The Golden Warrior, Part Four

Part Four: Gold Phoenix

With a radiant sword in his hands, Thrawne looked outwards at the woman before him. She was beautiful beyond his reckoning, unlike any he had ever seen before. Yet, beneath that beauty, he could see the dark, cold heart within. Her eyes were aglow with a bright orange, like that of her father's. Yet with the golden eye that still blazed across his forehead, Thrawne could see the finer details. The seams in her skin, where life-like prosthetics were connected to her body. The black streaks that had erupted across her sclera, signs of her corruption. And… The killing intent that she held within her, directed towards him.

He clutched the hilt of his blade, it’s body reborn like the eponymous Phoenix. He could feel a strange, hidden power within it, one which he did not fully understand. But as he looked upon Claudia, and watched her lick her lips upon seeing the sword, he knew that she understood it well. More than that, she held a desire for the sword that he had inherited, through his blood, and through his deeds. He felt a fool, in the moment, namely for bringing Raianel here in the first place. But with his sword, he would do battle. Moreso, he felt the terror seep in yet again, harder than ever before. He slashed it through the air, leaving a frozen trail of radiant light in the blade's wake, which lingered in the air, illuminating the area around them. He took a step back, using the golden light to hide himself.

Claudia looked at the man before her, his armor covered in dry blood. Through the golden light before him, she saw his gold irises shining even brighter than that of the sword. She smiled. Placing a hand on the twin-eagle medallion she had affixed to her shoulder. The man was a veteran of the war against the Hushed, and untold battles before that. She was amazed at the power he displayed, both in his duel against Hector, and now. She held her arms out, addressing him.

“It isn’t too late to end this, Alexander Thrawne. You’ve proven yourself as a warrior today, and you have surpassed all of my expectations. You need not throw your life away. You were a comrade, once, and so  I offer you my mercy. Bestow that blade unto me, and leave this place in peace. What say you?” She said, awaiting a response from beyond the golden light. Thrawne gave her his answer.

“Nor’Vakis.” He said, tracing a sigil in the air before she could see his intent.

“Vis’Ibrit.” He said again, crimson light engulfing his body, radiating with power that seeped into Raianel.

“Maal-Iklaan… Illu-Varais. Gelda!”

His words echoed with power, one Rune after another. From him, Claudia could see a sapphire-blue shield appear across his body, then another gout of blazing light, and the intense gusting of ethereal wind. Thrawne placed both hands onto Raianel, spacing out his feet in a low stance. But the woman did not take a stance of her own, standing almost perfectly still, wide open. Thrawne took the chance to attack.

“Take this!” He cried, lunging forward with intensity, carried aloft by mystical winds. A sonic boom erupted from him as he dashed, with amazing speed. The burning blade of Raianel arced through the air like a guillotine, slicing towards her neck. A reverberating noise rang out, that of sword clashing against sword. The man stood in awe to see the black blade, Nemesis, pressed firmly against his own. From nothing it had come, and to nothing it returned, shielding her for only an instant. Claudia placed a finger on his chest.

“Temetrion.” She uttered, as Thrawne suddenly appeared back behind the golden light, as if he had never moved at all. He looked up at where she was, only to see nothing there, save for the gilded streak of light he had carved into the air. He turned as quickly as he could, seeing her mere inches away from him now. She beamed down at him with her almost flaming eyes, staring into him with complete focus. Thrawne jerked back, trying to widen the gap between them.

“Useless.” She said softly, appearing behind him once again. But Thrawne saw through her movements, Raianels blade already thrust backwards from beneath his left shoulder. The divine blade hissed and seared as it struck into Claudias skin, like it was anathema to her. Even so, she did not make even the slightest indication that it had hurt, despite the hole that now rested in her chest. She gripped the blade that had embedded itself into her, pulling on it with an otherworldly, dark power, yanking it from his strong grip with ease.

“Is this the fruit of your training?” She asked, as Thrawnes mind raced on what had just occurred.

“No! PALLANDIS!” He wailed, a symbol like a set of golden scales appearing before him. Raianel shattered into a thousand tiny pieces, before reappearing in his hand. “Vrem-Vir!”

His movements sped up once again, faster than before. Raianel flew across the air like a rocket, another slash aimed right for Claudia's head. Her eyes widened in that instant, as Nemesis flared up into her hand, barely blocking the man's attack. She pulled back, but Thrawne was in hot pursuit. Another strike, with every ounce of power he could muster, just barely parried by Nemesis. He thrusted, Claudia catching the sword in the ‘X’-Shaped crossguard of her own sword. The two weapons vibrated with intense energy, like they were repelling each other.

“Yes! Good! I was right, that is exactly what I need. It will be mine!” Claudia bellowed, now raising up her own sword. Thrawne pulled back, knowing full well the damage that Nemesis could cause. If it could slay the Lux-Hadar, then he truly stood no chance against it. He would have to avoid it at all costs. Yet, despite his retreat, Claudia did not pursue. Instead, she raised it up high above her, throwing it like a shuriken. It arced towards him like a black disc, rotating over and over again. He traced another symbol across himself.

“Gar-Duvon!” He called out, as his form once more turned into smoke and mist, Nemesis flying right through him with no effect. But Claudia laughed, tracing a symbol of her own.

“Zaffran.” The words crept out of her mouth with an icy chill, one that was given form, and rapidly crept into the misty figure of Thrawne. He could feel the insipid cold creep all across him, freezing the smoke in place, rendering him immobile. Claudia mused. “I have seen that one before, I’m afraid. It will have no effect on me.”

Thrawnes form returned to its original shape just as quickly as it had changed, still frozen in ice. But the radiant heat that emanated from Raianel quickly melted it all away, just in time for him to block a swift swing of Nemesis, still flying through the air around him. Desperate, he struggled to trace another Rune, his mouth open with words of power on his lips. But Claudia shot forward, grabbing his left hand with her own, and gripping his tongue with her right. Thrawne shaked and sputtered, trying to break free from her grip, swinging Raianel wildly, but to no avail.

“Rune-Speaking… It is powerful, yes. But it has weaknesses of its own. Perhaps if you had practiced more, you would have found a way to mitigate them. A pity.”

Claudia called Nemesis forward, it's blade striking into the top of Thrawnes hand, piercing slightly into the hilt of Raianel. The shockwave her blow created blew both swords away, but Nemesis quickly returned to her, the tip of it’s blade now gently resting against Thrawnes throat.

“Velandos.” She said, deep shadows erupting from all around her, crashing through the golden light that was left in Raianels wake. The tendrils of darkness wrapped up around Thrawne, digging through his armor and clothes, and onto his skin. They burned like a branding iron, forcing Thrawne to let out a yelp of intense pain. Immobilized yet again, the man watched in horror as Claudia took a step back, turning to face Raianel. Her slender fingers brushed against the hilt of the sword, now encased in shadow. Gently, she lifted it up, Nemesis flying into her other hand. With both weapons in hand, she sighed, looking at Thrawne.

“You put up a good fight. Thank you. I hope your lust for battle has been satiated.” She said calmly, as the rage in Thrawne once more boiled over.

“Lust for battle?! Damn you, woman! That is not why I am here!” Thrawne yelled, his body still burning with blackened flame. Claudia shrugged, turning around to face the Colossus that sat motionless on the far side of the cavern. Lifting herself up into the air, she floated towards it’s head, still speaking to Thrawne.

“Watch carefully, Alexander Thrawne! This is how I will bring forth the Savior of Mankind once again!”

She held Nemesis in front of her, placing the part encrusted with gemstones onto the face of the broken Colossus. Thrawne could see shadows emanate from the sword, swirling around the red rubies that dotted it's surface. It was like something was seeping out of it, being released. As the wisps of black burned outwards, Claudia raised up Raianel, now in her possession, and slammed it onto the blade of Nemesis. From it, splendorous white light emerged, wrapping itself around the shadows cast from the other blade. It gave them form, creating a pathway for which they could travel upon.

“Behold, Chaos! By this sword, your life was stripped away! And by this sword, I grant it back to you!” Claudia cried, her voice ripe with elation and joy. She watched in awe as light began to seep into the Formis Colossus, the Soul long ago held in Nemesis now unleashed, restored to it anew via the power of Creation. It’s broken form twisted and warped, scattered limbs and broken protrusions now reforming, attaching themselves to the larger body of Chaos, the Colossus. Light emerged in it’s eyes, as it reached up, lifting itself onto it’s feet. But the cavern was far, far too small for the fully-formed creature, wrought from magical might and ancient arcane secrets. The area around them shook, as Chaos began to break through the stone floor, the water at the bottom of the cavern now flowing rapidly from cracks below, only to freeze in mid-air.

The ground beneath them all shattered, as the black Colossus fell deep into the Badlands below. For a moment, Thrawne was relieved that it was gone. But this brief respite was shattered quickly, as he saw it stand up from below. It towered up from the golden sands, chest now at-level with the Palace itself. He could feel a shockwave in the earth above him, as if the Colossus had swung it’s mighty arms onto something, crashing into the ground with truly unbelievable power. Claudia looked out in awe, before realizing something. The glowing lines of light that were infused across the body of Chaos were flickering, shuddering, and changing. Parts of it’s body began to glow purple, like the eye that still reigned above Etreidies. Thrawne noticed too, and laughed.

“You dumb bitch.” He said. “The eye above corrupts Formis, if they are too close. You must know this already! Or in your arrogance, did you forget?” He scoffed, still laughing at the foolish mistake the woman before him had committed. He shook his head, calming himself. This was no laughing matter. Claudia, too, was not laughing. Far from it. She reeled back to face Thrawne, floating aloft towards him with Nemesis still in hand.

“You… You would do well not to anger me.” She snarled, fury of her own now welling up. Thrawne was unperturbed.

“Whatever. If I cannot strike you down, I can at least die knowing you are a failure. Nothing is going according to plan, now is it?” He said, a smile creeping across his face. Claudia looked at him confused, before opening her eyes widely once more. She could sense it. They were coming. She looked at Thrawne, the same thought clearly filling his mind as well. She wondered how he knew, but then gazed at the golden symbol of sight that was still burning across his forehead. Thrawne was amused to see the panic that now showed all across her face. If this was to be his last sight, then it would be enough.

Claudia pulled back Nemesis, ready to thrust it into his heart. Her hand shook as she held the blade aloft, the weight of the medallion on her shoulder bearing down on her. But her anger soon overtook her, as she lunged forward with her sword. In that moment, Thrawne closed his eyes, ready for the oblivion that no doubt awaited. He knew that he had done his best, and then some. He accepted that his time had come to an end. And yet, he could not help but wish he had done more. A voice called out to him. At first, he thought it to be from within his mind. But in a moment of clarity, he realized that it was not the case. No, the voice had echoed across Etreidies, through the winding corridors and floors of the Palace, all the way down to here. And as the voice spoke, Thrawne joined in with it.

“KETHOS!” Both he and Aximand roared, mustering a deep, long forgotten Rune. Nemesis was halted in place, as the golden rays of a sun shined through from above. They had rained down from the sky, piercing both the Irreal Eye in the sky, as well as the structure of the palace itself. From the massive hole that now appeared above, Thrawne could see Aximand in flight, dozens of ‘Sun’ Runes shining brightly across his body, calling down it’s mighty power in sync with his apprentice.

“TOGH’KENTU!” Thrawne called forth, before Claudia had time to react. The earth beneath them shook, and lifted them both up, following the golden rays of sunlight above, until they were in the Imperial Palace Courtyard, not far from the main entry-way. Thrawne breathed deeply, his body filled with exhaustion. He had cast dozens of Runes this day, more than he had ever attempted before. This was a desperate situation, more hopeless than any other he had faced up until now. Chaos crashed into the walls of the Palace to the south, as Aximand dodged blow after blow, raining Draconic fire imbued with the power of Runes onto the massive foe.

Claudia stood panting, the golden rays above burning her skin, and still lingering across Nemesis. She clutched the blade, as inky black bolts of electricity shot out from it, casting away the golden light. She looked up at Aximand, locked in battle with Chaos, and then back to Thrawne. She was surprised at how much he had managed against her, but still knew her victory to be certain. She could clearly see the fatigue in the man before her, far greater than her own. She steeled herself, raising Nemesis above her shoulder, ready to slash down at the man for a final blow. She hurtled towards him with all her strength.

Thrawne saw his impending death. Despair filled his heart, fear mixed with unrelenting, frenzied, vehement anger. He gripped the amulet around his neck.

“CORRIDOR! OPEN!” He cried, not knowing if it would work. But as he saw the black blade flying towards him, he vanished from Claudias sight, appearing behind her instantly. He laughed.

“Haha… HAHAHAHAHAHA!” Thrawne elated, watching as the woman turned and flew at him once more. The Infinite Corridor… No, The Divine Sanctuary opened up once again, then again, and again, as Thrawne blinked in and out of reality, dodging each fatal slash the instant they were about to connect. Claudia let out a roar.

“DAMN YOU! WHY. WON'T. YOU. DIE!?!”

Thrawnes laughter filled her ears all around her, coming from everywhere at once. She slashed wildly, with both Nemesis and Raianel, but her target evaded her time and time again. His laughter continued to seep in, her fury growing with each missed blow. Finally, she closed her eyes. The darkness that all men saw when their eyes laid shut was all she could feel, and through it, she felt the winds of the world around her, focusing on every blade of wafting grass, every earth-shaking blow from Chaos. She felt Thrawne blink away again, and pulled back Nemesis, spinning around and jamming into his chest the moment he appeared.

It was unbearable pain. Thrawne could feel himself being eaten away, his very being finally coming to it’s inevitable end. But as he stood there before her, her hand still gripping the blade a final smile appeared on his lips. As Hector had done before, he grabbed her hand, the one that held his demise. He saw Aximand flying above, still in battle with Chaos, having been blown away to the west.

“My master… I’m sorry. I cannot keep my promise to you.” He whispered, life quickly leaving him. Claudia pulled and tugged away, trying to break his grip. But Thrawne did not falter. He would finish this, here and now. He would be the one to free Etreidies from her madness. Her tyranny. As it had before, memories swelled up inside of him. Lord Aximand, his teacher. Factus Formis, his leader. And Elysia An-Alein, his friend. They had all taught him much, each helping to elevate him to new heights.

“...Thank you, my comrades.” Thrawne said, the words trailing off as his near-dead eyes locked with Claudias. She yelled out at him, pleading for him to release her. But he could no longer hear her. All he sensed, all he could feel, was his hand wrapped around her wrist.

# ***“KRU-SHAKAR - AESORNI!!!!!!!”***

The world around them erupted with unimaginable might. Above, the golden beam of light that he and Aximand had shot through the Eye of Volundar still shone directly onto them, as the words of power that Thrawne unleashed in a sentence exploded with an awesome power. Claudia’s Spirit, the inner being that was present in all creatures, was his target. And his weapon was not Raianel. It was a blade of pure destruction, a blast of consuming darkness that ate away at anything in it’s path, like the power Factus unleashed against Valeria. Claudia was ripped and torn asunder, her body spewing forth a visceral, grotesque amount of blood as she flew back. Thrawne closed his eyes, trying to hold onto life for as long as he could. He laid there on the ground, the sword removed from his chest with the weight of his unleashed power.

In the darkness, he saw a radiant light. It was a bird, with majestic wings and crested plumes across it’s body, all a brilliant, shining gold. It was the mighty Phoenix, reborn anew. It’s form shone ever brighter, granting Thrawne what portion of it’s life remained, though even that would be eaten away at by Nemesis. For a brief moment, his eyes opened again, to see his companions standing before him.

“Factus… I… I got her good. Hah. Hahah…” He said, the light finally fading from his eyes, once and for all.

He was glad to have met these people. Glad to have helped them. Glad to have learned from them. In that moment, he felt as though he knew what the Lux-Hadar saw in them, the members of Group Alpha. He even saw it in the three new warriors that had joined them. He was grateful to all of them for taking him this far. And he was grateful to see them, one final time.