Lia Moonweaver was together with Johann and Owen the Steadfast, leading an army of five hundred men. They had just left the fort and were waiting at the far end of the spire, their presence hidden by the thick foliage as well as the mages' magic. Behind them was a battering ram with a thatched roof and wheels, so that it will be easier to break down the gates. All of them were waiting eagerly for Kara's fire attack to take place.
Lia looked up and pointed towards the sky. 'Look! There's smokes!'
They all looked up at where Lia was pointing. Indeed, black smokes were rising from the valley. If they listened carefully, they could hear the screaming of the Undead and crackling of fire burning. Taking this as a signal for their attack, Johann pulled out his sword from his scabbard and shouted.
'That's our signal! The Grand Crusader's plan is a success! Brave soldiers of Tanelic, raise your weapons! Follow me as we storm the spire and take down Avencus! Forward!'
Still roaring, Johann kneed his horse in the sides and charged first: Lia and Owen following behind him. Like a tidal wave, the soldiers and crusaders followed Johann: giving their own battle cry. With spirits rising, they charged towards the spire with the battering ram rumbling between them.
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Avencus looked in disbelief and in anger as fire erupted from the valley, burning his new undead army into cinders. At first the Legion of the Damned was pushing back the Tanelician forces into the valley before giving chase. Then suddenly, the valley burst into flames and every Legionnaire was turned into cinders. Avencus snarled. These damned Cavaliers have the nasty habit of burning his troops!
The warlock focussed his wrath on Kor'Dalhar whose face was hidden in the helmet he wore. 'Looked at what had happened! Three legions destroyed and the enemy is just outside! Your Legion has failed me Kor'Dalhar!'
Kor'Dalhar turned to face Avencus, not cowled by his anger. 'Fear not father, we still have the 1st Legion here. As long as…. Argh!' He grunted and placed his mailed hand onto his helmet, bending his head in pain.
Avencus frowned. 'What's the matter Kor'Dalhar?'
Kor'Dalhar removed his mailed hand from his head and if he were not wearing the helmet, Avencus could see the frown on his son's face. 'I don't understand… I had… A vision… A passing memory… Fire burning… Men killed… But… I… Cannot remember… Any of it…'
Avencus furrowed his brows but only snapped. 'There's no time for reminiscing the past, son! Tell me what do we have to do?'
Avencus do not want to admit to anyone, even to himself, but fear was taking hold of him. In his arrogance, he did not prepare Blackrock Spire's defences since it was always him attacking the Tanelician forces. Now with his brother here, they might be able to break through the gate and take him. The thoughts of being overthrown was humiliating.
Kor'Dalhar composed himself and spoke impassively. 'Forgive me father… You're right.' He turned back to the battlefield where number of corpses lay on the ground. 'There are many dead bodies down there… I will take five hundred Legionnaires with me as well as some necromancers… We will raise their dead into our ranks. That should bolster our forces before the enemy…'
He was interrupted again when another warlock appeared before them, panting heavily. 'My lords!' He reported. 'An enemy contingent has rode out from the Narrow Path and are attacking us here! They have five hundred men with them!'
Avencus and Kor'Dalhar stared at the warlock, slowly digesting his words. Kor'Dalhar was the first one to react. 'The enemy is more cunning than I expected… So their main force acted as a diversion while a small force attack us here… That's… very admirable for their part…' He turned to Avencus. 'What are your orders father? It's too late for me to raise more legionnaires.'
Avencus nodded, a calm acceptance overtaking him. Reinforcement would not make it on time since the creation of the new Legions were still underway at the Frozen Fortress and Rorhael Citadel. Furthermore, even if he ordered Kor'Dalhar to open portals to his other two bastions, it will distract him from defending the spire.
'Then we shall make do with what we have.' Avencus replied. 'I will leave you in charge of the defences here, Kor'Dalhar. Defend the spire and slaughter anyone who enter through that gate.'
Kor'Dalhar bowed. 'And what about you, father?'
Avencus smiled, some confidence returning to him. 'I will be returning to my study. I have… Some preparation to make.'
Kor'Dalhar accepted Avencus' words and bowed as the warlock passed him, climbing up the staircase and back to his study. The Legion of the Damned maybe defeated but he was not ready to meet his end so easily.
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'Forward men!' Johann shouted, pointing his sword at the gates leading to Blackrock Spire. 'Bring down the gate! Storm the Spire! Forward!'
The Tanelician soldiers roared as they moved forward, shouting their battle cries and waving their weapons in the air. The archers stepped forward and nocking their arrows to their longbows, they unleashed fire arrows over the battlements; the arrows slamming into the shields of the Legionnaires or setting anything flammable on fire. Some of the foot soldiers carried scaling ladders, which they leaned it against the wall, while the battering ram was nearing the gate.
The soldiers climbing up the ladder met resistance from the Legion of the Damned, poking the humans with their spears or throwing down stones onto them. Fortunately for the Tanelician, the Legion of the Damned was mainly infantry units so they were no archers among them. This made it easier for the invaders as they had no need to worry about enemy firing down projectiles onto them.
As the battering ram was pounding on the great wooden gate, the Tanelician were slowly taking over the battlements when suddenly, every soldier was blasted off the battlements: raining down onto the ground. Soon men wearing black robes and carrying staffs appeared alongside the Legionnaires. The warlocks began to cast magical shields to protect the defenders from the fire arrows while others threw fireballs and lightning bolts at the Tanelician forces. One of them even tried to burn down the battering ram.
Lia stepped out from the ranks and flung her arm, water shooting out from her wave. The water doused the flames that was beginning to burn the battering ram as Lia pushed both her palms towards the warlocks that was standing at the ends of the battlements.
'Tincya en' russe tuulo' moriloomir!'
Her hands crackled and blue lightning shot out from her hand, striking the targeted warlocks. The warlocks screamed as the lightning made it way from one warlock to the other, electrocuting the black robed figures. One by one, the blackened warlocks fell off the battlements and onto the ground: not moving from where they fell. With the warlocks gone, the magic shield has gone down and no more projectiles were thrown at the invaders.
The Tanelician forces' spirit rose and as they continued on with their attack, firing more arrows at the Legionnaires who had no choice but to raise their shields to prevent the arrows from sinking into their rotting flesh. With the defenders occupied, the Tanelician soldiers quickly scaled up the ladder and cut down the defenders from the battlements. Meanwhile, the battering ram continued to pound on the gate unhindered.
Lia smiled as she stepped back into the ranks, reserving her powers for more warlocks or necromancers she had to deal once the gates were opened. As a fierce battle was waging on the battlements, the gate was slowly giving in to the heavy head of the ram. Finally with a great shudder, the mighty wooden gate burst opened violently from the hinges.
Owen the Steadfast raised his war-hammer, glowing with a powerful light. 'The way is opened my brothers! Charge and wiped out the monsters that lurked within this unholy place!'
Owen roared and charged forward with the Tanelician soldiers and his fellow paladins following after him, Lia and Johann joining in the charge as well. They poured through the gate where they were met with strong resistance from the Legion of the Damned, unfazed at the breakthrough. The Tanelician army was outnumbered but they fought desperately, full of righteous rage and fighting for their homeland.
Owen rode thick into the ranks of the undead, light glowing from his body as well as his weapon. The Undead who was closed to him shielded their eyes at the blinding light as the paladin swung his war-hammer, smashing through their heavy helmets with a sickening crunch. The other paladins, filled with the same holy aura as Owen, also waded into the enemy ranks: crushing them with their hammers or cutting them down with their swords. The Tanelician soldiers cheered as the Legion was falling back from the holy warriors.
Lia, who was back on her horse, looked around the battlefield. Her eyes overlooking the black and green armours as she searched for any more warlocks or necromancers. Sure enough, she saw two men in black robes standing before corpses, their hands tinged with green glow. The corpses were surrounded with the same green glow as they slowly rise up.
Lia nocked her mounted crossbow and raised it, pressing down on the trigger that will release the bolt. She put bolts in between the eyes of the two necromancers, penetrating their skulls into their brains. They fell at the same time as the two corpses, joining the dead.
Lia nocked another bolt onto her crossbow as she looked for more magic-users to take down. Her eyes spotted Owen still in the lead, glowing with holy radiance as he crashed into the Legion's ranks. Johann was now dismounted but fought like a lion, his sword decapitating any Legionnaire unfortunate enough to be in his way. The corpses of the living and the dead littered the ground as the battle became more bloody and fierce.
Lia shot down another warlock and nocked her mounted crossbow, joining her friends into the fray.
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High Necromancer Kor'Dalhar stood on the balcony, leaning against the golden railings as he surveyed the battlefield. He saw his Legionnaires defending the battlements against the invaders but was pushed back by the humans, even with the help from the warlocks. Then shortly after that, the gate burst opened and Tanelician soldiers and paladins rushed in and engaged in closed combat with the Legion. Surprisingly, the Legion was faltering before the humans.
His helmet clank softly as he straightened up. The reason why the attackers were able to climb up the battlements before and after the warlocks' intervention was due to the lack of archers, a flaw that he need to correct in the future. If there was a future for him.
Kor'Dalhar watched as the old paladin crashing through the heavy armoured ranks of his Legionnaires, his cursed light blinding the Undead warriors and leaving them vulnerable to his weapon and to others. He watched as the young battle commander fighting on foot, swinging his sword wildly and shouting encouragement to his fellows to follow him. He watched as the archmage, who was supposed to be dead, was taking down the warlocks and necromancers with either bolts of magic: leaving them pierced with a bolt in them or burnt to ashes.
A heavy sigh escaped through the six holes at the bottom of his helm. Those necromancers were very hard to find, let alone to train to become useful enough to raise the dead. They were hastily educated in the ways of Necromancy as Kor'Dalhar needed aid in raising the four legions. Their premature deaths were a big blow on him. The humans will pay for this.
Kor'Fiend pondered on the balcony and above the din for a bit before retreating back into the spire. The Tanelician force was breaking through and destroying his legions but he was not ready to surrender. As long as there was breath within his being, he will still fight for his father's dreams and ideals.
It was time to try out his new breed of warriors.
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'We're winning!' Johann shouted. 'Push forward! Crush the undead!'
The Tanelician forces roared as they pushed forward, driving the Legion of the Damned back. Even though that the Legion had taken many lives, the Tanelician continued to fight on with as much determination they had. Without a commander to order them into formation or any more necromancers to replenish their ranks, the 1st Legion was slowly dwindling in numbers. Soon, each Legionnaire was fighting in single combat instead in a formation that they were trained for.
Johann cut down another Legionnaire and looked up. They were winning! His forces were pushing back the legion as the air continued to be filled with clashes of steel and the dying screams of the slain. He looked around and saw the entrance to the spire, unguarded. He scanned the chaotic battlefield until he found Lia and Owen, fighting fiercely as well.
He raised his voice so he can be heard over the din. 'Lia! Sir Owen! To me! Toward the entrance!'
Lia and Owen heard his words and nodded, joining him. The three fought their way towards the black spire, Owen and Johann clearing a path for them while Lia supported them with her magic. Legionnaire crumbled before them as they continued on, nearing the spire. Finally, they reached the spire after Lia blasted a few Legionnaires with a gust of wind, throwing them back into the battlefield. Owen lowered his hammer and turned to one of his fellow paladin.
'Thomas!' He shouted, getting the attention of the other paladin. 'Hold off the enemy and prevent anyone from getting into the spire! The Battle Commander, the Archmage and I will continued up to the spire to end Avencus and his abominations!'
Thomas saluted. 'Yes Sir Owen!'
Owen nodded and turned back just in time to see Johann kicked the door opened, the wooden door slamming against the walls as Johann, Lia and Owen stepped into the spire. It was dark with only torches illuminating the halls, a black staircase leading up. Floating in the middle of the spire were books and skulls, glowing with orange light.
Johann nodded and took the lead, leaping up the staircase and taking three steps at a time: Owen and Lia hurried after him. They passed frightened servants and attendants, ignoring them as they were harmless and had nothing to do with the conflict. The only time they had to stop was because of the silver armoured Hoplites who tried to block their way with halberds and blade. They fought off the elite of the Legion, decapitating them or knocking them off the staircase. The higher they climbed up the spire, the more resistance they met.
Despite his age and fighting at the very beginning, Owen roared like an old lion as he slammed his hammer repeatedly into the Hoplites: crushing their rotting heads within their helmets or knocking them off the staircase. Johann hacked and slashed as he bounded up the staircase while Lia continued using her magic to heal the two warriors wounds or to cast her own magic.
Soon, the staircase ended with a wooden door with golden hinges and two Hoplites guarding it. Lia waved her hand sideway, throwing the two guardians off the staircase and down the spire: ending their lives. Johann, Owen and Lia took a breather: recovering their strength from the fight and the climb up the staircase. When they recovered their stamina, they looked at each other: nodding. Johann and Owen placed their palms on each door and pushed it opened, stepping into a chamber.
The chamber they stepped in was beautifully decorated with a chandelier hanging above the ceiling and illuminating brightly lit candles. Hanging on the stone walls were portraits, painted with oil and other colour dyes. The stone floor was painted white and a red carpet led to the other end of the chamber, revealing a massive wooden door with golden linings and hinges. Standing before the door was a dozen Hoplites with their halberds lowered in attacking position. In front of them was a figure in black armour from head to toe. Strangely, there were four coffins in standing positions: two on each side of the figure.
Kor'Dalhar looked up as Johann, Lia and Owen stepped into the chamber. 'Ah… So we meet again…' His demonic voice echoed in the chamber, dripping with sarcasm. 'I never thought we will meet so soon… And you brought a friend…'
'Kor'Dalhar.' Johann growled. 'You killed many of our people and you almost kill Lia! I will kill you for that.'
It was Kor'Dalhar's turn to growl, his voice now laced with malice and anger. 'You destroyed my legions and killed all of my necromancers! They're irreplaceable! I will personally see to it that you are all killed slowly and horribly! Your corpses will be the perfect replacement for the soldiers I lost!'
'Unholy fiend!' Owen shouted, shaking with fury. 'How can you live with yourself with such crimes? How can you live with yourself serving an evil man like Avencus?'
Kor'Dalhar turned to Owen, sounding amused. 'How one cannot? Lord Avencus had brought me into the fold and taught me everything he knows. Now I serve him so that he will sit on the throne and rule these lands once again. Even if it means my own death.'
'Is that what those coffins are for?' Lia asked. 'Are you planning to die with us? Because we're not so easily beaten!'
Kor'Dalhar threw back his head and laughed, the same laugh he used when they first met him. 'Die with you? That is amusing! I beg your pardon but these coffins are not for us… They're for my new warriors…'
The necromancer raised both his armoured hands, glowing with green magic. Soon, all four coffins glowed with the green light as he chanted.
'Lezy Zneltezwylz! Lezy ofk kybyfk uail tozsyl!'
The four coffins shook violently even when the green glow disappeared and even when Kor'Dalhar lowered his arms. Without warning, the front of the coffins creaked loudly and fell flat onto the floor: sending dust flying everywhere. When the dust settled, growled were heard coming out from the coffin. Then to Johann, Lia and Owen's horror, a rotting foot stepped out from one of the coffin. A rotting figure pulled itself out of the coffin, in plain view of the horrified trio.
It was naked saved for the dirty loincloth covering its waist, displaying its rotting body with patches of skin missing and maggots crawling out. Its skull has strands of hair and its eyes were bright yellow, showing it decaying teeth with its paled tongue lolling downwards. Behind its back were two arms stitched just behind the arms that were already there. In each rotting hand were a cleaver, cracked but sharp. The creature looked at the trio as the three more stepped out from their coffins, snarling with ichor and drool dripping down from their maws.
'My Skirmishers!' Kor'Dalhar announced, sounding like a proud father witnessing the birth of his new—born child. 'Unleash your fury on the interlopers! Chop them into pieces!'
The Skirmishers snarled and sprinted forward, moving at lightning speed. Johann, Owen and Lia recovered from their shock and prepared themselves, waiting for the Skirmishers to come closer. Owen was almost cut when one of the Skirmishers appeared before him, bringing down a cleaver. The paladin had to step aside as the cleaver slammed where he last stood. Owen spun around and swung his hammer towards the back of the Skirmisher, only for it to be block by the other two cleavers.
Owen pulled back his hammer for another attack but sensed something behind him, turning around. His hammer saved his life as two cleavers slammed on it, Owen facing another Skirmisher. He grunted and kicked the new attacker in the mid-section before swinging his hammer at the other Skirmisher, making the undead ducked at the hammer swing. Johann backed away as the two cleavers swung at him, narrowly missing him. Johann had tried to unleash his own attacks but the Skirmisher was not giving him the chance.
Lia nocked an arrow and fired at the approaching Skirmisher, only for the Skirmisher to dodge the incoming bolt. Lia cursed and nocked another bolt, preparing to fire again. Before she could pull the trigger, the Skirmisher jumped in front of her and swung his cleaver. Lia gasped and fell backwards, her life saved but the cleaver struck her mounted crossbow. The blade destroyed her crossbow, sending the wooden remains onto the floor.
Weaponless, Lia had to rely on her magic. Her hand ignited with flames and she threw a fireball at the Skirmisher, the creature avoiding the attack again. Lia furrowed her brows and prepared to throw another fireball but instead, slammed her foot into the floor. Ice creeped from her foot and spread towards the Skirmisher. The Skirmisher stepped onto the ice and immediately, the ice froze its leg: stopping his movement.
The Skirmisher looked down at its leg in confusion, trying to pull it out from the ice but it was too late. The ice slowly crept up its leg until it reached its torso, freezing the undead. The ice soon stopped all movement in the creature's arms and legs as it gave a rasped gasp, turning into an ice statue.
With her attacker taken care off, Lia turned her attention to her friends who were still struggling against their attackers. Lia concentrated and opened her palm at the Skirmisher attacking Johann, freezing its arms in a cast of ice. With the Skirmisher unable to continue its attack, Johann slashed the undead in half before slamming his sword into its neck: decapitating it.
Lia and Johann turned to Owen who was being cornered by the remaining two Skirmishers. Owen was panting heavily from the cuts he received on his arms and body, still holding onto his hammer. The two Skirmishers were closing in for the kill but Johann roared and slammed his sword into the back of one of the Skirmishers, making it screamed in agony. Johann pulled his sword put from the Skirmisher's rotting body and cut its head off, sending it rolling onto the floor.
The remaining Skirmisher snarled and turned his attention to Johann, preparing to pounce on him. Before the Undead could attack Johann, it burst into flames. The Skirmisher screamed and swung its fours arms wildly as the flames engulfed its body. Owen gathered his strength and with a fierce cry, he brought his hammer down on the Skirmisher's head. The Undead's head exploded into bits of flesh and bone shards, lying before the paladin.
With their foes taken care of, the three heroes turned to Kor'Dalhar. Judging by the shaking of his armoured body, they can tell the Necromancer was furious with the deaths of his new warriors.
'Curse you! You will suffer for that! Hoplites, crush the enemy!'
The Hoplites lowered their halberds and marched pass Kor'Fiend, slowly advancing towards Johann, Lia and Owen. Although he was panting and suffering from cuts, Owen stepped forward and raised his hammer.
'Evil fiends!' He roared. 'The Light will cleansed your corruption from the face of the earth!'
His hammer glowed with brilliant light before engulfing the chamber in light. Lia and Johann, who were used to the power of the paladins, only needed to shield their eyes but they can still see through the gaps of their fingers. The Hoplites were not so fortunate. They heard the agonising screams coming out from rotting lungs as the Light eradicated the elite soldiers of the Legion.
Then the light dimmed, allowing Lia and Johann to lower their hands. They and Owen were alone in the chamber; no signs of the Hoplites were there. Johann and Lia were used to Owen asking the Light to give the soldiers strength and courage before battles but this was their first time seeing the light obliterating enemies. Their surprise was cut short.
Standing just before the door was a black cross, like the one they saw Kor'Dalhar using it to defend himself. The black cross sunk back into the floor, revealing Kor'Dalhar: unharmed and unaffected by the Light. He laughed at the surprise looks that were on Johann, Lia and Owen.
'Foolish human… Your precious Light have no effect on me! Looks like I have to deal with you myself!' He walked towards Owen as black shroud surrounded his right hand, a sword materialising in his mailed palm. This was sword was black but straight with its corner pointing out with a sharp end. Its hilt was shaped in a golden full moon and there were runes unscripted on the blade, glowing in pale red. 'Come old man… Bloodmoon is hungry…'
Owen readied his hammer as he waited for Kor'Dalhar to come closer. 'I will end you right here, right now abomination!'
A guttural growl escaped from Kor'Dalhar as he sprinted forward, bringing his blade down on Owen. The paladin raised his hammer and blocked the attack. Before he could push the blade away, he grunted as he felt the wind being pushed out from him. He stumbled backwards when Kor'Dalhar kicked him in the stomach but raised his hammer, bringing it down onto the necromancer. Kor'Dalhar merely stepped aside as the hammer slammed right in front of him, sending pieces of the floor everywhere, and thrust Bloodmoon towards Owen.
The Light came to Owen's aid as it protected him from the blade, making the blade hit an invisible wall of pure light. Kor'Dalhar snarled and pulled back his sword, preparing for another strike. However, Owen was ready for him.
The veteran pulled his hammer back and swung low, striking the necromancer on his knee. Kor'Dalhar screamed in pain and stepped backwards, holding his knee. He then raised his leg hand. Black chains sprouted from the ground and flew towards Owen, the end of each chains drilling onto the paladin's holy shield.
Owen grunted as the chains were slowly breaking through his defences and he prepared to bring his hammer onto the chains. However, he could not as if his hammer was too heavy for him. He quickly glanced down and saw some the chains wrapped around his hammer, pinning his weapon into the floor.
Before Lia or Johann could rush to his aid, Owen muttered a quick prayer. Then he gave a lion-like roar and this time, he managed to lift his hammer despite the chains. He slammed the hammer onto the chains, shattering them and releasing his hammer. With his hammer freed, he roared and charged at the necromancer who was unprepared for this turn of event.
Kor'Dalhar raised his blade in time to block the hammer blow, only for Owen to push Bloodmoon aside and slammed his shaft into Kor'Dalhar's helmet. The necromancer stumbled backwards, holding his head. Seeing Kor'Dalhar dazed and defenceless, Owen raised his hammer and brought it down onto him. Reacting quickly, Kor'Dalhar raised his left arm.
The hammer slammed onto the Necromancer's left armoured arm, a loud clash of steel resounding in the chamber and making Kor'Dalhar grunt loudly. Slowly but surely, the armour protecting Kor'Dalhar's left arm shattered and fell onto the floor: leaving pieces of black iron. Lia, Johann and even Owen gasped in surprise when Kor'Dalhar's left arm was revealed.
'By the light!' Owen gasped, paling slightly.
Instead of a human hand, Kor'Dalhar's left arm was black as night with black veins appearing on the surface. The nails on his fingers were also black and his hand was shaped like a claw. Even from a distance, Lia can feel the raw energy of dark magic coming from that arm.
It was an arm of a demon.
Paralysed in shock, Owen barely reacted when Kor'Dalhar wrapped his claw-like hand around his hammer and yanked it hard from his hands. The Necromancer threw Owen's hammer aside and plunged Bloodmoon into the paladin's stomach. Owen grunted as the black blade sunk into his flesh and protruded from his back. He gasped again when Kor'Dalhar pulled the blade out from his body, allowing him to fall onto his back.
'NO!' Johann screamed and filled with rage, he charged at Kor'Dalhar. Screaming his hatred, he brought his sword down on the Necromancer who parried his attack with ease. Johann continued to swing his sword as Kor'Dalhar continued to block his attacks.
Lia quickly ran to Owen's side and pulled him away from the battle, leaning him against the wall. Pushing her fear aside, Lia placed her hands on the wound Kor'Dalhar inflicted on Owen and concentrated. Soon she found the dark energy within the paladin's body and muttering a spell, she withdrew the dark energy before it could corrupt Owen. Relief flooded Lia as Owen's breathing became more steadier.
'Hang on Owen.' Lia told the paladin. 'I already removed the dark magic in you. Just give me a moment and I will heal your wounds.'
To her surprise, Owen weakly placed his hand on her shoulder. 'Save… Your energy girl… The Light… Will heal me… You must…' He coughed before continuing. 'You must stop… Avencus and that monster… Or else… This land… Is doomed…'
Lia looked at the paladin and realised he was right. She turned back to Johann fighting Kor'Dalhar, swinging his sword at the Necromancer in a blind rage. Johann rained blows after blows onto Kor'Dalhar, only to be blocked by Bloodmoon. Kor'Dalhar on the other hand was making no effort at all to counter every attack Johann tried to land on him. A sickening realisation dawned onto Lia as she watched the fight continued.
Kor'Dalhar was toying with Johann.
Tired of playing what felt like a game to him, Kor'Dalhar backhanded Johann's sword out from his sword. Johann yelped as the sword was knocked from his hand and landed onto the floor, making a clashing sound of steel meeting stone. Kor'Dalhar readied Bloodmoon and thrust the blade towards Johann: planning to impale Johann onto his blade like what he did to Owen.
Johann, however, stepped aside and with a roar: he slammed into the armoured body of the Necromancer. Johann growled and wrapped an arm around Kor'Dalhar's sword-arm and tried to bring him down into the ground, hoping to tackle him onto his back. Kor'Dalhar stood his ground and Lia can see a dark aura emitting from the Necromancer.
All of the sudden, the dark aura pushed Johann back and sent him flying backwards. He gasped when he slammed against the wall, slumping onto the floor. He laid on his stomach and pushed onto his fours, coughing violently. Before he could get up, Kor'Dalhar kicked Johann in the face: sending the Battle-Commander onto his back.
Johann groaned and rubbed his cheek, checking if anything was broken. Kor'Dalhar lowered down and wrapped his demonic claws around Johann's throat, lifting him into the air with ease. With a guttural growl, Kor'Dalhar slammed Johann against the wall. Johann gasped in pain and blood shot out from his mouth, his limbs hanging down. Johann grabbed hold of Kor'Dalhar's demonic wrist, trying to pull his arm away from his throat, as his legs kicked out wildly.
Kor'Dalhar tightened his hold on Johann's neck, choking him. Johann gasped for air as his arms and legs struggled less. Kor'Dalhar looked up at Johann as he brought up Bloodmoon, ready to thrust it into Johann.
'This is the end "Hero of Light"… Kor'Dalhar sneered at Johann's title. 'You will make a fine commander in my Legion of the Damned!'
Kor'Dalhar pulled Bloodmoon back to run it through Johann's body. Before he could finish off Johann, something slammed into Kor'Dalhar. The Necromancer grunted in surprise as he stumbled backwards, releasing Johann from the choke. Johann fell onto the ground, gasping as he finally managed to breathe. Kor'Dalhar steadied himself and looked up at Lia, one hand pushed out and her eyes blazing with magic.
'No! No more!' Lia said as magic crackled from her hands. 'You will not take anymore lives, monster!'
A chuckle escaped from Kor'Dalhar's helm. 'Foolish little girl… Have you forgotten who is more powerful here? I will show you the errors of your folly!'
Kor'Dalhar raised both his arms and chains sprung out from the floor, flying towards Lia. Lia furrowed her brows and a magical shield surrounded her. The black chains drilled onto the shield dome, cracks appearing on the shield. Lia muttered under her breath and her right hand glowed in blue light. The chains turned into ice and with a flick of her wrist, the frozen chains shattered into pieces.
Kor'Dalhar growled and green magic glowed from his armoured hand and demonic hand. He muttered his own spell and the green energy flew towards Lia who countered it with her own magic. The two magic users were stuck in a stalemate, blue meeting green, as they tried to overpower one another in battle of magic.
Lia continued her magical assault when she heard Kor'Dalhar's voice in her head, making her lose focus temporarily.
You are weak… The Necromancer's voice echoed in her mind. You are powerless… You will never stop us… Accept your failures… Accept your fate…
Lia grunted. Kor'Dalhar was trying to break through her mind, weakening her spell and taking over her. Most mages will had to struggle to keep their mind sane or intact but she was the Archmage of Canaleodon. She had fought numerous warlocks over the past years and she has survive them all. More importantly, she had will.
No! She thought furiously, defending her mind from Kor'Dalhar's assault. I'm Lia Moonweaver. Archmage of Canaleodon and daughter of Hugo and Lana Moonweaver! I have defeated countless warlocks! I will defeat Avencus and I will defeat you!
Lia collected all her willpower in a ball of focus, using it to push Kor'Dalhar's presence from her mind. She can feel the Necromancer fighting back but she furrowed her brows, pushing all her power into Kor'Dalhar's mind; sending her own magical attacks into his mind. Both mages' power surged from their hands but it was clear that Lia was slowly pushing Kor'Dalhar's magic attack back. Lia yelled and pushed her attack suddenly, her magic closing into the Necromancer. She saw Kor'Dalhar stamped his foot onto the floor and the black cross rose from the ground to defend himself as the magic closed in onto him.
The chamber was once again filled with a blinding light as the air exploded in between Lia and Kor'Dalhar. The light slowly dimmed and Lia found herself still standing, unharmed. She saw the side of the chamber blasted with a hole in the wall, showing the open sky. On his knees was Kor'Dalhar, his black armour smeared and breathing heavily through his helm. His one eye stared in bewilderment at the archmage.
'Im-possible…' He panted, looking up at Lia. 'I will not be defeated… Like this…'
'Its time to end this.' Lia said calmly as her hands crackled with blue lightning. She thrust both hands forward and blue lightning shot out from them.
Kor'Dalhar growled and thrust his demonic claw forward, black lightning shooting out to meet Lia's lightning spell. Blue and black electricity met in a stalemate, pushing back and forth. Last time they were in the same stalemate Lia was electrocuted. Now that she knew Kor'Dalhar's strength, she was prepared. She grunted and poured in not only power but her determination, her will and her desire to protect her friends.
Lia's lightning spell slowly pushed back the black electricity, moving closer to the Necromancer. Kor'Dalhar growled and raised his other arm, adding more power into his own spell. His body movement showed his frustration as Lia's spell was overpowering his, the ball of electricity near to him. Lia can hear him gasped, disbelief in his tone.
'No…'
The ball of electricity slammed into him, blasting him off his feet. Kor'Dalhar roared in denial as he flew backwards, sending him out of the spire and down towards the earth. Lia continued to hear Kor'Dalhar cursing her and then a loud splash, indicating that he fell into the river. Lia walked to the edge of the hole she created and looked down, a river at the base of the spire. She stood there watching for any movement from the river, waiting for Kor'Dalhar to resurface from the water. When nothing came out from the river, Lia breathe with relief.
Kor'Dalhar was no more.
Johann limped next to Lia, looking down at the river. 'Did you kill him?'
Lia slowly nodded, getting back her breath. 'Looks like it. We shall never see him again.'
They heard a groan behind them, pulling them back to reality.
'Owen!' Lia gasped and walked back to the paladin. Johann quickly collected his sword and Owen's hammer before joining Lia. Lia was kneeling before paladin, inspecting his wound. The wound was slowly closing up and Owen's breathing was regular. 'Here, let me heal you. It will only take a moment.'
Owen, however, placed a hand gently onto hers. 'No need… Thank you for the offer but… You will need all your strength for one more battle…'
He looked straight past them, prompting Lia and Johann to look at where he was looking. Owen was looking at the door that led to the last floor of the spire. It was also where Avencus was waiting for them.
'Behind that door is the root of all evil…' Owen gasped, wincing at the wound. 'Avencus must be stop… I will… Stay and recuperate… You two must continue on… Finish… This fight…'
Lia and Johann looked at the paladin and nodded. 'You're right Owen.' Johann finally said. 'Rest now. We will take down Avencus even if it means our death.'
'Avencus' time has come.' Lia joined in. 'We're going to end this!'
Owen looked up at them, nodding. 'I… Have faith in you two… May the Light… Protect you…' Then he turned to Lia. 'Archmage Lia… I have never trusted you mages but… After seeing you fight… I have started to see you all in a different light… Now I understand… Why the late Grand Crusader… held you in… Such high esteem…'
Lia blushed at Owen's words, touched by it. 'Thank you.' It was all Lia could say.
Owen nodded before coughing out loud. 'Go… Finish the fight… And bring peace to this land…'
Lia and Johann nodded. Johann left the hammer next to Owen and the two of them walked towards the door. Johann pushed the door opened and they stepped through it, the door closing behind them. Lia and Johann found themselves before a flight of stone staircase, narrowed and between stone walls. Torches lit the staircase as it showed them another door, made out of ancient wood and golden linings on it.
Behind that very door, their nemesis waited.
Avencus.