Dreamstorm: The Awakening

Standing on damp soil, Nanu kept his head bowed and his eyes closed while Amber and Asani watched with caution. Neither had any clue about what was going on, and both hesitated to attack. Nanu straightened his neck, then opened his eyes. “Sorry for the delay, but I did give you both time… time to make peace.”

Asani stepped back. “We must flee,” he whispered.

“No way,” Amber said quietly. “Pull yourself together.”

Without warning, Amber charged forward at Nanu while simultaneously making a steel dome drop atop her enemy. As she caused the shield to shrink in size, Asani swooped her up within his arms, and ducked them behind a tree. Amber struggled resistantly, but he held her tightly, and just before she could yell out, the dome exploded, sending a tremendous boom sounding off through forested woodlands. Fragments of metal flew forth at rapid speeds, pelting violently against the tree trunk’s center. Amber swallowed, her expression displaying fearful shock.

“You see, his technique is magnetism,” Asani stated lowly.

Nanu stretched his arms outward fully, then tilted his head slightly to the left and cracked his neck; after straightening back out, he sighed; “If you must use metal while fighting me, you’ll never win.” Amber raced around the tree trunk, absolutely refusing to give up. Asani leapt out in attempt to hold her again, but she jerked her wrist free. Nanu gazed at Asani with revulsion, wrinkling his nose up in disgust. “You’re pitiful,” he sneered angrily. “I can’t believe you’d stoop so low as hiding behind these children for protection. You knew that your destiny is to die by my hands, but you chose fleeing from your fate… And don’t think for a second that I’m clueless about why you ran with these kids. You heard clamoring rumors about them taking out opponents that were thought to be several times more powerful than themselves, so you needily sought out for help, hoping that their innocence would guide them in protecting you from us. So unfortunate that your unyielding selfishness to retain your own life will cost them theirs early.” Asani eyed the ground shamefully. “It’s deplorable really, perhaps if given just a month of growth, the girl and her little boyfriend may have actually stood a chance against an assault from us,” Nanu admitted. “But now, thanks to you, they’re just easy unripened pickings.”

Asani sank down upon one knee. “You’re right, I should’ve accepted my fate.”

“Indeed you should have,” Nanu agreed.

Amber gazed downward. “There’s no time for a pity party!” she shouted, trying her best at lifting Asani back upright by the arm. “Stand, you have to help me!” Amber tugged with all her might, and still couldn’t budge his muscular body.

“My power won’t hurt him,” Asani hopelessly revealed.

“What do you mean your powers can’t hurt him!”

“My ability is lightning, and that only enhances magnetism.” Asani slowly arose. “Honestly, I’d totally counted on you kids, and that was obviously a mistake, you see, excluding Elitist— these fighters are the best of the best.”

“Idiot,” Amber yelled. “If you knew your power would be ineffective against this guy, why didn’t you let us take on that woman instead!” Asani shook his head. “Wah’s a much more fierce opponent than Nanu,” he confessed shamefully. “Unfortunately, she’ll murder your partner with ease.”