by Envy Mercury
“Freyja likes it, let's get going.”
Mav flew over and landed back on my shoulder. I had left her a gift there as well. “You made an armored area for me?”
“Yes, you seem to like my shoulder. I made a protective area for you to sit in.”
“It’s comfortable and wonderful. Thank you.”
We started to walk north towards our final destination when Mav called for us to stop. “We don’t need to waste time walking there. There are nearby trees. I will call upon a dryad. It will be much faster.”
Mew puckered her lips and twisted them. “A dryad can teleport us?”
“Yes, with floraportation. We will travel through the plants. The dryads are happy you came here. They feel safer now with those men gone. They like how pretty my fairies made it too. They will help us, just go to the big tree over there.”
We walked over to the large tree, and Mav called out to the tree. The bark shimmered a little bit, and a face started to morph out of it. A green female face stretched from the tree, followed by green hair and green breasts, and an arm. Of course, she was nude, I wasn’t going to complain, but it was very distracting.
Mav gave her a smile. “Can you teleport us to where we need to go? We need to go to the castle to the north that is controlled by the human Victor.”
“Victor is an evil human, and it is a foul place of late. Many plants are dead there now. I can get you close.” She looked over at me. “This human has a kind heart and respects our nature. He has protected our area. I will give you passage.”
“Thanks. May I know your name?” I asked.
“I am called Karya. Please, protect the dryads that live there as well.” I nodded to her as she started to pull back inside the tree. A root of the tree pulled up from the ground and crept around us, forming a large circle.
Mav adjusted how she sat and grabbed the armor in front of her. “She likes you.”
“Oh?”
“Yes, dryads never talk to humans, and she also gave you her name. Ok, let's all go and step inside the root circle.” We all stood inside the circle facing each other. “Now hold hands. You don’t really have to do that part. I just think it's nice.” We grabbed each other’s hands and waited. There was a shimmer that started to haze in and out around us. Then it just started to get bright to where I had to close my eyes. There was a lurch in my stomach, like riding an amusement park ride, and the light faded away.
I opened my eyes, and we were in a new area, standing in another root circle. It wasn’t as sunny anymore. Dark clouds were everywhere, filling up the sky, and some thunder boomed as lightning streaked across above us. There was a tall, dark castle that was only a walk across a large flat plain. We exited out of the circle, and I said our thanks. The dryad must have been able to hear me while it was in the tree. The root lifted and snaked its way back into the ground.
Mew stretched her arms and did some stretches. “Rezzy, your place kind of looks like a dump.”
“Yeah, I think it needs a remodel.” It wasn’t a very happy looking place. The outside was very dark, and it was intimidating. It fit the part perfectly if this were a movie, but I knew this wasn’t a movie. This was real.
It is covered with corruption. There are other dark forces at work here.
“Yeah, it does look corrupted.” Everyone looked at me, and then I explained what Freyja had just told me.
For the first time in a while, I saw that Mav had a more severe expression worn on her face. She didn’t look thrilled. “Demons, I feel demons too.”
I felt Mew as she moved closer to me and grabbed my arm. “I don’t like this. I haven’t seen a demon before.”
I smiled at her and scratched by her ears. “I don’t remember seeing them before either.”
“It appears a lot less active than I thought it would be. There isn’t even anyone outside wandering around,” Mei said.
Valentine pulled her bow from her back and grabbed a few arrows. “Either way, we are here. I will follow your lead, Rezner.”
“I will do what I can on my own, but I will also lend you some of my power. It will boost your strength more, and you will have access to my skills,” Mav told me.
I started walking, and they followed along slightly behind me. “Let’s go say hello. Love to purify the wicked.”
Chapter Fifteen
We made our way out into the open and crossed the flat grassland that stood between us and the castle that use to belong to me. There were no guards or traces of anything watching us. Blinding lightning traveled across the cloud cover like fingers scratching into their soft surfaces. Followed by thunder that pounded into our hearts, shaking my nerves to my core. I decided we were close enough to be noticed but far enough away to stay somewhat safe. I wasn’t sure what could be thrown our way. Whatever it was, it wasn’t going to be good.
Let them know you are here, reclaim what is yours.
I looked at my companions. They stood firm; their faces told the world that they meant business. I had better catch up with them. I gulped down my nerves and cleared my throat. It was time to get this party started. I thought about how everyone in the kingdom had been treated, and I reminded myself that Mecci and Yumi were locked away inside my stolen property.
I raged.
“Let it be known! Everything here belongs to me! Including your worthless lives. I am here to take back what is mine and lay down my judgment upon you! I am Lord Rezner, and you will never forget this day!”
There was silence, and we just stood firm with our feet planted, and our heads held high.
They heard you. So far, things are going just as I predicted. Victor is holding off only to mess with you and draw you in closer.
“That was pretty badass, Rezzy. I’m going to start relaxing here if they don’t come out soon, though.”
“That is exactly why they are waiting. Don’t worry. Victor’s forces will be out here shortly. Good job using some of my slang as well. I’m proud of you.”
Mew glanced at me, a small smirk mixing with her serious let’s kick some ass persona. “I try. I love you.”
I couldn’t help it, and I laughed a little. “You say that now of all times?”
“What if I can’t later? I wanted you to know.”
“You will be able to, I promise. I love you too.” I looked at everyone else standing by my side. “That goes for the rest of you. I love you all. We will discuss that later.”
Then the gate started to slowly open, the rattle of the large chains that controlled it, interrupting and mixing with the thunder that ravaged our ears. It raised slowly, but when it finally reached its peak, I saw movement inside the entryway. Many foot soldiers started to pour from the gate like ants. I tried to estimate the count, and I figured it to be around one hundred or so.
I almost felt guilty thinking about all the death that would occur at our hands if we were going to make it through this.
There is a time for love and a time for war. They are here with their own free will. Strike them down.
I have no problem doing that.
“There are a few of them, but they are in a group. I am sure I can handle most without even getting close to them. If any get past my attacks, you all can strike them down.” I raised my hands and sent two smaller blasts to their flanks. I figured it would box them in a little tighter, making my main attack more effective. It worked like a charm.
Small concussive explosions rocked to their left and right. They instinctively moved away from them, which squished them together in a herd. While that was happening, I already had my hand in the air charging a burst of mana. I lowered my hand and sent them my gift of death. It was like bowling, but only in the way that they vanished like the pins.
The explosion rocked the ground, sending blood out in a giant splatter of arterial spray. If the enemy were a viscera balloon, I had just popped it like the nasty boils they were. The smell was overwhelming. The red mist in the air started to settle into the ground, which drank it up.<
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“I think we are going to have to hire a maid,” I said.
Mei looked over to me. “Don’t look at me. I am the princess’s attendant, not yours.” Then she laughed.
I heard Valentine pull her bowstring back slightly. “I see some more about to come out. Armored knights are mixed with more foot soldiers. I don’t think your last trick will work as well this time. They will spread out.”
“Ready yourselves, and don’t let them surround you if we get split up. They won’t show us mercy, give them no chance to yield.”
Foot soldiers started to make their way slowly towards us. They did spread out more. They had heavily armored knights in tow behind them. This group was probably about four times larger than the last.
I reached up and grabbed my sword, enjoying the satisfying sound of the metal unlocking the blade. “Spread out a little, so we each have more space to fight.” I drew my longsword out in front of me, and the blade started to glow with its familiar blue hue. I took a stance and prepared to meet them. Out of my peripheral vision, I saw Mav raise her tiny hand up, enveloped in sparkly magic.
The first group of men charging at us was taught what a fairy queen could do.
Roots and plants burst from the ground, wrapping legs and dropping the men to their faces. I heard the snapping of bones as some fell, the plants wrapped around their bodies filling the air with sickly crunches. Slower and more torturous than my attack, cries of agony and torment filled the air with their ghastly cries of death.
The rest of the army that was following slowed after that, their instinct for preservation kicking in.
Five against five hundred, this would be the one time I would pick those odds in Vegas. With a bellow, I brought my sword forward and took off towards the enemy. Listening to Freyja guide my musical that was full of death instead of singing. While running towards them, I saw many arrows fly by me, striking foes in the head, releasing skull fragments and brain matter. Valentine had the arrows puncture their throats if they had armor, the arrows left sticking partway out the back of their necks. Muscle tissue and crimson liquid spraying on those unlucky to be near her decimated targets, their morale dropping further.
Then they dealt with me.
My blade hummed as I slashed it into the first group. It diced through three soldiers, getting stuck halfway into the fourth’s abdomen. I exhaled a groan as I felt a sword cut into my arm. I was distracted by pulling my weapon from the soldier that slowed down my killing swing. I looked to my left and grabbed my would-be attacker's face, his head exploding in gore and fragments. Mew was standing on a knight’s shoulders, her face one of menace and bloodlust, her daggers pulling from his ruined neck. Never slowing, she dropped to the ground only to end a man’s chances of pleasing a woman, a dagger cutting through his groin.
She seemed to be in ok shape as I fought through other enemies. I checked to make sure the rest of my group was safe from harm in the conflict. No enemies got close to the princess. Her skill with a bow was impressive. She was so fast to nock a new arrow, drawback, and release. Dropping a foe with a loud woosh and thunk, the bowstring chiming with its melodic sound. I felt a strike at my back as a smaller war hammer struck me. In a rotation that decapitated the foe I was engaged with, I turned with smooth grace, the blade of my goddess piercing through my attacker’s throat. The blade was wide, mostly detaching his head from his body. He fell, his head dangling from only a few areas of skin, his body fighting to keep his head near as if it was losing its best friend.
Mav was doing what she could from my shoulder, the armor I made to keep her secure and safe. Her magic wrapping up would-be attackers’ arms in root and vine bondage when they attempted to swing at me. Fucking up their plans, which I was pleased about. I returned their attempts on my life, showing them how it was done. It was the last thing they learned. My blade was clean. I was covered in crimson blood and gore. My eyes sought out Mei. She was surrounded and appeared to be in trouble. Her body was covered with some cuts that were leaking out some of her blood. I killed another foe to make my way over to her, to be sure she was ok, but she twisted her kusarigama weapon around her like a ballet dancer. The ball end shot out, striking a knight in the face, crushing it. It returned back as she twisted around, her dance of death. The ball wrapped around a blade, snatching it from another, pulling it to her feet. She screamed a shriek of willed strength, the sickle side whirling around her with speed and power, slicing through the surrounding douche bags, ending their chances to join as a guest role in her performance. They were dead.
There was a rush of sound.
A massive volley of arrows decorated the sky, increasing the malice of the lightning and thunder. They swooped up and rained down in our direction. They were going to kill their own to kill us.
Warn everyone to take cover.
I let out a shout to make sure my party knew what was about to happen. I grabbed a mostly still intact corpse and lifted it above me as a human shield. I hoped the others would find a way to protect themselves as well. I gave glances to my friends, worried about their safety. Mew had stabbed a man in the chest. She leaned him back above her, blood falling from his mouth, coloring her even more crimson. Mei quickly slid over to a stack of corpses pulling a few in between her and the falling death.
Valentine was alone. There were no enemy bodies near her at all. She did not look very concerned, though, her face filled with determination and commitment. She flipped her bow around and took a stance. I cried out for her, my heart thudding with desperation.
Trust in the elf’s skills Rezner.
Mav told me she knew where the archers were, and with what seemed to be the last of the power she had left, she gripped her hand into a fist. Screams were called out in the distance. I am sure the roots ended them.
Then the arrows started to pound into random targets, raping my ears with shuddering thumps that blended together like large hail raining from the sky, the noise of the ground being hit, and sounds of a metal rooftop pinging. Assurance of flesh and metal being penetrated. There were many screams of agony and surprise. Enemies around us were cast into the same shared fate as we were, but many had nowhere to go. Our bloody corpse meat shields did help, but they weren’t perfect.
An arrow penetrated my human shield, slicing a cut along my cheek. Another came through into my shoulder. Another tore into my thigh. I wasn’t sure if I was ignoring my pain as much as my adrenaline played a part in resisting the urge to scream in agony. Arrows suck ass. Mei seemed to be fairing ok, as she was under cover of a few bodies. She wasn’t grossed out very easy, it seemed.
I heard a shriek as Mew was in my same situation. Her shoulder was now the new home of an arrow, another stuck out from her tiny love handle. At least she wasn’t hurt too horribly. She started to pull the arrows from her body. She was a tough one for sure. Then she greedily drank what seemed to be the last of a partial health potion.
The princess was turning and spinning her bow in a way that would have amazed me more if I wasn’t really distracted with pain and concern. She deflected countless arrows, but she wasn’t perfect. They nicked her in different parts of her body. One struck her pouch that she had kept her health potions in. With a shatter, it was ruined, and the dripping brew escaped down her leg. Luckily, she seemed to have only smaller injuries.
With pain, I mimicked what Mew had done, removing arrows from my body. When I got to my shoulder… Mav… she was there. She had moved as much as she could, but the arrow had bitten deeply into her upper torso. She spat some blood out of her mouth, and it ran from her lips as she smiled up at me. She seemed out of it, which was understandable. She was pretty fucked up. I had failed to keep her safe. I looked at my last health potion and them to her. I lifted her out of my armor pocket, setting her on my thigh. I opened the bottle and started to tilt it towards her little mouth. She held out a hand and blocked it from getting any closer.
She wheezed at me, more blood escaping her. “You… need it… defeat them.�
�� She smiled at me some more. Yeah, I wasn’t down for that shit. I moved her hand and dumped some on her, covering her. It soaked into her wound, and some went into her mouth. It started to close her wounds and give her color back for the most part. I used my fingertip to wipe some of the blood from her face and mouth as delicately as I could.
“Yeah, I can’t let a queen die from a stupid arrow. I still have a tiny bit of potion left I can take.”
She kept smiling at me. “I won’t die now, but I will need sunlight to fully recover.” I nodded at her and returned her to my shoulder. Then I stood back up to my feet, my legs shaking with weariness. I raised my bottle to my mouth and drank the bit that was left behind in the bottom. It didn’t really heal me, but it did help dull down the pain a bit.
My friends that were on the ground rose to stand as we surveyed the death around us. There were no more enemies near us. Pin cushioned bodies surrounded us like dead porcupine roadkill. Mew was taking deep breaths catching her breath. All our stamina was lowered from taking on such a largely impossible task. So far, it appeared we were on the winning side by a landslide.
There was clapping. A robed figure stood a distance from us, calmly gesturing a golf clap at our victory over the army. Everyone came back to stand by my side. We just sat in silence as we watched this strange figure that stood before us.
The figure called out to us in a slimy venomous voice. “Awe, you did so well. Look at you having triumphed over my minions. Maybe you are really him. Are you Rezner, the coward hero that ran away like a little rabbit? You must be him.”
I stood taller. “I am Lord Rezner.”
He raised his hands into the air and let a cackle loose from his throat. “In that case, I welcome you home! Though, it is not your home anymore. Even if you are Rezner, you are nothing compared to me, you were weak-willed before, and you probably are even weaker now.” He scoffed. “I don’t even sense any of the power that you had before. Such a grand hero you are, the rabbit hero that ran away.” He smirked, his red eyes gleaming with malice from the darkness of his hood.
