Corrin felt relief wash over him as soldiers came forth to aid them, though it was a bittersweet relief. Relief in knowing that he had help, though he knew that they would not last long. Seeing them in chainmail already told Corrin that they were running low on Armor for the soldiers; such an assault was not ever taken into consideration by the Avitou City council.

  Corrin again turned to Janis and the monsters with his newfound vigor, and he again let the energy from the shard come into him, causing immense pain. He fell on one knee from the pain. But then he stood up and began to control his breathing. He grit his teeth but refused to kneel back down from the pain. He then dashed towards Janis with a sudden speed even he did not know he had. His body erupted in the golden glow of the power residing within him.

  He yelled aloud as he dodged and weaved between dozens of throws from the ball and chain. He slid on the ground under one and slashed at the chain with everything he had.

  “Light Katana Style… Power!!”

  The chain ruptured into fragments immediately, to which Corrin grabbed both what was left of the chain attached to the ball and what Janis was still holding on to. Janis pulled the chain back, which also held Corrin and the ball and chain that he carried. Corrin spun up and toward her with the spiked ball, smashing it into her leg at incredible speeds.

  Blood splattered everywhere, some of it flew far enough to fall onto Tutsoi’s boots as he ran, who limped only slightly on his right side. Tutsoi cut down as many of the creatures as he could, fighting with as much of himself as he could. He jumped up into the air as it compressed around his feet. In all his time using the Shard, he had nearly forgotten that he could still run on the air. Just before he could reach her, however, he formed a portal ahead of himself. The other appeared directly in front of Janis’s decapitated head.

  His blade inched closer, but not before being abruptly stopped by another blade that was protecting her. Tutsoi was thrown to the side and away from both the flesh dogs and Janis’s decapitated head. Tutsoi flew back and landed on his knees, falling to them after his wounded leg hit the ground. He quickly looked up to see who had saved Janis. The man stood there, grabbing the head of Janis and attaching it via a rope to his belt before looking up at Tutsoi.

  His arm was completely separated from his body; it was Ivas. He lifted his sword and pointed it at Tutsoi.

  “You can’t… face… all of us…”

  Behind him stood fallen soldiers of months long past. Many of them were only bones held together with nothing but the vital organs and bits of flesh.

  “Nevarii is a sick man…”

  Tutsoi stood up again, and as Corrin jumped and ran towards Tutsoi, he quickly faced the dozens of revived soldiers. A wave of disgust flew through Corrin.

  “Are these…?”

  Tutsoi nodded.

  “They’re from our graveyards. Nevarii uprooted their bodies and created organs for them to run on. It’s sick…”

  Tutsoi clenched his fist and gritted his teeth in anger.

  Around them, they were surrounded by the flesh dogs, who were now all guarding the soon-to-be fight as though they were hawks.

  Just then, the army of the dead rushed forward with their weapons. Corrin rushed to one side; Tutsoi to the other. Golden power came from both of them as they went forward.

  Corrin started quickly, cutting down numerous soldiers with ease. Most of them seemed less like soldiers and simply like normal people, Corrin began to realize. Just as he was cutting through the majority, however, up came a familiar person: Hylda. Her head was attached back to her body, though lopsided. Corrin was reminded of how she had died: by having her head ripped off by a bird only a few days ago. Sparks flew outward as Corrin blocked the attack and was forced to retreat as they began to swarm him.

  The people flew forward again as loud clashes came forth; he blocked nearly every attack. Corrin managed to cut down a few through the onslaught, but not nearly enough with how many were coming. Corrin looked around, desperately hoping he would find aid in the soldiers that had arrived only a moment ago. However, they seemed preoccupied with the flesh dogs.

  “Help us!”

  It was all Corrin could shout as he watched Tutsoi go quickly on the defensive once again. But Corrin knew no help was to come. Then he lifted and stomped his right foot into the ground, halting in his tracks immediately. He lifted his sword in a fury, pointing downward from above him.

  “Light Katana Style…”

  Light erupted around Corrin and onto his blade.

  “...Explosive Defense!!”

  Corrin blocked every attack suddenly as iron chips and sparks flew in all directions. Explosions of numerous sizes came around Corrin as the undead soldiers fell back. The explosions began reaching farther than even Corrin could reach; it was as though they were being shot from his sword at the soldier. He began blocking from behind him, and they surrounded him. Corrin’s feet grew weary, his breath grew unstable, and he couldn’t continue like this for much longer. His muscles began to get sore; he was pushing himself too hard.

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  As though by a miracle, suddenly half of the weight of the pain flew away from him. He caught only a glimpse of the eased side, but rejoiced nonetheless. It was Tutsoi, who was now blocking attacks, keeping Corrin safe on one side. Corrin spun to keep his back against Tutsoi as they blocked attacks. The enemy's pikes, swords, and axes began to shatter away, and they were soon going to run out of weapons with which to attack the two.

  Suddenly, the earth began to tremble, and the pipes from below them were suddenly uprooted. Corrin and Tutsoi flew to two opposite sides as the earth exploded upward. The undead soldiers flew to each side, with most of them crumbling apart upon landing and not sitting up again. Corrin looked forward and saw a sight he wished he’d never have to see.

  Walking toward them was none other than Edwin, who was holding the head of Omna up. Edwin looked neither happy nor sad to be there at that moment. Then, as though a switch was flicked, anger erupted through his face.

  “Corrin Hisstion!!”

  His voice traveled far, even through the sounds of battle around them.

  “I want nothing more than for your life to be great! But it cannot be if you’re on the wrong side of this war!! Join me, please!!”

  Edwin’s voice carried nothing that told Corrin that Edwin was being forced to do this. Corrin stood amidst the undead soldiers, staring at Edwin. Edwin then threw Omna’s head at Corrin.

  “I don’t want you to die, Corrin. But if you don’t make your decision right now, I’ll be forced to kill you!”

  Corrin tensed his body in anger.

  “Why would I join you!? The Shem burned down our village, Edwin! They killed my father and our friends! They’re the villains! How could you join them!?”

  Edwin clenched his fist. He looked less angry and more defeated.

  “It’s not just my family, Corrin. Their ideology. The more time I spend studying it, the more correct it seems. Maybe you don’t understand now… but one day you will.”

  Corrin could hardly hear what Edwin said, as though he felt ashamed of what he had done. But he also felt betrayed beyond measure.

  “I thought you could be saved, but I was wrong! You’re too far gone!!”

  Edwin gasped slightly as tears welled in his eyes. He smiled weakly.

  “Then, you’ll have to die…”

  Edwin grabbed 2 swords, which were attached to chains from his back; Nevarii must have given them to him, Corrin thought.

  Tutsoi suddenly appeared behind Edwin in a portal, his sword running close to Edwin’s neck. Edwin quickly brought his sword up. A loud clanging sound shook the ground around them as Edwin flipped around, falling to the ground, flinging the sword that blocked Tutsoi’s attack away, and instead shooting up the second towards Tutsoi’s face. Tutsoi dodged it narrowly as it cut his cheek.

  Corrin dashed forward. If he had to kill Edwin, he would want his death to be quick, no matter how angry he was with him. Edwin brought his hand out and directly up into the sky. Suddenly, a metal pipe flew out of the ground and shot up in front of Corrin. Corrin was forced to jump back. In an instant, however, he found that he was surrounded by more of the undead soldiers. He quickly was back on the defensive again.

  Tutsoi flew through a portal and quickly destroyed the undead soldiers surrounding Corrin, and they were again in a standoff with Edwin.

  “My, Oh my.”

  The voice did not come from Edwin’s direction, but instead from a house not far from them. The house was busted open, and a familiar man stood on the only part of the roof still standing. In fact, all around them, houses were broken apart from the battle. Nevarii greeted them with a polite bow.

  “It seems that your little city wasn’t so strong after all. I estimate another half hour before all resistance fails. Most of the building has already been broken into. Dozens of innocent families ripped apart and eaten alive.”

  He smiled terrifyingly, as though his jaw was distorted to allow it.

  “The only way you could win this by now is if you killed me… I do control them all, don’t I? I’ll be at the bell tower.”

  With that, Nevarii turned and disappeared from the building. Tutsoi instantly turned and began running towards the bell tower.

  “Corrin, take care of Edwin, I’ll go after Nevarii!”

  “It’s a trap, Tutsoi!”

  Tutsoi turned, his face showing nothing but earnestness.

  “I’ll be careful!”

  Tutsoi then disappeared into the city, and Corrin turned once again towards Edwin.