Lot to Lose, Lot to Gain (Rewrite)

Chapter Seven

Patrick was rushed to the medical ward of the Dreadfort, where Stella began tending to him, trying to keep him alive. Azura had been escorted away by Daryll and his bandits, but she was in bad shape with the loss of the Grandmaster. In the absence of General Patrick, the Dragon Tamer was placed in charge of the Frostbourne, with Stella as his second. Rain sat in the Grandmaster's Study, looking over maps of the Nether Fortress and surrounding terrain that Gabriel had provided.

"The Wither Tower... it's practically impenetrable," Rain said to Stella, who stood beside him.

"That would be by design. It's made to protect those inside," she replied.

"The Angel showed us that our sky fighters can make it, but we'd need more than just Lady Azura and the Angel," Rain leaned back in his chair.

"Rain, we'll find a way. Immediate retaliation won't get us anywhere," the Enchantress advised.

"Their forces are weak. We decimated them when they tried to attack. Now is the perfect chance!"

"Not if we don't have the means to enter the fortress."

"Right. Well... maybe soon."

Meanwhile, Ceris and Gabriel stood on a balcony, observing damages as night fell on the Dreadfort. A purple glow and a dragon's roar caught Gabriel's attention. He looked around, before spotting a figure on the horizon. With the night vision his helmet provided, he was able to see the dragon-human hybrid approaching the city perfectly, even in the darkness of dusk. He pulled a rifle from his back, taking aim. He fired, and a shriek of pain was heard as the figure tumbled out of the sky.

"Let's go," Gabriel said, and took off as Ceris ran across the rooftops. They moved at a rather slow pace as Ceris was still recovering.

Meanwhile, the dragon-human hybrid lay on the ground, her wing torn by the round. She got to her feet, inspecting the damage. It wouldn't take long to heal, but it was enough to knock her out of the sky for a while. Rustling in the bushes snapped her from her thoughts, and she looked up as two wither skeletons walked out of the brush along with Kralos.

"We've been looking for you," the Wither Knight said.

"Me? Why?" The woman asked.

"You'd make a powerful ally, girl. General Naeus extends an offer of alliance, and in exchange, you'll be allowed to live," Kralos explained. The hybrid went on her guard.

"The Nether Horde does not appeal to me, sir. Leave me be," she said.

"I don't think you understand," the Knight said, drawing his axe. "You don't have a choice."

"And I don't think you understand," she replied. "You stand no chance."

The Wither Knight charged the hybrid girl, swinging his axe with all his might. The woman dodged to the side, the blade of the axe getting lodged in the ground. Kralos was forced to duck back as the woman slashed at him with her claws, which were visibly sharper than any weapon he had ever wielded. He pulled his axe from the ground, swinging once more. The blade of the axe didn't make contact, but the arm of the axe hit her in the side, knocking her to the ground and sending her sprawling. Kralos went in for another hit, but as the axe came down, five red blades blocked it. The Wither Knight backed up, confused for a moment before Gabriel flew from the bushes, the blades returning to his back.

"Stand down, Kralos!" he shouted.

"Deserter, you will both pay the price for defying General Naeus," Kralos picked up his axe, getting ready to fight again.

"I'll fight to the very last, Wither Knight," Gabriel readied his blades and staff.

"Then say your goodbyes," Kralos charged, bringing his axe down hard on the Angel.

Gabriel blocked the axe with his staff, holding it with two hands. He'd bitten off more than he could chew, but he kept looking to the woman on the ground, hoping she'd get up. Instead, the blunt side of a massive black greatsword was what saved him, hitting Kralos in the side and knocking him back. Ceris stood beside him, her sword gleaming in the moonlight. Her purple eyes cast a faint glow on her face and chest, showing her still-torn outfit and battered face. The Angel's blades formed a scythe on his staff, and he stood ready beside her. Suddenly, Kralos was joined by two wither angels, their bodies barely visible in the darkness.

"You will all fall!" Kralos shouted, before he and the angels charged.

The Matriarch took on Kralos himself while the Angel handled the wither angels. She swung her sword clumsily, only to be easily countered by the skeleton's axe. She continued, swinging the greatsword again and again to no avail- the Wither Knight was able to block every hit. Gabriel spun on his heel after dealing with the angels just in time to see Kralos's axe come down on the Matriarch, and she lay unmoving. He charged the skeleton, only for the butt of another weapon to hit him in the jaw, knocking him to the ground. The last thing he saw before passing out was Kralos dragging him and the hybrid towards a portal, and Amelia behind them.