Legacy of Death: Revenge (Legacy of Dreams Book 2)

by Thomas J. L. Green

  Lucas teleported to another unit of archers, second to last. His spear pierced their light armors like they wore nothing. The champion hit the boulder with the flail. It shattered into tiny pieces. Raven charged from the hole in a speed that defied reason. The champion swung his left arm. Raven blocked it with a shield. The champions glove shattered, but the hand stayed on course. It swatted Raven like a fly, sending him flying into a large snake demon that just arrived at the square. Raven spun to avoid its fangs and slit its throat. The champion picked a log from the broken house to use as a club. The snake demons started filling the town square.

  Lucas teleported in and ran his spear through a skull of one of the demons. Raven charged at the champion once more. He ducked under the log swing and cut him in the side. Bright green acidic blood splashed out of the wound. Raven ducked under it. The flail hit him on the side. Spikes pierced through his armor and dug into his flesh. Raven screamed in pain as he was thrown away.

  The champion spat acid at Lucas. It disappeared midair and hit one of the snake demons from behind. It shrieked as it melted into nothing. Raven dodged the falling flail and shattered the log as it hit him. The splinters still clouded his vision. He ducked under the flail, but couldn’t stop the kick. The champions boot shattered into splinters, but the leg reached. Raven flew into a house.

  Lucas teleported behind the champion and stabbed at its head. It spun on instinct. The spear grazed him and melted with the acidic blood. Lucas teleported to avoid the swinging flail. Pain burst through his leg. Demon snake was biting into it. Lucas stabbed it with a spear he pulled out of the dream world. Flail was swinging at him again.

  Can’t teleport! Lucas blocked with his spear and braced himself. The impact shot the air from his lungs and sent him flying.

  This one hurt. He crashed into a stone wall and his gaze started spinning. Raven was back at the champion. He ducked under the flail and severed off its arm with a spin. The champion pinned Raven down with a stomp caught the flail with his second hand and swung it. Raven blocked with a shield. The impact was brutal. Raven held his ground. His legs felt like they would explode. Lucas stabbed it from behind. The champion spit acid at Raven. Raven leaped off to dodge. Then the champion spun at Lucas. Lucas teleported to dodge flail, pulled another spear to stab into the monster and ran it through its knee. The champion roared. The sound made both of their ears ring. Raven charged and ran a sword through its side. Lucas teleported to the top of it and stabbed it next to the neck. The champion caught Lucas by a leg and swung him like a club. Raven ducked to dodge. He saw the kick but couldn’t avoid it. Raven crashed into a stone wall, while Lucas flew through the wall of a house as the champion let him go. The champion bent down to pick up and reattach his left arm, then picked up the flail as well. Wobbly and shaken, Lucas and Raven both walked to the town square. It was just the three of them there now.

  “Almost out,” Raven shouted.

  “Two one three,” Lucas shouted back. Raven nodded.

  Raven charged in. The champion swung his flail against him. Raven sidestepped. The champion kicked toward Raven, but the stab of Lucas went through his knee and misdirected the leg. Raven buried his sword deep into the champion’s chest. Raven spun away to avoid the acid. Lucas teleported behind the champion and stabbed it into the neck. Champion whirled, his hand aiming to swat Lucas and leg aiming to kick away Raven. Raven leaped back do dodge, Lucas pierced the hand with his spear. The champion still swatted him down. Lucas hit the ground with a bone-crushing impact. Raven leaped in and stabbed the champion into the back. He spun once more to avoid the acid.

  Lucas rolled over, got on all fours and vomited blood. Raven dodged another kick, but the flail hit him in the shield. The flail shattered into splinters, but the impact threw Raven off. The champion opened his mouth to spit acid at Lucas. Nothing. Raven charged in once more and cut open the champion’s knee. Lucas teleported behind it and cut open the nape of its neck with a flying cut of a heavy spear. The champion tried to whirl, but his leg gave out. Lucas switched his position with Raven. Lucas stabbed into the monster’s heart while raven cut the neck in half. Lucas switched positions again and cut through the neck once more while Raven finished off the head severing from the front. The acid sprayed over Lucas’s hands. Lucas screamed and fell to the ground. Raven turned the acid into vapor. Lucas rolled before the acid solidified again and burned a hole into the ground where Lucas laid a second go. Raven collapsed to the ground.

  “He… hehe… hehehehehehe” Lucas started laughing.

  “Ha…hah.. hahaha.. hahahaha” Raven joined him.

  “Hehehe… Hahahaa…. hehehee… hahahahaha… hehehehe” they laughed together as they lay on the ground.

  “Are you two idiots alright?” Zoey walked closer to look down on them. Her clothes were torn at a few spots, she had a bruise on her face and was holding a bleeding wound on her side.

  “Are you alright?” Lucas asked.

  “Unlike you two, I am” she smiled sweetly.

  “Looks like we’ve won,” Raven smirked.

  “Hehehehehehe… yeah. Gloriously!” Lucas laughed.

  “If I was sent to kill, I could just off both of you right now and there would be shit you can do about it,” Zoey evaluated.

  “But you aren’t,” Raven smiled.

  “What makes you say that?” Zoey pried.

  “We decided to trust you when we let you stay with us after the first snake demon lair. You’re a good person, Zoey. There is no need to keep pretending you might not be,” Lucas revealed.

  “You are the weirdest people I’ve as much as heard of,” Zoey shook her head.

  “Are you… alright?” an older man asked as he stepped to the town square.

  “Mostly. Before we do other things, are you guys pissed or happy that we killed the demons?” Lucas asked straight.

  “What question is that? They have been occupying our city, using us as food for weeks… you saved us,” the man answered in disbelief.

  “Alright. The guy in white armor is prince Raven, ruler of Illysaeas. The two of us are his retinue… or well, what’s left of it. If you would have a little spare, we need food, water, bath, bed and a healer. Also, burry the demons as soon as possible because they will start to stink soon. You don’t want that stench here, trust me. Careful around the bright green thing, it’s acid, pour water over it first. Oh and I got a healing tincture in my pocket, please put it on whatever the prince has broken, Zoey’s side and my arms. Now if you will excuse me, I will take a little break,” Lucas exhaled and instantly fell unconscious.

  Uggghh… this fucking hurts!

  Lucas slowly opened his eyes.

  “Morning, sunshine,” Zoey remarked sarcastically. They were sitting at a long table. Raven was at the head of it and fully focused on the meal in front of him. Lucas was next to Raven at the table head and Zoey was over the corner from Lucas. Around the table sat another few dozen of people, likely citizens of the town. The inn where they sat was so full the waitress could barely pass.

  They strapped me to the chair, so it looks like I’m sitting. Smart. Just… how am I supposed to eat with my arms bandaged up and fixated on splints to the point of me being unable to move them?

  “What day is it?” Lucas breathed. His throat was sore, his arms burning with intense pain and legs not much better. Every word, every breath hurt.

  “Same day. You were out for about ten hours,” Raven replied.

  “Uhhh… I need some alcohol. What’re we having?” Lucas asked straight.

  “Wine. It’s pretty good”

  Right, there is a jug of wine straight in front of me. Just… how am I supposed to drink it?

  Lucas looked at the jug. Then at Zoey. She was grinning viciously.

  “I’m listening,” she announced poisonously.

  “Since I’m pinned here and immobilized, would you please find the kindness and fetch some village girl who will help me eat and drink?” Lucas inquired as politely as he m
anaged.

  “What do I get if I do?” Zoey asked.

  “What would you desire?” Lucas kept the line of conversation.

  “Money. I got nothing and need new armor, weapons and blacksmiths need to eat,” Zoey replied.

  “Sounds like you should have brought some,” Lucas smirked.

  “Have you ever seen a damsel in distress with pockets full of money?”

  “Alright, I will pay for whatever gear you wanna buy in this town,” Lucas nodded.

  “And all future towns and cities. This is going to be a long trip, isn’t it?” she added charmingly.

  “Yes… we are just getting started. Alright, I will cover your shopping needs,” Lucas agreed.

  “Good,” Zoey smiled and rose up. She soon returned with a village girl who did indeed help Lucas eat.

  Getting fed is kind of awkward… but I’m hungry so fuck it.

  “I was wondering… can you two each down a jug of wine in one swig?” Zoey tossed up.

  “That’s the most ridiculous attempt to get me drunk I’ve ever seen,” Lucas evaluated.

  “But it’s one which is going to work,” Zoey smirked.

  “Getting a feeling Zoey is starting to know us a bit too well,” Raven smiled.

  “I’ve had more than enough time to observe you. Especially the last fight was very revealing, to say the least,” Zoey continued.

  “Impress us and we will do your jug challenge,” Lucas replied.

  “You make it almost too easy. From the start, I’ve been trying to figure out how much magical power you two actually have. At first, it seemed like have an average amount of power with something big suppressed. But that doesn’t fit; it doesn’t fit how Lucas uses Dream World and how Raven fights. My current theory is that you two have such an absurdly massive magical reserve that it downright defies reason. Unfortunately for you, it also defies what your bodies can handle. You don’t suppress your magical power to hide it; you suppress it to not die from it. Since you are no newbies, you figured a way to somehow utilize it. You, Raven, are using it for a lot of weaker effects while carefully dripping power from the endless reserve into your body. You could use more power but have no idea how to control it without quickly sending yourself into a massive backlash. Meanwhile, you, Lucas, found a way to use it in the Dream World, but not in physical one, at least not without some huge drawback which makes you not use it,” Zoey made her speech “and don’t worry. I won’t tell anyone. I just wanna be part of this team or however you two call yourself,” Zoey added softly.

  “How the hell have you figured all of this so fast?” Lucas returned a question after he recomposed himself.

  “Promise you won’t use what I tell you to look up who I am?” Zoey retorted.

  “Promise,” Lucas agreed.

  “Faye have all sorts of weird powers. Since they usually have no parents to ask, someone needs to figure out what their powers are and how to train them. I’ve been doing it for decades so I know how to analyze these things quickly,” Zoey admitted.

  “You said you want to become a part of what we are doing, why?” Raven pitched in.

  “I am not sure… it’s just that what you did today was the most amazing display of power I have ever seen in my life. The way demonic champions are usually killed is that first they are shaved off their underlings and massively outnumbered after being isolated, or trapped. You could have done it today, but didn’t. You wanted to send a statement today, a statement that demons aren’t the strongest there is, especially since you went for Ebilezerhar’s strongest champion straight from the start. I like it. I really do… and I want to be a part of it, whatever it is. We, Faye, are said to be born to be free. It’s a lie. We aren’t any different from anyone else in this regard… but you two are. I don’t think I will ever be free to the point of being able to go spend two years killing demons in forests, but I want to feel what it’s like at least for a time,” Zoey smiled weakly.

  “What do you think?” Raven turned to Lucas.

  “We’re out to kill two demon princes, Kayleanne the Sapphire Crane and Ebilezerhar the Slitherer. Why? Because we fucking can. It will also make the world a better place, but that’s just a pleasant byproduct. Personally, I lost the man who was my best friend and a guide for way over a century. I’m pissed and perhaps a bit lost. I don’t know if putting a couple of demon prince’s heads on his tomb is going to make it better, but I will sure as hell try. You already know Raven’s story… so welcome the team,” Lucas announced.

  “Thank you. Now I’m honestly looking forward to seeing how you plan to take out two demon princes since one champion fucked you up this badly, but I guess I will see as we go forward. Also, I know it’s kind of selfish, but I’m neither telling you my real identity or showing my magic because you will easily identify me by it… and I don’t even feel sorry about it,” Zoey exhaled.

  “Now, you said you help Faye understand and master their powers. I could use a little help myself,” Raven got back to the topic that interested him.

  “I would love to help,” Zoey smiled.

  “What’s the strongest type of magic you have come in contact with?” Raven pried first.

  “One of the nine flames of hell… one of the Faye warriors has it,” Zoey replied without hesitation.

  “My magic is called Will of God. I didn’t make the name, but that’s a long story. Anyway, I can inject my magic into things to temporarily change their properties. That’s how I make my sword indestructible, so it doesn’t melt in acid, run through gates and shatter shields. I can also put it on myself, that’s how I can make ridiculously strong moves and shrug off lethal blows like flying through a wall. My problem is that I can only affect one external item at a time, which is awfully limited and difficult on items with imbued magic, like the flail of the demonic champion we fought today. It also has a really shitty range and I can’t seem to extend it. Otherwise, I have reached the limit on how much I can imbue my body with power as I’m just not getting physically stronger by training anymore. I could make myself move so fast that human eye wouldn’t be able to follow it, but I would literally kill myself by doing it. The only thing I can do limitlessly is hardening my body and armor… which is only so useful. I need to figure out a way how to get stronger, anyway. Myself, I’m pretty much stuck,” Raven laid out.

  Impressive. Raven managed to find a way to phrase his powers in the way that it doesn’t even imply what his main power actually is. I wonder if Zoey picks up on this.

  “I will think about it; we can try something new tomorrow after I let it run through my mind over the night,” Zoey smiled.

  “Now, time to down some wine,” Raven grabbed the jug.

  “Why are we doing this, again?” Lucas asked.

  “Because I dared you to and you two just can’t run from a challenge. Especially when a pretty girl is involved,” Zoey smiled charmingly.

  “You aren’t that pretty. Now pour it in me,” Lucas smirked and motioned the village girl to go pour the jug of wine into him.

  Hot water… I’ve forgotten how good it feels. That and getting drunk.

  Lucas lied in a bath. He, Raven and Zoey got the top floor of the inn for themselves with all services the town could offer. Being heroes of the town had its advantages.

  “Oh, you aren’t asleep?” Zoey asked as she snuck in through the door. The room was so dark Lucas couldn’t even see her. The only source of light was dim moonlight from the windows and the small fire under the bath that was keeping it warm.

  “Hmmm?” Lucas turned toward where the voice came from.

  “They forgot to put heat under my bath, so it’s cold. I came to see if yours isn’t better,” Zoey revealed as she walked to him. Lucas wanted to cover himself, but his arms were still held in the stints. Zoey sat down by the edge of the bath and put a finger into it. “So hot it’s almost boiling… you really like heat, don’t you?” Zoey smirked and started undressing.

  “What are you doing, Zoey? Get
ting involved with me is a really bad idea,” Lucas breathed.

  “Don’t get any ideas; I’m here just for the bath. That you are in it is your bad luck,” Zoey cut back.

  Lucas sighed. “I wouldn’t dare to guess what or why you are trying to do. But let me give you a fair warning. I have obligations that are larger and stronger than my life. No matter what happens between us, whether I would like to or not, I will end your life in a blink of an eye should it ever become necessary,” Lucas stated firmly.

  “And? I saw your body, Lucas. It has a mixture of celestial, demonic and some completely alien runes irremovably carved into it. Not to mention the nail piercing your heart. You don’t have to be a magician to figure out that it’s a seal. Seal to hold in something so terrifying that a demon, a God and something else joined together to make it,” Zoey returned as she finished undressing. She stepped into the bath and slid down to lie on Lucas. Her head was straight next to his.

  “Do you want to die that badly?” Lucas whispered.

  “I love the danger. I’m not young, Lucas. It becomes harder and harder to get excited as I grow older. You are so terrifying I couldn’t even imagine it possible. It makes my blood boil. So, what if it ends up killing me? At least I will die knowing I had my fun toying with the devil himself,” Zoey flipped over and caught Lucas for a swift kiss. Just a short one, not as long as he would have wanted it to be.

  “Why would you say that?” he inquired. Zoey slid up, pushing her chest into his face as she reached for the soap and a sponge.

  “Killing demons is generally pointless because their souls stay in the Dream World and eventually reform their bodies in the physical world after being killed. This is why I thought whatever is happening with the demon nests is some pointless bullshit. But then the demon princes came to the Voidspire to ask for help. I had never seen a demon afraid. But they were. They were so terrified they weren’t able to hide it. It got me thinking… but I couldn’t figure it out. Only when I met you, it hit me. After you are done killing their physical bodies, you go to the Dream World and literally destroy their souls as they had just fled to it. You weren’t knocked out today. You knocked yourself out to go finish the job before the champion could get away. No immortality, no heaven, no hell, no afterlife, no rebirth. Nothing, just the end. If this isn’t terrifying, then I don’t know what is,” Zoey mused as she started to wash herself, still lying on Lucas, “plus your wounds from today are completely superstitious. The acid burns look ugly, but they are really just at the skin. Both you and Raven are borderline unharmed even after you literally conquered a small town with just the two of you.”