Monster

by Sergey Belsky

  But somewhere in the depths of my soul, I felt despair because I knew that I could do little. And I wasn’t strong enough to defeat such an enemy, whose level is even higher than the centipedes. It is a shame they did not appear.

  “Why are you so sad Sel Er? Did you miss us?” I heard the pleasant voice of Karataruna.

  “Oh! Ah!” I was happy to see my old acquaintances standing before me.

  Karataruna, The Successor of the Ancients, level 135

  Tarnaragun, Aerial Killer, level 127

  “Oh, what a delicious bear,” said Tarnaragun squinting his sapphire eyes. “It’s lucky I listened to my sister, who convinced me to help the cave dwellers.”

  “You didn’t really resist,” I heard Karataruna make strange sounds, which turned out to be laughter.

  “Take that grinning haloptirius out,” said Tarnaragun pointing to Narr Nutt. “And we’ll figure it out here meanwhile.”

  “Maybe you need a kiss for courage?” Karataruna looked at me with her iridescent emerald green eyes.

  “Maybe some other time,” I replied. Karataruna, still smiling, with quick, twisting movements, crossed the distance that separated her from Brabon, and then dug into his skin with her strong jaws. However, she couldn’t rip his skin apart but left deep wounds from which blood gushed.

  Tarnaragun, who was resting on his hind legs, formed a strange sphere that pulsated with some kind of unknown energy. This multi-legged warrior was so huge, that his torso towered above everyone else.

  This ball suddenly turned into a translucent gray light and rushed towards the bear. Karataruna jumped away, and her brother's spell slammed into the monster's shoulder.

  Some sort of hemisphere formed around Brabon, who collapsed after a moment, and then a tremendous explosion sounded that made me cringe from pain.

  My hearing organs ached and, seeing the mercenaries and spikers holding their heads in their hands, I realized that everyone was experiencing similar pain. Part of the bear’s skin was torn off, and blood flowed from his wound. Incredible! What a tremendous attack this was, even Narr Nutt and Karag grimaced, though they were standing very far from us.

  Meanwhile, the centipedes changed places, and now Tarnaragun was fighting the bear. He successfully parried the bear’s attacks, his durable shell taking the hits, and then he counterattacked, slicing through thick skin with his sharp jaws.

  Brabon roared, but he could do little against the centipede. A disc glittering with emerald light suddenly appeared in Karataruna jaws, and it was rotating with a terrible whistle. When the sound became unbearable, the disc abruptly darted off, and Tarnaragun barely managed to jump aside.

  The emerald disk cut off Brabon’s front leg and exploded under him, lifting a large monster carcass into the air. The centipede’s brother was thrown to the side and come under a barrage of stones.

  “Can’t you be a little more careful, or have you decided to send me to the other world as well?” Tarnaragun asked his sister, narrowing his eyes.

  “Who knows...” she said slowly. “Anything can happen.”

  “You are a devil,” Tarnaragun curled his jaws and, without letting the bear rise, dug into his throat.

  Brabon roared, the roar turned into a gurgle, but the creature refused to die so easily. Applying some ability, the resident of the marshes struck such a powerful blow to Tarnaragun’s shell that he threw him back several feet.

  But Karataruna did not wait, and she was at Brabon’s throat in a split second, biting off his head. I knew how terrible this teddy bear felt, and a chill ran down my back when I felt the anger of the Successor of the Ancients.

  “I'm fine,” Tarnaragun rose. “Don’t get mad.”

  “I’m mad at you for taking a blow.”

  “OK, OK, I'll be more careful.”

  Seeing Brabon die, our army was inspired, and what was strangest of all - the army of spikers was too. The bloody battle continued because not all the spikers could see the centipedes, otherwise, they would have already surrendered. But I might be wrong, even such high-level enemies did not frighten the spikers.

  “Kafar take all these bastards!” Narr Nutt hissed. “Who would have thought? The boss of the first level is still alive. Well, it's not the end.”

  “Your Highness, I must kill the Death Herald,” said Karag Garak.

  “So, do not hesitate and do it.”

  “As you command,” the Charmer bowed and headed towards the necromancer.

  “And there are two damn centipedes! I’ll kill everyone! No! I’ll capture them and sell them to Goroner. This would be best. It's time for me to join the battle,” Narr Nutt banged his sword against the shield and jumped down, heading towards us.

  Our army was shabby, and now our numbers were dwindling. But we had centipedes on our side, so we’d have to see who wins. But I was a little worried by the spiker king’s confidence as he headed in our direction.

  Chapter 70

  The Necromancer against the Charmer. The power of Narr Nutt. Heavy fights.

  He was clearly not afraid of two high-level opponents, and I felt a wave of some strange energy coming from him. Along the way, he easily cut through our soldiers and crushed their shells with his shield, without even stopping.

  Skal was not far from me and he was throwing arrows of death at the spikers. Across from us, another battle was starting.

  The Charmer was now facing Mohr. He glanced at the necromancer, and then launched a strange spell into him, like an arrow of death, only consisting of some other energy.

  With disgust, Mohr pushed the energy structure rushing into him to the side.

  “Too bad I can’t raise your Brabon, otherwise I would love to see how he would chew on you,” Mohr said.

  “Likewise,” Karag looked at him with disdain.

  “Then I see no reason to continue this conversation,” a green fire flashed on the Death Herald’s staff and, turning into a veil of death energy, rushed towards the enemy. “Die!”

  “I’m not that easy to kill. Not now,” a powerful shield appeared around the Charmer, which took all the monstrous damage from the powerful spell and rang like a bell. His ringing sound swept through the den of the spikers, and the Charmer went on the offensive.

  Crossing the distance between them, he struck a powerful blow with his staff, which was enveloped in a gray luminous haze with glimpses of light blue flashes of energy. Mohr defended himself with his artifact, and invisible forces threw the magicians aside.

  The Death Herald formed three magical spheres saturated with necro-energy, and the Charmer sent an energy wave in front of him. Again, different types of magic collided, deafening everyone around with an explosion.

  Karag struck his fists together, then raised the staff over his head. The energy began to flow in the form of bright turquoise ribbons into five small spheres, which were modified and turned into familiar spirits, only not frost, but water.

  Spirits rushed towards the necromancer, but zombie warriors blocked their way. Magical flashes left deep grooves in the ground behind, tearing apart anyone who got in the way and trying to penetrate each other's defenses, but it was all useless.

  The forces of the opponents were equal. Powerful blows saturated with energy and powerful spells could not force back the opposing energy.

  At some point, Mohr bent slightly and threw his staff, but missed, and Karag grinned. But the necromancer beckoned the staff with his hand and it, lifting it from the ground, stuck it in the Charmer’s back, pierced him through, the staff poking out of his chest.

  Blood was gushing out of the wound, the spiker’s life was gradually pouring out, but he still refused to surrender. His body was shrouded in turquoise energy, and he instantly crossed the distance separating him from Mohr. His sharp spiker claws pierced the chest plate and tore out the necromancer’s heart.

  “I will take you with me,” the Charmer barked with blood coming out of his mouth.

  "I don't think so," the necromancer said as if
nothing happened.

  “But how?!” the surprise was so strong that Karag dropped both the dead heart of his enemy and the orb, which was fueling its owner with energy.

  “I've been dead for many years now and I have no reincarnations left,” the Death Herald whispered. “But Death let me live. Ironic, isn’t it? But she will take you with her.” The gravedigger's claws lit with green fire and in one powerful blow the necromancer took down his rival.

  “Teacher!” Skal started worrying.

  “You needn't worry about me,” said Mohr, picking up his dead heart. Looking at it with regret, he put it back into the wound, which wasn’t bleeding anymore, just leaking with black liquid. “A more serious enemy is waiting for you, and I'll rest for a while.”

  ***

  Narr Nutt was furious, the zombies around him were scattered to pieces, not only by the blows of his sword, he was knocking them out with his shield. As soon as they came close, he would drop them.

  Honestly, I was a little scared. Applying some ability, the spiker king scattered all the opponents around him and rushed in our direction, blazing with violent rage.

  I threw a flash of lightning at him, luckily my energy channels already managed to recover. Skal also helped and sent all the available energy of death at the spiker king.

  Our attempts did not help much, but they drew his attention. I already felt that I shouldn’t have done it. Narr’s sword was already close to me, but a powerful hit of Karataruna’s shielded body threw the head of spikers 30 feet back.

  “I am going to feed you to the rippers, you remnants of the past!” hissed Narr Nutt and with a powerful blow of his shield he sent Tarnaragun flying, and then punched Karataruna’s shell, making her hiss in pain. “You thought I was weaker than that pathetic bear from the surface? No way. The equipment does not affect our level, but it can make us much, much more powerful! Especially when it’s all epic. A bunch of pathetic losers will not beat me.”

  “But we are not losers,” Lintirionel said and brought all her power to the spiker and barely managed to defend herself using her invulnerability.

  The wizard from the elf squad used a spell and streams of high-temperature flame covered Narr Nutt. The supreme spiker roared, arrows were flying at him, and I threw more lightning and explosive balls.

  At the same time, Skal used the energy of death to help others. We outdid ourselves, especially me, by spending our entire stock of bombs. But even our cumulative attacks didn’t take many lives of our main enemy.

  Karataruna used her frightening spell again, but it did not work. Hitting the shield, the emerald disc exploded and knocked down the flames, dispersing Lintirionel’s squad.

  But Tarnaragun created a hemisphere around the spiker king. Narr Nutt first ignored it and then coughed and stared at the Aerial Killer with hatred.

  The king of the spikers began to choke. This went on for a while, but then the main enemy came up with a plan and, swinging with great force, directed his sword towards the centipede.

  Tarnaragun did not have time to react, and the long blade hit him right between the eyes. The sword stuck through the back of his head, and the airless space around the main spiker disappeared, allowing him to breathe at last.

  Taking a few deep breaths, he instantly ran up to the centipedes and drew his sword. In a circular blow, he threw Karataruna away and threw a flash of lightning at me.

  That was unexpected. His spell was much more powerful, but he missed, and the lightning nearly missed me. I was shaken, everything around me was spinning from the strong rumble.

  I do not know why Narr Nutt hated me so much, but his attack, which undoubtedly would have cut off my head, was blocked by Derergon.

  “I told you, Sel Er, you don’t need to go to the front line, but thanks you,” the leader of the mercenaries grinned and headed towards Narr Nutt. “That was enough.”

  Chapter 71

  The ability price. The rage of Goroner. The tragedy.

  The mercenary drew out two beautiful blades, mirror-casting numerous light spots. The blades were eager to dig into the enemy's body. They were like part of Derergon, and I clearly felt the threatening vibes from the blades. Derergon and Narr Nutt circled one another, careful not to take their eyes off each other.

  “You think you are the only one who has an epic weapon?” the leader of mercenaries smiled. “You are wrong.”

  “These swords won’t help you,” Narr Nutt hissed. “You haven’t matured enough yet to battle with me.”

  “We’ll see about that,” said Derergon and went on the attack.

  The two blades swished through the air where a moment ago the supreme spiker was standing, and his sword also failed to hit its target, since the leader of the mercenaries easily dodged the attack.

  Derergon launched one attack after another, each one stronger than the last. At times the contours of the combatants were blurred. It seems I need to develop my eyes, but I better do it later.

  The ringing of swords colliding, Narr Nutt’s hissing and the howling of the wind all made a terrible racket. But not everything was as good as it first seemed.

  Narr Nutt delivered tremendous blows, and Derergon’s health gradually decreased, but he felt no anxiety. On the contrary, the leader of the mercenaries exuded confidence, despite the fact that the spiker king’s health did not drop much.

  After a while, Derergon's health dropped to less than half, and his blades glowed red. I noticed that the Garadarok warrior sped up, and now the spiker could not strike as often as before, defending himself more often.

  Narr fought back with magic, but these were his rings doing the work, and not he himself. Derergon's health slipped into the red, and not much was left. Alyona shouted something about how she could not use her spells. But this did not stop Derergon.

  The blades began to shine brighter and then something strange happened. The leader of the mercenaries pressed his swords against his chest, and then with a single blow knocked out Narr Nutt’s shield, tearing off his hand, and with the second blow, he cracked his armor.

  The spiker leader’s health dropped into the orange, and he applied another trick. Instantly crossing the distance, he grabbed me.

  “I will lay him down for good, I don’t care how many rebirths he’s god left,” he said. “I hate Karkants. Why are they capable of so much? Why them, but not spikers? How can you absorb other creature’s parts so easily? How do you deal with such sophisticated energy control?”

  I did not know what to do. It was scared, and my shell was trembling from the force emanating from Narr Nutt. The cold attack was inconvenient, and the lightning would hit me as well.

  Then my developed brain gave me an idea. I did not know how good it was, but it seemed to me that it had a chance of success. I immediately pulled out three amanite mushrooms and shoved them into the spiker’s open mouth, who swallowed them instinctively. I remember how painful it was to die from the poison of these mushrooms, I only hoped they would work with him too.

  "Argh," the foam came out of the spiker’s maw, and he released me. Derergon didn’t miss the chance to use this situation.

  The mercenary’s sword flew up and the amulet with the metal rat fell from Narr Nutt’s neck. The king of the spikers fell to the ground, soaking it with his blood. Was everything finally over?

  “Good swords, aren’t they?” asked the dwarf, whose hands were shaking slightly.

  I just nodded, not knowing what to answer, because until now I felt the grip of death on my throat. But there was something wrong with Derergon; his health continued to drop.

  “Der, what is it, why is your health not restored?”

  “Everything is alright, this is the price for my ability,” the mercenary said grinning and sat down dropping his blades.

  “What price?”

  “My life.”

  ***

  Goroner

  Goroner sat in the “Merry Villain” tavern and ate delicious dishes that were prepared only for the mos
t important customers. Fried mernor hare meat with red Ehrenvar wine.

  The exotic fruits that the innkeeper recently bought from a wandering magician were extremely tasty. Several salads decorated with flower petals adorned this colorful and incredibly expensive table.

  It was great to have a rest in this tavern, especially after the informant brought excellent news. That was incredible, that he found another interesting species, which would certainly be in great demand among customers, and its rarity would bring fabulous profits. And nothing can spoil such a wonderful day.

  His assistant Daryll was agitated when he entered the tavern. Goroner was already trying to figure out the options for the bad news.

  “Your Grace, I bring extremely bad news.”

  “Sit down and tell me. Be brief, just the essence,” said Goroner.

  “Narr Nutt is dead.”

  The head of the slave traders digested this information, and then his face twisted with a grimace of rage. “That damn beetle! How dare he die without bringing me, new slaves!” The glass in his hand popped staining the snow-white tablecloth with expensive wine. “Is it possible that the little animal, which we had brought to him earlier, is dead as well?”

  “I must tell you that’s correct,” the servant nodded.

  “Activate the orb. Let all these spikers go to hell, we’ll find new suppliers, but sit down, I can’t eat all this alone.”

  “I will be honored,” Daryll bowed his head and touched his bracelet.

  ***

  Sel Er

  I did not know how to react to this, neither did our doctor. The spells did not work, the rubituses didn’t either. The two-legged have completed the task, so I gave them the reward.

  A lot of our men died, as well as our enemies. I took the rat amulet, which gave terrifying energy.

  Rat amulet

  Description: This amulet is saturated with the energy of Darkness and can make its owner really strong. But one should be careful, because not many can control this energy, and even a larger number of amulet’s owners is controlled by Darkness itself, turning their souls into a part of it.