Demons of the Lethe attack

Life was miraculous. A few days ago, I was buried in the anxiety of my a-levels. Now I was hunting down monstrous beast in trial to join a race of horned darked winged angels.

The gray earth was soft and silky under my feet as it collected into a small hill. The very hill I, Marcel, and Rubel stood on.

A strange river barred our descent and an eerie fog coalesced around us, restricting our senses 

"strange" Marcel remarked.

His soft golden hair lending him a valiant look. "A third circle realm shouldn't restrict our divine field by this much."

"ha-ha scared?" Rubel laughed. "I for one am looking forward to whatever surprises are in store." He followed by marching forward confidently. Marcel reluctantly followed with a grimace.

The caution in his steps didn't escape my notice. I watched as he carefully plodded through the strangely grey waters a few meters behind Rubel. 

Worried creases coalesced around my brows. Something wasn't right. A prognosticating feeling arose from my soul, almost immediately a terrifying explosion occurred within the previously still waters.

"BOOOM"

As if on cue the previously still river erupted in fury.

The water smashed against the earth in an equally deafening fashion. Marcel and Rubel stood warily on the river bank. A pair of resplendent golden scimitars shone brilliantly in marcels palms whiles Rubel held a majestic violet halberd that radiated a strange hypnotic light.

They faced two very strange foes. Their transparent forms rippled as limbs and a head vaguely took shape.

"humph" marcel snorted he swung his scimitars in two beautiful arcs, releasing brilliant golden beams of energy that threatened to vaporize the two eerie creatures. 

A strange hum reverberated through my skull as the two beams froze just as they had reached their targets and ruptured in a crazed manner, failing to even touch our foes.

My eyes widened open in shock as the two blobs finally took form. They were exact water replicas of Marcel and Rubel. Even flawless copies of their weapons rested in their hands. When they made a stance, they looked even more refined than the originals.

The two sides studied each other. A strange silence took form on the battle field. Creepy smiles emerged on the faces of the water clones.

Immediately sparks flew as a clash reverberated through the air. Halberd against halberd, scimitar against scimitar.

Faster than I could register the earth became a field of violence. The ground quaked as a miniature cyclone took form around the combatants. Brilliant flashes of golden light charged the air as strange hypnotic waves of power radiated outward. I waited endlessly for my fear. It never came. My soul found solace in the erratic environment as if I was perhaps born for this, as if I was truly in my element.

With my unending stare I found comprehension. The originally spry battle slowed to the extent that even I was able to perceive the ferocious figures that clashed within.

Pulsating grey threads arose from my two associates where the were none from the water clones. I inherently new; I was sensing their terror. One that grew stronger with every passing second. They wouldn't win….or live. 

Rubel possessed a bold and audacious fighting style. Each of his attack were imbued in unmistakable conviction. For that reason as well his attacks werereckless and full of openings.

Marcel was the opposite. He was more cautious, more perceptive, sadly his attacks lacked speed.

The clones however were immensely different. Rubel's clone had the same unshakeable faith. However the accuracy of his attacks were flawless and his stance impenetrable. 

Marcel's clone similarly bristled with his accuracy but had no lack of speed. Besides their uneven strengths, the two were at another obvious disadvantage.

They steadily accumulated damage as the water demons not only healed, but became faster keener and more ruthless with each attack taken.

The two eventually locked eyes. Both eying the other's sorry state.. They gave eachother a nigh imperceptible nod in tandem as their respective weapons began to glow.

The water demons continued to press forward recklessly but the divine embers within Rubel and Marcel's pupils only grew stronger.

The water demons started to slow as if somehow curbed by light of their blades. The two managed a parry unanimously.

Marcel immediately sunk his golden blade into the gray earth as Rubel raised his halberd to the sky, his figure undaunting.

With a unionized yell they called forth an improbable sight. The hair on my neck stood in fright as the gray earth erupted in a mas of golden light that surged endlessly.

Swallowing everything within a range of a quarter mile. Ruthless winds buffeted me as I was bathed in a flowing purple light. My eyes rose to the sky to find a descending purple moon gracing the earth with its presence.

However it drew closer, so much that I could see that it was entirely composed of golden-purple energy. It touched the rampant golden torrent and brought about a rupture that collapsed space. A cataclysmic explosion that raved the landscape. 

Their reasoning immediately donned onto me. They couldn't curb their foes with their individual powers due to being of similar attributes. However a combined exponentially magnified attack none of them should have been able to survive in their peak states ought to do the trick.

Unfortunately fate proved to be far too cruel as the dust cleared to reveal two unscathed figures in a strange orb of glowing energy, alternating between purple and gold.

I immediately understood what had occurred. If it was possible to merge attacks then couldn't defensive skills be overlapped as well?

I could sense the despondency that permeated the atmosphere as the two clones edged slowly towards their counterparts with cold smiles. My mind regressed to an old memory.

A figure helplessly pressed under a monster as she was obliterated. I had grown to detest this scene. And even before I realized I had already vowed to never let anyone die for me again.

I reached deeply into every dark corner of my being, searching for that strange burst of power i had channeled before. It didn't return; regardless I felt a new instinct rising up from deep within me.

[ You only have one shot] A familiar voice cautioned. The helpless figures below flashed through my pupils. I was certain of what to do. My abdomen inflated and then; 

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAH"

An inhuman bellow escaped my lips. A deep jarring baritone that visibly shook the earth. The water clones clutched their ears in apparent agony.

Their liquidizing forms trembled ominously, erupting in a shower of rain. 

My voice raged on endlessly forcing rivers to riotand billowing sands to erupt. Burying an area within a half a meter radius in a flurry of rioting elements. 

As the elements calmed a wave of fatigue that vibrated my very core as I began to fall limply.

"Steady there, doesn't feel so good to kiss the dirt" I felt the support of an arm. I could afford a weak glance that registered Rubel's childish expression, managing a scant laugh in response. "like you guys did just now"

Rubel's grimace was followed by a wanton laugh. I didn't need to turn to know that Marcel also flanked me. I didn't remember crossing the river but when my grogginess escaped I stood on the side opposite to where I had previously been. 

The fog had unveiled the lightless sky and the ground beneath me had changed to a deep crimson black. I sensed it clearly; the scent of death. Next to me, both Rubel and Marcel had grave expressions. 

Nonetheless noticing my returned bearings their expressions softened. "We owe you our lives, and our respect." Marcel announced in a severe tone.

 "keep your lives" I jested as I left their support to returned to my two feet. "Your respect is good enough for me. Where are we?"

I was certain that this couldn't possibly be our trial realm. The horrid gray river still flowed idly behind.

"The grave of the dark shuras; the nether death lands. Actually, just a part of it. As for the river it should be the Lethe, one that is known to breathe life into the worst inclinations of the human heart."

He seemed to realize who he was talking to when he registered my uncomprehending stare. "I'm certain you know how the dark shuras were destroyed. The other shura races were unwilling to commit slaughter on such a grand scale, even against such a sinful foe. As such when their forces were whittled to the point where they couldn't hope to compete against the might of the other races they were throne into the depths of these very lands. 

No being could possibly survive there, except perhaps the gods of old. In comparison the outskirts we now inhabit are simply heaven. many exceptional young shuras are even sent here to gain experience. Unfortunately..."

"We are mere legacies and this is far beyond our abilities to handle." I concluded for him. Despondency took precedence in our minds. We had after all we had almost perished the moment we arrived. What's more it was by the hand of ariver.

Suddenly a thought struck and a strange instinct welled up in my soul.

My legs carried me forward, drawing the curious gazes of my two companions as I stood silently at the bank of the river.

"Adam" Rubel said in a low warning voice. A flash of vermillion tickled the index of my left as a worn ancient sheet fluttered into the pale crystalline waters