Then, with one last shove, Gossamer knocked Acolyte off balance and stabbed him in the chest with his horn! Just like last time, Gossamer raised up the devil before throwing him to the ground and beating down on him with his full weight and hooves! Only this time, as he was pressed into the ground, Acolyte fought back and punched each time the unicorn tried to stomp him, allowing less damage to be done.
But Gossamer grabbed him with his teeth and violently shook him around while slamming him into the dirt! He threw him to the ground again, placing a hoof on his head! But Acolyte tried to fight back, using his hands to hold back the hoof, keeping it from squeezing him like a grape! But no matter how hard Acolyte fought back, the beast's weight and strength were far greater!
Just as the precipice was met, Gossamer looked down at the devil and asked, "Still think I have no way to take you?", Acolyte said nothing as he continued to struggle, only for the unicorn to offer, "If you have any final words before I send your soul into the void, speak it now that it may haunt the hells."
Just as things seemed lost, Acolyte saw something that allowed him to turn this fight in his direction. So, with a smile, he said, "Just one. But I want you to come closer so I may whisper it for your ears only."
Typically, Gossamer would never fall for such a trick, but the devil's persuasion overshadowed his common sense. He leaned down to listen to what he said but kept his face out of reach. Then, the devil licked his lips and said softly, "You may be strong, but not smart."
Before Gossamer could think about what that meant and finish him off, Acolyte's tail whipped around and wrapped around the unicorn's horn! Before he could react, Gossamer felt his magic get sucked straight from his horn, leaving him completely weakened and unable to fight! Acolyte pushed the animal off himself, grabbed the horn with his hand, and forcefully drained the unicorn's stamina and magic like a sponge. Gossamer felt all his strength disappear faster than he could react, and before he knew it, he couldn't move anymore before fading to black.
As Acolyte dropped the unicorn, he snickered and threw him to the side while boasting, "It looks like I was able to take you on after all. Even without using magic, you still powered me up. Thanks for the meal."
As he licked his lips, he saw that what remained of the goblins and lizard men came charging him in one last ditch effort. Without even moving, he stood still and watched as they got closer and closer. Then, when they were within reach, he exuded the magic from his body, detonating it like a bomb! Any creatures too close got evaporated while all others were flung back and burnt from the force, power, and heat generated from so much energy exerted!
The explosion carried so far that the sheer force of the power exerted had blown away anyone who wasn't already down for the count or aiding others! Even Basil had to hold onto Marigold, who anchored her sword into the ground, to hold on! After the explosion ended, everything was dead quiet, and nothing was left behind but a dirt crator. Luckily, Gossamer, who was near the epicenter, was unfazed by the attack since it was his magic, but he still lay unconscious.
Just as Acolyte was about to continue his quest for Basil, he hadn't noticed that his explosion rocked the Rock Beehive and destroyed a section of the Blood Horn Bulls pasture. So when he tried to make a move, he was met by a charging herd of bulls who mowed him down! When the bulls finished running him down, they turned to do it again, but before Acolyte could attempt an escape from the slowly turning herd of death, the Rock Bees came in, commanded by their queen, and started to pierce the devil's flesh with the pinchers on their mouths and legs!
Acolyte knew his body couldn't take much more abuse! He had already pushed his natural regeneration to its limits! If he tried any harder or added magic to speed it along, his body would degenerate into sludge! So he waited for the bulls to make their loop around for a chance to take out two birds with one stone. Just as the bulls arrived, the bees flew off to wait for another opportunity, but Acolyte didn't allow that.
He released the magic he had within himself from several openings in his body. They shot forth like several photon beams that spread all around, sliced up several of the Blood Horns and dozens of Rock Bees. Causing the two forces to run off with the little numbers they had left. Once gone, Acolyte used the absorbed magic in his body to mend his wounds and clothing. After returning to total health and cleanliness, he quickly returned to Gossamer for a top-off. There wasn't much, but it was enough for him to fight off any last hurdles he had to jump or power through.
Seeing the devil advancing with nothing to stop him, Marigold commanded Basil, "Run! I'll hold him off!"
And before he could argue with her, she was off! The two ran headlong, and Acolyte tried to evade her, but Marigold didn't have it. As the devil flew over, she threw up her dagger, which was attached to a rope, and pierced the devil's stomach before pulling him to the ground!
Acolyte fell to the ground but quickly recovered while growling at the woman in a demonic tone, "Do you want to die, woman!?"
"Was about to ask the same thing.", Marigold vexed him while taking out her sword.
Acolyte calmed down for a minute but eventually tilted his head as he said with a chuckle, "You've got moxie and guts. Too bad I'm gonna have to rip em outta ya.", he stated while making a pulling motion with his hand.
"Just try it! I fought against a Dullahan on its horse with an overpowered flame sword. I can take you!", Marigold boasted.
Acolyte put a finger to his chin and said with cool ease and excitement, "So it was you who bested my mistress's knight? Then this'll be interesting."
Forming his hands into claws, he cut the rope but left the knife in. Marigold got into a ready stance and pointed her sword at the fiend. They circled like predatory animals, trying to size one another until Acolyte made the first move! Lunging at the woman and slashing with his demonic claws while Marigold returned with quick swipes of her rapier!
Acolyte was fast, but he underestimated Marigold's speed and agility! Before he knew it, he was being overtaken and overwhelmed by her! It started with one cut, then two, then five, then twenty! Before he knew it, Marigold had sliced the tendons in his arm, making them useless and allowing him to be fully open to whatever and wherever she decided to attack him, which was everywhere! In a matter of seconds, his body was littered with open gash marks, and even the tendons keeping his legs standing and jaw closed were severed, leaving them hanging!
Just before the woman could land a decisive blow, one of his arms managed to heal up, and he put it in front of himself, allowing the blade to go straight through it and grab the hilt! Marigold gasped at this, and Acolyte smiled as his jaw and one leg healed. Holding tight to the sword as the woman struggled to pull it out, he boasted before finishing her.
"I told you I was better than her knight.", he said before magically blasting the girl in the face, sending her flying and unmoving.
He once more turned to his quarry but was blocked by a group of three that almost made him laugh! A trio of Teto, Wrinkles, and Broomy who all looked ready to square up with the devil! Teto brandished a knife, Wrinkles bared his teeth and claws, and Broomy…looked as threatening as a broom could be.
Acolyte snickered at the sight and asked, "Seriously?"
But none of them responded, only looking more threatening, making Acolyte burst out into laughter until he was doubled over! After calming down, he said, "You three aren't even worth my time."
Just before he left them, Broomy whacked him up on the side of the head before sweeping his legs! Falling to the ground, he was jumped by Teto, who began to stab him multiple times! Acolyte tried to swipe him away with his tail and claws, but the little bird was too fast for him to snag! Broomy kept jerking him around and preventing him from standing on his feet or in the air, putting him at Teto's mercy. All Acolyte did was roll around in the dirt as he was hit by a broom and sliced by a bird.
Even when he did get a prime chance with no way for Teto or Broomy to escape his grasp, they would. He couldn't understand it! Even if one could fly and the other was naturally slippery, how could they keep evading him even when disadvantaged? Then he realized that the Kobold wasn't joining in the fight. Instead, he was standing on the outskirts, roaring!
While having his face gashed open by a knife, he tried to think about what was going on. Then it hit him like Broomy hitting his temple. Kobolds had the ability to give their friends and allies an advantage in a fight with a roar that encouraged them. That is why the other two could land a blow, keep him pinned, or evade him. All he had to do was take out the mini dragon.
"And now you're worth my time.", the devil growled before disposing of each of them.
So Acolyte got to his feet, allowed the broom to trip him, and when he was forced to the ground, he rolled like a ball right to the roaring Kobold, where he sprung up and kicked the small dragon right in the stomach so hard that it knocked Wrinkles out! With the Kobolds' assistance out of the way, he sensed Teto from behind and promptly grabbed him with his tail before slamming him down into the ground, breaking it and leaving the bird in a crater! Finally, the broom tried to come in for another sneak attack, only to be halted in midair by a mysterious force where Acolyte held up his hand with a smirk and then flicked his finger. This caused Broomy to snap and break down the middle, ceasing all movement!
Seeing no other obstacle before him, Acolyte teleported in front of the fleeing Basil, who had to stop short and skid backward from the devil's sudden appearance. Smiling down at the man, he slowly approached, knowing it was too late for him.
Only for Basil to make a last-ditch effort to fight back and produce his fairy gun while yelling, "Perry this, you filthy casual!"
Shooting all three fairies at once on the devil, only for him to use nothing but his tail to block the bullet speed faires. Basil looked on in surprise at this and stated, "Oh. Um…you're not actually supposed to perry them. Didn't think that would happen."
Only for the fairies to try and return with magic instruments in hand to defend the man. To which Acolyte simply flicked them away with his tail. Finally losing his patience, the devil exploded!
"I've had enough of this!", Acolyte yelled as he grabbed the man's throat while being lifted off his feet. Basil choked out and kicked his legs while the fiend told him with a snarl, healing any wounds left on his body, "I thought I could have a bit of fun before dragging you to my mistress, but your troops were far more trouble than they were worth! I just got this promotion, yet you forced me to use it to its limits!"
After getting his anger out, Acolyte pushed his hair back to look perfect and said in a calmer tone, getting uncomfortably close to his face, "Perhaps that's my fault for allowing things to get ahead of me. Nevertheless, you're coming with me now. Whether you like it or not."
Basil then slashed his hand across the devil's face, and the fiend reeled back from the pain, dropping his quarry as Basil backed away to face off against him. He then shot a beam of light followed by a lightning bolt right after to try and weaken the monster! Only for the devil to stand still and bring up his perfectly fine face with a smile.
"It takes more than that to hurt me!", he jeers at the man before blitzing him and kicking him square in the stomach.
Acolyte kicked him in the face and followed up by sending back his lightning spell at him! As Basil lay on the floor steaming from the electricity, Acolyte reached down and grabbed his head, holding him up to his waist while telling him in a sinister tone, "The mistress said I can't kill you, but she never said anything about breaking you. And since you're so insistent on fighting, I'll give you one you'll never forget!"
Acolyte then turns Basil around and grabs the back of his head, and the man's eyes go white! In his mind, Basil is placed in a blank white room with nothing inside of it. As he looks around the vast white nothing, something begins to come from the extensive distance.
Before he could wonder what it was, a slideshow of memories from his past life began to play in real-time before his eyes! But none of these were happy memories; they were all the worst moments in his past life, all being played like a sick movie across the white void! When one stopped, it would play again, followed by another and another until it was completely overwhelming! Whether he closed his eyes, shut his ears, or ran, he would always see, hear, and be unable to escape from the flood of bad memories that just kept playing repeatedly.
Back in the outside world, despite feeling like he had been in there for hours already, Basil had only been brought unmoving to his knees for a few seconds. His eyes glowed a soft white as he drooled out of one side of his mouth. Then tears began to form in his eyes, and a moment later, Basil began to scream bloody murder while flailing around!
His screams were so loud and inhumane that any sound in the area ceased to be! The wind, the crackle of fire, the moaning of the injured, the patter of Halfling feet scampering all around, all of it. Anyone still awake bore witness to the horrific sight and stood frozen in fear, unable to look away. All while the devil looked on with malicious satisfaction!
Marigold, who had woken up due to his screaming, looked up to see what was happening and gasped at the sight!
"BASIL!", Marigold pathetically cried out, only to watch as Basil continued to flail and scream. "NO! STOP!", Marigold yelled, tears in her own eyes, as she attempted to crawl towards him.
Being satisfied, Acolyte finally released the man, allowing him to fall to the ground with his eyes rolled back and streaming with tears. He didn't scream, but he didn't move either. He just lay there like a broken toy.
Tears flowed freely, as did her anger when she screamed, "Monster! What have you done to him?!"
Just then, Acolyte teleported right in front of her and picked her up by the throat while angrily growling, "Shut your mouth, wench! I'm tired of the whining and snivels of pathetic little creatures attempting this folly! None of you had a chance, not one!"
"What. Did. You do. With. Basil?", she demands while gasping for air.
"You must truly care about him. How noble and sad.", Acolyte said with a slight head tilt before smiling cruelly and telling her, "Before sending me off on my collection mission, my mistress gave me some information about that Baker. I simply made him relive all the horrible moments in his previous life. Over and over again."
"You…freak.", Marigold choked.
"Say all that you want bitch! You won't have much longer to do so.", Acolyte bellowed out a laugh before holding her face close and whispering into her ear with a hiss, "Once you're dead, I'll take your soul and make it my new pet project. Subjecting it to all forms of torture that your tiny mind can't comprehend."
Just before her vision went dark, she saw the hilt of her dagger still sticking out of the devil's chest, and with what consciousness she still clung to, she drove it deep into his chest using her boot! Acolyte gasped out in pain while dropping the woman! After gingerly grabbing the weapon, he yanked it clear from his body and turned his ire to the woman!
He felt something behind him before he could march and do her in. Before Acolyte could even turn to it, he was forcefully turned around, and the last thing he saw was a set of teeth! It was Burr.
The Bugbear Chieftain had snuck up on the devil, grabbed his arms, and then bit down on his head! After which, he bit the head clean off while ripping his arms clean from the sockets. After throwing the limbs aside and spitting out the head, he crushed the rest into the ground!
"D-bags strong, but not smarts.", Burr stated while wiping his face off the black demonic ichor. Moving over to Marigold, he helped her up while asking, "Lady Scrunk, ok?"
"I'm good, thank you, Burr.", Marigold replied weakly while taking out and downing a healing potion.
Seeing this, he moved over to Basil, who was still lying on the ground with his face cast in an eternally painful scream with rolled-back eyes. Holding him up and shaking him a bit, he increasingly exclaimed, "Man Scrunk. Man Scrunk! Basil Scrunk!"
After a long while, Basil twitched in his hands before finally gagging a bit and saying in a tone lower than the wing flap of a butterfly, "Burr…"
"D-bag is deds, no needs to-.", he began to reassure the man until a steering hot pain hit his back and straight through his gut.
Burr dropped the man and stood up, trying to reach for the attacker but couldn't. The object was thrust further through his body until a clawed hand was seen out the opposite side! Burr roared with pain as he dropped to his short knees and breathed ragged breaths as blood splattered across Basil's face.
"BURR!", Marigold yelled out desperately.
"How sentimental.", a very familiar voice began to say until the face of Acolyte appeared from behind the Bugbears' back. You know, I haven't been this choked up since I swallowed a fat dragon's soul. Boy, oh boy, was Tiamit mad." The devil laughed in nostalgia.
Burr managed to crane his neck enough to see the devil and asked in a painful voice, "D-bag? But hows? Yous-I-it impossible."
As Burr asked this, he looked back to where he thought he dismembered the fiend, only to see the dismembered corpse of an already dead lizard man! Burr gasped at this, and Acolyte chuckled.
"Do you like it? It's a skill I didn't know I had until earlier today. I call it Corpse Puppeteering.", Acolyte gloated before explaining, "I can take a body and make it look and sound like whatever I want. It's a great way to avoid unnecessary death."
Even as half his arm was through the Bugbear's body, Burr still tried to break free but only ended up roaring in pain! Seeing this, Acolyte shifts his posture, twisting his arm, while asking menacingly, "Still trying to fight Bugbear? Are you not afraid to die?"
Burr stopped for a moment to breathe, and after calming down a bit, he coughed out, "Not die. Sacrifice!"
With that, he roared loud enough to stun the devil for long enough that he could pull himself away from his hand! Once free, he turned around and sprayed all the honey he had within all over the monster! Once the devil was coated in a thick layer, Burr ran out of the way with Basil before it quickly exploded! Burr fell to the ground with Basil nearby and finally stopped struggling.
Basil, who had just regained some of his senses, saw this and could only stare. He felt weak, helpless, powerless. If he wasn't such a damn coward all the time, he probably could've killed this monster already, and no one would've had to die for him. But now it was too late; the goblins, the lizard men, the halflings and Small Torha, and now Burr were all either dying or dead.
But…why did it have to be like this? Why did he have to be weak, feel weak, and think he was weak? Then he remembered what Bow had told him. That power came from faith. Faith in oneself. Faith in others. Faith in being able to do what you thought you couldn't. He didn't have to be weak cause he wasn't! He was strong! He proved that over and over! And now…now he would do it again.
Luckily for Acolyte, the explosion did very little to him besides making him dizzy and superheated. He even used some of the magic he stored up to make a shield strong enough to resist it. He would've gone to finish Burr off after recovering, but then a beam of holy energy blasted him in the face and sent him flying back!
After tumbling a bit, he shot back up to his feet and felt his face, which burned to a charred crisp by the magic. However, the attack was weak, yet he couldn't heal his wounds! This is where he realized it would be the last time he could use this trick since he had pushed his regeneration to its natural limits. Now, he no longer had his hellish resistance; he was just as vulnerable as any other mortal.
"What the-?!" he asked himself after mending his torn suit. Looking over, he saw Basil standing back on his feet, looking half dead with red, watery eyes, shaky legs, and heavy breathing. Acolyte snickered at the sight and jeered, "So you got your second wind, huh? I thought reliving the past would have broken you, but you're stronger than I thought."
But without hesitation, Basil shot another beam of holy magic at the monster, who used his arm to block it. Even though the magic burnt his suit and charred his arm, Acolyte laughed in retaliation as he quipped, "HA! You'll have to put out way more holy magic than that to kill me!"
With newfound resilience and righteous fury, Basil charged up a shot of holy magic between his two hands before sending out a devastating beam of magic! Acolyte returns it with his own absorbed magic, and the two beams collide! Both attacks came to a stalemate, and neither could overpower the other until Basil exploded with rage and put even more power behind his attack! Breaking the stalemate and engulfing Acolyte in the light!
Acolyte used what magic he had left to make a shield, but even that wasn't enough, and it broke, leading the monster to get sent flying! After the light died down, an exhausted Basil was left with a crispy-looking Acolyte. He thought momentarily that the man had exhausted himself but found that to be wrong as the man let loose another holy attack, this time in an area of attack!
The wave washed over everything, but Acolyte only managed to dodge it because it was situated on the ground, allowing him to fly out of the affected area. But the fiend didn't get a chance to breathe as many small holy projectiles flew from Basil's hands and tore the devil's wings to shreds! He flew to the ground and looked up to see the man glowing like a looming flame of doom!
Then the flames took form, spreading away from the man and becoming two huge hands! Acolyte realized what was happening and tried to run, but he wasn't fast enough as the hand pounded him mercilessly into the ground! The pounding of the hands echoed throughout the Empty Lands, with nothing louder than Basil's war cry until he finally lost steam.
Finally given a moment to breathe, the Acolyte tried to think of a plan but came up with nothing. Hoping his Appraisal Skills would help, he brought his broken body up just enough to make eye contact with the man. Using his appraisal, he saw something he didn't want to do, and Basil did.
Congratulations, Holy Magic has increased to level 3.
New Spells have been added to the list.
Holy Weapon
Spirit Armor
Then, God's hands shrunk to the size of standard hands and coated themselves over Basil's own, making it look like he was wearing gauntlets. He soon summoned the spirit armor over his body, making him look like a knight. Finally, he summoned a weapon made of holy magic, which took the form of a sword-shaped kitchen knife! He brandished the weapon and pointed it at the devil, staring him down with pain and tears in his eyes!
Acolyte felt his sins run down his bruised spine as he said in a low tone, "Okay…maybe that is enough."
Then Basil ran towards him at a full sprint, and Acolyte tripped over himself, trying to escape! Once Basil was in range, he tried to thrust the knife into the devil's back but missed as Acolyte managed to escape! Just as Acolyte was running, Basil summoned another holy weapon, this time a vegetable peeler shaped like a spear. Using his new range, he poked at the devil, who managed to twist his hips enough to evade!
As Acolyte prepared to run away, Basil threw the spear and hit the fiend through the back while hooking him to the ground! Basil then ran towards the struggling monster and summoned another holy weapon. This time, it was a meat hammer that took the form of a war hammer! Jumping into the air, he cried out as he swung the hammer behind his head, ready to crush it over the monster who was wriggling like a worm!
Luckily for Acolyte, he broke the spear and jumped out of the way in time! Basil's blow was so powerful that stones larger than basketballs flew everywhere! Some even hit Acolyte, who was knocked into dizziness and prevented him from escaping. But Basil didn't let the devil rest as he bolted at him with two more holy weapons.
Two small stripping knives made to look like fighting daggers. Basil slashed them across the stunned devil until his senses finally returned, and he defended them by turning his hands into claws. Claws and knives clashed against one another in a furious rampage of sparks and metal sounds! Basil is always on the upper hand, and Acolyte is trying not to trip! Then, it finally came to a hand when they clashed again, and their weapons broke! Acolyte was forced back, but Basil stayed on him, proceeding to pummel him with his gauntlets of holy light!
Basil screamed in a furious rage as he endlessly and mercilessly beat the monster, with nothing keeping the devil standing but Basil's blow! Finally, he grabbed the bloody and beaten fiend's face before smashing it into the ground and holding him down! Basil converted his armor and gauntlets into magic as the monster flopped helplessly like a fish from the river.
With what determination he had left, Basil yelled, "You like absorbing magic so much? Then here! Absorb as much as you like!", and proceeded to siphon his holy magic into the monster.
White cracks of light quickly began to spread around the devil's body as he floundered about even harder! He squealed and squeaked in terror as he tried and failed to push Basil off or escape! Finally, the climax came, and the Acolyte could feel his physical form begin to collapse!
So, with nothing left to try, he begged, just like an imp.
"Stop, stop! I can't absorb holy magic! You're killing me! Please stop!", he begged the man who didn't relent.
Basil growled and yelled while pressing harder, "Tell me her name! Tell me your masters name, dammit! Tell me now!"
In desperation and blind faith that she would come to his rescue, Acolyte screamed out her name in a last-ditch plea while his body reached its breaking point.
"Lady-CHARLOTTE!", he cried out with his dying breath as his form took more cracks than it could handle and shattered like a cheap vase.
As Acolyte's remains scattered to the winds, Basil fell to his face in exhaustion, and everyone present looked on with amazement and caution. After Basil had caught his breath, he forced himself to get up but only got to his hands and knees. There he crawled to Burr, who was still lying on his back and bleeding in a pool of his own blood. After a long and painstaking crawl, he flopped beside him to catch his breath. After resting, he got back up and slightly splayed himself across the Bugbear's body.
"Burr.", Basil said through exhausted tears and heavy breaths.
"Basil…scrunk.", Burr managed to choke out, blood dripping down the sides of his mouth.
After gasping a bit, he held the Bugbear's big head while touching his wound and saying, with hope, "Don't worry. I'll just heal you and-." But when he tried to use his healing magic, nothing happened.
Basil paused momentarily and said, "No.", then tried again, this time with more force, but still nothing came.
Basil gasped, and in terror, he kept trying repeatedly while getting into even more hysterics, "No no no! Not now! Not now of all times!"
He squealed with frustration and tears welling up from trying to force himself so hard. Looking at his stat sheet to look for the problem; he realized that he had only a few points of stamina left and absolutely no magic. That's when he realized that using all that higher-level magic caused him to eat at his magic in no time flat!
"M-My magic, I'm all out!", Basil exclaimed aloud in stress, feeling as Burr painful coughed up blood.
Basil quickly thought, then called out, "Gossamer!"
But when he turned his head, he saw the once exquisite and shining unicorn look much sleeker and duller. He couldn't stand on his legs and could barely lift his head. Even his telepathic magic came out like a painful and fatigued whisper: "I'm sorry, Basil. But that devil took all of mine. I couldn't even heal myself right now."
"Slow, Flo, Moe!", Basil called desperately.
The three fairies quickly raced to the Bugbear and sprinkled their healing dust over him.
Only for the painful expression on his face to fade, but not the wound. With sadness in their faces and voices, they told him the bad news.
"The injury is too deep.", said Slow.
"We can't heal it.", explained Moe.
"We're sorry.", Flo apologized.
With panic setting in, Basil tearily cried out, "Bow?!"
"He's out cold. We can't wake him.", said one of the Halflings as a small group tried to shake the young boy awake.
Basil shook his head in disbelief before calling out as loud as he could, "Anyone!? Please!", but no one spoke up.
The halflings came towards and bandaged the beastly goblin quickly but could do nothing else. Marigold searched frantically through her unconscious friend's packs. After a bit, she pulled out a much more powerful healing potion and ran over to help the Bugbear drink it. But even that wasn't enough to close the wound. When Basil asked her if she could perform magic, Marigold could only solemnly shake her head. Even her own healer was still unconscious. She even told him that this was a magical wound and that only magic could dispel it.
As he heard this, he cried silently while staring into the woman's eyes, only averted when Burr groaned in pain and shifted uncomfortably. Basil wiped his face and tried to assure him, saying, "Burr. No no no. Just hang on a little longer; I promise we'll get you patched up. I just-I just need to-concentrate!"
But no matter how hard he tried, the magic wouldn't come, and Basil just kept straining himself until he was red in the face.
"Basil.", Burr said in a small voice, finally making the man strip. Burr breathed a raspy breath and told him, "It's okay. Everyone safe. Yous kill d-bag. No regrets.", receiving a run on the head from the Bugbear's colossal hand.
All Basil could do now was sob into the goblin's furry chest as his head was petted. But it didn't last long as a set of new voices called out to Burr.
"Mister!", cried the voice of Bruim.
"Poopa!", called the voice of Wander.
As Burr's family gathered around him, holding and hugging the dying goblin, a smile came across his face at seeing them. Using one hand, he stroked his son, who was nearly half as big as his dad, clutched to his chest, and with the other, he stroked his wife's face as she held his head on her lap.
"Misses, pup. Good time.", Burr said to them as he coughed painfully.
"Poppa, don't die.", Wander begged his dad.
"Can't. Too weak. No healing. But no pain.", Burr told them
Bruim looked to Basil for help, but all she saw was lost hope and sadness as he mouthed in a low and choked-up tone, "I'm sorry.", making the female Bugbear return to comforting her dying husband.
"Basil scrunk.", Burr suddenly said, getting his attention. "Wants yous to do something for me."
"What is it?", he asked as the light faded from his eyes.
Basil couldn't form words, so he opted to nod. Then Burr asked him, "Pup naming ceremony soon. Wants yous to name pup.", he said while pointing to his only son.
Basil was speechless at the request and couldn't say anything until Burr coughed up blood. There he found his words and replied, "Burr, I-I can't. He's your child, and-I'm terrible with names. I named Teto after a pet I had when I was three. I added a Y to the end of my living broom. I call my demon spider a cushion. For goodness sake, I named my pet wyvern after a fruit!"
"Yous prove yous good, yous friend, yous…family. Want to give honor to yous and no one else.", Burr said with as much enthusiasm as he could manage. After coughing again, he asked, "Just tell what name yous give to pup."
Basil looked at Burr, then at Wander, then back to Hurt when an idea came to mind, and he whispered in his ear, "Yeong-ung. I'll call him Yeong-ung."
"Good name. Strong name.", Burr said with a smile as he coughed roughly one last time before looking back at his family and saying with his last breath, "Misses, pup. Lub yous."
Burr's face fell, his eyes closed, his body limp, and his heart stopped.
xXx
The following hours of the day were the shortest and longest of Basil's life. When the injured had been tended to by the vigilant halflings, a mass funeral was held for the many slain. The majority of which was dominated by every kind of goblin, lizard man, and a few unlucky halflings. All the warriors were buried under separate trees in the deeper part of the forest on Basil's land. Each one had an engraving of the fallen's name and a small note from a family member or close friend. Tears were shed, wailing was echoed, hugs were shared, and families said their last goodbyes. The saddest of all came from the final body to be buried, Burr.
All creatures of all walks of life or intelligence ranges stood in silence with their heads hung low in honor of the Bugbear Chief. The goblins hummed a strange and eerie-sounding melody, almost like Vikings singing, as his huge body was placed upon a large board and carried over the goblin's heads. Once placed over the grave under a large oak tree, a few Bugbears came forward and began sprinkling things upon the body: salt, herbs, dirt, flowers, or anything. Apparently, the goblins did something in honor of a fallen chief, representing how each individual saw the leader. Once the Bugbears were done, the Hobgoblins came forward. They touched the body before whispering something, almost like a prayer, which was apparently something they did in hopes that the spirit would be guided to the proper afterlife. Then, the small green goblins came forward and placed small tricks around the body. This was a show of respect since the smaller variety of goblins were very well known for being greedy, and giving something they valued was a sign of genuine trust, so the dead would only be with something to remind them of the living world.
Even the lizard men got in on this and filled their throat pouch with air before bellowing out in unison. All the while, Pythor chanted something while waving his staff around with burning sage. This was their way of thanking the goblin for his aid in the justice retaliation of their first home. Then Bow came up, and despite the atmosphere, he didn't look sad; he seemed strangely happy. He leaned down to the goblin, kissed his forehead, and thanked him for all that he did and that his memory be forever remembered in the roots of nature. Even Ball thanked him by licking his unmoving hand. Hagson was next, accompanied by Myeon. Hagson said and did nothing apart from look away and sigh sadly while Meyon placed a sheet of silk over his eyes.
The halflings and Small Torah showed appreciation by picking out the trees, digging the holes, covering them, planting flowers, making the engravings, and even allowing the other monsters to be buried where the other halflings were laid to rest. Gossamer stood to the side, watching with respect as he used his returning magic to mend Broomy. Teto and Wrinkles patted his head and moved on since one didn't have the best experience with him, and the other barely knew him. Marigold was one of the last and placed a wreath of flowers around his head before wiping her eyes and thanking him for his sacrifice. At the same time, Melon wasn't invited since she tried to eat his body.
And finally, it was Basil. But no matter what he did, he couldn't bring himself forward. So he stepped back and ran away! He ran and ran into the forest, tears running down his face that he tried to hide away! He kept running until he tripped and fell to the ground. He didn't get up and run again but instead lay there and tried to repress his urge to cry. Eventually, huddling into the fetal position and squeezing himself tight enough to hurt. Then he felt someone pick up his head and place it on his lap. Looking up, he saw Marigold caressing his head on her lap, stroking it in a rhythmic motion. Then she said something that finally put the man at peace.
"It's okay, Basil. You can cry. You can let it all out. I won't judge you. I'm here for you.", and so that's what Basil did.
He finally let go and allowed himself to cry loudly, bitterly, and unrestrainedly into her lap. He sobbed and sobbed, unfettered by whatever thoughts plagued his mind while Marigold comforted him. He cried until he had no more tears left to shed, so he lay under a tree with Marigold still holding him as he relaxed and stared into the branches.
After a long while, when Basil's tears finally dried up, Marigold asked him, "How do you feel?"
"Like shit.", Basil said with a shaky sigh while touching his throbbing head. Upon which he counter asked, "How are your friends?"
"Alive but a bit shaken after nearly suffocating to death.", Marigold told him.
Upon Hearing the last word, Basil placed a hand over his face and resisted the urge to sob all over again. After calming himself down, he sniffed, "I failed him, Marigold. I failed him. I couldn't save him."
"Don't say that. It couldn't be helped. You did your best--we all did. And in battle, sometimes you can't save the ones you care about. But in the end, you stopped that devil. Who knows what could've happened if you didn't?", the woman tried to assure him.
So Basil sighs in thought and replies, "He probably would've killed all of you before taking me."
"Exactly. It's a shame none of us could save Burr, but we all did what we could, and at the end of it all. That's all we can do.", Marigold added.
Basil sighed again, this time looking away, and he gripped. "I wish I wasn't such a coward. I fought Anaya and won. I could've beaten Acolyte."
But Marigold turned his head to her and told him, "Barely won. You don't need to put yourself in the firing line every time things go backward. And you are not a coward. You're braver than most people I know. You face adversaries head-on despite your fears, making you brave."
"Then why do I feel like I failed?", he asks her with genuine uncertainty.
Marigold didn't have an answer immediately, knowing she had to choose her words carefully. So, after a bit of thought, she told him, "Because you have a heart. A heart bigger than anyone I've met. And when something like this happens, it hits harder than most."
Before either conversation could continue, a voice called out to him, saying, "Uncle Basil?", Looking up, they saw the much larger Wander peeking from behind a tree. Coming from his hiding spot, he came over and lay beside him, where he placed his much more prominent chin on his chest and asked, "Why Uncle Basil leave Poopa burry?"
Basil sadly stroked the younger Bugbear's head and answered, "Because I don't deserve to see your father off. I failed to save him, to let him be a part of your life. I'm ashamed."
Then another voice called out and said to him, "Basil scrunk say no such thing.", looking up again, he saw Bruim, this time standing off to the side. Stepping forward, she assured Basil, "Scrunk allowed mister to see wes one last time. Allow me to say goodbye and lub. Mister die a true warrior, always what he wants. No shame, no anger, no regret, no blame. Scrunk try to help mister, misses thankful."
Basil looked away from the female goblin, afraid and ashamed but still unconvinced. That is until he heard the sound of many footsteps approaching him, and he looked round to see that the other goblins, lizard men, and halflings had arrived at his runaway spot. Hagson, Gossamer, the fairy triplets, Teto, Bow and Ball, Wrinkles, Melon, Myeon, and the now-mended Broomy were present. Myeon stood by his feet, pushing them around in an attempt to make him feel better. Teto and Wrinkles sat on both sides of Marigold, Hagson and Gossamer stood off to the far side, watching everything unfold. The Small Torah encircled the man with little gifts of flowers, berries, and leaves, and sad expressions adorned their faces, saddened by the sight of Basil. The fairies sat upon Wander's head, and Melon sat behind Marigold while snaking her neck around Basil's head.
"She's right, sir Basil. You did all you could. We all did. But we fought a foe far greater than all of us.", Hopkins told him, and the rest of the halflings silently agreed in a soft murmur.
The atmosphere changed when Pythor inquired, "Though, if you don't mind my curiosity.", The lizard garnered the man's attention as he paused to choose his words. "What did the devil show you that almost broke you?" he sincerely asked.
Basil looked around at all the friends, allies, and maybe even more. He wondered what he should say. One part told him to say nothing, but the other told him to be honest. So he listened to the second voice and mentally prepared himself to dump trauma on all these people and creatures. He just hoped he was ready enough to get through it all. Then he looked at Bow, who gave him a smile and thumbs up.
Finally finding the courage to speak fully and openly, he told the group of creatures, beasts, and monsters, "Perhaps…perhaps it's finally time I tell all of you the truth—the truth of who I am and where I came from. I'll tell you the whole story of my life, my first life. So listen closely. After I speak today, I'll never breathe another word of it. I owe all of you that much."
xXx
The scene returns to the glassy mirror in Charlotte's suite, the Devil Peer. She stood before her magic mirror and gripped at the walls in pent-up frustration and anger. As she dug her nails in, she loomed over the mirror, shoulders hunched and face clouded, before whispering, "Damnit."
Then, in a flash, she grabbed the mirror and threw it with all her might against the opposing wall, which shattered into hundreds of pieces! They shot several items in her room with magic, causing them to explode!
"DAMMIT! DAMNIT DAMNIT DAMNIT!", she raged with an untold furry.
After pulling at her hair and kicking her bed frame, she yelled, "HOW! HOW DOES HE KEEP WINNING! ARGH!"
After raging for several seconds and reducing her bedroom to ash and rubble, she cooled down before fixing her hair with magic and saying to herself while looking at the fragmented magic mirror on the floor, "That does it. I've had enough of this! I will not be made a fool any longer."
Marching to her door, she flung it open while angrily proclaiming, "I will simply take care of this myself.", She strode into the hall with unfounded determination and said, "Your luck ends here and now, love."
As she stomped through the hallways, the sound of her fuming fury only matched the silent wails of the souls that formed this castle; a familiar, cold, calm, and yet demanding voice called her from a door that she couldn't see with her eyes but could with her soul.
"Charlotte.", came the voice of the Devil King.
Immediately stopping her progress, she didn't turn to the nonexistent door, and composing herself, she said tactfully, "Your Highness."
"Have you finally finished your 'fun' with him?", the Devil King asked her, his eyes glowing like two rubies in the darkness of the doorway.
Taking a deep breath, Charlotte replied, "I have your grace. And now I'm taking things into my own hands."
The eyes of the king narrowed, and said to her, "Good. And you do remember what I told you last we spoke, correct."
Charlotte tightened her grip and said with a calm yet determined tone, "Of course I won't fail. Unlike my toys, I will be victorious."
Just before she thought it was her cue to leave, the king gave her one last parting word, informing her firmly, "Oh, and if you return, never promote any devil, least of all an imp, to a royal devil."
"Noted, your Majesty.", she replied before walking down the hallway and leaving the soul door behind with the image of the king's eyes sternly seared into her very being.
With this, she made her way to the front gate, where she instructed the many guards to open it. The guards, giant, hulking horned devils who wielded flaming swords of screaming souls fire and were far larger than her, nearly tripped over their hoofed feet to make haste! Within seconds, the massive door was opened from within, and the drawn bridge right outside was lowered. All the guards stood at attention and dared not to make eye contact with their superior for fear she may eviscerate them.
Charlotte walked into the constant raging storm outside, unbothered by the fact that her clothing, hair, and makeup were ruined. She did not fear this as a magic shield protected her like an umbrella in the raging weather. Looking out toward the direction of the Empty Lands, she sneered before lifting into the air and flying briskly without wings or feathers. A stern, evil, and determined expression upon her face the whole way. She mentally told Basil to count his moments, for they would be some of his last.