The Black Wraith now led the battle. With the necromancer's magic now crippled the hunter was able to completely go all-out offensive. Orus retreated, its face contorting and warping unnaturally to its muscle memory, as it felt fear creep upon its soul for the first time in centuries. With every inch Louie advanced forward the rasher and more desperate the Last Necromancer became. It stayed near the edge of octagon constantly attempting to attack the magical cage in between fending off Louie, with waves and tendrils of darkness as well as shadow forged weaponry.
Louie lashed out his whip, it cracked against the air in a horizontal line that tore apart the necromancer's defensive wall. The hunter burst forth slashing apart any sharp tendrils of darkness that darted out. Once in range, the Black Wraith mercilessly attacked its prey, its blade severed limbs and diced the necromancers body, leaving the mage in a paralyzed state as its slowed regeneration factor attempted to mend its body back together.
"Now!" Louie bellowed.
Suddenly, a cloaked figure appeared into existence behind Orus. Her figure was shrouded completely in a rippling, black cloak. A hand, glowing icy blue, emerged from beneath her veil and pressed firmly against the necromancer's back. Orus seized up completely, as if a surprise blade had been plunged into its back.
"The rest is up to you," she announced.
Louie nodded and she vanished from existence once again.
The Black Wraith turned his full attention to the necromancer. Louie had one chance. The battle would be decided here and now. He charged forward but it quickly became evident the Last Necromancer wouldn't be killed without a final clash. A foul and ear-splitting scream erupted into the air from within the Orus, as it unleashed every ounce of its remaining power embracing the Abyss completely. Shadows of the deepest darkness burst out from the mage destroying, its body as they emerged. The Last Necromancer had forgot about its own survival entirely, its only existing goal to slay the Black Wraith.
Its final spell coalesced and concentrated itself into a single, devasting, Abyss forged tendril. It was the largest spell it'd unleashed all battle. It charged towards the Wraith.
With both hands, Louie gripped his sword and met the attack head on. The night quaked as enchanted steel clashed with the true horror of the Abyss. His teeth gritted and every muscle in his body tensed and strained as he attempted to overpower the spell. His feet shattered the earth as he was slowly pushed back. It felt as if he was trying to cut through a rampaging train, an unrelenting, force that would rage forward until all life upon this world was slaughtered.
The Black Wraith continued to be pushed back, as the spell's power somehow continued to swell. Louie pushed his body even further, uncaring of the consequences. He felt his muscles tear, and his gums bleed as his teeth threatened to crack against one another. The thoughts and memories of everything and everyone he was fighting for flashed across his mind. He wouldn't lose here. He couldn't lose here. His final message to James Elacti standing over his grave filled his mind. His promise to those who gave him a family.
A bestial and guttural roar ruptured from Louie's throat, as his entire body surpassed its physical limits. In a silver arc, that threatened to split the night itself, his sword ripped through the Last Necromancer's final stand. The shadows were purged from the night, leaving the two of them standing alone, completely exposed under the dominating moon light.
The force of the Wraith's final slash sent his sword flying from his grip. He stepped forward to meet the Last Necromancer barehanded and without hesitation.
With terror filled eyes, Orus attempted to retreat but the Black Wraith was faster. In a single swift action, Louie plunged his hand through the necromancer's chest and ripped out its heart. The black, vulgar organ still pumped and convulsed violently within the hunters grip. Desperate shadows burst out from the wound, attempting to recover their stolen soul.
With a simple squeeze, Louie Huntor crushed the black heart. No blood spluttered from the organ and instead, a horrid screeching scream shook the air.
The scream was abruptly silenced, and the night turned serene.
Orus froze and for the first time expelled a single breath. It's body lifelessly collapsed, and all shadows were banished from its body, back into the depot returning them to their normal state.
With a soft hum the magic cage expired and dissolved into the night, in a beautiful display of glimmering stardust.
He'd won just in time. Louie glanced down at crushed organ in his hand. It pathetically crumbled to dust and the Last Necromancer's body soon followed. Louie watched as a millennia of death drifted away in the wind, like it was nothing more than sand on a beach.
"Is it done?" the cloaked woman asked. She'd appeared behind him, staring down at where Orus had once been.
"Yeah," Louie responded, with a relieved breath.
The cloaked figure joined him in his relief and pulled down her hood. A pretty, young woman, with dark brown hair and blue eyes was revealed. She went by the name Mirla and was one of the last living mages to walk this world.
"Fucking hell Louie," she laughed. "Actually killing the Last Necromancer. Even for you that's insane."
Louie joined her with a light chuckle. "You act like you had no faith."
"Do you think I'd have agreed to this insanity if I didn't?"
Louie shook his head. "Thanks for your help," he said
"We should be thanking you. You've done what was thought impossible."
"Still your contributions were beyond crucial. I've never met anyone more skilled at runecrafting."
Mirla nodded. "I am curious though. Could you have won on your own?"
"Maybe," Louie admitted, although is voice wasn't coated in confidence. "Would've been nearly impossible though and I doubt I would've survived the battle. To kill a mage like that you usually need another mage. Magic is a pain like that."
"Or a weapon of pure death and destruction," Mirla countered.
Louie chuckled, "Fair enough."
"I'm not joking. Most other hunter would've been dead in seconds. Your unique mutations and magic resistance kept you alive."
Louie nodded and glanced up into the night sky, feeling the final drops of Noctrm leave his body. Despite his victory, he felt a irritated grimace fall upon his face.
"You don't seem happy?" Mirla said.
"Something doesn't add up," Louie said, turning to face her. "Orus wasn't acting on its own will … It was like it was taking orders."
"Master has the same fear," Mirla agreed. "But … what could rule over the Last Necromancer."
Louie shrugged. "It mentioned a being called 'The Witch'. Does that ring a bell?"
Mirla shook her head, but he noticed her complexed pale. "I'll pass the name around see if we can dig anything up."
Louie decided to ignore her reaction. "I'll leave it you then. While you're at it, can you pass on the message that Valdosk has been killed."
"You're that confident?"
"I am."
Mirla grinned. "I'll make sure it reaches the Covenant."
The mage then began to stroll away. "I imagine we'll be hearing from you soon."
"Most likely," Louie said.
"See you around," she said.
Louie gave her a small wave and with the next howl of wind she'd vanished.
He reached inside his coat and pulled out his phone. A small, relieved smile appeared on his face when he saw it was still in perfect condition. He hated having to replace these things.