A prominent figure in the land of the Roshak. His current disposition contradicted that of his personage. Every orifice in his body expunging a constant stream of blood. Black armour, once a sign of strength and power, lay tattered on his broken and dishevelled frame. Three figures stood before him, each donned in a unique set of golden armour, crafted by the best hands the realm could offer. Now strewn with many scars, their former lustre dimmed, nevertheless invoking a feeling of awe. They were the chosen of the Ada, the gods who had declared Doran's existence and beliefs heresy. And they had come to end him.
The leading figure, a woman, moved forward. Heaving a tired sigh, she addressed the black-donned man.
"Why do you still fight? Your prophets have all fallen. The beliefs you hold so dear; abolished! Their allegories destroyed! Wiped from infinity's presence. All your desire, for a transition in man's relations with the divines, have been erased with them. As the last living vestige of this damned pilgrimage of cursed knowledge, I offer you, for one last time, to lay yourself before our blade and your soul shall know rest, your body buried with that of your father and your father's father and your name shall not be tarnished any more than you have done upon it. Honour shall be bequeathed to those of your name. Any further defiance will not be overlooked. I plead on our past friendship and whatever gravitas it had or has. For the sake of you and yours, surrender." she said with a heavy voice.
"Ha Ha Ha...". His laughter sounded maddened, as though possessed by the devil.
"Why ever shall I listen to you? The basis of your whole life is a lie! Your gods are lies and your very reason for existence; lies! You're nothing outside what they've fed you since young. The capacity to think freely eludes you. I have seen you defile that which should have been left untouched. Your gods claim to be righteous, yet they bat not an eye at the massacres perpetuated in their name. Hypocrisy is an understatement when speaking of the Ada. Even with such actions, you believe I would fall for such basic lies? The moment you kill me, you shall parade my lifeless body across the realm, a warning to any who dares think they can rebel against the holy and their chosen. Anyone connected to me in any way shall not be spared, and you want me to die? Leaving them to suffer for actions they had nothing to do with? I would rather fight for what I know, and what I know is at least one of you shall follow me to the land of our fathers! "
Each word spoken brought forth a gale of angry spittle.
Three sets of downcast eyes met a pair of tired, angry and psychopathic eyes.
"Do what you must, so this may end quickly." He assumed an attack stance with his sword, showing his conviction to his fate.
"The heavens will be done." She said with resignation.
A beam of searing light shot towards the man at an inconceivable speed originating from the central figure.
Their formation relied on speed and misdirection. With a conjoined effort from the three, they'd be able to draw out the battle till the black-donned man was fatigued. They were also ready to accept a pyrrhic victory. No matter the cost of this battle, Doran, Son of Alucard, Grandson of Steppneir, Guardian of Laws, Spear of the forgotten and the last living Beholder must not leave these grounds alive. His death would secure the end of the curse known as the secular world.
Before the beam of light appeared, Doran's eyes turned into slits. His mind raced and thought up the quickest ways he could deal as much damage to the three before him. He knew his time had come and had no intention of preventing it. His life had been lived and this eventuality was acceptable. Cornelius, the brown-haired man to his left was adept at sneak attacks and fast combinations of blows which when accumulated dealt a considerable amount of damage.
Tollen on the other hand was not as fast but compensated for this with his strength and magical aptitude, although not as proficient as the black-haired woman beside him. His golden hair was a characteristic trait of his father's bloodline which was the source of his considerable talent in the arcane. Tollen would be the main attacker, in charge of getting Doran's attention, so Nelia, the main damage dealer, could hit him with her powerful magical attacks.
Their fighting styles and tactics were a well-kept secret, which he would not know of, if not for his history with them. As much as he knew of their battle styles, so did they of his. A double-edged sword indeed, one he was not scared of wielding.
Just as the beam appeared, he vanished. Contrary to his somewhat large build, his speed wasn't in the least hindered. Reappearing a few meters from the previous position he was intercepted by Tollen who tried to pierce him with his double swords which Doran proceeded to block, utilizing his round shield, and countered using an upward swing in the form of an arc. Tollen, upon sensing the attack, channelled mana through his swords and summoned a gust of fire which pushed against Doran's shield, effectively creating distance between them and cancelling Doran's attack.
Obsidian was a very rare, naturally occurring, metal that was both strong and difficult to mould but had a unique property of reducing or even negating magical phenomena. Doran's armour and his weapons were made of this special metal. They prevented him from using magic-based attacks but also stopped most magics from affecting him negatively. Although, his weapons were not as simple as they looked, further enhancin his battle prowess.
Rest wasn't allowed in this fight. Just as he lost an attacker, another appeared. Cornelius's eyes looked resolute as he made to plunge his silver dagger into the gaps between this armour.
Sensing his new assailant, Doran sprung up and spun about his axis, making sure to shrink his frame as much as possible, while simultaneously extending his swords. This ensured Cornelius would either have to risk sustaining unnecessary damage or would need to retreat.
This maneuver also made Doran a sitting duck which Nelia immediately capitalized on by using her enchanted bow and arrows to pressure him from a distance.
Of course, the young man anticipated such. Thus, he stopped his spin and proceeded to advance directly at the incoming arrows. He expertly manoeuvred his body through the onslaught of arrows as he made a beeline towards his target, but just as he was inches away from her, Nelia's position was suddenly occupied by Tollen who welcomed him with a magnificent fireball to his face.
Dodging such an attack was impossible, so blocking with the shield was his sole option.
Unfortunately, this left him blind to what happened next. The fireball right in front of him fizzled out of existence. Immediately the fireball disappeared, and Cornelius came swinging from behind.
By the time Doran sensed him, it was too late and Cornelius' daggers lodged themselves in his armpits.
A gruesome wail escaped Doran's lips the next instant, the daggers and their jagged edges ripped out of his body causing more pain to shoot through his being and an unsightly amount of blood escaped his frame, further soaking the worn armour with even more blood.
Doran's already pale visage became worse. The wounds weren't healing, even those he'd sustained since the beginning of this death match hadn't even begun to clot.
There was only so much his body could take. Laboured breaths escaped his lips. Tired arms dropped to his sides and he fell to his knees. His body felt heavy. He was dying.
Misty eyes stared at him, and blurred eyes stared back at hers.
Drawing her bow once more, She aimed at him and gathered power.
"Any last words Doran?"
"Oh Fathers of my Father
Bare witness
Your son pleads..." His voice, shaky and irreverent, brought fear upon the others.
They gaped mouths as they stared at Doran.
"Kill him now!!!" Cornelius's words woke the rest up.
He was already in front of the battered frame of Doran before they realized.
He swiped his arms and slashed at Doran's neck cutting his means of speech and bathing himself in warm blood.
Eerily, they could all still hear Doran's voice.
"...False Gods claim your lands
Your children have forsaken their ancestors
Come down and bestow retribution
For me and the righteous who never deferred..."
"Move!!"
Nelia's voice was promptly followed as Cornelius jumped out of the way.
The next moment, a blazing heat moved past him as it coalesced around Doran's body.
Yet, his voice was still heard.
"I told you I was taking one of you with me."
He began to glow a searing white. Finally, he spoke his last.
"Adai'n eshir kazar"
"Cornelius!!"
A ghastly explosion shook the whole terrain destroying everything in its wake.