THE
THREE KEYS
Part Three: The Key of Mind
Chapter
10: Outnumbered
The forces of the Khawlal descended on the Eternal Realm like a cloud of evil
locusts, intent on destroying all they could find. Or at least hold the
forces of Heaven until Samrong could unleash the Destroyer upon Creation.
The Milchmah fought on with their Nephim allies, but their enemies poured on as
a flood.
From beyond the field of combat, the Khawlal ba-al watched the battle unfold.
An evil smile crept across the demon's face. "They really think they
can win in time. Fools! With the reinforcements I have, those puny
warriors will be outnumbered one hundred to one!" He turned to one of
his lieutenants who had just arrived and was busy inspecting his legion.
"You! Get down there and fight. I want to see Milchmah blood on
your sword!" The demon turned to his commander and unsheathed his
blade. "I will relish it, my ba-al." He turned to his
troops and shrieked, "To the destruction of the White Throne and He who
sits upon it!" The demons let out a tumultuous cry and came pouring
down upon Heaven's forces.
Black16 slashed his sword at the oncoming wave of enemies, releasing a broad,
cutting wave of energy. The demons in the first rank saw the attack coming
and scattered, but many in the back weren't so lucky. "Is there no
end to this vermin? Or will they just keep coming?" he yelled to no
one in particular. "Truly there are a great number of enemies,"
called Guilo, cleaving a demon in half with his gigantic sword, "But no new
forces have been mustered for some time now, it seems only these remain."
"I hope you're right friend," Black16 responded, "I'm not sure
how much longer I can fight." Kodesha stood her ground a few feet
from Black16 and Guilo, still cutting down the ranks of the Khawlal. A
slight shimmer caught her eye just beyond the city. A Khawlal deck in
finer apparel than the others she had been hacking through stood atop a hill
barking orders at some other demons. "Guilo, Ezekiel, look! The
ba-al of this force is here. Striking him down would certainly aid our
fight. Come, let us take the battle to this coward!" she said as she
flew off toward the demon, her flail trailing behind her like the tail of a
comet. Black16 and Guilo slaughtered the last of the demons that swarmed
about them before following their comrade.
Several demons milled about atop the hill overlooking the city. They
didn't seem pleased with their task, obviously relishing the combat of their
fellows. "Why would you want to fight," the first squawked to
the second, "A weak Nephim would likely strike you down to add honor to his
name." "Bahh! I fear no Nephim," the second hissed,
"Even if it were Milchmah I would rip them apart with ease!"
"Ha!" the second scoffed, "big words for a little imp! If a
Milchmah were to come up here, you would flee before they even had a chance to
smite you!" "No, that is what you would do, cowardly fiend!
I would fight till even after my head was lopped from my shoulders!"
"Really?" came a taunting voice from behind. The two imps turned
just in time to see Kodesha's flail liberate their heads from their bodies.
The two lifeless husks fell to the ground and began to fizzle away into acrid
black vapor. "I suppose not, imp. Watch your words, or they may
be fulfilled." Kodesha quipped to the now bodiless spirits.
"And now for you," she said turning toward the ba-al and his
bodyguards. She rushed toward the demon's her weapon ready. The
guards leapt before her, wildly swinging their scimitars. Kodesha received
a slash across her chest and backed away slightly. "Ah, real
warriors, perhaps you will be able to give me a better fight than that other
rabble." She said as her flail lashed about a demon's sword and flung it
from his grasp. The fight with the guard continued, and it didn't seem to
be going well for them. Already four of the six had been cloven down and
the remaining two were already injured, though she had been hurt as well, these
Khawlal were much more skilled than any she had fought before. But in her
battle with the guard, Kodesha had lost track of the ba-al. Kodesha felt a
sudden pain and looked down to see the huge demon's sword sticking through her
chest. "Ha, fool! You valor has been your undoing," the demon
bellowed, pulling his sword out. "Now," he motioned to the
remaining guard, "finish her."
A few moments later Guilo and Black16 arrived. The guard was making sport
of kicking Kodesha's now lifeless body, which Black16 didn't see to be very
happy about. He and Guilo raised their hands toward the now trembling
guards. The energy blasts that fallowed consumed the demons completely.
The ba-al looked at the two warriors that now stood before him and upon the few
forces he had left still being cut down by the Milchmah. It only took him
a moment to come to a conclusion about the best course of action.
"Retreat! Forces of Levah, retreat!"
The battle was won but 650 of the 700 Milchmah had been struck down and it would
be some time before they would be able to reform themselves. And time was
something the forces of Heaven were lacking. So with a force only 50
strong, the warriors of the Most High made their way to the world of Earth,
unsure of what awaited them. Black16 scouted ahead the main force to bring
word of the condition of that small world. As he neared Earth, an
overwhelming sense of dread washed over him. Something horrible was about
to happen... or already had...
