The Night Spirit showed no signs of life or stirring. Malarich laughed again. I'll finally be rid of all of you. Kill as many puppets as you like, little Spirit, your rebel brother had this coming.
Light wasn't turning up. There was the hollow feeling of a missing space, and the truth that Malarich had even now been one step ahead. Light wasn't showing up. Light wasn't going to show.
Johan bared his teeth, the roots winding and crushing June and Mark until they could barely breathe, trees still taking over the city rapidly, starting to wrap around Night's body like a shield. He shrieked again. "Go find your own world, so you can play around in clay again. Soulless, formless, mindless wretch. Dharian never loved you because you're unloveable. Dharian left because you destroy everything you touch," the words were coming out of him viciously, the growth below speeding up with every one.
Malarich reacted to that, roaring in rage and swiping for Johan. He flew further up, the vines starting to wrap themselves around Malarich. He tore away from them several times, but they just kept coming, as did the void; it was almost on the city, the terrifying mass just outside the walls and starting to engulf them, devouring everything in its path.
"Valdis, the crystal!"
The Night Spirit showed no signs of life or stirring. Malarich laughed again. I'll finally be rid of all of you. Kill as many puppets as you like, little Spirit, your rebel brother had this coming.
Light wasn't turning up. There was the hollow feeling of a missing space, and the truth that Malarich had even now been one step ahead. Light wasn't showing up. Light wasn't going to show.
Johan bared his teeth, the roots winding and crushing June and Mark until they could barely breathe, trees still taking over the city rapidly, starting to wrap around Night's body like a shield. He shrieked again. "Go find your own world, so you can play around in clay again. Soulless, formless, mindless wretch. Dharian never loved you because you're unloveable. Dharian left because you destroy everything you touch," the words were coming out of him viciously, the growth below speeding up with every one.
Malarich reacted to that, roaring in rage and swiping for Johan. He flew further up, the vines starting to wrap themselves around Malarich. He tore away from them several times, but they just kept coming, as did the void; it was almost on the city, the terrifying mass just outside the walls and starting to engulf them, devouring everything in its path.
"Valdis, the crystal!"
Mark shifted into his beast form to prevent himself from crushed so easily by the roots, while the rest struggled to free them by tearing at a part of the roots, seeing that the two yelped and gritted their teeth and squirmed in the grasp of the plant. Valdis ignored the exchanging conversation between the two, seeing that the vines were starting to wrap around the Night Spirit, she hurried over to the front of the dragon, where the crystal had lay on the ground, and quickly snatched it before any of the roots could touch it.
"Katsumi!" She called out for the bird and jumped, shifted back to her human form when Katsumi caught her mid air and hurriedly took off to the sky, her wings beat loudly and ripping through the air, with her fiancee gripped tightly in her talons, following up to Malarich and Johan. With the crystal in her extended hand, they aimed for Malarich.
Mark shifted into his beast form to prevent himself from crushed so easily by the roots, while the rest struggled to free them by tearing at a part of the roots, seeing that the two yelped and gritted their teeth and squirmed in the grasp of the plant. Valdis ignored the exchanging conversation between the two, seeing that the vines were starting to wrap around the Night Spirit, she hurried over to the front of the dragon, where the crystal had lay on the ground, and quickly snatched it before any of the roots could touch it.
"Katsumi!" She called out for the bird and jumped, shifted back to her human form when Katsumi caught her mid air and hurriedly took off to the sky, her wings beat loudly and ripping through the air, with her fiancee gripped tightly in her talons, following up to Malarich and Johan. With the crystal in her extended hand, they aimed for Malarich.
The vines were taking hold of him, pinning him in place as he swiped at Johan like a fly. The void had passed the walls, engulfing everyone and everything, screams cut short and bodies disappearing into the nothingness. It was approaching the trapped Mark and June, from a mile away, to a kilometer, to a hundred metres, to ten metres, looming over and ready to swallow them up.
Malarich broke free of the vines, grabbing hold of Johan, snatching him from the sky just as the crystal plunged into his chest.
For a moment, it felt like the world exploded.
Malarich's form shattered, the power rippling out and flattening any structures left upright, although the trees stood tall and held the group in place. Johan and Katsumi were knocked out of the sky; Johan landing and righting himself, chanting something strange. The crystals started to multiply and wrap themselves around the energy, absorbing it in a pillar of jagged crystals.
Two inches away from June, the Void stopped dead and started to crumble. Light pierced through it in lightning patterns, shattering its dome and tearing away at it in the dark. Malarich screamed once more, and then he was gone.
The vines were taking hold of him, pinning him in place as he swiped at Johan like a fly. The void had passed the walls, engulfing everyone and everything, screams cut short and bodies disappearing into the nothingness. It was approaching the trapped Mark and June, from a mile away, to a kilometer, to a hundred metres, to ten metres, looming over and ready to swallow them up.
Malarich broke free of the vines, grabbing hold of Johan, snatching him from the sky just as the crystal plunged into his chest.
For a moment, it felt like the world exploded.
Malarich's form shattered, the power rippling out and flattening any structures left upright, although the trees stood tall and held the group in place. Johan and Katsumi were knocked out of the sky; Johan landing and righting himself, chanting something strange. The crystals started to multiply and wrap themselves around the energy, absorbing it in a pillar of jagged crystals.
Two inches away from June, the Void stopped dead and started to crumble. Light pierced through it in lightning patterns, shattering its dome and tearing away at it in the dark. Malarich screamed once more, and then he was gone.
They hang onto their friends as the void came closer, seemingly accepted their faith. They had their eyes closed tightly. As Katsumi was knocked back, she lost her grip on Valdis, as the woman free fall again. The bird panicked and quickly regained her balanced to dive down with Valdis. As the world seems to shake around them all she could focused on was her fiancee. Katsumi ripped through the air again and extended her talons to catch Valdis right before she hit the ground and potentially die from that height or at least seriously injured.
Katsumi felt her heart stop as she caught the woman in her talons, safe, and sound. They both looked up at Malarich again as his agony screams echoed through the sky, until he was gone. Still lingered in mid air, the two were too dumbfounded to barely react. As for the rest, death never came to them, as they slowly opened their eyes to see that everything stood still, and silent.
Is it over? Was the first thing that came to their mind, Katsumi would quietly flew back to the ground and gently dropped Valdis down before she'd landed as well, they took a look around them.
They hang onto their friends as the void came closer, seemingly accepted their faith. They had their eyes closed tightly. As Katsumi was knocked back, she lost her grip on Valdis, as the woman free fall again. The bird panicked and quickly regained her balanced to dive down with Valdis. As the world seems to shake around them all she could focused on was her fiancee. Katsumi ripped through the air again and extended her talons to catch Valdis right before she hit the ground and potentially die from that height or at least seriously injured.
Katsumi felt her heart stop as she caught the woman in her talons, safe, and sound. They both looked up at Malarich again as his agony screams echoed through the sky, until he was gone. Still lingered in mid air, the two were too dumbfounded to barely react. As for the rest, death never came to them, as they slowly opened their eyes to see that everything stood still, and silent.
Is it over? Was the first thing that came to their mind, Katsumi would quietly flew back to the ground and gently dropped Valdis down before she'd landed as well, they took a look around them.
The vines were still twisting their way across the city, wrapping around the stones and taking over the fresh ruins. Johan landed next to the Night Spirit, holding his head low. He nudged the body before closing his eyes, slumping back and breathing shallowly. "No, no, no..."
The void was gone, along with everything it had touched; cold clay, not even earth, covered the land across the continent to Dragontooth, a barren wasteland eaten up by the gods. Johan hung his head. "I... I can restore it... The recent history, nothing from before today..." He gritted his teeth and lifted his head, willing his energy out again.
Where the void had touched it, the city regrew; strangely, as the houses that regrew were whole, but only a couple of them did in a sea of trees and ruins. They looked like strange stone islands among the roots and vines.
Further out, the forests returned, and the villages that had been swallowed up, and the people, looking dazed and very confused. A circle around Dragontooth remained barren, a reminder of what had happened there. No snow or trees climbed the mountains anymore. It was a desert of clay and stone.
The vines were still twisting their way across the city, wrapping around the stones and taking over the fresh ruins. Johan landed next to the Night Spirit, holding his head low. He nudged the body before closing his eyes, slumping back and breathing shallowly. "No, no, no..."
The void was gone, along with everything it had touched; cold clay, not even earth, covered the land across the continent to Dragontooth, a barren wasteland eaten up by the gods. Johan hung his head. "I... I can restore it... The recent history, nothing from before today..." He gritted his teeth and lifted his head, willing his energy out again.
Where the void had touched it, the city regrew; strangely, as the houses that regrew were whole, but only a couple of them did in a sea of trees and ruins. They looked like strange stone islands among the roots and vines.
Further out, the forests returned, and the villages that had been swallowed up, and the people, looking dazed and very confused. A circle around Dragontooth remained barren, a reminder of what had happened there. No snow or trees climbed the mountains anymore. It was a desert of clay and stone.
The two could only watch in silent as he restored everything the void had swallowed up, they looked around to see the people returned as well. As for the crew they finally managed to get to the ground again, all of them looked pretty beaten up after the battle of course and they weren't in very good shapes right now, especially June who lay unconscious on the ground, barely breathing at all but they could feel her heart beating slightly.
Valdis and Katsumi would make their way over to the rest, they expressed horror to see the lynx laying numbly on the ground "Where's Aerik?" Suddenly Calamity asked and they looked around for the woman as well "And June's girlfriend?!" Travis managed to gasped out the sentence. Some of them hurried away to find Aerik and the rest stayed with June, they fumbled, not even sure how to start with asking for help and all that. Valdis turned her head to Johan and the Night Spirit's body "I-I'll be back, you guys go get help." She quickly made her way over to them.
Closed her eyes briefly and winced, she gave him a sympathy look "...I-is she?.." Her tone low and barely audible, she didn't want for it to turn out like this, after all that they've been through, Valdis would even got her brother back for her, she just can't turn out like this.
The two could only watch in silent as he restored everything the void had swallowed up, they looked around to see the people returned as well. As for the crew they finally managed to get to the ground again, all of them looked pretty beaten up after the battle of course and they weren't in very good shapes right now, especially June who lay unconscious on the ground, barely breathing at all but they could feel her heart beating slightly.
Valdis and Katsumi would make their way over to the rest, they expressed horror to see the lynx laying numbly on the ground "Where's Aerik?" Suddenly Calamity asked and they looked around for the woman as well "And June's girlfriend?!" Travis managed to gasped out the sentence. Some of them hurried away to find Aerik and the rest stayed with June, they fumbled, not even sure how to start with asking for help and all that. Valdis turned her head to Johan and the Night Spirit's body "I-I'll be back, you guys go get help." She quickly made her way over to them.
Closed her eyes briefly and winced, she gave him a sympathy look "...I-is she?.." Her tone low and barely audible, she didn't want for it to turn out like this, after all that they've been through, Valdis would even got her brother back for her, she just can't turn out like this.
"Gone," Johan's voice cracked. It was barely more than a whisper. He nudged her again, as though hoping maybe the smallest gesture could bring her back, but the spirit didn't stir. He lifted his head and shrieked to the sky again in pain, roaring and shaking his head, slamming his tail into the ground, cracking cobblestones. "This isn't... This wasn't supposed to..."
Aerik was still hiding in the cellar, drinking herself out of her mind, even as the sounds of the battle subsided and stopped. She was almost unconscious by this point, having had enough to possibly kill her.
Tem was feeding on the wounded a few streets away, never taking enough to kill them, but calculating it so it was only just, before moving onto the next one. She seemed to be enjoying herself.
"Gone," Johan's voice cracked. It was barely more than a whisper. He nudged her again, as though hoping maybe the smallest gesture could bring her back, but the spirit didn't stir. He lifted his head and shrieked to the sky again in pain, roaring and shaking his head, slamming his tail into the ground, cracking cobblestones. "This isn't... This wasn't supposed to..."
Aerik was still hiding in the cellar, drinking herself out of her mind, even as the sounds of the battle subsided and stopped. She was almost unconscious by this point, having had enough to possibly kill her.
Tem was feeding on the wounded a few streets away, never taking enough to kill them, but calculating it so it was only just, before moving onto the next one. She seemed to be enjoying herself.
Valdis felt her ears flattened against her skull, her tail dropped and dragged on the ground. Her gaze loomed over the form of the Night Spirit "Is there anyway we could?.." She suggested, felt her chest tightened a bit at the painful display of Johan mourning. She flinched a bit in surprise to found her fiancee had came up to them as well and pressed a hand on Valdis' arm, she looked down at the Spirit as well and lowered, her eyes closed, there was nothing she could say on the matter.
Sever and Calamity foud Aerik again, winced a bit at how the woman was reeked with alcohol, Sever would carefully picked her up and headed out again with the help of his friend. While back at Mark and June, they lay on the ground and tried to recover themselves, Mark was fine but June was in more worst condition, Travis and Bjorn just baffled a bit as they spotted Tem casually strolling down the streets and enjoying herself, of all thing June has to be stuck with, was this vampire that probably didn't aware of her bond dying "I-What. Yo! Hey!" Travis called out to her and gestured down to June "Do something?!"
Bjorn just sighed and shook his head, there was too many things he could handle right now, looking around at the city again, he wondered how they'd react once they've come to their senses again, first thing first, he needed to seek help for June and Mark.
Valdis felt her ears flattened against her skull, her tail dropped and dragged on the ground. Her gaze loomed over the form of the Night Spirit "Is there anyway we could?.." She suggested, felt her chest tightened a bit at the painful display of Johan mourning. She flinched a bit in surprise to found her fiancee had came up to them as well and pressed a hand on Valdis' arm, she looked down at the Spirit as well and lowered, her eyes closed, there was nothing she could say on the matter.
Sever and Calamity foud Aerik again, winced a bit at how the woman was reeked with alcohol, Sever would carefully picked her up and headed out again with the help of his friend. While back at Mark and June, they lay on the ground and tried to recover themselves, Mark was fine but June was in more worst condition, Travis and Bjorn just baffled a bit as they spotted Tem casually strolling down the streets and enjoying herself, of all thing June has to be stuck with, was this vampire that probably didn't aware of her bond dying "I-What. Yo! Hey!" Travis called out to her and gestured down to June "Do something?!"
Bjorn just sighed and shook his head, there was too many things he could handle right now, looking around at the city again, he wondered how they'd react once they've come to their senses again, first thing first, he needed to seek help for June and Mark.
Tem waited till she was finished on the most recent one before looking up, raising an eyebrow. "Hm? If you want some, find your own street." She noticed June on the ground, standing up and wandering casually over to her. "Oh dear. Did something happen?" She said casually, as though it was a normal topic of conversation.
Aerik was out cold by the time they brought her back, reeking of alcohol to the point she could have died if she'd had any more. She curled up as they put her on the ground, blinking her eyes open. "Gah... what's..."
Johan nudged her again helplessly. "I... I need to... to bury..."
Tem waited till she was finished on the most recent one before looking up, raising an eyebrow. "Hm? If you want some, find your own street." She noticed June on the ground, standing up and wandering casually over to her. "Oh dear. Did something happen?" She said casually, as though it was a normal topic of conversation.
Aerik was out cold by the time they brought her back, reeking of alcohol to the point she could have died if she'd had any more. She curled up as they put her on the ground, blinking her eyes open. "Gah... what's..."
Johan nudged her again helplessly. "I... I need to... to bury..."
They gritted their teeth and frowned up at thr vampire, before Bjorn would carefully grabbed for a certain area around the nape of her neck and pressed it so that the lynx turned back to her human form while being unconscious. He'd picked her up and pushed her into the vampire's arms while Travis hauled Mark over his shoulders "Yes something happened." Bjorn grumbled "Now let's go get help."
"Well geez at least show something to the poor soul that's going to be stuck with you for the rest of her life.." Travis winced, felt bad for June honestly, faith just been too cruel and twisted indeed. They'd met up with Calamity and Sever "Hey you're okay, it's over.." Sever assured Aerik, the group would go to the city's medical station for treatment of course.
"What?" Valdis whirled her head from Johan to the Night Spirit "Isn't there a way to bring her back? It couldn't end like this.." Her tone slipped a bit as her emotions bubbling up, she hasn't done all of this for the Night Spirit so that she could just die on her!
They gritted their teeth and frowned up at thr vampire, before Bjorn would carefully grabbed for a certain area around the nape of her neck and pressed it so that the lynx turned back to her human form while being unconscious. He'd picked her up and pushed her into the vampire's arms while Travis hauled Mark over his shoulders "Yes something happened." Bjorn grumbled "Now let's go get help."
"Well geez at least show something to the poor soul that's going to be stuck with you for the rest of her life.." Travis winced, felt bad for June honestly, faith just been too cruel and twisted indeed. They'd met up with Calamity and Sever "Hey you're okay, it's over.." Sever assured Aerik, the group would go to the city's medical station for treatment of course.
"What?" Valdis whirled her head from Johan to the Night Spirit "Isn't there a way to bring her back? It couldn't end like this.." Her tone slipped a bit as her emotions bubbling up, she hasn't done all of this for the Night Spirit so that she could just die on her!
