49 The War Wages On! (2/2)

”Don't even think about killing yourself, Nobou... The kid needs you...” Tyr reached his hand for Nobou's face, giving him a stern look.

”Tyr...” Nobou was tearing up terribly, struggling to even keep his eyes open as he looked to Tyr, dying in his arms.

”Get someplace safe...” Tyr said, before kissing Nobou. ”I'm sorry....” Tyr barely said as his body disintegrated into the air rapidly.

”Tyr!” Nobou cried, his tears flying from his cheeks, as he reached in panic for the ashes vanishing off.

There was a scoff ahead of him, as Dimitri stared in disgust. ”How abhorrent. An intersex thing like you carrying a foul demon's offspring? I ought to kill you just for that!” Dimitri said harshly, preparing to engage. ”So stop blubbering like a bitch! You'll be joining him momentarily!”

Nobou quickly scrambled backwards, falling to the ground as Dimitri came for him, with his elemental blade raised.

”Perhaps I should cut that babe right out of you!!” Dimitri said, in an almost maniacal tone.

From no where a large red scaled tail thrusted into Dimitri, knocking him off his feet to a distance, in the very instance Talis landed just about where he had stood. Her eyes turned to look down to Nobou. Her tiny wings carried her here, but she seemed relived to see Nobou in one piece. ”Talis?” Nobou was shocked to see her, his voice shaking.

She extended her hand to him, pulling her brother to his feet. ”It is not safe here... What Dimitri said, is it true?” She asked, with an undertone of urgency. Nobou hesitated, but nodded, looking to see the present position of Dimitri who was pulling himself up. ”Then we must leave!” Talis said as she took his hand, flying out of the way just asDimitri cast projectile spells their way.

In the same instance his concentration was broke; missing his mark as Dimitri was struck back by a blade of sorts. He fumbled to the ground, lifting his head slowly to discover the edge of a sword hovering before his already scarred over face. The one standing on the opposite end of the blade however, was the very man who gave him his scar, Ashewyn.

”YOU!!” Dimitri snapped.

”Yeah, me.” Ashewyn scoffed, keeping a firm grasp on the hilt of his sword.

Before Ashewyn could make his next move, Phish leapt to action. She made her way for them preparing to strike. ”Get away from him!”She growled.

Her path however was quickly obstructed, as Eclipse positioned herself between them with waveblades sparking around. ”Your fight is with me, Phish.” She said sternly.

”...And here I thought you might be dead.” Phish had skidded to a halt, as she boredly focused to the elf. ”Get out of my way or else, you traitor!”She demanded.

Phish lunged at Eclipse, clashing her claws into the elf's blades. As they shuffled back and forth with repetative motions of attacks, Dimitri and Ashewyn had also began their duel.

”I'm going to obliterate you, for what you did to my face!!!” Dimitri roared, kicking Ashewyn back as he shoots himself up into the air upon feathered wings, with his spell book hovering into the air above his hand.

Ashewyn caught his footing, swiftly leaping out of the way as a light spell crashed into the ground where he had been previously standing. He urgently formed his wings, in attempt to give chase, but they were far too badly damaged from his previous battle with Gaigas, and he was unable to fly. He was now at the mercy of Dimitri's aerial attacks. More spells flooded down from above, and the red haired Amygdala struggled to avoid them, before drawing to his sword that Eclipse gave him. Using it, he swung back the blasts of light, knocking them right at Dimitri. Dimitri took some of the hits before catching on, and evading further counter blows. Ashewyn had to get creative. With his free hand, Ashe began to cast out his fire aura attacks, causing the flaming faces to rush at Dimitri like savage banshees.

The flames scorched passed Dimitri, getting Phish to grow more wary of him. ”Dimitri! Hang on!!” She called out, seeing his strength dwindling. Eclipse wasn't letting her pass however, forcing Phish back with electrical based strikes.

Dimitri struggled to stay airborne, as the feathers on his wings began to burn into soot. His descent began, moments before one more flaming attack engulfed him like hellfire. ”ARRRRRGHHH!!!” He screamed, as his body erupted into flames.He came crashing down, but the flames would not go out. Dimitri's skin began to melt off, including his entire nose, as his body brutally continued to be burned alive. Dimitri ran at Ashewyn, his entire body lit like a burning torch. ”HYYYYYAAAAAAAHHHH!!!!!” He practically roared, with his hand raised up with glowing explosive energy.

Ashewyn caught his wrist, as the spell was cast from Dimitri's palm, causing a surge of power to shoot across the battlefield, and knock back units from both sides of the war. As the derbies cleared, there was a glimpse of the two combatants in point blank range of each other. Ashewyn had thrusted his sword through Dimitri's abdomen to sever his spine, allowing the bones to escape with the blade from the exit wound. With one more rapid swing, the blade sliced Dimitri's body in half, letting the inflamed Rhyme to collapse to the ground in anguish, as his internal organs were immediately exposed to the flames covering him. Ashewyn took a few steps back, shifting to turn his attention to Eclipse's situation.

”Nooo... Dimitri...” Phish stared in distraught panic, leaving herself open to be thrusted back into the dirt, with her tears flying from her cheeks.

On the opposite end of the conflict, Merric had completely let his guard down. His terror stricken eyes focusing on his brother's burning body as he screamed his final death cry. Merric was in panic, his body shaking with horror. He completely disregarded the centaurs engaging him, quickly abandoning the battle with them to reach Dimitri's smoldering corpse. Sally and Max weren't expecting that response, but as the shield fell they decided to press onward to deal with the majority of the threat. Merric landed there at a distance from Ashewyn, dropping to his knees.

”Brother?...” He shakily muttered, his eyes casted over by shadows as his glasses slid down to the tip of his nose. ”How could you.... How could you die!?” His voice cracked as he cried out. His vials around his waist were suddenly snatched into his hands as he urgently began to collect the ashes of his beloved brother. ”I won't ever let you leave me, Dimitri! I won't! I CAN'T!!” His tone was crazed and in panic.

Ashewyn cautiously watched the Rhyme, ready to fight if he turned on him from this position. He needed to get to Eclipse, but he wasn't sure what this lunatic was planning. He waited, tensing up as Merric rose to his feet unexpectedly. Without warning, the Rhyme retreated from the battlefield in a crazed manner, flying off for the kingdom in the sky.

Jackyn saw this briefly, as he was still on his set path, running through hordes with Nye unconscious in his arms. The flapping of wings were suddenly heard, followed by ice reaching for his heels. ”I fouuuund youuuuu!” A female voice sing-songed in a dark tone, accompanying the ice behind him.

Jackyn briefly glanced behind, to realize it was Lyra close behind him, as he tried to get Nye away from the battlefield. He was just coming up upon Miles and Minerva, who were finishing off some Templar foot soldiers, as the ice wielding Rhyme behind him was hot on his trail.

”There's no escape, Angel of Death!!” She cackled sadistically, as she flew closely behind him.

”Dammit.” Jackyn gritted his fangs, he couldn't fight her here with Nye in this condition. ”Hey! A little help here!” Jackyn called to them, in a disgruntled tone.

”Looks like your friends could use some help, kitten.” Minerva stated, drawing to her bow.

”Can definitely vouch for that.” Miles' ears went backwards as he shifted his blade to angle for Lyra's direction.

As Jackyn passed them, Minerva unleashed an arrow that quickly struck into Lyra's hand that was enchanting the spells. However, it immediately shattered into ice as Lyra fiercely looked over to them. ”Leashed! You disgusting things are always getting in my way!” She huffed, before yelling out, ”I think you pests need to chill out!”

Ice spread across the ground as a snowy blizzard picked up, all channeled up by Lyra's magic power. Flames suddenly shot out as Miles' Phoenix, Ember, flew in from above, to protect her rider.

Lyra kept back from the scorching flames, with a definite rise in her anger. She reacted, flipping her hand up to enchant magic in their direction. From her palm, she casted a massive stream of ice, blasting back the swarming horde of zombies that came her way through the flames. Their bodies were completely frozen solid, and the flames put out without much effort. Their frozen bodies fell to the ground instantly, shattering like glass. Miles seemed more uncomfortable now, after seeing what just happened to those undead soldiers.

”You two are NEXT!” Lyra snapped in rage, as her eyes darted for the felines and the giant bird.

As ice magic spell came blasting their way, the scene quickly transitioned back to Koron and Titania. The Gashadokuro was in view behind them, decimating Templar forces with it's massive skeleton fingers.

”Take the battalion head on, prepare the ballista for another strike!!” Aoba's cape was waving in the wind as he commanded his army to continue the onslaught, flying through the air with his multiple feathered wings. Several of his forces didn't linger too far from him.

Koron and Titania were locked onto him, knowing he was their prime target, being the head of the Templar. ”If their King falls, then the war is already won!” Koron exclaimed, flying in the path of Aoba.

”Then let's finish him for good!” Titania replied, guiding her equine mount to fly after her Queen.

Koron and Titania stormed though various aerial opponents, leaving many behind on the ground for their allies below to finish off. However a dragon rider swept in, separating the two of them as Koron was forced to take on the Templar rider solo.

”Koron!” Titania gasped, trying to get to her.

”Don't wait for me, Titania! You must claim victory over this war! I believe in you, my beloved!” Koron stated, forming her sword to combat the the dragon fiercely.

”I can't leave you...” Titania was conflicted.

”JUST GO!” Koron demanded, striking back the mouth of the fire breather.

Titania hesitated, before turning her gaze begrudgingly to Aoba. ”Yah!” She exclaimed, getting her corrupt Pegasus to proceed in the Grand Master's direction with great velocity.

As she made her way to Aoba, she would leap from her mount, tearing through incoming Templar, with such elegant grace of her rapier, before her equine caught her, flying even closer to the grand master. Eventually she bashed her way through, inching closer to her target with sword at ready.

”I got you now!” Titania sped towards the six winged angel,releasing her grasp on the reins to take her blade and slice open part of her hand in order to cast blood magic.

The spell spiraled around her with red inchor, forming multiple arms, taking the reins once more with one hand. With four of her free arms, she raised her hands in Aoba's general direction, casting out a major blast of blood magic. His attention was suddenly drawn to her, shifting from serious to startled. The blast quickly knocked Aoba out of the sky, before he swiftly caught his fall while aerial, and zoomed back into the combat zone with Titania.

”So you finally show yourself, you vile woman!” Aoba grinned quaintly, summoning the Holy sword Excalibur as he charged for Titania.

Aoba thrusted the blade for her, but only to be countered by her rapier in the process as her equine hovered there in the air.

”I know all about your little scheme, with the imposter posing as you. How dare you, madam! I shall not be so generous to you, as I was to your little scapegoat!” Aoba went on in a certainly offended manner; pulling his sword back to hack and slash at Titania, who quickly deflected the incoming strikes with the swords she was had armed her multiple limbs with.

”Is that so?” She grinned, playing into his suspicions. She pulled back on the reins, guiding the winged equine to fly backwards to avoid further incoming attacks.

This seemed to aggravate Aoba further, with many of his aerial forces beginning to close in on them. ”Templar soldiers, prepare to engage!” Aoba commanded.

”Maker save the king!” ”Long may he reign over us!” The knights rallied, diving inbound, as Titania leapt from her steed to spiral around, her many blades circling as the knights quickly fell to the soil below. Her mount swooped in as she landed back on it's back, proceeding to circle around to take on the stragglers as Aoba prepared to engage her once more.

As more and more Templar fell in battle, new undead would emerge, prepared to side with the Queen of Fiends' army. ”Oh, I'm terribly sorry, were those men yours?” Titania provoked, in an obviously mocking manner, while she smirked. ”Seems you're trapped in my web, dear 'king', with is no one left to defend you. Now that they're out of the way, I'll bleed you dry!” Her tone darkened, with shadows under her eyes. Titania's equine quickly whisked her Aoba's direction with all blades angled his way.

”Oh, such witty repartee. Madam, I am wounded, truly I am.” Aoba scoffed,almost amused in his usual whimsical manner, but still with an undertone of agitation. He dove through the air at her as well, both hands to the hilt of his mighty blade. ”You'll soon discover what happens to those who go against the will of the Maker!!”

The two clashed in mid air, before circling around to dive at the other once more. They Continued this motion, zipping quickly around and round, to strike blow for blow with their bladed weapons.

”I must commend you, darlin', but your efforts will prove futile!” Aoba exclaimed in the process of distancing himself, as he freed one of his hands to hovered below his crystal Phylactery at his waist. It began to glow vividly, as Aoba casted a spell, hurling the magical attack at Titania fiercely.

Titania realized what Aoba was doing, narrowly avoiding the incoming spell, and leaping from her mount into the air in a twirling motion, with her six blades spiraling. However, her equine could not evade the blast, taking a direct blow through it's magical blood wings. Titania's eyes noticed her corrupted Pegasus crash into the ground with a rough impact of dust and soot picking up. This was unavoidable, but Titania had to make the sacrifice. She boosted herself towards Aoba, like a torpedo, preparing to dice up her opponent. Just as she came into range with her swords ready to strike, Aoba sent off another magical spell, hitting hard into her gut, and causing the blood made arms to shattered away from her body. unfortunately before she could make another move, Aoba's free hand shot forward, catching her by the neck. His hand firmly clutched around her throat, holding his fingers tightly around her jugular with a devilish smirk, as he confidently said, ”Checkmate.”

Koron, on the other side of the conflict, was having her own struggles with the dragon rider. Her blade had been flung off in the struggle as the winged reptile flew her way. She however was making better progress fending off the beast, and the Templar riding it than Titania was with Aoba. Side dashing out of the way, Koron flew up, back down and around to avoid it's incoming fire breath. Her eyes suddenly took notice of Titania's situation, as her heart sank, while she got distance from her opponent. She needed her sword, and this aggravated her, forcing her teeth to grit tightly.

Quickly her wings flapped, raising her hand to the necklace dangling around her neck. ”Arise I summon thee!Chaosblade!” Koron called forth her sword, letting her aura channel through it to form the bladed weapon in her tightly gripped hand. ”I beckon the call of the night-” Koron began to enchant, holding the chaosblade to her side, sharply as she prepare to charge through the dragon rider to reach Aoba. ”-Foreboding darkness, I call upon you and the darkest void!” She arched her back. ”Screams of despair ignite!” Koron swung as her body torque forward, unleashing a slash of dangerous aura strike, tearing through the beast as she gallantly rushed through the air. She was already panting, but she was not done just yet. Without delay, Koron turned the hilt of her sword, rushing right into more swarming Templar intersecting her pathway. She began attacking with great speed, in a repetitive motion. ”Take this memento, and fall by the hand of the Angel of Darkness!” Koron soared into the air, dive-bombing the last few in her way. ”I lead thou's souls to oblivion! Otherworldly despair! PERISH!” She screamed.

Their death cries followed, as they were shattered into feathers flying through the air, that coated in blood. The hellbent Amygdala's wings urgently brought her within range of her prime target, the Grand Master of the Templar army.

”Your actions and movements against the crown break the very foundation that kept your kind alive after the previous great war. You're dooming each and every one of them by even attempting this treacherous path! So, Under jurisdiction under the the Maker and the Templar order, I, Grand master, Aoba Zephos, King of the Rhyme, sentence you and your followers to death!” Aoba proclaimed, preparing to strike.

Before he could take the blow, a voice spoke up behind them. ”You speak of that genocide as if it were a benevolent motion! Unhand her, or I shall make your death swiftly.” Koron spoke up, as her wings gusted up wind around her. ”The altercation you seek is with me.”

Aoba tilted his head as his eyes boredly panned over to Koron. ”And whom might you be, darlin'?”

Koron's tone suddenly grew more daring. ”I am the first of her bloodline and true Heir to the throne, The Manipulator of Monsters, The shadow in the Dark, Invoker of Fear and Breaker of Sorrow, The Slayer of Blades, Mistress of the Dead, The Black Winged Angel, The Remanent of blood, Corrupter of Life, The Angel of Darkness, Instrument of Rebirth, The One and only True Queen of Fiends, and master of the Four Horsemen. Otherwise known as Koron Ghestro.”

The realization seemed to click in Aoba's head as he suddenly got more smug in demeanor. ”It seemed you have fooled me yet again with another decoy. Well played, madam. However, this plight is only just beginning, 'Queen of Fiends'.”Aoba asked, pulling Titania closer, with his arm around her and sword to her throat. ”You and your forces have slain many of my generals and Templar, but at what cost? Is her life worth all this, Koron?” Aoba's eyes kept on her with a smirk, ”Are any ofthese casualties of war worth it? Surrender now and face your consequences. Maybe then, I'll be charitable enough to pardon their treason.”

”Koron, do not surrender to him!” Titania exclaimed, as she attempted to get loose from Aoba's clutches. She was clearly badly hurt from his last attack, and her efforts weren't that strong.

Before she could even make a decent effort, Aoba roughly shifted her forward, gripping tightly to her hair as he violently pulled her head up to face Koron with great force. ”Now why is it you two are so insistent on protecting each other? How repulsive, you're lovers aren't you?” Aoba scoffed in disgust.

”I said UNHAND her!” Koron demanded, viciously desperate.

He suddenly recalled something that Nye said to him, the memory echoing through his head. ”Are you stupid!? If Jackyn dies, I DIE!” Followed by his reply, ”Oh come now, everyone knows that is nothing more than an old wives' tale.” Concluding the final part of this memory, he heard Nye's voice reply, ”You must have forgotten why your Grandfather forced my kind into a life of solitude in the first place.”

”So it must be true then...” Aoba muttered to himself, as he suddenly grinned. ”You've just made my victory that much easier!” He chortled, holding Titania in place, as he held Excalibur in his other hand tightly.

”Stop!” Koron gasped, as her panicked eyes widened, seeing the blade lifted. Within a matter of seconds it rose to horizontally slash Titania's head clear off her shoulders, before Koron could even react. Her terror stricken gaze stared in horror as Titania's life left her eyes and her disintegrating body dropped out of the sky.

”Hahahahaha!!” Aoba began to laugh, holding the corpse's head still by her hair, as it began to break off into the air life ashes.

”Noo...” Koron faintly gasped as she held to the sides of her temples, with her sword accidentally being released from her grasp, and fading off as she struggled to stay airborne. Her eyes were filling rapidly with tears as her outstretched face grew more traumatic in expression. ”Titania?... How... could she..?” She was breathing heavy as she immediately held to her chest in panic.

Koron was completely in anguish, unable to move as Aoba was already upon her, shifting to grab her by the fluff of her coat. Koron's eyes had already glazed over as they weakly shifted to Aoba. Her emotions were rapidly increasing as well as her heart rate, but her heart seemed to waver by the second.

Aoba pulled her close, with his lips nearly touching her ear, as he whispered ever so softly, ”You'll be seeing her again soon enough, darlin'.” He said, grinning as he pulled back to look as Koron, ”I'll even be generous and speed up the process!” He chuckled in a sadomasochist manner, ”So again, under jurisdiction under the the Maker and the Templar order, I, Grand master, Aoba Zephos, King of the Rhyme, sentence you to death!” Aoba grew twisted in expression, as he clenched tightly to his sword, thrusting it through her abdomen.

Koron's stunned expression was what was left, as blood exited through her mouth in the same instance the sword tore through her internal organs, and roughly pulled out to release her into the open sky. Koron stared in terror, as she fell to her doom, while her life force rapidly declined, before she passed on from this world.As Koron's body descended, everyone allied with her, including Nye's and Heath's forces, stared up into the sky all completely shocked at what just happened. Even Nye was coming to in Jackyn's arms, having to be held back by her lover as she watched her sister's demise. The look of devastation amongt these mutuals, even the ones far away from the battle, was felt together in unison. They had lost their leader,perhaps even friend, the one who was meant to save them from this sadistic madman. Koron's body struck the ground, bouncing off it slowly with the look of panic still resonating in her hollow eyes. With that, the undead soldiers began to swiftly collapse into dust, row by row until the entire skeleton and zombie forces had turned into ash. With the Queen and her entire horde of undead gone, their victory was starting to seem far out of reach...