Death (5)

The bell tower of the cathedral was getting closer and closer: they were about to crash.

When the impact was imminent, Natsuo closed his eyes, but instead of bumping into the tower bell, the two fell on something soft.

They opened their eyes and found themselves enveloped into a dark substance.

Natsuo glanced at it, surprised. Wasn’t it…

“Natsuo!” a high-pitched voice called.

Natsuo looked down and saw a ginger boy with two daggers holding the dark substance.

“William!” Olive exclaimed.

Natsuo smiled. “Thank you, you saved us.”

William smiled brightly at him, happy to have helped him.

Natsuo glanced at the giant that was a little farther ahead.

“William, can you throw us against the giant?” he asked.

The ginger boy nodded and the dark substance immediately sent them at high speed against the giant.

Natsuo took Olive with one arm and with the other he held his scythe. He charged a blow and, when he was close enough, pierced the giant with his scythe.

He landed on a roof and let go of Olive. The girl fell on her knees, holding back vomit.

“It was a bit turbulent as a trip” she commented.

Natsuo saw the silent monsters at the house’s feet be cut in half in an instant, then someone jumped on the roof.

“Sorry, we arrived late. How is it going?”

Seeing who it was, Olive instantly smiled.

“Alice! You’re here too!”

The girl with the dark bob nodded.

“We take care of the giants, you take care of him” she said, pointing to the Vassal.

Natsuo nodded. “Thank you for the help.”

“No problem, it’s my duty” she replied, then jumped down and resumed killing monsters.

Beatrice, Tristan and Gregory rushed up to Natsuo and Olive.

“Are you okay?” asked Beatrice.

“Yeah, but now it’s time to end it” Natsuo replied.

He looked up. They were located under the Vassal. He was quite high up, but with the help of Tristan and Gregory he could make it.

Natsuo glanced at the soldiers that were fighting against the silent monsters and noticed that they had visibly decreased. There was no more time.

“Tristan, Gregory, create a path for me” he said.

Tristan and Gregory nodded and started creating platforms where he could walk.

“Olive, Beatrice, come with me. I might need help” Natsuo said.

The girls exchanged a knowing glance and nodded determinedly.

The three started running on the platforms created by Tristan and Gregory, advancing toward the Vassal.

Death turned to them and stretched an arm.

Instantly, all the giants turned their attention toward them and rushed up to reach them.

Beatrice summoned a sphere of sunlight and threw it against a giant. The monster started burning because of the heat and fell on the ground. The girl shot a volley of incandescent arrows and killed it.

Olive threw a burst of explosive vials against another giant. The monster stopped advancing and Alice sliced his limbs, attracting his attention.

The last one was engulfed in a vortex of fire.

“Don’t stop, we’ll take care of it!” someone exclaimed.

Natsuo recognized the voice: it was Alan.

Thank you, guys. He thought.

He couldn’t express how grateful he felt at that moment. They were giving their all to clear his way to the Vassal, trusting that he would kill him and save everybody.

Everyone was putting their fate into his hands, he couldn’t afford any mistake.

Death stretched his arm and some portals appeared above them. Silent monsters came out from them and dropped on the three.

Natsuo swung his scythe and pierced some of them, while Olive made the rest explode.

“Let’s go!” Natsuo exclaimed.

They were close. Only four platforms were missing.

Natsuo rushed to the last platform and jumped toward the Vassal, holding his scythe tightly.

Olive and Beatrice stopped and watched him getting closer to Death with bated breath.

Tristan was trembling for anxiety, while Gregory was cheering for Natsuo.

Everyone on the battlefield turned to him, placing all their trust in him.

Natsuo raised his scythe against Death.

The Vassal felt the danger and tried to retreat inside the door.

Tristan immediately pointed his rod to him and blocked his way with an ice barrier.

Death crashed into the wall of ice and clasped his hands.

Beatrice understood what he had in mind, so she stretched her bow’s string and shot an incandescent arrow.

The Vassal tried to point his finger to Natsuo and drag him into a portal, but the incandescent arrow got stuck in his hand.

He drew his hand back in pain and looked up.

Natsuo was right above him.

“It’s time to give you a taste of your own medicine” he said.

Natsuo dropped his scythe on the Vassal with all of his force, piercing his helmet. The blade slid all the way down and Death’s body was cut in a half.

An energy wave spread through Blossomhyl, as if the world was taking a sigh of relief from all the suffering. A sense of lightness floated around, now that Roselond was free of that weight.

The remains of the Vassal’s body disappeared together with the enormous doorway, without leaving any trace.

The darkness in the sky withdrew and the soldiers were welcomed by a blue clean sky and the birds singing. The sun lit up the city, hugging everybody’s heart with his warmth.

The last Vassal was finally defeated. It seemed absurd, but it was real.

It was over. Forever.

Using the resistance attribute, Natsuo landed on the roof where Gregory and Tristan were.

Tristan was still a bit shocked.

“We… We did it” he mumbled.

Gregory squeezed Natsuo into a tight hug.

“You’re the best, mate, I love you!” he exclaimed.

Natsuo chuckled.

“Nah” he replied. “You’re the best, mate, thank you for following me, despite it all.”

Gregory glanced at him with teary eyes.

“I’ll follow you forever, leader.”

Beatrice and Olive reached him on the roof and ran toward him.

“Natsuo!” they exclaimed.

The two girls trapped him in a hug, crying with joy.

Natsuo patted their heads. “Thank you for your help, I never would have made it without you.”

Tristan approached him and placed his head on Natsuo’s shoulder, hiding his tears.

“Thank you for saving me… For saving all of us” he whispered, sobbing.

Natsuo smiled and hugged him.

“Thank you for existing, Tristan. You’re irreplaceable.”

Hearing those words, Tristan started crying even more and hugged Natsuo back.

“I love you” he said.