Chapter 42

With enormous velocity, the two beings charged at each other. Joy didn't allow anything to divert her. She focuses all her attention on Lord Darius, who now looks like a Minotaur.



She called upon all her inner strength. Even though the blood sword has parted. She called them together. She authorised them to become one. She called upon all the training she had been through with Dan. She brings out the energy she achieves from the cursed bond realm, the fountain bridge, and the one she used to attain the undead book.



The soul rune and the ancient sword yield to their mistress's call. The soul rune sword mysteriously vanished from Rey Reed Smith's hand. The ancient sword also vanished from Franni's hand, and they met in mid-air. Instantly, both swords glued together, and they formed the blood sword.



Faster than the eyes could comprehend, they flew to Joy's hand. She grabbed the sword with her left hand, leapt up, and then used it to whack Lord Darius in the face.





As the two beings collided, dust filled the atmosphere and sparks flew out. The clang of metal against metal filled the atmosphere, and it echoed throughout Joy's eardrums. The two beings stood inches away from each other, their breathing so thick and ragged. The hatred in their eyes was visible and rage filled their bodies.



Letting out a beasty cry, Lord Darius nudged Joy, and she staggered back a little. He used the opportunity and whacked at her. His blow was so heavy, lethal, and tough. It was a blow meant to kill Joy.



Instead of meeting the blow midway, Joy stepped aside. The blow whistled past her face, and the force blew her hair backwards. She raised the blood sword high and then used the hilt to knock Lord Darius in the mouth.



It reached him unawares, and his eyes went wide open in surprise. Before he could regain his stance, Joy appeared behind him, slashed him on the back, and booted him. The force of her kick threw Lord Darius several feet away before he went stumbling against one of the fallen statues.





The resistance screeched in happiness, and Dan's howling sound conquered it all. Taking a deep breath, Joy strides toward Lord Darius. She was using the blood sword to sweep the ground, and it was making clicking sounds.



Lord Darius became enraged, scurried at Joy again, and flapped his blade at her. Joy raised his blade to meet the blow. She parried it, and the sound of metal filled the atmosphere. She squats low to avoid a fatal blow and then steps aside to evade another one. 



Lord Darius twirled his blade, and then he double slashed at her, and Joy blocked the blow by raising her blade. She circled his blade on Lord Darius' arm, felt the pressure on his waist, and sliced him. Lord Darius groaned in pain, but Joy shut him up by kicking him in the chest. 



As her foot collided with Darius Rucker's chest the force made him stumble back, before hitting his back on the ground.



Taking a deep breath, Lord Darius raised to his feet. His eyes held resentment. Joy had just humiliated him. This had never happened to him before. He had never received a single blow from his previous opponent. 



"You called for war, and you shall see it, Bildad Joy" He seethed in rage.



"Not after I sent your head to my father in the underworld," Joy said with a sly smile. Behind the smile, one could see the pain in her eyes, which she was trying to hide. "I will send your soul to him as a warning."



"How did you know?" Lord Darius asked in disbelief. "Who told you about the keeper?" It was evident that he was trying to surprise Joy, but he met something else.



"Ask him when you get to his realm," Joy yelled. In the same motion, she hurried at Lord Darius. Her sword was raised high above her head. Letting out a great battle wail, she whacked at him. However, her blade went past him. It was like he wasn't there. Instantly, Joy knew that Lord Darius had performed an illusion trick.





"You are the true half-breed and daughter of the keeper, aren't you?" She heard his voice behind him. Joy spun back to examine where the voice was coming from. In front of her stood three duplicates of Lord Darius. 



"Your father granted me power beyond explanation. Did you know why?" One of Lord Darius' clones said while moving toward Joy.



"I sold my soul to him, and that automatically makes me your brother."



"You are not my blood brother?" Joy says as she searches for the true Lord Darius with her eyes. "You are a bloody killer. You don't deserve to be alive."





"That's the rule of your father," another clone replied. "You want to know why I'm your brother, isn't it? That's because we had a deal. Your mother is a b*tch that couldn't give birth to a boy except for you girls."



Before Joy could reply, a clone slashed her from behind. She was so busy listening to Lord Darius that she couldn't concentrate again.



"Why don't you come out and fight me like a man?" Joy replied in pain. She could feel blood trickling down from the wounds behind her. It was a deep wound. "You are a coward. I don't know why these people fear you."



"That's part of the superiority a father would grant a son. Your father did it. He made me invisible." Another clone said. 



Out of the blue, it appeared behind Joy and then slashed at her again. Joy quickly rolled out of the way in the last seconds, and she narrowly escaped the deadly blow.



Joy examined her surroundings again, and she could feel the people's urge to help, especially her guardians. She could see the scared looks on their faces. However, they couldn't move closer to them. It was like a shield was obstructing them. Without being told, she knew it was the work of Lord Darius.



Finally, she decided to concentrate on the main threat. She knew this was part of Lord Darius' bait to slay her. She knew the man was doing this just to distract her, and she was falling for that trick. 



"When I'm done with you, no living being will recognize you." Lord Darius said.



However, Joy didn't let his words distract her.



She closed her eyes and allowed her mind to point. She focuses on the power inside her. 



"This was just another illusion," she thought. 

If she couldn't touch any of Lord Darius' clones, then they shouldn't be able to touch her. "They didn't exist," she reckoned.



She was sure that Lord Darius wouldn't attack her with magic or any dark power because it wouldn't work on her. That's the power of an unstable being. They can't harness magic, and it won't work on them either. That gives her an advantage. 



She held onto the blood sword firmly and summoned her power as the Half-breed. Finally, she found it. Joy felt it flowing through her body. She could feel it coursing through her veins.



"How could you do that?" She heard Lord Darius say with a panicked tone, and that prompted Joy to open her eyes. "That skill could be found in the undead book only."



Letting out a triumphant smile, Joy said, "That's because everything inside the undead book now resides in my brain."





Joy could feel the immersive power that was floating through her body. She was now shimmering brightly. The blood sword is also throbbing in her hand. 



Out of the corner of her eyes, she could feel Lord Darius's clones charging at her. Yet, Joy didn't attempt to attack them. The clones were five steps away from her when they suddenly went up in flames. 



"If they can't touch you, then I will do that myself." Lord Darius yelled. He roared in his beast form, grabbed his sword tightly, and darted at Joy. Still, she didn't move, nor did she panic.



A few metres before Lord Darius reached her, he suddenly felt his leg glued to the ground. 



"I'm using your power against you just like it was written inside the undead book." Joy said with a smile.



"You can't do this," Lord Darius screamed in fear. It was obvious that he knew what would follow. "Please, don't send me to him. He will torture me till eternity." Lord Darius begged



"Don't worry, that won't happen for a long time." Joy assured him. "I just want you to deliver a message for him." She said, her voice now getting serious.



"Tell him that I'm coming for him. Notify my father that he will pay dearly for banishing my mother to Hilton and making me look like an orphan." 



Before Lord Darius could utter a word, Joy summoned her power and threw it at him. Instantly, Lord Darius started scorching. The fire began at his feet before it spread all over his body. After a few moments, the Beasty Lord Darius vanished. It is now replaced with nothing but ashes.



The army of Lebanon vanished immediately with the corpses of their men. Seeing this, the resistance howled in happiness. At last, they have been saved. The middle land has been saved. Peace had reigned. 



Dan was the first to reach Joy. He yanked her up and pulled her into a tight hug. Ariel and the rest of the ancient gods followed suit, and traces of tears were visible in their eyes.



At last, the middle land is saved. Yet, the war isn't over. It's just the beginning.





THE END



Appreciation







First and foremost, I return all glory to the almighty God. The creator of heaven, earth, and sea, and everything in them. 



I sanctified his mighty name because of the opportunity he gave me to complete this story.



I began with pleasure, and I ended it with happiness. My praise will forever be for him.



A special thanks to my ex-girlfriend who advised me to write. She was also the one that brought out the name, "Mia Rey." May your soul rest in peace.



I have to give special thanks to my siblings who brought out the name "Alegría Del Autor." I can't love you less. The same goes for my mom. She is my own Dan and Ariel. Thanks so much for being there for me,ma'am.





A big shout out to Thanks to all my readers. I love you guys seriously. You always make me happy with your comments, likes, and reactions.



I thank you all for the support you offered from the beginning of this story till the end. Even though I was stuck on some chapters and lost inspiration. However, your comments kept encouraging me that people are waiting for this story.



I love you all, guys. 



Now, share the story; invite your friends to the group; comment on your best scenes and your best character.



Book two is coming soon.