Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Just as they are about to follow the archangel Matius turns his attention towards Ivan. “Ivan! Go and find his father while we take care of him”. Ivan, “Where the hell would he be?” Dervish looks back at Ivan, “Try the cells they should be high up in the north tower. Go there, now!!” Ivan gives a unsure nod, before heading away from the throne room. With no choice Dervish and Matius follow Immeadies outside into the dark pouring desolant area, their opponent waiting patiently. Just as Matius moves ahead he feels a hand grip his arm, looking into the eyes of Dervish angered. “Leave this to me. He’s mine” ,Dervish demands. Matius looks into Dervish’s determined eyes before standing back, leaving Dervish alone.
  Dervish fly’s out into the open looking at Immeaides, looking at him full of scorn, “You won’t get away with what you’ve done, I’ll see to it your life ends here!” Immeadies smirks in amusement, “I’d like to see you try” Dervish grits his teeth before rising into the air getting into position, raising his hands high in the air, thunder crackles above. Then from his body ash clouds start to materialize around Dervish, growing darker in volume. Then with a motion from his arm a trail of ash charges towards Immeadies

Inside the royal palace Ivan runs down one of the northern corridors paying notice to the deserted chambers. Looking up through the glass he notices the northern tower high in the sky only illuminated by the torchlight’s above. He then reaches the end of the corridor as Ivan runs up the stairway looking through each cell. He then notices one of the cells with a well clad man, with sleek long black hair combed back. Ivan approaches the cell catching the man’s attention. “Come to gloat?” he utters. Ivan moves closer towards the door, “no I’ve come to get you out of here. Stand back”
  Ivan grips both iron bars in the door clenching on tightly. Using every once of his strength Ivan rips off the iron bars before tossing them aside. “Wait... you’re not my son... who are you?” Dervish’s father replies. “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you, now please come with me”

 

Back outside the rain continues to fall as rumbling bellows above in the clouds. Then Immeadies glides through the clouds before dropping down gliding over the water gracefully, the trails of ash following close behind. Immeadies glances behind him, looking at the ash, his hair and cape flapping uncontrollably. He glides gently near the water’s surface lowering his speed, tempting the clouds of ash to attack. They home in without hesitation, bits of ash breaking away as they do so. As they near him Immeadies flys high into the air. The clouds of ash slam into one another, much to Dervish’s frustration. “Come on!” Matius screams as a spectator. The rain continues to pour down. Dervish makes slow motions in his hands, readying himself for another attack. Quickly trails fof ach scream through the thundering sky. Immeadies ducks and dodges the attacks as the ash becomes more presistant. He manages to break free from the ash that hangs in the air. Defeated the ash sinks into the water, much to Immeadies suprise.

Calmly he settles on the water surface, water dripping down his wings. “Is that all you’ve got!?” he demands mocking Dervish. He immediately gives his reply as ash bursts from under the water, ready to crash over Immeadies. Alert Immeadies quickly goes through the gap as the two ash waves collide. Dervish high above watches in anger, unable to control his feelings Dervish unseethes both his swords heading for Immeadies. They both launch at each other, Dervish swings his swords...

Just as Immeadies is about to attack a defenceless Dervish ash bursts from the water between them. He uses his sword to protect himself against the ash only for the sword to blacken. Immeadies backs away i panice watching the ash spread across the water surface. “You’ve surprised me. I thought you would be weaker than this”. Dervish is annoyed by Immeadies attitude, “I would speak softly if I were you” Immeadies gives a little smirk, “Fine you will regret facing me in battle”.

Immeadies looks into the air before flying towards the walls of hell, Dervish quickly follows suit. Both land on two pillars, their eyes fixed on each other as the sky roars above. Immdeadies draws symbols onto his right arm, flaring on the skin before sinking into the skin. The arm itself starts warping and shifting as something is growing inside. The armour on his arm breaks away...

“These things are called, “Ta likas”, he utters, “These things are considered to be the most resilient things known here, on hell. They are considered the greatest predators because they literally feed on energy, fuelling me” As a demonstration one of them rips through the walkway between them, bits of rubble fall to the ground. “Face it you cannot beat me” Immeadies launches another one, aiming directly for Dervish it narrowly misses him, taking out more of the brickwork. .. Another Talika charges at Dervish, knocking him off balance.

Dervish unable to keep is balance falls from the walkway, the air whistling around him with rain falling everywhere. High above he see’s a talika heading down towards him, it’s teeth bared. With quick thinking he spins in midair, controlling a trail of ash. It heads to it’s taget blocking the attack. He lands on the water’s surface uneasily, water dripping from his face. He raises his head up towards the walkway seeing Immeadies falling towards him...

Stunned my his opponents power. Tired he looks up to the sky seeing Immeadies watching him pitifully from above. He suddenly disappears from view, keeping Dervish on guard watching his surroundings. Matius can only watch in desperation through the oncoming rain. Dervish spins on the spot as ripples spread on the water surface. Almost immediately Dervish is attacked by an unknown force knocking him backwards, he catches his balance stunned staring into nothing but the rain. Another invisible blow, knocking him over, his body splashing in the water. “Come one... get up!” Matius shouts, seeing Dervish in trouble. Dervish staggers to his feet dazed. This time Dervish manages to dodge the attack, taking hold of Immeadies arm. With his other hand free, Dervish grips is sword, cutting through the Talika’s. Immeadies screams in pain instantly backing away from Dervish, holding onto his cut bloodied arm. He raises his head in anger, looking at Dervish filled with anger.

“Look out!” Matius shouts, the rain blocking out his voice. Dervish quickly turns seeing Imeadies

Dervish turns to look at his opponent, “Before you say something I suggest you look above”. Imeadies looks bemused, “ so what? It’s stopped raining... it won’t save you” he’s about to continue when he hears something in the sky; fearfully he turns to look into the dark sky. His smile quickly fades. The sky itself has turned black, only glimpses of cloud are showing through. “I’ve had all the time in the world to set this up”, Dervish admits feeling confident. A flash of lightening illuminates the sky. Immeadies looks to the black sky scared, unable to make the blackness out. “What is this?” he demands fearfully.

A rumble from the clouds fill the air. “I call this final judgement” Dervish states, raising his head honouring his work. Rain continues to fall all around them. “All the angels, demons, being that have fallen because of this are now a part of me” A flash of lightening reveals a huge blanket of ash high in the dark rain clouds. “This is their judgement upon you” Rumbling is heard high in the sky setting the scene. Dervish looks at Immeadies coldly, “You will not escape this”...

With the ash closing in Immeadies flys as fast as he can go. The wind hurting his skin, the pressure almost hurts. He glances up above seeing the wall of ash suddenly increase falling speed, about to fall into the water. With renewed urgency he pushes himself harder, screaming under the effort. The wall of ash comes down into the water, making a wave. Immeadies immediately follows along the wall of falling ash, hoping to reach the corner. As he approaches the corner more talika’s come out of his arm, ready to attack the ash wall. They head in towards the wall...

Realising what he’s going to do Dervish using his hands splits the ash roofing in two, ready if Immeadies breaks free.

In desperation Immeadies breaks free from the roofing, only to be assaulted by more persistant trails of ash. One of the trails grips hold of his leg like a vice, before hurtling him back into the trap. With it’s job done the roofing collapses down onto Immeadies.
  His opponent defeated Dervish turns towards the broken windows of the royal palace flying tiredly towards Matius. They both approach one another. Once enemies on a world, here they become friends. Matius gives a smile of satisfaction. “For the first time I’m glad I have someone like you by my side”. Dervish gives a little smile, “Same could be said for me. Just remember this in dire times, or times of need I will always be at your aid”. He then outstreaches his hand, urging Matius to shake. Matius looks back at Dervish, “I’d be more than happy...friend”. Matius shakes Dervish’s hand. The rain now calming down, the battle finally over. Their celebrations are soon interrupted as Ivan runs into the Royal hall, followed by a large figure catching sight of Matius and Dervish.

Dervish approaches his father .. before turning towards Ivan, ..

“I wish you good luck my friends. I hope to see you all once more” Ivan turns towards Matius, “Shall we go?” Ivan asks. “No... there’s something I must do first” Matius turns towards to look into the horizon with a sense of purpose. Ivan lowers his head, “I’ll see you later then”. Matius gives a smile before turning away heading into the distance.

Back on heaven the area gathers wind, until Matius is standing once more alone. In the ruins of heaven, still with beauty around. He walks around until he comes across Lemionas’s dead body, silently he drops to the floor looking upon his face, now covered with dirt and dust. Matius closes his eyes, leaning towards his head whispering, “You may rest now friend. For you are at peace” he opens his eyes as a tear rolls down his face. He gets his arms under Lemionas, carrying him towards the sunrise.

With Lemionas taken care of he then visits heaven once more, flying towards where his father died. He lands inside the tower looking at his dead father, now a shell of what he was. Matius looks down at him, feeling sadness. “I’m sorry that I failed you. But I will make you proud” With these words he then gives him something which he gave him, resting it upon his chest. With one last look Matius looks at his dead father before heading out into the darkness of. ..

Back on hell people celebrate Ivan’s arrive, tired he walks down a corridor towards his chambers before his eyes catch something. On the wall is a portrait of his father, before he died. Saddned by this he walks ahead, with a vacant expression. Using his skeletal arm he presses against a wooden door at the far end, entering a room filled with weapons. Ivan lazily removes his sword from his holder, placing it amongst the several swords which belong here. Ivan starts to turn away from the door till he see’s something. He turns his head, walking over to a certain sword. The same sword which was used to defeat Dervish. He leans over towards it, pressing his fingers against the blade, remembering it’s memories. Satisfied he casually walks out of the weapon’s room shutting the wooden door. Several seconds pass, that is until a crack appears in the sword, revealing something stirring.