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Chapter 17, Castle Siege

Jacob got off the ground, dusting himself off.

“Where am I?” He asked himself. He was not in his home town anymore. The usual green leafed trees that had been everywhere were no longer there. Instead, reds, yellows and oranges took their place. A few hundred yards away stood a magnificent castle, the tips reaching into the clouds. It seemed to be nestled in a valley between a circle of mountains, that looked familiar to Jacob. He groaned, stretching his arms and legs.

“Jumping into that portal was a bad idea.” He said aloud.

Minutes earlier, he had been engaged in a battle with Itamo and the other Destroyers.

The day had started out as any other. The Destroyers had found the Guardians, and engaged them in an open field of grass, called Stone Fields. The Guardians had promptly defeated the Destroyers, hardly having to use half their power.

“Give it up Itamo. You’ll never beat us.” Jacob told the white haired boy, twirling his staff with a smirk.

“Won’t he, Jacob?” A high cold voice asked.

Immediately, all of the Destroyers dropped down on one knee. A dark portal opened up behind the Destroyers, and a figured walked into the open field.

The man was sporting a long, dark cloak that covered his entire body. The hood was drawn over his head, cloaking all but his mouth and chin in darkness. He was smirking.

“Leader.” Itamo murmured, followed by the other Destroyers. They all kneed down, placing their fists on the earth in respect for their leader.

“Oh, so you’re the ring leader for all these clowns?” Becky asked, pointing her gun at the man. Leader just seemed to smile wider.

“Oh it is true. They’ve failed me every time I’ve asked them to take care of you. But there is no doubt, their powers as Destroyers are quite exceptional. Thought I must say, your are the strongest Guardian’s I’ve heard of in a while. Mastering the element of Metal, Jacob? Unheard of for thousands of years.” Leader said, giving a mocking bow in his direction. Jacob just glared at him.

“What do you want with us?” Kelly demanded.

Leader turned his head twords the girl, his eyes narrowing slightly. Had he seen her before?

“That is none of your concern, you ignorant girl.” The man said with a sneer. “Itamo. All of you. Come.”

With a spin of his cloak, he turned around. He placed his hand on what seemed to be air, and a large, swirling vortex opened up. With one last look at the Guardian’s, he stepped into the portal and disappeared. The Destroyer’s soon followed.

“No! I’m not letting him get away. This is our one chance to end all this!” Jacob shouted, bolting forward, and into the portal. Before the other Guardian’s could react, the portal had closed.

Jacob ran his hand along the outside of the castle’s walls. They were stone. He could break or move them easily, but that would give him away. He had no idea what this place was, and his action’s could cause him dearly. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a flicker of movement. He turned to run to the other end of the wall and turn the corner, but he saw a shadow on the ground. He turned around again, but a shadow greated him there as well.

A large creature patrolled the outer walls of the castle, it’s white and black armor gleaming in the sun. A helmet hid it’s face, and it carried a massive two handed sword, the size of a tree. It turned it’s head slowly from side to side, scanning the grounds for any disturbance. The Guardian Nexi rounded the corner, seeing it’s counterpart walking twords it as well. With a nod and a sound like metal slamming into metal, they passed each other, noting that nothing was out of the ordinary.

Meanwhile, the inside was rippled as Jacob stepped through the stones. A shiver went through his body as the stones returned to normal. Stone matter transformation always made him feel weird. Brushing off the sand from his robe, he walked forward into the dimly lit room.

The sight that greated his eyes made his jaw drop. Hundreds, if not thousands, of Nexi stood in the center of the room, in perfect formation. Line after line of nexi, all kinds of them. Some with swords for hands, some wrapped in bands of darkness, some seeming to be made of smoke.

“Magnificent.” A voice said behind him. Jacob spun around, searching for the voice. After a while, he figured out the voice was not coming from behind him, but from everywhere.

“Yes. We will use this army to start my Revolution.” Leader said. Jacob peered from behind the pillar, seeing the man who led the Destroyers. His cloak was still drawn around his face, though Jacob could see a few strands of blonde hair. And although the cloak didn’t touch the floor, there was nothing underneath it that seemed to be supporting it.

“He’s floating” Jacob murmured to himself with interest. He leaned forward to catch more of what Leader was saying, when part of the pillar broke off, and fell to the floor with a loud Bam!

Leaders head snapped up, and Jacob caught a glint of red just before he ducked behind the pillar.

“What was that?” the cold voice asked. When no one responded, he shouted.

“Guardians. Go.” He said, his voice penetrating every corner of the room. Jacob saw the large armored creatures lumber forward, their giant swords dragging behind them. Jacob turned and ran, separating the wall before he jumped through it. He put it back together, and sank into the ground before any guards could find him.

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Jacob appeared atop the hills that surrounded the castle. To his left was the castle itself, and to the right was the town.

“No way! They’re that close! I’ve got to tell the others!”

And once again, he was gone though the earth below him.

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“So they could strike at any moment.” Becky said with a growl.

Jacob was back at his house, surrounded by Becky, Aisha, Kelly and Shizu.

“Basically.” Jacob said, sipping on his tea. He absently stroked Suiji, who purred contently in his lap. She mewed and nibbled on his finger, showing her affection.

“So what do we do?” Kelly asked, biting her lip.

“I say we lay siege to the castle.” Jacob said bluntly. The others stared. Jacob was never one for the offensive approach, it was out of his character. Generally he went for defense, finding comfort in his style.

“But, from what you’ve told us, that’s practically suicide!” Aisha exclaimed. Jacob nodded grimly.

“Grandpa, what do you think.” Jacob asked, staring at his grandfather.

Shizu took his time, stirring his tea absently.

“I think....Jacob is right. Leader seems to be powerful, and if he is the Mastermind behind the Destroyers, then we have much to worry about. We need to take care of him.” He said.

“Right. Then we do it tomorrow. I can get us there.” Jacob said. The others continued to stare. So soon was unexpected, but they all knew better then to argue.

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Darkness had fallen.

Infront of the castle, the ground reared up, allowing four people to exit from its crevice. Jacob turned and lowered his hand, and the earth sunk back to normal. The grounds of the castle seemed oddly empty, not a Nexi in sight. Becky walked up to the front door, standing over thirty feet tall. She placed her hand on it as the others stood behind her, then turned to Jacob.

“Hit it.” she said.

“Gladly.”

The others backed away, giving him room. Jacob walked a few yards back, then turned twords the door. He took a deep breath, then a stance he used only every once in a while. His Lion stance.

He bolted forward, heading straight into the door.

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Several dozen Guardian Nexi stood in the entrance way. They heard the voices of their opponents, but did not react. They were told not to move until it opened.

Suddenly, the door was blown apart, and a dark figure quickly took down the nearest Nexi. Jacob was upon them, slamming them down as if they were nothing. Before any of them could raise their swords, all were defeated, disappearing in wisps of black smoke.

As the last Nexi disappeared, the Guardians raced up the entrance stairs and down the halls. They sprinted, meeting no resistance for a few feet, until a horde of Nexi with swords for hands intercepted them.

“My turn.” Aisha said, drawing her weapon. She leapt ahead, taken on scores of the samurai like Nexi, slicing them down one by one. Her swordsmanship was unparallel to any of them, and with a slice from her sword, she sent a shockwave of air, cutting down all of them.

They raced forward again. More Nexi met them, and they were brought down by the Guardians. With one particular group, Jacob jumped into the air and slammed the ground, sending a wave of earth that destroyed the other Nexi. The floor and ceiling shook and collapsed beneath them, sending them plummeting below.

Aisha grabbed Becky, her white wings exploding from her back as she flew up through the hole in the ceiling, and Jacob took ahold of Kelly, jumping from falling rock to rock as he made it up to the next story. They landed and kept running, not breaking stride as they ran. Suddenly, they were in a large open room, scores of Nexi around them. They backed into each other, Jacob next to Aisha and Kelly next to Becky. Simultaneously, they nodded.

Together, Jacob and Aisha sent twin torrents of stone and wind, their attacks swirling around each other and blasting apart Nexi. Meanwhile, Kelly and Becky had sent out their own attacks, bursts of water and lightening swirling around to slaughter more of the dark creatures.

When the room was empty, they all stood panting. They caught their breath, and began running again. Then, Jacob stopped.

“He’s coming.” He said.

“How can you tell?” Becky asked wildly.

“I dunno. Its like I can feel him coming. Its like my bloods on fire.” He said.

Suddenly, a dark figure appeared at the head of the steps they were about to walk up.
“Told you.” Jacob murmured.

Quicker then any of them could perceive, Kelly sent out a burst of water so big, it was as if she’d picked up a river to do it. She sent it at the man with enough force to obliviate anything in the water’s path.

Leader stared at the oncoming water lazily. When it got closer, he waved his hand and the water was diverted, destroying the wall to his left. He raised his eyes.

“Is that all you have?” He asked.

Jacob ran forward, swinging his staff forward. Leader countered with a sword made out of what seemed to be darkness. They fought back and forth, Leader forcing Jacob down the stairs as they fought.

“Do you think you could possibly beat me, Hero?” He asked, his cold voice alive with amusement. This fueled Jacob’s anger, making him strike quicker and quicker. They countered, sparks flying from their weapons as they continued, going back and forth.

Jacob was struggling, while Leader had barely broken a sweat. With a final slash, Leader sent Jacob flying backwards into the wall.

“Jacob!” the Guardians cried, but he wasn’t getting up.

Leader laughed.

“Pity. He actually had a modicum of strength compared to me.” Leader said, showing a smile from under his hood. He spun his sword in his hand once, and advanced on them.

“I think I’ll take out the blonde one first.” He said to himself.

Suddenly, Jacob’s body began to glow a gold color. As if on marionette strings, he was lifted into the air. Though the window near them, the sun showed through the glass, adding its color to his. Jacob’s eyes opened, and they were alive with various golds and reds.

Quick as a flash. Jacob bolted forward. But he had left his staff behind.

“Jacob!” Aisha cried, and she flung her sword at him. Without even looking back, he grabbed the sword in his hand, spinning it. The silver of the blade flashed as the sword transformed. Jacob ran ahead with his two handed sword, slashing it at Leader, whose eyes were wide with surprise.

Their movements seemed oddly matched, as Jacob’s speed increased even more as it had before. He didn’t even seem to be looking at Leader, but past him. It was almost as if Leader was just an obstacle in Jacob’s way.

Suddenly, Jacob flipped backwards. He backtracked quickly, appearing next to the other Guardians. He held up his hand and closed his fist, creating a wall between him and Leader.

He grabbed his staff and all three girls, then turned to the window. He held his hand up again, and the wall exploded. He leapt through the air, and landed safely on the ground.

A horde of Nexi were coming at them, but Jacob just waved his hand and the earth crushed all of them. Before more Nexi could appear, Jacob and the other Guardian’s had disappeared.

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Omg, This chapter took so long to write! I had to rewrite it like, twice! Sorry for the delay!!!

But we get to see more about Leader, way more! And what he’s planning to do with all those Nexi! But where do they come from, and how does Leader have such insane powers?

Plus, Jacob with his cool powerboost! Of course, I had to make his eyes gold and red. Dunno why. More about that later though! Enjoy!