by Erik Weir
Above, several large spikes from the ship blasted out in four directions. They soared down until they were right above the buildings and exploded. Oval pieces fell from the sky before lines of light ran along them. Sections of the oval pieces separated and expanded until sentries fell into the river of shadows from all sides. Sentries pulled rifles from the side of their legs and fired into the crowds. Simple digital eyes took in the scene as they landed and blasted at shadows. Light sparked as some sentries had their limbs torn off the moment they landed while others drilled plasma holes in everything around them.
In the distance, Umus continued his relentless assault on the Elder Thing. The god slammed his shoulder into the monster’s massive chest but it barely moved. The monster’s alien eyes looked to the floating ship above the citadel and stepped forward, a long arm reaching out to rip it from the sky. Several plasma cannons aimed at the giant abomination and fired. Umus shouted with glee as he joined the hailstorm of plasma bolts striking the Elder Thing.
Dawn and Night fired down a thin street, blasting anything that moved when something moved above. Dawn glanced up to see a shadow crawling along the wall and launching toward her. The elf lifted her plasma rifle and shot into it. The moment it was on her, a staff flashed forward and slammed into the shadow’s misshapen face. Night turned her attention to the shadow and blasted it with lightning as Lily moved to Dawn’s side.
“Thanks,” Dawn said as she fired into the shadows.
“Don’t mention it,” Lily shouted. “Xull is providing defense and rescue. We have to pull back.”
“We have to find Victor,” Night said before whispering a word of power and blasting another shadow.
Dawn touched her glasses as Lily called on her soul compass ability. The elf’s glasses shined for a moment, the shadows and walls bleeding away. The mystical glasses saw through ghostly walls until she spotted a few streets away a giant mammoth and Victor fighting Draygon.
“He’s in that direction,” Dawn and Lily said at the same time.
Night nodded. “I’ll get us closer.”
***
The mammoth roared as it charged, Victor at its side. The Blade fired the remaining rounds from his gun blade, Draygon laughing as his body shuddered from each strike. Chill and Victor’s father swirled, tearing at each other while the mammoth reared up, ready to stomp the Elder Spawn to dust.
“It’s over,” Draygon chuckled as he opened his hand and darkness blasted out.
The mammoth roared before darkness stabbed into its underside as it reared up. The prehistoric beast’s eyes widened before it was lifted up and crashed into a nearby building. The ground shook as the structure crumbled, a final whimper falling from the majestic beast before it slumped.
Victor’s eyes blazed as he charged his gun blade again. Charging, he blasted at the spawn until he was within several feet. Draygon’s hand flashed out, slapping energy bolts away. Victor leapt with gun blade in hand and sliced downward.
Draygon parried the sword with his forearm and simply stared at Vala’s Champion. “This is getting sad.”
The spawn’s hand whipped away, the shockwave blasted away the last pieces of Victor’s armor and his body crashing into a wall, cracking it. The gun blade fell with a clatter as Victor slumped down from the wall. Warmth leaked from the back of his head as pain and confusion rippled. Darkness flashed repeatedly as the Champion fought to stay awake. Draygon laughed as Chill was knocked down, Victor’s father ripping him to shreds.
“No…,” Victor said weakly before he saw a flash.
An elf with long black hair and wearing a dark robe stood with her arms out. Lily and Dawn were before her. Eyes glanced around, seeing the fallen Victor and then turning to Draygon as his mouth moved but no words came out. The silence seemed to only grow as Victor fought to stay awake. Lily, Dawn, and Night launched at the crazed spawn, plasma bolts, lightning, and a staff crashing down on the laughing monster.
“Girls…I’m…coming…to…help,” Victor thought he said, but even he didn’t hear his own words.
Darkness closed in and then there was nothing.
Eyes opening, Victor stood in a forest clearing. A shimmering pool glowed in the moonlight as Vala stood to the side, darkness covering her eyes. The goddess was still as a statue in graveyard.
Victor stepped toward the goddess, eyes wide. “I have to get back into the fight!”
“Valis is lost,” Vala whispered. “I can see the branches of fate and they all show the realm dying. I have brought you here to ask you to retreat so you may fight another day.”
Victor shook his head, “I can’t. I won’t.”
“Victor, I can feel the chains of control slipping away from your spirit. Do not let Draygon destroy your light.”
“Everyone I love is fighting for their lives. I can’t…,” Victor trailed off when heat surged into his heart.
Vala’s head bowed. “An acolyte from Valis has died. Her divine orb has joined you and I am closer to life. I take no solace in what transpires, but you must retreat for the benefit of others.”
The Blade’s eyes widened as he felt another surge of warmth, followed by another. “They’re dying! I have to get back into the fight! I must…”
A vibration ran along Victor’s spine and a familiar feeling latched onto him once again. A faint memory of his previous fight with Draygon glowed in his mind’s eye. A tingling he now understood washed over his soul with knowledge.
“I understand,” Victor said in a low voice.
A tear streaked down Vala’s pale white cheek. “Death whispers.”
Victor looked to the goddess. “I’m sorry. Please forgive me.”
***
Drop ships floated down as several areas cleared of citizens. The black ships landed and doors slid open. Sentries beckoned people in while other sentries jumped out and fired at shadows crawling across the side of buildings. Battle suits fired with impunity as angels helped citizens to board the ships.
Astor stepped back, one foot at a time while she cranked the Gatling rifle. Portia gave commands as dragons swooped down and blasted shadows to dust. The Slinger sprayed mana bullets in wide arcs, her face blank and her heart made of stone. The roar of plasma and energy fire blanketed the area as many stepped onto ships. Above them, the Xull warship continued to fire at the incoming comets as missiles blazed into the sky.
Shyryth turned in the air to make another pass when her keen eyes caught shadows surging. The red dragon’s eyes widened as the shadows pressed hard, their bodies blown apart by the Slinger’s rifle. Astor stopped spraying, concentrating fire at the incoming shadows when the rifle clanked and the cylinders grinded to a halt. Shyryth turned and barreled down, fire leaking from the sides of her mouth as her heart screamed.
Astor dropped the rifle, hands moving on automatic. A flood of shadows bore down on the Slinger as she drew her pistols and pulled triggers. Shadows screeched as magical bullets blasted through them. The Slinger didn’t make a sound as the shadows rushed her instantly.
Blood flashed as Astor grunted and stepped back. Razor sharp darkness slashed at her as she shot through shadows. When one died, two more crashed into her. Like feral monsters they clawed at her, but the Slinger fired until her rune-covered pistols clicked empty.
Shyryth landed with a thunderous boom, fire and wings filling the area. Clawed hands grabbed at shadows and threw them into walls while angels shot at them. Tears streaked dragon scales as Shyryth pulled the last of the shadows off Astor and burned them to ash. Body shifting, she shrunk down to human size as angels fired into the wall of shadows. Scaled arms grabbed at the fallen Slinger and held her close.
“Astor…,” the red dragon woman cried.
The Slinger opened her eyes, kindness touching the edges. “I’m happy the last person I see is you.”
“Lily can heal you. We have to find her,” Shyryth cried.
“No…it’s over for me. I need you to do one last…thing…before I go…”
<
br /> “Anything,” Shyryth sobbed.
“Tell Victor…to find…Dorian…Reins. Do that…for me,” Astor smiled.
“I will,” Shyryth said through the tears.
Several dragons landed around the dragon and Slinger. Vindrel, Izy, and Mildra blasted the shadows, their hearts aching for their dragon sister.
“See you in the next life…,” Astor whispered before her eyes closed.
Shyryth clutched her friend close, heat leaving Astor’s body and the dragon’s sobbing lost to the sounds of plasma fire.
***
Victor’s eyes opened as pain writhed along his senses. Spending a point of Constitution, nano-drones began repairing his broken body. The process was slow as he called up his stats.
Victor Hobbs
Acolytes Unlocked- 45/77
Divine Orbs- 3
Powers to Unlock-0
Spheres of Influence
Str (Gaia)- 15/1
Con (Nano)- 11/1
Int (Abyss)- 3
Will (Holy)- 6/4
Wis (Mind)- 10
Cha (Shadow)- 3
Swords
Iron Sword
Elemental Sword
Gun Blade
Bone Sword
Cursed Blade
Strength and Constitution nearly used up, he knew he couldn’t last long in a fist to fist match. Eyes looking up, he watched as Dawn, Night, and Lily fought the spawn. Draygon lashed out while the three women kept him at bay. Night fired lightning bolts while Dawn sidestepped, firing plasma bolts. Lily was close, her body moving like a dancer, her staff connecting but doing little damage. Off to the side, Chill’s glowing blue eyes widened as Victor’s father slashed at him.
Feeling returned to Victor’s muscles. The Blade slowly stood up and stumbled before catching himself. Struggling, he moved slowly toward the fighting.
“Draygon,” the Blade shouted.
Draygon’s eyes slid to the side, the sight of Victor hobbling toward them. “Still have some fight in you.”
Lily brought her staff down and before it connected, Draygon’s hand blurred up and caught it. The succubus struggled until the spawn lifted her up and threw her. Night gasped as she opened her arms to catch the demoness. Lily hit her hard, the two falling to the street in a tumble.
Dawn advanced, finger firmly on the trigger. Draygon blocked each bolt with his forearm as he grinned. The elf moved with determination as she closed the distance. Victor pushed himself to walk faster.
“Dawn, get back,” Victor shouted.
The elf ignored him until she was right on top of the spawn. Draygon’s fist flashed out, hitting the plasma rifle and shattering it. Dawn didn’t slow down as she leapt at the monster and clamped her legs around his waist. Draygon backhanded wide, but the elf let her torso fall back while holding herself around the spawn’s waist. The fist swung inches from her face and when it cleared, she snapped up onto the spawn like a viper. Draygon’s brow rose up as the elf grabbed his head and pressed her lips to his.
The spawn’s eyes widened before they half closed. Dawn pulled back with a wicked smile until pain shattered her soul. Victor watched as Dawn whimpered, a black blade sunk deep into her side.
The elf turned her gaze to Victor. “Kick his ass,” she said as she fell away.
Victor’s heart took on jagged edges as a fire roared into a blaze. Spending ten points of Wisdom, the Blade’s hand lashed out with his Unseen Hand ability. Dawn was pulled from Draygon with an invisible force and placed by Night and Lily. The elf with dark hair grabbed at Dawn as she struggled to breath, blood soaking her clothes.
“What did she do to me,” Draygon said as his legs began to shake.
“Night night,” Dawn seethed with an evil grin.
Victor struck out his open hand and a force slammed into Draygon, smashing him through a wall and then another wall. The tingling in his body grew to a fevered pitch. Lily placed a hand on Dawn, energy flowing into her. Night looked up to see Victor’s body begin to heave, power surging into his body.
“Night, take them home,” Victor growled a command.
Lily turned her head, “I can keep fighting!”
“I will finish this fight,” Victor said in a dark tone.
Night held her sister as her hand touched Lily’s arm. Arcane words fell from her lips, but before the word of power could be uttered, Lily knocked the mage’s hand away. Light engulfed the sisters before they winked out of the realm. Lily stood up, staff in hand and determination in her brow.
Victor ignored her as the rubble moved in the building and Draygon stood up.
“What a waste. All of that to slow me down for a few seconds,” the spawn chuckled.
Victor stayed his ground, “It was enough time to know what I have to do.”
The Blade lifted his hand again. Draygon looked through the hole of the building and began to walk when the very structure began to creak. Glancing up, walls cracked and the entire building fell in. Victor controlled the devastation as it crashed down on the Elder Spawn. Dust flew up, but every brick and steel beam crashed down onto Draygon, forming a giant, pointed pile of rubble.
Victor let out a sigh as he calmed his heart. Senses dialed to eleven, he could feel Draygon move, clawing his way up through the debris, but it didn’t matter anymore. The Blade took hold of the key of knowledge and inserted it into his connection with Vala. The tingling in his body grew with each passing moment until he held his breath and turned the key. Spending every last point of his influence, a tether expanded and power flooded Victor’s heart and spread out into his body. Knowledge poured into his open mind, filling it with light. The illusion of control, pain, joy, and sorrow was blasted away as Victor understood what it meant to be a Champion. Energy penetrated every cell of his body as Vala’s power drowned every thought. It was all and nothing, life and death. The universe made sense and chaos taught lessons across all beings.
“So…this is what’s it is to be a god,” Victor smiled.
Chill tried to crawl away as a larger shadow clawed at his back. Light flashed and a blade of light penetrated the side of the larger shadow. Its eyes widened as it turned its misshapen face to Victor.
“I’m sorry Dad, but you’re hurting my friend,” Victor said sadly.
The shadow roared before it splintered into a thousand pieces of darkness.
Victor turned to Lily who stood with staff in hand and shock in her eyes. “Take care of Chill. I have to take out the garbage.”
Draygon burst from the rubble and looked down on Victor. The spawn’s maddening grin melted away as golden light bathed the Blade’s form. Pulling his legs free, the spawn slid down to the base, eyes drinking in the confidence rippling off Victor in waves.
“You…you did it. Now…I can consume you and ascend!”
Victor smirked. “No, now I finish what I promised.”
“Come on then,” Draygon hissed.
Victor’s body blurred forward, his fist crashing into Draygon’s cheek. The spawn’s face twisted away, eyes round from the impact and surprise. Catching himself, he ground his boots into the street, concrete flying. Victor pushed on, his fists drawing back and slamming again and again into the spawn.
Lily watched as the very air and ground shook. Draygon punched back and the air ignited in fury. Black aura blazing, the spawn struggled against Victor’s light. Fists crashed and pounded into each other as the entire island began to tremble. Victor smiled, showing all of his teeth as he grabbed Draygon and burst forward. The spawn’s back smashed through wall after wall. Draygon could barely move as his body was used as a battering ram. Victor pulled back an arm, a blade made of light appearing. He pushed the spawn through walls and buildings, stabbing with each passing second.
Draygon put his lips together to whistle when a golden fist slammed into his jaw, breaking it.
“Not a chance,” Victor grinned before halting his advance.
The two titans were on a deserted street when Victor lifted Dra
ygon and smashed him into the middle of it. Not letting go, he lifted him up and pulled back a fist. Fingers opening, a ball of light appeared in his palm.
“Too strong…,” Draygon gurgled as black blood leaked from his mouth.
“Maybe in a few thousand years, you’ll understand the light and the dark,” Victor grinned. “But for now, remember this moment…HADOUKEN!”
Victor slammed the ball of energy into Draygon’s chest and it exploded. Draygon’s fiery body arced through the air and crashed into another building. Cracks webbed out as Draygon fell. Before he reached the street, Victor was there, violently grabbing the spawn and slamming him into the street. The entire area rumbled and several damaged buildings fell in the distance.
“How…,” Draygon gurgled as he looked to Victor in disbelief.
“Love..uh..finds a way,” Victor laughed before driving his fist into Draygon’s forehead.
A fist-size hole smashed in and darkness poured out as Draygon wailed. The debris in the area levitated up as pulse of power rippled. Victor looked down with confident eyes as Draygon screeched in agony.
“We were meant to do great things! Victor! We were meant…,” the spawn trailed off before his body cracked and shattered in black, wet chunks.
The Blade stood up, “No, this was how it was supposed to play out. Goodbye you piece of shit.”
The sounds of plasma fire and the shockwaves of power vibrated along the city.
“Time to save the realms,” Victor smiled and shot up into the air.
Columns of smoke rose into the air. The Xull warship fired into space as comets exploded. Umus tried to land a blow on the Elder Thing when its hand snapped out and backhanded him. The god flew back and stopped in midair, a hand rubbing his jaw.
“Tougher than you look,” Umus shouted before he dived back toward the abomination.
Umus readied his giant mace when a figure appeared at his side. The god looked over to Victor’s smiling face, golden body, and grin.
“Can I join you,” Victor asked.
“Of course, my lad, of course,” Umus laughed.