The Frozen Knights Grace!

Kihia walked along the old dirt road that has been traveled on numerous times over the years, even a few times he was the one traveling across this lone dirt road. Kihia had been wearing a brown cloak over his numerous layers underneath, including his trenchcoat and plate armor. He had the Geruks fastened to his belt and he was using Icarus as a walking stick, his hair was primarily down, he hadn’t found the proper time nor did he intend to find the time as there was far too many things to do and find. Kihia reached the top of a hill along the road and in the distance he saw his destination, Beanstalk Village, Fiore’s number one agricultural producer.

However today, like a day a few years ago, Beanstalk village was plagued with a strange abnormality in their crops which, in regards to the reports and a conversation he once had with a former fellow Guild member, had never truly stopped. A Southerly wind blew across the rise, and Kihia descended down the slope. Within about ten minutes he arrived at the hut that caused him to remember the last time he took on this job.  He sighed and then rang the bell, preparing for anything that could happen.

Two men suddenly came out of the hut, they seemed strangely familiar when all of a sudden Kihia remembered them as soon as one of them spoke up. “You again?? You’re the one of the ones who came many years ago and defeated many plant Demons!” “Yes he is! However our problem was only temporarily solved! Not long afterward the thorns and demons returned, ruining our crops once again!” Kihia simply stood there knowing there was no use in speaking up until they got done. “Many wizards have come over the years doing the same thing you did, slaying the demons only buying us a few weeks of time.” “We beg of you, end our curse this time or do not get paid!” Kihia closed his eyes and simply nodded, “So be it,”

Kihia then swiftly turned around and started walking down a path that led to a crossed shape path in the middle of four large crop fields. When he arrived there he stood still for a long moment, thinking of the coming engagement, he know what had to be done, and he remembered how close he was to being defeated those many years ago. However the difference between now and then… was his amount of combat experience. Suddenly the ground began to shake as Kihia simply stood there, “Who is ever is causing this plague… hear me now… and now this. Today, your reign of darkness here shall end.”

Kihia stood there as numerous plant demons manifested all around he fields, there were forty demons total, twenty tomato Demons, ten corn demons and… much to Kihia’s dismay, ten broccoli demons. They were all oversize variations of the original plant, with wiry white limbs and glowing red eyes. Kihia sighed as he stood there, he had no intention of making the first move. The Demons growled, cackled, and roared as the Tomato and Broccoli demons slowly encircled Kihia, whereas the Corn demons formed two groups just beyond the demons forming the circle.

Kihia couldn’t help but smile slightly, I see what their doing… they may not look different… but whoever made these things most certainly has been making them smarter… His expression suddenly turned serious… but that won’t help them…Kihia suddenly jumped up as two broccoli demons attempted to smash into him, one from behind and one from his left. They collided into each other with a resounding crack as Kihia then landed ontop of both of them and then front flipped off of them and swung Icarus at their legs making them fall on top of one another. As he landed three corn demons unleashed a barrage of corn kernels from Kihia’s right flank, however Kihia quickly reacted by spinning Icarus as he spun around skillfully deflecting away each kernel that flew at him.

Kihia sighed as he saw none of the other demons were engaging yet, he went to take a step forward when suddenly he felt one of the broccoli demons grabbed his foot. “What in the??” Suddenly he noticed out of the corner of his eye a lone corn demon charging straight at him like a spear head. Kihia shook his head and outstretched Icarus towards the corn demon, “Not today… Ice make Partisan!” The Ice Partisan blade formed on the extended end of Icarus as the corn demon ran itself through stopping a few inches away from Kihia’s hand completely limp. He then released the twelve blades and maneuvered them to shred the corn demon off Icarus, He then quickly swiped Icarus downward and cut the Broccoli’s arm off. As soon as he was free he spun around and thrust Icarus into the Broccoli demon who tried to hold him still. As the Demon screeched and groaned as it slowly died Kihia tossed it up into the air as it landed not far away on the one of the paths.

Kihia then stood there for a moment as the broccoli demon slowly got up, “If you don’t mind, you can stop testing me you infernal demons… now just come on and lets get this done!” All the front line Demons roared and started to charge in, the broccoli demons moving a little faster than the tomato demons. The broccoli behind him  began to rear back its stalk, however before it could swat Kihia he quickly spun around and slashed across the Broccoli’s midsection and then thrusted Icarus through the demons eye, causing it to yell before dying and falling over.

Kihia watched the demon whither up as the demonic energy left the piece of broccoli normal in stature at his feet. He then looked all around him on the incoming demons, he then nodded, It’s time to get serious… Kihia then tossed Icarus high up into the air and then tossed off his cloak revealing his armored trenchcoat and armor to the demons. He then reached down and grabbed the Geruks, he fastened them together and then pulled them apart as a crystallux chain formed between the two of them turning them into a set of nunchucks, he then grabbed one of them with his left hand and then raised his right arm and caught Icarus as it fell back down.

Kihia then side stepped and swung Icarus outward in wide arc impaling a broccoli demon as it came in close, he then let go of Icarus and then spun stepped to his left and slammed the geruks into the face of another broccoli demon causing it to reel over backward from the impact. Kihia then turned around and grabbed Icarus with his right hand and yanked pit of the demon as he ran up and kicked the face of the first tomato demon who ran up causing it to roll backwards haphazardly. He then got hit in his back by a corn kernel causing him to bend forward for a second but quickly recovered by spinning out of the way of a Broccoli demon who had ran at him.

Kihia then jumped up and landed straight down on the broccoli demon he had knocked down with the Geruks and thrusted Icarus into it. He then jumped high into the air pulling Icarus along with him, It would seem… that this partisan head will end up in getting me in trouble… Kihia landed on the ground and sheathed the Geruks back onto the belt loop. He then reached up with his left hand and snapped off the Partisan blade. He then tossed the partisan blade into an incoming tomato demon causing it to fall backward and yell in pain. Kihia then spent a minute carefully dodging the next two broccoli demons coming into to ram into him. As he did he had begun to spin Icarus faster and faster as he then evaded another volley. He then jumped high into the air causing all the remaining demons on the ground to stop. “Ice Make ring…” The signature ring of ice formed on Icarus with Kihia high into the air, he then noticed the demons start backing away from Kihia which caused him to frown, They must think I am going to be using spear storm like I did last time… however… unfortunately for them I have something else planned…

Kihia closed his eyes for a moment as he hung there, “When you see your master again… tell him not send you creatures back…” Kihia then sent a portion of his magical power to his back and Icarus, “Crystal Make Wings! Along with Ice make Spiral Blade!” As the ring transformed into the nine bladed glaive two wings of crystal formed out of Kihia’s back, “Now then… Let me send you back to the otherworld…” Kihia then swooped down and landed with a direct kick onto a Tomato Demon standing on the dirt path, making it slide across the ground for a bit. Kihia then jumped up and closed in his wings as he avoided a coin kernel barrage.

Kihia then spread out his wings and stopped mid air as he the reared back Icarus and tossed the spiral blade with all of his might towards the group of six Corn Demons, the first demon had no time to react has the giant sawblade sliced it in half, Kihia then pointed at Icarus with his right index finger and then pointed in the direction of the remaining five corn demons and used his Cryokinesis to force the sawblade to change directions mid-air as it’s rotation got faster, it caught the five demons off guard as it swiftly sliced through each one with ease. He then drew his finger towards himself causing it to change directions once again and fly towards himself slicing through three tomato demons in its wake. Kihia then spun around and caught it by grabbing Icarus with his right hand as it flew by.

The Numerous Demons below him howled in rage, Kihia simply hovered there for a moment flapping his wings for a long moment. He then lowered himself down and touched down in the middle of the cross-path once again. He stood there for a moment as the remaining demons started to regroup. However before they were done Kihia took off with a strong flap of his wings directly towards a group of six Tomato demons and three broccoli demons. He came to a sliding landing right before the group as he held Icarus at an angle and spun it clockwise as he began to use his own momentum to bob and weave between the nine demons. As he did he slashed across the demons multiple times causing them all to howl in rage and pain when he got to the other side of the group he quickly turned around. As he did he noticed one of the remaining corn demons starting to inhale, he then threw Icarus with all of his might slicing through the nine demons he had just weaved around in various places taking them out as Icarus then flew through the air.

The Corn demon managed to fire off a single corn kernel which hit the Spiral blade right between one of the blades causing the ice formation to crack and split apart off of Icarus not before a large chunk impaled the corn demon who managed to hit the Augmented weapon.

Kihia watched as Icarus skidded across the ground a fair distance before rolling to a stop on the other side of the field. He grimaced as he reached down and pulled the Geruks out of their sling still in the nunchuck state, This is a wonderful situation… Sixteen demons left and I am down Icarus…. Kihia watched as the remaining Demons formed up a defensive line between Kihia and Icarus. The Five Tomato demons made up the front line, the one with the gash in it up front and center, behind them were another line of Six tomato demons with the three remaining broccoli demons right behind them and the two corn demons hanging back ready to act as artillery.

Kihia grit his teeth, he knew this wasn’t going to be easy… he hadn’t regained the control needed to cast a spell on the Geruks yet, so all he could do, is go in hard and start fighting with every bit he could. He charged forward flying low to the ground, he clasped the geruks together into their handbo state and held it outward with his right hand. As soon as he reached the five meter mark to the Tomato demons the front line spat out a horrible smelling red liquid.

Kihia reacted by quickly flapped his wings propelling him upward making him avoid the incoming tomato spray attack, or so he thought. The injured Tomato demon suddenly changed the direction it was spewing and managed to hit Kihia’s legs. He winced from the impact however closed his wings around his Torso, and used the impact to move into a front flip as he reached down with his right hand and touched his right leg, “Frozen Armor Creation!” A greave of solid ice formed on Kihia’s right leg as he spun around and landed a powerful axe kick straight down onto the Tomato demon causing it to split wide open. He then landed and opened his wings and batted away the other four demons’ as he then moved forward and swung the Geruks at the next Tomato demon and hit its side hard as it split open from the impact.

However suddenly a corn kernel slammed into one of the wings causing numerous fractures to form, however right after that a volley of corn kernels flew through the air shattering his wings. Then as three kernels came his way the Lacrima on his trench coat began to glow as a frozen barrier formed in front of him blocking two of the kernels whereas the last one managed to get through and hit Kihia square in the chest.

Kihia staggered from the impact, however before he could recover the tomato demons quickly unleashed a torrent of red juices straight at Kihia coming from all sides. Just before impact Kihia dispelled the greave off of his right leg as he got completely enveloped in the red liquid. He got tossed up into the air with the torrent and then landed a few feet from the line of broccoli demons. Without missing a beat one of the Broccoli demons had reared back and swatted Kihia hard into the ground, Kihia grunted in pain, trying with all of his might to hold back a yell.

The Demons then backed off a little to see what became of their opponent, Kihia laid there for a minute before stirring, Well… I should of expected something like that…. However… Kihia then slowly got up, he spotted Icarus a few meters away from him and leapt from his kneeling position and grabbed it off the rolling landing as he slowly got up. The demons were laughing now, overconfident with themselves for the line of hits they managed to land on their formidable opponent. “You know… I had hoped… I wasn’t going to have to resort to using that… but at this rate… my body won’t last much longer as it is… but first…” Kihia swiftly spun around with Icarus outstretched as the shards lined up as if to be a Scythe blade on Icarus as he cleaved the two corn demons in half.

Kihia stood up slowly as the Demons started to growl, he then slowly started to throw off his trenchcoat, and laid it down on the ground right next to him. The demons howled repeated as ten more corn crops started to grow out of control as the demonic possession of them took over. Kihia closed his eyes as a cold northern wind suddenly blew across the corn field. Now… I know I am not what I used to be… and that this blood of mine has been going rampant… but I must call upon that power once more… Kihia started to glow as a light blue aura started to envelop him, his hair started to flow as if a constant gentle breeze was flowing around Kihia. “Even though I have fallen…. Even though I am not what I used to be…” As he said this cracking sounds began to emanate from Kihia’s left arm, “Even though I am already at my limit…. I will go beyond my own limitations to not sully the name of Lamia Scale!”

The Demons roared as two of the broccoli demons charged in and leapt into the air, however before they got any closer Kihia pointed Icarus at them as the shards formed a cylinder like cage around the end as a large blast of energy erupted from Icarus freezing over the two broccoli demons and let them fall harmlessly to the ground as Kihia’s magical power erupted, “Now then… face my wrath…”

Kihia took a wide stance as his magical power started to swirl and wrap around his body, he hit a small quick release near his waist causing the upper part of his plate armor to disengage and pop off revealing both of his arms bandaged and his sleeveless grey t shirt. “Now… prepare for the end…” Kihia took a step forward as he went to point Icarus at the demons, “Ice Make…. Knight!” Kihia gritted his teeth as his magical power crystalized into ice all around him as it formed into the signature set of armor that his title of the Frozen knight came from. The armor anchored itself into his body as he felt the surge of power going into his body strengthen his limbs, as a glaive blade formed onto Icarus.

The instant the spell had run its course Kihia dashed forward straight into the last broccoli demon causing it to be carried by Kihia a few feet before he stopped making it fly a little further back only to be sliced in half when Kihia spun around and slashed at it with Icarus. The demons roared in both shock and anger as the tomato demons charged in, unaware of what laid in store for them.

Kihia came to a sliding stop as four tomato demons started rolling and charged in attempted to crushed Kihia. However as the reached striking distance he swiftly dispatched each one with a quick side slide and slice across the middle of each one. He then willed for the blade shards of Icarus to go to the unarmed end and took on a scythe blade formation. After Kihia did that he dashed forward and elbowed another tomato Demon into the air, which he then dispatched it by turning swiftly around and sliced it with the shard blades as well as another tomato demon with the glaive blade who attempted to roll into Kihia from behind.

Their red innards spilled out as their bodies withered up and died, the corn demons then began to unleash a flurry of corn kernels which Kihia was expertly evading by sliding side to side. He then kicked himself forward straight towards the corn demons. One Corn demon stopped its kernel barrage and lowered its head as it charged straight at Kihia. Right before they collided Kihia jumped up and placed his left hand on top of the Corn demon, he then pushed off causing him to spin counterclockwise and as he did he sliced the corn demon in half. Kihia then landed on the ground as he then continued his charge straight at them.

Kihia started to deflect the incoming Kernels off of Icarus as he charged, as he reached the line of corn demons and quickly spun around to dispatch one with the scythe bladed end of Icarus. He then stood still for a moment as four corn demons took off towards the three remaining tomato demons where as the other four switched to offense in an attempt to hold Kihia off. Two of them jumped up in an attempt to flop ontop of Kihia and pin him, where as the other two had jumped back and had unleashed a barrage of corn kernels towards Kihia. However he quickly reacted by slamming the flat end side of the glaive blade into the side of one of the leaping corn demons and sent it flying into it’s companions.

Kihia then took a step forward and grabbed Icarus with both hands as he swiftly sliced through all four corn demons with the Blade shards. Kihia stood there for a moment with the sun directly over head as he turned towards the remaining plant demons who were slowly backing away, however suddenly his left arm started to seize up and the armor on the arm started to crack. This made Kihia pause for a moment, Why now…. Of all times…

Kihia continued to stand there as the demons noticed the abnormality and began to roar in excitement, however under Kihia’s helmet his expression shown nothing of pure annoyance… of his own weakness. He managed to let go of Icarus with his left hand and started to spin it with his right as the glaive blade slowly dissipated into Magical power. The shards then moved to either side of Icarus forming their own rings of six pieces, I may not be able to chase them now with how my arm is… but… They will not escape! Kihia continued to spin Icarus faster and faster as he quietly activated ice make ring causing the ring to form.

After it did Kihia held Icarus above his head as he spun the weapon, “This is where this battle ends… Ice Make… Spiral Blade!” The Nine curved blades of ice shot out of the ring as twelve blades of floating ice formed around the shards. After this Kihia sent a large portion of his magical power to the weapon causing it to grow in size, “Begone from this place and never sully these fields again!” Kihia then made the weapon levitate with his Cryokinetic ability and then thrusted his arm forward causing the now giant sawblade to fly through the air at incredibly speeds as it shredded the remaining plant demons before the spell itself shattering causing Icarus to land near the village outskirts.

Kihia lowered his arm, and started to pant a little, he knew his body was still recovering from the ordeal he had faced while being away, but also knew there was something still wrong that wasn’t getting better. He slowly looked at his left arm and shook his head. The frozen Knight then slowly walked over and grabbed both his trench coat and cloak. Alright… now I can release the spell safely without it… being found out…. Kihia gritted his teeth as he mentally released the spell that forged the armor of Ice Make Knight, causing numerous fractures to form in his right arm and all of the anchoring points to open up and start bleeding.

He staggered from the shock but managed to keep on standing as he sat down and quickly readministered the bandages, starting with his left arm that was still seized. He finished in about twenty minutes as the Village folk started to come out to the field. They saw the once possessed vegetables scattered about but various villagers were happy their fields were undamaged. As Kihia finished bandaging himself up he put on his trenchcoat and then his cloak a few minutes later after fighting with his hair for a minute.

Then as he was resting on the ground, the two representatives came walking up to him with Icarus in hand. When they managed to reach him they handed Kihia’s age old weapon to him as he gratefully accepted with his right arm slowly grabbing it. Kihia nodded in thanks and sat there for a moment longer as he examined the crops slowly clearing up. That’s when one of the representatives spoke up, “So, Do you think our problem is fixed for good this time?” “Because it seems you only managed to do exactly what you did the last time you were here!” Kihia grimaced, he knew what they meant and regretted not actually finding the perpetrator. “I can’t say for certain if this will solve your problem… and I understand if you don’t want to pay me…” Kihia sat there for a moment in silence as the two representatives stood there for a moment, “After you fought that hard for us again,” “and got so injured in the process, it would dishonor our village.” “Not to pay you” “So we shall, after you take a few days to rest here that is!” The two representatives laughed as Kihia simply shook his head and sighed, “I don’t see what choice I have…”

Kihia rested within the village for one day, after his left arm stopped seizing around noon he did what he could to repair his right arm. All the while he tended his own injuries he refused any help from the villagers to help him heal. Everytime he wasn’t tending to his injuries he was doing what he could around the village to help out, whether it be hauling Vegetables from the fields or helping plow them. During the afternoon of that day the two representatives came to the tent they gave him to use and sat down to speak with him.

“We thank you for your help during today, we won’t pry as to why you refuse our healers but we thank you nonetheless” Kihia nodded as he took a sip of tea. “We heard that you wanted to ask us a few questions, and wanted to come to you to assist you in whatever way we can,” “After all, you have gone above and beyond helping us,” Kihia looked at them for a moment and nodded as he then looked at them sternly. “I only have two questions… I was wondering if any of you have heard anything about an advanced white ship with a snake decal on the side… as well as a troublesome ancient snow wyvern…”

The two representatives looked at each other for a long moment, before turning back at Kihia “Well… We haven’t heard anything about a Wyvern,” “But One a day a random bunch of travelers came through gloating about a ship” “A ship they said that once belonged to a former Wizard Saint” Kihia stood up at those words, “Did they say where it was? Or any hint of where they might of headed?” The two representatives scratched their heads, “I think,” “They mentioned somewhere thriving with a ton of magic power…” “Some Sort of Garden?” “But a garden of magic doesn’t make sense…”

Kihia listened to them for a few minutes before it clicked in his head, “Rose Garden?” The two Representatives clapped their hands in Unision “Yes That’s the place!! We remember know they seemed to be a black market group running out of Rose Garden…” Kihia nodded as he picked up his belongings and began to get ready to leave. “Wait your leaving?” “Its only been a day surely you could rest another day?” Kihia simply shook his head, “I can’t leave that ship in the wrong hands… there is no time to lose…” With that Kihia walked out of the tent and started his long trek back to Hargeon.