Fate/Curadh Beag

Chapter 11: Hound of Culann

FATE/CURADH BEAG

"Little Champion"

Chapter 11: Hound of Culann

Pandemonium erupted throughout the small audience of nobles. Culann was practically glued to his seat in terror as he watched the ghosts swirl and undulate in the air all over the arena. It was all he could do to eye a particular angry spirit as it curled around and made its way straight for him, intent on slashing him into meat ribbons with its skeletal claws. Suddenly, a burst of blue flames engulfed the ghost, causing it to scream in agony as its spiritual core was burned into cinders. Culann spotted Connla deftly vaulting along the stands to reach him and the other nobles sitting near him. She wielded her spear in one hand while using the other to fire multiple Nauthiz Runes at any ghosts that dared to approach.

"Please leave this to me! You must escape immediately!" she shouted to Culann and anyone else in earshot.

His throat choked up, but he soon regained his senses when one of the Braves grabbed his arm and insisted, "We must leave, sir."

"Y-Yes, of course..."

The last thing Culann saw of Connla as he was being ushered out of the coliseum was her energizing her spear with a Nauthiz Rune so she could fight the spirits head-on. Many thoughts swirled in his mind, but they were all focused on a certain boy from his past. Seeing Connla gallantly rush to Culann's rescue made him both severely nostalgic and incredibly conflicted.

Setanta...

****

Meanwhile, Cu Roi and Conall joined the fray to assist Connla in warding off the ghosts. Medb was so startled by the assault that her mind went blank. All she could think about was the possibility of Cuchulainn being nearby, and what he would be doing controlling the Land of Shadows' ghosts to attack Ireland's capital city. Fergus took command of the Braves and ordered them to protect the nobles as they escaped.

"Connla has the west gate covered, so I'll take the east!" Conall shouted to Cu Roi. He ran toward the horde of spirits attacking the spectators and made Curaidin Catutchenn emit its incredible light. Not only could it damage mortal flesh, it was also capable of wounding the undead, and he eagerly utilized that property to cut down spirits one after the other.

As for Cu Roi, he leapt from his seat and landed in the arena while energizing the Runes tattooed on his body. The ghosts realized how much of a threat the King of Munster would be if they tried to gang up on him individually. Their ethereal bodies shone bright blue, then they began to converge and fuse together at a single point until they formed a gigantic ghost with multiple glaring skulls attached to its body.

"Unbelievable!" Connla shouted in disbelief as she watched the transformation. "I've never seen them do anything like that!"

"Pah! Nothing more than a paltry display, as far as I'm concerned!" Cu Roi bellowed as he charged multiple Nauthiz Runes and attached them to his arms and fists. He intended to brawl with this thing like a wrestler, which Connla thought was absolutely crazy. No one else seemed to share in her opinion though, judging by their nonchalant reaction to the king going wild as he thrashed with the huge ghost.

"Ghhhnnnngh!" Cu Roi snarled. His hands were locked with the ghost's in a stalemate, each struggling to shove the other to the ground. He heard numerous cries of hate and vitriol as the fused spirits all unleashed their frustrations upon him in a psychic attack. He was starting to lose his footing, and he slowly slid backwards along the dirt.

"HAH!" Conall cried out as he leapt high from the rafters and swung his sword at the ghost's exposed back. A brilliant flash of light carved into its spine, causing it to shriek in sheer agony. Likewise, Connla jumped in from the opposite seats and generated a large blue fireball in her palms, which she launched at the gaping open wound Conall just made. It detonated inside the huge ghost, destroying its core and breaking apart the fusion, but it wasn't strong enough to actually kill all of the smaller spirits. Cu Roi ripped apart the remainder of the fused spirits and stamped them out with various punches and kicks.