Finish the Story Contest - WEEK #20 | God-Hand

Black Star

And finally dawn came, mercilessly, to reveal the blasphemous massacre of that night. The sulphur smell of the Flaegreian fields was blending with that of blood and entrails, while clots of death, horribly coagulated one with the other, slowly melted inside the iridescent acid water pools. There was no honour of weapons for the vanquished, whose remains were hideously smeared on the battlefield.
Instead, something else was crawling in that silent scene: the unnatural profanity of a rape, far beyond the concept of victory of one army over the other. It was as if the ground, pierced by fumaroles and teeming with mutilated bodies, wanted to shout to the sky a silent cry of faltering horror.
From the piles of corrupt meat, a black pillar emerged in the middle of the plain. An invisible and incandescent flame was emanating from that dark mountain, making the landscape all around tremulous due to the intense heat.

"I brought you some wine, Xarag." The man in armour approached cautiously to the black and immobile human tower.

"I do not find it right that you have to stay still for all this time instead of celebrating ..".

"Tell me you did not come alone just with that nauseating spicy wine." Glaring through the black metal of the helmet, the paladin abruptly interrupted the officer.

"I also have the serum, Xarag. Our queen never forgets the needs of her most valiant servants"

"Oh yes, she's always so thoughtful". The sudden pain obliged the paladin to an added effort for emitting the last word, which barely came out through the bloody clenched teeth.

"Do not worry, I cannot figure out how much you suffer, Xarag, and I won’t even dare to, but I promise you that also this time, when it has cooled down, we will manage to get you out of the gift".

"The gift, of course, guard of the queen. I know you'll do a good job with that piece of meat that still sticks to my bones," the black tower murmured in a metal hiss. "Now pour the whey into the wine and then leave me. You, at least, go and celebrate."

Xarag, the Black Star, barely approached the chalice at the deformed hole of the helmet and drank avidly. His meats, slowly devoured by his own armour, produced sounds that he would never get used to. He wanted to look up from that vision of death, he wanted to look for a star in the sky, among the poisonous and sulphur fumes, but the steel colour of the abyss no longer allowed it by many battles. He wanted to think to her, if only he didn’t have to bleed for the effort of not being torn apart in his body, mind and soul at the same time. For him, the battle would have still continued in solitude for long hours.

The fires projected cheerful arabesques on the cobalt walls of the camp tents, where the unrestrained bacchanal of victory was taking place. A group of officers argued in the galley tent, away from the crowds.

"I told you they did not fight! The angel approached, and they just looked at each other for a very long time .. at least that's what I saw as long as I could," said the young man with shelled eyes to the rest of the group.

"If only I could fight one of those damned celestials simply by standing by.. Maybe even while scratching my balls.” The silly laugh of the inexperienced official interrupted in a strangled sob.

"Listen to me well, piece of dung. Just because you miraculously survived your first battle and you got good marks at the academy, do you think you gained the right to talk about the Black Star?" The veteran's arm had relentlessly triggered at the young man's throat with a ruthless grip.

"First of all, that was not just an angel, but it was one of the Powers, sent into battle directly from the third triad. Have you already forgotten the lessons on the enemy hierarchy, cutie?" The grip loosened just before the colour of the young officer passed from red to dark purple.

"Also," continued the veteran, "you can bet they were fighting, as the Power had managed to overtake the first two auras of Xarag's armour and was now attempting to force the third inner one.. "

"Disintegration of the essence." Like gnarled invisibile fingers, a murmur ran through the soldiers.

The senior officer would have continued but was interrupted by a loud disturbing roar. The immediate shock-wave overwhelmed those present and all the contents of the tent. Perhaps the battle was not completely over.

This is the first part of @f3nix's Finish the Story contest Finish the Story Contest - WEEK #20 below is my part that I have written.

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One of the Powers being taken down meant more but none anticipated the arrival of the God-Hand

Five leaders of the celestial host that hold immense power. There has only been one instance of the God-Hand being deployed and it had resulted in the destruction of Atlantis. All the might and technology by proud Atlanteans who boasted they were equal to gods gone in an instance.

The Flaegreian fields would look like a minor skirmish after this.

"To arms you mangy mutts, show some backbone and go to your respective companies! Get me the Black Star here as we will need a miracle!" shouted the senior officer.

"There is no rest for the wicked." Xarag said to himself as he saw the hand stretch over the horizon. Savoring a last minute of bliss as the essence of the serum quickly disappeared as the armor felt the anticipation of war.

Source

The armor began to cover his body and take shape of the beast in his soul. Bloodlust filled his thoughts as he started running to the battlefield, overtaking frightened horses till he was in the vanguard of the army, looking at the frontline of the celestial host before him.

He let out a howl and shouted "Let the dogs of wars go all out and we drink the heavenly blood of our enemies! Onward you mutts, onward to glory and certain death but know that you will be part of a legend tonight!"

Xarag was the tip of a spear as the Flaegreian army clashed with the celestial host, breaking their formation. His armor fueled by his bloodlust was emitting an aura of berserker rage, infecting nearby soldiers who without fear slashed at the holy army before them.

They were a tide of death and destruction and it seemed unstoppable until they came across the first God-hand.

Zadkiel the Merciful, resplended in white armor stood in contrast to Xarag the Black Star. The beast in him was howling for blood but the man in him thought of caution.

They stood there unmoving but a battle was already raging as they moved to overwhelm each other with their auras. Xarag gritted his teeth as he felt his third being overwhelmed and he had no choice but to break the stalemate and go physical.

He cleaved his massive greatsword but Zadkiel calmly evaded and with a rapier thrust a counter to his side. If he was not armored in this infernal thing he would have been poked full of holes,

He changed his stance and tried to silence the howling. He would need to counter the Zadkiel's speed and counter. His strikes would need to be deliberate and sure.

Twice his speed earlier he released a downward chop, as expected Zadkiel evaded and turn to parry but Xarag willed his armor to change midstroke and he felt his armor twist and turn his muscles and slashed horizontally cleaving Zadkiel in half.

"This is going to be a long night," Xarag said to himself.

Woohoo exactly 500 words! That was such a feat! Although this is just the first God-hand and not necessarily an ending to the story lol.

Images used are from the Manga/Anime Berserk which is by far one of the most violent and gruesome titles I have read/watched. It has so many WTF did I read moments especially with its later arcs and is a good example of an anti-hero character.

^{Footer by @ameliabartlett}

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