Chapter 5

Even though we stand up against the darkest powers of Hell, He insures we are never alone.

 

            The demon compressed its form back into that of the body it possessed, a plan forming in its dark mind. “In this form, however, He will give you no protection. I will enjoy dragging your pathetic souls back to the Pit.” With a gesture and a few words, a sword made of shadow and flame appeared in its hand.

 

            Greg stepped forward, unafraid. “No matter what you bring against us, we will prevail. Dakarth, ready yourself.” Dakarth gathered his newfound power to him, his eyes going black with the immense psychic energy contained behind them. Greg’s pendant gave a great flash of light, and it separated itself from its chain, and fused with his nunchaku, creating a sword made of light and flame, to counter that of the demon. Wreathed in his power, Dakarth crackled with black lightning. Gregory had his sword, and was surrounded with silver light. The demon gathered Hellflames and shadows to itself.

 

The dark being under the mountain of Stolis observed, unknown to Greg and Dakarth. <The stage is set. Now we shall see if he stands the test and is ready to serve me.>

 

            Knowing the eyes of its mistress to be upon it, the demon resolved itself to make it a show worth her while. It made the first move, striking at Greg with its sword. He countered with his own, and light and shadow clashed. Dakarth focused inward, gathering as much power as he could manifest without destroying himself. The demon and Greg traded blows, and all was silent save for the crackling of Dakarth’s mental energy and the roar of the flames, broken only by the clash of their blades.

 

            Dakarth found that he could now draw upon an amount of energy that would have previously destroyed him three times over. He focused, and when Greg was not in the way, he threw the majority of what he had gathered at the demon. Reacting to some unknown signal, Greg leapt away from the demon, and the bolt struck it, and the explosion was deafening.

 

When the smoke cleared, the demon was standing in a large crater, long burns running all along the possessed flesh. It raised its hand, spoke a few words, and a stream of flame sped towards Dakarth. The psychic reacted quickly, using the last dregs of the power that remained manifested from his blot, and blocked the stream, but only barely. He was still scorched by the heat, and felt a great impurity come from them. Still amazed that he had not reached the limits of his power, he formed a sphere of it around himself, and floated out of reach of the demon’s sword. He used the same on Greg, only when the energy reached the mountain dragon, it transformed into a sphere of light, brightening the battlefield, driving back the shadows.

 

            Momentarily distracted, the demon lifted its arm to block the light, then felt the flash of pain and agonizing burn of Greg’s holy blade inflicting a large wound on it. It felt the sword’s power attack its very being, but managed to hold itself together. It held a hand to its side, trying to stop the flow of polluted blood dripping from the wound. “Pha! I have survived your blade. Now you try and survive mine!” Faster than any of them could react, the demon swung its blade, breaking through Dakarth’s barrier, and striking Greg full in the chest. Greg brought his sword in a counter swing, and removed the demon of its head. Greg felt the demon’s blade attempt to guzzle his soul, but as soon as the demon’s head parted its shoulder, it stopped, and the blade and the body burned to black ash.

 

            Greg fell, supported only by the remaining shreds of Dakarth’s barrier. Greg turned towards his friend, and told him weakly, “We’re done here, Dakarth.”

 

            “Take us to Melody.” There was a flash of light, and they were gone.

 

            The clouds above opened, and the rain quenched the burning research facility.