The Howling Dark, Part 8

The three of them faced their foe with Shuradō and Tagaidō giving the buxom Chikushōdō some space. Chikushōdō smiled cruelly, the first hint of any real emotion from either of the three since they first appeared as a series of loud explosions erupted behind the beautiful Chikushōdō and her companions. The explosions caused little in the way of actual damage to the surrounding environment but did generate alot of smoke. After about a minute, The smoke began to disperse revealing several huge animals of similar size with the biggest being as tall as a twenty-story building but their size was the least intimidating thing about them oddly enough because each one had large deep red irises that took up the entire visible portion of the eye made of concentric rippling circles and a number of comma-shaped tomoe and even more shocking was that each was a horrifying abomination that looked like it came straight out of one of Dr. Frankenstein's Nightmares.

In the front were two Snake-Tailed Chameleons just like the one Aaron's Doppelganger had beheaded moments ago and on either side of the pair was a gigantic Two-Headed Oxen while behind them was an enormous Crab-like Crustacean and the largest of them at least in terms of height was a huge bird with a massive drill for a beak and encircling this monstrous horror show like a living barricade was an absolutely titanic centipede about 150 Meters (492.1 Feet) long. The creatures were obviously deadly war machines and that was made abundantly clear as the two Snake-Tailed Chameleons ambled forward, their tails whipping about excitedly before slithering through the air, the same strange eyes present in their sockets. The two snakes flicked their tongues and turned toward each other before facing Aaron's Doppelganger and unhinging their huge jaws to reveal a massive Gatling Gun.

"Are You Ready Fam?!," For the first time Chikushōdō's voice could be heard and it was as beautiful as an Angel's Song and as malicious as a Demon's Curse.

Chikushōdō's summoned animals snorted and growled in response and began moving. The moment impenetrable Wall created by The Giant Centipede opened The two Snake-Tailed Chameleons opened fire with their Gatling Guns, firing boulder-sized shot that exploded the moment it impacted with anything solid. The two Oxen charged, reaching top speed in a matter of seconds while the suppressive fire from the Chameleons kept The Doppelganger confined, at least temporarily.

Aaron's Doppelganger leaped to the side to avoid the first of the charging Oxen and was struck by one of the Chameleon's projectiles, causing him to vanish in a shadowy haze before reappearing several feet above the ground only to land with a soundless flourish as he straightened his tie and smoothed out his jacket. All the previous damage he had suffered once again just a faint memory. He turned to see the other Ox heading straight toward him like a train at full speed and no brakes. With a hideous grin, Aaron's Doppelganger reached out and stopped the charging Ox dead in its tracks with a hand on either of his heads and buried his fingers in its skulls before in an incredible demonstration of its inhuman strength, he ripped the massive Ox clean in two, throwing one half to one side and the other half to the other side before it disappeared in a huge puff of white smoke with a sound like a balloon popping.

Aaron's Doppelganger turned to face the other Ox, holding up a bloody finger in a vulgar gesture which only seemed to enrage the gigantic Ox even further. Both heads snorted, flames shooting from their nostrils and it scratched at the ground with one of its flaming hooves. The huge Ox looked like it was going to charge but instead slung its two angry heads in different directions and the massive rings in each of its noses shot out, slicing through the air as a trail of silver light followed closely behind.

The Other Aaron frowned and stepped back as the two enormous razor-sharp Chakram Blades closed in on him from both sides, narrowly avoiding being cut to pieces. The Ox's left head snorted angrily and moved its head causing the ring attached to its nose by a long slender, almost invisible wire to alter its trajectory in mid-air, curving back toward the unimpressed Doppelganger who leaped into the air to avoid, nearly being decapitated by the second head's Chakram.

Landing without a sound, Aaron's Doppelganger waved his hand in a taunting gesture further enraging the already furious bull which moved its heads in a strange but obviously coordinated manner, causing the two Chakram to circle back toward the waiting Doppelganger who effortlessly stopped a blade with either hand. The two-headed Ox snorted and within a matter of seconds an undulating wave of blood red flame slithered down one of the wires followed by a billowing cloud of white smoke while a surge of electricity raced down the other, singeing the air along its path and producing a distorted crackling sound that was more closely akin to the cracking sound bones make when exposed to high heat.

Engulfed in searing flame from the left and a continuous, agonizing stream of electricity from the right, Aaron's Doppelganger gritted its teeth and hurled the large Chakram one after another toward the massive bull who merely motioned with its heads and the blades flew to the side, missing its lumbering body by a narrow margin before curving behind the huge beast and flying over its back and toward the increasingly irritated Doppelganger.

"Enough of THIS!," The Doppelganger hissed taking a step forward or at least trying to but it found itself unable to lift either of its feet from the ground. Looking down, The Doppelganger noticed a large glowing ring of arcane sigils at his feet.

"The Divine Earth-Shattering Ox Seal, Huh?," The Doppelganger mused., "Don't you know this won't STOP ME!," Roared The Doppelganger as it lifted its foot and stomped the ground, causing the sealing array to literally explode.

Catching the two Chakram again, The Doppelganger braced himself., "Aggh A Feint!," He hissed as the wires connected to each of the large Chakam ensnared him, tightening around him like a razor sharp vice both trying to crush him and cut him to pieces at the same time.

Both Shuradō and Tagaidō had been watching from a distance and waiting for a chance to attack. While their enemy was restrained they took the opportunity to strike. Shuradō held up his left hand, an opening appearing in the palm which immediately began spewing flame while his right fired an almost continuous stream of needles. Tagaidō on the other hand raised his sword and declared., "Seventh Form - The Sword of Blunt Impact!," ripping open the space in the path of his sword and flattening everything in its wake or... well, almost everything.

Standing in mid-air above a bottomless chasm more than a thousand feet wide and stretching beyond sight was the seemingly unharmed and still tightly bound Doppelganger.

"That won't work on me anymore.," Came a low rumble.

With both of their attacks proving ineffective, Both Shuradō and Tagaidō retreated to wait for a better opportunity to strike meanwhile the other animal summons began moving and attacking.

The enormous crab's pincers launched themselves from its body and through the air to attack The Doppelganger who effortlessly batted them away with the back of his hand. The two Snake-Tailed Chameleons from before opened fire with their Gatling Guns and The Giant Bird who had been circling overhead the entire time hovered over The Doppelganger who was busy defending himself from the hail of projectiles screaming his way at nearly twice the speed of sound, each of his arms transforming into a flailing whip with which to destroy the incoming projectiles.

The Gigantic Bird flapped its wings once... twice... three times and then the air beneath it exploded in a bright white incandescent light that slowly took the shape of brilliant white swords which encircled Aaron's Doppelganger. There were numerous rings of blinding white light ascending into the heavens.

The Doppelganger noticed the dazzling sword formation taking shape around him but paid it no mind, continuing to fend off the unceasing barrage from the two Chameleons. The formation of swords started to slowly revolve around him then more swords of light began appearing, adding layer after layer to the growing formation.

The Snake-Tailed Chameleons stopped firing, there was no longer a need... The Doppelganger had no where to go. The Titanic Centipede skittered up the growing pillar of swords, winding itself around the sword formation as it climbed higher and higher before stopping and staring down from the top of the formation at The Doppelganger who looked up in response and sneered.

The Centipede's sharp mandibles clicked in annoyance before it opened its mouth wide and a dark green smoke drifted down on The Doppelganger, contained by the sword formation the poisonous effects were even more concentrated. The Bird gazed down from above with its strange eyes before suddenly stopping the languid flapping of its huge wings. The Gigantic Bird seemed to fall in slow motion as if it were almost too slippery for the laws of gravity to grab a hold of. In what could be called a very long minute The Huge Bird burst through the poisonous green cloud inside the formation, descending on The Doppelganger like a bolt of lightning from above.

The Doppelganger held up a hand to meet the large drill-like beak of the free-falling giant. The collision set off a deafening explosion inside the formation and the formation shuddered from the intensity of the blast, the blades of light making up the formation literally started vibrating, giving off a not unpleasant melody. The sound made by the swords became louder and they moved faster and faster as they circled until they were just a blur then without warning the entire formation burst and a powerful red aura poured out from within. The terrifying aura carried an unbearable chill and gave off a sensation like distilled malice.

When the formation collapsed, The Centipede was torn to pieces and vanished in a puff of smoke with a loud pop. The Huge Bird was no where to be seen and the other animals summoned by Chikushōdō were also gone. The formation had contained most of the blast so Chikushōdō, Shuradō, and Tagaidō were able to survive though Shuradō who was closest to the formation when it burst was heavily damaged but his self-repair abilities were already hard at work repairing the damage.

The Knight who had been watching everything with an imperious gaze suddenly staggered, dropping his helmet which skidded across the non-existent ground while he looked even paler than he had been before, coughing up a mouthful of blood before collapsing to the ground on his hands and knees, his long black hair falling around his face as he began violently coughing up one mouthful of blood after another.

"Brother!," Shrieked The Dark-Skinned Goddess, looking up from The Priest to see the pool of deep red and shining silver forming around The Knight's pale trembling hands as he struggled to hold his own weight.

The Priest who wasn't in any better shape even after all of his Sister's effort to heal him smiled softly, a trace of blood escaping from the corner of his mouth., "Help our Brother, Sister."

The Goddess hesitated for a moment and her hands trembled, she removed her hands from The Priest's chest and glow they emitted began to fade.

The Knight threw up his hand without looking toward his Brothers and Sister., "I'm Fine!," He stated adamantly., "That Bastard of a Priest Needs Your Help More!"

The Goddess looked torn but she held her hands over The Priest's chest and the bright glow from before returned.

The Priest sighed and with what must have taken tremendous effort brushed her hands aside and made his way to his feet, struggling to stand straight amid the protests of The Goddess and Pirate Captain. He pushed their concerned hands aside and stated in a determined voice as he gazed sympathetically at The Goddess., "You've done all you can. Now the time has come... You can no longer tarry forcing life into these failing veins Sister...," The Priest staggered and coughed, a faint glimpse of blood could be seen as he wiped the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand before continuing., "If **** has come for me at last then I will meet it on my feet and fighting with everything I have."

The Priest looked up and searched the blackened sky as though he were searching for a familiar face., "If you want my life then take it... The only thing I ask before I let go of it is that you let me live these next few minutes well."

"Well said Brother!," The Captain guffawed, putting his hand on The Priest's shoulder.

"I'm with you Brother.," The Siren's Song that was The Goddess's voice joined in a second later.

The Priest smiled and suddenly his injures didn't seem so bad.

"Do you have a plan?," Asked The Knight who had joined them.

The Priest spoke in hushed tones to his Siblings., "I know that all of you can feel the murderous aura radiating from Aaron's Future Self. He's finally through humoring us so we don't have long left.," The Priest looked around and everyone else agreed., "We just need a little more time. The door is nearly wide enough. We have to keep him away from Aaron just a little longer...," The Priest looked to The Knight before continuing., "Is there anything you can do?"

"I've already overextended my Saishogan but I think I can manage a dozen or so useful Jutsu.," The Knight replied grimly.

"Do It!," Stated The Priest firmly, coughing up blood., "If we're going to die anyway then let's make this BASTARD remember the day he decided to go against US!"