by Erik Weir
Victor squeezed her shoulders. “We have some surprises,” the Blade winked.
Lily moved to Victor and Dawn’s side; red eyes filled with compassion. “If they get past us, lock yourself in the room with your sister. Baaldir cannot stay here in this realm for too long. It might be enough to hold them off before he is forced out by Vala’s power.”
Dawn shook her head, “Or we can all leave through the mists together. The cave is right there.”
Victor let go of Dawn’s shoulders, his eyes becoming heavy. “If you feel you have to, then take your sister and go. Give her the treatment and if we survive, we will find you to tell you everything is okay.”
Victor and Lily looked to each other for a moment before the Blade turned his attention back to Dawn. “But we can’t leave. Baaldir has already said he wants to kill Vala permanently and we can’t let that happen.”
Dawn’s eyes narrowed, “This is suicide.”
Victor smiled. “Love makes you do strange things.”
“Your love for Vala will get you all killed.”
Victor raised an eyebrow. “I was talking about my love for everyone here and Vala.”
Dawn’s oval eyes widened as Victor kept his smile and turned away. Lily smiled, looking to Victor with heartfelt warmth. The elf stayed her ground as the pair moved to the stairs and began stepping down.
She’s right. This is suicide! How can you be positive in a time like this!
“We have the high ground,” Victor whispered and gave a small chuckle.
This isn’t some movie! The hero doesn’t always survive! You can’t fight a battle with a hopeful outlook!
“Yes, you can because I have faith,” Victor whispered.
Are you drinking the Kool-Aid! Those War Wolves will tear us to pieces and do who knows what to Lily and the others. Dawn is right, we should enter the cave and live to fight another day.
“I’ve run from fights before but not today. Vala needs us. The realms need us. I’m not going to let it all die when we just started.”
Lily looked over to the Blade, “Who are you talking to?”
Victor kept his eyes on the enemy below, “My conscious.”
Lily shrugged as her staff appeared in her hand. “I think there are about a thousand down there and two giant monsters.”
Victor nodded and pulled up his digital stat sheet.
Victor Hobbs
Acolytes Unlocked- 17/77
Divine Orbs- 1
Powers to Unlock-3
_______
Spheres of Influence
Str (Gaia)- 5
Con (Nano)- 4
Int (Abyss)- 3
Will (Holy)- 3
Wis (Mind)- 4
Cha (Shadow)- 3
Swords
Iron Sword
Elemental Sword
Gunblade
Sphere Abilities/Powers
Mind
Speak/Read/Write Languages
Gaia
Increased Strength/Speed
Animal Tongues
Nano
Heightened Senses Upgrade
Shadow
Holy
Abyss
Impulse Control Touch
The Blade let his gunblade slide from his wrist and into his open hand. Victor wished he had acquired a few more powers, but it was too late to lament on it. Spending a Constitution point, the six cylinders by the hilt glowed with power. When he tested it, it seemed to have a heavy kick to the weapon. The Blade hoped it was enough to keep the monsters below at bay.
Baaldir looked up to the man and succubus on the stone mountain stairway. “Vala’s crusade ends tonight. Your skull will be fashioned into a goblet so I may dine on your hopes and dreams.”
Run to the cave. Save us!
Victor raised his gunblade and waved it to the God below. “Are we going to fight or what?”
Baaldir’s smile faded. “Truly Vala…you chose him. You must be desperate,” the God said before lifting his hand.
The War Wolves waited, clawed fingers flexing and red eyes on the Blade and Shield. The two demonic T-rexes growled as the very air seemed to hold its breath. The slyths charged out of Cassandra’s home. They reached the wall overlooking the side of the mountain, picking up arrows and drawing them back on tight bowstrings.
Cassandra stepped out, bow and quiver over her shoulder. The older woman looked to the slyths as they lined up their aim. The Keeper reached the wall by the slyths and looked down to the side at Victor and Lily as they stood at the ready. Dawn was nowhere to be seen.
Cassandra leaned close to Hisk and spoke in her ear. “Defend for as long as you can. I must call on Vala’s power to aid us. Once I’m finished, I might have enough power left to aid you but until then, keep the monsters off the mountain.”
Hisk nodded while holding a tight bowstring. “We shall defend to our last drop of blood, sister.”
Cassandra smiled, “May Vala’s light protect us at our darkest moment.”
The Keeper stood straight, her eyes closing and a hum filling her weathered throat. The slyths glanced to the Keeper as small waves of power expanded from her frail looking body, sending shudders along their scaled skin.
Baaldir felt the ping of power and his brow sharpened into a razor point. “Slay them all!”
Howls filled the air as the tide of War Wolves surged forward. Victor aimed his gunblade down the length of the stairs as the fur covered monsters charged, teeth and claws flashing in the moonlight. Target icons appeared in his vision as he aimed, stats hovering at the edge of his eye.
“No need to blow our load just yet,” Victor whispered.
It’s over.
“Either help me, or chill out,” Victor whispered with a smile.
The War Wolves reached the bottom of the stairs and began climbing up. They fell to all fours, snarling and rushing up the stairs like rabid animals. Lily held her staff as she stood behind Victor. The Blade stared down, eyes catching many more War Wolves not bothering to climb the stairs and climbing the side of the mountain instead. Claws penetrated hard stone as they half galloped and half climbed the rocky side of the mountain.
“So much for a bottleneck,” Victor sighed as the War Wolves on the stairs moved faster up the mountain.
Victor looked back to Lily and she nodded.
“I’m with you…my Blade,” the succubus said with a tender edge.
“I’m with you…my Shield,” Victor returned the sentiment before looking away.
Victor braced himself as he aimed. The War Wolves on the stairs were approaching fast, murder in their red eyes. The Blade’s finger touched the trigger.
“I HAVE THE HIGH GROUND,” Victor shouted as he pulled the trigger.
The gunblade flashed as an energy bolt blasted down the side of the mountain. The War Wolves leading the charge growled until the energy bolt slammed into one. Its eyes went wide as blood spurted from the round hole in its chest. The bolt continued, blasting holes and severing limbs. Seven War Wolves fell as many others knocked them aside or jumped over their bodies.
Victor pulled the trigger again, another bolt blasting away a wolfish head and several bodies behind it. Blood coated the stairs as bodies fell away. The surge of War Wolves did not falter as they rushed past their dying brothers and sisters. Victor gritted his teeth and he braced himself, pulling the trigger in rapid succession. Energy bolts rained down, blowing holes in thick bodies. When the gunblade clicked empty, Victor spent another Constitution point. The gunblade hummed to life again.
You have 2 points in Constitution left. Do not waste it before they reach us.
Victor nodded to himself as he fired down onto the incoming horde.
On the side of town, the slyths watched as War Wolves climbed up the side of the mountain. Cassandra stood silently at their side as they aimed. Hisk clicked her tongue and all four lizard women released. Arrows rained down, two sinking into skulls while others stabbed into thick shoulders. Some War Wolves fell while most continued to ad
vance up the mountain. The slyths pulled arrows from quivers, pulled back on bowstrings and aimed once again. Another volley of arrows rained down, stabbing into throats and eyes. Howls travelled up the side of the mountain as the slyths reloaded and fired, reloaded and fired.
Victor pulled the trigger to his gunblade, sending his last bolt through the oncoming wave. Several War Wolves cried out as they fell away. The gunblade clicked empty with the War Wolves thirty feet away, and the Blade spent two points of Strength. Power flowed into muscles and bone as an alert filled his vision, telling him he can now lift a thousand pounds. The Blade readied himself as the snarling monsters were closing the distance.
Remember…remember when your father attacked you. Remember how you chained your rage because you loved him. Remember how it screamed in agony to be released.
Images swelled and crashed into Victor’s soul. The sights of his father coming at him with hard fists sent a shiver throughout his whole body. A slight confusion took hold and fear crawled into his nerves. Resolve weakened as he wondered why he thought of such a terrible thing during a fight for their very lives.
An inner voice spoke with the fury of a hurricane.
You do not love these monsters! Unleash your rage!
Senses snapped to full attention. Focus became hot like a laser and Victor squared his jaw. The War Wolves closed the distance, three raising their claws to slice Victor to ribbons. An inhuman growl vibrated from Victor’s throat as his eyes took on a supernatural rage. Claws flashed down but before they could connect, a blade sliced through a row of wrists, sending clawed hands spiraling with trails of blood through the air.
Victor screamed, his voice echoing off the mountain as he rushed the attackers, gunblade swinging. Lily watched, her heart beating faster in her chest as Victor moved like a monster against the War Wolf tide. The screams vibrated as his gunblade sliced through thick chests and limbs like they were water. Bodies fell to the side as War Wolves charged the unhinged Blade. Victor slashed, pushed and cut any War Wolf that approached him, spraying blood back onto the invaders as they pushed for their turn. Three at a time could attack on the stairs but several clawed up the side of the stairs. Victor moved in a blur, his strength and speed increased, he stabbed and sliced through the horde. Blood splashed against his face and armored trench coat as he cut his way down.
Lily watched as several attackers tried to take him from the side. The succubus leapt to the side of the stairs closest to the whirling Victor. Staff spinning, she brought it down, cracking skulls and kicking War Wolves off the mountain. Lily’s inner rage spiked as she shattered kneecaps with a stab of her staff and swung upwards, connecting with pointed snouts and sending howling War Wolves to their tumbling deaths.
Victor never blinked as he fought. The engine of his rage fueled heart blasted away all fear and doubt. Thick bodies fought against his power, their limbs separating from their bodies. One War Wolf screeched as the gunblade stabbed into his midsection. A hand grabbed the War Wolf’s shoulder, fingers digging into muscle and bone. It screeched again as Victor lifted up the heavy monster with his left hand and swung it around like a living club. Sword and dying War Wolf crashed into the stream as the monsters tried to fight back.
Baaldir watched as Flint stalked toward the army climbing the mountain. The God gave a disapproving head shake as his elite War Wolves were being sliced to pieces. Arrows rained down, stabbing into War Wolves on the mountain. Despite the losses, they managed to gain ground except for those fighting Vala’s Blade.
Victor growled as he lashed out, the War Wolf he held dead and limp. Sword slashing and body whipping about, the War Wolves roared to their deaths. The Blade gained a step with each swing before lifting the dead body he was carrying and throwing it down the stairs. Legs and bodies were knocked away as several War Wolves crashed backwards into their oncoming brethren.
The gunblade slipped back into Victor’s wrist and the Elemental sword slid into his open hand. Spending a point of Wisdom, the sword flashed with magical fire, the light reflecting in his raging eyes. War wolves regained their footing and rushed at the Blade. Fire sheathed blade up, Victor swung wide. The fire sword cut through and burned his enemies. Lily was close behind, knocking away any War Wolves that moved past the Blade.
Flint reached the base of the mountain, glowing eyes looking up from the side of the stairs. Victor fought on like a demon unchained. At the rate he was going, he would reach the bottom in ten minutes. The priest of Baaldir kept his gaze as a spear appeared in his large, clawed hand.
Victor sliced and sliced through the monsters until a surge pounced on him. Stabbing his fire sword into a gut, claws slashed. The Blade felt where they connected, sparks flying off his armored trench coat, but some claws cutting into his arms. Victor spent a point of Will to ignore it and fought on. He knew it wouldn’t last long but it needed to be long enough to gain solid footing. The moment he cut the three War Wolves in half, their bodies fell away and a dim pain filled his side.
Victor looked down as a spear point was impaled in his side, the point exiting out his lower back. Pain registered, but his will power kept him moving. The Blade looked down the mountain to Flint’s leering maw. The priest flexed his hand the and spear pulled from Victor, flying down the mountain and back into his hand.
Lily rushed to Victor, her hand on his shoulder and pumping healing energy into him. The War Wolves grew bold, launching up the stairs toward the Blade as his legs trembled, unable to support his weight. Victor fought for control but the wound was a life threatening one.
“Heal me enough to keep fighting,” the Blade growled.
Lily was about to pull him back when he resisted.
“Heal me,” Victor shot her a monstrous glance.
The succubus froze, healing energy pouring into the Blade, the wound closing slowly. Victor watched as a diagram of his body flashed red in his vision. Healing was closing the wound but it blinked that he needed several minutes to be completely healed. The Blade roared as he broke away from Lily’s touch, his sword slicing upwards and cleaving a War Wolf from crotch to head. The monster whimpered as it fell in two pieces.
We need more strength and speed!
Victor spent a point of strength. Power poured into muscles again and an alert appeared, saying he could lift 1500 pounds. The Blade kicked out, sending a War Wolf soaring off the mountain, but more rushed up to fight the chosen Champion of Vala.
Cassandra opened her eyes. The slyths moved with practiced ease, pulling arrows from quivers and shooting them down the mountain. Growls grew closer as the Keeper sensed the enemy was nearly to them.
Yex looked back to Cassandra, fear coloring her serpent eyes. The Keeper walked to the edge, her gaze catching the War Wolves a mere twenty feet before they climb over the short wall.
“They will overrun us,” Hisk hissed as she released another arrow.
Cassandra un-slung her bow and pulled an arrow from her quiver. “I have enough power for two, maybe three shots. Stand back as I take care of the wolves at the gate.”
The four slyths pulled back reluctantly, arrows nocked. The Keeper pulled an arrow back as she leaned over the edge to the snarling monsters ten feet away.
The Keeper lifted her head and looked back at the slyths. “Friends are on their way, Cassandra smiled before turning back to the monsters crawling up.
The Keeper aimed past the immediate War Wolves to the large patch climbing the mountain. Energy poured into her arms and sank into the arrow. It gleamed with supernatural light as orbs of light appeared around the tip. With a soft exhale, she released the bowstring.
The arrow soared down toward the thick patch of War Wolves. Heads and snouts turned toward it as it glowed brightly. When it penetrated a War Wolf’s eye, the creature howled before energy surged. Cassandra pulled back as several War Wolves climbed over the edge. A second later, an explosion rippled. War Wolves looked back to see smoke and fire blasting outwards. Limbs and bodies rolled and slid down the m
ountain as the large patches of wolves were disintegrated. The few that made it to the small wall, climbed over to see the slyths aiming their bows and releasing taunt strings.
A T-Rex with dozens of War Wolves advanced toward the stone steps when lights stabbed out from the mists. Heads turned and the T-Rex roared as two Armored Personnel Carriers flew through the mists and crashed on spinning wheels. The APC’s charged, plasma cannons and turrets turned and aimed at the gathered monsters in front of them.
Victor fought like a demon, slashing away with fiery death. A screen and a face appeared in his vision as he fought. The Blade gave a wicked smile when he saw Wynn’s wolfish smile.
“Heard the call, it seems you need some assistance,” Wynn smiled.
“Nothing we can’t handle,” Victor grunted as he beheaded another War Wolf.
May and Ema crowded into the screen, waving and smiling at Victor while another screen appeared in his vision of Abby. The orange cat woman smirked as three more cat women worked the controls around her. It took a second for Victor to recognize the three women they saved from the Xull tower. They all had cat-like features and tails as they manned the controls.
“Brought everyone?” Victor asked as he sliced a leg off another War Wolf.
Wynn nodded, “Just our cell. I’m sure you can handle this party, but we thought we’d help out anyway.
“Here here,” the cat women in both APCs chanted.
Plasma cannons and turrets charged up.
“Fire with extreme prejudice,” Wynn commanded.
Cannons and turrets exploded to life, plasma bolts lighting up the area. War Wolves charged only to be cut down. The demonic T-Rex roared as it charged toward the incoming APCs. War Wolves fell with holes in their bodies, but the giant twisted dinosaur opened its razor maw. Plasma bolts pelted its thick, armored hide as it rushed headlong into the two vehicles.
Wheels spun to a halt as cannons fired. Wynn’s brow went up as the monster didn’t show any signs of slowing down.
“Back up, back up,” Wynn commanded.
The two APC’s reversed as the giant dinosaur reached them with an open mouth. The cannons and turrets didn’t stop as they fired point blank into the creature, its body whipping around and tail crashing into Abby’s APC. The entire vehicle went up on two wheels before tittering and falling back to all fours. Wynn’s APC changed directions, wheels spinning forward. Dirt and grass flew up as it charged the demonic dinosaur. The T-Rex roared before the APC rammed a leg. The monster stumbled, trying to regain its balance. May hit the reverse, driving the APC backwards. A tri-talon foot went up, ready to come down on the front section of Wynn’s APC.