- Blood Rivers Run Like Fallen Rain [2]

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A/N: I apologize for what happened with the former chapters. I just now realized it when posting this chapter that the others were screwed up. I do have to get this computer fixed, and I plan on doing that soon. Again, I apologize for this inconvenience. I will try to make sure this doesn't happen again.

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Her fist step was solid. The stone acted perfectly as support, as her first step reflected off the attack she knew would come next.

As if on cue, Cain immediately reactivated [Drifting Winds] and in a burst of movement, pushed off against the hard ground, zipping past the closest of monsters and rushed towards the one fighting against Rian and Lukali.

He clearly didn't want to give the monster any time to act, and so, as he neared the beast, he dropped to his knees, leaned back, and slid underneath the body of the monsters. He drew Lia's sword, Evegallion, from its scabbard and traced a nasty line across the underside of the monster, just below its rib cage.

Sliding out from under the beast, Lia was surprised to find that drifting winds were no longer active, but she never felt it get deactivated in the first place.

'How-'

Before she could speak, Cain knew what she was going to ask, and in a scratchy echoing voice due to the mask, he spoke.

"So long as you interrupt the flow of Drifting Winds, you won't have to worry about deactivating it."

'So your saying all I have to do is interrupt the flow?'

"There are certain exceptions."

The monster reared its head towards Cain, his large mouth widening in a roar, showing its ugly and yellow sharpened teeth.

As Cain looked over the monster, he raised the blade up to his chest, pointing the tip towards the monster.

"But that can wait till later."

The beast charged as Rian and Lukali regained themselves from the exhaustion looking on in shock at the cloaked masked man that appeared from nowhere.

Cain reactivated [Drifting Winds] but instead of using it in one long burst of movement, he used it in short bursts, zigzagging around the beast discombobulating its sense of direction.

Left, right, left, right, and eventually Cain appeared instantly by its side, raising the blade upwards in a curved arch he slicked through flesh and bone, cutting deep into the skin and fur, as the head flung off from the rest of the body.

This all happened in the matter of a few seconds, as the onlookers couldn't help but be amazed at the speed of this unknown being.

However, just as Cain was repositioning himself, he felt a slamming pain in his left rib cage, as he was flung across the square and slammed into the side of a building.

The dust and debris from the crash fell around him, ruining his vision.

'Owwww! Cain, that hurt!'

"Oh shut up. I can fix it. I forgot I was in a weak body for a moment."

'Again with the comments!'

Cain used his free hand and reached for his side, Lia's rib cage being filled with a warming blanket that took away the pain.

'Healing?'

She gasped as she realized what it was Cain was using on herself, amazed that Cain could use something from his own arsenal that she couldn't.

However, she couldn't beat the greed in her heart.

'Cain, Cain, do I get to use healing too?'

"No you little leech!"

He yelled, but had little time to continue talking, as the dust morphed and turned, bending to the will of the monster's force as it pushed through the dust cloud.

"Sh*t!."

Cain pushed off against the ground, hard, aiming to just get above the monster's attack, but realized too little too late that he wouldn't make it.

"Damn this body is too strange to move around in."

'I heard that!'

Cain twisted his body mid air and reached out his left hand as if he was trying to push some invisible thing away, but instead, Lia felt her hands and fingers grow warm as well as her body.

[Flames]

A burst of flames erupted from the tips of her fingers, blasting away rubble and propelling her higher into the sky, enough that she was now looking down on the large hairy beast engulfed in fire as it crashed into the building, sending rubble and debris scattering around the square.

The moment her feet hit the ground, Cain pushed off, speeding towards the flaming monster. He held the blade in his hands at chest level as he passed by the monster, his speed not hindering or stopping as the silver blade dug deep into the flesh of the monster, slicing away at bone and skin, spraying blood over the raging fire.

The beast raised its head roaring at Cain, who ducked under the horns, turning around its head, and burst past it on the other side of the large furry body, leaving a similar long nasty scar tracing along the blade's edge.

However, the difference from before was how deep the blade was piercing the flesh, and as Cain cleared the monster's backside, the best fell to the ground dead. The top part of its body falling away from the bottom.

"Two."

Can said, as he looked over the square, finding the closest monster galloping in his direction.

"Let me teach you something else Lia."

He said quietly, sheathing his blade.

These actions startled Lia, who quickly warned Cain, her eyes passing between the oncoming monster and the blade at her hip.

'Cain, look out! Cain? Cain!'

But Cain didn't listen, instead he spoke in a clam and clear voice.

"Flames doesn't just produce fire from nothing. It can also control the fire it creates."

He half turned his body reaching both hands towards the flaming building, the world around him becoming enveloped in an eerie silence.

The flames danced on the wood and stone, rising towards the sky and the clouds. But just as Cain began twisting his hands, the flames moved with them, dancing to his motions.

The air changed around him, and both Lia and Cain knew the beast was only a few steps away, and gaining ground fast.

As if the world moved in slow motion, the flames leaned towards Cain who breathed out a sigh of breath, turned, and threw empty air at the oncoming beast.

His actions seemed useless as nothing happened for seconds, before suddenly…

-Woosh!

A wave of fire, pointed to the tip, ripped itself from the building and flung itself against the beast as it raised its front body high, standing on its hind legs. The flames danced along the underside of the monster, rearing upwards towards its head.

But Cain wasn't done yet.

Drawing his sword, in a burst of moment he appeared under the monster, stabbed directly into the flaming body, grabbed the hilt with both hands, and ripped the blade out sideways against the animal's rib cage.

The effect of the fire hand made the hide of the animal soft, and with ease, Cain ripped through its flesh, splattering black blood against the concrete walkways.

With one large scream of pain, the beast collapsed.

The remaining flames danced around the air, before Cain turned his already in motion sword at a 180 degree angle.

And as the fire followed his sword, he slashed horizontally across the air, sending the flames in an arch across the square, slamming into the side of a fourth beast, drawing its attention towards him.

"Roar!"

The beast held its ground and scraped its foot against the ground, as it challenged Cain to a charge.

Seeing this, Cain smiled behind the mask and stabbed his blade into the ground, cracking the stone apart.

Again, Lia became worried by these actions, knowing that Cain was the type of person to get heavily engaged into a fight, as well as be incredibly passionate about it.

'Cain…?'

She asked, worried.

"Don't worry. I'm just going to have a little fun."

Lia didn't find Cain's sadistic comment all that appealing at all, and simply crossed her fingers, hoping and praying that everything would be alright.

"Roar!!"

The beast charged after seeing Cain accept its threat of a challenge, rushing forward. Its horns were sharp and pointed, and Lia questioned how much pain she would be going through itn the next few moments.

However, just as Cain pushed off the ground, she felt the air around them zip past, a warm feeling engulfing her body.

Appearing before the charging beast in an instant, Lia felt her arms reach out to grab two of its horns, the horns that were protruding from either side of its head.

She felt an immeasurable amount of strength overcome her, as she firmly planted her feet on the ground and leaned her body forward, using her entire strength to stop the attack.

However, the beast's own strength was not to be underestimated as she felt herself suddenly get pushed back. But instead of being flung back, her feet began to slide against the ground. Her arms were still attached to the animals horns, and her body still leaning forward, but her feet were sliding against the dirt underneath them.

'Cain!'

She called out, her voice ragged and tired as she felt the true force of the monster before her.

'Cain we can't hold it.'

The monster began pushing them back farther and farther, but Cain never stumbled or fell. Instead he kept in the same position as before, leaning against the monster, keeping his hands firmly planted on the animal's horns.

'Cain!'

She called out again, only this time, she was answered.

"Calm down. I know we can't hold it, but that's not what I'm after."

Changing the position of his hands, he grabbed the right horn from underneath, while keeping his left hand clutching the other from the top.

Instantly, Lia could see what Cain was about to do, as her eyes widened in shock.

'Y-You…are you serious!?'

-Snap!

Cain used the remainder of his strength to twist the beast's head suddenly, catching the animal off guard and snapping its neck in one motion.

His labored breathing was heard throughout the entire square as the sun setting behind the buildings casted a warm orange glow to him, he stood there, looking down at the pouring blood coming from the animal's mouth.

"Four."

Lia was shocked, but also amazed that such a thing was possible, as well as someone being dumb enough to try it.

Cain, being able to read her mind, turned his head sharply over his shoulder.

"I can hear you, and no, its not dumb."

He said quietly but fierce, drowned out by the sounds of the ongoing cires of monsters across the city.

'For you maybe, but for normal people, it's dumb.'

"Normal people? Huh, guess we can cross you off that list."

'Hey!'

Lia gritted her teeth when she heard this, but before she could say anything, she suddenly remembered something.

'Cain, wait.'

"What?"

Lia looked around the square desperately searching for something.

As if sensing her distress, Cain asked again, this time his voice a little louder.

"What is it?"

She hesitated, her voice filled with worry.

'There were supposed to be five.'

"Five? Wait…"

He turned around looking across the square, across the many survivors that rested along edge of the buildings that surrounded them.

"...where's the fifth."

From the survivors - a woman screamed and called out to him.

"Look out!"

Cain turned abruptly just in time to see a large horn mere inches from his face.

"Crap…"

He said silently, closing his eyes.

[Drifting Winds]

He instantly activated Lia's skill, only this time it felt different to her.

The world around them grew slower and slower, time almost coming to a stand still. It was similar to when she first tried out the skill, as if the effects had become dulled over time.

"The final effect of Drifting Winds, an effect that nearly stops time itself."

Cain dropped to the ground, not bothering anymore with words as he reached out for the animal's horns.

He was able to wrap his fingers around one, however, the skill deactivated soon after due to the abuse of the powers. Left with no other choice, Cain used what he had at his disposal.

Strength.

Pulling the horn inwards towards his body, he twisted his torso away from the beast, using the animal's own weight against it. The result was astounding to those who watched.

As the beast appeared behind him, shielded by the setting sun, Cain dropped to his knees, grabbed one horn, and pulled the monster's head towards the ground, causing it to trip and fall on its side.

"Roooaaarrr!!!"

The animal roared to its heart's content, anger spilling from its voice as it desperately tried to get up.

But Cain wasn't about to let that happen.

Still clutching the horn, he raised his fist high, and slammed his elbow into the monster's neck, causing a loud and eerie snap to echo across the square.

-Snap!

Letting the horn go, the beast flopped to the side, dead.

As Cain looked over the survivors present, Lia felt her body coming back under her control, slowly but gradually.

With one word, Cain's voice spoke out for the last time behind the mask, reaching all the survivors' ears and souls.

His voice didn't need to echo. It didn't need to be loud.

It was calm, composed, and collected.

But that was what scared them even more.

One word.

"Run."