Shadow of the Abyss

Chapter 228: The Dark Curse III

Syris nearly choked in disgust, dashing towards the Teivel in a wisk of white light. Ariane, aided by her two Golden Watchers, matched her speed, arriving faster than the blinking of an eye. At the same time, Ragnar and Zaros darted to guard the threshold, emanating dark auras.

Teivel crackled, his Great Scimitar whirling into a semi-arc, catching Syris and Ariana's attacks, when he noticed tendrils of ice treading along his blade like a serpent. It exploded just when it neared his arm, wrenching the sleeve off his arm in an eruption of fire and ice. Teivel was hurled back, slapping against the wall.

Just then, two of the Golden Watchers came, piercing their swords towards his abdomen and chest. Teivel had no time to dodge, no time to react in a spell to defend. With both arms, he lifted his Scimitar, managing to parry the attack on his chest, allowing the other sword to puncture his gut.

He winced but used the terrible force that echoed off his scimitar to propel him through the wall, tasting the debris tracing across his lips. The pain was an inconsequence of the freedom he'd gained.

"It's not over yet," said Syris, flitting through the gaps of debris before he had a chance to fall. She was before him or rather behind him, her dagger piercing through the spine with great and terrible precision.

The Defiled One expression contorted as a horrid electrical charge exploded from out of the edge of her blade.

"Bitch!" He cried, feeling the horrible electrical discharge came lashing at his flesh. Syris twisted her blade in tandem, seeking to spill his entrails, failing as a vile miasma came seeping out of his body.

A faint numbing treaded along the fingers, entering through the pores and attacking the nerves.

Syris slid back, her dagger tracing several luminous arcs through the air, hurling them toward the Defiled One. Teivel exploded with mana, lunging to his left, when he saw several arcs suddenly shatter into nodes, leaving behind the magical sigil where he'd dodged.

[Gravity Well]

With no time to lift his leg once more, Teivel felt the off sensation of something seeking to tear his flesh from his body. Stones, debris, and decor all came hurdling toward the buzzing Gravity Sigil.

"Nasty little bitch! You're quite the Sorcerer," Teivel shouted, resisting the spell by plunging his sword into the ground while the others began chanting their own spell.

And thought,' This wasn't a winnable battle. I underestimated this one. Her speed is terrifying. Not to mention the Watchers... I should have killed the one from Heaven Gate first."

He tsked and lazily glanced towards Syris, "We'll meet again, little lady." And in a wordless spell, a scarlet glow embodied the Defiled One like a star, fading away to nothingness.

'Teleportation?' Syris wondered, shaking her head, unable to sense a disturbance within the Space. She slid her dagger back into her scabbard before glancing at her numb fingers. They were turning black.

"Allow me," Said Ariane, approaching her with guarded eyes, surveying her surroundings. "It looks like a devil poisoning."

"What about Yalivor Sadu?"

"Him?" Ariane glanced over at him in surprise, observing the way his severed arm turned into water, slowly beginning to climb over where his arm once was. Moments later, Yalivor Sadu was whole once more. Aside from his ashen complexion, he looked perfectly fine.

'Fascinating." Syris cried. "Can you even die?"

Yalivor Sadu didn't entertain a response. "So he got away. Could the Watchers not find him?"

Ariane, who had begun tending to the strange poison along Syris's fingers, nodded. " Probably. But you were down, and Syris is poisoned. I'd rather tend to the injured than try to hunt down someone who seems proficient in stealth." She signaled to the two Watchers, allowing them to aid her in drawing out the strange black fluid from Syris's pores.

The poison bore no distinctive scent, but the instant it dropped from her fingers onto the ground, it began to sizzle at the stone.

"What in the... Who the Hell was that!" Vynn shouted, taking a few steps back.

At the sight of Vynn, Syris resisted the urge to lament, slowly losing color with the enormous drain on her Three Circles. She allowed Ariane to do as she may, unable to even heal herself.

"It's because of the betrayal that we—"

'That is enough," said Yalivor Sadu calmly. He glanced at the sleeping Altair and then Reina, acting like his guardian in his defenseless state. He understood her intention and had nothing more to say. "There are other rooms within the Southern Tower. We'll take those rooms."

"That's bullshit!" Shouted Vynn. "Are we really going to listen to some bitch!"

Syris lifted her drowsy eyes towards Vynn. She wondered what manner of fool he was unable to see what was right in front of him.

The air had been so pungent with blood, yet none of it came from their bodies, much less Altairs. Syris had quite the understanding of blood spells and knew of its danger.

'Reina was poised for attack the instant we entered the South Tower," Syris thought, sensing the density of blood spiraling into a mist.

"Drop it, Vynn," Yalivor Sadu commanded

But his words fell on deft ears. Vynn pressed out his chest and said, "What power do you have to command what I do?" His eyes lowered to her bosom and curvy waist. "You are just Altair's woman. Your—"

"Are you done?" Ren said, lifting herself off the bed, conjuring 'Ice' that was slowly losing its azure luster.

As if the blade was soaked in blood, it grew red, bleeding a cardinal radiance.

Whatever words Vynn wanted to deliver were halted. Burdon, by premonition, lashing out at his mind like a whip, seeking to draw him away. Images of death haunted the subconscious, sending tremors running up his arm. Discover stories at mvl

Yalivor Sadu left then, seeing his words were wasted. Reina had allowed them much. He could see the shadow of Tasha on the balcony listening. And had quite the inkling that Ariane would side with Reina should the need arise.

Zaros did the same, followed by Ragnar, seeing negotiations begin to break down most unfavorably. They sighed, leaving Vynn all alone.

The Young Lord chewed his lip at the sight of the loss of allies. And grinned, playing off his offense. "Fine... you win. I was merely testing how loyal you were."

Ren tilted her head, "You were?"

"Of course," said Vynn, turning around. "I was—"

He stopped halfway through, looking down at the greatsword that had punctured his chest, piercing through his ribs and heart alike, blazing with emerald black flames. Reina leaned forward, pushing her sword deeper in."I know your God, father, or whoever is watching us right now... So I'll make them watch.

I'll show them how I carve you up before annihilating your soul... If you think a pathetic insect like you has the right to insult me, a Nephilim of Heaven and Hell, let this be an eternal reminder. I, Reina Blackwood, fear no one."

Globs of blood poured form out of Vynn's throat, down his lips. He mumbled inaudibly, dropping to his knee.

'F-F-F-F'

Just then, Golden Light came from the skies in a pillar of light bathing the castle in a brilliance, concentrated around Vynn.

But Reina only shook her head, "It won't work. The Soul Art, Necrotic Flames, was created by Lord Mephistopheles, the Eight Monarch of Hell, to combat the Angels Sacred Flame. It can't be healed by just any God." She lifted her bloody eyes towards the skies, a dangerous glint penetrating through the heavens. Carrying a dreadful sense of warning towards the unknown.

She was glaring at the gods, to those seeking their deaths.

"I am the Nephilim, Reina Blackwood. If you seek war. Our House will be more than willing to accept."