I dug my sword into the ground and ignited the blade with fire so hot that the hues of the metal and stone morphed. From its issuance, it spread as like light. The space that was dark illuminated with the glow of flames; its ferocity was magnified by the air’s expansion. The demons were once more ignited, and they flew into a frenzy. Their burning forms reflected in the blue-green gem about my neck.

The soldiers took advantage and slew their adversaries, cleaving, and maiming all who came into the den of the warriors.

The darkness hadn’t yet left, but our senses returned. The fires alighted by the Manuzhahn kept sight near and restored our senses.

But the fight of the soldiers was their own, and I couldn’t help nor seek aid in my position. Whatever force that kept my allies and enemies far held stronger than before.

The two adversaries hazed in form, and I could barely make out their silhouettes. They seemed to replicate, and I felt surrounded on all sides by the illusions of their form.

Will you be able to reveal our true selves, Prince of Death? What an ill-boding name. You who are to be spirited by our benefactor shall now, in truth, represent your own death. Approach, child, accept your fate. For no more can you now do.

Their voice reverberated in unison with all their doppelgangers. I held my ears in pain. They slowly closed on all sides. Their forms masked by the aether.

“Rangers of the Night,” I said, clutching my sword even tighter, “my life shall not end here! Look to my blade that issues with the element of your choice!”

The darkness erupted from my blade. The elements cascaded alongside, and tore through the duplicates, till only the two of them stood. I rushed toward them and clashed my blade against theirs. I heightened my speed and power. I coursed the air through my body, expanding my muscles and exciting my blood. Heat radiated all about me.

While I couldn’t break the guard of the demons, it was enough for me to push them back. Their teeth became sharp and Ulai said:

Look Shigla! A child whose ferocity matches the greatest of our kin. Whose desperation has made him mad with zeal. Let us show him the true terror of our kind.

They leaped from their position. A furlong of distance between us. I became exhausted. The aether still proved too hard for me to control. I held to my sword as my knees began to buckle.

But there was no reprieve. Shigla and Ulai rose into the air and the aether swirled about them. The darkness receded, and in its place I saw the sky above turn black and red. The sun became eclipsed, and the foliage below shuddered and cried under the maelstrom of evil.

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All about, whether human or demon, kneeled by the force of the two specters. The black mass in the distance was drawing near. Its form great enough to cover the whole of the forest.

My adversaries cried:

Look to us Marhan of meager birth! We, the true sentinels, the true children of Ishvhamar, herald our forms of darkness. Ah! The zeal of battle has taken hold. Let the vestiges of light you cling onto so dearly be washed under our might. All remnants devoured through the mouths of the Yavahmar! Behold! The emissaries of death now display their forms!

Their skin became black and red like their abominable kindred. From their form arose gnarled armor that blazed with the aether. Crowns of horns covered their heads, their teeth grew and sharpened to resemble the mindless pawns, and from their backs descended capes of darkness that became as like wings.

Their size enlarged to stand three times greater than us. With one swing, they unleashed a wave of aether that destroyed two of the aerial ships.

I shouted, “Was not the battle to between us? Why do you destroy the vessels of my father?”

Excess energy must be released, small prince. Would you have liked us to have rather released it toward you?

I escaped the hold of the force and flew to them. Yet, with a single swing of their swords, they crashed me back to my ship.

I thought the end would soon be met. Their power wasn’t something I could overcome. I was already considerably weakened, and even were my strength to have returned, to face them in desperation as I did against the fire giant, Vrizhra, would’ve proved futile.

They flew to our ship, ready to destroy, but just as they were to reach, I saw an image of light pass my view. The celestial before my birth returned. Yet there was another who came beside her.

He looked as like a ghost, a specter of malice, but his aura was gentle. He came not to hurt, but to aid. They pointed to the light of the ships.

I turned and saw the charge of light became great, greater than even the sun. They had reached their limit with the power of the higher elements!

From the orbs issued grand streams, their light intensifying from the leaking power of the felled ships. They cut through the giant of demons, to the mass of darkness. The assailing light dissolved the mass. From its form erupted demons and aether that sought to cover us. Yet the light was strong, and its issuance waxed greater than before. All the dark elements were annihilated under its stream.

The soldiers, Druzhat, and I evaded our gazes, and let the powers of the orbs do their job. The demons scattered in flight. They dove from our ship only to be dissolved under the frayed streams, burning as like the white light of ignited magnesium.

Their wails and shrieks resounded into the distance until the remaining fled. The aether dispersed, the sky returned, and the raised elements lowered till the world became normal. The might of otherworldly beings wasn’t to be underestimated. If not for the hubris of their might, many weaker would’ve already fallen. Not least, us.

I looked to Shigla and Ulai who fled into the distance, vanishing into the air. I rose, panting. Druzhat came to me, immediately tending to my wounds. I looked to the edge of the ship to see the faint silhouette of the God of Death. His face seemed rather calm. He turned to leave.

I prostrated in my blood and cried, “How much more must I suffer, O God of Justice? Grant me mercy!”

But he ignored my plea. His form vanished into the air, and I was left bawling on the blood-stained grass.

“Cry not, prince!” said Druzhat. “All will become right. Trust me on this.”

I didn’t doubt him. Yet a rather crude thought came to mind. I wiped my tears and with sniffles, asked, mockingly, “Will I still be able to participate in the tournament?”