Dark Crow Rising

"COME ON YOU BLESSED MACHINE, BACK UPRIGHT!" my bulbs flare to the point of burning out. Wiping my brow of blood and sweat my other hand adjusts the controls. This machine is divine and invincible but I am not. The excitement of being able to try my hand at fighting a pair of living mountains is over. We take this seriously now, no mistakes at all.

Hissing back the pain, I call upon the machine's divine functions to offer me some form of dullness. As good halolight fulfils my chlorophyllic skin, the hands of the gods give me the chance I need. Atarifgue returns upright and I take manual control of its arms by slotting my arms into the controls. First, the pest on Atarifuge's head!

Grasping it by body and shell, the divine machine tosses the beast. Free of the burden, I reach down for the other one and pick it up by the scruff of its neck. It fights back with all it has and those little limbs snap and pinch when they can. Spotting the returning living mountain, I throw its friend straight for it and hop around to Atarifuge's sword.

Beginning my sprint, I bounce with each stride and go with the motions. The beasts lined with the ancient power spit destruction upon me and I interrupt it when I can. That strange, mysterious creature with the impossibly large shell lurches out with either tongue or limb. Atarifuge skids to a halt and almost throws me out of the command chair.

The divine machine starts to slide towards the creature and I urge it to hop to the sword. Flexing my arm and threatening to tear open myself a pair of lips, I manage to slip out. The ground breaks away around Atarifuge and I scramble it back up. One of the living mountains barrels into the head and I barely avoid losing consciousness.

Waterfalls, why am I thinking of warm waterfalls?

"I remember... I remember... I remember..." my bulbs flicker as survival instinct unlocks the caged memories of Atarifuge. Divine power floods its systems and I grab onto the living mountain. Rising to the machine's full height, the lethal, comparatively child-scale beast lashes out for the head again. Leaning back slightly, I turn for the other living mountain as it leaps.

I drop its friend and shift my weight and power into the right fist. Its chest opens up and I strike, backing it off into the distance while I turn. The sword, I need to return the sword to Atarifuge's grip, to my handling. If I try to win through wrestling these creatures, wrapped up in their mysterious light, I will die.

I cannot allow that man to live. Not when I have the experience to know how his life will turn out. The world cannot have another me. It mustn't, it will not...

Watching the trident creature attack again, I lean Atarifuge's immense size aside and avoid its grasp. I do the same again and avoid the next attack. Aiming the divine machine towards what is now coming towards me, I have it barrel on through. Whatever rock is there, I can hear it shatter and roll off of Atarifuge.

A collection of the flying beasts ram right for me and impact all across Atarifuge. Smacking the back of my head, I am back on the floor while these things charge with all they have. Grabbing a handful, I roll up back to my feet and smash the closet living mountain across the jaw. It stumbles back, clearly clutching its shattered snapping beak.

Sensing the opportunity, I rush for the injured one while the other is dazed. I reach Atarifuge's hand between the gap between its shell and body and pull. The living mountain turns spastic and lashes out with all the energy in its body. It's in pain, incredible pain, it is working.

The resistance weakens and the mountain-shaped shell flies off into the distance. The beast falls forward, weakened and enraged. Rising to my full height again, I take the animal by its neck and hold it aloft and far away. I squeeze hard. Harder!

The contents of my grip vanish and I turn to the final living mountain as it backs away. It seems to grow louder and what has been watching us moves in to support. I suppose that means whoever commands these beasts also dictates to these two living mountains. Taking my chance, I grab a couple of the fliers.

I throw them at what tries to grab me and leap for Atarifuge's sword. Raising it into the air, I twist and slash down, cutting through a whole line of the flying things. Their gore blends into the clear ground and I lurch forward, angry. So many beasts to figh-

I stomp Atarifuge down onto the beast that tried to charge me. Pushing down, its body crunches and I keep moving forward. I slash and swipe away the other beasts while they linger and aim for more as they back off. The other living mountain starts to run.

Moving my blood-filled mouth chamber, I swallow some of the iron-tasting liquid. Atarifuge's sword rises and I charge with all the strength Atarifuge will allow. Grabbing onto its shell's opening gap, I heave it back so suddenly its feet fly up and I thrust. The sword goes straight through the living mountain's mountain and out through its gut.

Heaving and panting, I bring Atarifuge to a halt so I can catch my breath. Little flickers of light burst out of the dead living mountain and I swat for some of them. What I miss goes out on their own and I turn to the other shell. It's like an insect hive with all that is buzzing around.

Approaching the bloody shell, I place my foot on it as the lights scatter. So few seem to vanish from view and I plant my sword on the best crevice and thrust down. I have made it clear to whatever pests live in a living mountain's shell that I am victorious. Stepping away, I focus on the widening wall of beasts and they seem to leave me be.

Unlocking my arms from the finer controls, I caress their bruised forms and flinch at the feel of broken bone. Pushing and flicking what is needed, Atarifuge raises its sword high into the limits of the sky. I open up the horns settled in its mouth and turn up what I need. The might of the gods roars in triumph for all the land to hear.

"Gods help me..." my bulbs flicker as I get to work tending my wounds.