Qin darted forward, slashing up and knocking the candles to the ground, Vita smirked beneath his helmet, “For a man of God to sulk in the shadows… How unsightly!” He shouted slashing forward with his sword, the walls sparked as the edge of his blade made contact with the bricks.

  Qin however leaped forward jumping over the blade, and slashing down at Vita with his thin swords.

  Vita ducked to the side of the first strike and dropped his blade reaching up with his now free hand and grabbing Qin from the air slamming him into the wall.

  Qin gasped blood flying from his mouth as he tumbled to the ground, his blades clattering along with him.

  Vita stared down with a scowl, “Come now, you’ve had this whole grand scheme cooked up. Surely you must have more to you.” Vita declared ignoring Qin and walked over to his greatsword picking it from the ground before turning around to look at Qin who was also getting up.

  Qin stared forward, anger clear in his gaze, “You're a fool, if you had just remained within your village… away from everyone else. I would have saved them all!”

  Vita let out a hum at that, “At the cost of my people?”

  “Your people are a blight upon this land regardless! The darkness brings nothing but death and destruction, monsters like Lust and your Dark Knight kin are not welcome here!” Qin shouted, throwing his sword forward.

  Vita lifted his blade examining the steel, “I suppose you're right about that.” Shadows wrapped around his blade and shot forward, forming dark jaws that snapped down and consumed the airborne sword. Wrath watched the shards drop to the ground with a frown, “But I wonder, when was it priest?”

  Qin blinked, “I’m sorry?” confusion was on his face as he stared warily at Vita, Vita lowered his blade slowly and started to walk forward.

  He continued, “When did your ‘God’ abandon you?”

  Qin frowned before scoffing, “He is with me, and you as well if you are to accept him. Such is his grace.” Qin replied simply.

  “No.” Vita retorted easily, before launching forward with speed that should be impossible considering his heavy armor.

  He slashed forward, and Qin raised his blade clashing with Vita’s blade, struggling against the might of the Dark Knight.

  Vita then smirked beneath his helmet, “Your god isn’t here, this is an empty box. He’s long since abandoned you, and I am proof of that.” Vita stared forward, a red glow appearing from his helmet.

  Qin’s eyes widened as he felt something sharp and hot stabbing through his back.

  Slowly Qin’s eyes moved down, and he saw a sword pierced through his chest, a black sword made of shadows.

  When he turned his head, he saw a shadow.

  A shadow that mirrored Vita’s shape.

  “Spawns… of the devil.” Qin let out a final gasp as he fell to the ground, his eyes cold and lifeless.

  Dead.

  Chapter 15: Sinners Deathless.

  Skylar walked down the final step and arched her brow at the sight before her, there she saw the prisoners surrounded by dead guards and further ahead she saw…

  Vita?

  Vita and what seemed to be a shadowy clone, she put a hand on her hip, “Is that a thing all Dark Knights can do?”

  Vita looked over his shoulder at Skylar and sighed, sheathing his blade, as he did so the shadow dissipated and slithered along the ground before fusing into Vita’s sword, “The best ones can aye.”

  Yang looked up at Skylar with a narrowed gaze, before he could utter a word Milo spoke up, “You! What the hell are you doing her-”

  “Shut it, kid. I took care of your problems, so the least you can do is shut your trap as I remove your bindings.” Skylar declared as she unsheathed her blade, coating it in shadows, she then slashed down shattering the chains that held Milo in place.

  She then moved over to both Lock and Phin breaking these chains as well, leaving the trio sitting there confused as Skylar moved over to Yang.

  Vita meanwhile examined Qin’s corpse.

  As Skylar shattered Yang’s chains the protector of the gate spoke, “...Was this your plan then? Training us up to fight God’s was a lie?” Yang questioned looking over his shoulder.

  Skylar stood tall, “You were planning on using me as a tool as well. Don't take it too personally. I fixed your problem and I’ll be doing the same with Lust soon enough. Regardless of any objections, you may have.” Skylar then put a hand on her hip, looking at all of the men on the ground, “Now then all four of you, get up and shoo. Take credit for this mess if you want I don’t care.”

  Milo blinked at that confusion while Lock and Phin started to leave without another word, Milo looked down and spoke up, “I don’t get it… do you just not trust us or…?”

  Skylar paused looking over to Milo, she frowned glancing to the side, and spoke up, “It’s not that. It’s just…” Skylar took in a breath, “I’m not sure what I’m capable of… I’ve already hurt quite a few people you know. As such, I want to end this by myself after that?” She paused looking to the cell to her left, seeing Striga within it, “We’ll see.”

  Yang said nothing to that and sighed standing up and walking over to Milo helping him up, Yang then looked to Skylar, “...Stop by when you're done. If nothing else I’ll ensure you have a place to rest.”

  Skylar smiled softly at that, “Appreciated.”

  With those words Yang and Milo left.

  Soon after Vita walked up to Skylar with a key, “Doubt we need it, but I figured we were done with property damage for the day.”

  Skylar chuckled, taking the key and unlocking the door before walking into the cell she knelt looking at Striga.

  Vita stood from a distance, “How does she look?”

  Skylar paused examining Striga’s face, she noticed subtle movements on Striga.

  No wounds, no cuts or bruises.

  “...She’s just asleep.” Skylar surmised with a sigh of relief, she then reached up and did the bindings, she paused and glanced over to Vita, “Get in here and carry her, I’ll be damned if I wake her.”

  Vita arched a brow, “Do I look like some grunt to carry your baggage around?”

  “She’s not baggage.” Skylar spat back instantly, “She’s a friend.” her glare was near lethal on its own and it caused an annoyed grunt from Vita as he moved forward.

  “If I were one to make the call we would have avoided this place entirely and marched on to Lust’s Castle.” he spat as he lifted Striga, throwing her over his shoulder.

  Skylar stood at her full height.

  “That’s lovely and all but it’s not your call.” Skylar shot back instantly, “Besides the barrier there prevents us fro-”

  “Do you think that barrier could stand to both of us, Skylar?” Vita questioned Skylar, “I certainly don’t.”

  Skylar went silent at that and narrowed her gaze, “We're helping Striga. And that’s final.”

  With those words, she moved towards the entrance and Vita watched for a moment, “...So quick to help others, but heedless to her desires.” he muttered to himself before following behind Skylar.

  Soon they walked up the stairs and Vita stopped staring at the destruction caused within the chapel and arched a brow, “You had a bit of a brawl up here.”

  “...Seriyu used the shadows, that was the first time I’ve had to fight something like that,” Skylar explained looking over her shoulder.

  Vita paused, shifting Striga’s weight on his back, “You did well then.”

  Skylar shrugged, “Exhausted though. Let’s get out of here.” She uttered those words and walked up to the large door opening it wide.

  The duo walked forward ready to call it a day, that was…

  Until a new voice spoke up, just as the duo walked a fair distance from the doors, “Have your senses not improved one wink since last we met Shadewalker? It’d be so easy to take that pretty little head of yours from your torso.”

  Skylar blinked looking around before turning around entirely and looking up at the church.

  Wrath chuckled at the sight of Skylar locking her gaze on him, “At long last, we bring an end to this farce…”

  Skylar stared up at the top of the building reaching up to her blade, anger flashing within her gaze, “Vita. Take Striga and get out of here, this is personal.”

  Vita stepped forward, “And leave you alone to deal with a monster like this? Absolutely not!”

  Skylar whipped her head to look at Vita, “I can’t fight him if I have to worry about her! If you're so worried about me then come back after you get her to safety!”

  “Do you think so little of me, Shadewalker?” Wrath’s voice suddenly whispered into her ear, Skylar’s eyes widened and she pulled out her blade, turning around only for Wrath to grab her by the shirt and send her flying through the church doors and into the rubble of wood.

  Her blade tumbled to the ground worthlessly, Wrath then let out a chuckle as he walked forward.

  Not even gazing at Striga and Vita.

  Vita grits his teeth moving to get Striga to safety, “Put me down.” Striga suddenly spoke up. Vita blinked at that looking over to Striga, “I can walk… She needs help.”

  Vita paused at that before nodding, setting Striga onto the ground slowly.

  And running forward to assist Skylar.

  Meanwhile, inside the church, Skylar groaned, pushing the broken bits of wood off her body and slowly standing up clenching her hands into fists.

  Wrath walked into the building staring down the child of shadows with a wry smirk, “Is this the best you can muster? You’ve hardly grown since the last we clashed. And yet here you were saunting forward like some shit-for-brains gladiator.”

  Skylar’s eyes flashed shifting to a crimson red as she hurled a fireball forward.

  Only for it to stop short of Wrath’s head and fizzle out, he sighed, “I wasn’t even aware it was possible to feel such disappointment. For that much, I suppose you have my thanks.” Wrath declared reaching up into the skies and in that instant black lightning crackled around his hand and an obsidian blade made itself known to the world, in response to this Skylar narrowed her gaze.

  -Just like before. Any attack I try to land is nullified before it makes contact…

  But to what extent?

  Skylar took in a breath and threw another ball of fire forward.

  Wrath slashed down with his blade fizzling out the attack, “The same trick avials you naught!” he shouts only for his eyes to widen and he moved his head to the left, barely avoiding a spike of ice that was trained for the back of his skull.

  Skylar stared forward at the sight, “So it’s not unbreakable…” she muttered aloud with a smirk, “And you even noticed it coming so it’s not a force that you have to control… It’s a passive force..”

  Wrath paused at that staring down at Skylar as he slashed up breaking the ice spike into multiple pieces.

  Wrath then let out a hum, “Strategy is it? Interesting, I’m used to your flailing about like a puppet refusing her master.” Interest shone within Wrath’s gaze, and yet he still saw Skylar as a weaker creature, “Come, let us see what you can come up with.”

  In response to his taunt, Skylar shot forward letting out a cry as she threw her fist forward, and just behind Wrath, Vita approached blade in hand ready to swing and cut through Wrath’s neck.

  Wrath instead let out an amused huff and slashed towards Vita’s blade clashing with it and with his right leg he slammed his boot into Skylar’s gut sending her flying once more.

  Wrath then turned his full attention to Vita, “You are not worth the one I’m here for shade, begone from my sight.”

  He declared this with a scowl throwing his right hand forward, dark energy crackled to life within his grasp and the stones on the floor lifted before a beam of dark energy flew forward.

  Vita growled lifting his blade and used the flat end of it to protect himself from the blast.

  His boots dug into the ground and he grits his teeth trying to move forward despite the pressure.

  Wrath watched the sight with contempt, “Hm, the shade is made of tougher stuff it would seem… and yet for all your strength. You will still fail.”

  He lowered his hand and ducked to the side as Skylar came up from behind him, Vita then growled, lowering his blade and running forward.

  Skylar on the other hand, was now in front of Wrath.

  And she ducked under his neck punch.

  Wrath then leaped into the air, avoiding a slash through the air from Vita. Wrath then landed on the ground as Skylar stood back to her full height only to witness Wrath fire a blast of dark energy at Vita from point-blank range sending Vita flying backward and out of the church doors.

  Wrath let out a chuckle, lowering his hand and turning to Skylar, “Now then… there’s only you.” He declared this as Skylar’s eyes flashed azure and she slammed her foot on the ground sending yet another ice spike upwards.

  Only for Wrath to slash down with his blade shattering the ice on contact.

  Skylar then threw her right fist forward.

  And Wrath in response, let it come.

  It slowed and stopped completely, held back by that invisible force.

  Before Skylar could react Wrath reached out with his free hand grabbing Skylar by her shirt and throwing her upwards.

  “This house of hope, I think it’s a fitting tomb for you.” Wrath spoke as Skylar flew up into the air, Wrath extended his palm upwards dark energy crackled and Skylar threw her hands down creating a wall of ice to shield herself as the energy sent her higher and higher.

  Soon enough Skylar’s back hit the roof, and blood shot forth from her mouth.

  Wrath smiled at the sight continuing the pressure and the roof at last shattered sending Skylar up through a hole.

  Wrath blinked at the sight and frowned realizing he had just shot Skylar out of his range.

  Skylar screamed as she flew upwards and landed on the roof itself, she grunted slowly standing up and wiping the blood from her mouth.

  She turned around seeing Wrath leap up through the hole landing just ahead of her, “...Is this the best you have to offer? Such a disappointment you turned out to be.”

  Skylar growled, raising her fists.

  Meanwhile, on the ground, Striga was holding the wounded Vita. She looked up to the roof, and saw Skylar struggling against Wrath, “...She’s not going to win…” Striga muttered, only for her eyes to widen as Vita grabbed her wrist.

  He locked eyes with Striga, “Her sword… she needs her sword to reach him.”

  Striga paused looking to her right, right at Skylar’s sword.

  This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  Skylar on the roof threw her fist forward, fighting with everything she had.

  But no punch reached Wrath, he simply walked forward with an unamused expression before grabbing Skylar by the neck, and lifting her upwards.

  “...It would seem this is your peak. Not that I have any desire to see you strive further. I grew tired of this contest. So, let’s close the curtain.” With those words he threw Skylar off the side of the roof, a dark glow surrounded Wrath’s hand as he kept it outstretched.

  Skylar’s wide eyes stared forward, but her ears twitched as she heard a cry, “SKYLAR CATCH!” Striga shouted at the top of her lungs, throwing Skylar’s sword into the air.

  In a swift movement, Skylar’s eyes flashed emerald and she grabbed her sword, slashing in the same motion just in time to cut through the dark beam that Wrath just fired.

  Skylar then shot forward through the air raising her blade ready to bring it down upon Wrath, he simply smirked and uttered these words, “The stars beckon.”

  Just before Skylar’s blade made contact Wrath looked up and… the space around the duo froze.

  Cracks appeared in the space around them and shattered white and black lights flowed around them pushing them apart.

  Wrath kept a smile on his face as he stared forward, while Skylar growled.

  Soon Skylar’s feet touched a new ground, Skylar found herself standing atop a large circular stone platform, her gaze wandered to the area around this platform, there was… space?

  She turned around and saw what lay before her, instead of allies and the familiar city she saw…

  Stars and lights littered the area around her.

  And her jaw dropped in awe.

  “How is this even possible? Is this… some kind of dream.” She questioned as she started to walk forward.

  That is what she wanted to believe, but at this point, she knew better.

  Especially when she felt that pressure from behind her, slowly Skylar turned around, and she narrowed her gaze at Wrath.

  He descended slowly, wings spread out for all to see.

  “...It was a year ago when I found you, you had shown promise, but you were an insignificant speck… Though you have grown in strength since that time, you remain the same. A worthless speck of light that must be stuffed out.” Wrath declared as a sword made of heavenly light appeared in his right hand.

  Skylar reached up for her blade, gripping the hilt, “If that’s what you think, then you know nothing about us.” She unsheathed her blade and bathed it in flames, “This insignificant speck of light is about to burn you down… till nothing but ashes remain!”

  Wrath kept his gaze trained forward a scowl formed upon his face, “If this were back then I wouldn’t have given your threat the time of day. But it was with that blade that you slew Greed, and it is with that blade that you draw closer to Lust with every passing second… I cannot allow you to proceed further, not while my family requires protection. And so.” Wrath clenched his hand tightly staring down Skylar, “I will bring my all to bear against you, through the might gifted to me by Origin. I shall bring the heavens crashing down upon you Shadewalker!”

  In response to this, Skylar’s eyes flashed crimson and she slashed forward.

  Wrath dodged the first strike by moving to the right the second didn’t even make contact and for the third Skylar leaped up into the air spinning through it as she let out a cry slashing down at Wrath’s blade.

  He let out a hum as he clashed before throwing up his left hand and clenching it into a fist.

  Skylar’s eyes widened and her eyes flashed emerald as she suddenly shot up into the air, barely avoiding an incoming asteroid.

  Wrath watched as Skylar rode the rock through the space that separated them, “This plane of existence is mine to wield as I wish. All who have entered this place have never left. Do you understand Shadewalker? This is the final frontier.”

  Skylar stood on the rock in question taking in a breath, “Fitting name for your resting place.” She spat holding her blade out to the side and launching forward.

  Wrath tossed his blade aside and instead moved to control the asteroids floating about throwing each one at Skylar.

  Yet her approach didn’t stop, she threw her left hand down onto her blade coating it in shadows.

  Cutting through the asteroids as they came close, using them as stepping stones to increase her pace.

  Wrath watched the sight with interest lifting his right hand upwards attempting to bring the rubble down upon Skylar as Skylar at last closed the distance she let out a roar bringing her blade down upon Wrath’s hand.

  He stared up, before smirking.

  Skylar’s blade shattered upon his palm, “Very well, I suppose I shall indulge your foolishness.” he declared shifting to the left and letting Skylar start to fall past him, yet just before she could Wrath reached up with his left hand and grabbed Skylar by the wrist.

  Wrath’s hand now clad in a black gauntlet, “Wha-” Skylar squeaked out before her body was thrown aside flying through the dead air around her before hitting a wall of earth.

  She groaned, pushing herself off the wall, and she was now staring at the sight before her.

  Wrath took calm steps forward black armor, dark as obsidian clung to him slowly suiting him up as purple lighting sparked to life on the ground around him.

  The holes in his helmet glowed purple and he spoke once more, “Come, see if you can close the gap once more, child…” Wrath declared plucking a dark blade from the air with his right hand.

  Skylar grits her teeth reaching up and grabbing her second sword unsheathing the Dark Knight’s blade, “Don’t take me lightly… I’m going to cleave you two. Just you wait!” Skylar shot forward, slashing up at Wrath.

  Her eyes glowed emerald as she did so.

  Wrath effortlessly ducked to the side slamming his boot into Skylar’s side, before throwing his left hand forward.

  Lighting sparked upon it, and Skylar’s eyes widened, she leaped into the air dodging out of the way of the purple beams of death at the last second.

  She breathed a sigh of relief before looking back down to see that Wrath was no longer on the ground.

  “Wha-” her eyes widened fearfully as she felt something on the back of her head.

  “Unworthy scum!” Wrath declared as he forced Skylar out of the air and down onto the ground, Skylar let out a cry of pain as she hit the dirt, Wrath however didn’t seem to care much, he planted his left boot onto Skylar’s back, “You stand before the might of an Eternal… it’s only fitting that your face should be in the dirt, writhing with the maggots.” So he declared raising his blade high lighting sparked to life upon it.

  Skylar grits her teeth, her eyes flashing crimson as she pushes against the dirt lifting her head as Wrath thrusts his blade down, she growls out the words, “Overdrive.”

  As soon as the word was uttered Wrath instantly leaped backward as a pillar of rainbow flame surrounded Skylar.

  Wrath stared at the sight seemingly unimpressed, holding his blade to the side he spoke, “At last you bring it out… the form that you rely upon at your most desperate…” Wrath spoke, raising his blade once more, “If you wish desperately to be with the stars… Earn your place among them.”

  The flames subsided, instead replacing themselves with a mist.

  It was cold, and Skylar stared forward holding her blade out to the side.

  She stared forward, feeling new strength welling up within her. And then she slammed her foot down onto the ground sending a field of ice spiraling forward, even the ground beneath Wrath’s feet froze in the next instant.

  Wrath took a step forward, shattering the ice that got close to him, Skylar shot forward skating along the ice path and slashing forward.

  Wrath blocked the first strike with ease, only for his eyes to widen as Skylar slid under him he spun around throwing a fist forward, only for it to meet a wall of ice.

  He shattered that wall with ease, but Skylar was now gone from his vision.

  He frowned, lifting his blade and slashing up at the air behind him.

  Right where Skylar was, she had been aiming to slash at Wrath’s neck but Wrath’s sudden retaliation forced her to adopt a defensive stance.

  She let out a cry as she was knocked back into the air, “Why me!?!” Skylar suddenly shouted as she spun through the air landing on a nearby asteroid. “What did I ever do to you!?! Tell me!!!” Skylar shouted, throwing a hand to the side.

  Wrath stared up locking eyes with Skylar as he took in a slow breath taking a step forward, “To me? Nothing. But you harmed those I’d call my family. As such it is my duty to strike you down… Now then Shadewalker.” Wrath lifted his right hand upwards clenching it into a fist.

  Skylar blinked, feeling energy swirling in the air, she paused looking around.

  The lights in the distance grew brighter causing her to pause confusion riddled upon her face, “What are yo-” her eyes widened as she recognized this energy, “Oh no.”

  A tier 7 spell.

  She was too far away to stop it, all she could do was watch… no. That wasn’t quite all she had done it before with wind magic.

  So what was stopping her now?

  She let out an icy breath stabbing her blade into the ground.

  Wrath however looked up to the stars, “Heavens above born of flames, your light forged our lands and hearts. And now you shall rain once more upon this worthless land! STARSCOURGE!” Wrath shouted, the lights of the stars grew bright and they started to fall.

  Coming down at rapid speeds right towards Skylar.

  She closed her eyes, lifting her hands, and slowly a blue light began to surround her, “The hearts of man grow colder still, their eyes hollowing at the sight of blood.” she declared as those stars came close, Skylar clasped her hands together sending a wave of blue light outwards freezing the stars in place coating them in ice.

  She then reached down pulling her blade forth with her right hand, waving her free hand the stars moved and crashed together forming a large body of flame.

  Skylar then leaped up into the air ice rapidly forming around the tip of her blade forming a mallet, she pulled it back and her eyes flashed, “Scatter them to the dust.” she slammed that mallet downwards.

  And the ice shattered sending the large sun spiraling downward

  Wrath growled, staring up at the sight before him the sky he had made was now dark, and Skylar floating in the air as the sun approached Wrath.

  “To think you could cast such a spell… You grow stronger by the second, a master of magic in the making. I made the right decision for you as I do now. If you are allowed to fester, then there will be nothing left for me to protect.” He held his blade out to the side, his own eyes shining with power, “And yet…”

  He slashed up, cutting through that sun causing it to explode across the arena.

  Skylar yelped, feeling herself getting shot backward onto the asteroid once more, when she stared forward into the light however she saw something.

  Wrath was unaffected by the flames it almost looked like he was bathing in them… a crimson glow escaped through the lid of his helmet, “The stars have yet to deem you worth the dust they burn up.” He declared raising his blade the flames flowed and condensed into that sword.

  Forming a beam of pure energy around it that almost seemed to extend into some unseen heaven.

  Skylar felt a bead of sweat form on the back of her neck as she stared at the sight, “Is that right?” she gripped her blade tightly, she then let out a small breath as she planted her boots on the ground firmly, “Fine by me, A universe where the stars accept you isn’t one I’m fond of either way.” mist escaped Skylar’s lips as she finished, “So I think I’ll tear it down.”

  Wrath growled at the declaration, “Deluded child, like Icarus before you, you shall fall for your hubris!” With that he swung his sword down as he did so the stars in the sky began to light up once more, this time falling in sync with Wrath’s swing.

  But they were a fair distance apart.

  -I won’t be able to freeze them all from that distance… I’ll have to do something else then.

  Skylar’s eyes burned bright to the point where it almost seemed like wisps of blue flames were firing out from her iris. She pulled her blade back and ice shot from her feet into the rock below her extending outwards rapidly forming a shape around the rock and body extending upwards.

  Higher into the stars and higher still, a creature began to take shape.

  An ice figure that resembled a man with wings, holding a blade of divine justice.

  It moved in sync with Skylar as she swung forward, slashing her blade into Wrath's creation and slashing through the sky cutting down the stars, “Who are you to decide such things?” Skylar spat back without hesitation, “A god? No, you're not a god. You're not eternal, you're hardly even a man.” She pushed back against the energy with her own, “You're just a monster, a wild beast thrashing about. And it’s time for you to be put down!”

  As she shouted that she at last sent a beam of blue energy, the creation she had made shattered in the same instant sending snow across the battlefield.

  Wrath’s eyes widened as the energy in his blade faded in an instant and a crack appeared in his helmet, “What…?” he questioned looking to his sword, that was until he felt a presence of energy fly down words him, his gaze shot up just in time to see Skylar shoot down from her spot slamming her blade down as Wrath raised his, “Do you expect me to pity you? Do you expect me to feel remorse?!” She shouted her eyes flashed azure as cracks began to appear around Wrath’s blade, “I don’t give a damn about you, I’m here to protect those important to me anyone who stands in my way will be cut down!”

  Wrath let out a hum at that as his blade shattered he moved to the side not fast enough as Skylar hit the ground and sent a shard of ice upwards right into his helmet shattering it.

  Wrath stared forward with surprise and stumbled backward, Skylar shot forward shouting, “It’s OVER!” she thrust forward and stopped just short her eyes flicked and she stumbled backward before falling to her knee her breathing was ragged, Wrath paused at that, and looked down at the girl before him.

  “I see… so there is a limit to that power of yours. It’s not endless, you are quite literally burning out that magic.” Wrath let out a hum looking at his broken blade and tossing it aside.

  He then walked forward grabbing Skylar’s hair and lifting her so that she could look Wrath in the eyes, “Tell me, what will you do when you are backed into a corner? With no magic left to spare? What will you do when that power of yours can no longer save you?” he asked that question before throwing her aside.

  He then started to turn his gaze upwards and the lights in the sky were starting to reform, “Our time here is almost over it would seem. The stars will reform so long as I remain, and they will rain down so long as I command them to.” he then blinked hearing the sound of cloth moving.

  Wrath turned his gaze back to Skylar who was now standing forward slightly slouched, she was holding her blade once more and she lifted her head, her emerald eyes shined past the locks of hair that covered her face.

  Wrath said nothing at first extending his right hand and reforming his blade, “You are certainly stubborn of that much I’ll condeed.” he then paused noticing something about the girl before him.

  Her hands were worn, and shaking.

  No, not just her hands. Her entire form.

  Trembling with fear of the man before her.

  Wrath stared forward, his eyes locked onto Skylar’s trembling form, “...What is it you think you can do? With your frail body, your limited strength. And your fearful gaze?” Wrath questioned holding his blade to his side.

  “I don’t know.” Skylar responded honestly as she held her blade in front of her looking at the steel, “But I’ve got people waiting for me right…? So I can’t just let it end here.” she then looked up, locking eyes with Wrath, “...The same can be said for you right?”

  Wrath blinked looking up to the stars above for a moment, he thought on those words for a second before speaking up with a smirk on his face, “You’d make a good Eternal.”

  Skylar laughed a little at that, “I think you’d make a better human.” she responded with a soft smile.

  The air crackled around the duo, and the time for conversation ended.

  They both took a step forward in sync and shot forward. The ground cracked beneath the weight and they clashed in the center.

  They roared as strings of mana fired off from their bodies, the space around them cracked, seeming to struggle to stay stable as the air itself rumbled around the duo.

  Cracks ran up their blades before they shattered entirely.

  Skylar clicked her tongue in annoyance, and Wrath stared forward in shock.

  “You're afraid.” Wrath spat as he stumbled backward, “I’m stronger than you… so then why?” Skylar shot forward once more leaping into the air her left fist pulled back and her right eye glowed crimson as she threw that fist downward, “Why have I lost…?” Wrath questioned just as Skylar’s fist made contact with his face sending him into the ground.

  He lay there staring up at Skylar, his eyes shining with something… regret? No. That look was a pity.

  Skylar stared down at the man raising her fist, “...I’m done here.”

  Wrath chuckled at that as Skylar started to move away however, Wrath’s right hand shot upwards, “Don’t run away.” he spoke clearly, “You have to finish what you started, and you won’t be able to do that without my strength. Not with your frail body. Not with your fear.”

  Skylar scowled at that looking down at Wrath as his skin began to flake away turning into shards of green mist, “I don’t need you.” she spat firmly trying to pull away.

  “Hear me, hero.” Wrath spoke suddenly looking up to her, “You are a pawn in a much greater scheme… much greater forces are at work here than you understand. You must relinquish it, your fear. Your hopes. Your love. Only a beast of pure unfettered wrath can hope to stand to Origin and his…”

  With that he let go of Skylar’s hand, she stared down at the man before her and scowled, turning away. She started to walk away once more, “You’ll have to find someone else then.” Skylar spoke, “My hatred for you and your kind isn’t limitless. The only anger I have that burns that bright is the one I have for myself.”

  With that, she offered no more words turning over to look at Wrath.

  He stared up at the sky and slowly lifted his hand upwards, “I see… It would seem I misjudged you.” he smiled softly, closing his eyes, “You are worthy among the stars Skylar, and I have long since overstayed my welcome.”

  Skylar arched her brow before her eyes widened, feeling magic flow through the air as Wrath started to mutter something beneath his breath, Skylar stretched out her right hand, “Don’t!”

  Wrath’s eyes closed as he whispered his last words, “Starscourge.”

  Skylar ran forward letting out a scream as the stars came down crashing into Wrath, yet upon his face, he smiled.

  Smiled even as his body was set ablaze, smiled even as the space around him cracked and shattered.

  Revealing the church crumbling beneath him and Skylar being sent flying onto the ground ahead.

  Yet thereupon that ground, Striga caught Skylar before any real damage could be done, “Skylar. I’ve got you. You're okay.” Striga said, holding Skylar close.

  Yet Skylar found herself staring at the rubble of the church, she opened her mouth to speak finding no words to describe what she just bore witness to.

  So instead she looked down to the ground, “...Striga? Am… Am I a bad person?” she asked after a moment.

  Striga blinked confusion riddled upon her face, and along with concern, she leaned forward pulling Skylar into a hug.

  “Of course not. Your Skylar, kind and stupid to a fault. But you're not a bad person, you're my best friend.” Striga spoke with a small smile and Skylar blinked at that slowly.

  “Your best friend huh…” Skylar closed her eyes and smiled softly, “If that’s what I am. I think I’m fine as I am then.”

  Vita walked forward meeting the duo he stared at Skylar for a moment before folding his arms, “Are you going to stand up then?”

  Skylar blinked and blushed in embarrassment glancing to the side, “I uh, don’t think I can. I can’t feel my legs.”

  Vita scowled, “Oh for the love of-”

  “Relax.” Striga chuckled as she reached down upon the satchel that Skylar had on her and pulled out one of the red potions, “Journey's end grows closer, you best start remembering to use this Skylar- Why are there only two left?”

  Skylar blinked remembering the single soldier she failed to save, “...” she said nothing looking down, but Striga sighed, uncapping the bottle and bringing it to Skylar’s lips.

  Skylar didn’t resist downing the contents of the potion.

  Instantly she felt her body start work once more, and she moved forward looking down at her hands, “Huh… That works quickly.”

  She then looked down to her satchel, “One left…” she muttered to herself with a sigh, “Not a lot of room for mistakes.”

  She then sighed looking over to Striga who was frowning as she looked over to the rubble, Skylar of course tilted her head, “You okay?” she asked, standing up slowly and holding out a hand for Striga to grab.

  Striga in response blinked before smiling softly, “I’ll be okay.” she said as she took Skylar’s hand and helped to pull her up.

  Vita put a fist to his helmet and coughed, “I don’t mean to be rude… but there’ll be a crowd here soon at this rate.” Vita stated plainly as he walked over to the rubble and sifted through it for a moment before finding what remained of Skylar’s blade, he turned to look over his shoulder, “We should make ourselves scarce.”

  Skylar nodded at that, “Yeah, let’s scram.” she moved over to Yang examining the sword shards in question, “...Man that thing’s fucked.”

  Vita nodded, “At this point, we should just toss it.”

  Skylar shook her head, looking down to her other sword, “Not yet we aren’t.” She reached down into her pocket pulling out a vial with silver liquid, “So long as I’ve got this I can make good use of it.” She explained as she used her wind magic to gather up the shards and set them into her bag with the red potion, pulling that potion out beforehand of course.

  “I’ll patch it up later.” she proclaimed with a smirk.

  Vita folded his arms at that, “Later? Why not now?”

  “This stuff has a secondary use, I’d prefer to get both uses out of it at once,” Skylar replied as she spun around on her heel pocketing both potions as she started to move forward.

  Striga arched a confused brow but followed closely behind Skylar.

  Meanwhile, Vita stared forward and let out a sigh, “I’ve had about enough of this…”