Rage: Chapter 2

Rage:2: "So, they have succeeded in slaying one of my contraptions Eh?" A figure spoke in an manor room, decorated with jagged Allagan fissures, revealing spinning cogs, and pipes pumping Aetherical energy. "I apologize Master, it was sudden, we did not expect the Mech IV to go down so easily." "And why is that?" "We... We don't know sir." "Fetch me the blueprints, I will personally look into this case, meanwhile, deal with the Core, shut all the locks to it. Seems they already have the Ragnarok in their possession." "As you wish sir." The man got off from his knee, then left the room. "Damn it." The man pounded the fist against his desk. "I, Lord of the Dreadwrym's, shall not be defiled so easily!" --

"Here we are, the Ragnarok Central Core." Catherine spoke pointing at the now clear to see gateway. "How does this work?" "It's like a normal gate I guess." "I guess? You don't sound to confident." "It's more complex than you'd expect.." "Howso?" "We only know little of the Core, but it seems to need a key, and Aetherical reading, we have all tried our Aethrical energy, but it hasn't responded to anyone's." "Hmm" he pondered minute, looking at the gate. He looked around, watching the gate, until slowly raising his hand, as a stream of Aether flew from the palm of his hand, to the keyhole of the monstrous gate. Sure enough, it turned on, the cogs began to spin, and the metal gate skidded open, scientists quickly ran down the bridge  to the scene, taking pictures of the event. "Kainzu... I get it now.. Archer passed his Aetherical pulse onto you." Catherine smiled looking at the gate. "He does trust me.." He looked up at Catherine, a smile on his face as well. He drew back his hand as the gate stopped, guards rushing across the bridge, to aid in this new found expedition. The group was followed by the other two, Raz, and Sol. "Here is the lance sir!" She hurried over, handing it to Kainzu. "If my brother really did give me his Aetherical pulse... Then I should be able to change it." He struck it into the ground, while Catherine began a small briefing for the new troops. "Alright, listen up! We have opened the Core it is-" the lance began to glow. "Kainzu-" the metal began to bend, and undo, splitting slowly into two, after a bright flash of light, two blades remained on the floor. "It.. Transformed..." She muttered. He looked at the two relics on the ground, latching one to each side of his waist. "Continue the briefing Catherine." She nodded in reply and pointing into the Core. "Forward troops!" At that moment they all rushed in. After the mob had begun its entrance, the four followed, looking around at the newfound cavern. Kainzu looked down towards his weapons, examining the strange markings on the hilts of his twin blades. "Welcome! Welcome!" A speaker boomed, and echoed throughout the tunnel. "One at a time please!" A man's voice spoke. "Take a seat! Don't be shy!" The group looked around then one by one fell to the floor, dead. "Cover your nose!" Catherine yelled, lifter her shirt up to protect herself from the toxic air. Kainzu nodded lifting his shirt up as well, shortly after Raz and Sol followed. "Dammit." He muttered in a muffled tone. "Ah, so you four are the ones smart enough to avoid my trap!" The looked around, then continued down the cave. "Let's see! Kainzu Halone, your brother was Archer was it not? Oh! And Catherine! You were his fiancé! May I offer my sincerest congratulations-" "Shut up!" She yelled. "Ooh a feisty one! Whose next! Ah yes, Raz Tyuna, the little run away are we? Disobeying your fathers orders, killing him in result, how dreadfully-" "You... You monster! Just who in the hell are you!" Raz shouted at the cave. "Allow me to show you!" A rolled red carpet appeared, then started to unroll down the narrow cave. "Right this way! One at a time please!" They followed the carpet, which led them to an opening in the cave, much like the Ragnarok Central Core's chamber, but this one, was elegantly decorated, red drapes, gold trimming, and red carpet on a stage dead center of the cavern. A mechanical bridge turned on, making a clear path to the stage, almost begging the group to cross it. "Don't bother looking back, once you've entered my sanctuary, there's no going back!" The cave behind them sealed shut, with a familiar mark in the middle. "Stay sharp... We have no idea what we're up against." Kainzu muttered beginning to walk across the bridge. "If you mean to fight us, it's unfair for me and the medic to be unarmed, wouldn't you say?" Catherine spoke to the voice. "Do not worry darling, I am an honest "man", and gentleman!" A crate synthesized before the two, opening it to reveal relics. Catherine grabbed out a all white staff, with angelic wings wrapped around a jewel, while Sol, grabbed out a staff with the decor of a meteor, blacked with ash, and was centered around a purple orb. "See? I am a man of my word!" The voice echoed. "Shall we begin then!" The lights when out, they stood on the stage, looking around for their opponent. "Ladies and gentleman, I welcome you to my home." Light by light the stage lit up in a circular motion, Kainzu slowly grabbed the hilts of his blades, while Raz readied her lance. "I am Amon!" A light lit, at the center of the stage, and he appeared in a puff of black smoke. He wore a frilled bards hat, his colors a dark Crimson red, traces of gold and purple, he was a strange man, very tall, and looked to have a skeletal body, half machine, half skeleton, he covered his face with only a half mask, which looked to be for a mascaraed ball, he wore a long dress coat, grey near the waist down, the Crimson red, and gold lining on the upper half. His right sleeve however, was long, and draped, almost like a vampires cloak, but had Allagan details that glowed a bright blue. He wore white tights, that had zebra printed black stripes going up and down his legs, and high heeled red boots, he looked towards the group, tipped his hat, and spread his right arm out. "Well then, let's begin." And evil smirk formed on his demonic face. Kainzu fully drew both blades, then stopped, he heard a voice, a small voice the others could not hear. "Hello Kainzu, I am Ragnarok, it is nice to meet you." The voice said. He looked down to his blades, noticing the same Allagan marks from the door glowing a bright blue, growing brighter whenever the voice spoke. "Kainzu, what do we do?" Sol looked over to Kainzu, taking the blackened staff in hand. He thought a moment, Amon watching, waiting for them to make the first move. Kainzu stared at the blades, and touched the Allagan marks with his thumbs, causing a bright flash of light, surrounding him. "Hello Kainzu, I am Ragnarok." It said again, he opened his eyes slowly, and looked around to reveal him in a elegantly decorated room, with floral decal, gold and Allagan blue trimmings, and a man, sitting at a table with two chairs, and a tea set, Kainzu hesitantly walked over, staring at the man. "Care for some tea?" The man asked kindly. "Don't be shy, take a seat." Kainzu nodded, and pulled out the chair, and sat at it. "What, and who are you?" He asked looking at the man. The man had short brown hair, and Allagan blue eyes, he had what looked to be a freshly trimmed beard, but wore only a plain t-shirt, and nothing else. He reached over and poured Kainzu a cup of tea. "Cream? Sugar?" "How about Name? And where am I?" "I told you, did I not? I am Ragnarok, and you are in my data base." "By Ragnarok, you mean the Central Core, correct?" "No, not exactly, Ragnarok Central Core is a place, I am a thing." He looked around, then at his own waist. "You're Archer's blade..." "No, I am your blade now." "Explain." He took the cup in hand, and began to take a sip. "Before your brother, Archer, perished, he stuck me in the ground, and prayed, so you think" he looked up at the man. "Instead, he met me here, asked that I look out for you, and protect you no matter what." Kainzu put down his cup. "I am your sword and your shield, I will help you when in doubt, and be there for you when you are unstable. Do you wish for this?" He nodded, looking up at the half naked man. "One question... Why are you only wearing a shirt...?" "I am a weapon, weapons don't where pants do they?" "But... Never Mind" A bright flash re lit, Kainzu re opening his eyes to be where he was standing before. He looked at the group and nodded. "Raz, I want you to keep Amon distracted, Catherine, keep everyone alive, and Sol, Attack from a distance, try not to get Amon's direct attention, while me and Raz attack up front, if you see any changes in the surrounding area, shout it out for us to watch." They all nodded, Raz glared at Amon, and bent her knees in a hunters stance, she this unbent them softly, jumping gracefully into the air, the lance guiding her like a dragons maw, he looked down from above, aimed, and stuck Amon with all her strength. "Dragon fire dive!" She shouted, as a drachens roar echoed, and flames burst around Amon. "That's our cue!" Sol shouted as he began to conjure a ball of flame with the staff, releasing it towards Amon, on impact, it created an explosion of great proportions. "Ha! So you aren't all talk I see!" He raised his cloaked arm, and snapped, a toxic blob falling to the ground. "Break a leg!" He laughed as he began to cast small orbs of fire, and launch them at Raz. "Oh great and powerful aspects of earth, protect thy's friend with a skin constructed of stone!" Catherine quickly murmured, and granted Raz protection from the incoming flames. They burst on impact, the stone letting not a single flame lick the girls delicate body. Raz smirked confidently. "Thanks Cat!" She yelled, beginning to pierce Amon. "Ragnarok, let's see what you've got." Kainzu whispered to the blades running towards Amon. "Hahaha! Hehehe!" He began to throw little packages, Kainzu dodging them as best he could. A few seconds later, one by one each package erupted into flames. "Kainzu, you need to kill that blob, if not, he'll be able to use it to protect himself!" He looked around quickly, finding the blob. It was a thick purple, and half the size of Kainzu himself. "How do you suggest I kill it? If I even try to slice it, it could split into two." "Let me analyze it, try to get closer." Ragnarok replied. "Ahh!" Raz yelled as she continued to stab and slice at Amon. "The time is almost near! Die! Die! Die!" He continued to use small lesser magicked attacks on Raz, as small as they were, they were no challenge to dodge, but when one hit,  it could very likely be the end for her. One after another, she continued to dodge. "If this keeps up.." She dodged another. "I won't be able to land an attack!" She yelled. Looked back at Catherine. "Hang in there, your wounds are deeper than I imagined!" She continued to heal, and cast various spells to protect Raz. "I'm running out of magic, hurry..!" She replied frantically, Sol running up behind her, and casting a flare, the explosion engulfing Amon and any objects around him, Raz backed away swiftly, Allowing Catherine time to regenerate her magic. Kainzu hurried, using the conflagration to his advantage, he jumped, and began slicing and stabbing, both blades in perfect sync, trying to effect the blob in any way. It responded by sizzling, and growing. "Sol! How much Mana do you have left!" He looked over quickly at the growing blob, then at Kainzu. "Only enough for a lesser flame.." He yelled in reply. "HAHAHA! Bravo! That will be all for the opening act! We thank you for your time, but it has come to an end..!" He spread his burnt arms, in the form of a cross. "It is time for the curtain call!" Musical notes began to float, and rotate around the man, his overcoat flailing about in the wind, his hat stayed firm upon his head, but his eyes, instead of its normal pitch black, began to glow a dark blood red. "I can hit him!" Raz yelled, trying to land an attack on Amon. "The notes... He created himself a barrier while he casts." Sol replied. "We have to do something! I don't know what this curtain call is, but it can't be good.." Kainzu continued to hit the blob, ignoring the others conversation. "A little help!" He yelled, looking up for a brief moment, then continuing to attack the blob. Sol turned, and focused, then began casting the lesser flames with what magic he had left. Raz bent her knees, and jumped into the air, she aimed, and dove, stabbing the mass of slime, Catherine watched, realizing what they were doing, she quickly ran over, and began smacking casting various wind spells, suffocating, and enclosing the blob. Sol focused his last bit of energy, and began to cast a flare again. "Ragnarok, how much time do we have left?" He asked looking down on his blades. "Not much, I'd say around 30 seconds, if your group is going to kill that blob, you better be quick about it!" He replied. "Almost..." Sol murmured, then released a flare, destroying the blob, it's slimed remains covering the four, they looked behind them. "Ten seconds." Ragnarok muttered. "Ladies and Gentleman! I give you! Curtain Call!" The stage erupted in flames, the air spinning around Amon only became stronger, causing the flames to grow, he laughed like a madman, watching the four stab in the raging inferno, until it stopped. The flames died down, and his barrier disappeared. "H-how... Damn that blob." He muttered, as Kainzu and the three others stood unscathed. "Your own fault for creating that thing!" He yelled. "It's components when killed can harden, and become fireproof, looks like we win Amon." Catherine looked up towards the man. "So it does, allow me to-" he grinned evilly. "Take a bow." With his remaining strength he bowed elegantly to his audience. The four stared, as he fell to the floor, dead.