Third Party

In the sky overhead, three beings of unfathomable power were battling. Every blow they struck sent merciless shockwaves toward the group of Dark Elementals below, who were desperately trying to survive the onslaught. A dark shadow obscured most of the sun, all that they could do to help their Dark Lord who was slowly being cornered.

I watched the titanic clash with bated breath. The cloud of darkness that typically enveloped Lord Nightshade was nowhere to be seen and even the scythe that he wielded was becoming increasingly pale with every attack it blocked. 

From time to time, he was forced to toss an enhancing sphere of darkness to the shield summoned by the Dark Elementals to prevent them from being wiped out by the effects of the battle. However, he seemed to be weakened every time he did so, which the two radiant figures ruthlessly exploited.

It was clear to see that Lord Nightshade could not go on fighting in this fashion. Perhaps if he did not need to protect his followers, he might have been able to put up a proper fight with all the darkness enhancements and restrictions on light in this place, but he was forced to save them from being annihilated.

Meanwhile, the group of paling wraiths were unable to move away from the fight in any meaningful way. Not only did they have to protect the casters of the Solar Eclipse spell, the only thing preventing the Dark Lord from being overwhelmed, they also needed to constantly reinforce their shield, which made their progress painfully slow.

It was with a crushing feeling of helplessness that I watched as the two Light Kings gradually forced Lord Nightshade toward the ground, their burning swords pushing through his cracking defenses. 

Finally, the endless shockwaves that assaulted us ended. The shield protecting the Dark Elementals had been worn away long ago, and all but the Greater Dark Elementals had fallen to the furious waves of light. Even with their crippling injuries and cruel shards of radiance that covered them, they still struggled to stand, to save their leader. 

Dark Lord Nightshade stood silently on the battlefield. The darkness that had always been his staunchest shield and sharpest sword had been eroded, leaving only a spectral figure clutching a nearly-shattered scythe. Two radiant figures stood a mere five paces from him, catching their breath as they firmly held blinding swords of flame. 

I watched with a detached sense of despair at the sight of our strongest fighter on his last limbs, as his executioners closed in… as one last dance of light and shadows hid them from sight for but a moment.

All too soon, the fireworks faded. A terrible blade of flame impaled him through the chest, another forcing his scythe away from his defense. Before my eyes, the darkness melted away, leaving what seemed to be a harrowingly beautiful youth with eyes of pure inky darkness. In near silence, he spat a word at the angel-like beings standing coldly before him.

Even from a distance, I could see as the Light Kings stiffened and turned - tried to turn.

Then two pitch-black spears of condensed darkness pierced both of them, impaling them to the ground.