VG Rumble

**This is post 5...**

Karana rushed forward, taking advantage of the situation. She heard someone shout encouragement to the girl, cheering her on as she continued to beat into Izlude's skull with as much power as she could muster.

She turned her sword long-ways beside her, ready to swing with as much strength and speed as possible. She roared as she met Izlude headlong, but he caught the blade, ripped it from her grasp, and slapped Izuki with the flat side of it. She yelped, faltering just long enough for him to finally take hold of her. He flung the girl from his back and into Karana, making them both stumble and slide across the floor. Karana snarled as she felt a friction burn on her arm.

Ilum took his turn at Izlude, punching his brother square in the face.

Ilum knocked the sword out of his brother's hand before grabbing him. "Why are you doing this, brother!? Don't you know what the dark knight plans to do? He wishes to destroy our world with the power of the soul forge!"

Izlude merely smiled. "Who do you think it was who brought me back to life, brother?"

Ilum shook him. "Who do you think was the one who killed you in the first place!? What about Elizabeth? She still mourns for your death even today!"

"I care for no one, not even you, brother. I only wish to have power, and the dark knight has promised it to me. All I have to do is kill all of you." Ilum cringed in pain when he felt something sharp pierce his gut. He looked down to see Izlude had stabbed him in the stomach with a dagger. Blood was already pouring out of the wound. "Including you."

**NO! Ilum can't die! **

Karana screamed at the top of her lungs, getting to her feet as Izlude withdrew the weapon, bringing it up against Ilum's shoulder. Ilum stumbled back, blood pouring from the two wounds, as Karana summoned all of her magic. One fireball. One raging mass. One shot.

She slammed into Izlude with it, the attack knocking him off his feet and scorching his breast plate to near melting. A few of the rays had burned his arms, neck, and face...

Karana hit her knees, gasping in weariness as everything blurred. She fought back a moan, struggling to stay awake...

Ilum... She had to stay awake for him. She had to help him.

He collapsed next to her, bleeding profusely. She forced heavy lids open and looked at him, tears running down her face. She gingerly, shakily moved to his side and rolled him onto his back. He was badly wounded; he had been stabbed twice. Once in the stomach and once to the left shoulder, very near his heart.

"Ilum, please," she pleaded, putting her hands against the wounds, hoping to stop the bleeding. "Ilum, please, hang on! Don't die on me!"

Behind her, Izlude got to his feet as the others rushed him again.

Post 8...

Raven

As the others rushed Izlude, Raven ran to Ilum and Karana, taking Ilum's hand in her own fiercely. She ignored the loud bellow behind her as Izlude threw off his attackers and frantically pushed herself through Ilum's body, searching for the worst of his injuries. Vaguely, she felt Karana stand and turn to face Izlude and a corner of her mind registered the scream of pain but she was too deeply entangled in Ilum's body, patching together ligaments and staunching the flow of blood.

And then the hand on her shoulder, the nails digging into her flesh broke her concentration. Izlude pulled her back and grabbed her chin, pulling her face around to meet his directly.

"What do you think you're doing?" he bellowed.

"Helping my friend," Raven spat. She struggled against Izlude's grip.

"Let her go!" Luke roared. Izlude spun to face him, to face them all and shielded his body with Raven's for a moment as he watched them warily. He was breathing heavily. That gave Raven an idea. Gently she probed Izlude's body and found the source of his pain.

"His left side and shoulder are hurting. Hit him there!" She cried.

Raven felt Izlude's gauntlet hit her in the side of the head, dazing her for a few moments. "Silence, wench!"

When Raven could see straight she could see the rage on Luke's face. It was the first time she had ever seen real anger in his eyes. His words burned with his rage when he said, "Don't you dare hit her again!"

Izlude smiled as his grip on Raven's shoulder tightened, causing her to cry out slightly. "Is she that important to you?"

"Let go of my friend..." Everyone gasped when they saw Ilum holding onto Izlude's ankle despite his serious injuries.

"Are you still alive, brother?"

Raven took this chance to catch him off guard. She lifted her arm and jabbed it into Izlude's face. He cried out in pain from his broken nose and took a few steps back, letting go of Raven's shoulder in the process. She then grabbed her mace and swung it at his chest, knocking him off his feet and making a big dent in his armor.

Luke ran forward and shouted, "Warren, Izuki, we have to keep him at bay! Karana, protect Raven while she heals Ilum!" Everyone followed his orders as Izlude got back up.

Post 10...

Raven and Karana pulled Ilum out of the way as Luke slammed into Izlude, followed by Warren and Izuki. The women laid Ilum on his back on the floor. As Raven took his hand in hers and began to use her magic, Karana got to her feet and stood between them and the fight.

She pulled her bow out of its case on her back; she had arrows at the ready, one already traveling to the string. She waited, string drawn and taut. She aimed steadily at Izlude's unprotected neck. A single shot there would drop him, especially with her loading the arrow with electricity... She wanted to kill him, to destroy him, to tear him apart.

No one should ever have to face that kind of betrayal. No one DESERVES that much pain and heartbreak!

Izlude cried out as Luke punched him in the face yet again, bloodying his nose and lip even more. Izuki followed with a kick to the back of his head.

Ilum shakily sat up. While they were fighting, Ilum was helpless. He felt horrible by that fact... He wanted to take part, to help... He, too, wanted Izlude dead. He is no brother to me... Never again.

Izlude's hand suddenly sparked as he thrust it into Luke's chest. It exploded in a shower of red sparks, throwing Luke into the air. He landed hard on the ground, dazed and in pain. Warren and Izuki jumped forward baring their weapons, but they were thrown back as well by Izlude's magic. Karana released her electrified arrow. Izlude's hand was suddenly up as it caught her arrow three inches away from his head. He seemed to absorb the energy into his body. Izlude tossed the arrow away and turned to face Karana. "What hope do you have to defeat me, girl?"


--Ilum can use Overdrive!!!--
Use this power to strike down your enemies!

(Remember how Luke had that cool armor and gun when he used Overdrive? It's up too you what Ilum's weapon and armor will be, as well as his attack.)

Karana swore as Izlude lashed out, backhanding her with enough force to make her scream. She fell to her knees, tears streaming down her bruising face.

Ilum growled, jumping to his feet despite his injuries. Raven shouted, but he didn't hear her. He yelled fiercely as he ran at his brother, magic surrounding him. There was a pause in time and a flash; Ilum gasped as he was suddenly transformed.

When time resumed, Ilum was covered in bold blue armor, silver etchings around the edges and across the plates. But it wasn't true armor. It was...more. There was a particularly thick plate on his right wrist. A piece of glass concealed his face, and there were images flying across it. Measurements of some sort, he guessed...one symbol was flashing red and said something about "critical condition"...

He still ran at Izlude, tensing his right fist as he brought it back, ready to beat into him. But something else happened: the armor made a clicking sound, and his wrist piece opened. A block of metal rose out of the opening and unfolded, creating a long, wide blade.

"Die, bastard!" Ilum shouted, his voice echoing into a small piece near his mouth, the sound amplified by openings on the armor.

Warren covered Izuki's eyes as Ilum struck. His blade went through Izlude's chest piece, pierced the man's heart, and came out through the back. He froze, meeting Ilum's gaze for a single moment. "How did that happen?" was all he could say. Ilum ripped the blade up and to the side, snatching it out of Izlude by severing his shoulder. Izlude collapsed into a bloodly heap, eyes still wide as they glazed over.

Ilum shuddered only moments later, eyesight going black as the magic dissappated. He hit the ground, unconscious, and drained of all strength.

Ilum gained Level 1 Burst of Speed!
Karana gained Level 1 Water!
Raven gained Level 3 Metaphysical Shield!
Waren gained Level 1 Water!
Luke gained Level 3 Healing!
Izuki gained Level 2 Bio!


Current Abilities:

Ilum:
Level 3 Ice
Level 3 Fire
Level 2 Gravity (Advanced)
Level 3 Burst of Strength (Skill)
Level 1 Burst of Speed (Skill) NEW!!!

Karana:
Level 3 Fire
Level 3 Lightning
Level 3 Ice
Level 1 Water NEW!!!
Level 2 Meteor (Advanced)
Level 3 Burst of Speed (Skill)
Level 3 Burst of Strength (Skill)
Ifrit (Summon)

Raven:
Level 3 Healing
Level 3 Water
Level 3 Lightning
Level 1 Holy (Advanced)
Level 2 Empathy (Skill)
Level 3 Metaphysical Shield (Skill) UP!!!
Shiva (Summon)

Warren:
Level 3 Wind
Level 3 Lightning
Level 1 Water NEW!!!
Level 2 Time (Advanced)
Level 3 Enhanced Sight (Skill)
Quezacotl (Summon)

Luke:
Level 3 Lightning
Level 3 Void
Level 3 Healing UP!!!
Level 2 Earth (Advanced)
Level 3 Shadow (Skill)
Level 3 Intimidate (Skill)
Leviathan (Summon)

Izuki:
Level 3 Void
Level 3 Wind
Level 2 Bio (Advanced) UP!!!
Level 3 Unlock (Skill)
Level 2 Burst of Speed (Skill)

"Ilum!" Karana went to his side, propping his head on her lap. "Ilum, wake up!"

Ilum groaned and opened a weary eye. He looked up at her. "Hey, Karana... Did we win...?"

She smiled and leaned down to kiss him. "Yes, and it was all thanks to you." Karana looked over her shoulder to see if everyone else was alright and smiled when she saw Raven in Luke's arms.

"Are you hurt? Is anything broken?" Luke ran a hand through Raven's hair to inspect the area she was hit.

Raven smiled as she gently pulled his hand out of her hair. "I'm fine, Luke."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure," she assured him.

"I was so frightened when he grabbed you," he told her. "I don't know what I would have done if anything happened to you."

"I can hold my own in a fight, you know that, Luke," she told him.

He smiled. "Yes, that I do." He gently ran his hand across her cheek. "You are almost as feisty as Karana."

She gave him a look and pinched him in the stomach. "Almost?" Luke laughed, and Raven joined him. Karana smiled, everyone was okay.

They heard Izuki's voice when she said, "Look! The Aerolith!"

Everyone looked to see the teal colored stone begin to float off its pedestal. The wind in the tower seemed to falter as the stone floated down toward the group. It went to Warren, who held out his hands and caught it. He was in awe as he stared past its sleek surface. The inside was a vortex of wind that would swallow them all up if ever released.

Luke came to Warren's side and stared into the stone, too. "We've finally found all three of them. The final battle against Ethric Vanhiel will soon commence."

The ground started to shake. Everyone fought to keep their balance as the entire tower vibrated. "What's going on!?" Raven shouted.

"Is the tower going to fall?" Izuki asked, worried.

"No, the world itself is shaking!" Karana shouted.

Something in the distance caught Luke's attention. "Look!" Everyone looked in the direction he was pointing. They could see the top of a mountain among the clouds. It was shaking, rocks were crumbling off and rolling down the mountain. Suddenly the entire summit exploded in white light that blinded everyone for a moment. When they could see again a pillar of light shone from inside the mountain that reached up into the heavens.

"The path has been revealed," Luke said. "Demiurge Tower is inside that mountain."

(We've really come a long way, haven't we?)

**I just had a thought; this storybook is too graphic to be just PG... And yes, we have! Woohoo! Who's up for a celebration? **

Karana helped Ilum sit up; he was still shaky and weak. They watched the scene before them in awe, but uncertain.

"Do we have to go, now? I mean..." Karana stammered, looking at Ilum as he put a hand against his torso. His wounds had only nearly been healed. She thought about her own injuries and exhaustion, then the others. All of them needed rest and to be healed. "We're all so tired."

Izuki winced as she stood; a bruise was rising on her knee. Luke and Raven looked around, at each of them, for a moment, then nodded.

"Of course. And it might take several days to get to the tower, unless anyone has any ideas," Luke looked around the group, probably waiting for someone to say something.

(Maybe you're right. I'll change the rating after I post this.)

Warren stepped forward. "I can summon Quezacotl again and we could all try riding him a once, but I have to wait until tomorrow before I can summon him again."

"We have no other way off the tower anyway," Raven pointed out.

Luke nodded. "Then it's settled. We'll stay here for the night to rest. In the morning we'll set off to Demiurge Tower."

"...Bro...ther..." Everyone turned to see Izlude struggling to speak.

(Just so you know, Izlude won't be under the dark knight's control anymore. In his condition he'll be too far gone to save with magic and he's going to spend his last few moments to apologize to Ilum.)

**Aw, man! This is going to be so sad! I bet you ANYTHING I'm going to cry...**

Ilum struggled to his feet when he heard Izlude. How was that possible? He couldn't be alive! Not after that blow!

He still moved to his brother's side, kneeling beside the dying man. Raven touched Izlude's forehead, and sighed. She shook her head; Ilum swallowed hard. He knew what she meant.

Izlude coughed, and blood oozed out of his mouth. "Thank you...for freeing...me...brother..."

Ilum went tense. He didn't even feel Karana's hand against his back.

"I'm sorry...about...all the trouble... I'm sorry...I hurt you..."

"Izlude, please - " Ilum began. He could feel his heart breaking; to think that he had done this, that he had just fatally wounded his own brother, who was merely under a spell...

"Let me finish... I didn't...want this to...happen... Ethric was...controlling me...using me...as a pawn... Please...forgive me."

Ilum felt tears coming to his eyes. He couldn't bear this. "Izlude...forgive me for this. I didn't know."

Izlude forced a faint smile as his eyes lost focus. "Watch over...Elizabeth...and know...I love...everyone... Including you..."

With that, Izlude exhaled for the last time, finally going limp as he died. Ilum stared at his brother's face for a long time, hoping to see him alive again. But it would never happen; Izlude was finally gone forever. What will I tell Elizabeth? What will she think...when she learns I killed you?

He finally broke down and cried.

Warren

As Ilum broke down and began to cry, Karana took him in her arms and Warren watched awkwardly, groping for some means with which to comfort his best friend. For once, he decided that a joke probably wasn't appropriate and instead placed a firm hand on Ilum's shoulder, looking straight ahead towards the roaming clouds.

"This was not your fault, Ilum. Do not dispense of your grief and anger but rather save them up until we should meet with he who is responsible."

"Warren!" Karana snapped.

"He needs revenge, Karana. This is the harsh world we live in and thus revenge is the sweetest cure for such tragedy. Warren moved away and seated himself on the steps that had led them to the platform, staring intensely at the Aerolith he still carried. Luke approached him and sat upon the steps beside him.

"Don't say anything until you know the facts, Luke," Warren said.

"I know the facts," Luke replied. "You're his son. Can you do this?" Warren refused to look away from the aerolith but he said quietly:

"He's no father of mine. I hate him for what he's done to everyone. To my mother, to my friends, to Izlude. He was never a father to me." With that, Warren set off down the steps and Rave placed a gentle hand on Luke's shoulder, a teary eyed Izuki held close to her with the other.

"Let him go," she said softly.

___________________________________
You're not the only one who can play with people's pasts :p

Luke nodded and turned to Raven. "We should hold a burial for Ilum's brother. It may easy his suffering to know his brother was put to rest."

"That's very thoughtful," Raven said.

Luke nodded and went with Raven to join the others.

(All I can think of at the moment.)