Eleana, Nyelle, Marvis, Rhaelle, and Symon looked in shock at John, who was half-smiling with a chilling expression at Merissa, as Symon muttered dazedly, "What happened! What happened to Laren? He was the strongest of us."
Hundreds of attacks of arrows from everywhere shattered the last defense of the formation as Drudar's army again got the upper hand. The darkness above was increasing with hollow insects spreading more and covering the skies. There were crashes of flaming pots as the darkness ignited for some time and screams echoed, and it continued.
The situation was very tense as John said, pointing his sword at Merissa, "Eleana, Canthia somehow killed Laren... which should be impossible... I will kill every one of these guys. Once the commander arrives with Sythris and others it will be an easy one.."
Eleana couldn't register the words as John attacked Merissa. There was a whirlwind of flames that went to completely gobble up Merissa. Merissa also smiled as she swung her flame swords as red lights glowed on her forehead and she moved through the flame and met with John's sword. Meanwhile, in the back, Nyelle again screamed, "Sethsi, today's the day you will die..." as Sethsi laughed, "The words of a knight whose sister betrayed the kingdom.." Nyelle clenched her teeth as her wound in the stomach healed itself rapidly and she again punched a series of fists muttering, "FistGod Blows....."
Sethsi's laugh vanished as she uttered, "Dominator of Evase... evasive... mist," as she evaded most of the attacks but still, a few managed to make their way to her face as she made a noise and crashed through the armies... her spear landed far away.
Nyelle followed her as she also started bleeding profusely... but kept attacking.
John parried Merissa's attacks as he suddenly pushed his flaming sword into the ground as a boom sounded and Merissa flew back into the air. Eleana also went towards Merissa after she defended herself.
Marvis went after Kandra as Eleana and John were after Merissa. Symon went after Vridga.
Vridga made a strange stance with his hands in a subtle position as he suddenly pulled out a golden needle that started to launch projectiles. The projectiles went around and started attacking Symon at high speeds, making it very difficult for Symon to react.
Symon barely defended and fell back. He then clenched his spear very hard as the ground beneath shattered, glowing in golden flames as he leapt up and threw it at Vridga. The huge knight Vridga felt the power coming from the spear like a cannonball as his body's armor grew broad and he summoned a shield around himself. The shield was intricately designed and surrounded him like a dome. Just then, the soldiers and even the captains noticed the power of Symon for the first time.
Meanwhile, Merissa was having difficulty engaging with both John and Eleana. Eleana, with her great control of the moon and sudden attacks, made Merissa grit her teeth. John's flaming sword countered her moves while Eleana dealt damage to her as Merissa's armor was breaking slowly. The revealing figure was perfection as John and even Eleana's gaze faltered for a second. Merissa, with her flowing hair and shining pearl-like eyes, looked at the others, seemingly searching for helping hands, but it seemed everyone was engaged in their own battle.
There was a loud crash among the numerous noises as an earthquake sounded... hundreds of spears crashed into Vridga's shield and his shield broke gradually, and then there was a loud scream as his fate became unknown. There was debris everywhere.
John had already injured Merissa. Merissa meanwhile was thrown into the back as John thrust his sword towards her neck. Suddenly she was behaving strangely as she started to shout, "No... no..... Queen.... ahhhhh."
Merissa's eyes glowed along with her forehead as she spread her hands.... Her flaming-like weapons suddenly became very elongated. It was covering a very wide distance, about half the size of the previous formation. John got forced back by a wave of strange darkness and attack as he fell back. The darkness continued to surround Merissa as all the knights suddenly stopped attacking each other. The Braeven's knights watched in horror as they shouted, "Run... Run! Lady Merissa is using the move.... save me.... save yourselves.... ahhhhh..."
Suddenly hundreds of golden knights were getting sliced in half all over the battlefield. There were red dark slashes all over the battlefield. Some were sliced in half and didn't even have time to scream. Only the captains were dodging them as Vridga came out from inside the ground and muttered, "She has gone mad..."
There were screams everywhere as everyone started running here and there. Slashes continued as bodies dropped down. Hundreds of knights, even the golden ones, didn't stand a chance. Eleana and John were barely dodging the yojans-wide slashes all around. After the slashes, strange spikes etched all over, killing hundreds.
Eleana dodged the strikes as she looked over to see her followers and golden knights getting torn apart as she gritted her teeth. Nyelle hid behind Sethsi as Sethsi spat at Nyelle and summoned a white shield which protected them. Nyelle smiled as Sethsi's expression became worse and both of them looked at the devastation. Nyelle said mockingly, "Your captain is even worse than my sister..."
John muttered to Eleana as they dodged, "I have something to stop this but I will need you to protect me for a few breaths....."
Eleana nodded as her moon became very large as it completely stood in front of them as John chanted something which made Eleana's eyes dilate. His art was very similar to Shura's arts as a net was forming in the air. The net emerged from John as it expanded above them.
Meanwhile, Merissa's slashes continued as Eleana also screamed. Just when Eleana's spell broke, a huge net surrounded Merissa. They were very similar to Merissa's own slashes in color as they bound Merissa. Something ethereal suddenly dug inside Merissa from the net. Merissa screamed loudly as an earthquake sounded all around.
A yellow light core was pulled out from her body as she fainted, her condition unknown. The devastation finally ceased. Very few survived the attacks. John was breathing deeply as he sat down while Eleana clutched her stomach, looking at the destruction all around and the shining core hanging in front of Merissa's body.
The darkness was still stirring as she sighed, looking all around the battlefield.
John barely pulled himself up as he walked slowly. Eleana also walked towards the core. John muttered, "It's the secret of Breaven... only Merissa was successful..."
Eleana had a doubt as she looked at John as the other captains were coming this way. Nyelle was dragging Sethsi and Symon was carrying Vridga towards them.
As Eleana looked at the swarming darkness, John said suddenly, "It might not be over yet...."
Eleana and the rest were confused as a wave of darkness surged and a hand suddenly manifested from the darkness. It was huge and dark as the atmosphere stilled. It grabbed the shining core... in the complete absence of light around.
Then suddenly, time stopped for an instance. Every one of the captains from both sides wore a look of shock as Eleana muttered barely, dropping down, "Puppetry.... so.. the book..." as hundreds and hundreds of strings appeared from it and extended everywhere.
The large hand, a culmination of insects, grabbed the core as the strings crept their way to every dead body on the battlefield... and slowly but steadily... they rose... one by one... bringing about a nightmare...