For The Innocent

• This is it, Zalgor!

Said Steban, sword in hand, eyes in fury.

• I’m here to avenge everyone! Everyone! You have done enough you monster! I will end you!

Then smiled Zalgor, the 7-eyed dark beast of the void. Preparing herself to feast.

• Are you capable of slaying me, little one? With your puny, tiny sword and your angry words? Ahaha...ahahahahahaha…THEN FACE ME!

Saying this Zalgor thrusted her giant claws in the direction of Steban. Steban ducked and avoided the attack. Zalgor raised her many limbs and delivered many more thrusts and swings. Steban parried, shielded himself, avoided the hits. The blood in his veins were burning in the chaos of battle.

• Attack me a hundred times creature! I won’t be defeated!

• RGRAAARRRR!!!

Roared Zalgor. With great strength she penetrated the tiles on the floor and opened deep holes. From them, in few seconds...magma. Lava. Erupted and started to fill the chamber. Steban ran and grabbed one of the broken pillars, climbing and standing on top of it. The lava was rising.

Steban grabbed his grappling hook. With one swift and dexterous motion he threw and fixed the hook’s claw on a support beam above. He swinged himself. With great velocity he passed through Zalgor’s side, slashing one of her eyes. Black liquid spilled from her wound.

• RRAAAHHH! ARRRRG! HOW DARE YOU!

• Feel retribution beast!

Steban stopped his motion at a nearby statue. He could pull his grappling hook back now. Zalgor tried to slay him in this moment, but Steban let go of the hook’s rope and dodged the attack. The rope was cut though, the hook was no more. Steban climbed the spiral staircase behind him to escape the rising lava. Zalgor saw, and propelled herself up. Her jump made an echoing noise, her many claws and talons fixed her on higher ground. A place with the perfect angle to strike Steban in his ascend.

Many slashes and strikes Steban avoided. They made cracks in the structure, parts of the staircase were falling below. Steban made it to a higher level, but Zalgor ascended close after as well. Many attacks. Some were successful, left dents in Steban’s armor, ripped apart some straps, pierced and damaged his flesh. Now the blood of both had been shedded. Steban did not falter. He maintained his speed. He dodged the fatal blows.

They reached the top floor. Zalgor broke a hole through to get there. Steban...Steban was tired.

They looked at each other for a while. Zalgor enraged, murderous. Steban’s muscles were failing, his body standing only by sheer determination. The lava could be heard getting closer from below.

Zalgor attacked. Steban defended. She attacked again. Steban stepped aside from the blow and got close enough to slash a second eye. Black blood spilled again.

• INSECT!

Zalgor tried to turn and hit him with a talon. Steban ducked and pierced his blade through an eye that was now closer. The blood spilled on him this time.

Before Zalgor went for her next move, Steban took his blade and slashed another eye. And another. And another. Only one eye remained, Zalgor felt defeat creeping in her heart like a tendril. And her anger...the only thing she had left.

• HOW CAN YOU DEFEAT ME? YOU ARE WEAK FLESH. I AM THE SPAWN OF DARKNESS! THE CREATION OF GAMON THE DARKSOULED!!! YOU ARE NOTHING!

• I am something

Said Steban preparing his final blow.

• I am your death

After saying that Steban ran towards her. Zalgor’s sharp teeth tried to bite him, but they weren’t fast enough. He jumped them and brutally penetrated Zalgor’s last eye with his sword. Zalgor couldn’t do anything. Her limbs slashed and flailed at Steban’s armor and flesh, but he was relentless. He pushed his sword deeper and executed a dilacerating strike to her last eyeball. Recoiling from the pain, Zalgor finally managed to push Steban away, only for the beast to fall on the hole she had made right before, then falling on the sea of lava down below. Steban was prone, hurting. He let a stream of blood erupt from his mouth. He could feel his heart almost stop beating. Almost. With the last of his energies he got on his knees. He breathed. He breathed. He found strength to stand up. He limped towards the hole and took a peek through. He saw the carcass of Zalgor, burning in lava. The creature moving no more.

Steban breathed once more. He closed his eyes. He slowly turned, to the entrance of the temple, where he had entered only moments ago. He was leaving.

In victory.