He tried to keep himself under control knowing that though this would get him a hell lot stronger, losing control was never a good thing. But when he lifted his eyes and swept it around his surroundings, he saw the slaughter that was happening and the wall of darkness that was slowly swallowing them, his blue eyes began to darken. Dark wisps of his magic bled into his eyes as his aura darkened and grew heavier around him.
The King stood there, his dark magic very quicky enveloping him. Just as he was about to launch an attack, an angel's hand suddenly touched his face, dissolving the thick darkness that had shrouded him.
"There is no need for that, my darling husband. Calm down for me. Please?" her sweet and soothing voice penetrated through the haze of darkness that had cut him off from everything else other than his goal. And swiftly, his darkening eyes cleared out again, revealing that intense blue eyes that Queen Beatrice loved so much. "Let me take over for now, darling." She gave him a light caress on his cheeks before turning around to look at the battle that was raging.
And she charged at the giant that was headed right at them. Beatrice dodged its long arms and landed a deceptively light punch on its head. But the brute force that transmitted from her curled up fist sent the giant crumbling instantly to the ground. Her red eyes were burning as she attacked again and finished the giant that was already lying unmoving on the ground.
Then the dragons came, effectively stopping the walls from closing in even further than they already were.
Beatrice was right before Belial in the next moment, holding his hand. "Now, let's go, My King." She said and Belial finally snapped out of the hold his own darkness had over him.
"Did you anticipate this happening and came rushing over to my aid, just on time again, my badass Queen?" he raised a brow at her. Queen Beatrice could not help but give him a little pinch at his waist. Her husband still could tease and flirt around even at this point in time.
"Maybe?" she replied vaguely, and King Belial pulled her into his embrace.
"Just as reckless as ever." He murmured against her hair before he looked at his friend on the ground. After a heavy sigh, he told Beatrice, "Let's go." After which he used his magic to gather his friend's body and they finally left the area.
Once everyone was out of the now narrow space, the wall of darkness finally swallowed it.
…
Belial was surprised at the scene that welcomed him. A new legion of powerful army was spread out before him and countless of ice dragons were flying in fluid four and battle spread formation above them.
He could only smile in wonder. "This is the doing of our daughter-in-law, right?" he asked his wife and Beatrice nodded.
"Yes. But our other daughter-in-law is the one who brought all these ice dragons." Belial thought of how far Vera had come along and grown since she came to the Under Lands.
"I see…" he said, not asking for his sons anymore. "Evie's dragon… that's Onyx." They both eyed the glittering black and massive dragon above them with awe.
"Yes."
The couple watched calmly and full of pride as the dragons took over. The ice-dragons were tasked with creating ice walls around the abyss as the allied soldiers retreated back to safety.
The view was just so incredible it was indescribable. But they had realized that the abyss had already expanded past the radius of their camp. In fact, it had already swallowed their camp. That was how fast the war had accelerated.
Thanks to their reinforcements that arrived just at the right time, everything finally came into a halt.
Many of the soldiers thought that due to the walls of ice, the monsters had stopped emerging. But Belial did not think so. He had already identified that there was definitely someone who was leading these monsters to attack in such an organised manner. Brainless monsters from the abyss do not have this capability of doing so. He had a feeling that the creature controlling the monsters had realized the arrival of the dragons and the other reinforcements and was now formulating a new strategy to engage them in their next battle. In short this was not the time for them to breathe out in relief yet. It was still too early to relax and take a break.
However, this would also give them the chance to regroup and bury the bodies of their comrades who had sacrificed their lives and that they had managed to pull from the abyss.
…
Time passed and everything quietened down. It was like the storm was suddenly over, and now they were all beginning to realize the extent of the destruction and death that was left in its wake.
Azrael was kneeling on the ground, staring blankly at Kione's sword. It was the only thing of Kione's that his men had managed to salvage after their lord had been wiped out completely. His hands were trembling as he stretched them out to picked it up and hold it.
"You, big… idiot!" Azrael cried. He was all wounded, bruised and had his wings tattered from all the intense battles. But all of the wounds he had sustained could not even compare and dampen the intense ache that had taken root in his heart. "You, idiot!! I told you to be careful!!!" he shouted in agony of losing his best friend, his sworn brother.
Vera, who had been standing few steps behind Azrael was tearing up quietly. Kione's face at his last moments kept replaying in her mind. That dazzling smile. That seemingly peaceful smile he had given her at his very last moments. She was sure that it would continue haunting her for as long as she lived.
She had her fists tightened. Why could she not save him? She was so close. So very close to reaching him. And saving him. Yet… and yet she could not make it. And just like that… he was gone. Kione was gone.