Elendria’s POV

Having warned Lord Goldenlake of his folly, I strode toward Saphielle. No, I strode toward Adder. My friend died long ago. “Come my frostlings, bearing fang and blade and magic. I have need of your ferociousness, for my enemy is strong.” It felt good to use a summoning again, though I was partially surprised when only two answered my call. Even more so when I realized it was Chief Korii and Shaman Gekko!

“Don’t fret Elendria, we are the best to answer the call.” Shaman Gekko said without turning to me. “The Great Ice Spirit came to me and told me that if others came, they would only die. I will counter her poisons, Korii will fight her, and you control the battlefield.”

“Elendria, still relying on cute summonings rather than powerful ones?” Adder chuckled. “Well, this will be the last time you make that mistake. Greater blessing of Apophis.” With her words, a blackish green glow enveloped her and her blades before sinking in.

“Arctic frost.” I countered, smiling as the temperature plummeted enough that snowflakes started crystallizing in midair.

“Oil coat. Agility boost. Poison resist.” Gekko added some buffs to Korii as he drew a hand axe in his right hand and a short sword in his left.

“Ice spike.” I snarled, sending a bolt of ice at Adder, only to see her gracefully evade it.

“What’s this? No words of welcome for your long lost friend? No declarations of sending me to my doom? Not even wondering how long I’ve been at this?” She taunted.

“None of that matters.” I said, drawing a blade of ice for myself. I wasn’t about to send Korii into a battle where I wasn’t going. “I saw what you did to Jeanay and the others. Their souls can no longer reincarnate. I’ll make sure the same is true of you.”

“Yesssss! There it isssssss!” She hissed, adopting an attack stance. “The hatred! The drive for vengeance! Promises of retribution! Now come and collect, if you can.”

“Intercept.” With a clash of blades, Korii was suddenly in front of me, blocking both of Adder’s daggers before she disengaged and retreated a bit. “Let me do the fighting, you do the helping.” He chided, before charging into battle himself. They connected a few times, seeming to be on par with speed even though I knew the cold had to be slowing Adder down a bit. It wasn’t until I saw her draw back a bit and start circling that her plan became apparent. She could move freely on the marble floors, but Chief Korii’s claws were having a difficult time finding purchase. She was going to use the slipperiness against him unless there was something I could do for him.

“Frozen footing. Snowfield.” I called out to let the chief know my plans, as first the ground turned to a sheet of ice only to be covered quickly covered by loose packed snow.

“Now she’s thinking.” Gekko chuckled as Korii smiled.

“Now let’s see how fast you can be, slippery snake.” Korii taunted, dashing in and unleashing a four slash combo, only to have all of them expertly deflected by Adder. Her return strike hit his arm at an oblique angle, glancing off without even breaking the skin.

“Hah! You fools think a little cold will slow me? I am Adder, the favored Viper of Apophis! I birthed the royal armors that your brothers wear, and was granted his greater blessing! My powers make void steel look like brass!” She snarled, launching into a flurry of cuts that rapidly started finding openings in Korii’s defense. Though his agility had returned with the ice on the ground, she was still faster than him.

“Ice blade storm!” I called, launching a flurry of tiny blades at Adder’s face to distract her. Rather than take the escape route, Korii chose to further engage, launching a powerful blow toward her thigh with his axe. To everyone’s surprise, it was stopped cold by her armor, and allowed her to get a powerful slash across his chest that finally drew blood.

“Hah! Take that you little bastard.” She snarled, smiling as he staggered backwards. After a second, her smile slowly disappeared. “So, your little friend can neutralize my poisons? No matter. I’ll simply slice you into bits.” As she took a step forward, Korii exploded into motion.

“Flurry blades! Frost strikes!” He cried out as his weapons were encased with a blue energy that left streaks in its wake. Even with his skills he wasn’t able to pierce her skin, but each failed attack bled energy into her that slowed her ever so slightly.

“Serpent slash!” She countered, only to have it glance off his fur once again. “Rotten mammal! Piercing fangs!”

“Ungh.” Korii grunted as the two daggers managed to pierce into him, though not deep enough to threaten anything vital.

“Not good.” Gekko muttered. “Need more powerful attacks to get through.”

“Give me ten seconds to charge one up.” I said quietly. “Then get Korii back. Even he won’t be able to withstand this cold.” I circled to one side so that I Korii would have the easiest time disengaging, and started charging. Once it was done, I yelled, “Korii, disengage!”

“I SEE YOU ELENDRIA!” Adder said, immediately turning and launching herself directly at me.

“Absolute Zero!” I shouted, rushing the spell a bit and doubling over in pain from the partial backlash. I could feel the spell fired, but not nearly at full power. As I blinked the blots of darkness out of my vision, I saw a rapidly thawing frozen statue of Adder mere inches from my face, dagger extended to pierce deep into my stomach.

“Korii! Hack at her while she can’t escape!” I called as I scrambled, flinching when I tried to channel any mana. “I can’t cast any spells for a bit!”

“Spirit of Ice, break all that reside within your domain. Shattering Force!” Gekko cried, sending a pulse of energy through the room that caused all the ice and snow to shatter. When it struck Adder, it tore off chunks of skin and caused massive rents in her armor, as well as making her daggers break as well.

“Little bitch of a shaman! Aaaaah!” She screamed as the lunge from Korii pierced her thigh then fell to the ground as he followed through with his axe, biting deep into the base of her spine. He backed off immediately, as she swung her arms around on the ground, her legs paralyzed.

“BROTHER!!” We all paused to see Duerse scream as he held the severed head of Olearis in his hands, before launching forward in a vicious assault against Sean, Lord Goldenlake and Lord Hemlock.

“Hehehe, your friend’s about to die Elendria. What will you do to save him?” She asked, gloating as I rolled her onto her back. “This is why we will always win. You are too-“ She never finished her sentence, as I had stabbed her through the heart with a blade I had taken from Korii.

“Soft?” I asked, turning my ear towards her to better hear. “I think you’ll find that I’ve hardened quite a bit in the time I’ve been away. And I’ll not take any chances on you escaping and having to fight you all over again. Better to deny Apophis his favorite piece and trust in Sean to finish the creature you’ve turned my brother into.” I turned to the fight, and yelled, “FINISH HIM SEAN! HE’S THE LAST ONE STANDING!”

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Sean’s POV

“BROTHER!” Duerse screamed as he realized just what it was he was holding. He stood there, shaking in rage before glaring at the three of us. “I will rip you all TO SHREDS!” He shrieked, dashing forward with a scimitar in one hand and a thick looking rapier type blade in his other hand. I hadn’t ever been trained with blades, but he was obviously throwing all attempts at technique to the wind and was trusting to sheer ferocity to win the day.

“Mana shields.” I muttered, creating a small shield in each of my hands, trying my best to parry the blows and not take one directly on.

“That won’t save you!” He snarled as bits of his armor peeled off and started slashing at us as well. My mana armor was holding, but my reserves were dropping rather quickly. The two elven lords didn’t quite know what to make of his fury, having retreated enough that I wouldn’t trip over them but not quite fully removing themselves from Duerse’s range.

“Would you two either help out or get out of the fucking way!” I snarled, using a compressed air bullet to buy myself some space.

“FINISH HIM SEAN! HE’S THE LAST ONE STANDING!” I heard Elendria cry out, and took full advantage when Duerse paused to look in her direction for a second.

“Divine laser.” I muttered, using up nearly all of my mana to cleave off the hand that held the longer blade.

“What manner of spell is this?” He cried, dropping his scimitar to hold his smoking stub of a forearm. I thought about darting in to grab his fallen blade, but his armor caught the scimitar and immediately targeted me with it. That didn’t stop one of the elven lords from grabbing and throwing the other blade to his fellow, despite the slashes he took to his arm and face for his bravery.

“Skewer him, Goldenlake!” He cried as blood flowed from the horrible cut along his cheek.

“With pleasure, Hemlock.” The other one said, stepping forward. “Skewering raindrops.” He said, and his sword blurred into motion. He kept his distance, and simply used the point of his weapon to deliver hundreds of small wounds all over Duerse’s body.

“APOPHIS! GRANT ME THE POWER TO CLAIM VENGEANCE! DARK WRATH!” He bellowed, holding his remaining hand skyward. A tremendous presence appeared with a strange red magic circle, one I had felt before. Except this time I was out of spirit as well as low on mana.

“Look at you. How pitiful. After all the gifts I have given, even sacrificing my last Viper, and you still demand more?” A sibilant voice hissed from the circle. “No, mortal. You have proven inferior. I’ll not waste anything else on you. You have broken our deal, and when I finally come to your world I shall delight in devouring every last member of your pathetic race.”

Duerse’s face fell as he heard those words, and he fell to his knees as the armor released his blade. “No.” He muttered, almost too softly for anyone to hear. The presence focused on me, trying to intimidate me into falling to my knees.

“You.” It said.

“Me.” I said with a smile, spreading my arms. “Were you expecting someone else?”

“I will call your tab due in time. Those pathetic gods that summoned you grow weaker by the day. You will spend eternity in agony as I slowly siphon off your soul.”

“Big words for someone who has yet to defeat me.” I taunted. “Once I seal this world away from you, I should head to your world and teach you a few lessons.”

“HAHAHAHAHAHA!” Apophis bellowed. “Oh, I would look forward to that day! By all means mortal, do come to my world!” He cried just before the circle disappeared. With that gone, our group surrounded Duerse. Elendria to one side, me to the other, and Goldenlake holding his blade to his throat.

“If you kill me, they die.” Duerse said with a grin.

“Who dies?” Hemlock demanded.

“The army. The city guards. Half the civilians. If I am killed, the soul leaches will go wild and consume their souls.” He chuckled.

“You monster!” Goldenlake hissed as he pulled back his sword.

“I needed a guarantee, and I didn’t trust Saphielle. She left far too much wiggle room in her agreements.” He chuckled, pulling himself up and sitting in his throne. “So. How do we do this? Do I kill everyone? Will you let me go? Imprison me for all time?”

“Did you really not know the source of the soul leaches? Elendria asked.

“Hmm?” He said, turning toward her before his face softened. “No. I had no idea about that. The only ones I saw birthed came from Saphielle herself, and she suffered no ill effects from what I could see. When she offered up the other handmaidens to help, well. I figured they would be doing what she did.”

“I believe you.” She said, causing him to flinch. “Even now, I can see that you were led down a dark path, and though your hands are stained, and it will take time, there could be redemption for your soul.”

“And just how do you know that?” Hemlock snarled. “Sisterly knowledge? Desperate hope?”

“Because I am an Arbiter of Mahapadma, fool!” She snapped, a cold aura immediately blasting out of her. “My class is the most powerful of the guardians of the frozen hells, and it is our power to see into the souls of mortals. When the foulest of the foul evade the karma through unnatural means, it is Us that are sent to retrieve them!”

“Healing bolt, make healing sting. Lessons need be learned.” I noticed Shaman Gekko standing by Elendria all of a sudden, and she sent a green bolt to patch up the wound on Hemlock’s face. He hissed in pain, then tentatively put a hand up to feel the scar. “You’ve had several close brushes with death today. Don’t tempt the jaws of the shark, all it takes is one bite and you are done for.”

“I suppose you are right. Lady Elendria, you have my apologies for mocking you.” He said with a bow, and she retracted her aura a bit before she turned to her brother.

“I will offer this deal once, and only once. Use whatever connection you have to those soul leaches to save what is left of our people, and I will send you to the hell that awaits you. You will feel no pain when you die, and eventually you will earn admittance back into the cycle of reincarnation.”

“And if I don’t?” He asked.

“Then I call your bluff and kill you. Not only that, I will annihilate your soul so that you will never be reincarnated. Your last moments of existence will be as a defeated cripple sitting on your throne, surrounded by enemies.” I said. I leaned down into his face and whispered, “I already have the Soul Slayer title. One more won’t add to it.”

“Elendria! Save me!” He said, immediately recoiling from me and trying to get as far away as possible. “I’ll do it! I’ll remove all the leaches! Just don’t send me to oblivion!”

“Do it then.” She ordered, and he tried to calm down. At her slight nod, I stepped back and simply stared at him. As he calmed, the armor that was surrounding him slowly peeled off and molded itself into a sphere. I could sense something was going on, and Duerse’s face started turning grey as sweat started beading on his forehead. Seconds later, he gave a mighty exhale and the sphere in his hands turned grey and white as it slowly crumbled into ashes.

“There. It’s done.” He said, chest heaving.

“Send a runner to check on the city guard. See if they have removed their armor, or if any of the tattoed ones have fallen unc-“ Elendria started to say before she was interrupted by Victoria.

“It is done.” She said, hobbling forward and using her staff as a crutch. “We have passed a crucial point in the weave.”

“Very well.” Elendria said before standing in front of her brother. “The blackest of karma’s taint your soul. You have sold the souls of your subjects for temporary refuge from an invading god. You have also caused three souls to be obliterated completely, never again to reincarnate. Ignorance of your actions is no excuse. For those who destroy the fates of others, the Narakas send an Arbiter. My job is to bring your soul to the rewards it has reaped within its life. Repent your sins and reflect on your life, for Mahapadma awaits. Frozen Judgement.” She spoke in a dispassionate tone, darkness covering the chamber as she reached a hand into her brother’s chest and pulled out his soul. It made no attempt to fight her as a portal opened behind it and sucked it through.

“Well, that ends that.” Goldenlake said, exhaling in relief as he hooked his weapon into its rack on his back. “I guess we need a new monarch. As next in line, all hail Queen Elendria.” He ended by kneeling and bowing to her.

“All hail Queen Elendria.” Everyone save me and Victoria repeated before kneeling. The otters didn’t either, they just chittered in laughter.

“I refuse the crown.” Elendria immediately said. “Even if I hadn’t spent so many decades in other countries, even if I wasn’t related to two elves who nearly destroyed our people, I have other places I need to be. Find a better leader, and end this war with the humans. As everyone saw, we have much bigger issues with Apophis to deal with.”

“As the successor to the crown has abdicated, the council will stand as regents for a year as the next generation of royal hopefuls prepare themselves for the trials.” Victoria said. “As for you two, what are your plans?”

Elendria looked at me, so I shrugged. “We need to head to the demon continent, though I don’t know how long that will take. We need to find a way to stop Apophis from entering this world, and we can only do it through the rift there I think.”

“I see. Well, let me help you out there. The Oracle’s Temple here has a teleportation array that can be used once per year to send a group of people to its counterpart in the Demon Capital. Follow me. Hemlock, Goldenlake, you two work together to get this place cleaned up. We have much to do in the coming days.”

“Of course.” Both said with a slight bow, but Victoria wasn’t paying attention and was already hobbling away.

“We should be going too. Thanks for the fun, and the new scar.” Chief Korii said from behind Elendria, already stroking the green fur that had grown in on his chest.

“May the Great Ice Spirit bless your journey.” Gekko said, giving Elendria a small bow.

“I thank you both for coming to my aid. Until next time.” Elendria said, waving as a portal appeared behind the two otters, who quickly bounded through it. “Ready for the Demon Capital?” She asked, offering me her arm.

“I’m ready for all of this to be over with.” I countered, taking her arm and following the path Victoria had already cleared out.