“DODGE!” Zoey shouted.
Raven leaped left, looking at her. Blade of Zoey’s poleaxe shone with brown energy. She swung it down. The cut released her magic into a massive shockwave. It shattered all in its path to dust. A few smaller statues, the massive statue and a large part of the wall behind it were gone.
Raven didn’t have time to be impressed. He followed Ebilezerhar as he evaded and slashed at him. The demon prince parried with his spear and stabbed at Raven’s face. He blocked with the shield. Ebilezerhar shouted in pain as Lucas’ spear stabbed him in the side. He breathed out a thick cloud of acid, which made them leap back. Another massive shockwave roared through the hall as Zoey unleashed a wide-swung blast.
“Left,” Lucas said and disappeared. Raven leaped left and found Ebilezerhar sliding by the wall. He parried the few spear strikes and pushed forward with his shield. The demon prince turned green and exploded into acid. Raven whirled away, but it still hit him. Around, he saw ten other Ebilezerhars.
Clones made of acid, not bad.
Lucas just stabbed one through the head and avoided the acidic explosion.
Alright, time to think. Raven stopped time to analyze the situation. I want to save my strength for Kayleanne, so we need to do this efficiently. The first Ebilezerhar we saw didn’t explode, so that was the real one. Now it looks like he made about eighteen copies of himself and is hiding as the nineteenth one. We have killed three so far.
What is his objective? By now, it should be clear that he cannot defeat us in a straight up fight. He also cannot escape as things are because Lucas can apparently track him. The only reasonable strategy for him is to somehow stop us from pursuing him before he escapes. The statues were supposed to do that. Were we to focus on them, he would try to slip away in confusion. That failed. These clones would be good to cause confusion to make us run, except that we will clean them up too fast if he isn’t around. Zoey. His best shot is to wound Zoey so one of us has to tend to her while he runs and potentially fights off the one who is pursuing him. While mine and Lucas’ magic are defensive, she seems to be fully offensive. That makes her a good target. Now that I think about it, Lucas has already killed two of the clones closest to her.
Raven walked to the clone nearest to Zoey and unfroze the time. He cut it in half with a swing and weaved out of the acidic explosion. He maneuvered to shield Zoey from one side, while Lucas guarded the second one. A cloud of acid filled the air around them. They all leaped to dodge. Raven stopped time and rushed to Zoey. She was impaled on Ebilezerhar’s spear. He prepared himself and unfroze it. He cut the spear in half while Lucas ran his spear through Ebilezerhar’s head. In quick succession, Lucas stabbed through all major organs while Raven severed his head. The statues stopped moving and acid clones all exploded.
“Wake me up in a one minute,” Lucas announced and tossed a foul looking purple ball into his mouth. He instantly fell to the ground, unconscious.
Raven caught Zoey and saw to her wound. It was bad, really bad. She was pierced through her stomach and acid was quickly melting its way through her body. Raven turned the acid into steam, then moved her so that it stops touching her. The wound was still horrendous. He tore a piece of his cloak and wrapped the wound the best he could.
“I shall take her to the healers,” Lucas announced as he leaped up to his feet.
“What did you just do?” Raven pried.
“I destroyed Ebilezerhar’s dream pocket. Since his body is destroyed, that’s the end of him,” Lucas explained.
“Unless he has a hidden champion,” Raven remarked.
“Even if he does, he shall be greatly weakened for a long time. Long enough to wipe out his cult for good,” Lucas remarked.
“Alright, is there anything else I can do? Do you know where Kayleanne is?” Raven asked.
“Yeah. If you destroy that wall up by the ceiling,” Lucas pointed to a wall, “you will get into a tunnel that leads up the mountains. The Order shall likely be fighting her anytime now. If you hurry, you might get there in time to catch the end of it,” Lucas replied.
“Sounds good. Do you have any hints on how to face her?” Raven inquired.
“Yeah. Kayleanne liked to call herself the greatest blademaster of Hell. I don’t think she learned any new tricks,” Lucas revealed.
“Thank you.” Raven nodded and dashed off into the tunnel.
Lucas looked at Zoey. Her eyes were white and she was shaking in a seizure.
I should follow Raven and kill Kayleanne. Such is the plan. But Zoey will die if I do it because then I won’t make it to the army camp fast enough. What the hell do I do?
58
Luna
The world lost color. Luna looked over the demon-filled valley, but all was in shades of black and white. She looked at Miranda, who had already turned to her. She couldn’t see her face through the mask, but she would bet her face is as confused as hers. All turned black. For a long moment, Luna stood in absolute darkness. She couldn’t see, hear or feel anything. Then everything returned to normal. “What the hell was that?” Luna asked awkwardly.
“I have no fucking idea,” Miranda replied, “but I guess it was the signal. DRAW!”
All soldiers and Faye around them drew an arrow into their bows.
“FIRE AT WILL!”
They let loose. Swarm of arrows left off the cliff on which they stood and descended upon the demons panicking within the valley.
“See the woman in blue on the huge griffin? That’s our target, follow her with eyes and tell me when she lands somewhere.”
“Ehhh...” Luna breathed, but she did exactly as Miranda ordered. She knew the woman had to be Kayleanne. She watched her assemble whatever she could from her demons and headed with them toward a mountain. It wasn’t far from them. A unit of knights was following them on the ground.
“There is a cave there, they are heading for it,” Luna told Miranda.
“Alright. Jia, take command, Luna with me, everyone else keep shooting,” she ordered, “let’s move.”
They dashed off. Luna was amazed at how fast Miranda was running. It wasn’t that she wasn’t faster, but nobody ever kept with her as much as Miranda did.
What the hell do I say? If I tell Miranda the huge scar on me is from Kayleanne herself, she might go berserk and get herself killed. But I also need to warn her... fuck.
“Are you sure this is a good idea?” Luna tossed up.
“Wanna wimp out?” Miranda slashed back.
“No… just… I met Raven, he fought with Kayleanne and he lost, horribly,” Luna admitted.
“Chill, we will be fine. Merewen is among the knights who are following her so we will gang up on her and win easily,” Miranda replied.
She’s taking it too easy. This is extremely dangerous.
“You are underestimating this, we should change the plan,” Luna refused.
“We are about to face a demon prince, last time I fought one, it didn’t go well, so I’m not going to underestimate this,” Miranda revealed, “but I am also not walking back on this. I am one of the three generals of the Holy Order of Palai. I do not choose my opponents; I don’t back down from fights, I don’t trick my way through them. I stand and fight until all enemies around me are nothing but corpses. Talking about being careful, you take it easy and don’t do anything dangerous.”
“It almost sounds like you are worried about me,” Luna smiled, “anyway, from what I know, she uses a sword and is really, really fucking fast. I don’t think she has much more other stuff.”
“Of course, I am worried; you fluffy idiot!” Miranda exclaimed, “I know I’m often mean, it’s just how I am… but it doesn’t mean I don’t care about you; I do, I am just really bad at saying it… or showing it… or doing it.”
Luna felt like her chest just melted down.
“Oh, don’t start crying, you shitty wimp, we’ve got work to do.”
They arrived first. Kayleanne was just sending some of the last of her demo
ns into the cave.
“Two girls, really?” she glanced over her shoulder as they arrived. “Where’s Lucas?”
“Afraid he will come and rustle your hair?” Miranda shouted poisonously.
“Sounds like he isn’t around,” Kayleanne smirked, “you two must be out of your mind to come face me alone.”
A boom echoed through the air. At a speed that was impossible to follow with bare eye, an arrow split the air above their heads. Kayleanne dodged it with a side step. Behind Miranda and Luna arrived Merewen with about twenty knights. The knights weren’t small, but the seven feet tall Merewen left no space for doubt about who the general is. She motioned her men to hold and leaped off her horse. She wore a crude armor covered by spikes and fashioned in Palai colors. Over her shoulder was a massive maul and a quiver, in her hand she had a forked metal bow.
“You are kidding me, right?” Kayleanne chuckled. “You think bringing a third girl will be enough to satisfy me?”
“This bitch sure talks a lot,” Merewen remarked as she joined Luna and Miranda.
“Alright, girls, since it will take my men a while to collapse the tunnel, I shall show you how high the stars are,” Kayleanne remarked. She took off her robe and tossed it to one of her followers. He dashed off with it. She wore light leather armor, metal clad boots and a circlet. She pulled her hair into a ponytail and walked toward them.
“I will take the center, pin her down from the sides,” Merewen ordered. Luna and Miranda didn’t feel like arguing with her. They spread around to surround Kayleanne.
“I am Kayleanne the Sapphire Crane, leave or perish by my blade,” Kayleanne stated and drew her blade. It was a long straight sword with a blade that was literally made from a single huge sapphire.
Merewen drew her bow and released another arrow. At the same moment the arrow boomed through the air, Miranda and Luna attacked. Kayleanne cut the arrow aside. She ducked under the metal ball of Scitalis and slashed Luna across the wrist. Kayleanne whirled, slapped Miranda’ s next attack into Luna’s face and dashed forward. She ducked under Merewen’s arrow, reached her in a few incredibly fast steps and slashed at her. Merewen blocked the upward swing, tossed off her bow and drew her maul. It was a massive stone ball on a metal stick. Luna and Miranda were at Kayleanne in a split of a second. She evaded Luna’s swing and slashed at Miranda. Miranda dodged by a teleport. The blade still grazed her with a shallow cut. Merewen launched a huge overhand smash at Kayleanne. She parried it with ease, weaved out of Miranda’s swing and slashed Luna across the chest. Kayleanne stepped in and stabbed Luna through the chest. She spun and threw her at Merewen. Merewen sidestepped but lost sight of Kayleanne for but an instant. Kayleanne stepped to Miranda. She dodged the attack, lured her in with a faint and kicked her in the stomach. Miranda spit blood as the kick threw her off. Merewen charged at her, Kayleanne dodged, kicked her in the knee, knocked off her maul and hit her with a spinning kick.
“Is that all?” Kayleanne mocked as they all lied on the ground around her.
They all sprung up to their feet. Merewen swung her mace and a blast of flames burst against Kayleanne. She weaved to dodge, then ducked under Luna’s swing and caught the ball of Scitalis with her hand. Miranda dodged her slash but ate a kick in her face. It shattered her mask and threw her to the edge of the cliff. Luna roared and leaped at Kayleanne. She parried bow her claws and cut her across the chest. Kayleanne’s sword was just a blur of blue. She whirled, ducked and stabbed Merewen into her side. Merewen grunted in pain. Kayleanne hit her with a straight kick and sent her flying down the cliff.
“Pathetic,” Kayleanne smirked.
Miranda sneered. She leaped up to her feet. Curved horns sprouted from her head. She opened her mouth and a sharp shriek pierced the air. Ball of black flame surrounded Kayleanne. She leaped out through it. Luna lunged at her with her claws. Kayleanne cut Luna through the shoulder. It went all the way down to the heart. Luna took the blow and grabbed the sapphire blade with both hands as it was stuck into her. On massive wings of flames, Merewen flew up from behind the edge of the cliff. She formed an arrow of pure flames and launched it at Kayleanne. She whirled, but the arrow hit her over the shoulder, it scorched clothes and flesh alike. Merewen landed on a rock and wrapped her wings around herself.
Kayleanne spat out a mouthful of blood, “not bad.” She postured up and elegant horns came out of her forehead. Her eyes turned black with bright blue irises. “Come at me!”
Luna roared and charged. Miranda teleported to Kayleanne’s side and shrieked out another burst of black flame. Merewen launched another arrow that thundered as it left the bow.
Kayleanne stepped toward Miranda and slashed her across the chest. The speed of her swing was beyond anything they could imagine. She knocked aside Merewen’s arrow and ducked under Luna’s swing. Luna planted her foot in the ground and spun for a second slash. Pain burst from her neck, chest, wrists and knee at the same time. She didn’t know where Kayleanne cut her first, all she saw was blue blurs. Her regeneration was too slow. She collapsed on her knee. Kayleanne dashed around her. Merewen swung her maul and flew up into the air. Kayleanne weaved aside the strike and caught Merewen’s leg with her tail. Kayleanne spun and smashed Merewen into the ground. Merewen unleashed a massive blast of bright flame. Kayleanne powered through it and ran a blade through her arm. She spun and punched Merewen in the face. It knocked off her helmet, shattered her nose and sent her to the ground. Miranda appeared behind her and lunged Scitalis wrapped in flames. Kayleanne parried the strike, stepped in and stabbed at Miranda. She dodged with a teleport. Kayleanne spun and kicked her in the stomach. Miranda spat blood and flew backward. The mountain shook.
Miranda’s magic exploded into the air. Scitalis swelled and extended into a massive metal snake. She stood on its head. Massive figure of black flames formed around her. Figure of a monster. Monster the size of a mountain. With surprising speed, it hit the mountain with a fist which was the size of a house. The mountain cracked under the impact. Kayleanne barely dodged. She leaped to Luna, ran a blade through her heart and threw her at Miranda. She made an opening in the figure to not burn her. From behind Luna, Kayleanne leaped out and ran her sword through Miranda. Miranda made the figure collapse upon her. Kayleanne kicked her to get away but still got caught up in the flames. They both all fell to the ground, Miranda caught Luna into her arms.
Kayleanne rose to her feet. Miranda did not. “Till next time,” Kayleanne smirked and sheathed her blade. She walked into the cave. The mountain collapsed straight behind her.
59
Raven
Kayleanne was sitting on a rock and wrapping her wounds with pieces torn from her own clothes. Raven walked into the small cavern from the bottom entrance.
“You have missed quite a dance,” Kayleanne shouted in a greeting.
“Hope you have enough strength for an extra solo,” Raven breathed and drew his blade.
“Not going to talk about it, are you?” she tried.
“I promised Lucas that I should see this to the end. With Ebilezerhar gone, the end comes with your death,” Raven revealed, “I don’t like it, but such is life.”
“Speaking of the devil, I don’t see him around,” Kayleanne mused.
“He’s busy,” Raven admitted.
“Hah… you got balls to come at me without him; I will give you that,” Kayleanne rose.
“Are you afraid of him?” Raven realized.
“Of course, I am. Whoever isn’t should be. You felt it yourself, didn’t you? When he released that pulse of magic on the balcony, you froze in terror, terror so strong you couldn’t even breathe, didn’t you?” she asked back.
“What do you know about that?” Raven pried.
“Nobody had ever killed as many of our kind as he did. To us, he is death made manifest. The fear of him is something engraved into our very souls,” Kayleanne remarked, “anyway since he ain’t here, I’m gonna crush you and go home before he shows up.” She drew her blad
e and took a stance. “I am Kayleanne the Sapphire Crane, leave or perish by my blade!”
Raven stopped time. He took his time to analyze her stance and her wounds.
No openings, her stance is perfectly standard. Some of her wounds are pretty bad, especially the burns, but they don’t seem to limit her movements. She seems tired, so she will want to end the fight quickly. The line she said is clearly a ritual she does to force herself to concentrate.
Raven walked behind her, took a stance for a strong downward cut and unfroze the time. Kayleanne whirled, parried his blade and blocked the following slam of his shield. It threw her backward with a loud impact and she spat out blood. Raven froze time once more. He moved to be at her left side and got ready for another strike. He unfroze time. She evaded his blade, slid by the shield. He parried her counter strike, kicked her leg and slammed her with the shield once more. It lifted her off her feet. Raven froze time when she was still mid-air. He got into a position behind her. Kayleanne whirled, parried his strike and kicked herself off his shield. Raven stepped in, knocked away her sword and cut her across the chest. It was a shallow cut, but it made the blood spray.
Raven took a defensive stance. Recoil from the use of magic echoed through his body; he needed to let it pass to not risk throwing himself into backlash.
“You have improved,” Kayleanne mused, “anyway, as much as I love the foreplay, I don’t have time for this.” Elegant horns sprouted out of her head, a tail appeared behind her and her eyes turned black with bright blue irises.
“What do you mean?” Raven tried to buy time.
“Your time stop is perfect, but it’s not enough to defeat me,” Kayleanne remarked.
Legacy of Death: Revenge (Legacy of Dreams Book 2) Page 49
