Winter of Destiny (Celestia Chronicles Book 4/Seasons Arc: Book 4)

Chapter 11: The Battle of Gadarik's Spire: Clash

"I see the enemy army" Serenity called out.

"This is it" Jade declared to the army as she drew her sword. "For Hegasha!"

Her rallying cry sent the army charging towards the enemy. Jade flew through the air making her way to the spire for her showdown. The armies clashed together around the base of the spire. Dragons launching fireballs into the enemy ranks as the werewolves tackled them headon. The elves fighting from the back lines with magic, leading the charge was Lady Layire. Her spells assisted by runes that automatically appeared on the back of her hand for each individual spell and her body healing automatically from a arrow striking her face.

Kendra saw Galof through the crowd and sped off towards him. He noticed her approach and readied himself as one of his shadow soldiers tried to swing his sword at Kendra.

"Stop" He declared to the shadow soldier. "She's mine."

Galof drew his sword as Kendra drew both of hers.

***

Syvix shot spells in all directions at the opposing army as Gremdar walked up to him sword drawn. Syvix looked at him confused.

"You" He asked in disbelief. "Of everyone in the group the only Maglis is the one who chooses to fight me."

"Don't underestimate me" Gremdar said.

Syvix bit the tips of his thumbs as he started his ritual to channel dark energy. "A maglis will never have a chance against me, I have a distinct natural advantage I was born with."

As the ritual complete Syvix charged in at Gremdar as he readied a strike to intercept.

***

Serenity and Talon approached Hendok as he pushed back waves of Jade's Army with mere glances. He took note of them as he readied himself to face them, a smile on his face as Talon drew his sword and Serenity readied an arrow.

***

Jade arrived at the top of the spire to see Xaug already up there with the four crystals set up on a rune in the middle of the spire's top.

"This is your last chance" Jade declared as she drew her sword- a sound of thunder rang overhead as it started to rain.

Xaug held his hand out and felt the rain before looking to see the dark mark on her sword. "My vision- could it be coming true despite the interference?"

"Last warning" Jade yelled.

"Why do you stop me" he asked.

Jade was taken aback by this question. "What you are doing is wrong!"

"Let me ask you a question: If you could save the world from a monster who would kill hundreds of thousands at the expense of just a thousand wouldn't the world be better off. How is the damage caused by my actions different from the number of lives that are taken in a war? If I were to be the villain for the sake of stopping an even greater villain then history could see me as a hero."

Jade thought about what he was saying... "Because it is wrong!"

"How" Xaug pressed. "I act for the sake of the greater good- I will defeat evil by playing by its rules."

A memory flashed in Jade's mind. She was sitting under a tree with Flint the Golem as he told her the story of Orion the Hunter. "In the end he became an even greater evil than the bear could ever be."

"Where will it end" She asked. "What if you become worse than the evil you seek to destroy?"

"I suppose that will be for history to decide" He said with a shrug. He placed his hand in the middle of the four crystals as the tower began to glow silver. "That is a history that we write today- today is the day we create our destiny. Me the champion who fought evil with evil or you the champion who defied her fate and stopped me in the process? Which one of us will destiny favor? Let's find out the answer together!"

The spire exploded, rocks flying over the fighting armies, as a silver light flew from the spot the spire stood and went straight into Xaug.

He held out his left hand, gripping his staff tightly in his right with anticipation. A pebble, a gust of wind, a ball of rain water, and a fire circled around his palm. Destiny would submit to him just like the elements themselves have done.