Dark Age Legends

[Drannic_Lord01]

//It's a pure beam of heat, and seeing as how there's distance between each Vanguard, I'm going to guess that no, it can't melt their helmets all at once.

- Terian, Kainengrad East Gate (outside) -

Jacobie didn't flinch as the Vanguards charged him. Instead, he shifted his footing back and sheathed his katana, leaping a fair distance back and prepared a small orb of dark energy within his left palm. The orb was black and glowed with purple lightning that surrounded it, growing to nearly one foot in diameter. He pointed his palm out towards the Vanguard without a helm and blasted the orb straight for his head.

[Xorlak]

- Kainengrad, Supply Storehouse, Basement Corridor -

"We are quite capable of navigating dark passages, I assure you." Vincent waved as he disapeared into the darkness, the blue-robed adept following close behind.  The thunderclaps had nearly ceased and it had grown quieter outside.  This this only could mean the battle was over-- unlikely-- or that the initial distraction borne from the storm spell was over and the attackers were ready to move in full force.  Vincent had no intention to stick around and find out.  It was time to leave.  Assuming they weren't totally surrounded now, at least...

[D. Ein]

-=Kainengrad - East Gate ruins=-

Ironically, the visor-less Vanguard was the last to notice the orb. The one that was running next to him saw the approaching projectile, and tripped his comrade. The charge zoomed over the tripped Vanguard, who got back up, completely unharmed, and continued sprinting toward Jacobie.

Meanwhile, the four other Vanguards reached the Lizard Man, and swung their claymores at the scaly chest.

-=Somewhere in South-Eastern Gaian - Gros Morne Citadel=-

The dark inverse pyramid, for the first time in many months, was not travelling anywhere. It wasn't even floating - for the first time in almost 6 years, the pyramid rested on the ground. In fact, only its very top was visible. The rest was buried in the soil, as if the enormous structure plummeted to the earth and stuck there. Dark clouds were gathering about the Citadel...

[Dude Man]

- Kainengrad, Command Centre Courtyard -

The courtyard of the command centre was quiet, and absent of any other people. There were several spots which seemed to have been gardens, but everything has died. There were several demonic statues in the garden areas, which seemed to be recently placed in. As the three walked through the courtyard Duilin coldly glanced at the statues as he walked by them.

The statues were of the deceased leader of the Talonscar cult and father of Duilin, Abodahon. It's been several years since he's seen his father. Duilin eventually had to walk with his head down, due to the emotions he felt from his very image. Duilin looked up to his father when he was younger, and always wanted him to be his hero. But when he was finally shown the truth that his father was pure evil, he just felt betrayed.

Valos merely rolled his eyes and sighed. "I see Nex is still worshipping his dead god." He commented. "If we had the time, I'd smash every statue in this courtyard."

They then arrived in the doorway, which was surprisingly open. Inside it was also empty of any people, they could see two wide curling stairways at the end of the hallway.

"Alright this is it." Valos stated. "We get in, find Nex and kill him, then the threat of Talonscar should be over. You ready?"

Duilin still looking at the ground finally chose to look up inside the building, suddenly it was as if his very soul was ripped from his body, and was being pulled into the building by an invisible man. At what seemed to him like light speed he was dragged through the building upstairs, while he was screaming his lungs out. Finally the movement stopped, but only for a split second until he was thrown into a tunnel of flame and fell through it for miles and miles. Then it stopped, everything stopped and time seemed to go back to normal. Duilin torn and bruised was floating in the air, with the heat to strong for even him. Then somebody came up towards him, he couldn't see him, but he knew he was there and could make out every detail in him perfectly, but he couldn't see him. He then spoke. "Hope you still remember what I taught you, boy..."

Then he was back, he gasped for air as if he'd been holding his breath for an extended period of time.

"Duilin? I said, are you ready?" Valos asked again.

Duilin wiped the sweat off his forehead and started breathing more deeply.

"What?! You're getting scared?" Valos growled.

"Oh no...I'm ready. Let's go..." Duilin replied and then started walking into the command centre. "I lead the way from here."

[Drannic_Lord01]

- Terian, Kainengrad East Gate (outside) -

The Lizardman gulped as four giant claymores headed down for him to smash him into pieces. At that moment, everything around him slowed down as he sent a telepathic message to Doriana. ~Please, tell Karma I couldn't make it...~ After this, he sent one to both the elites that held the storm up. ~Return... your mission is done...~

At this, time around Jacobie sped up again and he was ripped limb from scalley limb, torn to shreads and killed without mercy by the savage Vanguard brutes. His head, still intact, was miraculously able to utter one more thing before he faded on. "That... all you got...?" The two elites nodded, and raced back to the shore, taking flight back to Ariosis by use of their air magic.

The lizardman was true to his firends and his cause until the very end. His name was engraved into history, and would live on forever...

- Terian, Kainengrad Command Centre -

At that moment, the group was visible once more, and Doriana recieved the message as it was thrown into her mind. "Jacobie..." She murmured. "Guys, Jacobie is dead. Let's hurry up and make this quick."

As the group entered the command centre, Doriana looked back for a quick moment. ~Goodbye, old fool... you'll be missed...~ With that last thought, she raced forward to catch up to Duilin and Valos, steadying her pace when she caught up.

[Dude Man]

- Terian, Kainengrad Command Centre -

"Damnit." Duilin cursed. "I was hoping we could do this without loosing anyone. Guess I was wrong." He stopped for a moment. "It is the way of the solider. We'll have to mourn him latter because now we must continue our mission." He continued running up the staircase to the top of the building.

Valos was half expecting Duilin to sit down and start crying or do something lame and melo-dramatic like that, so he was rather pleased when he heard him say 'mourn him later'. He smirked and continued moving, along with Duilin.

[Xorlak]

(Forgot if it was still raining or not.)

- Kainengrad, Airship Dock -

"HOW did this happen?"

The soldier shrunk back.  "L-lightning!  From the sky!"

Vincent pushed him away to look at the wreck.  The charred remains had crushed a building, and Kadarinian soldiers were milling around, trying to salvage survivors. Somehow a single bolt of lightning had taken down and burned his ship.  If the flight crystal were intact, he'd likely be able to transmute it into something flyable.  But it had EXPLODED.

This was no accident.

He clenched the metal briefcase tightly and the rain poured around.  At least it was letting up.  "What now, sir?" Mikail asked.

"It's personal now."  Vincent unfastened the top button of his cloak and removed a small orb.

"Calling for another ship?"

"No.  A fleet.  Including my latest Halberd prototype.  We are carpet bombing the attacking army to oblivion."

The communications orb merely fizzed, snowy clouds visible within.

"Blast.  This storm is interfering.  We will have to move to a higher point." Vincent looked around, then pointed. "There. The Kainengrad Command Center.  That should work."

With that, the two alchemists darted through the rain towards the temple-like building.

[Dude Man]

- Kainengrad Command Centre, Staircase -

Continuing to head up the large spiralling staircase, Duilin could get the feeling of pure evil in his stomach. Nex was at the top of this building, not even knowing that he was about to attacked. Or what if he did? What if he was simply allowing them to make their way towards them simply to toy with them? It seems like something a demon like Nex would do...

-- --

- Kainengrad Command Centre, Courtyard -

Heric Dephiler was calmly walking through the courtyard infront of the main doorway of the command centre. He wasn't particularly going anywhere, just simple wandering through it. He was given orders from his captain not to disturb him until "the thing" happens. In the meantime Dephiler strolled through the courtyard, occasionally stopping to admire the fine statues of his saviour-esque lord, Abodahon.

Oddly enough, he never met Abodahon, but was indeed a member of the Talonscar. He was one of the guards of Iban, but despised his master, much like Abodahon was with Qor. When Nex approached him and offered him to join the Talonscar, he agreed. However fearing the wrath of Iban he went to Gaian in the first demonic division that arrived when the Talonscar joined the Sovereignty. He heard a lot about Abodahon and wished he could have met him. He prays some day he might. He's read about him in the Talonscar's scriptures and followed his ways as closely as possible.

[Xorlak]

- Kainengrad Command Centre, Courtyard -

"Good day, lieutenant," Vincent said as he shuffled past the bulky demon.  He was in no mood to talk, let alone explain his situation, so he hurried past and slid into the doors, displaying his own Captain badge to the posted guards so they would not hassle him.  Mikail followed closely behind.

[Dude Man]

- Kainengrad Command Centre, Staircase -

Duilin could hear the tormenting, mocking and horrific laugh of Nex echoing in his memory each step he took up the staircase. His heart skipped a beat every few steps he took and every time the top of that staircase got closer he knew it would be sooner he'd have to fight Nex. It's been so long since he's seen him, and apparently he's gotten even stronger now.

But he wasn't even thinking of backing away, the option of him just turning around and running away and hide under a rock and rot to death to avoid having to face this horrific demon didn't even cross his mind. But he was still scared.

But the fear can be good, it just gives him a rush.

---

- Kainengrad Command Centre, Courtyard -

Dephiler saw Vincent rush by him and head straight into the command centre. 'Was that allowed?' He thought. He didn't want to follow him, but he thought he'd keep an eye open and watch the building very closely for any barely noticeable occurrences from the outside.

---

- Kainengrad Command Centre, Captain's Room -

He kicked the door down, and drew his sword from the sheath on his back. Valos was ready to fight and kill. He looked around the room, Duilin was behind him, as Valos rushed ahead of him.

The robed demon stood in the middle of the room, with a large mounted M-Grid orb. A phantom image just disappeared as they laid eyes upon it. He slowly turned around.

"What? How did you get in here?" Nex sneered.

"We walked inside, how else?" Duilin retorted. He stepped toward him and unsheathed the Iduran. "We were in town and thought we'd stop by and say hi. So, hi."

The two then ran towards him with their weapons ready, together they both slashed their swords at the robed demon. Nex simply laughed, and in a split second he drew two machetes and blocked the swords.

"How cute is this, the Talonscar brothers joining up together. I have to say this is perfect timing for your arrival, my children."

Nex did a jumping split kick hitting both of them, square in the chest and sent them flying in the air and crashing into the wall.

"Let's play for a little while." Nex laughed. "I'm in such a mood to play a game." the blades on his machetes then grew double their length, he then slowly walked towards the two fighters, scratching the floor with the tips of his blades as he moved closer...

[Drannic_Lord01]

- Terian, Kainengrad Command Centre; Captain's Room -

"Play time's over." From the shadows of the doorway, Doriana leapt to the ground and slashed out her second katar that hid underneath her cloak. She then backed her footing up into a fighting stance, pointing both katars forwards toward Nex. She backed up a slight bit more, then launched forward, pointing both katars in the air after him. Just as she got up to him, she suddenly vanished. A loud 'poof' noise could be heard from behind the demon as she suddenly reappeared above and just behind him, slashing her watars downward upon his back.

[Dude Man]

- Kainengrad Command Centre, Captain's Room -

The blades of the katars dug into the demon's back, he squawked in pain but then started laughing. For a fraction of a second it seemed like he was laying back into the blades, but he pulled himself forward, and blood splashed out of the wounds and splattered on the floor, and toward Doriana. The blood that hit the ground steamed up the floor, and noticeably burnt the floor on the ground, likely the blood splattering on Doriana would burn.

"Ooo, that felt tingly. Okay your turn now." Nex then spun around and slashed his scythe at the new foe.

Meanwhile Duilin and Valos got back up, both of them charged energy into their swords, The Iduran, in Duilin's hands, began to spark with an orange and golden coloured lightning, while Valos' blade had black and violet lightning shooting around it...

[Drannic_Lord01]

- Terian, Kainengrad Command Centre; Captain's Room -

Doriana winced as the blood spilled lightly upon her arms burned, but she paid that little mind as she tried to parry the next attack aimed towards her. She grabbed the scythe by using a pincer-like motion with her metal katars, flipping her wrist just slightly, but more than enough to throw off Nex as the demon was pushed past her. After the successful parry, she placed both her arms upon either one and swiftly tore off the long, yellow sleeves of her assassin jumpsuit, tearing them to shreads. The burns looked quite minor, but that didn't stop the pain. She backed up into a defensive stance, awaiting the next attack.

[Xorlak]

- Kainengrad Command Center, Captain's Room -

Suddenly the heavy oaken doors burst open, revealing Vincent and Mikail, who immediately froze and dropped their jaws.

Before them sprawled an epic battle between Nex and what only could be assumed the vile assassins orchestrating the attack on Kainengrad.  "Hmmmm... I believe we've taken a wrong turn..."

"Yikes!"  Mikail jumped and hid behind Vincent's trench coat as a plume of flame drew near.  Stray blasts of lightning tore splinters from the ceiling which rained all around.  "I-isn't that the stair to the roof?" he pointed with a trembling finger to the half open door an the exact opposite side of the raging battle.  The only clear way to it lay right through the middle of the fight.

Vincent nodded, then flipped open his coat. "Go... hide in a box or something."

"Y-yes, Captain!"  Mikail took off in the opposite direction down the hallway they came, stumbling on the way.

Vincent removed a long metallic tube from his coat, then deftly plugged a cartridge of some sort into the slot above the holster.  "Out of the way!!" he screamed as he charged head-first into the raging battle.  With a pull of the trigger, liquid fire spewed forth from the flamethrower, which he waved back and forth manically in an attempt to clear a path.

[Dude Man]

- Kainengrad Command Center, Captain's Room -

"Hey what the hell are you doing!?" Valos shouted at the newcommer, backing out of the way of the spewing flames.

"Bah!!" Duilin yelped, but then backed out of the way, allowing Vincent to make his way to the stairs.

Valos took a double take on the passerby "Wait...Vincent?!"

Nex laughed manically and twirled his scythe around before disappearing it, freeing his hands. He then jumped up performing a back flip and landed onto a shelf mounted on the wall, of the fortunately tall room.

"You my friends are about to have the ride of your lifetime. If a girl-drow and two middle-aged generals won't even be able to take me down then..." He laughed again and then shot a series of red lightning bolts, at his foes, scorching the floor and various things around in the room.

With their lightning enchanted weapons, Valos and Duilin, the "middle-aged generals" blocked as many of the lightning bolts as possible that struck them. However Valos was hit right in the chest by one of them, sending a surge of electricity running through his body. As he was temporaly paralysed from the shock several more bolts were able to hit him. He shuddered harshly and then fell down onto the ground, passed out from the shock...