| Table of Contents |
|---|
| Chapter 17 l Chapter 18 l Chapter 19 l Chapter 20 l Chapter 21 l Chapter 22 l Chapter 23 |
| Chapter 24 l Chapter 25 l Chapter 26 l Chapter 27 l Chapter 28 l Chapter 29 l Chapter 30 l Chapter 31 |
| Chapter 32 l Chapter 33 l Chapter 34 l Chapter 35 l Chapter 36 l Chapter 37 l Chapter 38 |
Rasper
There we were, hunkered down on a hilltop as we surveyed the potential battlefield out in the distance.
Where have I seen this before?
I put a cigarette in my mouth and snapped my fingers, lighting the tip. I took a deep drag of smoke into my lungs and I pushed myself up to my feet, “So, Forcas, what's dat brilliant military mind ‘ave in store for us?
I looked at the wizened old angel who was peering into a crystal ball of sorts, stroking his beard as he made the occasional hum of concentration.
“Ah, yeah. Well, taken yer time. Ain't several hundreds of legions of demons bashin’ da door in or anythin’,” I remarked as I took another drag.
“Of all the things I see that glitter of gold, I can think of none better than the golden sound,” Forcas said simply.
“An’ dat is?” I asked.
“Silence,” Forcas said, firmly, as he turned back to the crystal ball.
“Well den, I'll get outta yer hair,” I scoffed and headed away from Forcas, looking at the mix of Penthasliean soldiers, Niten Dragons and Angels who had descended from on High to join our plight.
I thought back to Penthasil and the man I had left in the village. I sighed, glancing at my phone. “I should call him. Tell him tah keep his head down.” I thought to myself.
“Penny for your thoughts, Brother?” Zithero's voice called out to me as he approached from the sidelines.
I looked over to him, a half smirk on my face, “Just tinkin’ about da comin’ slaughter.”
Zithero nodded as he set his staff before him, glancing out over the hill, “Suppose that's on everyone's mind.”
“Our slaughter, or theirs?” Alexis's voice called out coldly from behind us.
I glanced at Alexis, her eyes a bit more distant than usual as she stared out over the hill, “Either or at dis rate. Though, if we fail, don't tink’ we're comin’ back like all da other times.”
“And the Spirit of Alexandratta is no longer something we can call upon,” Zithero sighed, “Unless…”
“The child is far too young,” Alexis stressed, her eyes narrowing, her venom directed at me, of all people, “Don't even think about it, mister.”
I nodded, looking at Alexis, “And what are you so focused on, now?” I asked her. I could tell she was distracted, channeling a spell of sorts.
“...I've set a miasma around us. Blessed waters turned to fog to hold back the legions of darkness,” Alexis turned to me, looking ragged, “I am unsure how much longer I can hold it.”
My lip lifted in a sneer as I pulled a final drag from my cigarette and flicked it to the ground.
“You know those don't just vanish when you toss them, brother,” Zithero chided.
I growled and snapped my finger, causing the cigarette butt to burst into flames as I stormed toward Forcas.
“Seems you stand corrected, Zithy-Poo,” Alexis giggled from behind me.
I gave Forcas a shove, glaring at him, “While yer'r here hummin’ a bloody tune, me sister's exhausting ‘erself keepin’ us all safe! So, do yah have a bloody plan or we sittin’ ‘ere wit our thumbs up our arses waitin’ for the bloody apocalypse?!”
Forcas cleared his throat, turning to me, “Mr. Alexandratta,” he addressed me cordially at first.
“Drop it,” I growled, “‘Fore I drop you.”
“I would not be uninterested in seeing how that played out,” Forcas quipped, “But, I don't see how it would advance our current situation.”
I clenched my fist and glared at Forcas, “It would certainly calm me nerves.”
“If you're done grandstanding,” Forcas admonished, turning to me, “I was rather busy.”
“Hummin’ a tune?” I growled.
“Considering our greatest obstacle,” Forcas said calmly.
“Which? The giant demons out in da field or da wee bloody bastards?” I asked.
“Motivation,” Forcas explained, “We have lost two battles and now face a third,” Forcas turned to me, his gray eyes fixing on me firmly, “One that's likely to be man's last.”
“Aye, well, expected that much when we started,” I snapped, “‘ell da lot of us are well-prepared tah die!”
“Ready to die, most certainly,” Forcas reaffirmed, “but many are less prepared to die than they'd like to admit, yourself for example.”
I narrowed my eyes, “What da ‘ell are you on about?”
“You are ready, but not prepared, I would say,” Forcas argued.
I turned away.
“What's her name?” Forcas asked.
I scoffed.
“Ah, yes, sorry,” Forcas chuckled, “Spartan, of course. What is his name?”
“Polites,” I admitted, “Fellow I took a shine ta in da men's villages of Penthasil.”
“Ah,” Forcas nodded, “I assume he's not here.”
I scoffed, “Little skinny twink’ couldn't even swing a sword let alone stand ta fight in battle,” I frowned, looking out in the distance, “It's why he's home. Where it ought be safe.”
Forcas hummed again as he looked out over the field, the mist Alexis was maintaining showing shadows moving behind it. “It's prophesied that if we fall, there will be 700 years of darkness.”
I was silent as I considered it.
“You worry less for your life and more for his should you fall this day, yes?” Forcas asked.
“Aye,” I said with a sigh, turning to Forcas, “Which is why I'm even more infuriated at you draggin’ your feet. Or ‘ave yah been spendin’ dis time crafting up a speech?”
“No, a speech will not be too beneficial,” Forcas chuckled, “I'm afraid I'm not the master orator that my ward was.”
“Right,” I rolled my eyes, reaching for another cigarette, “you were once called ‘Merlin’ if it's all ta be believed.”
“I was there you know,” Forcas chuckled.
“Aye, an’ while da Arthurian legends are, indeed, legends, I don't tink dey help us out much now,” I explained as I lit up another cigarette, “So, whether or not I believe da ol’ tales don't make much a difference, now does it?”
“No, no I suppose not,” Forcas said.
“So iffin’ we lackin’ words, we're gonna need ‘eavy hitters,” I said taking a deep drag.
“Indeed,” Forcas chuckled, “And of those heavy hitters it is a shame we no longer have access to the Titan Amalgamation.”
I nodded, “Yeah well, suppose we need to fall back to our strengths, all to fight off 700 years of darkness.”
“Indeed, all while I fend off Stolas's plotting,” Forcas said as he turned to the crystal ball before him.
“Stolas?” I asked.
“Yes, Demonic Prince whom is more than likely in command of Hell's armies now that Xyphiel has been shown to still have his generals in the field,” Forcas spoke out loud, “The conundrum is considering Stolas's moves while he considers mine and plotting against how he would plot against me countering him,” Forcas turned to me.
“Right… Battle o’ wits,” I took another drag of my cigarette, “So, even yer tactical mind is challenged wit dis Stolas bloke?”
“Stolas is a Prince of Hell within the Ars Goetia ranks and a surveyor of the stars and planets. He has watched humanity and their ills for millennia and is no fool to be trifled with. I'm rather certain he survived our bout from the previous battle. He's well aware of my machinations,” Forcas grumbled, “A pain, to be sure. His strikes are swift and silent. I fear the moment that the blessed miasma comes down, he will be ready with a heinous blow,” Forcas sighed, “All this and our battle is both insignificant and poignant.”
“How so?” I asked.
“While the battle against Xyphiel rages, we stand to stem the tide. If he falls, then his forces will be in disarray, but not without potency. Little prevents another from rising to Xyphiel's place should he fall. Stolas, Piamon, Marbas, Beleth or even Barbatos all would quickly fight amongst themselves for control of the potency of Hell. Their defeat is as key as Xyphiel's,” Forcas explained.
“So tah defeat ‘em, yah need somethin’ ‘dey wouldn't expect from yah?” I asked.
“Indeed, Stolas specifically,” Forcas considered, “Last I checked, he had risen high enough in Xyphiel's favors to secure command of the legions of Hell.”
“And wot does dis Stolas bloke know about yours truly?” I asked.
Forcas turned to me and looked me up and down, “Hmm. Seems Alexander the Great saw much in you.”
“I know damn well what me King saw in me,” I narrowed my eyes on Forcas, “Don't yah dare tink yah know him betta den I do.”
Forcas smiled, “I don't suppose you still recall how to form a phalanx from your days as a Spartan, do you Mr. Alexandrata?”
I took a deep drag and puffed it to my right, “Call me dat one more time and you'll find out plenty of what I recall from me days of bein’ a Spartan.”
“Then, I suggest you look at the armaments a number of our Penthasilean Warriors carry with them,” Forcas showed me a small glowing representation of full plate armor, a tower shield and a number of rifles. “Granted they don't carry spears as they did in the old days, but it seems the warriors of Penthasil have borrowed some techniques from your Greek and Roman comrades.”
I looked at the tower shields, nodding, “Aye…”
Forcas smiled, “I think you can take the field as a commander and lead a good number of these warriors to victory in the coming battle.”
I glanced at Forcas and gave him a nod, heading out, “Fair ‘nuff. I'll do my part, you do yours.”
When I had walked out of earshot, I pulled out the small flip phone Polities had given me and dialed the only number in it. I put it up to my ear, taking a deep drag before letting it out slowly. “Pick up…”
A frantic voice called out on the other side, “Rasper?! Are you okay.?
“Fine mate,” I said as I looked out at the shadows looming behind the miasma, “...Listen, Pol. If I don't make it back from this, I want to tell you to do your best ta keep yer head down. Yah hear?”
“But-But-” Polities stammered.
“No buts,” I snapped, “You survive. You got me? You live for me, I don't want to see you in the afterlife for a long while.”
Polities started to sniffle, “R-Rasper… Please, come home.”
I took another drag of my cigarette, “I'm needed here, Pol. You take care.” I paused, taking a sharp breath, “I love you, by the way.”
Polities spoke through tears, “I love you too, Rasper… Please come back to me!”
“Godspeed, Pol,” I said as I hung up the phone, biting the inside of my lip before I took another drag of my cigarette. As I exhaled, I felt a tear run down my face. I dabbed at it and glared at it on my finger as it began to boil away, “Ain't got no time fer dat.”
…
I walked towards a group of Penthasilean soldiers, all of them were at the ready. Some sitting on their shields, others leaning against them. Some lacked shields entirely.
“Oy!” I shouted as I approached.
All of them turned to me.
“You lot know who I am?” I asked, walking towards them.
One looked me over, “You're General Zepherina's Titan familiar.”
“I prefer to consider myself ‘er right hand man,” I said with a smile.
It didn't get much reaction.
“Ight,” I snapped, “I'm yer field commander fer dis next battle.”
They chuckled, one soldier walked over to me. She stood a good six centimeters taller than me, “Oh are you now, little man?”
I lifted an eyebrow, lifting up my hand as I conjured a ball of fire, tossing it at a nearby tree.
The tree exploded into a shower of toothpick sized splinters, leaving a large crater behind it, “Aye, dat I am. Objections?”
The soldier backed off, the others stood up at attention.
“Ight, glad dat's sorted,” I said as I looked over them, “At ease,” the soldiers relaxed, “Now, ‘fore I was me Mistress's Titan, I was a Spartan warrior,” I smiled proudly, “A rather good one on the field if I do say-so myself.”
“A Spartan?” One Penthasilean warrior asked.
“Aye, familiar wit ‘em?” I asked.
“Yeah,” One cocky warrior chuckled, “Their women had to dress as men just to get the men to bed them.”
I cocked a wry smile, “An’ dey was still prettier den you lot, I can promise yeh dat!”
A few soldiers chuckled, even the one who was heckling me.
“I see plenty of yah ‘ave a good shield. I'm curious how many of yah are familiar wit Spartan battle tactics, not just our bedroom habits,” I asked.
“I know of the Hot Gates,” One warrior called out.
I nodded, “Well, lets hope we don't end up like dat lot. I'm gonna need groups of 7…” I paused, “Make dat 9 warriors. 8 shield maidens, one to act as a medic and sort of mini-quartermaster.”
The soldiers attention was now on me.
“We're going to walk out into dat field when dat miasma comes down,” I pointed, “and stand in da damn belly of Hell itself,” I pointed to the shields, “six shields held round our perimeter, two on top,” I pointed to one medic, “And one ta keep us supplied and patched up inside.”
They glanced at their shields and one another.
“The goal is: Everything on the right side of the shield stays alive,” I pointed to the looming shadows in the distance, “Everything outside? It dies.” I grinned, “So, who's gonna come wit me?”
The soldiers snapped to attention.
“Aye, dat's da spirit… Now, let's party up and see how many mobile pillboxes we can muster,” I ordered.
…
A few hours later, I made my way to Zithero and Alexis.
Alexis looked even more exhausted than earlier.
“How yah doin’ luv?” I asked.
“Trying,” Alexis said, turning to me and Zithero, “I'm sorry, when the fighting starts, I may not be of much use.”
I nodded, “Yah done more den enough already, luv.”
Alexis turned to me, “Zithy is very mad you blew up that tree, by the way.”
I chuckled, turning to Zithero, “Yah saw dat?” I asked.
Zithero shook his head, “That tree was defenseless.”
“Did it have children?” I mocked.
“As a matter of fact, yes it did,” Zithero sighed, shaking his head.
“My apologies. I'll plant some of its seeds in its honor, then?” I chuckled.
Zithero sighed, “One tree doesn't make a forest. But still, it was frivolous.”
“Right, replant three trees, make up fer da loss, yeah?” I continued, turning to see a pile of stones not too far from them, “What's this den?”
“Zithy-poo wanted to make you a gift,” Alexis smiled weakly.
The miasma wasn't going to last long, I could tell, “Well, make it quickly.”
Zithero chuckled, “We sort of needed you to help.”
“Makin’ me own gifts?” I shook my head, “Really, brother? Low.”
Zithero rolled his eyes, pointing to the piles of metal ore, “They need to be melted down, for armor and a shield.”
I looked the metals over, seeing a mix of iron, coal, chromium and a few other trace elements, “And it needs ta be hot, I'm guessing.”
“Uh-doy!” Alexis quipped.
Zithero and I gave her a perplexing look.
Alexis rolled her eyes, “Just let me know when my part is up.”
I turned my attention to the metals, pointing my hand to it and focusing an intense flame over the metals.
Zithero, for his part, rose a stone column around the metals, while giving me a port to push my flame into. Creating a sort of blast furnace to smelt the metals.
“They're done,” Zithero called out.
I stopped, watching Zithero manipulate the stone again, pouring it into a few holes laid out in the ground.
The grass turned brown as flames popped up from the earth around us.
I extinguished them quickly, glancing at Zithero as he was clearly doing something underground.
“Most blacksmiths would kill to control the metal and mold like this,” Zithero grinned.
“Most blacksmiths aren't Titans,” I retorted.
“Hephaestus was a God, does that count?” Alexis asked.
“No,” I grumbled, “It does not.”
Zithero lifted his hands up, a set of chest, shoulder, and leg armor lifting from the ground. There was also a large tower shield which rose, glowing red still from the heat of my flames. “Alexis.”
Alexis snapped her fingers, the ground below the armor and shield filling with glowing pure water, clearly ice cold.
The red hot metals all dropped into the cool pools of water with an explosive burst of steam.
“Titan forged armors,” I could hear Forcas call out as he approached us.
I turned to Forcas, “Don't yah ‘ave somewhere ta be?”
“Indeed, thus why I'm here,” Forcas remarked, approaching me as he looked to the shield and chest piece which rose from the waters.
The shield was shining steel, mostly. Across the front was a bronze Macedonian Star, the flower of its center, as well as the rays of light emanating from it, all bronze set against the steel background. The chest piece and shoulder pauldrons were the same.
“I thought you could use this, as you'll be taking the field,” Zithero smiled, “I doubt you would want to be without a shield.”
I turned to Forcas, “Ah, so you put him up ta dis?” I asked.
Forcas chuckled, “The Earth Titan merely wished to know what you had said to me. He feared you had offended me in some manner,” Forcas reached into his pocket, fishing for something, “Felt you might have gotten a little hot-headed.”
I scoffed.
“I've something to add, of course,” Forcas commented as he pulled two small gems from his pocket, “I've spent enough time in Hell to find myself in possession of a few soul cores here and there. Some I found not worth carrying, others I thought may be useful.”
Each gem glittered with an odd hint of red light as Forcas toyed with them in his hand.
“These two had an inclination for flame,” Forcas advised, “It's a shame I don't have the resources to create a soul forge at this moment, Asmodai could have made fine weapons for you. But, this will have to do,” Forcas knelt by the shield, pushing one gem into the center of the Star of Macedonia on the shield and another into the breast plate.
As he did, the steel pulsed with a surge of energy.
“Focus your flame through those and the armor should be able to resist just about any flame you conjure,” Forcas explained.
“Should?” I asked incredulously.
“Aye,” Forcas announced, “I do not confirm certainty if I am the least bit uncertain,” Forcas turned, “Now… I believe I need to rally the troops, as it were.”
…
I cracked my neck as I hefted the heavy steel tower shield up.
I was about to combine my experience with a phalanx with my experience in pillboxes, all to make what would basically be a series of holy and enchanted tanks to roll across the field of battle.
I just hoped we could do enough damage to give Timothy, Ragna and Zeph time to take Xyphiel down.
Forcas walked to the top of a hill before us, looking over the Angels, soldiers and Niten Drakes all around us, “I wish I had words for you that spoke well of our chances, I do. I wish I had words to rally all of you, to bolster you and to stand you up for the coming onslaught.”
“Rousing start, old man…” I mumbled.
Forcas looked over our forces, “Twice defeated, yet still we stand.” He turned to the Niten Dragons, “Your world burned, yet when its second chance called for aid, you left paradise to face the Hell that is War.” He turned to the Angels next, “You, made to serve God, but now stand here shoulder to shoulder with mortals who do so by choice.”
The Penthasilean soldiers looked uneasy as Forcas spoke.
“And soldiers, from distant lands, of many backgrounds, all enlisted to fight for your homes, your lives,” Forcas sighed, “But that's not what we must stand for.”
I was hoping Forcas would reach a point as I saw the miasma start to slowly fade in the distance.
“Death is a certainty, none can avoid it. Some stave it off longer than others. But it comes, one way or another,” Forcas pointed to the sky, “For soldiers there is Elysium, for those loyal to God there is Heaven. Fighting here, you've more than earned your place among the heroes of legend.” Forcas pointed his finger to the soon-to-be battle-field behind him, “They wish to bring it all down. To burn the heavens,” Forcas turned to the Penthasilean soldiers, “To set fire to the fields of Elysium.”
A calm came over the armies as Forcas spoke.
“Are we to let them?!” Forcas shouted.
A soldier shouted in the back, “No!”
Others joined her, shouting loudly.
“Though some of us may fall on this day, we shall take with us five of them!” Forcas cried out, “For we fight for our everlasting reward! We fight not for our lives, but for our very souls! We fight for Eternity!”
The miasma finally came down, massive hordes of demons rushing across the valley below.
Zithero rushed up, opening his hands to cause massive fissures and jagged hundred meter tall spikes to burst from the ground.
“They can take our lives, our bodies, but never our souls! They shall last for eternity!” Forcas shouted, taking to the air, “To arms!”
“To arms!” I shouted, other captains doing the same as I charged ahead, the 8 other soldiers around me forming tightly to my flank as we pulled our shields up.
…
I held my shield in front of me as we moved through the battlefield.
I had started with a squad of eight soldiers, and myself. Now, we were down to five.
Our medic was patching up one more as we hunkered down. The other three were firing through the rifle holes in their shields.
I focused my power through the soul-core on my shield, blasting flames at the oncoming demons I could see between the small gaps in our shields.
Adele, the medic, grunted as she tied a tourniquet onto one of our shield bearer's legs, “It will go numb, but you won't bleed out Helena,” Adele explained as she hit her with a shot of morphine.
“Fine by me,” Helena the shield bearer said with a grunt as she hefted her shield back into formation.
The ground shook below us and I turned to them, “Move! Right!” I shouted.
They started to move, but Helena stumbled. As Adele rushed to get her back up, the ground opened beneath us.
Two shield bearers immediately fell into an open pit.
Helena fell forward, Adele was falling.
I grabbed her, “Gotcha!”
Below in the pit was a horrific creature. A worm-like beast with spiny tendrils and rows upon rows of teeth. One tendril grabbed Adele's leg.
Adele cried out in pain as it tore through her flesh.
I gritted my teeth, holding out my hand to fire a blast of heat at the creature.
It wasn't affected by my flames in the least. If anything, it was unphased.
“Captain…” Adele said firmly.
I glanced at her and watched her tug the pins out of several fragmentation grenades she had on her belt.
“It has been an honor, Sir,” Adele's eyes were resolute as she let go of my hand.
I gave her a nod, “Take ‘em wit yah, soldier.”
I let go as Adele was dragged down into the horrific creature’s maw.
As it swallowed her, I watched as its flesh was torn apart from the shrapnel from Adele's grenades.
It roared as the blessed metals tore through its flesh, black blood filling the hole below us.
I got to my feet and turned to Helena.
Helena struggled to get to her feet, propping her shield up and readying her rifle, “Sir… Still here.”
The air began to fill with sparkling light, and the smell of ozone filled my nose. “Cover!” I ordered.
I pulled my shield over my head, but Helena was too slow.
Bolts of light arced through the air, almost as thin as needles. Many pierced through Helena's body.
Helena staggered to her feet for a moment before collapsing in a heap.
I growled, looking up to see a floating owl-like creature above me, “Ah, there's the thorn in my side… A titan of flame made from a Spartan. I thought the tactics far too crude and efficient for Forcas's liking.”
I moved to my feet, my shield at my side, “I assume you're the infamous Stolas.”
“Prince Stolas,” the owl-like demon hissed, “Not that I'd expect your sort to hold any respect or common courtesy.”
I lit a cigarette as I saw more demons rushing towards me, “Respect’s earned, mate.”
I threw my arms out, hurling a flurry of fireballs at the onslaught of demons heading my way.
Despite this, they emerged from the flames, mostly unharmed.
Stolas chuckled, “A lovely show… but we've existed in flames long enough where your little pyrotechnics are little more than a summer breeze.”
“That so?” I said as I looked out over the battlefield.
The battle raged on behind me, my soldiers had pushed in as deep as we could into the enemy lines, faring better than most it seemed.
Still, little were left of them.
“Zithero, yah still wit me, brotha?” I called out to Zith.
“Rasper, yes! I'm glad you're alright!” Zithero called out.
“Make a granite wall behind me,” I said as I took a deep drag of my cigarette, “A thick one.”
The ground shook and I felt the shadow of the wall Zithero made loom over me.
Stolas chuckled, “You think that will stop us?”
“Nah,” I chuckled, “Just protectin’ me own,” I tossed my cigarette towards the demons approaching. My cigarette vaporized before it even hit the ground.
My body began to pulse with flames and I looked at Stolas, “So, you're a demon prince who's da surveyor of all da stars and da planets… And yah lookin’ at me like I ain't shit, yeah?”
“A crude man below me,” Stolas chuckled, “A so-called ‘Titan’ about to die.”
I nodded as the ground ignited around me, “Aye, dat I might be… You lot like it hot, yeah?”
Stolas shook his head, “Trying to buy time?”
“Sulphur's… what? Flows at 115C? Pitch boils at 250C?” I asked as I channeled every fire spirit I could as I looked up at Stolas, “You tink I'm not hot shit, huh?” I grinned at him as my shield and armor started to glow white hot.
Stolas tilted his head to the side as he looked me over, pointing to me, “Kill him! Kill him, now!”
I watched rocks fly through the air towards me, as well as arrows and even some magic.
I held my hand out, the heat melting the ground around me, as well as all the projectiles approaching me.
Stolas flew higher, “What do you think you're doing?!”
“Come now… fancy bloke like you? One who knows the stars…” I grinned, “You know a star when yah see it, don't chyah?”
“Impossible!” Stolas gasped.
I chuckled, “Let's see how you like gettin’ up close and personal with a star,” I clenched my fist as I called upon the fire of the sun itself. “You lived in fire?! I'm a Titan of Flame!” I yelled, “I Am Fire!”
I was unsure if I'd survive calling upon such a potent body, but I was certain of one thing: They wouldn't.
