by Paul Sobol
“No,” the psychic said after a moment of consideration, “the ‘undead’ plague victims don’t have any higher cognitive function, meaning they’re little better than animals. I could distract them with some illusions, but nothing else.”
“I guess it’s time for a little target practice.” Summoning her magical longbow Archer drew back the string. An arrow appeared nocked and ready, and with the aid of the makeshift lens she sighted, compensated for wind, and aimed for the nearest of the two zombies.
It seemed an impossible shot, over two kilometres away, but Archer was confident she could hit any non-moving target at that range. Silently the magical projectile streaked through the air, faster than an ordinary arrow could. Moments before striking the intended target the arrow burst in a shower of countered energy.
“I suppose it was worth a try,” she said, letting the bow disappear. “Someone has to disable the shield before we can go in.”
A disturbance in the aether warned the two magicians something big had just occurred nearby, and looking towards the facility noticed nothing unchanged.
“Archer,” said Simon quietly, “you know how I said there were only two. Well, it seems there’s more now, a lot more.”
Demons howled in triumphant glee as they crossed the threshold and entered a bright new world, so fertile and very vulnerable. With the portal established, Zareth was free to lead the first wave through the complex and out into the unsuspecting world. Unmindful of the glass the demonic horde burst through windows and doors, screaming their unrestrained jubilance at once again tasting freedom. As the first bat-winged demon took flight an arrow pierced its heart. Mid-air the reddish creature burst into flames, disintegrating to ash before the corpse even touched the ground. Other fliers were soon picked out of the sky as a steady barrage of magical arrows appeared out of nowhere.
Stalled by the surprised attack, the other demons stayed on the ground checking every direction for the unknown assailant. For their effort three more arrows in rapid succession hit unmoving targets. Another volley quickly followed but those remaining were smart enough to raise protective shields. Some took refuge in the building’s foyer and readied spells to counter-attack, but without a target they either had to wait or fire blindly. Some chose the latter.
Bolts of purple energy, fireballs, and incandescent spears of lightning raced across the open field striking randomly into the ground. One of the fireballs blasted into the side of the outlying generator building and both Archer and Simon were forced to duck behind for cover. Having finished the portal beacon Silver joined his beleaguered comrades, and together they sent a magical arsenal towards the entrenched demons.
Across the open space both sides traded spells but to little advantage. Another wave of demons came through the portal, quickly swelling the ranks to almost two dozen, but soon a steady stream of hell’s denizens were coming through unimpeded. Almost a hundred lesser demons, supported by a cadre of greater demons, burst from the facility in an attempt to overwhelm the small resiting force. Half way across the open space spells bombarded the attacking force from multiple sides and the first rows of howling demons were annihilated. Those towards the rear slowed down then stopped altogether, having seen their number decimated so easily. Realising they were now facing a potentially greater force the demons quickly retreated to the relative safety of the enchanted facility.
Enraged, Zareth cursed at his fleeing army, but amidst a hailstorm of blue and green spells he too conceded temporary defeat. Re-joining his flocking minions he shouted commands for them to rally and hastily organised some semblance of order amongst the ranks. With his demonic brethren now acting like an unstoppable army he planned several strategies with newly promoted captains. These were mostly greater demons whose physical presence overshadowed most of those already assembled. Huge brutes, more brawn than brain, were meant to keep the smaller demons in line through intimidation and threats of unspeakable disembowelment.
Demons were dispatched to strategic positions within and without the facility, making sure the magicians didn’t approach from an unguarded direction. Atop the facility, bolts of energy were launched against the opposing forces only to be answered in kind. The small generator building was taking quite a beating as large pieces of concrete were blasted off. At least forty magicians now surrounded the facility, trading spells against the ever-growing horde being reinforced by the portal. At this rate the magicians would inevitably be overrun, and although they had effectively contained the demonic threat it was only a matter of time.
“We can’t keep this up,” Archer said to Silver as she loosed several golden arrows one after the other. She had given up trying to hit particular targets and was simply firing arrows to keep the demons from leaving and overrunning their position.
“I agree. We need to destroy the gateway. Their numbers are steadily growing and we are already stretched thin as it is. I don’t know if any more magicians are able to assist, but I will send word to the High Council of our plight. If only we could get close enough to take down their shield. Any ideas?”
“Nothing you’d like. I could send a few explosive arrows at the building and hope to eventually bring it down.”
“No good,” mused Silver, “I suspect the portal is somewhere underground, so even though they would be trapped beneath a tonne of rubble, it would only be temporary until they get enough numbers on to this side to move it. I guess the only way inside would be through the accelerator tunnel, however they most likely have it spelled or guarded or may even be using it now to escape behind our lines.”
“One way to find out.” The two magicians cautiously made their way inside the blasted generator building. Past several locked doors and several flights of stairs down they found themselves travelling along a curved tunnel beside the large accelerator tubes.
“I’ll tell Simon to keep an eye on the other tunnels. If the demons haven’t thought of them already it won’t take long before someone does.” Silver said as he jogged alongside the much fitter elf. Using a little mana he increased his leg’s strength and soon both were loping along the tunnel like a pair of ravenous wolves.
Having issued orders for his army to slowly manoeuvre outwards against the entrenched magicians, Zareth returned to the portal. He had noticed the steady stream of minions had ceased, and without further reinforcements his invading army was stalled and eventually outmatched. He considered for a moment returning through the gateway to find out what was holding things up, most likely the demons were fighting amongst themselves to get through, but then something unexpected staggered through the portal.
At first it looked humanoid, but as it materialized Zareth could barely identify the creature; huge chunks of flesh had been ripped off, it was missing both arms, one useless leg dragging behind leaving a trail of blood and gore, and where wings should have been only bloody stumps remained. The demon’s one functional eye roved maddeningly around the room before rolling back into its head. The mass of shredded red flesh fell to the floor lifelessly with a heavy thud. The reprimand Zareth had been about to shout at the tardy demon died in his throat.
Angered that his minions were literally killing themselves to get through the portal Zareth plunged through the vortex of energy in the hope of restoring order to his failing invasion. Once again setting foot on that cursed rock he swore it would be the last time. Looked over the blasted terrain, expecting to see a vast host of demons, he could only gape in mute astonishment. At his feet he beheld a sea of corpses. Everywhere he looked demons lay dead or dying, most in a state of such utter carnage it was impossible to tell exactly how many bodies there actually were. Inky pools of black blood formed in rocky crevices, the entire scene hellishly lit by nearby flows of magma.
Impossible as it appeared, the demons hadn’t killed each other. What force could have decimated his entire army so quickly, so devastatingly effective? Zareth considered the few possibilities and dismissed them as being almost impossible. However, right before
his very feet was proof that something mighty had indeed sought such an end for his forces. That one being could wreck so much destruction, against overwhelming numbers, was difficult to accept. Only a god could have called down this much judgement, but which one would dare the ire of the collective by interfering with the mundane world? Zareth knew of none. The gods didn’t bother themselves with such trivialities, unless they felt threatened, and only then would they unleash their avatars.
Of the two thousand demons under his command only a hundred had actually crossed over, and as far as Zareth could see the rest of his army lay wasted. An equal amount of hatred and fear welled up inside the Demon Lord and he searched about looking for some sign as to who could have slaughtered so many of his brethren and so gruesomely; many of the corpses he beheld were little more than tattered shreds of flesh held loosely together by leathery skin.
On a sudden impulse Zareth descended into the Pit. Confident of his footing in the dark, having made this journey numerous times during his incarceration, he soon reached the bottom. A single figure, a human, awaited his arrival. By the light of a nearby magma flow Zareth noticed the young man wielded a familiar. “Seems you’re impossible to kill after all, but that’s not surprising considering who you are.”
Alex casually leaned against the wall. “We meet again Zareth, though last time we faced each other as equals was a very long time ago. I must admit, I doubted when you said you’d escape. So now I am here to make sure it will not happen again.”
“Shadowmage,” the demon lord uttered the word like a curse, “how very inconvenient that you should show up here and now.”
“Actually it was a twist of Fate that reunited us. I have been reborn so many times as a mortal, unaware of my true potential, and by some accident of science I ended up here. Seems you and I are connected to this place. I was fortuitously rescued from your lair, at the same time unintentionally creating a means of escape for you. However, the rift back to my world could only be opened upon my death. The higher being that interfered with my rescue used itself to block the rift. Unfortunately I was mortally wounded during a fight with a dark magician called Khaldun who, although banished, was instrumental in my demise. Freed upon my death, you used the very same science that sent the doctor and me here, creating a stable portal between our realms. Thousands of years ago, you nearly succeeded in destroying my world in search for the Book. Now you want another shot at finding it, but it’s not there and never has been.”
“I had my suspicions,” said Zareth. “That sigil on the floor, at first I believed you had created it as the final means to keep me imprisoned here, but every time I studied it, even looked at it, I felt something…undefinable, as though the magic of the Book was defying me. It would be just like you to hide the Book right under my nose, taunting me as I wasted away here. I wondered how it may be concealed, even tried extracting it myself from beneath the rock, but that would be too easy, and I realised that you sacrificed your life to bind it and myself here. So all it should take is for you to die here again, and maybe the Book will reveal itself.”
“Anything is possible, but I don’t like your chances. So how shall we do this, by the sword or sorcery?”
Zareth snarled and suddenly launched himself at Alex in a flurry of attacks. Razor-sharp claws that could cut through steel and rock should have rendered the magician into gory chunks, but rather than sink into soft human flesh they raked uselessly against a shield of protection that shimmered in golden hues. Pausing briefly in annoyance, Zareth was caught unprepared for the sudden counter-attack as Alex reached forward and grabbed one of the flailing arms. Employing a wrestler’s manoeuvre he easily flipped the demon over and had his arm pinned back at an impossible angle. Roaring in pain the larger demon sought to use brute strength to knock Alex aside, but despite his efforts managed only to receive a broken arm. With no more leverage Alex stepped aside as the demon surged to his feet.
With his right arm dangling obscenely at his side, Zareth merely laughed at the wound, and with a violent twist the appendage was returned to its original position seemingly undamaged. Wary of the magician’s shields of protection he drew upon his dark powers and launched a series of magical attacks that were designed to weaken his opponent. Alex, feeling his mana slowly draining away cast a spell of Diversion and the attacks were rebounded towards the demon. Back and forth they trade spells but doing very little real damage, and sensing they were at a stalemate Zareth decided to change tactics.
As the two long-time enemies squared off against each other the Demon Lord made a motion with his hand and a huge sword of flames appeared in it. Standing at nearly eight feet tall the demon was more than capable of wielding the sword that almost matched him in height. With broad sweeps he tried cutting his foe down. Although stronger, taller and equally powerful the demon’s slower attacks were easily dodged by the nimbler magician. In a deft move Alex summoned forth a weapon of his own, and for the briefest of moments the demon lord hesitated.
“Sedu-zuh,” he whispered, as though to a lover.
“A very special weapon indeed,” Alex twirled the scythe in his hands; the black blade whirred as it cut through the air. “Your demonic army fell to its life-draining kiss, and their energy is trapped within.”
“You have no right to wield that blade, it is mine!” Zareth lunged in a swift attack, but Alex swept aside the flaming sword. With the Demon Lord caught off balance the magician counter-attacked with a swift cut of his own.
Howling in rage and pain, Zareth staggered back several paces. From his leg a large jagged cut oozed black blood. Immune to the life-draining effect he was still wounded and felt a momentary stab of fear. He could be killed by his own weapon. Sensing doubt and hesitancy in his opponent, Alex moved in for another attack.
Forced on the defensive, Zareth dodged and parried the swift strikes of his own magical weapon, wielded by his most hated enemy. His flaming sword was useless and became more of a hindrance, and in desperation threw the weapon at the magician. Quickly launching a series of magical attacks he sought to buy time for an escape. Somehow he had to return to the portal. Perhaps he could escape amidst the confusion his minions were creating, and lying low wait until his forces and power were at full strength again.
Realizing the Demon Lord’s intention to escape, Alex cast spells of his own to block his opponent, but spurred on by fear and desperation Zareth forced his way back up the pit and across the stretch of jagged landscape towards the portal. With his goal in sight he felt a moment of relief knowing that escape was almost possible. Elated he approached the swirling vortex of energy at a near sprint. Moments later, with several feet to go, the portal snapped shut.
Stunned with surprise, Zareth slowed his headlong rush and came to a halt. With the portal closed he was denied access to the other worlds source of mana, and after all the recent fighting he only had a fraction of power remaining. The one thing he could do is kill the magician and get his scythe back, only then would he have enough power to break free of this prison. But how was he going to accomplish all that without his powers. With all other avenues of escape exhausted there was only one thing left to do, and using what little power he had remaining, Zareth fashioned the last spell he’ll likely ever use again.
Looking up, Alex casually followed the demon lord’s return to the Pit. He had felt the portal close and guessed there was very little Zareth could do at this point. The only source of mana was the life-draining scythe still in his possession.
“We have unfinished business,” said the demon lord, “and although I don’t have the power to destroy you, I’m going to make sure you remain stranded here powerless. You may be immortal but I don’t think it applies in this realm, so when you finally perish, your soul will be bound to this blasted rock until the end of time.” Zareth held in his clawed hand a sphere of blackened rock, fashioned from the very ground they stood upon. The spell he had wrought was etched deep into the rock: a complex series of lines and demonic symbols
that glowed fiery red as he spoke the required words of power.
“I die knowing it will eventually bring about your own.” The glowing magical symbols gained intensity until it was painful to look at them. Suddenly the hellish light disappeared. Blinking rapidly to clear his tearing eyes, Alex turned to regard the demon lord and the ultimate spell he had created. In a matter of moments Zareth turned into the same blackened stone, a triumphant smile lingering on his face. With his death the scythe Alex held also turned to stone, and the unexpected weight of it almost made him drop the now-useless weapon. Whatever energy had been stored within the metal and wood was no longer present.
Walking up to the towering statue Alex could only admire his long-time enemy. Like two old chess masters, each held the other in high regard, simply for existing and providing a challenge that could have been won or lost by either player. But the game they played was still not finished.
“Had our positions been reversed,” began Alex, “I might have done something similar. Sacrificing yourself just to strand me here was a noble gesture, but as you may recall, I’ve done that once before.”
Looking the solidified demon in his lifeless eyes, Alex wasn’t convinced. The spell had seemed impressive enough, but it could easily be simple misdirection. Whatever the demon lord’s true motive had been, Alex wanted to make sure it didn’t go as planned, and hefting the stone scythe in both hands swung with all his strength.
The heavy scythe connected with Zareth, shattering both into thousands of pieces. An ominous rumble like distant thunder echoed around the Pit as though, in this final moment of defeat, the stone demon had voiced his pain and anguish. Amidst the strewn rubble Alex bent down and picked out one of the larger pieces; the arm holding the enchanted sphere. Knowing how patient Zareth had been, waiting millennia for a chance to escape, a little longer would not have bothered him. Especially if he knew it meant the demise of his most hated adversary.