Sealed within the Black Church, the Black Stone wasn't a simple relic, but an organ.
The remnant of an ancient demon's heart had been immortalized through Magic.
Kept on the Black Church's altar, the priests, priestesses, nuns, and demonic followers of the Black Church could draw power from it. By being in its presence, by breathing the air around it, by slowly but surely inhaling the Mana that oozed out from it, they could siphon fragments of its strength, fragments of the ancient demon's power.
None could use it freely. None could use it properly.
Even after holding it for a couple of minutes, they would show signs of Corruption.
Those who held onto it for too long lost reason and entered an Enraged State, and the Enraged that managed to keep it for longer, became Corrupted and walked with bodies twisting under Corruption. Their minds cracked, gnawed apart until only madness remained.
To yield the Black Stone was to yield Death itself. For within it resided not simply power, but a portion of Death itself.
To properly wield it, to properly tame it, is to tame Death itself.
Amon quickly came to understand this.
Basked in pure darkness, he floated in the nothingness.
There was no ground below, and no sky above.
He floated, with no body, no senses, no feelings. No eyes to see and no ears to hear. No nose to smell and no hands to touch.
Nothing.
Amon floated in the darkness and silence.
And he knew instantly that, yes, this was Death.
***
One day, however, you will come to understand what truly makes you different. And when you do, that difference…
"Arghhh…!"
CRASH!
Akane's body slammed through the wreckage, launched far away by the strengthened Corrupted Draconic Spawn.
The Enraged State increased its Agility Stat from 12 to 18, and its Strength Stat from 21 to 31.
It was a wonder that Akane hadn't lost consciousness upon impact.
Had she the ability to check her Endurance, she would have seen it a hair away from hitting zero.
But that wasn't necessary. She could feel that she was a hair's breadth away from collapsing.
Her vision wavered, and the world slowed.
She was still in the air, launched further and further away.
Yet, Akane could see it clearly.
She could see the Corrupted Draconic Spawn move closer, dragging its jaws toward Amon's arm.
'No…!' She told herself, tail whipping behind her. 'I have… To do something!
Her feet dug into the dirt, but the momentum kept widening the distance. 'I promised that I'd… Buy him time!'
The momentum died and,
"Ugh…!"
She fell forward, palms hitting the ground. Her knees were an inch away from kissing the ground as well.
'I'm still… Burning up… I'm still…' Her hands scraped the ground as she clenched them. 'Burning up!'
The Corrupted Draconic Spawn twisted. It feared the Fox girl, what the Fox girl was capable of.
It opened its mouth wide, fangs grazing Amon's skin, and began dragging him toward the forest.
"No…!" The stumbling Fox girl muttered as she rose to her feet.
Once in the forest, once away from the flames, it could widen the distance infinitely and in a blink.
Right now, it was too dangerous. Enjoying the meal was simply not possible.
Grabbing Amon's whole body in its maw, the Corrupted Draconic Spawn approached the forest when,
"I'm not…"
WOOSH!
A wall of fire suddenly erupted, separating the monster from the forest!
"Letting you take him!"
The wind howled as the flames that had been burning the village suddenly spun, twisting into a burning spiral that crashed into the Corrupted Draconic Spawn's body, searing its corrupted skin!
Akane's arms lifted. Her arms were trembling, but the flames rose with them.
The flames that covered the village answered her call.
Her body was weak, but the fire obeyed nevertheless.
"Put…" she screamed, "Him down!"
The Corrupted Draconic Spawn screeched, a guttural cry of fury and pain, as the flames whirled tighter.
Akane swung her arms, and a circle of fire formed, enclosing Akane, Amon's unconscious body, and the Corrupted Draconic Spawn.
The latter jerked its head, throwing Amon's body behind it.
The Fox girl raised her hands, flames coiling and dancing, her red tail glowing like molten steel.
The Spawn lowered its head, jaws dripping black strands, its claws dragging furrows in the ash.
[Species: Were-Vixen
[Species: Corrupted Draconic Spawn.
-State: Enraged
-Stats:
Strength: 32
Agility: 18
Perception: 15
Endurance: 14
Vigor: 21
Mana: 40
]
[Name: Akane
-Stats:
Strength: 17
Agility: 19
Perception: 27
Endurance: 8
Vigor: 12
Mana: 36
]
One, empowered by the raging flames that burned the village. The other, empowered by the black, corrupting liquid it had spewed all over the village.
SCREEEECH!
Twitch-
Twitch-
Despite her endurance hitting 0, Akane…
[Species: Half-Vixen.]
[State: ???]
The battle enters its final stage!