Eleven
The Eternal Sword
Lloyd looked up. The excruciating pain had faded, and all that was left was a sting. Rage and sadness filled him at the sight. Strong gales blew across Sylvarant and lightning crackled above them. The dying Tree was aflame in black fire, and the Lich flew above it, power radiating from him. All around him corpses spun. Babies, children, women, and men alike rotated around him. "Behold my angels!" The Lich roared. "Quiver Martel! Quiver at my power!" At that moment thunder rumbled across the land and Lloyd fell to despair. Even the goddess had given up hope. "These fools of Tethe'alla feed my power!" he roared. "Each life force becomes darkness, and make me grow!"
Tears poured from the four's faces. The people on Tethe'alla. That meant that Sheena, Zelos, Regal and Raine had died… they were floating up there. They had failed.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Lloyd roared. His voice was like thunder booming through the land. Rage burned within his heart. He would not allow this to happen. He thrust his Kusanagi Blades into the air and blue and purple lightnings were assimilated into them. He let go and blinding white light flashed. In Lloyd's hand was the Eternal Blade.
The Lich looked down, and fear passed over his face, but only for a moment. He put his hands out to the side and black lightning seared around him. The corpses fell around Lloyd… thudding as they hit the ground. Lloyd looked down at the corpse at his foot. Rage burned within him.
Sheena and Zelos were lying in front of him… embraced in a kiss. They had known that death was about to hit them. Water from Lloyd's eyes fell onto them. At least they found out they loved each other, he thought sadly. Not too far away was Regal… the chains on his hands were broken. Sheer anger was burning within him. Burning to kill the thing that had wrought this atrocity.
"Damn you Hethzera!" he roared. "You took the lives of thousands just to feed your power! Well I don't care! I'm going to kill you! I'm going to kill you to avenge my friends and all the people of Tethe'alla!"
White energy glowed around Lloyd as he pointed the Eternal Sword at the Lich, who had landed. Black magic still flowed around it.
A beam of blue, purple and white light shot towards the Lich, and on contact an explosion roared through the land, throwing corpses through the air. Hethzera roared in agony. When the explosion faded Hethzera didn't look phased, but a great crater had been formed around him and his skirt was torn and burnt. "The Eternal Sword… truly a powerful weapon," Hethzera admitted. He slowly raised one of his hands. "But is it strong enough?" Black lightning raced towards Lloyd, who raised the Sword up to parry. The strength of the lightning astounded him, and he nearly lost his footing. His muscles bulged as he struggled to keep his grip on the blade. Finally, the Lich stopped his ruthless assault.
Fatigue filled Lloyd. The lightning had drained him of much of his strength. "I must keep fighting…" he whispered. He looked at Genis, Colette and Presea and he almost began to cry again. Genis was kneeling over… Raine. She was unconscious, but Lloyd could just barely see the tiny movements of breath. "Please live, Raine…" Presea and Colette were standing over Genis with their hands on his shoulder.
Colette looked at Lloyd. She mouthed the word 'win' to him. Lloyd nodded and picked up the Eternal Blade. He mustered all his strength.
And charged.
Lloyd swung the Blade at Hethzera, ignoring the corpses, blood red sky and the darkness that consumed the world. Hethzera dodged each swing with ease, but Lloyd refused to give up. Finally, Hethzera put his hands up… and caught the Eternal Blade. The Lich gritted his teeth in pain, and the purple glow in his eyes flared. A shock wave pulsed from Hethzera and Lloyd was knocked to his feet. The Lich brought his bony claws in an arc, and the earth around Lloyd collapsed.
"AAAAAAAAAAH!" he cried as earth crumbled around him. He held on for dear life to stop himself from falling into oblivion below. The Eternal Blade was slipping out of his grip.
Hethzera floated towards him. "You fought like a god Lloyd Irving, but you're going to die like a dog," he sneered and raised his hand up for a final strike.
"Judgment!" Colette roared. Lloyd smiled as a cannon of light crashed into Hethzera, knocking him off his feet. Encouraged by Colette's attack, Lloyd forced himself up and charged at the Lich. He slammed the Eternal Blade into the ground and spikes of light blasted towards the Lich. He sneered and held his ground. The spikes dissipated as they grew near to him. Hethzera thrust his hand forward and the black aura around him crept towards Lloyd.
Terror petrified Lloyd. His body refused to move, and he knew that the others were too. The blackness crept towards him like a snake, and it was going to sink its venom into him. Sweat froze on Lloyd's face as the darkness grew near to him. Then it touched him.
Lloyd felt like screaming, but his mouth would not move. Impossible pain erupted throughout him. He felt as if though a thousand blades were piercing him. His mind roared with fire and his vision was clouded by pain. His legs wavered and his thoughts were foggy. He felt his life slipping away… and he found himself praying.
D—dear Ma—martel… p…please if I a—am to d—die p—pro—protect my friends… let them d—destroy the Lich. Give them s—strength… Martel… he thought.
He was at the edge of death.
White light washed over Sylvarant and Lloyd was certain he was dead, but then he looked around him. Despite the blinding light, he could make out the glowing Eternal Blade and he knew that the Lich's spell was broken. At the brink of death, Martel had spared Lloyd. And now the Lich was going to perish beneath the Blade. Lloyd pointed the sword at the confused Lich and knew that Hethzera was powerless when consumed by the overwhelming light.
The light was completely assimilated into the Eternal Blade, which pulsed with power. "Release your power!" Lloyd roared. The light exploded in a divine fire that washed over Symphonia. The plague of the Dark Seed was burnt away and Lloyd heard the Lich scream.
Hethzera's screamed pierced through heaven and he was flung billions of miles away into the depths of space.
Darkness overtook Lloyd.
A/N: OK well here it comes… the last chapter of Angels of the Lich.