Pain

Striking the creatures is like trying to chop down a tree, your blade hitting with a heavy thump. Your first attack is effective, however, neatly removing a bladed limb, the enchantments on Caliburn potent enough to carve through the hardened flesh. Still, the thing only reels for a second, before lunging with its other arm. You’re forced to cut the thing to pieces to finally put it down.

What you accomplish through magical weapons and armor, Ferra accomplishes through sheer strength and speed. As always, she’s an army unto herself, heedlessly wading into the mass of creatures like a bladed whirlwind. Their weapons seem ineffective against her hardened skin, though they still take a lot of punishment before dropping.

You hear a thunderous impact, and glance over to Sarah. Grim faced, and orange eyes ablaze with anger, she swings Forgebreaker as if it weighs nothing, and every strike lands with incredible impact. Sarah snarls as the war maul pulps the creatures, sending them flying backwards. None of them rise from her attacks.

Alex struggles more than the others, fire being less effective than you hoped. Thankfully, the creatures shy away from the sheets of flame she projects, but those that are hit rarely are seriously damaged. Still, Alex weaves curtains of fire to keep them away, though you can see she’s already under a lot of strain.

Danger, left high, parry.

You whirl to your left and bring your blade up. You manage to block the glowing blade of Altus Thenlan, barely avoiding the attack. You mentally thank Lilith, who gives a warm glow of emotion as a response. Altus, meanwhile, grins insanely behind your crossed blades, a squeal sounding as the magical weapons grind against each other.

“Nice moves! Too bad this battle is meaningless. My master will prevail, regardless!”

You don’t bother with a response, drawing a surge of strength from your armor to shove the corrupt noble back. Without hesitation, you launch a flurry of attacks. It’s quickly apparent that Altus is no swordsman, and he’s soon bleeding black ichor from a multitude of wounds. Still, he keeps his maniacal grin as he backs away.

“Our deaths are meaningless! The corruption will spread!”

Finally, you have him against the wall, and with a deft maneuver, you swat aside his guard and drive your blade through his chest. Even still, his grin never wavers, despite his blade falling from nerveless fingers and his coughing up more vile, black blood. You yank your sword free, and he drops to his knees, blood pouring from his wounds, and yet, he still grins, despite the mortal injury.

He looks over your shoulder and laughs. “Now, sister. Our final act!”

Before you can respond, you hear a piercing scream. Whirling around, you see Petra Thenlan behind Alex, her glowing blade plunging through the fire spirit’s back. Alex clutches her stomach where the blade has passed through, and Petra laughs insanely. As she yanks the blade out, it shatters, leaving much of it inside the wound.

“For the master! All shall be corrupted!”

Ferra is first to react, a look of pure fury on her face as she moves like a blur. As fast as a blink, she lashes out with her bladed limbs, severing both of Petra’s arms at the elbow. Sarah is there in a flash as well, slamming Forgebreaker into Petra’s chest, sending her flying across the room. The corrupt noble hits a wall with a wet smack, and drops, motionless and lifeless, to the ground.

You rush over and catch Alex as she falls, and stare in horror at the ghastly wound in her stomach. Already, she is unconscious, her body trembling in your arms. Blood is leaking from her stomach, staining your armor red. All around you, the abominations drop to the floor like puppets with their strings cut, their animating magic dying with Petra. You can feel your panic rising as you clutch the wounded fire spirit to your chest.

Behind you, you hear Altus choke out his final words.