by Aaron Oster
Soldiers staggered, stone rattled, and Grace felt as though the very world was trying to shake itself apart. She felt someone seize her arm and begin dragging her away. She struggled for a moment before she realized that it was Elyssa.
The elf wasn’t looking to the sky, instead running doggedly toward the thinner line of the enemy forces. Grace staggered to her feet beside her, running along with the elf. She threw a quick glance over her shoulder and saw the others following.
“What’s…?” she trailed off as a massive explosion went off behind them, a pillar of whirling, burning air flowing into the sky and creating space between them and their attackers.
The screams of pain redoubled as Elyssa waved her arm, clearing a path between the still-stunned enemy and leaving them an avenue of escape. Just seconds later, Grace found herself surrounded by trees and thickening foliage. Katherine was by Elyssa’s side just a moment later, the two of them sharing a grim look.
“How many?” Elyssa asked.
“We’ve lost eight so far,” Katherine replied. “Including two of the beastman leader’s spouses.”
“And the trolls?” Elyssa asked, although it seemed she already knew the answer.
Katherine just shook her head.
“Portals?” Elyssa asked.
“They’re locking me down,” Katherine replied. “I’m afraid we’re on foot until we reach this portal of yours.”
“Well, we’d best stay sharp then,” Elyssa replied. “That World Beast’s passage will only buy us so much time. They’ll be after us shortly, and if they manage to catch up, we’re well and truly done for.”
Grace threw a look back over her shoulder, clicking her tongue as she did, sending soundwaves washing through the foliage and back into the clearing where they’d been fighting. The forces were already beginning to move. However, they had another problem, one that she hadn’t considered when sending them in this direction.
“I think we have another problem,” Grace said, snapping her fingers just to double-check, hoping she was wrong.
“Why not?” Ragnar asked, puffing up alongside her and flashing her a grin. “This day’s gone to shit as it is, so let’s just pile it on!”
Grace was shocked to see the dwarf in such a good mood. Then again, he had just found out that his surrogate niece was still among the living. The elf, Gilderon, had also been grinning since her return, but unlike with Ragnar, the elf’s smile was less charming and more on the creepy side.
“I can feel soldiers dotted all over the forest,” Grace said grimly.
“Leave it to that bastard of a gnome to cover all his contingencies,” Elyssa muttered. “Still, it’s no matter. This is better than being surrounded and picked off one by one. Here, we have a chance.”
A small shape flashed through the night and alighted upon Grace’s shoulder.
“They’re coming,” Lumia said, looking more than a little worried.
“Something else is wrong,” Grace said, seeing the tension in the drake’s every muscle.
She shouldn’t be this worried, even if there were thousands of them. If worst came to worst, she could simply take off with her, perhaps carrying Katherine and Elyssa as well. Of course, Grace would never agree to leave so many behind, but Lumia likely wouldn’t have given her a choice. The only reason for her to be worried was if something really bad were about to happen.
“The World Beast,” Lumia said, her nostrils flaring and small wings fluttering nervously. “He’s turning back.”
77
Shedra stared on in horror as his carefully crafted plans began falling apart. This was not how things were supposed to go! Elyssa was supposed to be dead, and the other rulers were supposed to be trapped, surrounded, and as good as dead. Things had been running so smoothly, up until the moment where the portal had opened and that elf bitch had returned from the dead.
When he’d seen her, Shedra had initially taken it as a good sign. She’d walked right into a trap and assured that she, along with the other rulers, would perish here, leaving him as the only survivor. Instead, she’d mounted a defense, and instead of continuing to push for the portal, they’d decided to run off.
To someone as brilliant as he, it was obvious what they were doing. Seeing that they couldn’t hope to break back through to their own portal, they were making a run for one of the permanent portals in the woods. If they managed to reach one and made it back to their own territories, they would be out of his reach and his treachery would become widely known.
That could not happen, not when he’d worked so meticulously to assure his success here.
Another roar split the night air then. He turned, looking back to see the gigantic, glittering golden shape circling back their way. He had no idea what the World Beast wanted, but it had also played a part in ruining his plans.
“Into the woods!” he roared. “And bring the prisoners!”
His soldiers reacted without a moment’s hesitation – some had already begun running even before the order was given – as the World Beast began closing in.
He reached into the pockets of his robes as he ran, fishing out the communication sphere and shouting into it.
“The rulers have escaped and are running eastward! Stop them at any cost!”
The sphere slipped from his sweaty grasp before he could give another order, and he didn’t dare stop to try and retrieve it. He entered the tree line just as another roar split the night sky, the very ground trembling under the force of its fury.
A small primal part of Shedra’s mind wanted to flee, panic, and run, screaming into the night. But the logical part of his brain told him that the World Beast couldn’t possibly be here for them. Creatures with this type of power rarely came after a specific target unless they were perceived as a threat, and vain as Shedra was, he wasn’t so idiotic as to believe that a World Beast was afraid of him.
A powerful gust flattened the top of the trees as the World Beast began to land and his soldiers’ panic increased, their shouts of alarm echoing in the night air. However, once Shedra was about a hundred yards into the line of trees and could no longer see the beast, he slowed to a walk and began shouting orders.
“Begin setting up a temporary camp! The World Beast isn’t following us! It’s after something else!”
When the soldiers didn’t listen, he began forcibly reaffirming his command. He jumped sideways, grabbing a soldier by his hair and ripping his head from his shoulders. When another screaming soldier passed by, he tore the woman’s legs off and left her to bleed out.
The others, seeing this brutality, stopped in place, looking at the gnome with shocked expressions.
“I gave you all orders,” Shedra said calmly, “and I expect them to be carried out.”
There was no more running or screaming after that, the soldiers moving in a calm, orderly fashion as they set up a camp.
“You,” Shedra said, stopping one of his commanders as he passed by. “What’s the status of our quarry?”
All of his commanders had communication orbs, and seeing as he’d lost his, he needed another way of communication.
The elf, who had the twining serpent tattoo of Strangler on his shoulder, fished the orb from his pocket and began asking questions of those scattered throughout the forest. A moment later, he lowered it and gave his report.
“We have several squads moving in,” he said. “They haven’t been spotted yet, but there’s only a limited area where they could be right now.”
“How many soldiers do we have following them?” Shedra asked, feeling a frown tugging at the corners of his mouth.
“Around four hundred, give or take a few,” the elf responded.
“Send another thousand,” Shedra said. “Tell them to use the Tunnel Gates to move ahead and block access to the other portals. They are not to escape. Is that understood?”
The commander nodded, then lifted the orb to give his orders. However, when he lowered it, the elf looked quite nervous, which could only
mean that he had bad news.
“Spit it out,” the gnome snapped, not having patience for waiting.
“It’s the Tunnel Gates, sir,” the elf said. “Something seems to be interfering with our ability to use them.”
“Damn that oversized lizard,” Shedra muttered, looking back through the woods to where the World Beast had been seen landing.
There was no other explanation as to why his Gates weren’t working. World Beasts had a funny way of warping the environment and messing with constructs and portals. Of course, the permanent ones had been built in such a way to resist World Beasts’ influence – it was one of the reasons they’d been built in the first place – so it meant the other rulers could still escape.
“I want our fastest runners after them then,” Shedra said, thinking quickly. “I want a flanking maneuver. They are to block off any portals within the area.”
The elf saluted, then ran away to pass along his orders, leaving Shedra to silently curse his bad luck. Not only was the World Beast messing with the day and night cycles, making it easier for his enemies to hide from them in these woods, but he’d also taken away one of Shedra’s biggest advantages — his soldiers’ mobility. Now, they were stuck physically chasing the prisoners down, which might very well result in failure.
“You won’t get away with this, you bastard! The nation will have your head!”
Speaking of failures, Shedra thought, turning to face his prisoners.
The indignant shouting was coming from Tibsmith, of course. Shedra’s opposition on the Council had never liked him very much, and even now, captured and bound, he still wouldn’t shut up. Unlike him, the other Council members had the good sense to remain silent.
Behind them, dragged in by his legs, was Tork, the leader of the trolls. His wife, Limma, and their guards were already dead. The troll himself was tough and had managed to take down some three dozen of Shedra’s toughest fighters before he finally went down. Of course, the asshole had also managed to crumple the only other mana cannon, which was going to be a fortune to replace. But, so long as the troll leader was dead, it would be well worth the price.
“You bastard! Don’t you dare ignore me when I’m talking to you!” Tibsmith shouted.
Finally, having had enough of the pompous asshole, Shedra decided he would simply end the gnome here and now. He’d been hoping to save Tibsmith for a slower, more painful, and more public death, but this was as good a place as any.
He strolled over to the surrounded three, affixing a sardonic grin on his face that was only partially faked. Truthfully, it gave him tremendous joy to see the three of them in that position, tied up and on their knees where they belonged.
“I do hope you’re comfortable,” Shedra said, grinning down at them.
“You won’t get away with this,” Tibsmith snarled.
His robes were rumpled, his long, white hair, having fallen free of its band, fell around his face, and there was a bruise spreading across his chin. The other Councilors looked a bit better off, though unlike Tibsmith’s angry defiance, they looked down in defeat. They were smart enough to realize that they’d been outmaneuvered and knew there was no way out.
“Oh, but I already have,” Shedra said, his lips twisting upward. “You see, you’re in the middle of the woods, surrounded by nearly two thousand soldiers under my command. The proper bribes have already been paid, and upon my return, I will be elected as the sole ruler of the Arcane Kingdom. And, soon enough, I will rule over all of Faeland.”
“Why betray us, though?” Eon asked, finally looking up. “We were going to rule together and divide up the spoils.”
“I will not share!” Shedra snapped. “I will rule it all on my own! I will be the supreme ruler of all of Faeland, no longer forced to listen to the petty squabbling and complaining of an outdated Council of old geezers!
“I do not need anyone’s permission to do anything anymore. When I rule, it will be absolute!”
“You’ve gone mad!” Tibsmith exclaimed. “I always knew you couldn’t be trusted!”
“Yes,” Shedra said, his smile slipping. “You were always getting in my way, constantly questioning my authority and never allowing me even a moment’s peace. But no more.”
Tibsmith yelled, throwing himself at Shedra but was halted in place by the guards. Shedra walked up to his rival, grabbing the old gnome by the sides of his head.
“Don’t worry, old man. I’ll take good care of your family when you’re gone — especially that pretty granddaughter of yours.”
“Don’t you da-!” Tibsmith began, only for Shedra to twist viscously.
First he twisted one way, then the other, eliciting a series of horrific cracks as Tibsmith’s skull fractured and his spine shattered. Shedra released the gnome, allowing his corpse to drop to the ground, the sides of his head leaking blood. The former Councilor’s eyes were open wide in shock and fear in his death.
The other two let out sounds of horror, but after killing Tibsmith, the idea of killing the remaining Councilors just wasn’t nearly as exciting.
“Kill them,” he sighed, giving the order to his soldiers and ignoring the screams of pain as he walked away.
He had far more important things to be focused on right now, like the capture and death of all the remaining leaders of Faeland. They were still alive for the time being, but this forest was practically swarming with his soldiers.
There was no way they were going to escape. Before this day was over and night fell, the leaders of Faeland would be dead, and Shedra would have everything he’d need to attack the human lands. They’d even gone ahead and opened a convenient portal so he and his forces wouldn’t need to travel there by sea.
Shedra smiled to himself as the cries of pain from the dying Councilors trailed off, leaving him in relative peace once again.
Perhaps tonight wouldn’t be a total loss after all.
78
Morgan surged skyward, using the wall as a springboard and base for his Gravity Release skill. He was glad he had, as flying over a thousand feet in the air would be quite taxing on his RP, and in a battle like this one, every single point would be needed. Seven spears formed around him in an instant, black lightning crackling across their shining hafts as they streaked downward, slamming into the stone all around the still-shocked goddess.
The wall around her buckled, the intense gravity emitted by the spears sending cracks to spread over the base of the wall. She struggled for a moment, then a cage of lightning sprang up around her, ripping into her body and trying to overwhelm the defenses of her blood armor. She growled, glaring up at him, but was unable to move due to the combination of attacks.
It also didn’t help that the stone was moving up around her, swallowing her body whole. Morgan, of course, knew that this wouldn’t hold for more than a few seconds, but a few seconds was all he’d need to use one of his new superior skills.
He breathed out, feeling the reiki flood into the air as he used Light Star. Above him, a small point of white light formed, growing brighter and brighter by the second. The wall where Sarah had been trapped shattered, the stone exploding outward in a wave of red. Blood gushed around Sarah’s body, flowing out of her in sickening waves, disintegrating Morgan’s constructs and freeing her to attack once more. She stepped, appearing at his back, but Morgan had been preparing for this.
“Here,” he said, gesturing with a finger. “This is for you.”
A streak of light slammed into Sarah’s chest, and Morgan vanished, appearing a hundred yards back as the explosion of light banished the gloom for just an instant. The very center of the white sphere was the brightest point of all. So bright, in fact, that it hurt Morgan’s eyes. His pupils contracted to slits in an instant as the massive sphere of white light burned away everything in its path.
It lasted only an instant, but when it vanished, it had carved out a section of the wall, leaving the stone glowing white-hot. A smoking body fell from the center of the explosion, landing on
the glowing stone with a thump.
Morgan was there in an instant, driving a Starforged lance down, hoping to capitalize on the injuries inflicted on the goddess’ body. Her hand snapped up as her eyes opened, catching the lance just inches from her neck.
She glared up at him, her eyes burning with hate. Then, she kicked upward. The air exploded from Morgan’s lungs, blood showering to the ground below as he suddenly found himself more than a thousand feet above the wall. He blinked, then coughed, and was able to feel the pain of his broken ribs grating in his chest.
Sarah was standing before him, her body blazing with so much power that Morgan felt as though he were staring into the sun itself.
Another impact on his back nearly broke his spine, and he slammed into the wall with a tremendous crack. The stone shattered for nearly a mile in both directions, massive cracks spreading across the gigantic structure, causing the very earth to shake. Morgan blasted from the stone, his robes in tatters and his body feeling as though it had been struck by a falling mountain. He was falling, the wall flashing by him on his journey to the ground below.
He wheezed as Sarah appeared to his left and struck again. Both arms came up, catching the blow, though the force blasted him backward, smashing into the side of the wall. The power of the goddess’s attack didn’t just create a crater but blasted a hole through the massive wall, measuring nearly fifty yards across. Morgan exploded out the other side, and Sarah followed closely, her bloody aura thick around her quickly healing body and eyes alight with rage.
Not really having much choice now, Morgan used Bestial Might. Another 1,000 RP later, and Morgan felt his strength surge. This was nothing like his Maximum Increase, which had given him increased strength and speed. This skill increased his durability and sped up his healing.
