Fist of The Dark Moon

"What's the next move?"

I asked everyone at the table, knowing the answer myself.

"We all need to recoup and mourn, but we need a funeral procession first." Clarrissa said.

"I agree, we all need to be here to burn the bodies."

I looked around seeing everyone bow their heads, so as the leaders walked outside towards the massive mountain of corpses, lit my hands ablaze.

"Gather around everyone." I said quietly. "Today we give rest to the brave souls who died in the fight to save the world from evil, may the rest in peace in the hall of the gods." I said solemnly.

"May they rest in peace in the hall of the gods." The gathered crowd repeated.

I looked at the corpses, touching the nearest one lit the whole montian aflame. We just stood there watching as they burned away, the smell was revolting, but I dared not to look away.

"At this rate all of the world will be in chaos and we won't have the manpower to stop it"

I wanted to take all the pain away, to take all the responsibility, the heartache and the sadness. I needed to get stronger to take that pain away, I would do anything for it. Before I knew it I was staring at charred earth, and I was standing alone.

"I need your help father," I said, staring at the charred earth.

"I want you to make me stronger, for my comrades, my family and my friends." I begged.

"I am here, my son, and I can help you. I can teach you the sacred fighting style known only to my followers, the fist of the dark moon." He said. I rapidly blinked, searing the image of the charred ground in my mind, and I raced off towards the woods.

Once I was in the deep woods I said, "I'm here father, teach me the way of the fist."

I was practically begging him now, "Teach me father, i want to be stronger."

"show me the extent of your darkness my boy, attack me." A voice said. I whipped around, and smashed a nearby tree with my fist.

"Good," He said, excitement in his voice.

"Get serious, my friends lives depend on this," His voice instantly got serious, "Again," He barked,

I smashed another tree, then another and another.

"Lighten the amount of darkness you are channeling, but keep the same amount of power."

I did as he requested, happy to get serious, but once i smacked a tree i only broke half way through.

"Don't hesitate," He said. I did it again and smashed the tree to splinters,

"Good, Once more." I tried not to get too happy about the pride that I heard in his voice. I let loose on the last punch, and the tree splintered into pieces.

"Attack me." He said, "We need to improve your hand to hand combat."

I saw a shadowy figure, and only a half a second later he lunged at me. He went for my right arm, he landed the strike. Once he did numbness shot down my arm, my arm fell to my side as a look of shock erupted from my face.

"What is this?" I yelped.

"This is the way of the fist. Are you getting serious now?" He asked. All I did was look at the shadowy figure with a cruel grin on my face,

"Good, now let's get started." He said slyly.

Hours later

I was at my limit, I was cut up, battered and bruised. But I had mastered the way of the fist.

"One more… round" I said panting. Three shadowy figures appeared, I channeled the darkness to my hands and felt, I moved swiftly from one opponent to another. In a matter of seconds I had broken the legs and necks of the first two victims, but the third one was faster. I began to palm strike,

"Two palms, four palms, six palms, eight palms." I screamed. I put all my might into the last strike, blasting the figure back.

"Your limit is eight palms, not bad." My father said. "Now take that and go find Dasamen. He is giant, but a peaceful one."

I bowed my head as thanks and raced off towards camp.

Once I got back I gathered Borus and Emma, Marco in the main hall, I began to explain to them my task, given to me by my father. Shock and sadness began to spread from face to face, "What? Is there something I'm missing?" I asked.

"He's in tartarus.." Emma said sadly. A moment of shock came over me, "tartarus!" I thought. But this was the best option we had in the fight against the giants, it could give us a huge advantage.

I calmed myself, "I'm not asking you to go with me. I'm just telling you what i'm doing." I said sternly, saying that I don't want you to come.

"I can't let you go alone!" Emma yelped.

"Neither can I," Marco barked.

"You know damn well if These were here he'd say the same thing," Emma said sadly. I imagine my friend tied up in the infirmary, realizing she was right.

"Borus?" Emma turned to him, hoping to gain support. Borus was looking into the distance, as if thinking. Finally he spoke,

"Are you sure of this?" He asked.

"I am sir." I said.

"You can't be serious!" Emma yelled.

"In terms of strategy it would make sense but going into tartarus!" She barked.

"You aren't going, I am. I leave tomorrow," I said as I walked out towards my cabin.

The next morning

I snapped awake, knowing what the day had in store for me. I grabbed my gear and walked outside, no sooner did I do that I swam by Emma and Marco. They attacked me, grabbing my legs and arms,

"Hey what the-" I tried to scream but they shoved a gag in my mouth and dragged me back in my cabin. They shut and locked the door,

"We're coming too, well at least I am." Emma said. I spat out the gag,

"No you not, it's too dangerous." I replied,

"let me out of my cabin" I said.

"No, not until you agree to let me go with you." "I'll just bust my way out," I said walking towards the door, Marco grabbed my throat and his eyes glowed that familiar green. My power began to weaken,

"Agree, or you die, foolish boy." He said, that accent present once his eyes glow.

"Fine!" I said. He let go, "What the hell dude!" I yelled.

"Come back alive, I just gave you the best chance to." He said as he walked out. Emma grabbed my neck,

"He's fine, just worried about you." SHe said softly.

"Yeah i know that." I said. I looked deep into her eyes, I couldn't tell you how badly I wanted to kiss her. I was about to when she pulled away, I was needless to say disappointed.

"We should get going," She said. "The coordinates are 42.4347 latitude, 83.9850 longitude." She said, her voice suddenly depressed. I grabbed her by the waist and we were off.

Moments later

Once we reappeared, I instantly got a feeling of bloodlust and death.

"We're definitely close," I thought to myself. All I had to do was follow the stench of death and carnage, but before long I knew exactly where the entrance was. I faced a nearby cliff, placed my hand on it and yelped "Release." Once I removed my hand the cliff began to part, and a blood red glow erupted from the earth. I had a bad idea,

"Welcome to hell," I said to Emma. Acting gentlemanly, allowing her to go first. But once I did I noticed she was shaking, and her face was pale,

"Hey hey easy!" I said.

"I'm good, I'm fine!" She said shoving me aside. She walked down into the red gash in the earth. "She's steeled her nerves, she's prepared." I thought to myself. I followed moments later, thinking "This will either kill us or make us legendary."