66 Meaningless Deaths to a meaningless War (1/2)
”Why...?” Riyku would question with despair in his voice.
On his knees, he had dropped his rapier at his side. ”I am... too late...” Tears started to form in his eyes as he saw his friends either dismembered, burned, or impaled to death. Of course, his group wasn't the only one to take losses, but they were not prepared or aware of what was going on. Not only that, but they were all dead. Some even frozen solid. They all had the same unexpected look of shock on their faces.
”Riyku. Unleash me. Unleash my power. Call out my name and take hold of my blade. You may have lost them, but you can still save Astraia. Do it. You need my power if you want to defeat this many.” Skeith would whisper eagerly into his mind; however, Riyku ignored him. He was too focused on what was before him. Not even yesterday they were all laughing and having fun. Even several moments ago they were cheering and smiling, but now that was gone and it would never return. The joy-filled smiles and happy moments that could have come from interacting with his friends were taken away. All for what? Some amusement to some asshats? Riyku's emotions started to turn towards hatred. ”I'll kill them...” Riyku would mutter as slowly stood up. ”I'll devour them...” He added, his right arm starting to give off an ominous flare. It was then that those who remained inside of the hut that had been collecting the flag and Essences of the dead took notice of him.
”Yo, we missed one.” Someone called out. ”Kill him. He is from the CrimsonAsh Netherworld.” Someone stated. ”Sure. But it's a shame we had to kill all the girls. They were fine as fuck.” The third called out. ”At least there is one more. Let's leave the other one alive and have fun with her.” A final person stated. Riyku could easily overhear their remarks, but his mind was too focused on one thing.
”Kill them all, boy.” A sweet succulent and clearly feminine voice unlike Skeith's echoed into his mind.
”Use your power. Your's alone is all that is needed. That demon's power is not needed, it is never needed. Just use yours.” The voice continued.
However, something interesting happened. Riyku did not heed the voice's words. ”Skeith,” Riyku grumbled which caused a blade to surge from his chest along with a flare of ominous diabolical energy like the first time Riyku called to Skeith. The energy shot skyward like before; and again it caught the attention of everyone. Including the Overlords who were watching. Astraia's eyes went wide, ”Riyku!” She called his name out while pushing back someone who had dropped their guard. ”Something must have happened... were we too late? Why? Why did this have to happen? Why now!?” Astraia cursed within her mind before shouting aloud Riyku's name one more time.
The thrust of a broad sword seemed... slow. Sloppy. Unsteady. So, Riyku would grasp it with his right arm to halt the strike. His claw steadily making cracks along the blade as he tightened his grasp. His attacker was unsure why Riyku would even catch the blade with his bare hand. Even more so when Riyku snapped the blade in two; the look on his attacker's face was 'How?' It would remain that way even after Riyku pierced his attacker with his own weapon, lifting the attacker off the ground with the blade. He would then switch it up, thrusting his right-hand claw into his attack's chest while ripping out the blade. The attacker jerked twice to each motion with blood spewing from his lips. Riyku looked over his attack, watching tears from in his attacker's eyes. There was no remorse in Riyku's eyes. No regret. Only the urge to kill.
Riyku would cling to the attacker's heart, and the attacker would winch in pain with heavy sobs. Squirming around to try and break free. It had to be because he did not want to die right? Well, that was part of it. The other reason was that his attacker felt his Essencess steadily being drained. The skin was starting to rot and wrinkle, slowly being dried out like some kind of grape and when Riyku was finished with him he crushed the heart. In reaction to the immense amount of power, his attacker's body exploded into pieces, with steaming guts and giblets everywhere. Riyku would lower his right arm back to his side and raise his blade at the rest in the hut. Those who were chanting had stopped. They could not speak another word, not after what they just witnessed. Some of them ended up vomiting their lunch. Others were frozen completely in fear.
”How did it go...” Riyku finally spoke. From his voice, it was clearly him, but his attitude was not the usual happy kind. Why would it be? ”I think it went like this...” Riyku was recalling something as he steadily rose the blade above his head. His right arm coming up along with it while he gathered Diabolical Energy into it. Setting the butt against his right hand he would run the entire blade through his hand drawing upon the energy he had gathered and unleashed it in the form of an arc into the hut. He had mimicked Skeith's attack when Skeith had taken over his body.
Screams could be heard coming from inside the hut along with an explosion. Riyku determined there was no one left alive. He did not check, he felt he did not need to. Turning on his heel he looked down the hilltop. He saw that the battle had stopped. Everyone was staring at him as he looked down upon them. His attention shifted to the blade in his hand. A voice, sinister and distorted.
”Interesting... not just any demon can use Raw Diabolical Energy. Not only that, but you even morphed it into a sharp shape and gave it an explosive property... Even if you did mimic my movements, to pull it off on your first try... Perhaps there is more to you.”