2 days later
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The time for our meal with the King has come. We enter the castle gate and go through a resplendent exhibit of the Kingdom's finest luxury items.
A single couch could feed an entire village for the amount it's worth. Yet it is here, rotting in a corner and barely used.
I look to the guards and notice a vacancy in their gazes and a faint sense of magic concentrated in their heads.
They are compelled.
Finally, we see the large throne room doors. A guard knocks and there is no answer for several minutes.
My steadily growing battle urges add to my intrusive thoughts of breaking the door down.
"Eeeeenter" rasps a voice from inside.
As we enter the large hall of the throne room. I get the feeling of having stepped into the den of a powerful beast.
Ornate marble pillars hold up the throne room. Depicting scenes of bloodshed and brutality.
There is an area to the side with a table, no doubt for negotiations.
There are only 2 individuals in the throne room.
The King, a strongly built man with an impassive face.
His advisor, a robed hunched over elderly man with a mask on his face allowing only his eyes to be seen.
The king remains motionless as the advisor speaks.
"Ahhh welcome Brokkr. I have heard much of the master smith coming for trade." a voice so unimaginably hoarse and decrepit sounds out from his throat.
"All good things I hope Gahahaha. I would like to speak to the King if the royal advisor allows it." Brokkr says with a waver in his voice. He is nervous as he dare not look into the vampire's eyes.
His brow accumulates unshed sweat and his hands, that he has hidden behind him, are trembling.
"Worry not. I speak for the King and so your words can flow unimpeded." the advisor insists.
Brokkr looks to the King. "Your majesty, I assure you that this is a matter of great import that requires your personal attention."
The King simply sits there.
"Now, now, I wasn't aware that dwarves were this rude. Do you take my words as air you can brush aside, mongrel?!" bellows the advisor.
The advisor stares hard at us, and I can see it clearly. Malicious orbs of blood red stare at Brokkr, and I feel a chill in my spine.
Without a second thought, I lunge in front of Brokkr with my hands crossed in a defensive position.
*BAM*
A blow as heavy as a boulder smashes into my arms and, for the first time in a long while, I feel a numbing pain.
*CRASH*
"ARRGH!!" I shout in pain as I am flung through a pillar. The world around me blurs as I skip and roll on the marble floors, cracking and shattering them.
I finally stop rolling and assess the situation. I keep the pain at the back of my mind. I see Brokkr laying unconscious on the remains of the table, no doubt having been flung towards it.
'How is a vampire so strong?' I ask myself as my aching arms tremble.
The old man no longer hunches over and calmly stalks towards me.He removes his mask and looks to me. A gleam of amusement flashing in his eyes, his fangs are in full display.
"Hmm? You're still alive? What a fascinating situation. Tell me, what manner of creature are you? A human would be a popped meat bag at this point."
I ignore his words as I ready my Greataxe.
"A fight is it? I haven't stretched my bones in 50 years. I'll play with you!! HAHAHAHAHA!" the vampire laughs maniacally and rushes me with a supernatural swiftness.
He reveals elongated nails and pierces towards me. I focus my battle instincts and use the flat of my Greataxe to parry his blow diverting his momentum to unbalance him.
He is caught by surprise and this reveals an opening as he overextends. With a vicious cleave, I eviscerate the cackling abomination and send him crashing through a pillar. His innards trailing after him.
I do not let up and intensify my assault. I rush him and swing my axe in a brutal onslaught. I inflict wound after wound and yet he doesn't stop laughing.
I then suddenly kick his legs from under him and his legs flail uncontrollably as he falls.
I execute an overhead chop and my axe rips through his torso, yet somehow not all the way. As it finds purchase on his body, I leverage my axe and use it to throw him to the ceiling.
*WOOOSH* *BAM*
He craters the ceiling and yet doesn't fall down. He claps and stands upside down. I consider throwing my Greataxe, but he launches himself at me before I can think.
I hurriedly swing to meet him but he transforms into a bat and bypasses my axe. I pull back and deliver a punishing headbutt that seems to have rattled his brain as he detransforms.
As I press my attack, however, he dodges a swing and grabs my arm. With steel-like nails, he pierces through my side and twists.
Doubt floods through my mind. This battle seems wrong somehow. The creature's skin is too tough, its strength is overwhelming, and my endurance is waning. I am being drained as I am wounded.
A vampire's speed and power shouldn't even come close to overwhelming me. I had no time to breathe throughout the whole battle.
I am then violently brought out of my thoughts.
*SQUELCH*
"GRRRRRK" I do my best to suppress the pain and hold his hand in place to prevent him from piercing and twisting deeper. I try to remove his nails, but his hand refuses to move.
"Ahhhhh I know what you are. A Sentry! It has been so long since I last saw one of your kind. What a refreshing sight!" he laughs in glee as his wounds visibly heal and disappear.
"Did you think brute strength could carry you through this fight? I am an Elder you foolish child. Allow me to demonstrate the difference between us." he cackles and his eyes glow.
He grips my arm tighter and lifts me into the air. I struggle but the pain in my side is keeping me from mustering any strength.
With an almost nonchalant effort, he drives me into the ground and the throne room floor gives way.
*KRAKOOOM* *CRACK*
We fall through and a large pitch black cavern is revealed.
Dazed but angered, I let go of my Greataxe and grab him by the head to help orient myself to be on top as we drop. I grab a flask of holy water and smash it into his eyes. Effectively blinding him.
"RIIIEEEEEEEEAAAAAAA" he screeches and thrashes in agony.
I deliver punishing blows as we fall through the air. Each impact reverberating like thunder.
He snarls at me with a burning hatred and catches my fist.
With unatural flexibility, his legs find their way onto my chest and the world blurs once more.
*BAAAANG*
A crushing pain wracks through my body as I impact the wall of the cavern. I do my best to clear my mind and use a handaxe to find purchase on the stony surface.
Not a few seconds later, I hear the hateful creature impact the ground. I know it is not yet dead and so I make my way down. My wounds are grevious but they are slowly healing.
I light a stick of dynamite and throw it down to where I assume the creature landed.
*KABOOOM*
"RIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEE"
The explosion shakes the cavern walls and it's pained screech grants me strength.
I finally reach the floor of the cavern and it is littered with scattered gold and treasures. An errant thought forms and before I can think more on it. My eyes catch the leech moving.
I see the vampire writhing on the floor. Its wounds are barely healing, its skin is blackened, and its eyes are glazed over.
I light another stick of dynamite and prepare to throw it.
As I analyse the vampire,however, it turns into mist and appears in front of me. It grabs me by the throat and brings me to my knees. I feel even more energy leaving me.
"YOU DARE?!!! YOU SHOULD HAVE ACCEPTED DEATH LIKE A GOOD LITTLE BOY!! NOW YOU--ACKK?"
I do not let the leech finish as I shove a stick of dynamite into its mouth. With a concentrated effort, I will my great axe towards me and it rips into his back breaking his hold on me. I then spin around him to grab my axe and fling him upwards.
*KABOOOOOM*
"AHHHHHHH"
He sails through the air and I focus on the runic tattoos on my arm. I then swing my arm and send out my vicious hookchain that pierces through him. With myself as the anchor I spin him around and violently throw him towards the cavern walls.
With a sickening crack, his spine is shattered and he lay there motionless on the ground.
Silence.
"Hah...hah...hah" I breathe out in pain. My wounds are not fully mended. I support myself on my axe to decrease the strain.
The ground trembles. Imperceptibly at first, then a violent roar shakes the entire cavern.
"I knew it. Fucking dragon." I shift my weight and position my Greataxe into a defensive position.
I look upwards and see a colossal blood red dragon.
I was overconfident. I am under prepared. It is an Elder vampiric dragon.
"HAHAHAHAHA. WHAT AN AMUSING LITTLE GNAT YOU ARE!!"
Faster than a beast of that size should be able to move, its tail catches me on the side and I am weightless. I smash through mounds of gold coins. I travel for what seemed like minutes and finally slammed into the cavern wall.
"Bluuuurgh"
Blood pours from my mouth as my axe is nowhere to be seen. My bones are fractured and my muscles weaken. Pain consumes me and becomes a part of my existence. Every movement is agony. Every breath a torturous endeavour.
"Hah...hak...hah..." I am unable to stand. The beast has drained a considerable amount of energy from me.
"AWWW IS MY TOY BROKEN ALREADY? WE WERE JUST GETTING TO THE GOOD PART. NO MATTER. I SHALL FIND A NEW PLAYTHING AS I ALWAYS DO." the beast says as it casually walks toward me.
It looks down on me. It is a familiar look. Where have I seen it before?
Ah...
I remember.
"grr.."
"HM? WHAT WAS THAT YOU SAID LITTLE BOY?" the dragon mockingly brings his head closer
"..."
"GRAAAAAAHHHH" I scream as a searing energy fills my soul. My muscles bulge, and my veins glow golden as I enter a rage.
I lunge at the leech and deliver a brutal blow that slams its head into the ground and cracks its skull.
*BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM*
The beast is disoriented. I propel myself skyward and summon my axe. As I reach the peak of my leap, I flip myself so that my feet are on the ceiling. I tense every muscle on my body and focus my strength.
Then I push and dive down at mind numbing speeds.
The world is a blur, but my eyes focus on my target. I reach the leech within a second and ,with a Herculean swing, split its head in half.
*KRAKOOOOOOOM*
The impact decimates the ground, producing a shockwave that blows the earth apart.
I am in pain.
My body can barely move. The leech, however, is not yet dead.
Even now I can see its brain and skull mending. I must hurry.
I force myself up "gahhh" even as my body protests and weakens. I move to the side of the gigantic beast and push it on its back with my remaining strength.
My energy is rapidly depleting. I do not have much time.
I climb onto its chest and carve it open with my Greataxe. There I see the ominously glowing vampiric dragon heart. I pour the last of my holy water onto my axe and viciously cut the heart out.
The vampiric dragon thrashes and makes known its final death throes. And then it stops.
Slowly its body fades into ashes. My Greataxe drops to the ground and my consciousness can no longer hold.
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"I've always wanted to be like you Thorgar. I wanted to be strong and bring glory to our tribe. Sadly, I was born sickly. It will never happen."
I am not strong.
"Never say that again little brother. If it isn't through physical prowess, then your mind shall take up the bulk of your achievements."
"Do you think I'll be able to fight alongside you when I grow up?"
"Undoubtedly. When you do, we'll be unstoppable ahahahaha."
I am a liar.
"...Thank you Thorgar. Know that I will always believe in you no matter what happens."
"Come now you turd, don't be so melodramatic."
"I'm not wahahaha. I just know how you get sometimes. The last thing I want is for you to blame yourself for something you cannot control."
I should have been stronger.
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My eyes open and I am met with the sight of the cavern ceiling. It feels as though only a little time has passed.
I try to move but my body refuses. I lay there and allow my body to heal naturally.
I shall reflect on the battle.
My hubris has caught up. Instead of going at the creature with my full strength, I lock it behind guilt. When was it that I became overconfident in my abilities?
Was it when I became King?
Or maybe when I battled demigods and wrestled with dragons?
No. I wasn't overconfident.
I...am scared.
Scared to use this power that I have gained. Scared to use it for what it represents.
After some time, my body is capable of movement so I scour the dragons lair in search of potions of healing. My luck allows me to find 2.
After downing 3 potions, I feel immediate relief and let my body heal the remaining wounds. I regard the draconic heart and tie it to my back with clothing scraps.
After a grueling and exhausting climb, I finally make my way out of the hole on the throne room floor. The king is slumped over in deep sleep.
Brokkr is curled up, and looks to be comfortable. This irks me and so I deliver a sharp rap of my knuckles on his head.
"AHHHHHH" he wakes with a start and looks around frantically.
"Where is it Thorgar? Did it escape? Are we still in danger?" he asks in quick succession.
"It is dead. No. Yes." I say with a hand raised to prevent further questions.
"It was a dragon. We fought underneath the castle in a large cavern and we must find a way to explain this matter to the king so that he doesn't panic. Also I am very tired."
"Can I ask about the dragon heart? What do you want to do with it?" he asks with a gleam in his eyes.
"I'll leave it with you. If there is anything to be done with it, I would like to know."
"HAHA. Leave it to me! I'll find a way to make it benefit you. You saved my life Thorgar. I owe you a debt that can never be repayed." he solemnly says.
"From now on I'll maintain your equipment for free and give you a discounted price of 15% off on all my wares. Can't be too large, I still need to make money after all gahahaha." he laughs in a jovial mood.
"I didn't do it for a reward." I say, a little put off with the idea.
"Doesn't matter. You did it and that's what's important. Leave it to me to compensate you however I see fit." he stops the conversation by turning to the now stirring King.
"Ughhhh. What happened?" the King tends to a headache and looks around.
"What the-who are you?!!" He stands and points to Brokkr and I.
"Your majesty, it's like this..." Brokkr starts.
I must say that Brokkr truly is a merchant. His explanations and words paint a clear picture and the King's favour is ours.
I prepare to leave, but the King insisted on a reward and a promise to help us when the time comes.
I left the King's castle 7000 gold coins richer.
A welcome result.
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END