Chapter 44 - The heart of Ares

Shivers went down my spine as the zombies' low growls and the clanking of the skeleton's feet filled the area around me. The undead, such a tricky fight. Not to mention the fact they were all packing some kind of weapon on their backs. If my assumption is right and she is a necromancer, then I need to figure out what kind. There is the chance if I kill one she could just resurrect it right after. Which will make blasting through them a suicide mission. I might be able to draw her out with some gorilla warfare. But my area of movement was way limited. Zombies below and a pirate with wings and a ship above.

So much for drawing her out…

I leaned back against the old worn walls of the office building. I looked down at the scattered horde, roaming around different buildings in search. I was lucky the first floor had caved in on itself here. I managed to climb up to the third floor and hide. I needed to think. This was literally insane! I can't expect some boosted strength parkour will help against someone who can fly! But that seemed like the best course of action now. I sighed and looked out the window. The ship was about to pass by the building. I took a breath and turned toward the steps leading to the fourth floor. Welp. Here goes nothing.

The steps creaked each time I stepped on them, and I could feel the weak base under them. This building was ready to just collapse. And if I wasn't careful I was gonna die by this. A bitter memory came into my mind of Isabella. That must've been terrifying for her.

Luckily, I managed to make it to the top of the steps. I waited till the ship fully passed me. Which gave me time to appreciate all of this disgusting place. The smell of mold filled the air around me. And I could see old bags of what I assumed to be some guys lunch on an old broken water damaged table. Well, It was probably lunch like eighty years ago. Now it looked like some kind of fungus hot dog. Note to self. I gotta bet Zack to eat that.

As the shadow vanished, I quickly moved to the broken window. I peeked my head out and saw the back end of the ship. Then I quickly leaped onto the windowsill and then leaped up to the roof. I stood up and took a breath of fresh air (the things we take for granted in life). I looked up and saw Elizabeth floating above her ship. She seemed to be scanning the area in front of her. This was my chance. I summoned a bow and arrow and kneeled down to prepare my shot. Just when I was about to fire. I heard the faint, yet familiar sound of clattering behind me. I swiftly turned around and my eyes grew wide. A Skeleton was slowly pulling itself up on the roof! I quickly shot my arrow at the skeleton's skull and sent him falling back. Crap! He'll make a noise when he crashes down!

"Theah yah are!" I heard Elizabeth yell.

I quickly turned back around and saw her zoom at me, followed by her ship turning around. What!? Did she hear me!? This guy couldn't have dropped already! I dispelled my bow and summoned my light armor over my body.

She zoomed at me with incredible speed, but she wasn't faster than a bullet. I activated my eyes and she aimed her sword at me, and I easily dodged her blade. I stepped to the side and summoned a ball chain. I whipped it at her and tried to grab at her leg. But she zoomed up just in time. And as that happened I felt something hard slam into my back, I flew forward and crashed onto the ground. I fell with it and rolled back onto my feet. I quickly turned around, and there stood a zombie with an old war hammer twice his size. I was lucky that it wasn't a blade. I turned back around and looked for a place to leap, but all I saw was cannons aimed at my face! It was a few feet away. But all five cannons were poking out the ship and seemed ready to fire.

I leaped without thinking and went above the cannon. And immediately after the cannon fired and blew down the building. The dust-filled the scene and from the ship came a flying Elizabeth. I panicked and summoned heavy plate armor over me. I heard her sword slash against my armor. I quickly summoned a second helmet over my face, blocking off the eyeholes. I felt saved for that moment, but now I was falling down! I went to dispel the armor, but I heard Elizabeth slashing her sword into the armor again and again. Crap! I could only see darkness with this double layer! I activated my strength and pushed it to its limit. I was just gonna swing with all my might, I just needed to get a read on her-

CLANK!

I felt my whole body suddenly slam down on the ground. I coughed at the sudden drop and tried to focus myself again. Did I drop that fast? I quickly undid my second layer of the helmet, and I was greeted by a light brown wooden deck. Wood? But..no no wood! The ship! I landed on the ship! I quickly sat up, using my strength to help make the heavy armor feel light. As I stood up and looked around, I noticed I was surrounded. Skeletons, zombies. They were all here, and more climbing on the ship. Maybe I can tunnel down the shi- I looked down to where I crashed, and the ship was perfect. Not a single scratch on it! Was this thing enchanted!?

I dispelled the armor and recreated light armor over me. I was shocked, I was outnumbered, and for once. I was out of ideas. I looked up and saw her pointing her sword down at me. I looked into her eyes and I felt it. This sudden adrenaline. It had been years, so many years since I felt this. No, no don't feed it. I summoned my sword and looked around me.

A challenge, I only got like this when I'd lose. Just like with Jack, nothing holding me back. But it was different. I didn't have to watch out for Zack or worry about her dying. I summoned my shield and smirked at the crowd. I hated this. My mind wasn't focused on saving her. But to survive, no I wanted to win! Without a word, I charged at a zombie. Not a thought in my mind. I sliced the zombies head clean off, and as it fell from his lifeless body, I jumped and activated my strength, kicking the head toward a skeleton that was charging at me with a knife. The skeleton stumbled back and I ran at him. I dove for his side, and as I did, I slashed his spinal cord through and made him crumble. As I rolled to my feet I turned my sword to a spear and stomped on the ship with all my might! It didn't break, but it shook violently and leaned to the left and I javelined my spear forward. Kabobbing two zombies in the face. I changed my shield to a gladius and summoned another and ran into the horde.

And I let loose. I let everything go. I sliced, smashed, and cracked everything that dared to enter my path. Come on! More! I want more! It felt warm, my whole body felt like it was taking a hot bath. And I fell more into it. One by one the horde was falling to my hands. And I loved it. Watching them fall before me was like ecstasy. Something I haven't felt in years. Then I saw Elizabeth flying toward me with her blade out. I leaped into the air at her. She seemed to panic as I made her slice through my shoulder. It stabbed clean through me, and I gave her a smirk. I grabbed her hand and pulled her into me. I activated my strength and yanked her from the sky and spun her around like a rag doll. Then swung and threw her down on the ship. I could hear her gasp and I watched her body jolt. The ship shook from it. Then I summoned another spear. Then with all my strength, I threw it down at her. Before she could move again. The spear stabbed through her chest. And this time, through the ship. Her eyes grew wide, and my adrenaline calmed. My thoughts came back, and I just remembered where I was.

I-I just killed Elizabeth. The warmth was now gone, a cold wave hitting from the pit of my stomach to the ends of my fingertips. I felt the sweat dripping off my body. If she would have just waited a little longer. I would've drained myself fighting that horde. I stumbled a bit. I was drained. I wasted too much on those little guys.

"Congratulations my child. We all enjoyed the show you gave." I heard the whispers of my goddess in my ear

I growled slightly, but I was too tired to care, to think. The zombies and skeletons around me all dropped like lifeless dolls. I looked over at the sword in my shoulder. It slowly turned to blue dust, and piece by piece faded away from me like a fog. I didn't even think about that. I just acted. I let my instincts take over...

I hated it. I hated it so much. But deep down. I felt great. I thought I was gonna die. I accepted it. And I fought for that win. As much as I hated it. My body loved it. No deep down I loved it.

Eeerrrrr!

The ship suddenly made a loud creaking noise. I raised my brow at it. But then it all clicked. If her undead army fell when she fell, then-

Just as the realization hit me. I felt our ship drop. I panicked and went airborne. I grabbed the railing with my weak strength and held on tight. Until the ship crashed into the ground. And I slammed back into the ship. My body ached, but surprisingly the fall didn't hurt that much. Definitely not as bad as one of Jack's punches. However, I didn't feel like moving. I coughed and dispelled my armor. And rolled onto my back. I looked up at the sky and I saw Zack flying just above with Bean.

I didn't say a word though. I just closed my eyes. That is until I heard a rustling next to me. I turned over and saw the hundreds of shimmering blue flares forming next to me. From the dazzling flares appeared Elizabeth, who was just dropped onto the deck. I jumped up and looked at her. And she was still out. I gritted my teeth. These damn goddesses, no respect.

I slowly crawled my way over to her. Her ember locks all over her face. I took my hoodie off and put it under her head. Then moved the hair out of her face.

"I'm sorry about that," I mumbled.

I flopped next to her and sighed. I looked up for Zack, I was hoping he'd come down by now. I wanted to get home. But Zack was gone. Like he just, vanished.