Drazah calmed his nerve, focusing on his opponent.
"It doesn't have to be this way, Drazah," called The Emperor. "Would it be so bad to bend the knee and pass the reins to a better man?"
"I'll let you know when one offers," boomed Drazah confidently, diving swiftly forward toward The Emperor, sword outstretched ahead of him.
Drazah moved with lightning speed. He thrust his slender sword with incredible strength and uncanny agility, but each thrust he threw was knocked to the side with ease as it careened along the flat of the giant broad sword. The massive blade met each attack with calm precision. For every parry, the King was ready with another jab, only to be blocked effortlessly by The Emperor. Looking for an opening, Drazah's feet never stopped as he danced around The Emperor, but try as he might he was unable to wound or even strike the barbaric figure.
The Emperor swung his mighty sword, the air wailing as the weight of the blade cut through with unnatural speed. Drazah was quick too, he ducked reflexively to avoid the monolithic weapon, bringing his sword up into The Emperor's stomach, the black steel screeching against the bronze chest-plate as it deflected harmlessly away.
The Sudran King rallied but The Emperor knocked back yet another attack, and another, his eyes catching Drazah's for the briefest moment. They glared back, ultraviolet and alive with exhilaration. A smirk stretched out past the side of The Emperor's galea as he looked to Drazah, defending one more thrust without breaking their connection.
The Emperor was enjoying their performance.
Drazah was tiring, but his opponent had barely drawn a sweat. He couldn't believe how fast the bulging mass of muscles standing before him moved. It was as if he moved in slow motion as The Emperor casually deflected his sword. Clearly, it was time to change his approach.
As he expected, Drazah's attack was foiled once more. He followed through into an evasive roll, coming back up to face The Emperor to the outside of their clearing.
"Are you going to get serious?" laughed The Emperor.
Drazah growled in response, his face scrunched in determination, as he threw his sword to the ground. It had been so long since he had transformed, he was almost excited.
The Sudran King lifted his head and released a mighty roar as he willed his body into action. His heart pounded against his chest, sending the blood billowing through his body, as he focused and mana surged.
First came his wings, the skin ripped as they erupted from his back, fanning out behind him. The adrenaline rushed through his body, drumming against his ears, as his wings stretched out to full span and his muscles bulged. His nails expanded into sharp white claws. His black horns stretched up into a point and his skin darkened becoming jet black. He now stood over a foot taller, a demonic creature over eight feet in height that would have been imposing to anyone other than his current opponent.
Drazah tore away his ripped clothing, the fury inside him focussed as his eyes set on The Emperor. His mouth foamed. This time he wouldn't hold back.
Drazah didn't give anyone the chance to admire his fully realised form and drove forward with newfound aggression and blinding speed. In less than a blink, The Emperor readied his sword.
Drazah came in hard with his right fist. Then his left. The speed of his demon form forced The Emperor to work harder to dodge his attacks, but still that colossal sword blocked him. The Emperor sidestepped deftly, using his unique blade's width in place of a shield, becoming an incredible hybrid weapon in his hands. It allowed The Emperor to casually brush off Drazah's attacks, and any time there was an opening The Emperor's strength and incredible speed pulled the hulking broad sword around to meet any incoming attack. Drazah ripped his claws towards The Emperor, screeching them across the metal with a flair of sparks as he failed to break through the Emperor's defences. The Sudran tried again, batting his wings continuously, great gusts of wind whipping at The Emperor to little effect. Drazah's flight added weight to his movements as he swung his arms around with frenzied force. Blow after hammering blow.
The attacks came in fast and repeatedly. Drazah used his wings to lift himself around The Emperor with ease, staying evasive while putting his whole weight behind each strike. Harried, The Emperor could only use his sword to defend as Drazah continued his assault. However, the Demon King had yet to land a single damaging blow as each powerful claw glanced off armour and sword alike. Frustration building with every second.
Sweat dripped off Drazah's brow, tracing his eye. He blinked it away and in an instant, his guard was down.
The Emperor made use of the opening, slamming the flat of his sword directly into Drazah, who rolled into it, spreading the impact across his shoulder. The force still echoed through his arm, sending a wave of pins and needles shooting through to his fingertips.
The blow caused Drazah to slide to the side with some speed. He spread his hand wide against the sandy grass to maintain his balance as he slowed. A firm flap of his wings held Drazah steady, the sand he kicked up billowing into a cloud of dust around them.
As he came to a stop, Drazah's fingers brushed against the familiar cool metal of his sword. It was tiny in his demon claw. He grasped it tightly as he dived in for one final assault.
This was it. He could feel it. It was now or never.
Drazah bolted forward with all his might, every last ounce of strength in his legs and his wings pushing him forward. Black sword held firm and proud, he lunged towards The Emperor. Fury raged through him, scalding pressure urging him forward, erupting like a geyser, as his sword finally hit skin. He revelled in his victory, blood spraying over The Emperor as Drazah stared him down. His body burning in righteous victory.
Drazah halted. Shocked.
Although Drazah landed his sword, it hardly glanced across The Emperor's shoulder as he turned and sunk his blade deep into Drazah's belly. The Emperor swung his mighty blade with such force it sliced through the King's side, left to right, as if it was butter until it stuck hard in splintered bone.
Drazah let out a gut-curdling roar that trailed off into a weak gurgle. His hulking demon body doubled over. He coughed, blood streaking down his chin, as he grabbed at the wound in horror.
Had he failed?
Drazah turned cold as blood drained from his body. A wave of fear and regret washed over him as he realised himself. His knees buckled, unable to hold the weight of his failure and guilt. Blood pooling in the sand around his knees, broad sword held firm, he slowly reverted to his lesser form.
The surrounding soldiers stood silent.
They watched as The Emperor placed his foot on Drazah's chest, bracing as he pulled out his now blood-soaked sword. He whipped it to the side causing splatter along the ground. Drazah's sight grew dark as The Emperor walked away.
"Ralts! Ready the troops," ordered The Emperor, not bothering to look back as he wiped down his blade.
"We're moving out!"
* * *
Queen Nymati was in the library, looking East through an open window when it happened.
With a sudden beat, her heart thumped as if trying to burst through her chest. A pulse tore through her entire body, a wave of savage pain caughting her breath, ripping right through to her soul. Tears welled in her ruby eyes as she stared unblinking into the desert horizon. Her body shocked into dysfunction as Drazah breathed his last, shattering their para-bond.
Nymati grasped her chest in horror.
It was a pain like no other. She grew so hollow her trembling heart rattled in her chest, every beat excruciating and strenuous. A river of tears streamed down her cheeks as she crumpled to the ground, crying without sound.
It had been mere moments, but to Nymati that moment was never-ending.
She lay on the sandstone floor, tears flowing continuously, pooling on the bridge of her nose before overflowing. Mind, body and soul exhausted, it was all she could do to keep breathing, a dark silence taking over her heart, drowning her in despair.
Nymati heard how painful breaking a parabond was, but always considered it an exaggeration. Having shrugged off the labours of childbirth despite the many horror stories, she always assumed losing Drazah would be likewise, but this? This was beyond anything Nymati ever imagined. Malaki near floated out the womb in comparrison.
Perhaps her arrogance would be the end of them both, but she felt it no more than she deserved.
Nymati became aware of a crowd forming around her and the sounds of her eldest son pushing his way through. He scooped her off the floor and into his arms with care, hugging her close. She caught a glimpse of his azure eyes and umber hair and turned away, squeezing away the last of her tears as she buried her head in his chest, unable to bear the resemblance to her dear darling Drazah.
Her chest heaved with every breath, her eyes tight shut as Amynus stroked her hair, rocking gently back and forth. Her skin was cold against him. Her body frail, unable to function.
With little effort, Amynus lifted to his feet, cradling Nymati like a child and carrying her through the palace. She kept her head nestled into his chest, unaware of the distressed looks from the concerned citizens they passed in the halls.
Nymati remained lifeless as Amynus placed her gently with her head on a pillow, her eyes finally opening to find her bedroom. She lay there, ruby eyes dull and glazed over. Her breathing so shallow it may as well stop. Her heart so broken she feared it might.
She was never supposed to do this without him.
How could she possibly carry on?
* * *