World Eater

90

THE WORLD EATER DIDN'T HESITATE. Tentacles reached down from the sky, smashing into the earth, leaving gaping holes in their wake.

It was as if Sariel’s entire world was falling apart. He turned to Judas, watching him with pleading eyes. “The World Eater has to die,” he rasped, “I know I made a mistake. But I need you to help me.”

Judas’s eyes reflected the utter hell that was above them. Slowly but severely, he dropped to one knee, bowing his head. “I am your servant, my Lord. I must follow you until the end,” he whispered.

A mass of flesh tore into the earth, the shockwave throwing Sariel off his feet. He rolled, letting his wings break through his spine and shedding his human form. With one powerful lunge, he took to the skies, the air growing hotter and more acrid as he gained altitude.

All her eyes were locked on him. More masses of flesh broke off from the sky, snapping at Sariel like the maws of dogs. Burning energy blasted from his palms, severing them into chunks, but they were replaced tenfold.

Struggling to catch his breath, Sariel spotted Judas in the trees, splicing through his own adversaries with sharp claws. The ground shook, his perch crumbling.

“Judas!” Sariel barked, diving down, sweat soaking his brow. He caught him mid-air, crashing into the earth in a heap. Crouched over Judas, he hesitated, grimacing as the bones in his wings corrected themselves and healed.

Judas’s eyes widened, and he took Sariel by the collar, shoving him aside.

“Wha-”

Blood splattered across Sariel’s face. Judas was standing stiff, the tip of a tentacle emerging from his torso. It crawled further through the hole, wrapping around his chest like a serpent.

Sariel spat curses, throwing himself to his feet as he tried to burn through Judas’s restraint. More tentacles rained down, holding him still.

“No! No!” Sariel screamed, taking hold of Judas’s arm as the World Eater began to pull back, dragging Judas towards the sky.

The sky writhed, pulling itself apart, a massive slit opening in anticipation. Within, it was dark, small pinpricks of light twitching. Were they stars?

Judas was a silhouette against the abyss, the lights of his eyes twisting into the very lights the World Eater held within her. He was struggling to speak, but her presence was overwhelming, oppressive.

The World Eater snapped shut.

Sariel froze, a deadly, crushing silence falling over the entire forest. Time seemed to slow. He dragged his head behind him, but there was no point. Alzar was gone. Judas was gone.

He was alone.