Realm Walker Omnibus

by Erik Weir

  Abby screamed as she rammed her APC into Wynn’s, sending it spiraling sideways across the ground. The T-Rex foot came down, smashing in the front section of Abby’s APC. Leah and Anita cried out as their consoles were destroyed before them, a T-Rex foot inches from their bodies.

  Victor watched as he cut away another War Wolf, seeing the APC’s rear lift up from the strike and then crash down. Wynn’s APC continued to fire on the monster as smoke rose from Abby’s APC. The second T-Rex started to move toward the other, eyes on the vehicles.

  “Hello cousin.”

  Victor’s eyes caught sight of a War Wolf with an oversized hammer appearing in his hand. The Blade held steady as the stream of War Wolves followed the single War Wolf with a giant hammer. Frost grew over the giant hammer as Luis leered, eyeing Victor’s side.

  “It hurts, doesn’t it,” Luis grinned evilly.

  Victor grunted as his will power influence began to fall away. Pain surged and he tried to keep it together.

  Luis took another step closer, hefting his hammer. “Let’s finish what we started.”

  Twenty Four

  Victor’s eyes sagged in their sockets. Luis stood in his War Wolf form, holding the ice hammer. Time slowed down as Luis took one step and then another. The pain in Victor’s side was deafening. Legs trembled as he slowly lost control of his body. The Blade heaved but his sword arm lowered as Luis stood three steps below him, hammer in his hands.

  “Where are the puppies,” Victor huffed as his limbs grew heavy.

  Luis shook his head but never took his eyes off Victor. “They are staying out of this because they didn’t listen.”

  Victor shook his head, “Too bad. They are pretty cute.”

  Luis kept his evil grin as War Wolves moved to the left and right of him. “Too bad you’ll never see them again.”

  Victor looked up to the gathered War Wolves and then to his cousin. “You don’t have to be on their side.”

  Luis’s grin faded. “I will be on any side against you.”

  “I…always knew…you were…fucked up…” Victor managed before he stumbled forward and pressed a hand to Luis’s chest.

  Luis looked down in disappointment. “One spear to the gut and you’re done? You’re pathetic.”

  Victor’s eyes met Luis and a smirk appeared, “You were always bad at chess.”

  The Blade spent a point of Intelligence. Energy touched the War Wolf and Luis’s eyes widened. Activating his Impulse Control Touch, it sank into the War Wolf’s chest. Luis growled and then screamed as his rage took hold. It wasn’t a controlled rage like Victor but instead it was a blinding animal rage.

  Victor stepped back as Luis lifted and swung his ice hammer. The Blade spent another point of Will, the pain dead to his nerves and body returning to normal. Ice hammer coming down, Victor parried the blow, magical sparks flying and arms straining against each other’s might.

  Cassandra charged an arrow and aimed it at the stairs. Fingers releasing, the arrow soared until it sank into a War Wolf. The explosion ripped through the lower stairs and surrounding area, cutting off the advancing stream. Victor and Luis exchanged blows, the War Wolf off balance as he screamed with unrelenting fury. Victor kept him at bay, their power and strength matching. He knew he couldn’t keep up for long as the Will influence only lasted a short time.

  A staff appeared, parrying a hammer strike. Victor turned his head to see Lily at his side. Victor let out a shout as Blade and Shield fought the War Wolf side by side. Luis was mad, striking out in rapid succession as Victor and Lily took turns blocking. Magical sparks flashed in all directions as Luis ignored his footing and nearly stumbled forward. Lily’s staff struck the side of his head while Victor brought his foot up under Luis’s chin. The War Wolf growled his contempt as he shrugged it off and continued to swing his hammer.

  ***

  Smoke and sparks filled the APC’s cockpit. Abby was up from her seat, gathering Helen, Leah and Anita. The four cat women turned their attention to the big gaping hole in their APC, plasma light flashing and a T-Rex leg taking punishment.

  Abby moved to the side door and slammed her hand on the control. The door slid open as all three pulled out plasma pistols. Abby rushed them out and all four jumped from the APC and into chaos. War Wolves rushed their location, claws and teeth flashing. Snarls blanketed the area.

  “Fight,” the orange furred cat woman shouted as she aimed her pistol and fired.

  The three other cat women fired and heavy plasma fire from Wynn’s APC pelted the T-Rex. Roars washed over addled senses as plasma bolts lit up the night. Abby grabbed Leah and pulled her along, Anita and Helen following while firing into the oncoming War Wolves. Wynn’s APC started to move as it fired every cannon at the giant dinosaur.

  “Abby, we’re coming around,” Wynn’s voice filled her visual display.

  “They’re on us,” Abby shouted as she aimed at an incoming War Wolf and pulled the trigger. The plasma bolt bored a hole into the monster as several more pounced. Abby knocked Leah aside as she pulled back on the trigger. Blast holes appeared and blood spurted, but one War Wolf made it through unscathed. Claws flashed and blood welled up along orange fur.

  “No,” Anita screamed as she buried her pistol barrel into the War Wolf and pulled the trigger.

  Abby stepped back as the War Wolf slashed hard across. Pain welled up as the orange cat woman watched Anita’s head separate from her shoulders. Rushing forward, she blasted the War Wolf until it fell back with gaping holes in its body. Several more War Wolves rushed to the small group of cat women.

  Helen was knocked to the ground, her pistol spinning away. Two War Wolves were on her when Abby drove her knee into one and blasted the other one in the face. The orange cat woman lifted Helen up and pushed her away.

  “Get to the APC,” Abby shouted before claws slashed across her back.

  Helen and Leah watched as the orange cat woman turned around and fired into the War Wolves. Blood and steam rose up as she blasted away until her pistol clicked empty. Tossing it aside, Abby’s claws flashed as several more War Wolves were on her.

  “It…was…an honor…Vala,” Abby grunted as her thoughts went to Victor.

  Helen grabbed Leah and pulled back as Abby slashed. War Wolves cut her down, hacking and slashing with their claws until one pulled up her severed head. Tears burst from Helen’s eyes as she fired into the War Wolves. Light flashed as heavy plasma fire decimated the standing War Wolves, Wynn inside the APC not letting go of the trigger.

  The two T-Rexes moved in, roars deafening as the remaining APC fired continuously at the oversized monsters.

  ***

  Luis raged, hammer swinging. Victor and Lily backed up as the War Wolf lost complete control. Several more War Wolves at Luis’s side charged, joining in with quick strikes, trying to land a blow.

  Emptiness flowed into Victor as he parried blows. Two lights winked out from his soul. Mental images of Abby and Anita fading away. The Blade growled in sorrow as he leaned into his attacks, trying to push Luis back. The War Wolf gave no quarter as he fought like a mad monster against the Blade and Shield.

  Glancing down the mountain, Victor could see the APC fighting the two T-Rexes as a side door opened. The giant monsters were not backing off as large plasma bolts blasted craters in their armored hides.

  “We have to help them,” Victor shouted as he parried a swing.

  “How about we help ourselves first,” Lily grunted as she helped knock away the ice hammer.

  Will power ebbed away and Victor knew he didn’t have long. Pumping another point of Strength, power surged again. He planned an attack where if he hit Luis hard enough, he could send him flying down the mountain. The War Wolf’s strength and speed was matching his, but if he timed it right, this fight could end.

  Victor feinted and side stepped an incoming swing. Left fist curled back, he aimed for Luis’s throat. The hammer swung past and Victor saw his chance. Fist flying forward, he pictured the stri
ke true. Sanity returned to Luis’s eyes as one hand let go of his hammer. The War Wolf moved his body just enough for Victor to miss. The Blade’s eyes widened as a strong hand clamped on his throat.

  “Time to feed the animals,” Luis growled as he lifted Victor up and threw him.

  The Blade was airborne as he fell. Eyes wide, he watched as War Wolves climbed over the rubble at the bottom of the ruined stone steps. Seconds ticked by and he knew when he hit the ground, it was going to kill him. Mind racing, he pumped his last point of Strength and a point of Constitution. Power flooded his limbs as his body hardened up. It was a last-ditch effort to survive the fall and he crossed his fingers it would be enough.

  The ground raced up to the falling Blade. Victor swung his body around, legs first. With a quick inhale, he hit the ground hard. Legs bent from the momentum and he barely sprang forward into a roll. Body tumbling, he curled into a ball as he bounced and crashed along the grass and dirt. Clumps of mystical earth went flying as he bounced a few more times before hitting the ground and sliding to a halt.

  Alerts filled Victor’s eyes as he had several broken ribs and internal bleeding. Knees were shot and his sword had slipped back into his arm. Victor moaned as he tried to move, pain flaring.

  Victor Hobbs

  Acolytes Unlocked- 17/77

  Divine Orbs- 1

  Powers to Unlock-3

  Spheres of Influence

  Str (Gaia)- 0/5

  Con (Nano)- 1/4

  Int (Abyss)- 2/3

  Will (Holy)- 1/3

  Wis (Mind)- 3/4

  Cha (Shadow)- 3

  Swords

  Iron Sword

  Elemental Sword

  Gun Blade

  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 saw that he had used most of his influence. If he used his last point of Will, he would be able to stand and fight but only for a short period. Strength still flowed through his body, but the twenty-minute time limit was almost up. He doubted very much his Charisma would be enough to sway the enemy to go home. The Blade pondered what he should do next as a horde of War Wolves moved toward him.

  ***

  Luis roared as Lily countered his strikes. The succubus grunted as she backpedaled up the stairs while barely holding off the burly monster.

  “I hope Victor stays alive long enough so I can show him your severed head,” Luis grinned.

  Lily’s movements flowed like a dancer in a storm. She kept the brute at bay, but his ice hammer had swung a little too close for comfort a few times. One lucky strike and she would be his. Luis growled as he rushed up the stairs. Lily tried to keep him at bay until her foot backed into a step. Holding her stance, she drove her staff into Luis’s midsection, bending the War Wolf in half. Eyes wide, he grabbed her staff and didn’t let go.

  “Goodbye beauti…,” Luis began before a dagger sank into his shoulder.

  Dawn and the slyths charged down the mountain. Lily slammed her heel into the stunned War Wolf and pulled her staff away. Hisk leapt into the air and landed on the War Wolf, dagger flashing. Luis’s eyes bulged as the dagger sank into his back again and again. Yex and Hox took hold of Lily and pulled her back as Rhass and Dawn moved in front of her. Several War Wolves rushed the two as Dawn and Rhass flashed daggers and stabbed into necks and guts.

  “We have to get to Victor,” Dawn shouted as she stabbed into a War Wolf and then planted her heel in its chest, sending it tumbling down the mountain.

  Hisk stabbed Luis repeatedly until a large hand grabbed her by the waist and pulled her off. Luis growled his contempt as he slammed the slyth down into the stairs and lifted his hammer.

  “Vala, welcome me home,” Hisk shouted before the ice hammer came down, smashing her to scales and bloody paste.

  Rhass screeched as she launched at the War Wolf. Luis swung his hammer, hitting the slyth and sending her flying back. Yex opened her arms and caught her sister in battle, the two falling to the stony steps.

  Luis heaved and chuckled as he looked at Vala’s followers. “I’m going to enjoy fucking you all as I slit your throats.”

  Lily threw her staff up and caught it, one end aimed at the War Wolf.

  “Fuck off,” the succubus shouted before she threw her staff like a javelin.

  Luis moved his hammer to block it when a dagger sank into his hand a half a second before the staff slammed into the spot between his eyes. Dawn and Lily smiled as the War Wolf went up and fell backwards. Hammer flying from his hand, the War Wolf crashed and fell down the rocky mountain.

  Dawn and Lily let out a small laugh before their eyes looked down the mountain to a large crowd moving toward Victor. The swarm of War Wolves surrounded the Blade as plasma fire a little way off was blasting away at the two demonic T-Rexes.

  “No time to rest. We have to get down there,” Lily shouted.

  “We’re with you,” Dawn smiled as the three slyths nodded.

  ***

  “We’re in,” Helen shouted as she slammed the side door closed.

  May reversed the APC as the two demonic dinosaurs charged into the plasma fire. Wynn’s hands were tight on the fire controls as the cannons didn’t stop firing. Screens lit up of a crowd of War Wolves moving to the fallen Victor.

  “We’re barely cracking their armor,” Ema shouted before the APC lurched to the side.

  A T-Rex clamped its maw on a side turret and ripped it off. Sparks and wires filled the screens as the turret went dead. Wynn continued to unleash plasma fire as the APC sped backwards. The T-Rexes charged, deafening roars filling the area.

  “This is turning into a rescue mission. Make a wide circle around these monsters. We’re going to fire into that crowd and save Victor,” Wynn commanded.

  The cat women nodded their heads in agreement when something pinged the radar.

  “Incoming from the mists,” Ema shouted as she looked at her screen.

  “More enemies,” Wynn asked.

  “Don’t know. Only two life forms in the mists,” Ema said as she turned to Wynn. “The scanners can’t tell, but I think their friends.”

  Mists flowed away as two figures stepped out into the night realm of Vala. One wore a cowboy hat, vest, tight shirt, a bikini bottom and thigh high boots. The rim of her wide hat was tilted forward to cover her eyes as hands hovered over a rune covered pistol at each hip.

  The other figure stepped along on red armored feet. She wore a one-piece black outfit, red scales covering her forearms. Red wings flexed as she too walked with her head tilted forward and the rim of her hat covering her eyes. A thick armored tail swung from side to side behind her as she stayed at the other woman’s side.

  Astor lifted her head slightly, intense eyes on the two giant dinosaurs and the APC. Toothpick moving between full lips, she eyed the situation.

  “I take one and you take the other,” Shyryth said in a neutral tone.

  Astor dipped the edge of her hat down to cover her eyes again, “Sounds like a plan, but leave the shooting to me. I’ll cover you.”

  Shyryth nodded. Taking off her hat, she tossed it aside as her body began to elongate. Scales burst from her skin, covering her body as she grew into her true form. Astor’s gaze was cold and focused on the T-Rexes as Shyryth turned into a large red dragon. The red dragon brought her tail down, smashing it into the ground behind her. The shockwave was enough for the two T-Rexes to turn their attention to the dragon and slinger.

  Wynn looked at the monitors at the dragon and woman and a smile bloomed, “Reinforcements.”

  One T-Rex roared and charged toward the dragon and lone woman. Shyryth launched into the air, wings spreading wide. Astor held her ground as the T-Rex thundered towar
d her. The slinger stayed cool as the monster barreled toward her. When it was within a hundred feet, Astor spit out the toothpick and let her fingers just barely touch her pistols.

  The slinger said nothing as the creature came for her. Hands pulled rune covered pistols in a flash. Light stabbed as two shots rang out. Eyes exploded as the T-Rex took a shot to each one. The monster stumbled as it kept to its clumsy charge. Astor stood her ground as she cocked back both hammers and fired off two more shots, one from each pistol. The magical bullets hit the demonic dinosaur, holes exploding out of its back.

  The T-Rex stumbled and fell, hitting the ground and sliding forward. Its snout slid until it was three feet away from Astor. The slinger aimed one pistol at the thick skull as the T-Rex tried to get back up.

  “Night,” Astor said as she squeezed the trigger.

  The creature let out a whine before the shot penetrated the skull and exited out the back of it.

  The second T-Rex charged. Shyryth dove down, claws out. The dragon landed on the T-Rex, claws digging in and pulling off bloody armored scales. The T-Rex tried to snap and bite the dragon but she kept well enough away from the head, slashing and pulling out chunks of flesh.

  Astor looked to the dragon as she slowly pulled the monster apart. “We don’t have all night.”

  ***

  Victor moaned as he looked up to the gathering War Wolves. One with white fur along his neck stepped from the crowd, spear in hand. Flint stepped closer, the spear point down and an amused glint in his dark eyes.

  “A…rematch,” Victor coughed through the pain.

  Flint stood over Victor, spear point over the Blade’s heart. “The lesson is over.”