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I stood in front of the cave, an unnatural darkness blocking all light from entering. I threw a torch into the cave and watched as spikes of a dark oily material snuffed it with a quick “bite”, roof and floor becoming one for a few moments. I extended my senses, the warmth of Amotariel filled my heart. Then, a sensation like slimy tentacles started to surround me, they pulled me towards the cave with its frigid touch. A swift current of electricity coursed my body as Amotariel warned me of the dangers ahead. There was no doubt about it, a demon was inside.

I turned towards my companions, the priests holding their golden staves close to their chest with trembling hands while the knights looked into the dark forest with tense shoulders. The demon’s aura was already getting to them, their wills crumbling before even facing the foul beast. I took a deep breath and forced my muscles to relax. I knelt on the ground, my shield and mace planted in front of me. I focused to the well of power inside me, the gift of Amotariel to his servants, and prayed for his guidance. Slowly, I molded the energy inside me, step by step I build it up, the prayer driving my hands into the proper rhythm and form until with one last word, a circle of dim golden light surrounded us. The muttering from my companions stopped, a soft radiance came from their armor as they all laid to pray. A small smile came to my lips and I muttered a soft thank you to Amotariel.

I turned toward my brother and sisters and cleared my throat. Their gazes turned towards me, doubt and expectation reflecting in their eyes.

“We’ve arrived. The demon lays in front of us, hidden in this cave. It’s evil corrupting all it touches.” I said with a firm and strong voice, taking a look at each of my companions. “We all know how it feels, how it twists us. For all of us, there was a place - a little town, where we used to play and laugh around. We felt the call of the demons and torn in desire, we went too far, reaching for that star. And we paid the price; friends, family, lovers, memories, our very lives. But Amotariel saved us, gave all of us a second chance, no question asked for They love us.

“Now, it is our time to show Them our love. To prevent our tragedy for repeating once more and to save those who have already fallen. It will be hard, I won’t lie to you. We may all die here, but remember one thing. Just as Amotariel saved us once, just as he guided us with his light, he will guide us once we die. For remember my siblings, the spirit never dies and with this, we’ll win our redemption, we’ll leave the past behind us!”

Fire burned in the eyes of my companions, their gazes now free of fear. They stood up at once, their stomps breaking the silence that had taken hold of the clearing. They gave me a swift nod and moved into action. A group of priests started chanting, orbs of golden light raising from the ground around them, the scent of freshly moved earth thick in the air. Another group of priests started to trace forms in the ground with their staves, their faces scrunched in determination. The knights meanwhile, spread around the priests to from a circle, shields and lances at the ready.

I grabbed my own equipment, the touch of the shield and mace both familiar and reassuring. With that thought in mind, I approached the cave. The spikes came towards me, breaking the earth with loud cracks. My shield rose on its own, golden light bathing its surface. The spikes never stood a chance, the oily substances burning in sacred fire the moment it touche the holy metal. The smell of charred meat seeped into my nose, almost making me gag. I pushed on, the stream of spikes trying to throw me off my feat. On and on this contest of strength went, until I reached the mouth of the cave. Then the spikes drew back, its essence focusing onto a single spear of dark material that threw itself towards me.

I gripped my mace tightly in my hand and braced my shield on my shoulder. The spear hit the metal with a grave gong, leaving my arm numb. The tip of the spear sliding upwards slowly. It only a matter of moments it speed towards my head, death hanging on its pointy end. I pivoted to the side, the dark material grazing my cheek while my mace rose to connect with it, a warcry leaving my mouth. The moment it hit golden light filled the cave, banishing away the malicious material for good. A loud roar shook the cave, red fire spread through the ceiling. A cold chill cursed through my spine, my arm raising my shield instintively.

From the shadows a bizarre creature emerged, its body covered with a dark slime. It had the head of a dog, with half it face bare of skin and muscle, letting the ivory skull shine under the eerie light. Its body was humanoid but deformed, with a thin chest and a inflated stomach. A pair of wisp like arms rested on each side, a piece of smoking ooze resting where the hands would be. The smell that came from them nauseating and vile, like a sewer. When my eyes fell on its legs, a gasp left my body, for they were no legs, but tentacles with a skin gray as stone.

It didn’t stand on ceremony either, the moment its pale eyes fell on me, it jumped into action, summoning crimson fire arrows. I did my best to dodge its attacks, interposing my shield as many times as I could and diving to the side whenever I couldn’t. Still, there was only so much I could do. The arrows struck me with a sizzling sound, stealing a cry of pain from me as it ate through my armor and my skin. With a roar my mace collapsed with the ground, sending small pieces of earth towards the arrows and stopping them in their tracks. It lasted only for a few seconds, but that was enough to heal the worst of my wounds with Amotariel’s light.

The demon let out a shrill cry as its tentacles shot my way, this time I met its attack head on. I muttered a prayer to Amotariel and sacred fire covered my mace, golden arcs filled my vision, the impact of metal on flesh resounding inside the cave. Up, down, left, right, center, The monster’s tentacles seemed to be everywhere at once and yet my mace stood up to the task each time.

But I could my body growing tired, slower. The pace set by this demon was too much even for my enhanced body. I didn’ t have much time. Keeping that in mind, I rose my shield once more and screamed Amotariel’s name as I charge, the warmth of their power covering my whole body while I flew towards the demon. We crashed against the wall, the demon caught between my shield and the wall, its eyes burning with malice as it muttered in its demonic tongue. My lungs yearned for air, the effort of the spell had deprived me of my reserves and no matter how many lungfuls I took it never seemed to be enough.

But I knew I didn’t have much time, it wouldn’t be long before the demon recovered. It was then, almost as if it was reading my mind, that I felt the burn of its arrows striking my back, consuming my body with their greed. A scream left my mouth as my nerves were wracked in pain, the warmth of Amotariel dwindling as my body tried to repair itself.

“I’ll never give up,” I shouted in my mind, gripping my mace with all the strengh that was left in my body. “I’ll never give in!”

I rose my mace high into the air, the metal sending rays of golden lights all over the cave. The demon squirmed under me, its tentacles driving deep into my skin. My colors grew colder, my blood painting the ground under me. But it was already too late. There is no limit to what can be done by a paladin with a foot on death’s door. I knew that. And soon the demon would learn.

“Use the spirit! Burn your life to cinders!” I shouted as the mace swung across the air. It impacted the demon’s head death center, it’s anguished cries silenced in one swift hit. Its body soon crumbling into dust as the mace’s light faded into nothing. With my last work done, the world rid of another demon, I embraced death.

Masterplan - Spirit Never Dies