| 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 l Chapter 39 l Chapter 40 |
Zepherina
I will admit, I think I lost control for a bit when I first saw Xyphiel. I was using the first part of this battle to work through some issues.
My mothers were both dead because of this monster, but whenever I thought of Xyphiel and my sister, all I felt was an immeasurable rage burning within me.
Despite the anger, for the life of me, I couldn’t think of what he might have done to Lucilia. I’m sure he likely threatened her at some point.
There was this strange sensation that I was missing something. Like a part of myself wasn’t with me.
That being said, it felt particularly good to go berserk on Xyphiel. Smashing my fists into Xyphiel’s smug face was more satisfying than I could have imagined.
Every punch I landed felt like a hand crafted gift I was giving to my mothers, a message from everyone in Penthasil, and especially to those we had lost in battle thus far.
Still, while I was causing him temporary pain, lasting damage wasn’t kicking in like I’d hoped.
Sure, we lopped an arm off but he just regenerated it from his Mana.
Xyphiel either doesn’t care about the Mana poisoning he’ll suffer later or he has no desire to ever return to his full physical form.
Considering his desire is to end all of creation, he’s probably not giving a crap about returning to normal after this. Unless he found a way to mitigate it? If he did, I doubt he’d feel like sharing such a breakthrough.
Maybe I could try to take in more mana, but I had barely survived from the battle with Bella. I didn’t want to chance pushing myself too hard and failing to take Xyphiel down. Timothy had different plans, however.
Half-way through the battle Timothy threw caution to the wind and was willing to tear his body apart if it meant defeating Xyphiel.
Not that I disagree with his choice, it’s just that I was afraid to go there. Not again. Not if I could help it.
The two developments I was most surprised about right now, however, were the sudden appearance of Xei and Tasha as a single person.
So, unconjoined, kinda?
And Xyphiel grabbing the essence of Lust.
I don’t know if he had that in his back pocket or if we lost track of it in the chaos.
I didn’t even know if it was going to give him a substantial power-up.
I know I didn’t have to worry about it, but Teisha, or Xasha, or whatever: She had Succubus blood in her. Was that going to be a problem? Sure, Tasha had resisted Belial before. She told me about her visions and temptation.
“The Soul Who Sins, Shall Die!” Xeisha’s prayers echoed across the battlefield.
I felt her words in my wings and I took to the air, my energized fists ready to pummel Xyphiel down.
Timothy was at my side, he seemed to be rushing in with more caution, likely adapting to his new capabilities.
Still, I felt like being over confident would play against us. We had to be cautious, we had to approach our attacks meticulously.
I moved to smash Xyphiel with a right hook.
Xyphiel raised his forearm up and I struck his raised gauntlet.
To my complete shock he barely budged in the air, a shockwave echoing through the air as I smashed my fist against him.
I followed up with my left fist, only for Xyphiel to catch it in his hand, his eyes narrowing on mine.
“I am done playing with the children,” Xyphiel hissed as he spun me in the air and sent me towards the ground.
I managed to spread my obsidian wings and stop myself mid-air. Something I could not have done with my Niten wings. During our more recent training, it was Forcas’s suggestion. He realized how in such close quarters fights, my obsidian wings could serve me better.
I didn’t even know I could choose, but Forcas had shown me how to master my ascended form.
Halting myself in mid-air may not have been the best choice, however. I spotted Xyphiel speeding towards me, both feet ready to slam into me.
I gave a powerful flap, his legs slipping just beneath me. I took my position of advantage and grabbed his ankles, somersaulting over him and using his own momentum to hurl him downward.
The look on his face was priceless as he tumbled towards the ground.
Before he could spread his own wings, Timothy thrust his hand out, a pink symbol of runes appearing on the ground under Xyphiel.
A column of runes erupted from the circle and Xyphiel was pulled down to the ground.
Once he landed, Xeisha jumped into the circle, spinning her polearm through the air, slashing and bashing at Xyphiel.
Xyphiel, to his credit, blocked the blows precisely.
“So, daughter, this is who you should have been all along? Who would have known mixing imperfection within yourself could improve your physical being,” Xyphiel grinned, “Do you think that will save you from my wrath? I will see you begging me for mercy and you will die cowering in fear!”
Xeisha’s assault never halted as she slashed and smashed with the polearm. Xyphiel attempted to block with a glowing violet shield and Xeisha sliced it in half to Xyphiel’s amazement.
Xyphiel jumped back, as Xeisha readied her next attack.
“Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear,” Xeisha said with a smile as she readied her polearm, “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”
Xyphiel paused and turned around just as Timothy swung at him from behind with my mom’s sanctified blade.
Xyphiel blocked it with the Puriel blade as Xeisha rushed towards Xyphiel’s exposed back.
I dove towards him, swapping from my empowered gauntlets to a broadsword. I was aiming for his wings.
I was going to take them. I promised myself I would be the end of Xyphiel one way or another.
Xyphiel’s wings spread wide and he let out a terrible roar.
A pale blue mist burst out from him and I felt my blade deflect against something.
I tumbled to the ground, the smoke nearly blinding me.
I had felt this power before, I knew it well.
“Belphegor,” I thought to myself as I peered through the haze, barely dodging a strike from Xyphiel’s wicked blade.
I rolled back, the world spinning as I tried to get my bearings.
“He’s using the power of Sloth!” I cried out, or rather I tried to. The mist choked me as I spoke, but I screamed regardless to warn the others.
I saw an arrow flick out of the mist and glance off my shoulder armor. I staggered back from the blow, looking out for another one before I heard Xeisha’s voice echoing through the miasma.
“Love Eternal!” Xeisha’s twin voices called out, “Pray fervently that my sweat becomes like great drops of blood which fall to the ground like rain! Put away from us Acedia of body and mind, kindle within us the holy flame of your love! Give us your strength where you see weakness and drive our hands to act in earnest!”
The miasma was blasted away in a bright shimmering light glowing from Xeisha’s staff.
I saw Timothy and Xyphiel clashing, the Puriel blade and my mother’s sanctified blade clashing against each other, the metal of each growing hot from the forces behind them.
Xyphiel’s attention turned to Xeisha now and he kicked Timothy back, making a mad dash for her.
Xeisha’s prayer was able to clear away Xyphiel’s magic and while she wasn’t defenseless, I had to make sure not to leave her on her own.
I ran towards Xyphiel, dispelling my weapons entirely, gritting my teeth and pushing everything I could into my charge.
I aimed right for where his path was going to meet with Xeisha, ducked my head down and let loose a battle cry as my shoulder smashed into the side of his chest. I grabbed him, tackling him to the ground.
I could hear snapping of bone as I contacted Xyphiel, knocked to the ground as I was certain I had snapped his ankle as well as a few ribs.
Xyphiel roared in pain as we smashed to the earth below.
That’s when his massive maw opened wide and he chomped down on my neck.
I gasped, releasing my arms from his chest and grabbing his jaws with my gauntlet clad hands.
Even though my holy armor was burning Xyphiel’s flesh, his jaws kept pressing their teeth into my throat.
I gasped as I watched violet mana spurt from my neck. My arms were shaking as I tried to pry his powerful jaws off of my throat.
Xyphiel’s eyes looked up and he let go on his own, rolling away just as Timothy swung his sanctified blade at Xyphiel.
I gasped as Xyphiel fell back, panting hard as I grasped at my wounded throat.
Xeisha rushed over to me, placing her hand onto my wound, “God give your warrior’s wounds Your love and care, bring back her flesh as if it were new once more!”
I could feel Xeisha’s holy magic wrapping around my neck and swallowed, tasting a coppery flavor of sorts as I turned to her, “Thanks, Lady Tasha.”
Xeisha nodded, “Anytime,” she said as she took a defensive stance.
“We need a plan, we’re wasting a lot of energy and not making much headway,” Timothy advised.
Xyphiel lifted his hand up, a mighty green flame swirling around his wrist. He slammed it down, and another burst of foul wind rushed towards us.
To my shock the swirling flame erupted into a massive tornado towering in the air and speeding towards us.
I had to fold my wings tightly as the air was too thin and chaotic to fly through, the heat pulsing off of the massive cyclone as it tore towards us.
Timothy and Xeisha had to retreat just to save themselves and I had to do the same.
Once again, Xyphiel was separating us.
I knew that was always his plan. He cannot take us on together, but one-on-one he had a chance.
These tactics to split us up were sadly effective, but I had to do my best to find the others and attack as one.
Together, we could kill him.
But only together.
“Timothy!” I reached out into Timothy’s mind, only for my mind to be sent reeling.
I heard a cacophony of screams and cries, echoing into my mind. Each one was clear and distinct despite them calling out in unison.
I could make out their individual voices.
“Why me?!”
“It burns!”
“I did everything right!”
“Please, no! Not this!”
“Save me!”
“Not like this!”
“I feel it, so much pain!”
“Why didn’t you save us?!”
The last scream sounded familiar.
“Yes, why didn’t you save them…?” Xyphiel’s voice echoed through the whirlwind.
Xyphiel’s sword swung down at me and I blocked it just in time, manifesting my own large sword to do so.
Xyphiel’s voice echoed from behind the burning whirlwind, my eyes unable to focus fully as his voice reverberated in my ears.
“Poor Zepherina! What immeasurable and immense power! A skilled warrior and by far the most challenging opponent I have ever faced…” He paused to laugh, “Even more so than your dear mother…”
I roared in a rage and thrust Xyphiel back, slamming my fist into his jaw.
I flinched as I felt the top of his teeth scrape against my armor.
My armor didn’t burn him anymore and that worried me.
Soon the fiery tornado was all around me as I tried to get my bearings, Xyphiel’s voice echoing around me.
“Did I touch a nerve?!” Xyphiel’s voice taunted
“Show yourself, Coward!” I demanded.
“Why bother?! You’re already too late! Your half-brother is as good as dead and I’ll see to my dear sweet daughter shortly!” Xyphiel’s voice cackled, “Once again: You’re Too Late to Save Anyone!”
I gritted my teeth, spotting a figure in the fiery winds. I jumped into the air, keeping my stiff obsidian wings tight to my body, soaring skyward on my leg strength alone. “Not if I stop you!” I screamed as I swung at the figure in the fire.
My blade was blocked and I was sent spinning through the fiery winds.
I flinched as I felt my flesh singe and burn slightly. My armor was protecting me, but my face and hair was far more exposed.
I quickly manifested a helmet onto my head and over my face.
I did so in the nick of time, a blade glanced off the top of my helm and I heard Xyphiel’s voice hiss in anger.
“So close to being rid of you, I can taste it!” Xyphiel’s voice radiated around me as I spotted a Niten tail flicking past me in the burning wind.
I grabbed hold of it, holding on tight as it dragged through the fires.
“You will not escape me!” I screamed, “For my mothers and my brother, I’ll kill you!”
“No love for your dear sister, science experiment?!” Xyphiel’s voice chortled.
“You leave Lucilia out of this!” I screamed, slicing at his legs as I tried to stabilize myself in the tumultuous winds. “If you somehow survive this day, I promise you she’ll grow to destroy you and everything you hold dear!”
Xyphiel laughed, “Oh, is my sweet Eve not your sister anymore? Have you disowned her so thoroughly?!” His voice echoed viciously through the chaotic air.
“Who?!” I screamed as I slashed again at his back paw.
The tail flipped and I found a large Niten paw smashing against my helmet, knocking me into the chaotic tornado without any anchoring!
I spun and tried to regain some semblance of up and down, but I couldn’t even tell what direction I was falling or moving in as I tumbled.
“Playing coy? Evangeline, you fool! Or has her betrayal struck your heart too deeply for you to consider her?!” Xyphiel’s tone almost seemed offended, “It would be clever of you. Far too clever! But I couldn’t blame your anger against my daughter if you did take such a drastic step! I can blame your thoughtlessness! How dare you disavow my flesh and blood!”
I saw the ground and spread one wing to catch myself just in time to right my feet.
Though hard, I landed and rolled across the rough rocky ground. I spat out dust and debris as I closed my wing, looking to the air for Xyphiel.
“I don’t give a shit about your vicious little turn-coat of a daughter!” I hissed as I got to my feet, narrowing my eyes into the chaotic winds and fire.
I had to anticipate his next strike.
Xyphiel paused before his voice rose with more intrigue than malice, “You don’t recall her as your sister at all, do you? How…? Did you tear her from your heart yourself? If so, I underestimated even your dedication to my downfall!”
I looked into the air. If I could keep him talking, keep him distracted, then I’d have the upper hand.
I saw his figure in the wind next and his curiosity was over, “It matters not! In this time, I’ve ensured Timothy’s death: Once again, little girl… You Failed Them.”
I screamed in rage, rushing towards the figure in the fiery winds, “I will not fail anyone! You don’t get to tell me when I’ve failed them!”
I spread my wings, power rippling through my body more-so than I would have liked as my rage propelled me into the air and through the green fire and flames.
The figure readied to block, a gleaming sword which appeared to be the Puriel blade flickering in the light.
I split my blade into two shorter ones, empowering my wings as I rocketed into the air.
I moved to strike, but just before the Puriel Blade could come to block my strike, I gave a powerful flap and stepped on the broadside of the sword.
I kicked off of it, spun forward and crossed my blades, ready to put everything into my next strike.
I could see it so clearly, my shot directly at his wings.
I was about to end him.
“No blow struck in anger is a blow of victory,” Forcas’s calm voice echoed in my mind.
Time froze solid for a moment as I heard the voice, “I can kill him,” I whispered.
“No blow struck in anger is a blow of victory, student,” Forcas’s calm voice rippled through the fires surrounding me.
His voice seemed to calm the chaotic flames as it reached me.
Despite being upside down, I saw a vision of Forcas facing me, an almost disappointed look on his face, “All the time I spent with you and you still think the best method to defeat these cretins are the same weapons they wield against us?”
The scene was still frozen as I glanced between Forcas and my target, “Stop it, Forcas! This is no time for a lesson! I have him! He tried to goad me and now his pride is going to lead to his death!”
Forcas’s eyebrow lifted, “His pride? What of yours?”
“I don’t have pride!” I snapped.
“Pride is your legacy,” Forcas growled in a tone I hadn’t heard from him as his eyes flickered with echoes of gold behind his graying iris. “Or have you forgotten your Lineage?!”
I saw a vision of Lucifer standing tall over vanquished Angels, mighty buildings burning as weapons surrounded him. This followed by a vision of my Mom standing around hundreds of cheering Penthasilean warriors. A vision of my mother throwing the tower shield she had used to crush a dissenting voice in her court to the ground with a wry smile on her face.
Seeing her human face once more made my heart skip a beat.
The last vision that I saw was of me, my foot firmly planted on the body of a number of slain soldiers as I lifted my blade up into the air, the Penthasilean flag waving behind me to cheers and praise.
“You are the Granddaughter of Pride! Daughter of the Mad Queen of Penthasil. First Born of the Ragnarök!” Forcas chastised, “You are the true heir to Pride, my student!” He spat.
I blinked, shocked.
“But like other titles, like other thrones,” Forcas said with a smile, “This throne, this title, you can cede.”
I blinked, “I… I don’t-”
“Think, girl!” Forcas called out, “Think clearly! Who have you been fighting?!”
“Xyphiel!” I snapped.
“Truly?!” Forcas growled, “Then confirm it! Cut away his crimson Cherubim Wings here and now and vanquish the one who so easily killed your mothers - two of the greatest warriors who have ever lived!”
I moved to strike, looking at the leathery wings exposed to me, ready for the taking.
I would succeed where my parents had failed, I would win this day and destroy Xyphiel forever.
I would protect everyone!
But my heart seized right then.
I would? But Xeisha and Timothy are fighting too… Their fight is the same as mine. They’ve lost people. Xei lost Elon. Timothy lost Sofia.
I lost too, but I couldn’t fight for me. I had to fight for them. For Timothy, for Tasha and Xei. I had to win for my people.
So why was I hesitating now?! The target was right there: Right in the flesh before me.
All I had to do was to slice through the leathery skin of Xyphiel and watch as his leathery dragon wings fluttered down to the ground in a heap.
Wait! Leathery?
I jumped away, spun in the air and landed on the ground.
My blades vanished and I clenched my fists.
“No blow struck in anger is a blow of victory, ” Forcas’s tone and voice echoed through my ears.
I took a deep breath and released my anger. I felt my rage fall aside.
The tornado began to die down and as it did I looked up to see Timothy flying out of the dissipating flames.
Timothy’s face was battered and bruised, his legs bleeding with wisps of blue mana seeping into the air. The tip of his tail even looked damaged, battered and bent slightly.
He soared towards me, “Zeph! Your anger is feeding the flames!”
I let out a sigh of relief as Timothy landed before me.
Timothy was out of breath as he rushed towards me, “You figured it out?!” He gasped, “I couldn’t hear you! There were too many screams.”
I looked around, “Where’s Xeisha?!”
Behind me, I heard a cry of pain as I saw Xyphiel slash at Xeisha!
Xeisha fell back onto the ground, cuts and bruises across her body.
While Xyphiel had confused me and used me against Timothy, he had isolated and targeted Xeisha.
Xyphiel held a feathery blade at the ready. It swirled with red, green, cyan, yellow, blue, orange and violet flames! Every single sin empowering the weapon as he swung. The Puriel blade sheathed on his back.
I flapped my wings hard, pushing towards the pair of them, Timothy in tow.
I could even feel Timothy’s shockwave as he pushed past his physical limits to reach Xeisha.
But it was no use. I saw the empowered sword ready to strike with every sin Xyphiel had.
There wasn’t anything Xeisha could do to defend herself against such a powerful blow and she was already knocked to the ground.
I flinched and briefly closed my eyes as I heard the strike connect, ripping through stone.
As I opened my eyes, however, a different sight caught my attention.
A stone arm fell to the ground and standing before Xyphiel was a statue of a woman.
The statue, to my shock, spoke.
“Father…?” The woman whispered as I saw a burning slash form across her body.
Her arm was held up, attempting to block Xyphiel’s attack, only managing to have her arm be the first portion of her body lopped off.
Her midsection began to slide to the left and for the first time I saw Xyphiel hesitate.
“Sume…? How? Why?!” Xyphiel’s rage returned almost instantly.
But at that moment I saw something else.
“We, as Cherubim, exist as our bodies, minds and hearts are in synchrony with one another. All existing together. In this, you can read the emotions of one’s heart as if they merely were giving you a facial expression. Master this skill, to defeat your foes,” Forcas’s words resonated in my ears.
Xyphiel’s emotions might have been on full display to me, but up until now it was all just wrath, hate and vengeance.
But things have changed.
The wrath and hatred were still there.
Xyphiel was infuriated beyond all reason that yet another child of his had stood against him. He was enraged she had gotten herself killed as a direct result. I could even sense that he felt little regret for causing her harm.
But there was something else. A tiny echo inside of him, focused within his arm where he had slashed Sume.
The gauntlet clad arm within which he had the Seal of Solomon and his empowered sword.
There I saw regret, remorse and a strange and tiny hint of longing. I saw guilt.
The very last shred of guilt in Xyphiel.
It wasn’t enough for me to get past his other defenses and slash at his wings.
But his arm?
I knew what I had to do. It seemed to flow through me at that moment, as if ancient wisdom were being spilled into my mind from somewhere.
My mind filled with words and the air around me smelled of ozone.
“O Anpu, guide my mistress’s hand in your path, give life on her right hand, I pray thee and life behind. Life to her sight, life to her heart and life to her body; I pray thee.” I knew that voice and the tone.
Syria.
My blade shifted from that of a broad sword to a Khopesh. My other blade changed into a spaded knife.
I reached Xyphiel and my hands moved as if guided by otherworldly forces.
The spaded blade sunk into Xyphiel’s shoulder, and in doing so pulled the regret, guilt, longing and what small hint of love was within him, concentrating it into his arm.
The Khopesh slipped under his arm and I pulled it up, severing his arm from his body.
Xyphiel roared in pain as the burst of crimson mana forced his right arm to fly off several meters behind Xeisha.
I jumped back, the scent of ozone gone, my Khopesh now gone. I tried to summon it back, but the spaded knife merely vanished from Xyphiel’s shoulder, a short sword left in my hand.
“That better have worked,” I thought as I stood up.
Xyphiel turned, glaring at me, “Fool girl! As if I couldn’t be angered enough!” His arm reformed, though I saw on his palm a different symbol, “You think you can sever the seal from me?! How many times must I tell you: I am the Seal!”
“You’re a seal,” I quipped, smiling, “But that seal you had on your hand wasn’t meant to be used like that! Ragna told me that much.”
Xyphiel scoffed, cracking his neck, “As if your mother knew of what she spoke.”
“She told me how you used that seal to lock Lucifer away and I know you use it now to hold all the sins of Hell within!” I snapped, “That was not its original purpose! Not your original purpose!”
Xyphiel laughed, shaking his head, “And what do you know of my original purpose, Girl?”
I saw Xeisha was no longer behind him, but Sume’s body was on the ground, cut in half but still alive, somehow.
“Maybe ask the daughter you killed,” I hissed as Timothy ran to my side, his ice blue eyes fixed on Xyphiel in hatred.
“How many of your children must stand before you before you’ll realize your goals are folly, father?!” Timothy shouted.
Xyphiel glanced at Sume, letting an angered breath out from his nose as he turned his attention back to us, “Sume made her choice. She’s lived a cursed life long enough. It is of no matter to me that she sought to end her life by my hand.”
“Heartless bastard!” Timothy growled.
It was at this point I noticed Xyphiel’s physical body shifting slightly. I grinned at him, because it meant I managed to do exactly what I wanted.
Xyphiel glanced at his hand as he changed from his Niten form back to a Cherubim form, “...What have you done, girl?” His crimson eyes flashed with fire as he glanced at the seal on his right hand.
Rather than the intricate symbols that were once there, now a simpler symbol existed. There was a symbol for Sulfur, of sorts, but the bottom portion was that of a Mobius crest. Around the seal were the letters spelling out ‘Xyphiel’ like the other Angelic sigils I had seen on the Archangels. Smaller runes glowed around the seal as it seemed to glow with an eerie black light.
“What have you done?!” Xyphiel roared as he charged at me.
I blocked his enraged attack, Timothy attempting to flank Xyphiel from the side, only for Xyphiel to roll away from Timothy to prevent his wings from getting cut.
The three of us now faced one another, but a strange blue light began to glow on the ground around us.
The original seal was appearing on the ground! The Greater Seal of Solomon!
Xyphiel jumped back from it, as did Timothy and I.
The seal erupted into existence, pulsing with icy blue energy and holy essence.
The seal was pulling things towards it as well. I looked up to Xyphiel, a sly grin on my face, “What I did was unleash the true power of the Seal of Solomon.”
Xyphiel growled, gritting his teeth, “It is not the seal of Solomon! It is the seal of the Scribe Lord! A title given to me**! To be the patsy for the Guardians to inflict all ills and mistakes upon! A title which is only given to the poor, unfortunate wretch who is forced to make-right what others have wronged!”**
“Well spoken, Xyphiel,” a calm voice called out from behind us.
Xyphiel turned to see Xeisha, holding her polearm up alongside a large red scaled Niten Dragon.
His eyes were closed, his clawed hands grasping Xeisha’s staff tightly. Despite the fact that he was a Niten dragon, he looked thin, almost sickly. If not for Xeisha standing next to him, I don’t think he could stand on his own.
He opened his eyes, a brilliant icy blue light flickering from them, “That… Is the task of the Scribe Lord.” He lifted his tired head, his tearful eyes focused on Xyphiel. “That is my task.”
Xyphiel stared, mouth agape, “Impossible.”
“By the judgment of the Guardians, by the light of Their eternal wisdom,” The Niten Dragon’s voice called out, “I take it upon myself to rekindle the title of Scribe Lord of Nite. I beset myself back to the task I had been led astray from…” his voice hitched, “That I… Allowed myself to stray from…” His eyes narrowed on Xyphiel, “...You must be condemned to hellfire, Xyphiel,” he hissed, “So sayeth, the Scribe Lord, Kriggary Misho.”
