[center][b]The Battle of Norton City[/b] [b][u]Several Hours Earlier[/u][/b][/center] The air in the shadows of the woods felt as if it was trying to suffocate Aaron as he walked aimlessly through the endless rows of blackened trees. He had been here several times in the past but no other time had he felt this type of atmosphere. His sheaths were the only sound that could be heard in the stillness of the night around hiim which was beginning to wear down his mental fortitude. Having walked as far as he could for the moment, Aaron stopped and took in his surroundings, and in all directions was nothing more than ink and shadow. [i]"Poor helpless Aaron, lost in the woods with no one to help him."[/i] The sudden appearance of a voice startled Aaron and made him draw his swords. As he waited for the mysterious voice to say something else Aaron had a minor epiphany about his chosen tools of war: their subtle curving, the feel of the wrapping in his hands, the almost melodious ringing when he drew them, they all played like a symphony in his ears. Finally getting irritated waiting for the voice to say something else, Aaron made a call out in the dark to see if he could lure whoever it was out into the open. [b]"Show yourself coward...a real man faces his opponents instead of hiding in the dark like a coward!"[/b] Almost instantly after his sentence a loud and boisterous laughter came from all around him, the sound itself seemed to dig deep into Aaron's skin as he felt it physically shudder from his toes to the back of his neck, [i]"You are certainly one to talk of cowardice Aaron...."[/i], a black hooded figure emerged from behind a tree close to Aaron to which Aaron immediately turned to face him. His appearance, or what Aaron could see of him, was ghastly. From under his hood two beady bloodshot eyes glared wildly at him, what Aaron could see of his face repulsed him, the grey blotchy was riddled by open wounds and seeping black blood. His lips were thin and cracked and as they parted they revealed a twisted black-toothed grin, teeth chipped and broken almost as if this man had been gnashing furiously at something. This was the visage that stared back at Aaron, and he could say without a doubt that for the first time in a very long time...he was afraid. [b]"Who are you and what do you want."[/b] [i]"Really?...you don't know who I am? Oh come now Aaron...that really hurts."[/i] The spectator grabbed his chest where his heart was in faux sadness, [i]"After all we've known each other for years and you still don't know my name...shame on you Aaron."[/i] Once again a loud and shrill laughter pierced the otherwise silent forest, it was almost unnerving at how utterly callous the laugh sounded, it was the sound of a complete psychopath that held no regard for anything, not even his own life. [b]"I don't know who you are or what you want but get out of my way...I'm getting out of here."[/b] [i]"You will only get them killed you know...you're too weak to truly protect them."[/i] Aaron stopped in his tracks, he could feel the bubbling anger begin to rise within him as he turned and faced this "person" no longer with fear but with intent to kill. The person pointed a gnarled and bony finger at Aaron and flashed a twisted grin that stretched from what he assumed was ear to ear, [i]"Now that is the Aaron that I know."[/i] [b]"Now you've pissed me off, I'm going to enjoy running by blade down your throat."[/b] Before he could charge at this phantom, a small group of what Aaron could only assume was Xenos appeared between him and his target. Without thinking Aaron charged into the fray wildly but precisely cutting down every Xeno that got in his way. As he hacked and slashed his way through Aaron couldn't help but feel an over whelming sense of euphoria rush over him. Every perfect thrust, every squelching sound of blade rending flesh, the smell of blood filled his nostrils as he felt a grin stretch across his face. Finally he had slayed every other adversary save for one the phantom with the black-toothed grin. As he approached the phantom he was met with yet another raucous laugh which once again made him stop in his tracks. [i]"You still don't get it do you..."[/i], he said as he pointed behind Aaron to the group that he had just slaughtered. As Aaron turned around, his eyes widened in horror as he gazed upon the massacre which he had caused. The creatures that he had thought were Xenos changed their shapes to become the mutilated body of his friends, with Olivia's head resting at his feet beaming her naturally warm grin. He could feel tears roll down his face as he fell to his knees and holding Olivia's head in his arms and let out an agonizing scream that filled the whole of the silent woods. As Aaron began to bawl uncontrollably like a child the phantom appeared in front of him still brandishing that black-toothed grin. [i]"Like I said...too weak"[/i] ============================================================================== Aaron jumped up form his bead letting a quick scream of terror escape his throat. As he looked around and saw the darkness of his cabin and quickly turned to see the port side window and the tulmotous sea churning outside, Aaron brushed the cold sweat of his brow. It had all been a dream, but he knew that it could become real. ============================================================================== [center][b]Arrival at the Norton City Command Center[/b][/center] The vile dream he had the night before still haunted Aaron as the made their way closer to the command center. He had spent the last several miles of travel in silence contemplating on what had happened and what it could all mean. With an almost automaton like reaction Aaron took that water provided by whoever it was that gave it to him and quickly downed the bottle in a single gulp. As he tossed the spent bottle aside and silently followed the group in the heart of command center where Aaron halfheartedly listened to the commanding officer give Thael and Liv the rundown of the situation within the city. The rest of the time in the heart of the Norton City resistance HQ passed like a blur since Aaron's mind was too preoccupied with the events of the dream, at one point he had thought to try and pull Liv aside and ask her advice but with the events between them on the boat still fresh on his mind he decided against it. ============================================================================== [center][b]Boss Battle[/b][/center] The full brunt of the creatures attack hit Aaron like a freight train sending him flying into the wall which knocked the breath out of him. Silently kicking himself for not anticipating the attack Aaron took the opportunity that Fuzzy had given the group to go on the offensive, with a quick dash and leap Aaron landed on the tail which Fuzzy kept in a death grip and charged up the creatures spine slashing here and there along his way. Once he had reached a point that he calculated for perfect angle, Aaron leapt from the creatures back and dashed out in front of it and unleashed a sharp gust of wind hitting the creature in what Aaron assumed was his eyes. The blood curdling roar unleashed by the creature had proved that his assumption was correct but before Aaron had an opportunity to dash around to the other side the creature swiped at him with his front "feet" giving Aaron just enough time to bring his swords up to block sending him flying back towards its tail and landing just a few feet away from Fuzzy.