Alana looked down at Skull lord who layed defeated.
His form, shrouded in smoke.
"Pathetic, I knew that abomination wouldn't be able to hold himself!"
Alana hissed, floating away.
Flash back
Night started to approach
Skull lord and his army of bones stood ready.
The wind blew briskly through the air, gently creasing the long shield of grass around Zero as the book of deluxe lay open on his face covering it.
Peace—
"It's time!"
Alana zipped out of his chest to see Zero laying down, her eye twitched in annoyance.
"Is he sleeping? At a time like this?"
"Wake up Zero!"
She tried to lift the book off his face with her spectral tendrils.
She tugged hard "Why won't it budge….wake. UP!"
Her tendrils slipped off it making her slide back through the air.
Catching herself in the air, she sighed
"He's hopeless"
Alana gave up taking her focus towards organising her and skull lords' army.
Once she left, the book floated off Zero's face; he slowly opened his eyes, the book's pages flicking as it sealed itself.
Then he sits up, eyes still a bit dusty, he takes a moment to stare off into the distance, he blinks once or twice before turning his head back to see Skull lord and army of bonewalkers standing stoically in one direction some moving to Alana commands as she continues to organize them.
His face was blank, but then a smile tugged at the corners of his mouth for only a moment as his face went blank again.
Mouth straightened. He blinked again, and stood up…
20 minutes later .
Alana had finished preparations and she turned back to check on Zero.
"Zero?"
But he had gone..
"Where did he go ?"
Something then rings in her head.
Just remember as long as the lord has his crown he will never truly die or fall
"What?" she blurted out.
Present
"There's no way he's trying to imply that skull lord is going to stand back up after that? He's just a normal void spirit. right?"
Suddenly her eye narrowed, "No way.." as it caught movement in the smoke.
Not one person noticed, as the smoke subtly rummaged around except Alana from a distance.
"This is beyond. What I expected…" she chuffed.
As a purple diagonal rune shone brightly through the smoke facing Serene and the others.
" …Crown, huh" Alana reads intrigued
Serene's side all looked confused, seeing the faint glowing rune shining through the smoke.
On the other side, the commander was in the middle of drinking a blue potion when two blue eyes shone brightly through the smoke, staring directly at him.
He froze entirely. The glass bottle left his lips as he looked ahead in shock.
Thoughts racing in silence for both sides.
As the smoke thins, the figure starts to straighten, and his silhouette appeared
Serene's eyes widened.
The figure released a withered sounding roar, clearing all the smoke.
"I thought this was going to be easy." Altos said, as he sucked his lollipop one last time.
Skull lord's new form was now fully visible: His once bleached bones were scorched black.
Cracks etched across the surface like lightning scars with smoke coming from them, and faint heat shimmered around him.
Several ribs lay cracked some pieces, falling to his feet, two of his side heads jaws hung crooked, scorched black, his pelvis arms and the skull minions were squashed by him and crushed under the pressure of the attack.
As the smoke cleared at his feet, underneath him were blackened bone pieces fused to the earth beneath, the skeleton steamed in silence, above the molten rock.
What stood out the most was skull lord had changed from bulky to slimmer and taller along with his withered look.
He still had his two shoulder arms, but they placed a bit higher.
Rolland, looks at it confused. "Its looks just like a wraith…"
Alana marvelled, her eye sparkled "This has taken an interesting turn…hasn't Zero."
He would probably name him right now wouldn't he…he would probably name him something like Wraith skull lord!"
Aeliza's eyes widened in shock "how? Is it still alive…"
Serene's mana slowly flared up around her.
A lollipop hits the ground
Altos yanked his sword from the ground "I guess it's not so easy then! Cmon holger"
Holger takes his shield and wields his mace "Dammit, and I was really craving a portly"
They both began rushing toward the enemy.
Skull lord wasted no time and lunged at Rolland. He moved so fast that he left a withering outline of himself still standing on the molten rocks.
With his right arm, he threw a devastating punch. Rolland jumped back at the last second, dodging as the massive fist slammed into the ground where he'd been standing.
The glass potion bottle was crushed instantly under the skull lord's knuckles, blue liquid spraying across the cracked earth.
Before Rolland could recover, Skull lord's left arm swept toward him. It smacked into Rolland's barrier instead—the force alone shattering the magical protection completely.
Rolland steeled himself, readying a stance still slightly in the air.
The sigils on the gauntlet started to glow, and sparked as skull lord went for a claw attack with his left shoulder claw, but Rolland smirked, punching it, the impact crumbling the whole arm completely.
"How did you like that!" only a moment of relief as a second claw came in from his other side tearing three lines across his chest.
"what!" Rolland stammered, but raised his gauntlet infused with flame mana and went in a diagonal arc shouting "FLAMING ARC!"
This hit skull lord's last secondary arm, slicing it cleanly in two: both severed parts caught fire and were incinerated instantly. At this moment from both sides, Altos and Holger jumped in.
In unison "We go you commander!" but the skull lord doesn't retreat. Instead, skull lord throws his body back, letting them strike only his two side heads, crushing them completely. Simultaneously he raised both his main arms one wide palm and bare fist and struck behind them, sending Holger flying into a wall while grabbing the other suddenly in that same exact moment Serene appeared above his head sword raised high,mana flaring around her whole body.
Two thick souls come out of the crushed skull's remains, burrowing into his main skull…Skull lords' sockets burn a unique blue with a whitish centre.
He instantly threw his head, back and effectively slipped out of the attack by Serene, Serene on other hand saw this: retracted her mana, canceled her attack and turned round as she landed gracefully on ground to face skull lord for her next attack but he was just too fast as his foot was already going toward her direction
Serene was about to evade but then remembered "Rolland!" Was behind her and would be hit.
Mana flared, as she dashed back grabbing him and taking him to safety…
Holger used his shield to lessen the impact, along with mana reinforcement on his body.
As he hit a wall he bounced off it falling on his back.
His thin layer of mana reinforcement dispersed and his shield was stuck in the wall.
Still on his back, his vision slightly blurry as he opened them.
damn that skeleton packs a punch even with all stuff i did to lessen the impact he still managed too…
His train of thought stopped.
Shouting over to the side, "Altos, you good!"
His vision realigned as he looked to the side…
He saw nothing and said "I'm sure we got hit.."
A voice called out "NO! Let him go!"
Holger turned his head forward, while he rolled on to his stomach.
Skull lord with Altos in his right-hand squirming.
Holger felt pressed as he got up immediately. Face tense with urgency.
Skull lord heard footsteps behind him, and turned toward the other side of the town.
"ALTOS!!" he started running hand outstretched.
"Holger wait!" Rolland shouted while hovering his hand over his wound.
Serene remained still and stood her ground observing Skull lords next action.
Aelizia jumped behind skull lord trying, cut off the arm that held Altos but in the blink of their eyes the skull lord vanished with altos leaving only a phantom outline behind.
Aelizia hit and clanked her sword off the ground, cracking it slightly.
"Dammit…" she muttered through her teeth.
Holger paused in confusion.
Rolland asked "where did he go?"
Serene's head slowly turned to the right, face resolute.
"Serene?" Rolland asked.
She didn't say anything. All that could be heard was the cries from the battlefield.
Abruptly, a massive dust cloud exploded upward to the far right of the town "There." they all looked toward it then Serene spoke "Rolland, tend to your wounds. You two stay here, guard rolland and be ready to fight if needed. I will handle this." Without hesitation, she rushed toward the cloud…
Within the cloud of dust Altos and skull lord the wraith are engaged in combat.
With skull lord destroying everything—crushing, clobbering, slamming, and throwing with savage uncontrollable force.
Meanwhile, Altos, thoughts spiralled. "I was able to use my reinforcement to survive most of that impact. He smashed me into the ground and I tried to use my arms to save my body. But that was a terrible idea. Now they're broken. My arms would have been way more useful here. Now all I have is these legs which are only good for dodging at least—even if it does hurt right now to move."
Altos's arms were made useless, he now clenched his sword between his teeth and he could only resort to using movement to dodge and evade skull lord.
His thoughts continued to spiral.
Ok focus! What can I do? I have no chance of attacking.
Altos was stuck completely on defence but he didn't give up.
Think altos, think. what would the commander say in this situation!
A memory rang in his head.
In combat, everything flows—movement, timing, intention. No matter how long it takes, the rise and fall of your opponent is inevitable.
…I don't know what that means. His face went flat, utterly deadpan.
Side-stepping rocks and debris hurled at him, his face lit up, thoughts started to bubble positively
Wait. Maybe… yeah, that's it. If I can't fight back, I just need to wait it out and find an opening.
Altos jumped back to gain distance, but skull lord threw a large rock, which was instantly sliced by Altos as he turned his body and head.
Skull lord sped up and appeared right in front of Altos, after he just finished slicing the rock in half, and skull lord attempted to slam him with his skeletal palm.
Time slowed for Altos: As he saw a mana-like line lead him through Skull lord's legs and he saw Skull lord's ankle light up orange. Is this it?.. I can see it all.
As the palm was about to slam him
His eyes glowed an vibrant orange as he instinctively dashed forward, and in quick succession: dodging the strike sliding between skull lord legs, and then jumping back up to his feat gaining more distance.
Part of skull lord's ankle slid off his foot making him fall on his hands.
Altos had cut the space between the leg and foot.
Skull lord turned his head toward Altos, its eerie blue eyes scanning his form.
Altos' posture was hunched over, his arms hung low. Body was still had a coat of orange mana thinly coating it. Orange eyes fixated on Skull lord. Not blinking once. He was in a deep state of focus.
His demeanour completely changed he was calm,
His legs sprung into action. Skull lord dug his hand in the ground, whirled his arm around, throwing rocks in the process but Altos predicted it and jumped toward skull lord in advance. Skull lord followed up by trying to grab him with his other hand Altos in that second turned his body mid-air, dodging then placed his foot on skull lord's enclosed fist and propelled himself into the air even more. Altos was now out of skull lords range, he then spun and sent his blade toward skull lord from his mouth.
Skull lord swatted the blade away with ease, as Altos descended from the sky, Skull lord then began to try to stick leg back on his foot. As Altos landed, Skull had finished and stood up fully and ran toward Altos.
I see it all. He thought
Altos saw orange lines around skull lord and past skull, even at skull lord specifically.
Altos weaved through all his strikes and caught his blade with his mouth as it was still falling. The skull lord went to try to grab him, but Altos slashed one of skull lord's pointing fingers on his left hand while spinning out of the way.
Then they rushed in for each other again, Altos now being able to fight on slightly equal footing with The great wraith skull lord.
As the fight lives on, so does the teachings of rolland ring in his mind:
"Battle rhythm is the most important principle for fighters. Without it you simply can't fight!"
"Theres's a tail of soul trait that is very rare among fighters were one can enter completely deep state of focus, they call people who posses this rhythm readers due to their ability to use all 6 factors of rhythm these being: intention, prediction, movement, timing, breathing and mental flow."
"Normally every fighter knows the basics of rhythm. That is only the three main ones: movement, timing and intention. But there are people that practice it as fighting style and know all six and advanced forms of it with large amounts of training but what makes rhythm readers so different is that, one: All the forms come to them naturally and two: they can literally see the rhythm when in a deep focus, some describe it as a line that show where an attack is most likely to land or even were to hit an opponent."
"The funny part is it randomly happens when one is in tune with the rhythm of the battle, so it could be anyone! Even you Altos.."
"How about me captain?" Holger bruting voice chimed in
"No way you're too clumsy!"
"Hey!"
Everyone laughed.
Altos smiled, as a single tear left his eye.
"I try not to let you guys down" he said
Skull lord smashed down, Altos already backed away and spun his body many times generating a little gust of wind then sent the blade diagonally while the glint in his eyes fades.
Cross-body-throw!
The double-sided sword goes diagonally towards skull lord's head.
Woosh—
The slice glided through the joint and caused the skull lord head to pop off. The blade also started to curve as it got far behind skull lord.
Yes! Altos thought happily.
Skull puts his hand out, catching his head, then he whirled his left arm around, deflecting the sword.
Then reattached his head while simultaneously lunging toward Altos.
He couldn't react in time… "huh what, I can't see it anymore!" but Serene could…
She appeared between the Skull lord and Altos preparing to strike him away.
Skull lord retreated back immediately.
Altos fell down, On his knees his arms still hanging helplessly, blood trailing down his lips, weary eyes.
"Dammit, did i reach my limit...that must be—"
Altos fell flat on the ground passing out.
Serene stood straight, dust and debris passing her.
"Good work soldier…. Good work."
Footsteps are heard as Aelizia comes up.
Perfect timing.
*huff* *huff*
"General— "
"Altos!"
"Aeliza thanks for coming here, take him back to Rolland right away, and don't come back here." she said calmly
"Yes, general!" Aelizia said while gently putting altos on her back."General I originally came to give you my greatsword as I thought it would be of better use."
Serene kept eyeing down skull lord but he was as still as a statue.
Though she felt very tense about the situation.
"Uh gener—"
"Pick him up and go!" Serene raised her voice.
Aelizia quickly shut her mouth, and obeyed.
But she stopped again: you will be alright though?
Serene breathed out slowly, and then spoke calmly
"I will finish this undead. Once and for all." Serene said while, assuming an elegant stance her metal blade now wore down still held a worthy glint.
Hope lit up in Aelizia's face as she was smiling; she ran back with Altos unconscious on her back.
A stare down began.
Alana spectating from far above I wonder how he will tackle this…one
Serene's mana swirled up, in silent rage she rushed.
Holding her sword with both hands ready to slash down.
But skull lord moved at the same time she did.
She swiped at the air, the force sent ripples through the air
Serene looked back in annoyance, her mana dissipating as skull lord just sped past her.
He grabbed Altos's sword and concealed it in his right palm.
Serene gets mad and imbues herself while rushing at him again.
Skull lord just raised his guard with both arms bracing for the impact.
A big thud is heard along with dust and debris spreading everywhere.
Back near the square
The fight in town had died down exponentially with Alana's side losing and Trojan town side winning.
She got so distracted by Skull lord comeback and fight she had forgotten she had to oversee the battlefield.
Holger walked up to his shield in the wall and tore it straight off effortlessly, muscles flexed as he did.
Rolland sat completely shirtless placing both hands casting a healing spell on his skin, as it weaved back together slowly leaving only 3 long claw marks on his chest.
Another loud, thud along with dust explosion appeared.
Holger looked up, gritting his teeth, "That's it I can't take this anymore!". As he walked forward mace in hand and shield in the other.
Rolland walked after him "No holger!"
He pulled on Holger's shoulder to stop him
"Let go of me!"
"you will get yourself hurt!" Rollands stressed
"Altos is in trouble and we are just sitting here" Holger rebuttals
"Holger you saw what happened. It managed to withstand my most Powerful spell, what makes you think you can do anything!"
He stopped himself for a minute, clenching his weapons tight.
"It doesn't matter, Altos is my brother! I can't just sit idle, commander"
"Yes I understand but rushing in is not the way. It's best to let the general handle it and help when necessary like she advised."
Holger dropped his head in understanding.
Rolland sat down cross legged, and shutting his eyes with a sigh of relief.
Glad I got him to listen
Aelizia showed shortly after, running toward them with Altos on her back.
"COMMANDER HELP!"
Holger raised his head slowly
Rolland opened one eye
And immediately both are in shock "Bring him here!"
"AL—ALTOS" Holger stuttered
Rolland started checking him.
Captain Altos was layed between Aeliza and Rolland, many fractured bones and broken ones especially his arms that went limp, fingers twitching with mana shock. Blood leaked from his nose and the corner of his mouth staining his jaw. His chest rose in shallow, painful gasps; every breath a fight.
One leg jerked, more spas than control.
Broken, battered but his eyes. They still burned a vibrant orange. Still alive.
Holger stands stunned walking up to them and sees his brother, broken.
"This is bad. Keep his head up Aelizia"
"Yes commander" as she softly slid her hand under Alto's head propping it up a bit.
Rolland put both his hands on Altos chest and started to instantly surge with his yellow mana. It became really thick manifesting around him, small particles emanating from the place he's casting his healing.
Aelzia looked into Altos' eyes and said "Stay with us altos, stay with us. Don't leave Altos, we didn't get to finish our spar!"
Holger just looked speechless, his mace and shield continuing to lower slowly.
Then
a
Crash!
As heard, Skull lord speeds past behind them.
Dashing away it seemed, as Serene dashed after him in a cold rage her sword slightly cracked now.
The speed of both as they went past left a gust of wind strong behind them.
Another explosion of dust and debris appeared on the left side of the town
Aelzia and Rolland stayed focused.
Then after only a minute
Skull lord appeared behind the fully concentrated Rolland…
His maw wide open trying to chomp on him, no one realised the sudden appearance except Holger as he ran in leaving his mace and using his shield to guard the brunt of the attack.
"I got you commander!" he said with a thin green layer of mana coating his body.
As soon as skull lord snapped his jaw shut it broke some teeth, and his jaw bounced off slightly instead of crushing it; however the force of his jaw clanking off the shield broke the ground underneath the Holger yet he stayed steady.
At that moment, Serene appeared at the skull lord's ribcage.
Imbuing her blade with mana, she smacked him, breaking open Skull lord's entire withered ribcage and hitting him upward into the sky.
She instantly jumped after him.
"Stop..." Her white mana started to swirl like an uncontrollable vortex around her.
"Trying to hurt my SOLDIERS!"
Wraith skull lord blocked mid-air, helplessly, as Serene fully imbued her sword with so much mana that more cracks started to form on it.
The blade shone with a white glow, her mana seeped out of it.
She whacked skull lord away with so much force that it sent a mini shockwave outward at the mere contact.
Her mana shattered his defenses, sending him tumbling across the town and triggering a massive explosion of dust and debris on the right side of the town.
Aeliza shielded Altos, channeling her mana around herself to reduce the movement, as a powerful whirlwind of force barreled toward them.
Holger gripped his shield, and braced against the impact.
While Rolland, just withstood it, remained calm and focused, eyes closed in concentration.
The hilt of a sword hit the ground first but, as soon as Serene landed, she imbued herself again and sped off, clenching her fists.
Holger threw his dented shield to the side.
Falling to his knees, he looks at his battered hands as they trembled
...from that one impact…
His vision blurring
Words ring in his head.
"Holger you saw what happened he managed to withstand my strongest spell, what makes you think you can do anything!"
He was right. I am nowhere near as strong as I thought I was. He looked back at Altos. Hands still trembling
Neither was Altos
He looked back at his trembling hands and clenched them tightly.
Rolland spoke.
"Aelizia I am currently occupied, you should go see where you can help the general."
She looked at Rolland
"You sure commander? Wouldn't I just get in the way."
He continued "We all saw that she is bare handed now, she might find trouble ending the fight swiftly if without a sword especially a greatsword."
"I understand commander, holger are you coming with?"
"No, I am better here. Go help her."
"I won't let you down" she nodded
she gently left her position unsheathing her greatsword while running into the battle
Holger placed his hand gently under his brother's head looking at him sorrowfully…
Meanwhile Serene was locked in combat with skull lord
Skull was still intact, with some pieces falling off him from time to time.
His rib cage was burst open and his left hand was open while his right hand was closed.
The whole time it's been completely on the defensive, hasn't tried to attack once.
I have used a lot of mana; Not sure how long i can go.
Serene thoughts churned
She tried to hit him by lunging but wraith skull lord just swerved behind her leaving a phantom-like outline where he was previously.
Dammit he moves like some kind of wraith
He launched a punch, sending her spiraling through some structures but she twisted mid air, recovering with grace, as she landed on the remains of a half-collapsed structure. Without hesitation, she rushed forward.
So now it wants to actually fight. Bring it!
He met her charge head-on, throwing a wild punch, but In the split second she dodged, only for him to vanish, leaving a withering trail marking where he'd been.
"Again?" she muttered in disbelief, her eyes darted all around until his presence materialized behind her, fist already in motion.
The uppercut connected, launching her skyward again.
He leaped after her, skeletal legs coiled like a spring.
At the apex of her flight, he caught her with a devastating blow that sent her hurtling across the townscape. She crashed toward a building's face, but this time she was ready—rolling with the impact and landing gracefully on the rooftop, her boots barely making a sound against the concrete.
He pursued relentlessly, bounding from structure to structure like a predator closing in on prey. A thin layer of mana dispersed from her body. She readied herself, thinking of her next action.
The moment he reached her building, he dropped from above like a meteor, both feet aimed at her skull. She backflipped to the neighboring rooftop just as his impact shattered the structure beneath him. The entire building groaned and cracked from the force. He didn't pause—the moment his feet touched down, he exploded forward, the crumbling edifice collapsing in his wake.
His left fist shot toward her face with bullet-like speed, but she was ready. Her hand clamped around his forearm mid-strike, using his own momentum against him. She pivoted, spun him in a wide arc, and launched herself upward. With crushing force, she drove him down through the building's surface.
Her boot found his skull as they crashed through the ceiling, and she twisted his captured arm backward at an unnatural angle. Mana swirled around her again, causing every pound of her weight to be pressed down on his shoulder joint as debris rained around them.
He thrashed wildly beneath her—legs kicking frantically, his free right arm swinging in desperate arcs. His movements grew more erratic, more panicked, like a drowning man fighting for air that wouldn't come.
If I snap its arm off it will just get away and reattach it, and I can't keep him here too long as the building will collapse fully soon under all this thrashing and weight. Either way both outcomes lead me to chasing it again and I can't afford that. If I just had my greatsword, or any weapon. I could deal a quick lethal blow.
—Then
"GENERAL AM HERE!" Aelizia said as she leapt in the air ready, holding her greatsword with two hands, it faced downward, aiming for skull lord's neck.
"Great timing!" Serene replied as she changed positions on top of his head to leave space for her to strike skull lord's neck, while holding his arm and keeping him still.
Not what i thought but this should work! Serene thought optimistically.
As Aelizia descended for Skull lord's neck.
Skull lord's head twisted round face, both: Aelizia Serene.
Serene's eyes darted toward his free arm, as Skull lord was already in motion swinging his right arm. "No the sword from earlier!" he threw Altos' doubled sided blade.
It spun curving to air, Aelzia saw it coming, changing the direction of her blade last minute and slashing it away, only leaving a shallow gash on her torso, as the blade fell to the ground.
Serene was taken aback by this, making her loose grip which allowed Skull lord to overpower her, sending her flying into a building across from them.
Skull lord jumped over Aelizia in that second his skeletal hands raised high, and clasped together to slam her.
Aelizia turned slowly to her impending doom.
"AELIZIA!!!"
Serene sped, back mana spiralling around her as she covered Aelizia with her body.
Skull lord changed direction of the attack in that moment instead twisting his body, hands still clasped to smack them to the far right of the town.
The swing launched them both, until they hit the town wall.
Wraith Skull lord located Altos's blade on the town floor, under some ruckage and disappeared leaving only a phantom-like outline.
Back to the square.
"Hey Altos, do you remember when we used to get in bar fights all the time?" Holger's face despite his dark skin was pale, his eyes wide with growing panic.
"We were real trouble makers, weren't we? Haha..." His forced laugh died as he watched the light in Altos's eyes dim and his breathing slowed
"Hey...Altos." His expression crumpled, desperation etched across every feature.
"Don't give up please." His voice cracked, his jaw trembling as tears began forming in his eyes, his face contorting with anguish.
"Remember we are all we got left. We die together! We promised to never leave each other's sides!"
He started to cry, his face streaked with tears that dropped onto Altos's still form below.
….
Then
Appearing behind Holger,
Standing menacingly was wraith skull lord.
Staring down at them.
Holger didn't realise at first but as he saw a shadow loom over him, a chill ran down his spine.
He turned around slowly and tried to look, but before he could turn or say a word skull lord— whacked him to the side with so much force it sent him flying into the town square crashing into rubble.
The battlefield in the town itself had mostly died down at this point but Holger…
He was completely taking out the fight.
As skull lord took a step toward Rolland, he jumped just above him with his gauntlets vibrating with mana.
Rolland gauntlet fist was near but at the last second skull lord dodged out the way and tried to stab him with Altos blade, Rolland couldn't do a thing as he was mid attack and the blade was about strike his side
I can't react dammit! He thought in panic.
But in that split second Altos appeared, eyes burning brightly, shoving Rolland to the side.
Altos?
and taking his own blade through the stomach, blood spilling from his mouth.
Then instantly Skull lord disappeared.
Rolland ran to Altos.
"ALTOS! UH, UH—"
He panicked as blood started to pool around Altos.
Eyes still burning with pain, Altos coughed.
Rolland went silent, his face going serious.
Altos coughed again.
"Where's... Holger?" he said weakly.
Rolland could tell that Altos was completely out of it—nothing could be done.
Altos looked up at Rolland and saw him look away in shame. "Heh... I see. To think that if we never committed that stupid"—cough—"crime, we wouldn't be here... but..."
He smiled faintly.
Rolland looked down, tearing up.
"We don't blame you, Commander Rolland. Or anyone."
Tears swelled up in rollands eyes but he didn't make noise.
As Altos's eyes finally fade.
Skull lord appeared again, skeletal hands bloodied; he immediately threw something at Rolland.
It hits Rolland, sending him back and away from Altos's body, as he slowly opened his swollen eyes, he saw the bloody remains of Holger's mangled body.
Rolland doesn't move.
Skull lord stood facing Rolland, blood dripping from both his hands.
Serene with Aelizia on her back comes back panting "hey wha-ts—"
She scanned the place Altos died and Holger's corpse on top of Rolland's petrified face.
Alezia looked to the side "watch out General!"
Serene looked to left immediately.
As Skull lord lunged at serene about to strike, but both skull lord's forearms were grabbed by large transparent yellow hands sparking with power.
Sending a wave sparks throughout his skeletal body constricting his movement even though he tries to resist it was for not.
A big mana presence swirled behind him, almost, menacing.
It then squeezed tightly on his forearms, snapping them like twigs.
One hand quickly grabbed onto his skull as the other disappeared.
It twisted his head around while his body remained facing forward.
Pushing him down to his knees till they were face to face
Rolland looked at Skull lord dead in the eyes.
His face: eyes like granite, Jaw tight.
No more tears, he didn't even speak. From the great power emanating around him his Intention was clear.
Face to face with skull lord, still grief coiled his stone cold exterior like a blade pressed to the heart.
As skull lord squirmed trying to free himself
Rolland flicked his finger in the air causing a barrage of fire bolts to litter from his sun and enveloping skull lord in this ever-consuming fire.
Rolland didn't move but he stared skull lord down as he burned, still holding his head in place.
Laughing is heard through the fire as the persistent sizzling bone of skull lord sings it all.
But as for what he saw through the fire was.. Burning memories
In it the commander sees the boys in a jail cell "Your two are coming with me!"
Memories continue
"Commander surely I can punch Altos for that!"
"Your right let me help you!"
"No no please, I was joking!"
"Commander, watch this, it's my new move: cross body throw!"
He fell
"you'll get it one day!"
More laughing
"I just told you that second ago!"
"Oh..yeah…" Altos looked away in shame.
"Arconians are known for how fast they grow and how big and also their bad memory commander!" Holger said
They all laugh in unison
All the memories burn away as the laughter fades.
Rolland turns to the side, a single tear forming at his eye lid.
As he blinks it away.
He gritted his teeth and raised his hand up making the big hand lift Skull lord up to sky as he charged a fire ball but this wasn't a normal fire ball. It was large and its flame burned ever so brightly..
One more thing rings in his mind.
"Me and Holger were in a dark place back then and that year we spent together was great commander."
"Oh skull lord! Get out of there!" Alana screamed
He fired the ball off "Goodbye Holger and Altos" fire ball as it soared he saw their joyful faces being left for ash.
"This is in your memory" he said sadly looking to the side
The fire ball is sent to skull lord and it exploded creating a giant explosion, turning the whole sky orange reddish hue, the heat being felt from miles away.
When smoke started to appear in the sky two pieces flew out from two sides. One far off into the town covered by smoke. Rolland and serene nod at each other.
Rolland goes for the one on the left while Serene puts Aelzia down and goes for the one on the right.
From Skull lord attack earlier Serene took the brunt of skull lords full swing while Aelizia ended up unintentionally cushioning the crash in the building
Aeliza's body was pretty banged up but she had used her reinforcement to reduce the force done to her own body leaving her legs the only thing messed up.
She sat up right on the ground, "General take my blade" she said weakly
"No you might need to protect yourself" Serene didn't let anything else be asked as she sped off.
"Now I am just a burden…" Aelizia sighed looking at her legs.
On Rolland side
Rolland took long to get to his piece
dammit I used so much mana I barely have any left.
When he gets there he finds skull lords skull
"Yes!"
He quickly runs over to finish it off as he punches it.
It crumbles in only one punch. But a part of rolland wasn't satisfied as his memories rushed through his mind he continued to punch it in a frenzy breaking it further into little bits and crushing it into dust.
On Serene's side
She found the piece, finding only a measly piece of bone.
A realisation hits her… "IT'S A DISTRACTION!"
So she ran back to Aelizia
"no no no no no no NO"
Back at the square.
Serene appeared
"General…"
Aelizia was wrapped up by a blackened but short spinal cord it had rune but it was also missing one segment.
"Dammit how did this happen!"
"kill it" Aelizia threw her greatsword
Serene goes over to take it but the spinal cord points its sharp end directly to Aelizia's stomach while tightening its grip on her neck.
"Ok ok let her go and I will let you live ... .You just have to leave her, "Serene said with a desperate but calm voice.
Spinal cord slowly loosened itself from Aelzia
Rolland appeared slowly sneaking up behind it.
Serene waited a little bit but spinal cord rune pulsed instead Serene saw this and grabbed the great sword trying to lunge along with Rolland.
"No!" Serene shouted
The cord just stabbed Aelizia right through her stomach until the end protruded out of her back.
"Gene-" As blood funneled from her mouth
And the spinal cord lets her go but
Before it could do anything else Serene walked up with a large amount swirling around her and the great sword.
With one decisive vertical slash causing a giant crescent slash to form obliterating the spinal cord.
Rolland had to jump to make sure it didn't hit him.
And…
The crown was shattered.