Chương 33: Desperate struggle

A fist slammed into Zeal's stomach. He folded over before a knee smashed into his chin, sending him spinning through the air into a parked wagon.

"ZEAL!" Amelia swung wildly toward the sound. Hostle ducked underneath her punch, grabbed her wrist, twisted, and slammed her sending her flying off the building She hit the ground hard which cracked beneath her. Both of them struggled to stand, but without their sight, they had no chance. Hostle dusted off his gloves.

"What a disappointment."

"You could of atleast provided me with a little bit of a challenge.." Zeal was forced to jump off the building, luckily landing perfectly.. They couldn't see the streets, buildings, or even each other. The only thing they could sense was Hostle's magic. Amelia raised her fists.

"He's close..."

"Although we're blinded, we can still sense your magic.."

"I know." Hostle suddenly rushed them. Zeal blocked his punch while Amelia struck from the side. Hostle ducked, then retreated.

"He's moving away!" Amelia shouted. They chased after his magic. Hostle suddenly stopped. Zeal reached him first and threw a punch. Hostle dodged. Amelia followed with a kick. Hostle stepped aside.

"Keep him there!" Zeal shouted. They pressed forward, forcing Hostle back. But then Hostle suddenly moved around them. Amelia turned toward his magic.

"Where'd he go?"

"Behind us!" They turned. Nothing. Zeal frowned.

"Wait... where are we?" Amelia paused.

"... I don't know." Hostle chuckled from somewhere nearby.

"That's the problem." Zeal gritted his teeth.

"He's been leading us around." Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.

"Yep." Hostle's magic moved again. Amelia immediately chased it.

"Amelia, wait!" She stopped.

"What?"

"We don't know what's around us. He does." Amelia sighed.

"Then what are we supposed to do?"

"Let's focus on sticking together." Hostle attacked again. Zeal blocked. Amelia countered with a punch. Hostle doged leading to Amelia accidentally destroying a building..

"Oh crud.. I feel like I broke something I shouldn't have.." They continued.. They fought him together, refusing to chase whenever he retreated. For a moment, it worked.

"He's getting pushed back!" Amelia said. Zeal grinned.

"Keep going!" Hostle smirked"Nice try but I was still holding back on you guys.."

"TIME FOR FULL POWER"!

"Magic Skill: Kinetic Drive." He accelerated past them in a blast... Meanwhile, Mochi and Ace hurried through the neighboring streets.

"We're almost at Hogsthawt's place," Ace said, then.. BOOM! Another impact echoed behind them.

"…Did you hear that?" A second crash followed.

"That's coming from other there..." Ace clicked his tongue.

"Tch what's going on?"

"Mochi's eyes widened..

"Oh no.. it could be Amelia or Zeal, you think they're in trouble?" Ace folded his arms"There's only one way to find out, let's go.." They sprinted to go check it out for themselves.. Zeal turned toward his magic.

"He's behind you!" Amelia spun and attacked. Nothing. Hostle had already moved around a nearby building. Amelia froze.

"Dammit!"

"He's too fast.." Hostle attacked from the side. Amelia blocked, but Zeal stumbled after stepping into something he couldn't see.

"There's a wall here!" Hostle took advantage. He struck Zeal across the chest. Amelia rushed toward his magic... Hostle intercepted her. Hostle kept forcing her backward with a flurry of attacks. She suddenly hit something. A wall.

"Oh, come on!" Hostle struck her down. Zeal tried to stand, but Hostle was already on him. After another exchange, Zeal fell beside Amelia. They were both breathing heavily. Hostle stood over them.

"You two adapted quickly." He grinned"I'm glad you're blinded..."

"I would of lost ages ago if you weren't but too bad you were.." He raised a hand"This is goodbye you two.." However, a blur of blue slammed into Hostle's jaw, rocketing him sideways through a stone wall in an explosion of dust. Hostle staggered out of the rubble, spitting blood.

"What the heck..!?" Ace stood between him and the others, cracking his neck.

"You go picking on blind people and think yuo're hot stuff huh? That's pretty pathetic if you ask me..." Without looking away, he spoke calmly.

"Mochi. Take care of Zeal and Amelia. I'll handle this creep."

"Right!" Mochi rushed over.

"You two alright?" Mochi asked.

"Yeah," Zeal said, pushing himself up.

"I'm fine, don't worry." Amelia nodded weakly.

"I'll live just a few bruises..." Hostle wiped blood from his lip.

"So. You're infamous Ace Decards, huh? I've heard stories about you you know..." Ace smirked.

"Oh have you?"

"That's nice, judging by how you called me imfamous I'm guessing you didn't hear good things..". Hostle grinned"I guess you could say that.." He paused for a moment then.. He lunged, fist shooting toward Ace's face. Ace tilted his head the punch missed by inches. Hostle didn't stop though, he turned and charged again.. Another. Then another. Ace dodged every single one with effortless footwork.

"Damn it!"

"Why can't I hit you?!" Hostle jumped back and summoned dozens of metal spikes.

"Let's see you dodge this then! Magic skill: Nail Rain!" The spikes launched like bullets. Ace simply dodged them all.. Every single one missed.

"How?!" Ace appeared directly in front of him.

"Finished?" Hostle slowly began backing up.. Ace charged forward.. a fist into Hostle's stomach. A knee into his face. Ace inhaled deeply, his right arm igniting.

"Im going to burn you to a crisp!"

"Magic Skill… Flamethrower." A roaring torrent of fire consumed Hostle whole. The screaming stopped within seconds. Nothing remained but black ash on the wind... Mochi turned and looked in pure horror.. Mochi stared".. Ace.."

"…How could you kill him?"

"Just like that?" Ace looked over without emotion.

"So, you're saying I should've shown him mercy?" He spat onto the pavement.

"This only proves that you're too soft to be a real Voyager. You'll only end up dead with that attitude." Mochi tried to say somehting back..

"But..."

"You think he would've spared Amelia and your brother?" Ace scowled..

"If we had arrived only but a minute later, those two would of died.."

"This is a dog eat dog world.. chosing the path of a voyager means you can't show cowardice when killing an opponent""Because if you can't kill them.. they'll kill you.." Mochi lowered his head.

"I know but.. I still don't think there's anything wrong with showing kindness. There could of had to of been another way. A way to settle things without killing your opponent." Ace scoffed.

"You fool Mochi.. A battle with Hogsthawt is a battle to the end. And you will meet your end if you can't learn to stop being such a cry baby and kill your enemies.." He paused before letting off a sigh..

"Whatever." He hoisted Zeal and Amelia over his shoulders.

"I'm going to take these two back to the hotel.."

"You can do whatever you want, it's not like I care.." Then he left.. Mochi was stood now alone.. He clenched his fist..

"I'll show him.."

"I'll show him you don't need to kill your opponents to defeat them.."

"Hogsthawts, Im coming for you!" He said as he went to persue him.."