Chapter No16:Conversation Between Villains

While Hei and Torgrak tore through the cult head-on, Tolan, Xera, Tessa, and what Resistance members capable of fighting moved through the streets and towards the back end of the cathedral. Yet they were all surprised by just how easy it was to get there. Chaos and death echoed all around them, and even where they moved wasn’t unscathed, but whatever was causing it definitely was giving the cult a run for its money. Damien was already at the fencing that surrounded the cathedral with his forces. They had already cut a hole in the fence and were just waiting for the others to catch up. It astonished Xera to see a hole ready for them to pass through. Xera asked, “Guessing you didn’t meet any resistance?” Damien responded, “Between the commotion going on out here and what’s going on inside, it was easier than expected.” “‘Inside’?” “Seems Tessa’s companions got here before we did and went in the front door. The cultists barely know we’re here.” Tolan commented, “Oddly convenient. Though it proves your description true, Tessa.” Tessa didn’t want to respond, turning her head away and looking at the ground. Damien continued, “Xera, this is the time for anyone uncertain to turn back now. Once we go in, we’re headed straight for the Archbishop. Tessa’s companions will buy us the time we need, but we can’t have anyone backing out midway.” She agreed, “I understand, and you’re right.” Turning to face her compatriots, Xera gave a speech. “For too long, the Archbishop and his cult have held our town in an iron grip! That ends tonight! We shall topple them from the top and rise out of the shadow this false prophet has cast over us all! However! This is the time for those who fear for their lives or families to turn back now. It is likely that many of us will fall. And once the battle begins, there won’t be an opportunity to turn back. So, I ask that any who question their chances to leave now. There is no shame in caring about your own life.” Xera waited to see if any didn’t have the resolve, but none left. Her confidence redoubled, she drew her sword and raised it high. “Then let us save our home! For Crimsonvale!” “For Crimsonvale!” they cheered and chanted. With their morale high, Xera led them forward towards the cathedral. Damien guiding them through a side-entrance that went under the building and deep underground. Damien said, “This passageway leads to the where the ritual is taking place. My scouts are ahead of us and acting as lookouts.” Xera was ecstatic, “Perfect!” Tolan asked, “How did you find this route?” Damien answered, “One of my men did some time ago. We explored it, but deemed it too risky. But now that there’s someone else keeping the cult occupied, it’s perfectly open for us.” “I see…” Tolan looked at Damien, concerned, but refocused on the task at hand. Keeping pace with the others as they ran through the corridors. Soon enough, they exited the constructed passage way and went down a pathway that spun around a giant cavern. In the middle was a giant flame in the center of a giant pit with a precession of cultists around it. Carts of things were also being brought down on the opposite side. One cart had its contents dumped into the pit, and the other had its contents unloaded by hand. Each cultist carrying something around the fire before putting it down. Tessa stared at the whole situation. She didn’t know what was going on, but instinctively knew it wasn’t good. Then she winced. Her injury throbbing lightly. “Something in your eye?” asked Tolan. “N-no. Just something about this feels familiar, and very, very wrong.” “Hmm… Some scales on the back of my neck are standing up, so your gut feeling and my instincts may be in sync.” “You have any ideas why? Mine is more of a hunch than anything.” Tolan subtly looked left and right before whispering. “Damien said he sent his forces ahead of us, which makes sense. But they should’ve met some kind of resistance along the way. You don’t just leave a secret passage like this unguarded, and I haven’t seen the slightest sign of a struggle anywhere. Not even small spattering of blood. It feels too easy.” “That makes sense…” “If we were trying to sneak in and sneak out, I could understand keeping things as spotless as possible. But we’re just charging in, so no reason to avoid leaving a trace.” “Have you told Xera or Damien?” “No. Xera would probably assume it to be too late to worry about this kind of thing. And Damien…” “Something wrong about him?” “I’m not sure, but he seems too relaxed about this.” Tessa took Tolan’s words into consideration, as well as rethought about what she saw back at the Resistance’s base of operations. Maybe I didn’t imagine that smirk. “Let’s set that aside for now and focus on what awaits us.” Tessa nodded. As everyone neared the bottom, they could now see the Archbishop. He stood atop a small set of stairs that led up to an altar, his back to where they would appear. And as the Resistance ran out into the area just before the altar, Xera called out to him. “Archbishop! We have come to end your tyranny! Turn and face us!” The cultists all slowly turned to face the members of the Resistance, but the Archbishop just stared into the fire before him. Then he spoke. Addressing Xera without bothering to look at her. “Is that so?” Xera continued, “Today is the day your fire dies out and Crimsonvale returns to its people! I hope you’ve given your last sermon and prayed to your god, because tonight you shall fall and tomorrow’s morning will be our triumph!” The Archbishop continued to keep his back to Xera and stood there in silence. Then he raised his hand. Xera prepared for an attack, but he coughed and cleared his throat before taking an overly dramatic position. Bending backwards with one hand on hs forhead as if he felt faint. “Oh, whatever shall I do!” His words drenched in sarcasm. “This young girl of the Resistance intends to slay me! Truly I despair, for this is the end of the line for me! Oh, woe is me! Her burly and misguided brutes shall tear me limb from limb before casting me into the fire! This is the worst!” Xera stood there, dumbfounded. She asked, “What in the gods’ names are you doing?” The Archbishop straightened his posture and turned to face her. “Was that not what you were expecting me to do? Or do your foes throw themselves before you in surrender? I could easily do that. It would probably add to the amusing look on your face at the moment.” Xera pointed her sword at him. “Is this some kind of joke to you?! We’ve come for your head!” The Archbishop chuckled. Then so did the cultists. The laughter quickly increasing level by level until the Archbishop raised his hand. “With how you monologue, I’d say a ‘joke’ is what this situation has become. Or did you hope I’d do the same and make a show of it? I could right now, but the serious atmosphere you had appears to be ruined.” Tessa recognized that way of talking all too much and knew something wasn’t adding up. And combined with her feeling from earlier, she knew it was best for everyone if they ran. Quickly, she whispered to Tolan. “Tolan. We need to get out of here!” He kept his voice down, trying to not alert anyone else. “Guessing you noticed something I didn’t?” “Not until just now. The way he talks is just like my mentors. Overly confident and smug.” “Couldn’t he just be bluffing?” “It’s possible. But I know of only two people who would relish in ruining a serious mood like the one we were in. And if the Archbishop is anything like them, he’s a lot more powerful than he’s letting on.” Tolan was silent for a moment, processing what she’d just said. “I don’t know if I understand. But if you’re comparing the Archbishop to your mentors, then this may have been a trap for us.” Xera demanded the Archbishop to take her seriously. “This isn’t some play! Stop acting so smug and fight us seriously!” The Archbishop laughed, “No. I don’t think I will.” Turning his back on the Resistance, the Archbishop stared back at the fire. Unable to handle more of his taunting, Xera charged forward and swung with all her force. Aiming to cleave the Archbishop’s head from his body. Unfortunately, just as she was a step away, Damien stabbed her in the back. His sword stabbing straight through the back of her body and out the front. Tolan cried out for his friend, “XERA!!!” The Archbishop happily congratulated his follower for good work. “Excellent timing as always, Korlos.” Damien drew his sword out of Xera and let her body fall limp to the ground. “I couldn’t let this rat get away with raising a hand against you, though I wish you’d allowed me to strike them all down sooner.” Xera stared up at Damien as he ran a hand over his face. His blonde hair turning black and revealing his true appearance. She asked, “Why… Damien… Why did you… betray us…?” Korlos kneeled before her, “The Archbishop knew some people wouldn’t like that we took over every facet of the town, and that it was just a matter of time before they started gathering under one banner. And now that you’re all here, we can slaughter you wholesale and offer your souls to Nencog. I’d say it was nice to be your second-in-command, but it wasn’t.” With that, Korlos stood and turned his attention to the remaining members of the Resistance. His forces joining the cultists in surrounding them. Tolan and Tessa back to back with no exit in sight. Korlos addressed them, “Tonight was definitely unexpected. I didn’t expect any of you to make it farther than the fence, but I guess your companions must be something else to cause such a distraction, Tessa.” Tolan growled, “Why did you turn on us, Damien?! I thought you swore yourself to our cause!” Korlos looked at Tolan, confused. “I don’t know what you’re expecting me to say, Tolan. My entire mission was to kill you all from the inside. I’d say this was all expected from the start. After all, how else did you expect to sneak your bits of information out of the cathedral? Did you think the Watchers left blind spots?” The Archbishop yawned, miming a hand over the end of his beaked mask. “Execute them quickly, if you wouldn’t mind. I’d like to begin the ritual.” With a bow, Korlos accepted his new assignment. “With pleasure, your Holiness.” The traitors and cultists began to close their encirclement. Tessa looked about the cavern for a way out while Tolan was ready to fight his way out. The only obvious way out was the way they’d come in, but it was an uphill run and completely exposed. Tolan apologized while his eyes watched for any opening. “Sorry for dragging you into this.” Not seeing any available options, Tolan summoned his lightning. And just as he was about to cast something, there was a loud boom and crash. Everyone paused and looked around, wondering what was going on. Then bits of stone and dust fell from the ceiling, and suddenly Tessa had a feeling she knew what was about to happen. She didn’t want to admit it, but it was probably her best chance of getting out alive. “I don’t think it’s over for us just yet.” Tolan didn’t understand, but noticed she was staring up. And it took only a moment to put the pieces together. “Do they always appear at the last possible moment?” “I only met them a few days ago, but I have a feeling they’ve got a knack for it.” Then another boom rang out, this time much more obviously above everyone. With their attention all focused on it, they waited and saw the ceiling of the cavern start to give. Seeing this, Tolan and Tessa quickly started looking around for any cover or way to avoid falling debris. Unfortunately, the encirclement made that impossible. “Tessa, I’ll make a barrier. But I’m not sure if it’ll hold.” “I’ll empower you as best I can. Hopefully, it’ll be enough.” With a plan figured out, the ceiling collapsed and chunks of rock and stone fell upon everyone below. Tolan chanted, “Gamawel def Barrier!” Whipping winds encircled them, sending any falling debris away from them. Tessa followed it up with a spell to reinforce it. Blessing Tolan with Aeon’s divine light. “Alsanct ble def Empower!” The holy light of Aeon mixed into Tolan’s barrier, increasing its effectiveness and helping break some of the falling rocks into smaller pieces. Seeing this, the cultists cast their own barriers. But some were too late or didn’t put enough into their defenses, the debris crushing them. As for the members of the Resistance, many tried to run in the chaos but fell victim to the rocks all the same. None of them were casters and soon enough, it was just Tessa and Tolan amongst the cultists. As the debris settled, a cloud of dust filled the cavern. The particles of dirt contrasting against the giant flame at the center of everything. Tolan let the barrier fall, and the two looked around. The Archbishop was still there, though seemed distracted as he stared upwards. Korlos wasn’t anywhere to be seen, but quickly popped out from beneath a pile of rubble. But what surprised Tessa was that she didn’t see Hei or Torgrak anywhere. Did they not come down with the rocks? Then two figures fell from above. Their feet slamming into the ground. Never mind, they just felt like being dramatic. The Archbishop had his gaze fixed on them. “Well. About time you finally showed up.” Everyone’s heads turned to look at the two who dropped in. Torgrak groaned, “Next time, ve’re goin’ vith my plan.” Hei agreed, “Yeah, that’s fair. Whoever came up with the ‘hero’ landing ought to be shot. It’s killer on the knees.” The two stood up straight and began stretching. Popping their joints back into place before staring back at the Archbishop. Hei apologized, “Sorry for that. Didn’t feel like taking the stairs, but didn’t expect it to be such a long drop.” The Archbishop chuckled, “Good to know that even the strongest beings are weak to falling. I’ll make the hole even deeper next time.” Tolan whispered to Tessa, “Did those two just fall 30 meters?” “They did.” “And they shrugged it off like it was nothing?” “Seems that way.” “… What are they?” “No idea.” Hei dusted himself off and looked around the area. “Well, seems the child is here. That’s a surprise. Didn’t think she’d willingly come to the forefront of things.” Torgrak agreed, “Aye. It is unexpected. At least ve don’t have to go lookin’ for her now.” “That is true, but seems she also made a friend.” Tessa refused to make eye contact with either of them. “Not going to introduce us to him? That’s quite rude, you know.” Tolan now realized what Tessa meant earlier by the Archbishop talking similarly to her mentors. He whispered, “I now understand what you meant earlier.” Hei and Torgrak walked over to the two, Hei getting in Tessa’s face. “Are you pouting? That’s unbecoming of a lady. It’ll attract the attention of all the wrong kinds of people.” Tessa gripped one of her fists, her anger slowly boiling over. “Come now, won’t you talk to me? Your mentor’s gonna cry if you keep ignoring me.” Tolan tried to intervene. “Um, sirs, could you lay off her? It’s not exactly been an easy evening for either of us.” Hei looked Tolan in the eye, smiling. “Sounds like you were stuck babysitting her. As the one responsible for her, I’m sorry you had to take care of such a troublesome child. She wasn’t too much of a handful, was she?” Hei kept pushing the envelope. Teasing and patronizing Tessa. “She said she dreams of becoming a Hero, but I think she’s far from being one if she just runs away when it gets difficult. After all, what kind of Hero would run when the going gets tough?” Tessa snapped. That’s it…! Gritting her teeth and raising her fist, Tessa threw a punch at Hei. Hitting him square in the chest, though hurting her hand on his armor. “You two were the ones who dragged me into this whole mess!” Hei met her eyes and smiled the entire time. “Weren’t you the one who agreed to be our student?” “Yes, I agreed. But what kind of mentors bring their apprentice to a battlefield?!” “The effective kind. Or have you not noticed how much stronger you are?” “You forced me into risking my life without my consent! What does it matter if I get stronger but wind up dead?! Or was Torgrak being a hypocrite during his lessons?! Well?!” Hei was about to respond when the Archbishop re-announced his presence. “Are you done yet? I’d like to finish my ritual before it gets too late. Need to get some sleep after all. No rest for the wicked and all that.” Hei looked at the Archbishop for a moment, and then back at Tessa. “For now, yes.” Tessa fell to her knees as Hei and Torgrak moved to face the Archbishop and his cult in her place. “Where were we? Was a bit distracted. You understand, right?” The Archbishop chuckled, “You always were distracted by the fairer gender, weren’t you?” Hei looked him up and down, flattered that someone knew even that much about him. “You make it sound like we know each other. Who are you?” The Archbishop took a bow, “It is I, Juvi! How long has it been, Hei?” “Juvi? Is it really you? Didn’t you die some three hundred years ago?” Puzzled, Korlos asked, “Are you… familiar with him, your Holiness?” Hei laughed, “Familiar? More like long lost former friends turned enemies.” Juvi agreed, “An apt way of putting it. But I was not much more than a jester learning how to entertain from you.” “And you were a quick learner at that. For every instrument and trick I taught you, it would only be a matter of days before you had it down.” The two laughed like old friends. Hei asked, “So. Why are you the head of your own cult now? Seems like big shoes to fill for a meager Jester.” “That they were. After you killed our leader and left, the Heroes of the time quickly found us out and attacked. Thankfully, I was able to kill one of the militia members with them and get out in disguise.” “I’m guessing everyone else was slaughtered?” “Wholesale! But that’s to be expected. After all, Villains and Heroes are forever fated to be in eternal conflict.” “Ah, yes. The eternal tug of war the gods use for their own entertainment.” Stuck on the sidelines, Tolan tried to make sense of what was going on in front of him. Absolutely bewildered by how familiar Hei and Juvi were with each other. Tolan asked, “Who in the hell are your mentors, Tessa?” Tessa recoiled at the thought of even considering them as her teachers anymore. “By the way. If you were aware of my machinations, why’d you appear now? Couldn’t you have stopped me any time you liked?” asked Juvi. Wait… what?! It just hit Tessa, but she wondered why she hadn’t realized it earlier. Hei shrugged, “I only learned about your cult’s shenanigans a couple days ago. Though I doubt I’d have done anything, even if I knew about them.” Juvi chuckled, “Ever the aloof one, aren’t you?” Hei could’ve done something, but he chose to ignore it?! Why?! Tessa yelled, “If you have the power to stop evil, why didn’t you stop the cultists sooner?! Or even better, why not use your strength to help others at all?!” Hei’s face became openly annoyed. “Seems the child still hasn’t finished her tantrum yet. Could I have toppled this cult in a matter of hours? Easily. But why should I bother? It would be nothing more than a means of killing my boredom for but a moment. I’d rather spend my eternity doing nothing than waste my time saving people who’ll be replaced in a matter of days.” Juvi asked, “I assume the same goes for you as well, Torgrak?” Torgrak shrugged. Confirming Juvi’s claim, but in far fewer words. However, Tessa was stunned by Hei’s complete disregard for other people’s lives. And Juvi can’t help but find it funny. Juvi chuckled, “Evil knows evil. Isn’t that right Hei?” “Guilty as charged. But we should probably get on with things, shouldn’t we? The Adventurers’ Guild has assigned us the task of handling you. Can’t keep reminiscing about the past, as nice as that’d be.” “Yes, it is unfortunate. And as the leader of this cult, I too must take action in handling the unaccounted variables before me. You know, when I heard they had executed you, I thought everything would go smoothly. Manage to talk your way out of another situation?” Juvi summoned rings of fire around his hands as Hei readied his sword. Torgrak loaded a fresh round while Korlos and the rest of the cult prepared to brawl. “I now have a collar around my neck, but I didn’t feel like dying just yet. And what organization would pass up such a useful tool?” “That is disappointing, but explains why you’re here. But at least I shall be able to make your soul into the perfect sacrifice for Nencog. I’m going to miss your ugly mug while it suffers eternal damnation, Hei.” Hei scoffed, “Can’t say the same about yours, Juvi.” Shifting his stance, Hei raised his shielded left arm. Bring the upper edge of it to just below his eyes as his right hand kept his sword just behind him. He and Juvi stared at each other in silence for a moment. Then Hei’s eyes flash from gold to green as the glowing symbol of an eye appears on the cult leader’s chest. Putting weight on his left leg, he ran at Juvi. And once at the foot of the stairs leading up to the altar, he disappeared. Juvi looked around, searching for even a trace of the half-elf. Suddenly, he’s struck in the back twice. Hei’s blade clashing against a layer of chainmail just beneath Juvi’s robes. Juvi jumps away, getting about 5 meters away. “Ever the tricky one, aren’t you Hei?” “But you were always the better dance, Juvi!” Landing on the ground and sliding a short bit, Juvi readies a response. “Then let’s see just who the better trickster is with a spotlight!” Putting his hands together, the symbol of Nencog appeared as he channeled the evil god’s divinity. “Deltan ard Chaos Radiance!” A rainbow of light and flames rained down on Hei. Scorching him and shoving Hei back a good three meters. His greaves grinding loudly against the ground and leaving drag marks. A bit of steam and smoke coming off him. “Now let’s turn up the heat! Thetan bel ard Meteor Rain!” Eight portals that lead to an ever raging dimension of color and flames opened, bringing forth their own raging fireball. Each one a different color than the last. Pointing at Hei, they straight at Hei. Quickly, Hei ran to the left to avoid each one as they crashed into the ground. The first three missed, but the fourth and fifth found purchase. Hei blocked them with his shield, but the last three exploded at his feet in a burst of fire. As the flames subsided, Hei emerged alive and standing though burnt. “If not for being as hardy as I am, that might’ve killed me!” “Explains why you Fateless are seen as threats by the gods! Perhaps Nencog will reward me greatly for taking your head!” Hei smirked, “Epsmel ble at Shadowed Blade!” Shadows weaved themselves around his sword, coating it in a layer of solidified gloom and fear. Then, charging at Juvi again, he teleported once within 10 meters. Juvi began turning around, expecting another attack from behind, but Hei went for a frontal assault this time. His sword biting into the chainmail and chopping through it, allowing the second swing to wound Juvi. Strange threads attempt to interfere, but Hei’s blade cuts through and slashes Juvi from the right side of his hip to his left shoulder. Hei scoffed, “Seems Fate doesn’t want you dying here.” “If not for you having left its weave, perhaps Fate would do the same for you!” As Hei and Juvi clashed, Korlos watched and prepared himself to join. And just as he was about to run, Torgrak shot at him. Korlos forced himself to stop and dodge it. The bullet lodging itself into the distant wall as Torgrak affixed an axe-like bayonet to the end of his rifle. “Vhere do ya zhink yer goin’?” Korlos glared at Torgrak defiantly. Gritting his teeth hard as the dwarf looked down at him from atop a pile of rubble. “Yer fight be vith me.” Korlos growled, “Fine. I was going to deal with you later, but may as well humor you while his Holiness handles your companion.” With another shot loaded, Torgrak took quick aim and fired. This one landing in Korlos’s chest. But unlike with the cannon fodder, there was a flickering of weaved threads around where the bullet landed. Causing what would be a fatal injury to be not much more than a slight dent in Korlos’s breastplate. Torgrak chuckled, “Looks like I’ll need ta use somezhin’ stronger.” Korlos huffed, annoyed by Torgrak’s attack. Dropping a leaf onto his sword, Korlos empowered it with raging flames. “Betan ble at Flaming Blade!” With his sword ready, Korlos ran at Torgrak. Slashing at him after ascending the pile of rubble. The loose rocks squeaking and crunching under his weight. “Die dwarf!” Korlos chopped downwards, and Torgrak dodged to the side and slid down the rubble. Swiftly, Torgrak pulled out a sky blue cartridge and loaded it. “Let’s cool ya off.” Aiming at Korlos’s chest, Torgrak shot before the traitor could react. On impact with Korlos’s shoulder, it burst out with a flash of ice. A chunk of ice pierced and embedded itself in Korlos’s ribs while the rest froze a good portion of the right size of his body, but only on the surface. Korlos recoiled, “GAHHH!!! What did you do to me?!” With Korlos disabled for a moment, Torgrak raised his bayonet to stab at the neck. Unwilling to die just yet, Korlos raised his left arm and turned his body. Forcing the bayonet to deflect and scrape against his armor. Korlos swung for Torgrak’s head, all but the chunk of ice in his chest breaking off with a loud crack. Torgrak turned and dodged, his beard and armor singed by the fire. And as all this happened, Tolan’s jaw dropped at the ridiculous fight in front of him. Standing in awe at the level of spells being cast between Hei and Juvi, and how easily both Hei and Torgrak were handling this situation as compared to anyone else he’d ever met. Yet Tessa found this to be nothing more than them messing around with their power. A brief moment of entertainment Hei and Torgrak were reveling in. However, they soon found themselves forced into this battle as what remained of the cult’s weaker members surrounded them. Tessa called over to Tolan, getting him to pay attention to the matter at hand as the last fifteen of the cult cornered them. “Seems they’re not gonna let us just keep watching.” He replied, “Guessing they feel they need to do something, but don’t want to end up in the middle of their battle.” Noting the imbalance in numbers, Tolan summoned forth a gale of winds to flow around his staff. “Beawel ard Descending Storm!” Cutting winds encircled surrounded six cultists, hacking and slashing away at them. Tearing their robes to shreds and disorienting them. And not willing to end it there, Tolan called storm clouds to his aid and targeted the ones before Tessa. “Gammelt ard Thunderfall!” Immediately, lighting descended upon the five of what remained. Frying them and leaving one stunned but heavily injured. But Tolan began panting as he prepared another spell. Lightning danced from his feet before ending concentrating into a bright, sparking light in his hand. “That’s eleven down, four to go.” Pointing it at the one who stood there stunned, he cast another spell. “Melt Thundershock!” The lightning lept from Tolan’s fingers and straight into the center of the cultist’s chest. Shocking him at his heart just before the cultists fell face first into the dirt. Only three remained now, but Tolan was pushing it. He panted heavily and nearly lost his grip on his staff, falling to one knee as he tried to recover. Seeing this, Tessa ran to his side to see how he was holding up. “Tolan! Are you okay?!” “I-I’m fine. Just using… using more than I’m used to. Just three more, and… and we can make a run for it.” Noticing Tolan’s moment of weakness, the one cultist summoned forth bolts of fire and attacked. Tolan didn’t have the strength to defend himself, but Tessa did and quickly created a shield. “Alsanct def Barrier!” The other two cultists, however, ran at her with swords. The first clashing against Tessa’s barrier with a downward chop. Her defense held, but quickly started cracking. Bits of the light falling like fractured glass, and Tessa wasn’t sure if she could hold it. Then the second one came and cut at her barrier, destroying it. Tolan, noticing the blade still coming, pulled Tessa back and jumped in front. The sword cutting through his robes and ribs. He cursed under his breath, but took the chance to attack. Punching one in the gut before finishing the cultist off with an elbow to the top of the head. Then gave the other a heart attack via lightning. “Melt Thundershock!” However, Tolan was tapped. What was light panting turned to heavy breaths. He could barely keep himself on one knee. Seeing this, Tessa healed him with what divine energy she could summon. “Alsanct yaha Heal!” Tolan’s body sewed itself back together. The bleeding stopped and some of Tolan’s strength returned, but Tessa’s miracle only did enough to keep the dragonling off death’s door. “Thanks, Tessa.” “Just doing what prefer.” But it wasn’t over just yet. Seeing the situation before him, the remaining cultist ran. Fleeing for his life and faith shaken by how horribly things had gone. With the problem at hand dealt with, Tessa tried to think of what to do to help Tolan. Then remembered the vials at her side and grabbed one. Quickly opening it, she handed it over to Tolan. Unfortunately, Tolan could do little more than focus on breathing. Then she remembered what to do with it and splashed it over his wound. It proved effective as Tolan found his body mostly back to normal, aside from a numbness that ran through his body. “What was that?” “Something I wish I knew how to make.” But it’s not over yet as Hei and Juvi slam into each other loudly. A boom echoing as Hei slides backwards, stopping just a few feet short of Tessa and Tolan. Juvi, however, finds himself hurled against the altar. He remains standing, but doubled over and bleeding heavily, mask barely holding together with serious cracks running down the beak and bits missing. Torgrak laughs as he kicks Korlos in front of the stairs. Multiple chunks of ice stuck sticking out of Korlos’s torso and arms. None of it lethal, but unquestionably painful. Juvi spoke through pained breaths. “Let’s… end this…” Hei smiled, “Happy to oblige.” Hei charged again, quickly closing the gap between them. Juvi raised his hands, casting another spell and summoning the rainbow of flames again. Juvi chanted again, “Deltan ard Chaos Radiance!” “Not this time, Juvi!” Summoning forth a flood of shadows, Hei slammed his fist into the ground and large tendrils of darkness consumed the lights. Drowning them in darkness before jumping forward and getting close enough to teleport right in front of Juvi. And as Hei cut into Juvi, Juvi cast again at point blank range. “Gamtan ard Burst!” A shock wave of fire and light exploded out. Juvi looked more worse for wear than Hei, but it forced the half-elf far enough away to keep him there for the moment. Juvi coughed as blood dripped down from the beak of his mask. Laughing through the pain, but apologizing. “Can’t let you kill me… Hei. As nice as it would be to have my soul devoured by your eldritch abomination of a patron, the ritual needs to be completed.” Hei laughed, “Ending it on a cliche then? That’s not like you.” “You’re right, but I have to play my part as one of Nencog’s villains. I wonder what hell we’ll meet in next, Hei! Enjoy my parting gift!” Juvi drew a hidden knife from his right sleeve. Its blade was sharp but incredibly thin, almost like a sewing needle. And with it, he stabbed himself through the heart. A rush of white and red flames flies out of his corpse and into the flame great flame at the center. Korlos calls out to the Archbishop. “Your Holiness!!!” He dragged himself to his feet and just started climbing the steps when the entire cavern rumbled and quaked. A pair of demonic eyes appearing at the flame’s heart as a distorted laugh filled the room. Symbols of Nencog writing themselves across the ground and up the walls. Tentacles of fire reaching down into the pit and picking up the bandaged corpses. Unraveling their bindings and stripping the mummified flesh into strips before combining them into a single growing and writhing mass. Torgrak ran to Tolan’s side, picking the dragonling up and putting Tolan across his back with one arm. “Ve gotta get out of here!” Tessa asked, “What’s going on now?!” Hei did the same to Tessa, carrying her like a sack of potatoes under his arm. “We run! That’s what!” “Hey! Put me down! I can run just fine!” “Yeah, but not fast enough! Torgrak, keep the path clear!” “Aye, already on it!” Ascending the way the Resistance came in, Hei and Torgrak carried the other two up and out. Running at breakneck speed, while Torgrak kept a shot loaded for any large boulders that blocked their way. Demonic roars chasing them as they ran. And just as the exit was about to close, Torgrak used a red-tipped bullet to blow it out and clear the way. The two kept running until they got a good distance away from the cathedral, it collapsing behind them. It wasn’t over yet, though, as the streets shook. And out of the fallen cathedral erupted two arms with giant claws for fingers. Tolan and Tessa watched in horror as the avatar of Nencog took its first breath of the world’s fresh air. Tolan asked, “I don’t mean to question either of your abilities, but… You two got a plan for that?!” Hei scoffed, “He doesn’t look that mean to me.” Tessa was stunned. “Are you kidding me, Hei?! It’s as big as a mountain!” Torgrak laughed, “Just a newborn in need of a spankin’. Nothin’ vorth vorryin’ about.” “Is this really the time to be making light of a literal giant monster?!” Tessa demanded. Hei smiled, “We’re still in good enough shape to take it down.” Torgrak followed up Hei’s statement with his own. An eager look shining in the corner of his eye. “And I still haven’t fired my big gun!” Smoke billowed out from the demon’s mouth as it roars furiously. Its tail swiping buildings away. Then, it turned its attention to the four of them. “I-it’s looking at us…!” stated Tessa. “Maybe you should fire whatever you mentioned NOW?!” demanded Tolan. Opening its maw, a gigantic magic circle formed in the avatar’s mouth. A ridiculous amount of energy charging up in it. Hei quickly set Tessa down before looking at Torgrak. Torgrak nodded and jumped away, running into the remains of Crimsonvale with Tolan over his shoulder. Hei pulled out his shield and stood in front of Tessa. Tessa pleaded, “What are you doing?! We need to run!” “There’s not enough time! Themel def Devouring Barrier!” Unleashing its attack, a beam of energy consumed Tessa’s vision as all she could see for a moment was Hei’s silhouette. White and red light rushed past them as it slowly pushed Hei back. And then it all went white as the streets and buildings around them were vaporized.