Stars of Freedom

Chapter 46: The Nexus

Accalia: I see you're no smarter than those creatures I sent with you. You three have no place in this world, so let's fix that.

Accalia summoned an axe which he held with one hand. Volk summoned his X-02 as he ran forward. He held his shield up for Okami to use as a platform. Okami jumped from the shield up high, Star Diamond in hand, as Lykos held his Crescent Moon with one hand and created a cold mist with his other.

Volk ran forward and went in to shoulder bash Accalia while Okami swung from above. Lykos put his hand forward and froze Accalia's legs simultaneously. Unable to move, Accalia was struck by Volk and Okami but didn't flinch. As he grabbed Star Diamond by the blade, Accalia removed it from within his torso.

Accalia: As eager as you are to kill me, you can't.

He pushed Star Diamond back and sent Okami flying back. He then punched Volk's chest and sent him back as well.

Accalia: You have no training, no experience. How can you even think of fighting someone whose killed entire pantheons.

Alepou ran towards Lykos who was walking toward Accalia. She stopped him in his tracks and told him "Wait a second. You three need to get close.". Lykos looked back to see that Elias had Kenos, who was still recovering, on his back. Kitsune was taking care of Yuzui while Nichi and Acheron stood by.

Lykos: So you're the reason none of the gods have been seen.

Lykos distracted him while Alepou went towards Volk and Okami.

Accalia: Did you think I had disappeared from here for no reason? This world needs fixing and as someone with power I had to take action.

Lykos: So were you the one that sent Hel after us?

Accalia: You think I would talk with her again? Gracious no, she was insane from the start. She did all that on her own accord and look where it got her. Killed by the son of her best friends. The only thing I set up was Fidi, he's the one that grouped you up.

Lykos: Why?

Accalia: From the moment Volk and Okami were born, he left a teleport rune on their body which he later on gave you. He must've activated it by accident all those years ago.

Lykos froze Accalia's legs again. This time, Accalia dismissed the ice completely.

Accalia: Thanks for confirming it was you who killed Hel. You do know that I should have access to her power, right?

He smiled.

Alepou: It's time.

Okami and Volk were close to him. Alepou put her arms out to each side, creating a bubble which protected the four of them. An aura protected them as they looked at their weapons.

Alepou: If you need more protection just come back here, I'll hold this bubble up for as long as I can.

Okami stepped out of the bubble.

Lykos: Thanks Ale.

Volk stepped out of the bubble.

Lykos: I wish we could have spent our time together better.

He stepped out of the bubble as she tried to grab his arm. She took a deep breath and wished for their safety. Lykos crossed his arms and swung them back as electricity coursed through him. Volk summoned the sledgehammer and prepared himself once again.

Okami rapidly ran his hand on his jacket to create fire which he used to make a wall. Okami pointed to the left and the wall of fire spread behind Accalia. Volk moved forward with his shield pointing in front of him which created a barrier to protect Lykos and Okami thanks to Alepou's ability. Accalia converted his axe into a greatsword which he swung horizontally, creating a cut which targeted the shield.

As the cut hit the shield, Volk was pushed back a bit, but he kept walking forward. Accalia relentlessly kept swinging to hit the shield from afar. The shield took hit after hit but kept pushing forward no matter what.

As they got closer, Lykos put both his hands forward and sent electricity through the shield. As Accalia was getting shocked from it, Okami swung his scythe once again. Accalia moved the greatsword effortlessly and blocked the hit. Suddenly, a dagger dug into Accalia's shoulder and Yuzui shifted into the fight, grabbing her other dagger by the handle. As Accalia went to grab her, she threw the other dagger to his opposing side and shifted that way. She took the opportunity and stabbed him in the back.

Lykos shocked him with one arm now as he grabbed Crescent Moon and went in to cleave him. As the axe cut through Accalia's arm, Volk swung his sledgehammer down at Accalia's head. Accalia simply moved his arm over his head and grabbed Yuzui's arm. He proceeded to use her to knock back Volk who had lowered his shield.

Lykos went in for another swing, but Accalia had regenerated immediately and grabbed Crescent Moon from Lykos and punched him in the face. He then grabbed Okami's face and slammed him onto the ground. As he took the dagger out of his back, he stepped on Okami's leg, breaking it. Okami let out a scream of pain that caught the attention of Kitsune.

Accalia: Are you done now?

Lykos stood up immediately and swung at him again. Accalia grabbed Crescent Moon from right under the edge. Lykos ran electricity through it which stung Accalia for a split second but had gotten over it as he headbutted Lykos back on the ground. Kenos watched from a distance as they were all on the ground, he felt useless.

Elias looked at his hands as he thought of when he was a kid. He remembered Lykos on the ground by his own hand. He remembered the day he saw Lykos with black hair for the first time. It was the day he decided to stop bothering him. He looked at Lykos on the ground in present time and made a fist. Lykos tried standing up again before being kicked to the ground again.

Accalia: Don't you get it, you can't win.

He kicked Yuzui away from them and converted the greatsword into a war hammer. He swung it down with one hand and hit Volk's armor.

Accalia: I'll give you one last chance, join me and all your wishes will come true.

Lykos spit out blood.

Lykos: ...never.

As Accalia was about to kick Lykos again, Elias stopped him by shoulder charging into him and pushing him back. He was covered in the protective aura from Alepou's bubble. Elias felt stronger and faster than before. Lykos looked back to see Kenos who had Elias in his eyesight and was emitting even more smoke. Lykos stood up behind Elias.

Elias: Ly, I'm sorry about everything I did as a kid. I hope you trust me now to have your back.

Lykos held his axe once again.

Lykos: Water under the bridge.

Elias: Yeah? Well, I am the reason Argos is here. It's definitely more than that.

Lykos looked back as he felt people behind him.

Acheron: Jeez, you got your assess handed to you.

Kitsune grabbed Lykos' shoulder as Alepou helped Volk up, Nahe helped Okami move and Nichi took care of Yuzui.

Accalia: More if you.

Acheron: Ly, grab my hand. I can amplify powers, let's heal everyone.

Accalia converted the war hammer back into the greatsword. He swung horizontally again making a massive cut that would hit everyone. Elias moved forward and grabbed the materialized cut with his bare hands and struggled against it.

It was like playing tug of war, only reversed, one would say. As he was pushed back a bit, Volk who had been healed just a bit pushed in the cut with his shield. Yuzui helped as well, her durable hands took no damage from the cut as she pushed back. Everyone was fully healed now.

Volk: Let's make this right!

Yuzui, Elias and Volk managed to push back hard enough to cancel out the materialized cut...