The Last Saint

25: Frozen Heart

Adam wasn't going to ask how Cain procured two new swords for him and Kara. What mattered was they were ready.

Cain revealed that the Saints could track where the portals were created, so to be safe, the group went to the park. He turned to Adam. 

"This is going to be a real war, you know. Second's army will be there. I'm thinking we're going to have to stay organized to pull this off. I'm going to be the Forward Guard with Adam, so follow us. Sybil will use her magic to protect us and provide heavy artillery, making her our Rear Guard. Liz and Kara will be Vanguards, protecting Sybil at close range and watching my back," Cain said.

Adam felt his throat, and grinned. "Honestly, if memory serves, Sybil's pretty dangerous at close range."

Sybil shook her head. "Which reminds me, I still haven't forgive you for stabbing me in the eye. That hurt a lot, you know!"

"In my defense, I thought you were going to kill me," Adam replied. 

"Are we done?" Cain said, clearing his throat.

Adam nodded, and his face became serious. He drew his new katana, taking a second to appreciate it. It looked similar to Eve's sword, which he had retrieved from the ruined alley that morning. He kept Eve's sword strapped to his back, with no intention of using it. She mentioned once that the sword was important to her.

Finally, Cain created a portal. The group stepped through, and got into formation. They were at the bottom of a mountain, with a massive branch coiled around it. A long winding path extended from the base to an oriental style castle at the top. Adam looked up to the tower built around the World Tree's branch at the mountain's peak. He could feel Eve's presence inside.

"Look sharp, it's already beginning!" Cain yelled. A group of at least 30 horse-men, goat-men, lizard-men and other humanoid creatures with animal heads started to approach, weapons drawn.

Adam and Cain charged forward, sinking right into the enemy ranks, slicing and slashing. Sybil flew above, and launched sharp magic crystals at the enemies, cutting them up. Kara and Liz protecting the backs of the boys, and prevented enemies from targeting Sybil.

Instead of trying to destroy every enemy, Cain and Adam simply pushed through and move forwards up the path. They managed to force their way through another wave of Second's constructs, and Adam mused at how much stronger he's become since his first fight.

They ran up the path, reaching a staircase that lead up to the next part of the path. As they ran to the top, Second's constructs followed them, but their path forward was blocked by Yuki and her own ice constructs.

"Sybil, Kara, hold them at the stairs. Adam, Liz, take on the Sixth's constructs. I've got this." Cain said.

"You sure?" Adam asked.

Cain nodded, charging forwards. Adam began to fight the ice constructs to his left, with Liz fighting the ones to his right. Yuki fired ice spears at Cain as he rushed her, but he dodged them and got in close, forcing her to create an ice sword and shield to fight back.

She managed to repel him, temporarily.

"What do you think you're doing, Cain? A mere construct doesn't stand a chance of defeating me!" Yuki gloated. 

Cain smirked, and came at her again, "I think you're gonna regret underestimating me, Ice Queen!"

Adam focused on dispatching the large group of constructs before him, parrying their ice claws and slicing them apart one by one, but every so often he would sneak a glance towards Cain and Yuki's battle. They remained close, with Yuki blocking every attack with her shield, and Cain parrying her sword continually.

The ice constructs surrounded Adam, and so he released a fireball to blow a hole in their ranks and jump through, cutting down several more in his path. He noticed Liz backed up against the face of the mountain, and ran to her, fighting through the enemy to get to her side. She thanked him for the support, and the two went back to back to deal with the constructs.

Adam caught one in the neck, and beheaded it, but his sword broke in half in the process.

"Are you fucking kidding me?!" He shouted, throwing the broken blade aside and unsheathing Eve's sword, using it to continue his fight.

Out of the corner of his eye, Cain and Yuki's blades met. Suddenly, Yuki's ice-sword snapped, and she quickly raised her shield in defense. Cain spun around, thrusting his sword right through the shield and into her lung. She dropped the shield and recoiled, clutching her wound, but Cain's sword was now stuck. Adam yelled out "Regroup", and used another fireball on the ice constructs. He then ran past them, and ran right up to Yuki.

With a twirl of Eve's sword, he cut her legs, making her fall to her knees, then beheaded the Sixth in one swift motion as the others regrouped on him. Visions flooded his head yet again, but he ignored them.

The constructs began to surround the group again. Cain freed his sword from the ice shield, and looked around.

"They just keep coming!" Liz exclaimed.

Cain shrugged. "Well shit darling, it's a battle, not a spa trip. Lets push through!"