The festival was a beauty, and unknown to the people enjoying it, a financial disaster. All of the Great Kingdoms, the Empire included, nearly bankrupted themselves, to make it the greatest Vytal festival Remnant had ever seen. Food was plenty, attractions everywhere, housing for visiting guests, and much more. Best of all, all completely free, subsidized by the governments. They wanted the people to forget their woes and be assured of the unity of Remnant, to believe when they were told that Remnant had never been more unified.
That, of course, had its own share of problems. With how much effort and money was poured in, any disaster would come to bite them tenfold. The economic impact of it would also take a long time to recover, but they hoped it would be more than worth it.
Everything was looking promising, but something had her on edge. She could almost sense an incoming disaster. Perhaps it is merely the rational part of her mind, whispering treasonous thoughts to her, whispers assuring that since her enemies had managed to sneak into Atlas unnoticed, they'll have no great difficulty doing the same here, and then striking at us for a very devastating blow. She could repel an invasion, she could not turn despair into hope.
She looked around the room, still above the colosseum, and scanned her fellow occupants. Ironwood looked more relaxed than she had ever seen him. When his people weren't looking at him, it seemed he needed a serious break too, from all the newfound stress. Malachite was already gone, organizing this thing or another, essentially doing her part at making sure the event goes smoothly. It was a point of pride for her, the event. Ozpin seemed no different than normal, though he did seem very interested in Theophania. Speaking of which...
"You sense it too, do you not Dark One?" Theophania asked with naked curiosity. "The approaching Dark, the looming disaster."
Yang shook her head.
"I don't sense anything." she denied. "I just know we are very vulnerable now."
"Have more faith in the Gods, Dark One." she said with clear disapproval. "The Gods watch over us, their loyal subjects. Surely, decadent thought you may be, you have not allowed your depravity to stand in the way of your faith? The Mother Goddess watches over us Elves, just as your God watches over you. The Gods guide us, and they guide you too, Darkspawn."
"The Brother Gods abandoned humanity long ago." Yang retorted.
"They abandoned the heretics, nothing more." the Elven Queen disagreed. "Humanity sinned against their Gods, and so suffered Divine punishment."
"Extinction." she said with narrowed eyes.
"A fitting punishment for heathens, " the Queen calmly insisted, "and a punishment that allowed humanity to wash away the sin of their betrayal."
"About that, actually..." Yang said, ignoring the gist of the Elven Queen's response, and focusing on the last part, "I have been wondering for a very long time about how humanity reappeared..."
"I believe you want some sort of a confirmation?" Theophania asked in turn.
Yang nodded, and drew a big breath. This would solve a mystery that had plagued her mind ever since she learned about the exodus of the Brother Gods. She steeled herself, and then asked.
"Was it the Mother Goddess, then?" Yang asked, voice calm, but with a heavy nervousness inside. "Was she the one that gave us all life?"
The other inhabitants of the room perked up, and seemed to listen to the conversation more carefully than before.
The Queen gave a small, but decisive, nod.
"In her wisdom, the Mother Goddess decided to give humanity another chance. I can only place my faith in that the Goddess' will shall make itself clear in due time. Perhaps she saw something in the human race. Perhaps she felt pity. We do not know."
Yang felt ecstatic. She was right after all!
"So," Yang started, trying and failing to keep the excitement out of her voice, "when the Brother Gods decided to wipe out all life as punishment for the war the Humans waged against them, the Infernal God protected us, Evil Creatures, the Mother Goddess protected you Elves, and after everything was said and done, the Mother Goddess revived all other fallen races?"
Theophania shook her head in a negative.
"Humans were the only race that perished. Mother Goddess' kind embrace extended to all her creatures. Whilst normally we are her favored, in that moment, she protected all that were hers."
"So, what, this Mother Goddess now watches over us?" Ironwood asked, and the next part of his sentence was laced with heavy sarcasm. "A lot of help she was in our lives."
Theophania's eyes narrowed, and she glared at Ironwood.
"You would do well to show the proper respect, human. You owe your continued existence as a race to her."
"And yet, she doesn't seem to have done all that great of a job as our guardian, did she?" Ironwood said in a retort.
"Such arrogance!" the Queen declared, clearly upset by the statement. "To believe that the Goddess owes you something!"
"Now, now, there's no need for a conflict between friends." Ozpin said, stepping in to diffuse the upcoming fight. "I am interested in something, though. You mentioned that the Mother Goddess and the Infernal God take active steps to guide their subjects?"
The Elven Queen seem unfazed by the change in topic, though her mood seemed to improve somewhat.
"The Mother Goddess watches over us Elves, and guides us, that is correct." she confirmed with a nod. "The leaders of the Elven lands, myself in this case, and the high priests, receive guidance by our Goddess, the foresight to sense looming disasters, feelings of direction we ought to go, things we must pursue, and the like. We don't receive guidance for every action we take, and the guidance we receive is up to us to take hold of. That is in stark difference to an order. The Goddess commands, we obey, though it can be many generations that had not the privilege to obey the Goddess." her head turned to look at Yang. "I see no reason why your God, the perplexing one,-"
"The perplexing one?" Yang interrupted.
The Queen frowned at her, unhappy at her interruption, but decided to answer regardless.
"We Elves have taken to calling the Infernal God, the perplexing one because he perplexes us." she explained. "There was no God before him, no one to rule over Creatures of Evil, and then in an instant, reality had shifted, and now he was always there. We do not understand, and the Mother Goddess has not blessed us with clarity enough to see through this mystery."
Yang, of course, knew the answer to this dilemma, as did all other people in the room, bar the Queen herself.
"Since you told me what I wanted to hear, I'll tell you what you want to know too." Yang said, and began explaining while the Elf carefully listened. "Long ago, the Mother Goddess was married to another God-" Yang raised a hand to pause Theophania once she saw she was about to speak. "-yes, I know that you haven't ever heard about it. Anyway, as I was saying, she was married, and that mysterious God later cheated on her with, probably, another unknown God."
The Elf was clearly outraged at this, but Yang ignored it, and moved on.
"As a punishment, the Mother Goddess created the Abysses, and banished her ex there, and cursed him. Reality rewrote itself, and all evidence of his existence disappeared, even memories of him were gone, and he was further cursed with the inability to leave the Infernal Abyss, the main prison of his. The Infernal Abyss, and the Abysses in general soon became a place of afterlife for the non-Elven dead. The Forgotten God was not satisfied with the curse placed upon him, and eventually managed to gather enough power to connect the other Abysses to Remnant. Unfortunately for him, it was then was ruled by the Third Overlord. Angered at this breach of his territory, the Third Overlord invaded the Abysses, and eventually the Infernal Abyss itself. The undying armies of the dead, were defeated, and then he fought the Forgotten God. Where no mortal blow or spell could harm a God, his strikes bled the Forgotten God, his spells burned his skin. An intense battle later, the Forgotten God was dead, and the Third Overlord inherited his Godhood, becoming the Infernal God."
Yang paused for a moment, before continuing.
"And that, is the story about how the Third Overlord achieved Godhood."
"I will need time to ponder on your words." the Elven Queen eventually said after a long silence. "I must make sure your words are not poison, that you are not meant here to challenge my faith."
Yang nodded, and asked her to continue what she was saying earlier.
"That? Well, what I wanted to say was that I see no reason why your God should act any different. Legends tell that even the Brother Gods rewarded their faithful on occasion." she then got a contemplative look. "Surely, even one as yourself could not have abandoned her faith?"
"I believe in the Infernal God, clearly," Yang said in an exasperated tone, "but I don't serve him, or any God. I want as little to do with all this business as possible."
"You would be wise to court the favor of your God," Theophania warned, "lest he decide to bestow his favor upon our enemy." she then shook her head, and looked away in disgust. "I cannot believe I am working with Godless heretics. You should feel pride at the unique opportunity to fulfill whatever will your God so desires. But perhaps this is all a blessing by the Mother Goddess, blessing that, what will one day be, my unholy enemies lack competence."
"I am my own Master, Elf" Yang said in a heated and warning.
"If you cannot be persuaded by common decency, then perhaps your mind is not too far depraved to consider the logical sense?" The Queen suggested. "As much as it goes against everything I believe in to encourage you to go further down the dark path, consider who would be a more attractive servant? The Queen of the Grimm, from the age of Magic, and full of strength, with endless armies, or...what is it again that makes you attractive? That you are his successor? Maybe your actions so far have made you an attractive candidate, but you must realize how useful of a champion our enemy would be for the Infernal God? And unlike you, I bet she would be far more willing."
"Then it is good that we have the chosen of the Mother Goddess on our side, isn't it?" Yang shoots back. "Or do you not carry the favor of your Master?"
"I carry as much favor as the Goddess decides I am worthy." Queen Theophania responded simply. "That aside, Dark One, why must you insist on strengthening our enemy? Foolishness? Pride?"
"Some are made to serve, others' destiny is to rule." Yang responded. "I do not serve a Master, nor does any Overlord."
"But all men, whether their status, serve the Gods." Theophania said in disagreement. "Destiny is the guide of all races, and as all things, destiny too, bows to the Divine Gods. There is no shame in Divine Servitude, there is only purpose, and fulfillment."
"And if I disagree?"
"Have you tried to give yourself in service to your God?" Theophania asked in lieu of an answer. "It can be very fulfilling in many ways. Those besieged by worry can find peace, those troubled by questions may find a path of enlightenment, and to those with only the most basic desires of power on their minds, that too can be found. Surely, you must realize the power of the Gods?"
A few tense moments of silence passed.
"I will consider it." Yang said finally.
"And let me give you a piece of advice to aid you in your contemplation. Do you still feel thoughts of fondness for your family? Friends, perhaps? Servants of your own? None will live if we fail. We Elves may yet persevere, but your humankind?"
The Infernal Abyss whispered to her then, promises of pain and power; safety and destruction; of knowledge and blissful ignorance; of protection to herself and those she adored; of so many things, so many choices, so many temptful gifts. It whispered to her the answers to her questions, ones she had asked, and ones she had never considered, and like a masterful temptress, it covered the answers, and she knew them none now, but knew only of whom did. She saw visions then, many flashing through her eyes and mind, most incomprehensible to her, though the most important seemed to stay for a bit longer, to tempt her, before disappearing too. She saw the beautiful Vale, its skies now completely covered in dark violet clouds obscuring any source of light, the tower of Beacon glowing in unnatural light, on top a massive, crackling, orb of power, from which ethereal light descended, then the vision shifted, a mocking laughter -her own laughter- and a stab -or was it four?- , and a figure, on the ground, fading in and out with one replacing the other. There was Ozpin, Ironwood, Theophania, and she saw a blood-eyed woman she had yet to see before, with pale white skin, troubled only with the dark purple veins, all of them dead. The whispers did not stop, promising death and destruction for her enemies, for who can stand against her and claim themselves her friend? She saw her family, smiling at her, looking at her with only love, and they looked happy together, and whole. There was her dad, Tai, her mother, Raven, her sister, uncle, and even...was that Summer? She saw Remnant connected into one continent, only because she willed it so, and so much more. What the whispers promised, she saw in visions, flashing by her faster and faster, their mere presence, temptation to lose herself, and...
She closed her eyes, and the visions stayed in her mind only for a few moments more before leaving, and with them, the whispers left too. She opened her eyes, and her eyes glowed with the Evil Energies coursing through her, dark strikes running from her eyes downwards, and she did not need a mirror to see the changes. She looked at the suspicious eyes of the Elf, and then she just knew.
"I sense it too." she said, and her voice, like the Elf's, radiated with her innate emotion. Her voice, full of her Dark Power, seemed to negatively affect its recipients, all looking physically uncomfortable to hear her.
A gift, a boon, or a promise of what was to come.
"What does the Dark Lord of the Dead tell you, young human?" asked a curious, yet sickened, Theophania.
"I hear only the whispers of the Infernal Abyss. The Infernal God did not personally speak to me." she explained, voice calm, but powerful.
"You hear the whispers of Evil, " Ozpin declared with authority, "and you would be wise to flout them."
"What do your newfound senses tell you, Dark One?" Theophania insisted with her line of questioning.
"The enemy is...near. He hides himself, from both sight and senses, with impressive Magic, but I sense darkness in him. He is a Dark Creature of some kind. He can hide himself from our senses, but he can't hide from the essence of his nature. Through Evil, I can sense him...but..." her glow dimmed, and the dark strikes started to fade. "...my grip on my power is..."
"You've been given just enough of a boost to ascertain his approximate location, I believe, not enough to immediately solve the mystery." the Queen speculated.
"That sounds like a test." Ironwood interjected with his opinion.
"Perhaps. Perhaps not. Gods are known to test their subjects, but she heeded the voice of Evil. Is it sentient enough to form a test?" the Elf questioned, though the question was likely more rhetorical than not.
"Evil always finds a way." Yang said, both her face and voice having returned to normal now, though it carried a nostalgic tone. "I was taught that by Gnarl. It's the principle he lives by and believes in above all. I trust him." she then shook her head. "Does it matter? I can still sense our enemy, though no longer the rough location. I want him dead, and if by killing him I pass some sort of a test, all the better."
"Rarely are tests that simple." the Queen warned her before disappearing. As Yang turned to leave to pursue any lead she could find, Ozpin coughed to get her, and Ironwood's attention.
"James, would you leave us alone for a moment? I promise this won't take long."
Ironwood looked at Ozpin, and nodded, leaving as requested. Ozpin approached Yang, and placed a hand on her shoulder. His presence didn't even sicken her. Ozpin must have exerted great effort to suppress his magical presence.
"Are you alright?" he asked, and it took Yang a few moments to realize that the tone she heard was a tone of concern for her.
"I'm fine." Yang responded, though it was perhaps more tensely said than she had intended, something he picked up on.
"I can't imagine that experience would have been pleasant for you."
"It didn't hurt me."
"Of course not," Ozpin agreed with a nod, "though I'd guess that we both know that's not what I meant."
"What did you mean then?" and her voice came out more challenging than she had intended, so easily she had slipped into the warm comfort of anger.
"Only that I imagine that you could have gone without the whispers of Evil trying to overwhelm and confuse you. I imagine it evoked quite a few different emotions, maybe even toyed with them."
"I'm fine." Yang repeated, this time a bit more strongly.
"I don't believe that." Ozpin said, in a calm and caring tone. "It wouldn't have left if it thought you would return to being 'fine'. Imagine, if that helps you, that the Evil is the fisherman, and what you experienced, a hook."
"And I'm the fish?"
"In this metaphor, yes."
She wanted to be upset by the comparison, but the honesty and kindness in his voice won her over. He was trying to help. Even if she didn't need it, not him, not any...
She shook her head, and Ozpin chuckled.
"It seems I was right, doesn't it? If I had to guess, one of the things you went through was a feeling of power, and whispers that anyone who stood against you, for whatever reason, is your enemy?"
Yang nodded.
"Nothing can ever tempt you in the same way a magical force can. No handsome men, no rich folk, no simple wishes of power, nothing can tempt you like something that can get inside your head, promise solutions to problems that haunt you, and in doing so, cleverly create enemies that didn't exist before."
"What do you suggest then?" despite it all, Yang was curious as to what he thought.
"I feel like directly calling out whatever you've experienced would not get me a kind reaction from you-" Yang certainly wouldn't appreciate him calling all those wonderous promises lies. "-therefore, I'll only ask you to reflect on this. What is the main magical difference in branches of magic between the Holy and Evil Magic?"
He didn't wait for an answer, removed his hand from her shoulder, and left.
"Main magical difference?" Yang said aloud to herself. "Well, I guess, that Evil Magic can't cast healing magic without a sacrifice. You could heal yourself with sacrificial rituals, or by using some spell to draw the Lifeforce from one being to another. The Fourth Overlord had once done that to Queen Fay with a clever application of the Evil Presence spell."
Then it hit her. His point was that Evil Magic cannot help without harming another in the process. He was pointing out the inherent nature of Evil Magic in an attempt to warn her to stay cautious.
Anger flooded her at his sheer audacity.
"How dare he-" she started, and then paused. "He was right." she thought as the shocking conclusion hit her.
She, of course, knew of the corruption and the effects it could have on her. She had long since come to terms with the fact that with a bit of effort on her part in resisting its effects, the benefits would be more than worth it. But the corruption is just the side effect of the increased amounts of Evil Energy in one's body. The influence would start small, but more and more of the Evil Energy that gathered in you, the more and more would it twist you into the desires of Evil. Gnarl had always warned her to resist the corruption and not give in to its effects. He who always advocated for the gathering of more and more power, always cautioned her to not delve into the corruption even if it would help her spells.
Gnarl...he had been speaking to her for quite a bit now, she realized. But she hadn't heard him at all, she heard the whispers and visions, and when those left, her focus was entirely on the new enemy of theirs, on the sudden desire to destroy them as soon as possible.
"Gnarl," she spoke aloud, "what do you think?"
"Well, I don't know, Master," Gnarl said, and Yang was surprised to see it was heavily laden with sarcasm, "I've been only trying to share my thoughts ever since your visions."
She felt guilty.
"Sorry, Gnarl." she said in an honest apology.
"I cannot advise you, Sire, if you do not listen." Gnarl admonished her. "But this can serve as a lesson. There are some things that you should always pay attention to, no matter the situation you find yourself in. Advice from your trusted advisor; a sharp mind to resist corruption, see through plots, and destroy your enemies; and an army at Minions at your side. They can be far more versatile than just a tool to attack and defend. They make excellent sacrifices, for example, for an Overlord in desperate need of healing."
"The Infernal Abyss...the promises and visions..." Yang started, but did not seem to be able to finish the question.
"Are they real?" Gnarl asked instead, and seeing her nod, he continued. "Evil is a source of great power, and, at a price, can make any great number of things happen. Whatever you saw is certainly a possibility-" he saw her eyes light up and cut her off. "-but! Sire, you must be careful. Remember what I had told you about corruption?"
"It attracts more Evil Energy which increases your powers. However, this is rarely suitable for establishing a long-term Evil plan" Yang said mimicking Gnarl's voice.
"Exactly. You must be careful to not acquire more Evil Energy than you can handle. Too much, and you won't be ready to resist its influence, and you shall be twisted into nothing more than the most Evil version of your own self."
"Haven't you told me that we Evil Creatures are here to do as much Evil as possible?" Yang asked confused.
"Ideally, yes, Sire." Gnarl confirmed. "But a mage that fully gives in to the corruption and the Evil, usually gains unmatched power, but his rule becomes rather short. Servants dead left and right for power, and enemies are suddenly aplenty. No matter how strong one is, without servants, and the entire world as one's enemy, one faces his death. The Second Overlord's power was great, and yet, he too was vanquished. To best honor our Evil ways, we ought to make a long-term Evil Empire. Finally, consider this, what I have told you about the Overlords?"
"That we do not bow?"
"Correct!" Gnarl exclaimed pleased. "He who lets himself be controlled by Evil is a puppet. An Overlord does not bow to Evil, but uses it to further his own Dark Designs."
"Aren't we made to serve the will of Evil?"
"And what better way to serve it, then to disobey it?" Gnarl said instead.
Yang blinked.
"That doesn't make sense."
"Since when did Evil play by the rules?" he said with a smirk. "Besides, if we are truly meant to just give in, and go on an all consuming rampage, or whatever else, why then can we choose not to? We Minions love death and destruction, but we can also be patient when the need arises, and forgo all the fun."
"Huh, okay, this does make sense now." Yang had to agree.
"As I said, Sire, being careful here is important. And even more important is to remember what Evil cannot do."
"...and if I was promised something Evil cannot do?" Yang asked quietly, her mind looking back at the image of her family looking at her with unconditional love, accepting her despite everything she's done. Happy, unbroken family...
"The promise might yet come true, though you might not appreciate the methodology." Gnarl said honestly.
Thoughts of the Evil Presence spell floated through her mind, and she shuddered. That wouldn't be love. That'd be servitude.
"But..." a treacherous thought suggested. "Malachite seems feel genuine loyalty. She just needed a bit of a helping hand to see me that way. Would it really be that bad, to fix our family that way?"
Yang cast that thought aside, and tried to ignore just how tempting the idea felt. She couldn't do that to her sister, and the rest of her family. She'd rather they hate her, then be her slaves.
"Will you try to gain the Infernal God's favor, Sire?" Gnarl asked her, interrupting her thoughts.
"Maybe." she said uncertainly. "I'd rather have it than for Salem to have it. But I have to be careful. If I have to give up more of myself than I am comfortable with, then God or no God, he can go fuck himself."
She heard amused laughter in her head from Gnarl.
"Well said, Sire!" he said. "That's the spirit of an Overlord!"
She had pursued any leads regarding their newfound enemy for about a day now, and it was waste of her New Year's eve. The first tournament fight was to take place on January 1st, at 1 pm, and that time was fast approaching. Unfortunately for her, in the rough half an hour she had left until the start, she hadn't managed to find anything worthwhile. There was suitable available time for the enemy to attack any one of the leaders of the Great Kingdoms, or any of the civilians, but everything was still going perfectly. To her that meant that the attack would happen in the tournament, dramatic and flashy, with the express purpose of shattering people's faith in the Great Kingdom's words and protection.
"This was a serious gamble," she realized, "because the enemy could instead use the attention on the fight to attack something else.", though she had to admit she was uncertain as to what the possible target could be. "The relic?", she thought, but immediately discarded the idea. Their enemy is a talented wizard, they'd be able to sense that its overwhelming presence wasn't here.
She made her way back to the room from which she and the other leaders would view the fights from above, through a balcony of sorts, their own private box. She sat down in her seat, and listened to Malachite giving some sort of speech to start the first round off. She barely paid any attention to the fight, her senses and attention on high alert, trying to find the would-be attacker.
Her eyes closed, a quick spell cast, and her hearing stopped as well, and with all distractions cast away, she redoubled her focus. She sensed plenty of people below her, strong and weak, but none of them was the presence that she had sensed with the aid of Evil. She knew he was here, in this city, somewhere. That much she retained the ability to sense.
It could have been a second, or an hour maybe, but then..."There!" she exclaimed in her mind.
Her hand shot out to grab her sword and she threw it at the middle of the arena. She mentally willed the sword to stop hiding his aura.
She hissed in displeasure as his power washed over her, making her nauseous even with all that distance between them. As the combatants turned to look at the thrown sword, and the people in her box to her, a small cry of pain was heard, and at the edge of the arena, materialized a skeletal figure in a regal black robe with bronze trimmings. Its robes are large and loose fitting, but held together by a golden, hexagonal button. A cloak hangs down from behind it. Around the waist, pulled taught, is a leather belt with a bronze, triangular buckle. The figure held an ornate wooden staff with a sapphire, teardrop-shaped gemstone set at the top.
Yang smirked. She was right. She had sensed him, for a moment, gathering magic for a spell he was about to cast, and her quick action revealed their opponent. She vaulted over the railing and fell to the ground and landed safely by using her maiden powers to make the wind slow her fall.
Her opponent's empty eye sockets stared at her, and she got the feel that the Lich was caught of guard.
"Why are you here, puny Lich?" Yang demanded as she filled her voice with her Evil Energies. Instead of the usual effect this spell would have, it resulted in the same result as she had just after her vision. She was correct, then, once she felt it once, she was good enough to replicate it. Shame that it was more or less just a waste of mana.
"Greetings, young mortal." the Lich said, and its voice sounded as if cold was made into sound. "I find myself surprised. I did not believe you would find me..." his head turned to look at the sword, and as he did, the sword flew back into Yang's hands. "nor that you would wield the tool of the Gods. I sense deep darkness in you, human. Does the sword not burn your very essence?"
The sword stopped hiding its power, and Yang felt her hand begin to burn. She could sense that it believed that she would need its strength. She closed her eyes, and focused on her remaining Evil Energy and pushed most of it into her arm, and distributed the remains through the rest of her body. The burning lessened greatly, but it wouldn't last. She, also, would not have any Evil Energy to spare for her spells. She was curious as to what they could accomplish, working together like that, and the sword pulsed in agreed excitement.
The Lich took a step back, clearly affected by the sword's aura.
"It is yourself you should be concerned with, Lich." Yang replied dramatically. "Leave, and you may yet live."
The Lich laughed, the sound coming out cold and unsettling.
"I have surpassed mortality! Your juvenile threats do not scare me, woman!"
She mentally requested her allies to stay back. She wanted to test herself alone.
"But I must cut these pleasantries short, I'm afraid." the Lich said. "I have a job to do, after all."
He extends his left hand, and four magical purple arrows shoot out of him and race toward Yang. Guided by the sword, she moved to cut them, but at the last second, they dashed around her, and instead rushed to strike the combatants of this round. She wasn't fast enough to run over to them, so she raised her hand, and a transparent orb-like shield appeared around them, and protected them from the attack. They looked hurt, but unharmed.
"Wise move, human." the Lich complimented. "For one such as myself, bypassing the annoying defenses of Aura is no more difficult than mere act of walking."
He pointed his staff at each of the shield-protected targets.
"Dispel!" he commanded authoritatively, and said shield shattered. With his left hand he made a come hither motion, and the two rose and began to fly towards him.
As Yang attempted to intervene with her own telekinetic magic, it failed her, the aura of the soon-to-be hostages ironically ensuring she could not save them. She wasn't nearly as good to bypass aura as if it wasn't there, not without significant time and effort expended.
The hostages stopped and floated in front of them.
"No sense in making my job harder, is it?" the Lich asked rhetorically. "Lay down your arms, or these two die."
She threw her sword straight at him, and though he staggered in shock, he used one of the hostages to shield himself. At the last second, Yang's eyes glowed with the power of the Winter Maiden, and the sword sailed around the hostage, and through his robe, piercing his sternum. He screamed, sounding as if he was being burnt alive, and the hostages fell, and with the powers of the Maiden, she had the wind carry them away. There shall be no hostages for him to use against her.
The Lich exploded with a giant wave of Evil Energy, and though the nearby ground had decayed, all it did was power Yang up. When the wave passed, she could see her sword where the Lich used to be, and she summoned the sword to her, but the Lich was nowhere to be seen.
Yang and the sword moved as one, as she turned and swung the blade upwards blocking a tiny green ray that the Lich had shot at her. He had already reformed clearly, though curiously where his sternum used to be, there was a bright silver colored replacement. The Lich seemed to notice her gaze.
"The mark of your holy sword is not so easily recovered from." Lich explained furious. "I was forced to improvise. This magical replacement will suit me well for now." he then smiled at her mockingly, magic seeming to aid him to express this emotion. "Rejoice, Human. Your bones will serve me in death. What I won't use to repair myself, will serve as my undead minion."
Before Yang could make a scathing remark, the Lich pointed his staff at her, which was surrounded by some sort of magical shield which slowly dissipated, and cast at her a yellow-green cloud, which surrounded the arena, though thankfully not extending to the spectators, and the empty spots in the Lich's eyes glowed with triumphant fire.
"You cut through my Ray of Disintegration. Let's see you cut your way out of a poisonous cloud."
Yang could already feel it take effect. She used wind to disperse the fog. She tried to anyway, to no avail.
"What the hell?" Yang murmured quietly to herself.
"Look at his hand, Sire!" Gnarl warned her mentally.
Yang kept trying to cast her magic, but kept her eyes on his left hand Every time she tried to summon her Maiden powers, his hand made several gestures, and her spell failed.
"That's Counterspell, Master! It allows the caster to cancel any spell currently cast as long as the spell is not particularly complicated."
Yang coughed, feeling the poison wrecking her from within. She threw her sword at the Lich, and the Lich predictably used his staff to move the sword away. Yang smiled, and used her telekinetic powers to grab hold of his left hand, and with both of his hands busy, Yang summoned her powers and dispersed the poison cloud. She then cast a fireball spell at him, which was easily countered by a fireball spell of his own. That however gave her the brief moment of his distraction to summon her sword back to her.
She heard the sound of a heavy inhale, though the Lich's face didn't change, and upon exhale, the Lich released a monstrous snow storm from his mouth, seemingly big enough to cover the entirety of their battleground. The Lich's staff left his right hand, and floated near him.
Yang tried summoning a lightning storm to strike him, while casting fire around herself to protect herself from the incoming snow storm, but, once again, her spells fizzled out. With frustration, Yang noticed that the Lich was using both of his hands to cancel two of her spells at a time.
"This is where your journey ends, human." the Lich said mockingly. "Trapped and freezing, with only death to sing the tale of your doom. You were a fool to ever resist me!"