Chapter 20: A DARKNESS ON THE HORIZON.

Diarmuid and Maisie watch from high up as the battles rage on. Kianah approaches Diarumid and says to him, "Diarmuid, the fights do seem to be going well, but oddly there hasn't been a single word from the battle stars. Usually, there would be a status reports every 30 minutes. There appears to be a disturbance in the battleground force field. Don't you think you may want to check on this at least?" Diarmuid responds simply, "Kianah, if the battle stars notice anything off, they will report it. I have no control over the exams. That is, unless my son or daughter is gravely injured. Other than that, I can't stop the exams unless given the full permission to do so." Kianah then sighs in disappointment, saying to him, "Diarmuid, you are responsible for how these exams end. I hope you understand that, your highness." The announcer shouts out, "Alright ladies and gentlemen, Sharaletta's team is currently in the lead of the most points, with Darice's team behind in second place, Chris's team, however, their score is, wait a minute. I guess they really don't care much about those extra grades, as they haven't even scored a single point yet." Over in the battlegrounds, Taski and Darcie race down to the earth to impact Tolem and Emerald together all at once. Drake and Mikado struggle against the two. Mikado fires all kinds of projectiles, only for it to be split by Emerald's terrifying ultra strength. Drake attempts to attack Tolem with his nun chucks, but does nothing against him. He swings, left and right, he uses physical combat skills against Tolem but is unsuccessful. Mikado uproots the trees around and turns them into her ammo, she fires off trees, rocks, tree logs.

 However, Emerald's strength outsmarts her, Emerald charges a powerful blast attack and fires it in Mikado's face. Mikado is sent flying into the side of a cliff, but, stops herself and rebounds. She then shoots off more projectiles at Emerald. It was like gravity decided to go against the earth with so many projectiles flying everywhere. Emerald thinks to herself, "I got to say Mikado, you're giving me the most fun I haven't had in ages. However, your projectile little frenzy is about to end here." Emerald then sprints off, but before she could get anywhere close to Mikado, Ariah caught Emerald's whole left arm with her plant vines. Ariah then caught not only Emerald's left arm, but also caught both her legs and her other arm, this caught Emerald off guard. Mikado quickly then uses her gravitational grab and catches Emerald in place. Now Drake was left alone with Tolem, Drake leaps upward to slam down on Tolem. Unfortunately, Drake only had his nun-chuck caught by Tolem, he then says to Drake, "Not a bad move there buddy, but, I feel that you would've been much better off thinking that through before acting on it." Drake nearly loses his grip against him, but with one last ace left on his mind, he then whacks Tolem across the face with his hard and unbreakable head. Drake persisted with attacks to keep Tolem under hold until his team leader delivered the ultimate attack. Tolem began feeling overwhelmed by the constant reapplied attack of Drake's attacks, Drake decided there was nothing else left he could do, but to continue his charge until Taski and Darcie arrived. As Mikado, Ariah, and Drake all together, they put a halt to Emerald and Tolem. Shouting in the skies, were two forces. Lighting and Flames, together with Darcie's Speed Bolt, and Taski's Fire Impact formed Speed Impact. Both of them together spiraling down at a speed inexpressible, the two launch a breathtaking blast containing fire and lightning fused making a plasma explosion. 

Like two shooting stars that struck the earth, Emerald and Tolem are then brushed away from the attack. Ariah covers everyone around the blast with her protective vines, including herself. This then assures them of their victory. Taski and Darice then jump away from the fire, landing in an empty and opened area in the of the battleground. Taski then struggles in catching his breath, likewise Darcie. He then asked her, "Hey, big sis, you think that would've done it there?" Darcie remains vigilant of any unpredictable attacks from them and says, "Don't let down your guard, little brother. Knowing them, they may have somehow dodged it." The two remain parked where they stand, as the smoke and ashes begin to slowly fade away. Deep within the impact zone laid Emerald and Tolem against each other, the same mysterious hand returns and sends them into a brief hibernation. The voice then says, "Why don't you elders take a nap and let us take it from here." Meanwhile, Somewhere within the forest biome, Fang continued his charge against Yegor, however, Yegor was deeply enraged and in his zero limits mode. He struck many trees and even boulders, he kept up with Fang but couldn't tag him, for Fang was a quick and swift runner. Fang ducked over Yegor's ruthless attacks, he then used the perfect opportunity to strike. Fang shot off a bullet straight into Yegor's lower shoulder, causing him to become stunned by the impact and pain that not even his zero limit mode could resist. Right before Fang shot off another bullet, suddenly, one of Mandy's kunai knifes appeared. Fang deflected the knife swiftly, Mandy charged in with her katana. The two clashed swords as Mandy said to Fang, "You, Traitor! You'll Pay for Hurting him and Going Against Us!" 

Fang kept his confidence and his posture against the pressure of her sword and replied to her, "Aww, big wop. I could care-less about your weak boyfriend. Is that supposed to make me go home?" The words angered her deeply to the core, she attempted to slash him as she swiped upward, to then follow-up with a side sword swipe. Fang ducked down as his back nearly snapped from dodging, He then leaped into the air and did a quick aggressive kick swing on her head. When he landed back down, Fang shot off another bullet, but was deflected. She then uncovered her face mask and unleashed her tongue, grabbing Fang around the neck and slammed him into many trees. Fang laid against the tree log defenseless, Mandy then revealed herself in the air. She spiraled downward above him. However, Fang recovered himself and rolled to the side. Mandy dashed forward to deliver her ultimate attack shouting, "You'll Never Win Against Him!" She thrust her kunai knife between his shoulder and neck, she then realized her mistake as Fang then looked her in the eyes and said, "It would've been better for you if you hadn't done that little missy." Fang then, with a quick charge, summons his Ruger GP one hundred gun and smacks Mandy across her head, which knocked her out cold. Mandy was then out of her commission, while Yegor was the only remaining one left for Fang. Fang then says, "Well, now that you're settled in the saddle, I'll go take care of your boyfriend." Fang then wipes his Ruger and shines it, and then wonders in his head, "(Now, where would my poor excuse of a brother be at?)" The bushes begin brushing against each other, and the wind blows softly, Yegor then jumps out from the trees with his fist clenched, he makes an attempt in cutting off Fang unpredictable. Fang then turns around with a proud and hopeful shot, he pulls back his Ruger and screamed a battle cry, "Draw!" 

A bullet is then driven straight into the chest of Yegor, he fell down in defeat from the lone gun slinging bounty hunter, Fang Garrison. He then packs them up and moves out with his bounty collected as well as a bonus. Meanwhile, Taski and Darcie looked confused at the shadow figure within the dust and smoke, Taski then said, "Strange, that figure over there. It definitely looks much smaller than Emerald or Tolem." As the smoke started dying down and became clearer, it was then revealed to both of them that Chris arose out of the smoke. Chills spiraled down in them both, and their hearts started racing. Chris made a statement, "Well then, this is all get? What a welcome." Taski's mind was then overfilled with millions of questions and concerns about the current situation. Darcie then warned Chris, "Whatever you're planning to do, you'll have to fight me if you're going to hurt my little brother." Chris spoke immediately after her and commanded her, "Darcie, your team members could really use your help out there, go and help them for me. Would you?" Chris spoke his ability into the mind of Darcie, causing her to be completely controlled by his words. She then replied unusually, "Of course Chris, take care of my brother for me please." She then rushes off to Mikado, leaving Taski quickly. Taski's concern level rises after this to universal levels as she easily obeyed his command without hesitation. Chris laughs maliciously as Taski slowly begins backing away in fear. Chris then says to him, "Now that no one can stop us, I finally have you right where I need you to be, you stupid nerd." Taski stops moving then after hearing these words and accepts his situation as is. Chris continued, "I've been waiting ten years for this very moment, I'm going to leave you lifeless after I cut you off."

 Taski stood tall and inhaled bravery into his lungs as Chris proceeded saying, "Trust me, this time, your sister, or girlfriends aren't going to save you this time. I will beat your brain out. Furthermore, there will be bloodshed within this land." Taski woke up hearing these very words and awoke his flame inside and said, "You're Crazy! Bloodshed? You've lost your mind." Chris closes his eyes as Taski runs his mouth to him, saying many things. Chris then replies, "Sure, bloodshed is much to take in for someone like you, but in my case it would be different. You threw me out into the wilderness for ten years, with nothing but my own sheer strength to survive." Chris continues by mentioning much about their time as kids, about all they went through in their years of schooling. Chris then finishes by mentioning to him, "It's perfectly fine and okay for someone like you to be forgiven only because you're the prince and son of that terrible king. I can see the fairness of that. I am then banished secretly for giving you a harsh time as a young kid. You have a terrible father, you will one day grow up to be just like him, banishing people for not giving you what you want." Taski couldn't find the words to say in response, he stared down, wondering what he should do. Chris then shouts out loud maliciously, "That's Precisely what I Thought!" Chris summons his double sword and starts a rampage against the prince. He swings a steel cutting slash, but Taski guards against this powerful attack. Taski charges his flames in his hand to throw a counter-attack. However, Chris notices this and swings another slash at him, which threw Taski off concentration. When the moment was perfect for him, he performed a low spin sweep on Chris but only to miss him by a few inches, Chris then backflips far and high, landing a few feet back. 

Taski used this opportunity to throw out his Fire Wall attack, he covered a big majority of the area in flames. He then looks over the flames checking to see where Chris would be at, then suddenly, Chris jumps through the flames as if it weren't even hurting him. Then, Chris clashes against Taski's sword with an outstanding, brutal force. Chris sends his right blade upward to cut off Taski's balance, but barely collides with him. The two were at a clash of power against each other, Chris then retreated his swords away, likewise Taski. The two then charges at each other. As Chris sprints at him, he shouts in a loud voice, "You'll never know what it's like being stranded in the wilderness for ten years all alone!" Taski rushes toward his dark aura and starts thinking to himself, "He's not giving me much of a choice here, guess I'm going to have to show him." Taski catches the fist of Chris. Taski states to him, "This Fight is Pointless." He then swats his fist back quickly to fool Chris into thinking that he was going to attack him, Taski then balls up his fist hard, and throws it against Chris' cheek. The impact it had infuriated him, he couldn't believe the progress Taski achieved over the years. Chris then swung his foot upward, sending a high kick drive over Taski head; however, it couldn't touch him but only his hair. Taski moved and looked away for only just a second from him, Chris unleashed a terrifying shockwave from his hand which struck Taski in his abdomen. The pain that he felt from the shockwave was like one million electromagnetic punches inside a giant bullet that just shot through him. Everyone in the battleground, including the king and queen, was then filled with shock. However, there was a force stopping them from taking any action, and all they could do was simply watch as Taski was beaten brutally. Chris then unleashed another shockwave against him, which sent him flying into a mountain behind him at high-speed.

 Like being constantly crushed under rocks and stones, Taski flies out the other side of the mountain far away from the battlegrounds, landing out in the center of an open area. Taski lays lifeless, with blood spilling everywhere from his mouth, his nose, and other parts of his body as well as his suit being torn to shreds. Chris descends from the skies and lands near him and says, "Oops, looks like I ruined your armor, as well as your hair too, my bad." Taski ignores his remarks and places his hand on his sword stuck in the ground near him. He then responds to Chris's comment proudly," It took me one month to make this armor, I am not ashamed of the damages done to it, in fact. I would say that I'm actually proud of the damages, since it reminds me of what it takes to fight." Chris felt his heat rising, he summoned one of his swords and began walking toward him, ready to drive his sword into his heart. Taski then proceeded, "I have to agree with you on one thing, It was truly messed up of my dad to banish you out of the land for ten years!" Chris dashed in his direction with his sword positioned to strike his head. Taski finished his speech with a loud roar, shouting, "However, I will not let you have your way, committing bloodshed on this land!" He charged up his fist with extreme flames ready to drive Chris to unresponsive pain. Chris launched his sword at Taski head, but, Taski dodged the attack with a slight head movement to the right. Taski then clashed his sword against Chris's, this spooked Chris. Taski apologized to him, "Chris, I was wrong for letting him banish you like that, that really shows how much of a friend I was. I apologize for this." 

Chris shrugs off his words, for his only desire was to end Taski's life, his burning hatred only boiled higher and higher. Chris clashed his sword against Taski consecutively, leaving him hardly any chance to fight back. The two clash again and again, their clashes were like loud metal shredding each other and sparks flying all over. Taski halts Chris's blade and says to him. "We could settle this, but only if you'd quit believing that violence is the only quick fix to this. However, that's almost impossible to execute now. You've Given Me No Choice!" Taski thrust his fist forward at a powerful and fast speed, flames flew off his arm from the incredible impact. The impact with filled with gasoline fuel that came with a small explosion that sent Chris flying into a rock wall. Chris laid against the wall with confusion and pain, his mind couldn't comprehend Taski's strength. He became brain-damaged at the thought of him being pressured against the wall, he was unable to understand where his lack of defense rooted from. His thoughts started pilling up inside him, overwhelming him, shredding him. Taski approached him calmly, he then urged him, "Chris, I want to avoid fighting you. It wouldn't get us anywhere, it wouldn't fix anything." Chris remained quiet as Taski spoke to him with his head looking down. Taski continued, "Please, let's end this ridiculous fight, and what do you say we just part ways. I promise to never disturb you ever again." Chris built up the courage to then say to him, "Just kill me already, would you? I can't go on like this, you're superior to me, I am inferior to you." Taski's eyes grew big, he then responded to Chris, "Chris, why would I kill you? What good would come forth from that?"

 Taski then helped up Chris and dusted him off, and Chris couldn't bring himself to speak. Taski then spoke to him again," I can make it up to you, I understand why it is you're upset with me, and I don't blame you honestly. We can work this out in other ways." Chris then responded, "Perhaps you were right, I was way too controlled by my anger rather than considering the outcome of the situation. I ask for your forgiveness, my old friend." Taski accepts his apology and moves past his actions done, the two shake hands and even embrace a friendly hug. Chris then asks him, "I must ask. How will I be able to live here again? Your father, I bet he wouldn't be willing to forgive me for causing this disruption in the knight's exams." Taski reassures him and says, "Chris, I can't make any promises to you about where you would be placed, but, I can fight for you with all my might. My father has changed over the years and isn't what he used to be." Chris then sheds a tear silently, dripping down his face to the ground, he then stares down at his hands as he begins shaking in fear. He then shouts out at Taski in terror, "All the Pain was too Much for Me! Please don't send me back into the Wilderness! Please!" Tears fell down like the great waterfall near the mountains that stare upon the Asalikith capital. Taski was stoned by his sorrow and pain, he then felt great feelings of grief for banishing him back. Taski then reassured him, "Chris, please don't worry, I'm not going to banish you. I promise." Chris then looked at him with relief and began to calm down. Taski held his hand and said, "Everything will be alright." Chris replied to him, "Really, you mean that?" The two shook hands one last time, but then suddenly, Chris summoned his sword straight into Taski's side. Taski felt the great pain inside, a steel sword driven into his side with much blood pouring out from him. He began to choke on his blood and couldn't fight back. Chris stares at him with an evil smile and says to him, "You're incredibly naive." Chris then kicks him off his blade, causing more blood to spew out, he then fell down in defeat.

 Chris then laughs viciously as Taski lays in his blood puddle. He then stood over Taski, making his revenge speech," I've waited for this very moment here. This will finally make up for all the years I wasted." Chris raises his sword up and aimed down on the back of Taski, ready to drive his sword downward into his heart, he shouts, "Now! I'm going to restore my years, lost!" After he shouted this, he drives his sword into Taski's back, into his heart. However, there was red liquid spewing out of him like blood. Chris was too deeply astonished at his supposed accomplishment, his hand is then caught in many vines, wrapping around his hand at fast speeds. Ariah jumps in to put a stop to Chris's rampage, she wraps many more vines around his other hand, as well as his waist and legs. Chris is then completely trapped in place due to her heroic appearance. Ariah rushes over to rescue Taski and heal him of all his damages. Ariah uses her newly developed support skill called Healing Love. Which allows her to heal anyone without receiving their damage in return, however, this skill can only be used once a week. Ariah speaks to Taski and says, "That protective tomato actually worked well on your back, I'm glad I was able to make it in time." He complements her on her arrival, she begins blushing slightly at his comment. She warns him about the events currently happening around the battleground, "I'm sorry I couldn't make it in time, I was trying to get a hold of the others, but no one answered me, which left me confused. Not even Diarmuid or Maisie answered my call, I didn't know what to do, so I rushed over here, sensing that your health wasn't doing good." Ariah said to him with disturbance. Taski then stood up and replied, "I don't understand everything that's happening, but, I think it's safe to assume that something isn't right. I'll have to get a hold of my dad and call the game." Ariah observes his damaged suit, upset that he spent months working on it, she found his suit very nice. She then speaks to him again, "We should get going before something happens here."

Then instantly after she finished speaking, Chris grabs her back, sending a shock into her all throughout her body, she then screams in horror as she found no breakthrough from Chris. Taski turns around and is stoned at her scream as his eyes enlarge. Seeing this with his own eyes, Taski charges toward Chris at extraordinary speed, speed he had never reached before. He was right in front of Chris, until, a giant force field of energy blocked his way. Taski continues striking the force field, hoping he'd be able to destroy; however, his strength wasn't enough for the wall of energy. Chris then starts to speak down to both of them, "Now that you've laid the foundation of your future down here today, you can consider yourself and your girlfriend done for. I will slaughter you both before I start the chaos in this kingdom and beyond." Ariah's anxiety begins to erupt from her heart, her fear overtakes her. She lets out an emotionally and powerful cry, tears falling down from her eyes like a river flowing from a dam. Her voice was once a calm, cute, and charming sound and now is into total fear, sadness, and despair. Chris becomes irritated at her loud cry, he then raises his hand up behind her and shouts, "Would You Stop Whining, You Annoying Woman!" Chris flips her around and slaps her across her face, this completely killed Taski internally, this scene made him frozen and speechless, but also filled him with wrath. Chris then decides to play around with Taski's emotions, only to see him enraged and to toy with him and Ariah. He asked Taski cold heartily, "Hey, I got a question for you old pal. How much do you love your little girlfriend here, huh?" 

Taski in his anger shouted, "I Love Her Enough, that Giving My Life for Her is my Answer!" Ariah's heart is then slightly calmed at his words, she pauses her tears and thinks to herself, "He really does love me? Does he really think of me like this?" Her heart beats for his love, her eyes are engulfed by the waters of her tears. Her feelings for him are furthered. Chris holds her still with a tight grip on her back shirt, he lets the words of Taski sink into Ariah's mind before he acted further. He then pulls her back behind him a little and begins a speech, "Well Ariah, it's obvious to me that Taski is a terrible boyfriend of yours. He can't even protect you in situations like this, he's just letting you get beat around by me." Chris then developed a terrible thought of revenge toward Taski by kissing her in front of him. He then grabs her right hand and the reaches in closer to her, he closes his lips against hers, her lips remind closed to prevent him from reaching her mouth. Chris does this for five seconds in front of him to tease him, Taski's heart is sliced in half at the sight of this atrocity. Chris speaks out to him, "Maybe this'll teach you to never again mess with me." Taski's heart began to fill with rage and fury, his teeth began to sharpen and crush each other as his growling became louder and louder. Taski's rage became extremely terrible that parts of his hair strands began to steam up. His eyes started to fade out and shake insanely crazy. Chris spoke to him again, "I can see why you're still the single, hopeless, and little nerd that you've always been. How pitiful that you'd leave this poor defenseless woman to me, you're a terrible person." 

He proceeds to laugh like a maniac, he then provokes him further," That's right, get angry you stupid, worthless, little waste." However, before he could finish his sentence, Taski let loose his anger and shouted at the top of his lungs, "LET HER GO!" Chris feels the horrible heat wave coming off him, this then makes him more eager to see him fight back more. He then flips Ariah around facing him, he balls up his fist with great powerful force. He then launches his fist straight into her face, the screams of her were horrible and terrifying. Chris collides his fist into her face with intense and brutal force. She fell backward, becoming less and less conscious of reality, with blood falling out of her nose, mouth, and even a small portion from her eyes. Ariah is then knocked unconsciously on the ground, her blood falls from here face and lands on the ground, her right eye becomes darker and darker. Taski's heart stops. He stares at her lifeless and broken face, he then sees the tears of her. Taski then stares down to the ground with his flames stilled and wrathful. Chris then approaches him slowly and summons his sword, he then says his final words to him, "Now you know what I've felt in the past ten years." He then raises his sword up into the heavens, ready to smite the head of Taski, he then says to him," Now, I'm going to kill you, here and now. Taski Mandelen." He then swings his sword downward at a speed unimaginable, but then suddenly, Taski catches the tip of the blade with his bare hands. Chris is then suddenly completely frozen, he becomes confused and even troubled. Taski begins to growl, his voice becomes louder and louder, his mouth begins fizzing up. His mouth was covered with saliva, dripping down from his mouth. He then speaks and built up his tone slowly while raising his head, he then says in a roaring shout to Chris Deratea, "I, I Said To Sop!" 

Then instantly, Taski swung at Chris with an insanely fast jab across the face, with Chris losing sight of everything. Taski knocked his eyes shut, he then swung and punctured Chris's face constantly. He followed up with an up kick that sent Chris flying straight into the air, then quickly, Taski teleported in front of Chris and caught his face with his right hand. Taski squeezed Chris's face with full force out of his anger, he then charged downward to the earth and slammed Chris head first into the ground, causing Chris to spew out blood with Taski's hand covering his face. It was like Chris choked on his blood while also being suffocated. Taski then stares down at him with a beast like grin, he ground his teeth together with fangs dripping saliva. Out of his nostrils came steam filled with pure fury. Taski then smashes his fist down on Chris's jaw, nearly breaking it. Then came his last and final attack, he drew his sword up in the air like Chris had done early, screaming in complete madness, he then threw his sword down on Chris. However, right before the blade impaled him, King Diarmuid then smacked Taski on the neck, knocking him unconscious to prevent any further damage. Kianah approached the scene cautiously and spoke to Diarmuid saying, "I warned about this Diarmuid, next time I advise you to heed my warning, I'll take him back to my lab to further investigate the damages on him." Diarmuid then looked up at Chris, he shouted to him with great anger, "Chris, You and your team are hereby disqualified from ever joining the knights, and you are banished from this land." Chris had a small portion of strength to lift his head up and responded to Diarmuid, "Your son, he is the real enemy. You'll soon see what I mean by this." Chris immediately vanishes out of the area with his darkness ability. Diarmuid gasped at the sight of this. Then everyone in the stadium and all the knights and elden knights became aware of the situation. Diarmuid then looked down at his son, his precious son and stared into his beast—like face, he then thought to himself, "(Why son, why did you have to discover it this way? Why did it have to be this way?)"