'How beautiful!' the ghoul mocked. 'Do you think they'll remember your sacrifice? Hahahaha!' He kicked Rick hard against the wall. Rick slammed into it but still clutched his daggers. Blood spilled from his mouth, but he pushed himself up, fingers tightening around the blades.
'Before worrying about me, think about your own future. Oh wait—you don't have one.'
The horde surged forward, but one ghoul was faster. It leapt down—just one level away. Rick watched it close in, arms raised. Rick dove to the ground as the ghoul's swing crushed the wall behind him. He rolled up, already on his feet, and clashed with the attacker. Grabbing its arm, Rick slammed the creature into the floor.
'You forgot about me!' another ghoul hissed, raking claws across Rick's chest. Blood sprayed as cold spread from the wound through Rick's limbs.
'Damn… guess that's it for me,' Rick muttered. He turned his head—and the ghoul lunged, biting into his shoulder.
'Fuck,' was the last word Rick uttered before darkness took him.
Meanwhile
Nade was on his knees, panting, struggling to stay conscious.
'Is that all a Celestial can do?' the brightborn taunted. 'Though... the darkborn in you seems more rebellious than usual. Looking at who possessed you, no wonder. You're truly unlucky.'
'She must be someone famous…' Nade gasped, forcing himself upright. It felt like the air itself pressed down on him, like gravity had tripled. 'Well, seems I have no choice. Glacia... if I'm lucky, I'll die—and you'll be free.'
(Glacia: So a half transformation? That could cost you your life. And with your condition… I'm convinced it will.)
'Good. Then you'll finally be free of me.' The flickering lights died. The air grew cold—familiar, bitter cold. Nade welcomed it. The floor and walls iced over. The woman stepped back, smiling brightly.
'Now this gets interesting. I'm Brightbornica. Right hand of the king.'
'Brightbornica, huh? No idea why you'd tell me your name… but if you're unlucky, this is the last time anyone hears it. And that name is sus as fuck!' His hair turned snow-white, flowing long and smooth. His black eyes glowed deep, icy blue.
Brightbornica raised her hands—fingers splayed; palms connected. Nade summoned an ice spear in his right arm, raw power radiating from it. He hurled it. The spear cut through the air, freezing it in its path. Brightbornica gathered light between her palms and fired.
Both attacks collided.BOOOOOOM.
On the Roof
The three women stood ready—prepared to die if it meant stopping the monster. The man simply stood there, grinning.
'You can walk faster,' he teased. 'Or we'll be here all day. Hahahaha!'
Then—Nade and Brightbornica's clash detonated a few floors below. The shockwave hit the rooftop like an earthquake. The women staggered; their focus drawn to the chaos beneath.
A fatal mistake. When they looked back—he was gone. A bam. They whipped around—too late. The mother had taken the blow. Her face was smashed, body crumpled. Her children screamed, rushing toward her. Sarah and Emilia acted fast. Emilia fired. The man caught the bullets—barehanded. Sarah grabbed both children and sprinted toward the helicopter.
'Out of bullets?' the man grinned, opening his hand. Spent rounds clinked to the ground. Faced with him, Emilia yelled out,
'Rick, you idiot! Now I have to deal with this alone!'
'What do you mean?' came a voice behind her. 'I'm here.'