by Erik Weir
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 cries 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.
Victor growled and stabbed his bone blade into the spawn’s stomach and spent his last point of Strength. Draygon looked up as the power blasted him out of the building and through the air. Victor followed, reaching the edge of the ruined building and jumped.
Draygon fell, eyes widening as the soothing effect slipped away. Turning in the air, he crashed into another building, rolling through furniture and walls and coming to a stop. The spawn giggled until he heard boots landing on the floor. The spawn was to his feet and raising swords as Victor barreled into him instantly. Swords and power rang out as the Blade kept up his relentless attack. Victor felt the power begin to slip away and he was running out of time.
“Ha,” Draygon shouted as he let his swords fade away. “You’re running out of time; I can feel it.”
Victor didn’t stop, slashing with all his might until Draygon lifted his arm and blocked the sword. Not slowing down, he pulled back and slashed again and again. Draygon blocked each incoming blow, clothes and arms cut but not slowing down.
“Like a babe in the woods,” Draygon grinned before his fist shot out like a viper.
The fist shattered Victor’s aura and cracked his armor, body flying back. Heels digging into the floor, it ripped two swaths of damage before he stopped right before falling out of the building. Victor shook it off and advanced when Draygon was on him. The Blade grunted as each punch the spawn threw was like a truck crashing into him. Alerts filled his vision as parts of his armor was shattered and fell like chunks of dust. A fracture formed along his arm as he swung his sword. Draygon caught the Blade’s wrist and squeezed. Pain surged as Victor cried out, the bone sword falling from his hand.
“It was a valiant try,” Draygon smiled as he lifted Victor by his arm.
The Blade kicked out, slamming his heel into the spawn’s face and neck. Draygon barely moved, shrugging off the attacks like an adult with an angry toddler.
We need more power!
Victor grunted as he spent the two divine orbs. Mind racing, he shoved two points into Strength and gained a new ability from the Holy Sphere.
You gained Energy Craft!
“Struggle…struggle for
your life,” Draygon laughed.
“Eat shit,” Victor grunted as his gun blade slipped into his left hand.
Stabbing the blade into Draygon’s chest, the tip sank in inches, but the spawn didn’t flinch. Victor charged the blade with five points of Constitution. The six energy chambers glowed with vibrating power before Victor spent another point of Constitution into his Weapon Upgrade Ability.
The gun blade glowed white hot as Draygon looked down with wide eyes. Victor hissed out a laugh when he pulled the trigger. The spawn released the Champion as his body was thrown from the energy blast. Victor landed on his feet and advanced, pulling the trigger and blasting the spawn as he hurtled out of the building and fell to the street.
Draygon crashed into a wall and bounced, free falling until he slammed into the street below. Victor reached the edge of a destroyed wall and jumped. The Blade landed on the street, the last of his increased Strength and Jump ability wearing off. Having three more charges in his gun blade, he stepped toward the spawn as he tried to get back up. Large holes closed as Draygon laughed. The moment he was almost to his feet, Victor pulled the trigger three times.
The bolts slammed into the spawn, pinning him to the wall as his body shuddered violently. Steam and a burning scent filled the area as Draygon’s shoulders heaved with laughter.
“You are a delight,” Draygon giggled like a mad man.
“I’m not finished,” Victor sneered before spending a point of Strength.
A large portal appeared behind Victor. Draygon’s smile faded as something big charged through the portal and it instantly closed behind it. Using his Summon Monster ability, a giant woolly mammoth thundered across the short distance as Victor darted to the side.
Draygon was barely to his feet when the mammoth coiled its trunk and slammed into him, grinding him into the side of the building as it crumbled down. The mammoth lifted its thick front feet and stomped down like giant hammers, pulverizing the falling debris covering the buried spawn. When the smashing reached its zenith, the mammoth stepped back and let out a huff.
“Thank you,” Victor smiled to the giant creature.
The mammoth huffed and shuffled its feet.
Victor’s smile faded and he raised a brow, “I know it was a surprise. Sorry, didn’t mean to startle you.”
The mammoth huffed again.
“I said I was sorry,” Victor repeated when the rubble began to move.
The mammoth and Victor backed up. Draygon’s head appeared from the rubble and he slowly stood up. Hands dusted himself off as mad giggles echoed off walls.
“This certainly has been entertaining, but I have had enough fun for the evening,” Draygon’s smile fading away.
The spawn looked up to the sky and sighed. “You never had a chance and now I shall complete what I set out to do.”
Raising a hand, Draygon’s power curled around his arm and formed into ball amid his fingers. “Let the final chorus commence.”
Closing fingers around the ball of darkness, there was a flash and dread flowed outward. Victor couldn’t fight the chill as he looked up. High in the night sky, a line rippled into view. It cracked the night and balls of bright light appeared. They glowed brighter with various colors and for some reason, they seemed familiar to Vala’s Champion.
The horrific realization washed over Victor like freezing cold water. Draygon smiled and nodded as he watched the knowledge fill Victor’s eyes.
“Yes, they are streams of comets from Night Sun. I knew even with my power and legions of shadows; it would be a hard victory. But with hundreds of comets directed at this very planet, not even Valis has the power to stop such an attack,” Draygon smiled.
Victor looked up in awestruck disbelief. The sheer power barreling down on the planet would wipe out all life. Even if Valis’ people reach the ships, there will be no place to hide from the tsunamis and maelstroms to come.
Draygon put his hands on his hips. “It is done. And now to make sure you don’t become any more of nuisance,” The spawn snapped his fingers.
A shadow appeared, rising up with a twisted mouth. Pale eyes bore down on Victor as it reached its height of about seven feet tall. The Blade lifted his gun blade but a tremor ran along his spine, something from deep within his heart.
Draygon crossed his arms. “Your first reunion didn’t go as I thought it would so I decided to give you both a second chance.”
The Shadow grinned as it stared. “You have grown…I’m happy we can spend some time together…,” The shadow said with a dark, sardonic tone.
Victor took a step back, hands shaking. Parts of his mind tried to push it away, trying to shove his feelings deep within a vault and throw away the key. The same feeling he felt before caused his body to shudder in fear as he fought logic’s grip. Memories of the shadow in Vonn’s home came rushing back.
“Give your father a hug,” The shadow leered with long, thin arms spreading out.
Seventeen
“Dad…,” Victor whispered, heart breaking.
The shadow slithered forward, arms reaching out. “Son, come to me. It’s sooo cold. I need your warmth. I need you to help me feel better.”
Victor took a step back. “No…I can’t…”
The shadow nodded. “You can son. Come to me. Your warmth will heal me. Heal your father so we can catch up.”
Victor pointed his gun blade and charged it with a Constitution point. “You’re gone. This is just what’s left of you…”
The shadow looked down at the gun blade, slithering forward and touching it with his black hands.
“Your mother would not approve…”
Victor’s lip trembled, scenes of his father changing from kind man to monster, punching him until he spit up blood. Images of bruises colored his thoughts as he fought to stay strong.
“I was sick…but Draygon has shown me the true path. Let him finish his work…and then we can be together…,” the shadow whispered with ghostly words.
Pain welled up as Victor tried to keep his arm steady.
“Victor, listen to your father, he knows the truth,” Draygon said with an uncharacteristically serious tone.
“I…I…can’t…,” Victor whispered.
“My strong son…yes…you can…,” the shadow blinked innocently.
Victor’s arm and head lowered; the pain and regret sinking deeply into his spirit.
“That’s my boy…,” the shadow said sweetly as he approached and stood before Victor.
Victor kept his gaze to the ground before a thin black hand reached down and lifted his chin. Pale, mad eyes filled with edges of serenity as the shadow kept its jagged smile.
“Come with me and we can talk until the end of the universe…”
Victor sighed when something balled in his chest. A stream of darkness poured out, forming a fist. Victor’s father looked down just as the black fist slammed into its misshapen face and sent the shadow floating back. Victor watched as darkness pooled at his feet and Chill rose up, oval blue eyes on the shadow Victor once called father.
“Victor, this isn’t your fight anymore. Take down Draygon while I teach this monster what it really means to love,” Chill growled with contempt.
Victor’s father screeched as it launched at the shadow. Chill’s black fingers formed into points right before both shadows clashed. The shadows spiraled together like black snakes. Clawed hands slashed at each other as screeches blanketed the area. The feral slashing continued, each one landing blows and shards of darkness slicing off black bodies.
“Fight me Victor. Show the universe how weak you really are,” Draygon chuckled.
Victor’s internal sorrow switched to a rage. Fury burned in his eyes as he lifted his gun blade and aimed. Behind him, the mammoth roared as it lifted its front legs and slammed them down into a charge. Draygon beckoned with his hands as the mammoth charged and Victor pulled the trigger again and again.
***
Portia looked up at the comets streaking toward
the planet. The High Commander’s eyes widened as information filled her vision. The fighting began to grow desperate as small feeds filled the corner of her vision, angels dying by the dozens as they moved closer to the city entrance.
A thundering shockwave passed through the city as Portia and many others turned to see Umus flying backwards and crashing into a building. The god brushed off debris from his shoulders as the Elder Thing stepped into the city, its foot crushing several smaller buildings in its wake.
“Is that all you have,” Umus shouted before bursting into the air, giant mace in hand.
“Activate planetary shield,” Portia commanded as she marched forward, blasting shadows to dust.
A grid formed from one horizon to the other. Once the lines connected, the shield solidified and faded from view as points of light grew brighter. Lily looked up, astonished at the power as the fighting grew to a fevered pitch.
The succubus looked down and charged, standing with the angels, her staff flashed out at any shadow penetrating the weapon fire. Grunts and yells rang out from the deafening violence. The crowd marched slowly, but the shadows seemed to surge, their numbers growing as they blindly floated into the line of fire. They filled the last remaining streets before the gate, creating a wall of darkness as they pushed back against the advancing angels and citizens.
Portia stopped her advance, never letting her finger off the trigger as she fired into the horde. Calculations appeared in her vision, chances of success counting down in percentages. The longer they stayed, the lower the probability they would make it to the water. The number of citizens outweighed the number of soldiers. Turrets and cannons blinked out one by one as the flood of shadows continued to pin them down.
Dragons flew down, blasting the shadows but the moment a path was cleared, shadows surged back in to replace their ranks instantly. Time slowed and chaos bloomed as the shadows pushed at the sides and from the front, testing the ranks for a single moment they can surge in.