Eulogy of Forgotten Souls - Chapter 4 The Zero Armor

Felicia set fire to Gabriel's corpse, and took the ashes with her in a pouch, to be scattered in Rursian soil.

Then, the remaining Elendils rushed onwards to the dark structure in now visible faintly through the thinning mist. Several sentry demons were encountered, but none had the chance to blow a horn or send a warning of any kind. They were butchered, the Elendils filled with fury and sorrow of losing a comrade.

Out of the mist darted three figures. 'Zero Armor!' warned Ithuriel, dropping to the side as the foremost figure sliced past with his crimson red broadsword, its blade curved near the tip like a reversed claw. Ivy attacked with her blade, but it was parried swiftly.

Leon darted forwards and tried to punch the figure with the peculiar, yet effective armor, but the second ZA dropped, this one a female with a stave, spiked like a mace at the end. She wore an eyepatch over one eye, and had shining blue carvings on one gauntlet. She deftly parried Leon's punches, and with a well-aimed kick sent him sprawling.

The third emerged, wielding a glowing amber claw not unlike Leon's arm, but more savage in appearance. He dove at Felicia, trying to snare her throat. But she wasn't queen of the Elendils without any reason. She lithely sidestepped the lunge, and laid a deadly blow with her sword to the ZA's back.

The armors the ZA's wore were extremely resilient, and were forged shaping their bodies, akin to quicksilver but fixed. Layers of shoulder plates and chest armor formed the upper torso, with gauntlets three layers yet still as thin as one. Their leggings were slices of the strange metal, forming a flexible but tough armor. Their feet were encased in layered greaves up to the knees.

And it easily weathered a blow that would have slain a golem.

Cerulean gave a mighty roar and delivered an equally mighty smash to the female Zero Armor, knocking her down but dazing her only a little. She recovered quickly, and striking back at him with a stab to the heart. If it wasn't for his incredibly tough armor, he would have been gutted like a fish.

He snorted, and smashed the Zero Armor in the head, knocking it off balance. As it fell, Ithuriel plunged her spear into the Zero Armor's chest, the keen onyx-tipped point piercing even the mysterious alloy. The Zero Armor shuddered, and dissipated into the mist.

The clawed Zero Armor pummeled at Felicia, driving her backwards as she dodged the deadly punches. Then she got a kick under its jaw, fazing it enough for her weapon to morph into a whip, which she took hold of the end and the handle, wrapping it around the Zero Armor's throat in a death-like vice.

It struggled mightily, almost flipping Felicia over, but her extreme skill and experience served her well, and she held on. Her grip tightened...

And snapped the Zero Armor's throat with a satisfying crack.

The last spun his crimson blade in a mesmerizing pattern, parrying the strikes of Cerulean, Ivy and Azure. Ithuriel quickly joined in the fray, as did Leon. He was grounded by a powerful strike by Leon, and Felicia swiftly slid her blade past its throat. It, too, dissipated into the murky mists.

Without another word, the Elendils continued their relentless advance.
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Kaffleen groaned. Her head pounded like a million sledgehammers.

She awoke in a dank, dark dungeon. She was shackled by loose chains, allowing her enough movement to rub her sore head. She cursed softly as she thought of her predicament. Then a man walked up to her cell.

'Awake, are you?' Abel asked.

'I have nothing to say to you, Death Knight.' she spat. She glared at the Death Knight in the eyes, causing him to look away from...was that shame?

'Here is food, for you must be hungry now.' He held up a bowl of some gruel, presumably remnants from the meals of the generals of the Shadow.

Kaffleen snorted. 'Thanks, but no thanks.' she muttered.

Abel shook his head. 'Despite what some may think, there is no poison of any sort in this.' He took a small bite from the spoon in the bowl, and grimaced. 'I can't assure you of the taste, though, but this is all she allows, and I apologize for that.'

The Soul Warrior raised her eyebrows. 'Apologize? From the likes of you?'

Abel glanced behind him, and shook his head. 'I must leave. Please, you should eat. Keep up your strength.' With that, he turned and walked away, his footsteps echoing on the hard stone floor of the dungeon.

'Hmph. Whatever.' she muttered, then reached for the bowl of gruel. It did taste bad, but not as bad as she expected. She looked around outside the bars of her cell, and tested the durability of the bars. But the shackles chaining her drained her strength, physical, magical and mental.

Outside, was a corrupt elf guard who slumped lazily in his rickety wooden chair, snoring without a care. Propped beside him was her Kunou no Yami, its runes glowing dully in the candlelight.

'Keep up my strength, indeed.' she muttered wryly. 'Very well.'