The Cult Of Seven Devils

Chapter 17: The Final Battle

The moment the barrier shattered, the oppressive weight of the Siren Mother's presence slammed into them like a tidal wave. Her sirens unleashed distorted screams, forcing everyone to clutch their ears. The hooded figures scattered, taking defensive positions around the circle, their hands folded as they chanted new incantations to slow the beast's advance.

Hunter gripped the obsidian blade tightly. "Stay close! Don't let her separate us!" he shouted, his voice barely audible over the chaos.

Behind him, Sakka groaned, his body twitching as he began to awaken. Ali slumped over Itsuki's shoulder, inhaled sharply, and coughed violently.

"They're waking up!" Dahlia cried, relief mixing with her urgency. She dropped to her knees beside Sakka, shaking him gently. "Sakka, can you hear me? We need you!"

His eyes fluttered open, glazed and unfocused. "What...what's happening?" he mumbled, his voice hoarse. His gaze shifted to the monstrous form of the Siren Mother, and his face twisted in horror. "What the hell is that?"

"It's Jaime!" Itsuki shouted, setting Ali down as the boy struggled to regain his bearings. "Or...it was Jaime. Jaime was the siren creature that was chasing us from before!"

Ali blinked rapidly, his breaths shallow. "This...this isn't real," he whispered, shaking his head. "It can't be real."

Hunter grabbed Ali by the shoulders, forcing Ali to meet his gaze. "It's real, and if we don't fight, we're all dead. Snap out of it!"

The Siren Mother lunged, one of her massive arms crashing down near the group. The ground erupted in a shower of dirt and debris, knocking everyone off their feet. One of the hooded figures raised their hands, summoning a barrier of light that deflected the blow just in time.

"We can't hold her forever!" the woman from before shouted. "You need to act now!"

Hunter stood, helping Dahlia to her feet. "Sakka, Ali, are you with us? We need everyone to make this work."

Sakka, still pale but more alert, nodded shakily. "I'm in. What's the plan?"

Ali swallowed hard, his hands trembling as he pushed himself up. He glanced at the towering monstrosity and then at the others. "My bullet wound still hurts. I don't know what to do, but I'll try."

Hunter nodded, his jaw set. "Good. Here's how this goes. The Siren Mother's heart is her weak spot. I'll go in with the blade. The rest of you distract her. Keep her focus off me long enough to get close."

"And if she targets you instead?" Dahlia asked, her voice tight.

"Then you make sure she doesn't kill me before I finish the job," Hunter said grimly.

The Siren Mother let out another unearthly roar, her massive, decayed arms sweeping across the clearing and tearing through trees like they were paper. The hooded figures continued their chants, glowing symbols flaring brighter as they slowed her movements, but the beast was relentless.

"Go!" the woman yelled. "The spell won't last much longer!"

Hunter charged forward, weaving through the wreckage as the others fanned around him. Itsuki grabbed a large branch from the ground and hurled it at the Siren Mother's sirens, the impact drawing her attention for a brief moment. Ali followed suit, throwing rocks and shouting his voice cracking but filled with desperate determination.

Dahlia and Sakka worked together, using whatever debris they could find as makeshift weapons to distract the beast. Dahlia still had her gun, which she used to stun the Siren Mother for brief periods. Sakka hurled a chunk of stone at one of the sirens, hitting it squarely in the side. The siren screeched and twisted, its jagged teeth snapping in fury.

"Over here, you overgrown nightmare!" Sakka yelled, adrenaline replacing his fear.

The distraction worked. The Siren Mother's gaze shifted between the group, her movements becoming more erratic. Hunter seized the opening and sprinted toward her, the obsidian blade glowing faintly in his hands. He could feel the weight of the moment, the lives of his friends depending on his success.

As he closed the distance, the Siren Mother's massive arm reared back, ready to strike. "Look out!" Dahlia screamed.

Ali lunged forward and tackled Hunter out of the way without thinking, just as the arm slammed into the ground. The impact sent a shockwave through the clearing, but Hunter recovered quickly, helping Ali to his feet.

"Thanks," Hunter said breathlessly. "Now, keep her busy!"

Ali nodded and ran to rejoin the others, who were still hurling everything they could at the beast. Hunter took a deep breath and charged again, dodging debris and weaving through the carnage.

The Siren Mother's chest glowed faintly as a sickly, pulsating light beneath the decayed flesh. It was her heart. It was now or never. With a roar of determination, Hunter leaped onto her arm and climbed, the obsidian blade gleaming in his hand. The Siren Mother howled in rage, her sirens twisting and snapping as she tried to shake him off.

"Hold her still!" Hunter shouted.

The hooded figures raised their hands in unison, their chants reaching a deafening crescendo. The Siren Mother froze, her movements sluggish as though trapped in invisible chains.

Hunter reached her chest, the grotesque light of her heart pulsing beneath him. Without hesitation, he drove the blade downward with all his strength.

The Siren Mother released a mighty scream that shattered the air and reverberated through the forest. The obsidian blade sank deep into her chest, the glowing symbols on its surface flaring brightly as the Siren Mother's form thrashed around.

The ground shook violently, and for a moment, it seemed the entire forest would collapse. The Siren Mother's body began to disintegrate, her decayed flesh crumbling into ash and her sirens falling silent.

Then, all at once, it was over. Silence fell over the clearing as the monstrous form dissolved completely, leaving only the faint glow of the obsidian blade embedded in the ground where she had stood.

Hunter staggered back, his chest heaving as the others ran to him. Sakka and Ali supported him as he nearly collapsed, his strength spent.

"You did it," Dahlia whispered, her voice filled with awe and relief. "You actually did it." With joy, Dahlia ran to Hunter and kissed him on the cheek. 

Hunter managed a weak smile. "We did it," he corrected, his eyes meeting each of theirs. Everyone stared back at each other with loving smiles of joy and relief. 

The hooded woman stepped forward, her glowing eyes now dimmed. "The Siren Mother is gone," she said sincerely. "The forest is safe...for now. But her kind never stays sealed forever. The cult will still be active, looking for her. We stay far away from them as fighting them would be unethical in our lenses. But we are always ready to protect ourselves and this forest. Always be ready." The group nodded, exhaustion and relief washing over them. She gave a hopeful smile as she turned away and walked to help some of her injured companions.

Together, they turned and began their long trek out of the forest. The faint glow of dawn breaking through the trees symbolized hope for the battles yet to come.