The Last Celestial

The Disappearance of an Island Part III

Only following the instructions given by Leo, Andrew flew at full speed to match the raging bull. He was almost out of breath, not realizing that he was fighting off those beasts for almost two hours and a half.

Every breath that he took was excruciatingly painful. His mouth and throat is so dry it feels like whenever he breathes tiny needles are piercing through his insides, rupturing his muscles from the inside, making it even more challenging to breathe.

Water. All he could think about was water. He was so dehydrated that his skin was beginning to lose its elasticity. He can feel his muscles cramp and as he uses and summons more flame, the more painful it gets. As if his body was burning from within.

Andrew was slowly losing his vision. Only his sheer willpower to fight off the bull was keeping him awake. He propels himself and forces himself to go even faster. Every step, every time the bull's hooves hit the ground, the earth shakes and the ground beneath its feet cracks.

The young man bit his lips and gritted his teeth --- a few more meters and the bull would be hitting the barrier. He has to do something, and it has to be now.

Using the last bit of his strength, Andrew managed to get ahead of the bull.

The moment he closed in on the barrier, he stood at the middle --- fear in his eyes was evident as the bull came in closer and closer with rage in its eyes. The bull growled and more steam like smoke came out of its nose.

And then it happened. The bull clashed with Andrew.

The young man's body was smacked in the middle as he tried his best to push off the gigantic bull away. It had power so unimaginable, so unfathomable, that the bull was almost crushing him as the bull's head pushed against his body. He screamed on top of his lungs.

His vision that was blurry before, was now darkening... flashes of white were the only thing that he could see. He could only feel pain. And he felt frightened as the hands of death reached out to him, inching closer and closer.

'Don't give up.' A familiar voice echoed in his hazy consciousness. 'Don't give up!' It screamed again and again like a broken record player.

Andrew bit hard against his tongue, forcing himself to fight back. Andrew was panting heavily, and his body was already shivering. Every muscle in him ached, everything hurt, but still he refused to give up.

"Help me..." He hissed through a whisper as the fire burning against his skin is slowly fading away. He was beginning to lose too much strength and his muscles were wasting fast. "Help me!" He screamed, then looked up at the sky and hoped that Sagittarius was looking down on him.

"Please, help me!" His scream was almost unheard as only air came out of his lungs. His voice croaked and veins on his body protruded. The last bit of fire burning inside him faded, and only embers remained.

Andrew could only close his eyes as he prepares to welcome his death as the bull squeezes him --- pushes further.

And then, the sound of thunderbolts resounded on the small island.

The sky lit up brightly and the color of the clouds changed into red. Andrew closed his eyes, and then the feel of strong and heated wind blew hard against his face. The bull stepped away as it was pierced by a burning arrow.

The bull let out a loud cry as it stood up, relying its weight on both of its hind legs. The arrow pierced its body deeply, the sharp material digging deep as the tip of the arrow showed on its underbelly.

Andrew slid off the barrier as his eyes rolled on the back of his head. He took one last breath before losing his consciousness. The Keepers who were watching from behind immediately took action by dispelling the barrier, not minding their own safety.

Darlene rushes out of the fortress, and runs towards Andrew who crashed against the ground with his eyes closed.

When she was close enough, she bent down on one knee and grabbed the young man. She wrapped her arms around Andrew's torso and pulled the young man's body, dragging his feet against the ground.

Other Keepers rushed to them as well, helping Darlene so that they could treat the young man and save his life.

It did not take long for the bull to recover. Its body soon recovered from the damage it took and the fire on the arrow did not hurt it anymore. For it was made of stone and metal, and nothing more.

Once Andrew, Darlene and the Keepers helping them were close enough. The defense team immediately puts up the barrier again, fearing that the bull would attack and destroy the fortress once more.

==========================

"Faster, get some water! Give it to Andrew!"

Was what Andrew heard as he felt his body being carried inside the fortress. They laid him on a bed, and began to take off the armor he was wearing that was now back on its original form. His body that was used to a high amount of fire has small burns and boils.

This has never happened before, and he thought this was caused by the power he borrowed from Leo. The blue fire was too much to bear, and his body wasn't ready for it. It was like he was a small glass, and lava was poured onto him --- making the glass c***k --- eventually breaking it and shattering in the process.

His hands were shaking as he extended his arm when he saw a woman running towards him with a bottle of water. He hissed, and felt his hand burning against the icy water. His body was so hot that the Keepers who carried him suffered from 1st degree burns.

Slowly, he gets up from his rest and drinks the water immediately. He feels refreshed as he did and felt immensely better. Soon he kept asking for more and more until he drank almost six bottles of water.

"Andrew..."

He heard someone calling his name, and slowly, he looked at the direction where the voice was coming from. He squinted his eyes as he stared at the unfamiliar face. "Who are you..." He asked as his voice cracked.

"I'm Darlene, the Elder assigned in this fortress." She said, yet there was no confidence in her tone. "Well, the newly assigned Elder since the previous one, Kriyanne... died." She explained with a pained expression.

Suddenly, they felt the whole fortress shake. And screams were heard not only from the outside but from the castle walls as well. Everyone was panicking and the Keepers assigned to fight prepared themselves for the battle.

The bag Andrew carried from the forest of the Zodiacs still remains intact and inside it the weapons and barriers that the Elders prepared for times like these.

Darlene stared at the young man with such darkness in her eyes. Like she has lost all hope, and was on the brink of giving up. She looked so tired, and sad and overwhelmed with the many deaths that happened in a flash. Like everything is just a big whole mess, a nightmare.

But there is something else inside her too. Something that wants to fight back. "Andrew." She said his name again, this time with a bit more confidence lingering to it. "Come with me."

Though he still feels pain with every movement that he makes, he follows Darlene without any protest or objections. She leads him to the chambers of the Taurus, pacing down the spiral stairs that will take them underground.

Deep down there the two of them felt the intense tremble caused by the gigantic bull. Darlene gasped when a particular strong wave and rumble came. She stood her ground and looked behind her, seeing Andrew's haggard state and how much he fought made her feel worthless.

After pushing all of her insecurities away, Darlene managed to take the both of them to the sacred chamber where the relic lies.

She pushed against the big door made of stone, gritting her teeth as she put on the effort. Andrew who was standing beside her begins to help her as well. When the door finally opens, the two of them sighed and Andrew was surprised to see what's inside.

Not only was there a golden relic standing in the middle of the room. But there was also a man who's trying to calm a baby. A baby so small and fragile that Andrew's arm is even longer than it is.

"He won't stop crying." Said Rajesh as he tries to coo the baby into sleeping. But to no avail, the baby still kept on wailing and crying, as if it was looking for warmth. As if it was trying to find the familiar warmth that it used to be in for months. "He doesn't want to feed on the milk either. I don't know what to do anymore."

Darlene rushed to the man and the baby, leaving Andrew behind. She sat near Rajesh and took the baby away from him. When the baby was already in her arms, she kissed its forehead and hushed him. The baby who was frantic, calmed at her touch. She now looked at Andrew who was standing in front of them.

"Come." She said, "I need you to do something for me."

The young man looked at her, still confused and didn't have a clue at what's going on. Instead of answering Darlene's request in a proper manner, he said "Is that your baby?" He asked.

Darlene who's expression was dark has now become soft. "No..." She answered as her lips trembled. "He's the son of my best friend..."

After hearing the answer, the young man bit his lips and looked at the Keeper who's obviously mourning. "Where's his mother?" Andrew asked again even though he had a gut feeling of what went on. He just wanted to confirm if it is true.

"She died, right in front of my eyes." She said with tears forming in her eyes. "Now, please... I beg of you... using the last of your strength, take the relic and the baby with you back to the forest of the Zodiacs."

Andrew was taken back by the request. "Why?" He asked softly. "What about you?"

Rajesh and Darlene had an exchange of looks before Darlene looked back at the young man in front of her. "We're going to destroy this island using every seed from the forest of the Zodiac. We will sink this island, along with that Bull."