The battle was hard fought, but it did little to slow
them down as the trio managed to ascend to the top of Ghast's emerald
spire. The roof above them was solid, and it offered no plausible
point of entry. Well ahead of the undead creatures that pursued them
from below, my lord and his cohorts hurried to find a means of
advancement, knowing that the horrors beneath them were amassing in
number and preparing to attack. They began to frantically assault
the crystalline ceiling with all their strength but continued to make
no progress. Every passing second moment was a demoralizing blow to
their courage as fear crept quickly back into their minds. Wraith was
the first to cease his attempts, and pleaded to the others to stop as
well. He could only reach my lord with his words, but for Animal, he
could not be stopped so easily.
Animal refused to acknowledged the words of his
comrades and began to only intensify his futile attempts against the
impregnable surface. My lord and Wraith seemingly acknowledged to one
another in silent that this may be the end of their journey, and that
if this was how Animal wished die, then it was his decision, and it
should be honored. My lord and Wraith then braced themselves to face
the oncoming hoard from the darkness below, but before death could
consume them, a brilliant blue light erupted from behind them. Animal
had chosen to tap into his cursed powers and injected his hand,
coated in blue crystals, directly into the roof of the tower.
Screaming, Animal seemed to be spreading his own power into the
emerald substance that composed the tower. My lord describes the
event as sapphire veins that spread and branched out inside the
tower's own composition, illuminating it from within. Animal's own
creation eventually exploded in a burst of blue light and the ceiling
collapsed around them. They continued to make their way through the
falling debris which bombarded the shambling hoard from below. Though
they were grateful for Animal's determination, my lord and Wraith
shared a mutual fear towards Animal's power and the mystery of its
origins.
The tower's apex was a circular plane surrounded on all
sides by spiked pillars, and beneath each, an archway leading to the
tower's exterior. There was no roof, as the night's sky greeted them,
the moon looming above. My lord and Wraith were already examining
their surroundings, analyzing and investigating to have all the
information they could possibly need to for next challenge. As for
Animal, he was only looking at one thing. In the the center of the
tower's apex was a pillar that spiraled upwards, and attached above
it, a crude throne. Upon that throne was the source of Animal's gaze.
Ghast rose to his feet and greeted the “heroes.” He slowly
descended the pillar, which produced steps from its surface to assist
Ghast in his descent.
My lord would prefer to forget the event, but he
attempted to recite the words of Ghast and his companions to the best
of his memory. “Why am I not surprised, Styx? I forge this spire
from my own greed, something that can never be taken from me, and you
manage to shatter its walls... Do you see now? Do you see how you can
no longer hide from me? And Wraith, don't think I didn't sense you
the moment you came to this wretched world, but I do thank you for
confirming my suspicions. Why else would you come to this world if
not to serve your traitorous master once more? ” No one responded,
instead, the trio moved into position. Animal to Ghast's right,
Wraith to Ghast's left, and my lord taking his place in front of him.
“You know what I see? A dirty little sewer rat who's still crying
for his tramp of a mother. Can you see it? How pathetic you
are...brother.” My lord's words were cruel, but effective. Ghast
turned his attention straight ahead, losing all interest in Animal
and Wraith. “Brother? You call me brother after those words? I gave
you a chance... But you can die with them!” Ghast declared and
encased himself in a sphere of golden yellow light.
The plan was successful, so far. Though they had spoken
little on their way to the tower, the trio had managed to discuss a
plan. They would separate and attempt to flank Ghast from both sides.
My lord would get Ghast's attention and lower his guard. The others,
would attack Ghast, and hopefully land a blow that would allow my
lord to deal a finishing strike with the energy he had been storing
from the sun for days on end for his most powerful technique. As
Ghast raced towards my lord, who prepared to unleash all the energy
swelling in his body, Animal crafted and hurled at Ghast the same
massive ball of blue crystaline essence that had defeated my lord
once before. Wraith assaulted Ghast as well, unleashing a torrent of
lashing crimson chains. Though their plan was well executed, the
truth is that it was doomed to fail. With no acknowledgment, Ghast
extended both of his flesh-less arms and propelled the golden light
that encased him towards Animal and Wraith's incoming assaults.
Cursed with the power of greed incarnate, Ghast chooses
what he wishes to take and what he wishes to repel, that is the truth
to his powers. His will alone stopped Animal's giant sphere to a halt
and shattered it. Wraith's attempts also met a similar fate, as the
golden light bent to and fro, absorbing every blow Wraith could
muster. My lord, seeing no more reason to old back, unleashed the
fiery hell that he had been harvesting for so long, but the power of
normal Primerans is nothing compared to the cursed abilities of the
Black Hearts. My lord's attack was repelled with ease and as he
poured all his strength into his attack, so to did he put all his
courage and resolve. My lord collapsed upon the ground, his life
energy spent. Ghast, who had so angrily charged him, now slowed to a
walk, and looked down upon his half brother. “Is this all you can
muster? All of you! Is this the revenge I have been dreaming of for
over a century? Can you not satisfy me? Give me a reason to flood
your wretched souls with my hate!... No... You won't will you? The
power of Mammon is too great, too great for mortals. So be it... Then
let this world bath in my greed!” And with his words, Ghast struck
the first fatal blow of that evening. The motion was quick, not
painful, as if Ghast had no longer cared to take the time to make it
so. His hand was straight, bony fingers extended like ivory knives.
He reached back, and plunged his hand deep into my lord's chest, his
blood flowing outwards, staining Ghast's once chalk white fingers
red, the sounds of Animal and Wraith rushing towards him and
screaming in distance.
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