Chapter 31

“Astrid, cover Kathryn while Wil and I attack. She’ll be vulnerable while she’s using her magic.” Markus ordered, looking around from the entrance for the best plan of assaulting the Cultists.

“Secundus, bless this ‘Holy Weapon’ so that Markus may strike down your enemies.” Kathyn prayed, holding her hand over Markus’s sword. The weapons glowed with divine energy, a blue life that suffused the metal. Finishing, Kathryn turned to Wil, who shook his head.

“I’m fine. Save you mana for later.” Wil advised. The Dragon’s Tooth was a demigod rank weapon, it didn’t need any enchantments to be devastating in battle.

“We’ll carve the path for you, reach Serena as soon as possible.” Markus said, as ‘Echo’ emerged out of his shadow. A moment later, another duplicate appeared, making a trio of Wil’s brother, each holding a holy weapon blessed by Secundus.

With a nod, Markus dashed into the room, three waves of destructive energy already sweeping towards the Cultists arrayed before them. Unlike the foes he faces in the Capital, these Cultists were high ranked, ranging from Rank 10 to 15. Against Markus and his ‘Echoes’ however, they were wheat before the scythe.

The normally crimson energy was replaced by streaks of blue light, each slicing into the undefended flesh of the surprised cultists. Dozens of them had gathered to conduct their ritual, gathered together to fuel their magic with sacrifices.

They had assumed themselves protected by the fiends and undead outside, leaving them defenseless against Markus. He cut through them, the trio cutting deep into their ranks, a dance of death. Wil followed, disappearing from Astrid’s side and reappearing in the thick of the fighting. Each swing of his sword released golden destructive energies, waves crashing against his foes.

Astrid pulled a large shield out of her bag. Engraved with magical runes, she slammed one end into the ground, a barrier of magic covering Kathryn and herself in an impenetrable orb. It would prevent attacks from reaching them but render them unable to assist Markus and Wil.

For long seconds, the slaughter continued unabated, before the Cultists could respond. Once the shock of the assault wore off, they responded with their own magic.

“Harm!” A cultist screamed, holding a talisman of the Lidless Eye up above his head. A wave of negative energy erupted from the item. Sweeping across the ground, it sped towards Markus.

Not able to dodge, he switched places with one of his Echoes, reappearing outside of the spells path. He watched as his duplicate’s flesh swelled painfully with boils, his skin turning black and rotten. In moments, Echo was gone, returned to wherever Markus had summoned him from.

Unconcerned, Markus thrust his blade forward, piercing another Cultist through the throat. In a moment, another Echo took his fallen comrades place, resuming the assault on the Cult.

Rays of fire and frost streaked across the open area between Astrid and the Cultists, crashing into her barrier with vicious force. Her protective field held, the shield she had forged with her own talents, engraved with her magic, deflected the attacks.

The offensive magic splintered, splitting off and impacting the walls and floor around her, carving great gouges in the earth, and piercing the hard stone. A shower of dust and debris blocked her vision as the Cultists launched more attacks. Her world turned grey and dark, lit by flashes of red, blue and white as dozens of Cultists sent more magic against her.

Just when she thought she would be overwhelmed, Kathryn stepped forward. Bathed with divine light, the barrier parted around her from the power she held as she lifted her hand and pointed.

“Fire Storm!” Kathryn shouted, and fire erupted from the ground in front of her. The flames roared as they shot up in a geyser, forming a circle in the air, before rushing towards the Cultists.

Several of their own mages attempted to band together, joining their mana to form a shield of darkness in front of them. It was useless, the fires pierced the barricade in an instant, sweeping them away and leaving nothing but ash.

Others leapt out of the way, their mana enhancing their movements as they fled the destructive divine magic chasing them. Seizing the opportunity, Markus and his Echoes cut them down from behind, the flames parting around them under Kathryn’s control.

Astrid was in awe of Kathryn’s abilities, the fire seemed to be a part of her, an extension of her body as it flowed and surged, guided by her thoughts and willpower alone. She thought that perhaps the cleric could single-handedly clear everything before her, when a figure emerged from amidst the flames.

Over seven feet tall, the warrior wielded a mace as large as Astrid herself in two hands, dragging the head of the weapon against the ground. Wearing black armor and a helmet that covered its face, this new foe was unaffected by the flames, the darkness around it seeming to snuff out the fires as he walked.

Throwing himself forward, the large warrior lifted the mace high above his head, smashing it down towards the defenseless Kathryn. Astrid could feel the weight of the weapon as it moved, the air screamed as it approached.

In the last moment, Markus reappeared in front of his wife, barely deflecting the attack with his own sword. The mace shattered the ground at his feet, embedding the weapon into the stone. Shaking off the numbness in his hand from the impact, Markus stabbed his sword towards the eye slits of the helmet, only for the warrior to catch the blade in his gauntleted grip.

“Markussss Brookmoor” a voice hissed out from the helmet. Markus pulled his blade out of the warrior’s grasp, the blade screeching against the metal armor.

“Do I know you?” Markus asked, readying himself for another strike. To the sides, his echoes were defending him from the Cultists renewed assault.

“Mammon sends his regardssss.” It whispered, pulling the mace out of the ground, and swinging it towards Markus once more. Unable to dodge for fear of it striking Kathryn, Markus braced himself, letting his sword and body take the full brunt of the blow.

Markus skidded across the ground, his feet unable to find purchase on the stone. Off balance from the force, he tumbled across the chamber, before slamming into the wall. Intense pain wracked his body and he saw nothing but stars.

Before he could respond, the armored warrior shot towards him, the mace already aiming for him once more.

“Markus!” Wil shouted, finishing off the Cultist he was facing and turning to help his brother. A shower of stone chips and debris scattered across the ground, and Wil’s vision of the duo was blocked by the dust and dirt.

“I’m alright!” Markus responded, reappearing where his echo had been. He had used his abilities to switch places with his duplicate at the last moment. The warrior was strong, at least Rank 19, if not a demigod, and it served the Archdevil Mammon. Clearly, the devil didn’t want them to close the only connection it had with their realm.

“Go get Serena! We can hold it off!” Markus shouted, already moving towards the armored figure, the blue light of his sword streaking across the chamber, piercing the dust and debris.

Wil hesitated for a moment, watching as his brother and the demonic armored figure traded blows, before he spun around towards the pyramid, disappearing in a white mist. He needed to save Serena, it was the only way to close the portal and protect everyone.

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The inside of the pyramid reeked of death and blood. Runes and symbols covered every inch of the passageway, while a river of blood flowed through a channel cut into the floor, blood drained from the prisoners taken from Aachen.

Wil followed the flowing blood cautiously, his sword held ready. Behind him, he could hear the crash of steel on steel, the bellowed shouts of combat and the explosive force of magic being unleashed. The negative energy was growing thicker as he moved deeper into the tunnel, each step almost felt like wading through water, so thick was the energy.

His footsteps echoed against the walls and the pounding of his heart drummed in his ears as he moved forward, each step bringing him closer to Serena.

In the distance of the darkened tunnel, a light glowed. Hurrying his steps, he entered the heart of the pyramid. There in the center, was Serena. At least, what was left of her.