Chapter 23: Run.

Within Astalon's fortress, there were piles and piles of dragon corpses. Different mages of various crafts were dutifully studying the corpses, writing various runic marks on their bones, and their scales. They wielded different magical instruments, and tools made to animate those corpses.

Astalon was quite involved in the process, guiding his people wherever need be. He kept breathing the words, "Weapons," and "Equality." As well as various words of the "dragon" persuasion. Finally, various pieces from various dragons were hobbled together, to create something horrific. An amalgamation of dragon corpses, akin to Frankenstein's monster, reanimated with various necrotic runes. Astalon reveled at the success, before he stepped up and into the sky.

"Tell me, my warriors! Why do you fight?!"

"To destroy dragons!"

"Why do you kill?!"

"For you!"

"We will usher forth a brand-new era, and create an age of everlasting peace! For now and forever more! Come now, and bring forth the light, and multiply my creations!"

At that, he'd outstretch his arms wide, and the monster that was crafted multiplied, as he created a plethora of clones of the initial creation. He laughed, like a maniac as he watched his army be created - all those dead dragons made for this? Iskatl and his group watched on in horror, but. All is fair in love and war... The Grave Dragon has slaughtered so many innocents, so why should her children be safe from this?

Iskatl's gaze darkened as he watched this crime of war. A man from heaven doing something so evil, it felt odd to him, but he was a Knight from Heaven, so what did that matter?

"Are you truly content with the going ons before your eyes, boy? This man is a monster. You fight monsters, but you would ally with one for your goals?"

Shamash spoke into his ear, and he'd shiver as he and Amani looked at each other, before holding hands. Roars escaped the monsters' maws, wicked roars, rife with pain. Then, the air became still and light ceased to be.

The sun was up high in the sky, yet light was replaced with darkness. Iskatl felt it before he saw it, his sins crawled down his spine, as darkness followed suit. It felt familiar in some way he couldn't describe, but as the world drowned in darkness, a bright orange light exploded within the midst of the fortress, and Astalon fell from the sky but, before he could hit the ground, he was grasped by living shadows, and in those shadows, a pale woman formed.

A horn, akin to a goat's on each side of her head, her skin paler than even a ghost's, and no light within her eyes. Looking up at her, Iskatl froze in fear. The crimson-haired woman from before had more mana than him, but this mana was unlike anything he'd ever seen. Every fiber of his being pulsed with the strength of that mana, as he fell to his knees, and vomited at the very sight of this thing's power.

"Run. Run. Run. Run. Run. Run. RUN."

The Reliquary echoed within his mind that one word, Shamash fell silent, as if its very existence was snuffed out. Darkness filled the world, swallowing the world itself. Heavy panting escaped Iskatl's lips, all he could do was breathe heavily, as he vomited yet again. Just the very presence of this woman's power made standing impossible. The pressure it gave off caused not only Iskatl, but the rest of the people within the fortress to falter, and fall to their knees. Iskatl's eyes were locked on that woman, and blood began to seep from them, as he tried his best to close them, his scales convulsing and his skin crawling. The woman's lips parted, and the language that escaped them was not the common tongue, but the meaning of her words struck him within his very core, like bullets to his stomach.

"This sin is more unforgivable than the rest, False Emperor."

Her mana surged, even more. Her mana completely dwarfed his own, and even still it was only growing, like an eclipse that was still working on covering up the sun. She had him, the Emperor, by the neck, only to lower herself to the ground and throw him to the ground. She looked around her and her eyes locked directly on Iskatl. Her mana felt like a crushing force, and had a weight to it. Nothing he's ever encountered has had any form of energy with a physical weight, but she stepped over to him, every step felt like she was stepping on his throat, as her mana got closer and closer to him.

"Run. Run. Run. Run."

The Reliquary continued and continued, before it lied silent.

She, Velika knelt in front of Iskatl, and her right hand, covered in black scales, ending with sharp claws at the very and grasped his cheek softly, and suddenly that weight would vanish as she would look at him.

"You're Vyarra's brat... Aren't you? How interesting."

That darkness would dissipate, as she smirked at him. Getting a closer look at her, there were these markings on her face, similar to Valkyr's, actually. Her right hand was covered in obsidian scales, and her left was pale white. This was the Grave Dragon, Velika. She was touching him, and there was nothing he could do about it.

So much attention was focused on her, Iskatl just noticed two others that accompanied her, a gray haired dragon woman with horns of a stag and piercing orange eyes, wearing a modest dress that hugged her waist before falling into a neat skirt, prim sleeves which puffed slightly at the shoulders, alongside a man who looked similar to her by all means, but he didn't dress so modestly, for starters he had on only trousers, and nothing else, his musculature was toned, and bulging, as if he cared quite a lot about that semblance of his appearance, their similarities otherwise were uncanny to the point that they seemed almost like twins.

"Mother. Can we snuff out the rebels quickly? I'd like to go after Vaaz next, quite soon."

The boy spoke up before the girl glared at him. They were already making plans on their next move, as if they were going to win here and now.

Iskatl stood up, he wouldn't let this fly. He'd smack the dragon's hand away from his face, only for her wicked grin to widen, showing off a plethora of sharpened teeth that seemed like they didn't even belong within her maw. Eyes opened, similar to Myez from earlier, Iskatl held Shamash out and shouted.

"Seed of Hell, planted by the tyrant from the abyss. Dragons, Humans, Demons, Elves, and even the Fey all lie equal under my decisive judgment. Awaken and hear my call! Shamash, the Wicked Executioner!"

Velika sat there, and watched as he powered up before the twins looked at one another. She even backed away a few steps, as she watched with glee. Gauntlets would form on his hands and creep up his arms, into vambraces, pauldrons, and the like. The blade grew larger, and bigger, and Shamash spoke into his ear.

"I will give you... Everything, boy. Think about victory, and I will grant you every single ounce of my strength so this foe is possible to defeat."

Velika just watched, amusement plastered across her face as, like an animal backed into a corner, Iskatl swung his blade, with every ounce of his strength, flames erupting behind his blade as he struck true, and a hand stopped the blade dead in its tracks.

Horror returned to his face as he watched her intently.

"What's wrong? Was that your big attack?"

He felt all of his mana escape his body completely, as she smiled, and then he felt his core heat up before darkness covered his form and he was sent flying.

"Alright, so are you all going to scatter about like roaches whilst I burn this place to the ground, or will you be graceful and line up for execution?"

Iskatl felt his scales shift and malform, as he felt restored, rejuvenated even. It was as if an external force had healed him entirely. Standing up once again, Iskatl gripped Shamash in his hands as he approached Velika once again.

"You think you finished me that easily?"

"Interesting. Your mother can protect you, even from here? She truly is annoying."

A head tilt as she approached him slowly, that smirk never leaving her face before she spoke.

"Would you like to know something, Descender? I have a child with Vyarra too. A girl - I think it'd be funny to have her kill you, but instead I think I'll be leaving now. I think you'll quite enjoy who I'm having you fight in her place, though. Markole. Fushi. To me, we have business to tend to."

She held her hand out, palm to the ground before a dark liquid plastered itself along the ground. She raised that hand, before with it a figure appeared. Iskatl watched the figure form from the puddle born of the Abyss, and he immediately felt his blood begin to boil, yet run cold simultaneously. It felt like he was taking a dip in dry ice.

A man was there, and before his very eyes, Velika blipped from existence, as if she moved faster than he could even perceive. A man in a gray cloak, stained crimson with blood, and what was obviously a katana at his belt. This was Zyelt, it had to be. Velika knew he was a Descender, which meant she had to know about his ties with Zyelt.

"I've long waited for this reunion, Detective."

That voice echoed out, as he looked to Iskatl, with a sneer. Iskatl gasped softly, as he felt his muscles tighten, and the stench of blood filled the air. All the soldiers within the fortress died, and only now did he realize such. Was this a result of Velika's power?

Zyelt draws his blade and looks to the crimson-haired man before him, ready to fight.

"I'd like for just you and I to fight, but obviously your friends will join, so forgive me for going all out off rip. Darkness coalesce, and devour the world. Steal from the people, and pillage their might. Slay the Goddess, and rip out her heart before feasting on her flesh. Ouroboros, hear my pleas, and awaken to swallow the world whole!"