Chapter 20:

Chapter 20:

"Xelloss!"

Whipping back, the Trickster Priest squinted into the glare of the sun. "Luna san…"

Catching up to the mazoku, the Knight of Ceipheed went straight past him.

"Pick up the sluggish pace!"

With a sheepish nod of agreement, the Trickster zoomed after the Knight.

Swinging herself onto a higher branch, Sherra spat out mouthfuls of blood. The mazoku general was weary and wounded. To top it off, was her speedy attacker, with crackling balls of energy always readied in his palm.

Leaping off and landing into a clump of bushes, the general fell to her knees, panting.

Dynast…sama…

With a sudden rustle, crows scattered and filled the air, cawing in terror. Cursing, the exhausted woman threw herself to the side, narrowly avoiding a blast of lightning bolts from out of the blue. Sherra clutched the staff of her zanbatoh and forced herself to a standing position, black eyes blazing.

I have but one spell left…it's my only choice.

Her attacker came down before her with a soft thud.

Dynast sama…give me strength.

Concentrating the last bit of her power onto the blade of her weapon, Sherra's black eyes reflected the image of the bluish tip, radiating her aura.

"Now! Dynast breath!" With a sharp movement, the general thrust her blade into the ground.

For the first time, the shadow was stunned at the sight of the path of ice shooting at him at light speed. That moment of hesitation was all that was required. The spell instantly encircled the attacker's entire body, encasing it with shining ice and freezing it completely.

Sherra's knees buckled as her strength was drained from her. Muttering soft curses at herself for not attempting that spell earlier, she began examining the intensity of her wounds.

"Dynast sama is going to have a fit when he sees my ruined armour." Picking up her weapon, Sherra took a glance at her frozen attacker. "Now to see who my ryuuzoku opponent is…"

The frozen "opponent" consisted of a young tree.

Black eyes widened in astonishment as a tenor whisper suddenly blew warm breath against her neck. "Don't underestimate me."

Before the startled general could react, a claw was thrust into her back, protruding horribly out from her chest. Spurting out blood, black eyes flickered.

"How…did you…"

The bright pair of eyes closed for moment.

At the last possible second, the shadow had shot out of harm's range, hopping onto a tree branch as the spell hit the tree behind it.

The eyes opened again to see crystalline tears rolling down the dark-haired general's cheek. "I've…failed…"

"Forgive me, Dynast sama…" Sherra fell to the ground as the claw was pulled out of her.

I can't protect you anymore…

The Supreme King frowned as he felt an unpleasant sensation washing across his chest. It was as though…as though a flame within him had flickered and died.

"Is there something wrong, Dynast sama?" The mazoku lord's robed priest, Grau topped the question with a hint of concern.

Just as the Supreme King was about to shake his head, a sudden thought struck him. Hazel eyes stared into Grau's pale grey ones.

"Have you seen Sherra by any chance?"

Rubbing a hand over his bald head, the priest shook his head. "Not since evening, Dynast sama. You know how she enjoys taking strolls in the forest…"

Dynast's frown deepened, before his hazel eyes widened to the puzzlement of his priest.

Masaka!

I can't protect you anymore…

*zanbatoh – it is a ten-foot long pole, with a razor sharp blade at the tip.