A day of fighting.
No sleep.
No food.
No water.
Only fighting.
Draco stood at the center of his five brothers, each of them exhausted beyond their capacity. His body was marred with slashes and bruises and bent metal, his arm weeping blood from a stab from Agner. His Daedalak shook from his weakened arm, and blood sloshed around inside of the cracked metal mask, streams of blood running down his body from the small breaches. His chest felt collapsed, his breathing coming raggedly, and his left leg spewed blood from two holes, courtesy of Jaqeluu's twin blades.
Agner's form was battered just as much. His sleek body was usually a pattern of charcoal-colored stone, the gaps glowing red. Now, the hue of red was barely lit, and his stone body was covered with blood, both his own and his younger brother's. His left leg was badly wounded, a gash in the back of his thigh. He grunted with each breath, a stab wound in the right of his chest. Their energies had been focused on maintaining their body functions, and so they weren't healing and could barely use their Rites.
Fermot's form was a smooth, natural wood formed by his body. Now, however, he was charred from blasts of energy on nearly every part of his form. Blood wept from a series of slashes in his legs and face, a deep rupture in the center of his chest from a winding headbutt. Some of his internal bones were broken, including a few ribs and parts of his shoulder. He barely kept his daggers up, his right forearm broken horribly.
Derekosh breathed heavily, his bulky, grey mineral form just as broken as his brothers. He kept his hammer up, his arms straining to keep up with the slashes in his shoulders and upper arms. Part of his form was practically melded together from the continuous blasts he'd taken. His own mask was slashed open, a nick on his upper lip. A deep wound in his side forced him to stand in an awkward stance that would keep him balanced in a fight.
Jaqeluu's body was beaten more than anything, but he shook with every breath from the wounds in his legs and the gash in his hip. He was certain a bone in his shin was broken, and another in his left shoulder, which he kept low to avoid anymore pain. His own form was a menacing black metal that hugged his body about as well as Agner's. Now, though, he wished he had the same bulk as his closest younger brother.
Jerosh was worse than the rest of his allies for the fight. His bone mask was shattered, revealing a set of sharpened teeth and no lips. A cut stretched from his left eye down to his torso, just below his ribcage. His right arm was scorched from energy, his palms were bleeding, his right leg was punctured by the Daedalak, and his left had several gashes.
Now, it was a test of stamina, endurance, and sheer willpower. Whoever lost their Ina form would be beaten without a chance, and whoever gave in to their body's pleas would collapse. Draco stumbled forward, raising his blade to Jerosh. The six men roared as they began the hundredth engagement.
Draco ducked under Derekosh's hammer, grunting as Agner's spear tore into his chest, then slashed past Fermot's daggers and cut into his arm. Jerosh wove under the mess and slashed straight across Draco's back, giving Jaqeluu a chance to do the same. The youngest roared in pain, then spun around and tore his Daedalak into Jaqeluu's side. He managed to kick Jerosh in the side, sending him sailing away as he fought the other four.
Derekosh's hammer smashed into his face, and Draco stomped a foot to the side to keep from launching away. He forcefully turned with the hammer still planted on his cheek, and shot his arm out with a ball of blue energy in his palm. The ferocious Signa roared as he was blasted in the chest, knocking into Agner and tumbling backwards. Draco roared when Fermot stabbed both daggers into his shoulder blades, knocking him over.
He forcefully threw himself backwards, kicking Jerosh in the chin and slamming Fermot into the ground. His move also sunk the daggers deeper, and he rolled backwards and reached back, screaming as he pulled the daggers out. He heard Agner roaring as he came in quick, swinging his spear out to slash at Draco. His younger brother leaned back, dodging it by centimeters and shooting his fist out. Agner's jaw dislocated, and he was sent violently tumbling across the room, smashing into the wall away from them. He tried to get back up, but his Ina form receded and he slumped against the wall.
There was an ear-splitting groan as Jerosh's foot smashed into Draco's face, partially tearing his mask off. He tumbled backwards, his left shoulder dislocating horribly, until he dug his fingers into the floor. He looked up in surprise as he heard Fermot yelling with his daggers pulled over his head. Draco swung his left arm up to block Fermot's attack, smacking one of the blades away. With the opening, Draco slashed Fermot across the chest and rocketed his fist into the side of his head. Fermot hit the ground with a resounding boom, remaining still just a few feet away.
He jumped to his feet in time to deflect Jaqeluu's swords, then dodged Jerosh's sword and sideswiped Derekosh with his foot. Sparks flew as Draco fought the two swordsmen at once, frantically slashing, parrying, and dodging. He managed to pin Jerosh's sword on the ground with one foot, flip up and kick him in the jaw and slash Jaqeluu in the shoulder. He grabbed the Oracle by the wound and threw him as hard as he could, sending him into the wall head first. The man bounced off of the wall, attempting to stand but finally collapsed as his Rites receded.
He felt himself being violently slammed into the ground in an instant. Draco groaned as Derekosh pulled his hammer back up and slammed it into him again, and again, and again. His vision was murky and vague, but cleared up the instant a hit landed. He felt the grip on his Daedalak loosening, and his breathing came slower… and slower.
I… I can't… go on… I just… can't…
He found himself drifting out of consciousness, a blob of grey in the center of his vision. The exhaustion caused him to think back briefly… back a few years. It was late… he was laying with Ember… they were just talking…
His eyes drifted over to his hand, and he thought back to Ember's claws. There would be a ring on the center claw… the golden hand he'd given to her.
…Ember…
…
…
Ember…
I… promised… to see this… to the end…
His grip tightened on the handle of the Daedalak, his energy collecting in his left fist.
I promised… and… I… will never… break my promise… ever… again…
He rolled out of the way of the next fall of the hammer, and kicked Derekosh's leg, forcing him to a knee. Draco roared as he punched him with the energy he accumulated. Derekosh didn't react fast enough, causing him to cry out as his grip slipped from the handle of his weapon and he was sent upwards. Draco leaped after him, sending a number of crippling strikes into Derekosh's torso, then slipping behind him and grabbing him from behind, keeping his arms restrained.
They started spinning rapidly, and Draco shot downwards with him, Derekosh thrashing violently as he tried breaking free. His arm slipped away accidentally, but he managed to grab him and put him a hold similar to one he used on Moon long ago. Derekosh smashed into the ground face first, Draco on top of him. Draco forced himself up and cocked his fist back, waiting for Derekosh to move. The grey mineral began to morph back into olive-tan skin.
Draco pulled himself to his feet sloppily, but grunted as he felt something strike the back of his head. He slammed into the wall upside down, groaning before sluggishly pulling himself out and falling on the floor. The mask completely fell, and he felt his metals start to recede into his body. It took a minute to force it to stay active, then Draco looked over to Jerosh.
"Good… work," Jerosh grunted, raising his green blade. "Four down…"
"Only one left," Draco chuckled, grimacing at the pain in his chest. "This is it… I won't… lose… Jerosh…"
His older brother lazily pulled a foot back and nodded. "Prove it."
Draco grabbed his left arm and pushed himself into the wall, a loud crack coming from the dislocated joint. He restrained a cry of pain, trying to ease it by moving his arm around. Draco bent down to pick up his Daedalak, then held it up and got into his stance.
"Gladly."