Chapter 30

"What the hell was that?!" Veneno yelled loudly as the explosions subsided.

Toxic looked around anxiously, sword drawn, but Joshua had a worried expression on his face. Grabbing his DS, he saw a message on the front screen. It wasn't looking very promising. He motioned to Veneno and Toxic who also looked at the screens and watched the message. Explosions and alarms were ringing; their friends were running to their ships, robots got in their way until there was a large wall of fire, which was too intense for them to pass through except Seb, he didn't move and looked, as out of the flames walked Assassin Aharon. There was a large series of screams, then the fire had melted the DS...stopping the message.

"Oh no...NO! THIS CAN'T BE HAPPENING!!!" Joshua yelled in anger, tears forming in his eyes as he punched the wall until it started to dint and his fists started to bleed.

Toxic was crying, knowing that Aisha had died with them, while Veneno silently cursed under his breath, angrily. Joshua fell to the ground, crying until he felt a sharp whack on his shoulder. Veneno was standing in front of him, glaring at him, showing a bit of mercy and pity, but determination crossed his face.

"We should've known it was a trick. But we can't go back now...besides...you don't realise that I have these..." Veneno said, opening his back-pack.

A bright, white light shot forth and Joshua gasped as he saw the seven Video Crystals. Joshua reached out and held them in his hands. The rainbow light danced across his body, lighting it up.

"Listen. I know you both are in sorrow's shroud, losing friends and your beloved, but this is not the time to be weeping. At least, remember them for the things they did, and be happy they died fighting. We must press on. Joshua. The title of 'The Ultimate Gamer' is yours? Is it not? Then you must know that we can still save millions of others. Killing Aisha, as heartbreaking as it may be for both of you, prevented Aharon from starting the Giga Blaster...Now, let us..." Veneno was cut off by Aharon's laughing.

"Hahahaha...True, I may have killed them, but I can still spare the ones I need! I had no need for those other fools! Now, the Giga Blaster will fire in less than an hour. I doubt anyone can stop us now! And, in case you’re wondering that any of you will survive, forget it! Dakoda has discovered that the Giga Blaster drains all the energy out of the one who was used to fire it! Isn't this amazing! So many deaths..." Aharon laughed with glee.

"YOU SICK...TWISTED...DEMON!" Joshua yelled through clenched teeth.

"Oh? Is this Joshua displaying anger? Now, now, we wouldn't want to fall to the dark side, would we? Well, Dakoda...Destroy them!" Aharon ordered.

A beam of dark energy shot into the centre of the room, revealing Dakoda. Only his face was shrouded by shadows, his cape consumed all of the light around and his glowing DarkSword, shooting of beams of dark energy. His hair was still a dark, jet black and his eyes were red. He wasn't pleased.

"Hmph. Such pathetic heroes...my brother and two mercenaries. No matter. I doubt any of you will make any of a difference. Before we start, this is nothing personal to you two, but I intend to finish what our father did, Joshua. And you too, like all of your friends, will meet again...in death!" Dakoda laughed

Joshua kept silent. He wasn't going to let any of his emotions distract him. He had to beat Dakoda. Then, Aharon...Joshua knew his father was behind all of this. Aharon may be strong, but his power was nothing compared to Joshua's father. Drawing his swords, they shone brightly in the darkness.

Chapter 31.

Veneno raced behind a nearby pillar and started firing plasma shots at Dakoda. They were seeming to slow him down, but he wasn't hitting his target. Rushing into battle now would be stupid. He was a good swordfighter, yes, but his leg...

He reloaded his gun and continued his multiple rounds of bullets. A few did hit Dakoda, but it only did little, if any damage. Sighing, he decided more ammo used up in more shots could do more damage, but he would have to wait for an opening...

Meanwhile, Toxic was barely able to keep up with the multiple swords flying through the air. He was going defensive. But after a few minutes, he realised that Dakoda wasn't going to tire out, he attempted a counter attack. It worked, yes, but he found himself being lifted into the air, and flung into a wall. He managed to stop the impact and leap back into the fight.

His sword strokes were powerful, but lacked aim. That, itself was a problem. He decided that if he was going to make the blows which would get through Dakoda's defence work, he would have to swing a little less harder and get more control over his attack.

Joshua, however was managing quite poorly. His timing was off and Dakoda punished him for it. A swift blow knocked the sword in his right hand caused him to lose his grip on it, and was left fighting with one sword. Yes, he could've gotten his sword back, if he wanted another sword in his back. Dakoda was showing no mercy in his attacks, and continued relentlessly, fighting on with fury. A swift blow knocked Joshua into the air, the hilt of his sword hit Joshua in the chest, so violently, he coughed up a small amount of blood. Eventually, all three were forced back. The attacks were becoming too much.

"No! Not yet!"

Joshua decided to make a risky manoeuvre, and the outcomes were either:

A) He made it, and defeated Dakoda
B) Got himself killed
Or C) Run out of time.

He preferred option A. He ran up to Dakoda, jumping off Dakoda's chest, he flipped backwards and flew through the air backwards. Veneno saw the opportunity he was waiting for, charged up the shot and fired. Toxic took aim and slashed at Dakoda with such strength as Veneno's plasma blast. Dakoda teleported back, but didn't see Joshua's sword coming straight at him. It pierced right through his body and he fell to the ground, blood everywhere.

The three heroes ran up to him and to their surprise, Joshua helped him to his feet.

"What are you doing?!" Toxic yelled.

"Letting him go. He didn't kill anyone. Aharon and my father did. Dakoda was ordered to destroy us. Even though hatred burns inside him, inside that twisted mind of his, he is still human." Joshua explained.

He placed a hand on Dakoda's wound and he vanished.

"There. He should be back to his old self soon, where he would hide..." Joshua explained.

Toxic nodded in agreement while Veneno shrugged.

"Strange. You didn't kill him."

"We're even now. He's saved me...from myself..." Joshua sighed happily.