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| Dullahan, the Headless Knight |
‘The mythical Dullahan…
One of the strongest warriors of the First Cycle – at the time of Ragnarok*),’
Iris’ eyes widen in astonishment. ‘But, aren’t you already dead, fallen so many
times even in the time of Fireheart?’
(* Ragnarok: War of the
Gods. It actually happened in Eternia, not only in Asgard (now Fjorn) but also
in Parthenia, Ashoka and Wushu.
‘Well, yes. But with this curse I bear,’ Dullahan points
at his head. ‘I still exist through the ages. No matter how many times I got
killed and got my head and body severed far apart from each other, I always
returned. And this time, though only being a gatekeeper to the Dark Overlord’s
throne, I shall faithfully serve the one who put my head and body together and
the one who conquered him.’
‘Who ARE they?’ Dejan asks.
‘Lord Arachus made me complete, and the Heir eliminated
him after he came back from his fight with Avariel injured, crippled, weak,
wasted, running out of his purpose.’
To this, Hernan rubs his trimmed mustache, saying, ‘Hmm,
no wonder we didn’t see Arachus around since Hail’varan. And since you’re a
gatekeeper, the exit of this labyrinth must be nearby. Thank you for all the
valuable information, shall we come down to business, then?’
‘Certainly, sir, and now that you know my little secret,
I must send you all to your deaths!’
Dullahan and the five specters attack in unison, and are
met with Iris’ spell, ‘Rotr Vaishazar!’ The
Cyclone Sickles spread and slash like
harvesting a wheat field with a hundread flying sickles. CRASH-CRAS-CRAS!!
DANG! DANG!
Being in form of energy, the specters are immune to
physical attacks with ordinary weapons. In compensation to that, they are quite
vulnerable to magic, elemental energy and attacks using inner strength. So, the
wind slases through their bodies, tearing them apart.
However, two specters still move on, and Dullahan swings
his great broadsword to split Iris apart! The elf moves swiftly to the back,
and the sword seems to get closer and inavoidable!
SWIISH!! The sword is about to split Iris’ head! Her
expression doesn’t change, and the reason comes a split second after. DANG!
DANG! Dullahan’s sword meets Robert’s Grimlock
and Dejan’s claws.
And then, from behind the two Paladins Hernan leaps very
high and springs forward with a serial thrust pouring down like Shears of the Falling Rain.
DANG!
DANG! DANG! DANG! ‘HROOOAAA!!’
Dullahan lets out a roar of pain, and the next moment,
his head is severed from his body and rolls on the floor! The so-called
mythical warrior meets his demise with just one move!
Hernan moves away to finish the motionless giant. The
next moment, suddenly a great broadsword sweeps to the fencer’s side! FWOOSH!!
DANG!
The ponytail-haired Paladin blocks the sword with his
rapier, and he is pushed three paces backwards.
He says, his expression unchanging, ‘So I figured out
what your ‘curse’ is, and it seems I was right. You’re a headless ghoul.’
Dullahan’s voice comes from his head rolling on the
floor, ‘Hmm, so this is the price of being ‘mythical’. People knows about you
just too well… NOT!!’
Suddenly, BUAGG! A punch flies and hits Hernan’s face! If
not thanks to Omnigalatr field, his
nose will be broken. Nevertheless, Hernan’s face is now a bloody pulp, and that
move forces him to step back and recuperate.
Dullahan immediately pulls his flying knuckle back to its
place with a crimson chain attached in it. The knuckle picks the head up from
the floor and puts it back on Dullahan’s shoulder. All in all, he’s showing his
quality as an immortal mythical being able to take off his body parts while
fighting.
‘Now it’s my turn! Dances
in the Cascades!’
Saying
that, Hernan does a modified move by spinning and slashing sideways in recurrent
rotations.
Dullahan raises his too great, too heavy sword to block
that move, and once again the Escudian fencer practices precision by slashing
through the gaps on Dullahan’s armor, ultimately cutting off the head, arms,
hands, legs and feet – again.
BLUGG! DUGG-DUG! BLUG! The monstrous knight falls on the
floor, scattering in pieces. And then, just as expected, blood-red chains come
out from the severed limbs.
Hernan moves and cuts the chains on the legs, CRASH!
CRASH! To make sure that the undead knight won’t get up again, thus easier to
finish off.
Meanwhile, Iris has enchanted Dejan’s claws and the
daredevil Halfling shreds the remaining two specters into pieces! CRAS, CRAS,
CRAS!! All that left are their rusty armors scattered on the floor, remains of
the cursed beings.
‘Haha! Thanks, Iris! Now to finish that gargantuan freak
off… Huh!?’
Dejan can’t believe his eyes. Dullahan, who should’ve
been lying helpless on the floor without his legs already leaped up and merged
his torso onto the stump once his horse’s head once been. And now he becomes an
undead centaur knight. The dense, dark aura covering his body keeps the
Paladins at bay.
None of the Paladins is daring enough to attack head-on
with this makeshift centaur.
The situation is dire. Cristophe talks to Dejan, ‘You go,
find the second team and lead them here. We are in need for reinforcements.’
The animorpher nods and morphs into a wolf, running rapidly away from sight.
‘Is it all you can do, Paladins? Play time’s up, now it’s
time to DIE!!’ Saying so, Dullahan swings his great sword vertically and
horizontally in rapid succession.
BUUSH!! BWOOOSH!! The Paladins move rapidly to avoid that
attack, but Dullahan adds Unholy Cross, a
move similar to Robert’s Crossfire Slash,
shooting a blast of dark energy on target!
Chris moves clear away from the line of fire, but then
the second cross comes towards him! Unable to avoid it, Chris blocks the bolt
with his shield instead! DHAASHH!! Dullahan’s bolt pushes the red-haired
Paladin back.
Recovering from the blow, Chris dashes to attack
Dullahan’s side. However, another attack already comes from the rear!
FWOOSH-FWOOSH!! CRASH-CRASH! It’s Iris’Hurricane
slashing its way into Dullahan’s armor to damage the undead within.
As if that’s not enough, as the spell ceases Hernan gets
into position and thrusts his sword rapidly and precisely, all targeting
Dullahan’s soft spots, no move is wasted trying to break the opponent’s sturdy
armor, and this Requiem of the Tides move
is like serpents slithering into the sleeves.
CRASSH! CRASSH!!
‘RHOOAAA!!’ Dullahan roars in pain, and then he
accumulates his energy and explodes it to break free! BLUDAAMMM!! The force of
the blast throws Chris, Iris and Hernan away!
Chris hits the wall, and he struggles to get up as
quickly as he can, expecting the worst.
And his fear is confirmed. Dullahan swings his sword one
time towards Chris. The Paladin outstretches his energized shield and blocks
the blow, DANGG!! And suddenly the Dragon Bone Sword elongates like a whip and
GLANK! The bones get entangled on Chris’armor!
RRIIPPP!!! The undead knight ties Chris tight to crush
him. ‘AAAHH!!’ Chris feels that his body is like plum being made into prune.
And that’s not all. The next thing he sees is three bolts
of dark energy coming out from the concentrated aura on Dullahan’s back, BUSSH,
BUSSH, BUSSH!! And hit Chris squarely!
BHLAAAMMM!!!
No ordinary human being can withstand this kind of abuse.
This destruction at its entirety. This mortal blow.
And yet…
Uuugh… It’s still
painful – Am I still alive? Chris can’t help thinking. And then he slowly
opens his eyes. Flashes of light, metals
claingin… It’s Hernan, and he’s doing his finishing blow!
CRAS,
CRAS, CRASSHH!! The Escudian Fencer is like devilish, fiercely attacking the
opponent from al directions. He moves so fast, as though a hundred of him
pouring water all at once.
And then, Hernan lands beside Dullahan, leaving him
stunned in place. The sword-whip on the undead knight’s hand falls on the
floor, and the pressure on Chris is loosened.
The next moment, BATS! BATS! Dullahan’s head, limbs,
torso and feet suddenly get severed and fall scattering on the floor. No sign,
no hint of energy on him to put all the pieces back together, let alone to move
even a finger. Such is the power of Hernan’s finishing move: Symphony of the Seven Seas.
The
Don just stands in place, puts the rapier Albatross
back into the scabbard hanging on his waist, saying, ‘Rest in pieces,
Dullahan.’
The next moment, Iris comes near her ex-boyfriend,
treating him with potion and magic. There’s no resentment on her face, only a
warm visage and smile, showing sympathy upon this central figure of the Light
Side who always becomes the prime target of any enemy.
‘Chris, next time, just be careful. Save your strength
and health for your destined battle with the Heir of the other side,’ she says.
Opening his helmet, Chris shows her the innocent look of
his face like back when they were lovers, answering, ‘I’m trying. But I can’t
just sit back and see my comrades risk their lives to open the path, and I
can’t help it whenever Dullahan and the others somehow find the way through to
me.
So, please, just let me fight on so I can be stronger and
wiser when I finally meet the other Heir, and yes, I’ll be more careful so I
won’t fall into any more traps next time.’
Hernan then interrupts, ‘Hey, I think I’ve found the
exit.’
Chris says, ‘Really?’ and moves to the spot Hernan is
pointing. It seems the fencer was right. Behind Dullahan, the wall has opened
up, showing a wide path and a great door. The door is blood-red, bearing
carvings of devils and hellish fiends feasting on top of their fallen enemies.
Big devil heads with big, gnarly fangs in their mouths biting a knocker on each
door.
This air... is suffocating.
Is this the door to the throne hall? Are we going to see the Heir of Vordac at
last, commencing the destined final battle between him and myself? I better be
prepared on anything. O’ Vadis the Almighty, please bless us, your agents in
protecting all the good things we’ve built in this world.
CRRREAAAKKK!!!
Chris pushes the heavy door with his two hands and he comes inside. The
Paladins immediately follow him. Taking a step into the room, Chris’ eyes widen
with shock.
==oOo==
The Dark Overlord’s
throne...
Image Source:
Dullahan by Kid Eternity
FireHeart - Legend of the Paladins Book Three: The Lion, the Eagle and the Serpent
Author: Andry Chang
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Next: Part Three (Original Script page 341/487)
