Shadow's Rising {Wing 6} Chapter 12 (Part 2)

Part 2

The Champion

Shadow looked at the human champion with an ache in his chest. He couldn’t see the champion's eyes so he had no idea what he was feeling and Bellum was blocking his mind reading. Perhaps he was a kind soul who was forced to fight, or he could be taking sadistic pleasure in the pain he expected to inflict. Either way, Shadow felt relieved he wouldn’t be the one fighting him.

I’m sorry.

And with that final thought, Shadow delved into his own mind and severed the connection between his mind and body. 

Watch closely, my future apprentice. This is how a Night Wing is supposed to fight, Bellum said as he rushed in to control Shadow’s body just as it went limp. He caught himself and Shadow’s body slowly stood, looking like a puppet on strings. His eyes flashed open and a creepy, triumphant smile spread across his face.

Shadow could feel the saliva building in his own mouth as Bellum licked his lips and tested out each of his limbs.

Bellum laughed in Shadow’s head. Hm, hm, hm. I see you have trained your body well. Wonderful. This will make defeating that human far easier than I thought.

He took a deep breath in and out as he closed his eyes and enjoyed the feeling of being in Shadow’s body. Soon. Soon. But for now… he thought as his eyes snapped open once more, focusing on the champion. I have a human to crush.

Bellum charged at the champion with a bright, disarming smile. The champion also ran towards him with his arms open as if to grapple him. Then Bellum’s smile changed to a sinister grin as he executed a blindingly fast slash across the champion’s neck.

Shadow was instantly horrified as the champion flew off to the side but Bellum’s face quickly changed to confusion then fury as the champion stood up uninjured. Rather than slicing through his neck Bellum’s claws seemed to have hit an invisible barrier. Merely knocking him aside instead.

What is this? Bellum hissed to himself. His own inner thoughts were now easy for Shadow to hear as they shared the same body. I thought that technique was lost when the mountain city fell. Rrrgh. Perhaps this will be more difficult than I thought.

“If that’s how you want to play, I suppose I’ll show you how far I’ve grown too. We’ll start with no magic just like ~~ ~~~~ ~~ ~~~~~~,” the champion spoke as he rose. Once again, Shadow’s hearing became a bit fuzzy as he spoke.

“Foolish human,” Bellum muttered to himself as he charged once more. He leapt into the air and drew back his right talon to strike.

The champion turned at the last second and grabbed the talon as it fell. Using Bellum’s own momentum he flipped him over his shoulder.

With his wings still attached together by the chain, Bellum landed awkwardly on them hissing in pain. Shadow felt the sharp pain lance through his back as his wings twisted awkwardly. But Bellum didn’t pause for a moment. He quickly sprang to his feet with a hiss and faked another right claw strike into a stab with his left hand.

The champion stepped out of the way at the last second and twisted Shadow’s arm behind his back, pinning him to the ground.

Shadow could feel Bellum’s rage boiling as he felt toyed with. He recognized this fighting style but before he could place it a new shocking development took place. Shadow heard a sound like groaning, snapping metal and suddenly his wings were free!

The champion jumped back and Bellum paused to stretch out the wings and get them back in action. The crowd also stopped cheering and began muttering to themselves. Then the champion cupped his hands and called out to them.

“I will face this Night Wing in true combat. I refuse to fight an opponent who cannot use their full strength.”

The crowd cheered at his announcement and the fight resumed.

With Shadow’s wings back in action Bellum was able to make use of all four talons to strike at the champion. He had learned his lesson and used small quick strikes with his claws rather than heavy blows to slowly force his opponent back. When they were close to the wall Bellum wound up and used all four limbs to attack at once. The champion stepped to the side and deflected two of the talons but suddenly his feet were pulled from beneath him as Shadow’s tail wrapped around them.

With a strong flap of his wings, Bellum pulled the champion in the air, did a flip, and slammed him down into the sand. The invisible barrier wavered for a moment and Bellum pounced with his talons and jaws ready to rip him apart. Shadow felt the bloodlust leaking from Bellum’s mind as he reached for his stunned opponent.

Then the champion did something unexpected. He kicked up his foot causing a strong gust of wind to carry Bellum over his head. Bellum slammed face first into the stone and cried out in pain and frustration.

The champion stood and scratched the back of his helmet. “Sorry I cheated. We’ll call it your win this time.”

Bellum growled and charged in slashing wildly as quickly as he could. The champion backed off as he deflected the blows.

“Woah. I said you win this one, okay? You’re strong. You don’t need to prove anything to me. Come on, ~~~. ~~~~~~ ~~~~. ~ ~~ ~~~ ~~~~ ~~~~~.”

The fuzziness was back in Shadow’s head. Stronger now. Something about the way he had thrown him over his head and apologized rang a bell in Shadow’s mind and it felt like the answer was on the tip of his tongue but he just couldn’t remember.

The champion kept speaking as Bellum forced him back to the center of the arena, but everything was too fuzzy now and Shadow couldn’t understand a single word he was saying.

The seemingly wild swings of Bellum started to connect as each strike maneuvered the champion into the path of the next. The champion tried to redirect them but Bellum switched up and grabbed his arm before tossing him up and slamming him in the chest with a roundhouse tail whip. The champion’s chestplate cracked and warped. 

To gain some room, the champion blasted Bellum back with wind before trying to remove his helmet but the warped chestplate stopped him. He desperately began using fire magic in one hand to burn away the straps holding it in place while he thrust the other at Bellum.

Bellum recovered from the wind blast but vines suddenly sprouted from beneath his feet holding him down, but with a burst of strange magic from what looked like his own shadow, the vines were broken. He continued to charge but a stone wall separated them. Bellum flew up to go over it but a sheet of ice encrusted his wings weighing them down.

Calling upon strength Shadow didn’t know his body had, Bellum heaved himself over the wall and continued sprinting towards the champion only to slam into a torrent of water. With a growl Bellum forced his way forward with sheer will.

Meanwhile Shadow felt that strange recognition again. This human was using all elements of magic. But there was only one person he knew who could do that.

The torrent of water ceased as the champion finally got the chestplate off and raised both hands to remove his helmet.

Bellum roared out loud and his thoughts couldn’t be contained as Shadow heard him shout, NO! I can’t let you ruin everything. Die, you stupid human! DIE!!!

Bellum finally reached the champion and raised his claw to deal the finishing blow. Then it all clicked into place. Shadow rushed to regain control of his body. His tail, wings, mouth, eyes, and ears. The moment he retook control of his ears the fuzziness disappeared and he heard the champion’s words clearly.

“I am sorry for what these humans have done to you. I’m not one of them.”

Shadow tried to regain control of his limbs but for some reason Bellum wasn’t relinquishing his control.

Stop, you nescient Night Wing! I know you want to resist but this will make you stronger. Stop resisting and become my apprentice. Forget your empathy. Trust your master and Obey me! This human must die!

Shadow felt a wave of bliss wash over him and his resistance faltered. His claw had already started descending towards the champion’s neck before he was able to shake off the feeling. Shadow tried desperately to stop himself from killing the champion who finally finished removing his helmet and speaking his plea.

“Please, brother. It’s me… Jarid.”