Chapter 266: Crimson Dawn (5)

"Vincent!" Erik cried out as Joshua stepped back, away from the unmoving body of his own brother. Erik's gaze focused on the young man. "You killed him! Your own brother, your flesh and blood!"

"Who was ready to help a demon!" Joshua replied with a shout as he retreated into the shadows.

I noticed Mona run to Vincent's side, her healing magic getting to work, despite the young man being on the border of passing.

"How can you say that?" Erik shouted at Joshua, as he grasped the hilt of his sword even tighter. "Come out, Joshua! Face us head on!"

A coward such as him wouldn't do such a thing.

My voice sounded as my gaze focused on Joshua, who was trying to run towards Alina. I lowered my body momentarily, then leapt forward. For a moment, it seemed as if my body became my flames as at one moment I was standing by Vincent, and at next, I was in front of Joshua.

"The hell?" The young murderer screamed in panic.

I didn't say anything. I didn't give him a chance to redeem himself. A chance to explain, or at least regret.

My blade flashed, and the lifeless body of Joshua fell to the ground.

"No!" Alina's scream echoed throughout the city. As I began walking towards the Crimson Witch Uriithe, the young priestess ran to the corpse of Joshua. She knelt my him, her magic enveloping them.

I pierced his heart – no man can survive that. You try in vain, Priestess of the Crimson Witch.

"You did!" She cried out, her cheeks wet with tears. "You returned! You're still alive, you survived!" I felt her healing magic fail over and over again as she tried to heal Joshua's wound in vain. "How?" She cried.

I didn't respond. My gaze focused on the Crimson Witch, I stood at the edge of her and Fetheion's battle.

You will die today.

I dashed forward, passing right by Uriithe and struck the Divine Pillar's focal point. The crack of the focal crystal as it shattered into pieces sounded clearly, and Uriithe immediately turned her attention on me. 

"You little-"

"Don't look away now," Fetheion mocked her as he blasted her with a spell. Uriithe created a barrier just in time to protect herself, though that meant she couldn't do anything against me.

I ignored the Pillar's golden light as it tried to push me away and struck the fourth focal point. A crimson tendril appeared from a crack in the ground – Uriithe's futile attempt to stop me. I cut it off with a swift strike, then struck the fifth crystal.

"Damn you!" The Divine shouted as she decided to ignore Fetheion and almost threw herself on me. I stepped aside as she swung her spear made of light. "I won't let you destroy our Pillar!" 

Even as she shouted, I had reached the sixth focal point. The satisfying crack sounded again as pale blue-silver barrier formed around me. It was Asher's, I knew that. It had taken him some time, but he had finally pulled himself together enough to help me. I hurried to the seventh and final focal point – once this was destroyed, the Ereth dominance would fail and Aelith and the Crimson witch would become mere mortals. 

I raised my sword and brought it down upon the crystal embedded in the Divine Pillar.

A golden barrier appeared moments before my blade struck the crystal. As my blade bounced back, I nearly lost my balance and had to step back from the Pillar. 

"I won't let you!" Alina hissed. Her hands were covered in blood – Joshua's blood. Still kneeling by his lifeless body, panting, she had used the last bits of her power to stop me. "I win!" She giggled, then that giggle turned into a maniacal laughter. Her eyes flashed golden, though all blood was drawn from her face.

"What the hell is going on?" Asher asked. My heart still burning with revenge, my lips curled to form a wicked smile. I walked towards her as my black and purple flames spread across the plaza. 

You win? 

I laughed in her face. 

"I win!" She spoke as she laughed. "I win, I win, I win!" 

I glanced at the barrier. It was still there, despite her craze, she was still holding it up. She was still protecting the final focal point of the Divine Pillar. She was still in my way.

No, you lost. You will die now.

I raised my sword over my head. Once she was dead, the barrier would fall. Once the barrier had fallen, there would be nothing left to protect the final crystal from me. Once the crystal had been destroyed, the Ereth reign would end and I would have almost fulfilled my promise to the Demon Lord.

Once all of that happened, we would be free. Free to return home.

But right now, none of those were what guided my blood-stained blade. It was the burning flames of hatred, the thirst for blood and revenge. 

I brought my sword down upon her, and her echoing laugher finally stopped. 

The city was thrust into silence once more. All I could hear was the gentle wind that tugged at my clothes and low sobbing of Mona. 

I glanced at Vincent. He was no longer breathing. Mona had failed to save him.

I had failed to protect him.

We had failed.

My slow, steady steps carried me to the Divine Pillar as the golden barrier that had formed over the final focal point slowly began to shatter.

"No!" Uriithe swung her spear at me, but it was Fetheion who reacted in time to stop her.

"I won't let you stop him, Uriithe. It's over!" 

"Traitor!" She shouted. Crimson tendrils appeared all around us, but my flames took care of them.

It still wasn't enough. The thirst for blood and revenge was still there, and it wasn't any weaker. I reached the focal point and raised my sword. 

Bid your city farewell, Uriithe.

"Bid your life farewell, Keeper." 

Something pierced my side.