The Adventure of Hell's Gate

Chapter 10: The Beast

Cedric was locked in mortal combat with his nightmare. Avarice was bigger, and against all odds, faster. Maker damn it all, why was he still alive?! HOW was he still alive?!

A sudden flurry of attacks broke through Cedric's defense, a swipe from a massive clawed hand knocked his Greatsword out of the way before the other came slicing across his face. The attack was a literal blur, yet his instincts managed to save his eyes. A chunk of flesh was sent flying through the air, and through the adrenaline, Cedric didn't even realize it was the arch of his own nose.

Cedric put his weight on his back foot before heaving the heavy sword in an upwards arc, and was rewarded with a deep slash into Avarice's hide.

But he was unbalanced.

Not a second later, he felt the razor-sharp claws sinking into his shoulder, the scale mail like butter to Avarice's claws. Maker above, it burned, but it wouldn't hurt as bad as this! The Greatsword was angled in the perfect position for him to shove it into Avarice's gut, and he did so. The sword exited the hybrid's back in a plume of flame.

The resulting screech from the Beast momentarily deafened him. The claws pulled away as Avarice jumped backwards to put space between them, allowing the blood to flow down Cedric's arm. He was dismayed to learn his Greatsword was still embedded in Avarice's body, leaving him defenseless.

"How'd that feel, you rancid dog?" Cedric muttered, wiping the blood from his mouth. Avarice snarled before he pulled the Greatsword out of his body and tossed it away. Black blood, almost syrupy in texture, seeped from the wound. Cedric could tell Avarice was no longer playing games. He was furious. Cedric raised his fists, his vision swimming. He was going to lose, but he'd be damned if he didn't go down swinging . . .

"What, bite your tongue?" Cedric raised his fist, taunting the Beast to make the next move. "Come on, bastard!"

That did it alright. Claws outstretched, covered in his own blood, Avarice lunged, the distance rapidly closed between the two of them.

In that moment, everything slowed down. Avarice watched as Cedric's eyes lost all color, turning into a black, endless, void. A broken halo briefly appeared over his head, the shards spinning faster than the eye could see. However, most shocking of all, was the sudden whoosh of air as Cedric unfurled his large Fallen wings. The dark feathers blended in with the night, faintly illuminated by the full moonlight. Broken, corrupted, holy energy rippled off of the wings, taking the form of shadows blanketing the nearby area.

For the first time in many years, Avarice experienced fear. His aim faltered, he stumbled, and tripped right into the full force of Cedric's right hook.

The sheer force of the inhuman punch, enhanced by his Mutagen and Fallen power, was that of a shot from a canon. Avarice felt his jaw shatter, saw his own teeth fly through the air, before his consciousness left him. He crumpled to the ground, and unable to keep his form, Avarice reverted back into a human.

Cedric, dazed but still standing, barely noticed the pain of his newly broken hand or the disappearance of his wings. What he did notice, was the familiar decay and blackening around the leather of his glove. The pure energy of the higher planes normally healed and renewed matter, yet the corrupted energy Cedric had been cursed with withered and destroyed.

He looked to the unconscious form of Avarice and noticed the familiar patch of decay around his jaw, where he absorbed the full force of Cedric's punch.

Cedric attempted to walk towards his Greatsword, but he soon realized he lacked the strength. He collapsed next to it, the steel mere inches from his outstretched fingertips.