A New Start

Mumbles sounded through Zero's head as he slowly began to open his eyes. His head throbbed and his muscles stung. Zero shifted his head to the left and to the right rolling his neck around. He was dizzy and confused.

"Whe...what happened" Zero forced through his teeth.

He opened his eyes all the way and shut them immediately due to the blinding light. Zero opened his eyes again, this time slower and began to realize he was in some sort of nightmarish hell. He was strapped down and people carried him on a stretcher type thing. Finally, events from before he went unconcience flooded in and he realized that he was in some serious trouble.

"Shit...this, this. Is not. Good."

Ray shot an arrow at his enemy. A devilish shadow beast that was twice his size. It was made out of dark fur, with huge tusks coming out of its mouth. The arrow hit straight into the creature's mouth. The creature cried out in pain and a second and a third arrow went into its large gaping mouth.

Ray watched as it fell in front of him. He took out a dagger and begin to cut around the creature's tusk. He finally obtained what he needed.

Zero thrashed around. To the left, to the right. Everywhere he could move a small amount he banged in that direction. He knew it would do no good trying to negotiate so he kept his voice to himself and focused on at least a wrist to break free of whatever bound him.

He noticed his clothes were gone except for his undergarments, which meant all power bands had been removed and weaponry was clearly not an option from which he could choose from.

After what seemed like ten minutes the people carrying him let go of their handles and Zero gasped as the wind was knocked out of him when his back struck the stone floor. He sucked in air and began to calm himself. He needed to clear his head and steady his heart rate.

I need to focus!

Ray headed back through the woods. Up a cliff and through some woods. He got to the top of a ledge and entered a hole. Inside the hole he knocked on a stone slab with a certain rhythm. The stone slab opened and he was greeted by a small dwarf.

He went inside and the small dwarf frowned at the tusks Ray held in his hand. Shaking his head he snatched the tusks out of Ray's hands and went over to his work area that had several blacksmith equipment and got to work.

Ray smiled. He went over to watch the dwarf, but the dwarf told Ray to take a hike. Knowing he was unwanted...Ray did just that, he went outside the cave to take a hike.

Zero closed his eyes and steadied his breathing. In through the nose and out through the mouth. Step one complete. Now, binding. What is it? It is rope enhanced with a hex. Alright step two complete. Zero focused on his right arm, it tensed up. Magic flowed into it and then Zero released it in a huge explosion of magic. Zero physically snapped the rope in two and magically broke the enhancment.

Zero opened his eyes and sort of jolted upright as best he could with his left arm still tied down. The people around readied to strike him when Zero threw his hand up and shouted

"FLARE!"

A blinding light blew out of his hand and all that stood around him threw their hands to their faces and fell down to the ground groaning. Zero smirked.

And they thought I would try to fight, fools

Zero had used one of his strategic spells on everyone. A temporary blinding spell. Zero then forced a small amount of energy into his hand. He straightened it and waved it as if slicing the air. The ropes that bound him were severed and he jumped up off of the ground and sprinted in the opposite direction of the moaning bodies.

Ray took a trail that led him down the other side of the mountain. He saw that over the forest was a large building. He never remembered seeing it ever before so he started heading down the mountain into the forest.

He walked cautiously because he wasn't sure where the heck the building came from. It didn't even really look like a building the more he thought about it. Eventually he got close to the "building" and realized that there were guards around it.

Still not sure what to do Ray circled the building through the trees to better understand his surroundings.

Zero sprinted forward and noticed a set of stairs to the left. He shifted his foot and pushed towards them. A pile of clothes lay on the ground just before the stair case and he noticed a torn up pair of shorts and a T-Shirt that was stretched and torn. He reached down and grabbed them forcing them on as fast as he could.

Suddenly he heard a crackling noise and he threw the upper half of his body backwards, trying to keep on his feet. Flames burst against the fall and disappeared. Rather, then looking, Zero sprinted up the stairs and found the door out of this cellar, basement, type deal. The slapping of Zero's bare feet sounded through the halls of the stone floor.

Damn it how do I get out of here?

Ray heard a sound like a siren coming from within the building. He then watched as the guards outside ran around and headed back inside the building. Obviously, something was going on.

Ray noticed that there was no one to guard the building anymore so he sprinted to the wall of the building and then slipped inside behind a guard who was rushing inside. Once he was inside the building it opened up to a large room. People were dashing back and forth.

Before he was seen Ray hid behind some sort of box by crouching down into the shadow between the box and the wall. The way the light was coming from it was a perfect hiding spot. Eventually however, Ray realized he would have to move...

Zero sprinted around the corner and saw someone crouching down. Shoot! Zero twisted around and swung his leg up to kick the guy and make another run to find the exit.

Ray noticed someone had found him. There was no room to notch an arrow so he blocked the guy's kick and then ran for the exit from which he came. Unfortunately...he didn't know how to open the door... He looked back at the guy who had tried to kick him. Past him in the large room were several guards...and it looked like they found what they were looking for....

What? why the heck did he run from me?!

Zero glanced back when her heard some guards shouting. The guards charged forward and Zero sighed slightly. He glanced at the guy behind him and at the guards.

"Very well, I will blast all of you!"

Zero held his left arm out towards the guy and his right towards the guards. Fire erupted from his finger tips and flared out at everyone on both sides.

"BURN!"

Ray knew right away that he had to dodge a large blast when he saw the outstretched arms and heard the guy say it clearly. Ray dove towards the guy but to the ground. The flames roared over his head. Ray saw that the flames were so intense that they melted the door to the exit.

As soon as the flames ended Ray quickly jumped up and jumped backwards away from the guy and out through the door. Then he went around the corner and readied his bow.

The flames covered the entire hall and the guards fell, screaming in pain. Zero knew then that they were dead men. Zero also noticed the other guy go down and saw that there was now a large hole in the wall where the door used to be. Zero let the magic flow stop and panted as the spended energy began to take its toll on him.

Zero caught his breath after a few seconds and then sprinted through the large hole in the wall.

As soon as the guy came sprinting out Ray let loose his arrow, aiming for his arm to disable him. He readied another arrow as fast as he let loose the first one. Ray known as the fastest quick-drawing archer in the country. His aim might not always be on target, but he could let loose another arrow to make up for the one that misses first.

During the battle happening within the building, a hooded figure going by the alias of Akylas was scaling the building. Within he heard large explosions and death, but since it didn't affect his climb, he didn't bother looking. Akylas carried with him a single extension blade fastened to his left wrist for a quick and silent kill. Other attachments were added to the blade, in case of a larger ambush. All Akylas knew was that he had to reach his target, and fast...
As he told himself this, he reached a protected window, and peered in. With his hood, he kept his identity hidden, but he could make out two figures battling within the area. One looked to be some sort of Magic Wielder, the other was an Archer. Neither could have been his target, so he reached for the next handhold to continue up higher.

Zero hadn't realized he was on the second story of the building as he soon found out when leaping out of the hole in the wall. As soon as Zero hit the ground and got ready to start running he heard that awful sound of a bow being stretched, as well as the sound of that string being let loose to soar through the air.

Zero focused hard and within seconds he summarized the area surrounding him, the position of the archer, and the speed of the arrow. He thought to himself quickly. "Arm"

"Shit! The wind plays a part! Heart!"

At the last second Zero shifted his body to the right and side stepped just a tad and the arrow peirced his shoulder.

"GAH!"

Ray saw the guy yell in pain and then he wondered what he should do next. He already had another arrow drawn and was aiming it at the guy. Yet, he hesitated because he didn't feel like doing much more damage to the guy.

"Who are you!? and why did you try to attack me back there when your obviously not a part of whoever runs the building?" He paused for a moment... "Did any of that make sense?"...Ray doubted if what he just asked made any sense at all...

Zero winced as he held his right arm out. He swung it around fast and slammed his hand into the back of the arrow, shoving it through his shoulder until his hand smacked against his shoulder.

"AGHHHHHH"

He staggered forward a bit and then reached around and yanked the rest of the arrow out of his shoulder.

Ray saw this guy take his hand and shove the arrow through his shoulder. Ray wondered how the heck that was even possible. He thought about the shoulder, isn't there bone inside? Did Ray pierce the bone with his arrow?

Ray then saw in disgust as he took the arrow out from the other side of his shoulder. Ray kept his arrow notched in place, waiting for an answer from the guy. Whether the answer be spoken or action.

Zero's face began to lose color, his face looked as if he were dead. A cold sweat began and he was heaving to catch his breath. He could no longer hear anything clearly, everything a loud buzz of mumbling and noises.

Zero reached down and pointed at his left forearm with his index finger. Energy surrounded his finger and he pressed it against his skin. The skin split open as he winced in pain. Slowly, he drew a line on his arm as the skin separated further and further. He stopped and turned his palm up to the sky and rose it slightly. A small bottle came out of his arm and when it was completely out the wound immediatly shut and healed.

Zero took the bottle that was floating in mid-air and un-corked it. He consumed the contents of the bottle and the wound on his left shoulder caught on fire.

"AGGGHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!"

Zero screamed as the wound melted itself together and "healed." He sighed and shook the empty bottle a few times and it suddenly filled up with another liquid. He gulped it down and he stood up trembling. His muscles tensed and and threw his arms backwards and his chest forward and up. His surroundings were litterally blown away from him. The ground beneath his feat disinegrated and the trees around him bent. He levitated for another moment and then landed on his feet.

"Ahh, much better"

Zero raised his head up slowly and glared with hatred towards the puzzled attacker with his bow readily in hand.

"You die, now"

Ray never got his answers, and he didn't think that he was about to. This guy was very strange, and he wasn't sure what just happened. He thought it was some sort of magic that was going on. That was the only thing explainable. And if there was one thing he hated most....

"I hate magicians." he said out loud. He launched an arrow at his enemy's chest. Then he let loose two more following the first. One aimed for his head, the other aiming for below the chest.

Zero held out his hand and blasted the first arrow away. He lunged forward, seeking to come in close for a close range battle which is what the majority of archers were at their weakest. As he went forward he saw two more arrows coming at him. "What the?!" He quickly threw his left arm up and blasted a huge gust of wind to the left. He was thrown to the right and the arrows just missed him. he landed on the ground and slid to a stop.

Shoot. I really hate magic users... Ray checked his supply of arrows really fast as he pulled out another one and launched it at the guy.

He then launched another straight up into the air. about 10 arrows left. Not good

Zero blasted the ground with wind and he was thrown into the air just dodging the arrow by a few inches.

"Damn it, he's quick"

Zero forced energy into his hand and threw a fireball at the archer and then threw three more, one to the left, one to the right, and one above the archer, in hopes of trapping the dirt bag.

Now's my chance

Ray ran straight forward towards the fireball coming at him, he then shot an arrow at the fireball as he slid below the fireball. The arrow caught on fire and headed its way towards the guy.

Ray got up as soon as he was clear of the fireball and ran towards the guy while keeping in arrow in his hand.