The Great Calamity's eyes were wide with horror, its once smug grin twisted into an expression of pure shock. It stared at Erend and its monstrous face contorted as if it had glimpsed something beyond even its comprehension.
The creature's mind reeled, desperately trying to understand what had just happened. When it attempted to absorb Erend's soul, it had instead encountered something it could not fathom. It was a vast, bottomless pit of black abyss. A darkness so deep and consuming that even the Great Calamity, a being of corruption, recoiled in fear.
"What… what are you?" the Great Calamity muttered, its voice trembling for the first time, dripping with disbelief.
Erend gritted his teeth, his body trembling from the pain that come from the deep wound in his shoulder and the unbearable sensation of having his soul touched by the Great Calamity.
Even though the creature had failed to absorb his soul, the attempt had left him in pain. His every muscle screamed and his Magic flickering like a dying flame.
But he couldn't focus on the pain or the questions swirling in his mind. He had no time to dwell on why the Great Calamity had reacted with such terror. All that mattered now was stopping it before it could claim Eccar.
His gaze flicked to his brother-in-arms. Eccar writhed on the ground, the red tendrils tightening around his body and pulling at his soul. His face was pale, his breath ragged, and his eyes burned with a mixture of fury and unbearable agony.
The pain Eccar was experiencing was unlike anything they had ever faced before, and Erend knew that if he didn't act quickly, Eccar's soul would be consumed.
With a surge of determination, Erend summoned what little strength he had left. The tendrils of the Great Calamity constricted around him, their burning blood-red coils sapping at his remaining energy.
He could feel the darkness creeping in and threatening to overwhelm him but he refused to give in. His muscles tightened, veins bulging with the effort, and he let out a guttural roar that echoed through the battlefield.
The tendrils strained. His rage and will to protect Eccar fueled him and igniting his spirit. With a desperate burst of strength, Erend finally shattered the tendrils that bound him, the red coils snapping like brittle branches.
The Great Calamity recoiled, its eyes wide with disbelief.
"Impossible..." it hissed, retreating slightly as it watched Erend break free from its grasp.
Erend immediately jumped and stumbled to his feet, blood still trickling from his wounds. His entire body ached but he forced himself to stand. He couldn't stop now. Eccar was still in danger. Without hesitation, Erend launched himself toward his friend, his hands crackling with what little Magic he could muster.
The Great Calamity let out a screech of fury, but it was too late.
Erend reached Eccar, grabbing the blood-red tendrils that bound him. With a ferocious growl, Erend pulled at them using every ounce of his remaining power to free Eccar from the creature's deadly grasp.
The tendrils resisted, writhing like serpents, but Erend's strength was relentless. Slowly but surely, the coils loosened.
Eccar who was gasping for breath felt the grip around him begin to weaken. Through the haze of pain, he looked up at Erend, their eyes meeting for a brief moment.
Erend gave a grim nod, and with one final surge, the last of the tendrils were torn away from Eccar's body, freeing him at last.
The Great Calamity let out a howl of rage, its wings flaring wide, the air around it crackling with dark energy.
"You... will not escape!" it snarled, its voice filled with fury and desperation. It raised its claws, ready to unleash another devastating attack.
But Erend stood firm, positioning himself between the Great Calamity and Eccar.
"We're not done yet, you asshole!" Erend growled, his eyes blazing.
The Great Calamity felt its shock twist into something deeper. After its failed attempt to absorb Erend's soul it could feel itself weakening rapidly. Its once-mighty form now showed signs of decay, as parts of its body began to melt away, thick streams of black and red liquid pooling beneath it. The stench of the ooze filling the air with the foul smell of rot and corruption.
Desperation clawed at the creature's mind. It could sense its own end drawing near. Yet, despite the agony that wracked its monstrous body, the Great Calamity still had enough rage to fuel one final attack.
It snarled through its pain, the burning white eyes fixed on Erend and with a roar, it hurled itself at him with what strength it had left.
Erend braced himself, his body still screaming from the earlier wounds. His left shoulder throbbed, the searing pain from the failed soul absorption still pulsing through his core like a raw wound.
Every step was agony, but he couldn't falter now. With a sharp intake of breath Erend raised his remaining strength and forcing himself to meet the Great Calamity's charge head-on.
The two forces collided once again but unlike before, the impact was weaker, the energy they once have now diminished. The force of their clash barely stirred the air, only a small ripple spreading from the point of contact. There was no earth-shattering power left to unleash.
Their fight turned into a brutal, hand-to-hand struggle. Both of them grappled on the blood-soaked ground, exchanging blows with whatever strength remained.
The Great Calamity's claws lashed out, and Erend blocked as best he could, countering with punches of his own. Every movement sent waves of pain shooting through his battered body, and the creature's molten flesh splattered across his skin, burning like acid.
But he didn't stop. He couldn't.
With every punch and desperate strikes, Erend felt his body weaken further. His muscles screamed. The Great Calamity also faltering. Its attacks were slower, its trength waning as its body continued to degrade, oozing more of the foul liquid with every move.
Despite this, the creature still had enough power to push Erend back. With a snarl, it landed a heavy blow and Erend staggered, his feet slipping in the slick blood beneath them. His already weakened legs gave out and with a grunt of pain, Erend was thrown backward, landing hard on the ground.
Erend tried to push himself up but his body protested, muscles trembling with exhaustion. He looked up at the Great Calamity, its form barely holding together but still standing. It lurched toward him intending on finishing him once and for all.