Chapter 9

Seir opened his hand and conjured some golden demonic energy. The chunk of demonic energy was potent and dense. The fact that he could materialize that much so easily, showed just how much control he had over it. Baako prepared himself for whatever was to come but was taken aback by what occured.

The demonic energy that Seir had brought forth, morphed into the shape of a longbow. Seir pulled back the golden string and aimed at Baako. They both stood motionless, waiting for the other to make the first move. I had no idea what Seir was going to do with that bow though, because he wasn’t carrying any arrows and there wasn’t a quiver in sight.

Baako lurched forward, Seir responded by aiming the bow in the air and letting go of the string. A single golden arrow, made from demonic energy shot into the air and straight through the defensive barrier, like it was nothing. At the sight of this, Baako halted his charge and doubled back.

“Ahahaha, I missed.”

The arrow soared into the sky and disappeared. Everyone was lost for words at the sight of this. The defensive barrier surrounding the battlefield was nothing to sneeze at and Seir went and punctured an arrowhead shaped hole through it with his demonic energy alone.

“Hyahahahaha, now that is impressive. I didn’t know the young prince was capable of that.”

“Hmph, it’s nothing more than using a compressed and sharp amount of demonic energy to impale through a small portion of a defensive barrier. He directed the force to a single point, it’s only natural that it burst through under the pressure.”

The geezer and Alessia gave their take on Seir’s arrow and Seir went ahead and pulled back the golden string once again. Baako raised his akrafena and crouched down, ready to make his move.

“I didn’t peg you for a long distance fighter, all I have to do is ramp up my speed and avoid the arrow. After that, you’ll be at the mercy of my akrafena again!”

Baako dashed toward Seir at full stretch. This time, Seir fired an arrow toward Baako. The same arrow that pierced the defensive barrier, made its way toward Baako speedily. Baako waited till the last moment and skid under its reach. The arrow whizzed past and Baako was heading toward the defenseless Seir, more ferocious and dangerous than ever.

Seir stood in place, there wasn’t enough time for him to aim another arrow at Baako, because Baako was inches away. Just when Baako was reaching his akrafena toward Seir, a small warp circle, with the Seir family crest appeared between the two of them. Baako flinched, but continued his attack. However, what appeared from the warp circle forced Baako to use his dexterity to curb his advance and leap to the side.

It was an arrow. It took a few hairs off of Baako’s head as it whizzed past his side stepping self. Baako retreated a few feet away and prepared for another charge. The appearance of the warp circle hadn’t fazed him, it seems he wanted to ensure that momentum stayed with him.

He was just about to leap toward Seir again, when another warp circle appeared behind him. Another arrow appeared from it and Baako narrowly avoided it by twisting his body. After the arrow whizzed passed and Baako repositioned himself, another warp circle appeared. This pattern continuously repeated itself and Baako never got close enough to Seir to strike. Nor did he ever get more than a few seconds to take a breath and regroup. He was trapped, trapped in an endless cycle.

Seir had long since dispersed the bow shaped demonic energy and seemed to be enjoying himself as he watched Baako’s acrobatics in his attempts to avoid the omnipresent arrow. No matter where Baako landed and in spite of his proximity to Seir, the arrow would always appear at the last second, foiling Baako’s attacks and ensuring Seir’s safety.

“Why doesn’t he just cut it?”

“Hyahahaha, contact with that mass of demonic energy would result in his downfall young one.”

“I don’t follow?”

“There’s more than one arrow.”

“Hyahahaha, correct little Alessia. You see young one, if young Baako were to attempt to cut one arrow, in the split second he makes contact with it, the young prince could summon the other one and end this battle. The young prince used Baako’s cautious fighting style to checkmate him. Either Young Baako bites the bullet and cuts the arrow, or eventually slips up and is hit.”

“B-but why doesn’t Seir use more arrows then? Why doesn’t he just fire hundreds of arrows at Baako?”

“He probably can only control up to 2 at a time. Warping them around all over the place must be extremely taxing.”

“Hyahahahaha, I wonder about that…”

Seir was humming to himself while Baako was scurrying around looking for an opening and avoiding the two arrows that were after him. When one disappeared, the other reappeared. Baako had to do something or he’d finally misstep and this battle would be over.

“Ahahaha, come on Baako, this stalemate is becoming tiresome, there’s no use in continuing to hide it.”

A small smile appeared across Baako’s face and he halted. It had been so long since Baako was stood in one place. A few seconds passed and two arrows materialised, they both soared toward a now immobile Baako.

The whole arena were on the edge of their seats as the arrows edged closer to Baako.

“W-what is he doing?"

"Has he given up!?”

Everyone was confused at this turn of events and watched as the arrows got closer and eventually pierced two of Baako’s vitals.

Baako stood upright with two golden arrows poking through him. He was motionless, yet his akrafena was still in hand.

“I-it’s over!? Ladies and gentlemen, it seems…”

“Whoa there Sabrina-chan, not quite, ahahaha.”

Seir halted Sabrina’s announcement and pointed at Baako.

Out of nowhere, a huge spider was cast over Baako’s immobile frame and his body excreted black miasma. I could hear a faint whisper coming from the spider familiar and I felt Morgana wince.

A few moments passed and light returned to Baako’s eyes. The black miasma covered Seir’s golden arrows and they disintegrated. Baako coughed harshly and regained his composure. He caught Seir’s eye and spoke.

“How long have you known?”

Seir responded by closing his eyes and grinning at Baako. Everyone else watched this exchange and waited for an explanation with baited breath.