Nephalem

Nephalem Chapter 12

~CONTINUATION~

Miyamoto was left dumbstruck by Lara's hasty and aggressive actions, her katana blade raised as if to slice him in half. In an instant, Lara stopped herself in her tracks, her body trembling as she fought to control her inner demon. Her eyes' colors shifted, as if battling the demon withi

The dark lord was thoroughly enjoying Lara's swift and lethal intentions when she charged at Miyamoto with the purpose of taking his life. He felt a sense of triumph, as if he had successfully recruited Lara to his demonic ranks. However, he was somewhat surprised when she abruptly halted her assault, clearly struggling to restrain her inner monster.

He then issued an ominous command, "Why are you hesitating, Lara? Your demonic blood calls to you, it demands that you rid the world of the human scum. Let go and annihilate them all!"

Lara's mind:

Lara stood alone in a blank void, the white space stretching on beyond the eye could see. Her feet were submerged in a thin layer of water, which seemed to stretch forever beneath the surface. It was an empty, eerie place, one filled with the sound of lapping water and the occasional splash.

Suddenly, Lara spotted a second she standing before her. This other self looked identical to Lara, but something was different. This was her demon.

In the blink of an eye, the demon launched herself at Lara with a vengeance, a katana blade in hand. Lara was quick to respond, blocking the attack with her own sword in hand. The blades scraped together with a loud ring of metal, spraying sparks in the darkness.

As they dueled over the top of the shallow water, Lara found herself gaining the upper hand. She pushed her opponent back with a swift, fluid motion, using her katana to force the blade away from her. The demonic Lara was knocked to the side, splashing back into the water.

With a mighty effort, Lara turned to face the demon once more. But this time, her demonic self was nowhere to be found. In its place, Lara's Angel stood before her, a soft light emanating from within. The Angel spoke as it wrapped its arms around Lara, offering comfort and encouragement.

As the fighting ceased, Lara let out a deep sigh, feeling a sense of relief wash over her. The Angel had once again served as her guide through the darkness, offering guidance, insight, and peace.

Back to the scene:

In a blinding flash, Lara drew her katana and swiftly sliced through the demon leader's neck, separating his head from his body. The demonic head thumped to the ground, where it disintegrated into a pile of ash, a symbol of the fate that awaited all of the demons in the room.

As if possessed, Lara moved with a speed beyond comprehension, sweeping her katana in wide arcs that tore through the ranks of the abyssian horde. Her every slash was quick and precise, a testament to her skill and determination. Blood spattered the room in a brutal display of her dominance. And then, as suddenly as it began, the battle came to an end. Lara stood surrounded by a circle of ashes, her victory complete.

Miyamoto's mouth hung open in surprised horror as Lara moved with blinding speed, effortlessly slicing through the demon horde. As suddenly as he had blinked, it was over. The demons lay in piles of ash, their bodies a testament to Lara's unrivaled skill.

Miyamoto felt a sharp pain at his neck and wrists as he tried to move. The iron chain that bound him had left red welts on his skin. He gazed at Lara, his voice a weak whisper, "L-Lara.."

Lara closed the gap between the two of them in the blink of an eye, wielding her katana with lethal precision. However, Miyamoto watched, unfazed, as he knew she had no intention of killing him.

With a swift gesture, Lara disarmed herself, hurling the weapon aside. She then embraced Miyamoto in a tight hug, drawing him close to her. Although he expected a sharp word from her, none came. Instead, Miyamoto felt the warmth of her embrace and realized that he had become a source of comfort for her.

As they embraced, Lara said nothing, but Miyamoto could sense her sadness and regret in her grip. He nuzzled his head into her shoulder and spoke in a tender and joking tone, "You did amazing, Lara. You're so strong, a goddess among mortals."

Lara ended the embrace with a gentle pull away from Miyamoto. She lifted a hand out towards the iron chains that bound him and, with a sudden burst of power, they snapped like twigs.

Miyamoto, still disoriented from everything that had occurred, rubbed aggressively at his neck and wrists, where the chains had left deep bruises and raw, bleeding flesh. But Lara was not done with her powers. With a touch from her hands, the pain and damage faded away in an instant.

With his injuries healed, Miyamoto looked up to see Lara with her back to him, heading towards the exit. Her aura was distant, almost cold, and he felt the weight of her anger and her grief. He knew it was best to let her go for now, hoping she would find peace in time.

Upon their return to the village, they were relieved to find the people repairing damage inflicted by the demonic invaders, with the help of fellow samurai and other willing volunteers. Lara watched the activity with a sense of relief and gratitude, knowing that the villagers were safe once more. She realized that she had misjudged the situation earlier and was glad to see that the village was healing.

Miyamoto, too, was amazed at the sight of the repairs and the communal effort, and felt a deep sense of gratitude for the efforts of the villagers and the samurai. As they left the village and journeyed home, both Lara and Miyamoto felt a renewed sense of hope and gratitude for the safety and camaraderie that had bound their community together.

Miyamoto stood outside their hut, his hands on his hips, gazing at the devastation. The once-proud shack had been reduced to smoldering ruins by the demonic invaders, and his disappointment was palpable. Yet, as he surveyed the damage, he couldn't help but laugh, a bitter and wry chuckle that signaled his feelings of helplessness in the face of such destruction.

"We have a lot of work ahead of us..." he said, half-joking, half-ranting. As he turned to leave, he sighed, knowing that the repairs would be a long and arduous process.

After a tumultuous day, Lara appeared more relaxed and composed. She turned to Miyamoto and smiled, her gaze warm and inviting. Without a word, she walked into the forest, Miyamoto trailing behind. Upon entering the wilderness, they set to work, cutting trees and collecting firewood. As they toiled, Lara summoned her angelic powers, causing flowers to sprout around them, transforming the forest into a beautiful oasis.

Enchanted by the natural beauty around him, Miyamoto turned to Lara, his eyes sparkling with joy. He offered her a warm smile, and she felt a strange warmth flood her chest. For the first time in a long while, she felt a hint of hope, of peace, of love. Together, they returned to their hut, ready to tackle the repairs that lay ahead. With Lara's powers and Miyamoto's determination, they knew they could rebuild their home, and perhaps even their lives, from the ashes.

In the Abyss:

In the depths of the underworld, the demons were in a state of disarray, with shouts of anger and frustration filling the air. The Archdemons were in a heated debate, discussing the status of Lara. One of the demonic leaders spoke, "We have noticed that Lara has a demon living inside her." Another replied, "That's because she is a half-demon, we knew that." The first argued, "Are you making fun of me?"

Suddenly, the two superiors began to argue, and their bickering grew louder. The Demon Lord stepped in and shut them up with a wave of his hand. "This Nephalem has an angel living inside her as well," he said, his voice calm. "But anytime, her demon will take over her if we have something that could awaken her demon which is great, but her angel will intervene inside. We have to think about this." The Demon Lord's words hung heavy in the air, as the other demons considered the ramifications of the situation.

-TO BE CONTINUE