War of DrekisChapter 23
Chaos Vs. Light-----The Swamplands of Khazan gurgled and boiled with the kind of foul aura that drove away man and beast alike. The southern-most areas of the Khazan City Forest were said to have once been the home of humanoid snakes who would prey on unsuspecting Khazanians during the night, slithering out of their dark holes at speeds too fast for any camera to catch. Generations of local people had spun tales and fables regarding the elusive, highly poisonous creatures; as if the swamps lightless depths and waist-deep waters were not enough to keep people away from this place—the stories of the snake men made it a no man’s land. -----That, of course, is what made it the perfect place for the Fallen transporter array. The myth of the snake men had long ago been labeled just that—a myth; daring heroes and scientific breakthroughs gave indisputable proof that the legendary hunters didn’t exist, but stories persisted that the snake men died out decades ago, and left their unyielding poison behind in their wake, forever spoiling the waters of the swamp. -----In spite of these rumors, Khazan often used the swamp as a promotional battleground for their annual tournaments, though they hardly ventured far into the lightless realms. It was deep in the center of these swamps, where no one else bothered to look, that the Fallen constructed the Khazan City array. The magic of the Fallen and the power of the void took its shape within grey stone and stripes of gold that spun around on rock platforms the size of cars. The arcane designs that shone upon the surface of these platforms were identical to the transporter arrays on the Fallen island; however, the outside appearance was deliberately aged and disturbed—a scene of broken pillars of onyx jutting from cracked ground and dilapidated stairways. -----Down to the last detail, this ruin represented all of the folklore of a lair of the snake men, and would be enough to drive away even the most daring of investigators who might happen to come this far in. -----Lights began to slowly chip away at the darkness; smooth waves picked up in the murky waters that encircled the small piece of land which supported the array. One by one the runes burned red, and once all had been lit they washed away their crimson with a sweep of green brilliance that illuminated the trees, casting shadow reflections of the rune-shapes upon their branches. -----Impossible as it might seem, the runes which appeared to be etched and clawed into the stone began to move; their circular formation was never broken, but they spun around faster and faster, until at last they became a solid circle of glowing emerald. Seven circles in all, each spinning and moving in unison, all casting their intense light into the sky. For one fleeting moment, when the darkness of the swamps was suppressed and light took hold of this lifeless place, new shadows threw themselves down on the ruins. The first of these shadows stepped out of the pillar of light; it’s dark outlines faded away, taking the shape of Devyn Soyokaze. -----Subsequently there came dozens of figures who followed Devyn’s example. The lightshow dazzled for nearly half an hour as all of those who had entered the teleportation array on the isle finally rematerialized at their destination. -----Many teleportation arrays of this kind existed throughout the main continent; any number of Fallen could easily travel from the Fallen Tower to nearly any location on the ground, and could conversely return to the floating isle through these arrays should the need arrive. That the Fallen possessed an array leading directly to the city of their enemies, the grand city of the nexus itself, was something that no hero suspected. -----When the process was complete, Devyn and the other members of the council stood at the highest point in the ruins, a web-infested stairway leading to a single, solid cube of black onyx; the folklore of the snake men had labeled this platform the throne of the Viper King. The entire ruin below them was packed with Fallen elites, all standing shoulder to shoulder while those who possessed the luxury of flight or levitation gladly littered the tree tops with their numbers. -----“A large number of us have survived the battle,” Zalrafel observed. A quick glance from his eyes was enough to count all of the heads present. “Considering the destruction of our tower and near complete annihilation of the Dollarcorp forces there, it could have been much worse.” -----“Unacceptable,” Devyn said softly. His face was calm, but his cool smile had melted into a stoic expression of apathy. “I will not stand for Drekis to bask in this glory for long, not after defiling our name; for the destruction of our tower he will suffer the wrath of the void until no trace of him or his empire exists.” -----“True, this should not have happened,” Zalrafel replied, “and it should go without saying that we intend to seek retribution. First, I think it would be wise to consider our strategy. Unacceptable or no, the truth is that we lost the tower and the island, it was partially our own undoing…” -----“And partially the actions of a few unfortunate traitors,” Devyn reminded him. “Yes, the part that Blitzkrieg and Shadowcast played in this makes the defeat all the more bitter, but we have to remember the valid threat that Drekis poses now. This is not a time to be audacious.” -----Devyn’s smile returned. “I’m aware of all this Zalrafel. It isn’t exactly as if I intend to storm the island just this minute. Our defeat was sound, but momentary—and we have dealt a large blow to Drekis’ minions; let us not forget that the proud fool is fighting a war against the entire planet, not just us. We may not have won the last battle, but our blows may prove to be his undoing in the end.” -----“I’m not worried about you Devyn, but our ranks are filled with deviants who are blinded by their own ambition and power; time spent in the safety of our once invincible tower has made them complacent; we must turn these simpletons into true weapons of war.” -----“Agreed,” Devyn said, shifting his eyes toward the fallen angel, “I would leave that to you then; who could possibly better prepare our pawns for war than someone who has witnessed the battles in heaven?” -----“Such an overrated thing. When it comes to war and death mortals make up for their lack of power with their ingenuity. Still, I’ll accept the challenge.” Zalrafel’s gaze fell upon the base of the hollowed stairway, where the Avatar of Darkness forced his way through the crowd and slowly ascended. “At least some of our better soldiers are still with us.” -----A blue mist followed Kaas up the stairs, easily gliding through the masses of Fallen in order to amass at the highest step. Tundra’s familiar form took shape from this mist, and both he and Kaas now stood before the council; as a rule neither of them placed so much as a foot on the platform itself. The stairway was wide enough to support both warriors side by side, but even Kaas, his title of avatar aside, was not to elevate himself to the same level as the council. -----Disdain flushed across the dark avatar’s face, and for a moment a loose hand even began to clutch Dorchadas Laan’s hilt. “So Dollar has already left us I see,” Kaas spat out with a low growl. “I suppose you who stand on this high plateau have something in mind to rectify the situation…or better yet perhaps you could persuade the masses here of why our indomitable council allowed our tower to fall?” -----“Your frustration blinds you Kaas,” Devyn replied. “You failed to kill Drekis as well.” -----“This goes beyond you and me Soyokaze!” Kaas threw a free hand in the direction of the surrounding crowd. “Their hearts are lost to anger—disillusionment! If you don’t calm them down this instant they’re liable to alert the whole city of our presence here.” -----Tundra folded his arms while currents of blue mist continued to seep into his flesh. “I understand their feelings; it’s like we lost an entire world just now—for some of them it was the only world, the only place where freaks like them could go to on this nexus.” -----Loud voices broke the small conversation. “What the hell are you talking about over there!” -----“We demand an explanation!” -----“What went wrong, what happened to the tower!” -----“They’ve brought us here to rot in these goddamn swamps!” -----Commotion broke out among all the Fallen; their voices merged and grew louder together until the swamps became like a cafeteria of spoiled children. Kaas spun around with such force that a grave wind spun over the crowd and dulled their words just enough for his own to roar above them. “Silence! Anymore of this insolence and I’ll cut you down myself!” For a brief moment he looked over his shoulder and locked eyes with the dark dancer. “If you have a plan we need to hear it now.” -----Devyn approached the edge of the platform with such a daring gesture that many in the crowd twitched from the expected visage of seeing him topple from the onyx stone. Instead the dark dancer balanced on the edge and looked down on his servants. The look in his eye made them all shudder, for it was not just that he dared to look down on them as if they were insignificant, it was that something in his aura proved to them that they meant nothing—that they were ants compared to him. Soyokaze seemed to rise up from their view, becoming taller and more menacing while the darkness crawled across his warm smile. -----“We face an unprecedented crisis,” Soyokaze began, “and yet from this minor setback you all squabble and lose your composure. This is not what I, what we expect from those who would call themselves Fallen. That you would challenge our leadership, that you would give up on the void so readily…it shows just how weak you really are. The Fallen shall always be, just as the Void shall always be. We did not falter when Quietus disappeared and we shall not waver from this either.” -----His words silenced many, but a hulking figure at the front of the crowd still pointed his finger at Soyokaze with a brazenness that shocked the rest of the Fallen. “What the hell are we supposed to do now!? You lost the tower; we have no base now, no home. And to make matters worse you transport us to Khazan City! We’ll be arrested for sure!” -----“Hold your tongue,” Zalrafel snapped. The words were quick and direct, but had no ill tone behind them; still, the very first syllable out of the fallen angel’s mouth sent shivers through the bulky man’s neck. “You’d be dead now already if we did not require every last one of you.” -----“Consider yourself fortunate,” Soyokaze grinned. “Who are you to say we have no home? Khazan is our home, as much as it is for any other poor soul dwelling on this doomed world. Drekis has already done far more damage to our enemies than he has to us. To that end we have an opportunity that we cannot afford to ignore.” -----“There’s no way we can fight two enemies at once, even if they are weakened by attrition,” Tundra said. “The original scenario won’t work, not with the island under the control of the Drekis Empire.” -----“There have been some changes to the plan,” Soyokaze stated. “We’re going to march directly into the center of our enemies. To the one place they will never expect…the Sentinels headquarters.” -----“A sneak attack!?” Kaas retorted. “Never work, not with the relatively few Fallen we have here.” -----“It won’t be a sneak attack, as you put it. We’ll enlist the aid of our former enemies in order to destroy a mutual one.” -----“Are you certain they would buy into that?” Tundra asked. Cool vapors poured out of his breath. “They’ll be suspecting a double cross from the very beginning.” -----“So be it,” Zalrafel said. “Originally we were content to let the two forces fight to the death and sweep in to destroy the remnants, but Drekis expected this and attacked us first. In order to make up for this loss, we must coordinate our efforts with Drekis’ mutual enemies.” -----“In this desperate situation,” Devyn continued, “The Khazanians will take any help they can get. They have already made an unlikely alliance with the Marauders, and I’m sure Darkone will support my ideas. In fact, Darkone is likely planning the very same thing; we’re striving for survival here…to defeat the Drekis forces while remaining as strong as possible so that we remain on the top of the food chain once things return to normal.” -----“A rather risky idea altogether,” Kaas observed. “You’ll be making a large number of sacrifices.” -----“For the Void to consume all, any number of sacrifices along the way are acceptable.” Devyn said slowly. “That was the way of the old Apathy wars was it not; all that matters is the end…what happens along the way is of no consequence.” -----“We’ll begin then,” Zalrafel’s eyes strafed from left to right, observing each individual in the lot of surviving Fallen. “All accounted for except the one; very well, let the Four Lord-Tyrants assemble.” -----Rapid bursts of ephemeral chills made the swamp-water still. The words passed through the army of Fallen like wraiths, suddenly calling attention to the fact that the Lord Tyrants were here among them. -----The announcement was not much of a surprise; the dire circumstances would call for the Tyrant’s direct involvement—everyone knew that—but no one wanted to believe that they could be standing next to any of the four. Stories of their killing sprees were legends for the lesser Fallen, things that were so unbelievable that few even regarded them as physical beings; it made much more sense that they were phantoms, appearing and disappearing at the whim of the council. -----For that, in a sense, was what they were. The Four Lord Tyrants: the title belonging to those four who directly served the will of the Fallen high council. Together they were more an army than a simple group; their name spurred hopelessness into Khazan’s hardened heroes, and still no one in the lesser ranks knew exactly who belonged to this illustrious team. The Tyrants held no position of power in the organization, so despite the ominous ring of their name they were not considered leaders in the least; however, their reputation established them as the affectionately titled ‘right arm of the council.’ The personal servants of the Fallen’s leaders—sometimes regarded as an extension of the council itself. To face them was to face the wrath of Devyn and the others. -----“So, you’ll call on them?” Kaas murmured. The dark avatar and Tundra shifted their bodies toward the shaken crowd. “You’ll likely scare the Khazanians into attacking impulsively if you send those people in as messengers.” -----“Our message will be a little different,” Soyokaze announced. “Besides, they’ll hardly be alone. However, when we march into Khazan city, I want the Lord-Tyrants and the council taking the lead; we will show the Khazanians that we’re willing to bare all of our secrets if they’re willing to hear us out.” -----“All of them?” Tundra raised an eyebrow. -----“Well, I suppose they won’t really know the difference.” Devyn smiled as the mass of Fallen began to thin out into segregated clumps. -----Soft voices and shrill gasps highlighted the appearance of three people, each appearing from opposite edges of the ruins. From the back of the ruins, casually advancing through the large clearing that had been made for him, came the first and most readily recognizable of the three: Dreiden Adonis, already a man of many threatening rumors, his position as a Lord-Tyrant came as no surprise; in fact, it made perfect sense. -----Second to approach the stairs, advancing from the council’s left, was a girl of exquisite beauty and ghostly physique. A walking paradox—that was the simultaneous appeal and terror of Deviana Ash-Meadows. Young and petite, Deviana’s youthful visage was countered by a reflection in her eyes that cast out rays of death and indifference. Her skin was pale, but with just a hint of the fire of life flowing through its surface, and her complexion was met with the striking image of crimson eyes that seemed to blend the pupil and iris together into an inhuman shade of color. -----Falling from Deviana’s head were locks of golden, almost ghost-white hair that neatly flowed in columns of individual strands down to her waist, never mixing, never crossing, never twirling. Covering her decadent form was a gothic scene of black robes which opened at her waste, expanding out like a skirt to reveal legs adorned with black boots up to her thigh. The edges of the robe were decorated with golden trims; her inner black costume had indiscernible patterns and symbols trailing across her breasts, and at her side was an equally designed scabbard. -----Third, and last of the individuals to step forward from the right side of the council, was an ungainly sight that few recognized. Vaguely looking like a human in build and shape, this creature also gave off the appearance of something mechanical, though clearly molded and shaped with bio-technology. Even the most scientific minds of the Fallen, Dr. Vizeman included, could not comprehend the mixture of life, technology, and magic that would be necessary to create something like this. It’s shoulders were wide with lean limbs hanging down like unnecessary weight. At first it seemed tall, but it was also hunched over, with a head that was more reminiscent of a jagged helm than a face. -----Yet if there was one thing that its design accomplished, it was the dread that it inspired. Large Fallen like Feklore and Resho wisely stepped away from this creature, for they knew him well; Fail—a being not to be taken lightly by anyone, not even the council. -----Together the three gathered at the center of the steps just below Kaas and Tundra. Zalrafel moved down, taking a few steps off of the high platform to come down and greet them. -----“The three of you are all that is left,” Zalrafel said. “Fourth among you was Blitzkrieg, but he is now no longer with us.” -----Deviana’s thin lips, the same color as her dispassionate skin, curled into an eager, inviting smile. “I’ve already been informed of his betrayal by Adonis. I’d gladly accept the task of cutting the little nazi down myself if that is your order…please.” -----“Tempting offer,” the Fallen angel replied, “But not necessary yet. Blitzkrieg is not our concern right now.” -----“Let the fool go,” Fail’s low voice echoed like a man’s words escaping from hollow armor. “The Tyrants nor the Fallen need him to spread the word of nothingness. I alone shall suffice. -----“Many of you are accustomed to working on your own,” Zalrafel continued. “Still, I prefer that the Four Lord-Tyrants remain as such…Four of you.” -----Devyn’s eyes narrowed and shot at Tundra. The icy Fallen caught the stare with a loss of breath. “Tundra, you could fill the position for now if you wanted.” -----Tundra’s expression froze in a mixed yolk of delight and discontentment. “Fill? For now? What am I, some sort of placeholder to you? It sounds like I’m just being thrown into the Tyrant’s so that their name still makes sense.” -----“Stop complaining.” Zalrafel snapped. “The Lord-Tyrants may hold no power in the Fallen, but the council trusts Dreiden Adonis to manage their numbers. If Adonis approves of your performance, Tundra, then perhaps a more permanent seat could be arranged. Think of it as Devyn giving you a chance to prove yourself.” -----“Prove mys…against what exactly!” Tundra resisted the urge to freeze the Fallen angel right there, but knew that it was a futile thought, and a costly one at that. The idea itself wasn’t entirely discomforting; at the very least it had the perks of putting him on one of the most feared teams on the nexus. “Fine, I accept. I’ll prove to you that Blitzkrieg was nothing to this organization.” His nose turned to the darkened sky as he walked away, fading into a blue mist that curled around the other Lord-Tyrants and zapped its way down the stairs. -----“He had better be up to the task,” Dreiden glared at Soyokaze with his solid black eyes. “I would not appreciate having to baby sit one of your rambling cohorts.” -----Devyn’s face brightened. Unseemly winds passed through the swamps, rustling tree branches with a gentle touch. “Should keep things interesting for you, having to get used to a new team. I’m sure Tundra will serve you well…if not, then you can always tame him like you did with the young lady.” -----“I was not tamed by anyone!” Deviana bit down on her lower lip as she finished her scowl. “The great emptiness is the only thing that can guide me; if the voices did not suggest that I follow in your footsteps then so help me I would so enjoy…” her right arm moved toward the sword dangling from her hip. Slender fingers snaked around the gold plated handle, but the cool touch of a second hand eased her grip. -----“Not the time Deviana.” Dreiden removed his hand from hers and pulled his cape around his body. “If that is all, then I will depart with the other Tyrants. We can’t afford to waste time anymore; although, you may want to take that issue up with him.” A soft nod from Adonis’ head alerted the council of a third person who had the gall to stand on the obsidian platform. -----The three Lord-Tyrants descended the stairway while Devyn and Zalrafel faced their new guest. In an instant Zalrafel’s blade was drawn, and from the edge of the stairs he seemed to disappear and then fade in with sword at the neck of the newcomer. -----Soyokaze crossed his arms and looked off to the side. “I thought you’d show up sooner or later.” He began to rip off tattered pieces of clothing from his left arm. “For someone with control over time you are rather late Chronomancer.” -----“Guilty as charged I’m afraid,” Chronomancer tilted his head away from the angelic blade and held his white-gloved hands up in surrender. “I have been busy as of late; this war has had many unforeseen effects on the timeline; I’m doing all I can just to keep up with it all I assure you.” -----“How dare you show your face to us after this!” The rough strain in Zalrafel’s voice forced Chronomancer to raise an eyebrow. “You gave us your word that you would appear on the island to support the battle against Drekis, did you not.” The tip of his sword thrust forward, coming inches away from the time manipulator’s throat. -----“Not like you to get so riled up over me,” Chronomancer said with a cough. “I don’t believe I ever went so far as to say I gave my word…or maybe I did…perhaps I should go back in time and listen to myself.” -----“Explain yourself; you’re supposed to be one of the high council, and yet you…” -----“Let the tower fall? I saw that as quite inevitable I’m afraid,” his pupils dashed to the side of his eyes as he scratched his beard. “May even prove to be useful for me in the long run.” -----“What was that?” -----“Nevermind that. The council has always managed to get along without my direct involvement. There is little I could do to save the tower without messing up the timestream even more than it already is.” -----Devyn raised a hand into the air and felt the wind that was passing over the trees. “I should not have to remind you of your earlier commitment—that the Drekis empire was a threat to the continuum, or something to that effect. Whatever separate intentions you have from the rest of the council, you claimed to desire their defeat just as much as any of us.” -----Chronomancer nodded. “You’ll recall I also mentioned that the Chaos ones exist outside of normal time; I’m unable to see their past and they seem to lack a future entirely; they are outside the realm of fate apparently—nothing about them can be known until it happens in real time.” -----“So you’re useless to us then?” Zalrafel withdrew his sword but held it by his side. “Why would you even show up now?” -----Chronomancer fixed his hat for a few moments and cleared his throat. “Well, I may not be able to do much about the Drekis forces, but you are another story aren’t you? Yes—infact I was interested in your little plan. As you put it Soyokaze, I am still invested in getting rid of Drekis, but it seems that it will only be possible if Khazan fights him on a global scale. To be honest I tire of these epic things, seeing as how you two seem intent on starting two or three of them every week, but…I suppose even someone with my advantages has to go with the flow on occasion.” -----“Your point being?” Devyn asked. -----“Some foreseeable trouble might make an already unstable alliance impossible,” Chronomancer whispered the words as he tipped the rim of his hat over the top-half of his eyes. “I’m going to make sure that the team-up succeeds.” Hopeless Situation
-----Uberman clutched his ruined arm, occasionally tugging the exposed circuits back underneath the cracked armor plating. Despite his wounds, the Sentinel leader stood near the front of the group; without a second thought he used his good arm to push Tim behind him, and with that the only person who stood between him and Drekahnis was the leader of the Marauders, Toc Darkone himself.
Union -----Within this mass, sitting upon the ruins of what was once city hall, Saramach Melfyre kept his eyes closed and his arms crossed, listening to the wind closely. Seraphus was by his side, leaning against the ruins. -----“Speaker of Dark Fire,” Melfyre whispered, “Someone is approaching us.” -----“Yes my lord,” Seraphus was already directly his crimson pupils to two figures that were entering the dread cloud. The sharp winds tugged at the cape of the front individual, who sported black armor and long black hair. The other was of a slightly smaller frame, low shoulders, and a white trench coat tied loose around his waste. “I believe these are the ones that the council fetched for you.” -----Saramach did not move, but his eyes opened and were tainted a faint yellow color with an iris that faded from black to green. The two figures eventually stood in front of him casually. The one in front, particularly, seemed to regard him with little concern. The other one, however, seemed to have a look of sadness in his eyes that was all too familiar to Melfyre, and as this much younger one looked about the ruins, that sadness seemed to deepen into what he might dare call regret, though at the same time there was hopelessness and despair. That one look from his eyes called to mind any number of feelings that Saramach could not assign a word to, and he yearned to know what this living thing’s heart could feel at a time like this. -----“I am known as Horror,” the armored one said. “I am a general of Drekis’ armies, and this one is called Skye. You are Saramach Melfyre?” -----The question made Seraphus cringe. Here was a man who would dare to pose such a question while in the presence of their king, whose mere regality and presence should have spoken for itself. Even the fact that they stood before Melfyre without so much as a slight bow was absurd to him. They were not of the Saramach, true, but they did little to acknowledge the position of power that Melfyre rightly held. He held his tongue, even as Horror seemed to glance at him knowingly, for he knew that his lord had ambitions involving these insolent people. -----“I am him, and this ruin we stand in, as well as the wasting of Raisa, are my initial gifts to you. Take them as a sign of my faith in Drekis’ war.” -----“Two cities, and one of them a capital.” Horror paused in thought. “It is a shrewd offering. At the very least you have cut my work here in half. Drekis will be pleased by your…diligence.” -----“And what of Attragon?” Saramach questioned. “Ashvaraad has not yet told me what he plans to do.” -----“Drekis has offered him a seat as a general, and he has accepted, saying that he too is one of your, ‘initial gifts.’ He will soon lead vast armies of demonites across Khazan.” -----“I see. I suppose he would be interested in that. In truth he is not one of us—not exactly the same, though his origins cross paths with our own on more than one occasion. Now…” his attention turned to Skye, who seemed preoccupied with watching the mindless undead wander the upturned streets. “You there, I would have you tell me what you think of this?” -----Horror’s eyes narrowed. “Why do you ask my subordinate a question?” -----“Forgive me, but I was under the impression that this would please you—and yet your friend seems rather disappointed. Have we…offended you in any way?” -----Skye looked at Saramach for a moment, then noticed that Horror was glaring at him from just over his neck-guards. “No, there is no problem. As long as you’re questioning me, I would know why you have chosen to come out of seclusion to join forces with us.” -----“I suppose that is…complicated. Certainly it seemed like the wisest decision I could make at the time.” -----“Ashvaraad explained more than enough to Drekis already,” Horror cut their conversation to an end. “Anything more you need to say—you can say it to Drekis himself. I’m sure he has many questions for you about your goals. Drekis wishes for your forces to take control of Cretalia, and with this State-Kingdom out of the way my army will be free to advance elsewhere. Do this, and Drekis will be affirmed of your loyalty. Fail us in any way, and he will not hesitate to strike your dying civilization down.” -----“How dare you…” Seraphus’s hands began to flare up, but one of Melfyre’s hands dropped down in front of his face and held him back. Without even looking into his master’s eyes, he knew to cast his flames down and shrink back to the wall. -----“As I said, our people have no place left to go. Whether we fail or do nothing, it will not save us from our fate. But if you wish us to take this place, then so be it—we will conquer it all in his name to prove ourselves.” -----“Good,” Horror nodded. “Meanwhile, Drekis would have you send a group of your undead westward, into the Endless Caves so that he may bring them into the hive ground. He expects them within the next few days. That is all. Let’s go Skye.” -----The two disappeared out of the cloud, with Skye trailing a few feet behind the general. -----“This is not well,” Seraphus said. “I don’t know what your plan is for using Drekis’ power, but there is no way we can get him to break the curse if he forces us to hold here while he remains far away.” -----“Just do as I say and leave everything else to me. Right now we need do nothing more than follow their orders.” He watched the shadowed form of the one called Skye disappear from view. “So then, there are those among them who are suffering as well.”
Vision
-----Sinfonia, whether as a wolf or heron, could outpace any man made vehicle on Khazan, but even his ethereal lightness of movement required the passing of several hours to reach the borders of Axia. Tanin and Sylvia had together left the surviving escapees from Araelis far behind, and on more than one occasion Tanin turned his head to the fading horizon, hoping to see even a small shadow of their movement.
Impasse -----At this rate, Drekahnis would certainly catch them. Unimpeded by fatigue, the evil creature was flying through the air after them. On more than one occasion Tim had looked back to see the brief appearance of tentacles or a clawed arm around the corner. If this kept up, Drekahnis would catch them all—and what would happen then? Would they all die? -----Staying behind would be suicide, but perhaps it would also let the others get out alive. He could already hear Raea’s voice chastise him for entertaining such thoughts, but if it meant the difference between her survival or imminent death, he was willing to make the sacrifice. However, his decision was still torn by the voice of the sword, which had become a dull whisper that could not be clearly heard—though the gist of the message came through: Do not Stay! -----What terrible irony had to be at play here? That his sword, both a weapon and an embodiment of will power, would tell him to flee, run, scatter away. -----At the end of the current tunnel, where a massive maze opened up into five possible directions, Tim could see that Raea was waiting for him. Tellisa Ravan, now somewhat conscious, was attempting to stand on her own. The others were huddled around the Unsubtle, who was peeking down each of the corridors. -----“I’m telling you, there were only three directions last time!” he could hear her scream at Michael Cortelloni. “And what’s more, of the three I saw, only the one we came down led up to the surface. All five of these ones look like they rise.” -----“Then you took us down the wrong exit!” Cortelloni returned. -----“I know my way around here well enough to retrace my steps.” -----“Obviously not.” -----“I think she’s right,” Uberman interrupted the argument. “It does seem to be the path we took to come down, but it’s changed somehow.” -----Telissa rubbed her eyes and regained her footing just as Tim caught up with the group. “The workers…can reshape the darkstone at will. They could have rearranged the tunnels while we were down there.” -----“That’s fucking great,” Cortelloni threw his arms in the air. “Someone could have perhaps told us about this before we went on this god damned camping trip.” -----“Calm down,” Captain Khazan said. “We need to pick a tunnel and stick with it. Splitting up is the last thing we need right now.” -----“Or you could all stay here with me,” Drekahnis’ soft voice moved through the caverns like currents of wind. His haunting visage crept out of the darkness from below. Little by little he advanced, floating up to level ground and hovering before them. Numerous tentacles were flailing about his back, but the rest of his body had returned to a more human shape. “You still haven’t let me pay you back for what you did to me back there.” -----Tim drew his sword, and at the sight of that blue energy Drekahnis stopped. -----“Tim, don’t,” Raea called, but Tim took a few steps away from her and planted his feet down as if there was no way he could be thrown from that spot. -----“I’ll fight Drekahnis. You guys pick a path and get out of here.” -----“Interesting,” Drekahnis rubbed his chin and closed one eye. “I might be willing to let the lot of you go if the boy stayed to fight me.” -----“That’s exactly what he wants,” Tiara cried. “Move away from him right now.” -----“I’m not afraid of you anymore!” Tim said, holding his sword out in front so that its light could be cast against Drekahnis’ skin. -----“I don’t care if you fear me or not. As long as you die, little man, that’s all I require. Die in horror, or die feeling that you’ll be awarded a hero’s burial—however you like.” -----Tim was about to rush forward, but Tiara was suddenly in front of him, a faint blur that settled into her image, standing there, arms spread out, a human wall between the two combatants. “What are you doing?” -----“Think for once—for crying out loud. The Queen didn’t want you to come down here just to throw your life away.” -----“But if the rest of you at least make it out…” -----“We all go, or none of us go. That’s the only way to do this.” -----Toc Darkone grimaced at the situation. “It’s too late now. We have no choice but to stand and fight.” -----Drekahnis folded his arms and grew several curved spines out of his forearms. “If you wish to fight me, then go ahead, but I won’t be as forgiving as I was last time.” -----As Drekahnis neared, a spark of white light illuminated the cavern, catching everyone off guard. Drekahnis doubled back as the light which blocked him from Timothy Shinestar became the clean shape of a radiant circle spinning in midair. The circle dropped and shrank, and as it disappeared a new shape emerged in turn. -----The entire circle had to vanish before the light would pass, and only then were the onlookers able to see that familiar smile, that familiar armor and unique blade. Tanin, Avatar of Light, was standing before them, facing Drekis with an eagerness in his eyes. -----“Dragoon T, but…” Uberman began. -----“No time to explain!” Tanin shouted as he drew Chrysillium. “Queen’s orders. Make for the surface and don’t stop for anything. I’ll hold this ugly thing off.” -----“I can help you,” Tim said, brandishing his weapon so that Tanin could see the power emanating from its edges. -----However, Tanin did not take his eyes off of his enemy. “That goes double for you Tim. Get out of here now!” -----Any rebuttal that he could offer, weak as it may have been, was cut off by the strong arms of Uberman, who lifted Tim off the ground and carried him off into the darkness. The Unsublte swiftly chose a tunnel, and with that the entire team departed. Captain Khazan was the last to leave, stopping only to nod towards the Avatar. “We owe you for this one Tanin,” he said. -----“Get out of here,” Tanin said, his expression turned to anger as he stepped towards Drekahnis. -----The Chaos lord watched his prey vanish into the tunnels, then smiled down at the Avatar. “So, an ugly thing?” -----“That’s right. I don’t think I’ve seen your ‘true form’ yet, but meeting this heap of junk is certainly no pleasure. If you’re trying to emulate human looks, well then buddy, I’m afraid you need to do more homework. You look like all the accumulated bad genes of the nexus wrapped up in one package with demonology thrown in as a bonus.” -----Drekahnis seemed amused by this. “How lucky I must be, to meet two Avatars in a single day. First I had the opportunity to cross blows with Kaas, and now—you, the infamous Dragoon T.” -----“You’re already fought against Kaas have you? Oh, that’s right, you’re the one responsible for the commotion at the Fallen Tower. Well, don’t think that just because you made it past that loser that you have anything on me.” -----Drekahnis snickered in a way that sounded like a low moan. “Indeed, I should hope that you can provide me with as much entertainment as he did.” Three tentacles whipped out from around his back. At their tip were jagged blades like the head of a halberd, but Tanin countered with three quick strikes, one to each appendage, and severed the weapons from the tentacles that branded them. -----The impotent stubs fell back, but then quickly launched out in different directions. From the blunt ends sprouted two more tentacles—six in all—that spun in a circle and then converged on their target, intent on constricting him from all sides. Again Tanin lashed out, and Chrysillium’s blade became like a silver, crescent flash around him that cut down the attack. No less than seven strikes were made, and yet Tanin had appeared to not move at all. -----“So that is Chrysillium then? Still, it will be no more effective against me then Dorchadas Laan was.” -----“Don’t lump me and Kaas in the same category. Just because we’re light and darkness…well, don’t go thinking that means we’re two sides of the same coin.” He lunged forward, springing with his right foot and then dashing off to the side with his left. Several tentacles flushed out and missed him, and two more tried to cut off his evasion, though only stabbed through a fading visage. -----Tanin’s body reappeared at Drekahnis’ left side, crouched down low with Chrysillium drawn up high on his hip. As he rose he swung the sword in such a way that sent a chill through the hollows of the Endless Caves, and though Drekahnis darted away from the sword of light he was still caught by the blade’s tip. -----The humanoid body that Drekahnis used began to melt away at the torso. He looked down at this chain of events with an unpleasant sneer and then transmuted his left arm into a double-sided axe that grew out into the air, becoming long and sinister like a giant snake. His retaliation came just as swiftly as Tanin’s attack; the whip struck out, the blade aiming to land on the Avatar’s neck. Just as the weapon neared Tanin bowed down until his face nearly brushed the darkstone, and as the axe passed overhead he spun himself again into a standing position, coming around the tentacle and severing it with a spin slash. -----A whirlwind of energy blazed about him, knocking what was left of the tentacle back to its master. The end of this broken weapon now burned incessantly, to the point that the destruction began to spread from the former cut all the way up into Drekahnis’ arm. -----“Disintegration?” Drekahnis’ tone was full of morbid curiosity as he gazed at his arm—breaking apart before his eyes. -----With an unusual straight-forward and brazen approach, Tanin rushed his disarmed opponent head on, the glow of his sword making the darkness around them squirm. Drekahnis lifted himself into the air and backed away from the Avatar. His good arm channeled itself into a red-orange glow—his hand unfurled, sharp fingers pronging towards the ceiling as bolts of crimson lightning scaled them down into the middle of his palm; there the energy gathered and became a red sphere, strangely billowing like a dark cloud in his hand. He tossed the ball almost casually and without concern, but nonetheless it had the speed of devils, and its darkness was so pure and awe inspiring that even the light of Chrysillium could barely neutralize the deafening shadows that grew in its presence. With each inch that it gained towards Tanin the ball grew in size, as if its hunger for blood was growing, feeding itself more power while the hunger went unmoved. -----Drekahnis sprouted several tentacles from his back, fully expecting the Avatar of Light to teleport away from the deathball, but his eyes shivered out of place and his tendrils froze when Tanin collided head on with the blast. Unlimited hunger and bloodlust had inspired the sphere to become twice Tanin’s size, but the Avatar ignored its overwhelming girth—plunging his sword into the core of the ball and fending it off with the physical blade. -----What insanity and madness could select such a person to be the Avatar of Light? Enough power coursed through the sphere to shatter the existence of a small city, and this knight used his sword both offensively and as a shield against it. -----As absurd as Drekahnis thought him to be, Tanin cut through the energy, somehow separating the ball into two broken halves that fizzled off into the background shadows. Now free of impediments, Tanin leapt off of the darkstone and teleported himself forward, cutting more than half of the distance he had to travel to meet Drekahnis face to face. Sharp spines sprang from Drekahnis’ forearm, and as the two warriors passed they each took a single swipe, barely visible to one another, and then parted; Tanin landed on the ground, his sword sliding along the stone and raising sparks off the ground; Drekahnis floated back to the floor, concerned only with the fact that his arm had been split down the middle and its remains were now disappearing. -----“You certainly share Kaas’ ferocity,” Drekahnis said. -----Tanin’s traditional smile fell away, replaced again with a look of anger and resentment. Here in front of him was the one responsible for it all. The war, the death, everything that happened to the western cities. It would probably all end with this one’s death, and yet he could see for himself that the Princess’ words rang true; Drekahnis mused his lost limbs like a child wonders at the stove being hot. Still, he had to buy some more time for the others. Even if he couldn’t hold out for hours, he could at least deter Drekahnis from continuing the pursuit. -----He sprang forward, his eyes closely watching every tentacle and body part on the otherwise armless creature to see what his reaction would be. Drekahnis faced his advancing foe and opened his mouth wide. Tanin saw the smoldering spark in the back of his throat just before a torrent of demonic flames shot out. These fires formed into individual strands, like ropes of flame that darted out and spun around each other to create a giant, flowing spiral. -----A small version of hell itself flooded the entire half of the cavern that Tanin occupied, but in the middle of that inferno, just as his armor was about to yield, Tanin teleported out of the intolerable blaze and landed behind Drekahnis. -----Again he dashed onto his enemy, faster this time, and leaping into the air so he could put the full weight of Chrysillium’s power into the blow. Drekahnis turned just in time to see the strike, but the blade stopped just in front of his eyes, paralyzed by a new light that had appeared. -----“A barrier!?” Tanin groaned as violet streams of energy leaked out from a half-sphere that had appeared between the sword and its intended target. -----“Now I end this,” Drekahnis’ right arm suddenly rebuilt itself, and the tip of every claw glowed red with chaos magic. As Tanin’s body dropped out of midair, Drekahnis thrust out with his open palm, sliding just below Chrysillium and smashing into Tanin’s stomach. All of the air in the Avatar’s lungs rushed out; the impact sent him flying across the tunnel and into a darkstone wall. His grip loosened—Chrysillium fell off to his side when he landed, barely in control of his body. “You are different from Kaas,” he said as he drifted closer, his left arm reconstructing itself. “But for all your power and skill, you cannot defeat me. Did you really think, that after all the effort you had to put forth to fight the likes of Aigonis or Darkenfire, that you could come down here and face me down so easily?” -----Tanin resisted the urge to spit at the tyrant. “Damn you, if it weren’t for this bi-location of yours.” -----“Losing your composure now? You really think you could kill me even if both of my bodies were here?” Two tentacles reached out with jagged spears at their head, but Tanin jumped to his feet and called Chrysillium to his hands. The sword immediately answered, and the Avatar showed no signs of weakness or injury. Though his armor was cracked and falling apart along his stomach, Tanin swung the sword once and took apart both of the spears. He began to teleport around Drekahnis, leaving after-images in a circular pattern. -----Drekahnis smiled as we watched the show of mirror images, calling it a ‘neat trick’ just before he spun around to meet the real Tanin. The Avatar swung Chrysillium down vertically, and Drekahnis countered with an identical step forward and met the blade with his bare hand. -----“Impossible,” Tanin yelled over the screams of chafing energy. “With just that…” he looked at his enemy’s hand which clutched the blade of light, and there he saw that the fingers were again bathed in chaos energy. -----Drekahnis gripped the blade and pulled it down. The clash had become a contest of pure physical strength, and this monster seemed to have the advantage there. Drekahnis free hand swung over head, and five crimson-radiant claws tore across the side of Tanin’s face and knocked him spinning into the air. -----“It would seem that Aigonis Zekruel has already encountered your little disappearing act.” Drekahnis said as Tanin used Chrysillium’s blade as leverage to stand. “In fact, he even encountered something called the Aura Strike. Interesting.” -----Tanin wiped away the five streaks of blood from the cuts on his face, but the bleeding would not cease. “What, now you’re telling me you can download stuff from your lackeys?” -----“In a manner of speaking,” Drekahnis smiled. “When you disappear, the air around you rushes in to fill the void, and it separates to make room for your body when you reappear. I can tell the difference between you and your after-shadows by the vibrations in the air.” -----Just like Aigonis did. Just great, Tanin thought. “I guess there’s no more time for fancy tricks then. Let’s just do this the old fashioned way!” He ran into his enemy and slashed across his chest, destroying numerous spines along his shoulder. Drekahnis’ right arm became a club and bashed into Tanin’s side, knocking him away and breaking off more shards of armor. -----“I don’t know why you feel you have to do this,” Tanin said as he caught his breath. “This whole war…is it just because you’re chaos. Is this some destiny that we Avatars have to go along with?” -----“Don’t get philosophical on me now. What I desire is to destroy that very destiny you speak of.” -----“Quite frankly, I don’t give a damn about what you want. I don’t care if its evil, of if you think its noble in your mind. Your people destroyed the homes of the people of Arael—and so many others, all in your name. And I won’t let you walk away from this without feeling their pain!” Once more he ran straight at his enemy, Chrysillium raised high. -----“What do you think you are? Some paladin for the people of Khazan? Avatars like you and me do not have the luxury of living for the sake of other people!” Drekahnis’ fingers extended out into sharper claws. Both hands converged together to block Tanin’s final strike. -----The Avatar of Light put in all of his strength, and the Avatar of Chaos put in all of his defiance. White brightness and a rhapsody of red bolts flushed together at the meeting—neither opponent giving way to the other. The pressure tested the limits of their muscles, though Tanin knew that this couldn’t last. Drekahnis’ body could reconstruct—the attrition would weigh less on him. -----“This is it!” Tanin shouted. A white brilliance erupted out the sword and pushed back all of the blood-red power that was trying to hold the weapon at bay. -----“Where…this power,” Drekahnis muttered as the strain overtook him. The power flowing through those caverns became so monumental that pockets of individual explosions sprang around them. More and more of these blasts built up around Drekahnis, converging inwards and shadowing his entire form in a wall of fiery bursts. His face seemed to stretch out and twist, and then individual pieces of his body separated and flickered away. Waves of white washed across the darkstone and flew down into the abyss of the Endless Caves, carrying with it a weakening scream. -----Tanin let Chrysillium drop to the floor. He fell to his knees after a few quick heaves; he felt drained, empty inside. No power left at all. And in the depths of those caverns he could still sense that disenchanting presence, that sickening aura. Drekahnis was collecting himself again. All of that, and still he would neither die nor weaken in the slightest. -----This was his limit; no more could be accomplished here and now. He gathered his sword and sheathed it, then turned and began to fly up the tunnels towards his friends. His track of time had been lost in the battle, but he hoped that it was enough. -----A voice boomed after him as he flew, but even as that rasp crawled up after him it also became more relaxed and distant as it went on. “Go ahead, let your friends escape if they wish. They will die sooner or later…it doesn’t matter to me.” -----When the sound stopped the presence vanished behind him. Tanin glanced into the darkness briefly before continuing his ascent. “I guess he won’t follow anymore. Good enough for now.”
Meeting in Axia -----Maiinverno leaned forward against the railing that outlined the roof of his carrier. The dust and rock of the valley appropriated little of interest, but he stared into that haze of brown and yellow as if there was something there he should see. Something that he should have been able to see much earlier in life, but for some reason he had missed it all along, and now he longed to be able to grasp it, whatever it was. Maybe it would have made a difference in the past if he had managed Araelis in another way—a smarter way—or perhaps it didn’t matter anymore. -----As much as the past assailed him, and as much as the future preoccupied his mind, he found himself dwindling between some inane twilight, an obsession with the present moment and only this, this steady but prolonged movement through a lifeless place of rock and soil. Neither plans for ahead or troubles from days past could breach the surface of his conscious. -----Woose joined him on the top, his eyes searching the stony distance for whatever Maiinverno might be preoccupied with. “Our provisions are getting low,” he said as he rested an elbow on the silver rail. “We’re completely out of food for the citizens, and only one day’s water left. I guess not all of our supply caravans made it out of the city in one piece.” -----“Axia Prime is less than a day away,” Vincentzo said bluntly. “I’d rather we make a break for the capital so that I can immediately begin…” -----Woose shrugged at the unusual pause. “Begin…?” -----The young wizard stood up, his hands firmly wrapped around the railbars. “I suppose if its too much of a burden, then we could stop in Mesterte City for a re-supply. Still, we should be able to make it.” -----“Yeah,” Woose looked off in the opposite direction. “Wait a sec…what is that over there?” -----The two of them jolted to the opposite railing, ready to face a surprise appearance from a Drekis army—or worse, perhaps Aigonis Zekruel and his associates in pursuit. In the distance, running parallel with their own course, and leaving a hundred foot long trail of dust in its wake, was another transport vehicle. This large armored tanker was of military origin, though clearly one of the ones that had departed from Arael. -----“One of ours?” Vincentzo said. He was embarrassed to feel a bolt of happiness strike up inside of him. “More survivors have made it out here! Tell the driver. Tell them we need to move over there.” -----“Are you sure it’s wise to knock the whole caravan off course?” Woose scratched his head. -----“Move us, or signal them, whatever! One large group together if at all possible.” -----Woose’s voice trailed off as he ran down the stairs. “They must have been separated from the main group during the evacuation…” -----The main group and the single transport struck communications and were soon directing each other on a converging course. They continued moving ahead, but at a shifted degree so that the lonely vehicle could fall in line with the others. Twenty minutes passed, and by then they had both reached the outskirts of Mesterte City. -----A young woman waved from the roof of the new vessel; she was wearing a Mobile Police uniform, and she stood at the base of a giant robot’s foot. -----“They’re carrying Mobile Police gear?” Woose asked. -----“I recall several divisions of them assisting in Arael,” Vincentzo confirmed. -----“Glad to see more people made it out!” the Woman shouted. “We were beginning to think we were the only ones left.” -----“You’re the only ones?” Vincentzo replied. -----The woman nodded. “Six transports left with us, but we were the only ones that made it past Araelis’ borders. I’m officer Chase, but you can just call me Jennifer. You’re Vincentzo Maiinverno right?” -----The wizard nodded. -----“Well, it’s good to see that the State-Kingdom’s leader made it out alive. Do you have a plan?” -----“Not much beyond getting to Axia Prime. We’ll have to talk with the Khazan government before we take any more actions. My citizens need rest, and we’re low on provisions.” -----Jennifer turned to speak a few words to a younger man who seemed to be kneeling by the mech’s foot, tweaking and twisting at parts of the interior with strange tools. The man lifted up his oil-spotted hat a little and spoke something back. “We still have some food aboard our craft!” She shouted back. “We’re almost all KMP and military personnel back here.” -----“Good to hear. I’ll send Woose over to meet with you.” -----“Me? Why…” Woose said. -----“And maybe this way we can make for the capital without hesitation.” -----“I’d prefer that,” Officer Chase said with a look of worry. “I have some important news to tell the Queen of Axia. We passed by the northern regions of the Central Valley on our way here. Far to the North we spotted an army.” -----“An army?” Vincentzo cried out. “You mean…” -----“A Drekis army. It’s heading into northern Axia.”
Extraction -----“We made it,” Uberman said as he surveyed the Drekis fortress that they had first snuck past in order to enter the caves. It was far less populated now. In fact, if he didn’t know any better he’d say it was deserted. -----“Fucking time we got out of that shithole,” Cortelloni said, creaking his neck to both sides. -----Toc Darkone brushed some of the dust away from his clothes and looked up at the black spire. “When we first came to this place it was teeming with demons. An entire mecha-nized team was required just to serve as a distraction. But now…” -----“It’s far too quiet.” Tim said. “The sword isn’t even glowing anymore.” -----Tanin flew out of the caves and landed in front of the group, his hands on Chrysillium’s hilt. “Alright, phase one was a success, and now….well, look at that. Guess the hard part’s already behind us.” -----“They probably left a skeleton crew inside of the fortress,” Telissa explained. “Once they felt that there were no credible threats nearby, the army that was here would move out.” -----“From this place…” Uberman shook his head. “They must have headed out for Axia. Who knows how long since.” -----“They could be halfway across the Central Valley by now,” Shinsuke stated dryly. “Or worse, perhaps even in Axia already.” -----“Well, at least we don’t have to fight our way out of here,” Raea said, giving Tim a worried look that made him shrink his gaze quickly away. -----“I’m all for the lack of enemies,” Captain Khazan said, “but the journey to Axia or anyplace else is a long one.” -----“All taken care of,” Tanin brushed his hand off of his forehead in some mockery of a salute. “Matter of fact, they should be here in three…two…” -----A burst of flashes in the sky lit up the night, and as they grew closer the group could see that they were a formation and individual dots trailing the sky, almost blending in with the sea of stars if it were not for the fires of their engines blazing orange across the navy-grey clouds. -----“I think you’ll recognize them,” Tanin said with a smile. -----The frame of the Gemini was the first to come into view, and the first to spark their memories. The others soon followed—all of the mechs that had participated in the original drop off and decoy mission. Now their numbers had grown—an additional mech of different origin flew at their back. -----“The 478th,” Raea spoke the words as if they were the key to the world’s salvation. -----“Not sure how, but it looks like someone had this all planned out,” Uberman looked at the Avatar of Light. -----“You can thank the Queen of Axia,” Tanin replied. “For the extraction here as well as my untimely appearance.” -----“I see…so then the Queen knew our operation failed. What are we doing now then.” -----Tanin shrugged. “Joint operations are being launched all over the Main Continent. She wants you to return to Axia for the moment. Everyone’s heading there—the refugees from Araelis, from Cretalia. It will probably be the site of the next major engagement.” -----Uberman looked at the broken wires in the near-severed parts of his arm. “We’ll return to Axia Prime to rest…but after that I think we—as well as the Queen, should pay a visit to Khazan City. The enemy has worn us down by forcing our collective forces to defend all of our fronts at once. As dangerous an option as it may be, it’s time we all came together and launched a single push against them. We’ve seen the vastness of the hive, and so we know for a fact…defense isn’t going to win this war. We need to send the next attack, well before their army ever reaches sight of Axia Prime.” Next
War of Drekis |