Dark Age Legends

[Drannic_Lord01]

---

"Blast! Shortswords, skirmishers, attack those blighted creatures! Broadswords, fall back and defend the marksmen squad! I'll handle this Draken... personally." Aaron tightend his metal gloves. They were made of the second strongest material in Gaian, dragon hide. Dragons and Drakens are two different things, he realized. They'd have to make at least a bit of a difference against that draken, he thought. He charged in and flew at Jayce, hoping to make somewhat of a dent.

---

"Uugghhnnn... What the...? Woah, lizards! Big ones! Got to act fast!" Doriana was lying behind a crater. She got back up and prepared her assassin's claws, flying out like lightning and ready to cut through steel. She ran out and slashed wildly at the lizards, hitting one after another. It didn't seem to affect them that much, though.

"Uh oh... this can't be good. I NEED SOME HELP OVER HERE!!!" She continued to try and slash at the lizards, hoping for reinforcements. Just then, men with long spears and short swords started to engage the front lines of the lizards, making more of an impact. More and more men attacked the lizards until it seem like everyone had atleast two opponents. It mattered not to them as they were the finest of the Ario Empire. Skirmishers threw their spears at the lizards. If one broke, they would take out a secondary short sword to continue the onslaught. Mabey they'd have a chance against Jayce... Just mabey...

[D. Ein]

"The people were all loaded now. The transport slowly rose up into the air once again, and set off way north. The cities of Kandarin will soon rise again."

[Xorlak]

"What the?!  What in blazes is wrong with all of you?!"

Draven dropped his fists to his sides, his aura magnifying intensely. He literally exploded, a great blast of fire emanating from his body in all directions, wrapping him in an scorching ball of flame several feet thick.  Any such arrows headed his way burst into flame well before coming close, turning around and raining back down upon those who shot them.  Justin would be scorched before he could get close...

"He's reviving!   HE'S REVIVING!!"

The black dragon far below was stirring...

Wrapped in the bright flame, Draven looked up at the vampire with narrowed eyes.

"What is it so impossible to find a competent underling?!  I realized undead were stupid, but you a clearly a reject amongst ingrates.  Very well, if you wish to be a slave to Retan by attacking me, you shall be removed!"

Draven pointed a single finger at the vampire, a mammoth plume of flame blasting forth with a brilliant crimson flash.  The fire pillar decimated the oncoming swords, vaporizing them into tiny black particles as the blast raged on, headed straight for the vampire...

Draven turned to Duilin as he shot the beam, clenching his other fist.

"Duilin!  You fool!  Call them off right now!  Stand down and allow me to strike down Jayce, or I WILL KILL EVERYONE IN MY WAY!!"

Above his head, the orb dimmed to a tiny glimmer due to neglect...

CDAA: 5%

----

Ven clutched his head with both hands.

"NO!! Not Draven!  Blast it, why does eveyone always attack him?!  He's on our side!!"

Ven brought a gauntlet to his chin.

"Hmm, well, I suppose that black and red getup he wears doesn't help.  And then there's that grin of his..."

Ven raised an eyebrow at the allied commander.

"Attack on the Arctic region?  Why would anyone do that?  There's nothing up there but snow and ice, as far as I know."

He held out a finger as-a-matter-of-fact-ly.

"I wasn't there, but I did hear Draven, Duilin, and some others fought a giant evil dragon there, much like this one."

He waved his hand, indicating Jayce in the crater below as he was being assaulted.

"And it was so powerful, that Draven had to use an attack that nearly... destroyed..."

The knight blinked twice.

"... that nearly... destroyed..."

He looked at the dragon below, then up at Draven, then at the surrounding land of Tjed.  Then at all three one more time.  Suddenly he put two and two together and clutched his head with both hands again.

"HOLY CRAP!!!"

----

Jayce grinned more widely.

It was a devilish thing, a black dragon grinning like that, mouth full of teeth and burning crimson eyes...

All projectiles sent his way turned to black ash before they could strike him, crumpling and turning to dust before they could strike him.  It was like the very air around him repelled anything and everything, crushing it to the vile nonexistance that the black dragon represented.

Raising his right claw into the air, Jayce smashed down burying it deeply in the rocky terrain.  The ground shattered, a huge fissure appearing before the onslaught of attacking men.  And the fell in screaming all the way...  At the same time, the loose rocks began to spin around in a gust of violent wind, smashing into armored men from the sides...

With a tremor, the dragon's left claw broke free from the rubble...

He was nearly halfway free now, and not looking the least bit worried...

----

"Duilin, you must contain the blast like Zeros' and the others did years ago.  It's up to you now."

The old knight whispered into his ear...

[Jenia]

"Ack!" Zakon nibly but barely dodged a large rock flying at him during his dash.
He placed his right hand on his knife and swiftly pulled it from his belt.

Just as he was thinking how stupid those people were, to attack a dragon head on, another rock came his way. He wondered what kind of wind favors dragons as he dodged it, not bothering to assume it could be a magical one.

He was having trouble running straight because of the flying rubble, but he continued nontheless.

All of a sudden, right after dodging a rock, the dragon's left claw burst from the ground, right in his face. Zakon nearly staggered, barely managing to avoid having his face's right and left seperated, but he was ready for this.

With a snicker and a whispery "Gotcha!", he sent his free hand to grab the dragon's arm.

[Dude Man]

"Huh?" Duilin looked around, as he heard the old knight's voice. He then grinned and looked at the sword in the sheath. "Well what do you know...it works."

He looked at Draven, giving him a thumbs up, almost reluctantly. He has got to create a barrier to block the CDAA, like Zeros' did five years ago. Zeros' had a technique called Fusegu Ankokujidai that formed a barrier of earth and rocks around Draven's CDAA. However that ability was earth elemental, yet Duilin practices only Air, Fire and his natural demonic, and demonic won't work. Duilin could create air bubbles, but that couldn't block a CDAA, perhaps if he could build on it. He was pretty good at improving spells...

Duilin closed his eyes and sat on the ground, focusing his energy. "I can do this...My strength has probabbly almost doubled over the past two days already..." He remembered Aegidius told him something about his human side was enhanced, and grew strength off his nobility and awareness, wile his demonic side simply fed off his rage.

He nearly became human again when his demonic rage settled, and he briefly saw Iduran. Maybe he can push his new human strength to the limit. "Let's save Tjed."

The half demon began to let off a light golden glow, his clothing lightened and his orange belt became a shining golden yellow, his hair colour became lighter revealing a dark orange. His wings disappeared and his scratches on his face and body healed. He floated above the ground; an aura of light was shining around him.

He then sent a few telepathic messages...

To Ven...
'Don't worry Ven. I've got in under control.

To Aaron's Army...
'Don't attack that man in the black and red armour; he needs to use his attack to defeat the dragon.'

...And to Rink
'Hey Rink look at me, haha!'

Duilin floated higher into the air until aura began to glow brighter. He then was at the same height in the air as Draven.

"Go for it Draven. But there is no way; I'm letting you destroy Tjed. Just watch..."

An orb Yellow-Green energy began to glow in between his hands as he brought them together, and a faint glowing gold ring appeared around the area of the Draken...

Duilin's Uber Shield: 5%

[Coriko]

Coriko raised his bow to deflect the arrow. His bow didn't break, it exploded and the force sent him flying into a wall, hard. The elite warrior slowly walked over to Coriko, who was slumped against the wall. The warrior leant forward to grab Coriko by the throat when Coriko "woke up" and delivered a painful flamming upper cut to the elite's jaw, causing him to stumble backwards. Coriko Jumped up and enflamed his entire arm. He then jumped forward attacking the elite, punchi ng his arm right into the elite's face. The elite's chest armour was on fire and he ripped it off in act of self-preservation and anger. He looked up to see an arrow flying at his chest and before he had time to react it pierced his heart. He clutched it and feel to his knees, dying.

"Wow, these guys sure no how to throw a party."

Coriko then ran off to help the others.

//how many off the elite are there?\

[Drannic_Lord01]

---

"No..." Aaron held on to a sharp cliff inside the fissure, "My men... all of those poor people. They have never fallen in battle... They were the top class..." He lifted himself up to the edge of the fissure and climbed out. "Ariosis is not going to want to hear this... Ah, but what does that matter now? There's nothing I can do against that thing... Unless..."

---

"BOO!!!" Valimore reappeared behind Draven. "I was merely testing your... capabilities. You seem to be well enough into a class of your own. More to the point, seems like it's okay for you to blast that thing to bits, so I'll lend a hand." Valimore floated back a bit from behind Draven and held his hands up. "This might pacen things up a bit, but nothing will go in until I have to word. "

---

[Dude Man]

Wilham continued to fist fight with the elite, wile Marshall was having a 'gun fight' with the other one, Wilham seemed to have the upper hand in his fight but Marshall looked like he could use a hand.

Wilham blocked another punch from the elite and swooped his foot across his foes legs tripping him to the ground. The summoner general then slammed his elbow down on the elite's chest, he then grabbed his head with one hand and his neck with his other, ready to break his neck, but the elite had a sudden burst of strength and grabbed Wilham's hands and ripped them away from his head. The elite then sprung back to the ground and delivered a pummelling towards Wilham, only a few strikes were blocked. Those gauntlets were pretty strong, and Wilham had a splitting head ache from all the punches. The Grand General has been through worse so he shakes it off and delivers one high speed punch right towards his enemy's face, knocking him again to the ground. He then gets back into the 'neck break' position and a snapping sound in heard, and the demonic elite's body stops moving...

[Coriko]

Coriko saw his two commrades fighting. Wilham looked like he had his elite under control, Marshall looked like he could use a hand though. Coriko took a run at the elite. He leaped forward towards the guy yelling out a battle cry to get his attention. When the elite turned to look at Coriko that is when he swung his flamming fist down into the elite's face, who let out an agonizing scream. The elite's eye was spurting blood everywhere. The elite swung his powerful arm and it connected with Coriko's ribs. He was sent flying across the room into the marble podium where the tablet was. The podium shattered as Coriko crashed into it. He stood up, slightly hunched over clutching his chest. Blood was dripping down the corner of his lips down his chin. He smiled an almost sinister smile showing his blood soaked teeth. The elite turned his attention to Coriko.

"Oh man, you so just made a big mistake. Marshall NOW!"

[Xorlak]

Draven began floating higher, arms stretched skyward.

"Do what you please.  I don't care what happens, as long as that thing is wiped out..."

Draven's eyes narrowed, as Valimore was still lurking around.

"Vampire, you wear my patience very thin...  I don't take kindly to 'tests'.  I suggest you flee for your life as quickly as possible while I'm concerned with more pressing issues..."

The tiny speck of light above his head swelled, becoming a deep red orb a foot or so in diameter...

CDAA: 15%

----

"Huh?"

Ven blinked twice before realizing the voice came from Duilin, high above.  Perhaps they were working on some different, less destructive spell?

"Uh, right."

He looked down at the dragon, which was stirring quite a bit.  Blast it, whatever Draven and Duilin were doing up there probably required the dragon to stay in place, something that he wasn't likely going to do in just a few short moments.  Ven held his sword to his side and slid down  into the crater on his boots.  He hated just standing and watching...

----

The half-buried Jayce felt something catch his left arm, but paid it no mind as it weighed nothing at all.  Instead his head was turned to the onslaught of men rushing his way.  The winds had died down by now, and the fissures stopped growing larger, humans scurrying around them like ants.  He allowed many to draw close with a vile grin, opening his maw at the last second and spewing forth a series of black orbs.  They struck the ground with shattering explosions that rumbled rocks free from the crater walls. Yet rather than spew debris into the air, wherever they struck was left with a black hole in the ground, as if they disintegrated whatever they touched into nothingness, rocks or men alike...

He shifted his weight some as he spewed forth orb after orb, his right wing becoming dislodged from the rubble and unburying itself...

[Dude Man]

"Goodnight!" Marshall said with a smile, he then fired a single lightning bolt at the elites head, knocking it lifelessly to the ground.

"Well, I guess that answers that." Wilham said, taking off one of his gauntlets and rubbing his wrist.

Marshall let out a deep breath. "Yeah."

"So, who were those guys?" Firstman asked who sat out of the fight, due to his lack of any special magic (and a character shield).

"They must have been left over minions of the Grey Empire." Marshall replied. "I never really fought against the Grey Empire before, but if this is what their warriors were like, they must have been strong."

"Well, they did say they were the 'Talonscar Elite'." Wilham said. "What does that have to do with the Grey Empire?"

"Oh, one of the rulers of the Grey Empire was named Abodahon Talonscar. Perhaps they were his elite guard." Marshall replied.

"Well, let's get outta here, before more of those guys show up." Firstman said. "Their entrance is scary enough..."

--- ---

Duilin continued to charge energy into energy shield, the orb was getting larger, forcing Duilin to stretch his arms skyward as well. Normally Duilin would be feeling uncomfortable and out of place, hovering next to Draven, but at least his technique was only being used to keep Draven's CDAA from destroying anything. In fact, it might even help keep Jayce from, fleeing away after the CDAA is released, because the shield he was making was going to be both blocking physical and magical matter.

Duilin felt so much more in focus and at peace, he didn't feel hate for Draven anymore, or even Jayce. All he felt was the need to protect Tjed and the people of it, from getting hurt by Draven's attack.

"What I'm doing is making a shield Jayce, like what Zeros' did last time, but this one will be made of energy. I will release it right after you release your attack and it will block the explosion of your Annihilation Attack, from damaging anything outside of it. Not that you'd care." He then grinned a bit. "And probably, it will make your spell more concentrated, plus it will bind Jayce there, perhaps making it more effective. Just for you, Draven."

Although what he latter stated, was not his primary goal, as he was mostly just wishing to keep the CDAA from blowing up Tjed, but he his second point would inspire the crazy fire mage to be a little more co-operative with him. Nevertheless the noble super human continued to bring more energy into his shield, making sure it was at level with the CDAA...

Uber Shield: 15%

---

"Is that...Duilin?" Goldolf, the old drow said approaching closer to the crater, along with Lagart and Rink.

"Yeah, it is." Rink replied.

"What's he doing with that Fire Mage?"

"I think the Fire Mage is charging a very dangerous spell to kill that dragon and Duilin is creating a shield to make sure, it does only that." Rink replied. "Hope it works..."

[Jenia]

"Ignore me, will you?" Zakon snickered, thinking this was too easy "Big mistake, pal."
He knew he could just use the dragon's foolish ignorance to approache the neck and attack that, but that would be no fun at all. Instead, without letting go of the dragon's arm, he aimed and swung his knife at a line he saw crossing one of the arm's joints.

-----

"Aaaand... STOP!"
From a whirling light, Fernis and Elphos appeared near an abandoned fort.
The earth was damp and gloomy, with no trees being seen in the distance.

"This certainly looks better than the swamp we landed in earlier." Fernis commented, pulling off the last leech attached to her "I hate leeches."

Elphos nodded, but continued to stare at the large ruined fort nearby.
"I have a bad feeling..." he said, sounding like some old prophet.
Fernis scarcthed her head in response, but decided to suggest they go inside the fort.

Inside, several campfires were lit up along the walls. In the center of what seemed to be the remains of a large hall, a small midget stood near a table of fitting size and a large pile of what seemed to be black boxes.
The said midget was talking to several shady-looking people, though Fernis didn't really bother listening.
She was far more interested in the pile.

"Hey, Elphos..." she whispered in his ear "You said you have a bad feeling, right?"
She then pointed at the large pile of boxes -
"You know what these are, don't you?"
"Those are..." Elphos fell into deep thought for a moment, but then his jaw dropped.

"That's right." Fernis said, nodding "Bombs. You know what I'm thinking, don't you?"
Elphos nodded in response, and they both began sneaking towards the pile.

Just when they were close enough to almost touch one of the boxes, the midget seemed to notice them, as he pointed at them and yelled out something they couldn't understand.
"JUMP!" Fernis grabbed Elphos and jumped into the bomb pile while activating her orb.
With a flash, Fernis, Elphos and the bomb pile disappeared, leaving the strange group in the abandoned fort both shocked and annoyed.

[Drannic_Lord01]

---
//Not much to post... meh...

"Meh... don't you like tests? espesially when you can prove you're the greater? Ah what ever. Take this!" Valimore blasted a dark red beam of energy into the CDAA. "This'll give it a kick." He forced more and more energy through his arms out his palms and up into the CDAA.

---

[Xorlak]

Draven rolled his eyes at the vampire, but an extra power source was useful none-the-less.

His expression became stern as he looked down upon Duilin.

"This is going to kill you, you know.  You'd be better off running away so that you might face Retan.  It's pointless to risk your life for those of little use..."

Above his head, the brightly burning orb swelled to over five feet in diameter...

CDAA: 27%

----

"AHHHH~~!!!!"

The sound of the Tjedian knights' screams was cut short as the dark blast engulfed them, as if their very voices were crushed and ripped away.

"Blast it!  Fall back!"  Ven shouted to the knights.  They had the black dragon loosely surrounded, but none were able to go near, lest they were vaporized into nothingness by the vile orbs of darkness spewed forth from the monster's mouth.

Ven held his sword high, charging it with light energy once more.  He certainly needed another plan of attack this time, as he had no intentions of trying dashing madly at it again...

----

Suddenly Jayce felt a sharp pain in his left arm.  Gritting his many teeth, he craned his neck up and over it, glaring down at Zakon who was still holding on.  There on his arm was a small nick in his scales, a trickle of dark blood bubbling out, hissing as it dripped onto the stones below.  The human managed to cut a hole in his scales?!  With an indignant roar that tremored the ground, he lifted his right claw and smashed down at the little man...

[Dude Man]

"I'm surprised you're warning me of that, Draven." Duilin replied, using a more calm and kindly tone than usual. "But I'm not running. Tjed is not useless nor is the life of any living person. It's something you probably don't understand."

The ring around the area of ground that Jayce was on began to glow slightly brighter, and the orb of shield energy expanded in size.

Duilin noticed that the vampire boosted up Draven's CDAA, that would cause a bit of an imbalance because of that, hopefully he can speed up the charging of his shield...

Uber Shield: 25%

---

Rink, Lagart and Goldolf rallied closer with Ven, the drow and the lizard switching their focus between Draven, Duilin and Jayce.

"Ven, maybe if we circled the dragon we might be able to distract him with some distance attacks of some sort, or perhaps if there are any mages left we could bind him?" Rink suggested to the knight.

"Well, I dunno any binding spells, just like shootin' fireballs and frost shards n' such..." Goldolf said to the imp.

"Well, clearly we need to find a safe way to distract the dragon, if we want him to stay put, and not kill people..."