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Waking up for the day rejuvenated from the orgy, the group members prepare for their last leg of their journey towards deliverance and be one step closer to devastate the Arcanium Scroll. They have two eminences to ascend before they reach a land bridge and then salvation. Not desiring to remain in the inhospitable territory any longer, they swiftly finish their rations and clean up the site. The first hill they hike without corollary, but near the halfway point in the dale, they encounter trouble. From far away, a fireball launches towards the party and impacts near the members; the shockwave's force from the explosion throws them off their feet. Dusting themselves off, they stare towards the source of the spell and descry a creature. They couldn't discern specific characteristics of it until it moves swiftly at them.

The creature towers every single member of the group. Its armor covers from its neck to its feet, and the black steel makeup of it resembles dragon scales. Black steel boots with extremely sharp points at the end of them cover its feet, and the gloves on its hands are from the same material with spikes at the knuckles. On its black cape, there are six skulls across the front side of the collar. The space in the helmet forms a "Y." In a circle around the top are nine spikes that extend approximately one foot. Across its chest and around its hips are glass orbs that glow vibrant green.

Amakz Razošg, Krivkris thought in horror from the Arcanium Scroll's images and lore. _A Soul Keeper. _

Out of fear or force of habit, Lyera casts a spell. "Water Nature: Raging Torrent!"

"Lyera, wait!" shouted Krivkris, but he was too late. A spiral beam of water launches from her entire body at the Amakz Razošg. The initial smile she has as she lands a direct hit turns into horror as the spell didn't leave a single scratch on it. Rakiri empties both rifles in a swift volley of fire, leaving a plume of white smoke at the end of the barrel, and each round ricochets off the armor with sparks and zero damage.

In retaliation, the Soul Keeper targets Lyera once it's within range. Unsheathing its sword, it cleaves her in half diagonally, and the top portion slides off with blood spraying everywhere. Before the rest of the party members process her death, it's now in front of Rakiri and stabs him. "Vulgaluz," it uttered, and he exploded. Blood, guts, and bone fragments scatter in every direction. Tears stream down Ashereth's and Takasato's faces before her expression switches to horror as the Amakz Razošg stands in front of her. Expecting her last seconds on Illyria, she closes her eyes before opening them from a clash of blades of it and Ashereth.

Krivkris is now beside Takasato, and he hands her the scroll from Ashereth. "Leave now and get to the bridge. Ashereth and I will buy you as much time as possible."

"Why me?" asked Takasato frantically.

"You and Rakiri are the fastest members of the group. You'll reach the bridge, and hopefully safety, before Ashereth and I in a regular race. You said you came on this mission for your children currently in development, so you have more reason to evacuate than either of us. If the scroll falls back into the Soulmonger's possession, his return becomes more of a reality, and the closer Illyria is to doom."

"Goodbye, Krivkris," Takasato said, and they embraced each other.

"For Rakiri."

"For Rakiri."

"I loathe interrupting, but I require assistance," Ashereth said.

As Takasato flees from the battle, Krivkris turns his attention towards the Amakz Razošg and Ashereth. The Soul Keeper is currently on top of Ashereth as he blocks its blade with his. The weight from its body suddenly vanishes as the Dragonkin slams his entire body on it, and they tumble around. As he is about to impale it, the Amakz Razošg pivots its own and slices his sword into pieces. The confusion lowers his guard enough for it to uncover its disfigured hand and touch his face. Searing pain envelopes Krivkris's face, and he screams in agony as his face slowly turns to ash and cracks as it cools. The effect weaves its way down his body, and the wind blows his remains away, leaving behind his armor and equipment.

Now alone, Ashereth assumes his fighting stance. I'm all that remains between it and Takasato. It requires nearly all of my willpower to not have my legs tremble at the sight of the Soul Keeper, and its sword can break through other blades though mine is intact. My right arm's fucked, so my left will have to do. His expression turns to sedate as he focuses on the task at hand and surrounds himself with mana. However, I am a coadjutor to the Dragon Incarnate, and I fear her wrath more if she discovers I ran away from a fight and jeopardized the mission. She would resurrect me just to personally dispatch me and may do it multiple times. "All right, ugly, time to finish this."

"K'valkstok vuok jovv."

Ashereth and the Soul Keeper charge at each other and clash their weapons, confirming his thought of his sword being able to withstand its attacks. Must be a unique material of my blade providing the resistance. "Icalkdi." Going on the offensive, he pivots Ictani, slashing air as the Soul Keeper sidesteps, and he alters the direction posthaste for another attack only for it to react with a parry of its blade and a kick to the guts.

The Amakz Razošg relocates the armor on its right arm, exposing vibrant green veins on its skin. The color mimics the circulation of blood, and it deliberately lacerates itself down the entire length with its sword. It guzzles the vital liquid, yet none leaks out from the visible cut, and it radiates the indistinguishable color. When the color fades, the blade is vastly disparate than before, longer, wider, and a sinister appearance. An eye materializes in the middle of the hilt, and sharp points encircle the handle. Green smoke with visible particles of agonizing faces emanates from it.

Despite the blade appearing too hefty to wield, the Amakz Razošg employs it effortlessly that Ashereth suffers a minor gash to his left side as he avoids the main force after recovering from his startle. Sanguine fluid gushes from it at an abnormal rate and lasts longer than typical cuts before coagulation.

Note to self, evade that weapon. Exploiting the tiny mound of soil for a height advantage, Ashereth cuts off two spikes of its helmet and lands a solid blow against the Soul Keeper's chest. For several minutes they parry or evade attacks from one another; the expended energy starts to have an apparent effect on him, whereas it's arduous to perceive it on his adversary though it behaves like it doesn't. Artificial stars appear around the Soul Keeper and barrage it when he removes half the charges on Ictani. Unlike Krivkris, it suffers visible damage when it decides to allow them to impact. It's like it's deriding me.

"Vulnts!" Four skulls in blue flames fly towards Ashereth from the Soul Keeper.

"Earth Nature: Rock Wall!" A thick wall of earth erects from the ground, and the skulls obliterate it instead of Ashereth. Once the immediate threat leaves, he combines Earth and Wind nature for his spell, "Sand Nature: Sand Coffin!" A sand sphere envelopes the Soul Keeper, trapping it.

"Aritž!" The Amakz Razošg explodes the sand, and it barely parries Ashereth's sword. "Meidivot Ulkotrae!" The ground beneath his feet turns into a pool of purple, bubbling sludge, and he is now on the defensive from its numerous sword attacks after he avoids the spell. "Uodäd!" A weird sensation envelops Ashereth's body and is off balance as he floats above the ground; he accidentally drops his sword from the spell's shock, and the Amakz Razošg attempts to attack.

"Art of Abjuration: Shield!" The temporary barrier repels the attack and knocks the Soul Keeper backward. "Wind Nature: Gale Force Vortex!" Visible streams of air materialize and blow it back along with various debris, liberating himself from the levitating effects and regains his weapon. His series of assaults result in the first hit has a visible impact on the Amakz Razošg, and he shields his ears from its shriek.

The next words by the Soul Keeper catch Ashereth by surprise. "Nuuthruk Narkeesh: Iacahkth Mafaak!" A tiny stygian orb materializes in its hands, and it rapidly increases its size, revealing spirits circling inside in various directions.

The spell forces Ashereth to cast another spell in the same language as the Soul Keeper. "Nek vot Juraak: Raak Mujaak!" Its incantation disappears, and he can sense the anger from it. If it's capable of True Draconic Magic or Primordial Magic, then I'm in a terrible situation; however, its unique magic is also kicking my ass similar to Krivkris's. "What?" He detects a magical force disrupting his body. Fuck me.

"Nukthra!" Ashereth suddenly becomes dizzy and has double vision as he senses his soul leaving him. I need to cast a spell or do something else unless I prefer my body to become soulless.

Eraan Narkeesh: Dulvuukan Borein!" The ground begins to vibrate violently, and fissures spread out from Ashereth; they grow in size and depth while loose rocks tumble down the side of the mountains. One of the boulders barrels towards the Amakz Razošg, forcing it to cancel its spell, and a portion of his soul returns. Conserving their mana, they resort to sword attacks, and Ashereth exploits the new terrain to his advantage by dashing around boulders or climbing on them. They deal several blows against each other though it's difficult for him to discern the Soul Keeper's demeanor through its helmet.

When the Amakz Razošg utilizes a boulder to break Ashereth's line of sight, he positions himself to reacquire his target only to find it not there. Cautiously he scours around the field, taking extra precautions in his steps and repeatedly swivels his head around. He observes a figure up ahead after he moves around a gigantic rock, stealthily sauntering forward on alert. When he believes he's close enough to charge and stab it, he proceeds and pauses as the figure reveals itself to be Lyera. His love for her temporarily blocks his judgment as he believes she is alive, and it is sufficient to allow the Soul Keeper to deal the lethal blow, stabbing him in the gut and lacerating him straight up to the top of the sternum. Blood pours from his mouth as he falls over, dead.

Meanwhile, Takasato runs faster than ever in her life to place the broadest gap possible between her and the Amakz Razošg and senses the vibrations from Ashereth's spell, filling her with dread as she assumes the worst. She eventually arrives at the stone bridge over a canyon. Below it, there is a raging river, jagged rocks, and vegetation on the precipice. When she glances back in hopes that he is catching up to her, her eyes fill with fear as the Amakz Razošg appears, and she bolts across the couloir.

The Soul Keeper places its left hand at the edge of the bridge when it arrives. "Pulžgel!" In sections, the natural structure breaks apart, and the destruction races after the Ki'Tsun, catching up to her. The cracks of the collapse are now underneath her feet, and she knows she's losing ground feet away from the other side. The enemy observes her latch onto a piece of growing vegetation and beginning to ascend the cliff with the difficulty of one practicable arm. "Irtiz!" A blue fireball launches from its finger, and it explodes directly on her, sending her screaming down to the rapids and losing consciousness as she impacts the water. After watching her body flow downstream, it returns to collect Ashereth's body. "Nätakovš siemago rozt emejok, Amakz Volzun."

This is the final chapter in the Land of Ashes. As I mentioned earlier, this is a long prologue to the main series called the Age of Cataclysm, that I decided to make it a separate book that's sort of the prequal. I apologize if the ending seems abrupt. Fortunately, you don't have to wait at all to read the first chapter in the main story. You can read it by clicking on the link (https://www.sofurry.com/view/1645038). Feel free to vote, favorite, comment, and spread the word.