"Spill thy entrails upon the altar stones, my kin...
"Do not let the Maiden of Blood nor the Hollow Vessel breach the sanctum...
A heavy, inhumane and monsterous voice went off, echoing far and wide on the battlefield Maria advance forward on foot.
Alongside two others....
"Ahhhhh!!"
The loud screams of her men could be heard as they met there brutal end to hands of the daemon's.
The was dark, and unforgiving, and the night was cold. The scent of blood, sex, and sulphur fill the air.
As large fire to the area they were in, but ed away at the ancient building, and the nearby trees.
Ash curled like snowflakes through the scarlet haze above Fort Georgia, falling gently onto cracked stone and burning flesh of man and daemon's alike.
Maria Halia Asauron wiped the blood from her cheek, though it wasn't her own.
Her golden eyes shimmered with worry behind a veil of thick smoke, yet her expression was hard and bright, unmarred by fear.
Her raven-black hair clung to her face, slick with sweat and blood, but her grip on the silver claymore in her hands never faltered.
Beside her, a man lay sprawled near a wall, his breath ragged, and his face contorted in pain.
The person was her older twin brother Ren.
At this moment he was trembling in pain, but that pain was not without loss on the enemy side.
Beside him several daemons lied dead.
His sword broken, and his leg shattered and shredded beyond repair.
Several other soldier watch him in horror as they try to offer comfort.
But all was pushed aside when the voice of woman shouted at them.
"Move!"
Barked Commander Vael, her voice cutting clean through the crowd.
The woman was a towering presence, her bikini armor soaked in daemon's blood, and her cape torn to ribbons.
"Shit...shitt... Oi stay with me her kid, don't you dear die on us."
She said as she grabbed the remaining of her torn cape, ripping from her armor. As she she tried to make a makeshift bandage to stop the bleeding of his leg.
Right after she pulled out a potion, it glowed pink, and the scent was all but pleasing.
Moments later, she trow the potion on Ren's leg as it sizzle. The deep wounds starting to close up, but this was no high grade potion at best this will only save him from the worst case scenario of bleeding out. If he wasn't violated, eaten alive, or raped to death by the daemons first.
Horrific fates many of her men had succumb to, in order for them to reach the Divine Cathedral of Georgia.
On the other hand Ren looked at Vael while laughing.
Saying as such.
"Vael... hehehe... I fucked up."
"You think, what were you thinking, just jumping in front of them like that. You could have died, and the journey here would have all been pointless."
Ren just chuckled tiredly.
"Sorry, but if my sister died here as well, the journey would also been pointless, we need her to complete the summoning ritual."
"...Just shut up, that was my last healing elixir, it might have stopped the bleeding, but your legs is basically useless now... It's no different from shredded chicken wing."
Vael said with a serious and grim face.
"Sorry... But we need to leave, or forces are being heavily pushed back aren't they."
"..."
Vael stayed quiet, she more than anyone else know the hell her men were going through on the Frontline.
If they were not being brutally cut down, smashed, or ripped apart.
They were either being raped to death. Earlier she saw, one of her general's, a level 23 male Ravager being rape by a group of succubus.
But even then they must push forward.
"Yeah, I will you up, they won't last much longer, come now your majesty, I will carry you."
"Hehehe, yeah I figured as much that my leg was busted, but... don't fear though, after the ritual is complete, according to the legend's of old. This body will be remade and heal, so you guys don't have to worry."
Ren said, as Vael began to carry him across her back as though he were sack of potatoes.
As his legs dragged uselessly behind her.
On that note, Vael turned to quiet man behind him.
"Saren."
"Yes commander."
The man finally answered.
"How embers do you have left?"
Saren, a level 36 ego user, had the power manipulate, earth and metal. His magic allow for great support both offensively, and defensively.
But to protect the princess and the prince he expended a large amount of his Chaos ember's so much so, he is pretty sure that he only has a few spells left in him before his tank diminish to zero.
"About 2 more spells commander."
Vael closed her eyes she knew they might actually die here.
"...Very well... Come then Saren help me pushed the Cathedral doors open."
"Hmph...
He nodded his head, as he walked up to the giant door. Vael took the left, and he took the right, and together the push with all their strength.
RUMBLLLEE!!
The sound of the stone door being force open echoed outwards, as they open the door to Fort Georgia Cathedral.
The scent of mold, dried blood, and dust hit them as it rumbled open.
The place was filled with several pew chairs, made from polish oak on both the left and right wing.
The ceremonial alter still had candles, and old time on it the book of Evoria. The holy gospel of the Mornia religion, and the main religion of the human empire.
Dusk and cobweb's was everywhere, and broken stein glass reflects the blood moon of the night partially.
Thankfully, the summoning altar was mostly prepared.
"So we finally arrived."
Ren said with bitter sweet smile, as he turned his head to meet Vael.
"Commander, can you please help me reach center of the ritual circle."
"...Tsk, this....this isn't fair."
She whispered slightly, tears dropping from her eyes. As memories of their time together back in the palace play through her mind.
Ren seeing this merley took her beautiful silky hair and wipe her tears off her face as he said.
"Now is not the time be sentimental Vael, besides crying does not suit you."
"Still this is just all so wrong."
"Mayhap so...
Ren said out aloud, as he gave one finale speech.
"Yet while breath still clings to this shell, I remain its master. From the moment of first light, our great mother the queen tell tales of the fate that await the royal twins born beneath grace, forged to unmake despair."
"One to weep, one to burn."
"She...
Ren said looking at partially crying Maria with a smile.
"My sister, the Blood Maiden… to guide the rite, and follow the Wonder as his Maiden."
"And I, the vessel… to die in its stead. In turn to gift the world a blade that can cut through despair."
"Long have I known the way of my end. Long have I walked toward it."
"But if this wretched flesh may serve as a blade unmatched...as key, as pyre, then let it burn.
"Let it break."
"If in ruin, the world may rise anew… then I go gladly into silence for such a future."
"…A pity really I would've liked to see the world my flesh carve a new."
Ren announced, he was the type that if all have up hope on this world, even if it was just him, he dream that what lies beyond this despair.
Is an age full of hope.
"Now then... Maria, let us begin."
He said and looked at his sister.
Then back at the commander.
"Vael if you would please."
Right after, Vael close her eyes, and finally gave in to Ren request, as she did as she was told.
Vael help Ren to the altar. Where a crude stone throne resides.
At the center a magic circle was formed, with four large candles each facing towards a position.
North, South, East, and West.
Maria already knowing what to do, began to lit them.
Her eyes looking at her brother who was seated upon the ritual throne, more of beacon than anything.
"Brother...
She said in a low whisper.
"You know you don't have to do this?"
"What's is stopping you from just teleporting pit of here."
She whispered, filling her brother head with the temptations of possible freedom.
And yet Ren sat there smiling as he said.
"I am afraid that I must do this little Maria."
She looked at him then.
Really looked.
He had always been the kinder one.
The gentler soul.
She remembered their games in the garden, hiding in mother's robes, reading forbidden books by candlelight.
He was always the first to laugh.
The first to cry.
But most of all, he was always the first to act, for he was always fill with a sense of duty.
She reached out to touch his face.
"Very well brother, however you can blame me for your death, I know I will?"
"Maria... This has always been my choice, if their was anyone to blame then it should be me... Why go as far as to take a blame that is not yours to take."
"How could I not?"
She said softly, as she place on the ceremonial white mask.
"I am about to kill you... My only brother."
Her voice broke.
"Offer your body as kindling to a throne that burns everything it touches. I'm going to rip out your soul and make your body a vessel. I-I am going to summon something other to wear your skin like a mask… and I'm calling that hope."
She laughed.
It was bitter.
Hollow even...
"...Silly girl."
Ren took her hand.
His fingers were ice, dipped in his blood.
"It was always going to be me."
He said.
"You were born to rule alongside the Matriarch. I was born to give you the chance. Please sister, let me go out seeing that sweet smile of yours. Please don't blame yourself for something beyond your control. You did nothing wrong, nothing wrong at all."
"Now, I have made me peice, let us begin."
Maria fell silent.
Then she took a breath, stepped forward, placing her hand on his chest.
The runes carved into the altar flared to life, ancient glyphs of death and rebirth began to react to blood Maiden call.
Divine Essence poured from the air, flooding into her.
And the ritual began.
"Brother, thank you for everything, your sacrifice will not be in vain."
Ren just smile as he close his eyes, and Maria began to say the incantation.
To begin the summoning.
"O ye throne of ruin, hollow and high…
Heed now the blood offered unto thee.
A vessel breaks, a soul is freed.
Flesh to ash, name to void.
Let the tether be undone.
The circle began to light up, and the cathedral began to shake. The world itself seem to react to the call.
As high above the cathedral sky, lightning began strike in all corner, as the clouds above swirl into large cyclone.
The daemons tremble at the sight, panic by Divine power building and striking at random.
Maria continue the incantation.
By the ancient pact, by the law unseen,
I summon the flame before all flame.
From grace lost and order sundered,
From chaos veiled beyond the fog,
Come forth, O Wonder, bane of the Seven.
Ren body, suddenly became stiff, as low screech escape his mouth.
"Ahhh...
Maria close her eyes, as she tried to ignore the screams.
Continuing the ritual.
In bone I carve thee. In will I bind thee.
With this sacrifice, I open the Gate.
O Lord without form…
Taketh now this vessel we offer unto you.
Wear his ruin as thy right.
Oh great mother guide him... guide him...
Come now, steadfast and strong.
I call upon you, now rise ye Wonder.
That was the last straw, and soon after a bolt gold colored lightning came from the heavens itself, suddenly from the sky, and hit Ren's body, as he let's go one last screech of pain.
His grip on the throne tightening due to the shock.
As his eyes went from gold, to blood red.
The strike send Maria flying causing Vael to run forward catch her.
"Lady Maria."
She shouted in panic.
"I am alright but my brother...
She said.
Saren on the other hand gasp in suprise as he said while looking at throne.
"By the Great Mother... Is that really the prince body."