The Quest: Book 1 Ch. 15
By Eliad Sholomovich

Ryu was tired. He was barely standing. He was surrounded by five neo-orogs. He shook his head. His sight was a blur. He couldn't see a thing.

He concentrated on the neo-orogs Chi rather than seeing them with his eyes. One of them lunged.Ryu sidestepped and sweep kicked him. Then he kicked backwards and nailed a neo-orog in the crouch.

The neo orog bent over. Ryu turned around and nailed him with a vicious roundhouse. Then he fell to one knee. He was panting and sweating. He had lost a lot of blood. Plus running to the forest had taken its toll as well.

The other three surrounded him and loomed above him. "Foolish human prepare to die." One of them said. Ryu ignored their words and concentrated. He blocked out all his thoughts and pain. He had one target to save his friends. He channeled all his force and rose to his feet.

"Wow tough guy. He's standing" the neo-orogs laughed. Ryu lept into the air and spun with all his might into a Sinkuu Tatsumakisimpuukayku. The neo-orogs were sucked into the vortex and fell before its mighty onslaught.

They fell uncontious. Ryu landed but then fell to the ground. He staggered and lay on the ground. He would survive but at what cost? Ryu asked himself. Could he continue the quest like this.

He thought only of his future contribution to his friends safety. Then he passed out.

MEANWHILE IN THE CATACOMBS

Lara was holding the air stone. She smiled her fangs shining in pearly white. Then two green eyes appeared.

"Lara throw the stone threw the portal I'm sending and engage the mortals now." Kain's voice boomed in command.

Lara didn't understand the urgency and shrugged. A small purple portal appeared she threw the stone into it. then she teleported away.

MEANWHILE IN A THRONE ROOM IN AN UNKNOWN LOCATION

A dark figure was sitting in the shadows. "Yes now I've got three of the stones. My little Shadowbane will never rebuild te seal without facing me now.

He combined the three stones. He opened a purple portal with a flick of his hand. "Soon you shall face me Child just as my destiny is written"

Kain stepped threw the portal.

BACK AT THE WOODS

Shadowbane seeing the mortals were all uncontious left his hiding place. "I never imagined such love and loyalty exists in mortals until I've met you all" Shadowbane said.

Then he narrowed his eyes. "Who are you?" He asked the woods. A woman's voice spoke quietly. "You have forgotten me already little brother" it said.

Shadowbane was wide-eyed. "Lara , what are you doing here?" He turned to face his sister.

"Tell me its a lie. Tell me you didn't kill Tural to save some worthless mortals." Lara's voice cried on a pleading tone.

Shadowbane was silent for a few moments. "I can't lie to you Sister you deserve more than that. I did it but I didn't enjoy it."

Lara gasped "The rumors are true. Kain was right you have betrayed us all. Why? why are you doing this brother please explain yourself I beg you"

Shadowbane looked at her and exhaled. "I can't I can only tell you its my duty to protect them now. Please Lara leave this place I couldn't bare the thought of you being hurt."

She turned from him in tears. "You self centered b*ast*ard. Father and mother cried and searched for you for centuries. Then when they needed you the most not only did you turn your back to them but help stab it in the process."

Shadowbane shook his head "That is not true. I loved mom and dad and you and Tural as well."

She scoffed "Love us so much you would kill us your own blood to protect our sworn enemies the humans."

Her eyes burned in blue. "I can't believe I stood up for you with Kain. I begged him to reedem you forgive you. Now after hearing you I must take care of you myself. You were my brother and I will clear our family name and your lost honor by releasing your soul.

She lunged with a punch. Shadowbane dodjed "Please I dont want to hurt you. You helped raise me. you taught me to read and write. Please you know me I would never betray you without a proper reason. Don't you trust me your own brother?"

She shot a lightning bolt which he absorbed without flinching. "As far as I'm concerned my brother died 2 million years ago when you left. You are nothing but a shadow of your former self.

She kicked and punched him. He refused to lay a hand in her. He absorbed the hits and dodjed and blocked many. "Fight me d*mmit" she screamed. She raised her hands and lightning blazed in the sky. She shot a huge lightning bolt at Shadowbane. He raised a hand and it bounced of an invisible barrier.

He shook his head "Please don't make me do something I'll regret Sister" he pleaded.

She attacked again this time with more anger and ferocity. "Don't call me that you black hearted fiend" She screamed. She slashed at him. He grabbed her wrist and flipped her above his head.

She crashed into a tree and it shattered. He stood there as she picked it up and swung it at him. He grabbed the approaching tree with his telekinetic powers. He made it fly out of her grip and fall aside.

She kicked his chest and roundhoused him. He absorbed the kicks and was still standing. He waited as she punched at him again. He raised his hand and fire blazed in his hand.

"Enough I warn you Back off now. I don't want to kill you. My soul is already in pain don't make me kill myself." He said angrily.

She laughed She kicked at him ignoring his words. Shadowbane dodjed and shot a stream of fire at his sister. She flew backwards. He cursed fate and Kain under his breath.

She got up slowly he stood there his eyes full of emotion. She shook her head angrily "Stop trying to make me sound like the villiain you're the traitor now die" She lunged. Shadowbane stood there.

His eyes glowed in silver and her attacks passed threw him. "You pathetic coward I can see why your family is dead you were too weak to defend them. You cowered the human forces. Or maybe you planned their assasination"

Shadowbane's narrowed his eyes.he shook with rage. "How dare you blame me for their deaths" He grabbed her by the throat "Sister or not I'll make you regret your words."

He punched her gut and kicked her face. "Every day of my painful existence passes with nightmares regrets on their deaths and you dare imply I asked for it"

He shot a lightning bolt at her chest. She fell to the ground cowering from his rage. She backed away crawling. She never imagined her brother contolled such power.

He loomed above her.His eyes showed his anger they blazed in furious green. She had seen such a frightful sight inly once before when Kain himself was angry.

He raised the soul reaver and was about to strike. Then he lowered the sword. "What is happening to me I can't conrtol my feelings anymore."

He clutched his head fighting with himself. He dropped the soul reaver. And fell to his knees. She reached for it Shadowbane cried "No don't touch it"

She ignored his cries and grabbed the sword. Then she felt increadible pain. All her lifeforce was sucked out of her body and passed into Shadowbane from the sword.

Shadowbane ran to her. "No , Again my actions have cost my family. Why won't they listen to me." He cried once again and grabbed her limp form.

He placed her on the ground. He opened a blue portal and put her in it. It would take her body back to Delcrator.

He slumpted to the ground. Around him lay the mortals He shook his head and used his powers to teleport the neo-orogs away from the street fighters.