25. Behind It All

Summary: Our heroes go rescue their friends and head into one last showdown against Nox, who drops a startling truth…

"Zael! Therius!"

The group was about to enter the deeper area of the dungeon when they heard Mirania call out. Turning, they saw both Mirania and Zesha rushing over to them.

"Mirania!? Zesha?" Therius looked to them. "You're here?"

"Yes." Zesha took a deep breath, looking around. "I sent my soldiers to help protect the civilians."

"Did you bring any soldiers with you into the castle?" Asthar asked, looking to him.

Zesha nodded once. "Not inside, but they are guarding the outside to keep watch for any Blood Creatures that could attack."

"Good." Asthar looked ahead, then frowned. "I doubt it would be best for any of them to go in here by themselves. They can't go against Nox alone."

Therius looked to Asthar, thinking back to when he and the others finally found him in the dungeon of the Gurak Castle, in that beaten state. "General," Therius started, taking a deep breath, "Did Nox ever…fight you, one on one? Did they ever make you watch them fight anyone else?"

Asthar said nothing, but his gaze flickered towards Therius briefly. An unsteady ambiance in his gaze made Therius decide that it was best not to ask of it further. At least, not right now. Who knew what the General went through, during his entire time in captivity?

"Miss Mirania," Therius looked to Mirania instead, deciding to change the subject, "Did you find anything new in the book?"

"Yes. It was just after you and Asthar went ahead, when Zesha and I found the information." Mirania held up the book she had on her. "It said in the book's last pages that some Blood Warriors, if powerful enough, can transfer their entire consciousness into another person's body. That's how Nox possessed Zangurak, if it's true."

"It's true." Zael muttered, and Mirania looked to him, swallowing a bit before she cast a quick healing spell on him to make sure he was fine. "Nox is definitely possessing Zangurak. Me and the others found that out pretty fast."

Arganan slowly looked to Mirania, staring. "But wouldn't there be another body, the original one where the Blood Warrior came from in the first place? Could we just destroy that, and therefore end up destroying whatever of Nox possesses Zangurak?"

"Not necessarily." Zesha cut in. "It's likely that Nox previously died, or their body was too weak, which is why they transferred themselves into Zangurak's body instead. However, there's a catch." He wiped some blood off his face before continuing. "The person whose body was possessed can retaliate if awakened enough inside."

"Meaning?" Zael asked.

"If we awaken Lord Zangurak's consciousness inside of his own body, he might be able to fight back and eliminate Nox's existence, entirely on his own."

"Worst case scenario," Mirania grimaced as Zesha gave her a look, "We might have to kill them both while they're distracting each other with trying to keep control over Zangurak's body."

"But how the hell do we awaken someone's consciousness in their body, given that Nox already controls them?" Arganan asked, shaking his head. "Hit him over the head until he wakes up?"

Zesha looked to the former Count, glaring. "We are not doing that. If anything, that should be our only plan if all else fails first."

Zael blanched, and Therius wondered if the man just really didn't want to think of the possibility of deliberately awakening Zangurak, the Gurak King who nearly killed him, Calista, and many others, over Nox, who was…well, doing the same thing.

Maybe it's just best if we kill them both, Therius thought, but he decided that whatever happened, they had to defeat Nox.

"Zael!"

It was Calista's panicked cries that came up from up ahead.

"Calista!"

Zael, ever the knight he was, ran ahead of the group. Of course he would.

Arganan cursed, trying his best to run after his own nephew-in-law. "Zael, wait!"

Damn it, the former Count cursed, what is it with people and them wanting to run ahead all the time?

"No! Zael!" Arganan felt himself falter in his steps as he heard his niece shout. "Don't come any closer!"

"What?"

Deep laughter came from up ahead as well, and Arganan froze entirely for a moment. "I would listen to your Countess if I were you."

"Fine." Arganan spat, tempted to cross his arms and just glare at Nox (even if Nox wasn't in front of him). "Maybe you should just come to us. Coward.'

"What," Nox stated, voice broiling with a rumble, "Did you just call me!?"

Arganan heard Dagran groan. "Maybe that wasn't the best idea."

The former Count could only shake his head. "I suppose it wasn't, no."

Nox stepped out from the doorway ahead, and blasted a stream of red light at them. Arganan barely managed to dodge, half-pulling Zael out of the way with him, but Asthar got blasted backwards, almost stumbling into Therius and Dagran.

"General!" Arganan heard Therius cry out, but a grunt from Asthar and the sight of him pointing his sword at Nox indicated he was still standing.

"I'm fine, Therius. I'll keep Nox busy! The rest of you go ahead and free the others?"

Therius rushed to Asthar's side. "You can't fight him alone. Let me assist you in holding him off."

Asthar gave him a look. "Therius—"

"General. Please."

Asthar paused, but soon relented with a nod. "Very well, then."

Arganan looked to Mirania and Zesha, as well as Zael. "You three run ahead. Make sure my niece is especially safe, alright?"

"You're staying behind?" Zael looked to him, incredulous. "I'm sure Calista would want to see her uncle again."

Arganan looked his nephew-in-law in the eyes. "I've already died once, at least I'm ready for it. But I'm far from ready to see either of you two die today." He pointed towards the entrance ahead with his metal arm. "Go! Now!"

Dagran paused, almost about to stay back, but Arganan shook his head, pointing ahead.

"Try not to die." Dagran managed, looking him in the eye.

Arganan could only nod. "Same goes for you."

"Calista!"

"Zael!"

Dagran watched as Zael immediately ran to her cage first, starting to pick the lock as Calista sobbed in relief. Dagran, meanwhile, rushed over to Yurick's cell, starting to undo the lock. "Yurick? I'm here."

"Dagran?" Yurick's good eye looked towards him, relief breaking into his gaze. "Glad you're here."

"I'm glad, too." Dagran undid the lock, helping Yurick out. He grimaced at how the silver-haired mage looked; a bit beat up, with an obvious bruise on the side of his face, and some bits of blood staining his otherwise intact clothing. "Has Nox attempted anything on you other than locking you all up in these cages?"

"No." Yurick shook his head, shuddering. "Other than him boasting about taking over the Empire next after Lazulis was done with."

"I'm more surprised you're not dead."

Yurick looked him in the eye. "He probably wanted to kill you and the others, too. Is Therius with you?"

"He's back fighting Nox with Arganan and Asthar."

"What!?" That was Lowell shouting from his cage. "I know they got those Blood Warrior marks, but will they be okay?"

Dagran quickly rushed over to Lowell's cage, noticing that Zael already got Syrenne out of hers. "I've got no clue. We need to get back to them and help them awaken Zangurak within Nox!"

"Hold it." It was Syrenne that spoke up this time, and Dagran looked to see her frown. "Awaken Zangurak? Why the hell would we do that?"

"Because Nox is possessing Zangurak's body." Dagran managed, taking a deep breath. "Nox possessed Zangurak's body, and suppressed his consciousness inside him as a result. If we can find a way to wake him up, it'll distract Nox long enough for Zangurak to either get rid of Nox's consciousness himself, or we kill them both while they're distracted."

She still didn't seem convinced, judging by the skeptical look in her eyes. Dagran knew too well at this point that Syrenne was one of the few out of the rest of his fellow mercenaries that still wasn't thrilled that he was back, even if he was back for a while now. He didn't blame her, given everything.

"If we don't stop him," He finished, "All of us are gonna get killed. And that's not something I want happening."

Mirania looked up towards the ginger-haired merc. "Syrenne…?"

Syrenne finally nodded. "Fine," She managed, her voice a little shaky. "We'll go with your idea."

"Technically it's Mirania's." Zesha pointed out, only for Syrenne and Yurick to give him weird looks. The King of the Gurak scoffed, glaring at them. "What? It's true."

"Never thought I'd see you of all people working with us, honestly." Lowell chuckled, offering a wry grin. "We should do this more often."

Zesha blinked, but eventually shrugged. "Assuming we all live after this? Perhaps."

Dagran looked back towards the entrance he and the others came from. He heard yelling, blades clashing.

"We got no more time to chit-chat. Let's finish off Nox!"

Asthar heard Therius hit the ground, but the white knight stumbled to his feet. Or, not really that white anymore when one thought about it. Therius' usually white armor had red stains all over it, probably seeping underneath the metal and into the fabric clothes. Asthar knew that he didn't look much better, either; his blue coat might as well be dyed red at this point. Thankfully, it wasn't their own blood—just the result of them and Arganan blasting all the magic spells they could try remembering.

"General! Behind you!"

Asthar turned, holding up his sword in time to block Nox's own lance. Despite the ferocity in Nox's gaze, Asthar knew that the eyes of Zangurak's body were blank otherwise. Both Nox and Asthar pushed against each other, refusing to relent. Asthar rooted his feet in place against the ground, and he heard Arganan muttering a spell nearby. However, Nox seemed to catch on, using a free hand to quickly blast him into a nearby wall with a blast of red light. Arganan crumpled against the ground, slumping against the wall, speechless.

"You think you can just sneak up on me?" Nox spoke, Zangurak's face twisting into a smirk. "Pathetic."

"No," Asthar hissed back, "You're pathetic. Having to rely on someone else's body for your own purposes. I refuse to believe Zangurak's fully lost to a pathetic person like you. He'd never allow it."

"What do you know about that Gurak vessel?" Nox laughed right in Asthar's face, their hot breath making Asthar shudder. "It would've been you or Dagran if I didn't get him right."

"Didn't get him right?" Asthar breathed.

Nox pushed him back, before slashing widely at Asthar, but Asthar quickly sidestepped the attack. "You think that Zangurak's my first time stealing a body? I've done it for centuries! It's how I've stayed alive all this time."

Asthar heard Therius gasp. "You beat the past Blood Warriors, didn't you? That's why you were after me."

Nox's gaze snapped towards Therius, eyes glowing a deep red. "You as my next vessel after Zangurak, yes." They admitted, before holding up their free hand to aim a spell at Therius. "And then I'll reach that one who wields the Outsider's power."

As the light rushed at Therius, Therius yelled "Tueri!" A barrier came up to block the attack, making it disappear as soon as it hit the shield, and Therius pointed his sword at Nox, speaking. "So that's your plan all along? Use us the get to Zael?"

"And gain the power of the Blood Warrior and the Outsider's power both!" A laugh escaped Nox, pointing his lance at Therius, then at Asthar. "I've been waiting so long for this chance. Do you know who started the war between the Gurak and the humans? We humans had to find a way to become superior over their primitive strength and technology."

"Oh gods." Asthar looked to his left to see Arganan sit up, coughing as he looked up. He looked rather bloody, and not in the still alive, yet covered in blood kind of way. "You started the war. You wanted to rule supreme."

"Yes." Nox looked to Arganan, smirking. "I was very persuasive, back then. All I had to do since then was wait in the shadows."

"And attack us once us Gurak and them humans gained peace once more, while both are armies were depleted?" The four turned to see Zesha storm back into the hall, accompanied by none other than Zael and the others. Zesha had nothing but fury in his gaze as he summoned several golden arrows to appear, floating by his side. "Pathetic!"

Asthar steeled his gaze on Nox once more. This person, whoever it was back then—they did this. They disrupted the peace, and only just so they could gain power. Centuries of peace could have continued, if not for Nox's actions, and that made the General broil inside. Visions of Nox's torture of fellow prisoners danced in his head, and he shook his head a little.

He'd seen the pain Nox caused firsthand. To think Nox was the root of it all centuries ago, however, made one thing clear to Asthar—Nox had to go down. It was now or never.

"How dare you disrupt the peace we all once had." Asthar took a deep breath, looking Nox in the eyes. It may be Zangurak's body he looked to, but Nox was in there. "How dare you steal the bodies of others."

"Even bodies of your own opponents?" Nox quipped, giving him a look. "I thought you'd be grateful that Zangurak isn't ali—"

And that was when Nox suddenly coughed, putting a free hand to his own mouth. He almost doubled over completely, almost went down on a knee, and Asthar heard Zesha gasp.

"Lord Zangurak…?"

Asthar managed to catch Nox's gaze—only to see something more desperate replace the previous, threatening look.

"Release me."

That was all Asthar could hear, just before those eyes returned to normal.

The next thing Asthar felt was him hitting the dirt, soreness radiating in his chest. A grunt escaped him, but he quickly got up, picking up his sword as Nox shook their head, hissing.

"Stupid vessel," Nox spat, before looking towards Asthar and the others, eyes glowing a hot red again. "You will all perish, going up against me like he did!"

Asthar looked behind himself briefly. There was Zael, and his fellow friends. Lady Calista and the former Count. Miss Mirania. Dagran. Zesha, even.

And there was Therius, who looked to him for guidance. Asthar knew what he had to do.

"Whatever happens," Asthar managed, looking to all of them, "Nox should be taken down no matter what. We won't let them disrupt the peace any further! Their destruction ends today!"

And with that, everyone faced their shared enemy at once, weapons draw, magic starting to be cast.

It was now or never. Do or die.

Asthar could only hope that they pulled through with victory.

Next chapter: It's the final battle against Nox! Will our heroes win and restore peace, or will Nox get what they want?