The Stigma
_'Then it came... that fated day... in the end, the planet itself had to make the battles stop for good. The planet used the Lifestream as a weapon and when it burst out of the earth... all the fighting, all the greed and sadness... everything was washed away.'
_Two years later Chasen landed on a rooftop, only to immediately send himself airborne again as Matt struck. A sword in each hand, he fended Matt off, sometimes gaining ground, sometimes losing it. He no longer knew how long this had been going on. He only knew that he had to beat Matt.
The two men pulled apart, each retreating some distance as they planned their next moves. Matt was the first to charge, racing toward him across the rooftop, sword ready. But Chasen was ready for him. Matt leapt into the air, planning to strike from above, but one great swing of Chasen's sword sent him flying. Matt's sword was knocked from his grasp, and he fell, catching himself with one hand on a narrow ledge. His other hand still held tightly to the box that contained Cassie's remains. He turned his head and watched as his sword tumbled to the ground far below. From the darkness above the city, smoke-like tendrils descended. It looked, to those who saw it, like the Lifestream, but corroded and evil. The people of Belize City looked up and took notice of this new danger.
Ichabod was too fast to be caught be the attack, though. He dodged easily, taking to the air, and coming to rest on another building opposite the one he'd attacked Chasen on. Ichabod's legendary strength, and two great strokes of the Durandal, cleaved the vast sheet of concrete and sent it tumbling downwards toward Chasen. Chasen leapt out of the way, and Ichabod attacked in mid-air.
"I've thought of a wonderful present for you," Ichabod said, "Shall I give you despair?"
Chasen didn't answer, only continued his onslaught of blows. In the end, Ichabod had the upper hand, and sent Chasen hurtling downward. But Chasen...