Four Elements Book 3 - Sacrifice

Part 35

Bane instantly prepared to dodge the attack. His battle reflexes kicked in as he angled his body. He watched Zorak charging towards him, murder in his eyes. At the last second, Bane took a step back and knocked Zorak to the side with a sharp kick. Zorak was thrown into the wall and fell to the floor.

The blade fell out of the Demon Lord's grasp and disappeared in a cloud of black smoke. They exchanged dark looks as Zorak straightened, a look of cold hatred on his pale face.

"I would have thought you had learned your lesson since our last fight," Bane commented coldly. "I beat you then, and I've kept getting stronger."

"Well, let's see if it's enough!"

He came at him once more, a new blade in hand. Bane cast a fleeting glance in Zarias's direction, but he was busy keeping the Umbras away. Focusing on Zorak once more, he watched at the blade dove towards him... before bouncing back. A wall of light was protecting Bane. But it had taken a lot to make it strong enough, and Bane wasn't sure he'd be able to do that again in a hurry.

"You always irritated me. Even as a child. You clearly looked like a weakling."

"Yet, you still wanted me as an heir."

They slowly circled one another once, ignoring the sounds of Zarias fighting the Umbras.

"I was hoping to shape you into a convenient successor. But it was easy to see nothing I did would be sufficient."

"We'll, let's see what this weakling can do!"

With a yell, he threw himself forwards. They fought with all the fury and resentment they'd been fueling for so long. It was such a heated battle that Bane only just had time to see what move was coming next. But Balon had taught him well. His moves were precise, his strikes powerful. In fact, a small part of him wondered where Balon was right now. Probably warning the others.

Andie'll kill me, he thought, a small smile on his lips.

He shoved those thoughts out of his mind. He needed his full focus to be on the fight. The blades clanged and slashed. Bane saw nothing else, heard nothing else. But unlike Zorak, he was starting to feel the effects of the fight. His body was growing tired. It was taking all his energy and concentration to keep up, and Zorak knew it. He was counting on it.

"Bane! I could use a hand with the Umbras!" Zarias called.

"I could use a hand with Zorak!"

"A little busy right now!"

"Well, so am I!" Bane retorted, shoving Zorak back.

No more words were exchanged as the battle continued. There was only groaning, clanging and shouting. To say it was chaos would be putting it mildly. Suddenly, Bane got an idea. He blocked Zorak, quickly moved back, raised his arm and yelled:

"Light of the Guardian!"

A powerful light, much stronger than the one he'd summoned the last time, shone from Bane's hand, burning away the Umbras and blinding Zorak who screamed in pain. Even Zarias had to shield his eyes. When the light faded, Zorak stared at Bane. The look in his eyes made his earlier hateful expressions look almost affectionate. Without a word, he threw an arm out, sending a jolt of electricity towards Bane, who didn't have time to avoid it. He was thrown backwards and his the hard stone wall. He slid to the floor, dazed. Blinking to clear his vision, he saw Zorak advancing upon him, the tip of the sword grazing the floor.

"You should have realized by now, that I am unbeatable." Zorak said softly.

Bane, his head still throbbing, watched him raise his sword above his head.

NO!

Suddenly, it was as though time had stopped for Bane. Everything seemed to be going in slow motion. A blue light surrounded him, soft and familiar. A second later, Bane saw Balon slip out of his body... and into Zorak's. At that moment, it was as though someone had set the speed to normal again. Zorak's blade continued to drop down towards him... until it stopped, inches from his head. And Zorak's hands were shaking, as though he were... struggling...

Well don't just sit there, move! Shouted Balon's voice.

Snapping back to reality, Bane quickly rolled aside as Zorak dropped the blade.

"... What the hell...?"

"Wh...at have you... done?" Zorak asked with difficulty.

He seemed to have lost control of his body. It was as if he wanted to do several movements with the same limbs at the same time.

I've taken over his body, but he's fighting back, and hard. I'm not going to be able to hold him back long. Get out!

"You what?"

"Talk later, move now!" Zarias said, grabbing Bane's arm and tugging him to his feet.

"But Balon..."

GO! Balon ordered. Just go!

Zarias pulled Bane away and ran with him to the door they'd been heading for before being caught. When he opened it, Bane saw it was indeed the study. Zarias ran forwards to activate the portal while Bane stared at Zorak, who was still twitching.

Zarias! Balon's voice called.

Bane frowned, and then felt something grab him by his collar and yank him backwards. Bane yelled Balon's name, and then was sucked into the portal.