by Nathan Howe
Taking a step back, "Perfect."
Now time to perform the actual magic and access the Netherworld. Spector chanted in Latin following the book to the letter. He pulled the Netherworld into himself, more than he ever attempted before using the Stone of Azuria. Once he reached the peak, he pushed the Netherworld darkness into the blood on the floor as he continued to chant.
The world darkened around him. The floor vibrated under his feet. His head spun. This was to be expected from tapping this much Netherworld and channeling it into another object. Spector continued on. The book didn't tell him the time it required. But it made sure that he continued chanting and channeling into the blood.
Spector's eyes watered, his body ached from the exertion. Would this actually work? It took longer than any other Netherworld trick he'd done so far. Was the book wrong? Spector sweated from head to toe. His body wobbled. Right before he was about to give up a lone figure formed in front of him.
A Lich. One of the most powerful creatures that called the Netherworld home. Spector read of them but never seen one. Grave Knights formed around him, with many other dark servants of the Netherworld. Soon not only the Lich and Knights rose from the ground but more zombies and ghouls. And not in just the warehouse, but around it. Stretching out into the city.
The Lich stepped forward and channeled dark matter into Spector. Spector continued the spell. His own power exploded to extreme levels as he hoped. More and more of the Netherworld flowed into him. More and more creatures erupted under his influence. He'd be able to take over the city.
He ceased channeling. The spell complete. He went back to the throne room and summoned Super and One Rush. They arrived a few minutes later.
"Are the preparations all set?" Spector asked.
"They are."
"Good. Go. Attack downtown. Concentrate on the Hero Coalition. You will have the support of the largest Netherworld army the world has ever seen."
Chapter Twenty-Five
James
Outside the headquarters in downtown James waited with Petrice for a Hero Coalition SUV to drive around to pick them up. "I could've flown," Petrice said.
James shrugged. "I can't fly, and you shouldn't be alone." James scanned the street in front of them. Something's off. He couldn't place it. The air thickened around him, the scent. Close to that of zombie or a mix of it and something else. "What is going on around here?"
"No idea." The sun blacked out bordering an eclipse. The air cooled around them dropping twenty degrees instantly. James shivered and searched for the cause. This couldn't be good. Around here this was always followed by a dangerous Ardent.
The statue of Titus wobbled before toppling to the ground. James sprinted as fast as he possibly could, moving Petrice out of the way. As if materializing out of nowhere in front of them stood Super and One Rush with legs wide and curled lips. Both their fist trembled as they glared at them. Scott and David were dead to James. Around them the cause of the terrible stench. Not only zombies surrounded them, but creatures James only recently learned of. Liches, grave knights, dark servants, and much more that James didn't remember the names of.
"Bring enough?" Petrice asked.
Spector must be around somewhere using the stone to summon these. It was the only way to summon them to earth. They didn't want to trespass to our plane like zombies and ghouls. But once summoned they would cause more damage than the others. Being so pissed off after being ripped from their home.
"You think this is a lot," One Rush said. He stepped forward, waved his arms while he spun in a circle. "This is only the beginning."
Chilling warned them that if Spector figured out the stone he would have infinite power. This wasn't going to be easy.
The sirens at the headquarters sounded. A little late. Above the headquarters James saw many of the Ardents who fly taking off. The whole island of downtown must be under attack. Spector had the force of the Netherworld behind him now. All James had was nanobots and a mechanical arm.
Petrice stood next to James in a staring contest with David. Neither moving. Petrice's skin flush. "You will not get past us," Petrice said. She took an aggressive stance. "You worthless pile of garbage."
James gasped. Petrice never talked that way.
Super grunted and nodded to One Rush. He lifted his leg. James wasn't going to be tricked with that one again. He snagged Petrice and rushed out of the range of the barrage.
"You can't run from us," Super shouted at him and leaped into the air chasing. One Rush raised his hand into the air, lightning from the sky struck him, and he disappeared. A strike lightning erupted in front of James and One Rush now stood there with a grin on his face.
"Don't look so surprised." He punched James in the face knocking him into Petrice forcing them both backward. Damn that was quick. Lightning quick, James was unable to keep up with that, not even with his super speed and reflexes. He slid with Petrice behind him.
When he finished sliding, Petrice flew up into the sky to avoid another attack. "I'll alert the others."
"Hurry!" James shrieked.
Super landed behind him and swung. James let the nanobots take over. If he didn't, he'd be a dead man in seconds. James became Broken, the hero. He let control of his body allowing his body to react before he even thought. Super lunged at him, Broken eluded him, dodging to the left.
Super's eyes widened. Stunned that Broken easily avoided his strike. "You are quick. But not quick enough."
Several Netherworld creatures surrounded him. He had nowhere to run.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Petrice
At the top of the building, a line of heroes flew off in every direction. From this height Petrice saw the destruction that occurred in a few short minutes. If the attack sustained the city would be destroyed beyond repair. They had to find Spector and the Stone of Azuria.
Chilling stood on the edge of the building, enveloped in a shroud of darkness from the Netherworld. His eyes glowed a bright blue, standing in stark contrast to the black cloud that surrounded him. Petrice landed on the roof, Invincible walked over. "Broken is surrounded on the ground, by both Super and One Rush, and countless Netherworld creatures," Petrice said.
Invincible nodded. "Watch Chilling. He's sifting through the Netherworld in hopes of a clue to stall Spector. I'll aid Broken."
With his giant stone mallet in hand, he leaped off the building. Petrice watched as he plummeted to the ground below. He couldn't fly. But his invincibility would protect him. He was truly invincible, hence the name. Even with all that jumping off the tallest building in the world seemed dangerous to Petrice. She hoped he'd be enough to delay the horde that assaulted the building below.
With one eye on Chilling and the other on the Ardents taking flight, many of them carried others. Pixie flew over to her. "I can't believe Specter summoned so many. It's unreal. All of downtown is under attack."
Fires erupted over the skyline, buildings burst. An explosion sounded in the distance. A war broke out. People ran for their lives. Shouted in terror. The roads filled with angry people, horns beeped, crashes lined the streets around the building. Petrice's heart sank. Her home the city, in ruin.
On the roof, a radio had been set up. From it blurted reports from members of the Hero Coalition and Cynosure PD.
"Hopefully Chilling can locate a way to Specter fast so we can end this before nothing is left."
Pixie nodded. She glanced below and squinted her eyes. "I'm needed."
She flew down the side of the building to aid in the struggle, her bow out ready to join the fray when she was close enough. She shrank closer to the ground, almost impossible for Petrice to see if she fired. A hail of arrows, ripping through a horde of the Netherworld creatures.
All that remained on the roof was Petrice, Chilling, and Kraftig who was manning the radio. She turned to him. "How bad is it?"
"Could be worse."
"How so?"
"We got word from Djinn Park almost immediat
ely. The HQ there sent out forces to slow down the battles across the city. But they showed up all over the city. Not just there. We weren't ready for that. The midtown building is in bad shape."
No! Petrice wanted to rush to add in its defense. She didn't want to lose her home base. As much as she didn't mind working in downtown, midtown was where she belonged.
"I hope they survive." Petrice glanced at Chilling. Petrice wanted this to be over. To help her family, her friends. To make sure the city recovered. "Please find him. So we can save the city."
Chilling grunted and fell backward. "He's coming here. With even more."
"Not good."
"No. Almost all the Ardents have left the building. Only a few remain and most of those are trainees or the few that ran out to assist Broken."
In the distance, Spector flew towards them with a tail of Netherworld creatures with him. Petrice stood motionless with her face ashen. Beads of sweat puddled on her brow.
"Kraftig run below. Man the defenses in case he defeats us," Chilling said. Petrice flinched.
"I can support you,” Kraftig said.
"You are." Chilling hovered, never taking his eyes off the approaching Spector. "We require someone inside if we fail. You are the last line of defenses."
"I understand."
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Spector
Below Spector chaos consumed the city as he designed it. Everything went according to the plan. It took longer than expected but that didn't matter. Soon he'd waltz into the Hero Coalition, defeat the remaining heroes and turn their defenses against them. Those that survived out in downtown against the hordes of Netherworld creatures he summoned would fall under their own weapons.
The stone controlled the Netherworld creatures, with so many Spector barely felt them. With so many, commanding them required more power and the stone provided it. Spector sent orders to groups at a time having them bombard different spots across the city. His undertaking in full effect.
Spector waited for the heroes to depart the headquarters in mass. The buildings in the city were now at the minimum. Taking the main one in downtown would allow him to overtake the other two buildings as well.
On the roof stood Chilling and next to him Mortal. It troubled him that she was still alive. Didn't make sense, but no matter, she'd be dead soon with millions of others in the city. Those who didn't bend to his will wouldn't last the night.
"Go kill." Spector directed several of the creatures and watched as they veered off and swarmed people fleeing below them. Screams reached up to him as the Grave Knights surrounded people in fancy clothes running for their lives.
"Don't hurt us."
Spector laughed. That is exactly what they would do. Hurt. Kill. The Grave Knights, with several zombies, charged the people and begun a battle. The Knights sliced people's limbs off with their razor-sharp swords while the zombies bit and clawed the people as they tried to fill their hunger for flesh.
It was great. Spector smiled as he continued to fly at the headquarters.
Time to stop goofing around, Spector increased his speed and raced to the building. Below him as he flew, the destruction spread. More and more of his creatures rose from the ground terrifying those that were stupid enough not to seek shelter.
The Stone of Azuria hung from Spector's neck, as more Netherworld creatures arriving on this plane the stronger Spector got. Glorious power.
Spector reached the main Hero Coalition building in no time. Only Mortal and Chilling remained on the roof. The rest below dealing with the horde he sent to overwhelm the collation from below with Super and One Rush.
Disappointing that they hadn't finished that up. Spector hoped they'd make quick work of that group. With the amount of Netherworld creatures, they should have easily handled the few Ardents there.
"Hello Chilling, Mortal," Spector said. He landed on the opposite side of the roof allowing as many of the Grave Knights and Liches to land between them.
"Real tough Spector," Chilling said. "You can't handle us alone so you summon all these."
"Doesn't matter," Spector said. He held on to the stone. "This grants me the power to defeat you."
Chilling glared at the stone with desire in his eyes. He both hated and craved it. Spector hadn't expected it.
"You want this don't you?"
Chilling shrugged. He nodded at Mortal. Using her mental powers to plan. It wasn't lost on him. They could talk together with no fear of him knowing a word. It was why he wanted her.
Spector sneered. "Whatever you're planning it doesn't matter. You already lost."
"I don't think so," Mortal said so low Spector barely hear her. Good. At least he hurt her. "That stone doesn't make you invincible."
"No, it doesn't. But I'm the strongest Ardent in the world now. All will bow before me."
"Uh. I'm not bowing before you or anyone else," Mortal said. She stood firm. "I'm sure no one will bow before you."
Spector eyed her. Hate filled him. Her arrogance. She wasn't any better than him. Just because she grew up with Ardents didn't make her better than him. Didn't make her more powerful than him.
"You will bow!" Spector sent two grave knights at her. Grave Knights moved faster than the normal person yet somehow Mortal avoided them, letting them rush past her to tumble off the roof to their death. And that's when he realized Chilling had taken off like the coward he is.
"Close but no cigar Spector," Mortal taunted him. How could she do that? She wasn't that powerful, to begin with, a psychic that needed others to protect her.
"You act tough now. But I defeated you once. I'll do it again. I'll lay you up permanently this time. Make no mistake."
"You're all talk."
Now he was pissed. How could she say that? Spector gestured around. "All talk," he sneered. "I did this. The biggest attack ever on Cynosure."
She shrugged. "Not you. The stone. You're nothing."
"I am not nothing! I did this. Me." Spector held out his chest, smashing his fist against it. "I captured the Stone of Azuria."
She smiled. "Actually you didn't. Super did."
A blast of ice slammed into him from behind. Chilling. Damn that was cold. Then a burst sent him flying backward. Mortal and her telekinesis. He was off the roof plummeting to the ground. It didn't matter. In a second he'd have the magic of the Netherworld prop him up. Let him fly.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
James
The tide shifted when Invincible landed on the ground next to James. A mini earthquake with the force of the landing and it didn't even faze him. He stood with fire in his eyes. Deadly even without the giant stone mallet he carried.
He grunted. Even Super took a step back. Invincible's eyes darted across the scene in front of him. Broken followed his gaze, nothing but zombies and ghouls in front of them. Sure a few other Netherworld creatures spread through the group. Broken had just beat them. Killing them. The zombies were easy but not with One Rush and Super barrage.
Super regained his composure. "You don't stand a chance." He stood with anger in his eyes. "We outnumber you by a thousand to one."
Invincible smirked. "A fair fight." He swung his mallet in a large loop as he skipped into the center of a group of creatures. A cloud of mist flowed in his wake from the creatures being sent back to the Netherworld.
More stepped up to take their place. One Rush laughed as he lightninged in next to Invincible. "You are just delaying the inevitable."
"I'm okay with that," Invincible said. Broken sprinted at Super who had proven to be Broken's superior in every way. This was about to change. He'd show to the world that he was a hero.
Broken used a similar arc to Invincible's to assail Super and the creatures that formed a wall next to him. The blade sliced through the zombies while Super easily sidestepped it. "Close cousin. But not close enough."
Super reached back with one arm and swung forward with so much speed that Broken barely dodged in time. He felt the breeze from Super's arm
as it passed in front of him. Damn.
Super stood dumbfounded. Broken used that to his advantage and swung with full force. Connecting with Super’s side, sending him hurdling back into the group taking out zombies along the way.
"You can't. No one can dodge me." Super stood on his feet. A sneer formed on his red face. He spat as he spoke. "How did you touch me? That's never happened before."
"Lucky. I guess."
"Humph."
Broken risked a glance at One Rush and Invincible, a mistake. Super landed a massive punch in Broken's midsection knocking the wind right out of him and forcing him back into the building. He dropped to his knees.
Then it rained arrows from the sky. So many fell it was hard to see who or what the source of them was. It didn't matter that much to Broken. They killed numerous zombies.
Once cleared, two things came into focus for Broken. Pixie had arrived from the roof and sent all those arrows. It seemed impossible for one person to fire that many that fast.
Super lay on the ground with arrows enclosing his body. Not even, he dodged them all. Blood exited from the wounds scattered on his body.
Broken eyed Pixie as she landed next to him. "Will he be okay?"
"Not sure."
More zombies arrived in front of them giving Broken little respite. Invincible cleared a path to them. "You handle One Rush?" Pixie asked.
He nodded. "Your arrows gave me the advantage. Unfortunately, I had to leave him on the ground unattended. But he shouldn't be waking anytime soon."
"Good." Pixie unleashed a volley of arrows at the zombies, she was running low.
"You think we stand a chance?" Broken asked.
"That depends on Chilling." Invincible swung his mallet disintegrating a half dozen ghouls in the process.
Great. The odds of beating a person who summoned this many creatures wasn't good. The sky darkened above them. Broken gasped. His skin tingled. Closed his eyes, opened them. Still there. He wanted to hide but knew he couldn't. It was nothing but Netherworld creatures.
