The Relistar: Rejoining Vol. 2

Rejoining | Ch. 22

XXII.

Allies

Rithi, give it your best.

Time is slower for them than it is for us. But still–

We need to hurry.

The gears clicked. Ithlo'vatis disappeared.

"Liara." Cedric muttered, calling at Ivalié's memory of her.

The white dragon reappeared at Cedric's side. His greatsword was in full swing.

And then appeared Liara's copper-haired remembrance between them, who smiled to the white dragon. Just far enough from Ithlo that he could redirect his swing, and roll out of the attack.

Cedric didn't hesitate for a second. He swept two imprecise blows into Ithlo's sides as he bounded toward the ground, and then punctuated his spree with a fist to the white dragon's chest. Claws sprung forth into the gear mechanism as he landed.

Ithlo grabbed Cedric's arm and dragged him close to ensure they fell together.

"I'll kill that time mechanism of yours, and then you!"

"Time is impermeable." Ithlo finally muttered. His pale blue face showed no emotion.

And then the gears began to spin in place.

The blast was outstanding. Serkukan was lifted up wholly by the fist that Ithlo shot into his stomach. Crystal shards shot out from either side of him, like a blast of magic had fired clean through.

Cedric gasped from within the armor.

Ithlo was already on his feet, his right hand reeled back...

"Liara...!" Cedric hissed through his bile.

She appeared just as his fist shot through the air. The strike was deafening.

But it hit her. Not him.

Immediately was the ground coated in blood. Liara's body skidded across the ground and rolled and rolled until it came to a stop on its back and revealed the explosive damage done to her face. She was unrecognizable.

Ithlo'vatis howled out in agony at the sight.

So you've got some feelings, too?

Blink!

The red berserker tackled Ithlo to the ground. The gears spun.

His clawed fist rammed through the entire mechanism and through his ribcage. He raised up and punched again. And again. Four, five, six, seven...

Until Ithlo's chest was crushed completely, and water poured all across the dark stone floor of the faux hell that was Algirak's domain.

"That's done." Cedric declared. Serkukan's helm popped open with a hiss of steam, revealing Cedric's face.

Okella ran back to his side. "Now, Cedric." She fell through the ground.

Cedric leapt back from the brutalized Etherian and landed back on unsolid ground. He slipped through, into a stream of glowing colors of white and gold.

"Ithlo was guarding him." he said. He pried Serkukan's helmet off and chucked it upward as they fell. The armor melted from his body into crimson liquid.

"He's not dead. This place is immaterial. We may wander and alter memories, but we may not affect the external world. Unless by..."

"Speak up. By what?"