Ch 25: Lamia

A Chapter by KeithKVH

Sundered by Bella, Loth'nex no longer holds the advantage of invincibility over the group. Yet that is not his only card to play, as he unleashes the lamia stone to match the power of Mors Aurata.

Soaring down at Loth’nex as he lay there, Bella raised her scythe to strike. Just as it appeared to be the end for him though, Loth’nex’s body seemed to dissolve into bats made of white flames that quickly fluttered out of harms way. Landing on the ground where he had been, Bella looked up to see the bats gather in the air as he returned to physical form, and as massive magical energies began to emanate from him, Loth’nex said, “You’ll regret that! Behold the lamia’s power!” Suddenly the jewel on his forehead shined with dark power, and six large, bat-like ethereal wings made of darkness sprouted out of Loth’nex’s back, while the white, churning energies that made up his body grew darker.

Seeing this, Mai quickly exclaimed, “So that’s it! I knew something was up with that gem! It’s the lamia stone!” Fixing her eyes on Loth’nex’s lamia stone, a confused Bella said, “Lamia stone?” Hesitantly explaining, Mai said, “Don’t go spreading this around, but when the old existence was rewritten, the beings that had existed in the former world didn’t just go poof and disappear. They became stones that contain the hearts of the ancient spirits trapped within. Origin did his best to hide the most powerful stones, but every now and again they show up. As guardians of the Links and ferrymen of souls, us kitsune are among the few granted with knowledge about them by Origin.”

Getting the picture, Bella asked, “What’s the lamia's power?” Replying promptly, Mai grimly said, “The lamia was a kind of vampire that fed upon the blood of children, but with its magic, it could take on just about any foe that got in its way. Going up against someone with its power ain’t gonna be easy sunshine! The stone is indestructible, so don’t waste your time on it. Be careful, I ain’t bending the rules for you a second time!” Spreading his dark wings, Loth’nex rose into the air. As he raised a hand before him, the lamia stone in his forehead removed itself and floated into his hand. Then in a blinding flash, a formidable looking curved sword formed around the gem. Swinging his sword in a challenging fashion, Loth’nex said, “You deal with forces that are beyond you!”

His dark wings suddenly glowing with dark magic, as the magic gathered in the wingtips, it burst forth as multiple energy bolts. Three from each wing for a total of eighteen, they arced around in the sky, leaving comet-like tails in their wake as they shot down on Bella. Jumping back as they came down on her, Bella watched as the closest bolts struck the ground and exploded, but quickly she saw that twelve of them had pulled up and chased after her. Taking off into the air as the bolts chased after her, Bella flew high up and then flew at Loth’nex. Gathering dark magic into his hand, Loth’nex aimed up at her and said, “Mors Scintilla!” The powerful beam of forbidden magic shot out at Bella, but it was what she had wanted him to do. Quickly she swerved aside, and the beam continued on to shoot down nine more of Loth’nex’s own energy bolts. As Bella closed in on him, Loth’nex muttered, “Curse you…”

Reaching Loth’nex, Bella exchanged swings with him as she flew past, and as sword and scythe blade met, Loth’nex’s sword glowed. Then as the bolts were about to strike Loth’nex, who was now directly between them and Bella, he dissipated into a cloud of bats made of white flames to evade them, and turning in the air, Bella quickly deflected all three bolts with her scythe. As the bats gathered and reformed into Loth’nex, he suddenly started laughing, and in irritation Mai called out, “What’s so funny bloodsucker?!”

Holding his sword up before him, Loth’nex said, “Bloodthirst!” At these words, Bella’s felt a shooting pain in her left arm. Staring down at it, she saw a shallow wound running up her lower arm, and she thought, “How?!” In disbelief, Mai said, “When did he…?” Laughing again, as he finally stopped, Loth’nex said, “This sword, Unguis, is lamia’s fang. Whenever it strikes against another weapon, the wielder of that weapon is cursed. I can unleash that curse every time you strike its blade, ripping you apart piece by piece without even striking back!” Laughing even more, he spread his wings and unleashed another eighteen forbidden magic bolts as he exclaimed, “Attack me if you dare!”

Bobbing and weaving through the air as the energy bolts pursued her, Bella channeled EDE into her hand and turned to face the oncoming attacks, raising her hand and shouting, “Soul Flash!” Weaker than in her battle with Mai, the still powerful beam of golden spirit energy tore through the sky and struck the oncoming energy bolts. The attack took out most of them, but six surviving bolts shot out of the smoke at her. Quickly and furiously Bella deflected them, but as they sailed away from her, Loth’nex quickly chanted, “Alas Sanguinum Luna!” The deflected bolts burst into red flames and sprouted wings, becoming blood red ghost bats that quickly begin firing dark magic bolts of their own at Bella.

Speeding through the air, Bella avoided their rain of fire as Loth’nex himself sent even more energy bolts and beams of dark magic after her. Then as she stopped abruptly to face the bats and energy bolts pursuing her, Bella performed another hand sign and said, “Shifuto No Kage!” As multiple Bella’s appeared, the bolts split up abruptly to try and strike them all, some colliding with each other in the process. The Bella decoys were quickly obliterated, but then Bella’s voice shouted, “Kin No Hoshi!” Shooting out of the smoky aftermath, a giant throwing star made of golden spirit flames spun through the air and cut through one of the bats. Moving as though it had a mind of its own, the flaming spirit star spiraled through the air, chasing down and destroying each of the bats before returning to Bella’s outstretched hand. Then seeing Loth’nex flying straight for her, Bella hefted the throwing star and hurled it at him this time. Yet Loth’nex simply dissolved into a cloud of white spirit bats, which parted to let the throwing star fly through. Continuing straight at Bella, the cloud of bats washed over her as she raised her weapon in defense. The bats passed over her harmlessly, but Bella quickly turned as they reformed into Loth’nex, who immediately struck out with Unguis, leaving her no choice but to block. As Bella saw his sword glow, she thought, “Pain incoming…” In a triumphant tone, Loth’nex said, “Time for your punishment girl. Bloodthirst!”

As an invisible blade cut its way across her chest, Bella clutched at the wound and cried out. Shoving her back, Loth’nex quickly fired more forbidden magic bolts at near point blank range. Pulling herself together and flying backwards, Bella tried to deflect, but several slipped through and struck her full on. Chasing after her as she was blown through the air trailing smoke, Loth’nex swung his sword at her again, and only able to block, their blades met again. The force of the strike knocked Bella back to the ground, and as she started to get up, Loth’nex activated the curse. A wound was cut into her left leg, and as she dropped to one knee from the sharp pain, Bella could hear Loth’nex’s laughter as he landed on the ground a short ways away. From where she was still chained up, Mythra struggled once more to free herself, thinking, “Damn it all Bella! It doesn’t matter if you did get a Grand Anima Weapon! You’re still no match for him alone!”

Meanwhile, over where the others had taken cover behind a rock, Mana struggled to think of how to save Bella. Looking over at Andy, she exclaimed, “What do we do?! Bella’s losing!” Having been watching the battle closely, Andy had seemed bothered by something ever since Bella started fighting. Without taking his eyes off of Bella, he said, “She’s taken some hits it’s true, but I don’t think we should count her out just yet milady.” Making a quick glance at her, he added, “Mana, just what kind of sprite is Lady Bella?” Blinking in surprise, Mana said, “Uh… Now that you mention it…” Suddenly Gibolu started to come around with a groan, and Mana turned to where he laid next to the semi-conscious Mutzy and said, “Ringmaster!” As Mana moved to tend to Gibolu, Andy returned his attention to the battle, thinking, “As a soldier in the Watchers, I’ve been trained to use special magic that allows one to discern a fellow sprite’s type, but what I sense from Lady Bella right now… It simply can’t be possible, can it?”

Getting to her feet despite the pain, as Bella stood up, Loth’nex said, “Your end is nigh, no matter how much you struggle.” With a defiant tone, Bella said, “No different from her… Convinced you’re above everyone else…” Her aura suddenly beginning to be absorbed into her scythe, Bella said, “I’ll surpass you both! Soul Eater!” Her body glowing with golden spirit energy a moment, Bella’s wounds began to close up. They did not heal completely, but it was enough to relieve the pain. At the same time, some form of golden ectoplasm seemed to coat the scythe blade of Mors Aurata. Dropping into a battle stance, Bella said, “Spirit Fox!” A new aura erupted around her, the aura itself briefly taking the shape of a fox, and Bella could feel her power overflowing.

Able to sense the rise in her spiritual power, Loth’nex quickly spread his wings and prepared to fire more energy bolts from them as he took aim at Bella with his hand. Raising her free hand before her, Bella performed a hand sign as she said, “Moeru Seishin Kasou!” Lighting themselves in the air, flames of golden foxfire appeared to dance in an elliptical orbit around Bella. Firing energy bolts from his wings, Loth’nex also fired a beam of forbidden magic from his hand as he said, “Mors Scintilla!” Unleashing her own attacks, Bella’s foxfire flames shot out to meet Loth’nex’s energy bolts just as she raised her hand again and unleashed a monstrous beam of golden spirit energy, shouting, “Soul Flash!” Energy bolt met foxfire flame, and the air between them erupted in explosions, which were quickly swept aside as the two beams struck each other and began to clash for dominance. This time, Bella’s beam was even more powerful than when she had faced Mai, enhanced by the power of her Spirit Fox Aura, and as Loth’nex struggled against it, he exclaimed, “How can a mere fledgling sprite like her wield such power?!” Bella’s beam quickly overpowered him, and Mai triumphantly called out, “Time to DIE!”

With Bella’s beam tearing apart his own and speeding towards him, Loth’nex quickly separated his body into a cloud of bats made of white flames. Fluttering out of harms way just in time, as Bella’s Soul Flash ripped through the spot where he’d stood, Loth’nex regrouped himself a short distance from his last location. Angered hat he had been overpowered by such an opponent, he muttered, “Impudent whelp…” Then as he realized he’d lost sight of Bella in the clouds of smoke stirred up by the clashing energies, Loth’nex whirled about just as Bella lunged at him from behind and brought the scythe blade of Mors Aurata down at him. Barely deflecting her strike with the blade of Unguis, as Loth’nex staggered back from the force of the strike, he quickly shouted, “Bloodthirst!” Expecting the curse to afflict Bella once more, as she simply continued to press the attack, Loth’nex quickly blocked again in surprise and exclaimed, “What?!”

Striking at Loth’nex with skillful and powerful swings, every time Bella met with his blade, Loth’nex cried out in frustration, “Bloodthirst! Bloodthirst!” As they locked blades, an enraged Loth’nex shouted, “What is the meaning of this?!” Shoving him back, Bella channeled EDE into Mors Aurata and shouted, “Fox Flurry!” Lunging forward, Bella’s swing speed seemed to increase drastically as she swung again and again with mighty strikes. Barely managing to protect himself with his weapon, Loth’nex’s blade began to crack from the barrage of powerful strikes, and Loth’nex tried to chant, “De Exilio-” Then Bella’s final strike landed, and as the blade of Unguis shattered, Bella’s scythe blade sliced through Loth’nex’s chest. Staggering back, Loth’nex dropped to one knee and clutched at the gash in his spectral body with his free hand, still holding onto the handle of his sword in which the lamia stone rested.

Resting her scythe on her shoulder, Bella said, “Give up?” Looking up to glare at her, Loth’nex said, “How did you nullify the curse?!” Smugly, Mai answered for Bella, saying, “It’s really one twisted curse. Unfortunately for you though, it looks like the source of its power was the lamia’s soul, and we know just how to deal with spiritual powers!” Certain they were mocking him, Loth’nex said, “And I suppose you let me cut you apart earlier just for entertainment?!” Then as he remembered the golden ectoplasm that coated her scythe’s blade after she used Soul Eater, Loth’nex quickly looked to the fragments of his broken sword, staring in realization as Bella explained, “The ectoplasm nullified your blade’s spiritual powers the moment they touched.” Loth’nex clenched the handle of Unguis in rage and muttered, “This is far from over… De Exilio Umbra!”

As Loth’nex finished his spell, forbidden magic gathered around him and suddenly erupted in a shockwave of dark power, blowing Bella away from him like she was a leaf in the wind. Rising to his feet, still clutching his chest, Loth’nex began to chant, “Malum Antiquissimi Sint…” Flipping in the air and landing on her feet, Bella rushed to interrupt his incantation, raising a hand before her and performing a hand sign as she ran, shouting, “Moeru Seishin Kasou!” Flames of golden foxfire lit themselves in the air around her as she rushed at Loth’nex, who continued, “…Liberi Fatali Clamor Letum Semper Pes Animi Viventes…” Shooting forth on Bella’s command, the foxfire flames reached Loth’nex just as he finished, “…Diaboli Ritu!” Loth’nex disappeared in blasts of golden foxfire, and leaping into the aftermath, Bella swung Mors Aurata to end it. As her scythe stopped abruptly, Bella struggled to withdraw it for another swing, but found she could not. She heard Loth’nex laughing eerily, and as the smoke began to clear she saw he held her scythe blade with his bare hand.

His body’s churning energies now completely black, his ghostly clothes also black, Loth’nex’s eyes glowed blood red. His injury fully healed and his barrier restored, Loth’nex spread enormous black wings and raised his free hand as he said, “Obscuro Imperium!” Unable to avoid, Bella was struck by an orb of dark magic that was absorbed into her body, and feeling at the spot where it had entered her, Bella thought, “No!” Raising his hand in triumph, Loth’nex willed Bella into the air. As she hung there unable to move, Loth’nex raised his other hand at her and said, “The meager incantation I’ve used isn’t near enough preparation to contain it’s full strength permanently, but it should keep the lamia stone under control long enough to ensure you suffer!” Forbidden magic sparking in his hand, Loth’nex said, “Cruentum Cruciatus!” As dark magic crackled around her body, Bella cried out in pain. As she continued to scream in agony, Mai shouted, “Don’t give up! We can still do this!”

Rushing out from behind the rock where they had taken cover, Gibolu and Andy rushed to Bella’s aid, Gibolu calling back, “No matter what happens, stay back Mana!” Forming his arm into a blade again, Andy said to Gibolu, “Sir Gibolu! You’d best not fight with your injuries! I will distract him while you hurry and free Lady Mythra!” As Gibolu nodded and headed off to where Mythra lay chained to the ground, Andy rushed at Loth’nex and sliced at him with his arm blade. Turning and taking hold of Andy’s bladed arm with his bare hand, Loth’nex said, “I would have thought you’d have learned your lesson from before.” Grinning defiantly, Andy replied, “I’m afraid that this time, it is I who shall be teaching the lessons!” Suddenly Andy’s arm squirmed and began melding itself around the arm of the hand that Loth’nex had been holding it with, and as a surprised Loth’nex struggled to pull himself arm free, Andy began pulling him in closer. Grabbing hold of Loth’nex with his other arm, as he began melding that arm around Loth’nex as well, Andy said, “Lesson one! Those who harm fair maidens and dear friends will answer to me! Dandy Andy, the Knight of Chivalry!”

Struggling to move as Andy’s body wrapped itself around him, Loth’nex finally shouted, “GET OFF! De Exilio Umbra!” Emanating from Loth’nex’s body, a shockwave of forbidden magic blasted Andy away from him. Raising a hand at Andy as he sailed through the air, Loth’nex chanted, “Mors Scintilla!” As a beam of dark magic shot out at him, Andy could not evade, but suddenly someone leaped up into the air and pulled him from the path of the attack. Landing, Mutzy set Andy down and said, “Ok there Andy?” Breathing a sigh of relief, Andy replied, “Indeed, thank you Mutzy!” Both facing Loth’nex, Mutzy said, “Time for that Andy, you know?” Grinning widely, Andy replied, “Indubitably! Ready or not…” Suddenly Andy transformed himself into an enormous sword, and as Mutzy took hold of the handle, Andy’s voice shouted, “HERE WE COME!”

With the Andy sword in hand, Mutzy rushed at Loth’nex. Spreading his wings, as dark magic crackled around them, Loth’nex fired blood red bolts of combined forbidden magic and spirit flames from the wingtips. As they rained down at Mutzy, with speed and agility he wove his way through them, charging onward as they struck and exploded behind him. Reaching Loth’nex, Mutzy swung the Andy sword horizontally with all his might, and as Loth’nex raised both hands to block the blade, he was knocked sliding back across the ground on his feet. Digging his heels in, Loth’nex brought himself to a halt just in time to raise his hands to block as Mutzy came down on him with a mighty downwards swing. Shoving him away, Loth’nex shouted, “Begone you clowns! Septem Mortis Simulacra!” Dark rune circles formed and Loth’nex’s cursed phantoms emerged from them, but just as he was about to direct them at Mutzy, beams of each of the seven elements shot through the air and blew each one away.

Looking up in surprise to see Mythra in the air on her broom with her Elementum Orbis around her, Loth’nex spread his wings and fired blood red energy bolts at her as he shouted, “Stay out of my way half-breed!” Mythra’s violet eye glowed as she simply read from her grimoire and raised her wand, shouting, “Seeker Stars!” Shooting from the tip of her wand, spiraling arcane stars that left a comet-like trail rained out and intercepted his bolts, neutralizing them in blasts of arcane power. Flying into the air at her as he formed black talons at the ends of his fingers, as Loth’nex came at her Mythra simply smirked.

Not even flinching as he slashed at her with his black talons, Mythra’s form parted like fog as he swept his claws through her, and in realization Loth’nex thought “Illusion!” Stars of arcane power collapsing in on him from all sides, Loth’nex could only shield himself with his arms. Taking blast after blast, he had no time to react as Mythra formed a yellow rune circle at her foot and came down through the smoke with a falling kick straight to his face, a blast of lightning erupting from the rune circle and electrifying Loth’nex as he plummeted away from her. Grabbing hold of her broom and mounting it like a proper witch instead of her usual surfboard style, Mythra gathered her Elementum Orbis at the tail of her broom and shouted, “Shooting Star!” As Loth’nex recovered in the air, Mythra shot down at him at mach speed like a streak of speeding elemental magic. Loth’nex could not avoid as the top of the broom’s handle rammed him straight in the stomach, and quickly Mythra let go and leaped off as he made a feeble attempt to slash at her, letting it carry Loth’nex along with it as it slammed him right into the ground.

The dust settling, as Loth’nex slowly rose from the crater created by his impact, cards flew through the air and stabbed into the ground around him, creating a spade shaped formation. Having been fully healed by Mythra, Gibolu had joined the fray, calling out, “Icestorm of Spades!” As lines of blue magic connected all the cards together, a blast of freezing power erupted from the ground beneath Loth’nex and he was frozen solid in a pillar of ice. Rushing up to Andy and Mutzy just as Mythra floated over to them on her reclaimed broom, Gibolu said, “That will only hold him for a short period of time! Let us hurry and find a way to free Bella!”

Still hanging in the air with forbidden magic surrounding her, pain wracking her body, Bella struggled to free herself. Then an irritated Mai called out to her, “C’mon, snap out of it! You forget your powers already?!” In realization, Bella fought the pain and gasped, “Release! Spirit Form!” The ectoplasm coating Mors Aurata glowed and dissolved, and Bella’s body quickly took the form of golden spiritual energy, causing her to be both incapable of interacting with or being harmed by anything in the physical world. No longer affected by Loth’nex’s curse, Bella floated down to the ground and took physical form again. As she dropped to her hands and knees and began panting, the others quickly surrounded her in concern, but Mai said, “Don’t worry, she’ll be fine! We’ve got bigger problems!” Hearing the ice beginning to crack, everyone looked over to see Loth’nex’s eyes shining with an angry red light from within his frozen prison.

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