Only V

Chapter 23 - Rehabilitation

Gerda stood tall, the thrill of his one-sided victory coursing through his veins. The battlefield was a testament to his newfound might, bodies strewn around him like discarded dolls. A surge of pride swelled within him, his chest heaving with exhilaration. "Thank you, Lord Raezi, for this power," he mused, a triumphant laugh bubbling up. He could already picture the envious gazes of the other shadows as he recounted his glorious triumph.

But soon Gerda's body began trembling aggressively as he shrunk back into his original form. His limbs twisted in pain. He creaked out in suffering. Blood dropped out of his nose as he tried to wipe it off immediately. He blacked out as he couldn't handle the toll that divine scales took on him. He still couldn't maintain that form for long. 

He fell to his knees. He rubbed his eyes, trying to maintain consciousness. As his senses came back to normal, he was astonished to see the view in front of him.

Turning around to survey the battlefield, he called out in confusion, "Where has everyone gone?" The battlefield lay eerily empty. There were no undead, and even the soldiers' bodies had vanished without a trace. Slowly, he stood, trying to make sense of the situation.

"What is this feeling?" he murmured as his body began to warm up. Darkness enveloped him once more, and he collapsed to the ground.

After a while, his vision returned. Blinking slowly, the blurry world around him came into focus. He gasped in horror at the sight of his own headless body standing before him. "What?" he uttered, fear and disbelief mingling in his voice as blood began to cloud his eyes. Vanya stood behind his lifeless form, still embracing it. She let go, walking gracefully towards his severed head as the lifeless body crumbled to the ground.

She lifted his head with a delicate touch, holding it aloft. His eyes widened in shock as he took in the carnage around him. His once-proud army lay in pieces, while Vanya's forces stood unscathed. "But... how?" he stammered, his voice cracking. The large plains were now silent, filled with corpses of the undead. A rotten smell engulfed the place.

Vanya lowered his head, gazing into his dark, blood-streaked eyes. His mouth quivered in shock. He looked into Vanya's purple deep eyes that engulfed him. She smiled gently and said, "I might have spared you some mercy if you hadn't called me a bitch." She chuckled, covering her mouth with a hand. "I let you feel the thrill of victory, heightened your spirit," she continued, bringing his head closer. "And now, I'm going to crush that little dream of yours."

With a slow, deliberate movement, she began to press down on his head with both hands. Her fingers dug into his temples, and as his skull began to fracture, black blood dripping from his chin, she leaned in closer. Her face was a mask of serene satisfaction, her eyes half-closed as if savouring the moment.

Gerda's face finally grew calm after a long time, a peaceful resignation washed over him. "I can finally meet my wife again," he whispered, his voice a mere breath.

Vanya's smile softened for a brief moment, almost tender, as if acknowledging his final wish. Then, with a final, crushing force, she shattered his skull. The sound of bone cracking echoed around them, and she let his remains fall to the ground. She stepped back, surveying the gruesome scene with a satisfied smile, her eyes gleaming with a mixture of triumph and dark amusement.