The Final Ashfield

Chapter 4: The Codex[Part 3]

It feels so warm…Jace thought, floating in the deep darkness.

What… was I doing again? 

Oh yeah…

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I’ve got to get away from this man, and get Anna and Jace out of here at any cost… Aleximus thought, frightened and still in immense pain from his broken arm.

And what was that he said…?

“Codex”? Is it what caused that explosion and made Jace's hair white?

Whatever it is, right now I just need to find a way for us to get out of this

As Aleximus finished his thought, Hatagi pushed him to the ground and ran to Anna. Picking her up to use as a hostage.

“Hey, you bastard!! Don’t you dare touch my sister!! or I’ll make you regret it!!!” he yelled.

Hatagi looked over at him, slightly annoyed.

“Kid, look at your arm, and shut the hell up… I’m far more interested in what your brother has up there at the moment anyways, but if you make a move, I’ll do worse to her then I did to you.”

Aleximus didn’t take kindly to the threat.

“I’LL KILL YOU!!!” he screamed in pure anger. Though he knew he couldn’t do anything, it was obvious Hatagi wouldn’t hesitate.

However, what Aleximus didn’t know was that though he was threatening, Hatagi remained wary. He had no idea who these kids were, and figured that it was Jace that caused the water to erupt onto himself and Dopi. Taking Anna hostage was the only way he could take control of the situation to give him a favorable outcome. 

Aleximus glared at him, and then looked around for anything to use as a weapon. He noticed Hatagi’s dagger landed right next to him after the explosion. 

--

Did the shock of energy change his hair? He must be bonded to it, if so.

 Hatagi thought. 

Well, he hasn't opened his Sanctum chamber yet, so of course his body had to take that unprocessed energy somehow.

“It'll be a bother, but now I have to take him back to headquarters to get someone to split it from him. Tch! Now I can't keep it for myself. The boss will most likely take it…” he muttered.

"But...he might let it slide that Dopi was killed if he does take it..." Hatagi rambled as he began to weigh his options.

Aleximus reached for the dagger while Hatagi looked toward Jace.

“Kids these days just don’t listen, huh?” Hatagi sighed, having noticed Aleximus’s movement from the corner of his eye, and tightened his hold on Anna's neck. 

Anna was held in front of Aleximus as she began to choke.

Aleximus halted in an instant.

“WAIT! STOP!! STOP!!!” Aleximus screamed out

BA-DUMP!

Aleximus’s heart throbbed in his rib cage. 

“...?! Wh–” he gasped heavily, collapsing to the floor.

Hatagi’s twisted smile came back.

“Ah! It finally worked! Thank goodness!! I was worried at first that it wouldn’t take effect but it seems I had nothing to worry about!!!” 

This is… MAGIC?! Aleximus recalled the feeling as the sickening aura clawed at his heart.

“W…what…did you…do…?” he yelled out, losing air in his lungs.

Hatagi walked towards him, putting his foot on his head.

“Eh? You mean you don’t know what a Sanctum ability is? The hell…? I had nothing to worry about then, hah!” Hatagi smiled.

“Kyu…!!” Aleximus groaned. 

“My Sanctum ability doesn’t offer me much help in combat, but it doesn’t matter. Covert operations and assassinations were always my strong suit anyways.” Hatagi talked himself up.

His foot glowed purple, along with the area of Aleximus’s stomach that had been stomped on earlier.  “My sanctum ability: Executioner’s Ballad, allows me to poison the person or thing I touch and rapidly deteriorate their body. That’s what you’re feeling right now.” he cackled.

“It’s a slow and steady torture that’ll eat away at your body until you wish for death, kid! And once that happens…I’ll kill your sister in front of you before you pass on and gouge out your brother’s heart!! Kekekeke!!!” he pressed on Aleximus’s head more, digging into his face. 

You…bastard!! WHY?! WHY IS THIS HAPPENING?! SOMEONE HELP US!!! 

Aleximus shook, digging his nails into the ground. 

SLICE!!

Hatagi's hand fell to the floor in front of Aleximus’s face with a quick 'thud'.

“H-Huh..?” "AAAAHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" he shrieked, screaming in agony.

--

"Good. I wasn't too late." a voice spoke.

Matsuda stood in front of Aleximus, facing Hatagi.

In one arm he held Jace and the Codex. In the other, a talisman stained with Hatagi’s blood.

“U-Uncle Matsuda!!” Aleximus stammered.

He was relieved to see him. So much so that tears swelled up to his eyes. But were quickly stopped by Matsuda's aura, which leaked out with an intense fury, blowing wind through the Ash trees and shaking the ground.

Their uncle was now here with an angry scowl, ready to take down the mysterious intruders, but something else was bothering him. 

I'm too late... Matsuda clenched his fist, looking back at Jacender.

...I've got to end this now and get them ready to leave… 

…The kids...can't stay here anymore…

<Chapter 4: The Codex Part 3> Fin