Enchanted Dominion Raid: Chernabog

~♥ Welcome to the raid, kupo! Here is some information you need to know before you start posting. There is a limit to the number of times a character can post. This is so a fight won't go on and on, kupo. For these particular raids the limit is 10. On the last post, characters will need to prepare themselves for the end of the battle whether that be by retreating, setting up final defenses, sacrifices, etc. A warning will be given on the last post to remind you. That's all and have fun, kupo! ♥~

The Enchanted Dominion was well known for being a mountainous region. The grand castle and its neighboring town itself lay in a fertile valley nestled between some of the largest formations on the world. There were always certain natural dangers when living in such a place, but the valley had always provided more good than ill. Landsides were not a rare occurrence. There were a few every now and then, nothing that caused any tremendous amounts of damage or concern. However, when tremors and landsides began to happen in waves, the people grew wary. Especially since the Heartless were becoming more active than ever. Bigger and bigger hordes were causing havoc; a number that was threateningly close to the havoc twenty years prior. Scholars began to wonder if the events were connected. Upon further study, it was discovered that the dark fiends were indeed manifesting from the depths of the mountains. As for why, that was unknown.

This information was sent directly to Queen Faye and she ordered a full investigation and Heartless purge of the Cheviot Mountain. A legion of soldiers led by a veteran battle-mage was appointed to the mission, and Faye hoped that all would be completed without incident. The lands were put on high alert and the queen stressed for her people not to panic. Citizens were advised to stay home and prepare to evacuate to the castle should the need arise. Perhaps the queen was overacting, but nothing was more important to her than the safety of her people and she wanted to be ready for anything.

After two days of hearing no word from the leader, a lone rider approached the gates of the castle beaten and bloody. She was there with a warning. What they had found was greater than any Heartless that had set foot on the Enchanted Dominion, a devil of pure shadow and eyes that only promised doom and despair. No one imagined just how monstrous their foe would be.

The mountain top burst open in a plume of fire, and ash rained down upon the world. Frightened villagers pulled back their curtains to witness the giant winged demon that climbed out from the mountain as if it had come straight from the deepest pit of hell. It let out a roar that could be heard from every corner of the earth. Darkness began to form around the base of the mountain, dotted with hundreds of glowing yellow orbs that grew ever closer to the castle. Chernabog had declared war.

To answer the declaration of war, there had been the Sentry. Dirge who had accompanied the queen on an earlier excursion, had been returned to his former height. Those gazed upward towards the balcony, would have seen a magnificent black scaled beast, whose wing-span had spread a great a many feet. Muscles which were relaxed and strong had rippled throughout this beast's body, a maw of fangs which could shred the sturdiest of armors to ribbons, claws that could gouge the earth with ease and a fiery gaze that burned through every soul it peered into.

With a mighty roar, the great dragon had taken off from his perch. He churned the winds so that he could wipe away the ash which came from the great volcano. The people would be saved and protected on his watch, they will not choke from ash. After he took flight, it was only a matter of buying enough time so that Queen Faye could erect her barrier over the rest of the land. Until then, he'd be fighting alongside the soldiers, providing aerial cover wherever that may be.

Dirge growled and roared as he flew over the army of Heartless, raining down fire and magma onto their ranks, burning them to the ground. Whenever he landed within a group of them, he'd create giant pillars of earth that rose and crushed the tiny beings in the chaos. The flaps from his wings had created razor sharp winds that cut through their ranks. He used everything at his disposal, he even went hand-to-hand at one point and punched through entire groups at once, using his tail to sweep others away. The once proud knight had then dug his hands into the ground, pulling out a large sword (as big as himself) and a towering shield. Dirge would be the vanguard to the Enchanted Dominion's army.

His eyes were set on their leader, however, for that thing which came from the Cheviot Mountains was the source of all the darkness that oozed from its base. Dirge wouldn't confront him directly, not yet at least. The Dragonborn had to cut a path to them, help relieve the soldiers of any pressure they felt since they'd be one of the many who could help stem the tide of hostile creatures. The great dragon calculated his attacks well alongside the men, spreading his lava in key places that helped funnel the creatures to their doom.

All he needed, was the signal from the castle before he could really let loose.

By the Light, this was worse than she could have ever imagine. Her nightmares were coming true. As a great gust of wind tussled her locks, she looked up to see the dragonborn flying away and off towards the dark towering demon that had taken over the mountains. Dread settled heavily in her heart as she watched him grow further away. He was going in so close to fight the danger, where he excelled, yet she was still worried.

Faye braced her hands against the rail of the balcony, gazing down upon the chaos below. The number of Heartless was beyond counting, their twisted images the sights of which she had never seen before. Archers and mages alike were shooting flyers out of the sky one right after the other, their forms dissipating before touching the ground. There was only one thing on her mind. Many of her people had listened to her warnings and evacuated to the castle at the first signs of trouble. Sadly, there was just as many who did not. All she could do now was pray for their safety.

A crimson moth fluttered its way to her hand, glowing with the power of her war commander's magic. Lifting it to her ear, she heard his voice. "My queen, the Heartless were upon us so quickly and in so many numbers that we barely had time to react. We identified the main threat immediately and a legion has been sent to slay this Heartless monstrosity."

"Very good. The Sentry has gone in to support you. We will fortify the defenses here."

"Some of these shadows are acting in ways I have never seen before, my lady. Please, stay safe."

"Good luck, commander." And with that, the moth flew away with such speed that it would even rival Dirge.

The sorceress began casting multiple of the same communication spell, sending a swarm of conjured butterflies in all directions that contained orders and inspiration--to the various schools, her soldiers and commanders, to the fairies of the glade, and to her people in the throne chamber. The quickest response was the most important. Magic rippled the very fabric of reality as  two of seven of her elite battle-mages appeared.

Faye's tiny dragon, Wysteria, hopped off her shoulder fluttered in the air, preparing herself for a fight. Her dragoon protector, Xander, did much the same with spear in hand. "I will defend you with my life, your majesty."

Raising her hand above her head, the sorceress began to channel all the magic she had to surround the kingdom with a barrier. The Holy spell infused within it would help repel darkness, though that would not prevent Heartless from teleporting inside, nor would it hurt the ones already there. That's what Xander and Wysteria were for. Faye could not afford to be interrupted, and due to the spell's nature she was left vulnerable. It took everything she had to build this shield of light. She could not afford to break concentration. Lines of arcane flowed from the hands of her two mages, supporting their queen's magic reserves with their own. Starting around the edges, crystals glowing with light began to grow and mold around the castle and surrounding the areas until there was a protective dome cover. Their time was limited. Faye could not hold the spell forever and it could only sustain so much damage until it shattered.

He barely arrived on that man's ship before this broke out, he's unsure where the man and other other ran off to but so shortly after the destruction of his own home, only one thought is running through the Page's mind as he rushes off to join a horde of this Kingdom's Knights.

He's not letting this happen again.

The Monster's are similar but not exactly the same, but regardless, upon a Golden Feathered steed, he rides along the ranks, steering clear of their formation as to not hinder any strategy they might have and provides support in the form of a copious amount of Thunder spells, a half shattered blade clenched in his free hand as he cuts a streak through the lines of black creatures.
Fury is doing most of the work, it's speed and agility giving him the edge, all he has to do..Is keep his grip firm, and make sure his strength doesn't falter.
He's not even sure what the name of this Kingdom is, as it's own Monster rises to face the threat and a brilliantly shining barrier is erected around the palace. He doesn't have any connection to this world whatsoever, and is an outsider in all of this, with a fractured blade and a dented shield to his name. But he's a Knight at heart, and to turn your back on someone in need? Isn't something he can do and not be disgusted by his visage in the mirror. So he supports the line, lightning arcing along the battle-field as he dashes along, the speed of Fury not comparable to some of the larger combatants in play...But it's enough, to help clear a path as he slowly makes his way towards the mountains.
He won't fail this time, he cannot fail this time, there's something he can do here! ...But still...

Why does it feel like he's trying to drain the ocean with a bucket?
His teeth clench as his blemished eyes darken with frustration and grief at the thought, before they roam to the top of the mountain and he narrows his eyes.
That one is the source isn't he..? The Leader, and if the King falls..A Knight has no cause.
He leans forward and kicks the flanks of his ever-present companion, who dashes in closer to the giant Monst- no, he corrects that line of thinking as the Shield and Blade register in his mind. He dashes in closer to the giant Knight, and times his swings with Fury's dashes to avoid the barrages of this Kingdom's Dragon-like creature. and cut a line through whatever's ahead, before dashing backwards again to assist the army in it's endeavors, creating  a fast paced destructive rhythm.
He's a Knight of Camelot, or at least, the Last who follows their Code. Though he must look an awful thought, hair mussed, eyes rimmed red from tears of grief and insomnia from his nightmares.
But he fights, praying that whatever he does next is enough.

Knights mounted on girffons came soaring towards the demonic Heartless, their feathered steeds screaming a brave eagle's cry as they circled around him. They threw everything at the dark beast from every element of magic, to javelins and arrows. What normally had an excellent effect on normal Heartless did not make Chernabog bat an eye. Flames suddenly erupted from the mountain turned volcano, incinerating several poor knights and their steeds from the sky. Others that had avoided the blast were knocked back by a strong gale as the Heartless began flapping its wings. All those still in the sky struggled to stay on their mounts, many of them being forced to fall back and attempt to circle around. Hopefully it would also take care of that dragon soaring around as well. He was smart enough to know the humanoid drake was bidding its time. To keep him entertained, Chernabog conjured a number of colored flames, chuckling darkly to himself before sending them straight for Dirge. They would stay on his tail, following him wherever he went until they reached their mark or fizzled out.

With the little insects out of the way, Chernabog resumed his assault on the castle and field where the soldiers battled with his minions. They were attempting to make the climb up the mountain to reach him. Such fools. Roaring, he began throwing fireball after fireball at the soldiers, finding the biggest concentration of them that would do the most damage then watched with satisfaction as charred bodies went flying. One thing in particular caught his eye. There was a bright yellow creature covered in feathers. Whatever it was, Chernabog wanted it to burn. Taking in a deep breath, the horned Heartless exhaled a burst of red hot flames that melted everything it touched. Even some his own shadows were destroyed, but he did not care. They were expendable. This world and all these hearts would be his.

That was the moment the Dragonborn had waited for. A large barrier was brought up to protect the castle and township, so that he may go all out. He'd keep himself contained and the splash damage minimal, since there were soldiers on the ground, especially the odd one who rode in on his yellow-plumed steed. He couldn't focus too much on that, however, for Chernabog had decided to antagonize him further. The Heartless did this by sending in colored flames at the dragon, quite a bit too. Dirge had quickly banked off to the side in order to avoid them, but when he turned his head over his shoulder for a quick moment, he saw those multicolored flames hot on his trail. The humanoid dragon found himself struggling against the wind, yet, had exercised his own control over the primal element. Dirge fought back against Chernabog and showed that he was worth his salt, cutting through the bad winds and creating a path for himself. A loud, booming roar came from him and those fireballs would have been met with large stones that he summoned forth from the ground. Since he hadn't moved, no doubt those projectiles hounded him down only to smack right into those earthen constructs, easing that annoyance.

Now it was his turn to go on the offensive. After he circled around for a slight moment, he picked a large group of Heartless that were continuing to lead the offensive. He landed among their ranks and upon doing so, he summoned forth a large splash of lava that erupted from the ground, landed upon the creatures and threatened to burn them on. Dirge had placed himself ahead of the main army, leaving behind that young man who was brave enough to fight by their side. The Dragonborn had never seen such a knight like that in the world, ever, so whoever he was, the dragon would strive to protect him too. That meant pushing forward and cutting off the main flow of Heartless before they continued further and to this end, the man tapped into his beastly instincts.

"Come on... Come on... For the people, for the knights, for the kingdom, for Lady Faye!" Just like that, he had quickly begun to build up more and more power. His energy burned a bright orange, before it turned a fiery red. This power had swirled around his being, before it engulfed him completely. The swirling energy very easily turned fiery and whatever creatures attempted to hop on him or had done so before, would be burned to a crisp. Moments later, that build-up had finally exploded outward, spreading lava and flames among the many creatures that tried to make their way forward. It'd be a temporary solution, but the gain from this was much more larger. Dirge had increased his size by quite a bit, now standing at a larger 15 feet while quadrapedal, with increased muscle and wing mass. The Dragonborn roared out fiercely, practically causing the earth to tremor beneath his booming battle cry.

Once more, he resumed his assault spreading splintered earth, raging flames and waves of lava over the creatures. His next step would be to fight the deep black creature in the mountain.

Golden Chocobo are rare mounts on his homeworld, not because they are few in number or hard to tame..But because actually catching one is a nearly impossible feat! No terrain can hinder Fury, as he dashes like a golden feathery bolt of lightning, keeping ahead of the onslaught as Walter's cracked blade is used as effectively as he possibly can. Lightning arcs from his palms, assaulting the hordes as their conjured, charging forward towards the source of the chaos, nestled in the mountain...His blade and strength will do little in this fight, so he will use magic and speed to even the odds.

Sweat lines his brow, in combination of the heat and the exertion of his Mana pool as he and his friend blitz through the ranks of heartless, avoid the torrents of fire and death as they spread along the battlefield like a tidal wave of destruction.
The Dragon's rallying cry seems to bring life back to the Knight's he's assisting, but now he's nearing the mountain, and lightning begins to gather in his palm, a healing incantation ready to leave his lips the moment he thinks it's needed.

The Heartless forces were sent reeling from Dirge’s attack; some were able to reach cover in time while others were seared away entirely. The soldiers were finally given a brief moment of repose among the chaos. Yet even with such a successful attack more Heartless emerged from the mountain, quickly rebuilding their ranks. Chernabog watched carefully as the dragonborn drew closer. He had effectively managed to destroy his flaming pursuers. Impressive. Perhaps this draconic abomination would make a fitting opponent after all, and an even better minion to add to his army. With that thought in mind, the Heartless prepared for Dirge to get within striking distance.

As for the little knight on the golden horse-bird, the newly forming horde of Heartless was there to meet him. Two wyverns swooped down upon him, kicking their feet as they attempted to rake the heart right out of the man. The shadows were attempting to close in on him as well, but Walter would have support from the soldiers nearby.

Chernabog continued to swipe at the girffons riders that assaulted him. Their attacks seemed to be doing little harm, but they continued their attacks without mercy. One unfortunate rider was caught in the fiend’s hand. A cry of agony followed as he and his mount were engulfed in flames. Nothing was left but a massive fireball that was then thrown directly at the castle’s barrier.

A brief moment in time was all the soldiers were going to need, or at least he hoped so. There was much more he could do down there, but with the other knight and his golden bird on the move, maybe Dirge could leave the ground battle for just a moment and assist the griffin riders alongside their mounts. Before taking off, the Dragonborn planted his claws into the ground and began to flap his wings furiously, this would have created a large circular draft of wind, that would draw in almost all Heartless that had congregated outside of the mountain. They would try to replenish their ranks, but the Dragon would delay that as much as possible. While he built up this tornado-like wind current, he at the same time had been channeling his ability of molten manipulation, to take directly from the volcanic mountain that became the Cheviot Mountains.

Now that everything had been built up for that moment, Dirge would flexed his arm and leg muscles, as he prepared himself for a massive jump. Wings outstretched, the virulent winds would stop and likely leave a lot of the Heartless dazed, confused, or overall just near him, yet scattered. The ground took on an orange hue, though, as the liquid magma he built up beneath the ground began to seep from the bottom. He took off in flight yet again, but the mere force of him kicking off from the ground magnified with his earth and magma manipulation, allowed him to create his own volcanic eruption. Magma would explode in every direction and spread among all the black creatures, searing and melting them, as earthen walls rose up to effectively cut off that path towards the soldiers and castle.

The Dragonborn couldn't stop unfortunate griffin rider and his mount from being killed then turned into a weapon for Chernabog to use, but he could stop many more from meeting that same fate. Once high into the air alongside them, he'd roar out and circle the massive beast with them. "All griffin riders, I shall grant you the necessary strength to attack this beast!" He roared once more and took note of every griffin and rider there was. Several green shockwaves would have harmlessly emitted from his body and passed over the entirety of that air space. Where Chernabog created vicious winds that made flying easy, Dirge had given the majestic beasts and their partners, the same sort of cutting resistance to that vile turbulence and even a boost in their overall speed. Now free to attack how they will, he'd join them in frequent assaults upon the Heartless leader's body. Dirge attacked specifically at the head.

They swoop down upon him, dragon-like wings and talons spread out like the mythical creature of Legend which serves as the sigil of all the Knights who once served house Pendragon and Camelot. Yes, they fly and look almost exactly like Dragons..
But Dragon's they are not. Walter flings up his shield, their trajectory and speed making it impossible to do more than lean away from their talons as Fury attempts to speed past and divert away from their path.

It's not often that Fury isn't fast enough to avoid a hit, Walter only manages to deflect the talons of the beasts and even so, they carry such force that he's ripped from the saddle and topples backwards, rolling backwards over his shoulder before he gains control of his momentum and rolls onto his feet, it'll take a few seconds for Fury to return and carry him to a more advantageous position.
He can hear the Chocobo 'warking' with determination and anger now, but for now..He's grounded.
Thunder spells last out from his shield arm, fingers splayed out away from the grip to prevent inadvertent damage to the shield and himself. He learned a lesson about carelessness with magic a long time ago, he's reminded of them by the burns underneath his gloves. The airborn enemies take first priority, so he targets them with the wide array of projectiles, his shattered blade spinning in his grasp as the creatures converge..But the Soldiers provide some much needed assistance, and in return..A healing spell, to Cure their pains.
This fight isn't over yet, their heavy hitter is nearing the Leader, and he'll have done all he could.

The whirlwind of Heartless could be seen from the castle, and it would have almost been comical if the stakes were not so dire. Dirge's attack had spread the Heartless out, forcing them into disarray--especially the fliers that found themselves trapped in an infinite barrel roll. His attempt at slowing the army seemed to work, at least briefly. The Heartless were left disorganzied and confused as they tried to get their bearings. All the while avoiding the lava that suddenly erupted from the ground. Chernabog had to issue a lot of direction to his minions, sometimes even reissuing his commands twice in an effort to get the point across. Though it took them a little bit of time, the Heartless were once again overflowing from the mountain and back onto the battlefield. The wall that was erected stumped some of the Heartless, but there were plenty of others that knew better and either flew over or used a Corridor of darkness to manifest on the other side.

The griffin riders were thankful, cheering for Dirge as their mounts were able to glide with ease upon the winds once more. That was one more obstacle out of the way. Assuming formation, they circled Chernabog, dipping in to strike the back of his head before diving back out to safety. Though not everyone did so successfully. In fury, Chernabog raised his hands towards the sky, causing a plume of deadly flames to spit forth from the mountain and surround his body. Some riders only suffered minors burns. Others were not so lucky. Several skeletons could be seen falling from the sky as the fires calmed. They crumbled to dust the moment they hit the rocky slope.

Though there were losses, the combination of the dragonborn and the griffin rider's efforts appeared to be effective. Chernabog proved this by flapping his large wings once again, trying to counter Dirge's spell by powering up his own. It was difficult for him to concentrate on his assault of the castle with these insects flying around. He needed the skies to remain perilous for his enemies. Wyverns soon arrived to offer their support and overwhelm the griffin riders, and they had no choice but to shift their focus.

On the ground, the bolts of lightning created by Walter were quite effective. Many flying Heartless fell from the skies and faded into a dark mist before they had even hit the ground. With their wounds healed by the cure spell, the soldiers marched on towards the mountain. The archers and mages lined up, casting a volley of steel and magic at the Heartless Horde that was emerging from the mountain's base. Though their purpose was to attack the leader directly, they were too overwhelmed by his minions to do so. The only thing they could do was stem the tide of darkness from getting closer to the castle. Being this close also promised more casualties, but they knew it would help their comrades further down on the battlefield. They were willing to make that sacrifice for the kingdom.

Dirge had to catalog each and every advantage at his disposal, some of which would prove doubly helpful against the dreaded, giant devil. Chernabog controlled very powerful magics with a lot of his magical might able to outclass the Dragonborn and even Lady Faye together. However, the fact he had to focus on completely controlling his forces, while utilizing his magic and splitting his attention towards Dirge and the griffin riders only meant his effectiveness was scattered. Rather than be deterred by the loss of soldiers, the afflicted knight would seek to press on the assault and drive the creature up a wall.

When Chernabog flapped his wings to empower his spell, Dirge roared in response and rather than create an area-wide spell, his spell was more focused on the individual people, including himself. This allowed him to keep his magic usage in a controlled, smaller environment and despite how morbid it may seem, the more men he lost, the stronger it'd become naturally. Thus, Dirge was able to shield him and the soldiers at his command by powering up his spell further, while still able to keep an eye on the Wyverns and their commander.

"Griffin riders, continue to pressure the main creature and be mindful of his attacks. Pull back if things seem too easy and cast your charms to protect from the elements!" The Dragon ordered, then went to assist those who were already under assault from the winged beasts. Dirge flew fast with those wings, his claws of his were precise, deadly, efficient. A single strike would have the false dragons crippled when their wings hit, their bodies sliced in two should they prove to be too slow. Enchanted Dominion's Sentry was putting his all into this effort and wouldn't let up for even a single moment.

The griffin riders did as Dirge instructed. Some empowered the charms they had created earlier, and others casted brand new ones they thought would be more efficient against Chernabog’s fiery wrath. The wyverns continued to assault them from all sides without mercy, diving and kicking at them with their sharp, bloodied talons. One poor woman was knocked off her mount as her opponent managed to sink its teeth into the soft flesh of her griffin’s neck. The riders had no choice but to let her fall. They could not afford to break formation with their attackers or they’d risk losing more. Her comrades could only hope that she came out of her daze in time to slow her fall with magic. Even if she succeeded there, there was a very slim chance that the wyverns wouldn’t swoop down and finish the job. With her death, however, more power would return to Dirge. If he allowed it, of course.

With the insects preoccupied and his army reformed once again, Chernabog focused everything he had on the castle. That disgusting shield of light would shatter under his power eventually. Those hearts couldn't hide in there forever. His directive was clear: this entire world was to be swallowed by darkness now. Not over time as Malazon's fallible plan--now. The devil's forces had searched all over for the Keyhole, and he was certain that it was in that castle, and if not... the Heartless would rip the very earth apart to find the world's heart if they had to. But first, the palace was going to fall. Fire flared to life in his hands, though instead of primal, simple-minded fireballs; Chernabog fused the flames together, molding it into a spear and enhancing it with darkness. His weapon crackled, the fires so hot that they created a shield of lightning around the spear. Chernabog chuckled darkly and launched his spear directly at the barrier. By the time the griffin riders and Dirge sliced through the Heartless, it was too late. A deafening roar rolled across the land as it crashed; the sound reminiscent of fractured glass.

Queen Faye let out a cry of frustration, using all of her light given magic to repair the breaks in the shield. It was a taxing effort, but doable, though the woman had no idea how many times she could manage such a feat, especially with all the other Heartless clawing on the outside. She would do it as many times as her mana reserves would allow and more some. Chernabog’s attack was more than effective, and Faye was worried she wouldn’t be able to hold off against another attack like that.

Dirge's chivalrous nature wouldn't allow him to withdraw his power from the woman, until he could confirm that she had really died. Until then, he would continue to aid her however possible, and prayed that her dazed status would have subsided enough for her, to steady herself. Dirge could only hope. Doing no more than that, he further aided the rest of the griffin riders in clearing out the creatures. However, it seemed as though their efforts were likely in vain.

The Dragonborn's eyes had widened when he saw that Chernabog fused together those flames, crafting himself a mighty spear in which to pierce the barrier. "Spread and stay out of the way of that spear! None of us can stop it!" He ordered and quickly broke formation, to stay away from the sinister projectile. It pained him to do so, but he momentarily watched as that spear bolted past and exploded against the glass. Not only did the shattering sound disturb the dragon greatly, but he could have felt the strain Lady Faye felt in his heart. That angered him more than anything. Not only were the lives of his fellow soldiers at risk, but the townspeople, and the queen were on the line. The queen that Dirge loved.

Anger swelled in his heart, but rather it be negative, hateful in nature, it was determination in its primal form. The dragon roared out fiercely, shaking even the great mountain which housed the devilish creature. Going through great lengths, he had transformed himself further, growing monstrous in size. Dirge nearly rivaled in height and mass compared to the Dark Devil itself, but was really pushing himself at this point. "Griffin Soldiers! Fall back and aid the rest of your shieldmates! I do not wish for all of you to come to harm in the crossfire!" The afflicted knight ordered.

His great wingspan had flapped and whipped up large gusts of wind, but made sure not to harm his fellow brethren. Those orange eyes of his had narrowed themselves, piercing through to the yellow eyes of the Heartless leader. Another roar left his now massive maw, as he reared back a powerful fist and let loose with a strong punch towards the beasts jaw area. This would be a battle of the titans. Dirge only had so much time to maintain this form, because he could definitely feel it draining his reserves. That's why he had to get the brave men and women back as far as possible, to avoid further casualties.

All of the griffin riders managed to evade Chernabog's flaming spear, their mounts instantly screeching in pain when it crashed with an earsplitting sound. Everyone in the air was safe, yet that did not make them feel any better. It had all happened so fast that none of them could have hoped to conjure a spell to slow the spear's descent. That was when the soldiers noticed the dragonborn grow in size, causing many of the soldiers on the ground and even a few Heartless to gaze in awe. The griffin riders obeyed Dirge's orders without hesitation (they couldn't imagine what kind of fire show would go on between the Heartless lord and Dirge) and pulled back from the mountain and down to their comrades below.

Chernabog accepted Dirge’s challenge, releasing a roar of his own as great plumes of flame burst from the mountain top. They traveled down the side in red molten waves, setting fire to the precious forests the Enchanted Dominion cherished. A few fairies from the glade stepped up to tame the inferno, casting all sorts of frost and water spells in an attempt to soothe the fiery beast. Another wave came straight down the battlefield, headed directly for the castle. Mages rallied together, creating shields that would protect them and all within from the flames. Thankfully, since the kingdom had many wizards and more than one was in a squadron, the soldiers only suffered a few casualties from this attack. The castle was not so fortunate. The fire surrounded the beautiful palace, deadly blue flames resembling greek fire licking up against the golden shield and causing the Queen extra strain as the dark devil had intended. The mages and fairies tried to put them out, but they were having much more trouble than the others. These flames were aggressive, burning far hotter than what the soldiers had experienced on the field. Just as Chernabog had willed.

The Heartless devil caught the dragonborn's fist before it could reach its destination, and would do the same with the other hand if Dirge made the attempt. He braced himself, trying to grapple with the drakanoid and rip off his scales with his claws. Opening his mouth, the Heartless would also release a blast of multicolored flames, hoping that Dirge would be met with a face full. Dirge may have grown bigger, but Chernabog would prove that he was stronger.

Now this was a true battle that not even Dirge himself found him participating in, at any one point in his life. Fist clashed with hand and then once again, his other with the next hand. They were at a temporary stalemate, or were they? No, this is exactly the situation that the Dragonborn wanted to be caught in, it was perfect. It was worth the pain of having his scales torn at, to be able to preoccupy those hands. That fire which had become a torrent cascading towards him? Dirge responded with power of his own.

No longer having to protect his griffin comrades, the dracanoid was fighting at his full 100%, so when he had to meet flame with flame, the dragon showed that he was able to match that mettle. After all, dragon's were natural users of the flame much like the Heartless Demon, so it came down to who could push out more power. Though, that wasn't the focus at all. While Dirge blew out his flames to clash with the titan's own, there was something he could use that the other couldn't. His legs.

So when they clashed with flames and their hands preoccupied, Dirge had used that to propel his lower half up and with both powerful clawed feet and legs, delivered a strong drop-kick like attack, to the stomach of the creature. The Dragonborn placed a fair bit of might into it and had a good feeling that Chernabog couldn't do much to avoid or block it.

Fire and fire clashed as the dragon and devil fought; an array of haunting colors that lit up the black sky, a mesmerizing display of beauty that left onlookers in awe and fear. No one knew what this meant for the dragonborn. His resistance to fire was known, but would it be enough against such a daunting foe?  After all, the Heartless seemed to find the knight annoying at best and amusing at worse. While the fiend brushed everything off that was thrown at it, the watchers began to lose hope. That was until Dirge made the clever action of striking the Heartless leader with pure physical force, enough that should have shattered the bones of an average foe no problem. Chernabog had been overconfident and was caught completely off guard as Dirge struck him in the chest feet first. The devil was knocked back, waving his arms and flapping his wings in an almost comedic manner as he struggled to find his balance. It didn't take him long to find it, but it would have given Dirge the perfect opportunity for an opening.

Chernabog roared with fury, a roar that carried across the land and alerted a monstrosity equally as dangerous. From the legion of Heartless attacking the castle, a funnel of darkness came slithering through the air and dotted with familiar glowing eyes. It was a cluster of 4000 dark bodies, all clinging to one another to form one mind--a new Heartless unto itself. They had sensed the power coming from Chernabog's anger and rallied onto him. Like a wave of pitch, the horde of shadows crashed onto the mountain with such force the dragonborn would be nearly thrown out of the sky if not completely. They surrounded the devil, spinning round and round their master in a wicked cyclone that could not be penetrated. Then they leaped onto him. Soon, there was nothing but a mass of fuming darkness, making it impossible to tell the leader apart from the minions.

There was a brief moment of silence, the eye of the storm before an explosion came from the Heartless. The entire world experienced a period of complete blindness as a wave of darkness swept the land, a shock wave of dark energy that withered all life it touched, causing the grass to turn black and the trees to wither. Many soldiers were lost, including mages who found it impossible to ward against such a powerful attack. The barrier of the castle took great damage as well, and Queen Faye threw even more will and magic into her spell to the point her skin began to pale from the exertion.

When the darkness passed, the sight of a new abomination became clear. With the combined powers of the shadow swarm, Chernabog had transformed into a new hellish monster. The Heartless had grown twice in size with spikes littered all over his new body. His mouth had been replaced by a maw of long tendrils and his horns had curled back like a ram's. A hundred shadows left over from the transformation continued to circle him, ready to serve their king. Chernabog locked his eyes on Dirge, a new attitude glimmering in its golden eyes as it dared the knight to attack.

Success! The mere fact that worked had only psyched Dirge up for a moment, as he decided to capitalize on his newfound opening. Several swift strikes were dealt to the devil's face, before he opened his maw and started to unleash a torrent of concentrated lava onto the creature. Such aggression could have been rewarded with victory had he kept it up, but despite all of that, it appeared that the Heartless leader had grew tired of his little soiree with the Dragonborn. A roar that came through even while he was being assaulted gave rise, to a new threat.

The stream of lava paused and he watched the darkness grow in size, followed by their rally towards their injured. Darkness had come quickly and even though the dragon had disengaged, that wave of pitch had swallowed him whole, throwing his entire flight off course and sending him flying off to what would be a temporarily barren battlefield. He snarled as he got onto all-fours, those mighty wings of his stretching out far, as he rallied his own morale to his side with a roar as well. Only then, did he realize the futility of his own actions. There was a unsettling silence that would have chilled the hardiest of adventurers. There it stood, the mass of darkness that protected Chernabog, but there was much more than that. None of them could have predicted the sheer might the creature held...

A large explosion echoed forth, sending a blinding wave of darkness that blotted out the sky. Vision was rendered completely useless which was a disadvantage in of itself, but worst of all came the foul energy. It had rend the ground worse than any claws of a dragon, uprooted and disintegrated trees in a much more dastardly manner than any flame, and the soldiers, the poor soldiers who attempted to flee, to defend. They were swept up and devoured by it all. Dirge wasn't safe from this onslaught of evil neither, the wave had damaged him greatly and sent him flying even farther than ever. A snarl and roar was the only thing he could manage, as he was blasted back towards the castle.

After it had all finally stopped, an injured Dragonborn had found himself just outside the barrier. He took a few heavy breaths, forcing himself up onto his claws. Muscles strained as he wasn't prepared for such a heavy landing, followed by that intense amount of power. Those orange reptilian eyes had been blurry for a moment, though, focused soon after to find the new threat that loomed over the Cheviot Mountains. Chernabog had transformed. His mass reached to the heavens, coupled with grotesque protrusions and writhing tendrils, that gave him the true appearance of a devil. Minions swirled him, those yellow eyes locked with Dirge's. This was truly the end.

For a moment, he had honestly given up. The dragon threw absolutely everything he had at the creature, only for it to just rise higher time and time again. His heart quaked at the thought of losing in this pathetic manner, but was there any hope? Hope to stand up against such a monstrosity? Where was that hope when the world's own monster hadn't been able to meet the challenge? Despair gripped Dirge and through his strained breaths, there was something which reignited his battered soul. He hadn't noticed how tired he was until just that moment. Those orange eyes closed for but a moment.

Behind him stood the barrier to the castle, township and the people. Should they all give up, not only would they be annihilated, but the light and effort Faye had placed into rebuilding it, will be for naught. That barrier was still up because she hadn't given up, due to her faith in not just him, but everyone else. What sort of cowardly, pathetic knight would Dirge had been, if he gave up when no one else had? The Dragonborn vowed to protect the queen at all costs, no matter the sacrifice. His eyelids opened and revealed resolve. Chernabog dared him to attack? He most definitely would.

Raising his head up high, Dirge let out the loudest roar possible and outstretched his wings the furthest they could. Taking up flight, he made it seem as though he had begun to retreat. Through the barrier and towards the castle, the fallen-knight had perched upon the balcony and took his place. The plan was crazy, suicidal at best, but he would do anything to make sure that the people he cherished would be safe. Eyes fell upon the pale faced queen, as she tried with all her might to keep the barrier erected. "Lady Faye, please continue to keep everyone safe. Things seem bleak but they're not, for I have a plan. A plan that I will not take no to an answer to."

His voice came firm, yet tired. That's when it all started to gather towards him. Dirge had reached out to the Holy flames, calling to them as he required their aid. His influence was great and his heart of light resonated well with them. "Come to me, all Holy flames that purify the darkness. Please come to my aid in my time of need, so that I may protect the innocent lives and kingdom that has suffered enough. Allow me to vanquish that darkness that plagues this land!" Another roar left his fierce maw, the flame beginning to gather more and more. Quite the opposite to what Chernabog's build-up looked like, this was one of pure light that seemed to radiate with the castle itself. Among all the death and carnage, there was a beacon of hope in the symbol of the dragon and the castle. Wisps of black had came off of his black scales, the flames were burning Dirge and even then, he hadn't resisted them in the slightest. They continued to gather around him, his appearance to others appearing as those his black scales had shifted to pure white instantly.

"My queen, allow this knight one final audience..." The man started, "I have loved from afar and while it pains me to reveal this at such a horrid time, I must admit to one thing. I love you, Lady Faye. I always have... Everything I did, I did for you, to protect you and your dream. This eventually grew to the rest of the township, because without your help they wouldn't have been able to prosper. Now, I shall protect you, I shall protect all of them." Firm resolution came from his voice and a small smile formed on those lips. "I am sorry, Lady Faye. I wish I would have told you sooner..."

And with that, he had gathered all of the Holy flames that the castle had to offer. It burned away at him rapidly, so he didn't have much more time. Appearing as an ivory-white, the Dragonborn turned to face towards opponent. Once more, he flaunted his muscular body, strong wingspan and row of sharp teeth. He roared once more and rather than throw the first punch, he goaded Chernabog into doing so. Dirge wanted the devil to give it his best shot, because now, the cursed man had something to give his life for. This was going to be the last stretch for the dragon.

Not a single word was spoken as Chernabog took on his new terrible form. The onlookers behind the barrier could only stare. Terror, disbelief, awe... it was a little of all these things, but mostly it was despair. At this point, Queen Faye was preparing herself for the inevitable. Her strength was waning and it would not be long before the spell was broken. Soon, their sanctuary would be compromised. The people wouldn't give up, of course. No matter how dire the battle, the Enchanted Dominion would die fighting. The Heartless would have to struggle and work for this world's destruction and Faye would see to it that they would bring as many of the fiends down with them as possible.

As her soldiers looked to her for an answer--hope, a farewell, anything--Dirge returned, passing through the shield and landing on the balcony which she stood. The woman had barely opened her mouth before the dragonborn began to speak, summoning the flames of holy into his very being, transforming his onyx scales into a brilliant white. Faye could only gaze in awe like the rest. The cursed man was so hard on himself, denying a cure because of the guilt of his past mistakes. Did he truly believe his heart was so black with sin? His control over the pure white flames said otherwise. Only a strong and light filled heart could ever wield Holy in such a way.

Then he spoke those words, and she could not deny the finality of them. Dirge was going to sacrifice everything, but not without first confessing his feelings. She had always suspected the truth, but had never addressed it. How could she? She had not even confronted her own feelings on the matter, simply burying them deeper under the weight of her responsibility. Love was something she could not afford. Even now with Dirge ready to sacrifice himself, the best and only chance for the kingdom to possibly survive, and she wanted to scream no. The queen shut her eyes, biting her lower lip. What choice did she have? Her personal attachments did not matter when compared to the lives of her people. Yes, this had to be done. Everyone waited. Something had to be said. Faye locked her eyes with his and spoke in a strong voice. "Go with honor, Sir Dirge, and know that our hearts go with you." Anything more and she feared she would lose her composure... perhaps he'd read more from her eyes than her words, the things she would not say. As the dragonborn made his return to the battlefield, the soldiers from the ramparts saluted him as he passed. Xander was among them, a final farewell to his rival.

Chernabog was just waiting for Dirge to return, and he was met with a surprise to see the draconoid's entire being shining with light. He worried little about this. It would not save him. None of them would survive this last onslaught of darkness. The devil created another one of his deadly spears, brimming with more power than ever before and crawling with a dozen shadow Heartless. Just as he did before, the spear was launched towards the castle's barrier and would spell an end for Faye's protective shell.

This will be the final boss post, kupo. The Heartless have attained victory. You will be allowed one post to respond. Remember, do not continue to fight a hopeless battle. To do so will result in death, but that is up to you. Your fate is in your hands. Sometimes the best tactic is to retreat, Kupo.

The castle shield had fallen, shattered by Chernabog’s  fiery spear and ushering the swarm of shadows and Heartless into the grounds, allowing them the entry they had so desperately craved. Queen Faye fell to her knees, weakened by the amount of energy she had projected into the barrier, and she felt the sting of the devil’s blade if it had pierced through her own heart. Her dragoon protector came to her side, lifting her up into his arms.

“I will get the queen to safety.” Xander said, moved towards the armored Pegasus that had been readied in preparation of this moment.

“No” Faye said, weakly, forcing Xander to set her down on her feet. “I will remain with my people.” The wave of darkness was growing heavier. They would not last long. “Pull all our soldiers back to the castle. We make our final stand in the throne room. Have the mages place wards at every entrance and raise one last holy barrier. Protect my people for as long possible.” She closed her eyes. “If we fall, we fall together. Make the Heartless work for this victory.” Her archmages gave a solemn nod before issuing out their queen’s orders.

Doom seemed to be inevitable for the Enchanted Dominion. Strangely enough, the Heartless began to pull back their forces. Slowly, reluctantly one by one… even Chernabog and the Swarm seemed to have some hesitation--the Swarm eventually leaving the battlefield. Chernabog, on the other hand, attempted to push on alone.

Their eyes locked for what felt like an eternity and oh how did he relish in their luster. The last time he may ever look upon them but that was okay. Dirge wasn't going to let anything stop him. Though Faye's eyes reciprocated the feelings she had to send him off with the Queen's Luck. A proud smile came to his maw whether or not anyone saw it, and he had flown off after that.

The flight forward had granted the cursed man the image of the field and skies, showing that the enemies were retreating. They had first halted before the rest started on their way back. While this happened Dirge only used this window of opportunity to push himself further. Fear had welled in his eyes, however, as the mighty Chernabog ready yet another spear. His knightly instincts had first urged him to stand in the way, to take it and allow them the respite of the shield's strength. That wouldn't be the case for he knew that him dying now would have made moot the entire plan to begin with, so he dodged the hellish projectile.

Shatter. A shatter had came from the direction behind him but he had paid no attention to it. A loud roar filled with anger and resolve bellowed forth from the maw of the creature. Within moments he had closed in the gap between dragon and demon. Dirge went into a reckless full on charge, crashing into the being and sinking his fangs deep into the Heartless Leader's shoulder. Following this came his claws from both sets of legs where he slammed them down onto the demon's body.

Dirge gathered his will into the flames of Holy and focused on having them grow brighter and brighter. A final firework for the people of the Enchanted Dominion. A beacon of light to let them know that they'd be protected no matter what. His eyes had been closed and his life flashed before his eyes. 40 or so years of life wasn't so bad, if his finest moment involved loving a woman, admitting his feelings for her, and protecting her until the very end. Sure, it definitely had its low points but those where overshadowed by that very moment.

Another roar had left from Dirge's mouth as he detonated. A massive surge of light had expounded from the Dragonborn's being. This light was so bright it illuminated the entirety of the Dominion as if it were the sun itself. Then a wave of light burst forth in opposition to the wave of darkness Chernabog had utilized earlier. The wave had spread throughout the entirety of the battlefield and disintegrated nearly every single Heartless that had remained. At the explosions epicenter, the force, flames, and light of Holy was Dirge's last ditch effort at putting an end to the monster's siege. Hopefully with the light and his strength, he had put up a worthy sacrifice to protect those who loved and cared about...