The Inner Gambit of Darkness - Continued (Part 2)

"They are performing their duties, like I am fulfilling mine" she spoke "There is never one way. Prove to me that you can destroy this being without making the sacrfices needed. You will need wisdom and courage to perform this task, but mostly power" the aura suddenly disappeared and the young woman who had been possessed by Din looked around confused, realising she was in the graveyard, she tore back down into the village.

=====

Galenus dropped the water barrier, exposing them to the threat outside of it.

Nuala walked up beside Gwene. "Everything alright?"

Gwene was about to speak to Nuala, she looked to Celeste, she wanted to tell Nuala, but didn't know if she should. "Can we talk. In private?" she asked Nuala, the question was also directed at Celeste.

Ryan looked over to the Shadow Temple, "I hate cryptic clues." he grumbled and tried to think of a solution.

When Konbei was away from the others a voice echoed in his mind "You wish to harness the same power that had a hold on you, correct?"

Steven spotted a shadow warrior and fired without hesitation. The light arrow pierced through the evil soul and covered in a vanquishing light that caused his kin to recoil in disgust. The warrior desintegrated into nothing. He quickly drew another light arrow and disposed of a stunned shadow warrior.

There were only six left now...

Quickly realizing what the two were up to, the shadow warriors quickly charged at them all at once at an inhuman speed. Steven gasped and dispelled his bow before drawing a late sword, causing him to stumble back from one of the blows. He drew his other sword and kept up with three different shadow warriors.

Deciding it was time, he grabbed the sword hilt and channelled his sage powers through it, water flowed from the sword and formed itself into a solid blade of strong steel. The blade held a blue arua around it.

Galenus swung both his blades at the nearest shadow warrior.

"...Of course," Nuala said.

---

"Yeah," Konbei spoke back in his mind.

"Do you really believe that?" the voice said "It took ahold of you and ended up taking the life of your true love. Could that happen again?"

The shadow warrior was hit by the divine sword, a gash with black darkness escaping from it visible on his chest. The warrior was stunned.

The two other warriors attacking Galenus leapt back and held their swords ready.

Steven learned his foes' movements and attacks. He parried each swing and countered the last, driving his sword through one of the evil ones' chest. He kicked the dead warrior off and let him fade away into nothing.

The remaining four leapt into the air and got into a line as they landed. They held their blades up to their faces and stood perfectly straight as they...slid into each other without moving. Their forms seemed ethereal as they did this, and they merged into one being.

The ethereal being solidified into a silheoutte of darkness. It grew a little larger before gaining actual color to its attire. The mask it wore had four eye holes instead of a single slit visor, and its stature was much better. Blue lights flashed one by one beneath the holes, and the new being separated the swords it wielded in its two arms. It advanced towards its foes with confidence and the calmness of a true warrior.

Steven stood ready with his twin swords up.

Galenus leapt at the stunned shadow warrior with the intention of stabbing his sage sword through the chest of it.

"I could flood the temple perhaps..........nah, the place had an endless pit." Ryan dismissed one of his ideas.

"But it won't," Konbei said. "I think it can help me this time, and help me protect the others."

Gwene had lead Nuala and Celeste away from the others. She sighed "I.... I had a talk with Celeste this morning."

=====

"You speak, with true courage. Truly admirable." the voice said "It will take ahold once more, don't look to your power to control it, but your courage, then you shall overcome anything."

"Yeah, I understand," Konbei said.

----

Celeste tried to hide her smile and Nuala raised an eyebrow at her. She looked at Gwene. "Go on..."

The voice in Konbei's head vanished, nearby, there was a sudden gasp from a girl, confused why she was there, she walked back down the mountain.

=====

"I'm.... I'm pregnant." Gwene said, a little softly, but still loud enough for Nuala to hear.

Konbei saw the girl, but paid her no mind.

----

"Right..." Nuala said, surprised but doing her best to stay rational. "Right... Are you sure?"

"Yes she is, but she won't tell Konbei even though I told her she should. She said she wouldn't tell anyone until after this whole mess is over but now she told you so," Celeste turned to Gwene and clasped her hands together like she was begging. "Please tell Konbei, I'm dying here!"

"I.... I want to, really I do." Gwene said "But I...... No, you're right Celeste, I should tell him. I'll tell him tonight."

The shadow warrior faded away in death.

Steven faced this new threat and struck it. The being just took the blow, damaging it.

Nuala sighed. "It's your decision, Gwene, you're old enough to work out what's best for you," she said, knowing Celeste only wanted her to tell Konbei sooner rather than later because she could barely keep a secret.

Galenus threw his katana at the next and followed up with the intention of slashing it across the throat with the sage sword.

=====

Gwene nodded "I... understand if you hate me now."

Nuala rolled her eyes. "I don't hate you, Gwene," she said. "I'd rather this hadn't happened but there's not a lot I can do about it, is there?"

"Help support me through this." Gwene asked "I have always wanted this to happen to me, but now that it is here, I'm a little scared and don't know what to do."

Despite all the blows it took, the being acted as if it were unaffected. It slowly rose its blades and swung violently at the attacking Steven. He grunted in pain as he was knocked back by the force with black blood leaking from the large gashes on his chest and shoulder. Steven groaned and sat against a rocky wall. He was defeated.

The being turned to Galenus, damaged but not flinching from his attacks. It slowly raised its swords to send a devastating strike at him.

"...Of course," Nuala said as she looked up and saw Konbei heading back to them. She sighed again with a slightly troubled expression.