revelations revelations, 21:8 21:8

As they struggled the ground under foot became painfully hot. Malleus’ paws stung fiercely and threatened to blister later in protest of such cruel treatment, but there was little he could do besides ignore them and promise treatment later.

Their struggle carried them upwards as Malleus sought higher ground that would give him leverage over his bigger opponent. He didn’t pull or attempt to drag Archon, rather as each step up presented itself he took it in the hopes of being able to twist his brother down into submission. Malleus knew Archon wouldn’t go quietly. He expected to have to rely on the aid of his son and their companions to take Archon home.

It wasn’t to be. There was a groaning below them that Malleus could feel in his chest followed by a sudden explosion of heat and a feeling of weightlessness as the stone crumbled away. His legs were scorched by the fiery blast. The billowing gases and the heat around him caused the air to shimmer. Through the haze Malleus caught a fleeting glimpse of Pyrrhic as he went down. There was no time to regret or to wonder where life would take his children or to mourn the grandchildren he would never see. Even if there had been, Malleus’ heart was firm. Though there was no time to react as the earth fell away, there was a moment when he knew he was going to die - and he accepted it. Everyone had a purpose and if the Fallen God saw fit to use him here to end a heretic how could he be anything other than willing?

Together they fell into the terrible heat and together they were consumed.

-exit Malleus via death-