Nugatory Vigil

Reynald was never one to falter at the sight of adversity or unyielding abominations,nontheless he shrieked along with the others at the sight of the being.A hideous mass of fluid flesh taking the form of a heart,hundreds of eyes staring ublinkingly into their very souls.A vaguely humanoid shape was protruding from the mass,baring its sharp fangs at the heroes,it's head adorned with a crown consisting of bone and sinew.

But then something happened.

Something that set each of the mercenaries reeling in horror.

It spoke

Behold the heart of the world! Progenitor of life, Father and Mother, Alpha and Omega! Our creator... and our destroyer.

The heart's voice sounded from inside of their heads,they couldn't escape it no matter what they did.Reynald felt himself drifting closer to his breaking point.He looked back at his friends,seeing the fear in their eyes.He couldn't afford this moment of weakness.They needed him more than ever,they looked at him,expecting answers.And so,he gave them one.

"CHAAAARGE!"-The courageous Crusader yelled at the top of his lungs.And just like that,he saw fear disappear from their eyes,replaced with not hope,not courage,but the burning determination to finish this long and bloody crusade.

They unleashed a torrent of attacks,starting with Reynald himself.He struck the creature in what he thought was it's weak point.His sword went through the flesh like hot knife through butter,opening a bleeding,gaping wound.And yet,the creature didn't even flinch.As soon as his sword left the Heart's body the wound began to slowly close.

A bundle of tentacles rushed from the hole in the creature's body,aiming to stike the Crusader.He tried to dodge at the last second,only to feel them tear into his body.He began to bleed profusely,and the only thing that saved him from inordinate exsanguination was a soothing light coming from up above.

Junia snapped back from the horror that gripped her entire being just when the creature ripped into Reynald.Calling upon the Holy Ligh she recited a verse with more fervor that ever before.
A light was cast into Crusader's body,closing the wound and soothing the mind.The Vestal held her mace up in the air,praying to strike at the creature,to momentarily stun it.A blinding light shone upon the putrid flesh,boiling it at the point of contact.The abomination flinched,glaring with all of it's eyes onto the Vestal.It was about to strike when-

BOOMshhh

A poisonous sack came flying into the heart's face,exploding upon contact.Paracelsus has struck at anopportune moment, and unleashed the most vile concoction unto the thing.The Plague Doctor threw everything she had at it.The Heart reeled in pain as the Blight began to liquefy it's many eyes,turning them into a revolting foul-smelling goo.It began whispering an incantation to break her mind when it's concentration was broken by-

Dismas jumped in front of the Crusader,stabbing the Heart,and getting into position to riposte it's next attack.The Highwayman's left arm began to writhe in pain,changing,melding...

The flesh is fluid, it can be changed, reshaped, remade!

Clenching his teeth,he struck the creature through the mind-twisting pain.

The abomination roared,not in pain,but in anger

You still foolishly consider yourself an entity separate from the whole. I know better. And I. Will. Show you.

It advanced on their position,threatening to consume them whole with it's bubbling flesh.

Paracelsus knew what she had to do."Spare the others, I am ready"-She said,casting last look at her friends,before leaping into the heart,dissapearing from view.

Her fellow mercinaries froze for just a moment,before continuing their assault.It was not long before the creature roared for another sacrifice.
Junia knew what she had to do."I-it's so horrible!B-b-but i will take you with me!".Were her last words before being consumed.
Unleashing a fury of attacks Reynald and Dismas attacked the Heart,paying no mind to their debilitating injuries.As both of them struck the foul creature down with a final,desperate,dart,the dungeon began to crumble all around them.

They heard it speak once more.

"Victory...a hollow and ridiculous notion.

We are born of this thing, made from it. And we will be returned to it, in time.

The great family of man -- a profusion of errant flesh. Multiplying. Swarming. Living. Dying.

Until the stars a-"

They stopped listening to it halfway through.As they faded to black,they looked eachother in the eyes and said:

"On the old road,we found redemption."