Page 31 of World At War

But we refuse to be deterred. With each obstacle we overcome, our resolve only strengthens, our determination unyielding in the face of adversity. We know Oberon is leading us into a trap,that every step we take brings us one step closer to our doom. But we press on regardless, driven by the need to confront our enemy and put an end to his reign of terror once and for all.

Finally, after what feels like an eternity, we reach the end of the corridor, emerging into a vast chamber bathed in shadows. At the far end of the room, seated upon a throne of obsidian, sits Oberon, his lavender eyes glittering with malice as he regards us with a cold, calculating gaze.

“Well, well, well,” he says, his voice dripping with scorn as he gestures for us to approach. “It seems you’ve finally caught up to me. But tell me, what do you hope to accomplish? You cannot defeat me, not with all the power in the world at your disposal.”

I grit my teeth in frustration, my anger boiling over at his taunts. “We’ll see about that,” I growl, my voice laced with venom as I take a step forward. “You may have eluded us for now, but your time is running out. We’ll stop you, no matter what it takes.”

With a wave of his hand, Oberon summons forth a legion of shadowy creatures, their forms twisted by dark magic. They swarm around us like a pack of hungry wolves, their eyes gleaming with malevolence as they prepare to strike.

But we are ready for them. With a roar of defiance, we charge into battle, our gauntlets flashing as we unleash a torrent of ice and force that cuts through the ranks of our enemies like a hot knife through butter. The chamber erupts into chaos, the sound of steel clashing against our scales echoing through the air as we fight tooth and nail for our lives.

But even as we battle against the tide of darkness, I can’t shake the feeling that Oberon is toying with us—that he’s holding something back, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. And asthe battle rages on, I know that our time is running out—that if we don’t stop him soon, it may already be too late.

Chapter 21

Tiamat

With a fierce determination,my grandfather and I continue to battle the relentless onslaught of shadow creatures, our weapons flashing in the dim light of the chamber as we fight for our lives. But for every enemy we strike down, two more take its place, their twisted forms writhing and contorting with dark energy as they swarm around us like a tide of darkness.

As the battle rages on, a sense of desperation gnaws at the edges of my mind. No matter how many of the shadow creatures we defeat, it seems like there is no end to their numbers, no respite from their relentless assault. We are outnumbered, outmatched, and running out of options.

But then, in a moment of desperate inspiration, an idea strikes me—a gamble born of desperation and fueled by the power coursing through my veins. With a quick motion, I draw a deep gash across my palm. The blood welling up from the wound in thick crimson rivulets that drip to the floor below. “I call upon Death Eternal on khloros she rides. I beseech the pale rider to manifest and wipe the field clean. I offer in sacrifice my blood as payment for this boon.”

Channeling the ancient magic that flows within me, I utter a prayer to Death Eternal, invoking the power of the pale rider to come forth and cleanse the field of battle. I offer my blood as a sacrifice, a payment for the boon I seek—a chance to turn the tide of the battle in our favor, no matter the cost.

As my blood ignites upon the floor, a surge of energy pulses through the chamber, the very air vibrating with power as the words of my invocation echo through the room. I can feel the shadow creatures recoil at the sight of the flames, their twisted forms writhing in agony as the flames lick at their ethereal bodies.

And then, with a sound like thunder, Death Eternal manifests before us, her skeletal form shrouded in the swirling mists of the underworld. Beside her rides War, his massive form clad in armor of blackened steel, his eyes burning with the fires of battle.

With a single glance, Death Eternal surveys the battlefield, her gaze piercing through the darkness to the heart of the shadow creatures that assail us. And in that moment, I know that our salvation is at hand—that with Death and War at our side; we have the power to turn the tide of the battle and emerge victorious.

With a gesture from Death Eternal, the shadow creatures falter, their movements slowing as if caught in a web of invisible chains. And then, with a wordless command, she unleashes her power upon them, a wave of darkness sweeping across the chamber and engulfing the creatures in its icy embrace.

In an instant, the shadow creatures are no more, their twisted forms dissipating into nothingness as Death Eternal claims them for her own. And as the last echoes of their cries fade intothe darkness, a silence descends upon the chamber, broken only by the sound of our ragged breaths and the pounding of our hearts.

As Nikita shifts back into her dark Nephilim form, her wings unfurl with a menacing grace, casting shadows across the chamber like the outstretched wings of a predatory bird. Her eyes gleam with a fierce determination as she surveys the scene before us, her gaze piercing through the darkness with a predatory intensity.

“That elf is messing with power beyond his control.” I can feel the tension crackling in the air as Nikita speaks, her voice a low growl that reverberates through the chamber like the rumble of distant thunder. Her words carry a weight of warning, a reminder of the dangers that lurk within the depths of Oberon’s castle.

“I know,” I reply, my voice echoing with a steely resolve. “There’s plenty of dead down the hallway if you want to add them to your legion.”

Nikita laughs, a sound that sends shivers down my spine as she wraps me in a tight embrace. “Good idea,” she says, her voice a dark promise of retribution. “Then, after this is over, I’ll divide these skulls up between you and Aurora and have them delivered to your home.”

Returning Nikita’s hug, I feel a surge of gratitude for her unwavering support, her fierce loyalty a beacon of strength in the darkness that surrounds us. With a last nod, she releases me; her gaze lingering on mine for a moment before she turns to survey the chamber once more.

With a determined flick of my wrist, I summon my force weapon, the energy crackling and swirling around me like a storm of shadows. With a swift motion, I direct it towards Oberon’s throne, the stone behind it shattering into rubble with a deafening roar.

A hidden passageway is revealed before us, its dark depths beckoning us forward with a promise of secrets and dangers yet to be discovered. Without hesitation, I turn towards the throne, my resolve unshaken as I prepare to venture into the unknown.

“We’re going in,” I declare, my voice steady despite the uncertainty that lurks in the shadows ahead. “Catch up as soon as you can.”

Nikita dips her head in acknowledgment, her eyes flashing with a fierce determination as she prepares to follow. With a nod to my grandfather, I take the first step into the hidden passageway; the darkness swallowing me whole as I vanish from sight.

The narrow corridor stretches out before us like a yawning chasm, its walls closing in around us with an oppressive weight that threatens to suffocate. The air hangs heavy with the stench of decay, a putrid odor that claws at my senses and fills me with a sense of dread.

The narrow corridor stretches out before us like a yawning abyss, its walls closing in around us like the jaws of some ancient beast. The air is thick with the stench of decay, a putrid odor that clings to the damp stone walls like a foul miasma.

Even with my enhanced vision, the darkness seems to press in on us, swallowing everything in its path with an insatiable hunger. I can feel the weight of it bearing down on me, pressing against my chest like a suffocating blanket.

---