Combat Encounter Complete!
Total EXP: 665 (x1 Level Up!)
Her gaze drags up and down my body once more. I should feel flattered at the impressed look in her eyes, but I can't focus on anything else than the continuously building tension I feel, the hairs on the back of my neck lifting as she smiles at me.
"You look good. Better than when I last saw you, that's for sure."
I scoff on instinct.
"Well, funnily enough, the last time you saw me I'd recently recovered from having my spine shattered. The fact that I'm standing to begin with is a marked improvement."
She laughs, either ignorant to the barbs in my every word or not caring for them.
"I guess that would be a pretty small bar to get over, huh? Oh, I like what you've done with your eye. Good colour contrast."
Serafall meets my gaze for only a second longer before turning on her feet, skirt and cloak billowing as she looks at the shattered remnants of my transport and the corpses around us, humming.
With the re-introductions out of the way, I can get to surveying the wreckage for those left alive. I can immediately tell that it's not a good look. Of eight passengers, three remain alive, and one of the korranars are nothing more than a charred husk.
Most of them were lucky enough to die in the initial blast.
I admit, this could have been far less disastrous had I not spent so long disorientated on the ground. If I'd perhaps been more proactive, cast the Circle and gutted the filth sooner, I imagine I wouldn't be stood here admonishing myself.
...it felt far too good to kill them. This Devil's thirst for violence within me, it feels much more gratifying than I'd like to fulfill it.
"So, 'Demi-fiend', what brings you to my little slice of the Underworld? I take it you're not here to catch up with an old friend?"
Serafall's voice cuts through my own melancholy, her tone nothing short of mocking as she repeats my title to me.
The hopes I had of this conversation being a pleasant one are washed away instantly.
I cast one last Prayer on an unconscious Satanihilus at my feet before standing from my kneeling position and turning to respond.
"This isn't a social call, if that's what you're expecting. I'm here to put a dent in the northern front and make sure you and your troops don't die in the process."
She grins. The sight is enough to make my fist clench as her tone becomes derisive, gesturing to the carnage before us.
"Well, you've done a realgood job so far Ali."
I sigh, a twitching in my hand that I do my best to ignore as she folds her arms. Any nostalgia or happiness I'd felt at this reunion quickly turns to bitter ash in my mouth as my own repressed hatred begins to bubble.
"These people died for your cause, you petulant child. Don't use their deaths as a weapon against me."
She scoffs, rolling her eyes.
"Of course, the guy sleeping with the kiddie-killer is getting up in arms about me being childish. You clearly didn't care about people dying for my cause when you had that whore pardoned in the High Court."
Another twitch. Another urge to cave her skull in.
Oh, how I've missed this.
"In case you've forgotten, there's a war to be fought. Are you going to keep insulting my servant, or are you going to let me fight it?"
Serafall laughs, scorn in her gaze as she takes a step forward.
"Oh, so now you wanna fight the war, huh? You didn't care much for helping me when you were busy getting your dick wet with the woman who helped start it for a month. What changed? Is she not putting out anymore?"
Another step forward, a scrunching of her nose as she sniffs the air, her own fists clenched.
"Oh, well that clearly isn't the case is it? She must have been all over you. Was it nice, hearing her scream out your name? Did it make you feel all big and strong?"
I take a deep breath to compose myself as she steps forward again, her grin mocking.
"Look, I'm not here to play the middleman for your feud with Grayfia. I've done it all before. I'm here to heal those who need healing, and kill those who need killing. Are you going to bring me to them, or not?"
I blink, and she's within a foot of me again, her finger jabbing into my chest as she shouts out her frustrations.
"My feud is with you! I needed you Ali, needed your powers, and you weren't there! My soldiers have been dying every day for a month, and you've been busy playing fucking house while I burn them!"
My jaw tenses, that same twitching coming back once more in full swing as my restraint withers away. Serafall makes a good point, regrettably, but my mind is anywhere else than her words at the moment.
Just being in such close proximity after so long makes my teeth grit and my heart pound in my chest.
I loathe the fact that after everything between us, some small, despicable part of me still longs for her. I despise that I can't take my eyes off of her.
Most of all though, I hate how easily she makes me lose control of myself.
"If it hasn't been made obvious enough to you yet, I was quite reluctant to talk again after the note we left on. Trying to kill someone tends to have that effect on them!"
She scoffs again, not meeting my eyes.
"So you were just lying to me then, huh? When you said you forgave me. You said all the things I wanted to hear and didn't mean a single word of it."
The anger I'd felt before only grows with each word on her lips, my own hand slapping hers away as I press forward, barely a few inches separating us now.
"Oh, you'd know all about that wouldn't you!? Ali, let's be friends. Ali, let's go on a date when you come back. Ali, I'm just so glad I met you. All a fucking lie!"
Serafall backs away slightly, surprised at my sudden aggression.
"You strung me along for a month on the false hope that I could have someone to trust in this dogshit Underworld and threw me away the instant I didn't come to heel."
She has the gall to look hurt by my words.
"I- I meant everything I said back then, Ali-"
"Don't you lie to me again, Sera! I was a tool for you to use and nothing more. You didn't give a shit whether or not I survived Lucifaad as long as I put a dent in those walls, right!?"
Again, she looks away, her eyes creased as she grimaces. Her fingers rub softly against her arms as she shrinks away.
"...I didn't want you to die in there. I really did want to see you again afterwards, Ali."
My laughter is a viscerally mocking sound, voice hoarse.
"Oh? Oh really? Dare I remind you that you never even gave me a map of the city to get out? Ajuka was the one who did! All you ever gave me was a mission and the false hope that I ever stood a chance of completing it!"
I find myself laughing again at the absurdity of it all.
"Hell, you came just as close to killing me after I returned as Bidleid ever did! At least he wasn't trying to apologise afterwards, the least you could do is not pretend to care!"
Finally, the fire in her eyes returns as she throws herself forward, shoving me back.
"Alright, fine! I made a lot of mistakes back then, okay? I was impulsive, rash, I didn't think things through and I'm sorry! But don't you dare say I never gave a shit about you! You were the first real friend I made in years, and- and..."
Serafall pauses to take a deep breath and calm herself, fists clenched at her sides a moment later as she narrows her eyes.
"Do you have any idea what it was like for me, to hear you defending her in the High Court today? Talking about how much she means to you? You've been living pretty with your beloved servant, the monster in my nightmares, all while I've been covering myself in the blood of my own people!"
Her words are earnest, and there's a concerning degree of emotion within them... but I've heard it all before.
I've been in these shoes one too many times, let myself be lulled by soft tones and seemingly heartfelt words.
"Oh, cry me a bloody river, Sera! You have no right to talk about feeling betrayed! I went through hell for you, got tortured for a war I barely even understood, and my only reward was a caved in chest and some pathetic words of apology from a psychopath!"
She grimaces again, wincing as if struck. Her tone shifts to something meek and somber as she speaks, hesitantly lifting her hand to me.
"I know I hurt you, Ali. You don't have to keep reminding me. Please."
Immediately, my hand reaches forward and grabs her own by the wrist. The limb is quickly thrown aside, an odd mix of sorrow and offence in her eyes as I do so.
"We aren't in Sevisti anymore, Serafall. If you lay your hands on me again, I will not be so forgiving as I once was."
She blinks in shock, mouth agape.
Then, she starts laughing bitterly as the words register in her mind. Any sadness she may have shown is quickly replaced with cold indignation.
I think I can tell by now exactly how this conversation is going to end.
No... deep down, I always knew this was going to happen.
I'm not sure what I hate more. How predictable this all is, or the small bud of excitement that sprouts in my heart as she lifts her hand once more.
Even now, I still want to prove myself to her. Some things just don't change I suppose.
"Oh, really? You must think you're such hot shit now, 'Demi-fiend'... If you need a reminder of whose in charge, then I'll happily give you one."
She speaks the threat with a smile on her lips. When words and emotions fail her, she defaults to what she knows best. Combat. I'd like to condemn her for that quality, but she and I are much the same in that regard.
Her twin-tails blow with the wind as she drags her arm forward inch by agonising inch. Her free hand lashes out to the side, warhammer slowly forming within her grasp a moment later as she stares up at me.
Time passes in slow motion as rime coats the grass separating us, flakes of frost forming in the air. My breaths come out in chilled puffs as the temperature around us plunges dramatically.
The tension builds thick enough to be cut with a knife, her smile never once faltering as seconds pass like minutes. Eventually, after what feels like years of waiting...
Something interrupts me. Well, I should actually say someone.
"You would do well to back away from Lady Sitri, ignoble Demi-fiend. I do not take attacks against my superior lightly."
I frown in surprise and turn to greet the newly announced third party, hand raised barely a half-second later to catch a blade thrown at my head.
Lowering it, I see a grey-haired man with pointy ears sneering at me.
"I see my reputation precedes me these days. Didn't your mother teach you not to play with knives?"
He groans, the blade in my hand suddenly flung through the air and back into his own.
"My mother died shortly after the Civil War began. Spare me your pitiful attempts at a playful banter, you cur."
That actually hurt. I thought I was being quite amicable after his attempts to stab me.
Serafall sighs as I turn back to her, a thousand questions burning on my lips. In her eyes, I can see the unspoken 'we'll continue this talk later' as she shatters her weapon, flakes of ice all that remains of it.
"...Ali, this is Diallos Belial, my second in command. Diallos, Alistair Mammon."
He affixes the blade to his hip, an uncovered hand fixing his hair a moment later as he stands between the two of us. He stares at me with thinly veiled disgust the whole time.
"I've heard more than enough about him. The Demi-fiend is unfortunately quite popular these days, though for what reason I fail to understand."
It takes a certain level of willful ignorance to not see that I have quite possibly one of the most valuable powers in the Underworld at the moment. This man is something special.
...I suppose not everyone among the Satanihilus was going to be so progressive. If anything, I should have expected this.
That doesn't mean I have to like it.
"Truly delighted to meet such a charming gentleman like you, Diallos. Honestly, I'm impressed Sera-"
"Lady Sitri."
I blink. My eyes shift from Serafall, who watches in amusement, to Diallos, who continues to stare at me with derision.
"You will address her as befitting of her position, Demi-fiend."
My hand twitches. The urge to summon Caduceus grows with each second, that impulsive Wrath festering on the back of my mind as I smile through the annoyance.
"Sure thing, pal."
I then sigh, realising that having any sort of meaningful conversation about all the shit between Serafall and I is going to be impossible with Lord Cunt at my side, and decide to get down to business.
"I suppose we should cut straight to the point then. As I said, I'm not here for a social call. How have things been going with the Northern front?"
Serafall laughs pointedly.
"Terrible. With the Phenex bumping up their prices and your little honeymoon with the whore, we've been losing our numbers constantly. Making any progress towards Lucifaad is like pulling teeth."
Serafall continues on unimpeded, every word feeling like a weight on my shoulders.
"That's not to mention that our supplies are regularly being stolen, our numbers are at an all time low as the years drag on and no progress is made, and Bidleid returning so suddenly has shattered our morale into the abyss. What should have been a nine month war has already long since eclipsed nine years instead, and the Clans can only send us so much aid."
She clearly notices the frown on my lips, taking great offence to it as she leans in close, her tone mocking.
"Aww, did that make you sad? Put a big ol' frown on your pretty little face?"
She grins maliciously, barely stopping herself from poking my chest once more.
"Welcome to the consequences of your actions, Ali. There's a lot of Devils that need your help now. You aren't leaving here until Castle Cainhurst is mine."
By the end of her diatribe, she's barely a few inches away, her eyes glowing as she looks up at me.
"Leave? And miss out on taking the power of whoever's making you work this hard? Please. I'd never be so silly."
I fold my arms, smirking like a prick but loving the way it angers her so dearly.
"Any chance to get stronger is one I'll happily take. Now that I'm here, this little war of yours should end in a few months at best."
She stays in place for a moment, staring at me with barely contained fury. Eventually, she turns away and places a hand to her head, muttering something about 'losing restraint' beneath her breath.
Unfortunately, I'm now left staring at Diallos after she moves.
"...I don't suppose you'd be willing to fill me in on the details of this 'Castle Cainhurst' in her stead, would you?"
Diallos scoffs, arms folded as he turns away from me. A moment later though, and rationale wins out over his prejudice.
"It's a large castle town in the lands of House Gusion. In the center is the castle itself, where the Gusion lived before the war broke out. At the moment, it acts as an operating base for Loyalist forces. It serves as one of the last bastions of the Officio Satanorum."
I raise a brow, surprised he even bothered to tell me in the first place.
"Who's in charge of it? I doubt any old Loyalist with some grit would be able to stop Serafall in her quest for it so easily."
He grimaces.
"...That would be my brother, Diamor Belial. He and his men have been making regular assaults against us as we try to push forward into his land, attacking any derelict towns we take refuge in."
...Well shit. I guess the stick in his ass makes a lot more sense now.
Not that I care any about his sordid family history.
With all the spite I can muster in my heart, all the annoyance this man has made me feel in such a short time and the lingering frustrations of my conversation with Serafall, I take a single step forward and rest a hand on his shoulder.
He looks up at me, surprised and wary, palm resting on his blade as I grin at him.
"If that's the case, then I am going to verymuch enjoy killing your brother, Diallos."
He stares in shock and incredulity, words simply failing him. I smile at the sight, giving one last pat on his shoulder before I turn to speak with Serafall again.
She's staring with blatant disappointment, arms folded as she frowns at me.
"I didn't take you for the petty, vindictive type, Ali." She says, her tone flat.
I can't help but laugh at her words as I approach.
"Then you clearly don't know me as well as you might think. Spite is the best motivator a man can have, and it's one I find myself coming back to quite often these days. It's something I learned from you, after all."
Her eyes soften a moment after I finish, gaze full of such loathesome pity. The sight of it makes me want to strangle her.
Fortunately, I don't have to suffer whatever she was going to say.
A Magic Circle appears beside her ear before she can speak, and her pitiful gaze quickly turns to righteous fury, the temperature plummeting around us.
"I see. I'll be there shortly."
Then, she grins, her eyes glowing as she draws that same hammer as before, resting it across her shoulder only a moment later.
"Looks like you'll be getting that power you wanted pretty soon, Ali. We're under attack."
Confused, but nonetheless eager to start farming EXP on the frontlines, I draw Caduceus and summon the Doppelganger to my side after hearing her words.
"Diallos! Clean up this mess and take the wounded back to Chastinal in an hour's time. Meet me in the town square when you're done."
He blinks in shock, voice teeming with incredulity as he glances to me.
"Lady Sitri, would this job not be better suited for the Demi-fiend? My place is at your side, not as a glorified-"
She cuts him off with a sharp laugh, her elbow bumping against my shoulder a second later.
"With Alistair here, this'll only take a few minutes at best. He may be an ass, but he's far more useful than you on the battlefield."
Diallos surprisingly takes his dismissal quite well, sighing for a moment before nodding.
I only hope this doesn't lead to further scorn from him.
Oh, who the fuck am I kidding? Of course it will. I know my luck well enough by now. I haven't exactly helped our budding friendship make any progress either.
My thoughts are interrupted when I catch a certain noise to my side.
Serafall's leg kicks the ground idly as the Teleportation Spell begins, the world around us turning to motes of light as she grins at me, her eagerness for battle outweighing any frustration she has.
"I've got high expectations of you. Don't disappoint me."
...disappoint you?
Oh, you truly do have a unique talent for pissing me off, Serafall. I can't wait for the day I get to shut you up for once.
------------------------------------
The first thing I notice is the cacophony of noise.
Mana being thrown around in every direction, fire, lightning, screams and wind lashing. It all hits at once, my eyes tracking every silhouette flying in the air and the spells firing off against the burning sky.
The number of Satanihilus compared to Loyalists is almost comical, with our side seeming outnumbered four to one.
The second thing I notice is-
-998HP!
A fist crashes into my face before I can finish recovering from the teleport, Serafall shouting my name in shock as my body is flung into a nearby home.
-663HP!
My head aches for a brief moment. As sight returns, I get to work on casting a Circle of Life as large as I can muster, but blink in shock when a new notification appears in my System HUD.
[Worthlessness Override!]
Seems like that punch was more than just a form of greeting. Setting aside the notification, I stand from my place among the rubble and immediately spot the bastard who tried to shatter my jaw, the blessing of Yaoshi healing any wounds he gave me.
He's big, that much is for sure. Bigger than even Bidleid, sitting closer to 7 than 6 feet tall. A veritable brick wall of muscle and bone, he makes Diallos look like a toothpick in comparison.
Diamor Belial
Level: 299
Serafall swings at Diamor with vicious force, her every motion made with the sole intention of killing her target. My Doppelganger joins in with her assault, slipping between each violent swing to stab and slice at exposed weak points.
Not wanting to be left out, I draw Caduceus close to my chest and Sonido into his next punch, Parrying the blow aside and allowing Serafall to slam her hammer directly into his head, body flung across the street instantly.
Diamor stands only a short moment later, laughing as he clutches his shattered jaw. He draws a Phenex Tear into his hand, Thorn drawn in the blink of an eye to shoot his palm down and stop him in the act.
One of his soldiers sees to it that I don't have the opportunity, a wall of Mana erected before the shot can pierce Diamor's hand. He grins viciously as he swallows the Tear, tossing aside the vial and walking forwards slowly.
His body is covered almost entirely in armour, but his hands are uncovered, just like Diallos. I'd bet every Sol I own that his Clan Trait has something to do with that.
"I see you've enlisted some outside help, Serafall. I admit, I never expected I'd be seeing the Demi-fiend on this day."
A body falls from the sky just a few meters away from Diamor. He gives no reaction, uncaring for the interruption as his boot crushes the young woman's chest, walking over her body.
Caduceus lay embedded in the ground the whole time, trying to cast a Circle of Life with each second but getting no results. His smile only seems to widen at the sight.
"Fascinating, isn't it? They spoke of the Demi-fiend like a force of nature, his legion unkillable by all means... yet, here you stand, helpless to do anything but watch as you struggle to save a single life."
He sneers, grinning with overbearing confidence.
"You aren't nearly as impressive as he said."
He laughs, arms raised and fingers outstretched towards me. Diamor's monologue is quickly interrupted when Serafall crashes into him, wings outstretched as her hammer digs into his cross-guarding arms.
"His Trait is based on contact! If he touches you, he nullifies one of your powers! He can nullify one at-"
Diamor grunts in annoyance, his knee slamming into her chest as the grapples with her weapon, tossing Serafall aside a moment later. His arm is coated in a quickly growing layer of ice, one that he shatters with his palm before shattering her hammer over his knee.
The Doppelganger takes Serafall's place, sword poised to stab through his chest as Diamor bats the blade aside, my own copy of Caduceus cutting into his elbow immediately after as my duplicate and I swing on Diamor in tandem.
He grins at the sight, arms lashing out to catch both our wrists in his hands coated with a thin layer of Mana.
"Bidleid's going to be so happy to hear about your presence here, Demi-fiend. You're all he ever talks about, all he cares for!"
He rears his head back to shatter my nose, a Blink bringing me to safety as his head phases through the Doppelganger's, my blade stabbing into his chest immediately after. He groans in pain, but gives no other response, arm lashing out to throw me aside as he coats his hands in Mana once more.
Seems like he's already fully figured out the Doppelganger's weakness, his fist tearing a gaping hole in the constructs chest as it jumps away hastily. I dismiss the construct before it can be destroyed and dismiss Caduceus for the Rebellion.
Serafall falls line in at my side not long after, shards of ice trailing up her arms, a fresh bloodstain on her cheek and a cold corpse behind her.
"I don't suppose you have a plan?" I ask, grimacing as the Worthlessness Override notification shows up once more.
She grins in response.
"Something like that. I'll need to force that Worthlessness off of you."
Her eyes trace the battlefield, homes shattered and street vendors torn asunder in the town we teleported into, Chastinal if I had to guess. She clearly notices something I don't given the way her grin widens.
Her arm slaps against my shoulder in some trite form of encouragement, the woman going so far as to wink a moment later.
"Keep him distracted, Ali."
Ice begins to coalesce around her hands a moment later, Magic Circle appearing atop her palms. She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath before smiling.
With Serafall occupied, I twirl the Rebellion in my hand and grin, bashing into Diamor's chest after a Sonido directly into him. He slams his fist down to try and shatter my spine in response, his hand swept up in a sea of spectral thorns before he can reach Death's Cradle as it rests atop my back.
The Blight instantly takes hold, his pallor sickly and eyes darkening. He coughs and splutters in shock as my boot crashes into his chest, barely a moment of rest for Diamor as I Sonido forward with the Rebellion poised to pierce his heart.
He lifts his arms to block, my blade tearing through his arm guards and into his flesh, pinning him down with both arms trapped. I grin, fingers held tight around the handle as I press forward against his guard.
DANGER!
Before I can push the Rebellion any deeper, my advance is stopped as a lance of fire is thrown into my hip, followed by three more in my chest as Diamor's soldiers come to support him.
-1293HP!
I cry out in pain, throwing myself back several feet with a Sonido and attempting to cast a Prayer to heal myself. As I do so, I draw Thorn and fire a shot into the first Loyalist who saw fit to impale me, the others forming shields before I can do the same.
[Worthlessness Override!]
Oh, fuck off!
Level 77 Loyalist Slain: 130EXP
The first Loyalist drops dead immediately, his Soul glowing in the air as those around him begin throwing a deluge of Spells in my direction. Gravity Magic sparks within my hand as I grab hold of another's armour, pulling him directly to me so that I can form a Dread Mirror from his life force.
He writhes in my grasp, body stiff and unmoving as the Gravity Magic traps him in his armour. The Spells of his allies crash into the Dread Mirror with violent force, but the shield does not buckle.
It won't last forever, though.
Thinking quickly, I decide that if a Prayer won't work, I'll just have to make do.
The Rebellion slices through my hostage's neck with practices ease, and despite my own disgust at the action, I lean forward to drink deep of his blood and heal myself.
Level 42 Loyalist Slain: 60EXP
Skill: Blood-Starved Beast activated!
Skill: Blood Empowerment activated!
Immediately, my body sways on the spot. Black spots appear in my vision, blood heating up as my HP continues to fill. Each delectable sip brings with it the euphoric, tangible feeling of growing stronger.
My reservations disappear with each gulp, the man in my grasp no longer writhing as I grin against his neck. After a few seconds more, there's nothing left for me to drink.
HP: 22000/16500
My captive's body falls against the ground with a brief thud, pale as a sheet.
The side effects of overindulging in Blood Empowerment are clear for all to see, red and black markings covering every inch of my skin, a pair of Blood-formed horns atop my head to go with them.
I despise them. They make me look something else than human.
Diarmor stares with blatant disgust. Blood trails down his arms and between his fingers, the wounds still not healed. I can't help but be drawn to the sight.
Either he hasn't got another Tear, or he's worried to use it so soon.
I'm all too eager to find out.
"You're a disgrace to our people, Demi-fiend. Closer to an animal than a Devil. Daimadosu was right about you. A world where you are allowed to exist is one where we as a people have failed."
I grin at the words, at the visceral abhorrence in his tone. By now, he's already long since recovered from the Blight, but now I've the power to match him.
"You can insult me all you like, Diamor. It does nothing to hide your fear."
The Dread Mirror cracks. Wounds in the shield begin to spread out in all directions. Moments before it shatters, I take one look at my Stats and enjoy the euphoric feeling of finally having the Power I seek.
STR: 253
AGI: 238
Diamor's fist shatters the mirror before I can appraise myself any longer. The instant he appears before me, I raise my own fist to meet his and revel in the shockwave our contact leaves behind.
He grimaces at the ache in his wrist, our fists clashing with an almost practiced ease. Ten, a hundred, maybe even a thousand times; we exchange blows as the wind begins to kick around us, endless shockwaves resulting from every strike.
I only grow stronger the longer this little clash ours goes on, the War God's blessing boosting my STR further. Diamor immediately notices this, gritting his teeth and pushing every ounce of strength in his body to match me.
In tandem, our feet lash out, hoping to catch the other off guard but serving only to block the other's kick. I grin at him, revelling in the fact that for once, I am the one in control.
Diamor clearly despises the sight, sneering as he throws his fist forward again.
This time, my hand lashes out and takes hold of his own before he can even stop it. He blinks in surprise, then cries out in pain as I tighten my grip ever so slowly.
His free hand slams into my ribs countless times, grunting with each strike as bones begin to compress and flesh tears, groans turning to agony.
Desperate, he forms a claw of Mana over his hand, stabbing the blades deep between my ribs and jamming it in further with each second. So lost was I in the Blood-haze, I didn't even notice the Instinct blaring.
-4339HP!
The pain works wonders for sobering my addled mind, tossing Diamor's shattered hand aside and slamming my fist into his chest a moment later to throw him back several feet.
On instinct, I try to cast a Prayer, only to be met by that same infuriating message.
[Worthlessness Override!]
The Blessing of Yaoshi isn't nearly fast enough to heal the wound, blood seeping into my airways as I cough and splutter. Each breath feels like a fresh knife to the lungs, but if there's one thing to help remind you of your own mortality, it's agonising pain.
With red quickly coating my attire, I take a deep breath, spit out the crimson fluid in my mouth and raise my fists to Diamor, the blood in my clothing trailing down to coat my hands fully.
Diamor grunts in pain, torn between continuing this battle and risking his life, or leaving with his pride shattered. He settles on the latter, a Magic Circle forming beneath his feet as he tries to flee.
Serafall doesn't see fit to allow it.
"Wings, Ali!"
Following on with her plan, I draw out my wing and Sonido into the air.
Almost instantly, the world beneath me is coated in a rapidly growing sheet of ice, every street filled from end to end and glaciers skewering the sky. The sheet grows further even as I think, Serafall's hands planted to the ground as she continues to pump more and more Mana into her Spell.
Before he can Teleport to safety, Diamor finds himself trapped in the ice, his legs frozen over instantly, creeping up his body with each passing second. For fear of meeting his own demise, he chooses the lesser evil and hastily places a hand to the ice entrapping him.
The instant his palm makes contact, his Clan Trait appears, a small, tiny grey mark against the larger size of Serafall's spell.
Barely a second later, and every speck of ice shatters into nothing, becoming dust in the wind and fading away immediately as his Worthlessness shifts to Serafall's Mana, stopping her from using any Spells from this moment onwards.
She grunts in pain and falls to one knee, heaving slightly, and I can't help but grin at the sight. It means I'm free to use my Abyss Flower however I see fit once more. Diamor realises this just the same as I do, cursing beneath his breath.
With my powers fully returned to me, I decide that now is as good a time as any to tip the scales even further in our favour, and introduce the world to my favourite boy.
Following that plan, I stab Caduceus into the ground and finally summon the Circle of Life, radius pushed to the maximum that I can currently manage. While the town isn't fully covered, most of Chastinal is encompassed within my shadow, and that is enough.
Notifications immediately pile in, Kill Contributions and HP refills, enough that I have to Mute the System temporarily.
Diamor watches on in hatred and annoyance as my hand slowly lifts to the air, Mana swirling violently around my palm. He tries to cast a Spell and Teleport away once more, but the Circle will not allow it.
The Summoner's Ring slowly forms atop my finger, glowing vibrantly.
Our eyes meet. I smile.
"Come to me, Alduin!"
A golden bolt of lightning streaks through the air, the sky darkening immediately. I can't stop myself from grinning as I hear the three heads crying out in tandem, the battlefield almost going silent at his call.
A silhouette can be seen growing rapidly against the skyline, wings and twin-tails batting through the air. The lightning in the sky only grows in fervor, the world saturated with gold.
Diamor, smarter than I'd given him credit for, immediately notices the problem, casting a Spell to amplify his voice and give a desperate command to his men, the only advice he can give with their escape gone.
"Disperse! They have a dragon!"
Notifications from the Circle flood the System after the Mute runs out, tossed aside just as quickly as they arrive after Alduin's form covers the sky above Chastinal, his wingspan having only grown further.
The town is left shadowed by his presence.
His three heads cry out in joy at seeing me once more, before quieting down and awaiting my orders. Diamor rushes forward, assuming that he can stop the Dragon in some way.
Serafall appears from the side to defend me, halting his approach with the equivalent of a brick wall, her foot crashing into his chest and throwing him back violently.
I look to the skies, and bask in the proof of my supremacy. Alduin's eyes meet mine from a few hundred meters away, and I make no attempts to stop the visceral glee from showing in my voice as I command him.
"Show no mercy, o' Dragon mine!"
Chaos erupts immediately after.
I revel in the sight it.