Chapter 24: Chapter 24 Battle of the chosen.
Blood flowed down the mountain. Bodies of men and rats lay all around the mountain slope. All over the mountain, the battle was being fought. From the city of Granada, all the way up to the Great Mountain entrance, men and rats fought. Amidst the great mosh pit on the mountain slope, Jesus climbed the large pile of bodies. Unlike the solid hard rocky ground, climbing over stiff lifeless corpses was quite unstable. As he climbed they would move under him, their dead bones caving in under the weight of his steel boots.
With all fours he pushed himself up, only to see the one he was supposed to protect get a massive metallic mace in the face. He could see Uther's helmet cave in as it cracked and spurted out blood like a juicy watermelon. Horrified and sickened by the sight he instinctively touched his helmet just to check that it was in one piece.
Behind the white evil grinning big rat, Jesus could see black man-sized rats coming. These rats wielded black bows of some kind. He could see them preparing to fire into the mosh pit of men and rats.
Quickly he got up on the corpse pile and earned the attention of a few of them. Seeing the arrows coming Jesus raised his shield and blocked the black incoming arrows. " Ting, tign tign. " 3 arrows hit his shield. As he lowered his shield he could see through his T-shape visor the white rat victoriously lifted the king's body as it cheered. Then with gritted teeth, it dug its claws into the king's midsection and ripped him in half. Glancing around Jesus could see the men's morale falter, they were losing heart and some started to try and make it down the mountain slope.
Seeing the men falter, Jesus banged his shield in challenge to the white rat and moved forward. If he won here, the battle could still be won Jesus thought.
Seeing the challenge Azzrag tossed Uther's torn in half body aside and mocked the man. " Another man thing come to die? Hahahaa! Looks like I'm going to eat well tonight! You better taste good man thing! " Eagerly it picked up it's mace and charged toward Jesus.
Jesus gulped as he saw the rats massive frame move towards him. It's big rat feet crushed dead and dying humans and rats. The wounded and dead corpses ribs caved in and bodies were squished into a bloody mess as it charged. But Jesus didn't falter, he stood his ground and let the force flow through his body. He could feel his body under the heavy armor flex and harden, reinforced by the force. " Ohh holy Sighard please lend me your strength and let me vanquish this vile enemy of mankind. " Jesus mumbled in prayer to himself.
Behind his shield through his visor, he could see it prepare for a sideways swing with it's right arm. With inhumane speed, he dodged under its arm and past it. As he did so he could feel the pressure caused by the small shock wave from the rats powerful swing. His heart raced as adrenaline rushed through his veins as he felt himself just barely escape death.
Now on its side, he sent a sideways strike into the creature's massive muscular right thigh. As the blade made contact with it's skin it felt like hitting solid tree bark. The creature huffed in anger as it's leg got a minor cut.
Jesus was surprised by the thickness of its skin, then he saw it start to turn around and come for another wide swing. With swift movement, he dodged under its arm. With surprise, he looked into the rat's face, as they were now face to face. " Well hello there. " Jesus said as the white rat grabbed him by the throat with it's other arm.
Feeling himself lifted above the ground from his throat, Jesus quickly stabbed his sword into its elbow.
In pain, Azzrag let go of the man thing and gave it a hard headbutt. With blurry vision and stars in his eyes, Jesus staggered backward. He felt like somebody had just smashed a solid rock into his steel helmet.
Seeing this Azzrag went for a powerful spin attack. With two hands on it's mace, it spun around and released its powerful strike towards the man thing. Through hazy vision, Jesus saw this and managed to move his shield In front of the mace.
With a loud. " Cling! " The mace collided with his shield and it was sent flying off his hand. In pain, Jesus staggered back on top of the corpse pile.
Angered by the defiant man thing, Azzrag went for a uppercut with it's mace. Seeing this through hazy eyes, Jesus stepped back. The mace hit him in the arm and grazed his armor, causing Jesus to drop his sword and send him flying for a few meters down the corpse pile.
With a hard. " Bang! " He fell on top of an armored knights corpse. Feeling the hard armour underneath he quickly glanced at the dead man's face. Seeing the handsome young man, with dark hair and dead dark green eyes. There was no mistaking it. " May you rest in peace, young Duke of Castille and may your sacrifice not be in vain. " Jesus prayed in his heart.
Then his attention was taken by the roaring white rat, who just leaped mace in hand towards him. With a quick roll to the side, he moved. Only a loud bang could be heard. Looking back all he could see was a bloody mess. The Duke's body was turned into minced meat, unrecognizable now.
Seeing the angry red eyes turn to look at him Jesus panicked. Quickly without thinking he pulled a black armored rat corpse to him. With only a rat corpse as his shield, he blocked an overhead strike. Bang and bang two trikes came down cutting the corpse in half. Jesus felt his left hand go numb and his whole body ached in pain. Even the force could not match this beasts raw power. Bragi, Ledo and Karl were somewhere, lost in the great mosh pit of a battle this was, so now it was up to him to finish this.
As the third strike was coming down Jesus put out his hands to catch it and yelled. " Blessed Sighard, lend me your strength. Grant me the will to purge the corrupt, to smite the heretic. To bring hope, when hope is lost! " As the mace came down, time slowed down. Then like a burst of light amidst the dark, a fire was lit in his heart. He could feel the warmth spread through his body, his wounds healed, muscles flexed and his brain kicked into overdrive.
Then the mace collided with his two open palms. It created a hard boom, a shockwave was sent out as the bodies under Jesus were turned into mush, but Jesus didn't move.
Men and rats around them turned to look at what caused the sound. In awe, they watched the scene.
Azzrag felt his hands tremble as if he had just hit his mace into solid rock, causing pain to run through its hands. Looking at the man thing he was shocked, his eyes were glowing like the sun for a second before disappearing back to normal. What is this man thing, he thought to himself.
Now on his knees holding the mace in his palms. He quickly pushed it aside and lunged towards the white rat. Before it could react he sent a left hook into its face followed by a right.
Feeling the impact Azzrag widened his eyes in surprise as he could feel the power in those punches.
Blood flew from the rats rat nose as the two hits shook it's rat brain, causing stars to fly and haziness in his eyes. He staggered back as he felt another punch nock the air out of him.
Quickly aiming for a fourth attack Jesus hit the white rats ribs, making sure to dig his steel gauntlet in deep. The rat staggered and he could feel the steel gauntlet bend. Jesus looked at the steel gauntlet for a moment in wonder. " How could this be? Did Sighard just truly bless him? Wow, I'm strong. " Thought Jesus to himself. He had truly never felt this light, this strong and so grateful. Then he saw it, a uppercut coming straight toward his armored face.
Unable to react in time the fist collided with the lower part of his steel helmet making it fly off his head. Jesus staggered back feeling his vision darken for a moment as his brain shook from the impact. Quickly before he could react came a right hook and his teeth were sent flying out his mouth, accompanied by blood. But he did not fall, he stood his ground. Next, he could see a left hook coming his way. Quickly he sent his own right hook into the rats fist.
With boom they collided, sending out a shockwave and making them both stagger backwards. All living creatures around flinched from the Shockwave's loud bang.
With a heavy breath, Jesus straightened his back as if in challenge to the white rat and tossed his now heavily damaged steel gauntlet away. Infuriated by the human Azzrag clenched his now bleeding left fist and looked down on the hated man thing.
" Ohh, still want some more? Let's see how you like this. " Jesus said as he sent a quick straight right cross into the rats stomach. Bam the hit landed as Azzrag flexed it's abs and and gritted it's rat teeth.
Now with gritted teeth, Azzrag loaded a powerful right hook towards the man thing.
Quickly backing away a few steps he stumbled on the corpses below as he quickly raised his arms in defence. Then with a boom, Jesus was sent flying for 3 meters on top of a corpse pile.
Opening his eyes in pain he saw the rat standing above him as it loaded another attack.
Azzrag aimed for the bearded longhaired man's face. Quickly moving his head out of the way, Jesus could hear the splatter of a dead corpse under him, as the rats fist collided with it. Without a second thought, he kicked the rat in it's face and sent it staggering back. Giving him room to get up.
Quickly before it could recover from his kick he sent a left jab sending blood flying from its face and then a right hook. With a quick motion, Azzrag blocked the right hook. Bloodied and enraged Azzrag slapped the man thing hard, sending him flying.
Getting up Jesus stared intensely at the rat as he spit out the accumulated blood from his mouth to the ground.
Smirking Azzrag wiped blood from its rat nose as it walked towards the man thing.
From the midst of the battle emerged the 3 Jesuits. Then he heard Ledo speak. " Sorry for the late arrival master. Here is your sword. " Ledo offered Jesus his sword.
Glancing at the sword Jesus shook his head and looked back at the hulking white rat saying. " Swords are no use here. Leave it. "
Ledo was confused not understanding what Jesus meant. Then Bragi spoke pleadingly. " No, master, let us help you, surely you don't intend to face this beast alone? "
With a soft smile, Jesus spoke. " Do not worry. I got this. " with that said Jesus walked In front of the rat and stared up toward its fearsome gaze.
The three Jesuits watched in awe as the two fighters stared each other down. " Daiam that's awesome. " Said Karl in administration.
" Yeah, that's our master. " Said Ledo.
Jesus stared up at the smirking rat as it stared down towards him. A circular fighting arena formed around the two warriors, as nobody dared to get anywhere close to them. Without a word, they both sent a right hook into each other faves at the same time, as if they could read each others minds.
With inhumane speed, Jesus sent powerful blow after blow into the rats body as it answered back with it's own. They both roared through gritted bloody teeth. Head, torso and arms were all hit as they traded blows. Blood flew as Jesus armor crumbled under the rats power and turned into scrap metal.
Now with his upper body completely exposed Jesus flexed his muscles and roared. He sent out a powerful bone-crushing blow into the rats side. As his fists collided he could feel it's rib bones crack and see its side cave in.
Blood spurted out of Azzrags mouth as it staggered back a few meters. Holding its ribs in pain Azzrag looked through gritted teeth into the humans face.
Seeing the weakened and bloodied rat a man at the side charged. Seeing this Jesus was taken aback. The man was dressed in fancy conquistador armor wielding a golden flintlock musket and sword. He was the young brave Duke of Galicia, Gracia Fernandez the Second.
With the trained movement of a noble Knight, he hopped over the corpses straight toward the white rat. Before Azzrag could react he pointed his flintlock musket to it's head and said. " Say hi to mommy rat, in hell! "
As Azzrag tried to move its head out of the way, came the loud bang of the gun as it's musket ball hit Azzrag in the side of the head.
Grazia and Jesus looked in shock as the ball bit into the rats skull flesh but bounced off the bone, only leaving a small bloody round, skinless mark on its head. Apparently, the rats bones were musket proof.
Azzrag howled in pain as it turned around and sent an uppercut into the man's jaw.
As in slow motion Jesus saw the Dukes jaw giveaway to the immense force and he flew almost a meter up. His eyes rolled back as the jaw shattered into pieces as bone and teeth were sent flying through his mouth into the brain, killing him instantly.
Quickly doing the sign of the hammer, Jesus prayed and said. " Rest in peace, Brave Duke of Galicia. "
Without giving his opponent a chance to recover Jesus charged and went for a tackle against the massive beast.
Azzrag was pushed back a bit, as it recovered it could feel the man thing start to lift it up. Jesus gritted his teeth as he lifted the rat off the ground with all his might. Jesus tried to slam the rat onto the ground.
Realizing what the man was doing, Azzrag struggled and bit into the man's muscular soldier with it's sharp teeth.
" Aaaaaaaa! " Jesus yelled as the rat bit into his flesh. Feeling the rat try to rip out his left collarbone with it's teeth, Jesus dug his right hand into the rats side. With his fingers, he stabbed into the already broken ribs of the rat and started to try and pull them out.
" Raaaaaaarrrrr! " Azzrag let go of the man thing and roared as he felt the strong human's fingers pull on his broken ribs.
As the rat let go of Jesus he did the same. As they separated they both sent right hooks into each other's faces. With that, a second round of fist barrages started to be exchanged. Under their powerful punches, blood flew as their bones fractured.
As the battle raged on around them and the sun started to set, men and rats stood around them in awe, watching the two beasts battle it out. Men prayed in their hearts for the chosen of Sighards victory, as rats cheared for Azzrag the White Goliath.