KEEL THE DEMONSLAYER

14 - Meeting Again

About the final confrontation with Duke Marlak...

Marlak had chosen, or perhaps molded, a huge chamber inside the mountain to live. The ceiling was very high and could not be seen. The ground was covered with a blanket of hot and bubbly lava with slabs of rock sliding slowly. I thought his home in the infernal plan was probably a place like that—a sterile chamber of rock and fire.

There he was, perched like a bird, near the center of the chamber. His face was resting between his knees and the huge wings surrounded his body like a blanket. His eyes were closed as if asleep. Shasticara hugged me tightly and whispered in my ear "It is him!"

"Yes, It's the Duke".

"No, you don't understand! It's the devil that had you in his grip. Look at the left paw, the tip of his finger that you cut off with Balcatemi".

I realized that on the day of the Battle of the Three Armies, Marlak himself came to get me. Those same feet, hand-shaped, half-human with the legs of a bird of prey.

"Let's put him down while he's still sleeping" Helmut said and activated the runes of his axe.

Nöl touched Helmut's shoulder "Wait! There is something wrong. I don't know if it's wise to attack".

"But then why did we come here? To sing him a lullaby?" the dwarf pushed Nöl's hand off his shoulders and spun the Fgak TàNiah, preparing it for its big launch maneuver. "Ufir-Zeai!" he commanded.

The axe spun fast flying towards the devil's head. However, before reaching the target, it hit an invisible wall. The axe bounced off, and fell into the bed of lava. It took just a few moments to sink.

"Ufir-Zeai" Helmut raised his right calling out for the axe. Shortly after the lava bubbled and the axe came flying back to rest in his hands.

"Now what?" asked Nöl.

I concentrated with Balcatemi in hand, but could see nothing. "I don't know. I suppose Marlak knows I could see his weak spot. So he got into an impenetrable dome. I think that at this moment he is invulnerable".

"Exactly" the Duke's deep voice filled the place.

"Retreat...." a human general became suspended in the air by an invisible force and thrown into the lava.

"You insignificant microbes! You really thought that you'd have any chance against one of the Dukes of Arcanael?" Marlak asked with eyes still closed.

Nöl suggested "Let's join our weapons!" He stretched his staff between me and Helmut. I reached the staff with my sword, but before Helmut could join his axe, a strong earthquake caused us all to fall.

"Wrong! There is no escape! Especially for you, bastard elf! I cultivated this scar on my finger as a special reminder of revenge. He who dares to scratch a Duke of Arcanael will suffer its worst punishment".

The ground cracked and our group was torn apart. Some fell into the lava. On my knees, I asked the Balcatemi's spirits to show me a way to counteract the Duke of Hell. Holding me, Shasticara was dominated by fear of the demon's great power.

Marlak opened his eyes staring at us with an expression of superiority and indifference. His black eyes were filled with yellow and red cracks looking at us with contempt. Nöl summoned a flash with his staff. His action bothered Marlak "Worm! I will crush you! I'll cut you to little pieces!"

Nöl cried desperately as he was levitated against his will. He died a horrible death being dismembered and having his pieces thrown on the bed of lava. The Scarlet-Bright Staff floated slowly to the central rock in which Marlak was perched.