Archive Posted January 30, 2003 Report Posted January 30, 2003 Bhurin Initiate Posts: 10 (12/31/01 12:06:06 am) Reply The Duel of the Divine -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I wrote this story mostly for fun. It's a shorter recount of a longer battle I once wrote. I liked this better. Enjoy. Pias Procinctu The heavens blazed with sky-fire as the land trembled beneath the relentless roars of thunder howling in the night. The symphony of light that dominated the sky was more awesome then any other any could remember. Like beasts locked in a bloodless battle, this maelstrom was both unnatural and deviant then any mortal could imagine. The almighty were the cause of this horror. The godlike. The divine. As another rapture of thunder tore across the sky, many found they could no longer take the air-charged emotions that were invading their souls. Many fell to their knees and cried, while others howled to the storm in a show of honor and tribute. Though not completely assured of what they saw, their instincts told them that this was a moment like no other. With this night there would be a change throughout the worlds. The divine were here to battle, and would not cease until there was a true end. The blood of gods would flow this night. Suddenly, another bolt of lightening filled the sky, only it appeared larger and brighter then any before it. As the light from the surge of power faded, another began to emit in it's place. The brilliant light, coming from above the storm, seemed to descend closer and closer to the ground with each passing moment. Finally, as the clouds around it burst open with unnatural speed, an orb of light came into view. The orb, impossible to distinguish size or features, shimmered with incredible radiance as it stopped just inside the storm. It radiated purity and hallowed intendment, and the storm was easily kept at bay by whatever powers flowed from it. As the orb continued to shine with power, another act of divine power took place. Thunder, roaring like a beast in pain, began to become louder and more continuous; until it resonated like a heart beat. This intense, dark rolling continued, and the profound contrast between it and the orb intensified. Then, like a nightmare, the thunder took form. The dark clouds, shifting and altering into each other, began to take on a far more different and evil texture. Like flowing liquid, the blackness took form until it was a solid mass of pitch. Then they spoke. The orb, with a formless voice wielding the power of ages, spoke into the air with such force that the remaining clouds around it were pushed like pitiful vapors. "ROTH! BROTHER OF MY MOTHER, AND LEADER OF THE DARK FORCES OF PRU'SIAN! I HATH COMETH TO SLAY YOU TO CONTAIN THE BALANCE TRUE!" The mass of darkness, with a voice that slid over the air like a metal pitched ring, spoke without words, but with thoughts. "Adrial... speaks of slaying uncle dear. Converses of death, to stop the fear. Darkness stays... Through unknown ways. Blame her... I do not. But her acts are null and naught..." "ROTH! YOUR ACTS UPON MY PEOPLE AND THE FOLLOWERS OF LIGHT WILL NO LONGER GO UNINHIBITED! ONCE YOU ARE GONE, A NEW LORD OF DARKNESS SHALL TAKE YOUR PLACE! ONE WHO SHALL KEEP THE UNIVERSAL BALANCE, WITHOUT EXCEPTION!" "Oh my niece... keeper of peace... Your words strike an unknown blow. You have the valor, but not the power, Your acts cometh much too slow. Long beheld my designs be, Yet none reacted to their intent. And now, my niece, you shall now see, Why time in battle is time well spent. "ROTH! FEAR HATH NO PLACE WITHIN MY BEING! I FEAR NOT DEATH, NOR DO I FEAR YOU, LORD OF NIGHTMARES! WE BATTLE NOW, ON THIS PLANE, WHERE WOUNDS INFLICTED SHALL RUN DEEP ENOUGH TO EXTINGUISH YOUR DIVINE BLOOD! MAY THE HIGHER LORDS HAVE MERCY ON YOUR SOUL!" "Battle now, you wish to bring, Whilst I still think it fatuous thought. You least forget that death I sing, A many battles I hath fought. But now, I vow, you'll bow. Watch how." At this, the formless black began to throb along with its thunderous heartbeat. Slowly, like dark blood, the dark liquid began to run off the main form at an accelerated speed. Finally, when little of the dark substance remained, a figure, human in form, emerged from it. A man, draped in black clothes, opened his eyes and perceived the light orb. His hair was long and pitch, his eyes glowed with black radiance. Clutching a sword of incredible size and sheen, the figure lifted the blade and pointed it at the orb. "A FORM IN WHICH TO KILL YOU, BROTHER OF MY MOTHER. YOUR MEANS OF BATTLE IS ACCEPTABLE!" With that, the light orb exploded with a blast of radiance. The light was so brilliant that it could bee seen from hundreds of miles away. When the light at last died down, a cone of light reaching from the ground and into the heavens remained. And, inside, was the form of a human. The figure, female in make up, emerged from the light beam as it began to dissipate. Draped in thin veils of white cloth with golden hair that flowed like a river of warm liquid, the figure held forth a blade that burned with white fire as her eyes burned just as brightly, and said, "HAVE AT THEE!" Roth reacted instantly, diving at Adrial with demonic speed, blade drawn. His blade, vibrating with black power, flashed with reverse light as he brought it down on his assailant. Lifting her blade and deflecting the blow, Adrial easily countered the attack and brought her leg around, connecting with Roth's head. Seemingly unaffected by the blow, Roth reared back and swung the blade again. Barely reflecting the attack this time, Adrial seemed thrown by Roth's increased strength. Lifting her hand, Adrial fired a bolt of white power at her uncle’s abdomen. The bolt, hitting square and true, threw Roth to the ground with incredible force. As he emerged from the crater created by his fall, Adrial forced her blade at Roth in a stabbing motion. Roth, lifting his hand, grabbed the blade out of mid-air and stopped it dead. As ebony blood ran down Adrial's blade, Roth smiled and closed his eyes. Lifting his hand, he sent a beam of power at the Goddess. Like a thousand screaming skulls, the beam hit Adrial and sent her to the ground, shivering. Roth, rising back into the air, held his blade out at arms length and said, "Much you need to learn, If you wish for me to die. If the darkness falls too easily... Always question why." Narrowing her eyes, Adrial fired a blast of radiant light at Roth. As the streams of her own power sent the God into a painful howling rage, she cried, "SPEAK NOT OF YOUR ENEMIES FAULTS IN BATTLE, FOR YOU MAY DISCOVER YOUR OWN!" Roth held up his hand and began reflecting the white bolts away from himself. Raising his other hand, he fired a beam of dark power at Adrial. Lifting her sword and destroying Roth's attack, Adrial intensified her efforts and increased the power of her beam. The energy once again flowed into Roth, and he howled in pain. "FEEL THE PURIFICATION? CONFIDE YOUR COWARDICE TO IT, LORD OF SHAME!" Roth, roaring in anger, lifted both hands and plunged them into the beam. The beam, suddenly becoming black, trailed right back into Adrial's eyes, and she screamed in pain. Falling to her knees and placing her hands on her eyes, she moaned in pain as Roth said, "FOOL! IMBECILE! YOU KNOW NOT WHAT I AM! I AM DOOM! BANEFUL RUIN! I AM THAT IS DAMNED! Now you burn with freezing fire, your power slowly fades, Feel your soul cry out in grief as the fire’s pain invades! When confronting darkness, never endure the light, For shadows bred and born of it, hoard within the night. Now fall, angel. Die, immortal. Be forgotten now this day, For judgement is upon thee now. You have your price to pay." When Adrial regained her sight, she regarded Roth for the first time in fear. Roth had turned himself into a true demon. His form, too formed of nightmares to describe, reeked with torment and hatred. Multiple eyes burned with fury, and large claws akin to death now graced his limbs. Roth was the darkness, and now he wished to destroy the light. Adrial, mind racing, knew what had to be done. With one final wave of her hand, her sword disappeared and she herself began to dissipate. Roaring with a tone of pure evil, Roth screamed. "Oh no you don't, my cowardly fleeing kin. To retreat back now to safety would be your greatest sin. Stay with me, taste my blood. Die now by my hand. Let your wretched hallowed corpse stain this mortal land!" With a cry of death, Roth leapt onto Adrial with all his might. Forcing her to the ground, Roth's claws began to sink into her skin. However, as she fell, Roth realized her ploy. Her own sword, piercing through her back and out her front, sheathed itself into Roth's chest. She had let herself be impaled in order to slay the beast. As sounds of erratic breathing escaped Roth's lips, he whispered to Adrial, "Death comes to all. Even its closest kin. I fall... By your hand. Oblivion... What the feared fear..." With that, Roth converted back into the formless, liquid darkness, before dissipating into nothingness. Adrial, removing her blade from her own back, cringed and said, "AND SO, THE BALANCE IS RESTORED. THERE IS NO VICTOR HERE... ONLY A SURVIVOR..." And, with a flash of light, Adrial was gone. Slowly, without objection, the storm scattered itself into nothingness as well. No one objected, even as the blood of the divine stained the ground. The duel ended, and life continued on. Not forgotten, but not favorably remembered.
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