The three arrived at the front gate and watched the surviving city guards fending themselves off against the undead horde. However, they were soon shocked at the sight of the draugs charging and tearing the soldiers limb from limb. One draug grabbed a soldier and lifted him up, gaping his mouth and preparing to take a bite of his head.

Please! Somebody, save me! The soldier pleaded, hoping that someone, or some god, would rescue him, yet when the draugs’ head came closer, the chances of salvation was dim.

Suddenly, the blade of a sword pierced through the center of the monster's chest, a couple of inches from its' heart. Akio quickly pulled the Blade of Accord out and backed away. He caught the beast's attention and was ready to fight, albeit trembling at the sight of something that big. The draug charged, dropping its ax and reaching its' hands around the boys' neck.

The boy dodged. He raised the sword and swung it against the monsters' abdomen. However, the draug was indifferent of the blow and thrust its' fist against the boy's stomach, tossing him into the air and landing three feet away onto the ground. He could taste the bile surfacing up from his stomach and into his mouth. When Akio came to, he looked up and was shocked to see the beast leaping towards him. Luckily, he quickly got back on his feet and jumped into the air. Letting out a bellowing cry, he swung his blade a little higher. Slash! The draug’s head fell to the dirt road, causing the body to tumble, as well.

The soldier grimaced and screamed, running far away from the battlefield as fast as he could. Holding his side, Akio motioned over to the monsters' head and chuckled.

“I guess, you won’t be having your meal today, huh?” the draug’s head was still functioning. It looked up and glared as Akio hovered over its’ cranium.

“Who the hell are you?!” shouted the draug.

Grimhilda and Keya stood beside the boy and shared the same scowl while looking down at the disembodied head. Akio lifted and drove his sword through the draugs’ skull, hearing it gripe as it became lifeless.

“Yeah, right! Like we’re going to give a rotting corpse our names,” Grimhilda mused with a cocky grin.

“Keep moving! These bastards are growing in numbers throughout the city! We can weaken their numbers, then they’ll have no choice but to retreat!”

Grimhilda and Keya complied with Akio’s order. They proceeded further to the gates while fighting their way through the undead swarm. When they made it to the entrance, they held their stance and charged, letting out a roar as they stormed out of the frying pan and into the fire.

Akio swung his sword and took out 3 ghouls as they fed on the flesh of a villager, cutting them’ all in half before piercing his blade through their temples, one-by-one. The sight of it disgusted him, but he was able to hide it well through his stoic façade. However, in his mind, he thought: Gross! Gross! Gross!

Grimhilda dropped her hammer hard on top of a zombie’s head, smashing its’ brains while letting out a gleeful laugh. She took great amusement in crushing her enemies before her.

She turned her attention to Akio and arched a brow. She remarked, “I don’t know how you can stand this, but it’s impressive that you can look like that while zombie guts are splashing on you.”

“Y-yeah! I-I just don’t let it bother me!” the boy replied with a fake smile. Unbeknownst to the dwarf girl, Akio was trembling in disgust, holding back his breakfast as his face turned a little green.

Keya was standing by the frontline and extended her staff outward before the twenty skeletons and zombies that darted towards her. Without even batting an eyelash, she set them’ all on fire, listening to them wreathe in despair while watching them slowly turn to ash.

“Whoa, you just incinerated them in an instant,” Akio stated, sounding both impressed and terrified.

“These creatures were created from the dead bodies of the innocent, twisted and warped by dark, insidious forces. I merely gave them’ all a proper cremation ceremony, so that their souls may finally rest.” Keya’s expression was stern. Akio noticed her gripping her staff tightly, almost enough to break it, causing crackling sounds to emit from the wood.

“Whoever is responsible for this monstrosity, we must put an end to it.”

With that, the three walked out of the city as they continued fighting their way against the horde. Unbeknownst to the three, a draug arrived behind them, raising his ax and preparing to strike Grimhilda down.

Turning around, the dwarf girl screamed. Akio took action and dashed as fast as he could. However, it wasn’t fast enough.

Damn it! I won’t make it on time! Grimhilda’s going to get killed and there’s nothing I can do! He was angry at his own uselessness as he berated himself. Just then, a bright yellow light encased his whole body and everything around him started to slow down. What the hell? What’s going on? I-it’s almost like time is decelerating. While he was surprised by this bizarre situation, he didn’t care. Instead, he decided to use it for his own advantage.

Before the blade of the ax struck, the dwarf girl was gone, which baffled the monster.

Hilda’s eyes were closed, so she was just as unsure, also. When she opened them, she was shocked that she was about five feet away from where she was before. She looked around and her face blushed.

“A-Akio!” she gasped.

Holding her like a princess was Akio, panting heavily while kneeling down in slight fatigue.

“Are you okay?” he asked in concern.

Her face turned redder. She shyly looked away and mumbled, “I-idiot! I-I didn’t ask for your help!”

The boy smiled. After he put her down, Akio dashed back with his sword clenched tightly and blocked the draug’s attack before it could strike at Keya.

“A-Akio?! How are you running so fast?!” asked the elf girl in astonishment.

“I don’t know how, but I’m just glad I've arrived on time!” He commented, flashing a cocky smile as he held his stance.

Then he heard a chuckle. The boy looked and saw it came from the draug before him. It flashed an ominous grin as it stared at Akio with wide, malicious gray eyes.

It remarked in a hallowing voice, “Do you actually believe you can survive? It is hopeless. All your attempts to end this will all be in vein as everyone you care for, everyone around you, will cry in agony as my people bathe in their beautiful crimson blood.”

The monster’s words brought chills down the boys’ spine. Akio regained his posture and drove his sword straight through the monsters’ heart. The draug screamed in pain. Suddenly, a green light festered from its’ mouth and when it faded, the draug fell to the ground, motionless and lifeless.

“Come on. Let’s keep moving.” The three continued moving as they made their way outside of the city. Time had gone by and the army of the undead slowly decreased in number.

---------------------

Meanwhile, on top of the hill, Nergal watched Akio, Keya, and Grimhilda battle against his forces, observing each and every move they made. He had caught the young boy’s spectacle earlier and took note of the familiarity of his power. Then he saw the sword Akio was wielding, causing his eyes to widen in fear.

He turned and walked away.

“Umm, sir?” the skeleton called.

Appearing in front of the knight was a tall shadowy door.

Nergal turned and said to the skeleton, “We’re done here. We must report to the Dark Lord. We must tell him…the messiah has returned.” Once he and the skeleton walked in, the door engulfed them and disappeared into thin air.