Avarice Twilight

by R. A Davidson

  Immediately, I leap back to gain distance.

  "You damn idiot!" Mister Utrix snaps. "If I hadn't stopped him just now, who knows what he would've done! How many times must I tell you that you're not fucking invincible!?"

  "Kekeke. He is right," the Devil remarks. "I lied, and you fell for it so easily. If he had not stopped me just then, I would have undoubtedly killed you."

  I was tricked… me? How could someone such as I fail for such a simple trick? No, it is not me that is the issue; it is the Devil. Since that thing has arrived, numerous and unexplainable events have occurred. The Devil's disturbance is the only logical explanation behind the anomalies.

  "I see you have decided to join us," the Devil says, looking past us.

  A figure makes its way past me; it is the fool. Where has the fool been the whole time we have been facing this monster?

  Wait… why does the fool not have his left arm?

  The fool silently and calmly approaches the Devil. The fool puts his hand on the Devil's shoulder.

  "So, you'll overcome us in a physical fight?" the fool asks.

  The Devil grins in response.

  "I see. Utrix, release your magic," the fool demands.

  I sense the faint mana around the Devil disappear. Why is Mister Utrix listening to the words of an incompetent fool?

  The Devil lifts its hand and takes ahold of the fool's wrist.

  "Pfft," the fool slips out a laugh. "Are you so afraid of this inferior being's attack that you need to create distance between us?" the fool asks.

  The Devil's face becomes cold and emotionless following the fool's statement. It releases the fool, then grins, as if saying it will receive the fool's attack.

  The fool removes his hand from the Devil's shoulder. What type of attack does the fool intend to use against that thing? The very thing that the five of us together could not bring down.

  The fool slaps the Devil. The force causes the Devil to go flying into the tower in the middle of the city.

  The fool turns to face us, showing us the cause of why he is showing up so late. Along with his left arm, the fool has had almost the entirety of his face shredded off. His torso is utterly torn and mangled… part of his intestines are visible through a deep slash.

  Did the fool suffer those wounds from that corpse from earlier? If that is the case, the fool is just further showing his incompetence.

  He stops in front of Asteria. "Sorry I have to rely on you all the time." the fool states with a smile.

  Asteria shakes her head, then punches the fool's chest. "You really are a fool," she remarks.

  She begins to heal the fool. It is quite a spectacle to observe Asteria's magic. The way her magic heals wounds is more like watching the body regress to the way it was before. Muscle and skin seem to regrow; missing limbs or chunks of flesh return… it is magic that should be titled a blessing.

  The Devil appears behind the fool with an enraged and twisted look on its face.

  "You little shit," it growls.

  The fool chuckles. "So, your mannerisms were a guise, just like your strength." he jeers.

  The Devil swings its arm, aiming to hit the fool with a wide arc.

  The fool steps forward, somehow sensing the strike, pushing Asteria with his body to maneuver out of the Devil's range. The fool turns to keep Asteria behind him and shield her. Simultaneously, the fool moves his arm in a circular motion across his body; the Devil's strike is ever so easily parried away from the fool. Following the parry, the fool strikes the Devil's chin in a continuous and fluid motion.

  The Devil falls forward; just as its face hits the stone, it vanishes into the air.

  It reappears from above, striking at the fool.

  The fool twists his foot and lifts his leg, slipping past the Devil's fist and delivering a strike with foot. The movement of the fool resembled that of a dance.

  Admittedly, the fool is showing to be well versed in hand-to-hand combat.

  "Kekeke," the Devil hauntingly laughs. "That is twice now: twice you have managed to avoid my strike, and twice you have struck me. How is it you are strong enough to do such things?" the Devil asks.

  "It's not that I'm stronger than you, physically; you'd probably kill me if you manage to land a blow," the fool answers.

  Asteria has finished healing the fool at this point. He moves his arm, trying to force her behind him, but Asteria swats his arm away and steps in front of him.

  "The rest of us can fight too," she comments. She draws the hilt from its scabbard, producing the green blade.

  "I see," the Devil remarks. "I seem to have found myself quite the entourage." It looks at Mister Utrix. "One who manipulates the weight of any object or being, thus controlling their very being."

  It glances at me. "A little elf that freely wields metal, unaware of the power within her, and seems to do little to help her friends."

  This time its eyes move towards Asteria. "A lady, blessed by the Celestials, with the ability to save any life." The Devil glares at Barin. "One, who controls otherworldly spells; it seems you are capable of creating magic that does not exist, to benefit yourself."

  Lastly, the Devil smiles at the fool. "And you… somehow having the physical fortitude of a Devil in your body."

  The fool approaches the Devil yet again. The Devil floats towards the fool, meeting him halfway.

  The fool gently takes the Devil by the hand.

  What is the fool intending on doing now?

  The fool twists the Devil's wrist, bending it in the process, causing the Devil to fall to its knees. It tries to stand yet is unable to move.

  "You still can't get past the notion that strength is why you're getting beaten," the fool states. "You simply made yourself into a body that can be harmed physically, which then gave me the advantage."

  He looks down at the Devil, who is still struggling to free itself from the fool's control.

  "Still don't understand, even with me employing the very thing that's letting me best you," the fool jeers. "You may have unimaginable power, but you'll never have my techniques."

  The fool changes his grip on the Devil, helping it stand. The fool, however, keeps ahold of its hand.

  The Devil rises past the fool's head. "So, you believe your skills are superior to my might!?" the Devil screams.

  The fool responds by tapping the Devil's face. Not a slap, just a gentle tap, with no malice behind it.

  Infuriated, the Devil strikes at the fool.

  The fool steps past the Devil, twisting the Devil's arm over its shoulder by the thumb. Yanking downward on its thumb, the fool manages to flip the Devil head-over-heel.

  The fool snaps the Devil's hand to the ground, followed by the Devil's face.

  The fool stands. "Reckon you can beat me if we continue like this?" he asks the Devil.

  The Devil lifts itself unto its hands. "Perhaps, I underestimated your capabilities," it replies.

  The Devil lunges at the fool; its fingers turn to long claws as it reaches out.

  A large stone stalagmite juts forth from the ground; the Devil is halted as the protrusion drives into its sternum. Swiftly, the fool delivers a kick that lands under the Devil's chin; the blow makes the Devil straighten up. Following the fool is Asteria. The Devil thrusts its claws at her, stopping just as Asteria enters its range. I sensed the same mana around the Devil when Mister Utrix seized its movements. Asteria slides her front foot forward; bringing her sword arm up, she sunders the Devil's arm from its body.

  "Another thing that puts you at a disadvantage is our teamwork. You’re all by yourself," the fool states.

  "I am still… stronger," the Devil gruffs.

  "And yet, the pack of wolves can take down a bear much stronger than the individual wolf," the fool remarks.

  The fool actually said something acceptable for once. The five of us can more than certainly be an equal for the Devil… possibly even best it.

  Wait… the five of us? I offered no assistance to the se
quence of attacks. Why was I the lone one not to partake in the barrage? Surely, I would take the chance to demonstrate my prowess. Was I too scared to do so?

  The Devil stands. "I see, so I underestimated you while overestimating myself," the Devil states as its arm reforms from its shadowy figure. "Kekeke. Well, I was right about the little elf; too afraid to attack… even while your companions risked their lives to land an attack," the Devil jeers.

  I step forward. "Steel Storm," I chant.

  I shall show this Devil just what it means to be my adversary. I shall eradicate the Devil in its entirety! How dare it belittle me, as if I were some child!

  "Oh, are you approaching me?" the Devil questions.

  Though it retains its figure, the Devil's stature seems to grow… reaching towards the skies. Its presence seems to be more intense than when it first appeared in front of us. I feel as though the darkness is consuming me as I step closer.

  I must continue forward. I must prove to them… to myself… that I will not back down from the face of evil.

  I stop walking. It would be foolish of me to enter into the range of my attack. My fool-heartedness was nearly my downfall.

  "So, you have grown… just a little," Barin remarks.

  I ignore his statement; my only focus is the Devil standing before me.

  I drop Steel Storm. Faster, I need to accelerate the speed of the spears. Focus on each one… I can sense all of them. I force the spears to fall as quickly as possible.

  Steel Storm besieges the Devil. The attack creates an upheaval of stone rubble and storm to surge forth.

  The Devil's presence dissipates. Did I manage to slay the vile being? This shall show everyone what I am capable of; they shall finally see that my words of bravado have merit.

  A hand thrusts me forward. I stumble and fall.

  "Who dares?" I exclaim.

  Turning, I can only gap my mouth to the sight I see. The fool stands before me… with the Devil's hand piercing through his heart.

  24

  ASTERIA

  The Devil has pierced through Aryn's back.

  “Will you learn not to act irrationally?" Aryn grunts.

  He swings his arm around in an attempt to strike the Devil; upon making contact, the Devil dissipates into the air. The force from Aryn's strike turns him around in our direction. Isla is visible through the hole in his chest.

  I'm unable to make any noise or call out to him… I can only look in awe. How can someone like Aryn exist? He is still standing despite missing his heart. He’s remarkably calm and his body has no tension in it, yet his gaze is so sharp, piercing through everything he sees. Even in a dire situation like this, he looks like the embodiment of strength and tranquility.

  The Devil appears in front of Aryn. In an instant, Aryn strikes.

  The Devil does not dissipate like it has done before. Using the same move that Aryn used previously, the Devil rotates its arm and deflects Aryn's strike.

  The Devil grasps Aryn by the neck and lifts him from the ground.

  "Kekeke," the Devil cackles. "Though I dislike it, your so-called techniques are indeed effective," It jeers.

  Aryn smiles.

  The Devil moves Aryn closer to its face. "What could you find humorous about these circumstances?" it asks.

  "Why are you acting so high and mighty? I'm the victor of our little skirmish," Aryn responds.

  The Devil is silent.

  "You seem confused as to why it is my win," Aryn remarks. "You're supposed to be a being that possesses unimaginable power. Yet, you were bested by one weaker than you," he states. "You were bested by skills cultivated by beings you consider vermin."

  The Devil slams Aryn into the stone, then lifts him back into the air.

  "Why are you still alive!?" it shouts. "I destroyed your heart!"

  Aryn chuckles, coughing up blood in the process. "You do have the upper hand at the moment, but you only stabbed me by turning your body back into its original state, showing that you couldn't fight me physically as an equal," Aryn remarks.

  He coughs more blood, then takes a deep breath. "And the only reason you have me by the neck was by parrying my attack. You used a move I used, a moved created by vermin, to win," he informs him.

  Aryn starts to laugh; he seems to be enjoying his victory over the Devil.

  "Kekeke," the Devil softly laughs. "Kekekekekekekekekeke!" it starts laughing maniacally.

  As the Devil laughs, its body begins to change in shape; stretching out like shadows, slowly resembling its appearance when it first appeared to us.

  "I see… you are indeed right. You made me retreat, and you made me mimic a movement I saw you perform" The Devil growls. "You bested me; in a battle of skills… you are my superior. I have enough pride to admit that."

  The Devil pauses, holing Aryn in front of its face.

  "Kekeke. You may have won that child's play, but do not believe you have a chance of surviving this misfortune that has descended upon you," it coldly states.

  The Devil tosses Aryn from the wall.

  The Devil sinks into the shadows on the stone, appearing behind Mister Utrix. The Devil wraps its arms around Mister Utrix, restricting his movements.

  "Kekeke. Letting you use your magic as you please is something I shall not let you do," The Devil states.

  Aryn falls into the streets of the city, creating a cloud of dust as a building collapses.

  "Utrix and I will handle the Devil," Barin says. "Princess, take Asteria to Aryn so he can be healed," he orders.

  The Devil instantly appears in front of Barin. Its shadowy figure begins to enclose around Barin.

  "Kekeke," the Devil chuckles. "How do you plan on retaining me here while they heal the other one?"

  The Devil grasps Barin by the throat. "As it appears to my eyes… you are far weaker than the one I just killed," it sneers.

  Barin slowly reaches for the Devil; the Devil releases him, sinking into the shadows.

  Did it just retreat from Barin?

  "You really are pathetic," Barin remarks. "You're supposed to be a Devil, aren't you!?" he shouts.

  The Devil reappears, floating in the air. Its malice has somehow intensified even more. Its murderous aura is so concentrated and heavy… it feels as if the air itself is slowly solidifying.

  "You dare belittle me? You dare make a mockery of a superior being!?" the Devil exclaims.

  Barin points at Mister Utrix, then clenches his fist. Next, he points at me, then Isla. He turns and looks towards where Aryn was tossed.

  I gather that he wants Isla and me to head down towards Aryn. Does he intend for us to move without the Devil preventing us? He said previously that he and Mister Utrix would keep the Devil at bay; there's just not a way of doing so that is feasible. Even Aryn was bested by the Devil. Barin himself said that he would lose to Aryn in a fight… what chance does he hope to have?

  Isla grabs my arm. "We shall take our leave," she says.

  "But—" I reply.

  Isla squeezes my arm, pulling me closer. "It displeases me to say this, but we should take heed Barin's words," she states. "Since that vile Devil entered our world, I have had to face my own ineptitude."

  She starts shaking, as tears of anger and grief fill her eyes. She doesn't let the tears leave her eyes though.

  "If I can cast away my pride and realize how useless I am in this situation, then you can realize we can be of more use elsewhere," she remarks.

  Isla leads me to the edge of the wall. Is she planning on us to leap from this height?

  The Devil emerges from the shadows at our feet, effectively blocking our departure.

  "Kekeke. I do not recall giving you the liberty of leaving," it says with a grin.

  "Hey, Devil," Barin calls out.

  Barin makes his way to Isla and me, pushing us aside to face the Devil.

  "Did I not say they're leaving?" he asks.

  He and the Devil stand face to face for some time… neither one speaking.
<
br />   Barin is the first to break the silence.

  "If you move, I'll have to punish you," he tells the Devil.

  Barin shoves us off the wall; when our feet leave the edge, the Devil moves to grasp us. Barin goes to grab the Devil, causing it to disappear once again.

  As we fall past the edge of the wall, the only thing I can do is gasp; this is the first time I've experienced sensation falling from such a height.

  "Bronze Bustards!" Isla yells

  A flock of large birds forms around us.

  Slowly, it seems that they merge into one giant bird beneath us.

  "This fowl is not capable of sustained flight, but it will allow us to reach the ground safely," Isla informs me.

  A massive explosion of flames erupts from the top of the wall, waves of water, and stone pillars follow. Any debris that flies off the edge is suspended in the air; before flying back into the cluster of attacks. Barin and Mister Utrix must have engaged the Devil in combat.

  The bird lands us on the ground and disperses into a flock of smaller birds.

  "They will stay around and alert us if they sense any danger," Isla states.

  We walk down the streets in the direction where Aryn landed. The city is a shell of what it was when we arrived… though I suppose the city wasn't what it used to be even then. There are broken glass and beams everywhere, but the buildings are still intact. The corpses of citizens, Chimeras, and those the Devil rose from underground litter every spot of the city. Every step we take puts our shoes into deeper and deeper pools of blood.

  We reach the collapsed house that Aryn fell into.

  "Do you think we'll find him in time?" I ask.

  Just as the words pass my lips, an arm shoots through the rubble. It's outstretched as if asking for assistance; judging from the arm's thickness and muscle formation, it has to be Aryn.

  "Is there anything capable of killing that fool?" Isla remarks.

  I rush over to the rubble and start moving the debris off him. At the pace I'm able to move the stone, I fear Aryn will bleed out before I reach him.