Page 66 of Isle of Beasts and Shadows

In response, the reflection of a lycan against the gleam of Alikad’s raven skull mask growled fiercely in defiance. “I thought the only reaper on this island was the one the shadow beast just killed.”

Alikad tightened his grip on his scythe, his voice a low whisper filled with determination. “Kill the Miscreants,” he commanded, his gaze unwavering as he prepared for the impending confrontation.

A strong vibration rippled through the air, causing a sudden jolt of fear in the Miscreants standing before Alikad. Among them, a large, green, and grotesque werewolf with rottedfur leaped ferociously at a bloodsucker, sinking its decayed fangs deep into the victim’s vulnerable throat. The Miscreant’s piercing screams swiftly morphed into gurgles, their desperate attempts to hold on to life futile.

As the fallen Miscreant lay lifeless, Alikad fixed his gaze on the other encroaching figures, now retreating in horror. The gruesome werewolf, its maw stained with fresh blood, exhibited bits of flesh and sinew dangling from its gory teeth, a chilling sight that struck fear into the hearts of those present.

A sudden, piercing scream reverberated through the forest, sending shivers down the spine. Emerging from the shadows of the woods, pale and decaying husks of Miscreants slithered forth, their movements hauntingly slow yet purposeful. Like a macabre ballet, they descended upon the living Miscreants, a symphony of agony unfolding as bites and screams resonated from every corner, painting a gruesome tableau of carnage.

Alikad, now the puppet master of these undead horrors, orchestrated the grim dance of death, the souls of the fallen miscreants becoming his dark currency. The forest bore witness to a chilling spectacle of darkness, where the line between life and death blurred amidst the chaos and despair.

“Wait, Sirius? Is that you?” Jonathan yelled over the deafening cacophony of war.

The name caught Alikad’s attention immediately, prompting him to pivot towards the source of the shout. As he began striding purposefully in their direction, a menacing troll barreled straight at him, intent on causing chaos. Yet, with a swift and precise motion, Alikad cleaved the Miscreant’s body in two with a single swipe of his scythe. The metallic scent ofblood filled the air as crimson droplets splattered across his determined face.

Having reached the protective barrier he erected around Jonathan and Arii, Alikad’s presence exuded both strength and resolve. As he deftly swung his scythe through the air, the bones composing the structure shifted seamlessly, returning to their original formation on his back. This action not only secured their safety but also created a portal leading to the ethereal realm of Limbo. Gesturing towards the shimmering passageway, Alikad ushered Jonathan and Arii to step through it for their own safety.

However, just as Jonathan paused on the threshold before entering fully, he withdrew his leg hesitantly, fixing Alikad with a resolute gaze. “If you truly are our friend, help Airella, she’s in danger,” he implored, his voice tinged with urgency. With those words hanging in the charged atmosphere, Jonathan proceeded through the portal, leaving Alikad to confront his foes alone.

As Alikad raised his scythe, preparing to engage the encroaching horde of Miscreants, a sudden memory pierced his consciousness, causing him to grimace in discomfort. In his mind’s eye, he stood before a shadowy figure of immense stature that loomed ominously over him.

Conivx is my true name, the figure intoned cryptically, its voice resonating with dark authority.

The name echoed through his mind relentlessly as he skillfully sliced through each Miscreant that crossed his path. Blood stained the once pristine snowy ground, creating a stark contrast to the purity of the surroundings. It appeared he was wading through the densest concentration of the vilest of creatures, their twisted forms no match for his swift justice.Limbs tore asunder, causing lifeless bodies to crumple to the earth as their essence fled their monstrous forms. Alikad, now a figure cloaked in darkness, consumed the fallen souls with a voracious hunger for retribution.

A surge of rage coursed through him, his wings swatting aside any Miscreant foolish enough to attempt an ambush from the shadows. Emerging from the throng of horrified adversaries, Alikad surveyed the aftermath of his onslaught. A significant number lay dead, reduced to mere piles of flesh and bone amidst the chilling silence. The haunting growls and howls of the undead, drawing nearer, spurred Alikad into action, vanishing from sight.

Chapter 39

Leaving the surviving Miscreants to confront their own fates, Alikad embarked to uncover the source of the malevolent laughter that had once pierced the air. His brief journey led him to a desolate expanse ravaged by ice, where his gaze fell upon a fierce battle between ice hellions. As Alikad observed the graceful yet deadly movements of one combatant, he realized she was attuned to the ongoing conflict nearby, silently spectating the chaos that enveloped the once tranquil landscape.

“We are not alone,” whispered the shadow from behind Alikad. Father’s physical force was powerful for something that was physically untouchable.

Alikad quickly dodged his attack, jumping back as his boney wings dug deep into the tree behind him. He pulled himself free and gripped to his scythe firmly, ready for the impending confrontation.

“Now what?” Airella turned her attention to Alikad and away from Zol. Her eyes, a piercing bright blue overwhelmed with a hypnotic purple haze, displayed a hint of frost as ice formed on her pale skin.

With calculated precision, she firmly placed her foot on the chest of the male ice hellion below her, a chilling displayof dominance. Blood oozed from her victim’s chest, contrasting against the frozen landscape.

As Alikad continued to observe her, a sense of familiarity tugged at the corners of his mind. It was as if he had encountered her before, in a distant memory that teased the edges of recognition. Then, in a sudden rush, the floodgates of remembrance opened, engulfing him in a torrent of past adventures, battles fought, and names—Arii, Jonathan, Duran, Father—echoing through the labyrinth of his mind.

“Airella!” Alikad roared, turning his attention to Father in a blinding rage.

The air crackled with tension as Alikad’s hand shimmered, gradually taking on a transparent quality akin to the shadow looming before him. With an intense surge of power, Alikad seized Father, only to feel his own energy swiftly ebbing away, leaving him weakened and vulnerable. The force of Father’s impact forced Alikad to his knees, his grip faltering as he released his hold on the malevolent figure.

As the ethereal grip dissolved, Alikad’s arm regained its solid form, but a sharp, searing pain shot through him, causing him to cry out in anguish. Alikad’s back forcefully collided with the sturdy trunk of a nearby tree, resulting in the tree being abruptly uprooted. With a swift, fluid motion, Alikad regained his footing, his gaze fixing on Airella, whose expression betrayed a twisted pleasure at the pain she had inflicted upon him.

“What have you done? What have you done to her?” Alikad’s voice reverberated with a mix of fury and desperation as he confronted the shadowy figure clutching the purple stone to his chest.

“Who are you?” Father’s chuckle dripped with malicious delight, provoking Alikad to advance menacingly towards him. In a deft move, the shadowy Miscreant sidled closer to Airella, casting a smug glance at Zol before preparing for a confrontation. Alikad felt the weight of his wings pressing against his back, a silent testament to the impending clash. “Another of your old acquaintances, Zol?” Father taunted the male ice hellion, his words laced with a sinister edge.

“Guess again.” Alikad’s voice reverberated through the air, resonating with a newfound depth and strength that hinted at a concealed power. Feathers cascaded from his cloak, drifting to the ground as he lifted his hand towards the concealing mask that veiled his true identity.

With a swift motion, Alikad swept his hand across his face, causing the mask to dissolve into nothingness, unveiling a pair of piercing yellow eyes that seemed to hold the weight of centuries within their gaze. Amidst the shadowy strands of his now charcoal hair, a few wisps of ashen white stood out, a subtle yet significant detail that sparked a realization within Father.

A blaze ignited within Alikad’s eyes, an inferno of defiance and resolution that burned brightly as he faced his once mentor. “You can’t extinguish the life that has already been stolen, Father.” Alikad’s words cut through the tension, each syllable dripping with a mixture of sorrow and wrath. “You underestimated the consequences of your actions. With every Miscreant that falls, their essence fuels my strength. Consider my words a curse upon you, a wretched seeker of power and shadow.” Pointing an accusatory finger at Father, Alikad’s gaze bore into the very core of his being. “You shall meet your end, Father. I stand by my vow from our encounter aboard the ship. Should you ever bring harm to her, I will pursue you relentlessly,even if it means facing death and resurrection a thousandfold.” Alikad’s emotions boiled over, consumed by an unyielding rage towards the shadow that had once been his guide and tormentor.

Father’s look of shock slowly transformed into pure, maniacal laughter. Airella followed suit, her expression mirroring a mix of surprise and amusement.

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