by D L Colon
When he’s finished every warrior screams in rage, letting Noryad know that they will fight till the end and they will serve under him. Noryad screams, “For Humanity!” and raises Excalibur. Everyone follows suit and Noryad turns to face Raphael’s army.
Trez looks at his son with pride in his eyes, “Well done, my son, the morale is high.”
Chapter 90
Raphael is walking with his troops toward the open field where the castle he attacked long ago is standing. He proved that he is able to fulfill his missions here and he will do it again. After he left The Lost City he gathered his troops and brought them with him to the Caribbean. His troops are more experienced than any he will face here and they are the ones who killed the King family 21 years ago. The family was supposed to be wiped out then, but they managed to save their fourth son and Raphael let him go with the warning of coming back for him. That time has come, but apparently he is more prepared than last time. He is now King, not that it matters much to him, but Raphael will feast on this accomplishment and he will use it to overthrow Lucifer.
Lucifer has told him, “Kill Noryad King and make me proud, but don’t even think about taking my throne because there will be consequences.”
Raphael halts his troops and waits as he sees an army walking toward him. He focuses on the one leading them, he is wearing armor with the emblem of a red dragon on his chest, a crown on his head and a staff-sword at his side with another sword sheathed. When he looks to the leader’s right he sees the last King he killed and he smiles. He knows which one Noryad is now.
He watches as Noryad stops his troops and turns around to talk to them and he sees how their eyes focus on his army with anger, but their eyes also show that they know what’s at stake here and they are committed to Noryad’s cause. Noryad raises his staff-sword and his army screams with their weapons held high. That’s when he sees that there are dead beside Noryad. He’s slightly taken aback because the last time he fought on the King terrain he never saw the dead coming back to life to fight.
Raphael looks to his army and they are like savages, like dogs on a leash, waiting to be granted the opportunity to go wild, and soon that will happen. He laughs wickedly and says, “Soon my Destroyers, I will release you from your leash. Just bear with it for a little while longer.” He motions for them to stay and he starts walking on his own toward Noryad. “But first, let me say hello to a long forgotten enemy.”
Chapter 91
Noryad sees Raphael walking toward him alone and he starts to walk toward Raphael alone, but Trez follows him. He removes his head armor so Raphael can see his face, but he puts the crown back on. He meets Raphael halfway, with Trez not far behind him, and Raphael’s eyes immediately look at Trez as he says, “It was nice of you to bring him back to life so I can kill him again.”
Noryad smiles, “Yeah, I’m just returning the favor. Glad you could make it. It saves me the trouble of looking for you, though I know that if I asked Lucifer I would get your location.”
Raphael narrows his eyes and turns to walk back to his troops. When he looks back he sees Noryad walking back to his troops with his middle finger out. Rage fills Raphael as he continues walking. When he reaches his troops he tells them in a rage filled voice, “I want all of them dead, but Noryad King is MINE!” and all of the destroyers start running to attack Noryad’s troops.
Noryad and Trez make it back to their troops and Noryad says, “Well, that went well,” and he continues to say a few things to Xandar.
Trez turns around to face Raphael’s army and sees that the army is running toward them, “Son, I think you better look behind you.”
Noryad sees that his warriors are wanting to run to fight, but they don’t move as Noryad turns around and sees the enemy closing in. He yells, “SHIT!” and raises a barrier to stop their advance. He takes a deep breath and says loud enough for everyone to hear, “Now that I have your attention everyone,” he pauses and points at the enemy, “That’s our cue. Are you ready?”
Everyone yells back, “YES!!”
Noryad smiles and asks, “Then what are we waiting for?”
“For you to give us the order, milord.”
Noryad smiles and says, “That’s a good point, soldier.” He pauses for a second before he yells, “Attack!!” and everyone starts running to attack the enemy. Noryad brings down the barrier and watches as his warriors and the Destroyers start crashing into each other. There are Destroyers moving to attack him, but he keeps walking slowly as he evades their attack. Becoming ethereal, he disappears from view, and takes out Excalibur. He starts stabbing them through the heart and they become whips of smoke as they die.
Noryad continues walking and killing Destroyers, trying to approach Raphael, but he is heavily guarded.
Chapter 92
Raphael orders the Destroyers protecting him to leave him and start killing too, instead of protecting him. The Destroyers split up and start fighting. Raphael joins in as warriors attempt to attack him, but his armor is protected against Angelic magic and their swords don’t do any damage. He starts walking and killing every warrior who dares to attack him. He’s evading, stabbing and killing warriors and he sees that Noryad is doing the same, but he is far stronger than any Destroyer fighting him.
Raphael is the only one who seems to realize this and he knows that Noryad knows that he is the only one who can attack Raphael. He sees the expression on Noryad’s face, notices that his eyes are completely red and that he is smiling in a way that he has never seen on anyone except his Destroyers. Noryad is in a Killing Frenzy, he is possessed and killing Destroyers with no remorse. Raphael licks his lips and yells to his Destroyers in a demonic voice as his body slowly starts becoming dark black and his eyes turn completely yellow, “HEAR ME, MY DESTROYERS! REMEMBER, THE KING IS MINE!!” and he faces Noryad and starts running toward him.
Vince is using his long whip and attacking the Destroyers, keeping them at bay. Vlad and his troops are slowly making progress, but they are losing their own, too, and for every Destroyer they kill, two more take his spot. Xandar is using his sword, and with all of Behemoth, is slowly pushing the enemy back. The undead are pushing the enemy back, too. Trez is using his powers to back up the undead, giving them more power to fight. Coral is using her power as a Goddess to coordinate attacks on the Destroyers and Merlin and Samantha are using their magic to change the weather, send lighting strikes at the Destroyers and they’re creating fire to kill them. When they hear Raphael say that Noryad is his everyone momentarily pauses, but immediately returns to the battle at hand. During that small pause, Trez notices that Noryad’s eyes have started to change.
Noryad is killing Destroyers and his eyes slowly start to turn completely red. In the distance he hears Trez say, “STAY AWAY FROM NORYAD. HE IS ON A KILLING FRENZY AND WHOEVER GETS IN HIS WAY WILL BE KILLED.”
His powers are pouring out of him, bringing the dead to fight. As he continues killing Destroyers he starts to notice that his body is moving on its own and he no longer has control of it, but he knows what’s happening. Slowly Noryad takes out Nightfall, sheathing Excalibur, and turns to face Raphael. He sees that no one can kill him, he must be the one to do it. Then he hears Raphael issue an order and control of his body returns to him. He faces Raphael and sees Raphael running toward him. He starts running, too, as he sheathes Nightfall and takes out Excalibur.
Noryad and Raphael start attacking and evading. Noryad slowly starts moving faster and he is slowly making cuts in Raphael’s armor. Every one of Noryad’s troops are fighting, but they form a circle around Noryad and Raphael to keep the Destroyers from interfering. Raphael cuts Noryad across the cheek and it heals immediately. Noryad makes a diagonal cut on Raphael’s face and Raphael screams in pain. Raphael start, evading while he recovers, but Noryad keeps moving faster. Noryad knows he can’t kill him yet so he continues evading until he sees an opening.
He kicks Raphael in the knees and brings him to the ground. Noryad puts his hand on Raph
ael’s face and Raphael starts laughing, “You think you can kill me? You can’t. You are powerless. You have no way of destroying me.”
Raphael pushes Noryad’s hand from his face and tries to stand up. Noryad, using Excalibur and Nightfall, stabs Raphael in the thighs, causing Raphael to scream in pain and fall to the ground again. He presses both swords to Raphael’s chest and says, “You think I can’t destroy you? You are right, for now anyway, but I am no longer the same kid you let escape 21 years ago. I am Noryad King, the last remaining member of the King Family, but I am something more as well.” Noryad puts his hand on Raphael’s face again and says, “What you don’t know is that I can strip you from your rank and power.”
Raphael’s face momentarily registers shock, but he recovers quickly and says, “You don’t have the power to do that. Only Lucifer and God can do that and they won’t interfere with our war.”
Noryad looks at him with a menacing smile and says, “Then let’s test that theory.”
Chapter 93
The war is progressing and Noryad’s forces are slowly pushing the enemy back, but they are rapidly losing their men, too. Without looking away from Raphael, Noryad starts letting his power out. His eyes turn completely blue and he calls out: Fallen ones, rise up to fight. Defend those alive so they can see another day of life. You have given so much for your King, but I shall ask you again for your will to fight, to meet the enemy that now threatens our Kingdom. The lives of your loved ones are in your hands. Come and fight, prove to the Destroyers that souls of the dead will answer their King’s call.
The temperature on the field slowly starts to descend as more souls start to rise up and more undead start taking the spot of those who have fallen. Noryad grips Raphael’s face harder and says, “I RELEASE YOU, BEHEMOTH. Become the beast you were made to be.”
Upon hearing the words coming from Noryad’s mouth, every member of Behemoth starts to become red and they start to change form. Their bodies start to become bigger and hair starts to cover them. They all howl, making everyone on the battlefield cover their ears. Noryad’s body armor falls off, leaving the Phoenix open for everyone to see. Noryad’s eyes become white as the Phoenix speaks through him: The flames of vengeance grow deep within this one. Let my flames consume the ones responsible for it. I shall rid the Kingdom from its seed of destruction.
Noryad lets go of Raphael’s face and starts gripping his arms. Clenching his teeth as a pained expression crosses his face, he feels his skin being pierced as the Phoenix slowly comes out of his body, weaving his wings, and as it slowly increases its size, becoming bigger and bigger until he reaches his original size. Rising into the sky, his majestic red and gold wings reflect the sunlight as he turns and flies down, closing in on the battlefield. Once close enough he unleashes his flame, slowly burning the Destroyers with it. When he is finished he slowly returns to Noryad’s body.
Raphael is unable to absorb the scene before him. His troops are losing and he is unable to defeat a twenty something year old boy who escaped his wrath many years ago. He tries to get up, but the pain in his thighs is too much for his body to ignore. He never knew that Noryad had the Phoenix with him, or the beasts that are killing his troops, but despite that Raphael knows he has dealt a great blow to his Kingdom and his troops. Noryad has lost a lot of his troops in this war, but Raphael keeps feeling like he is missing something important. Raphael sees how Noryad is looking at him and he flinches a little when Noryad says, “Now, let’s finish this.”
Raphael looks across the battlefield behind Noryad and can’t believe who is watching all of this and not doing anything to stop it. Noryad follows Raphael’s stare and sees Lucifer sitting on a rock at the edge of the battlefield. He blows her a kiss and says, “Enjoy the show.”
Chapter 94
Noryad looks at Raphael and grins evilly, “So only God and Lucifer can strip you down? It’s time I find out if that’s true.”
The war is still raging behind them, but Behemoth and the newly risen undead are keeping them at bay while the rest are keeping the circle around Noryad and Raphael. Noryad put his hand on Raphael and says loud enough for everyone to hear, “From the bottom you came to seek destruction and control. You want control over the human race, and the demons of hell. I cannot let that come to be. I, Noryad King, strip you, Raphael, Commander of the Destroyers, of your rank and powers and you shall become what you despise most, a human. Let the judgment from the Heavens descend upon you.”
The moment the words leave Noryad’s mouth the heavens open up and slowly Raphael’s transformation starts to disappear. His eyes become dark blue, his hair is now blonde, his skin turns white as the clouds and his wounds are all healed. He no longer holds the power over the Destroyers and he slowly watches as what used to be his armor, returns to Lucifer’s hands.
Raphael’s expression is one of shock, he didn’t see that coming. He didn’t know this was possible. Noryad starts laughing loudly and says at Lucifer, “Who was going to kill who again?”
Lucifer doesn’t say anything as she turns around and leaves. Raphael, seeing an opportunity, gets up and picks up his sword. He goes to attack Noryad, but Noryad let his body become ethereal and lets Raphael attack him. It doesn’t work. The sword goes through the form without affecting him. Noryad takes out Nightfall and slightly cuts Raphael, which sends him to his knees due to the pain he feels in his soul.
Noryad sneers at him and laughs when Raphael flinches in fear, “If I wanted to kill you, you would be dead already. I could destroy your soul with this sword, but you aren’t worth it anymore. My vengeance has been fulfilled.”
Noryad turns to face his warriors and sees that the destroyers are running away. He says loudly, “LET THEM GO!” and everyone on the field stops and lets the destroyers go. Raising their weapons they cheer loudly and slowly everyone of a higher rank approaches Noryad. Xandar, who is in his human form once again, says, “We did it, Milord.”
Noryad nods and responds, “It was thanks to you all.”
Coral slowly makes her way toward Noryad and puts her arms around his waist as Vlad asks, “Now what do we do, Milord?”
“We bury the dead and burn everything else. After that I will honor my promise and release all of you.”
Few hours later
Noryad, and everyone else, is standing in front of the souls that have been fighting with him. Vlad’s troops are there with their loved ones that remain, and are saying their goodbyes. Noryad looks at them and says, “Every soul in the castle will be leaving with all of you. I’m leaving this castle behind. I will live in the Lost City.”
Everyone nods their approval and Noryad starts the words for the parting. He watches as the souls start to disappear and sees that his Father is also disappearing. He nods to his Father and Trez tells him as he fades, “you have made me proud, my son.” As he finishes disappearing everyone else disappears, too.
Once they are all gone Noryad looks at everyone and says, “Let’s go home everyone” and he opens the portal for everyone go through.
Drake, who didn’t take part in the war because he was taking care of Selene and their twins, asks Noryad before entering the portal, “Hey man, what is the name of this island?”
As they slowly enter the portal together Noryad looks back and says, “Puerto Rico,” and the portal closes behind them.
Epilogue
It has been a few weeks since the war and everyone from the Caribbean has been slowly adapting to the changes they now face. Noryad has fulfilled his word and has made sure the new members of the Lost City had a place to live and everything is slowly changing. They have been working on rebuilding one of the destroyed cities for Noryad and he has had many demands to use his necromancer powers. The spirits demand his attention, seeking to see a loved one once again and they each have to complete a task to help with the rebuilding before Noryad will help them.
Noryad is on his way to the Guild with Blaze, Drake and Selene when Blaze suddenly stops and looks to th
e east. He grabs his head and drops to his knees as a loud voice fills his head, giving the location of where to go. Everyone turns around to face Blaze, who has screamed in pain as he looks at everyone, “CAN’T YOU ALL HEAR THEM?” and Blaze proceeds to put his hands on his ears. Noryad slowly takes off his gloves and touches Blaze. The voice fills his head and suddenly Noryad’s eyes turn white and the voice speaks through Noryad: Rick Blaze, the time has come. The Holy Flames summon you to the Temple of the Holy Flames. Head east, across the Great Sea and you shall find it.
When the words stop Noryad’s eyes return to normal and Blaze gets up and jokes, “At least my head didn’t explode from how loud they were. It seems my prophecy has started. Guess it’s time to get my ass moving.”
Blaze starts running, but suddenly stops and turns around, “How the hell am I going to get across that big chunk of water? If my powers don’t let me get across, I might get my ass wet instead of getting to the other side.”
Noryad chuckles and says, “Don’t worry brother, I will help you get there. Go and get your stuff.”
Blaze runs up the stairs and into his room to get his stuff. Then he heads into the garage to get his bike. Once he gets on his bike he comes out and Noryad is outside looking at him with a weird look. “I have never tried doing this with a bike.”
