Chapter 23: Clash

Strat walked up to Zach in a relaxed manor not showing any hostility. Strat was hoping he would get the chance to talk to him before they fought. While he walked Strat's eyes continuously scanned the perimeter of the village. Not for enemies but his friends. He hoped to see them sneaking around the outskirts toward the back side of the portal. Ready to make a move when Strat started "distracting" Warstroff. Unfortunately he couldn't see them. That either meant that they were hidden that well, of that they hadn't entered the village yet. Either way Strat just had to hope that when the time came that they would be ready. "Well Stratos you certainly made quite the entrance. Tell me was it God's will that made you slaughter my troops." Strat remained calm not rising to the obvious bait that Zach was setting. "It was God's will that brought me here and if the slaughter of your troops bothers you then why did you send them into a fight that they couldn't win?" Strat replied evenly. "Let's cut the crap. You know why I'm here." Zach's mocking smile remained as he shrugged. "Oh I know, I also know that your friends are sneaking around this little town as we speak trying to wait till i'm distracted then they're going to rush the portal. Unfortunately..." Strat felt shocked as he confirmed once again to his sadness that the traitor was among his friends that he had shared so many life and death experiences with. But, then again Zach used to be that close with him as well and he didn't even hesitate when offered power by Reaper. As soon as the words had left Zach's mouth on the crumbling rooftops of the houses that surrounded the portal demons seemed to step from the shadows. It was almost like the shadows came together and formed. The shadow hunter demons from before! No wonder Strat could not sense them. Strat immediately saw the demons on top of the houses to the right open fire at a spot behind one of the houses. Strat saw a flash of light and the bolts were reflected however, Seth's group had been exposed. Strat had no more time to waste. In a flash of light he willed his staff to reappear and stepped forward. At the same time he activated his elemental armor that he had shown Seth before and blue- white lightning began flickering around him, the world seemed to slow down as his senses simultaneously sharpened. Strat grunted from the strain of energy he felt. However Zach still seemed calm. "Whoa whoa calm down buddy, I was just..."  "Jack! Seth! Make for the portal now we don't have anymore time!" Immediately Strat rushed forward completely ignoring Zach's attempts to stall him. He had no interest in talking they needed to get through that portal. Zach smile deepened into a look of triumph as the darkness seemed to gather around him and wrap him in a cloak. Zach hardly ever took off the black and red spike armor he had been given so he simply summoned a double edged two handed greatsword make of a black steel that radiated darkness, and rushed to meet Strat. Strat felt the world freeze as he and his former student charged one another. The reason why Strat was in such a hurry was because he had figured out why the dragons had left earlier instead of staying behind to help Zach fight him. It wasn't like the floating fortress was in another world. The portal was just the only means of reaching the flying fortress from the ground but if you had dragons or the ability to fly that changed things. The dragons had left probably with riders to go and obtain the air gem and the only reason they hadn't left sooner was due to the fact that the fortress lay directly above them. Normally even approaching the castle by air was almost impossible due to a forcefield of air that surrounded it. And one of the only ways around that force field was launch from directly under it. This meant that the dragons had a almost fifteen minute head start on them. They could already be in the fortress by now. Strat and Zach clashed at super sonic speeds causing a wave of pure force to explode outward destroying several of the already damaged houses. They exchanged a flurry of blows. Strat ducked under Zach's sword and spun his staff to hit Zach's back. A resounding clang burst forth as Strat's staff was met by Zach's sword, But Strat wasn't done yet, he willed lightning to form on the end of his staff and blast outward hoping to catch Zach by surprise and it worked. Zach's eyes widened as the lightning struck him straight in the chest. A thunderous explosion shook the mountain side as Zach was sent flying into one of the village buildings that was bigger than the rest, Strat could only assume that this building was some kind of grand hall. However Strat could tell that this attack had done almost no real damage. This was proven when almost immediately Zach dug himself out of the rubble and threw himself back at Strat. Strat lowered himself into a defensive stance ready to keep Zach here as long as possible. Seth The moment they heard Strat's yell. Seth and the others knew Strat had figured something important out its why they immediately stopped focusing on the shadow demons surrounding them and immediately took off as a group toward the portal. However, the demons weren't just going to let them go. Bolts of darkness began exploding around them as a group of demons rushed to intercept them. Let's make this fast, Seth thought to himself as he hefted Sonfang and met his first attacker.  "Team tactics!" Jack yelled as he swiftly cut down a demon in his path. Seth ran drawing upon the air as he watched Aria punch the ground. The earth erupted in sharp needle like spikes that pierced many demons. But some demons simply dodged as they charged forward their lithe bodies and quick reflexes making it easy for them to dodge shut an attack. Seth concentrated drawing the wind into his palm as he pushed forward. The wind exploded forth and sent a demon about to strike Aria flying. Seth looked up and saw at least five demons closing from all directions, diving at them with reckless abandon. Seth reached out to the light and condensed a glaive of light about nine feet long.  "Duck!" He yelled at everyone. Aria immediately crouched as Seth swiped outward with the glaive and spun like a top. The blade of the glaive slashed through each demon one after the other. When he stopped all five demons were dead at their feet, and they continued forward. Rylee and Matt ran forward together dodging attack and counter attacking. Rylee and Seth made eye contact as Seth ran by her to engage another group of demons. She gave him a slight nod. But her eyes widened a moment later. "Look out Seth!" She yelled a look of terror on her face. Seth didn't react fast enough. He spun on his heel bringing Sonfang across his body to block any attack but he wasn't fast enough. He felt the cold bite of a demon blade and pain exploded from his hip. Seth roared in pain and brought Sonfang down on the demons head with all his strength quickly cutting him in two armor and all. "Into the portal," Seth heard Jack yell as Seth reached down and touch his wound. When he pulled his hand away blood was covering his hand. Seth felt his knees give out and he realized the wound must've been way worse than he previously thought. Seth grunted as he fell to one knee using Sonfang as a crutch to keep from falling. Suddenly Seth felt arms wrap under his and lift him to his feet. Seth looked up to see John and Mike picking him up. Grim smiles on their faces as they tried to rush him forward.  "On your feet Malcovitch!" John said holding him with one hand and firing his sawed off with the other. "You're not going to die here young one," Mike added as he cut a Shadow hunter out of the air. Seth summoned his strength and even though pain erupted from his hip and his bones screamed in protest he stood. using his left hand to cover the wound and try to staunch the bleeding. Seth suddenly had a moment of inspiration as John and Mike helped him catch up. when they did they were at the portal. The minute Jack laid his hand on the portal. The portal began to glow with a silvery light as a swirling mass of energy converged at the center of the portal, spinning faster and faster until it finally stabilized as some kind of gate just wide enough for one car to pass by with out a problem. Without hesitation everyone threw themsleves forward through the portal.