Juan gave a battle cry and ran towards Eduardo but it was too late. He watched helplessly as a sword pierced Eduardo’s chest. Juan continued to run, the rage at Eduardo’s death overtaking him.
He was stopped cold when he saw that Eduardo did not fall. Juan looked on in disbelief. The blade had passed through Eduardo yet had not touched him. The Nephilim looked at each other in confusion. Eduardo, shocked to still be alive, took advantage of the uncertainty to slaughter two Nephilim with a slash and a thrust. The two warriors fell dead and Eduardo turned his attention to the two remaining warriors. Eduardo wasted no time in taking one of the warrior’s head.
Juan watched the melee and was distracted. He didn’t recognize he was distracted until he felt the presence of someone behind him. He started to turn but it was too late. He watched as a blade appeared from his stomach.
He braced himself for the pain that would follow but none came; neither did the blood or organs that usually spilled from such a wound. The blade was pulled free and Juan looked down at his stomach. There was no mark. We cannot die, Abuelo’s words echoed in his head.
That recognition gave Juan new confidence. His rage returned and his fighting intensified. He killed every enemy he saw.
As the two sides fought, one man stood aside from the battle. He did not fight and would not fight unless attacked. His purpose in the battle was much larger than the battle itself.
He looked out over the field, past the Nephilim and the Men of Nod who slaughtered one another with spears and swords. Beyond the field of battle was a gateway: his destination. He had taken an oath to lead the Nephilim there.
As he watched from the sideline, Antonio sighed deeply, regretting what must come next but beholden to it nonetheless. Patiently, he waited for the battle to end.
The stench of death filled the air. Juan and Diego absorbed that smell as they did everything else that went with battle. The reek of spilled blood and organs was similar to a violin during an orchestra, working in association to create an ambiance of warfare:
Juan took a warrior’s arm at the shoulder and then reversed his blade to take the man’s head as well.
Diego slid his sword into a warrior’s back and the spine was cut in two. He twisted the sword, pulling it free from the warrior’s body and the warrior fell on the ground, dead at Diego’s feet.
Slowly, death reached both sides until only a few men remained fighting. That was when Juan felt a hand on his arm and saw that it was Diego. He turned to where Diego pointed and saw Abuelo traded blows with another ageless man. Juan recognized that the man must be Rephaim.
The remaining Men of Nod and Nephilim lowered their swords to observe their fighting leaders. Everyone knew the outcome of the conflict would determine the outcome of the battle. The two men were fully absorbed into one another – each man fighting for what would become of the world.
Abuelo parried a thrust by Rephaim before twisting with his wrist and slashing a tight arc, catching Rephaim on his shoulder with the tip of his blade. Blood ran from Rephaim and his sword arm dropped. Abuelo rushed in and heaved his shoulder into Rephaim’s chest, knocking Rephaim backwards.
Rephaim recovered and raised his sword. Abuelo mirrored and both men circled each other, looking for an opening. Rephaim stutter-stepped thinking he saw a weakness in Abuelo’s stance but quickly withdrew, realizing Abuelo was baiting him.
The standoff continued for what seemed like an eternity. Abuelo watched intently, eyeing Rephaim.
Then suddenly, as Rephaim walked near a fallen corpse, he slipped on a pool of the dead man’s blood. Abuelo rushed in.
Each man present knew what would happen next – they had known since before the battle began. The observers watched as Rephaim smiled; he had only feigned the slip.
Abuelo saw the miscalculation but his body weight drove him towards Rephaim’s leveled sword, which disappeared clean into Abuelo’s chest and reappeared dark red from his back.
No one in audience moved or spoke as Abuelo drew his last breath.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
The time of the Men of Nod was at a conclusion. The time of the Nephilim now dawned. Their ancestors had been refused but now they would inherit what their fathers could not. The Nephilim would become immortal and claim their place in eternity.
Whatever was to come of humanity would no longer be in the hands of the Men of Nod. They dropped their swords and prepared for the end. Juan and his fellow Spaniards rushed forward but were restrained. The Nephilim responded swiftly, closing in and removing the head of each Man of Nod.
Afterwards, Rephaim came forward holding the sword he had used to kill Abuelo. He stopped in front of Juan and smiled. Then, he nodded and from the remaining Nephilim came Miguel. Miguel’s eyes were filled with hatred and Diego knew he came for revenge.
Diego was allowed to draw his sword. He had the advantage: he could not die but was sure that Miguel could.
In the end, he decided not to use his sword. He let frustration be his weapon. Miguel stepped into his thrust and drove his sword into Diego’s body. The sword passed through Diego without detriment.
Miguel stepped back confused (he had not seen that Diego couldn’t die). He struck again with the same result.
As Juan watched, he wished that Miguel would turn his sword with the same aggression on Rephaim. After all, Juan was sure they had
