Undead Lair

Ensign Jyun Asamoto POV

I don’t really care for that boy’s looks, but that armor looks pretty dashing. Just about my size as well. I think, not listening to a word he says.

“I’ll go get Mary and tell her to bring anything that looks like a soul gem.” Henderson says.

“No need, I’m right here, and I guess I know what this thing is now.” I hear Mary say from behind me.

I turn around to see a shiny trinket dangling from her neck.

“Looks good on you.” I say before turning my attention back to the boy named Luke.

“I’m sorry for keeping you. I must be a terrible host. Please, make your way inside.” I say, signalling the men to fall back. The rogue from that initial party visibly relaxes as the skeletons around him fade away.

“Although it pains me to receive any goodwill from an accursed undead, I will consider it a necessary evil.” Luke says haughtily.

I get why that warrior kneed the priest in the face. Are all holy men like that? Guess it just makes it easier for me to kill them in the future.

I tell Mary to hide in the Lich’s room for now and lead our guests to the giant room we were first summoned to.

“There isn’t much, and we don’t have any tea, but you’re free to sit where you want.” I say as we enter.

I look back to see that the cowardly rogue had long since fled.

“I’d prefer to stand than sit in this filth.” Luke says with a condescending gaze.

“No need to be so hostile, we will be conversing for a long-” I’m cut off as he brings his hands up in prayer.

I take cover immediately as light shoots out from him, winding down all of the pathways. As the light dies down I see him with a feral smile. A dangerous glint in his eyes.

“Seems there’s no need to speak with you. The real master is the only one I have business with.” He says before running off at an alarming speed.

“After him!” I shout not even looking back to see if anyone is following.

Mary POV

A strange streak of light just came through. Sweeping over everything before leaving the room. I’m not sure what that was, but I have a bad feeling.

As I look around for a good place to hide, I spot something out of the corner of my eye. A streak of blond and blue, almost too fast to see.

Before I even have time to react, a blade whistles towards me. Slicing through my spine as if it didn’t exist. I feel no pain, but the panic causes me to scream.

I’m scared. I can’t move. It’s calling back some old memories. Ones I’d rather forget.

My mind tries to hide. I won’t let it. I’m stronger now. He’s saying something.

A gloating face hovering over mine as it reaches for me. No, not me, the pendant. He grasps it, but it won’t come off. He’s frowning, but that soon makes way for a smile.

His arm goes up, carrying the sword with it, and it’s brought down. My vision changes. The walls are spinning. It’s dizzying. Is this how the Ensign felt? I need to apologize.

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“..ry. M..y. Ma.y… Mary..” Huh? This voice.. Ensign?

“E-ensign.” The word shaky.

I feel my vision shift again. I can see him. Not the skull that replaced him, but the man I loved.. love even now.

“Mary. Don’t worry.. I’ll put you back together.” He says.

“I.. might be humpty dumpty.” I respond with a weak giggle.

“You’re being delusional Mary. Just don’t go to sleep. Keep listening to my voice. Talk to me.” He says. He looks very frantic.

“The opposite... from that time.”

“That.. time?” He asks before it dawns on him. He goes silent.

“I’m dying Ensign… I feel something seeping out. It’s a pleasant feeling..”

“No.. Mary..” He starts, but screams from outside cut him off. He casts a worried glance, but seems reluctant to leave.

“I need to go save them.” He says.

“No!” I cry out before I can stop myself.

“...” He looks torn. Tears forming in his dark brown eyes. The usual sharpness replaced with sorrow.

“Please, let me be selfish.. stay with me. Until the end.”

“I… will..” He responds despite the sounds of death coming from outside.

“I.. I loved you Jyun.”

“I.. I know. I’m sorry..” He says. Tears forming in his eyes. What he said causing me a good amount of anger.

“Don’t apologize. Not when you’re the one crying inside.” His mouth opens and closes.

“C-can you say.. you love me? Even if you have to lie.”

“I don’t need to Mary.” The words make me happy for an instant, only to have is replaced by a deep pang in my heart. Feeling as if something important had torn.

“Next time Ensign, please. Don’t wait. Find someone you love.. and tell them.” I want him to be happy. I think that’s why I was so mad at him all this time. Not because he was using us, or because he took away from who I was.

It was all because I loved him too much to see him suffering.

Jyun Asamoto POV

“Mary…” The lights are gone.

“I’m sorry Mary. I’ll take your words to heart. I won’t let something like this happen again. I won’t love.. ever again.”

I set her skull down. Turning around as rage burns through me. My teeth screeching in protest as they’re ground into an edge.

“LUKE!” I yell as I charge out.

I see Henderson, and the rest of my comrades fighting him. Most are broken. Their bodies scattered all over the place. Lights being extinguished as his blade cuts through their skulls.

“The bastard killed Mary!” I shout as I enter the fray. Henderson in particular going into a deep rage, but it doesn’t do much. He’s still cutting us down.

His armor is chipped in places. Small lacerations building up with each passing moment. His movements start to slow, but we’ve already lost over two thirds of our number.

“Damn skeletons! Worthless heaps of trash!” Luke yells out as he rends another two, extinguishing their flames.

“Graahhh!” Henderson shouts and pounds his fists against Luke’s body. Sending him flying into the wall. The move more costly than anticipated. Henderson doesn’t stop with the loss of his arms. He shoots forward and drives Luke further into the wall, losing his leg in the process.

Even with one limb left, he keeps flailing. Trying everything in his power to strike the paladin down.

“Henderson! Stop! You’ll die!” I yell, but it’s too late. His skull flies in a wide arc through the air.

“Hmph.” Grunts Luke as he steps out from the wall. Spitting out a glob of blood as he does so.

“Filthy creatures. Feigning camaraderie. It’s disgusting.” He speaks spitting again. This time, straight onto Henderson’s skull.

He glares at me, and I realize we’re the only ones left.

“Well?” He says pointing the sword at me.

I wordlessly charge, my fist meeting his blade. My bones start to steam for a bit, and begins to crack and crumble.

“Hahaha, this sword is blessed by Lumox himself!”

“Then let’s see about your pretty face!” I yell as my undercut hits him square in the jaw. Shooting him into the air, he crashes into a stalactite.

Before he even lands I raise my knee to strike him, only to find his blade run through it.

“Gyahhhh!” Pain. I can feel pain.

“This entire body has the divine protection of the god of light himself! I am his chosen! His champion! You dare challenge me?!” His eyes are glazed over. Those eyes are dead. The eyes of a fanatic.

I grab onto his right ankle. Crushing it in the process as warm blood drenches my bones.

He cleaves that hand at the wrist, but I have his instead.

I strengthen my grip, and feel his bones crack under the pressure as they jut out.

“GU-” He clenches his teeth to stifle the cry. A blinding light descends upon me. Separating my legs from my body. I pay it no mind as I drag myself on top of him. Making sure to tear out the achilles tendon of his left leg.

My hand winds around and finds purchase on his neck.

His hand grabbing my arm. Surprisingly strong as cracks start to appear on my dark grey bones.

“What drives you to such lengths?!” Luke cries out. Trying to delay his death perhaps? But I humor him anyways.

“To honor the memory of the fallen. To avenge the girl you slew in cold blood.” I hiss through gritted teeth.

“Do you want to forget? Move past this memory?” He has trouble speaking the words as my hands cut off his air.

“No, I’ll engrave it in my heart. It will fuel me to destroy everything you hold dear. I will tear down this world, and your filthy god will be cast from the heavens!”

“That so?!” He shouts, a cruel grin twisting his face. “This loyal servant of the holy god Lumox do beseech thee! I offer my soul and body to cast a light of cleansing upon this foul creature!” As he finishes, Luke’s body begins dissolving. Floating out and away from my grasp.

I suddenly find myself outside, Luke nowhere in sight. Feeling something oppressive, I look up. A column of light that is fitting to be called ‘Judgement of the Gods’ descending upon me. I close my eyes as I feel myself melting away.

My last thoughts of my comrades, my family, and the lessons they’ve taught me.