45 The Four Horsemen of Apocalypse (1/2)

Chapter 45: The Four Horsemen of Apocalypse

Adam and Pythagoras continued their intense stare down, as the two fiends prepared themselves for combat.

”Did'ja think you'd just waltz on in without nobody seeing you'n the others? Pretty stupid if ya ask me. So. We gonna do somethin' or what?” Pythagoras grumbled, his focus on Adam's quiet gaze.

”....” Adam remained silent, his look almost daring the other fiend to act first.

”Strong silent type, ain't ya? Pretty cocky expression there though, I like that!!” Pythagoras shouted, as he proceeded to rush in, thrusting his oversized claw at Adam with great vigor.

Adam nervously countered, blocking the strike with his oversized arm, as their gazes locked onto each other. Adam knew he was best suited for close range combat, but he had no idea what he was up against. His monstrous mouth lunged at Pythagoras, snapping aggressively. However, Pythagoras weaved to the side, with his violent strands of hair flying closer as they impail Adam's monstrous mouth.

”ARGH!!” Adam cried out, forcing himself to pull away; the embedded hair being torn from his flesh, as he got to a distance.

”Don't like that, huh!?” Pythagoras grinned, his hair wriggled around in the air behind him.”How about we find out JUST how much PAIN you can endure. You got more than just my tendrils to worry 'bout!”

Adam rushed at Pythagoras, as Pyth did the same at the opposing fiend. They collided in the air, dark energy spiraling around both of them in perfect sync. Back and forth they slammed each other and fought back, blow for blow. Pythagoras wasmoving first, but each time Adam would avoid the attack, and he would sneak in a counter attack at the other fiend.

Pythagoras scoffed at the feeble reactions of Adam, rushing with his claw swaying. He side swept, getting behind Adam. Glancing back, he jabbed his crab hand backwards, shifting it behind him. However, before it could collide, Adam rolled out of the line of attack, where the claw struck.At this moment he counter attacked, his monstrous mouth darting right at Pythagoras to tear open his belly. Pythagoras was caught by surprise, seeing his unusual colored blood slowly fly passed him as Adam's gaze sharpened.

Pythagoras took a step backwards as he hunched forward to his now bleeding gut. Instead of the look of agony however, Pythagoras looked thrilled beyond belief. His lips curled up, grinning wide as he began to laugh uncontrollably with excitement. ”Huehue... EhhhahahaAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!” He sounded deranged, like he just snapped!

Adam had no idea how to respond to this, quickly retreating a few feet away from this madman, still on edge in case this fight wasn't over. He watched as the other fiend used his claw to cut off his shirt, exposing the wound even more. Much like Adam, Pythagoras had had various stitches coating his torso. However, he also had extra eye growths on his abdomen, with the spines of his back reaching nearly to his rear.

Tears came from Pythagoras' eyes as he continued to cackle hysterically, reaching his claw to his infliction. Then the laughing faded, leaving a large grin poised on his face as he looked to Adam. ”Oooohohohoo, I changed my mind, I LIKE you! You're the most fun I've had in AGES!” Pythagoras exclaimed.

Immediately, he tore open his wound thrusting out his intestines at Adam violently. The internal organs quickly ensnared around Adam like a constricting lasso, and willed him closer to his opponent. Adam was stunned, completely thrown off guard from that sudden maneuver. Their eyes met as Pythagoras wildly brought Adam close up, their faces nearly touching.

”Hahaha. It's a damned shame. If you hadn't of killed Hase, I'd make you my personal play thing in a heart beat.” Pythagoras cackled, before his face went completely serious and cold. ”You done fucked up. Now I gotta kill ya!”

Adam struggled from the bindings of Pythagoras' organs, grunting as they coiled tighter around him. ”You're sick.” He managed to speak.

”Am I now? As far as I can tell, you're the one who ain't right.” Pythagoras scoffed. ”What kind of fiend doesn't get off on pain? You're actinglike some domesticated PET... Maybe you are weak.” He said growing bored. ”I HATE the weak!”

Pythagoras launched Adam across the battlefield, letting the more timid fiend tumble in the gravely earth. He was proceeding to approach, slower this time due to his severe injuries, as his intestines wriggled around to his sides like tentacles flailing with excitement. Adam struggled to push himself up, staring as the more aggressive fiend drew closer with a twisted sneer. Blood continued to trail from his body, but he showed no signs of death approaching.

”Maybe you're right.” Adam sighed, forcing himself to stand as the opposing fiend continued to minimize the gap between them. ”I used to be human after all...” Adam admitted, but he seemed uncertain, feeling somewhat hopeless.

”That so? I bet you don't fit in anywhere, now do you?” Pythagoras smirked, as he began to circle around Adam like a shark, eyeing him as he hovered over Adam with an intimidating gaze. ”On one hand, humans are terrified of that 'precious' ugly little mug.” He said, grabbing Adam's jaw, and shaking it slightly before letting it go to get behind him. ”And yet...” He paused, wrapping his claw arm around Adam's neck as he peered around to look at his face. ”You're too soft to fit in with you're own kind. The females would eat you alive before even fuckin' ya.”

Adam suddenly let loose his monstrous mouth, clamping onto Pythagoras' face with hostile intent. The teeth of it began to tug, pulling his entire head inside it's mouth as Pythagoras struggled violently. Within seconds, the jaw crunched in hard, letting blood splatter as his head was snatched from his shoulders like a savage animal. Adam stood there with a stoic gaze, as Pythagoras' headless body fell to the ground, flailing around before it ultimatelyceased movement. Adam turned his gaze away from the body as it disintegrated into the air, wiping the blood from his cheek as he swallowed the head whole.

”That's for killing Molly.” He said, with a sigh of relief, as a single tear rolls down on his face.

Elsewhere, under the dim lit cavern upon a rock formation hanging over various tunnels of the underground, in front of Wynorex's gates, there was four horse-like figures observing from their guarding positions. Upon their backs were mounted riders, completely concealed by the shadows of darkness around them.

”Ehehehe.... They're coming!!! EHHEHEHHE!!! Hungry! Ehehe! MUST FEAST!!” The fiendish figure mounted upon a mare with a black mane made of tentacles, exclaimed with excitement.

”Patience now Famine, we do not wish to allow them anticipation. That is why the Queen wanted us to examine the situation before diving forth into temptation.” The rider upon a twisted looking winged stallion with a purple coat spoke cryptically, behind a bird-like mask on his face.

”You're just delaying our body counts, Pestilence! You're LETTING the lowest ranked cultists take OUR kills! I WANT TO SEE SOME BLOOD ALREADY!!!!” Angrily snapped the rider upon the mummified mare with a smokey mane.

”You even got War all fired up here. You know how these two get when urges kick in. Might as well let them loose already.” The rider upon the skeletal unicorn spoke up, with an easy-going tone.

”If you think that wise, Death, very well. However, if the Queen is displeased, it'll be on your head. Do keep that in mind now, we were meant to guard the gates.” Pestilence remarked.

”I'll protect the gate then.” Death replied, with boredom.

”Fair enough. Famine. War. You may proceed.” Pestilence stated, allowing the riders to join the others in combat

With eagerness, Famine and War stormed down from the summit, descending to the lower level to split into two different passageways. They were on the hunt now, ready to kill whatever prey they came across. Pestilence turned to Death, that cold mask staring silently while he also descended to the lower level, to venture down a third passage. Death waited a moment for the three of them to vanish from view, before doing the same down the fourth tunnel entrance, rather that doing as he stated.

Meanwhile down another one of the vast tunnels, Hige was urgently running for his life with the unconscious Hitomi resting in his battered arms. His wounds had yet to recover and he shakily continued to flee from the known threat not far behind him. He knew it was only a matter of time before Dharma would reach him. An uprooted vine snagged his foot, causing him to trip to the ground, dropping his female companion in the process. Hige winced, rolling to his side before peering weakly to Hitomi with exhausted eyes. She hadn't yet woken up, but her clothes now carried dust and debris from her collision with the ground.

”Hitomi...” Hige forced out, with panting breaths.

Behind him, six yellow paws began to draw closer, investigating where Hige laid as this approaching beast-kin fiend lingered behind a mask-like face. It was the same one that Adam had encountered while facing off against Hase, the one named Kerlancealo. The tiger-like fiend's tail swished, as he placed a paw over Hige to peer down at the hare. Hige shuttered, as Kerlancealo took in his scent.

Kerlancealo's tail was rattling in agitation. ”...You smell like Dharma. Why is that?” He growled, leering at Hige as he pressed one of his other paws roughly against Hige's wounded ribs.

”Urgh!” Hige winced, as he could barely move from the pain surging through his body.

”Where is SHE!?” Kerlancealo snapped, angrily.

”I... don't... know...” Hige winced.

Stomping was heard echoing down the corridor Hige had came from, causing the Hare to grow anxious. The tiger fiend shifted his ears back to listen suddenly, as he turned around he noticed Dharma enter the chamber, her club over her shoulder.

”Hey, you caught that little bunny-boy for me. You are so precious, Kerlancealo.” Dharma giggled, but also noticed Hitomi laying there. ”Awe, you even caught his little girlfriend. Aren't you the sweetest!” She exclaimed, happily.

”Dharma? You're alright?” Kerlancealo replied, his tone surprised.

”Of course I am, Lance. You worry too much, hun.” The female oni smiled with a wink, as she crouched down to press her lips against the cheek of his mask. She shifted to stroke Kerlancealo's coat as she stood beside him to peer down to the hare. ”Looks like this little bunny is done playing. He's so tuckered out, I might just break him.” She grinned, showing her truer intimidating nature.

”So, what should we do with him?” Kerlancealo muttered, leering down at the hare.

Those menacing stares hanging overhead, made Hige frozen in fear. He was too tired and wounded to make any sort of move now. Then the eerie trotting of hooves seemed to approach from the shadows. Hige was too weak to get a glimpse of whatever was coming, but he was already surrounded now.

”(This is... the end... isn't it?..)” Hige thought, his eyes shifting to Hitomi, he was concerned with the clear threat that he may not survive this encounter, and the dread he may not be able to save her. ”(Maybe... She would have been... safer if I didn't... try to save her from Aoba....)” Hige's one good eye squinting as he gazed to her wearily, thoughts rushing through his mind.

”What have we here? Looks like you two caught a pair of them.” Spoke a lazy voice, as the trotting ceased.

Hige's eye suddenly shot open with terror, ”(That voice...!?)” He thought, trembling as he tried to shift his gaze.

”Decided to join the hunt, Death? I thought the four of you were defending the keep.” Dharma curiously looked over to the rider upon the skeletal unicorn.

Descending from his mount, Shane came into view. ”Change of plans.” He said, smirking with that crooked grin of his. His dark eyes shifted to Hige, staring down upon him with a sharpening gaze.

The skeletal forms from his back followed his movements perfectly, their faces shifting focus as Shane's hand grasped to one of his waveblades. His free hand extended to Dharma, placing on her shoulder as he quickly jabbed it through her exposed stomach. Her face grew warped in panic, as she frantically tried to focus on the blade being pulled out within seconds to see her blood splash to her feet without understanding what was even going on. Dharma collapsed to her knees, her hands clinging to her bleeding gut.

”D-Dharma!?” Kerlancealo panicked, tackling Shane away from his lady friend in a blind rage. ”YOU SONOVA BITCH!! WHY DID YOU DO THAT YOU FUCKING TRAITOR!?” He roared.

”Ker...Ker...Kerlance...alo... Come... come here...” Dharma gurgled, as blood coughed up from her lungs. Her body was trembling, as she tried to hold her innards inside her belly as blood wriggled through her fingers. Her body was already starting to turn to dust fragments.

”Dharma! I can't... I CAN'T LOSE YOU TOO!!” Kerlancealo cried out, as tears flew from the eyes of his mask, as he turned to look back at her.

”La...nce...” Dharma tried to say, her eyes suddenly full of panic.

”You don't have to lose her.” Shane spoke up.

Kerlancealo heard this, and was about to return his gaze to Shane, but his mask was met with the second wave blade, plunged into his skull. The tiger fiend's body dropped, beginning to trail off into ash in the air around his corpse. The body was shoved to the side, as Shane rose back to his feet, proceeding to Dharma who laid in front of Hige and Hitomi.

”Why...?” She shakily asked, unable to move as she slowly decayed into dust. ”Why betray... the queen?” Tears began to roll down her face, as she glanced to Kerlancealo's body with the look of misery.

”I got my reasons.” Shane stated without a second thought, his boot kicking her away.

Dharma tumbled to a distance, leaving a trail of blood with ever trace of dirt she touched. She was growing weaker, as she was quickly fading as she tried to watch Kerlancealo's corpse through hazy vision before she and him both disintegrated into dust.

”Shane.... I-I don't know... How this is even possible, but... I know that's you...” Hige tried to speak, but his inflictions were growing more excruciatingly painful. ”... I failed and got you killed... I'm the worst friend... I'm sorry....I'm SO sorry Shane...” Hige tried to talk with his former partner, tears rolling down his bludgeoned face.

There was a long pause and the skeletal face of Shane's turned to gaze upon where Hige laid. ”It wasn't your fault, Hige.” Shane finally spoke up, slowly crouch down to the hare. ”I got myself killed. Not you.” Shane said, in a somber tone as he looked to his friend.

”Won't stop me from blaming myself... Ku-hoo.” Hige tried to chuckle, but wounded up coughing from how much it hurt to laugh. ”Shane... You gotta protect Hitomi... I don't think-”

”Don't talk like that.” Shane cut him off, trying to keep a stern expression. ”I'm gonna get you outta here.”

”...” The hare softly peered to Shane, letting his words fall silent.

Shane goes to help Hige to his feet, by grabbing the hare's arm and placing it over his shoulder. However, before he manages to pull Hige up, he heard a sudden sound causing him to leave Hige where he was for the moment. Releasing his hands from the hare, Shane's eyes shifted to another tunnel entry that lead to this chamber. The echoing of rushing footsteps traveled into earshot as Raz emerged from the shadows, hurrying through as quickly as she could. Her eyes met Shane's, showing much anxiety and worry.

”Shane, you have to help me!” She pleaded, her eyes dreading to glance behind her as she didn't cease her movement.

Just as she passed him, Ashewyn and Miles came into view, but Raz didn't stop running. She kept going, vanishing through the opposite entry to this chamber, leaving Shane to deal with her pursuers. Ashewyn was ahead of the feline, his gaze growing sharper as his eyes met Shane's.