The Rokkaia Chronicles

by Rhys Thomas

  Snorting at myself I started down a thin alley way when a thundering boom shook and rattle the walls either side of me. Quickly scurrying through the passage way; not wanting to be crushed or pressed into a pancake between two buildings. I breached the other side at a light jog.

  Pausing just at the mouth to catch my breath and to hack up a painful cough, I looked towards where I could hear the sounds of battle.

  The musket fire, I had heard previously were orderly and timed, now though all I heard was a ghost of pot-shots and discorded yelling, every now and then.

  The crack of musket fire gradually decreasing as whatever they fired at culled their numbers. I broke into a run towards the noise, slipping through a few more alleyways and then down a dreadfully empty and narrow street. A tunnelling pull of air made the dust and ashes billow out and pass over me.

  Putting a hand to my mouth and running through, I winced as a small flickers of pain peppered my burns. I could see the charred and smouldering remains of people in various states of statuesque horror.

  Breaking through the cloud, I came upon the scene of the battle, being fought against a fucking Fodraca. This one was different though, similar features except this one had red hellish skin, and equally red fur. The same overly muscular body, the boar head and talon clawed feet. A mane of porcupine-like quills on its back and the moth-like wings. Everything about it was red, just not its quills and wings. Fighting it was Ariana and a few remaining guards.

  “Where the fuck is my Marisa?” I hissed, searching but not seeing her. From the litter of piling ash and dust I imagined that some of those piles had actually been people.

  We were in a widely open courtyard and the trees that once uniformed and spruced the sides of the yard were long since turned to charred stumps. The buildings that walled the courtyard were nothing but wrecks and ruin’s. *Marisa?* I sent out but received no reply. Cursing I drew my attention back to the fight.

  Aria was battered and soot coated from head to toe, bare footed with half of her tunic shredded and the back nothing more but a wide singed hole. Still wielding her axe; as she charged at the waiting fodraca, quickly closing the distance between.

  “Why isn’t she using her gaara tattoos?” I thought aloud. She was far too slow and weary. For myself, I had the musket and wondered suddenly why I had brought it along. I doubted it would do more than just piss the thing off, and I was beginning to suspect that the ashy remains within the courtyard, had pissed it off too.

  Shrugging my shoulders, I crouched to a knee and propped the musket rifle up, clicked back the hammer and sighted.

  But before I could even fire, the skin on the fodraca began to brighten even redder. Then it’s snout open and a bulb of fire was cast forth, directly at Ariana.

  “Well shit, it’s a fucking fire variant. Didn’t even know they had those,” I exclaimed loudly. Fucking Shi’en, still don’t even know what they look like. The stream of volatile fire sprayed out across the yard following Aria movements, but the scout was moving just quick enough to stay a pace ahead of the blaze. Everything and everywhere the fire touched; disintegrated at a mildly slow pace almost like acid eating away at the ground or walls.

  Aria sprinted; curving her path and heading for an untouched wooden bench she sprung off of a second before the acidic fire turned it to rapidly corroding ash.

  From there she pounced towards a nearby crumbling wall, rebounding back down and twisting her body, she swung out with her axe. The weapon actually leaving her hands, with a thin cord of gaara trailing behind.

  Just as the fodraca was about to douse her with its breath, the crack of gunfire shot off and slammed into the monsters back. Stumbling forwards with a screech, the fodraca turned it’s annoyance to a guard scurrying behind a tumbled stone wall, to reload and hide. Once it’s attention was away from Aria, her axe slipped around it’s legs repeatedly, so fast that the fodraca barely notice till it was too late.

  Reaching the end of the looping momentum, the axe then slammed into and bit deep in back of its left knee. When it tried to move the fodraca fell within its leg binding and smacked into the ground.

  Letting out a strangled cough I watched as then several other people in the guards tabard broke from cover to pepper the beast in a cacophony in cracking musket fire. Several shots actually missed the downed and slightly daze fodraca—Firedraca? Fo’firedraca? Eh, whatever. Their shot’s hit it and the surrounding area, the latter more so.

  Considering the bloody size of the fodraca in general, they must’ve been pretty terrible marksman.

  Adjusting the stock slightly resting against my shoulder, I aimed for the beast, not sure where to hit exactly as this fodraca seemed far more durable that the one I had faced on earth. Those shots that actually hit barely did any damage, going no more than an inch deep and embedding in the monster.

  A familiar bluish blood leaked in a thick drool for the impact wounds, but otherwise the fodraca seemed perfectly fine.

  It’s only annoyance being Aria’s axe which she was straining with, the cord of her gaara that was linked to the axe was taut. Her face twisted into a rictus of pain and frustration as she pulled the cord in her hands and dug her heels.

  So, it does take some amount of stamina to maintain the connection. The only problem with this, was that they weren’t even making a dent. I even saw a musket ball hit just shy of one of the fodraca eyes, but otherwise the beast seemed more concerned with breaking free.

  “I… Can’t, hold it any longer- back up- everyone back away!" Aria demanded quickly through her gritted teeth. Still feeling the burn of the skin around my runes, I realised that if something couldn’t be done soon, the fodraca would decimate Wheldrake in fire and burnt corpses.

  “Ah fuck it, I’ll probably get injured and then heal come morning,” I said grumbling. “That is, if I survive of course,” I added helpfully. “Great. Now… Let’s... Let’s go do something helpful,” I encouraged scratching at my soot stained cheek. “Just what the hell will kill it?”

  The Fodraca legs snapped apart breaking free from the binding just as Ariana collapsed to her knee, entirely too drained to retreat. Back on its talons, the fodraca let out a disgusting snort of squealing laughter. It turned to face it’s downed annoyance, “hey!” I yelled. “Peppa! You big dumb piggy bitch,” I called out to it, walking completely into the courtyard.

  It was time for a fucking showdown.

  As soon as its attention drew to me, I lifted the musket rifle aimed straight for the beasts chest and squeezed the trigger, I heard a hissing spark-like crack and then the bullet exploded from the barrel. Except the musket ball sped utterly wide and uselessly impacted the still standing door of a completely burned down home. Striking a wide splintering hole at its centre that actually felled the door.

  “The fuck?” My voice squeaked out. “These things are completely inaccurate, and utterly shitty,” I groused.

  Tossing the musket away I warped both of my swords to hand. And readied for what was probably about to be my death. Again. “Aria,” I called out to scout, her head tossed to the side as she swayed unsteadily on her hands and knees.

  “Get out of here, I’ll distract this fucker,” I said and punctuated my point by stupidly running straight at the FBF—Fire-breathing-fodraca.

  I was deathly tired and sluggish, my bare feet bounded loudly as I moved mechanically. A bright red hue surrounded the beast once again and I knew, a spewing gout of fire was heading my way.

  Ignoring the tearing burn in my arms I heaved the longsword and reverse gripped the handle, so it was balance unsteadily like a javelin. As the fodraca reared back its head, similarly to how Marisa would, I knew this was my chance.

  Arching my arm backwards and hissing through it all, I reared back twisting my body slightly and taking two long strides. Just as the fodraca chest expanded, I twisted back around and brought my arm flying forward, and for a second as the longsword leapt from my grip, it caught fire around the guard and blade and runes a
lighted it.

  I immediately dove to the side as soon as the blade left my hand, a breath later the spot I had been standing in was doused in a carnivorous flame that ate the sooty ground. I then heard a guttural squeal of pain and looked up to see my longsword jutting out of its chest, I did a small fist pump but unfortunately my blade only penetrated about half a hands length into the fucker.

  “Alaric, what are doing?” I heard Aria shout to me the octave of her voice rising towards the end, then an idea struck me, and I resumed sprinting towards the beast. I warped away my falchion so was unencumbered. I pump my arms as I closed the distance between the fodraca and I.

  The only thing I had seen do real damage to the fodraca I’d faced on earth was its own quills. I needed to reach it’s back.

  The fodraca finished it’s pain shriek and turned a fierce glare on me. I was maybe ten feet away when the beast chop down at the longsword protruding from its chest and broke the blade leaving the tip still buried within.

  A thick ooze of blue blood slid from the wound to smatter against the ground. Then the fucker spread its wings and propelled itself forward leaping and the closing gap between us. I slid to a stop as panic rose within me, just as it was atop of me, I dove under and came up into a roll just behind the fodraca as it pounded it’s fist’s and vomited fire into the spot where I had been.

  It let out a squealing roar; realising I had slipped away and whipped back to face me. It’s shoulder hunched as the quills’ on its back began to jostle and shift upwards. The rattle of the quills eerily reminding me of a rattle snake. And snakes creep me the hell out, I thought and repressed a shiver at the sound.

  The beast then hunch even further till it’s was awkwardly on all fours like a bull, then a collection of quills shot into the air and as if guided they arch towards me.

  Now I realised foolishly the fucker had more in its arsenal than me. I looked past the fodraca and spotted Ariana. She was leaning and breathing heavily against a stone wall I had seen one of the guardsmen hide behind previously.

  She looked exhausted. And so was I.

  I wanted to find Marisa and booked it, leave this town in the dust of its ruins. But something told me that this creature was actually here for me and it would just follow, even if I ran. I needed to ground the fodraca, take away one of its advantages, except I knew the instant I did that, it would be go hard mode.

  Firming my resolve, I sprang forward, warping my trusty falchion back into my right hand. I could feel the impact rattle dully through the ground beneath my feet as quills fell all around me, I smacked aside several nearing me. Aria is then there running at the thing also, Thion raised high above her head, as she came in for the swing. I weaved and dodged, completely surprised that none of the quills had actually hit me because I had manage to escape their area of effect.

  It reminded me of archer classes you could play as in video games, where the archer could shoot a flurry of arrows into the sky to fall in a certain area.

  Then I was on him, my sword slashing back and forth as I ducked under its heavy blows, narrowly avoiding them as I chipped feebly away at its tough body.

  Ariana was marginally the same except, as she hacked at the fodracas back, its nest of quills suddenly erected and shot out at her. She managed to parry most away but a few either grazed her or just straight-up impale her stomach and arm. With a furious cry she backed off, then in a sweeping motion the fodraca spun about and backhanded the Valakharian scout across the courtyard.

  “Aria!” I shouted and worry bled through my voice and I dived between the fuckers legs chopping with my sword as I did so. A gout of acidic flame bathed the area at its feet. Then I sprang away as it tried the same move it had on Aria, on me. With a rapid, Tink-Tink-Tink! The 2-foot long quills stabbed at the ground as they shot out of its nest.

  As I retreated though, I managed to grab a quill and before the creature could react, I threw with as much force as I could muster, which wasn’t much. The quill left my hand and skimmed its flank, just enough to graze its outer thigh.

  This pissed him even more.

  Then a hail of musket balls peppered the thing, some ricochet off the ground and flew passed me, just missing me by scant inches.

  With it distracted, I rushed in for another attempt but just before I reach it, Ariana flew passed me feet first and smacked into the fodracas sternum, right where my broken longswords tip was still wedged.

  It roared and before she could recover, it grabbed a hold of her legs and whipped her about like a club. Smashing her dully into the ground face first and throwing her at me when it saw my approach. I slid under her sailing ragdoll of a body, at a run and I leapt off the ground and tried to stab it in the eye.

  But the fodraca must’ve had enough, because without even breaking a sweat, it punched me square in the chest with its massive fist.

  I shot across the yard in a heap, boneless and stupidly tired.

  I coughed brokenly as I rolled into a crouch, Ariana screamed frustratedly nearby, as she threw everything, she had at it. But I noticed now that her gaara even when used, was flimsy, like oil running out of her. Blood splattered the ground when I coughed and I looked up as the fodraca lunge forward and smashed Ariana’s axe swing aside, breaking her wrist with the blow, then kicked her when its chicken leg. I knew how badly that one hurt.

  The ivory beauty was beaten and battered, worse than me. And it was too the point where she fighting the monster with her breasts completely exposed.

  Not that I noticed of course.

  She hit the wall it kicked her into, fire erupted from the fodraca and spewed across the courtyard, spraying at Ariana. I watched as she just managed to dive out of the way, only for her foot to get caught. Her screams of complete agony shot through me, like a rush of adrenaline and I gasped as she cried out in pain.

  And that’s when the fodraca turns to me. It mouths a rictus of squealing laughter and snorts, and suddenly I’m utterly helpless and alone.

  Years of abuse and anger, and regret, and self-fucking-loathing scream up my throat in a last desperate cry during my final moments and I close my eyes to wait. My ears pop.

  But nothing happens.

  There were no sounds, nor the scent of burnt flesh and wood.

  No pain either.

  I opened my eyes and gasp, because before me now was no longer the courtyard or even Viria. There were no Marisa, or Ariana, or the fodraca.

  No, what was before me now, was a portal. And much like the portal than had brought me from Ra’als sanctum, this too was made of golden fire. At least at first what I thought to be fire, turned out to be actual clouds.

  Beyond the portal, golden clouds listed along like pillows of bubbling… Fire- yeah, I really had to work for that one, so you’ll just have to forgive me. And I looked away from the portal to see the vast emptiness of space all around me. The void here felt comforting in a way I couldn’t explain, but it was decidedly different than my dimensional plane.

  A glance down at myself showed that I was in a familiar multi-coloured skirt. Maybe I’ll call a kilt instead—it’s way manlier that way.

  Except now over the kilt, I wore a thick black belt with metal hoops that tangled off of it. On my chest was a long silvery iron chain-like necklace. When I twisted the chain around, I found it was cuffed together by an iron clasp; that was stylised with two trinity knots weaving together at the centre; to form an incomplete third knot.

  My runes were different as well, and almost recognisable as they spread up to my shoulders.

  On my left arm were letters and glyphs that looked similarly to old Nordic or Anglo-Saxon runes. My right arm was a complete mess, the runes were chaotic striking lines going all over the place, and the skin between looked broken and scarred.

  I looked at the portal and felt a gentle tug at my centre, it spread out in a wave washing over my body completely; filling me with warmth and understanding.

  Just like how I’d gotten my runes at Ra’als facility. I
stuck both of my hands through the portal, and a substance like lukewarm custard suffuse me and then deeper, into the very core of my being, and deeper still. It’s presence left a charge of almost static energy throughout me everywhere it went. Then suddenly it was gone, and a subtle jade glow permeated off my runes and everything went White.

  The world spun back into existence in the most unnerving way, that told me that wherever I had been, I had actually been there. Except now, the pain is back, as is the sounds and smells of the burning town and the very real, and very imminent threat of the fodraca. But now I knew what I had to do, diving into my core, my delve, I drummed up the residue left behind by whatever that portal presence was, and I turn it to my will. Molten hot pain shoots down my arms and whacks my body like a freight-train.

  With a yell, the power flows out of me an intangible thing just as the fire blooms out of the fodraca snout.

  Except it goes nowhere.

  It does however go somewhere; into the invisible construct I had summoned. And not just the fodracas flame either, but every burning blaze within and just outside of the courtyard races towards me.

  They writhe together like thick currents intertwining and raising my palm up just beneath the construct, the surrounding fires formed above my palm; four floating molten orbs of blindingly white fire.

  They floated hypnotically and lackadaisical, still revelling in the clarity I felt I pulled again, but this time not the surrounding flames but on the orbs themselves, channelling my will through my delve.

  My runes burst painfully to life, a strange combatting mixture of Jade and gold emanates off of them. It’s painful but I don’t care as power gushes and hums through my veins and gold tints the edges of my vision.

  I see the fodraca entranced by my orbs of fiery death and I will three of the orbs to flatten and sharpen out into lances. The fourth I pour all of my attention into, as I set the three lances to spin laterally. The fourth I keep as an orb and set it too spinning. As it rotates so rapidly, I steel my nerves and will, and pull on a tiny thread of the orb. It spins and quickly flattens with the thread unravelling the orb thinner like a loose roll of string.