Ash began to unsheathe his sword from his side.

"It's not real!"

"What?"

Wain twisted his body to grab hold of Ash. Ash exchanged a confused look with Wain. His eyes were focused and determined, as if he were a completely different person. Whatever the angel had shown him had left Wain with complete resolve and acceptance.

"Just this once time, trust me."

As the four raced through the rain, the thick droplets pounded against their skin. The water struck their eyes, partially blinding them as the cheetah sprinted through the oncoming storm. Wain was thankful that the created beast could perceive better than they could. The well-trained hunter was unphased by the storm. It weaved through cars, rubble, and fallen buildings, blocking their path.

Before they reached the malevolent serpent's eye, they reached an intersection. Then, the cheetah dashed to the right, throwing the riders to the side. Wain clutched Ash with his right hand, barely keeping him on the cat's back. However, the smaller priest fell off from the back, letting out a cry for help,

"Hahhh! Help!"

Asura grabbed hold of Kane's shirt before he could reach the ground. Kane looked up at the ogre who leaned far off the cheetah's side, gripping its fur with his left two hands. The outstretched ogre smiled at the priest, laughing out,

"Hahahaha, almost died there, didn't ya? Hold on tight. It'll be a bumpy ride!"

Although saved from striking the pavement, Kane wasn't safe from an unfortunate death quite yet. Down the street, a large, sharp metal shard of rebar stuck out from the concrete. Kane turned his head to look at the metal piece and frantically grasped Asura's hand.

"Pull me up! Pull me up!"

Asura yanked the priest up onto the cheetah's back, narrowly saving him from being decapitated as the shard flew by. The cheetah's speed never slowed, keeping a steady, fast pace to outrun their pursuer.

Kane gripped the cheetah's fur tightly, and to his surprise, it was soft as if real. He had never felt such an illusion before. " Wait—is this even an illusion?" he thought. The priest ran his fingers along the body of the mist, finding a heartbeat beating against the skin.

"Pretty real, huh? I don't know how he does it, but I think it's almost a perfect imitation. It ain't alive, alive but pretty darn close."

Kane turned to look at Asura, who smiled from ear to ear.

"Please always keep your arms and legs inside the vehicle during the ride. If you lose a limb, the park is not responsible for the missing appendages that may be lost due to your ignorance. Sit back and enjoy the thrill of your life at the A Need To Speed Amusement Park!"

Kane's horrified face twisted into a look of disgust as Asura threw his upper two arms up in the air,

"What is wrong with you?"

"A lot of things."

Although the real Jormungandr wasn't visible, Wain knew it was hunting them.

The large, misty, cloudy illusion slithered alongside them, enveloping the buildings with its enormous, slightly translucent body. It was crafted from raging black clouds, and within the approaching storm hung the lonesome hateful eye that haunted them as they raced throughout the city. As it traveled beside them, a loud thunderous rumble reverberated through the air. Ash sat horrified as the eye always focused upon them.

"Why are we-"

Ash stopped. Within the illusion, lightning bolts crackled as they shot throughout the body. The purple, vibrant bolts easily tore through the building's walls, cleaving them apart as they whipped through the stormy body. As the structures tumbled and collapsed, they fell onto the street all around them. The falling buildings created another obstacle the cheetah had to avoid. Wain screamed out,

"GET DOWN IF YOU DON'T WANT TO LOSE YOUR HEAD!"

The three behind him followed his lead as he ducked close to the smokey body. Tucked against the cat's body, they watched a building fall before them. The cheetah ran through a nearby crevice, entering the building before anyone could object or call out about the blockage. To their surprise, it easily passed through the crumbling building, dodging the falling furniture and debris. Upon exiting the other side, Asura shot up and looked back at the building behind.

"THAT WAS AWESOME!"

Ash tapped Wain's shoulder,

"Are you alright!?!"

Asura's head shot forward. Wain was still lying against the beast. He wasn't moving.

"WAIN!?!"

"I'M ALRIGHT! I need to light this!"

Wain screamed out.

The cheetah's body was diminishing beneath them. Asura looked down to find the beast thinning.

"Shit."

Wain struggled with a lighter in his hand, finding it difficult to ignite as rain rushed down onto them. Whatever flame he could start quickly extinguished as the pouring rain covered every inch of their bodies. He desperately grasped the lighter, flicking the metal downward to start it.

"FUCK!"

Wain looked back to find Asura reaching deep into his mouth. From within, he flicked out a flame onto Wain's back.

"HSSS! Mmmgh. That burns."

Wain gasped as the white flame burnt his skin.

"Sorry!"

Although in pain, Wain was grateful for the flame. It would undoubtedly save their lives. Wain grabbed hold of the liquid fire on his back, burning the skin off his hand in the process. As he pulled the fire close underneath him, he pressed the soaked cigar created from the herb of creation into its flame. It ignited.

Wain quickly pressed it into his mouth, cupping it to protect the burning herb. He inhaled as much as he could, but his lungs heaved as the cloud entered his body. The mana burned at his lungs, declaring its rejection as it ate away at his body. Deep, dark lines were spreading across his skin. Wain was glad his skin tone hid his condition from the others as he exhaled deeply to refill the cheetah with more smoke.

Asura studied Wain as he reinforced their only means to survive. Although he wished to stop his friend from pushing himself further, he knew it was the human's only chance to survive. From Wain's lungs came the last whisp of smoke, and the cheetah sped up like a sudden surge of invigoration.

"WAIN LOOK UP!"

Wain jolted upward, pushing himself enough to see another approaching storm consume the buildings on their left. The new illusion's giant behemoth of a head charged forward at the group with its maw opened wide. Within the void of its throat in the eye of the storm, Ash watched as the lightning whirled around inside.

"SHIT! HE IS TRAPPING US!"

Ash turned to look back at the other illusion still behind them. His heart skipped a beat for a second at the sight of the storm serpent no longer next to him. However, the thunderous roar behind reminded him it was still present. Turning around, Ash found the malicious eye still peering down at the group.

"It's trying to block our escape!"

"I know!"

The cheetah neared the entrance of another intersection. On the other side of the intersection lay the top of one of the colossal titans that once stood in the beautiful city. The once proud beacon of interest in the city was now reduced to rubble that barricaded their straight path. Its debris spilled into the intersection, creating another barrier that divided the road. They were left with one choice. Left or right...

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

Asura whipped his head back and forth between the two. Kane's body began to tremble before him, and Ash looked uncertain as they drew close. "We're not fast enough to go right. We'll get caught by the storm."

"Wain-"

The cheetah jolted to the right upon entering the intersection. Asura's eyes widened in shock at the decision. The group's head whipped toward the illusion crafted from the storm. Before, they could not identify the serpent's head due to the angle, but now... It was in full view. The large head opened wide, revealing the same void the other held inside. This time... there was no avoiding it. Wain cried out,

"HOLD ON!"

Asura threw his body over Kane's to shield him, surprising the young priest with his actions. Even if Kane rejected his help due to pride, Asura wouldn't have budged. He knew the pain they would feel when touched by those bolts. He shouted to Kane,

"Don't let the bolts touch you! They'll cut you in half!"

Asura bit down on his lip, preparing for his body to be struck several times. For a second, he looked up. Wain stared back. Guilt plagued the priest's eyes. He already knew about the events that were about to occur. To the two of them, time seemed to slow, and Asura mouthed to Wain, "It's fine." Then it happened.

The serpent's maw slammed through the corner of the intersection. Ash was surprised as he narrowly avoided the serpent's strike. However, to his horror, Kane was not so lucky. The serpent didn't cleave through the cheetah but instead enveloped half of its body like the buildings. Its body did not affect the objects within... However, the lightning swirling inside was a different story.

Although translucent, the raging dark storm made it difficult to see Asura. His dark skin tone blended in with the black storm swirling before the two. However, this issue soon disappeared as Asura's body was struck with countless ethereal purple bolts. They appeared attracted to the ogre's body as if it were a rod. Each slammed down into his skin, scorching and electrifying his flesh. Seconds felt like an eternity as bolt after bolt whipped and attacked the living beings inside.

Up close, Ash could tell the bolts were produced from a source of demonic mana rather than a natural one. With every strike, the heat and thick burn left within his lungs from the lingering mana in the air reminded him of the dragon's rage. "The strikes are purposeful..." Ash thought in the moment. Then, it all ended.

Asura and Kane broke through. Ash began to let out a sigh of relief but stopped as the sudden cries of pain shocked him. The blood-chilling scream caused Ash to freeze. He looked down at Kane. Kane gripped his shoulder... blood poured from an open wound. Ash's eyes widened.

"MY ARM!"

Kane screamed as blood ran down his left hand. His entire right arm was cleaved off from the shoulder. However, Ash grabbed hold of Kane's side to get a better look at his wound, finding an exposed ribcage. One of the bolts had struck Kane. Asura roared in agony as he clenched his teeth.

The ogre's body contracted and spasmed. Everything in his body told him to squeeze and clench to help endure the pain, but Kane laid against the back of the cheetah before him. The only thing he could do was clench his fists and bite down on his lip.

"GAGGHHHH! FAAAACCK!"

Asura punched at the air.

"FUCK!"

Fire burst from his mouth. Then, without another curse or display of his agony, Asura gripped two hands onto Kane's shoulder. Kane looked up at Asura, opening his mouth to speak. However, he was cut off as Asura shoved his hand into his mouth.

"BITE!"

The ogre's furious white eyes glowed brightly in the darkness. He grabbed hold of Ash with his last free hand. Asura growled with a demanding authority Ash had never heard before,

"HEAL HIM!"

Then, Kane screamed, biting down as hard as he could while Asura ignited his other hands.

"AHHHHHHGHHH!"

The stench of burnt flesh filled their nose. Kane pounded the back of the cheetah with his free hand. Ash pressed his hands against Kane's back, pouring the mana he could muster into his back. The priest could feel his organs strain within himself as the mana reopened his earlier purity burn.

Asura could only watch as Ash began to cough up blood. There was nothing to be done about the situation. If he didn't heal Kane, he could die. This was their only attempt to save the young man's life. He knew the pain was unbearable for both. However, it wasn't like he wasn't enduring hell as the electricity coursed inside.

Wain never looked back. He understood their injuries were his fault and accepted the consequences that came after. They had one shot at this... He'd risk it all to take it. Kane gasped as Asura pulled his hands away from the wound. Asura tried to sick back and catch his breath, but Wain's yelling startled him,

"HE'S HERE!"

Asura flicked his head backward. Before his eyes, the Apocalypse emerged from the illusion's body. Its gigantic head slammed into the buildings as it slithered from side to side. Brutishly, it tore its path to find its prey. The large serpent wore no wounds on its face anymore.

"Why do thy run from me? Would Judex Divinum not be ashamed of thy acts? Stand before thy evil. Proclaim thy faith. To fear me over the Lord is blasphemy. Stand thy ground in the face of the wicked. Thy are cowards that gloat when times are easy. Yet, when in turmoil, you flee. Shame. Disappointments. Worthless. Purposeless. I am eager to devour you all. Face me, boast your God. So that I may show you who truly is to be feared."

The snake grew close as it pursued them down the street.

"When's this plan supposed to kick in, Wain? Right about now? Im thinking now's the time. Just a little birdy told me that it should be now."

"Shut up!"

Wain looked left to right, searching for the building he was looking for. As they raced down the street, Jormungandr approached closer and closer. The buildings roared and collapsed as his large body slammed into their walls, sending them toppling over. With each fall, the ground shook underneath.

"So... I don't want to say anything, but I think we're dead."

Kane opened his mouth to speak, but Wain shouted from the front.

"DO NOT SPEAK KANE! NOTHING!"

A sign jutted out from a storefront reading, "Black Cat Coffee." Wain sighed internally at the sight. Wain counted,

"1... 2... 3... 4..."

For a brief moment, Lydia's voice erupted from the third story of a building to their left. Asura looked up, finding the fierce warrior with a smile on her face. In her hands, she wielded the massive black rock. As they passed by at high speed, Asura realized something was wrong. The portal piece wasn't radiating with mana like before. Asura's heart dropped at the thought of it losing its mana...

Ash also felt the lack of mana, leading him to call out,

"It's not going to work!"

"It has an illusion on it to disguise the presence. Lydia's not dumb!"

Jormungandr shot past Lydia's location, pursuing the four relentlessly through the city. The momentum carried him forward, but it was apparent he was slowing down. Ash called out,

"Why is he slowing?!"

"CAUSE HE CAN HEAR US YOU FUCKING IDIOTS! SHUT THE FUCK UP!"

Wain's cursing left Ash speechless.

"It's too late anyway."

Jormungandr's exposed body sat before Lydia. Lydia raised the portal piece high, putting everything she could into this throw. Her blessing raged within, feeling the presence of the Apocalypse. Intense rage filled her heart at the thought of all the dead civilians who lost their lives due to the attack. Her golden lightning crackled as it arced along her body, whipping down onto the floor.

Lydia ignited the portal, sending a surge of mana into the surface. The spark sent waves of mana pulsing within. On the outside, golden cracks began to form, displaying the structure's instability in her hands. A low hum began to emit from the mana-infused rock. "Not yet... one more second..." Lydia thought as she waited for the precise moment.

The large rock started to vibrate in her arms.

"Eat this bastard!"

With one strong throw, she sent the rock downward at the side of the Apocalypse close to its spine.

The four looked back at the Apocalypse, desperately trying to slow down. Even Kane couldn't resist straining himself to glimpse the display. He eagerly wished to watch the demise of the Apocalypse. To feel the satisfaction of watching it die.

As the bomb flew through the air, it started to separate, revealing a gleaming golden glow within. The shards that split apart allowed lightning to begin to arc between them. Pure mana poured out onto the streets in pulses of waves that expanded from the core.

"Holy shit..."

Jormungandr tried to pull the earth upward, using his quotidian mana to create a barrier between his body and the bomb. He was too late. Asura watched the core detonate, expanding upon impact against the serpent's armor.

The golden flames tore outwards through everything it touched, resembling an expanding hungry sun ready to consume for fuel. His flesh burned away, then the muscle, and lastly, the organs. In the blink of an eye, Jormungandr's seemed to split apart from the bomb.

A blinding light emerged as it expanded rapidly, causing the three to look away from the massive explosion. For a moment, Asura thought it would stabilize like a sun as it began pulling at the buildings it hadn't touched. The structure's walls caved and gave into the pull, allowing the rubble to pull into the surface.

Then, it cracked, the surface broke, and the energy was released outward. The surging heat slammed into the four, leaving them all feeling as if their skin would be burnt away. Afterward, the shockwave from the force sent the four off onto the street. Kane gasped as his arm slammed into the concrete. Asura did his best to hold onto Kane, but the force was too much, and he tumbled away.

Wain was the first to call out,

"Ge-Get up!"

He groaned as he stumbled through the street. Ash tried to look around, but the ringing in his ears disoriented him as he tried to gather his wits. His unfocused eyes swayed until Wain fell to his knees beside him.

"GET UP!"

The words felt foreign.

"GET UP!"

Wain pulled at Ash's arm.

"Is-isn't he dead?"

Wain shouted.

"NO!"

Ash's head swayed in the direction of Jormungandr. The serpent reeled in agony there, which meant he was still alive. On the ground, the extent of the damage wasn't visible. Asura could only hope it was enough to slow him at least down.

"Ho-"

"GET UP!"

Asura pushed himself off the ground. Without wasting any time, he grabbed hold of Kane, slinging him over his shoulder. Kane objected,

"It hurts!"

"Better than being dead."

Without another word, Asura sprinted down the street past Wain. The ogre turned, waiting for Wain to follow,

"Ash! We need to go!"

"Leave him! If he can't fucking listen. Let's go!"

Wain looked to Asura, then to Ash. The priest reached into his jacket again, pulling the cigar out.

"Fire-"

"Shit."

Fire splashed against Wain's side, making it clear that Asura was ready. Wain winced but dipped the tip into the fire to ignite the cigar. In a quick breath, a large blocky creature formed. To Asura's surprise, a golem formed. The tall figure appeared humanoid, but its body consisted of rocks or debris that formed around a core. Its long three fingers quickly scooped Ash like an action figure into its hand.

Wain followed after Asura, sprinting down the road like his life depended on it.

"WHY DIDN'T YOU MAKE A CREATURE TO CARRY US!"

"RIGHT TIME, RIGHT PLACE!"

"WHAT?!"

Asura raced alongside Wain as the Golem stomped behind.

"NEED TO BE ON FOOT! UP AHEAD IS ROSE! ONE BOMB DOWN ASURA!"

Asura kept pace with Wain, entrusting his life to his human friend.

"Fuck me, dude... This is one hell of a fight!"

"Don't worry. It's nearing the end."