Gunlaug was silent for a long moment. The entire hall was. But just for a moment.
" insolent girl..."
The Bright Lord rose from his throne and started making his way down the steps of the dias.
" you have disappointed me, Changing Star. Your act of self righteousness, and so called kindness was amusing in the beginning. But then, it quickly turned into annoyance. You just would not understand your place. You were given more chances than most. But I suppose I expected more from the last daughter of immortal flame. "
He left the stairs and stepped into the marble floor. The crowd parted for his approach.
" it seems that I have tolerated your existence long enough "
The Bright Lord stopped in front of Nephis, the mental assault growing more and more difficult to resist with each passing moment.
" I accepte your challenge. "
The crowd immediately made room for the confrontation between Changing Star, and the Golden Serpent. Their backs were pushed against the walls of the hall, their eyes were filled with anticipation.
White sparks appeared in front of Nephis as she grasped the hilt of the Dream Blade.
Gunlaug however, only stretched his hand outward, as the liquid metal of his armor flowed and took the shape of a mighty great axe. The crowd stared at the weapon as much in awe as in fear.
He rested the axe on his shoulder, tilting his head at Nephis who was frowning slightly.
" any last words? "
Nephis gritted her teeth. White sparks dancing in her eyes.
" ...traitor. "
Moments later, the hall was drowned in white radiance.
___________________
A young man was walking inside the castel undisturbed.
The sound of his whistling was echoing through the halls, and a charming smile illuminated his face.
Sunny looked around, fascinated by the emptiness that took hold of the place.
' it seems I'm a bit late for the show. '
He reached the door that lead to the great hall. The sounds of metal clashing and scraping against one another could be heard from beyond the door.
Sunny was motionless for a moment. Then he pushed the door open, and was met with a familiar scene that he knew all too well.
The duel between Changing Star and the Bright Lord Gunlaug himself had already started. The Sleepers of the Bright castle held their breath. Their eyes filled with anticipation and unease.
No one paid Sunny any mind. No one seemed to care.
Sunny hesitated for a moment, then he raised his hand, and gave the young woman in front of him a little push.
She collided with the person in front of her.
She did not turn around to see who pushed her, she did not curse at Sunny or yell at him.
She simply stood up, and resumed watching the fight with a blank expression.
' it worked '
Sunny's smile widened, satisfied, he continued onward, the crowd parted as he came closer and closer to the two figures ahead. None looked at him. None cared.
It was as if he did not exist. To them at least.
He was nothing. He was nobody.
Sunny knew that feeling all too well.
His plan of making Serpent turn into the Terror of L049 had worked better than what he expected.
finally, he reached his destination.
Two figures came to view. One was the radiant Changing Star, her form drowned in white flames.
The other was the Golden serpent, Gunlaug, the sight of his Transcended armor, or rather Echo, sent horror and dread to the heart of anyone who dared to stare at it.
Nephis's body was filled with wounds. Her right shoulder was dislocated and her left eye was closed. Blood pouring out. But the wounds were already healing.
There was a pained expression on Nephis's face, caused by the overwhelming pain of her flaw. But there was also a determined spark in her eyes, or rather, eye.
The Bright Lord on the other hand,did not seem bothered. His Transcended Echo was mostly unharmed. Only a small crack was visible, where his face should be.
Nephis took a moment to let the pain of her flaw wash over her. But Gunlaug was already moving towards her, his mighty axe in hand, ready to cleave her in half.
Nephis forced air into her lungs, and lunged forward.
At the same time, Sunny moved, departing from the crowd.
Nephis ducked down as Gunlaug's axe fell on her head, barely missing it. She grasped the hilt of her sword with both hands. Bright white flames argumenting her strength.
Using all her might, Nephis thrusted her blade upward. Towards the crack in Gunlaug's armor.
But right before her sword could meet its target. A fist visible to no one, collided with the surface of the liquid metal, completely destroying it, and sending Gunlaug crashing against the stairs leading to his throne.
His armor destroyed. His body bleeding. His Will defeated.
Gunlaug was no more.
As Nephis and everyone in the great hall stared at the once unbeatable lord, one idea bloomed in their minds, growing more and more until it took over.
Gunlaug is dead. Changing Star defeated him, her sword broke him, and her flames wiped him away from their world.
Even Nephis herself couldn't resist the undeniable truth that bloomed in her mind.
She killed Gunlaug. Her sword was true, and her flames were pure.
She must've missed the abominable voice of the Spell announcing her kill from the unbearable agony of her flaw.
' yes, that's what happened...'
Sunny walked over to the unconscious form of Gunlaug. He made sure to only put enough strength to knock him out. But Gunlaug was bleeding from his nose.
' I'm still not used to being a Titan. ah, it doesn't matter.'
There will be time for that later. Now, however...
Sunny grabbed Gunlaug and placed him on his shoulder, making him dissappear from view. Serpent had already planted the idea of Gunlaug's body burning away by Nephis's flames, so no one paid her any attention.
At that moment however, the entire hall exploded with motion.
" Changing Star! "
" Changing Star! "
" Immortal flame! "
" Immortal flame! "
Just then, Tessai turned around to castel guards.
" What are waiting for? Kill them all! "
The guards and the slum dwellers clashed in a dance of blood and madness. Their rage that was fed by this horrible place was unleashed on their fellow humans.
The clean marble floor was immediately colored red with blood.
Caster seized the opportunity, noticing that Changing Star was weakened.
But she won't be for long.
He activated his Aspect and turned into a blur. Quickly crossing the distance between him and Nephis.
As he was ready to strike her though, something that Caster could not see nor evade struck his forehead with enough force to knock him down.
Blood trickled down his forehead as Caster stared at the distant ceiling, confusion visible on his face. Frowning, he turned his head to the right, where an ordinary rock was emitting a voice he was all too familiar with.
" wretch! wretch! wretch! "
Sunny smiled. Satisfied by Caster's furious expression.
He walked up the stairs to the throne and turned around, looking down at one person amongst the onslaught.
No one could see him and the man on his shoulder. Yet, one did.
Harus stared up at Sunny with dark murderous eyes.
Sunny had a mocking smile on his face. He pointed at Gunlaug as if saying,
' look what I found '
Harus rushed forward, pushing people out of his path as Sunny disappeared behind the throne into the dark wide corridor.
' ah, so nostalgic '
Sunny placed Gunlaug down as Harus reached the corridor, breathing heavily, yet no less terrifying.
He looked at Sunny with cold eyes, and said with a raspy voice,
" I do not know what trick you played on everyone else. But I'll make sure you die slowly, rat. "
His enemy is nothing more than a worm against him.
He is Gunlaug's executioner. The most feared man on the Forgotten Shore, whose enemies would simply dissappear, making people wonder if they existed in the first place.
He is Harus the hunchback, the most terrifying of the five lieutenants of the Bright Lord.
...
He did well to last three seconds.