As if on cue, the sentinels charged at the abomination, striking it with everything they had. Some teleported. Others leapt. Most ran. The abomination swung its massive claws at the sentinels, catching a few and slapping them away. But it was to no avail.
Spears pierced. Swords slashed. Armored fists punched. They overwhelmed the abomination like a swarm of hungry ants, slowly tearing the monster apart.
A barrage of diamond arrows infused with magical energy launched from the walls, appearing like a thick shower of shooting stars as they arched over the devastated fields and rained down on the abomination. Every arrow struck true, correcting themselves ever so slight while in flight to avoid hitting any of the Sentinels.
I was still disoriented but I sensed them.
Hundreds of sentinels stood on the walls, shooting their arrows with impunity. They gleamed against the darkness of the storm and the power of the rain. That was not all. Thousands of sentinels poured from the gates, all eager to join the fight.
As they had proven time and time again, my golems were different, and I was proud. Never had I seen them coordinate in such way. From afar, it would look like their attacks were mindless, uncoordinated, feral even.
But it wasn't. I could see the coordination, the skill, the team effort to deal as much damage as possible. When the abomination moved to strike, those in its path would meet it head on, allowing the others to attack its exposed sides.
Many of my sentinels were falling. It was a grim testament to the power of the abomination. But even so, they persevered. They carried the wounded out whenever possible, filling them in with fresh arrivals from the city.
It was a mesmerizing display of selflessness, of sacrifice. Many would say golems were heartless, soulless machines. But as I would soon find out, my golems weren't. Not anymore.
"I thought you were a goner." A familiar voice sounded behind the Sentinel. It was Gred, with Redtail and Tov standing behind him They were injured, that was for sure. I could sense a few broken bones. Dalinah wasn't among them.
I was worried about them, a little. I worried more for Frank and the helpers. Speaking of, I couldn't sense the little golems, not even Wheatley.
"Where's Wheatley?" I turned to Frank.
The imposing Sentinel simply lowered its head.
My heart sank.
"The helpers... they saved us from the explosions." Gred said.
"Where's Wheatley?" I asked again. There was no mistaking that helper. He should be here somewhere!
"He... shielded Dalinah. Pulled her away. When he did... he..." Gred held back, knowing I wouldn't like to hear my little helper's fate.
Tov stepped in, offering me a charred husk. One beady eye was all that was left.
I couldn't believe it. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. I refused. I refused to believe it! This... pile of burnt hay... it couldn't be Wheatley! They were wrong. I knew he was alright. He was too far away. Protect Dalinah? My Wheatley would never...
I paused.
He would. My dear Wheatley would.
Tears burst from my eyes as my heart ached. Wheatley was gone. I couldn't resurrect him even if I wanted to. He was burned away, his core turned into ash.
He was gone. Gone forever. Yet again I lost something dear to me. Why. Why did I create him. Why did I create them? Did I just want them to suffer and die?
I couldn't blame the adventurers. Not Frank. Not the abomination. I could only blame myself. I created them, and they suffered because of me.
"The other helpers did the same as he. They shielded us from the flames, pulling us back until they withered away." Tov said. Gone was his rude demeanor, nor was there any sarcasm in his tone.
He knelt beside me, putting his hand on my shoulder, "Many say golems take from their masters... as a dwarf, I know that to be true,"
Golemancy said something along those lines, yes. But my golems were never like me. They weren't consumed by grief; they didn't wallow in pity as the world moved on. They simply did their jobs.
"You may think otherwise but,"
The abomination shrieked once more as another barrage of arrows rained down on its body.
"You were once a hero. And I think your golems know that."
The abomination spun around, throwing off most of the Sentinels.
"They sacrificed themselves for others, knowing their creator would do the same," Tov stood, "The question now is, will you prove them right?"
The rain poured harder, harder than it did before everything was blown away. I stood up, casting the same tier 10 healing spell on my body to repair myself. Pain soared all over my body again, but I didn't care.
"I once liked your kind, Dwarf," I said as I turned to face the abomination, "Stubborn? Yes. Hardworking? Smart? Of course. Your kind never gave up, not even on me. Not until they were forced to choose."
The dwarf didn't know what I was talking about, but I knew and that's what mattered. I still remembered everything that happened then.
"Your race chose to live. Yet they didn't fight me. They stayed their hands as those who meant me harm pursued me until I was cornered." my heart skipped a beat as I began drawing upon a power I hadn't used since the day the last god fell.
"Your kind did nothing when my people were erased from existence," A long shimmer appeared on my right hand, "I couldn't forgive your ancestors, nor the other races of this world at the time."
The abomination looked at me, sensing the power I was about to summon. It screamed and tried to charge at me, seemingly unable to conjure a portal. My Sentinels kept it at bay.
"But if my helpers could sacrifice themselves for their descendants, then maybe..." The shimmer began to tremble as it took form.
I began to shine like the sun, even brighter than I did before. Everything was illuminated as I summoned a weapon. The same weapon that vanquished the gods.
The abomination stared at me. If there was anything that could be recognized anywhere, it was fear. Even if the one experiencing it lacked any facial expressions.
You could still see it in its rotting, melted skin.
"I was what you called a hero."
A long, thin sword appeared in my hand, brimming with power and might. It smoldered against the rain, screaming at me to take it to its spray.
"But the world back then called me differently, I was..."
I readied myself, assuming a posture my body knew all so well. The sentinels had retreating, already expecting what was going to happen next.
"The Lance of Hope."
To the naked eye, I moved like a blur, faster than any could catch. I struck, and when I did, I struck hard and true, skewering the abomination the same way it did to me. The rain stopped as the clouds above parted, blown away by the strike of my sword.
This time, its wounds wouldn't heal.
"Whatever you are, whatever your kind intends to do," I said as I pushed my sword deeper, "I killed the gods before, and if the heavens reopen, I will do it again."
The abomination screamed as I swung my sword upward, slicing the abomination in half. There were no more tricks, no sudden teleportations, no more screams. The abomination fell apart, crashing onto the barren, muddy ground.
It was dead. The nightmare... was over. My sword disappeared into mist as I returned it to my soul.
I panted, feeling the drain of magic in my body. My reserves were running low, and I was nearing my limit. I took a moment to look around and saw the destruction. Vast swathes of land was devastated, reduced to barren ruin. Where once there were trees and fields of green and wheat, there was nothing. Nothing but charred soil.
Part of the mountains that once stood in front of the western wall were no more, reduced to mere hills by the fight. The parted clouds above me revealed the stars that painted the sky. It seemed like the shockwave from my attack ruined whatever balance the storm had going.
But this tranquility wouldn't last long. I could already see the clouds reforming and the winds returning.
My sentinels surrounded me, some were injured, a few limping as they walked. Most stood like statues, their diamond armor glittering.
"What are you?" Tov asked as he approached alongside the adventurers. Frank walked behind them with a tearful, burnt Dalinah in his hands. Where did she come from? Was she hiding somewhere?
"I told you, didn't I?" I said, turning my attention towards the dwarf, "The Lance of Hope."
I was wondering why Frank didn't join the rest. It seemed like he was making sure the adventurers were safe. Maybe he had a Sentinel or two take care of Dalinah from a safe distance.
Something the helpers would have wanted.
I saw Dalinah's face, the face of someone who didn't know any better. It wasn't her fault. It was mine. I was a fool. I didn't even consider it. The gods were gone, their bodies slain and their source of power reduced to dust. I ensured that. I thought that would be enough. But I was wrong.
"I'm.. sorry.." Dalinah muttered. She was afraid and I knew she was in pain. She most likely blamed herself.
"No. It wasn't your fault," I said, "Rest. You'll be tended to." Dalinah lost herself to her tears. It would take time for her to heal, both physically and emotionally. No spell could speed healing the latter.
The dwarf nodded, smirking underneath the weariness of his face.
"You proved me wrong. And you proved your helpers right. I'm sorry, Mr. Hermit." He was genuine.
I remained silent for a while.
"You can call me Lance, Lance Viduri."
The dwarf smiled, "I am of the Ironbonds, Tov Ironbonds."
I nodded, but this wasn't the time to relax.
Wheatley and the other helpers were gone. Barleyon was now without his closest brother.
"Frank, lead them back to the city. Take a few of the Sentinels," I pointed to Frank before turning to the army of sentinels surrounding us, "As for the rest of you. Thank you. But our work isn't done yet. Follow me to the breach. We're ending this."
As the rain began to trickle once more, I teleported back to where the cottage was.
The breach was still there, but the scream was no more.
The thing I killed was an angel, that was for sure. Only an angel could hurt me the way it did as if I was nothing. Yet it didn't have a heart, a weakness I could exploit.
It seemed like the only way to kill it was through the godslayer, my sword.
Before I closed the breach, I wanted to confirm what was on the other side. It wasn't hell, that was for sure. Hell didn't glow white.
The fallen heavens came to mind.
My sentinels arrived after a short while, quickly taking positions around the breach. Many of them brought out their shields, summoning them in the air.
Shields in front. Swords in the middle. Spears at the back. I looked at the walls in the distance and saw the sentinels atop, their bows glowing with the magic arrows they were about to launch.
We were ready. If something came through, they'd be dealt with. Hopefully.
I walked forward. The breach reacted to my presence, distorting in my direction. Wrapping myself in another protection spell, both for my body and mind, I sighed.
"I will never forgive any of you, even in death." I said as I peered through.