Ashen Light

Chapter 17: Contrary

The frost in Froxious's words hung heavy in the air, like a shroud of inevitability. He loomed over Cyrus, his frosty smirk deepening as the wind howled around them, carrying an unnatural chill.

Cyrus stood firm, his knuckles white around the hilt of his blade. The divine light it emitted flickered, fighting against the oppressive cold.

"If that's what it takes," Cyrus said, his voice steady despite the icy pain coursing through him, "then so be it. But it won't be easy for you."

Froxious's gaze narrowed, the frost around him surging upward in jagged spikes. "Bold. But futile."

With a swipe of his hand, the spikes shot toward Cyrus in a deadly wave. He dove to the side, rolling across the frost-covered sand and coming up with his blade ready. The golden light flared as he slashed through the incoming ice, shattering it into harmless shards.

Froxious was already moving, closing the distance between them in an instant. His clawed hand slashed toward Cyrus, but this time, Cyrus was ready. He sidestepped, his blade coming up in a brilliant arc that caught Froxious across the side.

The demon let out a guttural snarl as the light seared through him, the frost around him recoiling. But he recovered quickly, the wound freezing over just as before.

"Insulting," Froxious admitted, his voice carrying a hint of amusement. "But you're still holding back. Why?"

Cyrus didn't respond. Instead, he lunged forward, pressing the attack. Their blades clashed again, divine light colliding with frost in a shower of sparks and ice.

Each strike sent shockwaves through the air, the ground beneath them cracking under the force of their blows. The frost around Froxious seemed to waver with each clash, the golden light from Cyrus's blade cutting through it like a beacon.

But Cyrus could feel the strain. His arms burned from the effort of holding off the demon's relentless assault, and the cold was taking its toll, sapping his strength with every passing moment.

Froxious, meanwhile, seemed tireless, his movements as fluid and deadly as ever.

"You're stalling," the demon said, his voice a low growl. "You think your friends can handle my minions? That they'll come to save you?"

Cyrus glanced briefly toward the others. Zack was still firing at the frost demons, his sharp aim keeping them at bay, but the numbers weren't thinning fast enough. Skylar was darting between them, her twin arrows-turned-daggers slicing through the icy monsters, while Astro, despite his awkwardness, held his ground with surprising tenacity.

But Froxious was right. They were being overwhelmed.

"No one's coming," Froxious continued, his frost-blue eyes glinting with cruel satisfaction. "It's just you and me now."

Cyrus gritted his teeth, his grip tightening on his blade. "Then let's finish this."

He charged, the divine light blazing brighter than ever as he poured every ounce of his strength into the attack. Froxious met him head-on, their blades colliding in a burst of energy that lit up the frost-covered dunes.

The impact sent a shockwave through the air, scattering sand and ice in all directions. For a moment, everything seemed to freeze, the world holding its breath as the two combatants stood locked in place, their weapons pressed against each other.

Then, with a surge of power, Froxious pushed Cyrus back, the force of the blow sending him skidding across the ground.

Cyrus struggled to his feet, his breath coming in ragged gasps. The light of his blade flickered again, dimmer than before.

Froxious laughed, a cold, echoing sound that seemed to fill the air. "You can't win, Cyrus. You're outmatched, outlasted... and soon, you'll be out of time."

The frost around him surged once more, the temperature dropping even further as the icy storm intensified.

But Cyrus didn't back down. He steadied himself, raising his blade as the divine light flared to life again, stubborn and unyielding.

"I've faced worse than you," he said, his voice steady despite the tremor in his limbs.

Froxious tilted his head, his smirk widening. "Have you now? Then show me, Cyrus Constel. Show me what you're truly made of.

Cyrus didn't wait. He surged forward, his blade carving through the icy storm that Froxious conjured. The golden light pushed back the biting cold, creating a temporary barrier between them. Each step felt heavier than the last as the frost tried to root him in place, but he pressed on, his determination unwavering.

Their blades met again, a clash of divine energy and icy malevolence that sent sparks of light and frost spiraling into the air. Froxious was faster, his movements almost impossibly quick, but Cyrus's resolve kept him in the fight.

"You hold onto that blade like it's your salvation," Froxious sneered as he dodged another swing. "But even the brightest light can be snuffed out, as you will soon find out."

With a sudden burst of speed, Froxious sidestepped Cyrus's attack and struck him in the side with the blunt force of his frosted claw. Cyrus staggered, the cold radiating from the blow sapping what little strength remained in his muscles.

He stumbled but didn't fall, his blade flaring in defiance. "Maybe. But not tonight."

Cyrus slashed upward, forcing Froxious to retreat. The demon's frost barrier rippled, shards of ice falling away as the holy blade's light pierced through.

Froxious's expression shifted, the faintest flicker of frustration breaking through his confident façade. "You're stubborn. I'll give you that. But even the strongest will falter before death's cold embrace."

The frost storm intensified, shards of ice swirling in a vortex around them. Cyrus shielded his face with his arm, his blade cutting through the storm with desperate swings. The air grew thicker, colder, the chill gnawing at his resolve.

Behind him, the sounds of the others fighting grew distant, muffled by the icy tempest that now engulfed the two of them.

This is it, Cyrus thought. If I don't end this now...

Summoning the last of his strength, he gripped his blade with both hands and charged, the divine light blazing brighter than ever. Each step felt like wading through quicksand, but he didn't stop.

Froxious raised a hand, frost swirling into a jagged spear that he hurled directly at Cyrus. The projectile screamed through the air, a blur of icy death.

Cyrus twisted at the last moment, the spear grazing his shoulder as he closed the distance. Pain seared through him, but he used the momentum to swing his blade in a wide, arcing strike.

The golden light exploded on impact, slicing through Froxious's frost barrier and carving a deep gash across his torso.

The demon let out a guttural snarl, stumbling back as frost and shadow erupted from the wound. His icy form flickered, unsteady, as the froststorm around them began to waver.

Cyrus stood his ground, his chest heaving as he leveled his blade at Froxious. "It's over."

But Froxious only laughed, the sound hollow and grating. "Foolish mortal. You think this is the end?"

The frost around him surged again, his form solidifying as the ice crept back over his wound. "This is only the beginning."

From the depths of the froststorm, a new wave of demons began to emerge, their jagged forms shimmering with unnatural light.

Cyrus tightened his grip on his blade, his resolve hardening. He wasn't finished just yet. He summoned the last of his will, his power, and felt everything slowing down once again, Froxious's figure not being frozen in time rather than ice... but he was still moving. Not fast, not at all. But moving more than any other demon had before.

"I said..." Cyrus growled, gripping his blade tightly and dashing forward, his blade shining blindingly bright as he raked the sharp edge across Froxious's abdomen just as time came surging back, blue blood and ash flying everywhere as Froxious's blood-curling scream filled the night, withering away into ash.

"...It's over."