The battlefield was a chaotic mess of shattered stone, crumbling walls, and the oppressive weight of the swirling darkness above, pierced only by the radiant light of the Clerics of the Holy Branch. The massive demon, Hathrakka, coiled its grotesque, centipede-like body across the ruined courtyard, its jagged, armored segments glistening wetly with demonic ichor. Its blank, horrifying human face stretched unnaturally, its mouth opening in a silent, grotesque scream as it lashed out with its serrated claws and massive, centipede legs. Around its head, the twisted faces of the Delleren family seemed to writhe and shift, their expressions locked in an eerie mixture of agony and ecstasy.
From the sky, Faera’s lantern shone brightly, its light casting an ethereal glow over her delicate form as she hovered on a cloud of light, chanting softly. Her voice was serene, yet commanding, carrying the weight of ancient power:
"Please guide me, Lancelot.”
The chant caused a shimmering barrier of light to expand around her, casting a protective aura over the battlefield. The light cascaded down in faint, golden tendrils, wrapping around Klem and Vektor, bolstering their strength and speed. The faint glow that now clung to their forms made their every movement sharper, faster, and more precise. But even with the divine support, the demon's sheer size and ferocity made it a terrifying foe.
Klem, grinning like a maniac, charged forward first, his eight-sided axe glowing with searing white flames. The chains attached to each blade rattled noisily as he spun the weapon overhead, the flames licking at the air. Vektor followed, his face set in a grim scowl, wielding his blanket of pure light, which shimmered with a metallic, unyielding brilliance.
"Stay sharp, Klem!" Vektor barked, his voice sharp with focus. "This isn’t a game!"
"Not a game?!" Klem roared back, laughing as he sprinted forward. "This is the best fight I’ve had in ages!"
“Old ass lion…”
Hathrakka’s massive claws came down in a flash, one aimed directly at Klem, the other sweeping toward Vektor. The demon moved with terrifying speed for its size, the air splitting with the force of its strikes. Klem ducked low, the claw missing him by inches and slamming into the ground, sending shards of stone flying in all directions. Without missing a beat, Klem spun on his heel and brought his axe down on the claw, the white flames exploding on impact as the blade bit deep into the demon’s flesh. Black ichor sprayed from the wound, splattering across the ground—and Klem’s face.
"That’s what I’m talking about!" Klem bellowed, yanking the axe free and leaping onto the demon’s segmented leg, using the chains of his weapon to anchor himself as he climbed.
Meanwhile, Vektor sidestepped the sweeping claw aimed at him, his movements quick and calculated. As the claw passed, he twisted his body and slammed the blanket of light against the demon’s limb. The blanket didn’t bend or fold; it struck like an unyielding slab of radiant steel, the sheer force of the impact cracking the demon’s carapace. Hathrakka recoiled, letting out a guttural growl as it lashed out with its tail, aiming to crush Vektor.
Vektor planted his feet and raised the blanket above his head, catching the tail’s strike with a deafening clang. The ground beneath him shattered, the force of the blow sending cracks spidering outward. Gritting his teeth, Vektor pushed back, forcing the tail upward before shoving it aside with a powerful swing of the blanket.
"Stop trying to die, Klem!" Vektor snapped as he glanced over to see the lionman climbing up the demon’s massive body.
"Stop trying to ruin my fun!" Klem shot back, laughing as he scaled the demon’s side. He swung his axe at every opportunity, hacking at the demon’s joints and plating. Each strike sent black ichor spraying, but the demon retaliated viciously. One of its legs lashed out, catching Klem in the side and sending him flying into a nearby pillar. The impact shattered the stone, and Klem fell to the ground with a grunt.
"I’m fine!" Klem shouted, shaking the debris from his mane as he stood. "This bastard hits like a drunk troll!"
Hathrakka lunged forward, its blank human face twisting unnaturally as it snapped its massive jaws at Vektor. The cleric ducked under the bite, spinning his blanket in a wide arc and slamming it into the demon’s face. The blow was brutal, cracking the blank visage and sending pieces of its pale, brittle “skin" flying. One of the Delleren family faces screamed as it was ripped away from the demon’s head, its grotesque features melting into black sludge.
The demon roared, its segmented body coiling as it reared back, then slammed itself into the ground. The sheer force of the impact sent a shockwave ripping through the courtyard, knocking both clerics off their feet and sending chunks of stone flying into the air.
"Faera!" Vektor shouted, his voice strained as he rolled to avoid another claw strike. "We could use some help!"
Above, Faera’s serene chanting grew louder, her lantern glowing brighter as she raised it high.
“Banish my enemies, let them absorb my light, Lancelot..”
The lantern’s light flared, and a wave of golden energy washed over Klem and Vektor, very slowly healing their wounds, and filling them with renewed vigor.
"Now we’re talking!" Klem roared, leaping back into the fray. He swung his axe in a wide arc, the chains extending and wrapping around one of the demon’s legs. With a powerful yank, Klem pulled the limb out from under Hathrakka, causing the massive creature to stagger.
Vektor didn’t waste the opportunity. He darted forward, his blanket of light glowing intensely as he drove it upward into the demon’s underbelly. The attack pierced through the softer flesh, and black ichor poured from the wound, splattering across Vektor’s armor and burning like acid.
The demon shrieked, its massive claws slamming down in a frenzied attempt to crush Vektor. The cleric dodged and weaved with precision, his movements a blur as he struck back with the blanket, each strike breaking through the demon’s carapace and sending chunks of flesh flying.
Klem climbed back onto the demon’s back, his axe glowing brighter as he swung it repeatedly into the creature’s armored segments. Each strike sent cracks spidering through the demon’s body, and the chains of his weapon lashed out like whips, carving deep gouges into its flesh.
But Hathrakka wasn’t finished. It twisted violently, throwing Klem from its back, then lunged at Faera, its blank face distorting as it let out a guttural roar. The cleric of light raised her lantern, and a barrier of golden energy formed in front of her just as the demon’s claws struck. The barrier cracked under the force but held, and Faera’s calm voice carried across the battlefield as she continued her chant.
Vektor and Klem regrouped, standing side by side as the demon turned its attention back to them.
"You ready, Vektor?" Klem asked, grinning despite the blood dripping from a gash on his forehead.
"Don’t screw this up," Vektor replied, his eyes narrowing.
The two charged simultaneously, their combined assault an unrelenting barrage of light and steel. Klem’s axe struck with explosive force, the chains wrapping around the demon’s limbs and pulling it off balance, while Vektor’s blanket of light slammed into its body like a battering ram, breaking through its defenses.
Hathrakka roared in pain, its massive body thrashing wildly and tearing through the courtyard. The battle was far from over, but the clerics stood firm, their lights burning brightly against the encroaching darkness.
The forest was alive with chaos, the once-serene haven of towering trees and lush greenery now a battleground of blood, light, and darkness. Hathrakka, the grotesque centipede-like demon, barreled through the woods with horrifying speed, its massive segmented body tearing through trees like they were brittle stalks of grass. The air reeked of burnt wood, ichor, and ash as the demon’s guttural laugh echoed through the forest, mocking the destruction it left in its wake.
"You think you can stop me?" Hathrakkal’s voice was a jagged rasp, filled with malice. The blank human face on its head twisted into a mockery of a grin, while the Delleren family faces embedded across its grotesque mass screamed in distorted agony. "You cling to your light like infants to their mother’s skirts. But tell me—" The demon’s voice grew louder, more venomous. "Where was your precious light when your so-called first Vessel of light failed? Samuel would’ve died choking on his own blood if not for that pitiful woman. And you think you’re stronger than him? He was almost successful in defeating one of our Monarchs..yet you struggle to even take down a lower ranked demon of Hell! Damn fools!”
Klem’s booming laugh cut through the demon’s taunts as he sprinted after it, his massive eight-sided axe glowing white-hot, its fiery chains rattling noisily as they whipped through the air. “You sure like to talk for something that’s running scared! Come back here, you fucking slug!” His amber eyes gleamed, his lion-like mane whipping against his bloodied armor as he leapt over a fallen tree, closing the distance with terrifying speed.
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"Stop playing around, Klem!" Vektor snapped, his tone sharp as he darted beside him, his blanket of light shifting in his hands with precision. The fabric shimmered in his grip, its radiant glow illuminating the forest as he kept pace. His golden eyes, however, betrayed his tension—the demon’s movements were growing faster, more erratic. "It’s heading for the settlement! If we don’t stop it here, those people won’t stand a chance!"
In the sky above, Faera hovered on her radiant cloud of light, her hair glowing faintly as it flowed around her calm face. Her hands clutched her glowing lantern, its light pulsating as she chanted softly, her voice carrying through the chaos like an ancient hymn:
“May the power of light guide us through darkness during the times of purging evil..”
From her lantern, a golden barrier shimmered around her allies, shielding them from the debris and splinters that flew through the air as Hathrakka massive claws slashed through the forest. But the barrier was fading, its steady glow dimming each time Faera conjured another spell. Her serene expression faltered for a moment as she glanced down at the lantern. She knew the shield wouldn’t last forever—but they had no other choice.
‘My power isn’t as strong as the others, especially Ilyana’s. But I hope this will do..’
Hathrakka suddenly twisted its massive body, its segmented tail lashing out with incredible force. The tail slammed into a line of trees, uprooting them and sending them flying toward the clerics like massive projectiles. Klem grinned and roared, leaping into the air as the first tree came hurtling toward him. He spun his axe with a deafening whoosh, slicing cleanly through the trunk, its fiery chains wrapping around the severed halves and hurling them aside.
Vektor, meanwhile, moved with calculated precision, his movements sharp and deliberate. As another tree came crashing toward him, he raised his blanket of light, the radiant fabric shimmering as it absorbed the impact before snapping forward like a whip. The motion sent the shattered remains of the tree flying back toward Hathrakkal, the jagged splinters embedding themselves in the demon’s armored segments.
"You call that an attack?" Vektor growled, his voice steady despite the sweat dripping down his brow. "I’ve seen toddlers throw tantrums more threatening than this!"
Hathrakkal snarled, its massive claws digging into the earth as it skidded to a halt. The ground trembled beneath its bulk, and its blank human face twisted into a mask of rage. "You dare mock me, mortal? I’ll show you power beyond your comprehension! Asphalt and Hellfire
The air grew heavy as the demon’s segmented body began to glow faintly with a sickly red hue. The Delleren family faces writhed violently, their mouths stretching open in grotesque unison as they screamed. From their mouths erupted dozens of bladed black chains, dripping with corrosive ichor, each one shooting toward the clerics with terrifying speed.
Klem and Vektor reacted instantly. Klem roared as he swung his axe in wide arcs, the fiery chains extending outward to intercept the demon’s black chains. The two forces collided mid-air, the sound of metal clashing against metal reverberating through the forest as sparks and flames erupted from the impact. Klem’s grin widened, his muscles straining as he pushed back against the chains. “Is that all you’ve got?! You’re gonna have to do better than that to take me down!”
Vektor moved with calculated precision, his blanket of light spinning in his hands like a radiant shield. He deflected the chains with pinpoint accuracy, each strike sending the bladed tendrils recoiling as they hissed and burned against the light. But the chains kept coming, their numbers seemingly endless.
Above them, Faera’s calm expression hardened. She raised her lantern high, its light intensifying as she chanted:
“Lancelot cast your beam from my soul…”
A beam of searing white light erupted from the lantern, slicing through the air like a divine lance. The beam struck Hathrakka’s body, piercing through its armored segments and sending black ichor spraying in all directions. The demon let out a guttural roar, its massive form writhing as the beam burned through its flesh. But as the beam faded, the golden barrier around Faera flickered dangerously, the protective light dimming further.
"Careful, Faera!" Vektor shouted, his eyes narrowing as he noticed the barrier weakening. "The more you attack, the less protection we have!"
"I know," Faera replied calmly, though her voice carried a faint edge of unease.
Hathrakka’s laugh echoed through the forest, low and mocking. "Is that all your light can muster? You burn so brightly, yet you flicker like a dying candle. Let’s see how long you last!"
The demon’s massive claws slammed into the ground, and the earth beneath them began to twist and warp. Demonic fissures erupted around the clerics, spewing black flames and molten rock that surged toward them like rivers of hellfire. The heat was searing, the flames consuming everything in their path.
Klem leapt into the air, his chains lashing out and wrapping around a tree branch as he swung above the flames. “This thing’s starting to piss me off!” he shouted, landing heavily on a nearby boulder. He turned to Vektor, who was using his blanket of light to shield himself from the flames, the radiant fabric shimmering as it absorbed the heat. “Vektor! Why the hell does it feel like this thing’s getting stronger?!”
Vektor didn’t respond immediately. His eyes were wide, his expression tense as he stared at the demon. He could feel it—an overwhelming sense of dread that clawed at his resolve. His grip on the blanket tightened as his mind raced. If we can’t stop it here… if it reaches the settlement… how can I ever hope to stop Sugred? How can I lead the clerics into battle if I fail here?
Klem growled, noticing the fear in Vektor’s eyes. Without hesitation, he spun around and kicked Vektor square in the chest, sending him crashing through a nearby tree. The wood splintered on impact, and Vektor landed hard against the forest floor, groaning as he tried to catch his breath.
Klem landed in front of him, planting his axe in the ground and staring him down. “Snap out of it, Vektor.” He barked, his voice a booming roar. Behind him, his fiery chains lashed out to hold back Hathrakka’s advancing claws, the flames searing into the demon’s flesh. “You’re supposed to be the level-headed one, right? So act like it! Stop thinking about what might happen and focus on what’s in front of you!”
Vektor glared up at him, his breath heavy. “I—”
“You think you’re the only one who’s scared?!” Klem snapped, cutting him off. “We’ve all got something to lose, but sitting there like a scared pup isn’t gonna fix anything! You don’t know if you’ve won or lost until the fight’s over, so get your ass up and fight!”
Vektor stared at him for a moment, then nodded, his expression hardening. “You’re right. Let’s finish this.”
Klem grinned, baring his sharp teeth. “That’s more like it.”
The two clerics turned back to the demon, their resolve renewed as they charged forward together. Hathrakkal roared, its massive form twisting as it prepared to meet them head-on.
The darkness was absolute, a crushing void that swallowed everything in its path. No sound, no light, no sense of direction—just a vast, oppressive emptiness. Xyenn stood at the center of it, his breathing steady but shallow, his heartbeat pounding loudly in his ears. He couldn’t tell if the floor beneath him was solid or if he was suspended in the void itself. Everything felt wrong, like the very air had been sucked out of existence.
He extended his hand above his head, and with a soft snap of his fingers, a dark pink flame flickered to life. The glow was faint at first, but it grew with every second, casting a soft, warm light around him. The flame danced gently, unaffected by the oppressive weight of the shadows surrounding him.
Xyenn stared at it for a moment, his mismatched eyes reflecting the light. One was a deep, glowing pink, vibrant and alive, while the other was pitch black, a void of its own. The pink flame reminded him of Yuuna—her magic, her presence, her warmth.
"Guess you're still with me," he muttered to himself, a small, genuine smile tugging at his lips. “Even here.” The thought of her steadied him, even as the darkness pressed closer, like a predator circling its prey.
‘Everything reminds me of Yuuna. Even in the darkness. Yuuna has been with me through Hell and back. Without her..’
But the flame only revealed more of the same. Endless darkness stretched out in every direction, swallowing the faint light as if mocking his efforts. He tightened his grip on his Dark Sun Blade, its edge glowing faintly with black and yellow flames as he poured more of his energy into it. The weapon flared brighter, the flames crackling and spitting like a living thing.
Xyenn’s left side felt heavier than usual. The absence of his left eye was a constant reminder of his vulnerability, especially in the dark. His heightened senses, a gift from his bond with Yuuna, worked overtime to compensate, but the imbalance was grating. Every faint sound, every shift in the air, every flicker of movement—it all felt amplified, chaotic.
"Focus," he whispered to himself. "You can’t afford to mess up now."
His steps echoed faintly as he moved forward, each footfall swallowed by the void almost as soon as it sounded. His sword was held out in front of him, the flames licking at the air, illuminating little more than a few feet ahead. The silence was oppressive, broken only by the steady rhythm of his heartbeat.
Then, like a ripple across water, Nacht’s voice broke the stillness.
“Shadows are not your enemy, Xyenn,” the voice echoed, calm and resonant, coming from everywhere and nowhere at once. "They are the truth that light refuses to acknowledge. They are not just concealment or absence—they are the essence of patience, of deception, of clarity when all else fails. They see what the light cannot."
Xyenn stopped walking, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the darkness. The voice was everywhere, bouncing from one direction to the next, making it impossible to pinpoint its origin.
"I must commend you for your insight," Nacht continued, his tone almost amused. "You’ve pieced together some of my plans. It’s impressive, truly. But you’ve only scratched the surface of what I am capable of."
Xyenn’s grip on his sword tightened, the flames on its blade flaring brighter. “You think I care about your stupid riddles?” he called out, his voice steady despite the unease creeping up his spine.
Nacht chuckled softly, the sound reverberating through the void. "I can kill you, Xyenn. That much you already know. And yes, I can puppeteer your body with a shadow. But do you understand what that truly means? The shadow would not merely mimic you—it would become you. It would carry your memories, your abilities, your voice, your very soul… for a few days, at least."
The air around Xyenn grew colder, the weight of Nacht’s words sinking in.
"That would be more than enough time," Nacht continued, his tone now laced with malice. "Enough time to lure Yuuna to me. Enough time to kill her. Enough time to take her heart and escape this wretched Cycle of Rebirth."
Xyenn gritted his teeth, forcing himself to keep moving forward. He refused to let Nacht’s words get to him. "You talk too much," he muttered under his breath.
But Nacht wasn’t finished. "You and your Tyrants," he said, his voice dripping with disdain. "The elder dragon gods know of your feats and power. Though they are not scared of you. They wish for freedom, as do I. And you… you will be the key to my freedom."
Suddenly, from the darkness, a pair of glowing red eyes darted toward Xyenn. An assassin emerged from the void, their blade aimed for his throat. Xyenn didn’t flinch. He sidestepped at the last second, his sword blazing as he brought it down in a brutal arc. The blade struck the assassin’s arm, searing through flesh and bone. The assassin cried out, stumbling back into the darkness, clutching their mangled limb.
Another pair of red eyes appeared to his right, followed by another assassin lunging at him. Xyenn twisted his body, his sword slicing cleanly through the attacker’s leg. They collapsed to the ground with a pained scream, the flames from his blade charring the wound.
‘I have nothing to say to this bastard.’
The darkness came alive with movement. More red eyes appeared, darting toward him from every direction. Some were illusions, their attacks passing harmlessly through him before dissipating into smoke. Others were real, their strikes precise and deadly.
Xyenn moved like a predator, his heightened senses allowing him to distinguish between the real and the fake. He ducked under one assassin’s blade, slamming the hilt of his sword into their face with enough force to break their nose. Another swung at him from behind, but he spun around, kicking their legs out from under them before driving his blade into their shoulder.
The attacks were relentless, the red-eyed assassins coming faster and faster. Xyenn’s missing eye made it harder to track them all, and twice he stumbled, barely dodging a real attack in time. A blade grazed his arm, drawing blood, and he cursed under his breath. "I need to train harder," he muttered, his frustration fueling his movements.
At one point, he pretended to fall for an illusion, staggering backward as if caught off guard. The fake assassin struck, its blade passing harmlessly through him. The real one lunged from the shadows moments later, but Xyenn was ready. He pivoted on his heel, driving his sword into their stomach. The flames burned through their armor, and they collapsed to the ground, writhing in pain.
The battle felt endless, each assassin more desperate than the last. But Xyenn never faltered. He refused to kill them, but he made sure each one was left crippled and incapable of continuing the fight.
‘I won’t kill them. They’re just assassins, fighting for a desperate god of shadows. They aren’t guilty. That question one of them asked me earlier…
Finally, he stopped in the center of the void, his chest heaving as he raised his Dark Sun Blade high above his head. The flames erupted, swirling into a chaotic typhoon of black, yellow, and dark pink fire. The roaring flames illuminated the darkness, revealing the carnage around him.
The broken bodies of Delleren family members lay scattered across the ground. One was missing an arm, their face frozen in a permanent scream of terror. Another had been crushed, their torso twisted unnaturally, their blood pooling beneath them. The once-proud leaders of the estate were reduced to mangled, lifeless husks.
And then, the flames revealed Nacht, his massive form merged seamlessly with the darkness itself. His glowing violet eyes burned like twin stars, and his ethereal wings stretched wide, blending into the void. His body shifted and rippled like liquid shadow, both solid and intangible.
Xyenn grinned, his mismatched eyes blazing with determination as his flames roared higher. “Found you.”