Chapter 38 – For the Record…
Eryka
"Sandstorm's not going anywhere for a while…" A Raven Talon sighed, leant against one of the sandstone rocks with his rifle in hand. Next to him was an Onyx Consul, Sniper Rifle resting against the rock as well.
"Hopefully, it passes soon. We can't get any of our airships up to the Dreadnaught." The Onyx Consul grumbled.
Unaware of their left, Eryka, Winter and Dutch were laid in the sand, with an active camouflage cloak covering their bodies, making them completely invisible. Luckily, the Vasillias Cartel had more than enough equipment to spare, and Lavinia was no fool. She knew Killian had to die.
He had the power to destroy everything. They had to cut out the possibility of him doing it, anyway.
Eryka waited for them to move, but kept Constantine Damascus close, especially when three more Black Gallows soldiers walked over to the two they had their eyes on. "Hey you two, keep your eyes peeled. We're hardly the most inconspicuous lookers out here, so make sure nobody is sneaking up on us." The soldier commanded.
"Roger." The Raven Talon agreed. The Onyx Consul grabbed his Sniper Rifle and swiftly clambered up one of the tall rock formations, resting the rifle over his other forearm, scanning the terrain. But thanks to the sandstorm, their technology was not exactly reliable right now.
Eryka glanced at her scroll, which showed the charge left on their cloaks, and they were about to run out. She gestured to them through the cloak, telling them to move. Dutch and Winter slowly removed their cloaks and quickly got to cover, using the sandstorm to their advantage. With five soldiers to worry about, they had to eliminate them quietly. Eryka removed her cloak and rushed into the tall desert, keeping her head low and hood over her blue hair. She clung to her bow, watching as the three soldiers walked around.
"Is the Commander alright? I mean… he was bluffing, right? He's not actually gonna do it?" A soldier asked.
"I… I don't know. He doesn't exactly seem well, seen the state of him?" Another agreed.
"Doesn't matter, it's the boss's orders. It's our job to do them." A more loyal soldier responded. Dulcis called out, flying through the sandstorm, disappearing like a ghost. Flying in these winds wasn't exactly glamorous for him, but it definitely gave him the advantage. Eryka's eyes glowed as she activated her connection with her Altum Eagle, and she could see what he saw.
The compound here was large, wrapping around a ravine where the only river in all of Vacuo was left. And they couldn't see it thanks to the cover of the sandstorm, but nearby was the Shadow of Broken Promises.
They were trying to get Killian out of here, but thanks to the storm, it was greatly impeding their progress.
As the soldier approached the tall grass, Eryka drew Constantine Damascus and fired an arrow into his throat. The soldier gasped, then choked on his own blood before collapsing. Eryka swiftly pulled him down into the grass and quickly broke his neck to make sure he couldn't alert the others. Winter across the sand from her slowly drew her blade and suddenly reached over, grabbing the soldier when Dutch gave her the signal when all the soldiers were looking away. She dragged him over and as he fell; she rammed her blade down into his heart, twisting the sword to kill him fast.
Dutch quickly moved, holding his suppressed pistol in one hand and a knife in the other. He backed up against the formation that Onyx Consul was above and stared at one of the nearby soldiers. He knew that taking the shot now would alert the Consul, so he turned to Eryka and pointed up to where he was, keeping the gun aimed at the soldier nearby. Eryka drew her bow and waited for him to give the signal.
He counted down from three, then they both fired at once. The soldier collapsed, but he immediately grabbed the collapsing Raven Talon Trooper, dragging him round the formation. The Consul dropped from above with an arrow lodged in the visor, but just before his body could crash against the floor, Winter conjured a glyph to stop his descent from being too loud.
With only one soldier left, he looked around with confusion, and he was about to radio them, but Winter vaulted over and she stabbed him through the chest faster than he could react, gliding across her glyphs. She held him there and tossed him aside and onto the sand. She flicked her wrist, easily throwing the blood from her blade.
"Nicely done. Now come on, let's get moving. And hope Killian hasn't found that tracer yet. Robyn must have stuck it somewhere he'd never check." Dutch commented. They followed him down the slope, keeping their heads down.
"Assuming he doesn't just want us to face him. He has a bone to pick with all of us, just as we have one for him." Eryka explained.
"Always a possibility… but it doesn't matter. We know what we've come here to do. And we will do it." Dutch said. He sprinted with them behind him down the sloping path. He slid down and aimed his rifle down the next path, but luckily, there was nobody there. The Sandstorm howled endlessly around them, and thankfully that was giving them the element of surprise.
Winter moved forward with Eryka, and they saw two more Black Gallows soldiers on patrol. They turned when they saw the two of them sprinting towards them, and Eryka immediately loosed an arrow through the skull of the one on the left, whilst Winter blasted off a glyph and rammed her sword through the heart of the next, dragging him across the floor. They ran even faster, knowing that this storm would not hang around forever.
"How long will Lavinia be able to keep this up?" Dutch asked.
"She said it will stop for maybe half an hour, at most. Then she can form another one. So let's make sure we can get him before that happens." Eryka explained, keeping her bow close. She followed the path but stopped, gasping as she nearly walked off the edge. That would have been a long and fatal drop too. Winter pulled her away just to be safe.
Dutch whistled, showing them the cables of a lift, ones they could use to slide down a deeper into the ravine. He grabbed onto one and descended. Both of his friends followed him down the line. They jumped off the cables before reaching the bottom, rolling onto one of the natural outcrops. Down below were a lot more soldiers, far too many for them to even risk taking out.
Including Paladins and Ebony Sabres.
The huge mechanised troopers walked around, helping lift heavy cargo and carry them into the large transports. Winter scanned the area of what she could see through the cloud of sand, noticing the amount of explosives. "By the gods… that's a lot of explosives."
"Those are military grade. What the hell are they doing?" Eryka stammered.
"That bastard… there are no bombs under Argus or Menagerie. He'll burn them as well with those. It'll be more than enough. He really means to make sure there is nothing left." Dutch sounded horrified at this realisation.
"I thought they were sparing Argus and Menagerie? To make sure they can rebuild?" Winter questioned.
"I think Salem wants to cut off all loose ends." Dutch answered.
"Damn… well, now we have even more reason to stop him." Winter sighed.
"But where are they getting these resources? I know the Black Gallows have unlimited funding and shitloads of firepower… but how did they find all this so fast?" Eryka asked.
"I told you, this place is a hidden Black Gallows facility. This place would have more than enough munitions. I never knew they were storing explosives like this, though…" Dutch stammered.
"How many other facilities are like this?" Winter asked.
"Probably a lot more than Killian told me. Thinking he never fully trusted me after all. Heh… so much for second in command and all that bullshit." Dutch growled.
"We have to stop this. Any of these make it out of here and more people will die." Eryka said, drawing her bow with an explosive arrow, but Dutch stopped her.
"Wait, blowing them up now will kill us, too. I agree with you, but we can use this to our advantage. They don't know we're here yet, so we can use this as a distraction. The explosion will severely damage the entire facility, maybe even be so bad it will demolish it." Dutch explained. He reached into his back and pulled out a remote detonated explosive. "Here… I brought some of these just in case we needed to blow a hole somewhere. It will definitely do the trick. Stick it somewhere inside those crates where the soldiers can't spot them, and click the green button. It will synch up with my detonator." Dutch whispered to her.
Eryka nodded. "And to think I once hated you specialist types. Never thought this kind of stuff would be so fun."
Winter smirked with a small blush, then Eryka took the bomb and silently dropped and into the bushes. She watched the Paladins as they used their powerful mechanised arms to lift the crates and carry them across the sandstone path to the landed airships. Soldiers had glow sticks to help guide the walking tanks in the sandstorm.
There were a lot of them, including Trojan Droids, which were marching back and forth, armed to the teeth. Eryka waited for a lull in the crowd of soldiers and she approached one of the crates and she reached in between the bombs and missiles stacked carefully inside. She stuck it onto the missile and clicked the green button. The light blinked a couple times before beeping and staying a constant green.
Eryka looked up at Dutch, who fired his zipline from his bracer down slowly, and Eryka waited for Winter to give her the signal. The Paladin approached and lifted the crate. She just placed the bomb inside, not even realising it was in there, approaching the Airship. Winter gave her a thumbs up, then she grabbed onto the zipline. Dutch retracted it, pulling the Falconess all the way up.
Eryka clambered back up onto the outcrop they were on, and Dulcis landed with them. "Alright… hopefully that will be a good distraction."
"Oh, it'll be more than that." Dutch assured, he turned, and they stayed low, moving across the outcrop towards another drop into some more grass, but it was thinner. They jumped down and took cover behind some more crates of ammunition or other supplies.
"Keep it moving! We need all this equipment loaded up so we can get the hell out of here the second this storm clears!" One of the Ebony Sabres commanded. Dutch scanned the area through his helmet. The X-Shaped visor shone bright red as he examined the path. Linked up to his scroll, he searched for where Robyn's tracer was, and he stopped.
"There…" Dutch pointed, noticing the building, mostly hidden by the storm. It was part of the subterranean Black Gallows Vault. "Killian's in that building. Looks like an operations room."
"Is it far enough away from the bombs for us to survive the blast?" Winter asked.
"Well… if we're not, at least we know it will take Killian down with us." Dutch shrugged.
"That's a morbidly encouraging thought." Eryka scoffed. They waited for a moment to pass. Whilst they waited, a Black Gallows Wasp Gunship hovered across the river. The downdraft from its thrusters sprayed water in all directions and rocked the boats on the river as well.
The soldiers looked away and the three of them moved through the bushes, but as they moved, they realised the sandstorm was weakening. "Damn, things are about to get even harder." Eryka commented.
"We just need to reach Killian." Winter assured. They stopped behind another sandstone rock, keeping their heads down as an Ebony Sabre walked past. The powerful mechanical bones inside the suit of armour clicked and groaned as it walked. Shadow Dagger Assassins were here as well, blades in hand, as they paced around the area, looking around as they waited for their next orders.
The second the path ahead was clear, they moved with what remained of the dying sandstorm, and crawled underneath a stationary tank. They hauled themselves through the sand, and it was freeing to get out of the heat and sand filled air. Winter and Eryka rubbed the sand from their eyes, whilst Dutch was perfectly fine thanks to his helmet. A large contingent of soldiers walked past the tank they were under, and they waited for the many soldiers to pass by.
One stood in front of where they were about to exit the underside of the tank, so when it was clear, Dutch swiftly crawled out and stood tall, snapping the unaware soldier's neck before he could even react. The Sable Guard fell to the floor, but he rolled the body underneath the tank so nobody would notice. Then they kept low and kept creeping their way towards the next building, sticking to the shadows.
Then the howling winds of the sandstorm dissipated. The air was fresh, and the view was completely clear, but now they were right next to the building they needed to reach. Weapons were at the ready as they crept their way up the steps. They could hear Killian speaking with someone on the comms.
Doctor Arthur Watts was the voice that they identified. There was a small live hologram of the Doctor on the holotable whilst Killian was pacing back and forth.
"Are the weapons prepared? We cannot allow things to worsen. The Feral Ones are already losing control of Menagerie as we speak." Watts questioned.
"We've nearly assembled all the explosives. We will deliver them to their target locations before nightfall. A longer wait than the hour before burning the Kingdoms… but I imagine Team C.P.P.R will arrive at the Sanctum before long. I just pray those fools don't try anything. I'd rather not slaughter all those innocents… but if they force my hand, I will." Killian explained.
"We shall see what they will do. Once the shipments are complete, make your way to the Sanctum." Watts said.
"Understood. Killian out." The call was over. He turned and pressed his hands against the computer, staring at the operation outside. He hung his head and clenched his hands into fists.
Eryka and Winter held hands, and they looked at Dutch, nodding their heads.
Dutch held the detonator in his hand and exhaled and pressed the button.
The loudest explosion they had ever heard erupted. If they hadn't covered their ears beforehand, it would have deafened them. Killian jolted and grunted, pressing his hands against his ears in pain, dropping to one knee. The flash was blinding, and when it dimmed, all that was left behind was total devastation. The explosion completely eviscerated all the forces back there, and the shock wave blew the three of them off their feet. The glass in the Operations Room shattered, and the flames consumed the soldiers in that area, burning them to ash. The Wasp spun out of control, crashing into the flames.
They looked back with wide eyes. The entire side of the ravine they were just at collapsed, and even more than that, the ground above where the explosion was sunk. Crumbling into itself and swallowing the vault inside. The chain reaction of explosions flooded into the vault, destroying everything inside and even causing parts of the cliff to come crashing down into the river.
Killian stood tall with wide eyes, staring at the devastation. Killian immediately rushed to the communications and pressed his finger on it. "Code Red! I repeat: Code Red! Search for survivors at the site of the explosion!" Killian commanded, and he picked up his chrome pistol to go out the door they were behind.
Dutch suddenly spun into the doorway and fired at Killian's head, not hesitating this time, but Killian was fast, and just dodged the shot and punched Dutch in the face, knocking him back. Winter blasted through the window with her glyph, slashing across Killian, but he now had his aura up. He tumbled backwards but raised his Grave Dust Arm, blocking the incoming blows from her sword, before firing his gun at her again.
She rolled aside, but he kicked her in the chest, turning to be hit in the chest by one of Eryka's exploding arrows. He grunted, thrown back against the wall. He fell to one knee as the three of them stood in front of him, weapons aimed at him. "It's over, Killian. We're not going to let you slaughter millions." Winter snarled, sword aimed at him.
"I have not come this far to die now!" Killian roared, his thrusters in his boots suddenly rocked him towards Eryka and Winter and he grabbed them both by the throat and they launched through the broken window. Killian threw Eryka down towards the ground and she crashed against the rocks, breaking her thin aura in the process. Eryka moaned in pain as she laid there, whilst Dutch vaulted out and covered her, firing his rifle up at Killian. He still had Winter by the throat and he tossed her up in the air with his Grave Dust Arm, before she formed another glyph, blasting off it towards him. They both smashed into the ground, tumbling across the floor.
Killian turned to the boats, and he immediately pulled one of his Flashbang Grenades out and tossed it at his assassins. The flash stunned them momentarily, and he rushed towards it, ushering a small team of remaining Black Gallows Troopers to his aid. "With me!" Killian ordered. They jumped onto the boat and activated the engine, rushing down the river.
"No! He's getting away!" Eryka grunted, getting back up. Winter stood tall, and they sprinted towards another one of the docked speedboats.
"Get on! Winter, take the wheel!" Dutch called out.
"Copy that!" Winter called back, jumping onto the boat and immediately turning it on. Eryka and Dutch both readied their weapons and Dulcis flew with them as fast as he could, keeping up with the boats. They roared across the rivers and were behind Killian, who looked back and gritted his teeth.
He aimed his Chrome Pistol and shot back at them as the trio of assassins pursued him. Two of the other Black Gallows soldiers also shot back, firing shot after shot at them. Both boats roared through the rivers, winding through the ravine as fast as they could, dodging the falling rubble.
Massive cracks spread through the cliffs of the ravine after that devastating explosion. Winter looked to the side, seeing the different entrances to that vault exploding with flames, more fire bursting through as the chain reaction continued, destroying everything inside. "Well, we definitely triggered a chain reaction! Hold on!" Winter yelled over the engine. Dutch laid across the side of the boat, firing his rifle repeatedly at the other boat, trying to either hit Killian or the driver.
Eryka also was firing arrow after arrow at them, but none were landing because of the chaos. Winter looked up and went as fast as she could as the cliffs in front exploded, blowing rocks everywhere. She drifted round, and they followed Killian through a tunnel. Sudden darkness was a shock, but both Dutch and Eryka continued to shoot at Killian's boat to stop him. All whilst the tunnel was collapsing around them. Massive chunks of rock plummeted down from the tunnel ceiling, splashing into the surrounding water. Winter dodged them as best as she could, but the water was bouncing the boat around with every splash.
Suddenly, light returned when they got outside and exited the ravine into the only lake of Vacuo, a beautiful and rare sight indeed. In the river were massive Obsidian Spires created from Magma Storms, which were growing ever closer. The red lightning could be seen already as they drove across the lake.
Suddenly the Gyrfalcon and two Wasps roared overhead, whilst the looming threat of the Shadow of Broken Promises hung in the hazy blue sky. The Gyrfalcon roared as it banked around the Obsidian Spires, firing missiles and machine-gun bullets towards the trio's boat, but as Winter drove, she formed a giant white glyph behind her, spawning a Summoned Nevermore. The enormous creature flew across the sky above them, whilst Eryka drew one of her Phoenix Arrows, firing it towards the boat.
Dulcis flew forward and clasped onto the arrow with his talons, and the flames erupted outwards into the feathered wings of the Phoenix, evaporating the water beneath him and burning across the boat. It wasn't enough to kill Killian or destroy his boat, but it took out his two bodyguards, burning them alive and throwing them overboard. The Gyrfalcon constantly howled above them, firing its cannons at them whilst the Nevermore slammed into the side of one of the Wasps. As it slashed its talons into the wings, the Wasp spun out of control.
The Nevermore flew away as the Wasp gyrated with smoky flames bleeding from its wound and crashed into one of the Obsidian Spires. It shattered instantly, crumbling back into the lake where it formed. While firing its machine guns at their boat, the second Wasp roared across the water. The Nevermore banked around and suicide bombed into the vehicle, blowing it apart in a single hit.
The Gyrfalcon continued to keep pace with them before they headed into the rapids, trying to monitor Killian's boat. "They're headed towards a waterfall!" Eryka called out, seeing through Dulcis' eyes and seeing the falls on the other side of these rapids.
"Damn it! The Gyrfalcon is preparing to pick him up!" Dutch yelled, watching as it flew ahead and spun around, opening the rear doors. It descended, and the boat launched inside, saving Killian.
"Shit!" Eryka yelled, but then their eyes widened when they saw Killian getting into the cockpit of the Gunship. It spun around and immediately fired on them, gritting his teeth. They all took cover, but the boat was pounded by the incoming gunfire. The Gyrfalcon roared overhead, and banked across the sky, howling.
Eryka then stopped, and she looked to the side. "I got a plan!" Eryka called out. "Winter! Get me on the other side!"
Winter didn't ask what her plan was, she just trusted her, forming multiple glyphs for her to jump across. She rolled across the ground and drew her bow. She only had two arrows left. One normal arrow and one explosive one. She drew the normal arrow and fired it, nailing it into the cockpit to get Killian's attention. She then ran towards the edge.
"I'm done with your games, Vasillias." Killian snarled, and the Gyrfalcon blasted towards her, firing its machine guns across the path behind her. Eryka nocked the last explosive arrow, and without hesitation…
… she jumped off the edge.
She twisted through the air and pulled the bowstring back, aiming directly at one of the thrusters. And she fired, launching the explosive tipped arrow directly into the thruster. Killian's eyes widened, and the bomb erupted, shattering the wing apart and causing the Gyrfalcon to spin out of control.
Eryka plummeted towards the ground, but the Gyrfalcon slammed against the boat, throwing Dutch and Winter off as well. Winter swiftly launched herself off a glyph and caught her girlfriend, whilst Dutch blasted the thrusters in his boots to slow his descent. The Gyrfalcon, however, spun out of control even more and smashed against one of the tall sandstone pillar, exploding in half and sending the half Killian was in crashing towards the ground.
The Gyrfalcon – the only one of its kind – was no more.
Eryka and Winter both crashed into the water together, and it all went black.
Dutch
He must have been out for a few minutes, because when he came to that sandstorm had returned, so it must have been at least an hour like Eryka said.
He groaned, holding his side as he slowly got back up, limping through the sandstorm. Smoke filled the air where he saw the burning wreckage of the Gyrfalcon. Dead Black Gallows Soldiers laid on the ground, blood everywhere and some of them were still crushed beneath the wreck. He approached it, leaning his shoulder against the hot hull, and he panted, drawing his pistol. He approached the cockpit and aimed inside it, but Killian was gone.
The sandstorm had covered his tracks, but he was definitely alive. He gritted his teeth with anger, spitting out blood. "Eryka? Winter?" He called out, but the Sandstorm was too strong for him to hear anything.
He limped through the dunes on his own, looking around for any sign of his friends. But he heard something else… a deep rumbling sound, not like the storm.
It sounded like… fire…
His eyes widened, and he spun around, only to be blown across the sand by a fireball. Dutch groaned in pain, feeling the burns sear away at his chest, but he looked up to see Killian stood on the sand dunes. His head was covered in blood down the right side of his face, but the man was still alive, aiming the open palm of his Grave Dust Arm at him. He scowled down at Dutch and ambled down the sand towards him.
"I've chased a lot of shadows over the years… seeing traitors in every corner. But the one person I always believed would have my back to the very end… was you… Dutch." Killian growled, standing before him as fire dust violently burned through the swirling Grave Dust. "I will do whatever it takes to ensure Salem's goals… and I will let no one stand in my way. But… to honour the friendship we once had… I am giving you this one chance. Leave… and look the other way one last time." Killian commanded.
Dutch panted, and he slowly got back up, holding his rifle in one hand, but he scowled back at him. "I'm done looking the other way. This ends once and for all." Dutch growled.
Killian stared back at him and exhaled through his nose. Dutch transformed his rifle into sword from, then the two sprinted towards each other. Dutch slammed the blade of his electrified sword into the Grave Dust Hand of his former Commander and Friend. Killian gritted his teeth, eyes lost of all humanity, and he punched Dutch in the side of the head. He drew his pistol and fired it repeatedly at him, but Dutch sprinted fast, his helmet closing around his head.
The visor shone that bright red X and Killian snarled with anger, knowing that mask all too well, and knowing it was Dutch all along only made his blood boil even more. Dutch launched forward, slashing across Killian's leg, and when he rolled past, he fired a shot from the opening in the sword. Killian grunted as the bolt hit him in the back, then he spun around and punched his fist down into the sand, blasting fire into it. Huge spikes of black glass rocketed out from the sand, slashing across Dutch and throwing him across the floor.
His sword bounced away from his hand, then Killian grabbed onto him and threw him against the wreckage of the Gyrfalcon. Killian grabbed Dutch by the side of his head with his Grave Dust Hand, forcing his head towards a burning spike of metal. He strained as he pushed away, and Killian snarled with fury, getting him closer and closer. Dutch swung his head backwards, overpowering him, and he immediately spun around and punched Killian in the face. He grabbed a hold of his head and swung him down towards the spike.
A horrible slashing sound erupted, and Killian roared in agony, revealing the deep gash he just suffered across his face and over his eye. Blood poured from the open wound, but he just continued to fight, despite the serious wound. He drew his gun and fired at Dutch, hitting him in the shoulder. He tumbled across the ground but vanished into the sand.
Killian looked around, aiming his pistol, when suddenly another shot burst through the sandstorm, hitting Killian in the shoulder. He stared ahead and saw Dutch charging towards him with his sword. He swung towards his chest, but Killian caught the blade, pushing him aside and smashing the gun against the side of his head.
Dutch tumbled across the floor and just as he went to shoot again, Killian grabbed the weapon and tossed it aside. Killian went to shoot him, but Dutch quickly grabbed a hold of his arm and twisted, forcing Killian to release it. He slammed his knee up into Killian's gut and threw both elbows down against the top of his head, smashing him down against the hot sand. Blood splattered across the floor, then Dutch kicked him in the face, but as Killian rolled over, his Grave Dust hand suddenly reached up.
Killian's claws stabbed into Dutch's gut, and his eyes widened in pain. Blood leaked from the stab wound, and Killian shoved him away. He stumbled into the sand and, once again, the sandstorm made Dutch disappear. Killian weakly got back up, picking up the pistol as he aimed around him.
The two of them were extremely weak, and Killian fell onto one knee, pressing his hand against the bloody wound. Dutch stumbled back up to his feet and found his sword, transforming it into Rifle Mode. He walked towards Killian with the gun aimed at him.
He chuckled at him. "What are you doing this for? Huh? Revenge? For Robyn? For Terra?" Killian chuckled as he bled.
"Not just for them… you're going to kill millions… for her…" Dutch stated as he kept the gun aimed at him as best he could despite the amount of pain he was in.
Killian chuckled again. "Well… it is true what they say… I hope you're ready to dig two graves, then. One for me… and for who you were. Then again… I doubt there's much left of me to bury…" He coughed, grabbing the respirator and twisting the handle, pumping the painkillers back into him and holding the Grave Dust inside him back from killing him.
"You're… a monster…" Dutch groaned.
Killian nodded. "You're right… I let it… take me." Killian admitted, staring up at the sandy sky, only barely seeing the sun bleed through. "But only because it was… my only option. The only way for me to make… the hard calls. Calls that you… that nobody… was willing to make… for the greater good. Greater good… heh… like that even mattered in the end." Killian chuckled, shaking his head. "So go ahead… end it… it won't change anything. It won't save the world. It won't stop Salem… you've already lost."
Dutch scowled and pulled the trigger, only for Killian to suddenly dodge the incoming bullet, and he quick-drew, firing and shooting Dutch in the head. Blood splattered and Dutch gasped, staggering back as he collapsed to the ground. Everything slowly growing dark. The bullet had gone through his cheek but was not completely fatal, not unless he got medical attention.
Killian stood over him, and despite his wounds, the Respirator was what kept giving him his strength, what kept him fighting. "When this is done… there will be nobody to challenge Salem's rule. Only a new world, one pure, and free from the corruptions of the one that came before. A better world… a world you can't live to see, old friend." Killian said, aiming the gun directly at the centre of his head to fire the killing shot.
Until Eryka suddenly tackled Killian to the ground, punching him in the face extremely hard. Winter also ran over with her sword and stared down at Dutch with wide eyes at his serious wound.
But he passed out before he could see the rest of their clash.
Eryka
Eryka punched him in the face repeatedly, splitting the skin on her scarred knuckles, but Killian punched her right back with his Grave Dust fist.
He rolled backwards and shot Winter in the leg, forcing her to drop her sword, and then he kicked her in the side of the face. Eryka slashed her sword at him, but he backed up, blocking her incoming blows with his arm. The blade sparked against the Grave Dust every time it hit, and then he kicked her in the leg and punched her down against the ground.
Killian then blasted up into the air and landed on top of a dune.
Eryka and Winter rushed to Dutch's side, crouching down beside him. "Dutch? Dutch!" Eryka panicked.
"He's alive… but… that's bad." Winter couldn't find any other words. They turned as Dulcis landed and shrieked up at Killian. They both turned to their enemy as he glared down at him.
"Forget Dutch, Eryka. I'm impressed you did all this today… I really am. But all of this? It's over." Killian snarled.
Eryka and Winter stared at him in shock at how he was now. "The hell's happened to you, Killian? You've really gotten fucked up… even more fucked up than you were before." Eryka replied, and Killian snarled in pain as the deep gash in his face seared.
"Gods…" Winter gasped.
"You destroyed my forces…" Killian snarled.
"No, we saved Argus and Menagerie. You're not going to save the world this way, Killian." Winter stated.
"I DON'T WANT TO!" He roared, his voice echoing across the storm. "I just want it all gone… forever…"
"Gone? The hell happened to saving Remnant?" Eryka questioned.
"FUCK REMNANT, ERYKA!" He bellowed, teeth gritted. He then held out his arms and laughed. "I'm just gonna let the clock run out on it all and be done with it."
The two of them knew he was too far gone, and now he had to be put down once and for all.
It was only them and Dulcis who could do it.
This ends here.
Killian suddenly blasted down and slammed his Grave Dust arm down into the ground, blasting flames towards them. Eryka rolled aside and transformed Constantine Damascus into Shotgun Form, firing at him. He swiftly raised his arm, forming a shield of dust to block the incoming projectiles. He then rolled away from Winter as she slashed at him, but she still had a limp from the bullet wound in her leg. Dulcis soared around and slashed his talons across the side of his face, and he snarled with anger, looking around for the eagle. Eryka charged towards him and punched him on the side of his head that was badly cut.
He hollered in immense pain, and grabbed Eryka by the throat, lifting her off the floor. "Do you know how hard it was for me to try to unite us with the Vytal Consensus? How many strings I had to pull?" He yelled. Winter sprang her Time Dilation, slowing down time around her and she blasted towards him, punching him in the side of the face, and knocking him away from her.
He tumbled away and drove his sharp claws into the floor to slow himself down. He aimed his pistol at Winter, but she deflected the incoming bullets with ease and thrusted towards him. He only narrowly dodged, but her blade still sliced across his cheek, squirting blood out from the skin. He then smashed his head into hers and punched her again, before grabbing her by the hair and smashing her down against the floor.
Eryka rushed him, jumping up and wrapping her legs around his head and swinging her body weight down towards the ground. The impact threw him ahead, but suddenly he held his Grave Dust arm up and levitated a chunk of the Gyrfalcon with Gravity Dust, launching it towards her. She gasped, eyes widening, but a huge ice wall rose, blocking the impact. The ice exploded as Killian erupted through, grabbing Winter by the face and smashing her face against the floor, dragging her across the sand and cutting up that side of her beautiful face. He tossed her up in the air and then punched down into her stomach.
Dulcis flew in once more, grabbing onto his arm with the gun in his clasp. He staggered towards Eryka, who punched him square in the face. Dulcis yanked the gun away and vanished back into the Sandstorm once more. Eryka kept her fists up and Killian raised his. He swung at her, but she ducked, punching him twice in the chest and following up with one hard punch to the nose. He staggered back, then she charged towards him and drop-kicked him against the rock.
Eryka smashed her arm against his throat, then started punching him relentlessly in the face and chest, before punching him in the head so hard the back of his skull cracked against the rock. As he fell onto one knee, she brought down both elbows onto his back. He fell on his chest, then snarled with anger, grabbing the sand and throwing it into Eryka's eyes. She grunted in pain, and Killian grabbed her by her blue hair, throwing her face into the rock.
Eryka stumbled, concussed from that one. He then grabbed her by the throat and lifted her up and pressed her against the wall, igniting the fire dust in his arm against her face. She screamed in pain as the flames burned at her skin, and he grinned savagely at her.
Winter launched towards him and tackled him across the floor. He stabbed at her with his sharp claws, but she swung her heel around, kicking him across the face. Killian stumbled, but turned to his gun and grabbed onto it. As he aimed at Winter, Dulcis slashed across his arm once again.
Killian snarled, glaring at the eagle as he banked around.
Eryka sprinted towards him with fury in her eyes.
BANG!
Eryka jolted and recoiled back, her blue eyes widening as she felt the pain in her chest. Smoke trailed from the barrel as Killian stared blankly. Winter turned with horror in her eyes, and Eryka whimpered, looking down at her heart…
… but there was no blood.
She turned and stared up at the sky, and watched as Dulcis dropped from where he flew, feathers falling with him, and he crashed against the dunes.
Blood leaking from the bullet wound to the heart.
"DULCIS!" Eryka shrieked with terror, she sprinted to her beloved Eagle, and Killian lowered his pistol coldly. Winter stared at Eryka as she held the dying Eagle in her arms. "No! No, no, no… please… no…" She whimpered, but she watched as Dulcis gazed up at her, and his giant golden eyes closed, and he fell lifeless in her arms.
She felt a part of her die in that moment… and the weight of it all fell upon her heart.
Winter snarled with hatred, glaring at Killian, and she launched towards him, roaring as she stabbed straight through his Grave Dust arm as he lunged towards her. It cut clean through the dust and stabbed into the stump. A massive blast of energy erupted, blowing the two of them away from each other.
Killian growled, staring at his arm as the Grave Dust crumbled away, not rising. He stared at the sparking stump, destroyed by the tip of her sword.
The Grave Dust arm was gone, leaving him disarmed on one side. Winter got back up and sprinted towards him, only for him to roll aside and shoot her in the leg once again, bringing her down to one knee. He ran at her and kicked her in the side of the face.
Eryka remained still, holding Dulcis in her arms. Tears streamed from her heartbroken eyes. She felt sick at this loss… but her grief… turned to fury. She gritted her teeth and picked up Slice 'N Dice, and turned. Killian aimed his gun at her, and Eryka sprinted at him, slashing the sword across his chest. He grunted in pain, blood leaking through the deep wound, and he staggered away from her. She stabbed at him, but he caught her arm with the only hand he had, and twisted.
She winced and released the sword.
As it fell, he kicked it up into the air and caught the hilt, stabbing it into Eryka's stomach. Eryka cried out in agony, staggering back as he pushed her back, pulling the sword from her side. "I told you it ends here." He snarled, kicking her in the chest. She held her hands against the badly bleeding wound with her hand and groaned in immense pain, and she looked over at Dulcis' lifeless body on the ground. Killian walked towards her, throwing the sword aside, and pressed his boot against her throat, pointing that damned gun at her face.
Winter suddenly grabbed a hold of him and pulled him away from her, kicking the gun from his hand and punching him in the face. Eryka's eyes followed the gun as it clattered across the floor. She tried to crawl towards it whilst also holding one hand against the wound in the left of her gut. She could hear her girlfriend and Killian fighting, but even one-armed, he was still fast and lethal.
Winter was thrown across the floor, groaning in pain, then Killian kicked her in the mouth, rolling her onto her back. Killian yelled, stamping down on her head.
It went black for a few moments, but pretty soon she came to. The gun was kicked too far away for her to reach now, and as she turned, she watched as Killian and Winter continued to fight. Winter was covered in bruises and cuts, and her white hair was now loosely hanging. Her swords were no longer within reach and without Aura, she couldn't summon anything to help.
Winter threw multiple punches into Killian's face, staggering him multiple times, and as he dropped to one knee, she smashed hers up into his face. Killian staggered away, spitting blood from his mouth. Then she swung again, but he ducked under her fist and punched her in the stomach. She swung her leg around to do a roundhouse kick, but he stopped her and shoved her down against the ground.
She tried to get up, but he sat atop her and punched her over and over in the face with his only fist. With his back turned to Eryka… she noticed Winter's sword laid there on the ground behind him. She gritted her teeth and crawled towards it, leaving a long trail of potent blood behind her.
Killian was exhausted now, but continued to punch Winter in the face. She gripped the ground as she hauled herself towards the sword as fast as she could.
Winter gasped in pain, her eye swollen and blood leaking constantly from her nose. Killian then grabbed her by the throat with his one hand, and he squeezed, choking her slowly.
She gasped for air and tried to push him away, clawing at the deep slash mark, but he continued anyway, laughing at her.
"You see… even when your kind… Huntsmen and Huntresses… when you believe you've triumphed over us, still we rise again, and do you know why?" Killian asked her. "Because the Black Gallows are a force of understanding. We require no contracts, no fancy weapons or old men in towers to inspire us. All we need… is for the world to be as it is…" He squeezed even harder, not noticing Eryka standing up behind him with Winter's sword in her hands.
"And this is why the Black Gallows… will never be destroyed!" He snarled, and as darkness began to claim Winter…
… Eryka yelled with all her fury and rammed Winter's sword straight through Killian's throat and directly through the Respirator.
Killian's onyx eyes widened as indescribable agony flushed through him, and blood poured through the wound and out of his mouth. He gasped and Eryka twisted the blade for good measure, annihilating the Respirator, causing the pieces to fall off, and she kicked him off Winter.
He released her, and Winter gasped for air as Eryka collapsed to the ground.
Killian writhed on the ground, unable to scream from the burning pain in his chest as he bled out, and as the Grave Dust finally ate away at his body. He crawled away, disappearing into the sandstorm, but Eryka knew… she finally got him.
She laid there, bleeding out beside Winter, and Dutch remained unconscious.
They all laid there… and darkness claimed them all…
… and their scrolls vibrated…
Killian
The mortally wounded commander tried to crawl away, suffering as he spluttered blood, but as he reached out, his eyes widened in horror, seeing his fingers turning pale, and the Grave Dust began consuming his body from the inside out.
Killian knelt upright in the middle of the sandstorm, his body slowly crumbling away.
And only one thing echoed in his mind during these final moments…
The exchange he had with Ironwood ten years ago…
"You're a good man, James. At least you have the honour of dying with the people you loved."
"And how will you die, Killian? Alone? Or surrounded by your enemies?"
"Oh no, James… I'll get out of it… I always do…"
Not this time…
Killian stared blankly as he drew his final breath, and he bowed his head, his body turning grey and crumbling into Grave Dust, being blown away in the Sandstorm.
Leaving behind his Chrome Pistol, only to be buried in the dunes.
To be forgotten.
Forever.
Author Note - Goodbye Commander Nathaniel Killian...
A death that has been coming for a long time, and I have always wanted it to be Eryka. I have been so excited to write this chapter for so long and to finally have that bastard get what he deserves was so satisfying. Now Robyn, Terra, The U.G.R (although most kinda deserved it), so many Huntsmen and Huntresses are avenged...
... but that bastard had to take one more loved one.
Goodbye Dulcis, you beautiful Altum Eagle. Honestly that was one of the hardest deaths to write, the way it appeared to be him shooting Eryka, but it was her feeling him being shot from their Aura Connection. Heartbreaking.
May he rest in peace, especially now that his murderer has gotten what he deserved.
I hope his end was satisfying. I will miss writing his character, since he was one of my favourite villains to write and flesh out. But he has gotten what he deserved.
I hope you all enjoyed this chapter! Please review, follow and favourite!
Stay tuned for the next chapter!
- Matt