The Death of War

"Foolish mortals, how naive of you to think you can kill a god." The dragon says in a mocking tone.

"We'll see about that, Typhon." Rune says, readying Sharligh, a string of light forming in his hand. He releases the string and it fuses into an arrow, flying towards the dragon. It pierces through its scales, through the dragon and then fades away. Typhon is taken back from feeling pain.

"What?! How can-" He notices the glow of the bow as Rune prepares another arrow, "Of course…I can't destroy those weapons, but I can destroy you!" He spews out purple flames burning everything in their path. Rhen holds up his hands as the flames engulf them. The flames die off to reveal the group unscathed, a glowing aura of blue surrounding them. Rhen lowers his hand and the aura fades.

Typhon roars as he flies toward them, claws at the ready. The group separates as it approaches. Rhen and Reve go to the left, while Rune and Synthia go to the right, two of Typhon's claws scraping past the forming large dirt moats. The dragon turns back around as Rhen puts waves his hands against each other, water appearing in the air. He raises a hand closing it into a fist and the water hardens into ice. Throwing his hand forward, Rhen launches burning icicles at Typhon. Typhon shields himself with his wings which the icicles crash into, unaffecting them.

Typhon roars toward the sky, the ground shaking and purple light emanating from it. Black and purple creatures made of a goo-like liquid ooze up from the ground. Reve pulls out the Balid Alkahilda, it's flames bursting to life and taking the form of a katana.

"Rhen, Rune, focus on hitting Typhon, me and Reve will keep them at bay," Synthia shouts, readying her naginata. They nod, readying their weapons.

As Rune shoots arrows at the dragon, Reve and Synthia clash with the monsters. One monster slashes at Reve with three arms, he barely manages to jump out of the way. He waves the Balid Alkahilda around, the flames going from a katana to a long axe, and cuts off two of its limbs. Synthia jumps as a four legged creature lunges at her. She lands on its back and plunges her naginata into its head.

Typhon approaches while Rune continues to shoot arrow after arrow, rays of light shooting through the night sky.

"He's coming our way," Rune states, turning to the others.

"Just keep shooting!" Rhen says as he launches icicles at a approaching creature. Typhon keeps approaching.

"Uh, guys, he's not slowing down!" Rune twist the string of light before shooting arrows as fast as he can, aiming for the wings, the arrows now sticking to them rather than passing through, "Jump, now!"

As Typhon comes within feet of them, they all jump to the side, Rune ripping the light string, causing all the arrows in the dragon to glow brightly. It roars in pain as its body lights ablaze as the arrows burst with radiance all along it. It's body almost crushing them, Typhon falls to the ground, the ground shaking as its body crushes hundreds of trees.

"Now's our chance!" Reve yells. They all nod as they run off toward the dragon. They cut through the monsters that block their path and heading for it's head as the dragon attempts to recover, it's body starting to glow a faint purple. As they run down the length of its body the purple starts to fade away, going from the back heading toward the head. The glow disappears long before they reach its head.

"You think this is the end?" Typhon asks as they come into eyesight, "This is merely the beginning, you can't kill me, I am war, I am death, I am eternal,"

"Not anymore," Reve says. The three men hold up their weapons, a brilliant glow appearing as their strengths combine.

"Eien no heiwa!" They shout as they plunge their weapons into the dragon's head, a final roar of pain as the life drains from its eyes, going from a dark purple to a light grey. All the creatures suddenly melt back into the ground as their cries are gurgled by their own bodies losing shape.

"It's over," Rune says, "We did it, we killed Typhon, we killed war!" He shouts ecstatically.

"The world, will finally know peace," Synthia adds with a sigh of relief, "And hopefully, it will stay that way."

"Of course it will," Rhen says, "For as long as we live, there will be no more of this kill or be killed land," They start the long journey back to their base. The three men too relieved to worry about anything, Synthia walks alongside them, clutching her naginata, pondering what had just happened. It all felt so, easy. Their whole lives had come to this moment, only for it not to feel fully victorious, like something was amiss. She suddenly hears a voice from behind.

"You…you all, will pay!" She stops and turns to see purple flames bellowing at them. She pushes through the others, who are caught off guard, and uses herself as a shield. A scream of agony fills the devastated forest as the flames engulf her.