Deathsong Chronicles - Tacet 7

Further back from the battlefield, Jennifer and Dragonsniper were fleeing demonic forces determined to capture them. Jennifer was casting a few minor spells, her pregnancy preventing over-straining actions, while Dragonsniper was shooting down the demons.

The demons were closing in...
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Aria hissed as Xepher dealt a furious blow to his side, drawing out ebony blood. The archdemon leapt back, and was harried by Kaithlyn and Sieghart.

"Gah! You cannot win, unless you are the Guardian! No one has ever defeated-" Aria broke off as Xepher renewed his flurry of strikes. "Oh, but I am a Guardian. So off you go, buggering off to hell now!"

Aria hissed in shock and anger, retaliating with a series of punishing strikes at all three of his assailants.

Sieghart was struck across the chest, a massive gash tearing open his skin and muscle, blood flowing out freely. He cried out, and fell back.

Xepher and Kaithlyn attacked fiercely, and managed a few decent strikes before Aria blasted Kaithlyn away. She, too, cried out and retreated.

Now Xepher was alone against Aria, the power surging through both combatants twisting the ether around them, and literally warping the air and the earth near them. The floor of the Apex cracked and broke off, pieces brought into the roaring twister of a wind.

And suddenly, four figures dropped out of the wind and attacked Aria.

Xepher glanced at them, and muttered:"You shouldn't have come." Shadowz, Ruby, Emily and Razel all struck at Aria from four different angles, slicing open wounds.

Aria shrieked and fell back, leaving a pulsing bomb on the ground. Xepher narrowed his eyes, and kicked the repulsive bomb at Aria, right before it exploded.

And when it did, Aria was blasted back, black blood raining down on the area. The archdemon shrieked in agony and fury.

Shadowz cast an orb of shadowy energy, and it struck Aria with considerable force. Emily followed up with three rapid strikes charged with electricity, Ruby slashed and battered Aria.

Razel cursed at Aria and spun his whip, striking Aria a dozen times in two seconds.

Aria gasped, blasting Razel and Ruby away.

Xepher screamed in vengeance, and plunged Kunou no Yami into Aria's stomach, adding his holy magic and considerable strength into the blow. Aria shrieked, and brought his blade spinning round at Xepher's neck.

Xepher ducked, and pushed harder, lifting Aria up into the air. Aria cursed as his blood gushed freely through the breach. He was losing, and he knew it.