

"Not this time." Storm thought, dodging and spinning his body midair and summoning another wingblade. The soldier parried the attack, going for a critical strike. Storm shot lightning through his hand, shocking the soldier, the enemy jumping back for a moment. While the two panted, Storm looked behind him and saw Naisyn escape with Angel from a distance, only to find Nanao next to him, ready to fight.

"Eh-?" Storm gave a confused look.

Nanao looked to him, shrugging. "What? I couldn't leave you like that." She spoke, looking back at the dark soldiers nearing them. The soldier with the gold helm had black smoke emanating from his visor.

"Think we can take 'em?" Storm asked.

"Absolutely." Nanao said to him, and the two bolted towards the army, yelling and running as fast as they could.