Soft chanting is heard deep inside the temple as a hooded figure silently makes its way forward. They reach into their pockets, pulling out a stone with circular carvings that glow with a light blue hue. "I'm moving into position. We'll finally see who is behind all of this." They say, whispering into the stone, reaching a hallway glowing with a dark red hue. Heavy incense fills their nose as the candle smoke dances, creating shadows that seem to beckon the hooded figure closer—giving off a sense of caution and curiosity.
They bring the stone closer once more. "I think they are summoning something. I will get closer to figuring out who they are bringing here." Putting the stone away, they make signs with their hands. "Illusionary Magic: Slience of The Winds." with a sudden Pop!, the area around them goes dead silent; from their footsteps to their breathing, it was like they never existed.
They walk forward, peeking into the room and seeing five cloaked figures cloaked in an onyx-iron-hued robe that look to be draining the light glowing from the summoning circle. One is commanding, with a series of gold stitchings sewn into the cloak. Another, rounder and slightly hunched, is in a trance of focus, their eyes glowing a crimson red like the circle's light. The third figure, more feminine in their movements, moves instead fluidly in tune with the chants, almost like they channel the dark arts through dance. The last two stand straighter than the rest, with an aura of unholy solemnity. They chant and channel their Mana into the circle.
The hooded figure comes closer and hears what they are chanting: "From depths unspoken, the earth squirms from your blight, Nexiloth arise and bring forth your might; heed our call tonight." The cloaked figure with the gold stitching is the last to chant as the summoning circle swells, and the sulfur smell fills the area.
Slowly climbing out of the circle is a creature of primordial darkness. Nexiloth stands as a formidable figure over the cloaked figures; the hunched-over one trembles with fear. Nexiloth's inky black figure begins to shift and shape, trying to take a shape that the mortals will be able to comprehend. Glowing crimson orbs appear over his face as he peers down at everyone in the room, reflecting an ancient enmity. Dark, leathery wings stretch from his back, glowing with ethereal arcane runes that pulse with power. Dark Burgundy hair flows down his face, and his long, sharp teeth drip purple slime as he smiles at the cloaked figures.
"You Dare Summon Nexiloth! The Almighty King of Demons, The One Who Dwells In The Agony Of Mortals! The Bringer Of Destruction?!" He bellows out in a booming, commanding voice. The cloaked figure with the gold stitchings takes off their hood, showing a man with long white hair tied into a ponytail, a crooked nose, and a pointy chin. He looks up at Nexiloth with his gray eyes. "Your Unholyness, I come for another pact; it is for my son." He says, taking a knee.
"The Iron King, I Should've Known It Would Be You To Summon Me Once Again!" It says, giving a hearty laugh. "Do Tell! What Is This Pact? When You Tell Me That I Shall Give You My Terms." Besides the one hunched over, the other cloaked figures remain quiet. "I wish you to aid him in his endeavors during the Gauntlet. Grant him some of your power and your unending wisdom! So that he may win and help us gain more power in this world." He says with a stoic tone.
Nexiloth looks deeply into the Iron King's eyes and leans in to come face-to-face with him. His smile widens even more as purple slime drips onto the King's face. "Ahhh..Helping The Prince Of Iron? How Delightful! I Shall, Only If You Give Me Your Son Once He Completes This Gauntlet! I Will Take Him On As My Own And Show Him How To Be True Royalty!" The King, not hesitating, nods in agreement. "Then we have a deal, my Lord."
The hooded figure watching from the hallway slowly backs away. "Nexiloth working with the Iron King? This is bad! Really bad!" He thinks as he pauses, feeling something or someone invading his mind. "What Is So Bad About It?" Nexiloth says out loud, breaking through the hooded figure's silent barrier. They make eye contact as the cloaked figures turn their heads.
The Iron King's eyes widen with surprise. "Stop that fool! Kill whoever it is!" Before they can step forward, a crash is heard above them as the ceiling breaks through. The hunched, cloaked figure looks up in confusion. "Who-who ar-" Bang! The sound rang out as the cloaked figure flew back, revealing a man under the hood with a grotesque face with acne.
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Not letting a second go to waste, Alatar chops the heads of the two cloaked figures, revealing a man and a woman, the two almost looking like twins, as their heads roll to Nexiloth's feet. The feminine cloaked figure begins to dance as they conjure a spell. "Destruction: Shocking Dance!" Electricity forms around their legs and arms as she goes on the attack. Reacting to the attack, Alatar forms hand signs "Abjuration: Absorb Elements." They both disappear, and a moment later, the cloaked figure is revealed to be an elven woman; she lies on the ground with a fist-sized dent in her chest as she convulses with electricity.
The voice in Alatar's head speaks to him, "Calm down, kid, you've used two spells already; only got about two more to go until you're done." Alatar looks up at the Nexiloth as the mask burns onto his face. Nexiloth peers down at Alatar. "Did I Hear That Correctly? Is That..." Alatar shoots Nexiloth in his face before he can continue to speak. Nexiloth growls as he remains unaffected by the attack and tries to slam down on Alatar, but he slides between his legs and cuts his heels. You are making him drop to both of his knees. Alatar then jumps onto his back. He holsters his gun as he swipes his sword with his finger. "Conjuration: Sword Burst." With both hands, he slams the sword into Nexiloth's back. "Tell me, Demon, does one of your ranks bleed?" He says as he palms the hilt of his sword, driving it further into the Nexiloth's back." Cause I promise you. I'll make you bleed." He says, grabbing his hair, pulling it back, and exposing his throat.
The Iron King watches in shock before returning to where the hooded figure is, seeing them gone. He also tries to run. "Iron King! Come Back And Kill This Insolent Fool!" The King turns and looks at Nexiloth and smiles, wiping the purple slime from his face. "That wasn't a part of the pact. I already felt some of your power leave your body, and I assume it's going to my son, right? With you dead, I get to keep him for myself." He gives Nexiloth a bow and looks up at him with a smirk. "Ahh, yes, sir! With the black skeletal mask! I am indebted to you and what you're doing right now-"
Alatar looks up at him with pure rage. "After I am done with him, you're next." The King scoffs, "We will see about that; good luck with Nexiloth. He will disappear back to his realm shortly anyway."
Alatar leans in to bite into his neck. Nexiloth veins begin to bulge as he grits his teeth in anger. He sprouts his wings as he shoots upwards into the sky. Alatar loses grip of Nexiloth's hair and barely hangs on with his blade. In an instant, they were so high up that they could see the entire kingdom as the stars above them glowed brightly. Nexiloth begins to cackle madly. "This High Up And You're Still Hanging On?! Color Me Impressed!" His laughter is cut short as blades shoot out from every point of his body, and purple blood seeps from him. "So you do bleed; I'm going to enjoy this," Alatar says to him as he grabs his gun and shoots through his left wing, causing Nexiloth to lose balance mid-air.
He grabs Alatar, pulling him to the front as Alatar aims the flintlock pistol at his face and starts shooting some more. Nexiloth slaps the pistol away as it falls towards the Kingdom and squeezes Alatar. "You Rat! I Will Squeeze You Until You Pop Like The Rodent You Are!" Alatar coughs up blood from in between his mask. He grabs Nexiloth hands and forces himself free. "Fuck you." Orange flames erupt from Alatar's body as he rears his fist back. "I won't drop until you're all dead!" He shouts as he slugs Nexiloth across the sky, grabbing his arm to stay on the attack.
Nexiloth looks at Alatar with confusion, and then his eyes widen with a fearful realization. "Those Flames? Is That Vorgrimm's Power?! I Thought He Was Dead?! I Have To Get Back!" He tries to get his flying under control. Still, Alatar keeps bashing him in the face, causing him to become disoriented. Nexiloth barely blocks a kick from Alatar as he gets sent crashing into the temple, landing across the room as his crimson eyes look at the portal. He rushes towards it as a bright orange light emits from above him. He looked up and saw a spiraling orange flame blast down towards him. The temple starts to melt and catch fire as Nexiloth uses his wings to cover himself.
The flames subside as Nexiloth wings are cindered to mere snubs on his back. Guards rush into the temple and look at him. "The Iron King sent us! We're here to assist you. Nexiloth nods as they hear multiple low guttural croaks coming from above. They look up and see Alatar with a flock of black vultures around him, croaking and flapping their wings, ready to feast. Alatar dives down into the crowd of guards, slicing and running through them, heading straight to Nexiloth.
Nexloth cuts off his hand and throws it into the portal. "Just For Insurance." He turns to face Alatar, seeing the guards barely alive as they struggle to get up and surround him. Alatar looks at Nexiloth, glaring intensely into his unholy soul. "Prepare to die," Alatar says, charging a fireball. Its orange flames grow and grow. "I won't let you and or these guards escape my wrath! Demonic Technique: Infernal Sunburst!" Nexiloth eyes widen as he tries to stop Alatar.
A vast explosion decimates the entire temple; as the smoke clears, Alatar stands on top of a pile of smoking bodies. His rage slowly leaves his face as the black mask disappears, and he sheaths his bloody sword.