Smurfocalypse Chapter 75: The Dark Tower Part 4
As the black hearted was defeated the spell preventing the Smurfs from progressing vanished allowing the knights to pass to the next floor. The next throne room awaited them, and the knights climbed the staircase leading to the next floor. The floor was already lit which was ominous in its own right as it implies their next opponent was eagerly awaiting them. He in fact was waiting their arrival as he sat upon his throne. The last of the male black hearted soldiers waited for his prey to enter his domain. The demon wore tropical Smurf clothes similar to Mango but with their own unique color combination. Dark grey mixed with black were his tribal colors in life therefore his swim trunks and cap were those colors. This Smurf was born in the far away archipelago Dreamy had shipwrecked on, and spent his life as a member of a tribe until Vanity's quest for power led him and his soldiers to the islands. This was the warrior Vanity clearly wanted, or at the very least had found and settled for.
The wielder of the armor shredding kris sat on his throne and gazed upon the knights, and Sweepy had unfinished business with this monster. It was the chimney sweep's turn to risk his life. He could refuse and allow another Smurf to fight this opponent, but Sweepy was determined after being taunted by it in the forest to destroy it. Sweepy lagged behind understandably due to his heavy gear. Once he made it to the floor with the others the demon grinned and laughed upon seeing him.
"My little crab is still alive… This is most unexpected." The creature said as he locked eyes with Sweepy.
"Laugh while you still can monster!" Sweepy said as he stepped forward towards the throne.
The demon smiled baring all his pointed fangs as Sweepy advances to the middle of the arena.
"It seems you wish to die…" The menace said as it stood. "That can certainly be arranged." It adds while unsheathing its magic weapon.
A kris dagger imbued with the magic to shred through metal like a can opener. The jagged blade gleamed in the torchlight as it was revealed from its sheath. The origin of this weapon was as mysterious as the being standing before them. Was this item in the Smurf's possession before or after he had become black hearted? It was definitely crafted by Smurf hands for Smurf hands, and a skilled enchanter imbued it as well. Life in the jungle must truly be rough indeed just as Coconut suggests if tribesmurfs need things like that to protect themselves.
"It's dressed kind of like Mango." Timber said.
"Yeah almost as though it wanted to swim? I see it." Hefty said.
"Want to see me smash its face in?" Sweepy asked with a grin as he readied himself. This visibly frustrated his opponent. Sweepy was doing great at concealing his fear for now, but the battle hadn't even begun yet.
"You know I do!" Hefty said.
The other knights agreed that it would in fact be a sight to see. Watching the other knights succeed in their battle did admittedly give Sweepy more confidence in his own abilities as they had all received the same training and each of them had discovered new techniques. Sweepy too has picked up a new skill or two but for now he was going defensive position with his large tower shield blocking the majority of his heavily armored body, and with mace in hand he waited for his opponent to come to him as he bashed his shield with his mace to taunt it.
"You put on a convincing show, but a show is all it is." The demon said.
"We'll see about that." Sweepy said.
"Your no stronger now then you were before. You think you could hide your carelessness from me?!" The demon yelled as it ran towards Sweepy before disappearing in a blur.
A few seconds later the sound of Sweepy's shield colliding with the Demon's unprotected skull echoed throughout the throne room. Sweepy had predicted his opponent and moved his shield a few centimeters to his right towards his weapon hand and in doing so managed to cause the demon to crash head first into the tower shield running full speed. His face was in fact smashed in. the demon hits the floor and lays there, but just as Sweepy was about to send his mace downward into his opponent's spine the demon rolled out of the way. The demon was correct in saying that physically Sweepy has not gotten much stronger since the last fight, but he has gotten faster.
"That wasn't your best move." Sweepy said.
"Silence crab!" The demon spat.
Sweepy's opponent quickly collected himself and rose to his feet then the two of them locked eyes. Sweepy stared into this creature's eyes for what felt like forever. Rather than eyes they looked like two dark soulless empty voids where perhaps there had once been some life. Then it happened, the demon completely vanished. Sweepy barely had time to comprehend what had happened when he both felt and heard a blade scrape violently against the back of his armor. Sweepy turned around to retaliate only to find his opponent had vanished again. Sweepy's armor then took another devastating blow from behind. The dagger left deep gashes in the Smurf's heavy armor each time it struck. Sweepy was given little to no time to fight back as the demon continued to strike at every angle at light speed. It was almost impossible for Sweepy to fight this opponent as he currently was. It would only be a matter of time at this rate before the magic kris rendered Sweepy's armor useless once again.
There was only one thing Sweepy could possibly do besides wait for death and that was to put into motion a desperate and dangerous strategy. Sweepy put an end to his opponent's combo by once again shield bashing him, this would buy Sweepy the precious time he needed to take his Formula of Strength. Sweepy doused himself with the formula allowing the magic to course through his being and empower him. Sweepy then flexed every muscle in his body and screamed as the heavy plates he was wearing simply flew off his body and scattered around the arena as though a great force had thrown them. Sweepy was now standing in the middle of the arena without armor. He was wearing one of Tailor's white suits
"He's doing it!" Timber said.
"But this technique has never been tested!" Hefty said.
"There's no going back for him now." Farmer said.
"I hope you're ready for this… Because I worked myself to the bone to perfect this technique just to kill the likes of you! Behold my unarmored form!" Sweepy said as he clenched his mace and shield tightly.
"All I see is a crab without its shell!" The demon hissed.
"All your about to see is stars!" Sweepy replied.
Sweepy then drew back his weapon arm and quickly swung it forward striking his opponent in the ribs and sending him airborne. Sweepy formed a combo by flying upward and striking his opponent in the chest yet again with his mace and sending the demon crashing to the ground. Sweepy then quickly withdrew his mace and grabbed his heavy shield with both hands. He quickly twirled around to gain momentum before tossing the shield with all his might downward like a Frisbee towards the demon. The shield severed the creature in half and Sweepy landed on the ground drawing his mace.
"Too much for you?" Sweepy asked.
Sweepy began to take flight again and rapidly approached his opponent only for it to fully heal by the time Sweepy had gotten there. Sweepy swung his mace at the demon's chest, but the demon deflected the attack by striking Sweepy's mace and changing the directory of the attack while simultaneously dashing to the right. The demon then hauled off and jabbed Sweepy in the gut with his dagger causing the Smurf to wince and scream out. Sweepy kicked off the ground and flew into the air. Stopping in midair he assessed the seriousness of the wound. He was no doctor, but Sweepy was sure that wound would kill him if he didn't heal. The problem was he has one potion and he wasn't going to be easily pressured into using it.
"Are you going to cry now?" the creature asked.
"Shut up!" Sweepy spat.
The adrenaline could only numb the pain so much, but not nearly enough. Sweepy was in serious pain and losing blood, but he couldn't allow this pain to stop him nor could he allow it to pressure him into using his only potion. Sweepy soared downward towards his opponent and swung his mace with all his might cracking his opponent in the shoulder and rendering his entire arm useless. Sweepy then drove his foot into the creature's face in an attempt to knock it over, all this time while suspended in the air. The demon fell and Sweepy lifted his mace above his head and brought it down hard towards his opponent's chest. The demon rolled out of the way of the attack by rolling forward towards Sweepy and then in a clean, quick motion slit the smurf's throat before kicking him off his feet.
"Great Smurf!" Farmer shouted.
"Sweepy! No!" Hefty yelled.
"He's going to die we have to save him!" Falconer said.
"But how?!" Archer asked.
Meanwhile the demon laughed hysterically while Sweepy writhed in agony and bled profusely on the floor. The smurf had his hands helplessly around his neck and was gasping for air, but all that was coming out of his mouth was this ungodly gurgling noise as he was rapidly dying in a pool of his own blood.
"I knew you were nothing the moment I laid eyes on you. Nothing but a worthless little crab." The demon said shaking his head.
Sweepy continued to suffer as Hefty quickly drew his sword, dropping Clockwork's body in the process and dashed into the arena in an attempt to save his knight.
"Hang in there Sweepy!" Hefty yelled.
Sweepy was panicking and struggling to survive. There was only one thing that could saved his life and that was the vial safely tucked into his pocket. Sweepy reached for it with a bloody shaky hand and popped off the cork with his thumb then he clamped his hands over his throat and downed the addicting solution. In an instant the magic healed his wounds restored his vitality. Sweepy quickly stood up and grabbed his mace before dashing for his shield much to Heflty's surprise.
"Adda Smurf Sweepy! Keep at it!" Hefty said.
Sweepy collected his shield, picking the heavy tower shield up with ease and raised it protecting his whole body.
"This strategy again?" The demon asked.
"You got this Sweepy!" Timber shouted.
Sweepy dashed towards his opponent, and his opponent dashes towards him. Sweepy uses his shield to attempt to strike the demon, but his opponent grabbed hold of the shield and flipped over Sweepy's head landing behind him. That's what Sweepy was waiting for him to do. Sweepy quickly whirled around and struck his opponent in the ribs once again with his mace, smashing the left side of the creature's torso. Sweepy then pursues his opponent as he was sent flying Sweepy struck his opponent once again in the face before bashing him in the chest with his shield. Sweepy couldn't afford to grant his opponent a single move unless he wishes to die. Sweepy continued to swing his mace until finally he struck the demon right in the heart with his mace ending his flurry of blows as well as the battle. Smurf souls flew out of the heart as the body fell lifeless, changing into the body of a Smurf. Sweepy then began to pant with fatigue.
"I almost died…" Sweepy said.
"These fights are getting more and more deadly. Keep your wits Smurfs." Hefty said.
The spell guarding the staircase to the next floor disappeared allowing the Smurfs to continue to the next floor.