"Demon, what is the meaning of this?" demanded Axel.
"Oh, this? I got bored while waiting for you to arrive." remarked Eryna unbothered.
"For us? You massacred these people just to lure us in?" Evonia couldn't believe the sight in front of her.
"Well, the goblins did their job to ruffle some feathers around here, but I had to maintain the entertainment, wouldn't you say so?" asked Eryna while playing with the decapitated head of one of the dead villagers.
"You call this entertainment? I will destroy you, monster!" raged Axel, preparing himself to charge towards her.
The demoness couldn't help but roll her eyes, "I'm sure you will."
Before Axel could charge, Thaedian stopped him. "Remain here angel if you wish to live, this is no ordinary demon."
"Hm, we've got a smart one here," smirked Eryna, "too bad it won't help you too much. Puppies, come out to play!"
A pack of red hounds surrounded the angels, with red, demonic eyes and large fangs. They looked tortured, with patches of skin missing and maggots swirling around in their flesh.
Lyzor almost threw up at their sight. "What the heck are these things?"
"Buckle up archer boy, this is what you signed up for," Thaedian stood still for a couple of seconds with his eyes closed, then a dazzling light started to surround them. He then smacked his shield with his sword, shouting: "Glory beyond death!"
The light covered the angels, then went up in the sky as a big pillar.
"My strength feels so overwhelming now." remarked Axel.
"This should keep on our feet for now, until the others respond to our calling." responded Thaedian, clearly concerned by the gravity of the situation.
"Are you done now? Charge my lovely dogs, feast to your content!" shrieked the succubus.
The hounds jumped at the party of of angels, enraged and possessed. Even though they were inexperienced in a real battle, the divine beings retaliated strongly. Axel was slashing them with his great sword, Thaedian was bashing them with his shield while Lyzor was finishing them off with a barrage of arrows.
Evonia finished channeling her spell before unleashing a nova of ice that froze all the hounds in place, providing her allies the perfect chance to shatter all of them.
Axel was about to execute the last hound with his sword, but he was blasted off against a wall by a green force wave. When he looked up, he saw the mighty undead knight, Arum.
"Axel! Hurry back here in formation, you cannot win against that foe!" called Thaedian.
The young angel reconsidered for a second, as he wanted to fight against the giant skeleton, however he started to rush towards his allies. Before he could reach them, the earth beneath him split off and chains surrounded him, disabling him.
"Thaedian, help me!" screamed the paralyzed angel. His allies were surrounded by demon spawns and skeletons in the split of a second.
"What is happening? Is this the end of us?" cried out Axel.
"Oh no, my dear angel. This is just the beginning of our fun." purred Eryna, caressing his cheek
Axel was struggling to escape the chains, when he felt a sharp pain in his neck. Something bit him.
In that moment the swarm of demons and undead retreated, making way for Thaedian and his party to see Axel restrained and a creature behind him, biting his neck.
"You should feel honored angel, this wonderful hybrid was resurrected just for you." said Eryna.
The hybrid was a vampire, with scorched skin and decayed flesh. He was feasting on Axel's neck with a possessed look on his face.
Axel started to rage in pain, feeling fire and poison spreading through his body. His eyes became bloodshot, his veins started to pop out and his cry could be heard in all of the realm.
His mind was numb from the pain and torture, as his very essence of purity was defiled by decay and rage. Even so, he wanted to live, to destroy each and every demon alive, to massacre the insufferable demoness.
The hybrid opened his eyes wide, as he was struck by Axel's wish to live and his pure essence, and so he was petrified.
"Oh? Now this is an interesting turn of events," remarked the succubus. "Arum, we've done our part, let's leave before he turns on us."
And so, the succubus and the death knight vanished in a swarm of smoke and locusts.
Axel was still immobilized, breathing heavily, still feeling the pain of what happened.
Thaedian and rest stood for a second, staring at him and then around them to make sure no one's around anymore. Then Thaedian heard a voice in his head he recognized instantly, giving him a command he could not ignore.
The paladin walked towards Axel, weapons down. He looked at the now corrupted angel with mercy in his eyes and compassion. He lifted his ching, staring in his blood shot eyes, filled with tears and despair.
"Commander, please help me..." pleaded Axel, his voice barely audible.
"I will, my young recruit... I shall give you the help you need." responded Thaedian, with a nod in this throat.
A sharp stab was heard, prompting gasps from Lyzor and Evonia, as they couldn't shake off the horrors of that day.
Thaedian was stroking Axel's hair, after stabbing him.
"May the Holy Light guide your soul, young angel." |
