The Citadels Goddess

The silver haired girl winced as the aftershock of the damning blow rained down on her. Halting inches from reaping her life. A warm light blessed her from a radiant being at her side.

"Take Dallas with you and get to the infirmary." The usual soft voice of Raphaelia was forceful and authoritative. The beast twitched a retort to the escape of it's prey but it was answered with violent defiance.

Raphaelias heel crashed into the abdomen of the beast with a resounding crash. Sending the beast airborn reducing a couple of the dilapidated dwellings of the slums to rubble.

The force of the blow left Callum stunned. The vast chasm of power between him and Raphaelia becoming crystal clear.

The silver haired girl scrambled, grabbing her half conscious companion and shuffling off towards the citadel. The dust began to settle, behind it stood a menacing figure. Lucky for the injured man and scared woman.

The beasts attention was drawn towards its new adversary. It tilted it's head, a dangerous intrigue peering underneath the featureless mask of the beast.

Raphaelia stepped forward, a challenge to the faceless horror. One met with equal regard as the beast seemed to ready itself. Both sides simultaneously disappeared, meeting in the middle with a flurry earth shattering blows.

Callum and Bart stared at the scene with a mix of amazement and fear frozen on their faces. Raphaelias moves blurred as the two fighters engaged in an otherworldly dance of death.

Their power and speed seemed to create a balanced stalemate. However Raphaelia had the upper hand in one regard. The beasts fighting style was thoughtless and instinctual.

Each move direct and easily predicted by the masterful art of war that was instilled in the citadels goddess.

The beasts arm shot towards the radiant goddess. It's fingers in a point as they slice through the air like a demonic makeshift spear.

Raphaelia didn't miss the opportunity, slipping the blow and stepping in deep to the side of the outstretched arm. Leaving the beast open for her counter.

Her body poured all it's weight and power into her leg, loading itself like the hammer of a revolver. Releasing the build up of power in one fluent and explosive movement.

Her first pierced into the side of the beast curving it's body around the sheer force of the blow. Sending the beast soaring through the air like a broken ragdoll.

As Callum knew first hand, the goddess wasn't one of mercy. Turning herself into a flash of radiantly glowing skin and pure white wings. She cut the beats path off from the air.

Driving her foot into it's head before sending the beast crashing back to earth with the force of a meteor. Carving a crater out of the earth with the force of its brutal impact.

Dust and shards of debris created a small mushroom cloud at the landing site. The goddess froze in the air above her destructive aftermath. Scanning through the cloud for any sign of life remaining in her enemy.

The cloud of dust broke, releasing an unscathed demon with an almost palpable bloodlust. She narrowly side stepped the piercing jab aimed at her heart. Carving a straight line across the pristine silver of her cuirass.

The fight had commanded the entirety of Callum's and Barts attention. Neither one noticing the figure now standing between them. A hand rested on both of the shoulders of the young men, startling them back to reality.

"She's quite powerful, wouldn't you say." Both Bart and Callums eyes darted to the space between them. Noticing the grand appearance of the citadels Lord.

His eyes were focused the the captain of his guard fighting against the unknown horror. The look in his eyes was prideful as always but there was something else deep inside.

A deep sea of rage. Callum knew the look well, it was the same kind of rage he felt against the world. The seething hatred that boiled anytime he thought of his old life.

But why was that look on the regal face of the citadels Lord. Before having any sort of chance to ask the area was filled with a symphony of destruction once again. The two maestros of death interlocked in a competition.

Both sides sole goal was the absolute decimation of the other.

Raphaelia continued methodically piecing apart her enemy. The beast maintained its chaotic and defenseless focus on offense.

The scene that instilled hope and pride in the power of the citadels goddess was slowly becoming one of eerie premonition.

Raphaelia had been fighting at her best this entire time, throwing every fiber of her being behind every disastrous blow.

Yet even after every terrible blow, the beast seemed largely unscathed. Every wound inflicted upon its grey skin had evaporated away.

Meanwhile Raphaelia who hadn't taken a single hit. Was the one with ragged breathing and small lacerations from debris and dodging attacks within a hairs breadth.

Despite the omen of inevitable destruction hanging in the battlefield. Raphaelia stood, proud and insurmountable. Like a true bastion of humanity.

Lord Dextrus kept his eyes focused on the battle while making one simple request.

"Make sure this is passed on to Raphaelia once the dust settles."

An amulet with a golden dragon wrapped around a deep blue gemstone was thrusted into Callum's hand. Callum looked up at the Lord.

Questions bubbling at the top of his mind but one glance at the Lord's face quelled all desire of pondering them.

An inferno of rage was burning in the eyes of the Lord, a moment later he was gone. A flash of light vanished in his stead.

A second later the Lord was standing between the demon and the goddess. Raphaelias expression turned into one of surprise and worry.

"Lord, why are you here?" The words sounded pained as they left her. Like she already knew the foreboding of the man's arrival.

"I can still fight, I can win against this thing. Please." The plea fell short, halted by the raising of the Lord's hand.

He looked back over his shoulder, a sincere and melancholic smile painted across his face.

"That's enough, you did well Raph. Now let me finish what started long ago." The Lord's eyes returned to the demon at his front.

Raphaelia began a plea, ready to make any attempt she could to stop the Lord. Instead she was cut short, in one strikingly fast motion. The Lord appeared at her side and hit her neck with his hand.

Cradling the fallen goddess as her body went limp. A moment later he appeared before the gate holding her in his arms.

Callum and Bart peered down off the ledge, finally noticing that below their perch stood Quinn.

The Lord passed the sleeping goddess off to him. A look of somber determination was shared by the two.

"Good luck my lord." Quinn nodded with respect as the king warped back to facing the demon.

The demon stood in place, watching patiently for the Lord's return.

The two stood several feet apart, the air between them burning with a tension severe enough to ignite flames.

The demon moved first but it wasn't to start the battle. The grey skinned hand moved towards its face before digging it's gnarled fingers underneath it's skin.

Piercing it's own flesh and peeling it from the bone. Crimson blood began pouring from the wound. Adding to the appalling display of self disfigurement.

Underneath was the bones of the creature, twisted into a sinister smile of fangs and gore.

Finally the demon spoke in a wicked, low growl.

"Well if it isn't little Dex."