The Soul Keeper

My steps carried me forwards as Fallen Grace filled my body with power. 

I instinctively clenched my hands, wishing I still had my scythe. I could see it on the other side of the battlefield. It was stuck into the ground. I needed to reach it, I needed its power to destroy the Divine Pillar. I didn't even bother questioning how it had ended up all the way there. I was focused on the task at hand. 

I ran past Mother and Fetheion. I noticed them reach for me, but I didn't allow myself to stop. A few arrows flew past me – the few remaining Ereth were trying to stop me. I reached with my hand, preparing to send a volley of dark bolts their way, but the sound of a snapping whip stopped me.

Purple flames rose from where the Ereth stood. Screams sounded as Vixia's power slowly consumed them. I averted my eyes – it was a slow and agonising death that she had given them. 

I ran across the blood soaked battlefield. It was surreal. Nothing moved. No one tried to stop me or aid me.

It felt almost as if this was a scene from a movie. All eyes were on me as I finally reached my scythe. As soon as my hands grasped its cold, darkmetal shaft, I pulled it out of the ground.

I didn't stop there. Without even so much as slowing down, I ran towards the Divine Pillar.

As soon as I took my first step towards it, the silence broke.

"No!" Aelith's voice echoed. Enhanced with magic, it rang in my ears, repeating itself over and over again. I shook my head, desperately wanting her voice to fade away. 

"Leave this world, Witch!" The Demon Lord's voice joined Aelith's. I felt a surge of mana both behind me, and in front of me. Golden light enveloped Aelith as countless spears of light appeared high up in the sky.

Behind me, darkness rose up into the sky, covering the battlefield like a dome, snuffing out the faint light of the stars and moon. The two powers clashed once more, with me stuck in the centre of it all.

Each step took more effort that I could imagine I would. Just existing began to feel painful as the two colossal powers threatened to warp reality once more.

"Don't stop!" Vixia's voice reached my ears as a whisper. "You must destroy the pillar. I will aid you, so don't stop!"

I didn't question her, I was already aware of all of that. I gritted my teeth, tightened my grasp around the shaft of my scythe and dashed ahead with all the strength I could garner. 

Light flashed around me, only for strands of darkness to quickly moved to snuff it out. Aelith brough her hand down, and with it, the spears began raining down as well. I heard Mother's voice as she shouted something.

Vixia's whip hit the ground near me with a loud snap, and the purple flames that burst forth created a dome around me. With each strike of Aelith's light spears, the barrier seemed to weaken. It grew thinner and thinner as my steps carried me closer to the towering golden structure.

I heard the barrier shatter just a few steps away from the stairs leading to the Pillar. I threw myself aside as soon as I stepped onto the first step of the stairs. Spears of golden light, crackling with power, struck the spot I was standing a split second ago.

"Die already!" Aelith's voice rang in my ears. She descended to the ground and reached for me. Her claw like hands reminded me of unpleasant memories. Faint blue and golden strands of magic seeped out of the ground. 

"Fuck off!" I grumbled as I called upon my power. Black and purple flames danced on my skin as I scrambled to get up. Her power reached for me, but a sudden flash of mana stopped her. The dome of darkness that covered the sky suddenly descended upon her.

Like waterfall of darkness, it collapsed on Aelith. The Divine Matriarch's eyes widened as she scrambled to create a barrier around herself.

With the Demon Lord keeping her preoccupied, I hurried over to the Pillar.

I immediately spotted the seven focal points of the structure. Seven large crystals, brimming with power, emitting a golden shine. As soon as I laid my eye son them, the structure seemed to react. A golden hue began to form around it. The warm light tickled my arms, but the pain I had felt before was no longer there.

"Ah." I mumbled. A faint smile formed on my lips. Was it because of my Ereth lineage that the Pillar's light didn't cause pain as before? I raised my scythe over my head, and brought it down upon the first crystal.

As the blade of my scythe hit the large crystal's surface, a loud and clear clang sounded. It rang in my ears and echoed across the battlefield.

"Fuck." I hissed, raising my scythe once more. So much for keeping Aelith distracted. My eyes widened as I lifted my scythe up. There was but a scratch on the surface of the crystal.

I heard Aelith's voice, bewitching and soft, whisper into my ear. "I knew they'd send you." 

My heart skipped a beat. I called upon my power once more, as I brought my scythe down again. Wreathed in flames, the crystalline blade hit the focal point. Once again, nothing but a scratch appeared on its surface.

"It's useless, Kai Friseal." Her voice sounded from behind me this time. I swung my scythe as I leapt aside, and a golden spear passed through where I was just standing. "You are powerless against my Pillar!"

I gritted my teeth as our eyes met. She raised her chin with pride and with a satisfied expression, raised her hand. A blade of light, crackling with power appeared in her hand. Knowing what was coming if I didn't do something fast, I hissed. "Fuck this." 

Then, I did the only sensible thing.

I threw myself towards the back side of the Pillar and shouted at the top of my lungs. "A LITTLE HELP HERE! NOW!"