The Bonds of Blood and Steel
The Aftermath of Wrath
The echo of Archibald's dying scream still reverberated through the cavern, but Jerry had no time to dwell on the man's final moments. His attention snapped back to the twisted roots binding Tu'Xanz, Mel'Imba, Yen'Shamillia, and their children.
The black tendrils squirmed and pulsed, feeding off their energy. Jerry could feel the darkness latching onto their very souls, an Abyssal parasite sapping them dry.
"Hold on! I'm getting you out of this!" he shouted, his voice cracking with the urgency of his desperation.
Jerry swung Backbone and Dismay in brutal arcs, the weapons cutting through the corrupted roots as if they were nothing more than brittle vines. With each severed tendril, the energy around them grew lighter, less oppressive.
The bond between Jerry and his companions flared with energy, each of them pouring their strength into him. Aviana's precision guided his strikes. Vrkane's ferocity fueled his speed. Bengala's raw power made his blows feel like the wrath of a storm.
"Just a little more…" Jerry thought, sweat streaming down his face.
The final tendril snapped and disintegrated into ash. The twisted roots slumped to the ground, their dark energy evaporating like smoke. Tu'Xanz and his family lay unconscious, their breathing shallow but steady.
Jerry sank to his knees beside them, his fingers trembling as he checked their pulses. Relief flooded him when he confirmed they were alive.
"They're going to be alright," Aviana's voice whispered in his mind.
"Thanks to you," Jerry replied, his voice choked with emotion.
---
Reviving the Fallen
One by one, they began to stir. Tu'Xanz's eyes fluttered open, confusion clouding his gaze before it turned to horror.
"Mel…Yen… the kids…" he croaked.
"They're here," Jerry assured him. "They're alive."
Mel'Imba let out a groan, her fingers twitching as if grasping for something. When she opened her eyes and saw Jerry, tears filled her gaze.
"Jerry…" she whispered, her voice strained. "You… came for us."
"Of course I did," he said, a weak smile tugging at his lips. "What kind of family would I be if I didn't?"
Tu'Xanz gripped his arm, his strength slowly returning. "You saved us… again. I owe you more than I can ever repay."
"You don't owe me anything. We're family." Jerry's voice cracked as he looked at the children, their small bodies beginning to stir. "We protect each other. Always."
Yen'Shamillia sat up, her eyes wide with terror. "The monsters… they came… they took us…"
"They're gone now," Jerry said softly, his voice gentle as he stroked her hair. "They won't hurt you anymore. I promise."
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A Temporary Respite
They spent the next few hours in the depths of the cavern, tending to injuries and helping Tu'Xanz's family regain their strength. Jerry's armor adjusted itself, patches of energy-absorbing darkness spreading over his shoulders and chest, easing his exhaustion.
The cave itself was a haunting sight. The walls were covered in crude carvings, symbols that reeked of dark magic. Blood stains marred the stone, evidence of the unholy rituals that had taken place here.
"I didn't think anyone could corrupt life itself like this," Mel'Imba murmured, her hands trembling as she gazed at the desecrated roots.
"They used you," Jerry growled. "As bait. To draw me here."
"The Abyss is relentless," Tu'Xanz muttered, his voice hollow. "They want you. Whatever they were planning, it was centered on your power."
Jerry's fists clenched, the metal of his gauntlets groaning under the pressure. "Then they'll find I'm not as easy to break as they thought."
"Jerry…" Tu'Xanz hesitated, his eyes searching Jerry's face. "They attacked our home. There's no guarantee they won't try again."
Jerry's gaze hardened. "Then I'll make sure they can't."
---
Return to the Surface
The journey back was exhausting. They moved as quickly as they could manage, but the toll of the Abyssal attack lingered in their bones. When they emerged from the chasm, the night had already fallen.
Jerry's senses remained on high alert, every whisper of the wind and creak of the trees triggering his instincts. His body ached from the battle, but the adrenaline still coursed through him.
"We need to get you all somewhere safe," Jerry said once they reached the relative safety of the forest. "Somewhere the Abyss can't reach."
"I don't think that place exists," Tu'Xanz admitted, his expression grim. "But we have to try."
"You know," Jerry said, his voice low. "This might sound crazy, but I think… I think I can use their own power against them."
Mel'Imba raised a brow. "How?"
"I've been feeling it. The way my powers interact with the energy around me. It's like… I can tap into it. Redirect it. Even manipulate it." Jerry's eyes burned with determination. "Maybe I can find a way to shield you. To protect you all from their influence."
"You really believe you can do that?" Tu'Xanz asked, his gaze filled with hope and skepticism.
"I have to," Jerry replied. "Because if I can't, then all of this… it's just going to keep happening. And I won't let that happen. Not again."
---
A Plan Forged In Fire
Back at the forge, Jerry wasted no time. He poured his essence into the metal, infusing every blade, every piece of armor with his energy. His hands moved with a precision he had never known before, guided by the strength of his bonds and the memory of his battle against Archibald.
Every strike of his hammer echoed with power. Every flame that rose from the forge was tinted with the brilliance of his will.
He forged armor for Tu'Xanz's family, pieces that would shield them from the corrupting touch of the Abyss. He poured his strength into each creation, using the connection he shared with his companions to channel their abilities into his work.
The process drained him, but he pressed on. His vision blurred, his muscles screamed in agony, but he would not stop. Could not stop.
Not until they were safe.
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The Oath of the Bonded
When the final piece of armor was completed, Jerry collapsed onto the ground, his breathing ragged. Tu'Xanz and Mel'Imba rushed to his side, their concern clear.
"I'm fine," Jerry wheezed. "Just… need to rest."
"You've done more than enough," Tu'Xanz said, his voice thick with emotion. "We are truly bonded now. Your strength is ours, and ours is yours. As long as we breathe, you will never face the darkness alone."
Jerry closed his eyes, exhaustion tugging him into unconsciousness. But even as he drifted away, a single thought burned in his mind.
I will protect them. No matter what it takes.
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