Viridus snorted, and took a step forward, ignoring all the orders for him and his hordes to leave the temple grounds. <span style='color:yellow'>You think I'm going to listen to a group of pathetic little do gooders like you? Even the old priest is an idiot!</span> He suddenly lunged forwards, and swung his sword at Talon, as his hordes began surging forward, clashing into the ranks of angelic beings with such force that several simply shattered into white fragments and fell to the ground in pieces, their gleaming shards still glowing with a light of pure good. Talon ducked, but was slower than expected, and the saw blade sword nicked his arm, slicing clean through the robes with the slightest ease. Talon grunted, and backed up a few steps, coming to stand even with the old priest. Meanwhile, Viridus past self was pacing behind his older alter ego, grasping a plain dark hilted sword furiously and snarling, wanting to get in on the action. <span style='color:orange'>If we can somehow gather the creatures up, we might be able to cleanse some of the dark creatures and daemons! It might turn the tables in our favor!</span> Talon shouted the suggestion over the screams of dying peasants and shattering angels. The daemons simply faded into dark energy and blew away in the wind when killed. <span style='color:yellow'>You'll never get the chance!</span> Screamed Viridus, and savagely jumped and pounded a heavy armored boot into Talon's gut, thrusting him backwards into the ground. He didn't waste time however, spinning the sword of Plagues towards the old priests chest. The saw blade whistled as it cut through the air, and a red tinge could be seen around the blade, tainting the air itself... Meanwhile, the Dark One's past self had slipped away, vanishing among the hordes of angels and daemons faster than anyone could expect. Within minutes there was no trace he had ever come to the temple, and where he had gone was yet to be seen...
Vyja was by the Priest's side in an instant. Please don't be dead. Please. I won't let you die... You can't die. I won't let you. Please... What followed happened in a matter of seconds. The blow had caused the old priest to stumble. With a gentle tud, he fell to his knees. A praying posture, almost. The face was impassive, as though he had barely felt the blade pierce through him. But for the ominous red stain on his simple robes, a disease which spread slowly but surely accross his chest, the Kiom's appearance was one of eerie peacefulness. Somehow, Vyja felt far from comforted by any of this. Hesitating slightly, the youth was about to tear off the sleeve of tunic, desperate to somehow prevent the blood from flowing, and barely aware of how unrealistic tending to his wounded friend would prove to be in the midst of battle. He had to do something! You can't die. I just won't allow it! A weathered paw suddenly stopped his restless fingers as they haphazardly tried to tear at the offendingly resistant fabric. Vyja froze and, incredulous, turned to stare at the Kiom. He was smiling. "My Lord Viridus", he said amusedly, "It saddens me that you should think me an idiot. If I may venture to say so, it was very foolish of you to choose this battleground. Perhaps you thought it would be all the more humiliating for us? I have been expecting this attack from the moment I read the readings on the wall, Virus..." There was a twinkle in his old wizened eyes, but the youth could tell his old friend was weakening. Even as he spoke, a strange golden shower of light escaped his fingers and began to form a shield around him. Vyja was shocked to see that part of the light was also emanating from his wound. It was though the blood was slowly being converted into light... Vyja started. He's sacrificing his blood! He's putting all his life and sould into the spell! Then it suddenly hit him. The abnormally pungent smell of rose and jasmine water as they had entered the Temple... He was pretty sure the Priest had hidden some of the Blessed Essence as well! He had planned this all along... "This Temple holds many surprises." The last word was uttered so faintly, it was but a murmur. Then, surrounded by his halo of protection, the old priest began to sing.
A sense of comfort had managed to work it's way into Kien. She felt not anxious, not scared, nor she felt anything related to that matter. She just felt plain comforted. Part of her didn't want the Kiom to do this. He was losing so much blood that she thought he would die after he cast his spell. But the other part of her knew that if this is what the priest wants, then be it. Because as long as Mansukh is save, it would be the right thing. Wouldn't it? <span style='color:blue'>Vyja, calm down. It's too late to do anything now.</span> she told him quietly through the singing of the priest. <span style='color:blue'>We must be ready to fight Viridus. Let the Kiom do his trick.</span>
<span style='width:100%;font-weight:bold; font-size:10px'>Out of Character</span> <table class='ooc'><tr><td>I apologise! I totally forgot about this thread, I'm amazed it didn't get shipped to the scrolls! >.<</td></tr></table> Talon didn't move, but set his partisan's butt upon the ground and lowered his head, silently weeping for the old kiom who refused to let Viridus taint the ancient and holy ground... <span style='color:yellow'>Like hell I'm going to let you get away with that!</span> Came a sudden shout, and there was a whistling sound, like something thin and aerodynamic through the air... <span style='color:orange'>No!</span> Talon shouted, raising his head just in time to see Viridus lunge forward, oddly enough, however, the younger version. His dark plain blade continued whistling as it made it's way towards the priests already plague ridden chest, and it seemed as if nothing could stop this mad rush of black armor, steel blade, and taint... The older Viridus' eyes widened when his younger self, whom he thought he had kept in line, jumped forwards and attempted to attack the priest. He cursed, knowing very well that if his younger self was injured seriously, or if he died... It was possible that he himself could be wiped from existance just like that, and the entire series of events could be altered... He shot out a hand to grab at the armor of his counterpart, but by then he was too far into the dive, and if the old kiom completed his spell...
With the Priest's last murmured lyric came the end of the song, as well as the beginning of the purification of the darklings. A weary smile graced the Kiom's wizened features as the last spell escaped his cracked lips: one that combined iteration and amplification charms, such that a recording of his lilting voice now resounded across the room. Then he collapsed, his small body buried under a maze of robes. --------------------- Vyja wanted to cry out as he watched his friend fall but knew that he must follow Kien's advice and stay calm. He had to keep his cool. Lives were at stake and this was no time to be sentimental. Still, his heart lurched at the dreadful thought that he would never again speak to the Kiom. Almost imperceptiblyat first, a golden drizzle started to fall from the ceiling, bathing the Temple's occupants in its glow. He recognised the smell instantly. Holy water. Taking this as his cue, Vyja immediately lashed out, striking down two weakening peasants with the wooden end of Mansukh's Gjepa's spear. His intention was not to kill them, simply to weaken them as the spell had its effect. He didn't know if the spell would have any effect on the Viriduses but he knew that if they would helpless once their minions were gone. That is, if they didn't have a way to stop the purification...
Kien was just about to take a chance at the younger Viridus when he was held back. Just then the Kiom's spell had been completed and she watched as what seemed to be golden rain came dripping out of the ceiling. So Kien changed target and went for the weaker ones. As did Vyja. She knew that if she were to attack the younger Viridus, the old one would defend and Kien hasn't much power to fight with the Virus. Slashing those fragile bodies (or maybe not so) with the dagger the Kiom had gave her, she ran from one to the other. She was trying to inflict injury to as many of those walking corpse as possible. By the 6th victim, her dagger began to glow. <span style='width:100%;font-weight:bold; font-size:10px'>Out of Character</span> <table class='ooc'><tr><td>Sorry for the late reply. I was having writer's block. >.<</td></tr></table>
<span style='width:100%;font-weight:bold; font-size:10px'>Out of Character</span> <table class='ooc'><tr><td>No worries, it's been a long rp, but I can feel the grand finale is close! ;D</td></tr></table> The older Viridus watched as one of the drops landed on his palm, and then began to raise smoke slightly, slowly but surely eating away at his dark energy bathed body. He roared, more out of anger than pain, and shunted his younger self out the temples doors, sending him sprawling in a heap of dark armor onto the ground. The younger Viridus snarled, and the elder raised his saw blade sword, a red glow radiating from the tip. The red glow increased, until a barrier of sorts had formed around both Viriduses. He then walked confidently into the temple again, smirking with an evil grin. The holy water that dripped onto the viral shielf simply vanished into puffs of white smoke. The servants and daemons however, were not as fortunate as their master. Most were writhing on the ground as the holy water burned away at them and their plague infested bodies. The undead screeched and twisted as arms were eaten away and wailed as legs became nothing but rotting sludge. Soon the floor was coated in slippery gunk, the remains of most of the servants, and the ones outside, despite Viridus' orders, escaped, hiding in the hills and reproducing, beginning the start of new demon clans to stalk the world for years to come. But as for Viridus... <span style='color:yellow'>You spineless little brats! I'll kill you for this! I'll kill you! I swear!</span> But seeing he was horribly outnumbered, he spun on his heel, almost sending himself sprawling in the gunk on the floor, and strode out, only stopping to slash with his sword once, making the air ripple and twist as the fabric of time was wrenched apart for a split second. And then he was gone, back into the folds of time from which he had come. His younger self looked around stupidly for a second, and then scampered off out the temple gates, not to be seen for many a year. Talon watched the two Viriduses flee, and then, holding his side, collapsed against the wall onto the floor, his dark robes soon being soaked in the thick slime coating the floors. He raised his head to look towards where he had last seen the old priest, but then the darkness overcame him... <span style='color:orange'>We... Won?...</span> <span style='width:100%;font-weight:bold; font-size:10px'>Out of Character</span> <table class='ooc'><tr><td>Ho hum, I do love epic stuff, I'm satisfied with that, now take it away! ;D</td></tr></table>
