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Lonesome listened to the plan of the group as he stood in the shadows. He had decided that this group wouldn't not be able to help him find his father and he was astouneded at the readiness everyone had to follow the odd man without any more information. Deciding to do one last thing for them he would look around for at least tracks that the group had failed to even look for.

After getting far enough away from the group he whispered to himself. "If they barge in like that everytime I think I better stay on my own." he wasn't even sure why he stayed near this group but something told him that he would find his father if he had stayed with the group.

Hearing a sound he drew his sword and turned around towards a bush. He had thought he had seen something move but wasn't sure.

He watched as the man left leaving behind his minions. "Why in the world does he think I'm trying to take him on alone?" he muttered. "Your master has pretty big ego boys doesn't it ever annoy you?" he asked as one demon got closer to him. The demon didn't seem to be in a talking mood and attacked Lonesome. Sighing he beheaded the doomed creature with a flick of his sword. As the bloody head fell to the ground Lonesome wondered why that Saint Dane person seemed to want to drive him back to Eric when supposedly if he stayed away from him then he wouldn't be able to get those crystals that Saint Dane apparently wants. Could it be that Saint Dane wants Eric to gather the crystals so that he wouldn't have to do the dirty work? Just then two demons attacked him one from behind the other from the front. "You know you shouldn't try to trap the wind." he said as he ducked slightly under one's blade and impaled it while shoving the one from behind backwards into a group of demons.

"I'll give you guys one thing you're either to stupid to run or too brave for your own good." he said as he held the last one by the throat. "It seems to me that your master didn't want me dead or else he wouldn't have sent cannon fodder to kill me. I would send you back to your master with a message but I don't think you would deliver it to him, you'd probably try to kill me again. He looked around at the carnage surrounding him and sighed. Trees were destroyed creating a small hole in the forest, some demons were impaled on branches while others where mutilated missing something from their bodies. The demon in ihs hand was beginning to stop struggeling and Lonesome for a brief second considered letting him live. Loosening his grip the demon sprang forward almost biting his throat off. Lonesome quickly ducked down and shoved his left horn through the bottom of the demons jaw and shoving it right out the top of it's skull. Pulling the demon off him he sighed again, "Now where was I....oh yeah looking for tracks." he said as he sheathed his sword and walking off into the darkness.

Atrum nodded. "I'll check." He let a stream of light follow him up the tree that he was well... spying in. They were closer to the fort now, and where they were was still covered in trees.

He climbed as high as he could, closing his blue eye and using his gold one to scan the area. He had found that it could see further and more accurately than his other eye. It didn't take long to spot the gargantuous area that was missing trees and shrubs that looked like they had been uprooted and sliced into pieces.

"You won't believe this one." He said, seeing Lonesome in the makeshift clearing. "It is Lonesome, but Saint Dane's with him!" Atrum leaped down the branches and landed somwhere between Erik and James. "If he's there and Rayne and Arabella are with us to now, then I doubt anyone's in that prison." Sure, it had to eventually be taken out... but for now getting to Lonesome was more important.

(( They told you last page sweetheart. Water is Rayne and Mental is Arabella. ))

The teen summed up Erik's speech as Lets-get-to-Lonesome-before-he-does and took out his weapon. "Then lets go if we're going." He wasn't very exhubrant about it, but didn't want anyone to have to fend off Saint Dane for long on their own.

Though out of all of them, Lonesome seemed to be the one that could take their strongest enemy in combat. He was't worried about the wind elemental when it came to corruption; nor would he ever be. He didn't have the same motives as the rest of them; but that didn't make him any easier to manipulate. He was smart, and didn't seem to dislike anyone in particular (though he and Erik did seem to but heads more than anyone else) Atrum wasn't even going to ask about the whole death wish thing.

"Error of hi- nevermind, but yeah, we should probablly get going." Atrum subconciously checked to make sure Mizuki was alright in his pocket. He'd explain what was going on as she woke up. The teen would make sure she stayed safe by staying safe himself. "I might need some help along the way." He whispered to his element. This time it did answer, sparkling up and down; nodding.

"My short-term memory is completely shot, okay!" He could easily tell that Rayne and Arabella did not like him all that much. No matter. Soon, this would be over, and the crystals would not need to be reformed. Soon, Erik would have his vengeance on Saint Dane.

"Well, well, Saint Dane, I believe your time is up." Saint Dane turned. Erik stood there, glaring. "Ha! I had hoped someone would play the hero. I hit the jackpot!" Saint Dane laughed maniacally. "Save it for the darkest pits of Hell, where you belong!" Saint Dane shook his head. "Oh, Erik, do you really believe i am all that evil?" "Of course! You murder innocent civilians for your own bloody pleasure!" "But what of you? Are you completely blameless, Erik? Must i remind you of your bloody rampage against innocent civilians?" "Innocent my a**! You caused a riot and forced them to attack me!" Saint Dane once again shook his head. "I am not finished. Do you truly believe yourself to be the Warrior of Light, after all you have done? After the way you thirst for combat? Your constant talk of bloody vengeance? Your soul is as dark as mine!" "Do not compare yourself to me." Saint Dane laughed. "You are as dark as any of the demons I create. You are corrupted by the power of darkness! And now, your black soul is MINE!!!" Saint Dane waved his hand, and sent out waves of darkness. All of them focused on Erik, and every last one struck him. The darkness was spreading over Erik, the Corruption overtaking him. Erik had fought the darkness before, but he had lost before, and no one was there to save him. The Corruption is much more powerful then mere darkness. Those lost to the Corruption never regain there true selves... they are always forced to do the bidding of Saint Dane... as the Corruption overtook what was left of Erik's light, he fell to the ground, succumbing to the power of Corruption.

"So, Erik never told you? About the fact that i am the Warrior of Darkness? And that he is the Warrior of Light? It was written 1000 years ago, on another world, that one of us would eventually kill the other! But, he doesn't have Akujiki with him... I guess my victory isn't absolute yet."

Everything had come full circle. Erik's memories had only shown him scenes of battle, war, death and destruction. He had felt alone, helpless, and without a cause. Even after the crystals had been reformed, what was his future? Did he have anything to look forward to? He did not know, and so, Erik had lost all sense of purpose, making him an easy target for the Corruption. Atrum had tried to save Erik, but had failed. However, his desperate action had a far-reaching consequence no one would have predicted.

Erik was lying...somewhere. He had no knowledge of where he was, or what he was. He stood up, and looked at himself. He had been tainted by the Corruption, and if he ever woke up, he would be a slave to Saint Dane's will. But then, a flash of light appeared. When is dissipated, there was female standing there. Erik seemed to recognize her, but didn't know her name. She walked up to Erik and said: "Do you remember me?" Erik shook his head. "Really? I thought you did." Erik looked away. "I'm sorry, but I can barely remember who I am right now." She smiled. "Your name is Erik. And you are the kindest man i have ever met." Once again, Erik shook his head. "How can i be kind when i have been transformed by my own darkness?" She laughed. "It isn't your own darkness that resulted in this transformation. Saint Dane fooled you into thinking that." Erik didn't believe her. So he changed the subject. "You know my name, so what's yours?" "My name is Karoline." The name rang bells for Erik-distant bells, but bells all the same. She leaned in on Erik. He turned away. "I am nothing but a monster now. I deserve death." She laughed. "Erik, have you forgotten about us?" "I guess i have. I don't remember you." "Well then, perhaps this will help you remember..." She leaned over, and kissed Erik on the cheek. As she disappeared, memories of her came flooding back through Erik's mind: he had a crush on her. He didn't know if it was the same for her, but perhaps she had a crush on him. The first time Saint Dane had tried to corrupt him, she ran forward and hugged him. The darkness faded away from Erik, and the two of them were locked in a sweet embrace.

"I remember." Those were the first words to leave Erik's lips as he woke up. He rose to his feet, as Saint Dane noticed him. "Ah, good, you're awake. Kill these pathetic wimps for me." Erik took a step forward, rose a demonic claw, and ripped through Saint Dane's back. "What the hell? How dare you attack your master. Kill them! Now!" Erik looked Saint Dane right in the eyes, and said: "No". "No? My demonic friend, the word no is not in your vocabulary." Erik was getting tired of this sad charade. "You hold no power over me!!" The darkness covering Erik gradually slipped away, and Erik was left standing. "Ah, so you have won again Erik! Next time you won't be so damm lucky. Next time, i won't try any tricks. Be prepared to die the next time we meet!" Saint Dane warped away(again), and Erik walked over to Atrum. "Thank you. Without your desperate attempt at saving me, I would have been a demon for eternity. And for that, I owe you my life."

Atrum didn't bother listening to Saint Dane's speech, the man was terrorizing everyone. And he could have sworn that was Leila's sword. The teen glared, he'd do better than filling this guy wih arrows. Especially since Saint Dane had succeeded hitting Erik again. Because of me... He thought bitterly. This battle didn't seem like it would end until either they or Saint Dane was dead.

"Heal him!" He yelled to his light, and immediately a flash was surrounding Erik's wound, circling around him in a motion that made it seem like a blur. Atrum was this element's child, and it would do anything that he asked it too.

Just as Atrum was it's child, Erik was once it's comrad. The light remembered fondly of him, fighting alongside he and his allies. It sparkled and grew brighter at the memories that fueled it to work harder. an element never forgets, they're as old as the earth itself. As old as any world; and though Atrum himself couldn't fight Saint Dane, his element could lead him along.

It glistened, hoping that Erik would pick up it's message and use it.

Atrum took out his bow, firing three arrows. But then Erik's story from no more than a few mornings ago ruished to his mind. Jared had used arrows made of light. The idea sparked, and Atrum knew there was no way to get stronger without expierimenting first.

He hadn't a clue how to make light energy into an arrow, but lasers were much easier to shape. They were sharper and heavier than light was, and the elemental hoped that his bow would hold up.

For the next arrow he shot was a laser. Red and hot, the transformed energy was faster than any beam of light Atrum had used before. It stung his fingers and scorched a piece of his bow. He didn't have this ability completely under control yet... it had missed Saint Dane, hitting a tree almost twenty meters away.

With light surrounding his fingertips, he made another laser arrow, this time with a confidence that the attack successfully worked; he just needed to learn to aim it correctly. The shot flew straight for the dark warrior's heart. Atrum could only hope it would hit.