Conryu didn’t wait to see the result.
He hammered the back of her mace a second time, driving the spike in deeper.
Darkness oozed out, devouring the golden glow swirling through the Atlantean’s crystal body.
For an instant, the destruction of their comrade caused the others to flinch.
It wasn’t much of an opening, but it was enough for the Daughters. Dozens of trained killers fell on the Atlanteans, hammering them without mercy.
A battering ram thrummed, sending a handful of ninjas flying. Two Atlanteans fled.
A minute later the park was silent. Lifeless crystal statues lay scattered around. A few black-clad bodies were mixed in, but far fewer than he’d feared. Hopefully they were only hurt, but deep down Conryu knew there was no way they’d escaped this fight with no deaths. Life just didn’t work that way.
While the recovery team saw to those that had fallen, the rest of the ninja gathered around Conryu. “Orders, Chosen?” one of them asked.
“Everyone get back while I set the sonic bomb. Assuming it works, we still need to track down those final Atlanteans.”
He shrugged out of his pack and pulled out the device his mother had built. It looked like something from a hundred years ago, with wires sticking up and a pair of dials on the face. The only modern part was a digital readout it looked like she stole from a cellphone.
Conryu placed the bomb tight against the red crystal like he was told and twisted the right-hand dial. Two lines appeared on the screen, one wavy and the other straight. Gradually the straight one bent until it matched the wavy one. He turned the left-hand dial until the number sixty appeared below the lines. He released the knob and the countdown began.
Chapter 28
The sonic bomb didn’t exactly explode. Instead it let out this deep thud, that compressed his chest and made Conryu’s heart skip a beat. The explosion came an instant later when the crystal blew into a million tiny pieces that then rained down on him and the ninjas. The pieces were light, but razor sharp. There were a few minor cuts, but nothing serious.
As soon as the crystal had burst, Conryu’s connection to magic returned. A quick pulse of light magic healed him and everyone around him of their injuries.
“We need to find the survivors,” he said. “Don’t let them get out of the city.”
The ninjas vanished into the borderland to begin their hunt leaving Conryu, Kai, and Sienna alone in the park. It wouldn’t take the others long to hunt down the escapees. He needed to figure out where this void rift was and seal it. The fewer people that knew about it, the better.
Conryu walked to the edge of where the destroyed crystal had sat and stared at the hole left behind. Below the park was a massive cavern. It was so dark and so far down he couldn’t make out any detail. That said, it certainly seemed like a good place to put something you wanted to hide.
He swapped his mace for his staff, touched Kai’s arm, and activated a flying spell. The masters of the elemental realms probably wouldn’t be thrill that he was bringing her all, but Conryu didn’t care. He’d need backup just in case there was a problem.
Before he could warn Sienna off, she leapt over the edge and glided down out of sight. She’d collected one of the fallen maces and still had both of her hands. She must have known a defensive spell that worked. He wasn’t about to turn down the extra help and at this point what was one more person in on the secret? She’d been mixed up in this craziness since the beginning. She had a right to see it to the end.
“Ready?” he asked.
Kai nodded and they flew down after Sienna. Halfway down he conjured lights and scattered them throughout the cavern. The glowing spheres revealed a flat, smooth disk of darkness with a man standing in front of it. Not a crystal man, but a flesh-and-blood human. Albeit one with crystals stuck in his forehead and eyes as black as the rift behind him.
Sienna stood facing the man, her mace cocked and ready like she planned to bash his brains in any second.
As if reading his mind, she launched herself at the stranger and swung hard enough that the tendons in her neck stood out.
The mace slammed into an invisible barrier and Sienna stumbled back.
Conryu landed a few feet away. Kai shifted to stand in front of him. The man turned to face Conryu, totally ignoring Sienna who had recovered and was ready to take another run at him.
“Wait a moment, please,” Conryu said to Sienna who relaxed a fraction. When it was clear she wasn’t about to attack again he asked the stranger, “Who are you?”
“I am the void.”
No human throat had ever produced a voice like that. Just the sound of it made Conryu want to puke.
“You know why I’m here?” Conryu asked.
“I know your masters sent you to stop my servants from completing their work. You’ve set my mission on this world back ten thousand years. But if there’s one thing I have, it’s time. Someone else will find this place. It doesn’t matter where you hide it. Nothing stays gone forever.”
“I’m not going to hide the rift,” Conryu said. “I’m going to seal it.”
The void laughed. “You lack the power.”
Black eyes bored into Conryu. “Then again perhaps you don’t. I’ll offer you a bargain, human. Join me. Become my herald and help me reclaim the universe.”
“Why would I do that? I know what you want. If you destroy everything, I’ll have nowhere to live. Being alone with you in endless darkness doesn’t appeal to me.”
“You wouldn’t be alone. I have many servants. All will be one in the darkness.”
“Why are we talking to this creature?” Sienna demanded. “Let’s kill him and be done with it.”
The void turned toward her. “Be silent.”
Sienna went flying across the cavern.
He turned back to Conryu. “I can offer you power greater than anything you’ve ever imagined. You will be like a god.”
“Power, power, power! Everyone thinks I want power.” Conryu’s anger grew by the moment. “All I want is to hang out with my friends and enjoy a little peace and quiet without people trying to kill me or blow things up.”
The tip of his staff turned brown and the stone of the cavern surged up, wrapping the void in stone. “Now get lost!”
He flicked his wrist and the void went flying in the opposite direction as Sienna.
“That won’t hold him for long,” Conryu said.
“Do what you must, Chosen,” Kai said. “I will hold this monster off for as long as it takes.”
And I will aid her.
The Reaper’s voice surprised him. Before he could respond dark energy crackled around Kai. She vanished and a moment later the sounds of battle came from deep in the cavern.
Putting her out of his mind was the hardest thing Conryu had ever done. He stepped over to the rift and raised both hands. The staff vibrated in his hands.
“I am your conduit,” Conryu said. “Erase this abomination.”
His awareness vanished as the elemental lords entered his mind.
The chill of the grave settled over Kai as the Reaper’s might infused every cell of her being. She had never felt power like that. For an instant she imagined she could defeat any opponent. Even the darkness of the cavern was no obstacle to her now. She spotted the void smashing free of Conryu’s stone prison and charged.
Her mace crashed into the man’s chest and sent him flying. Impressive as the blow was, she knew it hadn’t penetrated. Hitting him was like striking a stone wall. Whatever else the void was, it was tremendously strong.
The man landed lightly on the balls of his feet and turned to face her, no worse for the impact. As she feared, even with the Reaper’s help, this enemy was beyond her.
A silent wave of his hand sent a wall of darkness rushing toward her.
Kai vanished into the borderland and emerged a second later directly behind him.
A crashing overhead blow bounced off an invisible barrier and staggered he
r.
The void turned slowly to face her. “You’re a tricky one. I can smell the Reaper’s stench all over you. He can’t save you. My power is limitless. Perhaps if we fought in Hell, but here, in the seat of my power, you have no hope of winning.”
Kai recognized the truth of his words, but it wasn’t going to stop her. As long as she had breath in her body, she would keep this monster away from Conryu.
The backhanded blow came so fast she barely got her mace up to take the brunt of the impact. It still sent her flying twenty feet across the cavern.
While still airborne, she slipped into the Hell, righted herself, and reappeared beside him, mace leading.
The spike struck squarely in the void’s left eye, penetrated, and gouged out a chunk of flesh and bone.
A dark blast struck her stomach, doubling her over and making her retch.
“An impressive blow.” Already the wound was closing. “I didn’t think your little toy could break my skin.”
Kai scrambled away. Too slowly to avoid a kick that spun her over on her back and sent her sliding across the rough floor. That broke at least one rib and more likely two.
Behind her a light exploded in the darkness.
The void winced. Whatever Conryu was doing, it was starting to work.
“I’ve wasted enough time on you.” A ball of darkness formed in the palm of the man’s hand.
Kai dropped into Hell just ahead of the attack.
Stay strong, Daughter. My chosen has begun closing the rift. The creature will weaken as the spell progresses. Stay strong.
“Yes, Master.”
Kai returned to the mortal realm and smashed the void in the right knee. Bone snapped and he fell part way to the floor. Her opponent was weaker, she could feel it. The knowledge gave her hope. She could do what she had to. She would do it.
The void’s snarl was savage, twisting its human host’s face into a horrific mask of rage and pain.
Dark beams shot out of his eyes.
Kai dove under them and hammered a second blow into his left arm, snapping it like a twig.
She rolled to her feet and spun to face him again.
“I grow weary of this game, child.” Darkness exploded out of the void in every direction. The dark power picked Kai up and carried her along like a leaf caught in a river.
The ride ended when she slammed into the cavern wall, driving the breath from her lungs, and sending her slumping to the floor. When she looked up the void stood over her, darkness crackling around his right hand.
Hopefully she had bought enough time. Kai would miss Conryu but joining her sisters at the Reaper’s side would be a fine reward.
Before the final blow could fall, Sienna appeared behind the void and struck the side of his head with all her might.
His head exploded with the force of the impact. The body wobbled and staggered away.
Kai forced herself to her feet, ignoring the pain screaming for her to stay down and not move.
After a few unsteady steps, the headless body straightened and turned toward them. Darkness gathered around it for a second time.
What was it going to take to stop this monster?
The answer came a second later when the dark energy sputtered and the corpse collapsed. Behind them the light had vanished. Conryu had done it. The rift was sealed.
She started to collapse, but strong arms caught her. Warmth and comfort surged into her battered body.
“You did great,” Conryu said. “Now let’s get out of here.”
Epilogue
When Conryu emerged from the cavern beneath Atlantis he found Kanna waiting. She and the ninjas were gathered around the opening. He had healed Kai and Sienna after the battle himself. None of the others appeared badly injured, but he brushed them all with light magic just to be sure. The last thing he needed was for someone to fall now that the battle was won.
The skies were silent, the RAF jets having apparently returned to their base. That was a relief. Getting killed by a misfired missile after surviving a fight with whatever that thing below was would have been a tragedy.
Kanna bowed when he landed. “All the Atlanteans in the city have been eliminated. We lost seven daughters in the process. A great victory given what we faced.”
“Yeah, a victory.” Exhaustion lay heavily on him after channeling so much power and he still had work to do. “Prepare their bodies for burial. When I’ve had a day to rest, we’ll hold a ceremony to honor them properly. I’ll raise the tomb myself back at the monastery. Thank you for everything. All of you.”
The ninjas bowed as one and Kanna said, “It was our honor, Chosen. If there’s nothing else, we’ll return home.”
“I think we’re good. You’ve certainly earned the rest. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Kanna nodded and they all faded away.
Conryu turned to Kai. “If you want to join them, you’ve earned the break many times over.”
“Where you go, I go, Chosen.”
He smiled, not surprised in the least. “What about you, Sienna?”
“Unless I miss my guess, there’s still one Atlantean out there. I will hunt him down and finish things once and for all. It’s my duty.” She raised the mace she’d borrowed. “May I keep this until the hunt is finished?”
“Sure, but don’t keep it too long. It would be a shame to lose your hands after all this.” He held out his hand and they shook. “Stay safe.”
She nodded and vanished into a wind portal.
Now all he had to do was shift the island to a pocket dimension and they could go home. Maybe he’d risk a trip home for some of Giovanni’s pizza. The universe knew he’d earned it.
“You should shift to the borderland while I do this.”
Kai vanished without a word. Conryu raised his staff for what he hoped would be the last time in a while.
Before he could begin the spell, a portal opened and people began pouring out. There were soldiers, wizards in robes of various colors, and leading them, dressed in all black, was Malice Kincade. Just when he thought nothing could make this day any worse.
“You’re trespassing on Alliance property, boy,” the old hag said. “Leave now or face the consequences.”
She had to be kidding. The combined might of the wizards and soldiers she’d brought with her couldn’t begin to threaten him. What was it with these arrogant assholes? He did all the work and then they imagined they could just swoop in and claim the city for themselves like he had nothing to say about it? They were in for a surprise.
Before he could say anything, another portal opened. This time Jemma led a troop of Kingdom wizards and soldiers. The two groups faced off, Conryu suddenly forgotten.
“This is Kingdom airspace you’re violating,” Jemma said. “On the king’s authority, we are claiming Atlantis.”
“We have already claimed it for the Alliance,” Malice said. “Unless you’re willing to go to war over an empty city, I suggest you back off.”
“We have suffered great damage already,” Jemma countered. “This city and its secrets are our just compensation. We will fight to keep it.”
Both sides snapped weapons up and took aim at each other. The air crackled with readied magic. It wouldn’t take much to start another war right here. Conryu was seriously tempted to leave and let them kill each other, but he’d seen enough death over the last few days.
A pulse of dark magic rushed out, washing over both groups, nullifying the gathering magic and reducing everyone’s weapons to rust. He stalked over, wrapping himself in defensive magic as he did. They all stared at him as he got closer. He looked from Malice to Jemma and back again.
“Neither of you is claiming Atlantis. I’m shifting it out of the human realm once and for all. Now, unless you want to spend the rest of eternity in a pocket dimension, I suggest you portal back to where you came from.”
Jemma and Malice both opened their mouths to protest.
Conryu cut them off immediately. “This isn’t
a debate. I’m exhausted and pissed. Anyone still in this city when I reach ten is going for a long, one-way trip. One!”
Jemma and Malice glared at him then at each other before ordering portals opened. He reached eight before they closed. Alone again, he resumed his interrupted spell. Much like sealing the rift, he wasn’t fully in control of the magic as a great, white dome slowly formed around the city.
When it was fully enclosed, he had a vague sense of movement, then complete stillness. All around was nothing but white emptiness. For a moment he thought he was in Heaven, but there was no sense of warmth or welcome. Wherever he was, hopefully it would be safe.
It will be, the Reaper said in an ominous – more than ominous – tone.
Indeed, we shall make certain of it, the Goddess agreed.
If the two of them were in agreement about something, he could rest easy knowing it was done. Maybe now he could enjoy a little peace and quiet.
For a little while at least.
Author Note
Hello Everyone,
* * *
I hope you all enjoyed reading the next installment of Conryu’s adventures. If you’d like to know when my next book is coming out you can hope over to my website and join my newsletter. I’d love to have you.
* * *
James
About the Author
James E. Wisher is a writer of science fiction and fantasy novels. He’s been writing since high school and reading everything he could get his hands on for as long as he can remember.
To learn more:
www.jamesewisher.com
[email protected]
Also by James E Wisher
The Dragonspire Chronicles
The Black Egg
The Mysterious Coin
The Dragons’ Graveyard
Atlantis Rising Page 21