Chapter 16: face to face

Kodi: "flame claws!"

After Niju broke the spell brings defense, Kodi used his flame claws to open the door, since the strong incandescence of his claws would have no problem to destroy a simple door of obsidian. in fact with two precise strokes, he cut the door into three parts thus opening the access to the tomb.

Xaver finally entered the grave and went down a staircase where he led even lower while his friends followed him. Almost halfway up the staircase, the three wolves saw black roots that penetrated some stairs and there were roots on the walls too, which made everything a little disturbing. Xaver, Kodi and Niju came down the stairs completely and saw it...Helixium's heart was resting on a pedestal, it was made of obsidian and purple veins, and it beat as if it was alive and it was from the heart that those strange roots that covered the whole grave began. The roots were used to keep the heart alive, absorbing the energy from the Earth. And after so many centuries, the roots did nothing at all but grow, so that they could feed even more on the energy of the planet.

Kodi: "So this is the heart of Helixium"

Xaver: "let's not waste any more time. We have the opportunity to destroy the heart"

At that moment they heard footsteps very close from their position. The three wolves turned and saw Dark Blade approach to them. Xaver hoped so much to see his ally, Blazer, and when Xaver saw the blood present on the Dark Blade's sword, it was clear that unfortunately Blazer had not emerged victorious from the clash. Kodi and Niju positioned themselves in front of Xaver to keep busy the destroyer of worlds so that Xaver had enough time to destroy the Helixium's heart.

Niju: "destroy the heart, Xaver!"

The silver wolf ran towards the heart while Kodi and Niju jumped against Dark Blade, the demon, however, managed to control the dark energy present in the roots and hurled them against the two warrior wolves; Kodi used his flame claws to counter the roots that were attacking and even Niju was doing the same thing using the dark claws, when the husky was close enough to strike a blow to the demon, a root sprang unexpectedly from the ground hit him painfully on the right side. Kodi was thrown against the wall violently where severely beat his head and fainted, plus the root compress his rib cage, imprisoning him; Niju tried to help him but because of this distracting moment, he was hit and blocked by a root on the wall too.

Xaver saw his friends being trapped as Dark Blade approached Xaver threateningly; the silver wolf turned his right paw into the diamond sword and pointed the sharp blade against the heart, snarling and warning the demon not to come any further, otherwise he would have destroyed Helixium's heart with the sword , but strangely Dark Blade seemed to ignore Xaver's words. In fact, he even told him to hit the heart with all his might.

Xaver: "stay back! Or I reduce the heart to a thousand pieces!"

Dark Blade: "well then ... destroy it, hit it with all the strength you have!"

Xaver: "you leave me no other choice!"

The silver wolf waved his diamond sword in horizontal he hit the heart of Helixium with a violent blow, but the heart doesn't destroyed to pieces as Xaver hoped. Helixium's heart emitted a strong shock wave that blew Xaver away; he didn't know it but his heart was protected by a second spell that allowed him to be touched only by negative energy and to reject anything other than dark.

The world destroyer continued on his way. Xaver recovered quickly and saw Dark Blade getting closer to the heart, the silver wolf tried to attack him but the roots blocked his hind legs and wrapped it around his neck starting to tighten, blocking the airway.

With all three wolf warriors out of action. Now nothing could hinder Dark Blade in bringing the god of destruction back to life and he had already reached out to grab Helixium's heart. However Niju didn't seem to be willing to surrender, he was trying with all his strength to free himself from the root that kept him blocked, unfortunately he couldn't move his front legs to cut the root with his claws; so he had to find another way to free himself.

The dark wolf had in mind to try to control the negative energy present in the root. His concentration was at the maximum but it seemed to be much more difficult than when he had to deactivate the barrier, it was almost as if the root was trying to resist Niju's control. The dark wolf felt that the root was starting to give way so that he could move his legs, but it still wasn't enough. With one last effort he managed to have full control of the root, freeing himself completely, however, Dark Blade now had Helixium's heart in his hands. But despite this, he continued to believe that it was not all lost yet.

Niju's mind: "I have to stop him"

Niju activated his dark claws and made a long leap, finding himself close enough to the heart and Dark Blade; the demon hadn't noticed that Niju had freed himself and that he had targeted the artifact that was in his hands.

The dark wolf promptly waved his paw horizontally, cutting Helixium's heart with his claws. The ancient artifact crumbled into many pieces of black glass that fell from the hands of the world destroyer; immediately the roots that imprisoned Xaver and Kodi dissolved in the air, the silver wolf began to breathe again, shortly afterwards he went to Kodi to see if he was injured but fortunately the husky was fine and he was still able to get up despite the previous blow to the head.

Dark Blade fell to his knees desperately. His only chance to bring the god of destruction back to life and conquer the universe was gone in a second. Kodi, Xaver and Niju had managed to destroy the heart of Helixium, thus avoiding a disaster of apocalyptic magnitudes, however, until Dark Blade was still on earth, no one was safe.

Dark Blade: "you have destroyed the heart of Helixium. You all will pay for it!"

Xaver: "it's over, Dark Blade. Your plan has failed"

Dark Blade immediately stood up and pointed his sword at the silver wolf, but Xaver wasn't afraid of the world destroyer, he has trust on his ablities and now that Helixium's heart has been destroyed, he hadn't any doubt, he could beat Dark Blade.

Dark Blade: "but I'm still standing. If Helixium will not conquer all the planets in the universe ... then I will personally do it"

Xaver: "I will do everything to prevent you"

Dark Blade: "well then. I challenge you in a fight to the death! The outcome of this clash will decide the fate of this universe ... I will wait for you on top of this hill"

The world destroyer turned and left the grave, leaving Xaver alone with his two allies. It did not take long to make a decision because he already knew what he had to do , although Kodi and Niju were not totally agree with his choice.

Xaver: "guys…I'll go"

Kodi: "Do you really want to go face him?!"

Xaver: "I know it's dangerous, but I have to do it"

Niju: "Xaver, why do you want to risk your life? Aleu will be very worried about you, think of her"

Xaver: "It's for her that I'm risking my life!"

Before go to face Dark Blade, the silver wolf had to do one last thing: Xaver came out of the grave and immediately returned to Nome, along with Kodi and Niju, to report to his mate what he was about to do. Xaver got on the wreck and joined to Aleu and her family; the she-wolf was convinced that it was all over now, but as soon as Xaver told her that he had to fight against Dark Blade alone her joy disappeared.

Aleu: "Xaver you are back. Did you destroy the heart?"

Xaver: "yes ..."

Balto : "so it's over. We're safe now, right?"

Xaver: "not exactly ..."

Balto : "what do you mean?"

Xaver: "Despite having destroyed the heart of Helixium, Dark Blade has no intention of giving up. I will have to fight him ... but I have to do this alone"

Aleu felt the tears form on her eyes, she didn't want separate forever from Xaver, but he could no longer hold back. The young she-wolf rested her forehead against Xaver's chest and started sobbing.

Aleu: "Xaver, please don't go"

Xaver: " I'm sorry, Aleu. I knew that sooner or later this had to happen"

Aleu: "I don't want to lose you. You are…"

She couldn't even finish the phrase that immediately the silver wolves gave an affectionate kiss to Aleu and hugged her to give her more security.

Xaver: "I'll be back, Aleu. I promise you ... I've never broken a promise in my whole life, and I'm not going to broke it even now"

After taking one last look, the two wolves separated. Xaver got off the wreck and activated his wings ready to fly to the final battle, but before he could leave he told Kodi and Niju to stay to the boat and protect Aleu.

Xaver: "you stay here. You have to protect Aleu and the others"

Niju: "but Xaver, and if I don't come back?"

Xaver: "if I will not make it ... you will take care of Aleu"

Niju: "good luck my friend. I hope you return healthy and triumphant"

The warrior wolf was ready to face the world destroyer in a duel to the death, where only one of them will triumph. Dark Blade was right in front of Xaver, ready to start the fight.

Dark Blade: "so that's how it will end"

Xaver: "This is how it has to end! Diamond sword!"

With a powerful cry of boldness, Xaver summoned his diamond sword approached dangerously to the enemy, he tried to hit him but Dark Blade avoided the blow with great agility despite the heavy armor. However, even after the first failed attack, Xaver continued to attack but the world destroyer managed to defend himself. After, the warrior wolf attacked another time, Dark Blade blocked the Xaver sword in his hand left and launched a powerful kick to the chest of the wolf, making him miss the breath for a second. The demon tried to strike a mortal blow with a sword of souls, but Xaver moved nimbly just in time, avoiding the blow, and he counterattacked spinning the sword scarring the armor's breastplate of Dark Blade, reaching even to hurt him.

From the wound of the destroyer of worlds a black liquid came out, probably that was his blood and with that unusual color Dark Blade could not be a normal creature.

Dark Blade : "damn you. I will make you pay!"

Xaver: "we'll see it! Sonic boom! "

This time it was Dark Blade that attacked , but it occurred to Xaver to use the diamond sword as a rod, he stuck the tip of the sword in the ground and gave himself a strong push, consequently he placed his left paw against the demon's chest, releasing a blow sonico that made him jump backwards. The destroyer of worlds, however, did not give up, he tried to launch another attack with the sword. But Xaver avoided the blow and struck with the diamond sword on the face of Dark Blade, leaving him without a helmet.

The true identity of the mighty destroyer has finally been revealed: his face was that of a human, but his eyes gave off a purple light, so under that helmet was hiding a real demon of the darkness.

Xaver: "comet!"

However, the silver wolf didn't stop to attacking , quickly he turned into an astral fireball and he swooped down to the demon, hitting him in the back. After that he stood before the worlds destroyer. The two rivals crossed the blades of their swords, Xaver blocked the first and second blows and in the third blow the demon blade made a long cut on Xaver's neck, but it wasn't a fatal injury; Dark Blade attempted the deadly blow again but Xaver defended himself performing a horizontal movement. Not only he managed to protect himself from another attack by Dark Blade; but with the powerfull blow, Xaver broke the sword of souls, at the end his diamond sword also managed to sank inside the armor of the demon, also penetrating his chest. The destroyer fell seriously injured on his knees; Xaver seemed to have the victory already on his side ... but it was going to happen something that would change the fate of the battle.

In the meantime, at the wreck on beach. All were waiting impatiently and worried about Xaver's return, Aleu was obviously the most agitated of all. Despite the great distance between the town and the hill, Aniu was still able to sense the energy of Xaver and Dark Blade and as soon as she felt the energy of the world destroyer reduce to a minimum she understood that Xaver had managed to defeat Dark Blade and the first thing what he did was to report the good news to his son and grandchildren. Kodi and Niju rejoiced happily as Aleu heaved a sigh of relief believing that the worst had passed. But the joy didn't last long; immediately the expression on Aniu's face changed, she seemed to be frightened when she felt another energy coming from inside the tomb, and she was afraid of knowing what it was going to happend.

Balto: "mom, what's going on?"

Aniu: "it's not over yet..."

To be continued…

Hello guys. Sorry for the long waiting, but for this chapter I gave all of me…the next chapter will be the final and is already in progress.