by Erik Weir
On the streets, angels fought like golden soldiers against the tide of darkness. Shadows leapt, only to be stabbed and cut down. The flood grew as shadows pushed at each other, trying to taste the bleeding warmth of bodies, madness consuming their screeches. A panic began to fill the area around the Citadel as angels began to fall one by one to the ravenous hordes.
Portia turned her head, her gaze marking choke and defense points before she spoke. “Engage internal defenses,” She commanded as her halo flared with power.
Victor and Lily looked around as parts of the buildings glowed with golden light. Cubes of energy separated and shifted at dozens and dozens of places along the walls and on top of small buildings. Portia stared out, information filling her mind. The cubes reformed and melded together, taking the shape of white cannons and turrets. Angels backed off as halos glowed brighter. Shadows pushed at the edges, trying to spill their blood with every rake of black claws.
Turrets and cannons targeted the shadows as they whirled to life. A breath later, they exploded in bursts of light. Shadows screeched as they were cut down almost instantly. Black shadows were torn apart by light, large holes in their forms before they fell into writhing heaps of darkness. The counterattack was brutal, light filling the streets as the darkness was torn asunder.
For a brief instant, Victor thought they had a chance. Heaviness filled his heart as shadows broke away from the main forces and glided up or crawled toward the turrets. The white machines turned, blasting anything that moved too close, but even with their power, the shadows surged, ending their shattered lives but drawing closer. When one took hold of a turret and bent the white metal, it sparked and exploded. Portals across the streets surged with more and more shadows and they moved with a single purpose to kill and maim everything. One by one, the cannons and turrets blinked out, no longer functioning as the impossible river of darkness spilled into the realm.
“No,” Victor said as he grabbed Lily by the shoulders and looked into her wide eyes. “We can’t win this! We need to evacuate the city before everyone is killed. Contact Cassandra and have her send everyone who can fight.”
“How is that going to help,” Lily with an edge.
“We can’t stop the shadows, but you and the others can help defend Valis’ people while they escape,” Victor nearly shouted above the mayhem before turning his gaze to Portia. “Can everyone swim when they reach the water?”
The angel turned her attention to Victor, “The walls of the city will reconfigure to escape ships on my command.”
“Do it! If we don’t get the people out of here, the shadows or that Elder thing is going to kill everyone!”
Lily gripped Victor’s arm, “What are you going to do?”
The Blade looked into the succubus’s red eyes. Fear mingled with her crimson gaze, giving off a glimmer that she already knew the answer, but didn’t want to believe it.
Victor smirked. “While Umus is keeping the Elder thing busy, I’ll keep Draygon busy.”
“You ca…,” Lily began before Victor pulled her in close, embracing the demoness.
“Please, call the others. Don’t fight me on this. Our priority is to save the people.”
“Your priority is to stay with me,” Lily said, her voice cracking.
Victor held her close, lips to her ear, “I need my Shield to help the people. When they are safely away, come back to me and we can finish this monster, together.”
Lily was silent for a few seconds before she barely nodded her head and pulled back. Victor watched as she stepped back and stood next to Portia. The Champion gave the succubus a warm smile before turning his back to her. A point of Strength flowed into Victor’s Jump ability. Legs bending, energy surged until he pushed off the ground and bounded up into the air, flying higher and higher toward the tendrils of darkness spilling from the building.
Lily’s eyes watered before she closed them, letting her voice cross realms, her heart aching with fear and the unknown.
***
Cassandra walked along the stone path of the village. A voice touched her mind, words cascading along her spirit. The tall Keeper gave a small nod before her own power flared across dimensions and worlds. When the ropes of power connected with Vala’s chosen, they listened intently.
Dawn and Night stepped from their home and into the street, walking toward the giant woman. Others appeared from their homes, making their way closer as others in distant realms looked to the skies, listening for the Keeper’s words.
Cassandra turned to face the slyths, war maidens, dragons, succubi and warp spawn. Beyond the veil of reality, slingers and resistance fighters listened with every fiber of their spirits.
“Our Blade and Shield are fighting to save Valis from Draygon’s power. They have asked for any who can and will assist with defending the people of that realm from extinction. We are here to serve Vala, but we are here to serve those who would love,” Cassandra’s voice vibrated along time and space.
The Keeper lifted her head, eyes scanning across faces of those gathered. “There will be no judgment on your decision. Time slips away. Who will go and fight?”
Vala’s realm rippled as many bodies stepped forward, their hearts glowing with protective might.
***
Victor soared upward, glass windows blurring past him as he ascended. The air on his face calmed his spirit, drinking it in for a moment of peace. Thoughts quieted as a rush of purpose caused his heart to beat with power. When he cleared the roof, it almost seemed like he hovered before he fell and landed on the stone and metal surface.
Draygon had moved to the center, black and purple power pulsating around him. The sound of shockwaves could be heard in the distance as Umus continued his relentless assault on the Elder thing. Blending with the shocks of power, screeches and screams played on like a demented symphony in the bowels of Hell. The wind picked up, stirring Victor’s hair as he glared at Draygon.
The Elder Spawn kept his manic grin as he held his hands out to his sides, power nearly engulfing his form. “Come to watch the play with me?”
“I’ve come to end it,” Victor said as he called up his stat screen and shifted it to the side of his vision.
Victor Hobbs
Acolytes Unlocked- 42/77
Divine Orbs- 2
Powers to Unlock-0
Spheres of Influence
Str (Gaia)- 13/12
Con (Nano)- 11
Int (Abyss)- 3
Will (Holy)- 6
Wis (Mind)- 10
Cha (Shadow)- 3
Swords
Iron Sword
Elemental Sword
Gun Blade
Bone Sword
Cursed Blade
Sphere Abilities/Powers
Mind
Speak/Read/Write Languages
Transmutation
Unseen Hand
Enchant Weapon
Gaia
Increased Strength/Speed
Animal Tongues
Jump
Animal Shapeshift
War Form
Summon Monster
Nano
Heightened Senses Upgrade
Body Enhancement/Repair
Interface Upgrade
Weapon Upgrade
Armor Upgrade
Power Suit Upgrade
Shadow
Holy
Light Aura Shield
Soothing Touch
Healing
Abyss
Impulse Control Touch
Draygon gave a small nod. “Too bad you don’t understand what I’m trying to do for you…for us.”
“I understand. I understand you’re insane and I need to put you down like a rabid animal,” Victor said sternly.
“If you understood, you would know I have trillions of shadows at my command. I called an Elder Thing to this realm and set it loose. My power grows with every moment and when I’m strong enough, I’m going to consume your goddess. I will ascend and I will br
ing peace by murdering those who oppose me and madness to those who love me. I will be the point in time where everything changes. My rule will last until all heat leaves every universe and then I can rest on my throne of souls.”
Victor, I am with you, but don’t say what I think you’re going to say.
The Blade smirked, “Alright Vegeta, time to cave in that fivehead of yours.”
Draygon’s brow raised, “Vegeta? Who’s Vegeta?”
Vala’s Champion stepped forward, mentally spending influence. One Constitution activated his Power Armor ability. Nano-drones ejected from skin pores and spread out, connecting under his clothes to form a flexible metal skin. Victor stepped closer, armor covering his head and face, leaving only slits for his eyes. One points of Strength channeled into his muscles, making him stronger and faster. A point of Will energized his new Light Aura ability, a golden light engulfing the Blade. Right hand out, a bone sword emerged from his wrist and slid into his hand.
“You’re holding back,” Draygon said as he stood his ground.
The Blade said nothing as he approached until he was within five feet of the Elder Spawn. The wind touched them as fighting glowed down from below on all sides. A trickle of fear touched the champion but a fury boiled in his stomach. Death and Love watched as Victor took a short breath.
Kick his ass!
Victor nodded and flashed forward. In a long blink, he was before the Elder Spawn, left fist pulled back. Draygon smirked as the Blade blasted his fist forward and was stopped short in the Elder Spawn’s hand.
“You disappoint me,” Draygon grinned.
Victor smiled as he channeled ten points of Strength. Power blasted his muscles and rode his body like a hurricane. An alert appeared in his vision, indicating he could lift twenty-five thousand tons. The titan tier power level flared as he flicked one finger in Draygon’s hand.
The shockwave boomed as the Elder Spawn was hurtled back. Draygon’s eyes widened as his left hand lashed out and grabbed the railing on the opposite side of the roof, metal bending. Body floating for a moment, the Elder Spawn flipped his body and landed while his right hand dangled like a broken thing.
Draygon’s hand snapped back to normal but Victor moved like he was teleporting. Darkness surged as Victor landed a punch in the spawn’s stomach. Draygon bent forward as Victor’s bone sword flashed up and then down, too fast for the human eye. A shadow stabbed out and Draygon parried the blow, his black sword cracking. The air blasted out in all directions.
“You’ve become stronger,” the Elder Spawn grunted.
Victor let go of his sword, hands grabbing the spawn by his shirt. Muscles glowed under skin as he lifted him up and smashed him down on the roof, caving it in. The Blade followed Draygon down as they smashed through two more floors before stopping. Fists flashed like pistons, punching the spawn in the chest and face. Draygon roared as power burst. Victor was lifted and thrown against a wall, crashing through into another room.
Draygon flashed through the hole just as Victor summoned his bone sword. It flew into hand just as Draygon was bearing down on him. The bone blade parried the black sword, arms on both vibrating as energy arced along their bodies.
Draygon was about to say something when Victor’s heel slammed on the monster’s knee, kicking it out and knocking him off balance. Falling to the side, Draygon watched as Victor’s left hand grabbed his neck and threw him like a rag doll. The wall exploded as Draygon’s body landed and rolled. Arms and legs working, he was back on his feet, a black sword in each hand.
Victor stood up and marched toward the hole. “The one thing I have learned about you so-called higher beings are that when you spend your energy on grandstanding, you use a lot of power. I assume the portals and summoning an Elder Thing must be draining you. That makes you meat for the grinder.”
“Vala chose well,” Draygon cackled.
Victor stepped through the hole when Draygon burst forward like a shotgun blast. Swords whipped at each other, creating sparks the size of hailstones. Furniture around them was blasted or sliced away. The fury of attacks cracked walls and blasted out windows.
Draygon laughed as he parried each blow. “Let’s give history something to remember!”
***
Lily and Portia moved along the edge of the crowd. The succubus glanced to the side as warrior angels fought like demons against the tides of shadows. The numbers continued to grow and the demoness watched as angels gave their last breath fighting the incoming abyss.
“Convert weapons to ranged attacks. Keep them at bay,” Portia said calmly as her halo flared.
Angel soldiers pulled back, spears and swords turning into cubes of light, shifting and changing until they formed rifles of golden energy. Fingers pulled back on triggers and thick bolts of energy blasted out. Shadows moaned as light punched through their bodies. A second later, they burst into shards of darkness.
The crowd moved through the main street toward the gate in the distance. The pace was slow as shadows flooded in from side streets, leaping and attacking as bolts of light cut them to pieces. Golden wings of energy slashed out with razor precision as light rifles blasted apart of shadowy bodies.
Portia leapt up, wings spreading out. Information fed into her mind as her spear shifted into a rifle. Hovering above, she fired long range shots, blasting shadows. A ping touched her mind and she turned her gaze down the main street. A massive horde of shadows burst out before them, mouths gaping and white eyes staring.
“Defend along the edge while I lead the charge,” Portia commanded Lily before bursting forward.
The angel became a bullet of light as she rushed to the front of the fleeing crowd, aimed and fired. Boots touching the ground, angels moved to form an A at her sides. Light rifles firing, they pushed forward with Portia leading the charge.
The advancement slowed as shadows came at them with brute force. The charge became small steps, the fight turning to feet and soon inches. Lily readied as shadows pushed against the sides, killing angels left and right. The succubus took a deep breath when something caressed her heart.
Mist flowed in patches across the area. Time slowed as dark forms appeared and stepped out on all sides of the fleeing cloud of citizens. The succubus grinned, giving a silent thanks to Cassandra and Vala.
Three dragon women stepped from the mists, serpent eyes on the chaos. Behind them, large Amazonian women stepped out, hefting swords, axes, and clubs, crackling with power. In another patch of mist, a woman and dragon woman with cowboy hats stepped out. Astor gave the area a glance over as she adjusted a pack over her shoulder. Shyryth growled as her scaly hands fell to pistols on each hip. Lizard women emerged from another patch, spears in hands and energy dancing along the shafts. From behind them, four succubi sauntered out with whips and chains, licking their lips.
From a small patch of mist, Dawn and Night stepped out. The elf with glasses hefted up a plasma rifle while Night’s delicate hands glowed with arcing power.
Lily turned around and raised her staff. “Save the people,” she shouted with all her might.
Astor tipped her hat as she turned to a horde of howling shadows before her. “Shyryth, let’s light it up.”
The Slinger’s hands moved in a blur, drawing rune covered pistols and cocking back hammers the moment they cleared their holsters. Arms flashed upwards as eyes picked targets. The flood of shadows roared as they approached and when the wave of darkness crested above them, fingers fell on triggers.
Mana bullets stabbed out of rune covered guns, blasting holes through dozens of shadows in an instant. Astor and Shyryth moved like robots, their aim true and deadly as shadows burst into shards of darkness. Light flashed against walls as Astor’s expressionless face remained as she fired and moved to her next target, forgetting the shadows she just killed as they fell to pieces. Mana bullets tore through dozens of shadows, tearing them to bits but the flood continued, rushing to their deaths.
The slyths and succubi screamed battle c
ries and they launched into the fray. Angels continued to fire and provide cover as lizard women and demons hacked, stabbed and slashed at the hordes. Citizens watched as Vala’s acolytes rushed into battle, fighting with every fiber of their beings.
Vindrel, Izy, and Mildra looked to each other before they launched into the air. Leathery wings spread out as their bodies grew larger. Scales stabbed out and clamped down along skin, rippling along as limbs stretched. Necks lengthened as snouts pushed out. Lighting, acidic fire, and ice poured from the sides of their mouths. Maws opening in their true dragon forms, they split up, soaring above the streets, spitting streams of destruction against the seething hordes of shadows.
“Stay close to me,” Dawn ordered her sister as she took a position at the corner of street.
Night moved to her sister’s side as the blonde elf lifted her plasma rifle, aimed and pulled the trigger. Plasma bolts blasted holes in shadows, their screeches echoing off walls. Dawn aimed methodically and with grace, blasting anything that moved too close, but even from her vantage point, the hordes moved like a boulder down a mountain.
Night’s eyes glowed with power, arcane words falling from her lips. Body hovering above the ground, mana glowed along her hands. The mage floated above her sister and into the middle of the street. Dawn turned her head, watching as her sister shouted out words of power. Lightning blasted out in thick streams, hitting a shadow, arcing to another and another. The display lit up the night as Dawn added to the carnage by pulling the trigger into the dying shadows.
“Maybe you should stay by me,” Night said with a smirk.
***
Draygon grunted as sparks showered into his eyes. Swords clashed as walls crumbled from the shockwaves of their battle. Victor took the advantage and slammed his left fist into the spawn’s stomach. Spending a point of Will, the Soothing Touch ability channeled into his fist and flowed into the spawn. Draygon’s eyes half closed as he stumbled back.
