by Eden Redd
“Hart, the city’s defenses are waking up. I made the magistrates aware of the threat. We need you to lead the defense and evacuate the city,” Gloomis shouted as one of his chains snapped.
“We never prepared for something of this scale,” Professor Hart stepped back as more of his chains cracked and shattered.
“Get the citizens to the tunnels under the college and library. They should be protected there,” Gloomis cried out as two more chains snapped. He had only chained collars around the slime’s necks.
Trystan stared as something overcame Professor Hart’s expression. The mage could see a hint of fear make its way into the professor’s heart. Even Trystan couldn’t imagine moving nearly a million people to the tunnels. The devastation would surely kill a large portion of the population. They had no idea if anything waited beyond the city gates to attack them if people fled. They were functioning in the dark and every second that ticked by made the situation dire.
Vanessa was up and helping mistress Vela to her feet, “I can get everyone to safety!”
Professor Hart looked to Vanessa just as his last chain broke. The red slime was free and took one step forward, smashing into the Headmaster’s home. Without stopping, the slime brought her other knee forward to crash into the gaping hole of the house. Elemental knights exploded into action. Fire knights blazed brightly as they formed fire bows and unleashed a volley of fire arrows. Every arrow struck true. Belle turned, hand whipping out and forming a thick tentacle. Three fire knights blazed up and one was struck dead on. The knight exploded, cracked burning stone fell to earth.
Vanessa rushed to Hart. His arms caught her and they stared into each other’s eyes, “I can summon all the ghosts and dead from the northern cemetery. They can possess the populace. I will be able to direct them to move immediately. The dead in the catacombs can help them get to safety once they are down there,” Vanessa shouted.
“There are that many dead?” Professor Hart asked with wide eyes.
“More…..but I need mana. The distance is too great and I need mana to help give the commands,” Vanessa shouted over the destruction.
Gloomis took in a deep breath and mana chains snaked out of his hands. A glowing armor covered the headmaster as chains coiled around the red slime and held her in place for a moment. Water and air knights unleashed a barrage of attacks, slamming them into Belle’s face. Bella and Bellatrix broke free of their chains and turned to the destroyed house and the city beyond.
Vela’s eyes returned to normal and she turned to Gwen, “Gwen, can you give her a boost?”
Gwen nodded, “It will drain me completely but I think I have enough to help Vanessa give and maintain the commands.”
“Do it,” Headmistress Vela commanded as a glowing white armor appeared over her form.
Vanessa turned to Hart, “I will redeem my past actions.”
Professor Hart ran the back of his fingers across her pale cheek, “You already have.”
Along the city walls, more guardians awoke. Taking flight, their elemental abilities pulsed as they took aim at the rampaging slimes. Arrows from all four elements were let loose. A barrage of magical arrows struck the slimes, some fizzing and others exploding. The slimes moved on as if unhurt. Holes pock marked their bodies and quickly sealed as fast as they were damaged.
Resolve filled Professor Hart’s eyes as he broke away from Vanessa, “Students, I need you to alert the college staff and assist with evacuation of the college.”
Trystan was first to step forward, clutching his exposed and burned arm, “Professor, I can help. Let me try to talk to Bella. She still has to be in there somewhere.”
Gloomis pulled back and his mana chains broke, “It’s not a bad idea. We will destroy the ruins here first. If Trystan can get through to Bella, he might be able to stop her.”
“You’re not doing it alone,” Professor Hart looked to Nia and the two succubi.
Without a word, all three stepped forward. Trystan looked to them and his heart was invigorated.
Professor Hart nodded, “Keep your distance and wait till the Stukarr ruins are destroyed. Things get hairy, get to the tunnels with everyone else. I hate to see my students going into something like this but we are out of options.”
Trystan felt confident that if he was close enough, he could get through. His familiar still had to be in there somewhere, “We won’t let you down.”
Gwen moved to Trystan and placed a glowing hand on his arm. The pain subsided but the melted flesh still stung, “It isn’t much but it’s all I can spare.”
Trystan looked into Gwen’s blue eyes, “It’s enough. Thank you.”
Nia turned to the three slimes as they moved off in three different directions. The earth cracked from every footfall and the ground shook. Students screamed and ran. Others put distance between them and the giant slimes, unleashing spells. Bolts of energy struck the slimes but didn’t slow them down as they reached the edge of campus and the city lay out before them.
Professor Hart squared his jaw and stared hard at the slimes, “It is an honor and a pleasure knowing you all. Be safe.”
Before anyone could say anything, a silver aura appeared around the professor. With one last wink he shot into the air. Professor Hart moved directly for Bellatrix and several elemental knights flew in formation around him.
Gloomis in his white armor stepped to Vela with his hand out, “Shall we have this dance?”
Vela smirked in her white armor. The headmaster and headmistress took each other’s hand, white aura’s appearing around them. Vela gave Gwen and Trystan a nod before they too shot into the sky. Screams filled the air as the slimes brought knees and feet forward, smashing into buildings with a terrible rumble. Arms turned into tentacles and lashed out, smashing buildings to rubble.
Trystan looked to Bella as she moved possessed. There was no emotion as she lashed out, destroying anything in her path. Nia took Trystan’s arm and pulled. Aznara and Sunara followed as they all raced along the path of Bella’s destruction. Trystan gave one last look to Gwen. The Ink Witch stood behind Vanessa and put her hands on the undead woman’s shoulders. The witch breathed a terrible sigh as she watched the young mage run off to stop his familiar. The rim of her hat tilted as a single tear streaked down her cheek.
Seventeen
The ruins glowed against the stone and grassy area. Even in broad daylight, the power radiating form the rune covered stones pulsed with unusual light. Gloomis and Vela stared for only a moment at the pulsating ruins. The students studying the area had already fled, searching for a safe place away from all the chaos. Gloomis looked to Vela and their eyes connected. Speaking without speaking, hands made signals. Arcane words floated into the air, changing the very laws of physics and bending reality. Mana flushed their bodies as they called on more.
Vela could see the protective barrier surrounding the ancient ruins. It was meant to deflect any magical and physical attack. With most of the stored mana streaming to the slimes, the shield was only strong enough to stop most mages. Gloomis also looked down and smirked. Headmaster and Headmistress knew they were stronger than most mages. Powering mana in their hands, the white living energy grew stronger and brighter with each passing second.
“Simple mana blast?” Gloomis asked.
“Simple is the best,” Vela finished.
Pointing palms outward, mana lightning arced along their armored arms. The energy grew to a fevered pitch. A mental command was given and light flashed. White energy shot from their hands, streaking toward the ruins and slamming into the invisible shield. The barrier flared from the energy pounding into it. Gloomis and Vela were calm as the mana blast cracked the shield and shattered it. Energy struck the ruins from both powerful mages. Another flash and the entire area erupted in a white-hot explosion. Gloomis and Vela covered their faces as stones struck their armor like molten coals. A small mushroom cloud appeared as the two mages floated back. Before the land could settle, Vela’s eyes turned white as
she spread out her senses. Gloomis looked to her to ensure they had a victory.
Vela’s mouth grimaced, “The mana stream is dying. The other two locations are compensating. They are still pumping mana into all three slimes.”
“We have to end this as quickly as possible. You take the ruins by Karath and I will take the ruins at Lumair. We meet back at the city and assist with clean up.”
Vela nodded. Auras around both mages flared and they streaked off into the sky, pushing themselves as fast as they could. Passing over Stukarr city, they watched helplessly as columns of smoke rose into the air and chaos flowed into the very streets. They couldn’t stop. They had to get to the ruins and stop the slime’s mana supply before the entire city was destroyed.
***
Gwen stayed calm as the shouts and screams of citizens filled the air. Vanessa had taken a seat with one of the surviving chairs. The Ink Witch stood behind her, hands on shoulders. Taking long deep breaths, Gwen prepared to pour her mana into the undead student.
“Gwen, even with your power, I have never done something like this to such a scale. I have no idea what will happen. But no matter what, continue to lend me your mana,” Vanessa said with no emotion.
“You are brave. I will help you as best as I can until the end,” Gwen said with closed eyes.
Vanessa gave a quick nod before she too closed her eyes. The Ink Witch felt something dark touch her mind and heart. A moment later it took hold like a ravenous beast. Death energy wrapped and pulled at living mana. Gwen ignored the sudden pull and kept her mana in control.
Vanessa opened her mind as streams of mana poured into her undead heart and mind. The undead student squeezed her eyes shut, ignoring the screams in the distance. Black energy swirled as commands were injected into it. When the final commands were given, Vanessa opened her eyes and black energy flashed. The mana boom it created nearly knocked the ink witch away. Holding on, she could feel tendrils shooting out in all directions.
The Stukarr Cemetery stood silent outside the northern wall. Black energy rolled across the tombstones and snaked down holes to the catacombs below. Cold undead woke from their perpetual slumber. Commands flowed into long dead bones and ghostly spirits. The Dead Mother called to them and they loved her so. They missed her wondrous voice and wanted to hear it again. Rising from coffins and passing through hard stone, corpses and ghosts rose into the blinding sunlight. They moved with purpose, missing their queen and wanting to help her in her time of need.
Vanessa never felt such power storming through her undead frame. Even with her deadened senses, old nerves burned as mana crashed in her, trying to make her live again. The undead woman screamed, hands clutching to the witch hands on her shoulders. Gwen grunted as Vanessa’s dead heart pulled at her mana, trying to steal her life and reanimate the student. Gwen felt it. If she let Vanessa consume all her mana, Vanessa would live but the witch would die. Conflicted emotions rolled through Gwen as Vanessa continued to scream, ready to live again.
People ran away from the rampaging slimes. Women and men clutched at their children, trying to get away. Guardian knights pressed their attack, trying to keep the monster slimes at bay. Some knights broke off from the attack to scoop up those too close to the action. Fires burned and buildings crumbled. A teacher moved her young students, trying to stay calm as the kids looked up with terrified eyes. Belle the red slime moved indifferently as a foot went up. A shadow fell over the teacher and some of the students. The teacher used the one spell she knew. Casting it, a protective bubble surrounded the small class. Belle’s foot touched it and shattered it immediately. The teacher took hold of two little students and tried to run, knowing they wouldn’t make it but she had to try. The shadow stopped moving and the teacher glanced back. Three earth knights held the massive foot up.
Crying out in relief, the teacher hurriedly moved the students along. Spirits rose up from the ground and took hold of the little souls. Chaos ended and all moved in unison away from the red slime. Belle looked down and forced her massive foot down harder. The earth knights watched the teacher and students make it away. Arms and legs cracking, they nodded to each other as the last of their mana ran out. The slime pushed a little harder, smashing the three earth knights to dust before walking on.
Across the city, screams died as ghosts took possession of confused minds. Like a switch was turned on, bodies moved in orderly fashion to tunnel entrances. In mere moments, a calm fell over Stukarr City as many citizens moved to safety deep underground. The slimes continued to crash through buildings but the threat to the population diminished in moments.
With the people evacuated, magistrates turned their attention to the three slimes. Creating powerful mana weapons from swords and bows to ancient guns and artillery, they unleashed their combined power. Long leather coats rustled in the air as a storm of white energy slammed into the giant slimes. Bellatrix roared her annoyance as she lashed out with green transparent tentacles. The blasts hurt but the mana streaming into her body quickly repaired any damage she felt. With another roar, drops the size of people began to drip from the slime’s legs.
Green, red and blue drops splashed on the broken city streets by the hundreds. Eyes watched as they continued their barrage of magical attacks. The drops shifted and rose up, forming into human sized versions of all three slimes. Bellatrix, Bella and Belle roared a strange word. The army of colored slimes moved, spreading out and attacking any magic user within reach. The magistrates turned their attacks from the large slimes and refocused on the army of slimes attacking them. Explosions and magical fire further added to the chaos as the battle turned from hundreds of feet to mere inches.
Trystan was running behind Nia, with Sunara and Aznara taking up the rear. The path of destruction was easy to follow until the drops splashed to the ground. Blue slimes rose up on thick legs. Their eyes were blank with no hint of recognition. Faces shifting into scowls, the small army of slimes surged down the path of destruction toward the four mages.
Mist bellowed off skin from all four mages. Red Fang was first to appear, opening his maw and spitting a large fireball right down the middle. The fireball exploded the moment it struck one slime. Goo bodies were ripped apart by magical fire and several slimes fell to the ground smoking or in wet pieces.
The vampire Vossa appeared next to Aznara. A gloomy smoke flowed around her body, engulfing it into a solid gloom. The cloud moved forward as blue slimes charged into it. Aznara prepared a spell as the vampire familiar used the cloud to slice at slimes. The vision of the smaller versions of Bella could not penetrate the thick gloom and were cut down left and right by the pale vampire.
Trystan’s senses were open and it hurt to see each Bella sliced and blasted to pieces. The mage looked up as giant Bella faced them. Three fire knights streaked across the sky, arms at their sides as they slammed head first into the blue slime. The fire knights sunk in about a dozen feet before energy arced and their bodies exploded. Trystan watched helplessly as Bella lurched forward with half her side wide open. Mana poured into her body, causing the slime to reach out with tendrils and take hold. A moment later she was healed again.
Sylk was moving forward. Slimes appeared out of the Vossa’s cloud, continuing their charge. The siren let the slimes get close and she screamed. The vibrations struck the jellied bodies, amplifying the shockwaves. It was enough to cause their eyes to widened and bodies exploding. More slimes slipped passed the vampire is she tried her best to cut them down.
The two succubi unleashed a torrent of spell fire. Aznara let a stream of fire pour from her hands, snaking forward and slamming into blue bodies. The slime’s bodies hardened and crumpled to the cobbled streets. Sunara unleashed a stream of molten steam, striking the slimes. With another word, the steam turned to whirling hot white blades, burning and cutting anything in their path.
Trystan watched as his friends kept the wave of slimes at bay but only barely. For everyone one that fell, four more took their place. Looking up he cou
ld see that more drops fell from the giant blue slime, supplying more troops to the battle.
“We can’t keep fighting this battle!” Trystan shouted over the chaos.
“Open to suggestions,” Nia shouted as she unleashed fire arrow after fire arrow from her flaming bow.
Trystan’s mind raced. Taking a deep breath, he calmed himself. Remembering Gwen’s teachings, the mage relaxed his mind, body and spirit. There had to be a solution. He must find a way to communicate with his familiar. He knew deep down that she was being controlled but there must be a weak point he can use to get his Bella back. The mage felt his heart slow and his mind open.
Nia, Sunara and Aznara made a semi-circle in front of Trystan. The familiars took a defensive stance before them. Slimes continued to surge forward. Vossa continued to cut slimes down in the cloud until tentacles lashed out in all directions. The vampire flipped away only to have a tentacle smash into her chest. The blow was so strong, her body crashed into the cobbled street, cracking the stone under her. The cloud dissipated slowly and slimes pushed through. Sylk flipped high and landed next to the fallen vampire. Unleashing a scream, several slimes vibrated and exploded. The siren took hold of the vampire and pulled her. Red Fang formed the new front as he blasted fire ball after fireball like some animal tank. Fiery explosions rocked the area but more slimes continued to charge through the destruction.
Fear snaked into everyone’s hearts as the amount of slimes doubled and tripled. Firming up their resolve, they continued to unleash everything they had. Sylk dropped Vossa at Aznara’s feet and charged back to Red Fang’s side. The slimes were within twenty feet when Sylk unleashed another scream. The row of slimes exploded but more pushed passed. The siren took another breath and screamed again as Red Fang turned the fireballs into a long stream of fire.
