Dark Age Legends

[D. Ein]

The portal was growing more powerful in strength. Now, trees were ripped right out of the ground, and even lightnings themselves had trouble leaving the black hole. The palace continued descending, with increased speed. The winds were so high now that the Iron Wing were struggling to keep on the ground. Leaven struck his weapon into the ground to prevent flying off into the vortex. He yelled at the top of his lungs:
-"WHEN THE HELL IS THIS THING GOING TO DISAPPEAR?! ARGH!"
To which Ogen responded:
-"I THINK IT'S REACHING IT'S CLIMAX POINT!"
-"WHAT?!"
-"I - THINK - IT'S - REACHING - IT'S - CLIMAX - POINT!!!"
Celer shouted:
-"IT SHOULD OVERLOAD WHATEVER THEY'RE USING TO LEVITATE IN A FEW MOMENTS!"
Suddenly, Leto noticed a lightning leave the palace. Since he was the heaviest of the group, he didn't place any efforts to keeping himself stationary. He wanted to report the sighting to Leaven, but then he thought that it was just one of the lightnings from the portal - he'd look like an idiot if he did.

[Dude Man]

"Oh, sorry. I was distracted by something." Darak replied. "Perhaps you could help me get into the city. I saw something get in there."

----

Rink looked around a bit. "Well that gambling hall sounds fun." Rink grinned.

"You ever gamble before?" Duilin laughed

"Well, not really. But I herd a lot about it! I've lived in hell before so I've met my fair share of gamblers." Rink replied chuckling afterwards.

"Well, I don't have much better things to do, and I've got a couple coins to waste. Zeros' you up for it?" Duilin asked

----

Marshal motioned towards ogres, and they walked there way towards the logs and began sharpening them.

"This looks like quite a dangerous machine..." Marshal said.

----

A large dark figure stepped in front of Valos.

"Abodahon..." Valos said, greeting him. He had a bit of fear in his voice.

"Have you made your choice yet? Do you wish to follow your true purpose, or waste time with these pigs?" Abodahon said, sternly. He pointed to a corpse of a dead Crimson Empire soldier as he said 'pigs'.

"I'm not sure..." Valos said.

"That is fine, Valos. But remember what I said. You can prove to me, that you are worthy of keeping your body if you come with me, now."

Abodahon didn't even wait for a response; he just flapped his wings and flue off into the darkness.

Valos stood up and then flue off following him.

[Trent]

The fortress... it's falling! She could feel its altitude decrease underneath her. She heard Allen's command and leapt onto the platform. She can't beat Tsu if she's dead.

--- --- ---

The three warriors used their weapons to deflect the orbs coming toward them, and looked out toward the legion of warriors approaching. "Draven, take a breather," said Xenai. "The three of us will handle this. Zion, Tsu, let's do it quick-and-dirty-like. It'll take only that much to wipe them away."

Zion created a moderately large ball of light energy, while Xenai created one of the same size and concentration. Tsu created a ball of neutral energy, a little larger and a little stronger. All of the energy was concentrated to the outside... The ball was hollow. Zion and Xenai threw their balls in (STFU, kthxbi), and the energy started to crackle inside as it blended turbulently. Tsu tried with all his might to contain it while it mixed together...

[Xorlak]

"Hah, suit yourself..."

Draven leapt up into the air, performing a backwards flip in the process and dispensing his crimson blade.  He folded his arms as he landed at the tip of a nearby chimney-- a good view of both sides.

Let's just see how much they've improved...

The Grey troops continued their charge, sending more blue orbs towards the three in their way...

----

Ven watched his majesty walk up to the higher level platform and into a captain's chamber.  One of the king's entourage stayed with Ven, and spoke:

"We were lucky with him."

Ven turned and listened.

"Our king was the first to fall victim to the illness.  He was bedridden for quite a while, starting just after you and Mavas left...  He is so strong, though.  He pulled through.  The rest of the population doesn't seem capable of it...  Glad to have you back, Ven."

The green armored soldier walked away, following the king.

The ships began to move.  Their plan was to travel south around the southern edge of the Dark Continent, then eastward towards their homeland...

----

"What in BLAZES is-- WHAAA--!!!"

Hans immediately felt himself being sucked through the air towards the black abyss under the floating island.  Rufus fell from above and grabbed his arm, and the two used their combined strength to escape, flying some distance away from the hole, their green and yellow auras burning brightly.

Hans clenched both of his fists.

"It's some kinda black hole thing!!!"

"What should we do?!?!"

"I don't know, blow it up!!"

Hans brought both of his hands before him and a strong, bright electric current began to flow between them.  He brought his hands above his head as an orb began to form in between the stream of electricity.

"MORTAL ATTACK!!! ELECTRO-DEATH ORB!!!!  HYAAAAA!!!!!!!!!"

An orb some ten feet in diameter quickly formed, crackling with electricity.  Hans arced his body and threw the ball of lightning like one would do a huge rock, and the crackling orb flew straight towards the black hole.  The orb hit, with some bright flashes, and then disappeared into the darkness.  The black hole was unaffected.

Hans and Rufus floated there wide-eyed.

"Well... crap."

[Zeros']

Zeros' shook his head at Duilin and Rink, as he felt the ship starting to move.

"No... I think I'll just... explore," he said, as he melded into the shadows. While inside the shadows, he moved past Ven and the guards, and heard their brief conversation. So... They're country was in the grips of a disease... Interesting.

He moved past them, and followed the green armored soldier, making sure to keep him in sight, but, not to move too close. Even if he was using his cloaking technique, making him virtually undetectable, he didn't want to take chances, so, he followed at a safe distance.

---

Allen nodded, as Aura jumped into the portal. He quickly flipped a few switches, as he felt the castle dropping even more. The machine starts to hum louder and louder, as the disk spun. It equpted with a bright flash of energy, and, Allen and Aura were gone from the room, as the machine stopped spinning.

---

On a nearby island, away from the main capital and the blackhole, Allen appeared, about five feet above the ground. He didn't have time to flip, and feel to the ground, the air being knocked out of him.

"Ugh... Rough landing..." he said, as he pushed himself up off the ground, and onto his feet, dusting himself off, while adjusting his glasses. He waited for Aura appear, to do anything else.

[Dude Man]

Rink and Duilin arrive at the Gambling hall. Rink examines the room.

"Wow, this looks like a lot of fun." Rink says

"Yeah, but it can get addictive, and you loose a lot of money. Back in the Empire, Darion got really into gambling. It took him years to earn back his money, but he could only afford some pretty rusty armour. He was even thinking of selling me for gambling money."

"Sell you?"

"Yeah. I was basically a slave for a large period of time. Until I gained enough trust to actually become a soldier. Now anyways, let's go gamble. Maybe I might get lucky and get forced to sell you." Duilin laughed. He then opened up a pouch in his pant pocket, and gave Rink a hand full of coins. "Don't get crazy. I recommend Blackjack. The slot machines are rigged."

"Rigged? Oh yeah, I bet you I can win first try." Rink grins as he flies toward a slot machine, and pops a coin in. He pulls the handle.

Cherry.

Slug.

Mudman.

"Shit...Um, best two out of three?!" Rink asks making a big grin.

Duilin just rolls his eyes, and walks off to the blackjack table.

----

Valos and Abodahon, make there way towards Alphagrad.

"Okay, what is it that you want!?" Valos asks demandingly

"I want to know if I can trust you. You're becoming to loyal to the Empire, yet I wish to give you chance." Abodahon replies

"Go on..."

Abodahon then points down towards the three warriors fighting the large group of Grey Soldiers. "Now, while those three are distracted by them." Abodahon begins, he then points to a man standing on a chimney. "Attack him. If you can make a strike upon your emperor, then you can be trusted by us."

"Attack Lord Draven? Me?"

'Do it Valos...you have no choice...do it...or your body and soul will be mine...'

"Yes, Valos. You." Abodahon says sternly. "I shall supervise..."

Abodahon then flies towards Draven, he stops about ten feet away and four feet higher from him. "Greetings Lord Draven. It's nice to see you again. I see you're enjoying yourself, destroying your own city you've fought so gallantly to protect."

Valos then arrives, a few feet behind Draven.

"You've met my friend Valos, haven't you? Oh yes, that's right. He's one of the General's of your army. Well, he'd like to have a few 'words' with you."

Valos then draws his sword. "Lord Draven, I don't expect you to forgive me for this..." He says.

[D. Ein]

Leto saw the two auras in the air, and the energy ball they threw into the hole. He was perfectly healthy, so he was positive he wasn't hallucinating. He turned around facing Leaven.
-"HEY, I THINK I JUST SAW SOMETHING! LOOK UP THERE!!!"
Leaven heard him through the howling of the wind.
-"WHERE?!"
Leto pointed to the air above him. Leaven smiled.
-"Hehehe... looks like we have a few guests visiting us."
-"WHAT?!"
-"NEVER MIND! CELER, I THOUGHT YOU SAID THAT THING IS GOING TO BE DISAPPEARING SOON?!?!?!"
Celer, who was holding onto a tree to prevent himself from flying off into the wormhole, bellowed:
-"GIVE IT SOME TIME!!!"
-"WE DON'T HAVE THAT TIME! THE BLACK HOLE ISN'T GETTING ANY SMALLER!!!"
Finally, the wormhole started to fluctuate a bit. The floating fortress was still gaining speed as the hole closed up. The island, driven by inertia, slammed into the ground, sending out a considerable tremor. It knocked most of the Iron Wing down, with the exception of Leto who just stumbled a bit. Leaven got up.
-"Gentlemen... I congradulate us on a mission well done. Now, what are we going to do about those two floaters up there?" He pointed to the two auras in the air.

--- --- ---
Steorra  heard Darak speak.
-"Very well... I've nothing to do right now anyway. What will this help include doing, sir...?"
--- --- ---

The ogres were finishing up with the projectiles. Ein was happily etching small series of lines on their sides. After each etching the log became rock-hard and heavier than lead. Ein turned over to Marshal.
-"YA THINK?! Why do you think I'm building this machine, other than for the purpose of being dangerous? Anyway... That kid over there", he said pointing to the minotaur, "do you think he will be able to lift these projectiles up? They're quite heavy... Ah, and also, he'll need to stay here. Although the machine itself is fully autonomous, we need someone to push these logs through a portal I've created. The other side of the portal is right there." He pointed to a floating pentagram at the rear of his machine. "See, the projectile will go into the portal over there that i just made, and exit through the one on the machine, thus loading it. Then, using some levers and a lot of magic, the bow-like device up there will be drawn back, then released at a push of a button, propelling the projetile towards the target. The projectile itself is made of a material called "blackrock". It's the hardest and heaviest thing known to me. Pretty useful for busting walls. Anyway... I have a test target in mind. Want to come with?"

[Dude Man]

"Well, find a way for both of us to get in the city." Darak replied. "It seems to be surrounded by a huge barrier however."

----

Marshal nodded. "Yes, I'd love to come." Marshal replied. He then motioned to the minotaur. The beast then picks a few logs, and then carries them over to the portal and drops them in.

[Kahn]

The shadow figure pushed the Halberd into Hyperions hands. It didn't take long for him to feel the new power.

<span style='font-family:Optima'>"There is but one rule, and this is of the utmost importance, you may only use this weapon for good."</span>

Hyperion held up the Halberd examining it closely.

"I think.....you should have told me that before giving it to me."

Hyperion swung the halberd at the figure, but it was already gone.

[Trent]

Zion and Xenai assumed orb deflecting duty. As for Tsu's job, the ball was ready. "Hehehe..." He tossed it into the air, and leapt up after it, flipping the whole way, and rapidly.

?位な！　New Forever!?
(Kurai na! ~ Eat this!)

He slammed his foot down on the ball, and it screamed down at the legion. The explosion will not touch Zion, Xenai, Draven, or myself. He gave the ball a command, something for it to make sure that it didn't do. The explosion was large, and it was a beautiful sparkling, glittering blacklight color. It ate away at a large amount of the ominous darkness. However, it just grew back into black. The legion, however...

[Haraldur]

//Xorlak, when will "three hours" have passed?//

Tesla landed in a town that was in the middle of street fighting. On one side were uniformed officers of the Alternan Army, on the other were a ragged mob of people, most wearing either red and black neckerchiefs, red and black forage caps or both.

He landed behind the Army barricade, unnoticed in the noise. Just seconds later, the soldiers were charred corpses, while the ozone from the lightning floated away.

He was watched by some of the revolutionaries for a few moments, until someone recognised his face, and nodded. The people then started to march towards the palace of the largest landowner in the area...

Tesla followed, sending this telepathic message to Marshall and Ein: Benito Franco Salazar has just been killed by Haraldur, and the revolution has spread to Wahabbia and Alterna! I just thought you might like to know.

____________________________________________________________________

Melkoth left the palace, and flew towards Alphagrad. New tactic now: utter destruction.

He sent a signal to some of his commanders, and there was surreptitious movement amonst the Grey Army. They still appeared to be fighting their utmost, as they were since the fanatics were at the front lines, but they started to prepare to leave the two cities. Draven would notice no difference to their resistance.

Quietly, some of the soldiers entered the primitive sewers of each town and started to plant a lot of barrels and long, thin, lengths of rope that had been soaked in oil.

They would now wait for his second signal...

____________________________________________________________________

Haraldur turned North, towards a ship that was skimming the edge of the Northern part of his horizon.

He knew that, since his aura was pentrating to every place in a very strong form, that he would be indistinguishable compared to the surroundings, effectively cloaking his aura. He had his invisibility on, and even if someone could ignore that, it was dark and his dark clothing provided excellent camoflage(sp?).

He floated above the ship for a few seconds as it moved, and dropped lightly on the high back part of the deck, behind the King. He became visible, and said, "Greetings... 'King'."

[Xorlak]

Draven turned to see Abodahon, that one that was giving Zeros' and the others trouble a while back...

He then spun around to see Valos land on the roof behind him and draw his sword.

"Friend?  You?"

There was a few seconds of silence...

Then Draven through his head back in laughter.

"HA!  So you're actually turning against me?  My dear Valos..."

Draven pointed his left hand towards Valos, outstretching his finger.  A bright red spark appeared at the very tip.  His voice grew darker and more sinister.

"Your jest is very amusing, but clearly you wouldn't want to take this little joke of yours too far, for it would be very damaging for me to mistake your jest for truth and, say, disembowel your innards and mount your head among the other... examples..."

His eyes shifted to Abodahon.

"Quickly now, give me the head of this one, so that we may laugh together at your pathetic excuse for humor another day..."

----

King Henri and his entourage of ten men exited the captain's chamber and returned to the deck, rounding a courner of the freestanding chamber.  The soldier Zeros' was following followed them, but when he turned the corner, he gasped when he saw Haraldur.

Edward, with his arms folded, smiled.  The king turned, knowing the voice.

"Well now, if it isn't Haraldur... though you seem different..."

A blue aura flashed from the King's forehead.  What looked like a third eye opened, then shut after a few seconds.

"I see... ten parts now, though you seem as one.  Tell me, what brings you to my ship?  Another country you demand an alliance against?  Or perhaps you feel like causing more destruction, and killing more innocent people?  You would best leave us now.  You are most unwelcome."

The entourage of men grasped their swords.  Ven appeared on the other side of the ship, his black cloak hiding him.

Yes, now he remembered... Haraldur was that "demon" that totally destroyed their one and only port city five years ago...  This "Ragnar" that the Crimson Empire was fighting against... is the same man...

But why?  Why is he an enemy of... everyone...?

----

(Recap:  In chapter 2 or 3, the two Haraldurs traveled to Tjed to seek an alliance against the Dark Empire for Romme (albeit rather rudely and forcefully, heh...).  In-between chapters 3 and 4, the merged Haraldurs and Ragnar went back and attacked a costal city of Tjed, so Haraldur is generally hated there.)

----

(Three hours can be up when Vincent is done with his little tricks I will post in the next few updates.)

"Who goes there?"

A figure appeared in the darkness, clutching his side and limping.

"General Vincent of the Crimson Empire.  Open the gates."

"Y-yes sir!"

The humongous iron gates cracked open just enough, and Vincent walked through.  A colonel rushed to meet him.

"General... Vincent?  What brings you to Sigmund?"

"My airship was destroyed and my men killed.  Inform your commander in chief that I've some... urgent information for him..."

"Yes, sir!"

----

The entire Crimson Capital shook as in an earthquake as the tip of this floating island grazed the ground.  The island rocked, as if about to fall over, but then leveled...  It began to rise back into the air slowly, a few inches at a time...

A lightning bolt shot out of the sky, striking the ground some twenty feet to the east of the Iron Wing members, reforming into an rather irate looking Hans, his hair sticking straight up and his body crackling with electricity.

"Hey, well lookie here... We've got a couple of trouble makers..."

He clenched his fist in front of his face and opened it, and orb of electricity forming in it.

A small tremor rocked the ground as Rufus fell out of the sky, slamming into the ground on the opposite side of the foursome.  His feet dug deep into the ground.

"Yo!  It's my turn!  You're always stealin' my kills and I'm gettin' sick of it!"

A stern voice echoed from above.

"Hans, do try to consult me before attempting to address technical problems next time..."

James was floating some fifty feet in the sky above the group, a dull blue aura around him...

[Zeros']

Zeors' saw Haraldur appear, and held himself back. He smiled slightly at the king. He felt Ven in the room, and he quietly shifted himself over in that direction, and appeared behind Ven. He placed a hand on his shoulder, and leaned down toward him, and whispered something in his ear, even if he couldn't see him.

"Don't interfear... Yet. Let it play out," he said quietly, so only himself and Ven could hear it.

[D. Ein]

-"Stealing your kills? Don't be hasty, now."
Ogen went over to Rufus.
-"So... It would seem as though you came here with every intention of being a nusianse. Are you going to act as such, or shall you stand aside and let us do our job?" His grasp on the mace tightnened.
Leaven drew his sword.
-"Leto, go get the yellow one. Celer, keep your eye on the blue one."
Leto came closer to Hans, dragging his ginormous axe on his left shoulder.
-"What's that cute little ball you're holding? Surely you're not going to use that to hurt me?" He placed his axe in front of him using his left hand, and then spun it in a circle with his fingers (the axe is double-bladed, about as big as a large closet and weighs around 200 lb).
Celer simply removed his hood to see better, and started staring James down.
-"You gonna get down from there, or are you afraid of me?"
Felix, still keeping the careless exression on his face, said:
-"Well kids, you have fun. I have business to attend to."
With those words he began running towards the rising fortress.

[Dude Man]

"Ah, did you hear that Ein?" Marshal asks sounding happy. "Benito Franco Salazar is infamous for his barbaric raids. It should greatly improve the world with him gone. Rejoice comrade!"

----

Duilin walks up to the blackjack table.

"Ah, what'd your bet?" The dealer asked

"Just five." Duilin replied, putting the money on the table. The dealer dealt the cards. Duilin checked what he had. "Hit me." He had twenty. "Stand."

The dealer dealt himself, and then they both revealed their cards, he had nineteen.

"Oooh, close one, good job. Like to play again?"

"Meh, all right."


Meanwhile Rink seems to be running low on coins at the slots.

----

Valos trembled, he grinded his teeth. It wasn't to late to turn back. But could he take Abodahon? Yet, could he take Draven? He was indeed, in quite a pickle.

Abodahon laughs, as he watches Valos, stare at his sword.

"Y...yeah...This...demon here...He thinks he's in control of me...So, um." Valos stuttered, still looking at his sword. "I just thought I'd.... Humour him."

Abodahon raised an eyebrow. "Hmm?"

"You, think you know everything about me demon?" Valos said, still sounding scared, but trying to sound tough. He turned around and facing the demon, and stepped forward.

"Yes, yes I do Valos." Abodahon said, his voice turned softer, and he made an evil smile. "Now die."

Suddenly, Valos felt the claw grab his hart, and twist it and stick it's tips into it. Valos grabbed his chest, and dropped his sword, and began coughing.

"Don't worry Draven. His body will go to good use. I like to recycle. You'd be familiar with it. I had the same thing done to Nex."

Valos then screamed, looking up in the air. He quickly began to rise, spikes tore from his skin on his shoulders. He then tore off his robe, only leaving his pants and grey muscle shirt, with the same symbol on the chest as his tattoo. His eyes went totally blank white, and then bleed over until they were a solid red. Small horns sprouted from his forehead, and demonic pentagram between them, replacing the tattoo. He then began to speak, in a very familiar but different voice from before.

"Sorry, Draven. But you have to realize that the world is full of disloyal back stabbing jerks." Valos(?) said. "You'd know, you?re one of them... I see you've taken Retan's job. Yup, backstabber. I'm surprised you survived the blast on that island." His voice was exactly like Nex's.

Abodahon then decided to spill the beans. "A wile ago, I summoned a Spirit demon, or lost soul, whatever you like, into your army. Nex was the first to be infected, and then I believe it spread around a bit after that, until it reached Valos. It's a selective hunter, I had it target the disloyal members of my cult."

Valos then cracked his knuckles, and then brought his hand back, and then tossed a dark energy ball at Draven.