Chapter 9: The Assassin's Reappearance

I immediately run up to Rothzal and slash at his face while Grelnar jumps at him, but Rothzal quickly blocks my slash with one gauntlet and defends against Grelnar's blow with the other.

Rothzal chuckles. "Is that all you have? You two truly are weak." He slashes at me with his claws but I leap back, out of the way. I look over to Grelnar. "Grelnar, cover me!" He nods and lunges at Rothzal to distract him.

Spiritus stands in front of me while I wave my hand over my katana, making lightning go over it. I jump onto Spiritus's back and ride over to Rothzal, still locked in battle with Grelnar.

Grelnar laughs. "Took you long enough!" He swings his axe at Rothzal's throat, but he easily crosses his claws over it to protect himself.

Rothzal swipes at Grelnar, but he immediately parries with his axe, then slashes at Rothzal's right leg, managing to cut through the armor and wound him.

Rothzal growls. "You little worm! How dare you make me bleed!" He furiously unleashes a flurry of attacks at Grelnar, who just barely manages to block them.

I take the opportunity to ride around Rothzal and throw some lightning orbs at him, and he yells as they shock him. Rothzal immediately turns to me and sprints at me, claws at the ready.

I block his attack and I slash at his left arm, managing to cut it open. Rothzal glares at me. "How is a mortal fool like you able to wound me?!"

I smirk. "Because you're the fool. You let your guard down, so I took advantage of the opening. Maybe you should pay more attention to your dear mother's lessons."

Rothzal's eyes burn with rage. "Do not disrespect Mother that way! She is the savior of this pitiful world!" He swipes at Spiritus's side and manages to cut him, so I jump off and let him return to his dormant form for a bit.

I go over to Grelnar and hold my hand out. "Quick, give me your axe." He hands it over and I wave my hand over it, covering it in lightning like my katana, then I hand it back. Grelnar grins and holds his axe at the ready as Rothzal charges over to us. "Hell yeah!"

As I defend against Rothzal's next attack, I take a closer look at him and I'm reminded of someone. "Hmm...Grelnar, doesn't he look familiar?" Grelnar slashes at Rothzal's back, but he immediately turns and blocks.

"You're right! He looks like elf boy!" Rothzal looks both annoyed and confused. "Who in hell is this "elf boy"?! What are you two going on about?"

I stop and stare at him. "Do you know Lonril Norvendis?" Rothzal suddenly starts cackling. "Oh yes, I've heard of him!" I glare at Rothzal. "How do you know him?" Rothzal rolls his eyes. "That is a secret not meant to be told at this time."

Rothzal takes advantage of his opening and he gets a slash on my left leg, managing to cut through my armor and wound me with his serrated claws. "Perhaps you are the one who needs to pay more attention, Brutus Crescent."

I mutter to myself. "What the hell are those things made of...? They remind me of Yuri's armor and katanas..." Rothzal smirks. "You ask questions you are not meant to know the answers to. The question you should be asking is: How can I convince you to spare me, O Almighty Rothzal?"

I spit at him. "I'd rather waltz right into Solaris and let Yuri have me than let you and your delusional mother perform your monstrous magic on me!" Grelnar laughs. "I feel the same as him, so you shouldn't even try to say that to me!"

Rothzal shakes with fury. "How dare you stupid mortals have the AUDACITY to refuse my generous offer?! You are making the biggest mistake of your lives!"

I look at Grelnar. "Eh, I've made bigger mistakes. What about you?" Grelnar chuckles. "So have I, I think it's time to fix them. Let's take this dramatic bastard out once and for all!"

Rothzal crosses his claws over his chest and he starts chanting in a strange language, not unlike the one Yuri spoke when using his dark magic. Grelnar and I carefully defend and watch him to see what he does, when he finishes his spell and starts laughing maniacally.

Multiple clones of Rothzal appear, as real-looking as the original, and I sigh. "Not this shit again..." I ready my katana and buff it with lightning once more, then stare at the group. "Maximum effort."

I slice at one clone and throw a lightning orb at another, making them shimmer and disappear like the illusion of Shana that Rothzal made earlier.

Grelnar swings his axe at all the clones nearby him in a whirlwind of attacks, easily dispatching them. Rothzal growls and he tries to hide among the other clones, but I notice him because of the blood dripping from his wounded arm and leg.

I slash and stab through the crowd, trying to get at Rothzal. "This is annoying! Where did you even get illusion powers?" Rothzal laughs. "Your foolish questions amuse me, but I will not say."

I get an interesting idea, so I hold my hand over my katana and focus on "charging" it. Once it starts buzzing with power, I slash in the direction of the illusions Rothzal's hiding in, and a wave of lightning blasts from my katana, hitting all the clones and making them disappear.

The lightning wave hits Rothzal too, and he grunts as he gets shocked, then he stumbles. Grelnar and I take the opportunity and we run up to him. I slash his face, and Grelnar chops into his side, making Rothzal collapse to his knees.

I smirk and look down at him. "If you yield, you might get a quick death." Grelnar holds his axe at the ready. "Any last words, ya purple bastard?"

Rothzal closes his eyes as if listening to someone. "Yes...so he is necessary? Understood. Your will shall be done, Mother." He carefully stands and sheathes his claws. "Unfortunately, our playtime has ended. I must take my leave."

Grelnar glares. "You're not going anywhere, not without me!" Rothzal cackles and he immediately grabs Grelnar's arm in a death grip. "I wouldn't have it any other way!"

Grelnar growls as he holds his other hand to his head. "What is happening...?! What are you-" Before he can say another word, the two of them disappear in purple mist.

I look at where they stood, confused. "Where the hell did they go?!" I sigh and summon Spiritus, then climb onto his back. "I need to go back to Shana. Maybe she'll know something about this..." I ride across the plains, back towards Lazarus.