The Phantom Riser

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR - ONE (2)

Kiro, Karenia and Victor were surrounded by over a dozen Riser teams and yet, Karenia was dead set on taking them all on on her own. Kiro seemed not to bother but Victor wasn’t hearing any of it? “Have you finally lost what is left of your sanity?” Victor scolded her. His words fell on deaf ears though, because she wasn’t listening to a thing he was saying. She had her eyes dead set on her preys. Whatever it was that snapped inside her head had done quite the damage. “Yo, Kiro, is Azulon controlling her? This is too much weird for me really.”

“You’ll get used to it. Just sit back and let her thing. If she’s still insistent on taking them on, I’m sure it’s okay. Besides, we’ve got her back,” Kiro said drably. He sat by Azulon and Victor followed him. They had a good view of Karenia and the enemies that laid before them. Victor was still uneasy. He still couldn’t grasp how she could even think on taking on so many people. Was she so eager for a fight? Or coins maybe? “This is how she always was. Just keep watching in case she needs help, but you don’t need to worry too much,” Kiro assured him. The worry on his face was too obvious to be ignored.

“Do you know why she is doing this? I think it’s because of coins. She wants to get the drop on us.” – Kiro chuckled at Victor’s claim and Victor frowned even more than he previously was. – “Is it that ridiculous?” Victor asked.

“Think about it. Without putting any effort, you are already special. Your potential is immense and you look like what anyone would call a chosen one. With me, I have an advantage over every Riser. And my adaptation makes it even more vivid. Also, being a Phantom Riser; something that hasn’t happened as well is also in itself attention worthy. Karenia is caught up between all of that. She’s special. Very special. But we’re different. And if she is going to make a name for herself and stand as an equal beside us, she has to go that far. And she has my support.”

“Even if she ends up losing herself?”

Kiro’s eyes dimmed a bit. “She wasn’t the one who lost herself,” Kiro muttered under his breath.

“What?” Victor didn’t catch what he said.

“She was always true to herself. More than we could ever have been,” Kiro said grimly. Victor could see the hurt in his eyes and decided to leave the matter as it was. After all, it was an event that was yet to pass. They would deal with it when the time came.

Karenia fought her way through the horde of enemies that stood before her. She was being pushed against the wall, but she enjoyed every bit of it. Victor couldn’t seem to calm down, but Kiro was totally laxed. He pulled out a piece of meat from his back and offered another to Victor.

“Really? This is not a movie man. Stay alert!”

“Stop being so stiff and enjoy the show,” Kiro replied.

“It’s not a show,” Victor frowned as he accepted the meat from Kiro. At this time, the number of Risers remaining had dropped by half and most of her injuries had healed. “She can heal?”

“Oh, I didn’t notice she could already,” Kiro replied. A frown ran across his face as he sensed a dangerous presence. A riser ran straight at Karenia. It looked very unlikely that she would evade. Kiro pulled up a shield between them, forcing the Riser back.

“Hey, I had it,” Karenia snapped. She looked at the Riser that had been pushed back a few meters by Kiro’s shield. “But thanks. That attack looked quite dangerous.”

“You’re quite the cautious one, aren’t you?” the Riser sneered. For someone who posed such a threat, he had a very calm demeanor about him. “You don’t look it though, Phantom Riser,” he teased.

“You don’t want to start a fight. Just leave while we’re feeling chivalrous. You know you don’t stand a chance,” Kiro said.

“I beg to differ. There’s five of us left and three of you. I think we can manage.”

“Who are you?” Kiro asked.

“He said not to tell you. That you would figure out how to deal with my ability. So, no. I won’t be introducing myself.”

“Who is ‘he’? Jovak?”

“You talk too much!” He charged straight at Kiro but Karenia intercepted him. He countered her attack with a kick that sent her flying. Karenia had problems getting up. She staggered to her feet, only to fall back down to the ground. “Oh, she can still move? I guess she’s as tough as they say.”

Kiro frowned. He pulled up a sphere around Karenia and brought her to himself. Victor had already taken care of the other four Risers. The last Riser facing them tried to stop Kiro from taking Karenia, but Victor forced him back with a barrage of fire balls. “How unfortunate that we have to take you out so early. You have a great potential, Nuri,” Kiro said.

“Oh. Jovak is right. You really do know things you’re not supposed to,” Nuri replied.

“Who is he?” Victor asked.

“His name is Nuri and he later came to be known as, One.”

“Why?”

“Because he takes down all his opponents with one attack.”

“I already call myself One, Phantom Riser. Could it be that my name has travelled this far as well?”

Kiro completely ignored him. “He is an energy type like Isaac. But he manipulates the energy within his own body to heighten his physical abilities and the energy within anyone he makes contact with, paralyzing them. He’s a tough one to face.”

“To think I get the chance to face the most famous Riser team. How wonderful it would be if I won. Please, don’t disappoint me. I have high expectations.”

“Oh, don’t worry. You won’t be facing us as a group. It wouldn’t be any fun. I’ll take you on myself.”

“No, let me. I’ve been sitting on the sides for too long. Let me also prove my use, rather than hold on to a title I have done little to deserve,” Victor said.

Kiro could see the seriousness in his eyes. In a few seconds, Karenia finally found her feet. Nuri was a bit surprised to see her already up but deep within himself, he expected it.

“Have at it man. Pay him back for what he did to me. Let him witness firsthand how powerful the Ascient is,” Karenia said.

Victor grinned. “I sure will.”