Zectas Volume VI: The Delusive Realm of Mictlan

by John Nest

  However, Igniz knew that this was not a problem for him. The incarnated symbiote walked over to Wertlosrauber first. He kicked the jade giant in the back of his knee, bringing him down to his height. Igniz then placed his left palm on the Ork’s face and burned it to a crisp, reducing the Ork’s life bar to zero.

  With one Ork Colonel down, Igniz focused his attention on Wertlosmorder. Seeing as the Incinerator ability was about to wear off, Igniz threw the handle of the Salamander’s Tongue at the second Ork. The hilt of the bladeless sword hit Wertlosmorder in the eye. Igniz then ran towards the Ork and jumped on the Colonel’s knees, using it as footing. He choked the Ork by the neck and released the dark flames out from his hands.

  At this time, the Incinerator attack ended. With the blazing sphere dispersed, Igniz and Wertlosmorder came into full view of the world again.

  Desperate, the Ork Colonel slashed Igniz in the back. It was his last attempt of freeing himself, but the burning sensation on his neck made him drop his massive executioner blade instead.

  As the last hit points of Wertlosmorder ebbed away, Igniz released the Ork. His second kill fell on the ground, next to the vanishing body of his fellow Ork Colonel. Igniz’s own life bar reduced to 10% and was steadily withering away.

  Straightaway, Smoke appeared next to Igniz and made him drink a jar of pompom juice.

  “Here you go, Buddy,” said Smoke, quivering. “You did great! But you almost gave me a heart attack there.”

  Daga, in her human form, pulled the recovering Meneur next to them. “You okay, Big Bro?” she asked Igniz, smiling. “Smoke was panicking when you used that flaming sphere thing. But I knew you were gonna be alright.”

  “Who wouldn’t?” defended Smoke. “Didn’t you see his life bar? And don’t tell me you weren’t crying yourself. I saw you,” he said to Daga.

  “Fine. I was,” said Daga, dropping Meneur and running over to Igniz. “You were kind of pushing it,” she said, taking away the pompom juice from Smoke so she could be the one to give it to Igniz.

  “Alright. I need you three to stay put,” said Smoke. Scanning the area around them, he saw that the OrkElves had already killed all of the frozen Orks and were running after Cynar. He then dug a wide crater in the ground and shifted the land where Meneur, Igniz, and Daga were on, placing them inside the hole. “Daga, you’re in charge. Make sure they recover their life bars.”

  After making sure he created enough air holes, Smoke sealed them underground.

  Turning to face the battlefield ahead, Smoke gulped involuntarily. Despite the onslaught of elemental spells from on top of the mountains, the intimidating war cries of the Ork Horde did not waiver.

  Smoke inhaled deeply and released all of his anxiety in one breath. He felt like everyone in Sawtorn was here. He then jumped and glided towards the battle that would decide the fate of this Continent.

  * * * * * *

  Cynar ignored everything that happened with Faux and the Ork Colonels. His sight solely focused on the escaping Wertlosvati.

  His blind rage made him unaware of the battlefield. like the elemental spells that bombarded the heavens. The magical attacks of the allied kingdoms did damage the Orks, but it also enraged them as well. The Ork Horde brazenly charged towards the mountainsides. Heads of dirus wolves flew through the air, as the green giants made contact with the mounted Knights.

  “Hurry! Get him before he reaches the Horde!” screamed Cynar. He was unsure how many OrkElves were with him, or if there were even any at all. Regardless, he pursued the Ork at his fastest speed.

  When he got closer, Cynar used one of his paralysis darts and aimed for Wertlosvati’s legs.

  It only slowed Wertlosvati for a split second, but that was enough for Cynar to make his move.

  Cynar used his Spur Step ability. The OrkElf Assassin vanished and reappeared in front of the Ork Supreme General. The instant movement allowed Cynar to land one powerful drop-kick directly on the Ork’s forehead.

  The sudden attack forced Wertlosvati downward. However, the Ork swung his double-headed ax as he fell, slashing Cynar’s arm through his chain-mail.

  Picking himself up from the ground, Wertlosvati spoke to Cynar in Orkish. “Half-breed, you’re beginning to show signs of being my son.”

  “Shut up!” screamed Cynar in the common tongue.

  Four after images of Cynar appeared in front of Wertlosvati. The Ork Supreme General could not block his son’s rapid kicks which came from all directions.

  Despite the numerous hits, Wertlosvati’s life bar was barely damaged. That was until one critical strike from Cynar’s steel boots struck the Ork under his chin.

  As Wertlosvati spat out a broken tooth, ten spears came to attack him.

  Cynar’s OrkElves finally arrived to support him.

  Regrettably, none of their weapons could penetrate the Ork’s tough jade skin. Instead, the OrkElves were all knocked back as Wertlosvati blasted them away with his double-headed ax.

  “Stupid fools! Your attacks only work on grunts!” taunted Wertlosvati in Orkish.

  “Use your chains!” commanded Cynar, removing his own chain attached to his belt. He twirled it above his head and threw it around Wertlosvati’s body. Ten more chains were thrown and entangled the Supreme Ork General.

  “Gakgakgakgakgak. Fools, it’s my win,” said Wertlosvati, confined by the OrkElves’ chains.

  Then, Cynar’s eyes grew wide with frustration. He turned around and finally noticed the tall wall of jade giants that had encircled him and his men.

  With one swift motion, Cynar and his OrkElves were pinned down by Orks much taller than them.

  Two Ork Grunts then rushed to free Wertlosvati from his chains.

  When Wertlosvati was freed, one of the Ork grunts kneeled down and said. “Daking Wertlosvati, provlamir katir. Gitraytor tas OlegHai Generalir Dastard ugi Snide.”

  Cynar, whose face was pinned on the grassy knoll, grinned at his bastard of a father. For the Ork grunt had just reported that the two OlegHai Generals had betrayed Wertlosvati. Apparently, Snide and Dastard left him there as bait while they escaped Etonner Valley.

  * * * * * *

  A powerful surge of wind rushed Smoke’s face as he glided through the air. From up here, he had a great perspective of the battlefield.

  After scanning the grounds, Smoke grunted. He found Cynar and a few of his men captured by Wertlosvati and his Orks. Looking farther down, he spotted a group of OrkElves trying to fight their way towards Cynar. Unfortunately, they were up against twice the number of Orks.

  Realizing that he could not face Wertlosvati and his Orks by himself, Smoke searched for allies to help him.

  “Faux! This is all messed up,” shouted someone from behind him.

  “This isn’t the plan at all!” added a second elderly voice.

  Turning around, Smoke spotted Chrysopelea and Ouragan flying fast towards him.

  “We’ve got the valley blocked,” said Chrys, pointing at the fallen statues of the former kings. “But I don’t think the guys from Thanotl can hold off the Orks much longer,” he added, indicating the melee battle on the foot of the mountains.

  “Our Mages need more time to cast the Lightning Tempest,” interjected Ouragan.

  Upon hearing this, Smoke noticed a small cluster of white clouds gathering overhead. But it was nowhere near enough the hail and lightning storm that they had discussed earlier.

  Smoke nodded. “Let’s buy them some time,” he said, directing Chrysopelea’s attention to Wertlosvati who was stepping on Cynar’s head.

  “Is that the Ork Supreme General?” asked Chrysopelea.

  “Let’s give it a try,” said Ouragan. “I’ll handle his soldiers. You two take care of Wertlosvati.”

  With that, the three of them zoomed towards their targeted Ork.

  Ouragan then began to fly in a clockwise manner. The green grass was plucked out from the earth as he created a powerful tornado.

  Shortly after, the Ork grunts along
with their dirus wolves and hell boars flew up in the air, caught by the turbulent winds.

  Ouragan was careful enough to leave the OrkElves outside his tornado’s area of effect.

  THUD

  Pieces of the ground shattered, molten rocks flew everywhere, as Smoke used his Comet Crush ability and landed on top of the grunt next to Wertlosvati. He then pierced the stunned Ork with his earth-spikes and trapped him on the ground with earth-cuffs, leaving the grunt bleeding to die.

  Meanwhile, Chrysopelea let out a strong gust of wind from beneath Wertlosvati. The Ork General flew five meters in the air.

  Smoke then pulled Cynar toward him by shifting the ground where the Ork Assassin was pinned to. Then, he launched a large earth-spike and struck Wertlosvati’s spine, skewering him in mid-air.

  “You’ve got to kill Wertlosvati now!” Smoke said to the wounded Cynar. His eyebrows furrowed as he noticed that the OrkElf’s life bar was less than 30%. “With his head on display, we might lower the Horde’s morale.”

  Just as Smoke finished talking, several Orks fell from the sky as Ouragan’s tornado attack ended.

  Yet, even though the windy twister had finished, Smoke still heard a rumbling sound. Looking at the direction of the mountainside, he saw a large dust cloud heading towards them.

  CRASH

  Leading hundreds of mounted Knights, Tritank emerged out of the wall of Orks. They forcefully carved a path out of the Ork Horde.

  “Don’t think I don’t know what you two are doing!” Tritank screamed at Smoke and Chrysopelea. Pointing his hands to the sides, he signaled the mounted Knights with him to fan out and fend off the Orks. “Where’s Wertlosvati! His head is mine!” he asked Smoke, trotting towards him.

  “No!” exclaimed Cynar, propping himself up. “I mean… he isn’t the one pulling the strings. The real leaders of the Ork Horde are Dastard and Snide.”

  “What?” asked Tritank, surprised. “Doesn’t matter. A General’s head still gives a great contribution to this campaign,” he said, charging his dirus wolf towards the skewered Wertlosvati.

  Without another word, Smoke gave Cynar a jar of pompom juice and pushed him towards the bleeding Ork General. Then, the ground rumbled as an earth-dome came out from below and sealed Wertlosvati and Cynar inside it.

  “What the hell!” yelled Tritank, as he pulled back his dirus wolf before hitting the earth-dome. “You’d give that prized head to a Sonstwelter? What’s wrong with you?”

  Chrysopelea flew towards Tritank. “Never mind that. We’ve got to find those two OlegHai Generals.”

  “You go ahead,” said Smoke. “I’ve got to make sure the OrkElves will be safe.”

  “Something’s really wrong with you,” said Tritank, looking down at Smoke from his mount. “Let’s go, Chrys,” he said, turning to him. “You better tell Ouragan about the OlegHai Generals too,” he added, pointing at the elderly HighElf attacking the Orks from the skies.

  Left behind, Smoke stood on top of his earth-dome and called out to the OrkElves. “Everyone, fight near the dome. I’ll cover you as much as I can.”

  Now, that Igniz had been incarnated into a Flame Knight, Smoke could no longer initiate his flame attacks. So, he was limited to use earth-spikes or earth-balls to support the OrkElves.

  But then, dark flame-swords came from behind the OrkElves and slashed the enemy Orks they were facing.

  With thirty-two purple flame-swords surrounding him, a fully-healed Igniz rushed the Orks with his fiery Salamander’s Tongue in hand. In just a few seconds, he cleared the Orks in his path and stood next to Smoke on top of the earth-dome.

  “Geez! When did you get this good?” Smoke asked Igniz.

  Igniz did not answer. Instead, he gave Smoke a knowing grin as he killed four more Orks with his flame-swords.

  “Where’s Meneur?” asked Smoke.

  “She had Daga accompany her,” replied Igniz. “Something about giving justice to her heart.”

  * * * * * *

  Enclosed inside the earth-dome, Cynar fell into a near pitch-black arena. Thanks to his mother’s Elven eyes, it only took him a few seconds to adjust.

  Then, he saw the shape of his detested father free himself from the earth-spike where he was skewered.

  “Gakgakgakgak! You think you can finish me off because of this?” provoked Wertlosvati. “Even if I’m half-dead, I’m still stronger than you!” he added while feeling the hole in his stomach. The Ork then hunched on his back as he searched the ground with his hands. He was looking for his double-headed ax.

  In absolute silence, Cynar bolted in front of Wertlosvati. While the Ork was still crouching, Cynar landed his steel boots against the Ork’s thick chin.

  As Wertlosvati’s head flew back, Cynar kicked away the double-headed ax that was next to the Ork. It slid across the opposite side of the earth-dome.

  CLANG CLANG CLANG

  The sound of a heavy double-headed ax resonated in the darkness.

  “Don’t need no ax to kill you,” said Wertlosvati, planting both his feet on the ground. “Your friend wasted his life-saving you, cause you’re gonna die today!”

  Wertlosvati bit his own tongue as he received successive kicks on his kneecaps. Cynar then followed up with a straight kick to the groin and swiftly backed away.

  Wertlosvati tried to catch Cynar, but the OrkElf Assassin disappeared before the Ork’s arms could grab him.

  “Pesky little rat,” jeered Wertlosvati. “Is that all of you’ve go—” the Ork bit his tongue once more as he suffered another kick to the chin.

  Confident of his speed, Cynar continued on his hit and run tactic. Even if the damage was minimal, it still piled on and steadily reduced Wertlosvati’s life bar.

  Wertlosvati covered his head with both his arms, only to be struck in the groin again.

  The Ork resorted to defending both his head and groin with only one arm. However, this was not enough to stop Cynar’s Spur Step kicks.

  “Come on! Is this it? Is this really how you imagined your revenge?” sneered Wertlosvati, blood dripping on the side of his mouth. “Your mother would cry at how cowardly you fight!”

  Cynar ceased his attacks. He stopped not because of what Wertlosvati said, but because he was out of breath. Alas, the confined space did not allow him to continue his blinding attacks as he had already consumed most of the breathable air.

  Even after the numerous strikes that he dealt, Cynar realized that he did little damage. Although his blunt kicks felt good, he needed to change his technique. He knew he only had one more attack left in him.

  Taking out his paralysis darts, Cynar galvanized his resolve. He charged Wertlosvati for a last-ditch attack.

  Cynar threw his paralysis darts at the Ork. His specialized training paid off as the sharp points of the darts pierced the thick green skin of his bastard father. Two darts punctured Wertlosvati’s throat while four more penetrated his arms.

  Drawing closer, Cynar kicked the darts on the Ork’s left arm. He forced them deeper into Wertlosvati.

  The paralysis finally took effect, as Wertlosvati’s left arm fell lifeless on his side.

  As Cynar was about to kick the other arm, Wertlosvati grabbed him by the waist and squeezed the OrkElf next to his chest.

  “Gotcha!” yelled Wertlosvati at Cynar’s ears. “Tell your mother… you sucked!” he jeered, dislocating Cynar’s arms, squashing the OrkElf with his death-embrace.

  Trapped in the arm of his father, Cynar could feel his life being forced out of him. Looking up, he saw the paralysis darts sticking out of Wertlosvati’s neck. He gathered his last ounce of strength and stretched out his neck as far as he could. Cynar headbutted the tip of the paralysis dart and plunged it into the Ork’s throat.

  Gradually, Wertlosvati’s death-grip on Cynar eased off.

  Cynar forcibly freed himself from the Ork and kicked him behind the kneecaps. Wertlosvati fell face first on the ground.

  With both his arms broken, Cynar stood in front of the paral
yzed Wertlosvati.

  “Think this will fill the hole inside you?” asked Wertlosvati, paralyzed on the floor. “Bet your mom and friend are cryin—” The Ork stopped talking as Cynar’s steel boot kicked his mouth.

  “Fuh! That all you got—” began Wertlosvati but was unable to continue as Cynar began stomping on his head.

  “Waaaaaah!” screamed Cynar as he unleashed all of his frustration, hatred, and pain with each squashing sound made by his boot. Tears flowed down as he continued crushing the Ork’s cranium. He only stopped when the body finally vanished out of existence.

  Then, the earth-dome receded into the ground. Smoke and the incarnated Igniz greeted the moribund Cynar.

  “Was worried there for a moment, but I knew you could do it,” said Smoke. “As soon as I sensed that you were—” he stopped talking and rushed to Cynar who collapsed on the ground, next to Wertlosvati’s double-headed ax.

  “You got him, right?” he asked one of the OrkElves who also ran for Cynar.

  To which the OrkElf nodded.

  Smoke picked up Wertlosvati’s heavy weapon and inspected it.

  Maniaxe (Double Headed Axe)

  Crafted as an offering for insane god Amok. Its bearer was said to feel his head being split in half unless its blades had a taste of blood.

  Restrictions:

  > Warrior Variations Only

  > Level 100

  Equipment Ability:

  * Disregard Pain (Active)

  > Reduce all physical damage taken by 50%

  > Gain Immunity to all control-impairing effects

  Notes:

  – Requires: 100 MP/second

  – Max Duration: 300 seconds

  – Receive: 10% of accumulated damage after ability ends

  * Cleave (Passive)

  > Weapon swing range + 300

  > Enemies caught in the arc receives 50% damage

  After inspecting Wertlosvati’s weapon, Smoke threw it over to the incarnated Igniz. “Wave it around, Bud,” he said to his symbiote. “The Orks need to see their Supreme General is dead.” He then looked at the gathered OrkElves surrounding them. They numbered in the hundreds. “Cynar has defeated their General. Now, let’s rid Sawtorn of all Orks. Everyone, follow me!” he yelled and led five hundred OrkElves against a forest of green giants.