Chapter 19
What they could only assume to be the following day they were working their way further into the mountainside. The world seemed to be lit in red from the sky above. Hued in red they could not tell what the color of things really were. Pathways soaked in what could only be seen as possible blood seemed to be under their feet. It was hard to tell what anything really was by color alone due to the red hue. Feeling like he was in a horror film Chi felt his entire body tense up at the sight around him.
"Keep alert." Tyson turned his head slightly back at them both in order to tell them to be cautious. Sensing another group in the area he and Fae were both quick to catch on to them. Chi on the other hand was slower to realize there were others near by.
"Is there somethi-?" Before Chi could finish his words Tyson's hand had reached up and covered his mouth without turning to even look at Chi.
Fae's face darkened at the sight of Tyson touching Chi. Grabbing Chi by the back of his purple jacket and tugged him away from Tyson so that he was standing closer to him. The only reaction Chi could give was to look at the both of them confused by what was going on. They were both quiet and looking around as the sounds of the other group became louder to the point Chi was finally able to hear them.
"Well, well.. Looks like we found ourselves a couple weaklings.." The one in front said as he stepped forward. His voice was like thunder roaring loud and clear. In his deep brown hair was a pair of black horns that curved back, each with a smaller horn below it. A sword was gripped in his hand as he pointed it towards Tyson. "And a fox."
"Jake, right? Just let us go and I'll leave you with your life." Tyson spun his dual blade in his hand for a moment before taking stance. Fae would be able to easily handle the others that were following the man in front of him, but Jake was another story. Knowing the man well Tyson was prepared to handle him the best he could.
Jake was one who held the bloodline of dragon folk from the world Jake was born among. Though it was only a half bloodline it was still enough to cause serious damage. Though he wielded a sword he was still capable of using fire. Sword raised in front of his face the man opened his mouth and blew his hot breath onto his own blade. The air around the blade distorted and burst into flames. His once normal blade had become nothing more then a fiery torch that could cut through opponents with ease if they weren't careful.
"Oh? I have every desire to savor a fight with the so called number one. I have no intention on letting you go that easily." Jake smiled as his body began to release a faint smoke in the air. The ground below his feet singed from the heat he gave off around him.
"Fae, take care of the others." Tyson spoke quickly. Seeing the impatience in Jake's eyes to fight with him there was no time for him to chat and come up with another idea.
He could see the man had no intention on talking things over with them. Being one of the top ten Jake would not normally try to harm Tyson because the top ten did not waste their time on those who stood on equal footing but, just as Zeal had warned him, the others in the top ten would not sit back and watch another one of them destroy their chances at remaining on top. They were ones mostly made up of those who felt their lives were secure and safe as long as they kept the weaker cut down. Trying to talk a normal top ten ranker into colluding with him alone would be near impossible. The only reason Zeal was so easily persuaded by Tyson was because he had his own personal reasons to hate the garden as much as Tyson. He had also been a repeat survivor for the second longest time making him just as tired of it. Jake on the other hand had fewer years under his belt and found pleasure in battling just as Valhalla had.
"I would have even without you saying so." Fae felt annoyed at the fact that Tyson was giving him orders but there was too much going on around him for him to complain. If he was not careful Chi would become an easy target for anyone who got past him and Tyson. They both were well aware that they had to find a way to end things quick as possible.
Rushing forward with his blade in hand he could see Jake mirroring his action to rush him in return. Sparks flew everywhere as their blades collided against each other. Clash after clash sent sounds of clanging steel resounded in the air. Every motion that Tyson made from an outsiders view could be seen as graceful and beautiful. His hair flung about in the air as his body would bend to the side or bend to the back in order to dodge any swing that he could not block with his own blade.
A small fiery breath exhaled from Jake's mouth almost caught Tyson in the face for a moment before he could slip to the side. Taking Tyson's dodge as an opening he used one hand to reach out at Tyson's throat almost managing to grasp him before he felt a cold steel blade slice against his thigh. Reacting quickly to distance himself Jake began to breath heavily. Coldly glaring at the man who had just wounded him the fire in his breath became more noticeable.
"Do you think it's fun to toy with me, Tyson?" The man bellowed out in a rumbling voice. It felt as if Tyson was holding himself back which only made him feel more furious. As much as Jake wanted to win in a fight against the man he did not want to defeat a man who had not given it his all. Those of the dragon race had their pride.
"If I slay you here today.. Would that make me a knight?" Tyson mocked his half dragon bloodline. He wanted to rile him up so that he would lose focus. The less the opponent could keep his concentration on the fight the easier it would be to slay him.
Twirling his weapon once again around in the air dust was quickly sent up around them. It was as if a thick fog of dirt had covered the surroundings making it harder to see. With Tyson completely out of his line of sight Jake could only focus on his sense of hearing in order to keep track of the man. Though no matter how hard he tried to locate him it seemed Tyson had completely dissipated. He could not hear him, not even the sound of his beating heart.