“What have you done…”
“It gets even better, you know. Anyone below level two will rise as undead.” he all but whispered.
All around, people clutched at their throats as if suffocating. Then they fell to their knees, lifeless.
I could feel Noslen’s rage overpowering my senses. “Noo! Monster! What have you done.” I could taste bile and began to shake uncontrollably.
The necromancer laughed. “I told you my brothers would have the city." His voice dripped with venom. “I told you, and you did not believe me. You thought yourself so superior. Your arrogance lost you this war. And now, it is time for you to die, ‘Sword Bearer.’”
Moans echoed from between buildings, as a feeling of unease and utter wrongness filled the air. Nearby, I saw one of the corpses twitch. Shit! This is bad....Several corpses stood slowly. Their eyes flared crimson, and they howled.
Zombies poured out from between buildings. Rivers of them, like a swarm of locusts upon a field of crops, headed for the gate.
SADA beeped. “Noslen, this is an outbreak of epidemic proportions. You must leave the city. Now. Get to minimum safe distance.” A whistling sound from above us split the sky as some sort of projectile slammed down destroying a building. The shockwave knocked me on my ass along with everyone else around me.
“There isn’t enough time to get to minimum safe distance, can we cast Shield Dome around party? Can we survive it?”
“Calculating. Twenty-one percent chance of success. Not recommended.”
“Versus not making it to safe distance?”
“Zero percent. Charging temporal shield emitters. Dome configuration.”
“To me,” I yelled, gathering my party members close. “Heavy fire incoming!”
A red beam of light dropped from the sky. The clouds parted, revealing clear skies above. Then the beam widened until it covered much of the city. This is really going to hurt…
In the distance, I could hear a deep thump, thump, which shook the ground. Blue streaks of light erupted from the far-off mountains like a geyser as projectiles climbed into the air—so large that they moved as if in slow motion.
The breacher charged, massive claws outstretched toward us. The shield flared where the claws touched it; they easily held. The projectiles were reaching the apex of their trajectory. We were out of time. The first quantum mortar shell took the breacher in the face, slamming it into the wall before exploding. I turned away as the blue light blinded me. There was nothing left of the breacher or the massive section of the shield wall. I looked up. The streak of the blue comet was heading right for us. The world became blue.
My vision switched to bright green. I blinked. I was back in the room, but something was very wrong. However hard I tried, I couldn’t release the crystal. Green lightning arced all around, and a high-pitched piercing noise emanated from it, and I screamed The crystal exploded in my hand, sending me across the room. I impacted against someone, and we flew through the air, taking out several equipment tables. The lights dimmed momentarily.
“Are you two all right?” asked Garstil in a puff of breath. His eyes were wide and his pupils dilated.
“Morogan die.”
I chuckled. It hurt like hell. “I’m pretty sure I’m dead too,” I said.
Garstil shook his head. “What the hell happened?”
“The last memory ended with the blast hitting Noslen’s shield. Somehow it overloaded the crystal.”
“I thought it was just a memory recording?” asked Garstil.
“Apparently, it's a little more complicated than that. I'll have to ask Noslen about it sometime.”
Garstil tended to Morogan’s wounds, as well as mine. He used up some of our bandages and healing ointments to nurse us back to good health. “Between the ointment, some food, and sleeping, you both should be back to one hundred percent by morning. As I have no gear to prepare, I’ll cook up some food while the ointment does its magic.” He ran off to prepare dinner, having to right some overturned tables for counter space.
We ate, painfully, slowly, our wounds restricting our actions. I told them everything I had seen, and they stared at me in shock and awe. Having eaten, we got ready for bed. Morogan suggested I take the alcove room since it seemed to be made for the Sword Bearer. I was hurting so much I didn’t bother arguing about it. I was asleep before my head hit the pillow.
We had just finished eating breakfast when metal hammer strikes came into earshot. The door opened and Arbiter entered. “Good morning. I hope you all rested well. The trials shall begin shortly. Please gather your effects and follow me to the trials.”
“We’re ready,” I said.
“Please, right this way,” he said, stepping out into the corridor. As we walked, he spoke again. “Sword Bearer, a word of caution: These trials are serious. You may likely perish attempting them. You will need to be exceedingly careful and competent. Are you sure that you are ready?”
I was silent for several paces. “Yes. We don’t have much of a choice. If we don’t stop Slag and the necromancers, Tempest could be overrun.”
The machine nodded. “We quite agree. You must not fail in your quest. To do so would be catastrophic for all life on Tempest.”
Geez… No pressure or anything…
We arrived at a large room that resembled a Roman gladiator’s arena. Gulp. We were subjected to hours of logic puzzles and mini-games. In one of them, I had to stack differently shaped and colored bricks as they fell faster and faster. If I made a line it would disappear, but if they reached the top, I took massive amounts of damage. In another one, Morogan had to jump across logs flowing down a river. Full of mechanical alligators. Weird. Deadly. Garstil had to play a full-size zombie tower defense game of some sort. But the zombies were robots, and if they got to the end where he sat, then he would die. On and on it went for most of the day.
We were absolutely exhausted when Arbiter approached. “You have done well and earned a short rest. The next trial will begin shortly, be ready.” He walked away without another word.
After a short five-minute rest, a large door groaned open on the wall farthest from us. I heard and felt it before I saw it. Clank! Clank! The heavy footsteps of something utterly massive came toward us. Green eyes flared in the darkness, upping the intimidation factor by several notches.
“Uh…guys?” said Garstil.
Morogan’s jaw was almost on the floor. “Um. That really big.”
“Be careful,” I said “Remember what Arbiter said. We can actually die here.” They gulped, nodding in unison. A few tons of heavy metal walked its way toward us on giant mechanical limbs.
Morogan went right. I went left. Lightning blasted out between us. The giant machine took the blast to the face like a champ, barely slowing. I willed power into the swords, bathing the room in light. That caught its attention, and it turned toward me. Shoulder plates popped u,p and a barrel appeared. Red lasers shot out at me, which I barely deflected with the rune sword. Morogan clobbered it in the back of the head. The impact reverberated like a gong throughout the arena.
Garstil sent bolt after bolt at it, but it only slowed it down. The machine’s head swiveled around to look at Morogan. He grinned. And then was rewarded with a massive backhand which I felt in my soul. He flew a few hundred feet and landed sliding. When he came to a stop, he didn't move.
“Morogan!” I shouted, panicking. The machine surged forward as it drew a massive sword from somewhere behind it. I parried the first swing, but it was stronger than me. It began to push me back toward Garstil. More lightning hit the robot. One particular lucky bolt hit an actuator on its left shoulder, and the arm twitched and went limp.
“Aim for his shoulder!” yelled Garstil. I had my hands full just parrying and blocking the huge sword. I was at the limit of my reflexes, just a hair slower than the robot.
Garstil ran wide to get a clear shot from the side. It noticed, head swiveling to track him. Without even looking at me, it surged forwa
rd and nailed me in the face with its massive shoulders. I fell to the ground hard. Blood ran from my nose, and tears clouded my vision.
Massive footsteps pounded away from me. Shit! I wiped away the tears, face still aching. Garstil swore and ran. The robot swung with the flat part of the blade and hit Garstil in the back. He went flying, but the wall broke his fall. He collapsed, also not moving. It turned toward me, green eyes glowing.
More lasers shot at me. Forced to block and deflect them, I couldn't advance. I Dashed at an angle to get outside of its firing arc, but the shoulder cannons tracked me with ease. A precise shot took me in the leg, and I ate the floor. Hard. Everything swam, and I couldn't tell which way was up. Clank! Clank! The footsteps echoed around me.
The footsteps, however, were retreating away from me. I wiped away blood and managed to open one of my eyes enough to see why. The massive robot was lumbering toward Morogan. A massive blast of energy exploded against its back. The impact knocked it off balance, and it fell on its face. Several more blasts impacted it. The shockwaves made it hard to get back on my feet.
I turned to look at Garstil. His face was contorted in rage, and he was bathed in cascading blue flames and lightning. He unleashed the unlimited power of creation unto the machine. Despite the constant barrage of arcane spheres and energy blasts, the hulking robot stood. It took a step toward Morogan—and another—as pieces were blasted off its body. The shoulder cannons popped up again and took a few shots at Garstil. He stopped firing and shielded himself. The robot kept advancing.
Slowly, it lifted its giant sword high above the still body of Morogan.
“No!” I ran forward as fast as I could manage. I Dashed and brought both swords up and crossed them in a high block. The massive Titan swung his blade downward toward Morogan who still lay unconscious on the ground. Dash came up a few feet short; I wasn't going to make it in time.
11
Saiban, The Hand of Justice
I blinked. Blood still clouded my vision, and the massive blade brought me to my knees. I’d successfully blocked the Titan’s blade from cleaving Morogan in two. But how? I was at least five yards short, and Dash had already reached its maximum distance. I noticed an icon at the lower edge of my vision.
Temporal Abnormality - 291 seconds
I filed that away for later. It was high time to see what this new skill could do. I triggered Burning Rage. The world slowed down, and I could feel raw anger and rage bubble to the surface. My muscles rippled, and my entire body grew to twice its size. I was a powerhouse of pure strength. I slashed outward with both swords, and the Titan’s blade flew upward, knocking him off balance. Red lightning arced all around me and between the blades. I could see a bar on my left that was quickly depleting; I had used up almost half of the duration. I focused on my swords and willed power into them. The runes of the sword flared blue. Brilliant white light surrounded both blades, and bluish-white lightning crackled from each, intermingling with the red.
I triggered Dash, swung with my right, turned, and followed with my left. Red streaks gouged into the robot’s midsection. It still wasn't enough. I checked the Burning Rage timer. It was almost depleted. Desperate to end this fight, I leaped straight up as high as I could. As gravity took over, noticed Dash’s cooldown had reset. Gravity carried my body in an arc. Following the momentum, I flipped midair and triggered Dash on the way down, swinging with everything I had. The twin bastard swords cleaved individual channels deep into the robot’s head and torso. Its green eyes faded out, and the hulking machine collapsed to the ground. The timer expired, and I felt myself shrinking back to normal. Pain wracked my entire body, so much so that even my hair hurt. A cooldown notification sat ticking away.
Exhaustion - You've pushed yourself beyond your limits and will pay the price.
You feel debilitating pain. -280 seconds
Another five-minute cool down. I'd have to keep that in mind.
“Trial complete.” A mechanical voice echoed throughout the arena chamber.
I collapsed, exhausted. Garstil was on me in an instant, turning me over. “I’m fine, check on Morogan.” He hesitated for a moment and then rushed to his side. Morogan had just begun to stir as Garstil made his way to him. Slowly, he helped him to his feet.
Arbiter entered the room and approached. “Congratulations, Sword Bearer. You have passed the Trial of the Titan and thus proven yourself worthy of the Mantle of the Sword Bearer.” He handed me metallic shoulder armor, as well as upper arm guards.
I put on the armor pieces, and they linked together. Braided plates connected from one piece to the next. I could hear a slight hiss as I moved my arms about. Some sort of muscle augmentation, I supposed.
Arbiter approached Morogan. I followed. “Son of Ghorza,” it said. “I have something for you as well.” He handed Morogan a small metal earring.
“What this?” asked Morogan, confused.
“This is an artifact which Noslen and Ghorza wished you to have when you were strong enough. Having assisted in the Trials, you have been deemed worthy. Do not let it fall into enemy hands; it is quite powerful.”
Morogan took it and replaced one of his decorative earrings in his right lobe. For a moment, black lightning could be seen arcing in his eyes. It vanished as quickly as it had appeared. “Thank you.”
“There are several other mountains with secret facilities hidden within. You should visit these facilities and pass their tests. Noslen has hidden several items at many of the locations.” Arbiter began walking toward the door. “Please, follow me. I will teleport you as far as I can.” We followed him out the door.
The teleportation was somewhat painful yet tolerable.
Garstil chuckled nervously. “I’m just glad my head is on the right way…”
We all agreed, but we all patted ourselves down to make sure everything was in the right place. Arbiter had given us a very quick explanation of how quantum teleportation worked. The thought of my atoms being torn to shreds and reassembled somewhere else was…daunting. I had to remind myself that we existed as data anyhow. So, this was nothing more than changing some file descriptor node on some server. But it was still my being, so I felt justified in being nervous about it.
We had materialized in the square before the statue. We quickly made our way out of the city and into The Desolate Fields, only having to deal with a handful of patrols. We camped on the side of the road twice on the return trip to Bridgeport.
On the third day, a wagon traveling the same way was kind enough to give us a ride. We arrived back at Bridgeport shortly after sundown and proceeded to the inn. We celebrated well into the night.
We washed up and came down for breakfast. Sergeant Williams entered the inn and made his way to our table. “Greetings. May I join you?”
We all nodded, mouths full of eggs. The barkeep brought him a cup of steaming coffee.
“We had some scouts bring back some information you boys might be interested in.”
“Like what?” I asked between mouthfuls of food. To hell with manners, I was hungry. If it bothered him in the slightest he didn't show it.
“Some dark-robed figures have been spotted by a forest near the mountains south of The Desolate Fields. They saw wagons and prisoners being taken into the forest.” He sipped his coffee, “Then, down in Aspen, people have been disappearing under mysterious circumstances. Some of the townsfolk have reported seeing wagons and hooded figures as well. Could be our necromancer and criminals.”
Garstil had begun paying attention in earnest at the mention of the second part. “I’ll handle the Aspen lead," he said. “I made some connections there on a recent visit. There are quite a few residents that owe me favors, and I already have a good rapport with the mayor after saving her town from bandit raids.”
Morogan nodded to me. “We’ll take the village lead,” I said.
Williams nodded. “That’s great news. With any luck, you can discover what those vermin are up to. Fare thee well.” We all tr
aded grips, and Sergeant Williams marched off to his post.
Garstil turned to me. “Where do you want to meet when we’ve finished up?”
“That’s a good question,” I said. “Morogan? Any ideas?”
Morogan looked pensive for a moment. “Dangerous. Could go Morogan village. Need tell Mother what happen.”
I brought up our world map, showing what bits I had discovered. “Where is it at?”
Morogan pointed to a spot east of the mountains we were heading to. “Ghorgu. Morogan home.”
“It’s a ways from Aspen… Hmm, though Aspen is closer than the mountains,” I said.
Garstil looked at the map closely. “This could work out. If I take a horse to Aspen, I should be able to make it to the mountains a day or two after you arrive there. Worst case, I check out the mountains, and if I don’t see any signs of you, I move on to Ghorgu. It could work.”
“Aba,” said Morogan. “If go to Ghorgu, have to prove strong. Not fight to death. But hurt maybe.”
“It’s a risk we’ll have to take,” I said. “Okay, it’s settled then. Let’s get going before we lose any more daylight.” We traded grips with Garstil, and he ran out the door in search of a horse.
We ended up having to do some side quests to earn a favor from a wagon master heading east. It mostly consisted of gathering conch shells and crabs at the beach. At least we got a meal out of it.
We rode on the wagon to the crossroads and headed south toward the mountains. An hour later, we came upon a small forest with a worn dirt path snaking inward. We avoided the path, following parallel to it. With any luck, we would avoid any patrols.
The forest line thinned as we reached a clearing. Huts and cabins littered the area in a grid pattern. It was a small village hidden in the grove. A perfect hideout.
Legend of the Sword Bearer: Tempest Chronicles Book 1 Page 11