Chapter XII: King of Birds

Hiraiko shuddered as the power of the Astral Signa became known to her. Using the shinobi-tabi Betrayil had given her, she had slipped through the battle unseen until she could lay hands upon it, and focus her own will through the ancient weapon. Now, an entire new dimension of sensation was opening up within her, the primordial connection which existed between the world of man and the realm of the gods. The multi-facetted aura which enveloped Tzee Xicu now spread out from the Manifest and engulfed Hiraiko as well. The winner of the battle for the Astral Signa would be the victor of the entire contest altogether.

Ramuh cast down a scathing bolt of lightning from above her, but Titan’s mountainous form disregarded the blow as if it were nothing. The two gods collided, Titan attempting to physically destroy the ruler of the clouds, but Ramuh moved too quickly for Titan’s lumbering blows to make contact with. Even as the two summoners struggled on the ground, locked in a contest of wills, the instruments of their might mirrored their internal conflict with a very real one of their own. Titan came down upon the ground with a clamor that left two thick indentations in the stone where his feet had struck, and instantly leapt back in the air, shrugging off Ramuh’s thunderbolts, but still failing to strike his mark. Titan bounded into a wall, his body seemingly melting into the stone, and then took to the air again, chasing his elusive prey.

For the members of Those Guys not currently holding on to the Astral Signa, the experience was terrifying. Ramuh’s lightning bolts were powerful enough to strike a man dead in a single blow, and though they were directed at Titan, the energy they gave off could be felt jarring their bones and muscles with every flash of light in the sky. Titan himself created such an impact every time he struck the ground that it was like a miniature earthquake rattling their bodies. They clung to the floor desperately, trying to stay alive as the conflagration of dueling deities raged about them. Raising his head, Rykoshet knuckled up to see Tzee Xicu, her aura flaring up behind her, towering over the form of Hiraiko. The summoner was holding on with everything she had, but if she were to break her concentration for even a moment, Tzee Xicu would instantly crush her will, and then the rest of them as well.

“We have to help her!” Rykoshet shouted over the deafening sounds of the two avatars colliding. “She can’t do this on her own!”

“How are we going to get over there?” Odessa shouted back. Between the lightning and the earthquakes, even a slight movement could be their last.

“Eig!” Rykoshet called out. “Can you play your harp?”

“Yes,” came the response, “but it won’t work if you can’t hear it!”

“Then strum as hard you can, Eig, and get me to Hiraiko!”

Hiraiko, in the mean time, was wilting like a flower. Her desperate gamble had spared Those Guys from Ramuh’s assault, but this ocean of power she suddenly found herself submerged in was threatening to drown her. Whenever Titan swung his arm, she felt her muscles twinge. When he touched the ground, her legs shook. His boundless rage and limitless strength were now a part of her as well, but without Tzee Xicu’s experience, she was in danger of being overwhelmed by the newfound might and losing control of what she had called upon. She felt tears welling up in her eyes, could hear her jaw rattling, and struggled to keep her vision straight. Above her, Tzee Xicu pressed down even harder, their spiritual battle rushing headlong into its inevitable conclusion.

“I shall crush your bones beneath me.” Tzee Xicu hissed, “for the arrogance you dare show in laying hands upon the Astral Signa.”

Hiraiko gave no response, but only dug back further, further into her spirit, just as unable to break the hold as Tzee Xicu was. Both of them were now exerting all of their energy into the battle between Ramuh and Titan, and the first summoner to break would lose everything. Had Hiraiko called upon a different avatar, she would have no doubt already succumbed simply to the Yagudo’s incredible strength, but with the Astral Signa lending her the might of Titan, she could resist. For how much longer, however, remained to be seen.

Ramuh again released a searing spark through the air, and again it burst ineffectually across Titan’s chest as the hulking brute tore through the air, trying to get the god of lightning in his clutches. Titan again smashed into the ground, but this time tore a chunk out of the wall beside him and hurled it upwards, straight for Ramuh. The pale-skinned avatar avoided the impact, but Titan was already in the air, and upon him. Ramuh twirled his staff up, sparks showering down where it traveled, and met the attack head-on. Titan’s enormous hands wrapped around the staff, and suddenly the conflict became an echo of that between the two summoners behind it. Ramuh and Titan both crashed to the ground, sending out an explosive shockwave of debris, and stood perched over their spiritual links, their positions identical.

Back and forth they struggled, the embodiments of energy and physical strength towering over the others, locked in combat for survival. Tzee Xicu and Hiraiko, Ramuh and Titan, the Astral Signa caught in the middle. For the briefest of instants, a span like the flicker of a hummingbird wing, Hiraiko felt fatigue wash over her. That was all it took for Tzee Xicu to seal her victory. With a crushing burst of power, she took the advantage, and the light Ramuh was emitting suddenly grew to dazzling proportions. Hiraiko felt electricity surge through her body, and tried to cry out, but no longer had the strength to raise her voice. All she could do was grip on to the Astral Signa as Ramuh, Tzee Xicu’s will and power opening up the gates of his influence over the physical world even more, cast Titan aside with a sweep of his black staff, and flew into the air. Titan stood, stunned, seemingly unsure of how to proceed as Ramuh stopped, hovering above his opponent, and all living souls beneath.

The current of the astral flow coursing through her, Tzee Xicu prepared to unbound Ramuh’s constraints completely. A tear rolled down Hiraiko’s cheek, as much from strain as from anything else, as she realized this was the end.

She nearly gasped when a hand suddenly reached her shoulder.

Smoking, bruised, and with blood dripping from the wounds he incurred crossing the battlefield, Rykoshet, his travel hastened by the spell sung by Eig, had reached Hiraiko. His hand upon her shoulder was like an anchor, keeping her steady and safe in the tides which sought to sweep her under. The sum of his chi focused on her, Rykoshet took hold of the summoner and stared menace into Tzee Xicu’s eyes. He would not let this battle end the way she envisioned. Nor would he triumph alone.

From behind Rykoshet, Baeladar’s gauntleted hand clasped onto one of his shoulders, and Danienne his other, Odessa behind them. Liyah and Middlesky stood with her, continuing the chain, everyone pouring out all the spiritual power they had down the line, focusing it into Rykoshet, who lent all he could muster to Hiraiko. A second hand grasped Hiraiko, and there was Fated, mimicking Rykoshet in acting as a conduit, everything they had left being poured into a final effort, one last gamble. Hiraiko felt her energy surge, and her connection with the Astral Signa suddenly steady out as her head became clear. Eyes gleaming with the power flowing through her, she bared her teeth at Tzee Xicu, who shrieked in fury at her foes.

“Futile!” the Yagudo cried out. “You could bring the might of an army against me, it would not be enough!”

“We’re not an army.” Hiraiko replied, feeling the power of her friends flow through her, “we’re Those Guys.”

From above them, Ramuh unleashed his true power. All constraint tossed to the winds, the power of the storm welled up within his staff and came barreling down out of the night sky in one indescribable bolt of energy. He was the lightning itself, and all that he was, all that he represented, came charging down towards the group on the ground. Hiraiko released her will into the Astral Signa, her connection with Titan now feeling like a calm brook rather than a raging ocean, and responded to Tzee Xicu by unbridling her avatar completely.

With all the fury of the earth, Titan shot up into the sky, directly into the heart of the blast Ramuh had directed towards him. The ground heaved up underneath him, shooting up as if a new mountain were forming at his feet, and with rocks and boulders tearing themselves free from the earth to join their master’s side, Titan’s fury and Ramuh’s bolt became one. The lightning was so powerful it threatened to splinter even the rock, who remained suspended in the air, fighting with all the power of the earth to break through the blast and reach Ramuh who lay beyond. Tzee Xicu and Hiraiko were both staking everything they had left on this one, final attack. Ramuh directed the full force of the storm against Titan, and Titan brought the unchecked rage of the earth against Ramuh. Those Guys stood united, but as the power brought to bear hit them, they wavered, and the flow of energy they were directing into Hiraiko threatened to be cut off completely. Titan’s link to the world weakened, and the energy of Ramuh began to sink in. Against such power, Hiraiko felt as if her heart might stop.

No one even heard the impact of the knife into Tzee Xicu’s back, but the pain shot through the Yagudo’s body, and, in a moment of shock, she loosened her grip on the Astral Signa. That was all Hiraiko needed to tear the weapon free.

Tzee Xicu, still connected to Ramuh, felt everything as her avatar faltered, the full power of the Signa now barreling through Titan’s attack. The earth god broke through Ramuh’s weakened bolt and struck the god of lightning head on. Titan’s blows reverberated with such power that cracks formed in the walls a dozen feet below, the stones on the ground clattered and tore themselves loose, and fault lines appeared on the surface of the top floor of Oztroja. Only the protection his spirit cast upon Hiraiko, which she was in turn bestowing upon Those Guys, kept them from being blown apart by the power. Tzee Xicu collapsed with a cry of utter agony as Ramuh vanished, breaking apart as if made of glass, his essence returned once more to the world beyond Vana’diel. Behind her, Betrayil, his katana stuck in her back, yanked the weapon free, but lacked the strength to strike again. Hiraiko immediately ran to his side as he drooped down to his knees, and above her, Titan gradually began to fade into mist. By the time the enormous figure came back down to the ground, he was gone.

The skies above them cleared, the rubble which had been suspended in the air clattered back down to the ground. Many of Those Guys, completely tapped by the ordeal, did the same.

“You did it,” Betrayil whispered, his voice, even wounded and drained, laced with pride, “my Hiraiko.”

The summoner, exhausted in all aspects, could only hold him close and smile. Thus she had no way to respond when the shadow of Tzee Xicu fell upon them.

“Never . . . children of Altana!” The most powerful of the Yagudo came upon, claws extended, too fast for either of the defenseless pair to respond.

Tzee Xicu felt the impact in her spine as Rykoshet’s fist took her in the stomach. By channeling all the chi of the others, he had been able to save some of his own. Tzee Xicu felt exactly how much now as the Elvaan’s blow doubled her over in the air. For one moment, the two were connected, and Tzee Xicu’s head came close to Rykoshet’s pointed ear.

“I could not protect my people,” she said in tones barely above a whisper, her mysteriously musical voice talking only to Rykoshet. “You must promise me you will keep them safe. You must save the Yagudo.”

Rykoshet drew his fist back in surprise, and Tzee Xicu collapsed to her knees. She held there for a moment, and then fell backwards, her mask sprawling off on the ground behind her. The great leader of the Yagudo had fallen.

Those few members as still could walk approached Rykoshet, gathering about him and Hiraiko. None had any power left to give, but through some miracle, none of the physical wounds they had suffered were immediately life-threatening. It would take some time before the group had completely restored the power it had expelled, however, and with Castle Oztroja still filled with Yagudo . . .

They turned in surprise at the sound of talons clattering against the blasted remains of the altar. Astonishingly, the two High Priests who had stood positioned at the top of the ruined structure emerged from the rubble, appearing almost unscathed. Hiraiko clutched the Astral Signa tightly in her grasp, and the others reared back as well. If they were here to avenge their fallen priestess, then there was almost nothing anyone could do to fight back. Few of them were even still conscious. Rykoshet struggled to keep his legs upright, but found that even clenching his fist was too much effort. Vile, standing in front of him, stared with disdain at the High Priests and started to speak, but had not the power to strike them down.

The duo, robed and masked, stepped carefully and purposefully towards Rykoshet. They stopped after a few steps, glancing back and forth at the carnage surrounding them. The unmoving form of Tzee Xicu, the beaten down body of Those Guys’ Elvaan leader, and Hiraiko, on the ground, holding the Yagudo’s most precious artifact. It was a long, tense moment before they spoke.

“You have felled Tzee Xicu the Manifest.” One intoned.

“You have proven yourself a wielder of the Astral Signa.” The other said in a voice like a chant.

“You have become the rulers of Castle Oztroja,” they said together in unison, “leaders of the Yagudo people. May you bring the blessings of the gods to our people, and the vengeance of the gods to our enemies.”

Rykoshet had no idea how to respond as suddenly the verse was repeated all around him. As voice after voice rose up, he managed to slowly turn, and saw that a great host of Yagudo had emerged from the darkened caverns and ruined spires around them, and now completely encircled the area.

“May you bring the blessings of the gods to our people, and the vengeance of the gods to our enemies.” They said as one, and, like wave effect, slowly bent knee in front of the new masters of Castle Oztroja.

Tzee Xicu’s breath rattled in her chest on the ground, and all at once, Rykoshet understood.

“Take your former leader to the dungeon,” he demanded of the gathering, “and ensure that she survives. This is my command. Then, prepare yourselves and this castle for battle, because soon enough, we will go to war.”

The Yagudo responded in unison, even as the High Priests gingerly lifted Tzee Xicu’s towering form between them to obey Rykoshet’s command. As the blonde Elvaan slowly began to comprehend just what had transpired this day, he realized that with this battle behind them, the real struggle was only just about to begin.