MLII C5, P7- "Manburner"

"Manburner" is the seventh Part of "Miracula Luxia II" 's fifth Chapter. It was released on 10.04.2021.
== Plot ==
Jared and his allies meet Ess-Kalyn the Manburner, at last. However, this is far from their final confrontation with the cruel Slithzerikai leader. They soon realize that she is just an illusion, created by the real Manburner from within her keep to the north.
Now, they have to face a large army of savage Slithzerikai who try to stop them from reaching their revered leader. Will they succeed and come face to face with the real Manburner before they are overwhelmed by her minions?
This question shall be answered soon. Very soon.
== Story ==
Jared shakes her head.
"Stop fooling us with your pleasantries, you villain."- He says- "Stop hiding in the shadows and show yourself immediately!"
The Slithzerikai smiles and reveals itself. 
Everyone is surprised. The creature is female, but they are unable to find out who she really is.
Her identity is a mystery to them. But not for Jared.
"Ess-Kalyn."- He says- "Or, shall I say, the Manburner!"
Ess-Kalyn grins.
"You're very smart, kid."- She says- "You have recognized my true self, even though I was hiding in the shadows, unable to be seen by a normal human."
Jared glares at her.
"I do not know whether I should be flattered or threatened by your words."
Ess-Kalyn laughs.
"Ah. Cautious as always, I see."- She says- "My spies told me a lot about you. But there isn't anything to hide from me, anyway. News travel fast and the tales of the bards speak of the legendary hero who is responsible for Rentar-Ihrno's demise. Your identity is not a secret to anyone."
Jared shakes his head and points Demonslayer at her.
"Enough of this nonsense, Ess-Kalyn!"- He yells- "Me and my friends came here to end your tyrannical rule over the Surface. You have done too much damage, both to the world and its citizens. And I will not spend precious time talking to the one who is responsible for this senseless violence. You can either fight us like a brave Slithzerikai... or surrender and spare yourself the harm that we are about to cause to you and your foolish kind of savages and murderers."
Ess-Kalyn is infuriated by Jared's words. However, she manages to swallow her anger in order to speak with him for a short time.
"I was thinking about swaying you towards our cause. You are powerful. With your help, we would be able to defeat our enemies."- She says- "However, you're too pure to be persuaded like that."
Jared shakes his head.
"I will never help you and your kind, wicked creature!"- He yells.
Ess-Kalyn shakes her head.
"Oh well. It was worth a try."- She says- "This is not the real reason why I'm here though."
She takes a deep breath and looks around.
"I came here to give a warning to all of you."- She continues- "Leave my island immediately and you shall be spared from all of the destruction that's going to happen. Stay and feel the wrath of both me... and my minions."
Lethal shakes his head.
"It's too late to tell us to leave, Manburner."- He says- "Your minions have hurt too many people. We aren't going to let you get away with murder like that!"
He turns to his grandson.
"Right, child?"
Jared nods.
"Absolutely, grandpa."- He responds- "I came here to get rid of the one who did so much to destroy what we hold dear. And I am not going to back down, no matter what she says to me!"
Ess-Kalyn sighs again.
"How foolish of you. Thinking that you can defeat me."- She mutters.
She smiles.
"Well. Maybe one of you will get the chance to fight me within my keep."- She says- "If you survive!"
Everyone gasps.
"Wait!"- Tholmen says- "So... this is not the Manburner?!"
Ess-Kalyn sighs.
"What a bunch of fools."- She mutters and begins to vanish from existence.
Just as she is about to succeed, Jared charges and swings Demonslayer at her.
Although the sword does not do damage to the spirit, it disrupts the delicate connection between it and its creator. It also weakens her severely.
"How!"- She yells- "How did you-- "
Suddenly, the spirit explodes into a small cloud of essence and floats in the air for a few seconds.
Just as the last ones disappear, Jared hears Ess-Kalyn's voice again, albeit very faint.
"No matter."- She whispers- "Soon, we will meet again... "
As the last pieces of essence disappear, everyone finally feels the extreme cold on this island. It is as if the spirit was keeping it away for the time being.
"It's so c-cold!"- Lethal stutters.
Aleks points at a large building in the distance.
"The keep is over there."- He says and starts to walk towards it- "Let's go!"
Everyone enters the stronghold and runs towards it.
Just as they are about to reach the gate, a large band of Slithzerikai emerge from the keep and block their way.
"Looks like we've got company!"- Tholmen exclaims.
Aleks nods.
"This must be Ess-Kalyn's final defense against us."- He says- "Kill them!"
Our heroes valiantly fight their way into Ess-Kalyn's keep, killing her warriors in the process.
More Slithzerikai join their comrades in this battle between good and evil. Soon, the force becomes overwhelming and most of Jared's allies are slain.
Tholmen shakes his head.
"This is hopeless!"- He says- "If we continue fighting like this, none of us will be able to survive!"
Aleks nods and looks at a nearby stairway, the only one that is free of invading enemies. He points at it.
"Maybe we still have a chance to win."- He says- "However, only one of us can go there."
Everyone looks at Jared.
Jared is saddened by the fact that he has to go alone.
"But... but... I do not want to leave you with those savages!"- He says to his father.
Aleks shakes his head and pats him on the shoulder.
"Don't worry, child."- He says- "We will hold them off. In the meantime, go up there, find Ess-Kalyn and finish her off... once, and for all."
Jared tries to say something else. However, he is stopped by his father and is pushed forward.
"Go!"- He yells- "The world depends on you!"
Regretfully, Jared leaves his allies behind and climbs the stairs.
He notices that there are no warriors on the second floor. It is as if all of them were sent to fight our heroes downstairs.
Now, the place is eerily quiet.
"I am ready!"- Jared says to himself and takes a step forward, trying to forget the fact that he left his dear allies behind and focus on finding Ess-Kalyn before it is too late.
In the meantime, Aleks makes sure that Jared is upstairs. Satisfied by the result, he turns towards his allies.
"Let's finish them off."- He says.
He turns around and starts to cast spells to protect his remaining warriors. The Slithzerikai do the same.
Soon, the entire floor shakes violently as fire spreads on the wooden pillars and engulfs some warriors from both sides.
"Run away!"- Aleks yells as he reaches for the gate to escape with his remaining allies.
Meanwhile, Jared hears that something is happening downstairs. He tries to descend, but is forced to turn back when both stairways are blocked by falling rubble.
Soon, he hears the fires spread and engulf the entire floor below him.
"NO!"- Jared screams- "EVERYONE!"
He panicks and tries to remove the rubble that is blocking the nearest stairway, only to realize that it is too much for him to take care of by himself.
He looks at the window below and sees his remaining allies standing outside.
Aleks, Seiko, Lethal, Tholmen and the remaining squad of ten elite soldiers wave at him.
"We took care of the Slithzerikai!"- Aleks yells- "Go! Don't worry about us, we're safe!"
Jared nods and runs towards the next stairway.
As he takes the final step, he notices that the third floor is plunged in total darkness. He is barely able to see anything around him, let alone the area ahead of him.
"Such a huge amount of darkness can only be called forth by a powerful mage."- He says to himself- "And I think that I know who she is... "
He casts a powerful Light-elemental spell. The darkness around him vanishes almost immediately.
"I am tired of your foolish tricks, Ess-Kalyn!"- He yells- "Show yourself and face your destiny!"
Just as he starts looking around, he sees Ess-Kalyn not far away from him. She is standing next to a small, black altar and smiling.
Upon closer inspection, the boy realizes that this is a sacrificial altar. Ominous writing is inscribed all over it. Dried blood mars its black surface. It is also infused with a large amount of black magic, something that is noticed in most dark altars.
However, there is something unsettling about it. Something that greatly worries Jared, even from where he is currently standing.
Perhaps the black magic within the altar is messing with the boy's mind, making him think that he is in danger. Or maybe the reason is more sinister than usual?
No. There is no way a creepy altar like this one is placed here just to scare off Ess-Kalyn's enemies. Something powerful is stuck within it. Worse, it is trying to get out.
However, it does not seem like the altar is fully charged. Or, at least, not yet. It is not completely infused by the dark magic. Also, Jared notices flaws in its unholy shield that he can disrupt without any problems.
But this is not going to happen. Not while Ess-Kalyn is standing next to it.
She nods and looks at the altar.
"It's not ready."- She says- "However, I think that the residual magic within it will be enough to do what needs to be done."
Jared raises his eyebrow.
"You are trying to summon an Unbound, aren't you?!"- He says.
Ess-Kalyn grins.
"Yes! A single Unbound, one of the most powerful creatures Mankind has even seen!"- She responds- "But it won't be just any Unbound. It shall be the most powerful specimen of its entire kind, charged with the souls of a thousand other Unbounds. A creature that can destroy entire settlements in its wake! Its blasts shall incinerate the homes of those foolish humans and kill them with ease! No one shall be spared from this glorious beast! All shall bow down before it!"
She sighs.
"Soon, I will succeed in creating the supreme Unbound."- She continues- "Now, I shall finish it and rain destruction upon my foes!"
Jared draws his weapon.
"Never!"- He yells- "If you really want to finish this monstrosity, you must defeat me first! And I am not going down without a fair fight!"
Ess-Kalyn laughs.
"You think that I will waste my time to fight you, kid?!"- She responds- "I don't think so!"
She looks back and sees two warriors join her near the altar.
Jared takes a good look at them. When he does, he realizes who they are.
He takes a step back, terrified by what he is witnessing right now.
The warriors who are standing beside Ess-Kalyn... are Jared's dearest friends and most ardent allies- John and Annie. Their eyes glow red, as if they are possessed by the Slithzerikai mage.
"My friends! What have you done to them?!"- Jared yells- "Bring them back! Now!"
Ess-Kalyn shakes her head.
"No chance."- She responds- "Those humans were foolish enough to challenge me, all by themselves. They thought that they could defeat me without your help, said that they were doing it to spare you the trouble of having to face me. Well, that did not work out for them."
Jared stares into his friends' eyes, trying to find traces of humanity. Sadly, there is none left.
It is as if whatever humanity was within them was wiped out when they were possessed by Ess-Kalyn.
"John. Annie."- He says to himself- "So, you really wanted to save me from the inevitable? You left the safety of Thais behind to face the Manburner? And you put your own lives on the line?"
He looks down and wipes a tear from his right eye.
"Thank you, my friends. Your sacrifice shall not be in vain."
Ess-Kalyn shakes her head.
"Enough!"- She says- "Now, you shall face your dearest friends in battle. Show me your bravery and kill them. End their miserable lives. Then, we will see whether you will stand a chance against the one who is known as the Manburner and her new pet or not."
She grins.
"Though we all know what's going to happen."- She adds.
She turns to John, then to Annie. 
Satisfied that both of them are beside her, she points at Jared.
"Attack, my mighty puppets!"
== Trivia ==
* This Part also has an alternative Title- "Wrath Of The Manburner".