I’m Coming…

"SIGNY!"

The Abysmal Knight lifted Signy from the ground like a gruesome puppet. Signy had lost her consciousness, blood dripping from where the lance penetrated her body. Her bow lay on the dusty ground, her quivers scattered.

"SIGNY!" Altair shrieked, dropping his hammer.

"ALTAIR, NO!" Theodoric yelled.

Altair ran forward, eyes half-blinded with tears. He pumped his legs and jumped straight toward the Abysmal Knight. The Blacksmith collided with the monster. Altair wrapped his arms around the Knights torso and used his momentum to destroy its balance with its steed. The steed reared and aided with Altairs momentum, knocked the Abysmal Knight off.

"OH MY GOD, ALTAIR!" Sibyl shouted in fright.  "ALTAIR!"

Signy, however, crashed ten feet away; the lance still stuck in her chest. Wealthow, knowing what was in hand, quickly teleported to the Huntresss side. She grabbed hold of the Abysmal Knights lance and tried to pull it off, but it was too close to Signys heart. Wealthow weighed her chances. If she can pull of the lance and Heal Signy, it would be a miracle. If not, shed risk killing the Huntress more. She didnt know quite what to do.

Meanwhile, Altair had gone completely off his rocker. He wrestled with the Abysmal Knight, the two of them rolling on the paved streets of Glast Heim. Theodoric was kept busy with the Knights steed, fending it off with his Brandish Spear. Sibyl was on the verge of helping Altair.

"SONIC BLOW!"

Sibyl leapt to attack, katar ready. Altair rolled off the Abysmal Knight just in time. Sibyl crashed onto the demi-human, dealing multiple damages within seconds. Only the flashes of Sibyls katar could be seen as she slashed and cut, slashed and cut.

"Kyaa!" Sibyl tumbled off, her flexibility perfect.  "HIDING!"

There was a flash of light, and Sibyl was nowhere to be seen. Her voice echoed in the air.

"GRIMTOOTH!"

Spikes of solid rock erupted from the ground right beneath the Abysmal Knight. The Grimtooth pierced the demi-human in every square inch of its body, tearing through the pitch-black armor. Sibyl materialized out of nowhere, ready to give her deathblow.

"SONIC BLOW!"

The katar flashed once more. In less than one minute, the Abysmal Knight was dead. Sibyl tossed back her hair, panting.

"Well," she said, smiling.  "I would have thought thatd be hard, but I didnt get so much as a scratch. Piece of cake."

"SPEAR STAB!" Theodoric yelled.

The Abysmal Knights steed reared and fell, dead on the spot. Theodoric faced Sibyl and gave a thumbs-up, but the Assassin ignored him. Theodorics shoulders drooped.

"Well I guess the only one left is Big Momma." Altair spoke, swinging his hammer ready and eyeing the Shadow.

"Wealthow, go mop up Signy somewhere else." said Theodoric. "Well take care of this one. And hurry up, will you?"

Wealthow nodded and teleported Signy to a safe place. When they were gone, the three faced the Shadow.

Eyes of the deepest shade of red, with wings and hair blacker than black. Its breath was poison, its teeth oozing with venom. Claws that inflicted lethal wounds were very sharp. Its body was bones clothed in graying rags. It loomed like Death waiting to kill. Even Theodoric felt chills running down his spine.

"Adrenaline Rush!" Altair chanted, casting a spell.

Sibyl and Theodoric felt their energy reach maximum. The three of them assumed a battle-stance for a few seconds before jumping to attack all at the same time.

"YAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

Nerva popped out of the warp portal and crashed face-first onto the dusty, paved roads. He was breathing hard as he lay on the ground, long after the warp portal vanished. His eyes were shut tight, and rivulets of sweat were fast forming on his ashen forehead. He couldnt move. Severe pain was racking his insides, damaging his vital organs one by one.

The creature inside him was struggling fiercely, wanting to get out. It was moving so virulently in him that he could no longer feel his own heart.

"Haahhaahhaahumph.haah"

Even his breathing was restricted now. The poison enchanted into that damned Lothairs stiletto was a neurotoxin; it attacked the nervous system first and inflicted death by respiratory system malfunction. Nerva knew that he barely had enough time to find the other members of Firnheild and kill off the Shadow with the Mightiest Spell. And then

His yellow eyes opened blearily, focusing on the specks of dust on the ground.  And then what next?

Did he still want to be Healed afterward? Did he still want to live on?

A small smile spread on his face as he heaved himself upward. He stood up gingerly, his knees shaking under his weight. His legs felt like jelly underneath him. He staggered as he walked, swaying here and there as he clutched the wound at his side.

He was going to die. He knew it. The spell he would use to kill the Shadow guaranteed instant death right after the casting. Even Heal and Cure would not be able to undo the severe damage. It was a Wizards last resort, and he was one of the three people who could perform it in the whole of Midgard.

Was he going to commit a suicide attack?

Yes.

Nerva was going to combine Lord of Vermilion, Storm Gust and Meteor Storm into a single, destructive spell, Apocalypse. It was the mightiest spell, the very essence of Magic itself. It could obliterate the whole world of Rune-Midgard if he wished. Now it was the only weapon that can destroy the Shadow. It was a weapon that required a sacrifice every time it is cast.

It required the spellcasters life.

Nerva leant on a post, lifting his eyes to the sky. The sun was about to set. He gave a shallow laugh. He was going to die anyway, with this ravaged mind and poisoned body. He would just hasten up his meeting with Death a little. It was not that he didnt like to live to see the next days glorious sunrise. He didnt have any choice left. He was so tiredhe wanted to rest already.

"Im coming, Isidore." He smiled. 

"LET HIM GO!" Altair shouted, lifting his hammer ready.  "HAMMERFALL!"

An earthquake shook Glast Heim. The Shadow, stunned, dropped Theodoric onto the ground. Sibyl kicked off from the ground.

"SONIC BLOW!"

The Shadow gave a bloodcurdling scream as Sibyl tore through her. Theodoric, recovering quickly, also leapt to attack, lance in hand.

"BASH!"

The wings fell off and burst into flames. Altair followed next.

"HAMMERFALL!"

The hammer whammed straight into the Shadows head. Altair tumbled backward, and joined Theodoric and Sibyl. The Shadow was writhing madly, screaming.

"S***, its still alive after five, successive Hammerfalls!" Theodoric bit his lip.  "This is not good!"

"Oh s***, watch out!" Sibyl shouted.

The Shadow gaped its jaws to full extent and aimed straight at them. A compacted energy ball started forming between its teeth. Theodoric, Altair and Sibyl all retreated involuntarily.

"Oh, I dont like this!" Altair whispered.

It fired. The three of them ducked. A great explosion followed. The impact destroyed half of Glast Heim, including the whole graveyard. Sibyls eyes were rounded as she straightened up, only to see the Shadow preparing to repeat the explosion again.

They were unable to jump. The blast occurred right infront of them. Altair, Theodoric and Sibyl were blasted off their feet and crashed fifty feet away in the midst of falling debris.

"Were going to die here!" Altair thought frantically.  "Im going to die!"

He saw the Shadow ready itself for a third blast. The three of them were lying on the ground, helpless. The energy ball was getting bigger. Altair shut his eyes.

"DOUBLE STRAFE!"

His eyes snapped open.  "SIGNY!"

Signy and Wealthow were standing with their backs facing them. Signy had her bow ready, and she was completely Healed.

"Sorry to keep you waiting." Wealthow apologized.  "HereSanctuary!"

Theodoric, Altair and Sibyl felt themselves healing in a flash. When the Sanctuarys warm glow died out, they were ready for anything again.

Another energy ball was forming between the Shadows teeth.

"Hold on!" said Theodoric.  "This will be bigger!"

Nerva clambered onto the rooftop, leaving a trail of red blood behind him. Earlier hed heard the explosions. He couldnt help thinking that Firnheild was tough like this. The Shadows energy ball killed off Swastika, but not Firnheild. They were still alive and fighting.

He was so near now. The creature in him was struggling like mad.

The part will always seek the whole, eager to become part of it again

Yes. Very near now

Nerva dropped to his knees. He lifted his arms, and from where he knelt, golden light erupted and swallowed him. He felt his heart constrict. He felt his soul trapped. The golden light caressed him. He could feel his life gathering, enveloping him.

I call upon the spirits of old,

Grant me strenght to finish this war,

Give me power to kill my foe.

In exchange I give thee my life,

And give me, ancient ancestors,

The Supreme Power

The three spells combined. The pain increased. But it will be all over now.

Nerva stood on the ledge, overlooking Firnheild and the Shadow below. He spread his arms like wings. He shone brighter than the sun.