The Shadow of All Worlds

by Shane Porteous

  Chapter 38

  Now more than ever Morzu understood why so many cultures feared the darkness for he too would be frightened if he wasn’t in control of it. But he was and such power made him as unique as he was dangerous. A smile like none ever worn was upon his face as he looked to where the sun used to shine. Since the creation of this world the sun had dictated when darkness fell but not anymore, that power was now solely his. He had left Ebulon not with speed but with a surprise. After creating the shadow that consumed all from Ebulon to Sorn Field he wanted to make a grand entrance, the kind worthy of a new god.

  He was amazed by his new creation, a massive floating platform forged from shadow. It was as wide as a mountaintop and far more ominous to look upon. This was his chariot, the vehicle that would carry him through the heavens, giving him the ideal view of a world that was his to change how he saw fit. He had left Ebulon covered in shadow but with its walls still standing. He wouldn’t spare it for long though, he would destroy it and enjoy doing so. But such an enjoyment wouldn’t be complete without Oos to see its destruction, hence why he had allowed it to remain standing. Morzu had brought his chariot to Sorn Field glad that he had done so for he could see the slaughter his shadow was bringing about. His eyes took their time, he didn’t want to miss any Ebulon soldier dying and many were. Whether by the hand of Ulnath, one of his shadow creations or the Red Army Ebulon soldiers and refugees were dying in droves. Their situation was bad enough that when Morzu arrived, his floating platform bringing a second layer of darkness, few had looked up to witnessed it. They couldn’t spare the precious seconds if they wanted to keep living.

  All Morzu really cared about was one head being raised, the one that belonged to Oos. Oos had risen his head, looking right into Morzu’s dark glowing eyes. Morzu could see pride in them as well as enjoyment, the kind of enjoyment that until this moment Morzu had never seen from Oos. It had meant a lot to him to see a similar look in the eyes of Krovin. But the difference between his satisfaction was like a scrap of bronze compared to a mountain of gold. He had done what he had been raised to do and that look of pride from Oos meant more to him than even the powers he now wielded. He closed his eyes, wanting his other senses to enjoy the feelings of the Shadow Stone to the utmost as he searched his head for dreams. He could make them all a reality now, he could even dream things that he once thought impossible.

  He had invigorated the Red Lady and the soldiers who had accompanied her to Ebulon with new found power for those fools with the sack strips deserved to die. But the Red Army wouldn’t be spared in his new world, none of the other world villains would either. They had been useful to the Ulnath but they were no longer needed and once Ebulon was destroyed they too would die. He hadn’t forgotten that the other world villains had searched Za-xayek without asking permission, each of them in one way or another had tried to take advantage of his people and they would pay dearly for that. Perhaps even when this world was taken and all the enemies of the Ulnath dealt with Morzu would travel to the other worlds, it seemed a little selfish to keep his new powers in just one world. His smile widened as he thought about the Shadow of All Worlds, because he was planning on making it the shadow that covered all worlds. Intoxicating him like a gallon of wine, he kept his eyes closed just thinking about all the endless possibilities that were his to take, whenever he wanted, wherever he wanted. His serenity was interrupted by a loud clashing sound, forged by his raised right arm and a sword that had been aimed for his head.

  He opened his eyes slowly, as if waking from the world’s greatest dream. Morzu looked into the eerie green eyes of his attacker with a smile that would chill the darkest of souls.

  “I suppose you are expecting me to say that I am not surprised that you finally attacked who brought you into this world, I was aware of your taunts as all Ulnath were…” His smile widened as his eyes narrowed. “But you’re not Aneeku…are you?”

  The way the last two words came out seemed to crawl into Edo Volis’ ears like parasites, after they had been heard they felt like their were festering inside his mind changing and challenging his very identity. Edo Volis had never had his sword blocked like that before with the simple raising of an arm. Voak had been able to stop his sword by simply grasping it with his hand, he had felt the darkness of Voak when that occurred but this was a very different kind of darkness, it was older and frighteningly more powerful. He didn’t know how Morzu saw him coming, Edo Volis had chosen his attack carefully. Yet he was feeling like he was trying to cut a mountain in half with a butter knife.

  His sword hadn’t made a single indent into Morzu’s armor but it still felt trapped, even his hands and arms were beginning to feel shackled to something unseen. Though Morzu didn’t move an inch Edo Volis felt a pulse of power coming from him, one that took Edo Volis from the air and threw him onto the platform.

  As he landed he could feel the darkness digging into his back, like the platform itself was filled with murderous intent. The feeling went beyond the flesh of the body he had possessed, the shadows were almost like wraiths themselves attacking his very soul. As painful as it was unpleasant Edo Volis quickly leapt to his feet, his eyes right back upon his enemy. Morzu slowly lowered his arm, but apart from that made no further motion. Refusing to be rattled Edo Volis opened his mouth, spewing forth a plethora of green mist. Like the smoke from a giant’s tobacco pipe the mist consumed all before him. He would rot the smile right off Morzu’s face. Arrogance had been apart of Voak’s downfall and it didn’t surprise him when it seemed the same could be said about Morzu.

  As the mist had enveloped him Morzu still hadn’t moved, something that didn’t bother Edo Volis. But as the green began to clear like a morning mist Edo Volis was greatly bothered by what he saw. Morzu flinched slightly as his cheeks rotted open but like a zombie opening and closing its eyes the rot vanished as soon as it was formed, leaving Morzu’s skin flawless. Edo Volis was aware of what he had just seen but couldn’t comprehend it. Even Voak’s powers were defenseless against the mist. Edo Volis couldn’t move, not because of any dark spell he was just too disconcerted.

  He saw Morzu move but couldn’t explain his motions, long before the second was over Morzu was in front of him bringing the back of his hand into Edo Volis’ face. Driven off of his feet Edo bounced across the platform, each impact feeling like he had been thrown a thousand feet as he slid off of the platform’s edge. He had felt every ounce of the blow’s strength and it filled him with fear never felt before. The connection hadn’t been severed with Aneeku’s body but he couldn’t shake the feeling that Morzu had deliberately refused to allow the connection to break, like he was powerful enough to infect and maybe even control Edo Volis’ powers. No matter if it was the truth Edo Volis used it as best as he could, holding onto the edge of the platform with a single hand. He wanted to fly up and away from platform but the blow was that powerful he needed time to regain control of the possession.

  Morzu didn’t mind, his steps were slow, like he was walking on clouds and wanted to enjoy every minute of it. Edo Volis locked eyes with him, not wanting Morzu to vanish from his sight. Morzu took a few more slow steps only looking away when a roar of a dragon filled the air. It was an Ebulon dragon, a great purple beast of scales and fire. Dragons were the most revered and feared creatures this world had to offer, even the Ulnath were weary when tangling with them. As the dragon snapped its jaws opened and closed, descending in an attack towards Morzu he didn’t flinch. Raising a single finger a small jolt of darkness flew from his hand. Like a trained Hawk fetching a rabbit the darkness fell upon the dragon devouring it in an instant. A second passed and any trace of the once great beast was long gone. Seeing it die with such ease was more than enough to break Edo Volis’ stare, terrifying was the only word that came to mind when he thought of Morzu’s powers. If he could do that to a dragon what could he do to Edo Volis? It appeared that Edo Volis was about to find out.

  Morzu had taken another step but stopped halfway to
wards him. Edo Volis didn’t have to guess why, he could see the taunting sensation fill Morzu’s gaze, he had seen such a gaze in Voak’s eyes many times. Edo Volis didn’t look away, he made sure that his own face was expressionless. He could use this arrogance to his advantage, he had gotten control of Aneeku’s body once more and when Morzu was close enough he would spring his attack. Morzu may have possessed god-like power but he still had weaknesses, why else would he have bothered to block Edo Volis’ blade? That armor was impressive but there was nothing protecting his neck and Edo Volis had seen what Aneeku’s sword could cut through. Edo Volis had his old friend Toecch to thank for his observation skills, he used them to kill Voak and he would use them to kill Morzu.

  Before Morzu had taken another step a faint red glow appeared behind him, almost like the light of a crimson sun rising upon the world. Edo Volis was the first to notice it, watching as the air seemed to shiver like it was afraid. He narrowed his eyes as the air suddenly became quiet heated and if he was in his own body he would be drenched with sweat. Not a drop of perspiration fell from Morzu as the light increased causing dark shadows to frame his features. Suddenly Morzu turned raising his hand out before him as the entire platform became filled with a violent red. Edo Volis had little choice but to look away, this red energy felt as hot as the sun itself. It was that hot he could almost feel the heat bypassing through his own soul and burning his own body. The entire platform trembled under the power of the red energy, even the magical shadows could not ignore its might. An explosion occurred as deafening as it was destructive and Edo Volis almost lost his grip because of it.

  As he looked back the red energy began to clear and he felt breathless, if he had been on top of the platform Aneeku’s body would have disintegrated. Edo Volis was left slacked jawed, what in the name of Rrhulzinn was that? He thought to himself. His eyes didn’t wander they became stuck on the spot where he last saw Morzu, he had to have been dead, nothing could have survived that. A ghastly gasp left the mouth of the corpse when the impossible was before Edo Volis. Not only was Morzu still alive there wasn’t a scratch on him. Shadows pulsed like flashing lights all across his armor, indicating that it took some effort to block the red energy, but the sheer truth it was blocked was beyond startling.

  Edo Volis could see that Morzu was smiling and he followed his gaze looking to the other side of the platform where a tall, white haired man dressed in black stood. Edo Volis did notice that the back of his right hand was covered in a strange sun burnt red, but it was the man’s red eyes that were hard to look away from.

  “Ah…” Morzu said, his tone filled with dark pleasure. “I had almost forgotten about you, Cada Varl….” The smile left his face briefly as he said, “what I didn’t forget was how many Ulnath you killed.” There was a vicious edge to Morzu’s words. While Cada Varl didn’t show it, alarm drenched him like sweat. The red energy had caused mountains to crumble, killed hundreds if not thousands of enemies in a blink of an eye. Yet Morzu had blocked it with relative ease. Nothing had ever survived a full frontal blast of the energy in Noonsva, Cada Varl’s homeland. But Cada Varl told himself that this wasn’t his homeland, or even his world. It comforted him little as he kept his sword raised. Cada Varl had heard his threat but wouldn’t be shaken by it.

  “You should have stuck around at Ebulon,” Cada Varl began his voice as awe inspiring as it had ever been. “You could have seen just how many more Ulnath I killed.” Morzu stared long and hard wondering if Cada Varl was telling the truth or simply trying to rattle him. The smile returned when Morzu thought about how much he once feared this man, now he feared nothing.

  His eyes did narrow slightly when he noticed those red eyes were no longer looking at him but to somewhere beyond him. After both seeing and feeling the red energy Edo Volis abandoned his plan for a sneak attack, not wanting to get caught in the white haired man’s energy if he had decided to attack again. The whole situation felt quite surreal even to one capable of possessing the dead. Edo Volis had crawled up to stand upon the platform. He noticed that Cada Varl was staring right at him and so he stared back, having no idea who this red eyed man was and wondering why he was staring so. Edo Volis could see a flicker of recognition in those red eyes but couldn’t place why.

  Cada Varl knew he had seen that face before, but struggled to place it, his memory was a strange beast, one he had never quite tamed. Then it struck him and his eyes widened.

  “Aneeku!” Cada Varl’s voice was now more like a growl, a beastly sound that struck Edo Volis to his core. Cada Varl hadn’t had a chance to acquire that other world villains had come to the aid of the Ulnath so he had no idea Aneeku had come to this world. To Cada Varl this betrayer of humanity was bad enough, but the idea the blood thirsty Aneeku was running around this world as well made a chill go through him. Edo Volis raised his free hand now realizing that the red eyed man must have come from the same world as the corpse he possessed.

  “I’m not Aneeku, my name is Edo Volis!” There was desperation in his voice, well deserved as far as he was concerned, he didn’t want to have to fight both Morzu and this red eyed man. Cada Varl studied him for a long moment, the voice he spoke with sounded like the tune of a grave. Aneeku was dead Cada Varl had killed him himself and while the voice didn’t sound like Aneeku’s its tone sounded like one who had been raised from the dead anyway.

  Morzu kept his smile as he looked back and forth between Edo Volis and Cada Varl, considering them both fools.

  “As much as I would enjoy seeing the two of you slash each other apart, I will inform you that he is telling the truth. I don’t know if Edo Volis is his real name but he isn’t Aneeku. I got to admit even I am a little impressed, even the Ulnath aren’t capable of necromancy.” Cada Varl had heard this term, he had heard several legends about raising the dead in his own world, but again he told himself this wasn’t his world. If things such as orcs were thriving in this world, why not necromancers?

  Morzu now turned fully back to face Cada Varl the slight action was enough to make the red eyed man raise his sword slightly and tighten his grasp.

  “I now see why Aneeku was so cocky when he was alive,” Morzu began. “If he fought the likes of you and survived he had ever right to be arrogant.” The truth was Aneeku hadn’t survived their encounter but Cada Varl didn’t bother correcting Morzu, he hadn’t traveled all the way to the Shadow of All Worlds for a conversation. Morzu glanced over his shoulder briefly as he said, “Feel free to attack me Edo Volis I will kill you soon enough…” His voice became considerably darker before he said, “but Cada Varl will be the first to die.”

  Believing that Cada Varl would summon the red energy to defend himself Edo Volis was quick to ascend into the air, wanting to get out of his path. But Cada Varl didn’t summon the red energy, he didn’t have time to. Morzu was upon him long before the moment was over. Edo Volis witnessed the way he moved, consumed by shadow, the movement was like a gigantic demon blinking its eye, drowning the world in darkness briefly. Edo Volis was amazed that Cada Varl had seen him coming, the red eyed man wasn’t knocked off of his feet thrusting his sword upon Morzu’s chosen path. Morzu blocked the blade with his hand like it was as blunt as a broom handle. It reminded Edo Volis of how Voak had once blocked his own sword in a similar way. But it still shook him to his very soul to see it.

  Cada Varl was wide-eyed, the expression so rarely was upon his face it seemed magnified in its intensity. Cada Varl was holding his sword with both hands yet it wasn’t budging, Morzu had complete control of it. Slowly with the speed of the hour hand of a clock Morzu began pushing the blade towards Cada Varl’s throat. A smile sown by sin was spread from cheek to cheek on Morzu’s face. Cada Varl had once toyed with Krovin and the other Ulnath by showing off his physical strength and speed, now Morzu was going to make him suffer for it. Cada Varl had rarely faced anyone or anything whose strength so easily surpassed his own. Yet he refused to flinch, Cada Varl refused to show weakness, though it was ob
vious how out powered he was.

  Edo Volis couldn’t allow this to happen and took action, descending in a rush his sword was ready to remove Morzu’s head right off of his body. Before the sword could even be swung Morzu raised his elbow, sending a stream of shadows to attack Edo Volis. His charge was slain and Edo Volis had little choice but to smack the shadows away, they came fast and hard, he felt their strength every time his sword made contact. The last shadow bypassed his blade completely hitting him in the chest with the power of a battering ram. Again he smacked against the floor of the platform with the grace of a potato sack. He had seen Morzu glance briefly towards him but that is all he needed to make his shadow attacks accurate. Edo Volis tried to rush back on his feet but the shadow attacks did unspoken things to him, they were like the walls of a maze he had to figure his way around before he regained full control.

  Cada Varl had seen him fall but couldn’t do anything to help him, he had few options to help himself! With the blade getting ever so closer to his throat Cada Varl brought his boot up into Morzu’s chest. The power of the blow was great enough that it reverberated all through the platform, Edo Volis felt like an earthquake had been summoned underneath him. But the strength of the attack didn’t do anything to Morzu, his smile widened like the blow had tickled. Cada Varl remained wide-eyed, his mind demanding that it was a mere illusion. He kicked again, the platform shook again and again Morzu didn’t move. Morzu laughed, a collection of sounds darker than a bottomless well. He had seen what this kick could do and yet it felt like nothing to him, the power of the Shadow Stone was greater than he ever imagined. Edo Volis watched on as Cada Varl kicked again and again. Edo Volis frantically wondered why Cada Varl didn’t just summon the red energy, Morzu may have been able to block it but it would have rattled him long enough for Cada Varl to get free. Then he understood why, it was the same reason Edo Volis hadn’t summoned the mist to attack Morzu. Cada Varl would have been caught in the wake of the mist and if he used the red energy Edo Volis would be an innocent victim. Seeing how close the blade was coming to Cada Varl’s flesh Edo Volis demanded of himself to get up and get away, give Cada Varl a chance to summon it. Edo Volis would have left Aneeku’s body and returned to his own, but Cada Varl wouldn’t know he had done so, making the practice useless. Edo Volis managed to get to his knees, still trying to find his way out from the dungeon that possessed him.

  “Ever since we met under the Tower of Ebulon I was wondering how you bleed? Guess I am about to find out.” Morzu said satisfied he had tormented the red eyed man enough and now it was time to kill him. He locked eyes with Cada Varl, the red eyed man didn’t give Morzu the satisfaction of seeing his eyes lower Cada Varl would stare right at him until the moment he died, hoping he would haunt Morzu until the end of his days.

  Suddenly Morzu looked away from Cada Varl his free arm raised in the air, his fingers wrapped around the throat of someone. To Cada Varl’s eyes, the young green-eyed man dressed in black suddenly appeared seemingly out of thin air. But Morzu had seen Kae, in his secondary form floating over the platform, watching and waiting for his chance to strike. He could see the red energy that Kae used, a much different breed to the power of Cada Varl. When Kae had reappeared his face instantly reddened, the air literally being squeezed out of him. His expression was a mask of pain as his sword flailed like a fin in his now lowered hand.

  “Ah…” Morzu said slowly, wanting the torment of the syllable to last as long as possible. “The traitor, the one who answered my call only to run off and tell Ebulon of our plans…” He watched Kae squirm within his grasp, pleased greatly there was nothing Kae could do to free himself. “Your death won’t be swift, Kae…that I promise you!” Like an arrogant noble who had just sipped wine too sour Morzu threw Kae to the ground like he was a worthless goblet. Kae didn’t slide but bounced two times, each impact riddling his body with agony.

  “Kae!” Edo Volis bellowed having just gotten to his feet. He rushed forward his sword at the ready. But remembering what had happened to him the last time he was quick to get out of the path of the pulse of shadows that Morzu summoned against him. Moving to be alongside Kae, Edo Volis helped him sit up as Kae desperately rubbed his throat. “Are you alright?” Edo Volis asked in his other worldly voice.

  “I don’t know if I am alright,” Kae spat through gritted teeth. “But I am alive.” He didn’t know what it was exactly but he had felt more than just the vice like grip of Morzu, the strangulation had felt like their were tiny little blades slashing at the inside of his throat.

  “So,” Kae said as he got to his knees. He pointed at Aneeku’s body. “That is how you keep Denarchia safe?”

  “Indeed it is,” Edo Volis replied, neither man daring to take their eyes off of Morzu.

  “Good to see that Aneeku’s body could be of use.” Kae said, still proud he had taken the red masked one’s despicable life. Morzu had only taken his eyes off of Kae briefly to witness Edo attempt another attack, now he was staring back at the traitor, thinking of all the ways he would make Kae suffer.

  A booming sound as loud as thunder consumed the air as Cada Varl drove his fist into Morzu’s cheek. The attack was monstrously powerful but it only managed to cause Morzu’s head to jerk back slightly. Slowly Morzu looked back at the red eyed man, annoyed Cada Varl had exploited his momentary lapse in concentration. He punished such exploitation with the back of his hand, smacking Cada Varl’s face like he was an insolent child. A second crack of thunder filled the air as Cada Varl was launched off of his feet landing with the weight of a boulder between Kae and Edo Volis. Frantically the two men looked down at Cada Varl, both relieved and amazed that life was still in his eyes. Cada Varl grunted loudly his body poisoned by pain as he sat up, spitting out a whole bucket of blood.

  “Stay down you’re clearly hurt,” Kae said having seen his fair share of blood loss.

  “It will take more than the back hand of a brat to incapacitate me,” Cada Varl replied truthfully even though his mind was racing with concern, he had never faced an enemy with this kind of strength before.

  “I am glad to hear it,” Edo Volis said.

  “So you’re the one who killed Aneeku?” Cada Varl asked Kae, having overheard Kae and Edo’s brief conversation.

  “Yes I did,” Kae replied, believing the red eyed man was from the same world as the red masked one.

  “You did the right thing,” Cada Varl replied.

  “I know,” Kae said darkly. Looking at Morzu, he reminded him of Aneeku in more ways than one but especially his arrogance. Kae had been able to use Aneeku’s arrogance against him in their battle, his own second sight powers had done away with his red masked enemy. But Morzu wasn’t afraid of the red energy nor would he yield to it.

  Seeing Cada Varl and Edo Volis stand. Kae joined them and together their swords were raised towards their common enemy. Seeing this Morzu kept his smile, he had never been this happy in his whole life. He thought about the worlds where these three came from, how feared and revered they must have been considered. But to him their swords were as intimidating as toothpicks, a last ditch pathetic effort to stop an oncoming boulder with needles.

  Wanting to see those swords snap like the toothpicks he considered them he raised his arm summoning a shadow in a flash of power. Like a monstrous worm the shadow spiraled through the air towards them with the speed of a shooting star. He could hear a collective gasp come from all three of them, they were united in the oncoming destruction. With barely a foot between the shadow and the three targets the worm seemed to strike something as if someone had summoned a near-invisible wall before them.

  A moment passed and the strange faintly glowing wall shattered, but it had given the three swordsmen the moment they needed to get out of the shadow’s path. It spiraled between Cada Varl and Kae, both men jerking their bodies violently to ensure their safety. The shadow didn’t explode so much as consume itself creating a sound behind them that was offensive in countless ways.
Turning back to face Morzu they still weren’t sure what had summoned the wall, but both were grateful for it.

  Edo Volis however wasn’t looking at Morzu he was staring at the wall’s summoner, a fine black terrier whose full length blue cape slowly danced in the wind.

  “Star Power,” Edo Volis proclaimed acknowledging the name of their savior. Star Power turned his head slightly but kept his body facing Morzu, revealing to the three men his face was covered mostly by a well made mask, leaving only his floppy ears and muzzle free of the material.

  “Edo Volis,” Star Power replied.

  “Glad you came,” Edo Volis replied, having seen the powers of several members of Heroes United for himself the words rang true. Feeling that Kae and Cada Varl were staring at him Star Power glanced to Kae, but his eyes rested upon those of Cada Varl’s. The red eyed man watched the terrier as the star image on his forehead glowed and from that light imagery sprang forth. Cada Varl had never seen anything quite like it, the images weren’t dark and cold like shadows, but there was a ghostly sense about them. Cada Varl knew these images well, they were of his battle with Fang and Scratch.

  Seemingly as soon as they were summoned they ended, now all three men seemed perplexed by what they just saw.

  “No,” Star Power began. “I have no allegiance with the creatures you fought, they were as much my enemy as this man!” Star Power turned his head and growled at Morzu who kept his smile. Meanwhile Cada Varl realized that Star Power must have read his thoughts, for as soon as he had seen the terrier he pondered if the dog was an ally to the creatures he had killed in Ebulon. In another time or day Cada Varl would have asked Star Power about his powers, considering them truly unique but there was an enemy to fight, one that was proving himself more powerful than any one of them.

  Morzu was in little rush to see the fight end, time was no longer something he had to be concerned about. And much like the gods he had heard about in his life he was enjoying seeing his weakling enemies squirm so much. Star Power was beginning to feel the concern that his three new companions felt. While his forcefields certainly weren’t indestructible, he had never seen one broken that easily before. He growled at the thoughts in his mind.

  Star Power had carefully read the mind of King Yadi, making sure he wasn’t seen doing so. He had seen just how much the king was conflicted about his son. Star Power had seen Yadi’s memories, times when he had held his new born son and sung him to sleep, the king certainly had a lovely voice. As a member of Heroes United he took pride in keeping the universe from evil, but that also included protecting those who had been corrupted by evil as well. He had seen Asantra consumed by the darkness inside of her as well, but he had also seen her be redeemed, was such a chance possible for Morzu?

  Needing to know he focused his mind wanting to read the thoughts of Morzu. But in place of the star glowing in a familiar way it began to change into a nameless shape, flashing with dark disturbing colours. Pain exploded in Star Power's head and he began yelping and barking uncontrollably. Kae was quick to rest a hand on Star Powers back, he never had met a talking dog before but he had been around enough of them to know how calming and comforting a pat could be. Feeling the hand in truth did little for Star Power but he welcomed it as little by little the pain went away. He began to pant heavily as the light faded, his mind drowned in a sea of panic. He looked back to Morzu in a deadly silence, never wanting to experience such pain again. It disturbed him to his very core, the whole experience felt like his mind was being strangled. It was like by trying to read Morzu’s thoughts he had opened his mind to attack and Morzu didn’t waste the opportunity.

  Morzu chuckled softly, a series of sounds as revolting as regurgitation. Star Power’s little stunt had done more for Morzu than inflict pain on the mutt, somehow it brought him new knowledge and he realized that the priest Rhaldan had actually tried to gain control of Oos. If the priest was still in this world and hadn’t run off like a coward Morzu would’ve enjoyed making him scream in front of Oos. Why should being in another world stop me? Morzu thought realizing he was discovering more and more abilities that the stone gave him, such as knowledge he never should have known. After he was done here, he would be sure to tell Oos about Rhaldan’s attempted deception. He was sure Oos would have no problem with him visiting Rhaldan’s world and making an example out of him. But that fun was for later, he had four victims in front of him, the possibilities he thought as his smile widened.

  In response to this Star Power summoned another forcefield, ensuring it was large enough to protect Edo Volis, Kae and Cada Varl as well. Morzu shook his head slightly, were they so fresh out of powers already that they had to rely on such a desperate shield? Morzu was ready to raise his hand and summon another shadow worm when he noticed that no one was looking at him, they were looking behind him. Moving his head in such a direction what he saw was enough to warrant his whole body turning to face it.

  Pebbles, dozens if not a hundred of them were now floating in the air just outside the platform, to him they almost looked like dull gray stars in a strange horizontal sky. But through the spaces between the pebbles he could see a shorthaired black cat. It wore a magnificent blue cape over a strange green shirt with big bold letters in black that read BC. It didn’t take him long to understand the flying feline was somehow controlling the pebbles. He then understood why Star Power had summoned the forcefield.

  The pebbles came hard and fast like angry hail, striking his armor with great violence. He understood how deadly of an attack this normally would’ve been but after withstanding the kicks of Cada Varl they felt like nothing to him. They did however hinder his vision and that is what the cat was after. She flew forth readying her claws to cut that smile right off his face. She orchestrated the pebbles perfectly, controlling each one to keep her like a thief in the night. As she reached him it seemed to be working, he would suffer like he had made all those below him suffer. But at the last moment, completely against her will the remaining pebbles disintegrated like splinters in an inferno.

  With nothing between them now Morzu raised his hand, shadows pointed out from his fingertips like claws as they struck her face. Flinching in agony she hissed as loudly as thunder, being sent violently away from him like she was struck by tornado wind.

  “Black Cat!” Star Power barked like a bellow, seeing the agony on his companion’s face. Black Cat wasn’t struck to the ground, remaining in the air but far away from Morzu. She shook her head as she hissed, trying to make sense of what had just happened. That is when she felt it, the cold vile consumption of blood in her mouth.

  This wasn’t the blood of her enemy, their wasn’t a scratch on him. This was her own blood. Tasting it wasn’t enough she had to see it and as the blood trickled out of her mouth her green eyes became as wide as moons. This was impossible, she had the powers of invulnerability. But he had injured her like she was as vulnerable as a newborn kitten. She now felt the dread that the other four gathered were feeling, Morzu could by pass each of their powers with frightening ease. She was beginning to feel mortal, something she clearly didn’t care for.

  “You certainly look like him, so much so that at first I mistook you for Crimson Claw, it’s a pity really, I now know he betrayed our cause and is the reason why the dragons now attack my kind!” Without taking his eyes off of the feline he pointed back to the others. “I will just have to let you live long enough to see what I am going to do to the one called Kae. You can describe it to Crimson Claw in fine detail, I want him to know what I do with traitors!” Though Star Power kept the forcefield raised Kae took a deep breath, he was no coward, but he would be lying if he didn’t admit such words rattled him.

  Lowering his arm Morzu turned so that he was now side on to all 5 of them. His eyes moved with the slyness of a serpent, looking back and forth to each of them.

  “For so called heroes you certainly like to attack someone when their back is turned,” he taunted. He could see the grasp tightened on the
swords, he could hear Star Power growl and Black Cat hiss. “What are you waiting for?” he taunted again. “Are any of you going to attack or what?” This third taunt was like the blowing of a war horn as all five of them either leapt or flew towards him.