Ashes Whisper

Chapter 68 : Life as Dying

The echoes of Death's scream reverberated as he summoned his minions from his shadow. The group stood ready, determination etched on their faces. The Headless Horseman, wielding his obsidian swords, pointed forward and declared, "Now, do not waste our time!" With that, he charged forward on his horse, slicing through every minion of Death with a fierce determination.

Imzyh and Mikaela unleashed a relentless assault on every Death minion, their blades cutting through the spectral foes. Rina, positioned behind them, skillfully shot arrows with precision, ensuring that no minion escaped her aim. Khai and Samael together in effort to fend off the minions and cover their comrades.

Meanwhile, Zarek, biding his time, waited for the perfect moment to unleash everything he had. The battlefield became a chaos and order as the group worked together, each member contributing their skills to confront Death and his relentless minions.

As the obsidian sword of the Headless Horseman reached Death, he felt a subtle deterioration of his armor. Undeterred, the Horseman pressed on, relentlessly attacking Death. "It seems your ability is weakened, Horseman!" Death remarked, acknowledging the impact on his opponent.

The clash between the obsidian sword and Death's scythe echoed across the battlefield. Despite the degradation, the Headless Horseman remained resolute. "A mere claim for those who aspire to be the God of Death," he declared, his words cutting through the chaos of battle. The intensity of their confrontation heightened, each strike a testament to the clash between two formidable forces.

As Death moved backward, he swung his scythe, gathering a million soul of the dead. The air thickened with the ominous presence of the departed as Death unleashed the torrent of souls like a relentless tsunami. The Headless Horseman, sensing the imminent danger, urgently commanded the group, "Quick, behind me!"

The group swiftly retreated, seeking refuge behind the protective figure of the Headless Horseman. The Headless Horseman created a protective barrier around him just as the tidal wave of souls crashed against it. The barrier strained under the immense pressure, crackling with ethereal energy. The Headless Horseman grunted in pain as the barrier took damage.

Mikaela, her concern evident, uttered with worry, "Father!" Despite knowing that the Headless Horseman had taken her father as a host, she couldn't help but feel a deep sense of concern for him. 

Death laughed mockingly, "Hahahahah! You think you can defeat me! Any final words from you?" The group fell into silence, facing the imminent threat. Without warning, Death unleashed the same devastating attack once again. However, Zarek, in a sudden burst of strength, countered it with his Necromancy fused with Arcane magic, shooting out a powerful beam. The collision resulted in a massive explosion.

Death appeared genuinely surprised and muttered, "What? He... He can stop my attack?" The exertion took its toll on Zarek, and he winced in pain, feeling the strain from utilizing the sorcerer eye and his necromancy.

Mikaela, with a worried expression, added, "Zarek!" Zarek reassured her, saying, "It's okay, I can still go on." Samael, observing Zarek's pain, expressed concern, "Are you sure? I can see that you are in pain, Zarek." Gasping through the discomfort, Zarek responded, "This... is the only thing we can do."

Khai, agreeing with determination, added, "He's right. This is our only chance to defeat Death."

Zarek continued, his voice strained, "Khai... do you still have the Amber Stone?"

Khai nodded and handed the Amber Stone to Zarek, who carefully received it. Zarek explained, "I'll use the Amber Stone's to healing the pain while using the sorcerer eye with this i can extend the duration. We can gain an advantage. As for our plan, we need to continue the assault on Death. The Headless Horseman is weakening him, and our combined efforts can tip the scales."