38 What it takes to be king

Shit. Now I have to deal with the damn headache. As if all of the bastards here aren't enough. Red eyes tries to stab me again, but I grab his rapier by the blade and throw him. The traitor kid is charging at me. Maybe I should teach him a lesson, too.

"Come here, you little shit!" I cry as I cover my forehead with my left hand. "I'll show you what betrayal feels like!!"

He whirls around, and his broadsword creates a noise similar to a cyclone. That, in combination with his glowing, blue energy makes the spectacle even more fascinating. Wind and blue energy mix as I press my mark, but a pair of blades finds its way to my knee. Great. Everything except the headache doesn't hurt anymore. Somnu Prohi-- Shit!

"Let. Me. Move!" I scream.

"It hurts me to do this, baby." Xerr smirks.

"Enough with the flirting, sister. He's our enemy." Xaar chants another spell, hitting me in the face. This is pissing me off now. Somnu Prohiber.

"Don't forget about me."

Someone whispers before I feel the sharp sting of metal on my right arm. So it's red eyes again. I try to swipe at him, but Arlynn sends me to the air with his fancy whirlwind spin. Whatever that shit's called. Gods. My head... Shit. Fuck. I have to finish this quick so I can go to sleep. It's the only way. There's no going back. I shall swear on the ancestors I had; Whoever you guys are, I shall win this one!

"You guys asked for this!!!" I sure hope this works. I'll be borrowing your spell for now, Jean. "Vocca Nygrum Lupi!"

A black orb forms around my hand, and I throw it at Arlynn, who falls back just in time as the wolf leaps out from thin air. It's a little bit smaller, and it's wielding a pair of hatchets instead of the usual battleaxe. Everyone on the circle is standing still and waiting for me to make my move. I wonder how strong this guy is?

"Move and attack them!" I say as I throw my scythe to the direction of red eyes. It misses.

"You don't know how to command summons? Are you stupid?" Red eyes glares. Shit. This spell's taking more energy than I thought. Maybe I can get rid of it by...

"Vocca Nygrum Lupi Ys!"

"You know how to dispel them, but you can't command them? You're interesting."

"Fuck you guys! Go eat shit!" I snarl. I hate being grouped on.

"Okay. That's the last straw. You're not going to cuss us no more."

Xaar's tone sends a shiver down my spine. He whispers something, and his lizard goes to him and... How is he putting on his own summon? Wooooow. This looks fucking cool. Ow. My head hurts. You can wear your summons like armor? Shit. I should try that sometime. I should have Jean teach that to me. Oh. Xerr's doing the same, too.

"Keep up, Sol." She smiles before slithering her way into me. That's the first time she called be by my name. "This is gonna hurt, baby."

She rends my torso with her lizard claws, but I punch her arm away. Xaar follows along by whipping his tail, hitting me to the side and launching me to the ground. Multiple stabs pin me to the ground, and the taste of iron soon comes after. The fucking kid bashed my head with his broadsword. It's making my headache worse. Maybe I'll just... Pretend to be down and take a nap...

Good. They're fighting among themselves now. This is perfect. I'll just sit back here and alleviate my stress. Somnu prohibere... Wait. There's that other spell Arra casted when we were bathing. I think it's called Sana or something?.... Nothing's happening... Oh. Double S. Ssana. Ssana. Nice. These fools won't know what'll hit them after I'm done with t-- AH! FUCK!

"Oh. You're still conscious." Red eyes stomps harder on my left hand. "Nice. My hunch was right."

"Fuck your hunch! I'll smash your f--"

"Stay. Down."

He points the rapier at my throat, but gets interrupted by blue flames. Arlynn's blade comes into view as he swings it in front of my face, and red eyes dodges by flying in the air and cutting a sliver of his hair. Arlynn sees me and prepares for an overhead strike, but I kick his groin and roll away. He yelped. Haha. Serves you right, traitor. Shit. My head still hurts. Ssana!... Shit. It doesn't work.

"Ooh, baby. You're still in the fight?" Xerr blows a kiss.

"Please shut the fuck up. My head hurts right now."

"Ooh, I love it when you talk dirty~ More, please!"

Her green eyes sparkle as she rushes with her claws, and I respond by punching her stomach. Her face sours, but she grins and gives me a bear hug. Her scale armor is smelling like poison. How cute. She's trying to knock me out with it. I want to praise her effort, but she's too weak to contain me. I break free and punch her in the jaw... Oh. I think I overdid it.

"Sorry, Xerr." I whisper to myself while dodging Xaar's serpent spell. "You've been using that same spell for the past few minutes. Bring something new to the table."

"Oh, I will. Just you wait, bastard." Xaar glares, digs a hole, and hides. Huh.

"Axensionem Dymonivus Ynita..."

Crimson envelops the arena for a few seconds, before a gust of wind knocks me forwards. The queen and her soldiers are looking at something behind me. Some of their mouths were opened, and some remained unfazed. Red light greeted me as soon as I turned my head, and before I knew what happened, I was already on the air. The queen's flames burn and knock me back inside, and a cough escapes my mouth. There, standing right before me, is red eyes. Only this time, he had white eyes, and his skin's the red one now. Even with his new complexion, the red veins that are popping out of his body are still visible. He had one black wing on his left side, and his rapier had turned ominous. He's whispering something, and the air around him is emanating the color of blood.

"You wanna do this, huh?" I press my mark. "I'm not gonna stop you, bastard."

"You are not fit to be king. Your mouth is foul." He grins, raises his left foot, and takes on a stance.

"I never wanted to be one in the first place. I wouldn't even be here if I wasn't chosen. That means I'm strong, bitch. You hear that?" I give him the finger.

"Axensionem Novilys Ynita..."

Huh. Arlynn's transforming, too. What a fiesta. His armor is becoming one with him. And his skin is turning pale. His eyes are glowing brighter, and his broadsword is increasing in size. There's also a spirit of a praying woman above him. He points his sword on red eyes, and... What the fuck. He summoned a lot of spirit swords. Fucking cliché. Shit. My head still... Hurts? Whoaaaaaaa, SHIIIIIIT!!!

"SHIT!!"

Is all got to say before Xaar emerges from the ground and impales me. The armor also looks spikier than before, so I'm guessing he chanted something too. His claws suspend me in the air, and I glare as he waves me around like a flag. I cast Ignys and wriggle, and he throws me like a ragdoll. That hurt a lot. Ssana. The crowd stays silent as I try to get up, but my body isn't listening. So casting magic makes you sleepy, huh? This is bad. I'll lose.

"Where's Xerr?" I ask the queen, who's near the direction I was thrown.

"She is sound and steady at the castle. My spell transports people who are either unconscious or those who have exhausted their abilities. It's instinctive." She covers her mouth with her fan.

"Sounds useful."

"You don't sound so concerned. May I ask why?"

"I'm immortal. I don't really worry much about dying."

"You are? I can see why Jean chose you now."

"You know Jean?"

"Watch out."

Arlynn tries to swing at me, but he misses.

"Wish me luck, queen." I wink.

"That, I will do."

She smiles as red eyes interrupts and tries to stab Arlynn in the shoulder. Arlynn slashes back at him, almost hitting me as he swings. I use the chance to hook red eyes, but he flies away. How is that even possible? He only has one wing. Oh. Where's that rumbling coming from? Oh, shit. Xaar's burrowing agai--- Aaaaaaand Arlynn sends me flying again.

"Sorry, mister!" He shouts and leaps towards red eyes.

"Don't forget about me!" Xaar jumps from the earth and tries to impale me again.

"Fuck you! My head hurts already! Give me a break!"

I swing my scythe, knocking him back. I tumble to the ground, and red eyes kicks me in the stomach. I cast Ignys at his face, but he spins, points his rapier at me, and gores my stomach again. He grins, so I hit his jaw with my weapon's handle. Serves you right, bitch.

"Does it hurt?" I grin.

"Not in the slightest." He grins back. "Ygnis Rugyer."

"You're not even pointing y-- AAAAAAAAAH!"

The bastard can fucking breathe fire! FUCK THIS SHIT! MY FACE IS BURNING! SSANA! SSANA! FUCK THIS SHIT! SHIT! WHY DOES HIS FLAME HURT THIS MUCH?! WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS?! THIS IS FUCKING UNBEARABLE!

"FUCK YOU!" I bark after I put the flames out. "Thanks a lot, bitch! My headache's getting worse now! Fucking bastard! The queen never told us to try and kill each other? Hello? What the fuck is this, then?!"

"Why are you so persiste--"

"Fuck you!"

I try to kick him, but he flies away. I was about to hit him when I notice something to my left. Arlynn's summoning a lot of swords again. Xaar's not distracting me, so I can see it this time. The spirit blades are spinning around him and pointing at me, and--- Aaaaaand one of them is coming this way. Just great. Maybe I can cast Ignys and block it out. Here goes nothing!

"Ignys!" I hold my hand out and release the smoke. Oh. It worked. This is n-- FUCK!

"Sorry, mister!"

Arlynn shouts as he drives another one on my torso. The spirit swords disappear after a few seconds, but they hurt just as much as the real one. It actually feels even worse, because they feel as cold as ice. I run around the place, looking at everything as I did so. Xaar's missing again, and red eyes is being vigilant in the distance. The earth rumbles as Xarr pops up and strikes him, and he responds by breathing crimson fire. Arlynn's still throwing spells at me, but he stops after I come close and strike him... Shit. The damn headache's making it hard to breathe.

"You're looking pale." He guards himself. "Are you okay, mister?"

"Y-you shouldn't be worrying about me, kid." I swing my scythe. "We're in a fight, for fuck's sake!"

"Mister! You're literally turning pale! Please! Just give up!"

"NO! I ALREADY SWORE ON MY ANCESTORS! I WILL WIN THIS!"

My battle scream echoes as I punch him. He's guarding, but the force sends him flying very far away. Holy shit. Something feels different. Oh, that's... Right... FUCK... What's going on again?..... Oh, yeah. I'm fighting for the throne... I can't move? Huh? Why is everything dark? Am I daydreaming?

"What the fuck."

Was that punch the last of my strength? I don't think it is. Sure, my headache's getting worse, but did I really black out? Hmm... Oh. Nice. My headache's gone now. Maybe I AM dreaming. I don't really know anymore. Oh... Light is coming from over there. Maybe something interesting will happen...

"Is that me?"

The light is showing a first-person perspective of me? Shit. What the fuck is going on? Arlynn, red eyes, and Xaar are there. They're attacking me. The rapier of red eyes is piercing my abdomen again, and Xaar is holding my feet. Arlynn is far, but his spirit is carrying a sword now. His spirit is going to strike me. Well, this is fun. They're working together and trying to overpower me even with their already improved forms. What a compliment. They don't have what it takes to be a king. Oh, well. I gotta wish them luck after this. I'll go and take a nap now.

...

Whoa... That was a good one. It's been ages since I slept that peacefully... Huh. I'm still inside the queen's spell for some reason.

"All hail your new king!"

Estressa smiles and walks toward me, so I clap. Everyone's doing it, so I guess blending in would be ideaaaaaal... Huh? HUH?!