Chapter 19: The martyr
Paul was inches away from killing Danny. With strength and quickness he didn't even know he had, he clicked his left boot, exposing a hidden dagger in it and flipped into a handstand. Danny had timed it just right that it stabbed Paul in his other shoulder. Then Danny quickly turned around and speared Paul's legs with his wrists blades. Both bloody and exhausted warriors fell onto the floor. "Why won't you die?!" asked Danny frustrated to Paul. "My armor is enchanted. It reduces any damage I take by half" responded Paul. "I need to get one of those" said Danny as he tried to lift himself up with the Eslydion. Paul crawled to his knees and could barely stand. "Crap, this hurts" complained Paul, "I'm definitely going to kill you for this." The warriors prepared themselves for another round. But before they could begin, they heard the sounds of the temple being destroyed. They both saw Demetra ordering her monsters to destroy the place. "Demetra, what are you doing?! What the hell are you doing?" cried Danny. "Looks like this place is going down. Time to take my leave. See you in oblivion paladin" Paul threw a smoke bomb and disappeared. Danny had to no time to think about Paul He looked around. Where was Rosa? Was she dead? Missing? Demetra suddenly came to her senses. "She looked around with a scared face and saw her monsters wrecking havoc. "Come back!!" yelled Demetra as she held out Exodia's and despair's cards. They returned with no argument. She dropped to her hands and knees and started crying. "What have I done?" she sobbed to herself. Danny ran over as fast as his injured body could carry him. "What the heck is your problem? Where do your alliances lie?!" yelled Danny as he yanked Demetra from the floor. She could only look away and cry some more. Danny casts an extremely strong heal spell to heal his wounds. Before he could heal them all a huge slab of wall flew down to Danny and Demetra. Calmly Danny closed his eyes and started to chant another spell. The slab shattered as it hit a pale white barrier. One of the most important things with white and holy magic was to keep your body and mind calm. White magic required discipline and faith, unlike black magic which was controlled more on your physique and emotions. Shaman magic all depended on how close you were connected to nature and a particular element. Danny carried Demetra to the temple's entrance. The light path that Danny took was too damage to go through, so they had to travel through the shadow hall. As soon as they entered the hall, the barrier disappeared and Danny started to experience a searing burn throughout his entire body. Demetra was fine, since she was of the darkness. It was now her turn to lead him out. With her vampire strength she lifted him over her shoulder and leaped all around the obstacles and traps that were manifesting from the temple. Just as they were at the exit a wall of monsters knocked Demetra and Danny over. They were the final tests for those claiming the swords. One was a sphinx, one was a phoenix, one was a griffin, and the last was a manticore. They all charge toward the wounded heroes. Danny weakly lifted himself up and held the Eslydion to the side. The speedy griffin was the first to reach him. Danny parried with an upward thrust that stabbed the griffin in the chest. The other creatures were quickly closing in. The phoenix shot a ribbon of flame at Danny. Danny, while the Eslydion was still in the griffin, chanted another spell. The flames engulfed Danny, but the griffin was burning instead himself. Demetra stood amazed. "He just used the reversal curse. That's black magic. Since when can a paladin practice black magic?" she asked herself. The griffin was dead instantly. The manticore tackled Danny and started to maul him. Danny was screaming in pain, but managed to spring those wrist blades into the manticore's mouth. The monster yelled and started to bleed from its wound. Danny scrambled up. "Paladin blow!!" cried Danny. He swung the Eslydion and the manticore was destroyed in the wave of spiritual power. The sphinx started to gather magical power to launch at Danny. Without rest, Danny started to chant silent verses. Rings of power froze the sphinx. Danny was now using the silent word charm. As long as he chanted, the creature wouldn't move. But Danny had to hurry. The temple roof was now coming down. "Danny, please hurry!! The temple is coming down" yelled Demetra. Danny turned around still chanting and nodded in agreement. He sprinted as fast as he could to join Demetra, but to Demetra's horror, the phoenix intercepted him and flew right into Danny. Danny cried blood curdling cries of pain as his entire body was in flames. The spell was broken and the manticore was now free. Demetra ran to aid Danny. She grabbed him and brushed the flames off of him and was trying to stay ahead of the other temple guardians. The temple was just about destroyed and the manticore was taken down while the phoenix was destroyed by the debris. They had made it. They were safe. Danny and Demetra dropped to take a breath. While they were still recovering, a long tongue grabbed Danny by the throat. Demetra tried to grab him back but it was too late. Danny was taken into the last remains of the falling temple. "NO!!" Demetra ran to try to dig Danny out. After soon digging she reached him. His right eye was severed and bleeding and he wasn't breathing. She tried to find some sign of life but there was none. No doubt about it. Danny Chambers was dead.