The Gods' Decree

When they heard Niesha words from all appearances the b.a.s.t.a.r.d had expected them to seek vengeance all along.

No wonder he was not with his squad. It seems he had placed the safety of the group within this woman"s care.

Yet they knew there was no way that Mouse had expected them to gather such a formidable set of helping hands.

"Eto"o I don"t care how much it cost.

We"ll pay a hundred-

No! A thousand times our previously arranged sum. Just kill this f.u.c.king b.i.t.c.h!

I"ll ensure my father does everything possible to s.h.i.+eld you."

Aiden shouted as his face became pale.

Hearing his words Eto"o was still recovering from his shock. This was not in his calculations.

How was it the first time he has heard anything about this young woman?

 Promptly Jacob made his way over to Eto"o"s side while crunching his knuckles as it seemed a serious battle awaits,

"What do you want us to do?

That"s a lot of stones for one simple job. Also, the added security it presents is a bonus.

I"ll even provide the killing blow, but with what we just saw even with Ferner and Esker it will be difficult without your help."

Jacob questioned while attempting to skew Eto"o"s decision. It wasn"t that he too wasn"t caught off guard by Niesha"s strength. But what the Barker twins offered was quite enticing.

So much so, that killing someone he had no prior conflict with became a simple choice.

His conscience was clear. if it wasn"t, with the stones he earned. why not buy a new one?

Still, Eto"o was a bit hesitant. When gazing in Niesha"s eyes it was as though he was pierced by the blade of a sword.

Common sense dictates he should probably cut his losses. Yet Jacob was right. That offer was truly too tantalizing.

"Fine.., I have observed her battle patterns and it seems the attacks are only concentrated in the radius of those circular drawings. 

Perhaps that is where her charges are most potent? Yet with our numbers, I am certain we can breach this fortress.

Esker and Ferner will focus on long-range earth attacks. While you and I will combine our fire element." Eto"o who was always known for his scheming continued to speak,

"Through this means if she dares to utilize that technique once more it will only lead to her demise. We"ll use her wind to amplify our flames.

She is strong but I highly doubt above those in the top eighty rankings. Just ensure the others remain in our sight. This is where they might be a nuisance."

While they plotted her demise. Niesha simply took the time to amend her series of etchings. With the previous attack, the carvings were now filled with dirt.

Once more she regained her stance. Her whole demeanor was of one who exuded confidence.

As if nothing could stand in her wake. In her eyes, all that existed was herself and the broad sword.

Finally, her eyes closed once more.

The next moment they opened she saw Fener and Esker outside of her circular range ingest some pungent-smelling liquid.

The duo then proceeded to brutally stump their feet on the ground on the night"s cold hard ground.

Boom! Boom!

With their crus.h.i.+ng of the land below, large chunks of dirt started to form silhouettes of rocks.

However, before their completion, the duo then sprayed the pungent odored liquid from their mouths into its formation. 

 Then like a soccer player, volleying a ball they viciously smashed the molded rocks with their feet.

Pew! Pew!

The rocks burst through the air-

Giving a helping hand while in mid-flight they were baked in puffs of flame which were created by Etoo and Jacob.

Puuf!

They combusted into fires.

Now the night was illuminated scorching red as small meteorites engulfed in flame tore down from the skies.

When Niesha"s eyes once more opening she twisted the hilt of her swords.

Then with a burst of speed shredded through the ground meeting the pseudo meteorites head-on.

Zing! Zing! 

With continuous slashes of her broad sword the molted rocks were sliced into tiny pieces.

In her hands, the blade of the broad sword could be seen in searing heat.

Not to be left out Etoo and Jacob took advantage of her sudden distraction summoning their weapons to hand.

Etoo with two long daggers that became shrouded in flames. While Jacob"s bra.s.s knuckles became red after heating with his elemental fire.

They had coordinated their attacks that Niesha was disadvantaged no matter who she defended against.

Esker and Ferner were in the distance out of her reach. While Eto"o and Jacob attack from opposite ends.

True to his fame Jacob with his heated bra.s.s knuckles was super fast as he sought to smash Niesha in her back while she was incapacitated.

Countering she swiped her sword deflecting his punches with its broadsides.

Clink! clink!

The two quickly separated after hurried exchanges. By hidden movement, Eto"o with his duel enflamed daggers was unrelenting as he sought to pounce unaware.

Yet Eto"o found that each time he attacked it was as though Niesha had predicted his movements. 

Clink! clink!

They too separated after a series of bouts. Like this, it played out as Niesha took all four of her attackers on. Never missing a beat even the long-range attacks she contended with from Ferner and Esker.

"s.h.i.+t her skills are impeccable!"

Eto"o thought the more the four engaged her in battle It became evident even now they had underestimated her strength.

"This is bad." He rationalized after processing the probabilities of what truly will unfold if they were to lose this fight tonight.

"Bake her alive!"

Eto"o shouted with savagery in his voice to Jacob. He has chosen a path therefore he will surely see it through to the end.

Though looking back the more Eto"o regretted it. Yet he could not let this woman remain alive after making such an enemy.

This brought a smile to Jacob"s face as he held out his hand where a sudden ball of red flames appeared.

Puuuf!

Jacob blew as it grew into ten times its previous size. To his opposing side, Eto"o formed a cloud of scorching flames.

Both aimed at Niesha who remained in the nucleus countless times being bombarded by attacks from Esker and Ferner in the distance.

Seeing the flames aiming to engulf her Niesha called forth upon her art,

?Ways of the sword - (Wind Element) - Flight of the Humming Bird?

 As she spoke the flames had finally arrived but what shocked the duo of Eto"o and Jacob-

The silhouette of Niesha slowly faded before their eyes as they heard the fluttering of birds. 

Before the thought of where she must have went crossed their minds. Screams bombarded their ears and when they turned to the distanced.

Blood was skewing from the bodies of Esker and Ferner like geysers.

Their hands and feet were chopped clean from their bodies. Once more she flashed her broad sword ridding it what she saw as unpure.

Not a spec of blood had touched her clothing-

For the first time, Eto"o and Jacob felt frightened.

Now they knew how exceedingly they had screwed up. It was clear she never needed the etching on the ground. By over thing this point it caused their defeat.

This was the kind of genius they dared not make eye contact with on the rankings. With such strength why did she remain hidden all this time?

While lingering in their thoughts once more the sound of fluttering bird wings were heard.

Before them appeared Niesha. Frozen in shock they were unable to react as she slashed her sword. Uncaring of their attempts to put up some semblance of a fight.

PSs.h.!.+

Once more the ground was provided with blood rich sustenance as it bathed in the blood of the limbless.

They screamed in anguish as Niesha showed on her face signs of pity. It wasn"t that she wanted to disfigure others. limiting their potential for the future.

If they wanted someone to blame for their plight, there was only a need to look in the mirror. In pursuit of greed and vengeance, they had now sealed their fates.

Niesha then went over all their pale bodies on the brink of shock. Stripping each one of their markers.

Their time had ended while for hers had only now truly begun.

Hurriedly she summoned a small container to her hands after which it was thrown into the flames.

Boom!

It combusted lighting the night"s sky. This was the signal for the medics that someone was on the brink of death.

???????

"This?! Malgrey what the heck?!"

In the distance watching it all unfold, Ava shouted to Malgrey to her side in fright.

So too did Selena and Malnor look to Malgrey. What they just saw was truly a shock to their system.

Who could wrong them? This was Niesha who they had spent so much time with these past few months.

This explains Malgrey insistence of them not joining the fight. What would they possibly have added?

All reason dictates she is the weaker of the five. How could she possibly be so strong to utterly decimate such powerful beings?

In that group were some of the highest-ranked disciples outside of the top one hundred.

Were their minds functioning properly?

Perhaps this was some trick their eyes sought to play on them?

Surely there was a need for an answer? 

Malgrey could only wear an awkward smile. It is true there should be some explanation.

This was a secret he had kept for some while but since things had reached to such a point-

Sigh!

"Guess there is no helping it. Obviously Niesha"s strength is not what it appears on the outside.

You see she comes from the Origi Clan which specializes in the saber and sword."

Malgrey informed the group of Niesha"s personal background,

"Also members of the Origi are Luke and Lovren. This is the reasoning behind all three carrying their weapons instead of putting it in their s.p.a.ce item."

His audience of three were fascinated as he continued,

"Yet of the three, Niesha is quite special. From a young age, she was a prodigy.

In her clan, there is a fable that the day she was born the stars formed the silhouette of a sword.

This as folklore dictates signify the birth of a sword spirit or one destined to bond with the sword."

Unedited Version

To be continued...