Lord of the Abyss

Durkins runs after Jervaintus and catches up,

"You're seriously going to take that demon lord all by yourself?" He asks.

"You heard that right." Jervaintus cracks his knuckles.

Sirena steps out from the shadows to smack Jervaintus on the hide multiple times.

"Ow! The heck was that for?!" He covers his head.

"You're a madman thinking you'd have a chance to survive against, let alone defeat one of the lords of the abyss." She scolds him.

As the two argued, Whittham approaches them.

"Greetings, young man. I am Whittham, leader of Agnaum." He introduces himself as he takes a courteous bow.

He explains to them that he will personally help out in Jervaintus' pursuit of the demon. He presents to him the firearm, a small flintlock pistol. He explains to him on how to use it. He gives him a pouch of bullets to which Jervaintus thanks him.

The group are joined by a small host of Agnaum soldiers Whittham summoned. They travel to the mountains northeast of the tower. They spend the days chatting and telling stories while Jervaintus focuses on preparing himself to combat the demon lord.

One day, they come across a small caravan along the way. They are villagers evacuating from the northern villages. Sirena runs up to them and asks their leader what happened. He explained that the northern towns have been ravaged by the demon lord's army even the capital city of the Jyus, Jyus-Shin, has been abandoned.

The group is shocked by the news. They're up against an army of abyss demons, they could be attacking the village of Gwynharth west of where they stand. They redirect their route and call upon reinforcements from the other kingdoms.

Joventrius is devastated by the fact his city fell but musters his courage for the sake of his people. More and more survivors find their way into the village as well as plenty of soldiers and magi who serve the Jyus Society.

Layson approaches the group to give them a vital piece of information about the abyss lord.

He presents the group with a book and explains,

"I have done some research on Azeryan, Lord of Shadow. He is one of three lords who govern the Abyss. As his title suggests, he can control shadow and manipulate it to his will. Be it minions, weapons or to manipulate his victims. He hides within the shadows mostly but me and the other mages can force him out. Once he is out, you may dispatch of him like a normal abyss demon but beware, he has an immense life force and regenerative abilities, defeating him will not be easy." He looks at Jervaintus.

"All the more for me to take him down." Jervaintus leans back on his chair.

"I do not think our current forces will be enough to protect the village." Durkins sounds pessimistic.

A scout enters the room,

"My lords, the demons are fast approaching the village! They could be here any moment." He screams with urgency.

Durkins orders the soldier to prepare the defenses, Whittham and Layson go outside to join the garrison. Jervaintus heads to Sirena's room to check on her. He opens the door and attempts to speak but he is taken aback by her. Her face is painted in ink and the art resembles that of a demon. Jervaintus is confused whether he is supposed to be impressed or scared as he is taken back to his first encounter with an abyss demon. She slowly approaches him slowly and places her hand on his cheek, she could feel him tremble.

"When one faces demons, we must not hesitate to fight like they do. For they do not deserve mercy." She locks her eyes onto his as she slowly lets go and heads outside to join the others.

"I really have a good feeling for this fight…" Jervaintus trembles, chuckles and joins her afterwards.

The sky is blanketed in darkness however some rays of light poke through the holes. The soldiers hurriedly get into position. As time passes, the darkness of the clouds reach ever closer to them.

Durkins calls forth the soldiers,

"Men of the Kingdom of Hozran, of Agnaum and of the Society of Jyus! I implore you all to defend our people from these evil, godless creatures! I ask that you stand not as adversaries, but as brothers and sisters who share the same fate. We will not let these demons claim this world or we will die trying. To arms, great warriors and magi! For Myreia!" His speech invokes valor from the combined forces.

The soldiers scream in unison, they let out a loud battlecry. The abyss demons are fast approaching. A knight in armor, draped in black, rides in on a similarly demonic horse, his stench is manifested into the dark fog emitting from his evil. The Lord of Shadow shows himself, leading a pack of demons in his command.

"Tremble, mortals for your doom has come." Azeryan draws his blade, a long and thick monstrosity of a war cleaver.

The abyss demons charge at them, many getting caught in the combined forces' spear wall. The mages from the back fire off elemental bolts that hold off the initial waves of demons. Agnaum riflemen provide support to the front.

"Is this the best you humans have?" The demon lord mocks them.

The demons start to run over the demons who are struggling against the shield wall, making holes into the defense. Jervaintus takes advantage and wipes out as many demons as he can, Sirena also assists him. The skirmish lasted for ours as the demons' numbers barely diminish while the human forces drop drastically.

Jervaintus takes it upon himself and slices through the demons to reach Azeryan. The more demons he slays, the faster he reaches the demon lord. The alliance takes this advantage and decide to push against the demons, despite their numbers being too few.

Jervaintus stands before the abyss demon lord of shadow, his blade drenched in the dark blood of the other demons. He then points his sword and challenges him to a duel,

"I've been training and waiting for one of you to show up." His eyes down the demon.

Azeryan dismounts his horse and stands over Jervaintus, their difference in size now made clear.

"No matter what you do, you are still mortal. You can only delay the inevitable." The demon's voice echoes throughout the battlefield.

General Durkins and Sirena look towards him with a concerned look on their face.

"You will die, and you will fail." Azeryan tries to get a cheap shot and slashes Jervaintus.

He dodges the slash and use his speed to his advantage, he cuts the demon in multiple angles and the demon barely flinches from it.

"Your holy silver will not be enough to defeat me, mortal." He proves as he stands there and takes every single hit, his body completely heals itself quickly.

Jervaintus' blood runs faster within him, increasing his combat capabilities even further. He attempts one more cut against the demon, this time nearly cutting his arm off, which surprises him. He continues this assault nearly forcing the demon on one knee but as he is about to unleash another blow, Azeryan grabs him by the neck, strangling him with one hand. Jervaintus pulls out a knife coated in some liquid and stabs him which causes the demon to shriek in pain.

"What have you done to me?!" He recoils his hand and clutches it deep.

"Holy water, you dumb creature!" He takes the knife and tackles him into the ground.

He relentlessly stabs the demon through the chinks in his armor. This display even puts the demons and soldiers at a stand still. The demon lord screams in an ancient language and some demons break away from the main army and charge at Jervaintus. Whittham signals his riflemen to shoot them. The demon lord drops his weapon, and tries to get Jervaintus off of him. The demon lord submerges into the ground into his shadow form, this catches Layson's attention and he immediately orders his mages to bring him out. As he begins chanting, an arrow from far away hits him in the shoulder. He ignores the pain and carries on with the spell.

As the demon lord nearly escapes, he is forced out of the shadows. Jervaintus pulls out his flintlock pistol and fires at Azeryan. The bullet whistles through the air and penetrates the leg of the demon lord, causing him mind-shattering pain. However, he laughs at Jervaintus.

"Now's not the time to show your arrogance demon." Jervaintus places the sword near the demon's neck.

"It is your arrogance that has failed you, mortal." He points towards the battlefield.

Jervaintus turns to see the abyss demon overwhelming the alliance, their numbers increasing by the second. He sees Durkins signalling for the retreat. Layson being carried by medics. Sirena nowhere in sight. It seems to him that all hope is lost until a portal in flames opens up in the sky. Godfrey lands from the sky as a circle of purging flames engulfs the battlefield, the demons scatter about from his immense power.

Jervaintus looks on as Azeryan sneakily grabs his cleaver. He slowly and quietly raises his sword up high.

"His timing…is uncanny." Jervaintus comments as he turns back to Azeryan.

He gets chopped by the cleaver, slicing his body diagonally in half. The demon laughs in triumph before making his escape in the shadow. Durkins sees the scene as he reorganizes the forces,

"By the gods…" He murmurs and turns toward a grief stricken Sirena.

Her tears roll off into her cheeks, washing the war paint away. As Godfrey finishes off the demon stragglers, he meets up with the rulers of the kingdoms.

"I am sorry to have deceived you all. This was the only way to draw out the demon lords." He explains to them.

"Now we barely have any forces left to fight them off." Algis crosses his arms.

"You must stay united now or this world is lost." Godfrey urges them.

Whittham places his ornamental cane in front of him,

"We'll do our end, as long as you do yours." He tells Godfrey.

"I must consult with our creator. For now, you must hold the line." He disappears into flames.

Durkins checks the battlefield, he looks at Sirena kneeling and grieving beside Jervaintus' corpse. He closes his eyes and speaks a silent prayer.

Meanwhile, Jervaintus' soul is being dragged down into the abyss. Dead men's hands continue to drag him down until he drops onto an ethereal realm of shadow and death. It seems like the end of the road for this one….

…or is it.