FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Chapter 3

Daniel napped comfortably on the grass, the cool late summer breeze softly stroked him. He slept softly with his hands under his head and a steady stream a drool escaping his mouth. His slumber was disturbed by a soft tapping on his nose.

"Five more minutes, Colonel..." Daniel replied in his sleep and he turned over. The tapping came again, assisted by a strong breeze.

Daniel's eyes snapped open, and he was greeted by a view of the city. The Lights of his circular home glittered in the late night.

"Where am... " Daniel's sentence stopped short when his I came rushing back to him. His hand went to his side, and he remembered his rapier breaking.

"Then I... Where's Calamis?" the human asked while getting up and dusting himself off. "Ohhh, man. I'm sore all-"

"What in three hells is this, human?!" Calamis roared

Daniel looked around but all that surrounded him was the breeze.

"Down here." Calamis growled in irritation

Daniel looked down. "It worked!" Daniel picked up calamis. Calamis was in the form of a stuffed animal with all the features of his real from, minus sharp claws.

"You're so soft!" Daniel cried with wide kid-like eyes, hugging Calamis.

"Cut that out, human.!" Calamis struggled against the human's grip. He opened his stuffed maw to breathe out a dark flame. Nothing came out

"This isn't your real body." Daniel explained, casually swinging his partner in one hand as he walked. "Your true form is here," Daniel tapped his chest. "Within my soul."

"Give me back my body!" Calamis roared

"Can't. You'll spend up all of our Cor and I'll die. We can't have that, Clams."

"Clams?"

"We need to hurry." Daniel said, casting a nervous glance around. "It's late."

Daniel Feris Stood right outside of the school walls.

Braquin Summoner high wasn't exactly the biggest school in the city but the requirements to join are rare. First off, you needed summoner blood: The ability to call or create monsters, sprites, demons, and so on.

The school was a dorm campus atop of the hill on west Krew Street. The building had an old building look, with the brickwork in various conditions. Part of the school, at the far end, was the area under construction. That area led underground. Scaffolding and nets covered that half. Lights shone on that area, with various construction equipment left around.

Daniel quietly dashed across the dimly lit grounds and sidled up the building wall until he was just under his room. Daniel reached into his bag where a normal glove rested next to Calamis, who had his arms folded.

After Daniel put on his glove he whispered to it.

"Sharpen, Crawger[s1] ." The brown, open-fingered glove suddenly changed into silver. Long claws replaced Daniel's fingers. The human nodded in approval and reached up, Crawger dug into pre-set holes. Daniel climbed up the wall, carefully scaling the side of the building, until he reached the dorm area, right under his room.

Daniel took a careful peek into his room. The single bunk bed was unmoving, and the room was dark. Daniel slowly dragged himself into the room.

"Took you long enough." Arnold said from the shadows.

"Yah! Arnold! You scared the crap out of me!" Daniel replied louder than he intended as the light came on.

Arnold stood across the room, in his pajamas and bed head. "I was scared that you were going to be out all night. What happened to " It won't take long."?" Arnold mocked his best friend.

" I-I ran into some trouble. I think I used all of my Cor up." Daniel admitted while rubbing the back of his neck. He put his bag down, in front of the closet and sat at the table near by.

Arnold sat across him on the round table. " I was worried that I would have to summon a doppelganger all night to lay in your bed."

"Oh, shit! I hope you didn't use a lot of your Cor like me!" Arnold dismissively waved his hand. "No need to worry about it."

"Why?" Daniel asked, his eyes chancing a glance to his bed, which was occupied.

Daniel nearly cried out when it rose. "What's all the racket?" A middle-aged man said as the blanket fell of his head.

He had short curly black hair and brown eyes. His 5 o'clock shadow and slightly formed wrinkles gave the man the look of a teacher. He pulled the blanket off completely and turned. He wore his uniform with the crest on the breast of his shirt.

"What are you doing here, Mr. Feris?" Mr. Agers asked.

"What? What do you mean?! You're in my room!" Daniel yelled louder than he meant.

"Shhhh!" Mr Agers held a finger to his lip

"Calm Down Danny!" Arnold said in a harsh whisper "He saved both of us!"

"I'll calm down when I want to!' Daniel shot back in the same harsh whisper. "He was sleeping in MY bed!"

"Hey-hey! How about we all take a deep breath and start over." Mr. Agers said in a normal tone.

"Shhhh!" Daniel shot with venom.

"I don't need to quiet down, I'm the teacher." Mr. Agers replied with his chest puffed out.

"Ms. Arnok checked the room." Arnold said before Daniel could reply.

"A-A-Arnok the demon?" Daniel replied with fear in his voice

"You know she carries around a sphere of dismissal, right?"

"Sh-she does...?"

"If I had summoned a Doppelganger in your place, and she came by with the sphere...."

"And you know how paranoid she is..." Mr. Agers chimed in

Daniel deflated and slumped into his chair. "Thanks guys." He said after a sigh.

"Don't mention it. Now, you going to tell me why you missed rollcall?" Mr. agers asked.

Daniel's eyes lit up and his chair went flying back into the dresser behind him.

"Shhhhh!" Arnold repeated.

Daniel ignored him as he dug in his bag and pulled out a doll. "Tadaaaaa!~" He presented Calamis to his friend and teacher.

"Stop handling me like this!" Calamis growled to Daniel.

"What is it...?" Arnold asked leaning forward to the stuffed animal

"What is it saying?" Mr. agers asked, leaning in as well.

" This is calamis." Daniel simply stated, his face still proud and ignoring Calamis' struggles.

"The white kingdom must have been small... No wonder we couldn't find it." Arnold muttered "No-no no. I refined the soul-bind spell with an alternator. This way, he can't expend my Cor to death."

"And he agreed to that?" Arnold asked.

"Not exactly...." Daniel said in a mutter, remembering the details.

"Could you get it to talk again?" Mr. agers finally spoke after examining Daniel's partner.

"Say hello to Mr.agers, Calamis." "Turn me back or I'll kill you, boy." Calamis growled.

"And you can hear him?" Mr. Agers asked.

"Shouldn't I?" Daniel asked, not seeing where the question was going.

"That was a bad question... I should be asking: You can understand him?"

Daniel nodded. "You don't?"

"I do!" Mr. Agers said quickly " The problem is that your ancient WIthia[s2] is shit." He spoke in a language not his own."

"What?" Daniel asked with a slow expression written across his face.

"You didn't get that?"

"What you're telling me is that He's not speaking Gith'n[s3] ?" he asked. "I've failed all my Withia tests this semester." Mr.Ager's expression changed drastically. "I see..." He said more to himself than to anyone.

"What did Mr.Agers say?" Arnold asked.

"Weren't you paying attention?" Daniel asked in irritation.

Mr. Agers nodded quickly, too quickly. His head nodded as if he were a half-broken bobble head. "See me after class tomorrow." He said in a serious tone, spun on his heels, and left, muttering to himself.

"Well, that was weird." Arnold said.

Daniel sat in Mr. Agers' class right next to Arnold. The pair sat front row of the class. This was Daniel's favorite class: universal combat

"As we've been learning this semester-" Mr. Agers yawned during his ownsentence. "Is that some weapons were designed to combat other weapons, while others have an advantage over others by accident." Mr. Agers paced around the room, looking across his students. "The spear is a perfect example. It predates swords they generally defeat them. Can anyone explain how?"

Daniel was the first to raise his hand and the class groaned

"Come on class, how about one of you answer then." Mr. Agers' took a cocky tone as his finger gestured across his class of twent-soemthing students.

"Mr. tol, How about you?"

Jamian Tol was a third-year student here at the school. He was on the combat team, representing the summoning division. He was tall and muscular. He spent all of his free time training both his body and his partner, and almost no time studying. Which was why he was repeating Mr.Agers' class for the third year in a row.

"I don't know it, Agers" Tol repeated, through gritted teeth, He knew he was deep water again.

Mr.Agers spun toward Daniel. "How about you?"

"It keeps the enemy at bay, with range." Daniel explained. "The spear keeps weapons like swords outside of their attack range while being able to skewer their opponent. They also work very well in close quarter situations, able to thrust at the opponent without being hindered. It could also be thrown to take out archers or mages."

"Very good. Do you know what makes the difference in each fight?"

Daniel's mind flashed to last night.' My use of his rapier was prefect, but the difference was...

"what the weapon is made of." Daniel said.

Mr. agers frowned and a silence covered the room.

"That's incorrect Daniel. "It's the person. There are many fighting styles based off of a single weapon, combined with how a person might react during trying times" Mr. Agers looked across the class. "The world is still young; there is much of the world still undiscovered. This class is here to help teach you some of those challenges that may arise, or atleast equip you with a possible solution. It's great to know how a weapon works but that alone won't give you the key to victory. Even here in the city, no two Gaian[s4] 's are alike. I-" The bell rang for lunch

Daniel was too lost in thought to hear. He was reflecting on the flight the night before. He remembered his cheap rapier breaking before he could truly defend himself. He dismissed Mr. Agers words of wisdom. Had his weapon remained, he would have beaten the fox-chick.

"It's the weapon" he mumbled to himself. His mind shifted to Calamis and he knew how he would make his mark with his new partner.

The morning classes came and went, with history, Cor control, and ancient language. After lunch the students gathered behind the school, to the field. The field, from a distance, looked blurry. Shades of green, blue, black, red, and many other colors faded in and out at every point in the field. Here they practiced all types of battle with their different summoning abilities. Coach Brack went over a short lesson of summoning while in danger. Then he began pairing off students.

Coach Brack taught the combat aspect of summoning and often took his class out camping to help teach his students survival. He was overall a great teacher, despite being a Lion who couldn't summon. He was also the Coach of a few teams. He was tall, with a solid build, with a little belly.

"Alright!" Coach Brack yelled. "We'll start off with Arnold and... Justin! Pick your weapons and commence your spar!"

Arnold nodded to Daniel and they both walked to the weapon rack. The rack held many weapons from many ages.

"How's Hanstai?" Daniel asked as he took his place beside his friend.

"His hand is banged up a bit from when he blocked that enchanted dagger-" "Sorry." "Hey! Hey! Don't apologize, we both got ourselves into that one." Arnold said as he knelt down to examine the daggers. "I was thinking of something one-handed for Hanstai, while I work a sword."

"No-no-no! you got it all wrong." Daniel pushed Arnold aside. "You need.... This!" Daniel picked up a crossbow.

Arnold sighed while he reluctantly accepted the weapon. "Daniel, you know I'm bad wit-"

"That's a Feudal crossbow." Daniel explained. "Fearing his archers would be targeted in the civil war, general Feudal designed them to hold two daggers just above the handle." Daniel tapped the belly of the crossbow. "You fire some off, get Justin and Palith's attention, and then Hanstai could freely chant, while you surprise them with your daggers."

Arnold turned to Justin, observing as the second-year student picked up his trusty hatchet. "How do you do that?" Arnold asked "You just... know the weapons."

"It's cause I'm awesome!" Daniel puffed out his chest

"We're not here to watch you girls make out all day!" Coach Brack yelled, earning a few chuckles from the class. "Get to your positions!"

"Good luck man." Daniel walked away. "You weren't supposed to tell, Coach!" Daniel whined. " I'm wearing your panties today."

"Sounds like you're asking for fifty laps, Daniel!"

"No, Coach!" Daniel feigned a face of fear. "I just wanted to compare breasts and trade bras. You have the biggest pair ever."

"Shut up Empty Danny!" One of the students yelled, causing Daniel to clamp his mouth shut. The insult was based off of the fact that Daniel was the only one in the school unable to summon. The class joined in the jeering and they grew as Daniel deflated.

"Cut it out!" Coach roared. Coach growled and shook his mane. " We all have different abilities for a reason. Judging someone for their differences disrespects our troops at the border." The class fell silent

"In my office after class." Coach said to Daniel as the human passed. "Alright kids! Let's begin!" Coach pressed a button on the remote he was holding and the field blurred. The setting turned into that of a ruined city. Desecrated buildings, and half-corrupt blockades helped litter the destroyed, uneven, and partially caved in streets. The sky above was a desperate red.

Arnold sighed and closed his eyes. When he opened them, he pointed his crossbow at Justin, who now stood half-a block away. Arnold fired the first shots and began chanting the words for his partner.

Justin, the second-year student calmly brushed back his long hair from his face and side-stepped the attack while chanting as well.

"Rock imps!" Justin yelled, summoning three of them. Their bodies completely composed of rocks. Justin flashed a grin to Arnold, who gritted his teeth, reloaded, and let loose another wave of bolts.

Justin grinned as the bolts closed in on him one of the rock imps took the bolts. They uselessly bounced off.

'Shit!' Arnold thought. 'I'll have to keep chanting.'

Justin, hatchets in hand, He made his way closer letting the imps block the shots, while also taking cover, chanting all the way.

"Hanstai!" Arnold was the first to summon his partner. "With his free hand, he thrusted forward."

From his chest, a light erupted and in front of him. A stag, in light armor stood before Arnold.

"Are we to do battle, Sir Arnold?" Hanstai asked.

"Watch out!" Arnold pointed, fast enough for Hanstai's half-turned head to see it in time. Hanstai blocked blocked a rock with his paw and he grunted in pain.

Arnold dove behind a overturned car and Hanstai followed just in time. A barrage of rocks pelted the ruined taxi.

"What's the plan Daniel gave you?" Hanstai asked with a knowing grin.

"Considering your hand after the gang tried to jump us..."

Justin had called forth Palith by now. He considered his options.

Palith was a snake, wielding a scimitar. He was covered in bright blue scales, but they slowly shifted. To colors of the enviorment.

"Palith. They're planning." Justin told his partner.

"Should I lure them out?" Palith asked, already moving in. He easily climbed the side of the side of the building while the rock imps kept them pinned. Palith's color shifted to that of the grey building.

"Can you get rid of the imps?" Arnold asked

"With ease, sir Arnold." Hanstai said, going with the plan. He began to speak the words of magic, focusing his cor to attack.

Arnold frowned. It was when he realized that the imps were merely distraction. He was almost too late. The building seemed to move in the corner of his eye.

"Move!" Arnold yelled, pushing his partner. Palith slamed into the ground with his sword. Arnold rolled to his feet and he was instantly knocked over by a rock square in his chest.

"Darkness Raid[s5] !" Hanstai roared. From the shadows shapeless figures came to life, hungry and moaning. The imps spied the lively shadows and cried out, running from the dark magic.

Arnold fumbled for more bolts and fired. Palith dodged and cut each bolt, making progress with each swing.

"Radiant spark[s6] !" Justin yelled.

"A Phusyon?!" Arnold yelled in confusion

A sphere of light made it's way to them.

"Was saving this just for you, Mr. Undefeated!" Justin explained.

"That was lame... and We have to move!" Arnold and Hanstai said at the same time.

Arnold let loose bolts wildly and the both of them ran into an abandoned building. Desks and old computers littered the lobby. Arnold and Hanstai jumped behind the reception desk.

"We shouldn't be running like this!" Hanstai growled.

"You should be used to it." Arnold chuckled.

The sphere of light phased through the wall and quietly made its way to them.

"Oh shit, oh shit." Arnold whispered when he spied it. He looked around. "The stairs!" Arnold yelled, leaping over the desk again.

"Quit running!" Justin's voice spoke through the sphere. Then a darkness flashed over the tiny sun. that was when the shape of it changed. It stretched and spun an endless supply of shards of light erupted, piercing anything in sight. The door to the stairs closed just behind Hanstai and the shards covered it.

"Keep going! That was only half of it!" Arnold explained.

Left was the center, a pool of swirling black. Without warning, it plunged into the ground and exploded.

The ground began to shake, and Arnold was nearly thrown off of his feet. He held onto the rail until the explosion stopped.

Everything was quiet. The pair waited in silence. What made them jump was Arnold's phone ringing.

"What!?" Arnold answered, adding a voice to the silence.

"Hey, you remember the spell you couldn't remember?" It was Daniel, on the outside.

"Of course." Arnold replied with sarcasm.

"The enchantment! On your arm." Daniel tried a different approach.

Arnold pulled back his sleeve. The spell he wrote down was faded, but legible. "Gotcha."

Hanstai picked up his partner and with his powerful legs he jumped up a flight of stairs just as Palith crashed through the wall. He lowered his head and destroyed the door to the second floor. They want into what was once an office. Cubicles were neatly lined up, ready to resume another day.

"Hold him off for a minute!" Arnold jumped behind a cubicle and began repeating what was on his arm, holding his satchel of bolts at the same time.

Palith came in through the door, face to face with Hanstai

"It's been a while since we had a chance to fight one on one."

"So you remember when the school was under mind control."

"All too well." Palith drew his shield to go with his scimitar.

Hanstai twisted his armbands and joined them, bringing a sword and a staff in his hands.

"Palith attacked first. He Swung his sword. Hanstai blocked with his staff hand, protecting his injured one from attack. Palith attacked with his shield and deflected Hanstai's staff, leaving him open. Palith's sword went in for the kill. Hanstai wasn't about to let that happen, his sword intercepted. The reward was his safety, the cost was his injury. He roared out in pain and his sword vanished.

"What have we here? A fresh wound?" Palith asked, closing the gap more. He continued on with a heavy assult, His sword and shield forcing Hanstai back into a wall.

Hanstai had no choice and he took his staff in both hands, doing his best to defend himself and stall for time. Without warning his world was upside down.

Palith held his enemy upside down with his tail. Palith put his shield down and leaned in close on Hanstai. "Too bad your partner abandoned you. We get to have fun." Palith ran his claw down the stag's muscular body.

"Hey!" Arnold yelled. He jumped from behind the cubicle. "Keep your perverted hands off of my partner!" His crossbow aimed right at Palith.

"I thought we established that you couldn't hit me with those."

Arnold said nothing but aimed the bolt at Palith's feet.

Justin waited outside, moving his plan to the next phase. He evolved his remaining rock imp and created a special weapon at the cost of the imp's rock attributes. The imp was now about five feet and still looked rocky despite being composed of flesh now. Justin was in shock when there was a small explosion and Palith came flying out of the second floor window and dissipated as he slammed into the next building.

"Palith!" Justin 's features changed. "Fire!" He ordered the imp. The imp hit the lever to the catapult that held the flaming boulder.

Hanstai climbed to his feet. "You could have warned me about that, sir Arnold." He growled.

"There was no time. And besides, it worked out." Arnold said with a grin. The grin quickly faded as a giant ball of fire flew right at the building. Arnold cried out as it shattered the windows and destroyed the office.

Arnold groaned as he picked himself off, ash and dust falling off of him.

"Hanstai." Arnold groaned. He looked around and found nothing. He slowly got to his feet. And looked outside.

He gasped as he saw the remaining imp creating another boulder.

"Sometimes you gotta just charge." Arnold said. He reloaded his crossbow and ran. A streetlamp lay in the window, knocked over by the boulder. Arnold leaped on it and carefully slid down it. He fired his crossbow, the explosive bolts catching Justin and his imp off guard.

"Yearrrrgh!" Arnold yelled firing more bolts.

"Load it and fire!" Justin ordered the imp. His summoned beast did as it was told and let loose the boulder.

Arnold slowed to a stop as it loomed over him.

"Frost Arrow!" Hanstai yelled. A blur of ice pierced through the ball of fiery rock and in the instant the flames were extinguished and the boulder itself reduced to dust.

What was more important was that the shot was aimed at the imp, who now stood proud as a dust to match Palith and the boulder.

"No!" Justin yelled, but made no movement.

Arnold turned to his partner and smiled.

"Get 'em!" Hanstai cheered Arnold on.

Arnold nodded, loaded his bow, and attacked. Justin jumped behind the barricade behind him. Bolts flew all over.

"Luminous spark!" Justin said. Once again the sphere of light sparked to light.

"Zero field!" Arnold countered.

The entire area lost its color. Everything became shades of black, white, and grey.

"You idiot, your bolts are useless now!" Justin yelled from behind his barricade

"So is your magic!" Arnold returned.

"Expect trap magic!"

"What?" Arnold's stepped was cut short. And he felt heavier than he ever felt before. Like he was covered in shackles.

Justin casually climbed over his cover and walked over to Arnold, carrying his hatchet.

"You know, I rarely use this. I'm surprised you made it this close. Good job." Justin said in a mocking tone and raised his weapon to finish Arnold.

"Thanks!" Arnold said as he deflected the hatchet above with his first dagger and stabbed Justin with the other.

Justin's face was painted with shock as Justin withdrew the dagger, and the field of Illusion pain dissipated. The wound and blood vanished, as did the field.

Pairings were carried throughout the rest of the school day. Arnold and Daniel spent most of the time going over how the fight went.

"Alright... Who is left?" Coach Brack Looked around for the remaining students.

"You're awfully quiet, Daniel. What are you waiting for?"

"Tol!" Coach Brack announced. "Aaaaand-"

"Me!" Daniel yelled out, running from the bleachers to the field.

Coach Brack's eyes narrowed. "You're more than welcome to join in a match but not having a partner may prove a disadvantage.

"Yeah-yeah," Daniel waved his hand, dismissing the thought. "I'm fine. Look at it like this: Not everyone has the ability to summon yet, some may fight those with the ability to, right?"

"Coach, are you serious!?" Tol asked, clearly upset. "Nobody has actually seen him fight, 'cept his butt buddy." He motioned toward Arnold, who was now leaning forward in keen interest.

Coach Brack considered and quickly nodded. "You have a point. You both have a point." Brack corrected. "I'll allow it. Time to see what the freshman has in store. Choose your weapons."

Daniel nearly trotted to the weapon rack. Arnold was there to meet him.

"Going to show what you two got?" Arnold said casually.

Daniel said nothing, looking over his weapon. An expression on his face

"The fields have been urban to dispay the urgency of situations, a lot of cover will be there."

"Uh-oh, you're doing it again."

"Tol mains a hammer that breaks off into a sword. Great for meeting many kinds of situations... I would need something that could..." His mind went back to the previous night.

"These should do."

Daniel and Tol stood in the same setting as Arnold and Justin.

Daniel grinned. "Just a warning buddy! I'm not going to fight fair!"

"Shut up, Empty Danny! I was supposed to go against Jackson, Not some wannabe." Tol started chanting.

Daniel reached into his back. "You ready Calamis?" Daniel Said. He paused when he realized... "Where is he?" He franticly searched his bag

'He's going to summon Destroyer if I don't do something.'"Shit!" Daniel cursed aloud, producing a small black sphere. 'Plan B' He thought"Hey Tol!" Daniel called. " Ever know what a Distortion grenade feels like?" Daniel tossed the grenade hard, and drew his spear.

Tol stopped chanting as the grenade landed at his feet. He looked at it first with confusion, then horror as The dark, painful, disorientating field engulfed Tol. His chant was broken and he knelt down, holding his head. His eyes went wide and his cries fell to a whimper as Daniel's spear plunged into his chest.

Daniel stood within the storm of distortion, enduring the pain. Daniel and Tol locked eyes before Daniel removed and dropped the spear, and went running off of the field, as is dissipated.

"Th-that bastard!" Tol choked. The battle field dissipated and his teammates joined Tol to help him up.

Daniel ran through the empty halls, past the classes still in session.

Daniel ran past the dean's office, he checked the bathrooms, and the gym. Daniel started to run up the stairs near the part of the school under construction when they thought occurred to him.

Daniel looked around and made sure no one was following him when he made his way inside.

Thankfully the construction crew was off today.

"Maybe I'm in over my head..." Daniel spoke aloud in the empty halls.

Much of the area was looked more deserted than under construction. It was a large part of the school, the west wing. Due to damage when much of the student body and staff were under a serious spell of mind control, the west win received the most damage. The perfect excuse to upgrade the magic library, mage arena, new computer rooms, state of the art classrooms, and event hall.

Daniel went took the stairs to the second floor, skipping two at a time.

"Calamis!" He called aloud.

There was no reply.

Daniel ran to the end and turned the corner when an idea came to his head.

"Duh! I could use a petty locator spell. He should still be in the building. Sidney willing no one has found him yet."

Daniel dropped his bag and sat beside it, cross-legged. Taking slow deep breaths, he calmed his mind. He focused on his target and began a soft chant, calling on the Cor around him to find what he has lost. His mind found a thread. It was a path to that he lost. Within, he needed to grab the thread and widen it, so it wouldn't snap. He carefully grasped the thread with his hands, and began to widen it for his search. He was almost ready to begin the search when his mind was attacked by a darkness before his material eyes.

Daniel cried out has he was pulled up, and slammed into the lockers behind him. His eyes snapped wide open to wind what he didn't need today. Tol, and his teammate friends: Yaska Marshal, and Adrian wind surrounded Daniel. He desperately looked around for a way out but his captors held his vision.

""Look what the reject dragged in." Tol sneered

"Least I didn't get one-shotted by empty danny." Daniel joked, and started laughing. It was cut short by another fresh blow to the face. Daniel moaned. His head slowly came up to Tol and he spat. Tol growled in anger, his shirt and face peppered with blood, his face was red matching it.

"Hold him." Tol spoke slowly, he dropped Daniel and he took a step back.

"It's alright..." Daniel groaned without lifting his head. "I won't tell-"

Tol, kicked Daniel in the gut, forcing Daniel to choke out in pain. His very breath escaped his lungs. As Daniel coughed, Tol's foot collided with Daniel's jaw.

"Hold him." Tol instructed his friends. Daniel hit the ground before he was hoisted up again by Yaska and Adrian. They laughed as soon as Adrian used Daniel as a punching bag.

Daniel cried out what air he had left when Tol's punches invaded. Daniel let his bloody saliva flow from his mouth. His body bruised, and his shirt red, Daniel finally had a chance to catch his breath. The stars stopped dancing in front of him. Through his good eye, he looked up to find Tol catching his breath.

"You-" Daniel coughed "You can only fight for sixty seconds? Two-pump chump."

Tol's jaw clenched and he grunted as he kicked Daniel in the head. Daniel's vision went black as he fell to the ground.

Daniel woke up soon after to his body being warmed He was slumped in whatever he was contained in. Everything was still fuzzy as he tried to figure out where he was. He was surrounded by metal. He tried to push his way out but the walls burned him. Daniel faded again. His eyes opened again and his breath was in short rasps. Daniel felt cold. Not just from the walls, inside as well.

"Help..." Daniel managed to whisper with a dry, cracked, painful throat before fading again.

Daniel's head nodded as his coffin was banged. His eyes fluttered and he managed to peek at the dent in the wall.

'Just relax...' He thought. 'it's easier that way.'

The banding protested

'Let me go.' Daniel wanted to say but he had no breath to speak.

The next bang was followed by a whoosh of fresh air that filled Daniel's lungs.

Calamis pried open the locker with his claws and Daniel tumbled out. The fall and the fresh surge of air was enough to bring the human around.

Daniel coughed and spat blood as he slowly came to.

"Get up human." Calamis ordered

Daniel couldn't hear the manticore over his own coughing.

"Get up!" He roared, his voice carrying through the halls.

"I think someone is down there." A voice spoke in the distance.

Calamis' ears perked at the third party.

"We have to move, human."

Daniel said nothing as he savored the air. Daniel felt the pain, the burning in his lungs, and his wet chest but he felt oddly serene. His head turned in time to see two guys dressed in black running toward him. He barely registered Calamis behind him but he knew these two were threats by the weapons they held.

Daniel looked at the weapons: A long sword forged of Steel, great complimented by a shield but angled by an opponent they could be used to stab their owners.

And man holding two daggers: Great for speedy attacks and killing blows, poor head on against stronger weapons.

Daniel had a choice to die by these blades or to defend. Daniel made it to one knee and decided to accept his second chance.

Calamis handed Daniel his shield, almost as if he knew what Daniel wanted. Daniel took the long sword. He blocked the blow, but gave no time for his enemy to recover. Daniel bashed his shield into his opponet's face causing him to stumble back sloppily. In two fluid steps, Daniel leaped on top of his foe and pressed his shield onto the sword. They fell together. The sword's edge cut into the owner's shoulder, digging into, and severing everything it met.

Reality began to slowly return to Daniel by the dying man's cries.

Daniel cried out as his chest burned. He fell off of the man he killed and it all hit him.

"I killed him." Was all Daniel whispered. No sound echoed through the halls for a long minute.

The daggers slid next to Daniel

"He was going to kill you, you had no choice."

"I almost died, but he did." Daniel's stomach felt a new pain, and the bile in his belly almost came up. He was abruptly hoisted to his feet by Calamis.

"In this world it's kill or be killed. You're fighting for two lives. Don't disrespect your opponent's death by crying over it."

Daniel's eyes adverted from the piercing eyes of Calamis.

Calamis grunted and dropped Daniel, who managed to catch his balance.

"What... What happened?" Daniel asked slowly, slowly taking in his surroundings. He finally looked at the locker and realized it was sealed shut, probably by Tol. His mind made a leap to the bodies before him.

"I almost died? Wait. Who are they?!"

"How should I know?" Calamis asked, taking his shield back. "But there are more of them, and you may have to kill again."

Daniel's color drained. "I don't-"

"If you won't I will, and We are bound, human!" Calamis growled. "My sins are yours."

Daniel looked down. He never felt so Vulnerable in his life.

"I don't know If I can kill, but I can defend myself."

Calamis nodded in approval. "Do enough to pacify. If need be, I'll do the killing."

Daniel slowly knelt down and grabbed the daggers. He was never one for long swords.

As they left the construction area, Daniel noticed the silence. His footsteps can only be heard on the first floor.

"What time is it?" Daniel asked himself. If more of those guys were around, then the other students might be in danger. As he walked Daniel realized that there was indeed noise ahead: Sirens.

Daniel approached they foyer of the school and nearly gasped aloud. About twenty people in suits that he didn't recognize blocked the main entrance. He jumped back into the hallway and bumped into Calamis.

"There's more of them there."

"Let's get 'em." Calamis growled.

:"Hey!" Daniel grabbed his partner's arm.

"Remember what you said: You're fighting for two." Daniel looked around. "Where are my classmates?" He asked with a raised eyebrow.

Calamis looked around. "They're up."

Coach Brack, Arnold, Tol, and two other teachers stood before the doors to the astro Gym. One of the teachers was a Squirrel named Ms. Gardner, she was dressed in casual jeans but wore a silver breast plate over her tank top. She was lean, tall, and filled her breastplate nicely. She had long, bright, brown hair and green eyes. Her halberd rested casually over her shoulder.

"I didn't think I would have to break this baby out again." She said.

"Isn't that why you kept it in your room?" Mr. Cyril asked. He was a Lion of good build, with only a year's worth of sitting at a desk belly fat . He still looked good with his large dark mane. That and his square jaw, and his piercing yellow eyes made his a favorite of the ladies.

"And I still look good in it."

"You would look better with me taking it off." Mr. Cyril looked up from his work and winked.

Mr. Cyril knelt infront of the door to the gym, locking it with his Cor.

"Ew, Is that how teachers flirt?" Arnold held his mouth, pretending to barf.

"Maybe we could make those guys sick, and have them running for the hills, using those two." Coach Brack joked.

"Could we get this over with?" Tol, asked irritated.

"You still didn't tell me how you got that blood on your shirt." Coach Brack shot back.

"I told you, I ran into one earlier on the first floor and got into a fight with them."

"They came from the roof."

Tol fell silent.

"I told you, he went after Daniel." Arnold chimed in

"We'll settle this after this crisis is over." Choach said with finality. "Desire is telling me a lot of them are heading this way.

"What?!" Ms. Gardner cried out in shock.

"Is the lock done?" Arnold asked.

"Almost done." Mr. Cyril's voice was in a panic. "Just a little more an-"

A loud bang made them all jump. Blood flew everywhere from the side of Cyril's head. His face still holding the fear-stricken expression from before the bullet hit him.

Ms. Gardner, who was beside him, stared, uncomprehending of what happened.

Arnold, Tol, And Coach Brack turned in slow motion, and all was quiet for the infinity that it took for Mr. Cyril to fall.

With the same expression, the four who remained looked up. From both sides, the humans and beasts attacking the school charged.

"We should run!" Tol started to take a step toward the hallway that would take his to the stairs leading to the foyer

"We need to finish the lock!" Brack roared, grabbing the student.

"Divine protection!" Arnold yelled. A bubble covered them as bullets rained on it. He held his hands to the transparent wall, supplying it with his Cor. "Someone needs to do it!" He yelled over the gunfire.

"I got it!" Coach slid next to Cyril's body, careful not to look at the blood and brains spewing out. He knelt into the pool of blood and bean to finish the lock.

"You with me boys?" Ms. Gardner asked reading her halberd.

"OW!" Arnold cried out at the invaders began attacking his shield with their swords, axes, and spears. "Dunno how much longer I can hold this up!"

Tol backed away from the wall, next to Cyril, and Coach Brack. "We're gonna die here." He whimpered. He slid down the door, and plopped himself in the blood.

"Shut up and defend yourself." Coach Brack growled. "If you keep acting like a coward you're off the team."

"I don't care about some stupid fighting team!" Tol yelled.

"I think Daniel would make a great replacement." Coach teased.

Tol looked at Coach with a combination of fear and disbelief. "You wouldn't."

"I think He'll be useful, even without a Cor-mate." Tol looked from Coach to the cracked barrier, then back. He gulped heavily, and stood up, holding his hammer. "I'm not being shown up by Empty Danny. Come forth, Guurthisil!" On his free arm a cannon of flesh formed.

"You called master?" The flesh asked in a soft, slithery voice.

"We got some fighting to do!" Tol said with the enthusiasm he once lost.

"It's been a century since I have harvested a soul."

"About time you ladies got that over with." Ms. Gardner teased. "It's almost time to defend."

"It's almost gone!" Arnold cried out, confirming what the squirrel warned and fell to a knee.

"Hooooold it!" Daniel yelled.

Hearing his friend's voice, he put all of his force into the shield.

Calamis roared through the hall. The destructive power, surged through the halls. The lights, shattered, the paint tore off. The barrier was eaten alive but it did the job it was meant to do. The mysterious attackers caught the blunt of the roar's power. It cut through their clothes, fur, skin, flesh, and devoured their Cor and very life force. They were brought to their knees, and were all out before they hit the ground

"That's enough!" Daniel yelled, His chest and part of his arm Transparent.

Calamis closed his jaw with a loud snap, and he was proud of the damage he caused.

"That felt... Horrible." Arnold moaned.

"What was that?" Coach Brack Grunted, climbing to his feet.

"I think I saw my grandma..." Tol made no effort to move.

Daniel stood beside Calamis. "Everyone alright?"

"Mostly." Arnold was the first to stand. "What did you do." He looked up and saw the purple Manticore. "Is.... Is that-"

"What is that?" Ms. Gardner asked, her weapon pointed at Calamis.

"Calm down, Ms. G. He's with me. Daniel walked to her and aimed her weapon down with his hand.

Tol started to get up and he held a stare with Daniel for a long moment. He said nothing and moved on.

"What the hell is going on?! I almost died, there are these weird guys an-"

"What happened to you?" Coach asked, eyeing the Human's condition.

Daniel's head turned to Tol, who begged Daniel with his eyes not to tell.

"I ran off to look for this guy-" Daniel motioned toward Calamis. "-When Tol came to talk to me about the grenade I hit him with." That was when we were attacked by these weird guys. Who are they?!"

"Continue." Coach ignore his question.

"Me and Tol held them off. I told him to go ahead and to make sure everything was okay while I went off to find Calamis."

"Liar." Calamis said in the ancient language

"Shhh!" Daniel went back to talking. "Thanks man." Daniel held his hand out to Tol, who failed to completely stand up.

Tol accepted the gesture and stood up.

"Thanks, man." Tol nodded.

"Where did he come from?" Ms. Gardner asked with eyes of sexual interest. She eyed the Manticore's strong form.

"We think It's the mob." Coach Brack Admitted at length. "Principl-

"We should go and help the teachers downstairs." Arnold said quickly, cutting Coach off.

"Oh, shit! The staff!" Ms. Gardner cried out. "They're being held in the basement!" She grabbed Tol. "You're with me, big boy. You finish off that lock, Bracky." She dragged Tol to the basement.

"She's right. We lost enough people already." Coach Brack's eyes Drifted to his deceased co worker.

Daniel tried to ignore it. "What about Master Braquin?"

"Done! Principle Braquin is o-" Coach started as he stood up

"Don't say it!" Arnold yelled again.

"Arrrnoooold." Daniel turned to face his friend

"I don't know anything!"

The two held eye-contact for a long moment.

"He's 0n the roof!" Daniel learned. "We have more work to do, Calamis!" Daniel Started to run down the hall.

"Dammit!" Arnold held his head. "How do you do that?!"

"Maybe this isn't so bad after all." Calamis mumbled to himself.

Daniel broke into a run through the emergency stairs.

"Where's he going?!" Coach asked. "We need to help the-"

"He won't listen." Arnold sighed. "Let's go help the staff."

Daniel tackled open the doors to the roof to a bloody sight.

An elderly man in a starry blue robe and a sword stood surrounded. He was around his fifties, whispy blonde hair, green eyes, and he was medium height.

Then a man screamed to Daniel's right.

A dragon of red scales with a bloody maw dropped his prey. He stood tall at 7 and a half feet and a massive build. He flexed his muscular neck, eyed a foe nearing the old man and with blinding speed, he leaped to the old man's attacker and plunged his fangs right into the man's neck. Blood flowed everywhere and with a loud snap the head rolled separate of the body.

The old man took a stance as he was charged. His blade hummed as it was swung and the path the sword took was lit up, brining light to the setting day. The flood splashed against the light the brillian sword left behind

"Master Braquin!" Daniel yelled

The old man turned and spotted Daniel.

"Ahhh, Daniel. So good of you to come."

Princible Trevor Braquin casually walked over to the student, cutting another man down.

"What's going on?!" Daniel asked.

Trevor rubbed his beard "Some unfinished business of mine coming to rear its ugly head, I'm sure you've had that." He added a wink to it.

"Anyway I could help?" Daniel asked, Humbled by his idol.

Trevor eyed Calamis casually while the dragon protected them. " Who is this?"

"My partner." Daniel beamed proudly.

"out of my face." Calamis growled.

"The old language, eh?" Trevor asked, using the same language.

Calamis turned and huffed.

Trevor nodded "Jaws has It at the moment, until the reinforcements arrive, that is." Trevor pointed in the distance to the chopper.

"Whoa..." Daniel gasped in surprise. " I'm ready to help."

"Good." Trevor tossed Daniel his sword.

"This is..."

"Yes, take good care of Constellation."

"But-"

" Don't worry, my boy," Trevor mumbled words under his breath and clapped his hands together. A sword of black and red formed between his hands. " I have an extra."

Daniel nodded

'Oh, my Nor! Side-by-side with Master Braquin!' Daniel took the first fighting stance he learned, ready to fight.

No pain in his chest could put him down Jaws killed the last of them and casually walked over.

"That should keep 'em from piling on." He said in a husky voice, blood flying from his maw every other word. "How's it goin' kid?" Jaws briefly nodded to Daniel. "More will be here soon, you should move them somewhere safe."

"Old friend, they came to help."

"They'll just get killed." Jaws growled

"They'll do fine."

" I don't think so much of them!" Jaws pointed his claw and inch from Daniel's eye.

"I remember you didn't think much of me at first either." Trevor stated matter of factly and it won the argument. The helicopter hovered above

Jaws sighed. "Alright. You're with me." Jaws motioned with his head at Calamis.

"Why am I here?" Calamis asked, not understanding the language or conversation.

Jaws sighed again, understanding the Manticore."To fight. Do you know the word?" jaws spoke the old language as well.

Calamis raised his sword. "Want to find out?"

Jaws eyed the old sword and shield. "Did you steal those from a museum? " Before he could add on a shadowed covered them. Daniel, Calamis, and Trevor jumped back Jaws merely looked up and was smushed under the big man known as Ton. Ton was a bear of white, His hammer landed beside him.

"There's one down. Heh-heh." The polar bear chuckled

Calamis growled, Daniel gripped his sword, and Trevor stood, upright, completely unfazed.

"I come bringing a message from our boss." He smothered his behind on top of Jaws. "We will kill you."

"That's the message?" Trevor asked. "They've been saying that as many times as my age."

"We could rush him." Daniel whispered.

"patience."

"All at once?" Ton asked "Easier for me." He started to get up. Jaw's eyes snapped open, the look in his eyes lusting for blood. He turned, with his maw wide open

Daniel, Calamis, and Trevor gasped as Jaws bit into Ton's crotch Ton cried out and held what reminded. Jaws threw Ton off and spat out the torn shorts, half-penis and testicles he held.

"I knew I would get carried away if they went in my mouth." Jaws laughed deeply. He placed his foot on Ton's head and pressed down, easily crushing the polar bear's head.

"Next!" Jaws roared.

The Chopper dropped down ropes and enemies to replace Ton stood before them

"Hahaha!" Trevor laughed and readied his blade. "keep your wits, Daniel!"

Daniel readied his sword.

One stepped forward amongst them.

"I am brother three of ice: Gerald frost, And you will die!"

Gerald had long black hair that covered an eye, and a red eye for the other. He wore a heavy furred coat on top of his thick coat of husky fur.

"I told you." Trevor grinned to Daniel.

Gerald Took a breath and leaped, When he landed, He pushed his hands forward. Out of nowhere, a blizzard Attacked. Jaws, Trevor, Daniel, and Calamis tried to hold their ground against the attack.

Daniel Shielded his eyes and saw his opponents attacking. The sword led the way.

"Whoa!" Daniel cried out the Sword took control, Forcing Daniel to trudge through the already knee-high snow

Trevor grinned. "This is pretty strong!" He yelled through the snow.

"Stop giving compliments and help!" Jaws growled at his partner.

"Fine, fine. Spoiled sport." Trevor raised his hands. "Absorb!" And the storm suddenly stopped.

Daniel was finally able to see. And he cried out at the scene around him. He and the sword had cut through a number of mobsters, leaving a bloody scene in his wake.

"Oh, god!" Daniel cried out. He tried to drop the sword but It's grip on Him was tight.

Principal Braquin stood a frozen statue.

Gerald fell to a knee, nearly spent of Cor. He stood to his feet and cheered. "Our enemy has fallen!" There was cheers all around.

Daniel managed to slow the sword in time to see his Idol frozen in ice. "Noooo." He moaned.

Jaws looked around, as if expecting something. "It didn't break." He said to more himself, than anyone. "Hey boy! Get back here!" He yelled to Daniel

"I can't ! The sword is moving on its own!" Daniel cried out.

"The sword works by your will or lack of it! Watch out!"

Daniel looked to his right and an axe was raised above his head. He cried out and tried to control the sword to block but its path was set.

Calamis stepped between the mobster and Daniel, Blocking the axe with his shield, and his sword was the counter, the bloody blade plunging into his side. The mobster's flesh and bone were torn aside, and his lung was severed.

"Take a breath boy, Your will must be greater than the sword's" Jaws ordered from behind the frozen Trevor.

Daniel took his eyes of his sword for a moment and he took a deep breath.

'It's just like the locator spell, A calm mind... Focus on an object and..." The pull stopped. Daniel opened his eyes and the blade rested at his side.

"Cool!" Daniel cried out.

"Get over here!" Jaws roared.

Daniel nodded and gripped his sword. "Right. You ready?" Daniel spoke to the sword. The blade hummed in response

Daniel focused his thoughts And the blade responded. Daniel leaped beside Calamis, to aid his retreat.

"Go!" Daniel ordered while blocking an attack.

"Who are you to order me?!" Calamis growled, killing another foe.

Daniel grabbed Calamis' arm and willed the sword.

"What? Let go!" Daniel and Calamis went flying through the air. Daniel landed on his feet, and Calamis rolled across the roof.

Jaws leaned into his partner's frozen ear and spoke. "Now."

The ice vibrated with force instantly intense. The ice cracked and fell apart, revealing the features of the old man.

"Repulse!" Trevor yelled. He jumped and mirrored Gerald's actions. A blizzard unlike any other roared to life, on the attack. The first half of the mobsters were knocked back. Gerald watched in shock.

Trevor Let the storm die, and he stood in a battle stance. "Come kill me."

Those who weren't in shock, attacked.

Travor moved with fluid force. He turned, and swung his sword. The concentrated force of the blizzard attacked cutting through with its chilling power. Jaws was instantly onto the frostbitten targets, and chomped, making them shatter.

"He's!" Daniel exclaimed

Trevor let an enemy get near to evade under the thrust, twist his body, and he spat shards of ice, his dark blade following.

"So!"

"Try helping!" Calamis roared and pointed up at the two choppers arriving for backup.

Daniel nodded and focused. Using the power of the sword, Daniel flew. He flew too fast, he was heading for the rotating blades.

"Oh, no no no no no noooo!" Daniel lefted the blade. The sword, gaining Control, broke free from Daniel's control. Daniel found himself face to boot with a guy as his legs and feet dangled from the chopper. Then the sword cut into the blades. Daniel cried out as ne nearly fell, His transparent up to his elbow hand held on to the side of the chopper as it spiraled out of control.

Calamis at the same time took a deep breath and used his Destruction Roar. The second chopper quickly became stripped and it spiraled out of control, much like the one Constellation attacked.

Daniel watched the sword fall from his grip and suddenly found himself falling with it. His glance upward made him realize that his entire left side was transparent

"Hellllp!" Daniel cried out. He fell into the arms of Jaws, who quickly dropped him before he was thanked.

"Ow! Thanks a lot!" Daniel cried out as Gerald attacked with his Mace. The spikes that hit the snowy roof caused the snow itself to fly up and blind Daniel. Daniel cried out as the boot hit is face and he was sent tumbling backward.

Daniel scrambled to his feet, searching for his sword. Daniel's path was blocked by the mace again. Daniel drew the daggers he had earlier. He jumped back and the mace grazed his face.

'Ow!' He thought. 'Okay! Okay! He has a mace, really good for blunt damage, bad against close quarters and...

"Whoa!" Daniel cried out as Gerald attacked again, barely missing Daniel.

' It counters shield with the blunt force, it shatters spears, a fast user and weapon...' Daniel's eyes flashed to his daggers.

Daniel, ducked under Gerald's attack and He primed his daggers to attack. He stopped at the last second and was rewarded with an elbow to his chest.

'I don't want to kill him!' Daniel cried out in his mind, he was too busy coughing to say it. More blood added to his now ruined school uniform.

Daniel looked in shock as he watched up close as Jaws' dragon and body filled his view, he saw in every detail as his fangs plunged into Gerald's side. Gerald cried out in slow motion as Jaws maw closed around Gerald's spine, ribs, and everything caught inbetween. Blood and flesh spewed all over Jaws and Daniel as Gerald's look of terror, pain and despair was permanently etched onto his face. Jaws snapped again, and Gerald's body was shredded in half.

A chopper crashed and exploded and all Daniel could hear was Gerald's final cry.

Daniel's and Gerald's eyes remained locked even in death.

The dragon swallowed his spoils and spoke, with bloody flying and flesh stuck between his teeth.

"Sometimes you need to be merciless." He knelt down to Daniel and mumbled some words. The Cor he possessed transferred to Daniel and part of his body was restored. He then picked the human up and walked over to Trevor, who retrieved his sword. "Sometimes I wish I still had the mercy children of the world like you have."

Daniel said nothing. He felt cold, and numb, and drained, and empty. The world did little to reach him.

Irene Castwell, Detective of the city police sat in her office, staring deeply at the picture on her desk.

Joseph castwell in his military uniform stood proud. She could almost remember the day he left.

"C'mon, babe. One more kiss before I go protect our borders."

"And spoil what you'll get when you get back?" Irene joked. "I don't think so."

"That's it? Only a kiss?"

Joseph took her up in his arms, and she gently wrapped hers around his neck. "I just wish we could celebrate our honeymoon." She said.

"We'll have all the time in the world when you get back. I'll take a vacation, we'll visit Gri-"

"Ah, the beaches, the shows, the fights-"

"And we'll spend every day in our room, ordering roomservice."

They shared a chuckle together, and stayed close for a long time. The world only contained the two of them.

"You protect the borders, I'll keep our city safe, and we'll meet halfway."

The car's horn brought them back to reality.

"that's my ride." Joseph said. They kissed again and they slowly parted. "Maybe when I get back I can finally beat you in a fight."

"Not likely." She said with a smile full of sorrow.

The phone ringing at her desk snapped her from her sleep. That was four years ago. She let go of the thought for a moment to answer the phone.

"Detective Castwell." She replied full of energy. She listened for a long minute, her expression slowly changing. "What?" She looked around for her keys and picked them up. " I'll be there in twenty."

---

[s1]Daniel's main weapon is the sphere. He will eventually use spears, and his hidden weapon is Crawger, the world's strongest claw, stolen from a rich man who tried to murder him.

[s2]Ancient language used duing the white era

[s3]Current language. Given to all races after humans came to this world.

[s4]The name for Earth users

[s5]A shadow spell that destroys weak monsters and slows stronger ones.

[s6]A phusyon: It's a law Fusion that has the darkness fighting within. It attacks in two phases: The first is the light being fired, the second is an explosion of darkness.