Heroes Rise and Fall (Tales of Grandeur Book 1)

by C. J. Strong

  So, he allowed the current of the sewage to take him back to the entrance, and left the sewer. “They somehow knew we were coming, so I gotta sneak in a different way,” Andrum said as he paced back and forth outside. “The dungeon is on the other side of Ulteria, how the hell am I going to reach it?”

  After careful deliberation, Andrum decided to conjure an outfit similar to that of the guard captains, as well as a ladder in order to breach the city wall. As long as I don’t allow anyone to see my eyes, I think I’ll be good.

  Andrum placed the ladder on the wall that was connected to the sewer and climbed up, on the lookout for any and all patrolling troops. After climbing to the allure, he walked around until he had a clear view of Ulteria. Once Andrum identified where he was at, he made his way over to a nearby wall tower and escaped down and into the city streets.

  It was nightfall by this time, and Tilturians had already begun their assault on the outside. As Andrum made his way through the city, he passed by countless guards and soldiers, each with red eyes that pierced through the night. One of them stopped him, just a few hundred yards from the dungeon entrance. “Excuse me captain,” the guard said as he saluted Andrum.

  “You’re excused,” Andrum said as he brushed past him.

  “Where are you going? The fight is that way,” the guard asked.

  “I have been commanded to check on the prisoners.”

  “Oh, haven’t you heard? Head Styir has moved the prisoners to the castle, along with a new group recently captured.”

  Damnit, Andrum thought. “Thanks for the info,” he said as he turned towards the castle.

  The guard casually put his hand on his belt and flicked his thumb up unsheathing his sword a bit. “Orders are for all guards to defend the city gates—“

  “I have other orders, to rescue my friends and save my people!” Andrum said as he turned and chopped the guard on the side of the head, rendering him unconscious. Sorry soldier. I hope that after we defeat Styir, we will be able to free you from Zorm’s influence.

  Andrum then headed off towards the castle, and to his surprise didn’t pass by a single Nifflarian or Zormite. He snuck right through the castle gates and entered the castle through the main entrance. Oh how I’ve missed this place, but there is no time to reminisce, Andrum thought as he dashed up the stairs leading to the main chambers. It had been several years since his first battle against the possessed Styir and Benry, and he was ready for revenge.

  Once he arrived at the top of the stairs, he was greeted by two Zormite Zealots who had their swords crossed guarding the doorway. “Let him through,” Styir said from afar.

  Andrum walked under the blades of the armored creatures and saw all of his friends, laying on their knees bowing to Styir with the legendary book in his hands.

  “I knew you would be joining us,” Styir said as he opened the book. “It was foretold to me, thanks to you.”

  “You bastard! How could you damn your own people like this?!” Andrum said as he clinched his fist and charged at him.

  Styir touched his hand to the magik book and said, “Stop!” and Andrum froze mid-sprint. “Everything that has occurred thus far has been already written my dear Andrum. It is already fate, and you cannot fight fate. In fact, I have read about every single one of you,” Styir said as he pointed at the prisoners one by one until holding his finger out at Gallagher. “All, except for you.”

  Chapter 31

  This wasn’t the first time Gallagher had been captured and he was sure it probably wouldn’t be the last. At least now he finally had a face to go off of and blame for all the recent deaths. Gallagher leaned up from his bow and pulled his arms apart trying to break the chains behind his back. “I’ll give you one chance to let me and my friends go before I kick your ass!”

  “Woah, my my. A feisty one,” Styir said as he walked over and grabbed Gallagher by the cheeks. “I like it.”

  Just as Gallagher turned his face away, a Nifflarian captain entered the room and walked past the still frozen Andrum and addressed Styir. “Master, serpents have slithered from the ocean and are attacking the southern gates!”

  “Ahh yes, more Tilturians to play with. I almost forgot about them,” Styir said as lifted Valdar’s head from the ground. “What do you think we ought to do with your friends?”

  Valdar looked up, and spit in Styir’s face. “Go to hell!”

  “Why go to hell, when I can bring hell here,” Styir said as he backhanded Valdar to the ground. Both Valden and Omna tried to make their way to Valdar, but the chains stopped them dead in their tracks.

  Andrum finally broke free from the spell Styir had cast, and rushed to free both Ashurd and Uriella. “Don’t worry guys, I’m going to get us out of here.”

  “Don’t… worry about us just focus on him. Sytir is too far gone, just kill the son of a bitch!” Ashurd said. “He deserves it after all he’s done.”

  While Styir was distracted with giving orders to the soldier that had just come in, Andrum conjured a sword and freed both of his friends and then turned his attention towards Styir.

  “What about us?” Moldur asked who happened to be next to the three of them. Andrum walked over to Moldur who held out his chains, and in one slash of the sword he was free.

  Styir turned back towards the group as a golden retriever entered from the back room. “Do you really think any of you are a match for me? Not when I can change your fate with the stroke of a pen.”

  ”Each time you do, it has grave consequences!” Andrum said as he pointed his sword towards Styir.

  “Oh, but isn’t that how you saved your dear Yuralia?” Styir asked.

  “You bastard, don’t you ever mention her name again,” Andrum said as he charged once more.

  With his chains broken, Moldur transformed into a pig and gnawed through the remaining bondage, freeing everybody one by one as Andrum and Styir faced off.

  Styir snapped his fingers and the Zealots stationed in the entranceway attacked Ashurd and Uriella. Meanwhile, the eyes of dog who had just came in lit red and he summoned several Ghouls out of thin air that faced off against Gallagher and company. It was clear to Gallagher that this golden retriever was no ordinary dog, but a possessed hellhound.

  The room shook as a great battle ensued, each hero meeting an equal opposition. Gallagher summoned his book and conjured a dog catchers net, meeting Benry in combat as Valdar transformed and dispatched most of the Ghouls. Valden and Babah nodded in agreement and attacked the remaining Ghouls together, surprisingly killing some of them.

  “That’s my boy, you must possess some of your father’s magik and battle spirit after all!” Valdar said as he swatted a few more enemies.

  “You don’t have to become one with your animal if you already have a strong enough bond together,” Valden said.

  Omna, examined the situation from afar before jumping into battle and punching the lights out of several Ghouls that Benry continued to summon. “I may not be able to destroy them, but at least I can help.”

  On the other side of the room, a scrawny and sickly Ashurd struggled against the Zealots. Uriella sat back as Ashurd defended her, both of them weak from being imprisoned for so long. It’s up to us to kick their ass Uriella. I’ll draw their attention and you attack from behind.”

  “But with what?” Uriella asked as Ashurd caught both of their attacks, one with each arm.

  “I’ve been forging a dagger in my cell for a while now, hurry. Reach into my back pocket,” Ashurd said as he struggled to hold the two foes swords in his hands. Uriella nodded her head and pulled a sharp jagged dagger from Ashurd’s pocket. He then fell to one knee and his arms started to shake as the two Zealots pushed down even harder. Uriella scurried around them and stabbed one directly into the back in an attempt to pierce its armor. It turned its attention from Ashurd, and backhanded Uriella to the ground. “Uriella!” Ashurd shouted as he ripped the sword from the Zealot’s hand and thrusted the other sword he was defending to the sid
e, deflecting the blow.

  Now that Ashurd had a weapon, he turned the blade around and sliced the still armed Zealot through the chest, and then did the same against the weaponless one who had struck Uriella just prior. Both of the Zormites disappeared into nothingness, along with the weapon he had taken. He rushed to Uriella’s aide and pulled her towards him. “You’re going to be alright! You’re too young to die.”

  Uriella laughed a bit before coughing. “It’s going to take more than that,” she said as she closed her eyes and fainted.

  Ashurd lifted her from the floor and carried her to a safe place as Andrum turned his attention from battle. “Like she said before, don’t worry about us. Just kill the bastard!” Ashurd shouted.

  Andrum powered himself up further, with both of his eyes shining brightly into the possessed eyes of Styir. “You know you cannot win, Andrum. Or should I say Xurion,” Styir said. “It is already written.”

  “Don’t believe everything you read in a book, Styir. Zorm, or whoever you are!” Andrum said as lasers shot from his eyes, nearly taking Styir’s head.

  The crowded room got a little less crowded as Gallagher chased the golden retriever hellhound into the room it had come from. “Come here you little bastard,” he said as the door shut behind him.

  The dog ran to the middle of the room and then turned to face Gallagher, with his eyes burning red. “They’re all just peons in there. The true fight is between me and you!”

  “Oh yeah, is that so?” Gallagher asked as momentarily paused.

  “Did you know that Zorm was the first Tilturian ever created?” the dog said as his body started to shake and he begun to transform. Gallagher dropped his net in awe as he morphed into an enormous demon-like humanoid with horns and a dog pelt.

  “Well shit, what kind of dog are you?” Gallagher asked.

  “My name is Benry the Soul Slayer and I am Zorm the Demon Lord’s most loyal servant. And you are the one they call ‘Savior’,” Benry said as his voice changed to much deeper and demonic form.

  “Savior? Not you too…”

  “Of course, I’ve been waiting and training for you for ages. The one whose fate is not written! You will fall by my hands, my Master commands it,” Benry said as he held out his hand and released his burning red claws.

  Gallagher’s eyes changed and he summoned his book, writing down and conjuring a huge longsword with similar design to that of Valdar’s only it radiated a blue aura from it. “This ought to be fun.”

  “For me,” Benry said as he raced towards Gallagher. The entire castle shook with each step he took, and Gallagher’s legs trembled the closer the beast drew. He raised his sword, but when he attempted to dodge he was frozen in fear. What’s going on…? Why can’t I move? Gallagher thought as Benry knocked the teen into the air, causing him to smash against the wall.

  Gallagher slowly rose from the ground, using his sword as a cane to lift himself back up. His knees shook once more as Benry approached. “Foolish boy, what’s wrong. Are you afraid of lil’ ol’ me?!”

  “I… I guess so,” Gallagher said as he raised his sword.

  “I’ll tell ya what. I’ll let you warm up a bit,” Benry said before spewing smoke from his mouth. The cloud of darkness spread around Gallagher, with only the aura around his sword protecting him from it. Ghouls and Zealots arose from the darkness and started to take form.

  “Great, seems fair enough,” Gallagher said before swiping through the smoke. A Zealot appeared and temporarily grabbed Gallagher’s sword from the side, while a Ghoul punched him in the face. With the darkness slowly evaporating, it revealed the small army of Zormites that Benry had just summoned.

  Gallagher wiped the blood from his mouth with his free hand, and looked up towards the demon with one eye shining a crystal blue and the other a brilliant red. “Fascinating,” Benry said. “The Savior possesses magik from both Xurion and Zorm.”

  Gally charged through the demonic force, dragging his large sword behind him. As the Ghouls mindlessly attacked, Gallagher dodged each and every blow until coming face to face with Benry. “If there is one thing I’ve learned about fighting these creatures, it’s that the leader is the only one who matters,” Gallagher said as he raised his sword and pointed it at Benry’s throat.

  Benry laughed, and several Zealots swung at Gallagher from behind. He ducked each of their blows and pivoted his body while swinging his sword, slicing through each and every one of them before making his way back around. “Impressive,” Benry said.

  Gallagher’s legs no longer shook, and he dug his feet into the ground and lifted his sword onto his shoulders. He was at last ready. Benry shouted loudly which sent a shockwave throughout the room, nearly knocking Gallagher to the ground. As the wave passed through, every Zormite disappeared into thin air. After recovering from the deafening yell, Gallagher cleaned the ear wax from his ears and looked around. “And who says bad guys don’t fight fair?”

  “Well, I do have a thousand pound weight advantage against you,” Benry said before licking his lips and flexing a fight pose.

  The hero struck his own pose, and then charged at the giant. Just before meeting the demon head on, he slid underneath and between its legs with his sword straight up, slicing through the demon’s crotch. “It’s about time you got neutered,” he said as Benry fell to his knees holding his privates.

  “Augh! You wretched child.”

  “No more puppers for you doggo.”

  Benry slowly got up and once again towered over the young hero. He moved slower than before, but still caught Gallagher off guard and knocked him across the room. “No more games,” he said.

  “The fun has just begun,” Gallagher said as he stood back up and raced towards his opponent. This time however, he drug his sword behind him and circled the demon. Around and around he went, ducking and dodging each swipe the demon made. “You seem sluggish, mind if I offer you something that can help?”

  “Oh, and what might that be?” Benry snorted as he attempted to grab Gallagher before he hopped out of the way.

  “I don’t know if this’ll help or not, but you seem like you could drop a few pounds,” Gallagher said as he jumped into the circle in the floor that he had carved out which surrounded Benry, but nothing happened.

  “Hahaha, good trick. But I’m afraid—“ Benry said as he tried to grab Gallagher who had been jumping up and down.

  Just then, the floor began to give way, and both fell through. The two of them screamed as they dropped and landed onto the ground of another room down below. Unfortunately, Benry had fallen forward and landed on top of Gallagher, and they both laid motionless.

  Chapter 32

  Andrum and the others continued their battles despite hearing the commotion coming from the other room. It wasn’t before long that most had triumphed against their foes, and only Styir remained. “This isn’t how it is supposed to be. Without Benry here, fortunes seem to be changing,” Styir said to the crowd.

  “Give up now Styir and you may yet live. You were once one of my best friends,” Andrum said.

  “We must kill him and vanquish this evil!” Valdar roared.

  “No, there is another way,” Uriella said as she sat up and Ashurd raised her head to let her speak. “Ult-Dak-Fin.”

  “That’s right,” Ashurd said. “If you can defeat him in combat, then he can be freed from his servitude as I once was.”

  Styir quickly opened his book and flipped through its pages until coming to a particular page. “Im-Impossible!” he said before slamming the book shut. “It seems as though the Savior has changed all of your fates.”

  “Gallagher! Is he alright?” Omna said as she rushed into the other room.

  “No matter. Without him in the picture at the moment, I can still obliterate all of you,” Styir said as he created a magik staff out of thin air which had a bright red orb at the top of it.

  Footsteps echoed from the staircase, and a guard entered the room in haste. “Master, Tilturians—“
he began before turning to stone and falling to the ground, shattering into numerous pieces.

  A slithery beast came in, and everyone turned their attention from Styir. “Salitar, is it done?” Valdar asked.

  “Yesss, no thanks to you. Wulder and Guldar and their men are exterminating the rest of the Nifflarians as we speak,” the serpent said before turning from his snake form back into a humanoid.

  “Exterminating?!” Andrum said.

  “That wasn’t part of the plan Salitar!” Valdar said.

  “It was alwaysss apart of my plan. I just failed to mention it to you because I know you have a soft spot for these weaklings. After all, Nifflarians are the ones who slaughtered Endosssa.”

  “These aren’t the same Nifflarians and you know that. You’re just as bloodthirsty as you used to be, and that’s exactly why I founded Tindu in the first place. To protect the weak from the likes of people like you,” Valdar said.

  Styir tapped his staff on the ground and in doing so shot a bolt of lightning out, piercing through the heart of Salitar and killing him instantly. “Enough of this nonsense,” he said. The group stood in shock as Salitar’s cold body hit the ground. “It’s time to kick things up a notch,” Styir said as Salitar rose from the dead, with his serpent eyes shining a brilliant red.

  “That’s not good,” Moldur said.

  “Shit! Don’t let him hit you with his poison, or else you’ll wind up like that guard,” Valdar said as Salitar mindlessly started attacking the group.

  Styir commanded the Tilturian like a puppet, making him swing back and forth at Valdar. As soon as Valdar created some distance between them, Salitar transformed into a snake. He hissed and struck at the lion back and forth, all while the others distanced themselves. “I always knew you were a snake in the grass, Salitar,” Valdar said.