SONG VIBE: Daechwita â Agust D
__________
NOCTURNE
Golgogâs Chamber, The Shadowlands
Nocturne's breath caught for a single moment as he viewed Golgog, a sinking feeling in his stomach. Tsek.
As it slept, the creature's massive form shifted on its throne, an obscene tapestry of scale and sinew crowned with jutting bone. If his constellation of eyes were open, they would have burned with fresh malice. Still, Golgog slumbered, safe behind his magical barrier, and his maw split wide to reveal row upon row of teeth like broken swords as he breathed his putrid breath throughout the chamber.
The fear did not have time to settle. Golgog's guardspawn rushed forward with coordinated precision.
Even when their master dies, guardspawn retain their intelligence...unlike nightspawn. Nocturne thought as he cut through the first wave with Rell. They'll fight, to the bitter end. So will we.
Kicking a dead guardspawn impaled on Shadowrend, Nocturne dared another look at the sleeping spawnlord. Fye. Lucian better keep that thing suppressed.
Behind him, the mountain knights fought efficiently under Felixâs command. With large shields and spears, Valentino and Felix blocked the entrance of the spawnlordâs chambers, slaying the hordes of nightspawn trying to protect their sleeping master. Lysander stood back-to-back with Felix and Valentino, firing projectiles to thin the line of guardspawn charging at Nocturne.
August stood with them, firing the occasional fireball with his cursed staff, while the other hand remained outstretched towards Golgog's barrier, gathering the threads of magic for one powerful burst to shatter it.
Nocturne slashed his way through the ranks, thinking, The most powerful magician in the westâif not the entire continent.
As if sensing the direction of his thoughts, the oily voice slithered into Nocutne's mind again. Do you really think Augustus sees you as an equal? He's a genius, Nocturne, and he doesn't need youâyou're just a tool, a dull blade he'll discard when it's no longer useful. Nocturne ignored the chill running down his spine.
Protected between the four friends, Lucian convulsed violently. The golden Dreamweaver mask devoured the colour from his flesh, leaving it corpse-black. He collapsed to his knees, the effort of maintaining Golgog's dream-prison straining him to his limits.
Lucian? Thick with disdain, the voice was all Nocturne could hear as he parried the swing of charging guardspawn's greatsword. Do you think he's your ally? He's only loyal to his own whims. Once the glory fades, he'll cast you aside. You're nothing to him but a stepping stone.
image [https://img.wattpad.com/8ea8cc867b06f27dd4a239bfe73ec5e50377b496/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f5a336959396f61595762345031773d3d2d313535343732373234372e313834643761326566316330393565633336323937383335393632362e706e67]
Above: Lysander is ready to remove the mask.
[This is just for vibes and not a totally accurate depiction. AI-generated image]
âFye,â Nocturne swore, cutting through a guardspawn, âRell, forward on the double!â
Nocturne saw it all in a heartbeatâA nightspawn approached, and Lucianâs trembling hands could not lift his weapon. But Golgog lay vulnerable in its forced slumber. Make it count, Nocturne thought as he charged forward with Rell, cutting through the guardspawn with brutal efficiency. Each swing of Shadowrend opened black wounds of darkness in the guardspawn it touched.
The nightspawn's head exploded in a burst of black spray before it could strike Lucian, and Lysander shielded Lucian with his torn cloak, saving them both from the splatter.
August nodded grimly, his staff already launching another cursed spell into the mass of creatures blocking Nocturneâs path to Golgog. Augustâs spell is ready, we just have to reach the damn barrier before it is too late for Lucian.
Lucianâs skin was completely black, shrivelled as though all moisture had been sucked from it, like a corpse left out in the sun. Lysanderâs fingers prised under the mask, ready to rip it off in the single moment before Lucian was completely consumed. Lucianâs blackened hands grabbed Lysanderâs wrists, and pushed him away.
âNow!â Nocturne yelled.
In an instant, August sent a huge lightning bolt of pure life energy at the barrier. The spell crackled through the chamber, lighting it up in bright light. The bolt hit the barrier, and the wall shimmered and then shattered. Nocturne burst through, leaving Rell to defend his back.
Nocturne raised Shadowrend high, ready to end this nightmareâbut Golgog's iron gauntlet snapped up, catching the blade with a sound like thunder. Nocturne moved to grab the knife at his side, but Golgog pushed his gauntlet forward, forcing Nocturne to retreat with a nimble jump.
The mask clattered to the ground as Lysander tore it free. Tsek, Nocturne cursed, No Spawnlord has been able to break free from Lucian before.
Golgog rose to its full, terrifying height, his many-eyes locking onto the Dreamweaver mask in Lysanderâs hands. Youâve come further than anyone, thanks to that trinket. I will treasure it, after I crush you. The spawnlord's laughter shook loose stones from the ceiling. Its massive claws carved trenches in the blood-soaked floor as it shifted from its throne of corpses.
image [https://img.wattpad.com/fd481c4458f72af02a92207a6f2aaf1a3fa10ae3/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f4b36587176557146312d667144673d3d2d313535343732373234372e313834643738363636383231613762333233323636333239393131322e706e67]
Above: Golgog stands.
[This is just for vibes and not a totally accurate depiction. AI-generated image]
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The spawnlord did not possess the anatomy for speech, but somehow, Nocturne could hear the beast in his mind. He saw a flash of purple at his wrist, and focused, slicing through another âspawn.
Golgog taunted, kicking a corpse aside, From your friends' corpses, I will breed an army unlike any seen before. Golgog's twisted face split in a mockery of a smile. But you, Nocturneâyou I will consume myself. You will die alone. Unmourned. Unloved. Your knights will die too. Your wife will move on. And in the end? Nocturne the Rat of the Smugglerâs Cave will have been nothing.
âIâll cut that throat open!â Nocturne snarled, raising Shadowrend high. He drew deep on the blade's power, and shadows erupted around him like a second skin. Raw darkness flooded his veins, burning like ice, granting him inhuman speed and strength.
Golgogâs guttural roar shook the chamber, his many eyes locking onto Nocturne. With terrifying speed, it lunged, its darksblade screaming through the air.
Nocturne barely managed to block the strike, drawing more dark power from Shadowrend just to survive the impact. Tsek, he cursed, arms trembling. One hit, and I'm alreadyâ
The second strike came faster than the first. Nocturne parried, shadows whirling around him as he channelled every ounce of power he could take from the blade without losing himself. No choice left. If I lose control, everyone dies. If I don't, we're dead anyway. He drew deeper still, and felt his skin split as shadows erupted from his flesh. Through the cracks in his armour, his skin rippled like oil, black as pitch.
âRell, to myââ
Golgog's blade descended like a falling star. Nocturne parried, but before he could counter, another strike came. And another. And another. Too fast. His arms screamed in protest as each crushing blow threatened to shatter his bones, if not for Shadowrendâs dark power flowing through him. I canât keep up.
Golgog roared again. At his command, more nightspawn birthed from the fleshy chambers of the wallsâsome guardspawn, some nightspawn, and some half-formed monstrosities that writhed, clawed and exploded as they took their first breath. The creatures rushed for Felix and Valentino, who held back the tides of nightspawn pushing forward.
âNot today!â August called out, as he and Lysander fired an uncountable number of projectiles into the waves of newly created creatures.
image [https://img.wattpad.com/dd4c9d57f3a28288ae0712dc9fb2ba22d584859a/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f304e6e424c6e5055347155686f773d3d2d313535343732373234372e313834643763636439663032353732383937343933393236323132312e706e67]
Above: August is deadly.
[This is just for vibes and not a totally accurate depiction. AI-generated image]
Felix and Valentino did not turn from the entrance of the tunnel, trusting their friends to protect their rear. Valentinoâs armour was shredded and dripping with black blood, his strikes were precise, each stroke of his thin blade a killing blow. Beside him, Felix blocked a blow with his shield, then struck out, stabbing the nightspawn through the chest. Another quickly took its place.
With the colour returning to his skin, Lucian tucked the Dreamweaver mask into his belt, and drew his twin swords, Dreambinder and Silver Serpent, from his side. He moved to flank the guardspawn. Lucian will protect our flank, and Rell and I will take on Golgog together.
The horrid voice filled Nocturneâs mind, taunting, Not even a thousand men can turn the tide of this fight, Golgog taunted, You will all die likeâ
August finally yelled, âMind shield is ready!â Then, the blackness spread from his elbows to his shoulders. Cold sweat formed on his brow.
The icy relief hit Nocturneâs mind, as his thought became his own again.
Nocturneâs battle became a storm of steel and shadow, neither able to land a killing blow. Golgogâs kick came like lightning, and as Nocturne dodged, Golgogâs darksblade followed.
This time, Nocturne knew he would not be fast enough.
Aurelian, bloodied but defiant, charged, moving faster than even Golgog. The squireâs massive frame was a blur as he swung Ignis Solaris with all his might to intercept Golgogâs swing. Their swords met, the sound deafening as it reverberated through the chamber.
Immediately, Nocturne turned to their flank, cutting through the approaching guardspawn who pushed forward to attack Rellâs exposed back. Too damn many. Where is Lucian?
Nocturne looked up and saw his friend dancing through the chaos like a demon unleashed, twin swords flashing. He carved a path back to Nocturne, his blades opening throats and severing limbs with terrifying precision. But he was still too far away to hold their flank. Nocturne raised Shadowrend to parry a thrusting sword, and then sliced the guardspawn in two.
Golgog and Rell fought too fast for human eyes to perceive. There was not much human left of Rell, as he drew more and more power from Ignis Solaris, his skin as white hot as a flame and his eyes as black as an eclipse. But even with the immense power of his darksblade, Rellâs arms shook as he blocked every blow.
Rell parried Golgogâs swing, but as he did, Golgogâs claw lashed out, catching Rellâs leg. The squireâs shout of pain echoed through the chamber as he was hurled through the air, his leg hanging limp from his knee, held on by a single sinew of muscle. Blood poured out from the wound, pooling around him.
Propped up on one elbow, Rell swung his sword before him, his sword creating walls of fire to hold off the nightspawn closing in on him.
âLye, cover Rell!â Felix yelled, fighting his way forward. âIâm coming!â
Lysander focused his arrow fire on the nightspawn closing in on Rell.
With his twin hooked swords, Felix carved a way through the nightspawn with August.
When they reached Rell, August immediately began mumbling spells over the squire's severed leg. Felix held off the nightspawn, the light from his hooked swords sending out waves of healing energy which Rell quickly absorbed.
At the entrance, Lysander had abandoned his bow. His blade was drawn as he fought back-to-back with Valentino, their strength and precision the last hope they had against the chambers being overrun with nightspawn.
This is the endgame, Nocturne braced himself, charging toward Golgog, Kill the spawnlord and we stand a chance. He let out a feral roar, every muscle in his body burning with white-hot pain. Need...more...power.
He took one moment to look at his friends, the men who had followed him to the end. Valentino and Lysander almost overrun at the entrance; Lucian holding off the guardspawn at his exposed flank; August firing spells in every direction, the black rot creeping up his neck; Rellâs face pale with death as the power from Felixâs hooked swords kept him alive.
You win. Nocturne exhaled and let the darkness of Shadowrend consume his body, the pain turning ice-cold, his body no longer his, no longer human. True power... is mine.
With clawed hands, Nocturne raised Shadowrend to meet Golgogâs attack.
The impact of Golgogâs darksblade rattled Nocturneâs bones, driving him back several paces.
He gritted his teeth, his muscles straining as he held his ground. Not enough strength. He gripped Shadowrend. Give me more.
Nocturneâs eyes widened as the spawnlord lunged again, Golgogâs massive blade arcing toward him, but Nocturneâs blade could not move fast enough to meet the strike. Time crystallised. Nocturne saw the inevitability of it allâno dodge, no parry, no escape.
He thrust out his forearm. Better to lose a hand than my life.
image [https://img.wattpad.com/138fd96f71bd26ab790c5ba457a10535912e5ad0/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f4e773434336c44475a31773357673d3d2d313535343732373234372e313834643761373565376261353163663833363032333730313136362e706e67]
Above: The final moment.
[This is just for vibes and not a totally accurate depiction. AI-generated image]
The last thing Nocturne saw before the darksblade carved through flesh and bone was a flash of lilac purple hair on his wrist.
His final thought, bitter and strange: What a hell of a way for all of us to die.