A Glimpse of Decay: Part III – The Ritual

“Why are you grinning?”

“You should be able to get it by now right? Why am I laughing?!”

“Huh? Why did I… just feel a chill? D–did I… Grather Vorn, the strongest warrior next to only Lord Malrik, got scared of a tiny boy like him?”

“What happened, scared are you?” Touma's words were heavy.

“Like hell I am!”

Grather jumped at Touma, wrecking the concrete in his path. He was fast. Touma charged at him, drawing out his sword – he slashed at Grather.

Grather did not have any weapon, he blocked Touma's sword with his bare hands. The impact knocked away Touma. Dust clouds rose in the chamber, dimming the lights from the lamps.

“You sure have thick skin.”

“Is that what it seems to you? I think it's your sword that's weak!”

“Is that so? Then I should push myself too, I guess.”

Touma saw it, Grather’s punch approaching his face. He dodged the punch, only to get hit by a knee in the ribs. Ghh—khh! Touma fell backwards. Grather saw the opportunity and smashed at his face.

The concrete broke, dust mixed in the air – creating a smokescreen. Touma wasn't there – he was gone. A sword appeared in the periphery of his vision, Grather blocked with his forearm – but nothing hit him. It was a feint! 

Touma went behind him, and swung his sword with all his might, coughing as the pain seared through his ribs. Schwik! His sword cut through Grather’s back.

Grather grabbed his wrist, “Shit!!” He pulled Touma's wrist and smashed him in the wall.

Touma coughed up blood, as he struggled to get on his feet. Grather didn't miss the chance and kicked him in the face. Touma rolled over, barely dodging it – suddenly thrust his sword at his stomach.

Shhhk! His sword impaled Grather. Touma quickly pulled it out and backed off.

“Huff, huff.” Touma wiped his blood on his sleeve. “You're strong. Way stronger than him.”

“This… this is the first time in years that I've seen my blood. You're one of the strongest people I've fought Touma! Don't let it end like this, give me more fun!!”

Grather seemed unfazed by the stab wound. He clenched his fist and punched Touma. A sound echoed in the hall. It wasn't due to them. It was coming from a room far at the end of the hallway.

“It's Lord Malrik! He has started. Looks like I've gotta get serious now.” 

Grather's attitude changed. He looked serious. Suddenly he disappeared from his place. Only to flash in front of Touma. He threw a punch at him – Touma blocked with his sword. Clang! A metallic sound echoed in the hall.

“What? Did I just hear a clang sound? But, why? Only I have a metal sword, so why?!”

The dust cleared up, and it became visible, Grather's hand – now equipped with metal gauntlets. 

“Surprised, are you? I don't have much time to waste. That's why I ain't wasting any more time on you now.”

“Is that so? Well then, I'll just cut through those gauntlets along with your head then!”

Touma flashed before Grather, slicing from the left, Grather blocked – a feint? Grather punched the ground, disrupting Touma's balance. 

“Don't you underestimate me!”

“I was never doing it. You're the only one who thinks that! And that's why you'll be dying soon!”

“Ghh! W–what just happened?” Grather looked at his stomach, a sword impaled it. “How?! How is there another sword with you?!”

There was no reply, the sword of metal getting dragged echoed. Touma flashed before Grather's eyes. He had another sword.

Grather punched. Touma dodged. Stepping on the sword impaling his stomach – Touma jumped high up, kicking the ceiling to gain momentum, he swung his sword with all his might. 

Grather blocked. The sword hit his gauntlets with a loud CLANG, but the sound didn't stop there. It continued with a gut wrenching screech as the blade cut through the metal – ripping Grather's flesh along with it. 

Touma landed behind Grather as his head fell on the ground. Touma had won.

“Huff, huff. Didn't I say… you'll be dying soon!” Touma chuckled. “Good thing I picked up Derrin’s sword. He didn't even realize it in the heat of the battle. Well then, time to move on.”

Footsteps started to get near the hallway. More guards were coming. This time Touma didn't hide, with whispers echoing in the hall and approaching footsteps, he knew he had to hurry.

A man appeared in the hallway. “Kill the intruder!” He screeched.

“Kill him!” More people shouted.

Touma dashed forward, and the next thing everyone knew – it was a blood bath. But the one bleeding wasn't Touma, it was them – the cultists.

The smell of blood reeked in the hallway. Touma started walking towards the door at the end of the hallway.

The door made a loud creak as it was opened. It led to a huge room, the air became heavy. There was a man standing near an altar, wearing a mask, and on the altar – was the girl, lying unconsciously.

“So you were able to reach me after all. All of them were useless after all.” 

“Who are you?” Touma seemed unfazed by that cold voice.

“I think you might know my name by now. I'm pretty sure they must be shouting my name out there.”

“So you're–”

“Yes. I am Malrik Veythar! The same Lord Malrik those people were shouting out there.”

Touma felt a chill, this man was dangerous. He emitted an ominous aura. Touma walked in the room.

“What are you going to gain from disrupting my ritual? Why do you disrupt the awakening of Cenoth?”

“Who is Cenoth?”

“Ohh! So you don't know about him? But you know what? I think you're better off dying without knowing about him then.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“The ritual has started already, Cenoth will descend soon. Everyone here is going to die soon! You just wasted your time coming here!’

“You know what? I don't understand any of it. I don't know anything about this world. That's why I don't know about the consequences my actions will bring. And that is why, I'm going to stop you, and take that girl back.”

“Try it then!”

Touma charged towards Malrik as he took out his sword. Malrik raised his hand, Touma raised his eyebrow wondering what he's doing – until he was smashed in the wall.

“Ghhk! khh! Wh–what… was that?”

“You know, you and Grather, both of you possess physical strength like monsters. But neither of you can win against me. Why? Because none of you are able to use magic.”

Malrik’s glare left Touma chilling. “What… do you… mean… by that?” Touma lifted himself up, his legs were shaky, but he managed to stand up.

“Magic is magic! What can I explain about it? You can't even use it after all.”

“If that's the case, I'll just kill you before you pull any more tricks on me!”

Touma had disappeared from his spot. Suddenly, a sword came flying towards Malrik. 

“You think you can kill me with just this?” Malrik dodged the sword.

“No, I don't!” A voice appeared from behind him. It was Touma. He caught it.

Surprised by this, Malrik jumped back, Touma closed in quickly – with two swords in his hands, he slashed at Malrik.

Malrik ducked. Touma missed him. He felt a bolt of lightning hit him. It was Malrik. Touma fell on the ground. 

“Don't bother moving, you've been paralyzed.”

Malrik started to walk towards the altar. “At long last, the hollow flame has awakened. It is the time for sacrifice.”

Touma wanted to say something, but no words came. He could only see the ground. 

“Wait, this situation, isn't it just like the alleyway? I'm lying here, unable to move – as he proceeds to kill the girl. It's just like back then.

No, I won't let it end like back then. This time for sure, I'll save the person in front of me. This time I'LL DO IT FOR SURE!!!” Touma's thoughts turned into shouting as he took a stand.

His vision blurred for a second, his pulse increased – he was on his legs again.

“What was that? This resonance. Who resonated with me?! Was it you?! I'm gonna murder you!! How could anyone else be chosen by the gods?! Only I am the chosen one!”

Malrik started to shout, Touma felt a force on his back, something was trying to smash him on the ground. Suddenly, he felt a surge of strength in his body.

“Huh? It's just like back then. Everything is slow. No… I think– I'm too fast.

If that's the case, then I'll use this strength to beat this man and save that girl.”

Malrik felt a strong force hit him in the face, launching him in the air. The shockwave blew the lights off. Malrik got smashed into a wall. His mask broke, revealing his face. The flame near the altar lit up, then vanished.

“What have you done?!” Malrik began to shout as he ran near the flame. “You disrupted the slumber of the hollow flame! You've ruined the ritual.”

“That was my plan all along. I'm gonna save that girl no matter what.” 

“You've finally done it. I've been so patient this whole time, and you took its results away from me. I'm going to search for the hollow flame this time, but I swear the next time we meet – it'll be the day of your demise.” 

Malrik's glare sent chills to Touma, he was pissed. Suddenly, a black mist surrounded him and he disappeared into thin air. 

“I'm saved. Huff, Huff! I don't know how long I’d have been able to hold off against him. My back is killing me. For now, I should get out of this place fast.”

Touma picked up the girl from the altar, carrying her out of that place. The hallways felt longer. He heard echoes, but he couldn't run. He moved forward as he hoped to not encounter any other cultists.

“My fatigue is finally catching up to me. My whole body hurts. This girl, I need to safely take her out, by any means!”

His vision was blurry, the hallway reeked of blood, there was little light there. 

“That turn right there, I'm finally going to be out of this place. My feet are heavy. But I can make it if I move slowly.”

Touma turned at the corner, the one which led to the dark hall which led to the stairs which led outside. Moonlight lit the dark hallway near the stairs – barely.

Touma's pace became fast, he was about to get out. He arrived at the staircase, and started to walk up on them. 

“Ugh! The stairs, it's harder to climb on them. I feel like I'm pulling a car uphill.”

Touma finally made it out, he was in the clearing. Moonlight shone in the whole area, the sky was clear, there was no smell, no sound. He felt safe. He rested the girl down on the ground.

“I did it.”

Laying down to catch his breath, Touma felt a huge relief. He didn't want to move, but that wasn't an option. He got up a few minutes later, and decided to wake the girl up.

“Hey! Wake up. We need to get out of this place quickly. Wake up.”

“....”

Nothing happened. 

“What a strange girl, first she slept through it all and isn't even waking up now.

Hey! Wake up! Fast. We need to get out of here.”

Her eyes opened. “Wh–who are you? Where am I?”

“It doesn't matter who I am for now, we need to get out of this place first. Your grandfather must be worried about you.”

“Grandpa, ahh! I remember now! I remember everything! I was captured by them, by the Crimson Creed, those cultists. 

But if I was with them, and you were here, would you be one of them?”

“No. No, I'm not with them! I don't even understand what the hell is wrong with this place. You can think of me as a traveller. I was in your village this afternoon when your grandfather requested me to get you back. If that satisfies your curiosity, then get up fast. We need to get out of here.”

“I still don't feel like trusting you, but–”

“There's no other option right. That's why get up Lyra, we need to get out of here.”

“How do you know my name?”

“Your grandfather told me, let's go.”

Lyra got up, they started to walk into the forest. 

“Mr. Traveller, can I call you that?”

“Do as you please, but please don't stop walking.”

“Wait! Your back, you're injured. You need to rest, it must be hurting pretty bad right?!”

“Don't worry, I can manage that much.”

“That's not something you can say with a smile though.”

“Did you say something? Anyways, walk in front. That's the safe option for now.”

“Got it.”

They walked halfway through the forest, the trees became more dense. Lyra walked up front, and Touma followed.

Suddenly, Touma felt his strength fading, he was losing his breath. His body felt strange, it felt as if something pulled down on him. His vision was starting to blur. His feet stumbled. He coughed twice, it was tinged with blood.

“Did something happen?” Lyra’s voice echoed in the forest.

“Nothing, just a bit tired.”

Touma felt darkness creeping up to him. He felt his knees touch the ground, and soon his face too. He fell on the ground.

His consciousness was fading. He could barely see anything. He vaguely heard Lyra’s worried voice, she was calling out for him. He couldn't react. He felt his consciousness drift away. 

Touma blacked out.