Aftermath

Chapter 30: And I Owe You Everything

Time continues eating away at Ingressus as he fights for survival against Tygren and his Prime Songs, but in the desperation, Hubris notices that something much worse is happening to the Deathsinger that could cost them the battle. With that, Tygren has one more card to play in a bid to bring Ingressus onto his knees - a tale untold that shakes the earth beneath their feetBut neither of them was prepared for the aftermath

Author's note: couple of notes before we start

1) I am not kidding when I say the illustration for this one took me over a month. effects are hard
2) we bring back the halfway cover for a good purpose - you'll see why as you read
3) heed the tags going in - we hit some heavy stuff for a hot sec, you have been warned

*****************

Hours passed and neither party were any closer to beating the other. Despite many of Tygren's forces having been cut down by the Knights and the Felden army, Ingressus and Tygren, themselves, were still going strong; Ingressus fighting with everything he could give. The good news was that he was no longer fighting the corruption. After Tygren had almost killed him on too many occasions, he completely surrendered control to the Prime Songs, and he was quickly becoming a challenge for the Ardoni demon. There was one thing that Ingressus hadn't accounted for in his battle against Tygren and that was the effect that the Primes were having on his body, already afflicted by time clawing away at him.

The more he used them, the weaker his body physically became, and no-one had noticed just how bad it had gotten until Hubris cut down a Voltaris and turned to spy Tygren getting attacked by yet another Aggrosphere. As the Song emanated from Ingressus' broadsword, he noticed the glow on the former Deathsinger's horns shine brighter. He squinted as Ingressus paused to catch his breath and noticed as his horns very suddenly gained length until they curled completely behind his ears. The last Ardoni that Hubris had spoken to with horns of that length was Galleous and everyone knew that he was well into his 200s. With every use of a Prime Song, Ingressus lost more and more time as his body aged with each passing second. The amount of physical and mental strength required to use those Primes was destroying him.

He was dying faster.

He was killing himself to save Ardonia...

Hubris looked over to Kiyoshi as he plucked his spear from a fallen Voltaris and the two exchanged knowing glances which pointed Kiyoshi in Ingressus' direction as he fought Tygren. Even he could see that nothing good was coming of this sacrifice and his gaze softened on the sight of the former Deathsinger.

They could only pray that Ingressus would get to Tygren before time got to Ingressus.

With an almighty clang, the two legendary swords clashed again and the two Voltaris were met face to face, snarling and growling at one another, pushing back against each other's unrelenting force. Whether they cared to admit it or not, in his current state, Ingressus was only an even match for Tygren, where previously he was miles ahead of him in skill. It was a step back for him and he had only the Prime Songs in his possession to fall back on. Tygren was more in control under his Prime Songs than Ingressus was under his, but Ingressus knew that he hadn't any other choice. If he was going to lose, then he was going to do so after a grand attempt at gaining.

Tygren stepped to the side and allowed Ingressus to fall past him before raining Thalleous' sword down on him with one fell swoop. Ingressus rolled out and heard the sharp thud as the blade landed just past his shoulder, barely missing his skin. He raised the ground below Tygren's feet to knock him off balance and sent him flying into a nearby tree and sliding down the trunk, landing slumped at the roots. He had used that move before – against Achillean on Mt Velgrin, that fateful night – but clearly Tygren wasn't ready for it like Achillean was. Tygren suffered as a result of his own blind rage whereas Achillean was ready for anything, even death.