All I must say here is this shall be the final chapter of CTE. Not the longest, but the final one. So, here it is, at last.
Countdown To Extinction
Chapter 12
Rushing forward, the resurrected Galbatorix plunged his pitch black Rider's Sword right down to where Eragon's chest was. Barely managing to roll out of the way, Eragon stood up, dazed, as he brandished Brisingr in front of him.
Are you blind, child? Do you not see you have already failed, as death stands in the flesh?, Galbatorix sneered, his mental voice sounding like bricks rubbing against each other, much unlike his sly speaking at Aroughs the first time.
"You are not death," Eragon hissed, though even he knew his words were hollow. "I shall kill you, and savor the moment when you get ran through with Brisingr."
Galbatorix laughed again, racking Eragon's nerves. What about what you said to Arya? How you would not kill me unless Nasuada said so?
"Don't you dare use my own words against me, you monstrosity!" Eragon roared, rushing toward Galbatorix, who simply stepped to the side, confusing the Rider.
Ah, and what happened to your approving Nasuada? Ran through, by my very hand! And your little Arya-how much you loved her, enjoyed her presence! And now, she is with Angvard, like all of your other friends!
Smashing the hilt into Eragon's side, Galbatorix slashed Eragon's left shoulder, before smashing his head into the ground.
Even as this happened, Saphira struggled against the Skrønag, roaring in pain as its mandible ripped into her left knee, pressing deeply, the huge insectoid beast literally drinking in her blood. Enraged, Saphira opened her maw and unleashed a blue and yellow torrent of flames at the Skrønag's face. Though the creature turned, it still squealed in absolute pain as it's left shell covered wing was reduced to ash.
What is wrong, Morzansson? You killed a Shade, and those disgusting Ra'zac, those ugly beetles! Why can you not slay me? Did you want a fair fight? Did you think this would be a fair fight?! Were you sad because Arya could not help you? Your father is laughing at your uselessness!, Galbatorix laughed, smashing Eragon's head over and over into the ground, as he turned the Rider around so he could face him.
Spitting blood into Galbatorix's face, Eragon raged, "My true father will never laugh at me! He would teach me, help me-something you could never do because your father was such a castrated cripple who like having the tongues of other men up his ass! Is that why you never smile, cause your father never hugged you?!"
His sneer vanishing, Galbatorix's mindset turned from joyously overconfident to uncontainable rage. Slamming his fist into the Rider's face, he tossed him to the side, before picking his sword back up.
You will drown in your blood because of me, Rider. I am well known as a man of my word, the undead mad king growled. Moving slowly forward, he prepared to split Eragon in half from groin to head.
-POV change-
As Murtagh slayed another one of Angvard's soldiers, his mind flashed with the same image of his father tearing through him with Za'roc. Screaming in pain, Murtagh tried once more to contact Thorn or Eragon or anybody, only to find his mind was still shut off from all but Galbatorix. Were it not for seeing the giant shadow falling and coming closer to him, he would have been crushed by the boulder being dropped by the Krhn-ylkhl, which ended up splattering several of the creatures in the process.
"Why do you try to avoid me, my son? We are one, and the same!" Morzan cried.
"I am nothing like you, father! I am no monster!" Murtagh roared, clutching at his throbbing head.
"You wield my sword, Misery. You ride upon my dragon. You cannot deny it, my son-you are the child of a Forsworn. And the world shall hate you for it, forever more."
"No-no!" he cried, as he sank to the ground.
"My son, come and joyfully trumpet hope everlasting with me. Destroy these rebels, and fight alongside Galbatorix and I. Come!" Morzan sang, his grin filling Murtagh's mind.
"No," Murtagh moaned, his sanity and hope drowning in the sea of horror tearing at his mind, his spirit burning to dust.
The sight of his father was suddenly bleached by a bright white light, however, which began filling his mind and pushing against the image of Morzan, as well as the presence of Galbatorix. This white light was one of bright hope, and peace, and serene unity, the exact opposite of Galbatorix's mentality.
"You!" Morzan shrieked, his grin fading into an absolute sheer look of terror, his eyes bulging.
I, the presence affirmatively answered, before it blasted a wreath of blazing white flames at Morzan's chest, reducing the image of the Forsworn to a blanket of white-hot ashes, before the light expanded and obliterated all traces of Galbatorix's presence, throwing away the dark mentality, destroying the undead mad Rider's hideous thoughts.
His energy suddenly rushing back, Murtagh stood, and his mind looked in awe at the presence.
Thank you, I mean it!, Murtagh said, his sanity returning slowly. Who are you, that dared to come save me?
The presence began leaving, its light shrinking, and Murtagh could barely hear its answer before it left.
Umaroth.
-POV change-
She could hear the din of the battle, the clashing of swords, the cries of the wounded and dying from both factions. She saw Saphira's upper jaw get broken by the barbed leg of the huge Skrønag, only for her to claw through the beasts right eye.
And she saw Galbatorix slowly move toward Eragon.
Realizing she could nto stand in the sidelines much longer, Arya exhaled as she ran toward the city of Aroughs.
Eragon could not destroy that abomination by himself. That, she was sure of.
-POV change-
Crouching, Galbatorix moved his sword to where he wanted to start cutting Eragon in half. Right between the legs-yes, that was certainly where. As he pressed forward to start slicing, though, he saw a circular shadow coming closer toward the Skrønag, falling from the sky.
Realizing it was one of those Krhn-ylkhl, Galbatorix snarled before he stopped the boulder in mid-air, tossing it aside, crushing a ballistae.
Turning his attention back to Eragon, he attempted once more to start cutting, but was interrupted by the Skrønag's screams.
-POV change-
Saphira roared right in the Skrønag's ugly face, before slapping it with her right forepaw.
You-I shall crush you like the bug that you are, disgusting demon!, Saphira growled to the Skrønag, who screeched in response. It attempted to shoot another stream of the corrosive enzyme at her face, which would have killed her then and there, but she luckily bowed her head and let the liquid melt a group of axe carrying demons behind her. She snarled as she smashed her head into the beasts face, tearing a good portion of the hard shell away.
She knew she could not take off into the sky and fight like a dragon fiercely would, for her left wing was tattered to pieces, and would be completely useless unless it was healed-and very quickly at that.
Suddenly, a great circular shadow formed over the Skrønag, and she looked up to see it had been one of the Krhn-ylkhl. She grinned in thanks to the giant black bird like creature, which cawed back at her.
Well, at least those Helgrind priests know how to make use of their talents, she thought to herself.
Her relief was turned back into frustration, when the boulder stopped before flying to the side, crushing a ballistae which had just fire a flaming javelin to a group of Angvard's soldiers.
Knowing it was Galbatorix, she was angry she could not intervene and save her Rider, and tear Galbatorix to pieces in the process, for she had to kill the Skrønag.
The next few second were a blur. As she tried to turn and hit the creature with her tail, a blaze of red flew by and covered the Skrønag with ruby red fire, completely incinerating it. With a roar, Thorn landed, allowing Murtagh to leap off his saddle and unsheathe Za'roc, swiftly decapitating several of Angvard's soldiers. As the Skrønag screamed, it tried to fly, but with only one remaining wing, as well as the fact it was quickly turning to ash, it soon fell over, dead for good at last.
Saphira, go with Thorn and and tear into the city. I shall stay and help Eragon fight off Galbatorix. I am the only one who knows him and his tactics best, even better than Thorn. He might not expect to face two riders at once, Murtagh said to Saphira. She eyed him, knowing well he wished to fight Galbatorix for revenge, but said nothing as she prepared to toke to the air, Thorn ready to follow.
-POV change-
Realizing Saphira would be useless in the air unless her left wing was healed quickly, he pulled out one of his Eldunarí and, with its energy joining his, began strapping her wing back together, making sure to not miss a single membrane or bone. He kept his focus even as he moved toward Galbatorix, who had heard the Skrønag's screaming and taken notice of the Red Rider, his already angry face contorting and twisting further.
So, you as well have come to try your hand in besting me? Then this shall be most interesting-the sons of Morzan, a family finally united after years of strife!, Galbatorix sneered mockingly.
"You are mistaken. Eragon had told me the truth, which seems to have escaped you-Brom was Eragon's father, not Morzan. We only share the same mother," Murtagh said in reply, ignoring Galbatorix's attempts at offense.
My, my, fate has humor to it, does it not? The sons of Brom and Morzan, fighting side by side. This, I shall enjoy. Fortunately enough, I cannot say the same for you!, Galbatorix laughed, holding his sword back up, ready at last to engage his former apprentice.
Murtagh took the opportunity to try to search into Eragon's mind, and found that his mind had only been blocked off from Saphira, not from everyone else.
ERAGON, NOW!, Murtagh cried through their telepathic link, and for a second, he thought he saw Eragon grin.
Leaping off the ground, Eragon roared maniacally as he smashed the hilt of Brisingr into the back of Galbatorix's head, before he dug the blade into the former kings stomach. Ripping it free, he then nimbly sliced Galbatorix's left cheek, before he was thrown off.
Distracted, Galbatorix did not see Murtagh charge forward and tear Za'roc through four inches of his lower back. Turning around, Murtagh managed to smash the hilt of Za'roc into the kings face, breaking his nose with a sickening crunch.
Kicked in the gut, Murtagh was sent flying and crashed into the remains of a trebuchet, wincing as the splinters cut the back of his arms. He heard several ugly guttural roars, and opened his eyes to see several particularly huge soldiers of Angvard. Realizing swordplay would not do much good against those axes, he shouted, "Brisingr!" and watched as all of the soldiers waiting for him went up in wine red flames.
Scrambling back up, his eyes widened as he saw Galbatorix holding Eragon by the throat, knowing he was strangling him. Not thinking, Murtagh stood and ran full speed toward Galbatorix, hoping to catch him by surprise once more, only to hit some invisible barrier and fall back.
No more surprises, Morzansson, Galbatorix hissed, Eragon's face turning purple, not even a faint crack escaping from his crumpling windpipe. All the while, Murtagh found himself no longer able to move, his rage towards the king growing as he saw he was actually smiling through it all.
-POV change-
It was now or never.
Eragon would die in just a minute if someone did not stop Galbatorix.
Murtagh could not move.
Saphira and Thorn were already too far into the city.
Voriadd and his Lethrblaka were occupied at the mills near the gates.
Arya closed her eyes, as she inhaled.
She exhaled.
She opened her eyes, drawing her dagger, and sprinted forward.
-POV change-
Eragon could feel his grasp upon life fading, his lungs being crushed down in size, as Galbatorix did not stop pressing at his throat.
His face turned purple, his eyes bulging, as his sweat came down in waterfalls. He could already feel his heart calming down rather than speeding up as usual, as if in preparation of his coming death.
And yet still, you fail, Galbatorix said. All you have fought for is in naught.
In a blur, he dropped Eragon. The Rider gasped for as much air as possible as he set himself free.
He could not understand why. He had held on as tightly as possible.
And then, the pain struck him like a jet of flames.
His left arm had been completely, cleanly sliced off in a single stroke. He looked to the side to see who had dared to do it.
That damn elf.
Her.
Arya.
Clenching the blood soaked dagger tightly, she thrust forward and managed to catch him on the sternum, cutting it in half. With blood filling his lungs, his anger clouded his mind and vision, and he punched her, sending the elf flying back into a smoldering pile of rubble.
Knowing she was unconscious, he smirked as he turned back to the Blue Rider.
His right hand suddenly went empty.
His jaw dropping, Galbatorix saw his black Rider's Sword had flew out of his hand and into the chest of a nearby unfortunate soldier of Angvard.
Bromsson's magic.
You-!, he began to scream, but Eragon was standing up, and smiling.
"All you have fought for is in naught," he spat, before Galbatorix looked up to see the closing in form of Saphira.
"Now, Saphira!" Eragon shouted.
Swooping lower, Saphira roared as she opened her maw and breathed forward a column of blue and yellow flames, all of which covered Galbatorix.
As his body turned to ash, the quickly crumbling shape of Galbatorix stepped forward twice towards Eragon, before it fell to the ground, dead.
Dead at last.
The Oath-Breaker, the Egg Smasher, was finally dead. Dead at last.
Finally standing up, Murtagh walked over to the burning outline and spat at it venomously.
"And good riddance!"
-At Belatona, in Angvard's Palace-
Failure.
His plan was turning to failure.
Galbatorix had not even been resurected.
He had been killed for good, turned to a pile of ash.
His greatest Skrønag, bred specifically for the Mad King and fallen Rider, burnt to a smoldering crisp.
Angvard's plan was crumbling for all to plainly see.
The War of the Undead would come to an end very soon, if this pattern repeated.
No. It could not happen again.
Not while he actively participated.
All I have to say for this is R&R. The sequel and final story of this trilogy will come in around seven months, at least. For now, I will focus on my other stories, and I really hope you enjoyed this one.
