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War is brutal, but it has its beautiful moments. Merrick and I walk the path they have plowed for us, killing anything that still moved. The Demon King was bashing his power at me, trying to break in, but my mind sealed from him. We kept pushing through. Slaying our enemies all around us. Saul was grinning from ear to ear as he sliced through whatever stood in front of him and his companion clawing away gleefully at any he missed. She ate the head of one and the heart of another, roaring in triumph. Pippin and his companion, thundering through the pack after pack of clustered enemies shredding flesh from bones and severing limbs from bodies. It was a great battle from my eyes, and my blood was raging with lust. Lust for blood and vengeance for all lost to the plague of evil. This plague of death and despair. Most of the enemy has avoided me, but a few have had the courage. I struck them down without blinking and sent pulse after pulse towards my real battle. The Lord Commander, as he was calling himself.
He stood behind twelve men. Eyes blood red, boring into mine. I could feel him pushing against my mind, trying to find a weak spot. I smiled. "You cannot break me, Demon. These knights of yours will die, and then you too will die." The Demon King laughed, and I could feel it deep in the unknown places of my soul. It hurt.
“Everything you know, everything you love has been destroyed, Savior. There is nothing left for you and your men to save.” Merrick stomps her feet and snarls. Placing my hand on her neck, I shake my head, “You are wrong and talking is done.” I send out a pulse and watch him stagger as I sever the heads of his twelve. I waved one hand low, signalling to Merrick to wait, and I jumped the last couple of feet with my sword held high. I brought it down to clash with his sword as he swung around at the last moment. Our blades spark, and he tosses me away but not down. His face broke into a scowl, "I will enjoy carving your heart out, Savior." He lunges forward with a sideswipe, and I feel the blade whisk by as I jump back. I push a little into his head, making him shudder and stumble, but I feel him push back as I bring my sword around with a slice to his gut. I felt the tip of my blade make contact before he skipped back. A slight scratch marred his chest plate. He snarled at me and lunged then brought his sword up and around, trying to take my head. I skipped, twisted and ducked while slicing deep across his thigh and stabbing two quick little jabs into his side under his arm. He stumbled back, then arched back and howled deep into the air, and a roar responded while the ground shook. Behind him appeared a dog-like creature, taller and broader than the Demon. It snarled in our direction, and I felt Merrick shiver in anticipation. I could feel her joy at finally being able to join this particular fight. She stood tall and stomped her feet, huffing in the dogs' direction. I briefly wondered how Saul and Pippin were doing, but knowing they would slaughter all in their path and complete their destiny so I could finish mine to make the World balance again.
He brought his sword down as I stepped away, slicing into the back of my calf and making me stumble a bit. Thrusting up, I quickly pivoted on my right leg and knocked the Demon in his chin as he was moving down with a swift chop. Off to my left, I could hear Merrick clashing with the dog. I grinned in satisfaction as the dog let out a great yelp, and I felt the sprinkle of warm blood on my cheek. Holding my injured leg in tight and putting light pressure on the toes, I balanced my weight onto my right leg, preparing for my next attack. The Demon King was panting hard and hammering away at my mind, but it only felt like a soft breeze was tickling. "Why do you bother?" I asked. "I can feel you are pushing for a way in, but it is a wasted effort on your part. You should save your strength for the rest of our dance. I promise the song is almost ending." I twirl myself toward him with my hilt tucked close and my blade straight out, razor-sharp. I feel it slice into his arms as he brings them up too slowly and hears him scream as my blade slices deep into his back. He goes down howling as his essence leaves my mind, and I push twice as hard with mine and grin in satisfaction as he falls forward, head-smashing off the ground. Standing over him, I jab the tip of my sword into his neck, holding him in place as I ravage his mind. He has the key I need to complete my destiny.
I could not prepare myself for the hellish nightmare that was the Demon King's mind. I held firm as I bashed and lurked my way through the death and gore and lustful thoughts of this torturous mind. The perversions almost brought me down, but at the final moment, when I was sure my brain would turn to dust, I broke through into the center and found the key. It was not what I expected. I could not see it only feel it, deep in my being. Something just slid into place, the proverbial key into lock clicking. All my senses exploded. I felt the exhaustion fade away, and my body and mind became stronger. I felt the strength travel down my link with Merrick and watched as she stood taller. As my thoughts turned to Saul and Pippin and their companions, I felt the energy inside me drift out and surround them. Any wounds they had healed, and they stood taller and broader and let out ferocious battle cries. They flew like lightning and tore down the remaining army in the blink of an eye. Saul and Pippin stood beside their companions, breathing heavily, looking at Merrick, and I like we were gods. I twirl and slice off the head of the Demon King, strapping it to my belt and begin heading east once again. I hear Pippin and Saul follow, and I smile and listen to the rhythm pulsing from my center as it guides us to the end of our quest.