The Battle of Geffenia
Episode Three
The Reunion
"I must admit it; talent outnumbered blood this time. They truly are worthy of being Einherjars; however, we do not have Valkyries left to accompany them. Do it, it will be the best reward… reward…"
"Finally, we arrived…"-said Levitas ignoring the corpses.
"So many dead… why?-asked Plushe crying.
The mature wizard looked at his daughter and said:
"It is a war, many people die… Come, we need to report to a Colonel…if he is still alive…"
They followed the noise coming from the northern gate, only to see few survivors. They approached to the group who watched the battle attentively.
"Where is your Colonel?"- He asked Zel.
"Fighting that"-answered Zel pointing to the enemy.
"Thanatos…"-added Levitas surprised.
"I am Captain Zelgadis, anything you need you may ask me."
Levitas began to look angry; he gripped his staff and walked towards his daughter:
"Heal the wounded; I'm going to kill that thing."
"NO!"-Said Zel-"The Captain has only allowed one person to help him; this is a matter of pride for him."
"A matter of pride, you say?"-asked Levitas.
"Yes, his guild got crudely eliminated."-replied Zel.
"And the person who is…"
"He saved his life."-said Zel interrupting the question.
Plushe became magnetized by Zel's looks. She never was so attracted by a crusader's bravery. The father perceived this and instantaneously a heat wave formed a silent wrath towards the lousy soldier. At the top of an intact house, Mirage sat concentrated, he detected the pretty High Priestess; her presence purged every one of his sinful assassinations. Gabriel behaved indifferent; his attention was towards the demon who threatened Chass' life. Winshley covered the entrance with Ice Walls. Cecil and his guild retreated and entered the city from the western gate. A falcon flew lightly in circles.
. . . .
"Geffenia is near; we just need to cross this part of the forest."-said Lenan.
"Um…May I ask a question?"-Said Blueberry-"Why did you decided to be assassins?"
Mist glanced at her once and kept looking forward while walking. He suddenly stopped moving; and after him Berry did.
"What happened?"-she asked.
"Yes, we are being followed ever since we passed by Geffen.-said Lenan.
Lenan turned around while calling the follower out. A Lord Knight, dark red colored armor, appeared wielding a black sword with his two hands. His blood-stained helm complimented his ideals. He stared at Berry with sinful thoughts. And his laugh… his hysterical laugh…
"Well, well… look what we've got here."-He said.-"Aren't you going to introduce me to your friends, LenanKuras?"
The look in Lenan's face was intimidating. Something was not clear. Berry became scared of the knight's appearance.
"Do you know him?"-said Mist.
"Take Berry with you, hurry."-added Lenan.
Berry started running desperately, and Mist followed her, quickly advancing. She rapidly grasped for air, and he lifted her like a scared kitty and rushed through the forest like an immoral escaping from holy judgment, somewhat uncomfortable about something.
"Those winged boots… that's not important now…"
Lenan gazed at the "friend". No happy memories accompanied this one; the darkest soul ever seen in life.
"Nestor Callaghan, what do you want from me?" – He asked.
"Aw, you truly have no manners; you became an Assassin Cross, and you did not introduce me your friends… especially the girl…"- said Nestor while drooling.
He wanted to take a last look to make sure his companions were out of his sight. He felt a gentle breeze coming from the side… he was being attacked…
"LET'S HAVE FUN!!"-yelled Nestor while delivering a savage blow.
Lenan burrowed a hole causing the blow to miss. He immediately lashed upward drawing his saber and scratching Nestor's chin, and landed on a tree branch.
"Nice move… traitor."-claimed Nestor.
"Traitor, you say? I will not be part of your plans.-replied Lenan.
The knight charged towards the tree chopping it down in two slashes. From the air, a shadow popped in, soaking his weapons in poison. The knight's left arm was pierced…
"You decided to master the venom?"-Said Nestor retreating slowly-"You are really disgusting!"
"This battle is just delaying me; I need to get to Geffenia as soon as possible…"-thought Lenan.
Nestor's left arm was beginning to numb; he tried to wield his Executioner with one hand, but he struggled. Determined to win, he charged towards Lenan with a Bowling Bash.
"I do not need this."-Said Lenan-"Venom Dust!!"
Purple clouds made Nestor hesitate whether to keep charging or keep living. Nestor covered his own mouth and nose to prevent him from inhaling the poison. He looked at his disabled arm and took out a Butterfly Wing from under his vest.
"This will not be the last time you see me, PIG!"-Yelled Nestor and laughed hysterically.-"You shall not interrupt me!"
Lenan took out a bronze badge from his poison bag and dashed through the forest gaining on Mist and Berry. Mist had no comments.
"That was fast"-said Berry.
"I did not want to fight him; not here, not now…"-Responded Lenan.
Geffenia was in sight. The assassins moved noisily catching Mirage's attention.
"Two assassins and a priest… they are using the code…"-he thought.
He quickly returned the signal with his shield and blade; letting them know he will not harm them. He waited them at the top of the wall and accompanied them to the northern gate.
"Where is Selhter Chass?"-asked Lenan.
Every survivor pointed his location, horrified. Berry stayed close to the frozen entrance confused.
"Is it your first time in a battlefield?"-asked Winshley.
Berry remained silent and agitated, contemplating at Thanatos through the transparent walls of ice. Night cloaked the land. Ruwachs and Sights illuminated small spots around the ruined castle. Thanatos raised his colossal edge and pointed at Aqua who stood in readiness.
"ThIs Is YoUr EnD"-he said.
"Attention Concentrate!! True Sight!! Wind Walk!!"-Whispered Aqua.
Chass dumped his Pole Axe, exhausted. Thanatos took initiative. His first attack was towards the one who showed weakness.
"FeEl My BoWlInG bAsH!!"-roared the demon.
Chass stood mesmerized, and deceived by Death. He tried to activate his defenses but it was too late. Death closed in hastily and merciless…
"Peco Squadron 01… did their best… at the Battle of Geffenia…"-said the brave Colonel admitting his defeat.
Thanatos delivered the blow… he connected it…but something was not right… Something invisible was protecting the damned Paladin. Every time he tried to kill Chass a collection of mirrors became visual. Berry fell on her knees and was crying. Aqua was surprised.
"Kyrie Eleison… Her feelings activated it…"-thought the elf.
Thanatos glared at the responsible and swiftly moved towards the crystallized wall to make the girl's death wish come true. The look on Berry's face was obvious: she wished to stop time; she wished to be at Prontera at this instance. Nothing delayed Thanatos' inhuman determination. All of the sudden, Aqua confronted him; he stood his ground holding his bow and two silver arrows. Thanatos' sonic advance prevented him from dodging the accurate attack.
"Double... STRAFING!!"-yelled Aqua releasing the darts.
Thanatos flew back with the arrows stuck in his chest. After a couple of seconds he began to stand up and detached the darts off his chest. Aqua began to move towards the enemy.
"Is he going to engage him in close combat?"-thought Gabriel.
Aqua put pressure on the demon that had no other choice than dodge every arrow that was precisely aim at him. Chass slowly recovered near the gate. He looked through the cold wall and saw his old friend mixing ingredients. The Colonel has won for a single moment with a smile. Aqua debilitated Thanatos slowly. He was no match for the sniper's speed. Unanticipatedly, Thanatos jumped back out of the archer's range; he freed his sword which began to levitate and opened up his arms.
"It Is TiMe To ShOw YoU mY pOwEr"-Said the monster and quickly did one clap with his hands-"ExPuLsIoN!!"
The impact created a shockwave which pushed Aqua causing him to spin several times, getting hit by the corpses and rocks.
"HaHaHa, YoU lOoK dOuBtFuL… "-Said Thanatos with arrogance-"BeHoLd OnE mOrE sHaRd Of My InFiNiTe PoWeR, mEtEoR sToRm!!"
Aqua quickly stood up and tried to run outside of the damned zone. Some off the meteors targeted the remains of the city melting the ice wall. Levitas, angrily, decided to intervene and stood outside casting a spell. From the dark sky, a yellow-white thunder struck the land, and another one, and another one; randomly striking Thanatos.
"Stop it, old man!! The elf is still outside!! You may have killed him!!"-yelled Mirage.
"Shut up, boy! I just electrocuted the demon!!"-answered Levitas.
Chass was devastated. He began to notice the pain in his eye, his beat-up shield and armor. He could not bear it; he never was so injured and tired in battlefield before.
"Look at you; you look terrible; what happened to the mighty Guild Master Selhter Chass?"
"I really have no time for your tasteless joking, Seiai."-yelled Chass while standing up.
"Slow down, kid; remember two things: I am a god, and you will seem demented if you keep screaming like that"-answered the voice-"I will leave you an advice: It is not real, it's just an illusion…"
"You do not frighten me; I know you will never hurt me."-said Chass getting up.
"I admire you valour, talent, and humbleness; if you survive this one, I will not have to carry your smelly armored body to Valhalla."
"How is he still standing?"-wondered Gabriel.
"Who does, The Colonel? Oh, his stamina is unbelievable."-Answered Lenan while putting the last of the poison bottles in his bag-"I could not kill him… he survived every one of my poisonous attacks…"
"What? How come both of you are still alive?"-Asked Gabe amazed.
"Well… he wasn't quick enough… it ended in a draw."-replied Lenan.
Levitas realized that he could have made a bloody sacrifice in order to scratch the monster. He scanned throughout the field searching for Aqua. The relief of seeing him alive filled his heart again. Aqua struggled but he was back on his feet; his clothes were half-burnt thanks to the reckless spell. Thanatos walked towards him slowly. Aqua reached for an arrow…
"Oh great… It is empty."-said Aqua worried.
"yOuR lUcK iS oVeR, eLvEn FiLtH. pOwEr Up!!"
Chass stood between Aqua and the beast; he was bleeding from his head. He was determined to finish this one and for all. The wind was calm, it smelled like dead rats. A single sun ray pierced the obscure clouds. The land was burned and dry.
"YoU… yOu WiLl CeAsE tO eXiSt"-said Thanatos while waving his sword-"HaMmEr FaLl!!"
Immediately, Chass blocked the blow with his shield, creating a loud bang. His shield generated a yellow aura around his owner.
"Be gone, Demon!!"-Yelled Chass-"Reflect!!"
He began pushing Thanatos with every single hit, ignoring the damage that was not reflected. Thanatos grew into a more desperate and vicious with every failed attack.
"YoU sHaLl NoT dEfEaT mE!! cAlL sLaVe!!"
"Oh no, you will not. Chass, fall back!!-A magical arrow began to form in Aqua's hand-"It is your time to observe my power… the Dance of a Thousand Thorns!!"
Aqua aimed at the monster and released the arrow. The arrow multiplied in mid-air penetrating the four shadows and continued their way towards the main target. Every single arrow impaled the devil… one by one… and each time it penetrated his chest, the rotten cry of the fallen filled the battlefield. Chass closed in to finish the beast…disappearing suddenly…
The battlefield began to cover itself with all kinds of flowers; petals fell from the sky gracefully. He was alone in this colorful paradise. The Colonel turned around reacting to a familiar voice who gently called him. He was frozen by the beauty… she resembled Venus. It was his strongest ambition and motivation, Sigrdrifa; a beautiful brunette wearing a maid outfit made from the most valuable silk imported from Lighthalzen. He never was so thrilled from seeing her long sparkling hair; his body felt like a feather. She held his wounded arm and caressed his dirty face.
"Come home, my hero… please… you do not need to do this…"
"Sigr… It's been a long time since the last time I visited you… I feel no pain now…"-said Chass.
"I need you beside me, my guardian… protect me…"
Chass was never so at peace…
"Illusion… it is just an illusion…"-whispered Seiai.
Chass remembered the advice and quickly began to regain control over his mind and pushed the woman away.
"You are not her, back away!"-he ordered her.
"Oh my love, you are hurting me!"-said the lady with a whimper while she tried to approach the Colonel.
"One more step and I slash your stomach."
The lady began to laugh sinisterly and the field turned back to the graveyard it was before. The lady reshaped herself into the true illusionist.
"WeLl DoNe, HuMaN!! nOw DiE!!-yelled Thanatos.
Chass' stomach received the slash; his armor couldn't protect it completely. The wound was serious. Thanatos walked towards him almost dead. Suddenly, he could not move…
"WhAt Is ThIs In My FeEt?"-asked confused
"While you were busy fooling him, I had time to fill this area with Ankle Snares… you will not break free so easily now…"- answered Aqua-"It is now or never; finish him off!"
With the remaining strength, Chass endured the pain; only thinking about the end… kill or die…
"This is my ultimate attack… you will never forget who defeated you and your never-ending power."-said Chass while dropping his spear and shield.
He extended his arm and an intense white beam penetrated the dark ceiling giving the sun permission to illuminate again. It was the power of God Himself.
"He finally mastered it…"-thought Lenan admiring the display of holy energy.
Thanatos stood horrified, like a sheep surrounded by a wolf pack. Who could have thought that death himself was not immortal?
"I am sending you back to HEL! Righteous Elimination!!
Chass let his arm fall directly on top of the fiend who implored on his knees for his insignificant life. The cry of the agonizing beast… it disintegrated slowly letting it experience the pain that he caused to each and every one of his victims. It was over… the great Thanatos… lost in its own darkness. Chass fainted from exhaustion… he was smiling.
"We won!!"-yelled Plushe with excitement.
"Quickly, retrieve the Colonel!"-ordered Cecil.
Shortly after Plushe's happy words, little white things began to fall from the clear sky.
"Is it snow flakes?"-Asked Plushe-"Is it really snowing?"