Zelak raced down the forest, following the same trail of destruction Donovan followed down. "
The ground rumbled around him as his concentration slowly drifted to Bjorn's warning.
********
Zelak had just jumped down from the cart and watched as Donovan took off with Charla not far behind.
"Hey! Wait!" Zelak yelled.
"
"
""
Not wanting to linger, Zelak turned to follow Donovan.
"Zelak!" Bjorn yelled.
Zelak stopped. "
"
Zelak clenched his teeth and, without another word, continued into the forest.
"
********
Returning to his present thoughts, Zelak's blood boiled over. Thoughts of his village filled his mind as he followed down the path of destruction laid before him. "
He continued on the path of broken trees, and as he approached, the sounds of a skirmish ignited.
Suddenly, Kalika's sent crashing through several trees, tearing away Zelak's focus to her. "
Without a second thought, Kalika growled and dashed back in. Zelak followed in time to witness Magnus poised and ready to smite Donovan.
In an instant, a spurt of fire shot at Magnus, staggering him back. Magnus glared back with a fierce intensity prepared to go feral.
"Charla! Now!" Donovan yelled.
On command, Charla readied her knife and charged at Magnus, alongside Kalika. They poised to strike, but in one fell swoop, they were knocked from their feet thanks to Magnus's axe.
The two stumbled to the ground and as Charla glanced up, she found Magnus ready to kill. Luckily for Her, Zelak sped past Magnus whipped his chain sword around the axe, ceasing the attack.
Magnus sneered. "
Despite Zelak's efforts, he was easily overpowered by the giant demon. He was pulled and slammed into a tree. his sword laid broken as he got to his knees. By then Magnus raised his arms, and blasted a wave of blood webs shot pat and through the tree, aimed at everyone around.
Donovan yelped in pain as the sting impaled his arms and leg. Followed up, taking the some of the attack while cutting Donovan loose from the overwhelming onslaught. On after another the webs of blood pierced through the ground, while everyone was forced on the defensive, dodging and evading the deadly attacks.
Through the chaos, Kalika mustered by, deflecting and dodging as normal, along with Charla who defended Donovan with everything she had. Irritated, Donovan poised the stick with a crudely attached magic crystal and blasted fire in all direction.
Trees caught on fire as along with the stings of deadly blood, catching Magnus's attention.
With a growing annoyance, Magnus turned his focus squarely on Donovan, sending waved and waves of his blood webs at Donovan, overwhelming him. Even Charla couldn't handle the webs that entwined and trapped her, rendering her useless.
Through the onslaught Even Donovan became trapped by the endless waves of blood webs. and just as Magnus prepared to finish him off, He was met with blade to the stomach. he glanced down feeling and ever-stretching blade run through him, and found Kalika.
The blood web that once flooded the field retreated into Magnus as he smacked Kalika away. He tore the dagger from his stomach and gave chase, readied his axe, and crashed it to the ground as he tried to smite her.
One attack after another he smashed the ground, tore the trees and devastated the forest round them.
Eventually Magnus cornered Kalika, and raised his axe. But like a one-trick pony, Zelak whipped his sword around Magnus's axe, healing his assault.
Despite her irritation, Kalika used the opportunity to lunged in, and slashed at the demons side before distancing herself, behind.
Zelak quickly released the axe from the chain, and watched as Magnus stammer forth.
"What are you doing here?" Kalika questioned.
Zelak glanced to his side, finally noticing that Kalika took to his side. "The ogre bastard had a message. he said that we need to keep this one."
"Bjorn said that?" Kalika turned back to Magnus, more annoyed than ever. "Tch! Whatever."
Without another word, Kalika rushed in, facing Magnus head-on. Her dagger clashed with his axe, interlocking them in the chaos of battle.
The ground cracked, the tree's broke, and the sound of clashing of iron filled that air. As much as Zelak wanted to offer his assistance There was a quiet understanding between everyone that watched that they'd only get in the way. Or worse.
Donovan clenched his fists, trying to clench his breath and just as it looked like Kalika gains an upper hand, Magnus found his opening and grabbed Kalika by her head, shocking him.
Like a savage, he slammed her into a tree before flinging her away into the forest.
"Kalika!"
Magnus's eyes drew to Donovan as he gave a loud puff. As he turned to face Donovan with his chest puffed up, Zelak charged at him.
With practiced ease, Zelak slashed Magnus with his whip sword starting with the leg, then circled and slashed his back, before setting his sword ablaze. Zelak leaped in, aiming for the neck, only to caught and slammed back to the ground.
Magnus grasped Zelak's neck tightly."
A sharp pain shot through Magnus's leg, and he glanced, noticing Charla stabbing his leg and ready to lick it.
"
Magnus kicked her away. And slammed Zelak back to the ground. Blood spat out from Zelak's mouth from the impact.
Zelak felt grasped at Magnus's large hands, trying to free himself. unfortunately for him, Magnus ensnared him in a cocoon, trapping him.
"
Zelak fought in vain to free himself from the cocoon, "
Magnus then turned back to Donovan, who was checking on Charla, who was left bleeding at the base of a broken tree.
Donovan glared back at Magnus and pointed his stick at the demon, looking more determined than ever. Undeterred, Magnus slowly encroached, each step he took sending shock waves of unease through Donovan.
Panicked, Donovan shot waves of fire at Magnus. But to his shock, Magnus formed a shield with his blood web, protecting himself from the torrent of fire.
"
Magnus slapped Donovan with his blood-webbed shield. "
Sensing an immediate presence, Magnus blocked Kalika's attack from behind without turning.
"
Magnus turned to Kalika with a cold gaze. "
Magnus pushed Kalika back with his immense strength. He grabbed Donovan by the arm and dragged him."
Predicating her movement, Magnus deflected another of Kalika's attacks and kicked her into a tree where he pinned her with his blood webs. "
"
Magnus buried his axe to the ground, and held Donovan up by his head. "
Slowly Magnus squeezed his head. Bringing Donovan into a new world of pain.
"
Magnus ignored her, continuing to squeeze even harder, this time forcing out cries of pain.
"
"Graagghhh!!" A sharp pain suddenly struck Magnus's back, forcing him to release Donovan. He winced and reach for Donovan, only for Charla to snatch him away, leaving him to deal with Kalika,who lunged with her dagger.
Reacting fast, Magnus swiped his axe, beheading head. Regardless her continued forth and stabbed him in the leg. she twisted, cutting even deeper.
Once again, Magnus smacked her away.
He grabbed his axe and watched as a clear darkness enveloped her headless body. "
Suddenly, Kalika disappeared.
Magnus's eyes widened in shock. "Where'd she-!"
Magnus turned in time to see Kalika jabbing at him. Their blades clashed once again, only this time, a pool of dark energy flowing from her.
"
Slowly, a crack formed on Magnus's axe, alarming him. Reluctantly, Magnus pulled back and shot webs of blood at Kalika.
Each one aimed with precise intent as the circled and shot at her. Unexpectedly, The string of blood quickly disintegrated at the touch of Kalika, Shocking him.
With an unnerving tension filling the air, Magnus blocked Kalika's continuous onslaught of attack, each one heavier and faster than the last. and each one leading to the ruin of his axe.
In the midst of her attacks, Magnus caught her dagger tore it from her hand. He slammed his axe, missed Kalika by a hair.
He huffed and narrowed his eyes at women, noticing how only her golden yellow eyes were visible beneath the shroud of darkness.
"
slowly a white, blurred smile formed. and an expression of glee invade the once expressionless Kalika. Like a raging comet Kalika charged at Magnus, reconjuring her dagger to slash and thrust her dagger.
Magnus dodged and clashed with Kalika, still carrying the weight of his power to thwart her advanced. the weapons clashed once more, cracking the axe further.
With both hands, Magnus pushed harder and with all his power, pushed her back. then swung his axe from below, striking Kalika.
A clear death blow as she flew in the air.
Not taking any chances, he raised his arms, shooting webs of blood around her, in a vain attempt to encase her in a cocoon of his blood. But like before, the webs of blood he hounded onto him, disintegrated at the touch..
"
Magnus eyed a dead tree and blasted a flurry of blood string at it. With ease, his power lifted the broken tree and slammed Kalika back to earth.
On the spot, he drilled a hole with his power, all the while trying to keep Kalika pinned to the ground.
Seeing Kalika's struggle, Mangus yelled. "
Sensing an approach, Magnus turned his gaze to the Charla, who was rushing at him with her head down. She glanced up, revealing her glowing pink eyes, and their gazes connected.
In an instant, Magnus was in a white void. He growled, annoyed. "
The illusion shattered in an instant. "
Magnus's and Charla's eyes met again, this time shocking Charla.
Without mercy, Magnus swung his axe.
"Duck!"
On order, Charla's body reacts to Donovan's command.
Through the sheer pain, Donovan wobbled to his feet. Gritting his teeth, he pointed and shot a torrent of flames at Magnus engulfing in a deeper fire.
The intensity of the heat scorched the demons skin, blistering and charring it.
"
"Ch-charla! Help Kalika!" Donovan ordered,
Charla moved to Kalika and attempted to push the tree off her. To her shock, the tree slowly lifted, with over half of the tree getting cut, leaving a hollowed log behind that lay on the ground.
With Kalika freed, she lunged back into action., However, she stopped as she saw Magnus throw his axe at Donovan.
Donovan flinched, ceasing his attack. In a desperate bid to live, he dodged to the side and watched as the trees behind him were decimated.
Even more furious, Kalika charged in at Magnus, watching as he shook off the flames and manifested his axe back to hand.
Thy two engage in a war of blades and axes, with Kalika leading a charge, with Charla joining in to attack from behind.
Charla swiped and slashed at his legs, hindering his focus.
"
They interlocked their weapons again, and with all his strength, Magnus knocked Kalika to the ground.
Acting fast, he grabbed the hollowed tree and pinned Kalika to the ground with his feet.
Donovan aimed with his stick. "Oh no, you don't- Argh!!!!" The stick fell to the ground, and Donovan, along with it, as he clutched his bloodied feet. He glanced at Magnus's axe, implanted in the ground, then at Magnus himself, who pointed his palm at him.
"
"
Charla turned back to Magnus and watched on as the ball of fire grew in his hands. She shook, watching as it continued to grow.
"
Magnus ignored the warning and just as he prepared to fire. A sudden numbness overtook his legs.
He felt the weight of gravity pull him as he released, launching his fireball into the sky and crashing into the pit ceiling in a brilliant display of power.
He looked into the sky above in complete confusion. Before he realized it, the numbness also reached his arms, and Kalika stood over him.
"
Magnus glanced down at his legs, seeing that they were consumed by a black fire, leaving only stumps. Then, on his arms, which were both cut. He was now a head, on a limbless body.
"
"
"Champion, don't kill him just yet. As much as I want to kill him, he likely knows where my mate is. Besides, killing him would alert Rakon to our presence." The cocoon Zelak was trapped in disintegrated away. And upon seeing the scene, he looked on in speechlessness.
"I don't care," Kalika said.
Slowly, the darkness that had cloaked her began to fade. "If Rakon knows I'm here. That's all the better."
Zelak approached Kalika, keeping his gaze locked on Magnus. He sighed at the sorry state Magnus was left in. "I suppose it can't be helped. He's bound to die in an hour at least. Still, let me speak with him."
"Fine"
"
Magnus chuckled. "
"
"
Zelak clenched his hands. "
"
Racing his boiling point, Zelak stood and stabbed Magnus in the throat. Ending his life.
Irritated, Kalika darted her eyes at Zelak and groaned.
"Sorry, Champion. There wasn't more to be said…"
"W… what did he say?" Donvoan asked. He limped over with Charla's assistance.
"Nothing important," Kalika said. She turned and walked away from the scene with Zelak following behind.
Donovan glanced from Kalika to the body, with a strange concern growing. He waved it off and ordered Charla to help follow them back to the cart, leaving behind Magnus's fresh corpse.
********
Elsewhere in a stone street of Oar's, Mae stopped in her tracks alongside Rakon. A strange feeling struck them.
"
All the while, Rakon glanced back through the crowd of demons within his hood. "