Zenkoh's Adventure

Chapter 25

As Zenkoh waited for Varna to make the first move she saw something lying down next to the altar where the demonic artifact used to be. She couldn't tell what it was from this distance, she was going to need to get closer. As Zenkoh started to move, Varna launched forward with her maul swinging her maul in an overhead arc. She rolled to the right to dodge out of the way of her mother's swing, a loud crash is heard behind her as the maul impacts the ground.

Zenkoh quickly made her way to the altar before Varna could recover from her missed attack. As she got close enough she could see the object she could see by the altar was her mother's old maul! She quickly sheathed her longsword and picked up the maul, oh how she remembered her mother had forced her to learn how to use such a weapon back when she was still growing up in the clan. Her mother had said it was a requirement since all of the previous clan leaders had used similar weapons and she would too. Zenkoh shouldered the weapon and turned to face her mother. Just as she did Varna had finished turning around readying another strike with her massive weapon.

As they both lunged at each other Varna aimed high trying to hit Zenkoh's head, Zenkoh ducked down aiming her swing for her mother's legs. Varna's swing barely missed, passing over Zenkoh's head by mere inches. Zenkoh's swing however had found its mark striking her mother in the left lower leg. Varna staggered, falling to her left knee before picking Zenkoh up by her neck and throwing her across the room like she was a ragdoll. She bounced when she hit the ground before coming to a sliding stop, her whole body ached!

As she was trying to stand she saw her mother rushing her and before she could move had Varna's massive weapon slammed into her chest, knocking the wind out of her and sending her flying across the room! As Zenkoh got back up again she realized what she was going to have to do in order to stand any chance of beating her mother in this state. A tear rolled down her face as she whispered to herself.

Zenkoh: I'm sorry Maria, I have to break my promise.

The barely audible whisper in the back of her head steadily grew in volume until it was a thunderous roar that drowned everything else out. Crush, consume, tear, kill, maim. Zenkoh bared her teeth with an audible growling sound coming from deep in her chest. Letting her rage take over her she let out a bellowing roar as she leapt at Varna, cracking her across the face and knocking her backwards. As Varna was standing back up Zenkoh lunged forward with a vertical swing. As her mother jumped back out of range she could hear the voice booming in her head: blood, death.

Varna leaped forward and swung her weapon horizontally. Zenkoh swung her maul at the same time the two weapons came in contact with a loud slam and ringing of metal on stone. Both of them staggered back from the force of the blow. Varna's arm shot out, grabbing Zenkoh by the left arm. Zenkoh, before Varna could do anything, bit her as hard as she could on the wrist. Varna instantly let go and wrenched her arm back to her side. Zenkoh darted forward attempting to bite Varna's neck. Varna bounded away to avoid her lacerating teeth, then swung her maul horizontally aiming for Zenkoh's chest. Zenkoh jumped backwards out of range of the weapon, they stared each other down waiting for the other to move.

Varna darted forward, maul raised poised to swing. Zenkoh tried to swing first but wasn't fast enough and got struck in the ribs and was sent soaring across the room before slamming into the ground and coming to a stop. She slowly got back to her feet and bolted forward striking Varna in the chest with her maul causing her to stagger back. After recovering from the blow Varna responded by kicking Zenkoh across the room, causing her to slam into the wall. Zenkoh slowly staggered to her feet, ignoring the pain she was in.

Varna sprang forward with an overhead swing, Zenkoh barely managing to get out of the way as the maul slammed into the ground where she used to be. She responded by swinging her maul upwards impacting her mother in the bottom jaw causing her head to snap upwards. Before Varna could recover Zenkoh proceeded to slam her maul into her mothers right knee, causing her to lose balance and fall to her side. As Varna tried to get back to her feet Zenkoh then struck her in the side of the head with her weapon causing Varna to collapse to the ground.

As Zenkoh lifted her weapon overhead to strike, Varna's eyes snapped open and she struck out with her right claw slicing Zenkoh on her left side causing her to stagger back. Varna finished standing back up readying her maul for another swing. As they both swung their weapons they collided with each other, this time Zenkoh's weapon was thrown from her hands. Before Zenkoh had realized what had just happened Varna had struck her in the left shoulder with a crack sound coming from the point of impact. Zenkoh was sent across the room from the force of the blow.

As Zenkoh slowly got back to her feet she realized she couldn't move her left arm! Broken, dislocated, didn't really matter at this point, she couldn't use her arm. Zenkoh crouched low to the ground as Varna readied herself for another attack. Varna attempted to strike Zenkoh with a horizontal swing, Zenkoh ducked under the swing and sprung upwards and using her razor-sharp teeth she latched onto Varna's throat. Before Varna could do anything, Zenkoh yanked back with everything she had, tearing Varna's throat out.

Varna tried desperately to stop the bleeding but the wound was large and bled profusely, not long after she collapsed to the ground. Zenkoh slowly made her way over before nudging her mother's body, no response. She kicked her harder just to make sure, still no response. She did it, she stopped her from leaving with that demonic artifact and rampaging across the land.

Zenkoh's body felt weak, she was in excruciating pain. Not being able to remain standing any longer she collapsed to the ground. As her consciousness faded she heard the sound of something metal being shoved to the ground followed by shouting and then, nothing.