Blade(Part 3): Dusk

Chapter 21: Shala

Bright, blue streaks of light trailed from behind Shala's hook sword-shaped aura blades as she swung them at the ocean-scaled draconians. There were dozens of the draconians as she, Alexius, and Zabaia delved further and further into the depths of the Locksmith's Hold. They had been running into them ever since they walked off the elevator platform that took them all the way down into the fortress, and they resisted the three Guardians' assault as much as they could, but none of them stood a chance against them. Shala made a swing at one ocean-scaled draconian with both of her hook swords, knocking a hatchet made from glass malakyte from his hand before jumping over him and taking off his head, the blue streak passing where his head used to be. Another one then rushed at her from across the corridors, and she warped behind him and threw him forward with an aura blast. Zabaia swung his scimitar-shaped aura blade, cutting the draconian that Shala threw at him in half, with a streak of golden light trailing behind his blade. He then parried a mace from one draconian before scorching him with a blast of fire, and blasting a chain lightning spell at another one. The lightning bolt went from the first one to three more, and all four of them dropped dead. Suddenly, a roar came from a draconian charging at Shala from behind her, but he suddenly dropped to the ground, with Alexius' gladius-shaped aura blade in his back. Alexius himself then rushed at the other draconian soldiers with all his strength, a streak of silver light trailing behind his gladius. He cut down every draconian in front of him one by one, swinging his aura blade with every bit of strength he could put into each swing. A trail of their bodies followed in their wake, either cut with his sword or bludgeoned with his armor-plated fists. Shala had blood staining her face, hair, and spots on her leather armor, but it was nothing compared to what Alexius looked like. He was drenched from head to toe in draconian blood from killing so many.

"There can't be much further to go to get to the Cleansing Stone," Shala groaned, wiping some blood from her face.

"There shouldn't be," Zabaia agreed. "But I don't think Ametrasa knows Spark like she thinks she does."

"Well, we've come this far, now," Alexius reminded. The three approached a door at the end of the passageway that split open as they drew near it, allowing them to pass. They still had their aura blades formed in their hands as they entered a large chamber that was lit by white torches on the wall. A powerful, radiant aura then presented itself, but a dark one also came with it. On the floor were the scattered, bloody bodies of ocean-scaled draconians.

"Woah," Shala gasped. Every one of the dead draconians had claw marks all over their bodies, and at least a single limb ripped off.

"Well, we won't have to worry about them, will we?" asked Zabaia.

"There's that, at least," Shala agreed. "But what happened to them?" Suddenly, a growl came from the door on the other side of the chamber.

"Let's find out," said Alexius. He and Shala pointed their blades forward, while Zabaia faded his and armed fire in both of his hands. Something then crashed against the door, leaving a huge dent where it was struck. A roar that sounded as though a screech was blended with it then came from the other side of the door, and the dark aura that the three of them sensed grew stronger. Shala could feel her spine shake at the thought of whatever was about to bust through the door. It must have been enormous, powerful, and terrifying, continuously pounding on the door with all its strength. Shala began to sense nervousness from Alexius and Zabaia, which only added to her unease.

"Uh, guys?" she shuddered.

"We can kill it," said Alexius, before Shala could speak any more. Whatever was on the other side of the door then crashed against it again, hard enough to where a wide crack formed in the wall above it.

"Are you sure?" asked Zabaia, then the entire door was thrown from the wall. The three Guardians sucked as the piece of metal sank into the wall behind them, then stood to face the monster that stood between them and the Cleansing Stone. Its upper body resembled that of a pale woman's head, arms, and torso, but it stood high above the ground on eight monstrous legs that were similar to a spider's. Between its legs and body were six eyeless serpent-like heads that were on the end of long, scaly necks. Like many of the monsters that inhabited Spark, this one was thought to be rare or extinct on Zenartha, but every Guardian could easily identify it.