In the heart of the battlefield, Valicar remained frozen within the protective shield of Altheack's cannon fire, a ring of arcane fire keeping her safe. Below, Easton's sword cleaved through the Templar ranks with relentless precision, each stroke a testament to his unwavering resolve. "Wake the hell up, kid!" Easton's voice thundered above the din of battle, a rallying cry amidst the chaos as he deftly dispatched yet another wave of adversaries.
But even as they fought, the once ethereal glow of the moon twisted into a malevolent force, corrupted by Anna Sha's demonic influence. Shadows danced across the world, amplifying the demon's hold over Mike and intensifying Sophia's struggle.
Sophia's desperation reached a peak as she cast the necromantic spell, her voice trembling with a mixture of fear and determination. "Avas nu Realca!" The incantation echoed through the void, a last-ditch effort to shatter the chains ensnaring Mike's soul.
In a blinding flash, they saw each other once more, inhabiting their old bodies in a haunting echo of the past. Mike lay shackled to the floor by ominous black chains, while a misty dark form that could be none other than Anna Sha loomed over him, whispering promises of power and control. Sophia's heart clenched in anguish as she witnessed Mike's obvious pain.
"Let go of him!" Sophia's voice trembled with emotion as she pleaded for Mike's release. Despite the torment he endured, Mike attempted to reassure her with a faint smile, masking the grimace of his suffering. "I'm okay, Soph," he insisted, his words tinged with denial. "This is the only way—I control her. She doesn't control me."
As Sophia charged forward to free her brother, black chains began to ensnare her soul too. First, they grabbed her wrist, then her ankles, immobilizing her as she fought against their suffocating grip. The backdrop of their minds shifted, weaving through haunting echoes of their past lives.
Guided by the sinister presence of Anna Sha, they found themselves traversing through the familiar halls of their childhood home. Memories, both bittersweet and painful, flooded their minds as they journeyed through each room.
"Wait, where am I?" Sophia's voice trembled with disbelief as she glanced around, her memories intermingling with the surreal experience of being trapped within her past.
Mike's expression remained stoic, his eyes fixed ahead as he continued to lead the way. "Keep moving," he commanded, his voice tinged with determination despite the uncertainty of their surroundings.
As they moved through the rooms, echoes of laughter and tears filled the air, reminders of the joys and sorrows they had once shared in this space. Each step forward brought forth another wave of memories, washing over them like a relentless tide.
Sophia reached out, her fingers grazing the walls as if searching for something tangible amidst the intangible haze of their past. "This can't be real," she whispered, her voice barely audible above the echoes of their past selves.
But Anna Sha's presence loomed ever-present, a constant reminder of the darkness that lurked within their shared consciousness. With each passing moment, the chains tightened their grip, binding them tighter to the memories of their past and the demons of their present.
Then, the scene shifted, and they relived the horrors of the Templars slaughtering the townspeople, the bloodshed staining their memories with darkness as she tried to forget.
"We have to resist, Mike," Sophia urged, her voice filled with urgency as she struggled against the chains, her eyes pleading with him to break free from the dark past that threatened to consume them.
But Mike's gaze remained fixed ahead, his expression resolute. "Strength comes from embracing it, Soph, Let the pain feed your rage," he growled, his voice echoing with determination as he welcomed the chains that bound him, his desire for power overpowering all else.
As the scenes shifted, memories from their past lives unfolded before them like pages in a book of shadows.
They found themselves standing outside the orphanage where they had sought solace after their parents' deaths on Earth. The pain of abandonment pierced their hearts as they remembered the loneliness of those days.
"I can't believe this is what you go through dealing with this," Sophia murmured softly, her voice heavy with sympathy as she witnessed the burden that Mike bore. Yet, her attempts to sway him fell on deaf ears as he pressed forward, his determination unyielding.
The vision shifted to a bustling street corner in Drisco, where they had first encountered Taylor and Jack. Memories flooded their minds, reminders of their first steps into a life of crime born out of necessity.
Sophia's gaze lingered on the faces of Taylor and Jack, regret and determination flickering in her eyes. "This is where it all began," she whispered, recalling the hardships they had faced on the streets.
Mike nodded, somber as he remembered their struggles. "We were just kids back then," he murmured, the weight of their past bearing down on them.
Next, the worlds blurred and found themselves outside the Red Wolf Inn, the neon lights of Bourbon Street casting an otherworldly glow. Memories flooded their minds of the thrill of running from the cops on a drunken escapade, the adrenaline pumping through their veins as they laughed and joked, oblivious to the tragedies looming ahead.
"Fun times," Mike chuckled, a hint of nostalgia coloring his voice, earning an eye roll from Sophia.
She shook her head, a reluctant smile playing on her lips. "Yeah, until it all went south," she remarked, a trace of bitterness seeping into her tone.
College classrooms and boxing gyms flashed before their eyes, moments of normalcy juxtaposed with the surrealism of their situation. They remembered the camaraderie of their classmates and the satisfaction of landing a punch, fleeting respites from the darkness that surrounded them.
Then, the vision shifted once more, this time to the serene surroundings of Helmhold. It was a place where they had found acceptance and understanding, where Altheack had welcomed them with open arms and hope for a better future.
Finally, they stood outside the apartment where they had met their demise, the memories of their last moments together flooding back with painful clarity. "This is where it started... where you killed Zaltheral," Sophia reflected, her voice tinged with sorrow and disbelief.
"Actually... dad was my first kill," Mike revealed, his tone heavy with the weight of his past actions. Each memory, each vision, was a thread in the tapestry of their shared existence, a stark reminder of the trials they had faced and the bonds that held them together.
The revelation left Sophia speechless for a moment, her mind reeling with shock and disbelief. While the realization of her father's demise at Mike's hands wasn't entirely unwelcome given the man's cruelty, the sheer magnitude of the revelation shook her to her core.
Before she could sink any deeper into her thoughts, the surge of emotions fueled by the revelation sparked a fierce determination within Sophia. The rage she felt towards Anna Sha and her hold over Mike was enough to break through the chains that bound her, unleashing her draconic fury.
"LET GO OF MY BROTHER, YOU BITCH!" Sophia's cry echoed through the ethereal landscape, a defiant roar against the darkness that threatened to consume them both. With a surge of power, she shattered the illusions with draconic might, her voice ringing out with strength and defiance.
Anna Sha's ebony figure loomed over Mike's chained body, her claws sinking deeper into his essence with each passing moment. Despite Sophia's valiant efforts, the demon's grip remained strong. The sinister whispers of Anna Sha dripped with malice, a chilling reminder of the darkness that lurked within their twisted souls.
Sophia's urgency pierced through the despair, her eyes locking with Mike's in a desperate plea for understanding. "Look at us, Mike," she implored, her voice trembling with raw emotion. "The power you're wielding, it's tearing us apart. We're becoming something twisted, something we never wanted to be. Look at what she's doing to your soul, damn it! We can't keep going like this."
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
As tears streamed down her cheeks, Sophia's plea echoed through the void, haunting memories of her past life flooding her, when she had sold her soul to the same damn devil. Her words hung heavy in the air, a beacon of hope amidst the suffocating darkness, as she prayed for Mike to see the truth before it was too late.
Mike's eyes blazed with defiance, but beneath the anger, there was a flicker of doubt. "Soph, you know I'd do anything to protect you. But we can't let the Pillar win. We have to get our bodies back, and I'll do whatever the fuck it takes to make sure we win."
"But at what cost, Mike?" Sophia's plea was filled with sorrow, her heart heavy with the weight of their actions. "I can't let you sacrifice everything for me. We need to find another way. We can't lose ourselves in the process or what's the point?"
Mike's resolve wavered, his fists clenched at his sides as he grappled with the turmoil raging within him. "I'm not losing you again, Soph. And if we die here I go back to Earth and lose you. It's time for all or nothing. I'll get our bodies back, but to do it we need power beyond anything else.... we need the vault."
Sophia's voice softened as she pleaded with Mike, her eyes searching for a glimmer of hope. "Mike, please, don't go down this path," she implored, her words laced with urgency. "I can't follow you, or I'll relive that nightmare all over again." Her determination resonated in the air, a silent plea for him to reconsider his choices.
But as Sophia spoke, she could see the darkness creeping into Mike's eyes, the grip of demonic power tightening around his soul as they argued amidst the backdrop of their shared mindscape. More ebony chains ensnared her soul, tightening their hold with each passing moment.
During their struggle, a warm and familiar hand touched both their faces, pulling them momentarily from their inner turmoil. Someone had approached Valicar, close enough to brush her cheek, and through their shared connection, a vision materialized before them.
Altheack's arrival was a whirlwind of motion and purpose. As cannon fire rang out, she dodged and weaved through the chaos with the grace of a seasoned warrior, her transformation from owlbear to half-elf seamless and swift. Her expression was grave, etched with concern as she addressed the siblings, her eyes scanning the battlefield with urgency.
"Mike! Sophia! What's going on?" Her voice cut through the din of battle, her concern palpable in the furrow of her brow as she took in the haunting sight of the siblings, shrouded in the shadowy aura of the dark moon.
In a moment of clarity, Altheack's hand reached out, gently touching Valicar's cheek, grounding them in the reality of their dire situation. "He has fallen for the demon! I'm trying to free us!" Sophia's voice resonated with determination, her words strained with the weight of their struggle against Anna Sha's influence.
"She's getting in my way, but I got this! Trust me, Alth! This will all be over soon," Mike's voice rang out, his attempt at reassurance laced with uncertainty.
Altheack's gaze shifted between Valicar's red and blue eyes, a flicker of sorrow passing through her own emerald gaze. "Listen to her, Mike. Listen to me," she pleaded her voice a beacon of reason amidst the chaos. "This isn't who you are meant to be. This world has not been kind to you both, but surely you can see that continuing to destroy it isn't the way forward."
Mike's inner turmoil was evident, his resolve wavering as he grappled with the weight of their choices. He turned to Altheack, his eyes searching for guidance amidst the tumultuous battlefield. "But what choice do we have, Alth? What other option is there that can give us back our bodies? How else can we win and have a future with you?"
Sophia's voice softened as it reached out to him in the darkness, her touch a soothing calm amidst the tempest inside of him. "We have each other, Mike. And we have Altheack. Together, we can find a way to stop them. But we have to do it together and keep the world safe."
Altheack nodded in solemn agreement, her eyes reflecting the weight of their shared burden. "Whatever your choice, I'm here with you both. But she is right, Mike. This is not your choice! It is that demon! Break free, Mike! Show me your true strength, not a demon's!"
Mike's gaze softened as he locked eyes with Altheack's single emerald orb, a silent understanding passing between them. With a sigh, he nodded, the tension in his shoulders easing. One by one, the black chains that bound his soul began to shatter as he fought to free himself. "You're right! This is my power! NOT HERS!"
"You foolish boy! The Pillar of the North will soon arrive! What do you plan to do without me?!" Anna Sha's whispers clawed at his mind.
With a surge of determination, Mike's jaw clenched as he made his choice. "I'll take your power, whatever the cost. But I'll make it MINE!" The moon's dark spell shifted to a radiant blue hue as Mike's soul churned, blending the holy magic of his armor with the demonic energy within him, forging something entirely new—his own mana. Through sheer willpower, he tapped into the depths of his being, mastering necromancy to control the shadow orb. His soul, originating from another realm, granted him unprecedented command over divine energies, unlocking abilities never before seen.
As Mike struggled against Anna Sha's tightening grip, a glimmer of hope flickered within him as he sensed her influence weakening. Sophia's urgent pleas fueled his determination, urging him to break free from the demon's suffocating hold and reclaim control of his destiny. But just as victory seemed within reach, a chilling truth escaped Anna Sha's lips, signaling the arrival of the Pillar of the North. The air crackled with otherworldly energy as the Pillar descended, casting a golden glow that bathed the battlefield in an eerie light. Mike's heart sank at the sight, knowing his arrival heralded even greater danger.
Before he could react, a searing pain tore through him as a golden spear aimed at Valicar's heart was deflected, yet not without consequence. It still cleaved off Valicar's left arm, the spray of blood painting the air in a crimson arc. Mike's gaze shot up to witness Altheack, their steadfast anchor in the chaos, falling. A blade of gold protruded from her chest as she threw herself in front of Valicar, sacrificing herself to save them. Shock and horror washed over him as he watched Altheack crumple to the ground, his heart-shattering at the loss. "Alth....NOOOOOOO!" The twins rushed to her side, Valicar's remaining hand trying to stem the flow of blood as the golden blade vanished.
"Altheack!" Sophia's cry echoed as she rushed to heal the fallen elf, her voice choked with anguish and disbelief. "No, please, no!" Tears streamed down her face as she chanted desperately to save their love's life. "Mas Has Reveari!" Healing magic surged through Altheack, but the glimmer in her one emerald eye was fading. "Please, no, no, no. Alth, you're going to be okay!" Sophia pleaded, trying to stem the tide of blood, but the wound proved too grievous.
"I love you," Altheack whispered, coughing up blood, her voice weak. "Both." Her hand grasped Valicar's, her touch growing weaker.
"I love you too, Alth! Please stay!" Mike pleaded a rare moment of utter despair overtaking him.
"Please, Alth! I can fix this!" Sophia begged, her voice breaking with desperation.
"Don't... bring me back.... until you're ... free from the demon, my loves." With those final words and a slight smile, Altheack succumbed to her injuries, her resolve firm even in the face of death. She had faith she would see them again, whether in this life or the next. The attack left irreparable damage in her current body, mirroring the loss of her eye to the cursed power of a templar's blade.
"I'll see you soon," the twins whispered in unison, their voices heavy with sorrow and determination. A tear escaped Sophia's eye as she gazed upon Altheack's lifeless form, her heart weighed down by grief but fueled by a glimmer of hope for the future.
Easton's sudden arrival, his sword ablaze with holy fire, brought a momentary distraction as he engaged his father. "What in the bloody hell is going on here?" he exclaimed, his voice tinged with shock and anger. His eyes fell upon Altheack's lifeless form at Valicar's feet, Zaltheral and Spellweaver nowhere to be seen, leaving the battlefield in disarray.
But there was no time for answers, no time for explanations. Altheack's sacrifice had saved their lives, and as Mike looked down upon her lifeless form, something in him snapped. With a primal roar, he turned his attention back to Anna Sha, his resolve hardened by grief and rage.
"I'M GONNA KILL HIM!" Mike's voice echoed with primal fury, shaking the very ground beneath them. In a surge of power, he broke free from Anna Sha's chains, his fury igniting like a blazing inferno as he absorbed more of her power before forging it into his own. With each step, his magic crackled around him, fueled by a rage so intense it threatened to consume him whole. The deafening roar of his fury drowned out Sophia's desperate pleas for reason.
As Mike channeled the divine energies, the raw power surged through him, transforming into something entirely his own. His connection to another world granted him an unprecedented ability to mold and shape these forces, defying the limitations of mortal magic. With sheer willpower, he harnessed the divine essence, bending it to his command, forging it into a weapon that threatened to engulf them all.
"Wait, Mike, please! If you channel necromancy unchecked, you could destroy her soul!" Sophia's voice rang out, filled with desperation and anguish as she tried to reason with her brother. But Mike's power surged unchecked and unguided, a storm of darkness spiraling out of control. In a moment of desperation, Sophia chanted, "Hau Ju Vass," sending Altheack's soul away with the last bit of her power, her lovers soul was whisked far, far away, before she continued to fight Mike.
As he faced off against Sophia's attempts to restrain him, their powers clashed in a storm of magic and willpower. But in his rage-fueled frenzy, Mike's strength surged, overwhelming Sophia's mental defenses. He ensnared her in his own blue soul-binding chains with relentless force, his actions fueled by a darkness that consumed him completely as he poured his hatred into Violet Night's flames.
Engulfed in a flash of violet meeting gold, Mike clashed with the Pillar once more, Valicar wielding blue dawn with one hand, the blue moon casting its eerie light upon them. With each spell he cast, each blow he struck, Mike felt himself slipping further into the abyss, his mind clouded by the shadows of grief and rage. The sacrifice of their beloved Altheack had plunged them both into despair, their shared grief fueling the flames of their internal battle, tearing them apart from within.