Well I'll be damned...I didn't know Bocaj made these things for anyone to use but this should be interesting. That tricky little tinkerer, maybe I should tell you the story of some of his creations…. No, it's funny and amazing what ineptitude can create. Not that many would characterize it that way…. Oh yes the False Heroes we left them dealing with a step of chaos or whatever the grandiose title is these days and a man using the power beyond the grasp of what Fate would allow. Petty god that hates people going out of the confines layered out….. Ah yes let's not pry on the smaller details as you know my response to this at this point right? Exactly not my domain. Got it? Okay let's continue.
The mine was quiet with the whole family sitting now out in the large cavern, near the grand dining table of faded dark oaks. Wilt brought the pot around once more and refilled the cups of Black bean stew before he sat himself and looked like a child being told to sit in the corner. He felt he should be there for support at the very least but he was broken from his thoughts by Jericho's calming voice.
''So Wilt...I see you have a new piece of jewellery from you trip...It seems familiar to me for some reason…''
Wilt looked at the hand that held the mug and saw the dirty gold shine from the band as he let out a small sigh,
''This? It's just a old style enchantment...Aarc was a fan of the front lines...Annoyed the shit out of me but that was who he was...He got us almost locked up in Redemption once because some rouge tried to overcharged for this thing...Called the guard and the crew had to spend the week hiding in the sewer system until we could eventually get out...This was early in our adventure...Hells! I must have been no older than twenty-two...And I was the oldest!...We were a group of five going in but coming out...''
Jericho saw the pain painted on each wrinkle as he tried to force a jarring smile. Hand beginning to shake before Jericho slapped the back of it,
''Sounds like you have experienced much! I wish I could be as adventurous but most my time was spent learning to be the pious leader of the puzzle of Daedalus…''
Wilt took a second to compose his thoughts and asked a question,
''Wait...You're the first born right? What was the king like then? Yours and Mathis' old man you know? We are about the same age so-''
The goblin was interrupted by the entire ground around them turning into a black fire, making Jericho stand and raise his hands,
''Do not fret! This is Mathis' signature after all so her is most likely sending…''
The flames dispersed as it looked like the entire town was now standing confused around them, some started to pass out and some fell to their knees. Wilt stood and put his whole arm in his bottomless bag, pulling out a silver powder and threw it up before speaking his incantation,
''Progressia holds land in all domains! Make this powder take its healing form and spread it to those who need it!''
The goblin threw it high as his green aura took it over. The powder shined emerald green and floated over the crowd, dispersing like snowflakes in the hot sun. The princesses and queen stood before Wilt spoke strong to the towering Half-mix,
''This means trouble...I feel like I know what has arrived...You need to help the people and make sure there safe!...This is something I need to do.''
Jericho went to speak but was already too late, the goblin barrelled past him and out the doors towards the town that he could see was full of explosions already.
The moment in time stopped for the crew, all who were watching the fight. Regal was interrupted by a tendril ripping through his abdomen and making him splutter blood. The crew was about to move until his voice boomed through the town,
''THIS IS NOT OVER! I WILL DEFEND MY LANDS! THE SECOND GATE IS NEEDED TO PUSH THROUGH! LET THE THIRD. FOURTH AND FIFTH OPEN SO THIS CREATURE CAN BURN!''
The old man's hand grasped around the tendril, crushing it then spinning, using it as a blade to sever the other side of the tentacle, making the small black blob mouth out curses,
"Fuck you! I am a god immortal you canno-"
As he began to monologue, a fist whet though his mouth. Ripping through the blob and making it fold inwards before masses of ooze spilled to the ground. He began to pound harder and harder into the abomination, each strike becoming stronger and faster as the very ground began to shake and the air around him exposed and retracted at such speeds the very atmosphere around his arms began to burn. Blinding all as a pillar of plasma started to form around his fists before shattering off, merging into a large unstable bubble of chaotic energy radiating blue as the on looking False Heroes were struggling to keep their footing. The very support beams began to tear apart then breaking into the air in a tornado of sand and trash, beginning to merge into the chaos above them. Regal bounced back screaming an invocation as hot steam poured from his mouth,
"The chaos of the elements formed all life. Now they demand it back as you have corrupted their gifts…. You useless piece of crap!"
He slammed both fists to the ground as the orb of elemental fury expanded while spinning, exacerbating the ground and crumbling most of the building around the centre mass as the ball began to collapse into itself. Making gravity itself seem to fail for an instance as the False heroes were flung into the air along with around half the town. As the sounds of screaming, wind, the tarring of metal, and the sound of rapid expansion tearing through a piece of history. Leaving the landscape nothing like the annuals would say.
Kyu could not see much in the destructive chaos, focusing on his senses he found the signs of life within the cloud of dust ash and trash focusing a large portion of his reserves into his wings expanding them outwards then beating them as hard as he could, countering the incoming force as they shattered to dust before the groups of people fell through the sands below that seemed to soften the blow to almost nothing. Mathis, Matthew and Elias managed to stagger to their feet seeing the exhorted Azamaar, Mathis grabbed him and lifted him to his feet,
"Nice save buddy. I didn't know you could soften sand like that."
The fallen huffed out slowly before pointing towards the top of That Place at the demon. His body steaming and embedding as he had managed to absorb most of the heat that would have melted That Place,
"The demon....is using his power to con…trol the sands...But he is overheating. He needs to g...get rid of it….lord Tysol lend me your strength….I cannot do this alone."
Mathis pulled out a bottle of Sand Storm, passing the still cool bottle to the bird before asking,
"You got my title right, you're not joking around, okay then buddy what do you need?"
"Alright...Matthew...Mathis...do a thing while I do a different thing, does everyone understand?"
The angel said after downing the Sand Storm.
Mathis rolled his eyes.
"Mathew with me. The bird is going to heal Elias so just back me up... Okay boy?"
The old man stood his hands quivering and his body heaving as he forced himself into a stance seeing the mist begin to settle and started to condense into the shape of a gnome before a the mist began to shape tendrils of vapor and ash as the now almost incorporeal figure began speaking it almost seemed like a hiss from a snake.
"Oh so you thought just smashing till there was nothing left was enough. You really are a genetic dead end and that's coming from the thing you hate most! Now how long will it take before you lay down like a good little dog?! Or do you have another stolen trick up your sleeve."
The old man began breathing inwards the air became ever thinner before he spoke,
''The first five were not enough...I must surpass the limits that the gods place on us. I must show what mankind can do to a god...EIGHTH GATE OF PURGATORY! OPEN!''
The world around him seemed to ripple as a white layer of energy busted through expanding his mussels and mass, Shitto raised his arms. Before screaming out,
"What is a punch or a kick going to do in a glass you dul-"
The old man seemed to disappear from sight but the ground began to burn as Shitto looked around for any signs of the druid. Only seeing the angel rushing to the demon before sending his gaseous tendrils flying over to him only to interspersed. Turning to informed vapor as the tip of Lytesbane passed though, making the Gnome wince slightly from the pain before the druid emerged from the ground. Surrounded by a torrent of heat and metal, grabbing the ancient grand weapon before throwing it back towards the floor in front of the blob.
As it hit the sand raised like a Tsunami before crashing over him. Feeling the enormous pressure building against him before a sharp pain in his lower body. The sands stopped flowing as the prince was standing holding Lytesbane with three feet of the five foot blade inside the creation and to Mathis's surprise seeing the blood drip out for the first time, a more vibrant and bright purple than his eyes rolling down the creature to Its dismay. He went to move forward with his tendrils only to see the wood elf disappear again before the pike was pulled through his body by the blade with the prince now standing on the other side.
"What in the hells made this thing?!"!
Shitto screamed as he had his own tendrils grip and ripped him into four pieces before bounding between the rubble, reforming around ten feet away from Mathis then in his gnomish form, a large wound sticking though still as droplets of purple began to slowly leak from his form. Pointing at Mathis the speaking in a tongue that was incomprehensible language,
"Dyexsiphan lorfgarem ungermentoul margonn-!"
His mad ramblings cut off as a foot sliced through his head before the second came down in an arc, cleaving his skull and body into four globules then instantly sticking them in four separate directions. The head he sent up and down the road while the body was then thrown sideways though a couple remaining walls and supports, making the small bits even smaller as the druid stopped, dropping to one knee as panting and coughing as steam and vapor evacuated his mouth. Looking around the remains of his home he felt both remorse and hope for their future as he saw Mathis moving to re-join the angel and the demon chuckling to himself before muttering,
"I guess my favourite fireplace is not going anywhere. To think That Place is older than I am.'' Before conjuring up his strength he rips off a layer of his old skin as he had begun to burn and slows him down in the old man's mind if he would need to go there for another task. As he began to breathe the torrents of steam turned back into his body as he looked up at the sun then to the desert.
Bee was almost dead but very much alive as Kyu landed by his friend trying to touch him but the hear burning and pushing the Azamaar away. Digging deep he took a step back before sending some reserves into his hand rushing as gassy as he could pushing past the vast amount of heat and pressure the very skin burning off as he got closer summoning all the power in his arm he backhanded the demon knocking him out of his daze then with the angels hand still burning screamed at the demon.
"YOU are not going to just sit there and watch everyone die. I need you, we all do Bee please we need you!"
Kyu's voice sounded in pain as light and black blood leaked onto the ground instantly sizzling away from the intense heat, Bee looked around remembering what had happened as a voice took over his mind,
'Demon, my vessel, let me take control, this threat is one unmanageable for now. But I can save your friends.'
Bee could barely think but he understood what was happening. He had been in enough battles to know how to deal with most situations but this one was different as the voice went on,
'Remember one trap has already been laid I don't need to take over but if I don't I'm not sure how long it will take to reco-'
'Deal just do it, your a god and this thing was made by something worse that made me'
The demon heard a chuckle in his head as the world seemed to fade into sand then darkness, only hearing the sounds of battle and Kyu screaming something. Kyu felt as if he couldn't move as the heat seemed to dissipate, he saw the demons form start shifting as his bones elongated into bubbling sandstone his eyes were crying molten glass as he bones shifted under his skin stretching and contortion it then changing the texture and colour to a Pumice before it's eyes glow up the crimson red of hell fire,
"Spawn of Lucius, protect my form while it prepares."
Kyu was compelled to do what the being said. As he looked for the pieces of Shitto wriggling around rapidly trying to re-join themselves.
Mathew saw most of this commotion with his good eye but could barely comprehend it. Seeing two small pieces begin merging together he grabbed his lord's Storm Caller, throwing it at its centre mass. Drawing out a threatening cry,
"DIE SHIT-TOO I AM I KNIGHT OF RACANTO"
As he screamed a large beam spring from his mouth, travelling through the chain into the mass before it exploded in a stream of lightning. Mathew looked to see it still slightly moving towards the immobile blob, stopping as he saw that the chains holding his sister were burning as she was still in the air unconscious, her body broken, burnt and beaten. Moving towards her he pulled Storm Caller before slicing the chains, keeping her in place and catching her mangled form as he whispered into her ear,
"I will put you back together, even if just for your trial."
He said picking her up, unravelling the boiling chains before rushing behind That Place seeing Kyu on the Roof looking over like a hawk.
The old druid was tired. His bones felt like ash and his lungs felt on fire but he knew that just meant he was still alive. Getting up on to his feet seeing that the others were getting in one place to protect what's left, the old man took on a large breath before seeing that Shitto had at least partially managed to reform, laughing like a father would at a child he spoke once more,
"Shitto the Fat! I have nothing to prove to you or this world. I have lived a full life filled with monsters far worse than a petty child like you. At least they were talented."
The old man's voice was rasping but still very clear as if the wind spoke for him. He got into a mid stance, raising one hand behind him facing the sky while the other was low to the ground and continually moved as if he was mimicking a snake. Shitto was visibly pissed at the druid as he began to spin his body, calling chunks of his form back to him with bits of sand, wood, metal and other debris. Pulling them into his form as he began to build himself a body from the remains of the town, spouting the beginning of his ancient incantation,
"Ouuuh lougye niiieg neage power"
The old man ripped the skin off his face as he screamed out so loud the air around him rippled outwards in a torrent of power. Now jumping into the current of wind, boiling blood careening towards the almost golem like creatures burning into the metals before his skinless fists stuck into anything solid, sending them out of his body with such force it began carving the desert behind the old man as he jumped, flipping so that he was now directly looking down at the stunted Shitto before slamming his hands down together, crushing the step into itself as the old man struck down like a hammer with both hands. Both of them collapsing from the force as the ground sank inwards like a dome, a splatter and an old man being it's only remains.
"I'm sorry. My king but it looks like we were still missing a piece even in the end."
The old man said, stepping back from the blob, looking at the remaining stumps he had for hands before closing his eyes, breathing a deep breath while straightening his back. Opening them looking towards the now slightly singed melted metal sign of That Place. Seeing that the band of False Heroes had managed to gather themselves then yelling to the group and his loved ones,
"Live. Love and never deal with a bastard like Mathis again. Alright Matthew. Though I doubt you will listen. These a good bunch so serve them right...if he takes after his papa then it's a contract for life even...when you leave the business. Have kids, pups or whatever...Make sure you do find the right path...Sophie...I want to know about you in the afterlife...when you both die I want to hear lots of stories about everything...GOT THAT!?"
He screamed the last part as Shitto began to reform once again, pulling himself out of the dirt. Form now riddled with shards of rubble but as he went to speak a foot ripped his jaw off with a kick,
"Not another word shit for brains I was not done and unlike you I have something worth saying! Now Elias! Don't touch my fireplace and bird! Don't breed just trust me. Bee just be yourself and train these people...And to the people of Glassand remember what you came from!"
He stretched out a bit, Looked around one last time and stood tall over the Gnome as he closed his eyes with his magical form leaving him and forming into a small ball of pure energy that blinded most before swallowing it whole and landing in the middle of the monstrosity. The light created enveloped the whole continent. The kingdoms of the Seven Sands all blinded by this shining light of power that faded too soon from showing its beauty to the world.
And the world loses one of its elder pieces...one that started as a pawn in Someone else game, I'll have to look into that...Though I don't think you will be here for that escapade...Such a sad shame...I will miss that one but as a human age goes the candle that burns twice as bridge lasts half as long. The fools. This man lasted longer than that expression. A man of great potential that spent his life under the service of another then to live the rest of his days in a desert...That I cannot understand...Oh yes you didn't believe that the problems of royalty can be real now did you? One of the worst ones is right in front of you. A king with only the wrecked land is still a king if the people follow...And all that will go wrong will be scribbled in his final pages...Not under my watch …. No no this is the difference between a wizard and a druid. I never allow something that produced such fine souls to be forgotten. No there is something here, something forgotten, something...Someone everyone wanted to forget but what and why… sorry finding your next project is a good event. This happens when I get upset you see, I'm only a god, one that was born on the mortal plane and lived a...unique but mortal life so that means one thing is true with me as it is with everyone. I'm not perfect…. Oh don't be a fool these are no perfect gods if there were I'd be out of a job and this world would…. Never mind enough of your tangent boy. I have business I must deal with here. You can read for a bit.