Jackal Among Snakes

“Where have I experienced a method of persuasion like this before?” Argrave said, rolling his shoulders. “Playing nice, with the pretext of total destruction? It’s a familiar street we’re walking. And you probably should have record in those Annals telling you that it didn’t work on me last time.”

“So, shall I tell Mozzahr all you’ve taken and what it does?” the Keeper pushed. “Conspire against you more actively?”

“Do it,” Argrave nodded. “You already got me what I wanted, and I’ve been running around long enough. But you won’t, will you? Because you want to control things from the background, as Erlebnis’ good little servant. You want us to head deeper in, limit our options, force us to fight… and have your master sweep things up.”

Orion and Melanie entered into view, and Argrave walked toward them, pulling the Inerrant Cloak tighter over his shoulders.

“What you said, about being enslaved… it sounds plausible enough to bear merit, but it’s not quite possible enough to bear weight,” Argrave continued.

“My thoughts exactly. Would Erlebnis allow a being with ill intent to control all of his operations, even his vault?” Anneliese contributed, walking up beside Argrave. “And even supposing you were kept near Hause… you spoke with such certainty that you’d be freed. But how are you sure? Antagonizing us cannot see that come to fruition. No—these are the textbook tactics of Erlebnis. And I know better than to go along with them.”

The Keeper’s silence was answer in itself, but he quickly bubbled up again, “But Erlebnis—”

“He is coming,” confirmed the Alchemist. “So you stall for his arrival, pitting us against each other.”

“We’ve collected all we can,” Argrave continued, watching Orion and Melanie run ever closer. “Now, it’s time for the final resistance. You can search without us, I trust?” He looked up at the Alchemist.

“I can,” confirmed the Alchemist. “And far faster, too.”

“Give me our weapons, and go,” Argrave said. “You’ll find us here.”

The Alchemist’s body shifted, and he drew out several artifacts, emerging from his body like frosting from a tube. He stabbed them to the ground one by one, then handed the final to Argrave—a familiar quarterstaff, the Resonant Pillar. It had two rings on each end, and looked to be made of jade.

“Never fought someone hand-to-hand before,” he mused, hefting the rod in his hand. It felt as heavy as lead, but as it empowered him, it felt like bamboo. He gave a nod to the Alchemist.

“Your trust won’t be misplaced,” he told them. “I shall return with… with old allies. Hold out until then.” With that, he was gone, twisting into a horrifying form and surging down the hall. He was empowered by the countless artifacts that he’d acquired, just as they were. And if anyone could find Hause quickly enough, it was the Alchemist.

“You will die,” assured the Keeper.

“We’ll see,” Argrave stepped ahead, looking back at the spear. “It’s one versus five… and you gave me the key to invincibility to earn some trust. You must be feeling rather dumb, now.”

Orion and Melanie ran past Argrave, coming to a running stop. They looked back at him in confusion, but he looked ahead, waiting for Mozzahr. The Castellan of the Empty burst into view, his feet skidding as he slowed his speed to make the turn. When he saw Argrave, he calmly straightened.

“I see. It seems you’ve seen through us once again, Argrave,” said the Keeper calmly, any emotional inflection in his voice now gone. “But forget not where you are. My twin is coming… and he is more unlimited than I am. I am bound in books and vaults, but he is that which binds.”

“Twin?” repeated Argrave.

“You’ve forfeited the right to my answers,” the Keeper said dryly. “Now… I’ll not distract either of you. It would not do for either side to have a decisive victory.”

Argrave did his best to dismiss the words, but they lingered in his head. He looked back, focusing on his duty as the leader. “Orion—pick up that hammer. You’re with me. Melanie—support and protect Anneliese and Durran, and try to get that Eighth Blade of yours ready for the thrusting attack. Cut at me if you must. You two magic users—look for openings, cast strategically. Presume I’m invulnerable, because I will be. Those artifacts make your magic much stronger than it normally is. We’re all the strongest we’ve ever been, empowered by weapons made by gods. This is our chance.”

Argrave walked calmly ahead, and Orion moved quickly to catch up. He twirled the now-light Resonant Pillar in his hand. It chimed pleasantly, casting off dancing lights. Once a certain distance away, he stopped, setting the Resonant Pillar down.

“Are you sure this is prudent? Even with this cloak you mentioned…” Orion questioned, sizing up the war hammer he’d been given. It looked to be a tooth fastened by metal, and yet exuded power all the same. “We might be better off distract—”

“I’ll be relying on you, Orion,” Argrave said. “Keep everyone else safe. Don’t let this bastard slip by.”

He saw Orion’s seriousness beyond his golden helmet, and the prince nodded. “Yes, Your Majesty. The queen, our brother-in-law, and Melanie… they will never die on my watch.”

Argrave stepped ahead, staring at Mozzahr at the other end of the long corridor. He declared with a steady voice, “In this domain, Erlebnis’ Blessing of Supersession lasts as long as my will.”

He felt the golden light spread out around him as the Domain of Law took effect. He didn’t know how much of an effect it would have—the Domain of Law could only ever be as strong as his will… but certainly, he’d need every edge he could get against Mozzahr. He spread out his blood echoes, having them perform the simple and repetitive task of conjuring [Electric Eels] imbued with blood magic. In retaliation, Mozzahr sent forth a spell, enhancing it with his Emptiness. As it approached at breakneck speeds, Argrave held out the Resonant Pillar, and triggered the Blessing of Supersession.

The ocean of power that Argrave had last used so long ago welled into his being. When Mozzahr’s bolt of Emptiness struck, he felt the Inerrant Cloak draw out that power in unimaginable quantities to suppress the damage it might’ve caused. It used Erlebnis’ magic to defend—meaning, getting hit was the best thing Argrave could do.

The Resonant Pillar’s chime rose to a deafening bell, and when the Emptiness faded, Mozzahr leapt through the corridor like a feral beast. The cult leader hefted a divine sword of bone in his right hand. It seemed he recognized the Blessing of Supersession from his battles with the emissaries, and knew he needed to kill the caster quickly lest they begin a painful barrage. But then, that was playing into Argrave’s hand.

When the cult leader came near, Argrave shifted his grip on the Resonant Pillar, swinging the opposite end like a bat. Mozzahr held out his left hand to catch it midflight. When it touched his palm, the reason why it was called Resonant made itself clear. The power it had received returned through the opposite end, and Argrave swatted Mozzahr’s hand aside. Its edge struck his cheek with all the power he’d intended for Argrave.

Mozzahr flew off to the side like a baseball hit foul, yet he stopped himself from slamming ungracefully into the wall using one hand. He landed on the ground, where Orion promptly charged and slammed the hammer down upon him. The castellan moved quick and received it with the sword of bone. A deafening noise erupted as the two divine weapons met. Orion kicked him in the face, but it was like kicking a rock—Mozzahr only shifted like a child had pushed him. He gathered Emptiness in his palm for a blast of power, and Orion stepped back with his shield raised.

Mozzahr thrust forth his power like a knife. Argrave, though, calmly stepped into its line of fire. The Emptiness slammed into him with all of the ferocity of an exploding star, and raw power surged out of the Blessing of Supersession as the Inerrant Cloak used its power to defend him. Surprise flashed through Mozzahr’s elven features at his attack’s impotence. Enough residual Emptiness had struck the Resonant Pillar, and so he once again tried to bash Mozzahr. The monstrous man caught the blow with his forearm, though from the wince Argrave could tell it still hurt.

Argrave saw a portal, and witnessed Melanie hack into the castellan’s calf. The black blade cut his purple robe, but seemed to do little more. Ignoring this, Mozzahr thrust the divine sword of bone into Argrave’s stomach. Once again the Inerrant Cloak defended him. The castellan grew yet more confused and shocked, yet Argrave calmly called upon his blood-infused [Electric Eels] to punish him. Mozzahr leapt away, but he wasn’t faster than lightning—about twenty eels struck him squarely on the chest, and he landed ungracefully in a painful-looking roll before gathering himself, head twitching from linger electricity.

Durran and Anneliese struck when he was at a distance. Durran blasted him with a cannon of lightning that made Argrave’s ears ring, and Mozzahr was forced to shield himself with Emptiness that scattered under the power. Anneliese, meanwhile, collaborated with Melanie to rain a twisting spire of ice down upon his back. He quickly rolled out of the way.

“Melanie—keep that open!” Argrave shouted, running back. “Orion! Hit this as hard as you can,” Argrave told Orion, holding out the Resonant Pillar.

The prince obeyed, slamming the staff without question. It rung out like a great gong. Once he had the blow captured, he rushed where Melanie stood, diving through the portal. Mozzahr waited for him on the other side, and he held his hand to his blade of bone to imbue it with his raw power. When it overflowed with teal Emptiness, he prudently aimed it where Argrave could not block with the Resonant Pillar, then swung in a deadly arc at his neck.

But Argrave didn’t even bother defending. A great wave of teal malevolence exploded when the unimaginably powerful blade imbued with Emptiness struck his body, and great swathes of the room simply burnt away from the power. Argrave held firm, though, and swung the Resonant Pillar. He was clumsy and untrained, and so Mozzahr twisted his body in time to block with his shoulder. Even still, the mighty Castellan of the Empty staggered from the power, his arm dislocated.

“How…?” Mozzahr spat, teeth gnashing as he popped his arm back in place like it was a triviality.

As Mozzahr was forced on the backpedal, Argrave used [Gibbous Bloodmoon], an A-rank spell of blood magic. Mozzahr was quick to back away, but Argrave’s practice with Castro had some merit—it completed quickly, then exploded outward as a disc of malevolent power. Mozzahr blocked it with his forearm, yet it did cut his flesh. The spell utterly drained Argrave’s silver bracer, leaving him with only his echoes and his flesh remaining as fodder for his spells.

Another of Melanie’s portals opened above Mozzahr, wide and whole. Argrave worried he might retaliate at those beyond, but when two roaring pillars of fire slammed the castellan and forced him to the ground, his fears abated. When the spells ended, Orion jumped through, slamming his hammer upon Mozzahr’s head. The seemingly indomitable man’s head bounced against the ground, letting out an audible clock when it struck the floor.

Argrave felt elated that they might’ve gained some advantage in this fight he thought unwinnable. His thoughts proved a jinx. Mozzahr stood, sweeping Orion’s legs as he rose to his feet in an elegant motion. The prince managed to dodge the sweep, yet the cult leader’s assault continued. He swung his sword from above, and though Orion raised his skull shield to defend, Mozzahr’s other hand grabbed the top of it and shoved it down. Orion lurched forth, and Mozzahr’s blade hacked right into his shoulder, cutting past golden armor and flesh until the cut was near deep enough to sever Orion’s arm off. He slammed the prince against the wall, then cast him aside, bleeding and broken. He barely glanced at Argrave before he rushed toward Anneliese, Durran, and Melanie.

Argrave’s heart lurched before he rushed and jumped through the portal Orion had come from. He landed on the other side with Melanie, looking around while disoriented. When he spotted Mozzahr, he rushed to meet and block the man. The castellan simply jumped Argrave, perhaps recognizing his attacks seemed to have no effect. Argrave tried to cast a spell to catch him, but couldn’t get a good position.

Anneliese and Durran stepped back, brandishing weapons made by gods, but Argrave feared for them. The only one who didn’t seem afraid was Melanie—she stepped forth, her black greatsword shining with a brilliant red tip. She thrust it out toward Mozzahr, and a brilliant red sword exploded outward. Mozzahr cast a spell that blasted out wind to force himself to the right, yet once again, Melanie’s ability proved its limitless usability. The red sword passed through a portal of her making, and then slammed into Mozzahr’s back. He soared far beyond his target, skidding and rolling like he’d just been hit by a car. Even though Argrave saw blood on his back, the monstrous fighter recovered smoothly and threw the blade he’d been holding.

The blade spun through the air, its flight pattern impossible to predict. Argrave ran toward it like a fool, but it ended up swerving straight at Anneliese. She conjured a ward and darted to the side, yet it still broke through that defense sliced right past her waist. Her blood splattered on the ground. When she landed and began to heal the wound, only then did Argrave’s panic abate somewhat. He stood over her protectively, gaze flitting between the blood and the enemy. She nodded, indicating she was fine, though he didn’t miss her heavy breathing.

Opposite them, far away, Mozzahr rose. Argrave walked ahead of his companions, Blessing of Supersession still active. He didn’t miss the Castellan of the Empty stutter-step to gain his balance. He had no glaring wounds, and all the bleeding was staunched by the Emptiness in his body… but no one could deny that this battle had taken its toll on him.

The only question remained… how much longer could that last? And how much longer could they last?

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