Of Death

"Get back! Khalida, keep Fynn protected!--I've got this!" 

Though the struggled words came from the mouth of the Invictus of dominant strength, they seemed absent of reason to the woman of silken, black hair as she held the body of the light-haired youth. 

"But he's already…" Khalida said quietly, unable to talk loud enough to bypass the grunts of Alcides. 

In her arms, the pale woman of a half-exposed skull was the once cheerful, androgynous Invictus, who convulsed while choking on his own blood. A gaping hole was left through his abdomen, leaving only a pool of crimson liquid that gushed from the enormous wound. 

"Ngh!--" 

Alcides' boots slid against the tiles as the hulking monstrosity of crystalline skin pushed forward. 

The violence that transpired arrived too quickly, leaving none of the Invictus time to call upon their true strength as Alcides finally roared–

"Hercules!"