Threads of the Soul

Power coursed through Astra's body, pumping into her through the wires that she clutched tight in her hands. With every beat of her heart, the current raced through her body. Every inch of her nervous system screaming in pain as it was forced to bear a load far beyond its natural limit, even with her enhancements.

Yet no matter how much voltage she channelled, her body never gave up.

Even as her muscles spasmed, she forced herself to raise her arm and point a single finger at her target. Her vision blurred, the world darkening despite the intense glow her eyes were giving off to the outside world. But despite that, she had no trouble finding her target.

As her vision darkened and the world turned black, bright lines started to draw themselves into the world. Pulsing with light in the same rhythm as her heart beat. She could feel the thrumming of the dying city beneath her feet as she drained the lifeforce from it for this one, desperate attack.

When she laid her startling blue eyes on the colossal beast, she gazed past its shell and it's impossibly thick hide at what dwelled beneath. An intricate web of light making a dazzling pattern within its body, which appeared to her as nothing but a dull outline, all eminating from a single bright sun within its skull. With each movement it made, she could see the pulsations of light coursing towards its limbs before it even moved.

A single pulse coursed through its nervous system, not from its brain, but the reverse. From a seemingly average spot, the signal flowed through the natural electrical system until it reached its core. At that same moment, a deafening roar shook the world around her.

Pain. She knew that all too well.

Directing her trembling, charcoaled finger to that innocuous point, she had no idea what caused the pain, but she didn't need to.

A single word escaped her lips as a new wave of agony coursed through her as she drained everything she could from the city and poured it all into the tip of her finger. Then, with only a single thought, she let that building power release.

For the briefest moment, so short that it couldn't even be called a second, the world around them turned white.

A streak of searing hot plasma leapt from her fingertip, so hot that it burned the very air around it as it forced its way into the world. Weaving it's way through the scorching air like coiling dragon, letting out a cacophonous roar as a declaration of its presence within the world.

The wrath of nature wanted to run wild, to dart across the skies and show all those beneath it the true might.

But despite its nature, it stayed true to the course it had been sent on. The dragon coiled through the air, before diving into the colossal creature, using the metal sword plunged into its throat as the perfect gateway. Striking true, like a heavenly judgement from above.

As the lightning coursed through the titans unprotected flesh, lighting up its nervous system like a Christmas tree of agony, it let out a strained cry. It's voice catching in its colossal throat as its powerful muscles betrayed it, spasming under the assault. They refused to obey commands and simply acted as the lightning willed, forcing it to perform a cruel dance of death as it was cooked from the inside.

When curtain fell on the invincible Shelled Drakes final performance, all that was left was a smouldering pile of charcoal within an indestructible shell. It's indomitable presence replaced by the nose tingling scent of burning flesh, like someone had simply overcooked at a barbecue.

Although it's journey hadn't even taken a single second, the light of the powerful lightning dragon had seared itself onto the eyes of all those that had witnessed its grandeur.

Their ears rung from its powerful roar and no matter where they looked, even if they had their eyes closed, they could still see a streak of red across their vision.

That was, all but one. One that had no eyeballs to sear. It wasn't the living mass of slime, for they had been affected by the lightning coursing through the beast as well.

Being wrapped around the beast when it was struck by the heavenly judgement, Cynthia had taken the brunt of its overflowing energy.

Ironically enough, it was the pure, magically conjured water within her viscous body that had saved her. Acting as an insulator and weaking the dragons wrath as it reached her hidden core. But it only weakened, it didn't stop.

Thus, the slimy serpent was currently sprawled across the ground, her bronze fangs having been dismissed back into ink, as she recovered from the ordeal.

No, it wasn't her that was unaffected by the lightnings dazzling display, but the Faux man garbed in a raven feathered cloak. His empty eyes taking in the surroundings, acting as an Oracle for his master up above.

It was because of this, that he was able to spot the golden speck floating through the air slowly in an attempt to escape as it departed from the ruins of the pet store.

Using his 'Oracles' vision, since his own was still overwhelmed by streaks of light, Seth sent one of the remaining swords soaring through the air towards the escaping target.

At first you would think that he had missed, as the sword sailed clean over the golden speck, but he was never aiming for it. Instead the sword slipped through the gap of the chains holding the fish bowl aloft, hooking it's crossguard around them, before sinking itself into a wall. Right down to the hilt.

The goldfish rocked within its bowl as it came to a sudden halt, the glass around it gaining hairline fractures from the impact against the wall.

Gold chains rattled against the blade, trying to free themselves, yet they were completely stuck between the wall and the swords ornate crossguard.

Before it could even dream of wiggling the sword free from its new concrete sheathe, a black gloved hand wrapped around the hilt and held it down.

The beaked mask of Corvus loomed in the sight of the gold wielding goldfish as he raised a single finger, before waggling it dismissively.

"Stay."

A grunted voice echoed from behind the mask before the bird skull shaped mask retreated from view, leaving the pathetic little fish to ponder on its own doomed fate.

***

"Well now... that didn't go as bad as I thought it would."

Seth spoke outloud, even though there was no one else out on the balcony with him. Drumming his fingers on the railing in the same video game tune as always, he waited for his vision to return back to normal.

He had no idea what was going on with that little fish, or how it had been floating around like that. All he knew was the chains had something to do with it.

Plus, who was he to pass up on a free lunch? Even if that goldfish was nothing more than a mouthful snack.

With a few more blinks, the light spots had finally retreated from his vision enough for him to somewhat see clearly. That was good enough for now, he supposed.

His trusty dagger flipped in the air before returning itself to its sheathe on his lower back, whilst a lone sword floated in the air beside him.

Sweeping his gaze over the room, he let out a resigned sigh. What a shame it was to come to this wonderful place, this Shangri-la of Nerdom, only to leave it a few minutes later.

The fact that he could only have this place after the world had ended, all these games and memorabilia but no time or safety to enjoy them. There was no truer tragedy. It was like a modern Tantalus, surrounded by water but not a single drop to drink.

In an attempt to quench his thirst, and to satisfy a certain curious thought he had, Seth decided that it would be alright to take just one thing from this Nerdvana. After all, it's not like the original owner was around to miss it. They probably weren't even alive anymore.

Humming his video game tune, he perused the vast collection of various anime and games figurines that this person had amassed. It was certainly impressive, and only 95% sexy cat girls which added to the impressive nature.

Eventually, he settled on an old favourite of his. A spikey haired anti-hero from a classic shonen, Geets.

Hearing a sound coming from the bathroom, Seth stuffed the Geets figure into the satchel he held on his waist, before turning towards the source of the sound.

Not even a moment later, he saw Fox stepping out of the bathroom, rubbing his tired and strained eyes.

Seeing the people in the room staring at him, the older man gave them a weak smile.

"Come on, It's safe for you guys to come down now. This might have been deadly but I have to give it to him, it was an effective short cut. We should be back to the sanctuary in less than an hour."

He helped the injured man to his feet, wrapping the man's arms around his shoulder to support him, before holding out his hand towards Seth. Naturally, he was expecting him to take it so they could teleport back down.

But just the thought of going through that again made Seths stomach churn. Instead of moving closer to the grey haired man, he took a few steps back as the floating sword dutifully followed. Moving back towards the balcony, he gave a half hearted smile as he tried to keep down his nausea.

"You know, I appreciate the offer and I'm thankful for you protecting me. Truly I am..."

Under the concerned gaze of Fox, Seth stepped out onto the balcony and slowly climbed onto railing.

"But I'd rather make my own way down. So uh... See you down there."

He gave another lighthearted smile as he took one last step backwards and dropped off the fifth floor balcony.