We Are Taking Down the Goddess

Predator Versus Prey

Short sharp clap echoed inside the prison. The noise reverberated across the empty halls. Kana was annoyed and slapped his hand away, striking Hagmar with an open palm. Though her hand was empty, it felt like being hit by a huge chunk of meat.

-        “You disgust me.”

-        “Playing hard to get?” – the apparition smiled before his smooth gorgeous-looking face was once again replaced by a terrifying skull. “I like that about you.”

The elf snapped his fingers and the prison bars toppled in an instant. The shadows that moved from his body were so quick, they didn’t even trigger the barrier’s defense mechanism.

-        “Now, we can have a decent match.” – he smiled.

-        “Let them go.”

In a desperate attempt to keep Ren and Aiko safe, the woman stood firmly in front of them. Shielding them with her own body. Right now, that was all she had left.

-        “You know I can’t do that.”

-        “They have nothing to do with me.”

-        “I can’t believe I’m saying this. But, this isn’t about you, Kana. It’s about the power that…thing…carries.” – A snort came from the skull as his dark hands pointed at Aiko laying helplessly on the ground. “That slave has two choices. It can either serve the royal family or die. That’s it.”

-        “Well, you have the audacity to call someone a “thing” the way you look like right now. Your body isn’t even human.” – Kana smiled.

At that moment, Aiko started to crawl and drag her wounded body across the cold floor. Her old shirt was torn apart, revealing great purple welts on her back. They looked grotesque against her smooth skin. Even though she knew she was lucky enough not to have a broken spine, she still tried to reach Ren with her healthy hand. She looked beat up like she just came out of a sparring match. Yet, it only took Hagmar a second to inflict those horrible injuries. Kana staggered.

-        “Idiot! Stop moving. You will make it worse!”

-        “I have to save you! I have to help Ren. I have to help you!”

-        “There is nothing you can do! Just stay away!”

Her jaw clenched. But, the moment Kana looked away she felt power surging through Hagmar’s hands. Sharp bone claws grew out of his dark hands, quickly replacing the slender fingers he once had. Their tip looked sharper than any sword, while the base seemed borrowed from an ancient predator. As he swiped his hand, Kana’s breathing faltered, and the pointy edges pierced through her skin right across the belly instead of Aiko’s back. In that split second, Kana blocked his way. The apparition took a step back surprised by what happened, while the woman shrieked in pain.

-        “I won’t let you.”

-        “Oh, come on, Kana. You know better than to stand in my way. Especially in that state.”

-        “You will never get to her. Not while I live.”

-        “Move.”

-        “No.”

-        “Move, woman.” – his face started to get dark.

Instead of being on the defensive, Kana accepted the situation and charged at the apparition. This time she relied on her body and not her magic. She used her right leg to strike her opponent in fast motion, forcing her dress to tuck under and reveal her gorgeous skin. She hurled her leg towards Hagmar’s face. Not wanting to use his claws against her intentionally, the elf countered her attack with the back of his hand. He reacted so fast that a powerful gust of wind swept past the skull’s eyes, like a delayed reaction to that strong kick. But, Kana didn’t waver. With renewed vigor, she shuffled to the side, took another position, and charged at the elf with another mighty cry. The woman unleashed a rapid twirl of kicks. One swing, after the other, and another, and another.

Having fought numerous battles, Kana was a worthy foe. Even without her magic. Her attacks were like a choreographed dance - precise, strong, and daring. Yet, every time she tried to strike, Hagmar would dodge in a single fluid move or block the onslaught. He swiveled in each direction with ease, while his menacing eyes were focused at every single feature of Kana’s exposed skin.

-         “Yes… Yes, Kana! That’s it. Just keep at it!”

-        “Shut up! Die!”

-        “Is that all you’ve got?”

-        “Silence!”

-        “A sorceress without her magic is useless. But, I must say…you are relentless. I didn’t expect that. For that, you deserve praise.”

Aiko and Ren glanced over. The skull was once again replaced by a stunning face. The corner of Hagmar’s lips formed a creepy smile. The way he looked at Kana was both adorable and concerning. He loved every moment of it. He loved how she struggled. He loved how sweat dripped down her skin. How every time she would try and hit him, she reveals bits and pieces of her naked body. The wound on her stomach he inflected earlier only made it easier for his imagination to run wild. That lust, love, and desire to keep her by his side were reflected in his every motion. Just looking at her felt like ecstasy.

Every time Kana backed up a little, Aiko watched the blood drip from her open gash and form into a thick puddle on the floor. She tried to reach for Kana and send a spell to her aid. But, nothing happened.

No light, no shields, no healing. Nothing.

-        “Why?” – she screamed. “Why doesn’t it work when I want it to?”

-        “Kana! Watch out!!!” – Ren’s voice echoed inside the prison.

From all the fighting, she failed to notice how much her open wound was smudging the floor. Kana’s foot ended up in her own puddle of blood, forcing her to slip a little. This created the perfect opportunity. All of a sudden, Hagmar grabbed Kana by the ankle and pulled her to the ground. His grip was too strong. His hands moved too quickly. There was no way to get out of this one.

-        “Kana!” – Aiko screamed.

-        “Noo!” – Ren joined.

-        “Shit.”

Kana clenched her jaw. No matter how hard she tried, once those claws locked around her skin, it was impossible to break free. Gravity started pulling her in. Her body felt heavy. Her energy drained. She lost too much blood. At that moment, time seemed to move at a slow pace. She watched the prison ceiling as she was falling. Yet, she didn’t take a single glance at the floor to find a safe place to land. Her exposed nape was heading straight for a sharp leftover iron bar, sticking from the surface. Hagmar knew it wouldn’t kill her. But, it was perfect enough to deplete her leftover stamina. After all, adventurers can’t die that easily. Without the energy, she would be easy prey. Aiko and Ren were mortified. The thought of the sharp iron piercing the woman’s skin was too grisly to watch. So, Aiko closed her eyes in horror, while Ren stared at Kana’s body as it came closer and closer to the dangerous floor.

*Explosion!*

A massive fire seared the earth and air. It shook the prison to its very core. The rumbling felt like a loud and terrifying echo. Dust swirled in the empty halls covering the air in countless particles, making it insanely difficult to breathe. No one could see anything through the dirt, except hear the screams from the guards stationed outside. They dimmed in an instant. Aiko and Ren smelled fire. It was close. The entire palace was burning, and heat ravaged the place. But, everything happened so fast. There was no time to react.

When the dust cleared, just a couple of moments later, Aiko and Ren stood there with a bewildered look on their face. Kana was now in the arms of another young man. He had wrapped his right hand around her waist that held onto her with a gentle squeeze. While keeping his massive scythe in the other hand. His forearms were muscular and his veins pulsating with focus. He had tousled bright red hair and a face covered in black piercings. He leaned forward shortly, pulling her closer to his lips. Kana looked deep into his mesmerizing orange eyes. Their breathing evened.

Her eyes widened. She knew exactly who he was. It was the same man. That delinquent from her memory. They met on the day she was summoned to Elidy against her will. His nails were painted pitch-black. His clothes were dark as ever and that familiar phoenix tattoo still looked ravishing. His face was defined and strong. His features molded to perfection. His thin lips ripe for kissing. It didn’t help that his smile was just as dashing.

In that instant, he had saved Kana from a terrible fate. But, also managed to free her from Hagmar’s tight grasp. Despite the terrifying creature that stood there in the middle of the prison and his menacing aura that oozed from his astral body, the young man only seemed to laugh. This scene was just a simple game to him.

-        “Found you.”

-        “Yakeru!?”- Kana griped her dress, just below the chest, clenching the blue silky fabric.

-        “Did you miss me?”

-        “How…why are you here?”

-        “Xeneth said you were looking for me.” – he chuckled.

Hearing that name put Aiko’s mind at ease. The young girl smiled. Then, she felt Ren’s reassuring tap on her shoulder. The pup must have felt better now that he stood firmly above ground. His wounds were not as serious as Aiko thought.  

-        “Honestly…” – Yakeru continued. “I never imagined I’ll find you here. Not in a dungeon. What happened? Did you lose your touch?”

-        “It was…a little… setback.”

-        “Don’t tell me, the mighty Kana is about to lose to this doormat?!” - Yakeru took a good look at the elf on the other side of the room and cracked up laughing. “Damn, girl. You’ve grown weak.” - He was obviously mocking the sorceress.

-        “Valerie…” – Kana lowered her head in shame. “She betrayed me.”

-        “Making up excuses now, are we?”

-        “It’s not like that!”

-        “Then, what is it like? You are too ashamed to admit you screwed up?!”

-        “Enough!”

In a desperate attempt to hide her burning cheeks, Kana pushed Yakeru away, releasing herself from his gentle embrace. When Hagmar turned, at last, to face Kana and the young man, his eyes became a sharp spear. His face turned red. His pupils were cold and hard. All that desire and love evaporated in an instant. In his mind, there was only anger, hatred, and pure fury. Aiko became deathly afraid of his icy cold stare. She forced all her strength into her hands and quickly pulled Ren towards her, hugging him in a tight embrace.

-        “Useless! All of you!” – the apparition faced the elven corpses stationed at the gate. Then, he switched his attention to the red-haired man and screamed from the top of his lungs. “Yakeruuu!!!”

His face turned into a skull once more. But this time, the morphing was accompanied by a locusts swarm unleashed from the deepest corners of his astral body. The moment those insects came out, they brought forth a foul smell, like a menacing wail of doom. The necrotic critters were headed straight for the young man.

A confident smirk formed across Yakeru’s handsome face. He raised his scythe pointing it towards the executioner.

-        “Let’s see what you’ve got!”