Chapter 374: The demon's advance
Lees throat clenched. Blood pumped in her ears. Rafaels advance toward Moxie spun in her eyes, every step seeming to come slower than the last. Color shifted as the world turned a faint rose, then slipped into black.
Control snapped back to her body, but it wasnt in the real world. She stumbled forward, finding herself within the darkness of her mindspace. A bloom of flame swirled before her, revealing Azels form.
Idiot, Azel snarled. I told you to run.
Let me out! Lee grabbed Azel by his collar. I need to
What? Azel shoved Lee to the ground. What are you going to do, you stupid girl? Your body is locked in place. You cant move. You cant even beg. All Ive done is buy you a few meagre moments. You can feel it, cant you?
Lee didnt have to ask Azel what he was talking about. A burning heat swirled at the back of her neck, working its way slowly up toward her brain.
What did you do?
Im forcing your brain to run faster than it should be capable of, but theres only so long youre going to be able to handle this, Azel said, thrusting a finger into Lees forehead. Thats your brain stem heating. And, in a minute, youre going to go up like a candle.
Then help me! Lee begged. Kill the Inquisitor!
Azel let out a bark of laughter. Do you think me an attack dog, Lee? I dont have a body thanks to Vermil. All I am is energy, and Evergreen did a lot of damage to me. Its taken everything I have to shift the majority of my power to you, and youve been wasting it at every blasted opportunity.
I
No, Azel snapped. No more talking, Lee. Its my turn. Ive helped you at every turn. If you want to live, youre going to do what I say. Enough of this cowardice. Youve got enough energy in your Runes to advance to Rank 4, and thats what youre going to do. Thats the only way you survive this.
If I advance, can I save Moxie?
Save? You should focus on keeping yourself from dying. Reaching Rank 4 will let you keep Rafael from freezing you in place with his domain, but that wont let you fight him for more than a second or two. Hes a Rank 5, and a strong one. Ranking up will give you a chance to run.
What about Moxie? Lee demanded. I cant
You will! Azel roared, flame coiling off his shoulders and lighting the darkness before it was swallowed by the shadows once more. You are a demon. Beyond all else, we persevere. I do not know where you got this damn fool notion of sacrifice in your head, but the Damned Plains have no room for sentimental idiots. Rank up. Now. Otherwise, sit around and watch Moxies throat get slit and then die afterward yourself.
If Im Rank 4, I have a fighting chance. It might be enough to catch Rafael off guard for even a second, and that could give me time to grab Moxie and make a run for it. Its my only choice. I dont have another one.
Azel was saying shed save herself, but Lee wasnt so sure there would be anything of herself left to save after she reached Rank 4. Advancing and forming the Rank 4 Rune would very likely be the last time she was ever truly herself but if she could hold on for just long enough to get Moxie and the others away from Rafael
Fine, Lee said, swallowing heavily. Lets do it. Will you help me?
Azels smile was cold. What do you think Ive been waiting this whole time for? I will aid you. You know your emotion, I trust? This isnt going to work if you dont.
Lees hands clenched at her sides. I do.
Then gather your Runes and become what you were always meant to be, Azel said, his lips peeling apart in a hungry smile. And have no fear, Lee. We will take our toll on this fool. Once we get out of here, I assure you well return and rip this Inquisitor apart one nerve at a time. We will do it together, you and I.
Azel lifted a hand into the air, curling his fingers into a fist. Lees mindspace trembled as power arced through it and her Runes rose up, the shadows constraining them stretching as they tried to keep their grasp on the power.
You only have seconds, Azel warned. But time is meaningless to us, Lee. Demons are instinct. We know what we are. There is nothing that can ever change that. All you need is an instant to open the floodgates. Your emotion will guide you. Accept it.
Lee closed her eyes, letting the energy from her Runes pulse through her mind. Then she brought her hands together, pulling the Runes closer. They were all full they had been for a while.
Like Azel said, the power was there. It lay in wait, prepared to give her what she sought and take everything she cared about in return. There was only one thing left to do.
She reached out and took it.
***
Moxies magic was failing. All the vines in the world couldnt have helped her when she simply didnt have the power to penetrate Rafaels domain. Her entire body was locked hopelessly in place and her magic couldnt so much as twitch.
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Damn it all. If I hadnt gotten my Runes shattered at the Torrin Estate, Id be Rank 4 by now. I cant die like this. Ive come too damn far.
Moxies thoughts did nothing to slow Rafaels advance. He didnt look like he was in a talkative mood. He raised his sword, striding toward her with murder in his eyes. Moxie desperately fought against the bonds of his domain, but it was absolute.
There was nothing a Rank 3 could do within it. She couldnt so much as grit her teeth. Helpless disappointment and anger swirled within her chest, closing around her heart like the hand of the reaper.
I keep hoping that someone is going to pop out in time to save me, but I think Im all out of that. Fuck. Im sorry, Noah. I hope you dont kill too many people because of this.
Rafael reached Moxie and reared back, his muscles tightening as he prepared to swing.
Im going to enjoy watching you get your shit beat in from the afterlife. If your domain lets up for even a second as I die, I swear Im going to take you with me.
Out of the corner of her eye, Moxie saw a massive ice arrow streak through the air and completely evaporate the instant it entered Rafaels domain. Evidently, Emily hadnt followed her orders.
The blade blurred toward Moxies neck, and she was denied even the option to squeeze her eyes shut and avoid the end. In a way, she was just fine with that. Moxie met Rafaels gaze, hoping he could see the derision within her eyes.
And then Rafael vanished. His sword spun through the air and embedded itself in the ground behind Moxie. An instant later, a crash echoed through the Windscorned Plateau. Moxies body slipped back under her control and she spun to see that Rafael drop down from a small crater hed made in the cliff face.
Shes mine, Lee hissed, but there was something off about her voice. It came out overlaid, as if two people were speaking at once. Theyre all mine. You cant have them. Theyre mine!
Rafael rose to his feet, wiping the blood from his lips and pulling his lips back in a snarl. The blood on the ground around him rose up, forming into a pair of twin blades in his hands. Advancing at the last second to use the burst of power to temporarily match up with me? Not enough, demon. Not nearly enough.
Rafael blurred, and Moxies body slammed to a halt once again before she could take so much as a step. He reformed beside Moxie, his sword swinging and a red blur slammed into him. A loud crack echoed out as his chin shot up, blood spraying from his mouth. A second blow drove into his stomach and sent him tumbling across the ground.
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For the briefest instant, Moxie saw Lee but the woman that stood before her didnt look like Lee at all. Two jagged horns had ripped out of her forehead, curling up around her skull. Smoldering flame raced across them and throughout her hair, traveling down her arms and dancing across her knuckles.
Her fingers had sharpened to black claws, and her teeth had grown from pointed to full on fangs. But, beyond all of it, there was a deep, desperate hunger burning behind her eyes. It was a hunger that Moxie recognized and it was more than just Lee.
Azel.
What is this? Rafael wheezed, staggering to his feet. The blood swirled around his body, forming into armor. He wasnt playing around anymore. Its impossible. A demon at Rank 4 cant have this much power. Not even with a rank up. What are you?
Lee vanished in a puff of soot and flame, reappearing before Rafael and driving her claws for his throat. This time, Rafael wasnt caught off guard. He spun one of his swords, knocking Lees arm to the side but failing to cut her.
He drove the other for Lees chest, but she vanished before the blow could connect. Reforming behind Rafael, Lee sent a brutal spinning kick for the side of his head. He spun out of the way, then let out a roar.
The blood surrounding him erupted, driving out toward her in jagged points. Several of them carved into Lees flesh before she could disappear once more. Moxie tried to move, but Rafael had her within his domain once again.
All she could do was watch through gritted teeth as Lee flashed and spun around Rafael, desperately trying to kill him. But, with every movement, Moxie could see Lees strength reducing. Shed used up the huge burst of power that had come with her rank advancement. Even though she still had far more strength than she should have, Rafael was taking control of the fight back.
I will study you, Rafael hissed, driving a fist into Lees stomach and sending her flying back. She spun, landing on her feet and skidding across the dirt. Her fangs parted in a snarl and she flashed toward Rafael again only to be met with a blast of concentrated blood. Even as it sent her flying, one of Lees claws shot out. It caught on Rafaels jaw, ripping a deep furrow down across his neck.
Lee hit the ground on her back, hissing in pain. She tumbled, bouncing once before managing to catch herself with her claws. Blood streaked her face and her chest rose and fell with desperate breaths.
The blood pouring from Rafaels wound slowed. It should have been a borderline mortal wound, but the bastard was cheating he was literally keeping the blood in his body. Rafael reached up to his neck, then cursed.
I made the right choice in coming, Rafael snarled, thrusting a hand into his pocket and pulling out a glass vial. A creature such as yourself must not be allowed to grow any further. I cant believe a newly made Rank 4 pushed me this far, but the fight ends here.
Rafael clapped his hands together, shattering the vial. As he pulled his palms apart, his blood swirled together with whatever had been in the vial. Energy crackled at his palms and Moxies skin prickled, even from as far as she was.
The energy between Rafaels palms seemed far too powerful for even a Rank 5. Lee recognized it as well, but she couldnt get close to the Inquisitor. Blood swirled around him, carving through the ground in a tornado of sanguine blades.
You should feel honored, Rafael said, gritting his teeth as blood started to trickle from his eyes. Ive never had to use a bloodline curse on a demon before, but I refuse to let a creature such as yourself roam this plane. The damage could be irreparable if you continue to draw breath.
Im going to consume you. Lees horns burned with dark flame. You wont take them from me. Nobody will.
There wont be anything left of you to take from, Rafael replied. His teeth grit in concentration as he tried to contain the power swirling between his palms, but it was too much to handle. The ground shook beneath his feet and it looked like it was drawing every ounce of power he had just to keep from falling. Im not stupid enough to take any more chances.
As if Ill let you hit me with that, Lee said with a bark of cold laughter that sounded completely uncharacteristic for her. You can barely aim. The moment you release that magic, you die.
I know your emotion, Glutton. And I know how you feel about those who belong to you. Youre fast enough that Id never be able to land this on you anyway. But I dont need to land anything when youll do it for me. Rafael turned not toward Lee, but toward Moxie.
He released the magic that had been gathering around him, sending an arrow of screaming blood carving through the air toward her with a howl of magical energy. And, for the second time that day, Moxie could do absolutely nothing but watch as death screamed her name.