Lisbeth held back at first, throwing white hot lightning at various Horsemen whenever her mana allowed for it, then zipped across the battlefield to back up Klein when the War Horseman knocked him down. Agil was already drawing its attention away from him, so Lisbeth helped Klein back to his feet and applied a healing crystal. He dipped his head to her and charged right back into the fray, making her snort in amusement at his directness.
A scream caught her attention, and she saw a Spriggan sorcerer being run down by the Horseman with the scythe. He stared into the face of Death himself as he stumbled onto his back and hastily threw up his shield in a vain effort to protect himself.
Without thinking Lisbeth lifted up her great hammer and threw it hard as she could, activating its special ability. It glowed an electric blue as it smashed into the side of the reapers skull-like face, then flew right back to her outstretched hand for her to catch.
"Thank you!" shouted the Spriggan, throwing a thumbs up and casting a spell to recover his losses.
"Anytime!" Lisbeth yelled back, jumping back as the Horseman of Death came after her instead. Wings of a mechanical appearance sprang from her back as she quickly got low to the ground and sped away from the deadly enemy. Alas, he pursued her relentlessly, his chilling eyes burning red. She ducked and weaved, but there was nowhere to hide in the open cathedral. She ducked under a wicked slash of the scythe as it passed overhead, nearly giving her a most unwanted haircut before she dropped like a stone and back down amongst the others.
She just needed to wait until someone else drew his attention, she thought. Someone else who could handle his attention. She just needed...
There.
Two Sylph guards in full plate armor, part of Sakuya's honor guard. Probably the highest of levels and wearing the best of armors. They could handle it. Lisbeth ducked and rolled between them, leaving the two to gape stupidly as the Horseman came upon them, scythe flying through the air with an eerie whistle.
Two players flashed out of being in bright plumes of hot smoke, replaced by tiny balls of fire in mere seconds as their Remain Lights activated.
This was the power of Death. With one stroke you were gone.
That said, they weren't going to make it easy for him to land a blow. There were ways to parry his scythe, or dodge his attacks. You just had to move fast. Lisbeth fell back alongside Sakuya as the Sylph Lady directed her men in their attack, followed up with an order to revive her guards, then discarded her fan in favor of her katana.
"I'm sorry about that!" said Lisbeth.
Sakuya just shook her head, long green hair flowing behind her. "Casualties of war. But I shall not tolerate their defeat!" she said as she charged forward with blade in hand. Lisbeth flew by her side, hammer out and ready, matching Sakuya's frenzied attack blow for blow. As she did, however, she couldn't help but glance occasionally to the side, and check on the progress of Kirito and Asuna.
"Keep safe, you two," she whispered.
Impressive as the Horseman of Death's ability was though, his fellows were no less terrifying in their own ways. Famine was still pouring forth a terrible black fog at regular intervals. Sapping strength, destroying items, dispelling buffs. Even Fairy wings, an intrinsic part of their nature, were not immune. Once covered in his mist, they too would fade for a brief time.
Leafa stumbled, her wings fading as the magic vanished, and she fell on the floor in a mild daze, right in front of Death as he finished off another player. The reaper lifted up his scythe as he prepared to finish her off too, swinging...
... she shut her eyes...
And then a loud clang made her open them up again, as she realized she'd been spared Death's stroke.
Recon stood over her, grimly holding off the scythe whose blade along was bigger than any lance with a knife that could've just as easily come from a kitchen table. And bless his heart, he was winning, though his life points were so few it was barely more than a faint sliver of red left. He pushed back as hard as he could, driving back Death's attack. This gave Leafa the time she needed to scoop up her katana and roll to the side, slashing out at the Horseman's ribcage, driving him back. She may have been grateful for Recon's timely rescue but that didn't mean she was some helpless damsel who couldn't fight too.
"Thanks," she said.
"Anytime," Recon replied, switching his grip on his knife and lifting up his other hand, beginning an incantation. "Bolla Goku Zo'sho Allryuza Fika-Nu!"
Leafa didn't recognize the incantation, but whatever it was, it sounded powerful. The air seemed to ripple as Recon intoned the words. The appropriate runes manifested around his body, then quickly spun around and appeared in his hand as a multicolored orb of light. It was so bright it didn't just glow, it seemed to drain light from the surrounding area like a sponge, soaking it all up. Just as Leafa feared she or Recon were going to go blind, he unleashed the spell.
"Cosmic Wave!"
A rainbow-infused blast of energy poured from Recon's palm, speeding through the air to slam fully into the specter of Death. Its health continued to drop as Recon burned through his mana to keep the spell up, slowly but surely wearing it down. As well as keeping it more or less paralyzed as it tried to fight the wave. Which meant it was the perfect time to strike.
Thus, Argo made her move. Razor sharp claws extended from her gauntlets as she dropped her stealth and launched herself into the air, latching on to the Horseman's back and proceeded to tear it to pieces.
Kirito and Asuna were experts at the art of switching in combat, having been some of the very first to utilize the technique. Years of practice later, they flowed so smoothly it was like watching a perfectly performed ballet dance. Not a movement was wasted, not a second lost. Their swords hammered away at Heathcliff's nearly impenetrable defense, chipping away at his life every time he left an opportunity. The final boss was slowly edging his way left as they rained down damage, and Asuna spotted an opening low in his defenses. Wasting no time, she struck, fully ready to block a blow from above if Heathcliff anticipated her attack.
Heathcliff, however, had been subtly maneuvering himself to the left as a feint. When next Asuna struck, he twisted his feet and sprung forward. Not slashing from above with his sword, as expected, but slamming into her with his shield like a battering ram. Asuna flew through the air as if struck by a cannonball, tumbling along the marble floor and rolling until she struck the far wall, where she collapsed, momentarily stunned.
"Asuna!"
"Mama!"
Yui instantly slipped out of Kirito's pocket and flew to Asuna's side. Kirito turned his head to watch, hoping they were both okay. It was a mistake to take his eyes off of his opponent, however, and the final boss made him pay dearly for it. His next holy sword strike impacted hard against Kirito's side, nearly knocking him off-balance. His life meter fell still lower, even as he blocked the next attack and glared darkly at Heathcliff.
"May want to stay focused, Kirito," Heathcliff said calmly, his expression completely unperturbed by the death glare thrown his way.
A bow twanged, and a glowing arrow imbedded itself in Heathcliff's shield as he swung it around to intercept the attack. The momentary distraction, however, was enough for Kirito to close in and strike at the man's collar, his blade digging in hard and leaving a trail of red pixels in their wake as damage continued to accumulate.
"Ha, bulls-eye," Sinon said, reaching behind her and tugging another arrow out of her quiver, drawing it taut in her bow, and sighting along the length.
"One shot..." she whispered, then let the arrow fly.
This arrow Heathcliff was ready for, swatting it out of the air without his shield to land by the feet of Klein and Agil, who were busy trying to overpower the War Horseman. The two men ducked under a swing of a swinging hammer big as a barrel and rolled in opposite directions.
"Hit him high!" shouted Klein, charging up his katana until it glowed a bright scarlet. "I'll hit him low!"
Agil nodded, axe shining emerald as the two men leapt from opposite directions, striking hard, striking fast, never slowing down, never letting up. Meanwhile, Lisbeth led a charge of several fairies after the first Horseman followed by Silica and Leafa. The white mount reared up, heavy hoofs lashing out and scattering the Salamanders in front as the three of them worked around the side to flank the conquering mini-boss.
This however, proved to be a mistake, as it put them in the crosshairs for his next attack.
Three arrows flew from his bow, fired simultaneously. Each impacted hard. In Lisbeth's shoulder, Silica's gut, and Leafa's bosom. They took negligible damage, and in a flash the arrows were gone. They resumed the attack.
But the Horseman grinned wickedly, for his attack was not over. As each girl watched in horror, an icon lit up beside their names and their cursors turned dull green as a de-buff took effect. Digital lines of sickly teal began manifesting on their limbs and faces, descending up and down into their clothes and armor as the Horseman's sickness took them over.
"Help! Healer!" screamed Lisbeth, staring at her hands as the sickness spread.
"Medic!" cried Leafa, trying to keep to her feet as the de-buff continued to sap strength from her.
Pina cawed as it swooped around Silica's head, and a torrent of bubbles manifested over her as the feathered dragon used its abilities to heal the beast tamer. Alas, the poison was too strong, Pina's efforts only kept her mistress from dropping into the red zone too quickly.
"Look out!" shouted Leafa.
Silica screamed as the conquering Horseman took aim at her, powering up an attack meant to finish her off in one blow, and likely would. No less than seven arrows had been knocked simultaneously.
"Help!" she squeaked out, shielding her face and hoping it wouldn't hurt too much.
Someone slipped in front of her, and Silica dared to peek, hoping she'd been saved. Was it Kirito? No, the figure was too tall, and far too slender. A woman, though it wasn't Asuna.
It was Rosalia.
The Salamander redhead stood grimly as the Horseman charged his arrows, lifting up her spear in front of her and twirling it along its center with her hands, spinning her weapon around at a pace no human could normally compete with. Clearly, she meant to try and block the arrows as Pestilence opened fire with all seven. Violet eyes narrowed as Rosalia tried to deflect them all.
She managed six, each of which were blocked by the weapons haft.
One slid past her spinning weapon and impaled her, though thankfully nowhere vital. Grimacing, Rosalia tugged the arrow out of her thigh, and it exploded into light as the plague started to spread across her skin, lighting it up a sickly shade of teal.
"T-thanks," Silica said, her teeth still chattering.
Rosalia nodded grimly. "I owed you one. Probably more than one," she said remorsefully, planting her spear and offering the smaller girl a hand up. Silica took it easily, even as Pina circled around them both once to land on her shoulder.
"We've still got trouble coming our way," Rosalia said, twirling her spear over her shoulder and re-positioning it in both hands, pointed tip upraised, bottom planted in the ground to absorb the charge.
"I've got to help them!" Asuna said as she crawled to her feet.
"Go, I've got this!" Kirito replied, picking up the slack generated by her absence, hammering away at Heathcliff's shield, chipping his life down bit by bit. They were making progress, he was inching closer to the middle of his full health.
"Yui, go help your father!" Asuna instructed, lightly tossing up the tiny pixie in her hand, who sped over to Kirito's side once more. The Undine Healer turned her focus to those suffering ill effects from the Black and White Horsemen, holding up her hands in front of her and chanting in the language of magic. As one of the parties top healers, her effects were able to reach almost everyone in the room, healing damage, mending injuries and more importantly, raising spirits.
As the effects of Famine's mist and Pestilence's arrows receded, players felt considerably better. One or the other was bad enough, even if damage was at a minimal the de-buffs still hurt a great deal. To say nothing of trying to fight while under their influence. It was like trying to slosh through mud and battle with twigs and harsh language. Taking to the air was no better, as it felt like trying to fly through thick syrup. As soon as Asuna's spells took effect, the players were moving at their regular speeds and quickly bounced back into the fray, many sending a wave of thanks her way.
Unfortunately, her kindness did not go unnoticed by the Horsemen either. Apparently it riled them up something fierce.
The War Horseman came barreling down, swatting aside a pair of Gnomes trying to hinder him, and focused his attention on Asuna, who drew her rapier in response and stood her ground, eyes flashing.
Before it could hit, Sinon took another shot, this time aiming for the grim Horseman about to slice Asuna in two. Her arrow impaled it in the weak spot between its helmet and neck, catching its attention. Unfortunately, no one else seemed to be able to divert it back to themselves, caught up in their own battles as they were. With a snap of the reins, the red horse and its rider were charging through the air towards her perch.
"Oh hell," she cursed calmly, leaping out of the way seconds before a jagged sword nearly impaled the alcove where she'd been perched. She fired off another shot as she spun in mid-air and flew away, trying to put some distance between her foe and herself. It was persistent, unfortunately, and she was struck a glancing blow by its sword, eating up her life points and sending her careening to the ground. The next blow might well finish her off. Sinon was built for dishing out damage at a distance, not taking it up close.
As War reared back on his horse and came for her, a pair of Undine players intercepted, a gray-haired man and woman in para-military garments of azure and cerulean. They threw up their weapons, catching War's dual sword and hammer with each of theirs and driving him back. Sinon added insult to injury by firing off another arrow while the Horseman's weapons were preoccupied, catching him right in the face with a Frostfire Arrow. Dual ice and flame piled damage on the brute while her rescuers waved to her.
Sinon tossed off a military salute and quickly looked for another alcove to perch in, readying her next arrow. This one she was going to ram right down someone's throat.
"Attack!"
"Re-Focus on the red guy, he's weakening!"
"Watch out!"
"Hold the line! Do not falter!"
"Get down!"
"Healer!"
"Out of my way!"
"Re-Cast those Buffs! They're fading!"
"Go!"
"Attack! Attack!"
Shouts and cries were intermixed with explosive spells, clanging metals, and dragon roars. Overall, however, it was starting to sound more and more desperate for the raid party.
"Papa! Your life points!"
"It's okay!" Kirito replied, not taking his eyes off of Heathcliff. He didn't have time to reach for a healing crystal or call over a spell caster. He needed to end this quickly.
Despite his lack of back-up, Kirito pressed his attack.
Heathcliff continued to calmly block his attacks, even as Kirito's pushed him back. Having a greater feel for his opponents moves now, the Black Swordsman lashed out with a vicious three-hit combo meant to throw Heathcliff off-balance with the first two strikes, then impale him on the third.
Even as he struck, he knew instantly it was a mistake. Heathcliff trapped the sword with his own and twisted, yanking the blade out of Kirito's grasp. It went skidding across the ground to land in front of the Horsemen's thrones. He barely had time to react as Heathcliff brought up his sword and slashed downwards, ripping a long stretch of crimson across Kirito's shoulder and chest. The force of the blow knocked him back to the very edge of the circle. Kirito cast out a look at the room, even as his gaze flicked to the party list to show actual stats.
Simply put, it was a catastrophe.
Salamander, Sylph and Cait-Sith forces were in wild disarray, healers trying valiantly to keep those closest to death alive, to say nothing of themselves. Half of the Fuurinkazan had fallen, while the others were furiously trying to revive them. Klein alone stood in front of them protectively, even as the Pale Horse and its rider advanced menacingly towards them. Agil, nearby, was helpless... his weapon had crumbled to ash thanks to the Horsemen's attacks. Lisbeth and Recon were trying to protect him, but they were exhausted of mana and low on health as well.
Another cry, and Eugene fell, crippled by diseased arrows. Rosalia quickly followed, impaled through the torso by War's jagged sword. Her body erupted into crimson flame that quickly dwindled down to a tiny ball. Silica and Pina went to try and save her, but their magic wasn't sufficiently powerful for a resurrection. He couldn't see hide nor hair of Sinon or Argo, but imagined they weren't faring much better. And not a single Horseman had fallen yet, nor brought down to less than two life bars.
Heathcliff took this all in at a glance, and smiled as he flicked his sword and repositioned himself to administer a finishing blow, walking almost casually behind Kirito as the Spriggan boy slumped to his knees.
"Well... Kirito... it seems this is where your journey comes to an end. A valiant effort... but ultimately... you've lost."
Authors Notes:
I got nothing.