SWNOVELXO Chapter 29: Of Memories and Festivals PART 3
We found ourselves in a red desert filled with dunes and plains covered in decaying ruins, rotting corpses of both armies that fought here, and rusted weapons and banners stuck in the ground. The cruel aftermath of a battle that happened long ago.
My face twisted in sadness and disgust as the smell of death assaulted my nostrils. The unfeeling wind hummed past my ears, blowing the ancient banners and carrying the silent wails of those who had perished beneath the sand.
There was no honor or glory here, for the clamor of our fiery spirits ceased immediately. None would pass on the tale of those who had fallen, save for the giant in the distance.
Radahn stood atop the highest dune, his form a dark outline against the clouded scarlet horizon, a figure with long, wild red hair and old leonine armor, lost to its once golden sheen.
His torn cape flowed solemnly in the wind, displaying his once proud but now ravaged coat of arms. Several colossal spears pierced his back, where an ancient bow of equal size rested, while a tiny brown horse remained below his body.
I would laugh and wonder how the poor malnourished animal managed to support so much weight if I did not know what led the General to such a result, devouring bodies midst the madness of a corrupted mind.
The sound of dozens of drawn weapons cut through the air, and we approached with assumed battle stances and cautious steps, slowly moving the sand with muffled cracks, planning to surround the demigod.
I tensed my grip on my weapons, feeling anxious, sweat running down my body and hot breath muffled, turning my armor into an oven.
I did not feel confident despite the numerical superiority. This would be the greatest challenge I would face. I could not help but tremble in fear, feeling my muscles stiffen in opposition. The most powerful demigod, the son of two equally ruthless individuals, held the stars and consequently destiny despite his madness. What chance did we have here?
I shook my head, dispelling my doubts and strengthening my resolve. This is no time to weaken, Alden! You have a plan, put it into action!
"By the Elden Ring, since when did Radahn grow so big?!" Godwyn exclaimed in surprise, raising his shield before his body and swinging his ax quickly.
"The demigods have shown themselves to be taller than a normal human being, I have also met plenty of giant humans in Drangleic. Is his appearance so unusual?" I raised my staff, dragging it along my sword and conjuring Dark Weapon, enveloping it in abyssal darkness, and Affinity, creating five floating dark fragments above me.
The demigod shuddered at the sight of my spells, raising a theory I had been formulating for some time, however, Blaidd spoke before I could ask more.
"Radahn was enormous in his youth, towering over his mother, but nothing too exaggerated; the Great Rune must have strengthened him. At least Leonard is alive, a sign that he still uses his magic to keep from crushing him. I dread to imagine how my brother would react if he were to pass away."
"Leonard? Is the horse named Leonard?"
"Yes, and Radahn loves him like a son. Try not to hurt him, or you will become the target of his wrath." Blaidd then swung his sword, surrounding it with magical energy.
Our presence alerted the General, and he glared at us with his maddened face, drawing his massive bow along with a handful of spears from his back with a wet squelch.
He loaded the massive projectiles into his weapon, pointing it upward and pulling its string with a snapping sound like a felled tree. Then, with the release of his fingers, the string moved and rained steel down upon us.
"Spread out!" Jerren yelled, but we were halfway to such action.
Death came from the red skies, splitting the air with a hiss and raising clouds of sand with each impact followed by a boom, lifting bodies and debris, and lasting too long for anyone to emerge unscathed.
I heard shouts and insults from the warriors, but I lost sight of them, finding them again as I broke through one of the clouds and faced an arrow wrapped in purple magic aimed at me in the middle of my run.
Radahn glared at me hatefully with clenched teeth, creating a scowl that promised death, and unleashed his next attack, which visibly distorted reality, pushing aside or crushing everything in its path.
There was no time to dodge that improvised siege project, so I planted my feet on the ground, drawing lines on the ground, and raised my left arm, defying the flying weapon.
I swung my limb at the last moment, using one of the reasons why I loved this shield so much, because the shining jewel in its center released a deafening shock wave, pushing the air and parring the large arrow away, where it exploded in a purple dome, leaving a circular crater at its landing site.
"Holy shit, how do you still have an arm?!" Blaidd helped the eastern warrior to his feet.
"It's a long tale of ice and fire that will be for later!" I called Torrent, shaking his reins, circling the General while approaching quickly.
The remaining warriors acted accordingly and advanced in different directions, forcing the demigod to fire all his arrows in an attempt to hit them, grabbing handfuls and sending piercing walls toward his enemies.
His cruel gaze shifted from person to person, shaking his head confusedly, trying to focus on a target. However, those capable of ranged attacks prevented him from taking such action.
Lionel, the sorceress, and the man in the iron mask conjured a mixture of spells, bombarding the General, who growled with each explosion and piercing that wounded his body.
The rotund knight sent a barrage of screaming skulls enveloped in the blue ghost flame. The sorceress, a wall of magic swords, and the masked man, a rain of glintstone magic.
I joined their efforts and went around the General, sending Orbs and Hail along with the Affinity that shot and hit his left side, creating a shadowy wall, making him throw his head back and roar painfully.
However, he used his huge bow as a club and plunged it towards me. Fortunately, Torrent was faster and safely escaped the attack that shook the earth.
I grunted as I swung my sword, nearly losing my balance and falling from my mount under its weight, and slashed deeply into Radahn's leg, ripping through his armor and flesh with a crack accompanied by a shower of metal and sparks, leaving a bloody wound leaking darkness.
The eastern warrior and the bandit did the same, drawing their respective short bows and sending a volley of arrows toward the pain-blinded demigod, creating a symphony of strings pulled, wood creaking, and projectiles cutting through the air.
Most shattered upon impacting his armor, some piercing the gaps and weak spots with bloody spurts, and one came dangerously close to hitting his right eye and lodging in his face instead.
This distraction allowed the man in golden robes to approach the barbarian and the woman in the turban who were wounded by the spears and cast healing incantations, joining the hooded man, the half-naked woman, and the female knight in the march against the General.
Jerren, Blaidd, Alexander, Okina, Godwyn, and Tragoth also collaborated, soon the demigod found himself surrounded on all sides, with his adversaries climbing towards him.
But where was Patches?
I stopped casting spells and scanned my surroundings, spotting the excuse of a man crouched behind a set of ruins, protecting his head with his shield while trembling in terror. I rode towards the coward, staring in disgust at his frightened face when he saw me.
"Hello, friend! I guess facing demigods is not for me! There is no point in being torn apart for some loot, but don't worry, our friends are doing well!" He pointed to the fight with his thumb.
Radahn didn't know who to aim at, his bow constantly changing from target to target, but when he finally made up his mind, his hands gripped the air as he brought it to his back.
He roared and used his bow as a club again, dragging it across the ground in a semicircle and sending some of the warriors flying in a tide of sand.
The weapon split violently, the demigod hurling the half in his grip towards the remaining combatants, where it shattered on the way, stopping them momentarily. This allowed him to draw a pair of colossal curved blades, engaging in close-quarters combat.
I grabbed Patches by the leg without a word and kicked Torrent in the sides, galloping towards the fight.
"Wait, are you crazy?! What are you doing?!"
I didn't respond and threw him towards the demigod like a rock.
"AAAHHH! OUCH!" The scoundrel hit his back harmlessly, falling to the ground shortly after.
The giant turned to the source of the disturbance, growling like a dog before bringing his blades down on the coward. Patches screamed desperately, rolling to the side and dodging the blows that split the earth with each swing.
I approached and ordered Torrent to jump twice, sending him away in the middle of the climb while I raised my sword above my head with both hands, slashing the distracted General's chest with a war cry, tearing steel and flesh in a spectacle of blood and metal, leaving a dark trail in my path.
I landed on my knees, breathing heavily and watching the spell dissipate, the scarlet liquid staining the ground of similar color, and the demigod and his horse leaving the ground, wrapped in gravity magic, before bringing the blades down towards me.
Rolling back, I escaped the brute of the attack, but flew away, landing on a dune where I sighed in pain, feeling the air leave my lungs.
Radahn rode forward, intending to continue his assault, but a large golden ring struck his right blade mid-swing, knocking his arm back with a wave of sparks.
"Are you alright?!" Godwyn shouted, casting more incantations with the golden-robed man who was shooting fireballs. I raised my thumb, causing him to return the gesture and continue his attack.
This broke the General's balance, allowing Okina and the eastern warrior to advance at blinding speed, the former sending out a barrage of blood blades, and the latter following with one of wind before heading in opposite directions.
The combined attack left a precise X-shaped cut on the General's chest, causing the blood loss to take effect, creating a shower of blood.
Radahn screamed, falling to his knees and clutching his wound, using one arm for support as he gasped, but there was no relief, as Alexander delivered a crushing punch to his jaw, sending a sickening crack through the dunes.
"General Radahn, it is an honor to face you! I hope you get better soon!"
Radahn responded by spitting a bloody tooth into the desert sands before roaring in the warrior jar's nonexistent face, slapping him away.
"I am so sorry!" The jar screamed, rolling down the dune, nearly taking those in its path.
However, the attack on the demigod was not over, Tragoth, Jerren, and Blaidd formed a triangle around him.
The large man screamed in the effort, spinning and swinging his hammer-shaped piece of rock at a speed impossible for anyone else, striking the General's wounded chest.
CRACK!
"RRROOOAAARRR!"
Another crack reverberated through the dunes, leaving a quadratic dent in the demigod's chest along with broken bones.
Radahn spat out a pool of blood that grew as Blaidd leaped and struck his back with a swing of his magical blade, creating an explosion resembling a miniaturized constellation.
Jerren came next, piercing the general's left side deeply through a gap in his armor, making him snort and grind his teeth, nearly breaking the remaining ones.
Soon Radahn found himself cut, pierced, and battered. Spells and arrows rained down on his body, wearing away his will, slowly bringing him to the ground.
The fight was going in our favor, I joined the other sorcerers, casting Dark Orb and Hail in succession, preparing to administer the potion when he was incapacitated.
However, it was never that easy. Gravity magic coursed through his body, and with a deafening scream, a purple dome expanded and pulled us toward him at a disorienting speed.
My head spun as I saw double, I didn't have time to reorient myself, as the same force that pulled me pushed me in the opposite direction, threatening to crush me with my armor.
I felt as if a tower had collapsed on top of me, the world turned upside down, I glimpsed the other Tarnished in similar situations, landing in different locations with worrying noises followed by clouds of sand.
It felt like my insides would turn to paste, my bones trembled and my brain danced in my head, almost jumping out, similar to my heart. Pain ran through my body, forcing me to lie down for a few seconds, waiting for the paralysis to pass.
I saw Radahn slashing the ground with his blades, creating a miniature earthquake, splitting the earth and encasing it in raw rock, transforming it into a serrated weapon. Then he flew, abandoning his horse and spinning in a corkscrew motion with his swords pointed in our direction.
I fought the pain and called Torrent, riding forward and watching as the demigod closed the distance between us. I cast spell after spell, but the gravity magic parried them all, so I settled for leading him away from the recovering Tarnished.
"Hey, come after me!"
I glimpsed the man in golden robes gathering and healing the wounded. I lit my flame and cast Warmth, creating an orb of healing fire near them, receiving a thank you in return.
Eventually, my pursuer lost his speed and returned to his mount, continuing the chase at full gallop.
Radahn roared, and I looked back to see him charging forward with his blades crossed before swinging them, sending a gravitational wave through the ground, lifting the earth in its path.
I ordered Torrent to accelerate, but the attack maintained a steady pace. As if that wasn't enough, pillars of rock rose in my path, threatening to bring me to a violent halt.
I did my best to guide Torrent out of the way, but the obstacles became more difficult to avoid, increasing in number. Simultaneously, the gravitational wave approached with Radahn right behind.
I was on the verge of panic, feeling a tightness in my chest as I tried to catch my breath. I saw Tragoth, Godwyn, Blaidd, Leonel, Alexander, and Patches climbing the dunes ahead, cutting a path toward us.
But I had to deal with the wall of flesh and metal behind me. I reviewed my repertoire and created a risky strategy, but one that would give us a momentary advantage if it worked.
I pulled on Torrent's reins, begging for forgiveness, causing him to rear up abruptly on his hind legs with a pained neigh, and raised my chime, conjuring Profound Still and creating a dark circle filled with ancient sigils around me.
The rock pillars, tremors, and waves stopped as they approached the circle. The demigod paid no attention and roared, glaring at me with bloodshot eyes as he rode faster.
However, his face turned to despair and surprise when his horse neighed in protest, trembling to stay upright. Radahn leaped from his mount and landed in front of me, shaking his swords and sending a wall of rock fragments flying.
I raised my shield and begged forgiveness again as Torrent neighed. I did not come out unscathed, grunting as each sharp piece pierced my body, falling from my mount and listening to it disappear, but the first part of my plan came to fruition.
I drank from my Vial of Cerulean Tears, restoring my magic as Radahn struggled to his feet. At that moment, I realized that the General had no feet, but two bloody stumps in their place.
I frowned in regret, but the opportunity allowed me to cast the Promised Walk of Peace, slowing our movements greatly.
I saw the remaining Tarnished approaching from behind the kneeling General. Great, I needed to keep him occupied, which proved to be torture.
Despite being slowed, Radahn attacked relentlessly, his steel walls called weapons delivering deadly blows, I could only step sideways in a vain attempt to dodge.
Each successive attack split the ground, each sideways swing threatened to split me in two, and a final blow above his head knocked me backward. I would have gotten up if not for the crushing grip on my leg.
CRACK!
"AAAHHH!" I screamed with all my might as I felt the bone turn to dust, but it was nothing compared to the sight of the General's open, salivating mouth closing in on my head.
Oh, gods, no! I lit my flame and cast Iron Flesh just as his teeth closed around me.
CLANG!
"RRROOOAAARRR!"
I suppose I broke a few of his teeth, but he preferred to treat me like a rag doll, repeatedly slamming me into the ground, and sending metallic cracks through the air.
This agonizing hell lasted for a few seconds until his grip disappeared and I found myself falling into the arms of a possessed suit of armor.
"Forgive me for taking so long! It's hard to keep up with a mount on foot!" Godwyn led me away from the fray as the other warriors passed us in the opposite direction in a blur.
"D-don't worry, *GASP* I've been through worse, *COUGH, but I a-appreciate the help!" I tried to comfort him, struggling to say each word, which seemed to fail, judging by his silence.
Looking at my adversary, I saw the bandit lifted into the air with his knife stuck in the General's hand, but his end came quickly, as the demigod crushed him against the ground, reducing him to a mass of flesh and bones that disappeared in golden rays.
Hm... The first to fall... I will have to thank him in the nearest Grace.
The woman in the turban danced around the General with grace and beauty in a tornado of blades, her blue clothes turning to water midst the threads of blood drawn by her scimitars.
The barbarian roared like a beast, surrounding himself in a red aura and holding his ax with both hands, striking the demigod with heavy and brutal blows to the legs, keeping him in place.
The half-naked woman hit the giant with her club, irritating him more than causing damage. Surprisingly, she proved nimble, taunting the demigod as she leaped and rolled away from the blows.
Patches conjured a yellowish mist that corroded the demigod's armor and weapons, allowing the attacks to reach their target more easily, but was knocked to the ground by a headbutt.
Jerren threw flaming pots and other battle consumables at his old friend, screaming for forgiveness, but was sent flying away with a bloody gash across his chest.
Blaidd traded blows with his brother, dodging and parrying his blade in a shower of sparks with regret in his eyes, but soon found himself in a bear hug, screaming as his body was ground to a pulp.
Tragoth, Alexander, and Okina came to his rescue, the first two striking Radahn's sides, causing him to release Blaidd, and allowing Okina to dive in with his sword raised, slicing his left eye.
Unfortunately, the hooded man fell next, approaching unnoticed and piercing the demigod's wounded side before being split in two by a swing from Radahn, his halves falling to the ground before disappearing.
The man in golden robes ran desperately towards the conflict, screaming in fright with the sole purpose of dragging Blaidd closer to us, almost becoming the next victim in the process, placing him next to us and healing him.
"We're losing people." I commented, watching curiously as the man healed my leg with a medium incantation.
"Seriously, believe I didn't notice?!" Blaidd replied sarcastically, rolling on the ground similar to a person who didn't want to wake up from his bed when the sunlight touched his face through the window.
"HA, at least General Radahn didn't demonstrate healing abilities, that would be problematic." The man in golden robes laughed, trying and failing miserably to lighten the mood, as I almost wished for death at the thought of that possibility.
"Where are my things?" I asked quickly, wanting to change the subject as I looked around with my limited vision.
"They flew away when Radahn used you as a chew toy, they must be in the middle of the mess." Godwyn replied, helping me to my feet.
To my shame, I failed to hold back my anger and frustration and hurled every insult I knew, aided by the pain I felt every time I tried to put my healed leg down, forcing me to use Godwyn for support.
At least I still had my chime. I lifted it and cast Soothing Sunlight, a large orange circle appeared below my feet, taking on the appearance of a sun and enveloping us in its light, healing our wounds.
"Impressive!" The robed man exclaimed in wonder.
"ARGH! Thanks for the help!" Blaidd said, struggling to his feet and cracking his shoulder joints.
"You're welcome, but right now we need to focus on what's important. I've temporarily deactivated Radahn's magic and locked him in place, but it will soon return if I don't cast my miracle again. We are losing our advantage, but the General will not last long if the fight continues as it is. We need to take him down or knock him unconscious so he can drink the potion."
We exchanged a silent nod, intensifying our will before entering the fight again, but movements in the sky caught our attention.
The sun disappeared on the horizon too quickly to be a natural movement, with the moon taking its place, turning day into night in a few seconds. Then a luminous streak cut through the starry sky, then another, and another, and another…
Dozens, hundreds, thousands, what began as an unusual event turned into a spectacle, countless luminous points cutting through the dark veil above us as if the gods were raining their arrows on a distant target.
The battle ceased for an instant, where everyone, including the General, looked up with dumbfounded faces and amazed eyes serving as mirrors, reflecting the beauty of what was above them all.
However, our stupor ended the moment the demigod roared with a fury greater than his previous displays, with his head thrown back and arms open in defiance against his ancient enemy.
Perhaps some sadistic god was watching us because Radahn's magic chose that exact moment to return. A purple dome emerged from his body, throwing everyone away again while the General floated, allowing his steed to return beneath his body.
"What the hell does he intend to do?! Hold the stars again?!" Godwyn exclaimed.
Radahn raised both blades charged with gravitational power and spun his upper torso in a kind of dance, his hair transforming into a red whirlwind.
We didn't let him go through with his plan and we fired everything we had at him, Sunlight Spears, Rings of Light, Flaming Skulls, Glintstone Spells, arrows, bombs, pots, urns, throwing knives, a colossal bombardment where nothing would survive, but they stopped in mid-air and spun above the General.
Suddenly, the wind blew stronger, starting as a breeze that intensified with each second, a gale carried the banners and moved small objects, raising clouds of sand. The rotting corpses and rusty weapons came next, accompanied by pieces of growing ruins as the winds intensified.
Radahn spun faster, and faster, and faster. The dunes disappeared, their sand converging towards the demigod, following the swing of his blades, the air blew past our ears, becoming visible and threatening to carry us away.
A colossal red tornado formed above Radahn, a monstrosity of air, sand, and debris that grew larger with each turn. Tragoth, Alexander, Jerren, Leonel, Okina, and the remaining Tarnished ran in the opposite direction, closing in on us, but it was no use.
With a final swing, Radahn brought his blades down and everything came crashing toward us, a crimson wall enveloping us all. Then the world disappeared, I could barely see a palm and distinguish the voices of my allies from the cacophony around me.
I walked disoriented, swinging my arms in front of me, searching for a point of reference, but all I felt was the sand cutting into my body like a thousands needles.
The woman in the turban appeared in my vision and I reached out a hand towards her, a gesture she returned, but it was in vain, as a massive piece of ruin hit her at an absurd speed, causing a sharp scream and a splash of blood to hit my eyes.
My face contorted in horror, but I kept going, stopping when I kicked something soft. Looking down, my heart sank when I saw the man in golden robes on the ground, pierced by several weapons, one of them being my sword, and disappearing in rays the color of his clothes.
I sighed with regret and retrieved my weapon, wondering where to go as I heard the sounds of fighting in the distance. I saw a huge rock heading towards me, but I raised my chime and conjured Wrath of the Gods, shattering it and moving on.
So I remained, lost and alone, walking aimlessly, destroying the obstacles in my path. I summoned Iron Flesh and Resplendent Life, fighting against the gradual erosion of the sandstorm until it finally subsided.
However, that was not the end, as the General pointed his blades towards the sea and dragged them towards us, raising a gigantic wave that threatened to consume us all.
I could not see my friends anywhere, but I knew they would not escape this. I stored my equipment so as not to lose them again and closed my arms in front of my face, preparing for the worst.
"ALDEN!"
Looking towards the source of the scream, I saw Godwyn, Blaidd, and Alexander running towards me. However, they disappeared as the blue consumed my vision and the roar of the water became muffled.
I struggled against the current, like an anchor at the bottom of the sea, but soon my feet left the ground and the water carried me away. Marine fauna and flora passed by me as my lungs burned for air.
My vision went black and I thought it was the end, I would come back to life, of course, but the plan would fail.
A light shone above me through the little consciousness I had left and a rocky hand grabbed my arm, pulling me up and bringing me to the surface. I filled my chest as soon as the air touched my nostrils, struggling, trying to dispel the confusion.
"Calm down, friend! I got you!" Alexander exclaimed, trying to stop me from falling into the water again.
I stopped for a moment, sighing in relief and choking on the water inside me, spitting it out soon after during a coughing fit as Alexander rubbed my back.
"Take it easy! We're in the same situation here!"
"W-where, *COUGH!* W-where are the o-others?!" I asked, removing the water off my helmet.
The jar pointed in a direction and I followed its finger, seeing Blaidd, Godwyn, Jerren, and the armored woman struggling against the current on a pile of ruins. Tragoth, Leonel, Okina, the barbarian, and the man in the iron mask stood on a dune, just like us.
Meanwhile, the bodies of the white-hooded sorceress and the eastern warrior floated to the surface, disappearing towards the Grace.
"Where is Radahn?! Where is the General?!"
Something in the sky lit up the night and, for a moment, I thought Radahn had held the stars back and made the sun rise, but the meteor shower continued.
I was afraid to look up, as I wanted to remain ignorant of what was approaching, but whether out of curiosity or determination, I did so, only to see a ball of fire falling towards the battlefield.
It was Radahn, engulfed in flames and with his blades crossed in front of his body, roaring as he approached like a living meteor.
My eyes widened and my mouth opened in disbelief, it was impossible, it should be impossible, it could only be a nightmare, but there he was, heading towards us!
I caught a glimpse of Alexander in the same state as me, so I grabbed his arm, drawing his attention, and conjured Iron Flesh on him, giving him a metallic appearance.
The General hit the ground and nothing happened for a moment, until the water, sand, and air spread out in a perfect circle, rapidly approaching.
A powerful gale pushed us in the opposite direction, knocking our feet off the ground, a high-pitched buzzing attacked my ears and the world became a white void.
-XXXXXX-
What happened? Where am I? Why does my body hurt? Where is everyone? Where is the General?
I heard muffled noises in the distance, screams, and cracks, but I couldn't identify their owners.
"ALDEN!"
Was someone calling me?
"ALDEN!"
It seemed like they were, but who?
"ALDEN!"
There was no one here, just a dark void.
"ALDEN!"
I tried to get up, but there was a weight keeping me down.
"ALDEN!"
The weight disappeared and I saw a light.
"ALDEN!"
Alexander screamed, dragging me across the ground, but I didn't respond, everything was spinning and my head was throbbing with pain.
"Here, drink this!" A female voice shouted and tried to force something into my mouth.
I struggled in the confusion, but I drank the liquid and felt my consciousness clearing. The half-naked woman stared at me worriedly as she held up a Vial of Crimson Tears.
Where in the name of the gods did she keep this thing?
"All right! Here is your stuff! Time to get back to the fight!" She spoke so quickly that I barely understood her words, dropping my staff and shield in front of me before running away with her club raised.
I struggled to my feet, wincing at every painful crack and sting I felt. Alexander helped me up and I realized that he was in no better condition, cracked and leaking red liquid.
Was that blood?
"What happened?" I mumbled, weakly trying to retrieve my staff, which the jar did for me, placing it in my grip.
"The General fell like a meteor and almost killed us all. I don't know how many survived, but there are still people facing him in the gigantic crater he opened." He replied, sitting me down on a ruin, where I reclined, sighing tiredly with slow, painful breaths.
"This is all my fault…" I whispered, pointing my staff at him and casting Repair, but nothing happened. I clicked my tongue and drank from my Vial of Cerulean Tears, choking on the potion but managing to fix Alexander on the next try.
"Don't talk like that! We came all the way here to face the General, and we would have done it with or without your help! We had what? Nineteen people? And we ended up like this! Imagine what would have happened if there were fewer?" He placed a comforting hand on my shoulder.
"But trying to heal Radahn was my idea! I should have at least done more! Used my best spells! Taken the front line! Healed us! Anything!"
"That would be no different than facing the demigod alone! You would do all the work while the rest watched helplessly! It would hurt their pride, and they would probably resent you! Working together was the best option, we were doing well, but no one expected the General to use the terrain against us and turn into a meteor!"
I fell silent, pondering Alexander's words, but no matter how hard he tried, I couldn't erase the guilt in my being.
Suddenly, the sand near us stirred and a hand came out of its depths. Another came next, dragging a body out of the ground's grip. Patches, his equipment in tatters and his flesh injured, but alive.
"HELL!" He shouted, spitting sand as he leaned on his knees.
"Hello!" Alexander waved, getting his attention.
"What the hell?! You're still alive! The fight is over already?!" Patches asked, limping towards us with his spear as a crutch.
"No, Radahn is still alive, but he must be on his last legs." I replied, casting Repair and fixing his equipment to his surprise.
"This bastard doesn't give up?! How long will we keep fighting?!"
I stood up and approached Patches, who backed away weakly in fear, probably thinking I would kill him out of cowardice. However, I placed a hand on his shoulder, making him flinch, and cast Bountiful Sunlight, healing us both.
"Forgive me for the way I treated you, we may not see eye to eye, but I would not wish that fate on anyone. I will not force you to fight, you can stay here and rest or leave if you wish, I will not hold it against you."
I left the dumbfounded scoundrel behind and limped towards my shield, casting healing miracle after miracle, Heal, Med Heal, Great Heal Excerpt, Great Heal, Soothing Sunlight, Bountiful Sunlight, Replenishment, Resplendent Life, and drank from my Flask of Crimson Tears and my now rare Estus Flask.
I didn't care about the expense, I just wanted to send the pain away, and with each spell, my pace quickened. All my wounds disappeared as if the fight had never started, but the physical and mental fatigue was still there, my body burning and my mind protesting.
I placed my shield on my left arm, parring the air and releasing some shock waves. Then, I cast Repair repeatedly, removing all the dents, cracks, and scratches from my equipment, leaving them as good as new.
Finally, I approached where the sounds of fighting were coming from, passing by a worried Alexander and Patches, ignoring their questions, and stopping at the edge of the massive crater.
A perfectly circular and deep hole, where Radahn fought on his mount, swinging his rock-covered blades and throwing meteors and miniaturized gravitational orbs.
Lionel and Jerren stood on his back him, their respective swords embedded in his flesh, while Tragoth, Okina, Godwyn, Blaidd, the half-naked woman, the armored woman, and the barbarian exchanged blows with the demigod.
I didn't see the man in the iron mask, so I assumed he had perished, and I also didn't want to diminish the efforts of the combatants, but Godwyn carried the fight.
He cast Golden Vow to strengthen his allies and himself, and then incantations unknown to me, covering his ax in holy power and healing himself and everyone nearby.
In an incredible display of strength and speed, he exchanged blows on equal terms with the General, parrying his massive blades, dodging his attacks at blinding speed, and taking advantage of openings to cut his body.
I did not doubt that Radahn would soon fall, so I backed away from the crater.
"Alden, will you give up now that victory is near?!" Alexander exclaimed, but I ignored his words, spinning on my heel and staring back the way I had come.
"Well, I don't blame you, I wouldn't want to fall there, and the others seem to be doing fine!" Patches looked away as he scratched his head hesitantly.
I removed several consumables from my bag, eating a handful of Dusk Herbs to instantly restore my spells to full effect, a Green Blossom to increase my stamina recovery,
Golden, Old, Blackweed, and Vine Balms to temporarily increase my faith, strength, intelligence, and dexterity, and a Bright Bug to increase the damage I deal and decrease the damage I receive.
I removed the Grafted Sword from my bag, using its Ash of War, stomping on the ground and releasing a roar, strengthening all my attributes and enveloping myself in a green aura.
I used the Great Rune of Godrick right after, strengthening myself even more and making the winds of Stormveil run through my body. I placed my shield on my back, taking advantage of its enchantment along with my magic rings.
Then, I raised my chime, conjuring Sacred Oath, creating the image of three golden swords above me, bathing me in light, and increasing my attack and defense. Numbness, enveloping me in a dark mist, increasing my defense but giving me tunnel vision, and Resonant Weapon, sacrificing souls to increase my attack.
Finally, I drank from my Flask of Wondrous Physique, holding my chime in my right hand and assuming a running stance.
"Hey, what are you…" Patches said, but his words disappeared in the wind as I sprinted towards the crater.
It was an indescribable feeling, a mixture of joy and pain, with all the power coursing through my body. I had never reached this point, because there was never a need, but now, I felt invincible.
My muscles expanded and flexed with each step I took, my blood ran and boiled in my veins, keeping up with my speed, my heart threatened to jump out of my chest, my breathing worked like a clockwork in a constant rhythm and the world around me became a stretched blur.
Patches and Alexander disappeared and the path ahead became the focus of my vision, each step I took cracking the ground and leaving clouds of sand in my wake.
I felt blood leaking from my nose and mouth, and my body pushed to its limit, but with one final movement, I stepped on the edge of the crater and jumped like never before, diving toward the General.
"RADAHN!"
The demigod raised his head and glared at me with unbridled rage, roaring and pointing one of his swords at me, sending a hail of meteors flying. I tightened my grip on my chime and cast Wrath of the Gods, releasing a huge shock wave, fragmenting all the projectiles that got in my way.
Seeing that I wouldn't be stopped, Radahn swung his left sword at me, trying to cut me in mid-flight. I pulled my arm back and cast Dragon's Claw, my flesh pulsed and exploded in a shower of blood, revealing a huge arm covered in scales and claws on the fingers.
Our attacks collided in the air and...
BOOM!
CRASH!
The General's blade shattered in a shower of stone and steel, his face contorted in surprise for a second before he swung his remaining blade as soon as I landed, but I was prepared for this.
I cast Dragon's Maw, creating a dragon's head above me and clamping it in his mouth, giving the second blade the same fate as the first.
However, Radahn didn't let this faze him and spun both broken swords with his gravity magic, turning them into purple discs in his palms before sending them toward me.
"Don't even think about it!" Godwyn shouted, raising his seal and sending static through the air, creating a spear of red lightning before hurling it towards one of the blades, destroying it in a red flash.
Okina and Tragoth acted to stop the second blade, the first sending a bloody slash to momentarily immobilize it in midair, and the second spinning and throwing his hammer at it, reducing the weapon to nothing.
Gravity magic coursed through Radahn again, but I did not allow him to escape and I cast Profound Still and Promised Walk of Peace, making him leave his mount and holding him in place.
"I will not allow you to use your tricks again, now drink the accursed potion!"
I removed the Divine Blessing from my bag and marched towards him, ready to administer it. Radahn pulled his head back, ready to headbutt me, but…
"Get out of the way!"
"RRROOOAAARRR!"
Alexander fell into the crater, punching the top of Radahn's head, and sending him to the ground.
"Everyone, hold him down!" Blaidd screamed and soon all the combatants jumped on top of Radahn, throwing all their weight against his arms, legs, and back. Even Patches joined in the efforts, sliding down the crater and hugging the General's head.
I removed the cork from the vial and stepped towards the furious face of the demigod who stared at me with his remaining eye, trying to free himself from his captors, however…
"AAAHHH!"
A blade pierced my back and my heart, coming out of my chest on the other side. Turning my head, I saw the mask of an old man in my vision.
"Okina, what are you doing?!"
"Forgive me, sorcerer, but I will not allow you to interfere with Lord Mogh's plans." Okina whispered, pushing his sword deeper.
"You traitor, I will…" Godwyn exclaimed, preparing to act, but I interrupted him.
"STAY THERE! EVERYONE, DON'T STOP, KEEP THE GENERAL DOWN! I'LL DEAL WITH THIS!" I shouted, receiving worried nods in return.
"Don't think I'll let you leave this alive!" Okina exclaimed.
"Funny, I thought the same thing!" I clenched my fist and pushed it forward before pulling it back, delivering a powerful elbow to Okina's side.
I heard his screams along with the sounds of his armor and bones turning to dust. His blade left my body, following him as he flew away.
With a final shout, I crouched down in front of the General and poured the potion into his mouth, staring deep into his crazed eyes. The effect of the divine water was immediate, even knowing the result, it was still surprising.
A golden glow covered the General and all of his wounds disappeared, every blow, cut, puncture, and burn, every broken bone, internal injury, and bleeding vanished.
Soon, two golden eyes stared at me from a face with healthy skin, but just like when Radahn struck us in the form of a meteor, the world disappeared and I found myself in a dark void.
There was a wooden throne in the center of this void, illuminated by an unknown source of light that came from above, forming a perfect circle around it. I removed my sword from my bag and walked towards the throne, preparing myself in case this was another trick of the General.
Strangely, I saw a person kneeling with his back to the throne as soon as I walked around it, his figure small and thin, with fair skin and long, braided golden hair. The figure wore white clothes and seemed to be praying with his hands clasped in front of his hidden face.
Suddenly, the figure spoke and I heard his voice, judging it to be a boy.
"I will become a God if we honor our part of the vow…"
Then, the boy raised his head, looking at something nonexistent.
"…Promise me that you will become my consort."
But the answer the boy waited for never came.
"Hello, who are you, young man?" I asked, approaching cautiously, causing the boy to glance at me and speak in an authoritative and disdainful voice.
"Traveler from a distant land, do you understand the gravity of your actions?"
"Forgive me, but I do not understand."
"I suppose not, but I will not allow you to leave after interfering with the coming of my age."
The boy disappeared in the blink of an eye, appearing standing in front of me, making me retreat.
"I will take something from you as compensation, and in return, I will offer you eternal rest."
His hand touched my chest faster than I could react, and to my surprise, I felt no pain or fear, but instead an overwhelming calm. I had no desire to fight or run, only to lie down and rest, for an unconditional love embraced my dead heart.
The boy's arm took on an ethereal golden appearance, and a light shone in my chest. Something was separating from me, but darkness leaked from that light and crawled up his limb.
"What… What abomination is this!"
A dark, gray cave replaced the void, then fire, a colossal flame bringing heat and cold, life and death, light and dark. Slender figures rose in the distance, becoming outlines in front of the flame, but one of them stood out from the rest, a tall, bearded old man with a flaming sword.
I grabbed the boy's arm, surprising him, and pulled him closer, intensifying the advance of the darkness.
"You will not get what you want, young man, the Lord of Sunlight sealed it long ago."
We found ourselves in a chain of dark caves, however, it was not a natural darkness, but something palpable, that you could touch, a darkness that corrupted and deformed, that granted and took power, that consumed everything, but that also brought peace and silence to the dead.
"Welcome to the abyss, boy. I have walked it, and divine beings like you are not wanted here."
The young man looked at the ground and saw his feet sink without caring how much he struggled. The darkness in his arm had reached his neck, and now it was creeping to the rest of his body.
"So be it, being of darkness. I will take something else."
He touched my chest with his remaining hand, the light intensified, and my desire to fight disappeared along with something being taken from me. A sick love took over my body as the boy spoke.
"I will create a new world and I will not allow an ignorant being like you to impede my destiny. Everyone will have their place in my Age of Compassion, but, you will not receive such an honor. I will give you eternal rest as I promised, but it will not come by my hands."
Suddenly, the bright bugs and the mist enveloped us and everything disappeared.
-XXXXXX-
I slapped my chest as everything returned, I was not hurt, but I felt the lack of something inside me, however, I could not identify what. However, that wasn't my biggest problem, because I found myself on a battlefield again.
Tall, thin warriors with long red hair, carrying scythes and various weapons, faced Radahn's knights and soldiers midst the sands of Caelid. Arrows, incantations, and spells tore through the air midst the sound of clashing steel and cries of battle and death.
I spotted a tall, red-haired woman running toward me and a giant with his arms crossed in the opposite direction. At that moment, I understood where I was, between two demigods again.
"You, who are incapable of rest in life and death, will meet your end here."
I looked around and saw the boy watching me midst the fighting soldiers, unaware of his presence.
"Now disappear midst my sister's rot."
END OF CHAPTER