Ashton's attention shifted to the Priest as the clash between Flintmace, Vulcan, and the monstrous Krathos raged on. Balmond had done an excellent job of torturing the Priest.
However, there were some things that even Balmond couldn't do... like make his target cower in fear. As Ashton approached them, the battered and bloodied Priest glared defiantly at Ashton, refusing to yield.
"You think defeating me will make a difference? You know nothing of the true power that resides within Krathos," the Priest sneered, his voice laced with defiance.
Ashton's eyes narrowed, determination burning within them. He knew that uncovering Krathos' weakness was crucial to defeating the Behemoth and ending its threat to the empire. He stepped forward, closing the distance between him and the battered Priest.
"I may not know everything about Krathos, but I do know that no creature is invincible. Now, tell me its weakness," Ashton demanded, his voice resolute.
"You are a fool if you think I will divulge such information willingly." The Priest chuckled, a low, deranged sound. "My allegiance lies with the Cult of Cosmos, and I will protect its secrets until my dying breath."
With a swift motion, Ashton lashed out, delivering a powerful kick to the Priest's jaw. The force of the impact sent the Priest sprawling to the ground, and his words were cut short.
"You underestimate my determination," Ashton said, his voice filled with a steely resolve. "I will make you talk, one way or another. Even if it means killing and resurrecting you over and over."
Ashton circled the fallen Priest, his eyes scanning the surroundings. He let go of the scythe and took hold of Balmond before squatting down to meet the Priest's level.
Kneeling beside the Priest, Ashton gripped the soulblade tightly, its sharp edge glinting in the dim light. He pressed it against the Priest's throat, the threat of its cutting edge clear.
"Krathos is strong, but you are weak," Ashton spoke with a quiet intensity. "You cannot protect its secret if you're dead. Now, tell me its weakness while I'm being gentle."
The Priet laughed, but his laugh became a bloodcurdling scream a moment later as Ashton took hold of the Priest's ace, burning off his skin using the crystal in his arm.
The Priest thrashed his arms around, trying to get the crystal away from his skin while Balmond inched closer to his neck.
"Hm... since you can open your mouth to scream, try talking next." Ashton glared at the Priest, who now sported a burned face and a useless eye.
The Priest's remaining eye widened with fear as Ashton took hold of the other side of his face, the weight of his impending demise settling upon him. He struggled against Ashton's grip, desperate to escape his fate.
"Fine!" the Priest gasped, his voice filled with defeat. "Krathos... is vulnerable... to sonic frequencies. Its heightened senses make it susceptible to high-frequency sound waves. It will disorient the creature, giving you an opportunity to strike."
Ashton's grip on the Priest's face loosened slightly, his gaze unwavering. "And how do we generate those frequencies?"
The Priest sneered, a twisted smile playing upon his battered lips. "You will need a powerful sonic emitter, one that can produce sound waves at a level that will incapacitate Krathos. But good luck finding one in time."
"I always find a way." Ashton smiled as he opened a portal to Valhalla.
A few skeleton soldiers appeared before him, paying their respects to the Grim Reaper.
"Take special care of this esteemed guest of mine," Ashton instructed the skeletons. "Make sure not to kill him."
With that, he released the Priest, who crumpled to the ground, gasping for breath. Ashton rose to his feet, Balmond slipping from his hand and, without wasting any time, rushed inside Ashton's inventory on his own. As if saying he was done playing for the day.
He knew he had obtained the vital information he needed, but time was of the essence. After the Priest was dragged inside the realm of the dead, Ashton opened yet another portal leading to the Eastern palace on Earth.
If all he needed was someone who specialised in generating high-frequency screeches, then Ashton had the best woman for the job.
A moment later, a beautiful lady walked out of the portal. Although she had changed a lot since the last time Ashton had seen her, the change had been for the better.
"It's been a while, Ursa." Ashton greeted her as the portal closed behind her.
"I greet the master," Ursa returned his smile, a glimmer of excitement in her eyes. She gracefully bowed before Ashton, acknowledging his presence with respect. "How can I be of any service, my lord?"
Ashton pointed at Krathos as Flintmace and Vulcan tried their best to get past the creature's quick reflexes.
"As you can see, I'm in quite a pickle here," he said. "apparently, that creature's only weakness is high-pitched screams. And since you're part banshee and I have seen your abilities on planet Euphoria, I thought you were the best candidate to help me out here."
Ursa's eyes sparkled with excitement, her voice filled with confidence. "Consider it done, my lord. I will unleash a scream that will shatter the very foundation of this beast."
With unwavering determination, Ursa stepped forward, her ethereal form emanating a captivating aura. As she did that, Ashton informed his masters to get out of the way if they didn't want to use hearing aids for the rest of their lives.
Once they were out of harm's way, Ursa raised her delicate hands to her lips, a hush falling over the battlefield as everyone watched in anticipation.
Taking a deep breath, she unleashed a spine-chilling scream, her voice piercing the air with its sheer intensity. The high-pitched sound reverberated throughout the place, cutting through the chaos and commanding attention.
Krathos, caught off guard by the unexpected assault, staggered momentarily, its monstrous form faltering.
The respite provided Ashton, Flintmace and Vulcan with a brief window of opportunity, enabling them to deliver powerful blows against the Behemoth.
"Cover your ears and charge!" Vulcan yelled at the top of his voice while providing everyone with earmuffs. Being a true creationist, Vulcan had something for every situation.
For the first time, their attacks did damage Krathos as it was too busy covering its ears and couldn't defend itself.