A sacrifice is needed

Gadaric and prince Berig were watching as emperor Ala was reaching his hand for Rufus.

As Berig was crunching on his teeth in frustration, feeling humiliated, Edward came from behind them and dashed straight at the emperor. He swung his long sword, trying to cut him down, but without even turning around, the emperor blocked the attack with a shield made from fire.

Rufus then forced himself and stood up. He then slapped the hand away and ran to Edward.

"Kind of a shit situation we are in now?" Edward said.

"We literally are swimming in shit."

The emperor looked mad and started to conjure more flames around them. Gadaric started to carry Berig away as the flames started to intensify.

"What the hell are you doing?! I must kill Rufus with my own hands! I must do it!"

"If you will get any closer, you will die as well. You know how your father gets when he gets mad."

As the flames spiraled around the emperor like a tornado, Edward tried his luck by slashing the air and sending a projectile. Before it was even close, the attack burnt away and faded into nothingness.

"Yeah...he is a bit harder of an opponent that we have faced so far," Rufus said while staring at the emperor.

"Kinda overconfident of me to think that would have worked..."Edward said back.

They started to run away, with the emperor unleashing a humongous tornado of fire to chase them.

"Ah shit....here we go again," Rufus said to himself.

Rufus had no divine power left and needed Edward's help. Edward threw Rufus on his shoulders and started to run as fast as he could. The tornado of fire was just about to get them before help arrived.

Just before the tornado had caught up to them, two black yaks were riding beside them. It was Namri and Tashi who had come to help them.

"Get on, my Raja!" Tashi yelled.

Rufus and Edward jumped on and they were able to get away.

The tornado subsided with the emperor walking toward them.

"I don't think he attends to give up and let us go....." Edward said.

Namri and Tashi looked at each other and got off their black yaks. They walked toward the emperor leaving Edward and Rufus with the two rides.

"What are you guys doing?" Rufus yelled.

"Edward, get Rufus back home. We will hold him for you," Tashi said.

"No...no, no, no!" Rufus objected.

"They are not going to hold him off.....We are."

Hunyadi staggered forward, still holding his scythe made from thorn vines.

The three loyal soldiers and warriors of Rufus stared back at the emperor who was calmly walking toward them.

"No, we will go together. I know we can all go and get back home safe..." Rufus said before he was hit at the back of the head and went unconscious.

"Thank you, Edward. He wouldn't have left us otherwise...." Hunyadi thanked.

"Just so you know, this is not easy for me either. Not only Rufus but I too will miss you," Edward said.

Hunyadi smiled and said," I know."

Edward then started to ride away with the unconscious Rufus with him.

Namri got close to his own black yak that had stayed behind.

"Seems like this is it, my old friend," Namri said and stroked his beast.

"You bring honor and glory to your tribe, Namri, stand tall and be proud of your sacrifice," Tashi said.

Namri smiled.

"I wish Erik would have been here fighting alongside me," Namri said and got on top of his black yak.

The emperor had gotten close to them.

"Stand back.....I will now show my dangerous divine power. Please hold the emperor for a while" Tashi said and walked forward.

Hunyadi summoned vines from beneath the earth and Namri rode off.

Tashi then started to whistle, creating a high-pitched voice that could be heard a mile away, and even deep underground.

~~

Amala heard the whistle and look terrified.....

"Tashi...no."

~~

Neither Hunyadi nor Namri was able to slow down the emperor a lot. Namri threw spears at him while riding around the emperor and not getting caught by his flames, Hunyadi tried to get vines to wrap around him, but as they got closer, they burnt to ash.

As Tashi kept whistling, the earth started to rumble and shake. It could be felt all over the battlefield.

"Guys! Get back now!" Tashi yelled.

The earth exploded close to the emperor. A large creature came forth from under the ground with lava spewing all over the battlefield. It looked like a giant serpent with molten lava coming from its mouth.

It was a Qweilar, or as many people called it, the black earth serpent. It was over a fifty meters long with its mouth be able to devour a horse with one gulp.

"Your whistling summoned this thing!?" Hunyadi asked.

"Yeah!"

"Can you also control it?!

The black earth serpent then turned around and stared right at the three of them, looking at them like it was mad.

"No!"

The serpent then spewed molten lava from its mouth, covering large sways of the earth with magma.

Namri took Hunyadi and Tashi out of the way trying to ride away, but the serpent stopped them with its massive tail.

"I guess we aren't escaping from this battle that easily....." Tashi pointed out.

The emperor was guarding himself against the lava with intense flames that kept the molten lava away. He then shot flames from his hands, trying to kill the qweilar.

"I think we should stay here, and buy time for Rufus as much as possible,"

They nodded and started to ride back towards the emperor. They started to harass him as he was battling against the black earth serpent.

The gravity ship came to the rescue of emperor Ala and unleashed volleys on the qweilar who only got irritated.

It then aimed its lava breath on the ship, trying to destroy it. As the emperor thought he could now deal a devastating blow to the creature, he was charged by Namri who wielded a large glaive. Tashi then with two curved blades also attacked him with Hunyadi making sure they got out of harm's way before the emperor could hurt them.

~~

In the meantime, the royal army limped back toward the north with many of their soldier dead or missing.

When Edward came back he dropped an unconscious Rufus on a carriage where Haley was sitting, who then took him in her arms.

~~

Back in Wallach, the thorny vines that covered count Hunyadi's castle turned grey....and withered away.