CHAP.0-8: The last days of the DarknessDays (8)

Under the blood-red sky split like a fabric torn in two. Lightning crossed the scarlet clouds, revealing the space studded with sparkling stars, Valen was violently thrown through the skies, his body splitting the air like a comet.

His body crashed a mountain with deafening violence. The ground shook. A cloud of debris rose like a storm, engulfing the horizon.

Rocks came off the cliffs, rolling in cascade under the impact.

In the rubble, one knee on the ground. Valen, short of breath, his skin notched by stone fragments, slowly straightened his head. His side was bleeding.

His tatted clothes. He spat blood. A red net mixed with the dust.

And yet, despite the pain, despite the shock, his eyes shone.

An infinite blue dotted with stars.

He got up in silence. His hand trembled for a moment... then regained his firmness. With a backhand, he wiped the blood flowing on his lips.

He ran his fingers through her blond hair covered in dust, pushing them away with a slow gesture. A trail of blood flowed on his forehead, spreading like a warrior scar.

And at the corner of his lips, despite everything... a smile. A calm smile, almost playful.

Up there, in the heavens, Rhazak was watching him. Imposing, floating like a judge above the world. His black look, cold as death, pierced the clouds and Valen at the same time.

" Have you gone crazy? " he said in an icy tone.

Valen let out a slight laugh, between provocation and amusement. He slowly raised his head, revealing his bloody forehead, staring Rhazak straight in the eyes.

"It looks like I took you a little too lightly... I'll have to give my own, this time." he said with a playful smile.

An invisible shiver crossed the skies. The wind changed direction. The heavens seemed to split. A subtle pressure briefly fell on Rhazak.

Then, with a soft gesture, Valen raised his right hand. He slowly drew an invisible circle in the air, and the first particles of stellar light accumulated on his fingers.

"Scarlet Star... Opening of the Sky... Third Cycle. "

The sky rumbled.

The purple clouds were pierced by a bright light, torn like a burning canvas, letting lightning spring up.

Three magic circles materialized in space. Ancient runes, engraved in the language of the stars, revolved around him.

Each of these circles vibrated at a different frequency, made even the ambient air shiver.

A heavenly eye opened in the firmament. A divine look, radiating a bluish light and crackling.

"Hm... one of his tricks??" Whispered Rhazak, frowning.

In an instant, he disappeared, and a sonic bang shook the skies. He reappeared in Valen's back, his fist outstretched, surrounded by black magic.

"I already told you... You'll never raise your hands again, do you remember? "

But Valen didn't move. He smiles.

He slowly turned his head, his gaze defying Rhazak like a burst of a star in the shadows, a mocking smile on his lips.

"Hahaha... fool. I knew Yshvar's disciples were really stupid, but you... you break records. "

A shiver ran through the atmosphere.

"Star Magic - Nine Verse, First Line: Galaxy of Nothing. "

A colossal blue sphere springs from his chest.

Whirling, dotted with small stars in rapid rotation. A miniature star... or a gestating apocalypse.

Caught up speed, Rhazak wanted to break free. Too late.

He erected a black barrier in the emergency.

But the light devoured him.

Boom

The sphere exploded and a titanic detonation sounded.

The explosion lit up the entire sky. A shock wave sprayed the clouds, shaking the balance of the atmosphere.

The mountains trembled. The wind receded.

At the same time on the battlefield:

A tremor went through the plain. The wind carried ashes and dust.

A column of bluish light, illuminating the plain, had just split the clouds. The battlefield stopped breathing. All eyes turned to the column of blue light rising in the distance.

Face to face, Myrren and Aryna observed each other.

Myrren, standing, wrapped in her strips, briefly turned her head towards the explosion watching the split sky, smile on her lips.

"It seems that they have gone to serious things there..."

Then she turned her gaze again to Aryna, hiding an excited smile behind her strips.

"It's up to us to play now. Isn't it, princess? "

She took a step towards her, the air became heavy, her thin figure emanated a dark, oppressive and ancient aura. Her strips slowly turled around her, like snakes.

Aryna was not intimidated.

His golden eyes stared at Myrren without wavering.

Tiny shiny wings danced at every corner of his eyes. His silver hair was floating in the wind.

She slowly raised her hand, with a calm and assured air, and said:

"Formation Deployment: Soul Reaper."

A thud replied.

Ten shadows sprout from behind Aryna: knights in white armor with black motifs, accompanied by a white cape struck with a winged emblem. In a flash, they rushed to Myrren, the weapons drawn, forming a perfectly coordinated assault line.

Myrren, greeted them with a radiant smile. Moving forward slowly, his strips vibrating like hungry blades.

"Perfect, let the massacre begin," she said with a playful look.

The wind blew.

The ten knights rushed towards Myrren, their capes floating in the air, their blades forward. Their movements were synchronized with a perfect rhythm. A dry snap sounded at each stride, the "Faucher d'âmes" formation was underway.

Myrren briefly closed her eyes, wrapped in her strips.

When she opened them again, sparks sprouted from her eyes, and a sneering smile appeared on her lips.

Then she reached out to the soldiers. His strips unfolded like sharp blades, ready to mow.

But before they could reach their targets, Aryna held out her own hand.

Golden lightning strout from the sky, reducing the strips to ashes before they touched a single one of his men.

"Yes, that's it... don't die too fast," said Myrren, smiling.

As she turned her attention to Aryna, the first shocks broke out.

Two knights sumped in his back, hitting crosswise towards his neck. But Myrren squats, and his strips whistling through the air, parried the attacks. With another gesture, his strips wrapped the two men like snakes, and threw them violently against trees.

Myrren then danced in the middle of them, his strips splitting the air, parrying the blows with supernatural precision.

But his enemies were trained, synchronized. They hit in unison, seeking to create a breach in his defense.

A blonde signet ring with green eyes emerges from its shadow on the right, its blade covered with a green aura.

His shot was narrowly stopped. But Myrren slipped into his back, like a ghost.

Without anyone noticing, she had already removed the bandages from her right hand, revealing a black and withered skin.

She put her hand on the face of the signet ring.

"Shhh... What if we started with you," she said with a mocking sweetness.

A black energy ran through the body of the knight, who collapsed, her eyes rolled.

Seeing this, Aryna widened her eyes.

"Cecilia..." she whispered, her eyes turning empty.

Suddenly Aryna then leaped towards Myrren, her face deformed by anger, her sword giving off an incandescent red aura.

Myrren, seeing her arrive, deployed her strips in front of her to protect herself.

Aryna, carried away by anger, struck with all her might. The impact was violent. A shock wave exploded around them, pushing back his sword.

Aryna was thrown backwards, but immediately planted her blade in the ground, throwing earth and stabilizing.

She got up, her gaze burning with intense rage was carrying towards Myrren.

"I'm going to kill you, I'm going to destroy you, dirty... bitch" she growled in a threatening tone, her veins drawing on her face.

Myrren slowly lowered his strips.

"Don't worry my little lioness... you're next," she said with a mischievous smile.

Aryna was about to load again... but Myrren gently raised her hand and snapped her fingers.

Suddenly, the corpse of the signet ring vibrated. Myrren's strips began to cover him.

The body rose, animated, bandaged. His hair and eyes had turned black, his skin a morbid pale.

"She's more beautiful like that... you don't think so," says Myrren, biting her finger, excited.

Seeing this, Aryna clenched her teeth, a powerful murderous aura emanaged in her body enveloping her. The memories of the previous day flowed in...

Last night in the girls' tent (last moment of respite):

A slight rustle ran through the canvas of the tent, carried by the fresh breath of the night wind. Outside, the night reigned on a sleepy camp. The stars twinkled gently above the silent plain.

But inside, a gentle warmth enveloped the tent. A magic lantern suspended from a rope bathed the room in an orange glow.

The tired but serene faces of four young women lit up the tent.

The armor had been left aside. All wore simple outfits. The hair loose.

They had offered themselves a moment of respite.

Suddenly, the canvas opened with a bang.

"Girls! I have a genius idea! "

Cecilia entered staggering, her cheeks red, a bright smile on her lips. A raised mug like a trophy.

"Pajama party! And no refusal, it's an interim captain's order! "

"Interim captain, my ass..." growled Nesha, lying on a mattress with a book open on her lap.

She barely looked up at Cecilia.

"Were you still with the guys, weren't you? "

"Oooooh Nesh', don't be a joybreaker! You're not going to read Aristo-thing when tomorrow we risk dying! Come and do something stupid instead! "

She then on Nesha, removing her blanket, triggering a mini fight. Nesha pushed an insult but started laughing in spite of herself.

"You're crazy..." she sighed laughing.

Liora, the youngest and brunette, observed the scene curled up in a blanket and playing with her long black hair, smiling shyly.

" Cecilia is right... We can laugh a little... if it's our last night..."

Maelis, tall and blonde, straightened up by stretching. Her silver hair fell on her shoulder. His look was calm, imprinted with gentle wisdom.

"I might as well create one last memory. It will warm our hearts. "

Cecilia classed her hands, radiant.

"You see! Even Maelis agrees! And you know she's serious... except when she bites chocolate in the reserves. "

A general burst of laughter broke out. Even Aryna, sitting in a suit on her bed with a cup of hot tea in her hands, sketched a smile. His silver hair shining under the orange light.

"You're always the same, Cecilia... Always there to lighten the atmosphere. "

Cecilia rushed towards her and knelt down in front of her.

"Because someone has to do it, right general?! Come on, boss, a kiss! "

"Huh?!" Aryna stepped back slightly, taken by surprise.

"Certainly not." she replied, placing her hand on Cecilia's face to push her away, an amused smile on her lips.

"Not just a little one? Even on the cheek? You're probably giving Althéas a lot, right? "

Aryna almost choked on her sip of tea.

"Huh?! But it's nonsense!" She replied, looking embarrassed.

TO FOLLOW...