Chapter 37: Expendable

Nathan: “MOVE!”

Nathan jumped and booted the elf in the face, at the same time using the momentum to flip over top two others. Once he landed he made an attempt for the Gorgon, or so he made it seem. One of the elves had begun healing the Gorgon, it was slow healing, but slowly but surely the monster was being restored. As Nathan made a dash for the elf, he rose several of his plants to fire on the Gorgon. The Uzy shots were quickly blocked by a barrier, but while casting the barrier, the elf had stopped healing the Gorgon and she was wide open.

Nathan sheathe his sword, not wanting to kill the woman, just stop her from proceeding. Swinging his blade, struck her mid-section, Sending her spiraling into the air. Nathan grew a snyare grabbing the woman and tossing into the nearby trees, at the same time, he dodge the attacking sphere, using his plants to distract while he got some distance.

Nathan looked around, already the woman he had thrown was making her way back over, but she didn’t get far, as several of Nathans plants would grab her and tie her down.

*Smash*Smash*

Nathan: “Owwww!?”

Nathen jumped back as shards of ice assaulted him, using his sword to deflect some of them, keeping the damage to a minimum.

Nathan: “Girls, what happened to “Leave the spells to us”?”

Anais: “Negative Pulse!”

A black mass, appeared in front of Anais, she jumped back and the mass of energy began drawing in the spells being fired at her, along with Nathan.

Nathan: “……….Whoa, the was awesome, do it again.”

Anais: “Can’t, too much energy to cast consecutively and we’re trying our best here, but it not that easy when they can see us.”

Nathan: “Being seen is normal, deal with it.”

Iris conjured a mini tornado, that gather up a few of the men and tossing them into Nathan’s Snyare trap.

Iris: “This would easier if you allow us to end them, why show them sympathy?”

Nathan: “Saria and Celes ask me not to kill them, so as long as we don’t need to, we won’t.”

Nathan continued his battle, spark flying as he clashed blades with the elf. As the elf raise his blade to strike again, a snyare grabbed the man’s arm. The man, quickly switch hands, cutting it down only to have another grab him. Several more grabbed at him and flung him into the air. Nathan didn’t even wait, as soon as the man was out of the way he charged toward the Gorgon, leaving his plants to do their job.

He had to be quick, knew that with all the elves being tied down, the sphere would act to free them, but it couldn’t if Nathan kept attacking the Gorgon mercilessly.

He slashed at the Gorgon and as he thought, the sentinel opted to save the Gorgon then to free the elves. Nathan wasted no time, speeding to a different spot to strike, Nathan launched several more attacks, each stopped by the sentinel sphere. Nathan kept up this routine, not given the sphere anytime to free the captives.

Anais finished rounding up the elves watched Nathan assault play out.

Anais: “That’s his plan, if it can’t free the captives, then it can’t heal itself.”

Iris finished sending the rest of the elves into the snyare plants and joined Anais. As Nathan jumped about, small lights were falling from him and fading into the ground.

Iris: “He’s gonna have them fire on the half dead monster, there no way it would with stand that.”

Anais: “No, half dead or not, he doesn’t know if they will hurt it and probably won’t risk it. He will most likely deliver the blow himself, with all those plants, he probably aiming for that sphere, as soon as he gets a chance.”

Iris: “Let’s make things easier, we can distract the ball thing.”

Anais: “No, don’t, our spells have no effect and we probably make ourselves targets, let’s leave it up to him, he know what he’s doing……….I think, lets just work on keeping them tied up.”

Saria: “Miss Iris, Miss Anais!”

Saria came flying towards them, Celes close behind.

Iris: “Saria, neither of you should be here.”

Saria: “I understand, but there’s trouble, more of our guardians are headed this way, they seem to be fighting one another.”

Anais: “What?”

Iris: “It seems what’s happened here, has also transpired there as well. They most likely realized the roar was the problem and come to put an end to it.”

Anais: “The ones who are still sane aside, if more of the mind controlled ones come here right now, it will be a problem.”

Saria: “What do we do?”

Iris: “…………….I’ll slow them down, Anais watch them and make sure they don’t get loose.”

Anais: “What!?”

Iris: “Do not worry, I won’t foolishly approach, I’ll maintain my distance.”

Anais: “No, I’m surprise you would willing move away from him.”

Iris turned back to Nathan, still clashing with the Gorgon.”

Iris: “As it is now, we would only get in the way if we interfere, I would be of more use elsewhere, Saria, would you please lead me there.”

Saria nodded and the two flew off, leaving Celes and Anais behind. Anais turned to the elves still captive. There bodies completely wrapped in vines.

Anais: “If only we had more………hmm?”

Celes was jumping up and down, trying to get Anais’s attention.

Anais: “What you have something that could help?”

Celes smiled and nodded, turning to the group of elves, she raised her hand. Trees shot up all around them elves, their limbs twisting and tangling around all caught in their path. When it had finished, a miniature forest had been made. The elves were barely visible, they had become a part of the forest. Celes turned back to Anais, who stared dumbfounded. In a matter of seconds, she had created another small forest.

Anais: “Yeah………..that’ll do it.”

Celes had recovered in so little time and now able to perform feats like this. Anais was beginning to understand, just how powerful Celes was.

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Edwyrd: “Keep moving, don’t get surrounded.”

Edwyrd pulled one of his men to their feet, some of the mind controlled brothers followed them and were now preventing them from moving forward. To make matters worse several of them had bypass Edwyrd’s group all together and was now on their way the Gorgon.

Edwyrd: “Open a path, we cannot let them arrive before us.”

Edwyrd’s group tried their best to move forward, but with everyone they knock down another would take their place, their advance had almost come to a complete stop. Slowly, his numbers were depleting, refusing to kill his mind controlled brothers, was taking its toll.

*Shwip**Stab*

Edwyrd stumbled, a sharp pain in his arm made him drop his weapon. An arrow lodge in it and he groaned in pain, who was currently loading another arrow.

*Swooshh*

Edwyrd shocked by the sudden arrow, now lodge in his attacker’s chest. The elf slowly fell to the ground, blood leaking from his wound. Edwyrd turned to his subordinate, he didn’t speak a word just stared.

Elven Soldier: “I will protect My Lord.”

Edwyrd couldn’t speak up, but he had no right. In all honesty, his life was just saved. Looking around, he saw that many of his men were also putting down their brothers, he then understood. His father had told them to do what was necessary, to keep his son safe.

Elven Soldier: “What is this!?

Edwyrd turned to see what he was talking about; a cold chill ran down his spine. With the arrow still lodge in his chest, the elf stood back up and ready his bow once more. Even with such a wound, they were force to fight, they would fight to the death, against their will. The soldier quickly place a barrier around Edwyrd and himself, blocking all incoming attacks.

Edwyrd: “Forcing them to fight in this state?”

Elven Soldier: “My Lord, don’t move I need to stop the bleeding.”

Edwyrd: “I’m fine, we need to break through this force, but any spell capable of doing that, all need time to cast, which we don’t have.”

Elven Soldier: “My Lord, over there.”

Edwyrd: “What in the world?”

Up ahead of them, a funnel of wind had formed and heading directly for them. Such a thing to happen all of the sudden, someone must have cast a spell, but to cause such a thing in such little time. The mind controlled elves, were slowly thrown into the air and caught up in the winds. Then the funnel, circled the area, sucking up everyone outside of Edwyrd group, transporting them away from the area.

Saria: “Lord Edwyrd?”

Edwyrd look to the sky for the source and found Saria descending toward him.

Edwyrd: “Lady Saria, this was you’re doing?”

Saria: “Are you alright?”

Edwyrd: “I’m fine, but, what did you do with my men.”

Saria: “No need to worry, I set them down in a nearby lake, they’ll be just fine.”

Edwyrd: “I see.”

Edwyrd watch as the funnel continued to clear away more of his brothers. He was surprised that Saria could do such a thing, he knew she was capable, but it was never this develop nor this precise. Her wind, usually amount to an uncontrollable storm, taking down the immediate vicinity. Right now, her back was to it and yet, she was accurately gathering only his mind controlled brothers to go from that to this, he found it extremely unlikely.

Edwyrd: “…….Lady Saria, are you truly controlling this storm?”

Saria: “Ah, Edwyrd you should hurry along while the way is clear, some of them were able to get through, I handle things here, you should go.”

Saria completely avoided the question, more than that, it was as if she wanted to get rid of him. She would glance away ever so often, he pretty much understood what was going on.

Edwyrd: “As you say Lady Saria, Everyone, Lady Saria has cleared a path, we will proceed with our mission.”

At his word, they all once again advance towards their mission. Edwyrd wound was healed and he also began his march, but he stopped turned and bowed.

Edwyrd: “I liked to thank both of you for your help.”

Edwyrd then walked away, hearing two distinct gasp, from his statement.

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Nathan: “(The hells with all them trees, is Celes here? No, gotta concentrate, I’m all most ready.)”

*Crash**Cling**Clang**Smash*

Nathan fight with the sentinel sphere, preventing him from finishing the Gorgon. Nathan stole another glance at the Gorgon, their eyes met for a moment, before the Gorgon painfully turned away. He smirked, it must know it was at death door. Trying to hold on for some sort of miracle, sooner later Nathan was going to get an attack through and it seemed sooner rather than later, he was finally ready. With a swing, he knocked the sphere away and charge the Gorgon.

Nathan: “Alright, here I go.”

Nathan leaped high into the air and he sentinel took the bait. Jumping up like that, he left himself wide open or so he lead the sentinel to believe. The sentinel shot up towards Nathan.

Nathan: “(Gotcha.)”

Nathan Quickly switched his weapon, pulling out the Claymore, he turned it to its broadside and with everything he had swung at the sphere.

*BAM*

The sphere was smashed into the ground, but Nathan didn’t stop, landing he brought his sword down again, plowing the sphere deep into the ground.

*Ratataatatatatatatatatatatatatatatatatata*

The second he finished he jumped away, bullet after bullet bombarded the Sphere, with so many the weight was preventing it from dislodging itself from the ground. It was pinned, at least for now, but that was all he needed. Nathan walked over to the Gorgon, but found that the Gorgon had shifted in a way to keep his eye out of sight.

Nathan: “That’s not going to do you any good.”

*Stab**Stab**Stab*

Nathan stabbed at the Gorgon over and over, but all he felt was flesh. This thing was just to resilient, it was a mess, barley clinging to life and Nathan was stabbing it, yet it refused to die. After a while the Gorgon couldn’t stand the pain and revealed its eye once.

Nathan: “That’s a good flesh ball.”

As Nathan circled around, he got the usual feeling, he was in danger.

*Shift*

Nathan: “What the!?”

In a surprising show of dexterity, the Gorgon quickly twisted around to Nathan. The second Nathan came into the Gorgon line of sight, it fired off the scattered laser once more. Before Nathan could comprehend, his body was already reacting, jumping back, but wasn’t quick enough. The lasers met their mark, nearly at point blank range.

Nathan: “Aghhhh, Dammit!”

Nathan winced in pain, he had taken nearly the full blow of that attack, His arm had received most of the damage, his sleeve no longer there riddle with holes and his flesh burned in spots across his arm. The Gorgon, exhausting all its energy, groaned in exhaustion.

Nathan: “(It healed that much, that was my fault, shouldn’t get careless.)”

Anais turned to run to his aid, when she was tackled by Celes.

Anais: “THAT’S THE SECOND TIME YOU DID THAT!?”

Celes pointed ahead of her, the ground was burning. Looking over, the forest that had sprouted around the captured elves, was now riddle with holes and collapsing. That was it plan it wasn’t aiming to kill Nathan, it was aiming to free the elves. One had fired at Anais, if she had taken one more step, should would have been hit.

Nathan: “Anais, I’m fine, don’t let them get close.”

The elves, some had been hit with the lasers, wounds as clear as day, but still were making their way over to Gorgon. Burn down what was left of the forest, inadvertently setting themselves on fire, they simply continued their marched, paying no attention to their burning flesh.

Nathan: “Anais!”

Anais: “I know, Cascade!”

A wave of water wash over the forest, dousing the fires as it flowed. The elves who were caught in the flow were washed away, as well as stopping the flames from burning them.

Celes: “(To make them fight, in that state)”

Nathan: “What did you expect?”

Nathan hadn’t recover from the hit, but he didn’t have to move from that spot. Several of his plants sprouted up around the Gorgon. They wrapped around its body and pulled it from the ground, Nathan then handed one plant his weapon.

Nathan: “I should have done this in the first place.”

Positioning his weapon, Nathan held down the Gorgon, facing the eye away from him, no more shifting, no more surprises. With everything his plant could muster Nathan stabbed at the Gorgon eye. A sickening, but satisfying squelch as the blade pierced the Gorgon, driving deeper and deeper. His plant couldn’t exert as much of a force as he could, but as long as it did its job, it didn’t matter how long.

Nathan: “……………….Hey, where the tone?”

Nathan waited a moment for the expecting ding, but it never came. He couldn’t believe it, a monster as powerful as that and he didn’t get one level up, something was wrong. Nathan shifted the Gorgon around, careful not to get any surprise attacks.

Nathan: “What……….. how, where!?”

Turning to Celes and Anais, they had succeeded and rounding up the elves. Nathan counted them, seven, they were all there. It didn’t make sense, slumped over on his blade, jammed through his stomach, blood dripping down his body, was an elf. From out of nowhere, one of the tribesmen had thrown themselves in front of Nathans blade. Nathan had his plant let go of the sword and the elf crumpled to the ground, dead.

Nathan looked on as several more Grassvalley tribesmen began to show up, one by one they stepped in front of the Gorgon, each the same as the one who just died. Some ready to attack while others without weapons of any sort, just stood directly in front of the eye, living shields. He made a promise, not to kill them, but he knew, the second he went for the killing blow, they would throw themselves in front of the blade. Just like before he would unwillingly kill.

Anais: “Nathan, there more coming.”

Nathan: “I noticed.”

Anais: “We’ll keep back as many as we can. Can you handle things here?”

Nathan: “Yeah, I’ll be fine, just take care yourselves.”

Nathan Nodded and the girls moved towards the incoming horde. Though he said that, he was a little freaked about the murder, but he just has to keep that buried, right now he had to deal with the crowd of people.

Nathan: “You’re really willing to use all of them as shields.”

Right after three of the elves charge him. Nathan had his plant toss him his weapon. The second he caught it, he blocked the incoming strike. On his right another slashed at him, he jumped out of the way.

*Slash*

Nathan: “What the hell!?”

The attacker that missed Nathan, inadvertently slashed one of his friends across the chest. The bleeding elf, didn’t even flinch, ignoring his bleeding and turned to attack Nathan again. Similar situation begin to happen, whenever Nathan dodge or block an attack, the attacker would cut his friend by mistake.

Nathan: “Hey, are you working together or not?”

The attacks continued, but each of them recklessly, swung their swords, not caring at all for the others safety. An attempt to run Nathan through, without the slightest hesitation, stabbed right through his friend. The one who was stabbed, shimmied forward on the blade still trying to attack Nathan. It didn’t even come close and he curled over on the blade. The elf who stabbed him, pulled his sword free from his gullet and shoved the body aside, not caring in the slightest.

Nathan: “T-That, that is so messed up, you just gutted your own friend and you don’t even care, no, your made not to care.”

They were trying to murder him not too long ago, at least they were willing doing it, but being forced to stab your brothers and sisters and not having any say in the matter, didn’t sit well with him.

The elf charge Nathan again, they were just blindly rushing him. The way things were going, they would kill each other, he just had to avoid their attacks. As his blade collided with the elf again, he suddenly let go of his weapon.

*Grab*

Nathan: “The hell, let me go.”

The man grabbed Nathan arm and held him down, trying to overpower Nathan’s smaller size. Turning to the side, Nathan stepped closer to the man, using his body weight against him, flipped the man over his shoulder.

Nathan: “That was strange.”

*Grab*

Nathan: “Ughn, what!?

The Man quickly recovered from the throw and latch himself onto Nathans leg.

Nathan: “The hell are you doing?”

Nathan Threat Detection started going off, he turned around to several more elves lounging at him. He tried to pry himself free, but the elf held him.

Nathan: “Sorry about this.”

*Crack*

Nathan brought elbow down on the man’s arm, hearing a definite crack, but he still wouldn’t let go. He should not be able to move that arm, let alone apply strength and yet, he would not let go.

One after another they latched on to Nathan, holding him down.

Nathan: “GET OFF ME!”

Nathan Wrestled with the group, but they held him down, locking his arms in place, so he couldn’t break loose. He didn’t understand, they had him locked down, why wasn’t he being stabbed. Then suddenly every one of their heads turned to face the Gorgon.

Nathan: “What!?”

The Gorgon eye was facing right towards them, its pupil pulsating and before Nathan could react, a flash. In the blink of an eye, the pile of elves that were holding Nathan had all been turned to stone. With all the bodies frozen, it had become a stone prison. They were holding down so he couldn’t escape the Gorgons gaze, but it didn’t work on him, he wasn’t a statue. Nthan stared at the pulsating pupil, it wasn’t affecting him.

Nathan: “………….You can’t turn me to stone.”

Nathan wanted to slap himself, he should have figured it out a long time ago. It wasn’t that the baby wasn’t able to turn Celes and him to stone, it was that it couldn’t. For some reason, the two of them were exempt, now that he thought about it, he has looked the Gorgon in the eye several times before and was never effected. Would made it worse, is that the Gorgon already figured it out. That’s why it stopped trying so long ago and switched to more traditional means of attack. Now he was stuck, just like he had done so many times to the Gorgon.

The Gorgon, eyes began to glow the familiar glow, in a few seconds it was gonna fire that charged laser shot and there was no avoiding it.

Nathan: “Aw, shit.”