//------------------------------//
// Chapter 4 The Cleansing 
// Story: Hollow 
// by Demonfire463 
//------------------------------//

Chapter 4

Tightly gripping Zweihander, I angrily lunge myself at Raymond, my brother, and he narrowly dodges the blade. I swing the huge sword with inhuman speed and strength. When I miss a second time, I lift the Greatshield of Artorias and bash his head with the giant piece of metal. While he is dazed I bring Zweihander down fiercely, only to be parried by the red and silver shield after a quick recovery. He then lunges the golden curved blade through my stomach. He slashes at me with great fury, as I kick him hard enough to send him on the ground. As I bring Zweihander down on him, my rage empowering my attacks, I hear a myriad of magic spears and fire orbs being launched at the unfortunate Kirk. I had forgotten all about him. I quickly spin around and use the momentum to leave a massive gash across the knight's armored chest. Immediately afterward I feel a curved blade go through my back and see it come out the center of my chest, only barely missing my heart. I run a few yards away and have just enough time to take a swig from my estus flask. I feel a burning sensation as the liquid heals all of my fresh wounds. I see that now only Joshua is attacking Kirk, and Arthur fires dark beads at Raymond. With that massive damage dealt to the Darkwraith, I charge in for the final strike. Only to be parried yet again and stabbed fiercely in the chest. He runs a few yards away and crushes a humanity as I drink another estus. I hear a phantom be vanquished, I look to see Kirk on his knees, bleeding profusely. I turn toward Joshua, still standing but nearing death from his earlier pyromancy. He takes a few swigs of estus to heal himself. I am slashed in the stomach several times by my brother and begin to bleed badly. My estus is out. How could I be out of estus so quickly? Raymond turns toward Joshua and slices him several times as he begins to bleed. His Power Within had worn off so he was no longer being drained of his life force. Arthur quickly launches a set of ten pursuers at Raymond. Raymond grips his Silver Pendant and the pursuers all fly off in different directions. He stabs Arthur in the back and kicks him onto the ground. As we kneel there at his mercy, he raises his sword up in preparation of the final strike to my throat. When he strikes, only his hand comes down. His sword is suspended in midair! Surrounded by some magical aura! I take full advantage of this moment and call upon my last bit of strength and much of my rage to strike him with my Zweihander. He parries and kicks me away as the blue pagasus flies down and catches me before I hit the ground. She lifts me up and I look behind my brother. All six of them are there! Applejack rushes up behind him and kicks him to the ground, Rarity and Twilight Sparkle launch magic at him which mostly goes through his shield. Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash fly at him and quickly kick him as they fly. Pinkie Pie is firing some sort of cannon at him. Joshua and Arthur get to their feet as I firmly hold my ground. I raise my Zweihander, Arthur prepares the largest crystal soul spear I had ever seen, and Joshua prepares for a powerful black flame. The six see this and run so as not to be hit accidentally of any of these. Raymond raises his shield as Joshua charges in, a great black flame already coming from his hand in a great blast of pyromancy. The black fire connects with the bloodshield, knocking Raymond's shield from his grip. The crystal soul spear hits him in the center of his chest and explodes into a powerful blast of magic. Immediately after, I swing the Zweihander harder than I ever had before horizontally across his stomach. He falls to his knees. As his final breath in this world escapes his lips I stab him in the heart with the ultra greatsword I wielded. I look deep into the eyes of the Dark Mask and see the light exit his evil eyes. We have been cleansed of these dark spirits. For now at least.