I wanted to barf; I wanted to run into my wrecked room and hide under the covers. Anything to get away from the great broadsword that oozed nothing but malice and smelled like something had gone rotten.
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhuKcLteA2V
At that moment, I would've done anything to escape the sight and stench of that vile weapon. I covered my mouth quickly, desperate to keep the bile at bay.
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡesdgZwSZ8s
The demon that had called itself Zoganoth looked at me with its black eyes, clearly aware of my disgust toward its weapon. It infuriated me to no end to see the bastard's smile return, and with a small laugh, Zoganoth hugged his blade as if it were a long-lost lover.
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsxwAxP3WxI
"What's wrong, boy?" it taunted, its finger digging deep into the flowing poison that surrounded the blade. "Do you not like my Poisonous Abyss Sword?" it mocked.
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1muuOS8XaO
Zoganoth soon turned his attention back towards Madelyn, pointing his blade at her. Drops of poison dripped from the top of the sword, turning the very carpet below black as if it had been scorched by fire.
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5D0O4G9C6S
Zoganoth laughed wickedly as he brought back his sword, a sinister grin spreading across his face.331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpMwJsdMQLE
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGujzBdzmqu
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG81dbV1n9Q
"Well then..." he taunted. "Shall we start round two?" Without wasting any time, he swung his massive sword.
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqLxkUICVpm
With a single swing, a massive wave of dark purple energy erupted from the blade, tearing apart everything in its path.331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbep4y6itXk
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvAg2XpSEVf
"Shit!" I yelled, feeling the destructive force closing in on all of us. I closed my eyes, bracing for the impact.
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJeaHTAjNDF
Wood splintered, and the walls of the house seemed to groan in protest as the wind roared in my ears331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtR9gUgNZkT
But just as the energy was about to hit us, I felt a sudden calm wash over me. Opening my eyes, I saw Madelyn standing in front of me, her sword extended sideways as a pink bubble surrounded us all. The protective barrier shimmered with a soft glow, deflecting the dark energy away from us.
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO8HmzdCM9G
"What is this?" I asked, looking all around at the bubble that surrounded us on all sides.
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxcpgdTpp91
"Geopum Fada," Madelyn said, her gaze fixed ahead. "Protective Space," she added, probably to clarify.
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUkgUBx0DSm
"Protective space," I repeated, completely in awe of what I was witnessing.
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4R9nrEpH9X
The pink barrier soon disappeared, revealing something I really didn't need to see.
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8prvZId0Ci
"My home," I said, looking around at the devastation.
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtMMRKaqrz6
Everything around us was burnt to a crisp, with a huge, deep gash etched into the ground and purple vapor rising from the scorched earth. The once familiar surroundings were now unrecognizable, destroyed by Zoganoth's power.
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUkBCYrcxSQ
"Cover your nose," Madelyn instructed, as she protected herself from the vapor rising towards her face.
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzv95WmdXTg
I quickly did the same, finding a small white rag on the ground and wrapping it around my mother's face, making sure she was protected as well.
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi60NQzjqs8
"Our home is gone," I said once again, looking up to see everything reduced to rubble and ash. The only place left untouched was what lay inside the pink protective bubble.
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Rie368ENz
"You survived," Zoganoth said, his massive sword lowered to his side. "That won't last long," it taunted, raising its sword once more.
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMKZZ56Bucb
"My weapon is filled with all of my power," Zoganoth explained. "All of my poison concentrated into this very blade." It continued, its voice dripping with malice. "Do you understand what that means?" Zoganoth asked, a twisted grin spreading across its face. "It means that I can release devastating attacks with a single swing!" With a maniacal laugh, it brought back its sword and took another swing.
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6xJusJJKHj
"Not again!" I yelled as a dark purple slash raced towards the three of us, cutting apart the ground as it did so.
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeTclvRj6Ey
I waited for Madelyn to bring up the pink barrier again – what was it called again? Oh right, Geopum Fada. But as the purple slash grew closer, its size twice that of our house when it was still intact, there was no sign of the protective space.
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp6u93HPfAg
"Any moment now..." I said, still waiting as the demon's attack grew dangerously close.
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ1NrD3msjs
"Uh..." I muttered out loud as the demon's attack grew impossibly close, a sense of dread creeping over me as I realized we were completely exposed.
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYK2pGVhZ4N
My eyes remained open as nausea overtook me, and my surroundings without warning began to change.
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfrFMzTQjaa
"Oh god!" I exclaimed with confusion swirling in my mind as I suddenly found myself in a whole other area.
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhBkXoB4aWV
"Where are we?" I asked, looking around, trying to make sense of my surroundings.
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq7qg1V1VsS
I had a lousy sense of direction, but even I could tell that the surroundings were eerily familiar, yet different. With a gasp, I soon realized that I was looking at the houses of my neighbors that loomed in the darkness, their windows dark and uninviting. It was as if the entire neighborhood had been abandoned.
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq5elHW0PZ1
I turned to Madelyn in confusion as I realized that we were really only a few blocks away from my house. Madelyn, her back still facing me, turned her head slightly and looked back at me.
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlOEo3NC7fY
"Stay here," she instructed before disappearing in the blink of an eye.
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIKVmZfkUYG
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSnpgD2hVWR
"Wait!" I called out, but it was too late. She was gone, leaving me standing alone in the desolate street.
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIJHhkuQEUr
I looked down at my mother, still unconscious in my arms. "I have to go," I said with a small smirk, kissing her forehead before gently placing her against a tree that stood in front of one of our neighbor's houses. "You would approve," I added, trying to reassure myself as much as her.331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqKep3ioTdJ
Standing up, I turned and ran back towards my house, my heart pounding with a mix of fear and determination.
331Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg0zdavQGgg
The ground rumbled underneath my feet, and in the distance, I could see black smoke rising. Against my better judgment, I continued to run. "Dammit, I'm going to regret this," I muttered to myself, pushing aside my doubts as I raced towards whatever awaited me at home.
***
Author notes: Please support my work on Patreon for early access to new chapters. https://patreon.com/DarkMatteromniverse
ns3.14.150.131da2
