Rend Hope

by Josh Webb

  "Wow, noodles covered in hot sauce? Really?” The blonde magi complained, still trying to wipe himself clean. “Okay. This might be a little tougher than I thought." He said to Marie, who glared at him.

  "You don't say." She replied dryly. Their conversation was interrupted by a loud crash right outside the building they were in. Watching through the broken windows and the hole Markus had just made in the wall, the two magi saw a giant skeleton form around the dark-haired man, who was standing right outside. The man was still smiling.

  "Don't tell me that's all you got. I have to admit I'd be a little disappointed." The necromancer said, "After all, I went through all this preparation to destroy your city, I'd hate to see it wasted."

  "How sad for you then, wasting all that time in a failed endeavor." Markus shot back, shrugging almost casually.

  "Oh? Look around you aeromancer, your city has become a battlefield, soon it will be a graveyard thanks to my ghouls. I think it's safe to say this endeavor is far from failing." The necromancer stated.

  "It isn't over yet! We can still stop you!" Marie shouted defiantly, the tall man turned his gaze at her.

  "That's something only people lying to themselves would say." He told the teenage girl.

  "And your little arrogant boasting is something only assholes would do." Markus stated, the man turned his attention back to him.

  "Would assholes introduce themselves? You can call me Ebrim, researcher slash necromancer." The man said, making a sweeping gesture with his right hand and bowing at the waist. "I intend to bring about a new age in this world."

  "A new age? What new age?" Marie questioned, Ebrim looked up from his bow, that mad gleam in his eye once again prominent.

  "The age of the dead." He stated.

  Marie snorted, "Whatever, you're just another psycho." She replied.

  Markus silently agreed to an extent. The problem was this Ebrim was a psycho with incredible power. Worse, he was focused on a goal and one that wasn't going to be to humanity's benefit. He was dangerous, Markus could tell from the look in his eyes. This was a man with a vision and would go to any lengths to see it come to fruition.

  "Whether you believe me or not isn't my problem." Ebrim stated, the giant skeleton behind the necromancer balled its hands into fists and raised it in the air. Markus turned his head towards Marie.

  "Move!" He shouted while creating a hole to his left with a burst of wind. Marie heard his warning and was able to react in time as well, smashing through the wall on her right. Both magi were able to evacuate the building just as the skeleton smashed its fists into it. The structure crumbled, nothing but pieces of brick and mortar remaining.

  Markus glared at Ebrim from mid-air, he was on the necromancer's right, but the madman was still looking straight ahead, at the building's destruction, a smile still on his face. The aeromancer snarled and used a burst of wind to change his direction in mid-air, flying towards Ebrim. Likewise, he saw Marie coming in on the opposite side, from Ebrim's left. The skeleton was in a kneeling position and still had its hands in the rubble of the destroyed building, it would not be able to defend its master from their double pronged attack.

  Still the necromancer was completely calm, even when the two magi were less than three meters away from both sides. When Markus and Marie were within arm’s reach, Ebrim struck out like a viper. He lashed out with his left fist, nailing Marie in the jaw, halting her charge and causing her to land unsteadily on the ground with her feet, just out of his reach. A split-second later he reached out with his right hand and stopped Markus' kick with his palm.

  Before Markus could recover from the surprise of having his attack completely halted, Ebrim gripped the ankle of the foot the aeromancer had just used to try and kick him. Twisting sharply, he threw the flannel jacket-clad magi right into Marie, knocking them both down. While Marie remained on the ground, groaning in pain, Markus was up in an instant, using his aeromancy to throw himself a meter or two off the ground.

  The blonde aeromancer conjured up a sharp disc of air and flung it at Ebrim as fast as he could. Which was fast, but as quick as Markus was, Ebrim reacted even quicker, leaping forward into the air a moment before the disc was going to slice him in two. The dark-haired necromancer's body was now parallel to the ground in the air, the disc of wind passing just under him. The disc ended up severing the skeleton's left arm just under the elbow while it was getting back to its feet. Impressively, the giant bone construct staggered but didn't fall. Ebrim was now at the same altitude as Markus, who could only look on in total surprise.

  Ebrim smiled and then spit out a column of green fluid from his mouth. The fluid slammed into Markus and knocked him through the window of the building directly behind him. The flannel-clad man went to stand up, but found the fluid had stuck him to the floor, pinning him down.

  "Damn it! This is my favorite jacket!" Markus cursed, struggling to get himself free. Ebrim landed on his feet, directly in the cross pattern of two intersecting roads. A smile playing on his lips. However, the dark-whiskered necromancer’s back was to Marie and she intended to capitalize on the opportunity. Before she could slam her knuckles into the back of Ebrim's head he spoke.

  "Before attacking my back, you should watch your own." He told her, pointing to his left, Marie looked in that direction just in time to see the giant skeleton's right foot heading towards her at high velocity. The teenage magi-apprentice had just enough time to cross her forearms in front of her in an 'X' position. The skeleton's foot slammed into her arms like a freight train.

  Marie wasn't sure how far the kick knocked her back, all she knew was that it hurt, it hurt a lot. The armor she wore absorbed most of the impact, but the wind was still knocked out of the teenage girl. As she crash landed back on the dirt street spine-first she immediately leaned over to her left, desperately trying to get air back in her lungs. Her arms had gone numb, and stars danced across her vision, still she was able to see Ebrim and his giant skeleton's approaching form.

  "A valiant effort my dear." Ebrim complimented, "But valor alone doesn't win battles I'm afraid." The giant skeleton then dropped to its knees behind the necromancer and dug its right arm into the ground. The skull of the undead creature was right above the smiling dark-haired man and it opened its jaw wide, exposing a glowing sphere of red energy within its mouth. Marie managed to stagger to her knees, but her arms weren't moving like she wanted them too. She wasn't going to be able to get out of the blast's path in time.

  The skeleton fired its blast and Marie put her arms in front of her once again to try and protect herself, she knew it wouldn't be enough though. A tremendous force suddenly floored her and she tried to mentally prepare herself for the end. When nothing further happened, she looked up from her prone position on the ground. Standing defiantly just two meters in front of her was Markus. She noticed that he was holding his red flannel jacket in his left hand. There was some sort of green fluid all over it, specks of the fluid also dotted the blonde aeromancer's black-long sleeved shirt, pants and boots.

  There was fire in Markus' green eyes as he held the skeleton's blast in tentative stasis with his aeromancy. With the flick of his right wrist he sent the blast upwards and to his right, straight into the night sky. He then angrily thrust his left arm forward so Ebrim could get a good look at his soaked jacket.

  "My jacket...it's ruined..." Markus seethed. "No one fucking ruins my favorite jacket."

  "It can't be your favorite jacket if it's your only one." Marie informed her fellow magi. Markus shot her a quick glare, one that told the teenage girl that she would not like the outcome if she continued this line of discussion. "Right, shutting up now." The newly appointed deputy tossed his flannel jacket to Marie in response.

  "Watch that for me." He said to her, conjuring up a whirlwind around him that was so strong and violent that Marie had to clear the area. Nearby windows of buildings shattered and even pieces of the roof and walls began to break apart and become a part of the vortex of wind t
hat surrounded Markus. Marie landed on a rooftop about fifty meters away from the aeromancer, looking on in awe. He had created a mini-tornado with him at the center. Ebrim watched the display, his smile disappearing, replaced with an upraised left eyebrow.

  "Hmm intriguing." The dark-haired necromancer said.

  **********

  "Don't let anything through! We can't let these ghouls spread to the rest of the city!" David Watkins barked to the deputies holding the line. Currently the mayor of Midas City was trying to prevent the horde of ghouls from entering the southwestern district. So far he and his forces were successful, but he didn't know how long they could hold out. Hopefully Rosalind or one of the other magi would show up soon to reinforce them.

  The deputies to their credit, were stopping the tide of ghouls threatening to spread into the district. Armed mostly with one-handed hatchets and hammers, they were keeping the ghouls at bay, but more just kept coming. David had already positioned deputies armed with the few rifles they had at strategic points for support. However they would soon run out of what precious little ammunition they had.

  In the midst of the desperate battle between the living and the dead a black baseball-sized orb suddenly appeared above the line of deputies. They looked up in confusion before being slammed into the ground as if by some invisible force. The orb started to "Glow" even darker and the deputies began to cry out in pain. David and the deputies lucky enough not to be caught in the orb's power watched in horror as their fellow city defenders were literally crushed. Bones snapped and blood flowed like a river, yet the screams of the dying men continued.

  Suddenly a figure dropped down from the air in front of the crushed men. It was a man in a dirty white straitjacket, his dark brown hair and pale skin were just as filthy. He wore no shoes and had on light-green pants. His light-grey eyes bored into the Mayor's.

  "Hello David. It's been awhile." He greeted, his voice neutral.

  "Sahiron." David snarled in response. "So you're behind this."

  Sahiron didn't answer, instead he opened his mouth wide and all the recently crushed deputies' bodies began to compress even further until they were nothing but mashed up flesh, bone, clothes and hair. The liquefied remains of the valiant deputies then travelled into Sahiron's mouth, leaving no trace of them left, not even any blood. Sahiron sighed contentedly and then let out a loud burp.

  "Your cannibalism and gluttony is as rampant as ever I see." The mayor observed. Sahiron licked his lips and grinned.

  "There's something about the taste of human flesh, there really is nothing like it." Sahiron replied. "I'm impressed David, you managed to build yourself quite the city in two years." David frowned.

  "I'm surprised you escaped your prison. Rosalind's sealing glyphs are second to none." The mayor commented.

  "Ah, Rosalind, how has that bitch been? No doubt running around preaching the evils of necromancy I bet. Stupid girl." Sahiron said, shaking his head. David's response was a smile of his own, something he wasn't expecting.

  "Well Sahiron, if you're so curious about Rosalind, you can just ask her." David said pointing over the former prisoner's shoulder. Sahiron turned around just in time to see Rosalind start to swoop down to the ground in front of him. On her way to the dirt street she waved both of her hands at the horde of ghouls below her. Dozens of white arrows constructed from sorcery poured out of Rosalind's hands, bombarding the large mass of ghouls. Their inhumane shrieks of rage and agony were soon silenced from the barrage of arrows.

  Rosalind finally landed in front of Sahiron, her blonde hair billowing in the wind. Behind her not one ghoul moved or made a sound, they had all been devastated with three or more arrows lodged in their bodies.

  "Sahiron." She spat, "How did a bastard like you escape your prison?" Sahiron was unfazed by her intimidating glare.

  "Sorry I'm not part of your merry little band, so I don't have to answer your question. You know what you have to do if you want me to answer." The former prisoner said, licking his lips.

  "Enjoy your little remarks while you can, tonight I'm sending you to hell." Rosalind said with a hint of disgust in her voice. Sahiron looked at her questioningly

  "Sending me to hell?" The former prisoner asked, his voice quiet. Rosalind didn't like his sudden change in demeanor, she dropped into a fighting stance.

  "Yeah, that's right." She answered him, Sahiron lowered his head for a moment, and when he raised it again Rosalind noticed with alarm that his eyes were wide and bloodshot. The worst part though was his stare, Even though he was looking at her she could tell his gaze was distant, as if he was seeing something else.

  "I'm already IN HELL!" He shouted suddenly. Rosalind grunted as what felt like an invisible fist hit her in the gut. The impact powerful enough to send her careening down the street at breakneck speeds.

  The battle was on.

  Chapter 19

  For the first time, Ebrim felt a little unsure of his plan. It wasn't a lot, he still felt he would succeed. But the man who stood in front of him, the short blonde-haired aeromancer was giving him pause. This man was strong and what was worse was that Ebrim could tell he was holding back.

  Markus reached forward with his right arm, his hand balled into a fist. Ebrim noticed that his giant skeleton reared back, like it was hit by something. The aeromancer then opened his right hand and the giant skeleton's ribcage and sternum proceeded to tear itself apart.

  "What!?" Ebrim cried out in alarm. Markus smirked.

  "Mess with my stuff, I'll mess with yours." He replied. The enormous skeleton continued to break apart. Its right arm and both legs, even its skull was being torn apart right in front of Ebrim's eyes. The necromancer then noticed that the wind was picking up around him.

  Before Ebrim could react, the air compressed around his skeleton's remains, folding up the bones into a tight ball of pressurized wind. Markus twisted his open right hand clockwise ninety degrees and the compressed ball of air suddenly reversed. The sudden change in pressure shot the bones of the skeleton out like shrapnel, they travelled at high speeds and ended up puncturing the sides of buildings or embedded themselves in the ground. None of the shrapnel came near Markus.

  As the spell expired, the newly deputized magi suddenly noticed someone standing on a rooftop to the right of him. Looking up, Markus saw none other than Ebrim, the smile gone from the necromancer's face. A long narrow piece of bone was lodged in the dark-haired man's right shoulder, another one was stuck in his left thigh. Blood was traveling down his right arm and left leg.

  Ebrim was surprised, no one had come close to damaging his giant skeleton in a long time. Benjamin was the first to damage it in years yet this aeromancer had just dismantled it in seconds. This person, this Markus, was different. Something dark lingered within him, but Ebrim couldn't put his finger on it.

  The necromancer glared down at Markus. When he had first followed the two magi to the city he was trying to discern which was the one who had been responsible for destroying one of his better experiments. Even when he started this battle he wasn't sure who was stronger, the aeromancer or the girl with the armor.

  Now, he had his answer.

  "That's impressive aeromancer, I haven't met anyone as strong as you in a long time." Ebrim complimented, pulling the bone stuck in his right shoulder out with his left hand. "Who taught you how to use your sorcery?"

  "None of your business." Markus replied harshly, thrusting his left hand forward and creating a whirling pillar of wind that rushed towards the dark-haired necromancer. Ebrim brought his left arm forward, bone still gripped in his hand. Just before the pillar of wind was going to make contact with him, it parted instead, flowing on each side of him.

  "Oh well it was just a mild curiosity anyway." Ebrim said casually, pulling the bone out of his left thigh with his right hand. Markus was on guard, the bastard had deflected his spell like it was nothing. He definitely was more powerful than he was letting on. The newly appointed deputy surmised he'd have to approach h
im carefully.

  The dark-whiskered necromancer suddenly flung the bone spike in his left hand at Markus. The blonde aeromancer leaned to his left to avoid getting impaled in the face by it. This however, proved to be a mistake.

  Instantly Ebrim appeared only a meter's length in front of him. The necromancer's blue scarf billowing in the wind, his knees slightly bent from the high-speed jump he had just performed. He was already bringing the bone spike in his right hand forward, aiming for Markus' left eye.

  Markus managed to swat the outside of Ebrim's right wrist with his left hand. The maneuver caused Ebrim's right hand to move its trajectory slightly so instead of impaling him in the eye the necromancer merely scratched him on his right cheek instead. Although he had escaped death, Ebrim continued to press the attack. The dark-haired man rammed his left knee right into Markus' sternum, causing the aeromancer to stagger backward a few steps.

  Ebrim jabbed forward with the bone spike yet again. Markus leaned his head to his left, narrowly avoiding the strike. Ebrim tried again and the blonde-haired aeromancer leaned his head to the right this time, dodging the second strike.

  Changing tactics, Ebrim kicked at Markus' stomach with his right foot. The newly deputized magi blocked it with his left hand, then proceeded to wrap his left arm around the necromancer's right ankle, forcing him to hop on one foot to keep balance. Ebrim hopped off of his left leg, trying to nail Markus in the face with his free foot, but Markus ducked under the attack. The dark-haired man's left foot sailed harmlessly over the blonde magi's head.

  Ebrim managed to keep from falling on his face from his failed maneuver. His missed kick twisted him around so that his back was to Markus, but he managed to plant his left foot and both of his hands into the ground, stopping his fall. With lightning reflexes, Ebrim braced himself with his hands and shot his left foot right into Markus' jaw, connecting solidly. The aeromancer let out a grunt, stumbling backwards and releasing Ebrim's foot. The dark-haired necromancer quickly rebalanced himself on both his feet and sprung high into the air.