A Deadly New Foe

Kronos tensed, sensing the approach of the Mana getting closer by the second. A bead of sweat dripped down his forehead. This Mana was like nothing he had felt before. It was ice cold, full of malice. Kronos could sense the blood lust in the approaching person. Whoever this is has me dwarfed several times over! And what’s worse, what if this is only the tip of the iceberg?!

Kronos gritted his teeth as a tall, slender man emerged from the dark corridor. He has long silver hair, pale green almond-shaped eyes, and ash gray skin. He had a lean face with a cleft chin, with thin eyebrows. He had unnaturally long, muscular arms, long legs, and average feet. He wore a scarlet and gold armored robe and red boots. 

“ Oh, what have we here?” He asked in a calm, mocking voice, his accent broken glass and splinters. He bent down and examined the dead body between himself and Kronos. “ Pity. It would seem my toy has decided he just couldn’t take it anymore.” The man looked up and stared at Kronos. “ Did you do this? How cold-hearted.”

“ I didn’t; I mean, that wasn’t me. Who are you? I don’t recall you being one of the prisoners,” Kronos said. 

“ Oh yes; where are my manners? You may call me Sigma Menkera, former member of the Koame Anansi Tribe,” the man said with a theatrical bow. “ No need to introduce yourself; I read your file quite thoroughly, Kronos.”

“ My file?” Kronos asked

“ Oh yes. I’m quite fond of Calypso’s games; every time she gets a new batch of prisoners for her labyrinth, I study the files she keeps on them then see how many of them I can hunt down. I’m what you would call a trophy hunter.” He nudged the body with a foot. “ I was in the process of hunting down this one, but it seems I won’t be able to get the satisfaction of the kill. Oh well, the head of a Digamma ranked Half-Breed won’t fetch me much of a price. But it will make up for my lost kill.”

Kronos stepped back, eyes wide as Menkera began to power up, a vortex of dark green Mana and earth surrounding him. The labyrinth started to shake as a result. Kronos growled as he readied himself. The Anansi Tribe are known for being vicious mercenaries. How in blazes am I supposed to overcome such impossible odds?! 

“ You look scared. Well, I suppose I can’t blame you,” Menkera said with a mocking smile. “ Tell you what; I’ll give you the first punch. It wouldn’t be any fun if I didn’t let you have some offense, at least. Whenever you’re ready then.” Kronos began to power up, calling forth a vortex of white lightning to surround himself.

“ How pathetic. Did your Mana never gain coloration?” Menkera asked with a sneer. Kronos didn’t give him the satisfaction of responding. I may not be able to overpower him. But perhaps I can wear him down. It’s not much, but it’s all I have. Narrowing his eyes, Kronos rushed at Menkera and punched him in the jaw. The Anansi didn’t so much as flinch as Kronos’s fist connected. Kronos gritted his teeth and tried again, this time punching Menkera in the stomach to no effect.

“ Let me show you how it’s done,” Menkera said, grabbing Kronos’s arm. Kronos tried to pull back, but his grip was like iron. With a smirk, Menkera chopped his arm. Pain like searing fire raced through Kronos’s arm, causing him to fall to his knees and howl in agony. A palm strike from Menkera to his chest sent him flying into a wall. Kronos coughed and spat out blood. He slumped to the ground, the feeling of searing pain spreading throughout his chest. 

Kronos coughed up more blood and looked up. Menkera looked bored as he looked back. 

“ My expectations were low for you, but you somehow still managed to disappoint me.” Kronos got to his feet, breathing hard. Menkera has only landed two blows, yet he was gasping for air, his body in more pain than ever before. Snarling he hopped to his feet and hurled twin white lightning bolts out of his palms at Menkera, who deflected them as if shooing away a fly. 

“ Is that all you can manage?” He asked, rushing at Kronos again. Thinking fast, Kronos ran to meet him, collecting Mana in his fist as he struck Menkera. This time, his punch ad an effect, causing him to stagger back a couple of steps. But he didn’t seem hurt. Instead, he looked amused.

“ Decided to start putting an effort in, have you?” Kronos aimed another punch, but Menkera ducked underneath his arm and chopped Kronos’s shoulder. He yelled in pain and grabbed his shoulder with a hand. Menkera then connected with another chop, this time to the neck. 

Kronos fell on his hands and knees, breathing hard. Menkera grabbed Kronos by the neck and lifted him up, his pale green eyes staring into Kronos’s. 

“ So weak. I was hoping you could at least capture my interest. But it seems that won’t be happening,” Menkera said with a sneer. “ You’re not even worth toying with.” Just then, Kronos vanished and reappeared in front of the wall he had been sent flying into. Menkera turned back to face him, a look of puzzlement on his face.

“ How-“

“ Little trick I’ve developed. I'm not as feeble as you think,” Kronos explained. He thenput his wrists together and extended his arms, palms facing Menkera. He began to gather Mana, charging white lightning. Menkera merely smirked and crossed his arms. 

“ That’s it, boy. Hit me with everything you have; it’s not as if you have anything worth worrying about.” Kronos gave him a smug grin. 

“ Then I assume you won’t be a coward and dodge this.”

“ To do so would be wasted movement,” Menkera said. “ Go ahead. Disappoint me further.”

“ That’s right, you bastard! Keep talking! I’m about to wipe that smug look off your face!” Kronos yelled. “ Your arrogance will be your downfall!” A large burst of white lightning fired from Kronos’s hands and engulfed Menkera. I got him!… Hold on. Kronos thought. His eyes flew open wide in surprise. Menkera appeared in front of him and sent him flying with a punch to the face. 

“ Honestly, was that supposed to frighten me?” Menkera asked in a bored drawl. “ I was able to travel through your lightning with no issue whatsoever. I didn’t even feel it.” Kronos groaned and staggered to his feet.

“ Damn you!” He growled. 

“ Allow me to show you a real technique,” Menkera said, powering up. His green Mana shot above him and began to morph into a massive serpent made out of gray stone with red eyes. It forked its pink tongue as it glared at Kronos. The Sintar Half-Breed could only state in disbelief. What kind of techniques has he developed? The stone serpent hissed and lunged at Kronos, who tried to jump out of the way but found he couldn’t. It was as if he was frozen to the ground. What the, why can’t I… of course! When I looked into its eyes, it froze me in place!

The serpent crashed into Kronos full force into his stomach, sending him crashing back first into the labyrinth wall. Blood flew from his mouth, and Kronos gasped for air. As he hunched over, clutching his stomach, the serpent crumbled into shards of stone then reconstructed into two stone serpents. The two stone snakes hissed viscously, and both slammed into Kronos. The force of the impact sent Kronos crashing through several labyrinth walls. The Half-Breed was unable to move as the two snakes became four and hovered over Kronos; after a collective hiss, three of the four slammed into Kronos once more.

Kronos was sent crashing through several floors. Unable to defend himself, Kronos was left staring upward. His entire body felt broken as if every bone in his body was broken. The four serpents slithered down the wreckage of the labyrinth and headed towards Kronos. As they circled Kronos, four were dismantled and reassembled to make seven. The seven serpents made of stone leaped in the air, twisted in the air, and headed down for Kronos with one final hiss. I… don’t think my body… can handle all seven of them striking me at once, Kronos numbly thought. As he watched the stone serpents fall closer and closer to him, he felt an odd sensation enter his body, renewed strength.

Menkera jumped down the massive hole his serpents had made. As he descended, he felt something odd. The Half-Breed’s Mana had changed. It was fiercer, heavier, and twice as strong. And unless his eyes were playing tricks on him, the lad’s white lightning had turned silver. When Menkera landed, he mockingly applauded. 

“ Well done lad. Too bad your power boost cannot save you,” he said eyeing the battered and bruised Kronos maliciously. An aura of silver lightning engulfing Kronos. It wasn’t long however, before something else caught his attention.

“ Is that… the Ryuijin?!” He asked in surprise, noticing Mronos had activated the Sintar Tribal Trait in both eyes. “ It’s been ages since I last fought against the Zurvon’s Eye. Not since the last Great Abnormal War, where I killed three Sintar village leaders, all quite adept with that eye. Whereas you’ve only unlocked it’s first stage. Still, seeing it again brings back such good memories.” 

Kronos said nothing as the aura of silver lightning morphed into his lightning armor. Before Menkera could react, Kronos rushed at him, sending him skidding back with a punch. Before Menkera could recover, Kronos ran at him again, hitting him with eight and left-handed strikes. At point-blank range, Kronos gathered a mass of Mana in his mouth and fired a burst of violet lightning out of his mouth. Menkera growled as he was sent skidding back again.

“ Don’t get cocky, you insignificant bastard!” Menkera snarled, rushing at Kronos once more. The Half-Breed jumped out of the way, normally with his go to defensive technique active, he could outpace anyone. But Menkera caught up with no effort.

“ What?!” Kronos demanded, his eyes flying open. Menkera smirked and placed a hand on his chest. “ Your little trick wasn’t much of an upgrade now was it?” A battle lance made out of jade burst from his palm and pierced Kronos’s chest. Kronos yelled in agony and grabbed the lance with both hands. My Mana! He’s using this damn thing to drain my Mana! With a roar, Kronos summoned forth silver lightning on his palms to shatter the lance. 

Both Menkera and Kronos fell to the ground, Menkera on his feet, Kronos on his side. Blood poured out of Kronos’s body at a steady rate. He wasn’t sure he could stand. I must use some of my Mana to seal this wound! I normally wouldn’t do this due to how much it requires but I’m doomed if I don’t! Menkera laughed, and another jade lance appeared out of his palm, only this one had silver lightning swirling around it. 

“ This is it, vermin! Prepare to die!” Just then, Menkera looked into the eyes of Kronos. Suddenly he was in a dark room, multiple clones of Kronos surrounding him with spears. Each of them took turns stabbing Menkera; the Anansi shrieked in pain and anger as he felt the spears stab him. The pain was infinite; each time he blinked, each time he breathed, he was stabbed.

For a moment, Kronos dares to believe he had done it, that he had managed to do what he had set out to do. All battle he had refrained from using his visual powers so that Menkera would be further led into a false sense of security. All so he could wait for the perfect moment to trap him in an illusion. It’s finally over. No one can break out of the illusions of the Ryuijin. 

“ Ah! I can barely move! Got to seal this wound and fast!” Kronos grunted, placing a hand on his chest, which began to glow a faint blue. After a few moments, Kronos sat up, the hole in his chest firmly closed. Slowly he got to his feet panting hard. He looked at Menkera, who stood motionless, head bowed, as if asleep on his feet. For a moment, Kronos believed he had truly prevailed. But that was short lived. 

Kronos roared in pain as large stone fangs emerged from the ground Kronos was standing on and pierced Kronos’s legs. Kronos screamed in agony as blood began to flow from his legs. Looking behind him, he saw Menkera looking unfazed, a smirk on his face.

“ But… I… you looked at my Ryuijin,” Kronos protested.

“ Do you honestly believe a Half-Breed with only a beginner-level Ryuijin could do me in? The illusions created with Zorvun’s eye, while powerful, have a massive weakness. If the person under the effects of the illusion realizes the truth, they can easily break free. All it requires is superior mental fortitude. Which I don’t think you need me to tell you your mental fortitude is nothing compared to mine.” 

Kronos gritted his teeth as Menkera walked towards his, drawing a dagger. “ I will admit, you had some potential but nothing compared to me. Don’t worry. Out of respect for your efforts, I’ll make your death quick.” A bead of sweat raced down Kronos’s face as Menkera walked up towards him. He raised the dagger with a sinister look on his face but was sent flying by a burst of green fire. Hold on. That Mana… Kronos thought. 

“ Need a hand, brother?” The voice of Acacius. Kronos heaved a sigh of relief as the stone jaws embedded in his legs receded.

“ I’ve never been so glad to see another dragon before,” he confessed, falling to one knee. Blood leaked out of the severs puncture wounds the jaws caused on his legs. Acacius emerged from a tunnel on the far left of the room Kronos and Menkera were in. 

“ It looks like you’ve gotten yourself in a bit of trouble, Kronos,” he remarked. 

“ Yeah, this one is unlike anyone I’ve ever faced. He calls himself Menkera, an Anansi of the Sigma rank. And I hate to say it, but he has earned that part. Nothing I’ve done has worked. He’s too strong for me,” Kronos said.

“ Well, well, it’s Acacius, is it? Brother to Kronos. Another pathetic Digamma Half-Breed. Normally I’d let you pass; your head wouldn’t be of much value to me. But since you decided to get involved, I’ll just kill you both,” Menkera said. 

“ Can you stand, Kronos?” Acacius asked. 

“ Yeah, I think so,” Kronos grunted, getting to his feet. His body was in agony; he had taken a lot of damage and used a lot of Mana. He wasn’t sure how much use he could be, considering he hadn’t been able to do much to this fiend even when he was fresh. But perhaps with his brother, they stood a chance. “ We can’t afford to hold back; give it everything you’ve got,” Kronos said. Acacius nodded, and the two brothers began to power up. A vortex of green fire surrounded Acacius, a vortex of white lighting surrounding Kronos. 

“ Let’s go!” They both said before charging at Menkera. 

They both struck Menkera with left and right strikes, trying to gain the upper hand, all of which Menkera blocked with a single hand. The Anansi then grabbed them both by the necks and slammed them to the ground. He then created two stone spears and pierced them in the shoulder. Kronos and Acacius yelled in agony. Menkera lifted them both up using the handles of the spears, spinning the both of them round and round before letting go. While Acacius crashed into a wall, Kronos vanished and reappeared behind Menkera.

“ What the- when did you place a rune there?!” He demanded. Kronos sent him skidding forward, where he met a green flame-covered fist from Acacius. Menkera stumbled back and whirled around to see Kronos flying towards him. “ Don’t get cocky!” He snarled, his fingernails transforming into stone talons. He slashed at Kronos’s face and kicked him away. He ducked when Acacius flew at him and cut his chest. 

Both brothers landed hard but got to their feet. 

“ Such persistent worms!” Menkera snarled, extending his fingers toward them. The talons rushed towards them, striking them both in the chest. They were driven into the ground and dragged across the floor. Despite the agony he was in, Kronos reached over and touched the shoulder of Acacius, all he needed to teleport them both behind Menkera. 

“ Use your flames!” Kronos shouted at Acacius, who nodded. He gathered a mass of Mana in his mouth and fired a burst of green fire, Kronos doing the same with his lightning. Menkera growled and was able to catch both blasts; after struggling for a few moments, he deflected them both. However, he was so distracted; he didn’t notice Kronos had appeared behind him, extending his palms towards him.

A large amount of white lightning sent Menkera heading towards Acacius, who was engulfed in green fire. Acacius flew towards Menkera, twisting in the air rapidly, crashing into Menkera’s chest. The Asnani was driven back first into the wall, causing a cloud of dust and debris to obscure the vision of Kronos and Acacius. 

“ We can’t let up even for a moment,” Kronos said, knowing there was no way this monster would be defeated so easily. “ Acacius, I’ll draw him in with my right eye’s ability to pull attractive forces. Once I get him close, you use your left eye’s ability to create an invisible clone of yourself to finish him off.”

“ Sounds like a plan,” Acacius said, narrowing his eyes. Once Menkera came back into view, Kronos activated his eye’s ability to pull him towards him. Menkera snarled as he realized what Kronos was doing. 

“ You want to bring your death towards you; that’s fine with me!” he shouted, a stone spear appearing in his hand. Acacius then activated his left eye’s ability to create a perfect clone of himself, visible only to those with a Ryuijin. 

“ Kronos, get out of the way!” He shouted. His brother nodded and teleported to the other side of the rune. Acacius then jumped out of the way as his clone materialized behind Menkera on one knee, left palm on the ground. One hundred- eighty dark green glades made of flame shot every direction from the clone’s body, many of which piercing the body of Menkera. The Anansi gasped in pain and convulsed. Both the clone and the blades of fire vanished, the body of Menkera falling to the ground. Both Kronos and Acacius fell to the ground gasping for air.

“ I can’t believe we pulled it off!” Acacius exclaimed, looking at his brother. “ I’m amazed you held him off by yourself for so long. If it weren’t for your plan, I don’t think we would have beaten him!”

“ No. If you hadn’t come up with that technique, there’s no way we would’ve landed a finishing blow,” Kronos replied.

“ But it was your eye’s ability that got him into position.”

“ It was your eye that allowed us to finish him off.” 

“ Neither of you are correct,” came the sinister voice of Menkera. The brothers ceased their good-natured bickering and looked at the body in horror. Menkera started to slowly get up, his flesh falling off his body as if it were sand. “ I must say, I am impressed. I don’t recall the last time someone was able to get past the first layer of the earth shell I keep my body in.” Menkera turned to face them, with a sinister smile, more and more of his body falling off his body, turning into the sand until all signs of battle damage were gone. 

“ How?!” Acacius demanded. “ No one could have survived that!”

“ I know he’s strong, but this is unreal!” Kronos muttered as he felt himself shake.

“ You two aren’t terrible for Half-Breeds, I’ll give you that,” Menkera said with a sneer. “ If it makes you feel any better, this layer of my earth shell isn’t as durable as my previous one. But I feel as though I should warn you, even if you manage to break through this layer , you’ll have three more to go before you get to my actual body. But with each layer broken, I’m able to use more of my Mana, thus becoming stronger.”

“ Oh, great. So, in other words, we’ve accomplished nothing,” Kronos muttered angrily. 

“ Now now, you two should be proud. It is no small feat to push me this far in battle. I’m almost impressed. I think you two deserve a reward,” he said with a wide smile, showing off large white fangs. “ How about I show you the terror of the true form of the Anansi?!”