by M K Drake
“By killing everything else?” Atticus retorts.
“Who have I killed, Atticus? Your…, what was his name, Mage Callan? That was Alvarez, not me. I merely facilitated the meeting. I didn’t even send you there. That was Hel, and yet you still blame me... interesting. Like I said before, I merely wish to survive. The Staff of Mages will help me with this, especially now that Razakel has the Scrolls of the Pharaoh! And we have you chaps and chappettes to thank for that don’t we?”
“The scrolls are useless buddy!” Ju Long exclaims loudly from the other side of the chamber. “He can’t even open them without Atticus! So, ner!”
Atticus glares at Ju Long, annoyed that he has just given Loki information that he probably didn’t know before. He flicks his head at Olof, who responds with a small ball of ice aimed at Ju Long, who immediately covers his mouth, and says nothing else.
Loki grins widely. “Well, that is certainly stimulating information, thank you. Now, unfortunately for you all, I have a bargain I must maintain. And it involves certain payments I need to make. Your lives for one. But for the moment, you are certainly more valuable to me alive, well... at least you are, Atticus.”
Loki raises both his arms high above his head, and claps several times while closing his eyes, sounding each meeting of his palms to the beat of a tango rhythm, spinning and tapping his feet to the same type of dance.
After a few moments, the entire chamber begins to light up. The ceiling rises into the blackness and the walls around them begin to speed further away; then half the floor gives way, revealing a massive pool of water.
The ground begins to rumble and shake as a massive plume of water begins to rise up revealing the Kraken. From another part of the cavern, the Minotaur, Shadow Wolf, Alvarez, already transformed into his monstrous destructor form, and Scourge, all jump down to stand next to Loki.
The Norse deity grins widely again, his eyes glinting, almost revelling in the events about to come. Without looking at his champions, he stamps one foot on the ground. “Take them.”
Joyce super speeds back towards Atticus and throws up a massive shield to block the Kraken’s first attack. The impact is so great that the shield cracks and shakes the entire enclosure.
“Scatter! Pick a target, beat it!” Atticus commands to the rest of the Majjai Six. “This is what we train for, let’s do this.”
The Majjai all nod towards their leader and spread out.
Atticus stands fast against the Kraken. The beast towers high above him, but he does not tremble. He looks around at the others. Joyce has run to take on Shadow Wolf, while Safaya prepares to fight off Scourge, passing Khan who is throwing fireballs towards Alvarez, and Olof launches his hammer at Loki.
The sounds of battle ring through Atticus’ ears, while he looks up at the titan towering above him. He will not allow any of the others to take on this foe, he must show courage, and strength, and bring his family home safely... so they can save Mage Callan, and then the world.
Atticus clenches his fists, and flies high, dodging the Kraken’s giant hand as it speeds towards him. He draws the Sword of Ages, imbued with the energy of the Soul Swords and slices the beast’s forearm, cutting through him easily. Even Atticus himself is impressed at how much more power his weapon now has. He raises an eyebrow as the Kraken clasps the cut with his other hand, screaming in pain as he stumbles backwards.
Atticus realises that they have a greater force on their side now. The power of the Soul Swords has given them the upper hand for once, and he senses everyone’s confidence increase…, all but Safaya’s.
He looks toward her, but she has no Soul Sword of her own. Suddenly, it is as if he hears the Blade King’s voice in her ears, ‘Do not worry, I’ve not forgotten about you. Your Soul Sword required a little more thought...’ and at that moment, two large bracelets of light surround Safaya’s wrists, and she slams them together. The impact sparks up a massive jet of blue fire which she is able to control, and form several fireballs with. She spins them in the air ahead of her, grinning towards Scourge, who has already started to run away.
Atticus smiles, this group of heroes, no longer shackled, are using their abilities at their fullest, fighting off some of the strongest opponents Razakel has to offer, not only using their strengths and powers, but fighting in other ways, too. Dodging the Kraken’s tail, he looks over at Ju Long, who is talking to the Minotaur.
“Monty, buddy! Come on now, we are friends remember!”
The Minotaur charges at Ju Long, head first, unrelenting. “Majjai no protect! Loki protect! Loki friend!” he says, aiming his horns directly at the Majjai and increasing his speed.
Ju Long leaps out of the way, and transforms into his dragon form, whipping his tail at Monty. It is not enough to hurt him, just slow him down. The Minotaur slides past Ju Long, but gets stuck, his horns embedding themselves into the cavern wall.
Khan, however, is not fairing so well. Alvarez has him pinned down. He tries to reach for his sword but Alvarez grabs his hand.
“I’m disappointed in you, Khan. I thought you were much stronger than this. But, even with the Blade King’s gifts, you are no match for Alvarez the Destructor!”
Khan strains, trying to push the demon off him, avoiding the lashes of the beast’s razor-sharp tongue as it tries to cut into his face. “You will pay for what you did to Mage Callan,” he shouts. “And for all the lives you have taken. And then I’m going to help Atticus end your leader!” Khan closes his eyes and concentrates, his blade glows brighter as he draws as much strength as he can from it. He begins to overpower Alvarez, opening his eyes, which are now shining a piercing intense blue, sparking outwards. He stands, lifting Alvarez high above him, and throws him towards the Kraken’s head.
Roaring in pain from another blow from Atticus, the beast does not see the demon fly at him. The force of Alvarez’s impact throws the Kraken back. The beast falls, smashing much of the wall of the Hexon Maze. Atticus has time to turn and check on Olof, who is battling Loki. With the Kraken down, he flies down to help.
Olof throws his hammer towards Loki, who waves a hand and diverts the weapon towards Atticus, who dives and slides across the floor, Sword of Ages in hand, swiping at Loki.
The blade just catches the Norse god’s thigh, causing him to scream.
Atticus sees the Norse god grab his bleeding leg. ‘So, he isn’t invincible after all,’ he thinks to himself, looking over to Olof with an acknowledging nod.
The two then charge forward to launch another attack, readying their weapons as they do so.
“Enough!” Loki roars, raising both of his arms in the air, creating a field of energy holding the Majjai in place.
Atticus can see him struggling to hold the energy field this time, the added strength the Majjai now have with the Soul Swords means his hold will not last. But it could stay long enough for his current set of minions to do enough damage.
“Fools! I am Loki! You dare attack me!” the Norse deity screams, squeezing his fists, increasing the pressure of the hold on the Majjai. “I will not be felled by the likes of you! You are nothing to me. Nothing!”
With the extra power now being exerted by Loki, Atticus looks around, and can see them all begin to struggle, gasping for breath. Atticus can feel his entire body begin to be crushed, his bones moving even more into themselves, causing him to scream out in pain. Victory, so close, and now, in an instant... slipping away. His vision begins to darken, as his breathing slows, ‘this can’t... not like this...’
“See! Now do you see! How ridiculous your venture was?” Loki mocks. “Only at the end do you now see! Ha! You are not worthy!”
Loki clenches his hands even harder. Holding the field is costing him, too, and his nails cut into his own skin. Atticus sees the smile spread across his face as he feels the life forces of the Majjai ebb away, but he and his minions are so distracted by this, focusing on their victory, they miss a new entrant into this game.
“Maybe we are more worthy?
” Alfatun blasts through the rock through the gap created by the Kraken’s fall, followed by Pali, Spitfire and General Crawford.
The Blade King charges toward Loki, and knocks him down hard, forcing him to release his grip on the others, before turning and looking sternly at Alvarez, Shadow Wolf, the Minotaur, and Scourge.
He pulls out two large, glowing blades, and chains and more blades forming from the energy surrounding them. He swings them round hard and whips them at the demons and Titans, sending them flying.
Freed, the Majjai Six stand together with their rescuers and prepare to fight again.
Alvarez rushes to Loki. “We cannot win this, not now,” he cries. “Make the portal, get us home, and get us safe!”
Atticus steps forward and looks directly at Loki, “Surrender Loki, there is no other way out.”
Loki looks around, he hates to admit it, but knows Alvarez and Atticus are correct. “Never!” he looks at the Kraken and the Minotaur, “Kill them!”
Atticus rushes forward, he knows that Loki is only using them to buy enough time for the Norse god to open the portal he needs to escape. But his path is blocked by the Titan.
Loki works his powers and in moments the portal is created.
Atticus can see him signal Alvarez and the other two demons to run through. Loki pauses for a moment, looks towards Monty who is attacking the other Majjai.
Loki smirks at Atticus, and fires a giant fireball at the Greek beast.
Atticus turns and spots Ju Long who sees the attack. He quickly transforms back into his dragon form, and uses his massive hide to block the attack. “See, told you, I’m your buddy, not that guy!” Ju Long exclaims as he cries in in agony at the burn gash on his back.
Monty looks at the wound, and looks down, saddened. “Monty sorry. Monty wrong. You friend, please, forgive?” he says as he tries to hug Ju Long’s tail.
Chapter 41
The Demon Reborn
Loki coughs and splurts as he tries to get up from the floor. His hands push up against the crumbling, brimstone-like rock as he hauls himself to his feet. He peers around, trying to breathe through the rancid air.
In the distance he can hear screams of torture, of hundreds of battle cries, and further still, what sounds like armies preparing to march.
There is a reddish glow to the walls in the massive chamber, it is then that he sees Razakel, standing before him.
“Loki, finally we meet,” Razakel bends down to observe his new arrival. “Tell me, do you have the medallions with you?”
Loki cowers, sensing the immense power within the Demon King. “Yes, I do,” he says, head bowed as he reaches into his robes, pulling out a dozen large, intricately-designed circular objects. “These are even more powerful than the ones you used before. Their energy is almost limitless, a fortunate side effect of The Remnant’s relinquishment of powers held over the Majjai.”
“Good, good,” Razakel replies, with a slight condescending tone, before taking the medallions from Loki and turning to Alvarez. “Do you have the vial? The Collector?”
Loki looks up. “What is that?”
Alvarez grins, glad that his protection and masking of the vial hid their discovery from such a powerful entity. “This vial contains the essence of Kazmagus and the Horseman, from the time when they were blended with my master’s powers, taken by the Void! Now watch, observe what true power is!”
Loki stands quickly and jumps towards Alvarez, grabbing the Collector. “You can’t! This…, this would cause the imbalance that I foresaw! It would be our end!” he runs towards an open door in the chamber, cursing the fact he had given Razakel all of his portal medallions, now, he has nothing to use to escape, only his legs, in a realm that is not his own.
Loki gets to the doorway, but it slams shut before he gets there, he stops as he hears the cackles and laughter behind him.
“You truly are a jester Loki,” Razakel says. “I’ve not laughed at such an act in... well, ever. Now, come here.”
Razakel holds out an arm, and forces Loki to be dragged back to him, in this realm, the Norse god is powerless.
Loki knows if this is how powerful the Demon King is without the contents of the collector, with it, even the prophecies of Atticus overcoming him will not come true. It would be the end of all living things, something his daughter may even be glad of... but the souls would not belong to her, they would not even belong to Death—this mad King would absorb all in his own twisted moment of entropic existence, and then the end of all things would follow.
He has seen this in his visions, and now it is happening—and he has to stop it. He holds the vial high and attempts to crush it, to expunge its contents into nothing. He tries with all his might, but in this place he cannot summon enough strength, and now... now it is too late. He feels Razakel grasp him and rip the vial from his hand before placing him to the ground.
“Insect!” Razakel mocks as he opens the vial and gulps down the liquified essences within.
In moments the entire chamber begins to shake and rumble; Razakel roars in pain, clutching his midriff as sparks of red energy dance around him. He begins to glow brightly, growing in size, bigger than he has ever been before, his head crashes through the ceiling and rises into the charred sky; he raises his hands into the air, laughing, a sound so loud it wakes the whole of Skarvak, and demons across the entire realm look to the citadel, to witness their King.
Razakel clenches his fists, he is in full control now. He looks downwards, bringing his palms in front of him, as if he is observing the energy within them. “I can see... everything, this power, this energy... hmmm, I can taste both the Horseman, and Kazmagus, their powers are strong, and mine...” he looks up to the sky smiling menacingly. “Thank you Remnant, you have given me what I need to end you. Now everything is mine!”
Loki watches in horror, he watches as he sees the beginning of the end of all things, of this demon reborn, more powerful than ever. He collapses to his knees, concerned not only for his own realm, but also of his own survival. He waits as he observes Razakel’s command of his new abilities, as the Demon King shrinks himself back down to his previous size.
Razakel walks over to the Norse god, grinning, wallowing in this newfound energy. He grabs him by the neck and holds him aloft. “Any last requests?”
Loki squirms, trying to escape, and then he remembers, the slip by Ju Long. “I can still... serve you... master. I have... information.”
Razakel unceremoniously drops Loki to the floor. “Tell me. I will decide if it is worthy.”
Loki looks at Alvarez and Scourge, who are both giggling and pointing at him. “The Scrolls, the crystal is not all you need... Atticus is the only one who can activate them. I am certain the protection is released by him.”
“Well,” replies Razakel. “That certainly is interesting.”
Loki breathes softly, almost relieved, hoping that this is enough, maybe this gives him a chance. “So, we... we are good? May I stand by your side?”
Razakel steps forward threateningly, forcing Loki to step backwards. “Tell me, God of Mischief... how will you stand… if you have no head?”
“But... but... I told y...”
Razakel does not give Loki time to finish his sentence. With a flick of his hand he decapitates him, and turns before the Norse god’s head hits the ground.
Alvarez bows his head down, holding the Scrolls of the Pharaoh ahead of him. “My lord! The scrolls are yours.” he asks. Then, with a brief glance towards what remains of Loki, he continues. “What shall we do with his body?”
Razakel takes the scrolls and places them on his throne, then turns back to Alvarez. “Feed the body to Draconus, send the head to our Majjai friends. They had such difficulty in fighting this irrelevance, let the ease of his defeat spark their fears even more. And then, when they are thinking of hope, we shall break their spirit further, for I am coming for them next.”
Chapter 42
The Truth of the Honest
&n
bsp; Ju Long morphs back into his human form, pulling his clothing over himself like a blanket, and begins to shiver and sweat as the pain takes a greater hold.
Joyce rushes to him and begins to heal the injury.
Atticus looks at the Kraken. “And you? Do you still fight?”
The giant Titan tilts his head towards Atticus, sniffs him before roaring and beating his chest.
Atticus does not move, but stares right back at the massive beast. “We’re not afraid of you, but we are letting you go. You choose your fate!”
The Kraken stays motionless, pondering the offer. Moving his uninjured arm down to Atticus, he opens his hand to reveal six cloaks. “Use these to hide from the dead,” he says, placing the garments on the ground and stepping away. Rising to his full height, he shakes his head, then dives hard and fast back into the water. The damage caused by the beast’s massive frame, however, is too great, and the structure of the maze begins to crumble even more.
Khan looks at the far wall as it collapses, then climbs to an upper level, using all of the strength he has left to support the portion of the ceiling above them. “Hurry! Atticus! Get them out! This whole place is about to cave in!”
For a moment, Atticus freezes, not knowing what else to do but order everyone to leave. Then he remembers—Joyce is still healing Ju Long. They will never get out in time. He looks at Olof. “Can you get him out with Joyce and the Minotaur?”
Olof nods and runs to his injured friend, beckoning Safaya to come with him, but she does not move.
Safaya looks at Khan, before replying to Olof. “You go, get them to safety, I’m not leaving him.”
Olof looks at Khan, places a palm onto his chest and nods solemnly. “I’ll be back for you brother!”
Khan strains harder beneath the weight of maze on top of him, and smiles back at Olof as best he can. “Maybe in the next life, I will be honoured to fight by your side again.”
Atticus is having none of it, he looks to Safaya quickly. “Is there anything you can do with your powers?”
