Shadows of the Past and Future. (Round Two)

The landscape, unlike anything he had ever seen, could only be described as breathtaking. "Where am I?" Zorlo asked himself, pulling his emerald green hood down and looking over the canyon. The overlook the green haired man stood upon was lined by one, dull gray colored bar that separated the fencer from falling into the massive chasm and the stable ground the Aura Master was upon. The golden rays of the sun emitted from under the gaping hole in the ground, and slowly rose, lighting this place the warrior had been sent to.

The canyon itself had to be at least six hundred yards deep, and in a very 'v' like shape, apparently created from thousands of years of erosion, probably by a glacier at one time, much earlier in the life of wherever it was that the youth had been taken. Although the green eyed fighter couldn't tell exactly, the canyon seemed to be about two hundred yards wide. The green haired man placed his left hand upon the green hood of his cloak and pulled it up slowly, covering his face as he stepped back.

"I'm not entirely sure why the Dome has sent me here, but I do think I shall examine why right now," the Aura Master spoke to himself as a smile began to expand over his face as he stepped back and jumped over the railing, hurling himself into the deep, long travel down the chasm. The green haired man fell relatively quickly as the power of free fall threw him with unbelievable speed. The ground drew in only seconds after the fencer started his descent, but, before death could claim the green haired warrior, a sudden, powerful gust of wind blew past, nearly stopping him in his tracks and allowing him time to turn onto his feet and land safely.

"Not exactly how I thought I was going to have to land, but that works as well. The winds here are rather strong, I should keep that in mind," the Aura Master noted as he walked along a wall of the chasm, looking down at a small stream that seemed to run down the entire distance of the empty canyon. The green haired man walked silently along the useable paths of the canyon, ever intent on learning what dragged him here in the first place. What was his cause here? The fencer stopped for a moment and pondered this, hoping to figure out some reason why he had suddenly found his way here.

As the youth walked, his mind filled with thoughts, random or related to this moment, it was something that Zorlo tended to do whilst he was engulfed in an endless traveling. The great divide in the ground seemed to be unending through the emerald gaze of the youth, but that was not all that filled the fencer's eyes as the bright light of the sun entered into his mind, and a golden flash erupted though the chasm.

The fencer blinked, and slowly his eyes opened, taking in the light of something unlike anything the youthful warrior could have explained. The Aura Master now found himself standing in a desert of white sand, a silver sun floating overhead, keeping its glow upon the warrior of multiple energies. The green haired man's head spun as he looked around at the realm he had somehow stepped into. Nothing... absolutely nothing existed here except the sand and the sun. Nothingness was the only means, the only ends, and the only thing that moved around Zorlo. He shut his eyes closed and prayed, hoping upon everything that he could escape this new realm that had entrenched him.

Freedom!

As the green eyes of the fighter opened, he took in the sights around him as he sat up. He no longer stood in the chasm, nor in the desert, but now, he had found his way somewhere entirely different, yet not all to unfamiliar. Where am I? he asked himself, slowly standing to his feet and looking around. The fencer stood in a small town, and one that rang a few bells for him, especially after seeing all the repairs that were being done. Could it be possible? he asked himself, stumbling to remain on his feet.

Almost unexplainably, the memories all flew back into the mind of the green haired warrior, who took it entirely into heart of what had happened to him. Did I just walk through the door and get knocked out by something, or did my mind transcend dimensional rifts and somehow return me here? Naturally, the fencer couldn't resist but smile a little, for this is where he and the warrior, and Zorlo's new Master, Chronos had battled with the knife wizard, Wen; and a strangely quiet woman, who was apparently an assassin.

The green haired man stood proud that such a grand battle could be had, and yet, it could not be found in the fencer that something was amiss. "But why have I returned? Is fate playing tricks on me, or is there an actual purpose for me being here? I'm not sure?" the fencer told himself, walking down the streets until he found a bench where he sat down and looked around.

Well, at least things appear to have returned to the way they were before that battle. I feel so sorry to these people for getting caught in the crossfire of that battle, but it could not have been avoided. I suppose that there are always unnecessary casualties in war, but in battles of warriors, not armies, what purpose does it serve to kill the innocent? I suppose I shall never know; for now, I think it'd be best if I left here before something happened, Zorlo told himself, standing up slowly.

Through the quiet streets, the ebon knight began to move.

Unaffected by the harsh glow of the sun overhead or the rough desert ground he trod on, the silent giant wandered through the streets in spite of the heat of the midday sky. The sun was high, it was almost noon, and the desert showed the effects, whether it be from the peeling paint on the walls to his left, or the empty hitching posts to his right. The streets were quiet, barren of everything but sand and dust. The place was empty. He shrugged, attributing the absence of others to the sweltering heat. They must all be inside their homes, he thought. He sensed a cold chill that seemed out of place in the desert.

Ahead of him, a dust bunny scuttled about in absent-minded circles, as thought it had forgotten where the wind was supposed to take it. The breeze then picked up, scattering it into the air. The tails of his black coat fluttered between his legs, and the dangling, empty sleeve of his left arm blew around with nothing inside to hold it steady.

Memories flickered through his mind, triggered each time he took a step. There was something about the town that seemed familiar to him. His masked face tilted down to the earth, which he could sense he had walked upon once before. He could not remember when, but he had been here before. With a deshi by my side, I once passed this way. He glanced up, his black cowl stared ahead at the junction of the town. Near a saloon, a sole person sat on a bench. A boy with green hair.

Underneath his mask, the dark warrior did not smile. But he knew this boy, and he knew now this town.

“Zorlo,” the giant man whispered, and stopped just before the building. His voice sounded with no curiosity or surprise, nothing even to convey an emotion, but it was a simple confirmation of something obvious. The dark man had been so quiet that the boy jumped upon hearing his name, drawing his sword with a startled exclamation. Then the youth realized whom it was who called his name, and sheathed his blade.

His eyes widened as he stared into the giant’s face. “M-Master?” he asked, uncertain if the dark figure that stood before him was real or a mirage brought about by the bright sun.

The boy’s Master ignored the foolish question, but nodded his head. “What are you doing here?” he asked the boy, his tone exactly as before: emotionless and threatening. “I am here for a battle deshi.”

The young fencer stood up tall, as if bracing himself for something. “As am I, Master Chronos,” he answered, his hands slinking towards the hilt of his sword.

The man who called himself Chronos accepted the meaning of this declaration. With a single sweep, his remaining right arm snaked up to his back, where a simply massive staff was latched. Slowly the teacher drew the weapon, a silver staff laced with purple lines along its shiny surface. His student gulped, as the weapon itself was larger then Zorlo, and probably heavier by several hundred pounds. To his credit however, the fencer did not back down. The weapon’s bottom touched the ground, and the boy watched the surface of the staff gleam lightly, the purple lines pulsating softly. The boy had seen the staff before, and knew that it sensed the magical energy within his being.

The staff drawn, the teacher awaited his deshi to remove his sword from its scabbard. Zorlo did so quickly, and the golden surface of Apollo shined in the bright sunlight.

Chronos growled softly at the blade, twirling the weapon called the Arm Striker in his gloved hand. “Hold nothing back, deshi.” His head bent downwards to take in his foe, to observe the subtle grace in his stance. The copper spikes of his hair stopped just at the outline of the mask he wore, which betrayed nothing. Not even what the Dark Eye was watching. He watched the fencer look at the stump that was his left arm. Nothing remained below the elbow. It had been used, to create the staff twirled in his right arm, and the sword he was to battle again. “The sword you wield bears my mark still. I wish to see how you carry my power against me.”

His deshi nodded, and Chronos noticed a glint of determination in his eyes. “I shall not,” he promised. Already, a bead of sweat had formed on his brow, though the teacher attributed it to the warm environment that surrounded them.

The boy is brave, to face someone like me with no fear in his stance. He is determined to defeat me, green as he is. The ebon knight ceased to twirl his weapon, and levered the Arm Striker horizontally, his hand gripping the center of the staff. Let us see what you have learned of the world, Zorlo.

“Come at me,” he ordered his student. “Now.”

The green haired man slid his right foot back slightly, smiling, although he knew Chronos could not see it, even if the fencer was nigh certain the dark clad warrior knew it. Destiny had offered the fencer a chance to battle another of his Masters, and after the Aura Master had watched Jacentar leave, it was only natural that a battle with the metallic knight would occur. He looked down slightly, and then his eyes leveled out, focusing in upon the dark man's mask. His eyes gleamed with determination at this most extreme chance at defeating a Master of his.

The fencer's left his held his shimmering blade tightly; his right hand clenched itself tightly, then released, and the warrior shook it out, keeping his reserve arm ready for anything it might be capable of blocking. In an instant, the fencer moved, swinging his sword at the dark clad fighter with all speed.

The light of the sun reflected off the shining surface of the fencer's sword, but almost as lightning, the fencer had been pushed back at high speed through the bench he had just sat upon. The green dressed man's body bounced up as he hit the ground, small amounts of blood escaping his mouth as he bounced up a second time and finally hit the ground, skidding slightly as he finally stopped. The fencer looked up slowly, his eyes focused instinctively on the dark man who lurched slowly towards him. The fencer slowly pushed himself to his feet, using his sword as aid, and focused himself wholly on the victory on this battle.

Suddenly, a single thought rushed through the fencer's mind, and it began to haunt him almost as fast as it arrived. What happened? he asked himself, holding his chest with his right arm. Even though his jacket, the fencer felt as if he had been hit by a war hammer right to the stomach, making it hard to stand. He moved so fast I never saw his attack coming, and not only that, but he hit me hard enough to cause me major damage even though my armor. This is just the kind of battle I've needed for a long while. A foe that I simply cannot defeat, no matter how hard I try, the Aura Master thought with a simple amount of glee as he did so, stumbling towards the giant figure.

"Master! I won't be defeated so easily. It matters not that you are far more powerful then I am, I will find a way to defeat you, no matter what the cost!" the green clad fighter stated surely, still barely capable of standing.

The Dark Eye didn't falter in the least, merely continuing his stroll towards the wounded fighter. The sleeve that once held the dark knight's left arm was pushed by the powerful gusts that now shot through the empty streets of the warriors, bringing back memories to the fencer of the last battle he had fought here with Chronos.

Tis most strange of a fate. That once I fought in this very soil alongside this, my Master, who now stands opposite me, intent on my downfall. Destiny and fate determine many an odd thing, and yet, I do not mind this outcome, because I now have a chance to battle one of the most powerful warriors that has ever lived. I cannot falter either, I must stand proud against him. It is the only way I shall ever get stronger. Anyway, its not in my nature to run from a battle, especially one such as this.

The Aura Master slashed his sword to the side and removed his right arm from his chest, standing up straight again to face his most monstrous of a foe. The youth slid his right foot forwards and moved his left foot backwards, positioning himself for another attack. Again, the green haired man smiled, pushing his feet hard and kicking up some dust as he moved again.

The hands of fate had guided the fencer through many a battle. Sin, Master Jacentar, Altra, Nikudemon, Tsukineko, Tsuukai Ita, and even Drago, they were all leading up to this moment, when I battle my newest Master to see if I am truly ready to be a teacher. I cannot give up! The thoughts raced though the fencer's head as his sword fell, bouncing harmlessly off the dark man's staff; and with a quick flick, the dark warrior's heavy weapon flew towards the fencer's head, but the green haired man read the attack, by some manner, and avoided it.

Chronos laughed, amused that Zorlo had avoided his attack, but still not impressed. The Dark Eye pulled his arm back and began quickly thrusting his weapon at the fencer, who moved quickly, evading the blows as best he could, waiting for an opening to counter attack. The Aura Master slid his foot back and braced his sword as he pushed it, trying to deflect the dark knight's staff, but only succeeded in locking their weapons.

The weapon clash let out a loud clang, but the Arm Striker didn't move in the least, and all the Apollo did in response was shake slightly as the fencer pushed hard to try to move the massive staff. "It won't work, deshi. Your heart is in the right place, but your resolve is lacking. You must fight me as if you were trying to kill me, no way else can you win," the ebon fighter told the swordsman as the dark knight pushed the golden bladed weapon away and spun quickly, driving his staff into the fencer's back and launching him forward again, sending him bouncing onto his chest and flying back into the air, only to land hard on his back.

The Aura Master began to push himself slowly to his feet, intent on fighting on. His entire body hurt, feeling as if the weight of the earth itself had hit him, and perhaps it had, it was hard to measure the exact strength Chronos was using, even with Zorlo's unique ability to read the power of a person's aura. Chronos, though, was different, nothing like any other warrior the fencer had ever fought. He gave off not power the fencer could feel, only a veil of mystery stood around the Dark Eye.

He wants resolve, I'll show him resolve, the fencer told himself as his emerald colored natural aura began to engulf his body, taking the form of green flames. "I will not be defeated, I cannot be defeated!" he cried out to his Master, who merely continued moving slowly towards him. "I'll defeat you!"