Chain the Bandit Eater 11

“Guh?! So this is the power of one of your verses, eh boy?!”

A loss of balance meant little to the lumbering Roc who righted himself with a powerful stomp causing the earth around him to erupt into pillars. The attack should have scattered the blue uniformed soldiers that surrounded the Bandit King but just as before the appearance of their swords of light marked an increase in ability that put them all on the same level as the Hero. Instead of scattering to the winds the greatly bolstered soldiers danced about the spontaneous pillars and set upon their prey. A massive toothy grin split Roc’s face as he welcomed the challenge.

“Link… I see it happening but I don’t get it… What did that verse do? How are regular people fighting against a Hero?”

“You just answered your own question Melody. That verse granted them the power to do so and our idiot Hero understood that.”

Chain was not concerned about answering the obvious for Melody anymore than that and instead focused her attention on the absurdity of the scene before her. Despite the blue uniformed soldiers being elevated to Roc’s level the giant still defended himself from them with brilliant ease even with his spiked ball and chain destroyed. Blocking blows with his hand cannon and opening fire to counterattack alongside his shockwave inducing punches and earth splintering stomps the Bandit King demonstrated that the power of a Hero was truly his and not some borrowed power. Even then, the attacks that would have so easily shattered Chain did not overwhelm the soldiers and their borrowed power. Somehow though, Roc was still able to wear his toothy grin as he addressed the young man who the soldiers fought on behalf of.

“What’s the matter boy? Just going to leave it to your men and maids while you watch or is it that they can’t maintain this level without your concentration?”

♪~ Kings of beasts and magic both ~♪
♪~ Like the lizard his tail re-grows ~♪
♪~ Never falling the almighty dragon ~♪

The verse that rose from the Builders’ Song complimented the other that Chain had observed Roc using and with a shimmering light his spiked ball and chain was restored. Thrashing about like a serpent in its death throes the chain reintroduced itself to the blue uniformed soldiers. Only the very end of the chain did not partake in the thrashing as the Bandit King launched the giant spiked ball it held strait for the unmoving young man. The young man simply watched the spiked ball coming for his life and held his ground as though he were waiting for something. Then Chain and Melody again heard a familiar verse fill the air.

♪~ Under ashen sky were no stars hung to grant his wish ~♪
♪~ From bow string true did he shoot his own ~♪
♪~ A shooting star of blood red hue ~♪

It was at that moment that the young man finally acted. Turning aside from the spiked ball he stepped into a powerful horizontal sword strike aimed at the woods beyond the battle of the Heroes. When the crimson streak of light appeared from the verse it was split in two along its length and a number of trees in the wood from where it originated could be seen collapsing on themselves from the attack.

“No way! Don’t tell me that our idiot can hear the Builders’ Song!”

Chain could not suppress her surprise at the young man’s abilities but Melody had grown distracted. Following the beam of light with her keen eyes the harpy maid sought out the Hero who had derailed the train and was awarded with the sight of a person’s silhouette shooting above the tree line.

“Link, we need to take cover~♪”

“What are talking ab– auuuahhh! Melody! What are you doing?!”

Chain was forced to change her question after Melody had leapt up off the ground, grabbed her by the arm, and took flight up and over the Brass Line. Concentrating on her urgent retreat Melody did not answer Chain but ended up not needing to. Chain understood what was happening all too clearly when she heard yet another verse rise up to fill the air.

♪~ As Ash blocked the stars and none could wish ~♪
♪~ Raise his bow and split the sky ~♪
♪~ A thousand stars he’d seed to fall ~♪

Her eyes were not quick enough to follow the verse to its source above her in the air but Chain could not fail to see the spiraling streaks of crimson light that rained down by the dozen upon the battle below. The outcome of the attack would be lost on her though as Melody dived and took cover behind the toppled Brass Line. Tossed about like a ragdoll from the harpy’s sudden acceleration and subsequent mid-air stop the injured maid had no sense to catch herself as she was promptly dropped. From her new vantage point on the ground she looked up and saw the plume of dust that had filled the air from the attack her fellow maid had saved her from. Feeling a bit more appreciative than she had she held off berating the harpy as she struggled to her feet, again using her sword as a makeshift crutch.

“Sorry if I was a bit rough Link but I didn’t think we had the time~♪ When I saw the other Hero leap out of the trees…”

“I get it Melody. If you keep going on though I will give you a piece of my mind for dragging me about without warning.”

Melody laughed nervously and wisely held on pointing out that she had given some warning. Instead she chose to comment on the opportunity that had appeared before her and Chain.

“Anyway Link, now would be the perfect time to run away.”

“In my shape? Not only would we not get far but we’d be easy enough to track with how much I’m still bleeding. No, we’re better off seeing this through.”

Frowning was as much argument as Melody offered Chain’s decision. Chain chose to ignore the harpy’s silent argument and stumbled along the length of the engine car the two maids now hid behind to peek out at the battle they fled from. She could not see much including the current state of the battle but she could hear what was going on well enough. Roc was particularly loud in expressing his displeasure with the Hero who aided him making it easy to get an idea as to what was going on.

“What do you think you’re doing Dandelion? The boy was mine in case you’ve forgotten our agreement.”

“I have far from forgotten Master Roc, but if I were to let this continue you would surely lose here, forfeiting your life and my opportunity to slay the traitors.”

The voice that belonged to Dandelion was peculiar to Chain’s ears but she could not quite put her finger on it. It was something she would have to think about later however as the conversation with the unseen Hero and Roc continued uninterrupted.

“So what, do you want to handle the small fry while I deal with the boy?”

“No. At this point it would be better if we retreat. We are at a distinct disadvantage here.”

“Retreat? I think you’ve lost your mind Dandelion.”

“I agree with the Bandit King, Rattama. You might have been able to escape on your own but having finally revealed yourself you have sealed your fate.”

(Rattama? The other Hero was Rattama?)

Chain was surprised by the young man’s words revealing the identity of the unseen Hero as Rattama and donned a most perplexed expression. Trying to peek even further around the safety of the train engine Chain failed miserably to see anything still. Regardless of her efforts though, the conversation continued.

“You only have us surrounded where we stand Hero of Lumirest, but we are along the Brass Line and that means down is an option.”

“What?!”

“We can pick this up later under more favorable circumstances Master Roc. For now, if you could open a path…”

“Yeesh. Just when things we’re starting to get fun. As for you boy, when next we meet I’ll show you just how great of leader I can be.”

“Not if I stop you now!”

“Sorry boy, but… Dandelion, do your thing.”

♪~ As Ash blocked the stars and none could wish ~♪
♪~ Raise his bow and split the sky ~♪
♪~ A thousand stars he’d seed to fall ~♪

The repetition of the earlier verse heralded another light display of spectacular destructive force and was accompanied by a powerful tremor that threw Chain and Melody from their feet.

“Uaahhh! What was that?!”

“Us getting lucky Melody. Lucky enough that I think it’s safe to say that we made it out of this mess alive.”

“”Really? Ugh, what a relief.”

“You’re telling me.”

Pulling herself up into a sitting position Chain released a massive sigh of relief as she collapsed against the roof of the engine car. After a moment she lifted her head and flashed Melody a lively smile and victory sign. The harpy’s eyes lit up and she shouted out in joy.

Copyright © 2018 Joshua D Tarwater