Chapter 37 - Destiny

The blinding bright light in front of Imunzo made him instantly shut his eyes. Imunzo was drawing closer to the light’s source even though his feet were not moving. Imunzo stopped suddenly and he felt a great warmth from inside his body, he then slowly opened his eyes. “Why have you come to see me” said the figure of Djogun, floating in front of Imunzo.
“I have failed you” said Imunzo, bowing his head with shame. “Goreoth lives and I have not been able to take your vengeance”
“Imunzo my son, you are in so many respects the ultimate Djiani warrior but your mind lacks conviction. You have faced your doubt and overcame it. You have not failed me Imunzo, now go forth and finish what you have started” Djogun replied, and with that Imunzo’s spirit returned to his body and he could hear a voice, faintly. “He‘s fading. Fast” Presto said looking down at Imunzo with serious concern and turning to Astral with his face showing his unease at Imunzo’s condition. Astral took a deep breath and once more put the vial to Imunzo’s lips in vain, Imunzo once again refused to drink. “I don‘t know why he is refusing to drink.”
“I‘m amazed he is still alive” Presto said, examining the wound. “Any normal man would be long dead by now” Presto was cut off by Imunzo.
“The Djiani are not normal men” Imunzo said weakly and in extreme pain.
“You must drink this, it is your only chance at survival” Astral said, thrusting the vial toward him once more. Imunzo once again refused. “I cannot drink, a Djiani warrior can never use magic to enhance himself or prolong his life. If I am to die then I die but for now there is still life left in me. Please, bandage my wound quickly and let me to my feet.” Imunzo said as he attempted to get to his feet. “Will he be alright” came a voice which startled Presto, Valandt’s.
“In a moment” Presto replied as Astral got to work on repairing Imunzo‘s body without the use of magic.
“Stay still Imunzo, this will only take a second” Astral said as Presto explained how to patch up Imunzo as best as possible without using magic. Presto then turned around to see that some of the skeletons which were fighting some way away had suddenly broken through now and were heading for them. “Take Imunzo to a safer place and finish the job” Presto said as he and Astral helped him to his feet and Sierra began to walk away from them.
“Where are you going ?” Valandt asked the blank faced Sierra. Sierra snapped and grabbed Valandt “There is nothing and I mean nothing stopping me from killing you. Remember that” Sierra shouted in Valandt’s face before throwing him to the ground and heading toward the skeletons. Sierra’s face was eerily blank and her mindset heavily dark approached the group of half a dozen skeletons with no caution. Sierra’s clothes were now heavily tattered, dust and tears in the material having taken it over. Sierra’s mind grew more full of rage every moment that the skeletons stared her down, neither moving at all. Sierra then let her rage spill over, kicking the skeleton nearest to her and smashing its rib cage to pieces. Sierra picked up the skeleton she had just attacked and took out her anger on it, smashing it against the floor several times before there was nothing left of it. She then grabbed the nearest one and began to punch it violently, reducing its bones to powder before two skeleton blades slashed her across each arm. Sierra looked up with fury as she grabbed both skeletons and violently brought them together. As the last skeleton charged at her she dropped the remains of bones in her hand and baited it forward. As it drew close she grabbed it by the shoulders and smashed her head into its skull, cutting her forehead in the process. Sierra felt and embraced the pain of her bleeding forehead and wiped the blood down her face, laughing as she did. “Easy now, easy” came Presto’s voice from behind Sierra as he put an arm on her shoulder, making her flinch. There was a silence then as Presto and Valandt came beside Sierra. “Valandt” Sierra said calmly now “draw your sword” Sierra said, her anger still continuing to drop. Valandt quickly responded by drawing the sword of Chalhor and holding it out in front of him, to which Sierra drew the sword of Drakahor and crossed it with the other. “Once Goreoth has been stabbed by both these swords we are free of him” Sierra began, looking up at the massive Goreoth that stood some distance away from them.
“We must kill him, or die trying” Valandt replied.
“Are you ready to die ?” Sierra then said, darkly.
“Right here, right now? Yes” Valandt said.
“I am ready for death but death is not ready for me” Sierra continued “I‘m coming for you Goreoth” Sierra said, looking up before she ran toward the continuing melee of soldiers and skeletons, closely followed by Valandt and Presto. The fight had been going on for almost two hours straight now and still there were masses of Legian soldiers, all fighting to the death with honour against the relentless barrage of skeletons. The soldiers that were brave enough to get close to Goreoth were greeted with an untimely end, almost instantly being burnt or squashed by one of Goreoth’s gigantic hands. Goreoth continued to watch on, amused and entertained at the continual bloodshed of the Legian soldiers below. Sierra cut, hacked, punched and kicked her way through the skeletal army, destroying skeleton after skeleton and getting continually closer to Goreoth with Valandt and Presto taking out all the skeletons that came near them in their following of Sierra. As they got closer to Goreoth, there were more skeletons attacking them due to few soldiers daring to venture too close. Sierra was not phased by this in the least and continued to make her way through the skeletons with little more effort while Valandt and Presto just about managed to keep up with fending off the skeletons and staying close to Sierra. There then came the breakthrough, Sierra shouted up to Goreoth as they got through the last lot of skeletons and she continued to run up the Volcano. “No!” cried Valandt in vain as she continued to make her way up the gigantic volcano, he then began to run after her. “I will kill you” Sierra cried as she continued to run up toward Goreoth, hitting her sword against his impenetrable skin after she finally made it there. Goreoth roared in a combination mock pain and anger as Sierra hit him and he looked down to her. “Die!” Goreoth thundered as he blew a ball of fire at Sierra, who was saved by Valandt as he pulled her out of its way. “What are you doing?” Sierra cried as Valandt began to run back down the volcano holding her arm tight.
“Don‘t take it personally. I‘m only saving you because we need that sword” Valandt replied as Goreoth continued to blow balls of fire at the two with Valandt and Sierra running toward the left and right to avoid them. Sierra tripped up as they came to the bottom of the volcano and fell forward onto Valandt with the two of them landing on the floor. The earth all around them began to shake levelling Presto and all the soldiers and skeletons to the floor. “The games are over” came a ear-splitting roar from Goreoth as the intensity of the ground shaking increased. “After centuries, I am finally free” Goreoth shouted deafeningly as his huge feet broke through the volcano, sending rocks flying and covering the entire battlefield in dust. Goreoth stretched his gigantic body out and let out a thunderous roar before looking down at the floor to Presto, Sierra and Valandt. “I shall crush you like the insects you are” Goreoth bellowed as the three got to their feet. Goreoth raised his massive feet in the air as Presto, Sierra and Valandt began to run out of its path, he then began to follow them. All three ran away from Goreoth as fast as their muscles would carry them while every time Goreoth stamped his colossal feet down on the ground it began to tremble, knocking more soldiers and skeletons off their feet each time. As the three continued to run, Goreoth began to blow fireballs at Presto, who was now lagging well behind. Goreoth stomped his feet heavily on the ground once more, this time catching Presto off guard and flooring him as Sierra turned around to see it. Goreoth then raised his foot over Presto and lowered it to the ground with Sierra having to pull Presto out of the way with no time to spare. Sierra helped Presto up to his feet and the two resumed their running. Goreoth stood and watched as the three got further and further away from him, he then smiled as he made parts of the ground on which they were running collapse. Valandt felt the ground beneath him drop as he was running and he just about managed to hang onto the edge. Then, a few moments after Valandt pulled himself out of the hole, lava began to flow up from it and ooze out in all directions. Valandt looked around as several holes around him began to seep lava and it closed in on him from all angles. Valandt shook his head in scepticism and desperately ran as far as he could before dipping his foot into the lava, he then dived across and landed with only a second to get to his feet before the lava would roll onto him. The now breathless Valandt then joined up with Sierra and Presto as everything around them suddenly became a lot darker. Sierra could not see her own hands in front of her as everything blackened and vicious lightning began to light the sky. The three stood ominously waiting for a moment before it happened, a bolt of lightning struck and all three dived in different directions to avoid being hit by it. As the three got to their feet, they hardly had time to react before another three lightning bolts came down at them, this continued as the three continually dived out of the way to avoid them. While this was going on, the battle of soldiers and skeletons continued to rage with the masses upon masses of Legian soldiers outnumbering the several hundred skeletons that remained. Goreoth grew more frustrated and irate as Valandt, Presto and Sierra continued to avoid his attacks and raised his hands high into the air, summoning a great wall of water from out of the ground and then surrounding the three from all angles. As he thrust his hands back down again, the water fell in on them, drenching them from head to toe. Sierra breathing began to wane as the water knocked her from her feet and she lay in a deep puddle of water. Suddenly from nowhere someone reached down and pulled Sierra to her feet. Sierra began to cough and spit water from her mouth as she frantically resumed her breathing and looked around to see her saviour. Imunzo stood in front of Sierra and smiled. “Imunzo!” came Valandt’s voice before Sierra had a chance to thank him. “If you‘re here, then where‘s..” Valandt then had his question answered as he heard a scream from Astral, being held down by three skeletons while one hovered over her with a sword. Valandt went to jump to Astral’s aid before he heard the booming voice of Goreoth. “There is a distance of twenty meters between you. She will be gutted before you even get to ten” Goreoth bellowed with a smile. “What do you want?” Valandt shouted back.
“You know what I want. Give yourself to your evil side, completely. Do not turn back like you have before. Once you have chosen your path, Paix will be mine”
“No!” Valandt said defiantly.
“Very well. I shall force it out of you” Goreoth roared and within seconds Valandt was on the floor in agony.
“What are you doing to him ?” Sierra demanded Goreoth.
“He hears the sounds of his evil. The dying screams of his mother and father. Any resolution will soon be gone” Goreoth replied. Suddenly, Astral broke free of the skeletons grasp and ran toward Valandt with Presto and Sierra taking care of the skeletons as they followed. “Valandt listen to me. Listen to my voice, can you hear me ?” Astrals cries were responded with nothing. In desperation she lunged herself at Valandt and kissed him deeply on the lips. “I love you Valandt, you cannot leave me now” she said as a tear fell from her eye. “Don't worry Astral my love. I will not leave you” Valandt unexpectedly replied, hugging Astral tight. Valandt made his way to his feet and continued to hold Astral in his arms. “I will not let you break me.” Valandt shouted up to Goreoth as he held Astral in his arms.
“Then I shall kill you all!” Goreoth thundered. There was then a huge battle cry echoed by the Legian soldiers, they had defeated all the skeletons. “Charge!” came the order from the generals as the hoard of troops began to advance on Goreoth now. Goreoth looked down in anger at the soldiers which surrounded him and raised his hands high into the air, bringing them down hard into the ground and crushing a group of soldiers as the ground shook worse than ever before and a crack began to form all the way from where Goreoth initially hit the ground up to the group of five with all of them falling in. Valandt held onto the edge of the crack hard and then saw as Astral’s grip loosened and she began to fall, he then reached over and grabbed her hand. Valandt dangled over the edge and continued to hold on with all his might as the weight of Astral threatened to make him fall, sending the both of them to their deaths in the lava below. Valandt groaned as he felt his grip beginning to loosen, he then heard something at the back of his mind. `Drop her. You’ll then be able to pull yourself up easily, its what you need to do to save your kingdom. You don't really love her anyway` it was the voice of his evil side, trying to break him. “No” Valandt said resolutely to himself and shaking his head as he began to use all his strength to pull himself and Astral up. Valandt groaned under the intense strain his already worn muscles were in as he pulled himself over the edge, followed by pulling Astral over and holding her securely in his arms, reassuring her that they were safe. Valandt then looked toward Goreoth who was killing the Legian soldiers slowly as they tried in vain to get him with their swords. Valandt turned around once more and let go of Astral to see that Imunzo, Sierra and Presto were safe he then approached them. Before Valandt could say anything however, a chorus of screams came from Goreoth’s direction and he turned quickly to see what it was. Goreoth had created a huge whirlwind and was using it to propel all the soldiers in the air and then have them fall down to the ground with them all dying instantly. “Oh my...” Valandt began, as he witnessed solider after soldier plummet to their death.
“This is terrible, what can we do?” Presto then said.
“We can give Goreoth new targets, come on. Astral you stay here” Valandt replied before he went to run off in Goreoth’s direction, however Astral stopped him.
“No Valandt” she said defiantly “We love each other. If we experience life together, then we experience death together. I cant watch you die” she said, a tear already running down her eye at just the thought of losing Valandt.
“Very well” Valandt said sighing. “Stay as close to me as you can” he said, grabbing her by the wrist and heading toward Goreoth with Sierra, Imunzo and Presto not far behind. As the four got closer and closer to Goreoth, the winds became more and more intense until by the time they were mere metres it threatened to very easily take them of their feet. “Presto, can‘t you do something?” Valandt said as Goreoth had failed to take notice of them yet.
“I‘ll try” Presto replied, he then swallowed hard, closed his eyes and began to concentrate. There was then silence as Valandt, Astral, Sierra and Imunzo waited for whatever Presto had in store. The incredibly strong winds that blew against them began to subside. Presto opened his eyes suddenly and unleashed the energy he was concentrating on and a whirlwind came forth from his hands and straight at Goreoth. Goreoth roared as the whirlwind enveloped him and he began to lose his balance. Valandt smiled as it was beginning to work and Goreoth threatened to topple over at any second. Valandt’s smile widened as it seemed Goreoth was about to fall when Goreoth stomped one of his feet down hard on the ground, flooring everyone still around him. As Valandt lay on the ground for a second he felt something hit his nose softly, it was soft and cold, a snow flake. More and more began to fall against him as he got to his feet, he then looked up at Goreoth who was summoning them. “You shall all freeze to death” Goreoth thundered as he looked down on Valandt and the snowflakes continued to fall, more frequent than ever now. Valandt was allready up to his shins in snow and he began to shiver as an icy wind cut through him. His fingers began to numb as the blizzard continued, getting more intense with every moment that passed. All that Valandt could now see in front of him was the continual fall of snow. “Astral!” he cried out, his teeth chattering and his hands numb as he began to lift his freezing feet out of the snow and look for her. `She was right next to me a second ago, where is she now?` Valandt thought, his mind beginning to race and paranoia running through his mind. `She’s gone. Just like everyone` came the voice in the back of his mind. Valandt continued to make tracks through the snow with it now up to his knees. `You’re unloved and unwanted. The only time you’ve ever really felt true pleasure was when you saw the blood on that knife. Remember?` the voice grew more persistent as Valandt spirit continued to break in the intense cold of the snow. “No” Valandt said, only just about having the strength to speak it out loud. “I‘ve made love to Astral. That was more meaningful” Valandt said, his lips now frostbitten and his teeth chattering intensely. `No` the voice began `you‘ve had whores before and that's all she is. She likes it like a whore and that's all you deserve` Valandt barely had the strength to reply. “N-No” he eventually mustered out, desperately, he then saw it. “No, no please no” Valandt said, falling to his knees and crying as he saw the frozen corpse of Astral laying in the snow. Valandt picked Astral’s icy body from the snow and cradled it as he sobbed. “No” Valandt said, thinking out loud. `Yes` came the voice from inside him, willing Valandt to continue knowing that he was about to give up. “There is nothing left for me any more” Valandt continued as he began to fade and the voice inside began to laugh, feeling the power it was now getting as it slowly took over Valandt’s body. “I, I..” Valandt said, closing his eyes and crying, about to concede defeat when a voice interrupted him.
“Enough!” came the celestial voice of Paix, Valandt suddenly opened his eyes and all the snow had gone. “Oh Valandt, I thought you were dead” said Astral, her face all teary.
“What?” said Valandt confused. “But you were, I saw you”
“What you saw Valandt, was an illusion. Created by Goreoth to finish your spirit off” said the divine figure of Paix, now standing behind them all. Goreoth then began to laugh “He is mine now, there is no turning back” Goreoth bellowed to Paix, fire in his eyes. Valandt then fell to the floor, the dying screams of his parents echoing across his mind once more. Goreoth continued to laugh as Valandt cried out in torture as the cries of his dying parents continued to haunt him. “Isn‘t there anything you can do?” Astral shouted, turning to Paix.
“I‘m afraid there is nothing I can do, but you can. Remind him of your love and he will chose the correct path” Paix replied. Astral then grabbed Valandt by the collar and desperately called to him. “Please Valandt please, ignore the voices, I know you can” She said desperately as she pressed his body up against hers. `Valandt please. You have to do this for us. For me` Astral said, her voice this time inside Valandt’s head alongside the screams. The screams began to quieten as Astral spoke to Valandt and he began to open his eyes, she then took his hand and placed it over her heart. “I already thought I lost you once today. I can’t lose you again. I love you Valandt” said a teary Astral as she held his hand over her heart.
“I...” Valandt started, but could not finish. Goreoth’s gigantic hand came down and picked Astral up, he then dug the claw of his thumb into her stomach, cutting it open and then dropping her to the floor. “No!” Valandt screamed out, tears running down his face as she fell to the floor, bloody and barely alive. Presto quickly went to her side as Valandt began to sob again, having regained Astral only to lose her. Valandt made his way over to Presto and looked at him, grabbing him by the collar. “Will she be alright?”
“It doesn't look good, she‘ll be dead within a couple of minutes if I don't act now” Presto replied and with that Valandt fell to his knees and let out a loud cry of sadness, it was at that moment that his spirit broke completely. Valandt roared with pain and anguish as his evil side began to take over, he then began to change. Valandt’s hands grew out into claws and his feet likewise. Valandt’s skin colour changed to that of Goreoth’s and he began to grow, ripping out of his clothes. Valandt grew and grew until he stood toe to toe with Goreoth, an exact replica of him. Goreoth laughed and said “The boy has made his decision. This is what evil really is” Goreoth looked at Valandt and smiled. Goreoth and Valandt looked into each other’s eyes for a second before Goreoth grabbed Valandt and pushed him toward his chest, all of Valandt then began to get absorbed into Goreoth. Goreoth laughed loudly now “Now the time has come. With the boy‘s spirit I can finally kill you Paix” said Goreoth as he began to advance on Paix. Goreoth then stopped without warning and picked up the sword of Chalhor, he then continued to advance on Paix only it seemed this time against his own will. “What is going on?” Goreoth roared as he stopped again, there then came a voice from inside Goreoth, Valandt’s. “You were right Goreoth, I have chosen my path. The path of good” Valandt’s voice said a moment before the sword of Chalhor was plunged deep into Goreoth‘s body. Goreoth roared in pain and nearly fell over as the sword pierced his body “you, you stabbed me!” Goreoth said to Valandt, disbelievingly as Imunzo turned to Sierra below.
“Quickly” he said to her as she drew the sword of Drakahor. “Now‘s our chance”
“Well Valandt, after our very first battle I said I'd live to see you die” she said as she prepared the sword. “This is for my father” she suddenly stopped and thought for a second. “No, this is for me” said Sierra as she threw the sword of Drakahor with incredibly accuracy at Goreoth’s stomach. Goreoth roared with extreme pain and he plunged his hand deep into his chest, pulling out the incapacitated human again Valandt. “You may have killed me, but you shall not live either” Goreoth said, his last words before he threw Valandt down to the floor with Valandt landing incredibly hard. Goreoth roared one last time before a huge blinding light overpowered everything there and shone, then as it cleared both Goreoth and Paix were gone and the sky began to brighten. “Astral!” Valandt said, coughing up blood and desperately crawling over to where she lay. “Use the potion, drink it.” Valandt said as he reached out to her “Save yourself my love I am...” Valandt then fell to the floor, dead. Tears rolled down Astral’s cheeks as she saw Valandt die and she took out the potion from her pocket. She looked at the red liquid. “No” she then said. “I love you so much, I cannot bare to be without you any longer” and with that she smashed the bottle down on the grass and took one final breath.

EPILOGUE