The Final Siege

The sun broke into the new day when the island was dry and barren. Its first rays cut across a shroud of smoke and ashes. The dwarf castle now transformed from a quiet abode turned into the fortress under siege. 

Liam stood atop the castle walls, and his hand griped his enhanced Darkfang Sword. Beside him, Nyx, now clad in a gleaming black-and-gold armor forged by Liam himself using the dwarven hammer, growled lowly as they prepared for the inevitable.The ground quaked once. The last wave had hit. A monstrous figure, much larger than anything Liam had ever fought, crawled out through the cracked earth: a Monster Commander. The towering figure stretched menacingly across the battlefield, draped in a blackened armor that seemed to glow with dark energy. It bore curving horns, twisted spires, and molten-red eyes directed toward Liam with hatred. Like an invisible weight, the air grew thicker around it, pressing down on Liam's shoulders."So you are the little warrior who dares confront me," it said in a voice that made the very wind shiver.Liam gasped; sweat rolled down his brow. Every instinct in his body screamed that this was way beyond any fight he had prepared for. But his eyes flicked to Nyx, standing loyally at his side, complete in armor, ready. He thought back to the god of war's brutal training over two long years, and fire sparked in him. "I've come too far to fall here."In the arena under battle,The commander did charge ahead with a deafening roar, big blade thundering down. Then Liam barely managed to dodge it and rolled off to the side, but the shockwave sent him sprawling back into the castle wall. Nyx leaped onto the commander's back, clawing and biting, but the creature seized Nyx in midair and threw him across the field."Nyx!" Liam called out in vain, but the creature was unfaltering.Next moments were just a blur. He dashed, dodged, and repelled each blow- many were enough to leave cracks with debris flying all about. But then again with heavier weapon and armor, Liam realized that with fatigue his movements were slowing down. His muscles throbbed in protest. Cuts and bruises marked his body, and his vision swam.The Monster Commander laughed while figuring out the gradually weakening condition of Liam."Is this all? Is this the strength of the so-called hero?"As the commander hoisted its huge blade for the final blow, Liam's mind rushed back and forth through endless memories of Clara, god of war, and the suffering that was borne through the tower. He clenched his teeth as his heart drummed in determination."Not yet... I can't let it end here!"Nyx's Final PushIn this very moment, Nyx injured but still unbroken, released an ear-splitting howl that echoed down the battlefield. The Monster Commander shifted ever so slightly because of Nyx's re-entrance to the scene. Exactly the moment Liam needed."Thank you, Nyx!"With one last explosive gasp, Liam poured every ounce of muscle into his Darkfang Sword. The hammer's enchantment pulsed through the blade as the weapon became enveloped in golden light. Liam sprinted forward, avoiding yet another swing before stabbing the sword deep into the commander's chest.The commander let out a cacophonous scream which would be heard in heaven as dark energy burst from it lighting the whole battlefield in a stark contrast of bright and shadowed elements. It began to crack. Huge colossal monster-like built figure started to develop glowing fissures across its body like a mirror shattering.Liam staggered backward, breathing raggedly as the beast fell onto its knees."Impossible..." the voice of the commander could barely be heard before it finally collapsed and crumbled into ash.A Moment of ReflectionKneeled, Liam, sword falling beside him. His chest heaved as he looked at the pile of ash that was the commander before him. Nyx showed up to his side, limping, and he smiled faintly as he ruffled the creature's fur."We did it... somehow, we did it," Liam whispered hoarsely.He thought of the awful training that the god of war had put him through. The pain, the exhaustion, the endless hours of having to struggle. Without that, there was no doubt that he would have lost here."I owe him my life." The words came to Liam in acknowledgment of a past that had trained him so well to deal with this moment.Goodbye to the DwarvesWith that dawn, Liam and Nyx stepped down from the castle walls. The dwarves, who had hid themselves very well, were staring in awe and gratitude. Then came forth the elder dwarf carrying the hammer of their king."You have saved us and this sacred place, warrior," the elder said. "Take this hammer as a gift. It belongs to a hero now."Liam blinked."Are you really serious, though?"Everybody laughed heartily, including the dwarves."Aye! A hero should carry a weapon worthy of his deeds!"Liam smiled as he accepted the hammer in a gesture of sanctity. He felt its weight both literally and metaphorically, as he strapped it carefully onto his back.The Moment of NextIn a few moments, there was a trembling of the ground, and a shimmering portal appeared at the gates to the castle, revealing the next step into the future. Liam turned back to the dwarves, bowing slightly in their direction."Thank you... for everything."Nyx replied with a cheerful bark as if saying goodbye too, and they went through the portal.Liam peered into the unknown, tightening his grip on the weapon as the island faded behind him."Clara, I will still walk on... for you and for everyone I have lost. I will reach the end."Then, with the burning resolve in his chest, Liam and Nyx vanished into the light, into whatever the tower had in store for them at the next step.To be continue...