Ergillaz joins the fray

Having been left behind by Ashmodai, Ergillaz orders another drink. The last few days have been hectic. Reported sightings of more lava stone orcs and wraith knights have become more common yet never to the extent that they would actually pose a threat.

'What am I missing?' Ergillaz wonders.

His thoughts have not even had the proper chance to be thoroughly though about as they small screams begin to echo the city.

They quickly multiply, confirming Ergillaz's suspicion.

'How did they get in? Were they hiding somewhere, or do they have an unseen passageway somewhere?' Ergillaz thinks trying to find out how this could have happened.

Meanwhile, the city has turned into a complete battlefield, still Ergillaz does not move. He is clearly still calm about the matter as he twirls a gold coin around his fingers whilst still looking at the alcoholic beverage in front of him.

*BAM*

The door of this tavern is smashed open as some orcs and wraiths flood inside. Fighting the other customers that had tried to barricade themselves inside.

Ergillaz throws the coin gently towards these intruders.

*Clink*

The coin softly lands on the ground and as it does, everything around it turns golden. The chairs, the tables, the floor, the intruders and even the other customers are now made out of pure gold.

The golden-eyed devil calmly stands up, moving towards a wraitish commander that was part of the group of intruders. He claps his hands once softly, making the gold crumble of the wraitish commander.

The ethereal opponent falls on his ghostly knees, having come in close contact with something even worse than death, a never ending paralysis. He could not move, could not see and could not feel, yet he was still alive. His sense of time remained, instinctually, the wraitish commander knew he was not dead. Luckily, however, the panic had not completely settled in as Ergillaz freed him from this fate.

"Tell me where Anima is and I'ill kill you. If you refuse, I will keep you as a statue for eternity."

"..." The wraith cannot respond immediately, still processing what just happened.

"This deal is non-negotiable. However, I'ill allow a prayer if you're a believer."

"Her Highness is in the arena district. She's expecting you, saying something about that it was time to settle everything." The wraitish commander replies obediently, having made his decision.

"Very well, speak your prayers."

"Luciel…. Please guide my soul…. Forgive me for my failure, as I have betrayed your quest. I cannot stand with you in this life, so please allow me to join you in the next." The wraith commander recites a short prayer that he clearly made up on the spot.

Ergillaz sees that his opponent muttering his prayer to Luciel. His arm extend to the wraith's commander's face, a bright light comes out of it. Making the wraith commander's essence disperse into nothingness.

He stands up and snaps his fingers, making all the golden statues in the room crumble to gold dust.

Leaving the tavern, the oldest of the Talvit family makes his way towards the arena district.

No one disturbed on the way over. The invaders are simply foolish, not yet suicidal. Besides, it seems that they've been notified to let him through. It's a funny sight; seeing people fight to the death just to stop and move aside at your presence.

'You've either grown arrogant or delusional in these years, if you truly believe you can battle me Anima, or you've figured out a plan. Either way, it does not matter, our battle is inevitable anyway. I'll rather see your tricks and get it over with.'

Ergillaz continues to walk, his golden eyes look fierce and menacing. Standing in the middle of one of the smaller arena's is Anima. She looks at the entrance with a disinterested gaze.

"You've arrived, it took you long enough." The wraith queen speaks in a composed tone, an ethereal sword in hand.

"Curious place you've chosen. Here I thought we would fight in "The Rampage Of The Orc Lord", it seemed fitting with Ulthris having joined your ranks."

"I would never dare stand in the grandest arena. I have not yet proven my worth to do so."

"Why did you get involved, Anima? Confess your sins, I'll allow you that much respite."

"I am no sinner, and neither are you. You're simply misguided, a young child raised in the hands of a fool. These walls have made the habitants soft. Forgetting the reason why they were build in the first place." Anima replies passionately, yet her tone still soft.

"Ergillaz, for all our hatred, I do not despise you. I despise what you do not know. Have you never wondered what was outside these walls? I have… I left this city long ago, looking for answers."

"Speak clearly, your ravings are no argument for what you've done. You interrupted my deal and as long as I breathe no one will escape those consequences!" Ergillaz yells out in frustration, the walls of the smaller arena start to slowly crumble, the pieces of stone that fall on the ground turn to gemlike dust.

"I saw the creators and the destroyers, I saw all that the world was in its splendor." Anima continues her small rambling, putting a hand in the air, seemingly trying to grasp the red light that illuminates Lucille's Light.

"The creators and destroyers were followed by the usurpers and pretenders."

"…"

"I will never allow another pretender to walk around. Especially not whilst feeding of their creator." Anima now looks directly into Ergillaz's eyes.

"We are powerless, Ergillaz. Stuck in a false sense of accomplishment. We are big fishes in a puddle."

"You've gone completely mad, haven't you?" Ergillaz responds bitterly, the ravings of the woman before him make no sense.

"Maybe I am. Perhaps I should have stayed a small fish, not opening my eyes. But I have…. I have looked… I don't wish to be caged any longer… I desire the ocean now." Anima speaks, her ghostly aura spreading across the small arena. Making it clear that the talking was over.