Dark Age Legends

[Dude Man]

- Terian, Southeastern Coast -

"No, damnit!" Firstman shouted back at Jacobie. "I know what I'm doing! Leave me alone!"

He picked up his sword, and then dashed towards Keshel. He lifted his sword and then ran past him while slashing it across his waist, hoping to cut his foe in half...

---

"Marshall get back up here!" Duilin shouted, as he held the giant fireball over his head.

Marshall hoisted his wyvern up and flew away from the Marcher.

Duilin then did a few last minute charging into the fireball. By now it was almost twenty feet in diameter.

"Catch."

The half demon general then gave the fireball a mighty downwards throw and it fell towards the Marcher like a meteor...

[Xorlak]

- Fishing Vessel, lost at sea -


Melface stroked his chin as he contemplated the approaching storm.  Kelmarr took the opportunity to fetch his daggers and return them to their sheaths.  The sea began to rock the boat violently, and the fierce wind flapped the sails hard.

"Hmmm..." the child-like demon finally said, his feet touching the ground at last, "I'll tell you what..."  He flashed the skunk another one of his devilish grins, and Kelmarr could not help but gulp again. Melface pointed a pudgy finger at him.  "If you can keep me from getting wet, I won't kill you in a horrible, painful way."  

"W-what...?"

Melface sat right in the middle of the deck and folded his arms. "If I get wet, you die.  If you keep me dry, well then, we'll see..."

Just then, a wave slammed into the side of the boat, spraying droplets dangerously close to where the demon sat.  Kelmarr's tail frazzled and his eyes nearly escaped his sockets until the water settled.

This kid was freaking insane!

Melface's grin grew wider, and his eyes flashed a hint of red.  "Better keep the boat afloat..." he taunted.  He winked, sending Kelmarr stumbling backwards.

[Melchior]

Hero's Fall, The City On The Edge Of Forever

The jagged narrow path shoots out from the mountain like a finger pointing accusingly into the nothingness beyond. Below, the clouds swirl along with the twisting winds, masking the further emptiness. The winds emanate from the apex of this terrible cliff, as a man stares out into the distance, his yellow cloak, seeming both tattered and flawless, dancing wildly in the wicked torrents.

"I see you found me Balthasar." As the man in Yellow speaks, the howling winds fall to a whisper. He does not turn to face the finely dressed man, who fights for every foothold as he walks down this oblivious trail. Instead, the man in Yellow looks up, taking in a sky that mirrors the solemn clouds below. "It's a shame to see you like this. More then you were, yes... but so much less as well. Was it worth it, surrendering yourself to that vile leach? To lose your mind and will, your body and soul? Turn back, Balthasar."

The face of the finely dressed man curls in anger at the mention of his name. He continues forward, his steps slow but deliberate. "I've come to put an end to your madness, King. Even now, we are scattering your forces and your false prophets are being slaughtered." Bright green flames rise from where his eyes should be, rising with his anger. His hand draws over the emerald hilt on his side, awaiting his grasp.

"Madness? Dear boy, I see clearer now then you ever will. Even now," The man in Yellow responds, "Your lord lies dead in his throne, and no one in his court lives to mourn his passing. Turn back, Balthasar. Greater men then you have fallen before me, and greater men yet live whose dooms I will seal. Turn back, Balthasar, your weak resolve is not welcome here."

The finely dressed man stops to speak, halfway between the base of the path, and the man in Yellow. "How your delusions got you this far, I'll never know, but this must end!  You are treading a path no mortal can handle, and we will all pay the price of your pride. Sweet spirits... YOU ARE NOT A GOD!" At the last word, the finely dressed mans foothold shatters, and, grabbing wildly for a handhold, he dangles from the jagged path.

The man in Yellow is suddenly above him. "And you are no longer a man. You are an empty husk, and you were burning yourself alive long before you were given that parasitic toy. The gods you know are aeons dead, and I will stand on their ashes. No one can save you. You have chosen your abyss, boy, now go to it." The fires fade from the man's eyes, and he falls.

-----------------

Western Gaian Ocean, Three miles North-northwest of Tjed

"... like your opinion on what we should do."

<Wha-what?>
Bishops pure white eyes widened under his worn leather hat as he stood on the edge on the makeshift raft. "OH! You are awake. I am sorry if I woke you up, but I could not understand what you were saying. I do not think you were dreaming well. I recommend you have better dreams. That will help, I think."

<...That's foolish. I don't dream. Now what is it that you wanted my opinion on?>

"If you say so. If you do not dream, I would think it would be hard to tell if you are happy. I like to dream of food. You should try it. But yes! The boat! There was a small boat that came by, and it was heading to that land over there. Also, there is land over there." Indeed, off in the distance the coastline of Tjed peeked over the horizon.

<Wonderful! So there is some intact civilization around here. What did they say, Bishop?>

As the gel went about adjusting the sails habitually, he spoke in a quiet, embarrassed voice. "I could not get you to say anything to me, so I hid in the tent. I was scared, and did not want to be eaten."

Jasper did it's best to sound reassuring, but it realized it didn't know how. <Well, if it happens again before we reach the coast, try getting their attention. ...I promise I won't let anyone eat you, Bishop, as long as I'm around. I won't... sleep... again, anytime soon.>

The gels eyes relaxed happily as he entered the tent once again. "That is good to hear. I am glad to have you as my friend, Jasper."

<...>

Outside, the wind rose softly, and whispered of storms.

[Jenia]

~North Dark Continent~

A lone figure glides over from the waters of the ocean to the beach.

"He is nearby, I'd wager."

"It matters little unless we actualy find him."

Several houses came into view, as well as a large fortress floating in the sky.

"I doubt that will be a problem."

The figure glides over to one of the townspeople, who turns around and jumps away in shock and horror.

"Where is Kronos?" The figure asks.

"Wh-wh-wha...!?"

"WE WANT TO KNOW THE LOCATION OF THE SOVEREIGN, FEEBLE MAMMAL!"

The man stares at the figure for a bit, and then points at the flying fortress.

"Uh... Throne room?"

"Thanks much." The figure bows slightly and turns away to head in the direction of the fortress...

[Ted Der]

-In the open seas somewhere-


"Gwen!"

Akran woke with a start and sat up. He was alone in his cabin laying on his bed. Somebody had brought him food, but it was cold on the table next to him.

He tried to think back to why he had shouted out Gwen's name. Then it hit him Oh no! She was in danger.

Akran scrambled to his feet. He grabbed his bow by the door and strode outside. "Get to the Kandarinian Sovereignty! Now!" he shouted to his crew.

A few turned around and looked surprised, but the rest continued to work busily. "Hello?" Akran cried, bewildered.

Just then, Martin jumped down from the upper deck and came up to his Captain enthusiastically. "You're awake! Oh thank God!" he said, hugging him, "Just in time too."

Akran tried to pry off his (rather feminine) first mate. "Okay, okay, thank you, I guess. Get off!"

Martin recoiled with a frown on his face.

Akran looked around at the busy people bringing out cannons and preparing for ... something. He asked, "What am I just in time for?"

This made Martin beam again. "We found the Gilden Warship and we're catching up fast!"

Thud. Someone dropped a cannonball. The Captain could see Royen's ship in the distance. There was nothing but blue water in every direction. He already caught himself formulating strategies. Akran realized he would have to put off his venture up North for a while.


//my first post without using MS Word//

[D. Ein]

- Terian, South-Eastern coast -

The flame was again absorbed by the protection amulet, and this time, Keshel was ready for the attack. He blocked and parried, pushing his sword diagonally at Jacobie, in an effort to knock him back. He completely missed Firstman coming from the side, though - noticing him only by a jarring pain from his shoulder down to his hip. The bastard cut him...

It was all over. Everything around him, in Keshel's mind, was dead. Everything.

Without thought, without pain, and without fear, the manslayer swung around for a devastating downward slash. The serrated blade broke Firstman's sword, and continued flying at a superhuman speed toward his chest.

--- --- ---

- A Northern Kandarinian town -

The grim Citadel slowly came to a halt right over the small town's city centre. The imposing structure dropped its chains down to the specially prepared anchors in the town square, which was cleared of all buildings at the time of conquest by the Sovereignty. After the chains were attached by the people below to the anchors, the Citadel lowered slightly, its bottom-most tip floating about three meters above the ground. At that point, a large teleportation glyph burnt itself in place right below the Citadel. Four Augments were the first (and so far, only) ones to teleport through the portal, standing guard around it.

And in a few minutes, all was once again still in the small port town.

--- --- ---

- Shuba, the unofficial Kandarinian capital - former location of the Bandervil ruins -

Ash was very, very confused. He was new to Regiment 3, and it probably showed - because he had no idea what was going on.

The central chamber that he was in contained several long glass cells, in which strange creatures were floating, submerged in liquid. Several people were standing around each - mages, by the looks of it - holding their staves next to the cell walls. The cells were arranged in a circle around a desk, which was occupied by Martin's captain - Shen, the Magistrate. It looked as if Shen was conducting research - but that was very questionable. The captain was just sitting there, staring down one of the creatures in the cell.

-"Um, sir... I'm Ash Archer... I'm new in the Regiment..."

-"Archer?", Martin heard a calm voice. "Shouldn't you be in the Sixth Regiment, if you're Archer?"

-"...Sir, that's my last name..."

-"That was a joke."

Shen paused, and looked over to Ash. The captain was a man in his late 30s. He had a very tired look on his face, which was bespectacled by tinted eyeglasses. His most unusual feature was his hair - it was mostly brown, except for two grey streaks going from his temples backwards to behind his ears and ending at the neck.

-"Ash," he continued. "If you're going to get anywhere in this Regiment, you're going to have to know exactly what you're here for. I assume somebody sent you an invitation?"

-"...you did, sir."

-"Oh? That I must've, then. What, if you care to remind me, was your specialization?"

-"Pyromancy, sir. I was transferred here from captain Roth's eighth Regiment by your request."

-"Ah, yes... the Pyromancer. You'll have to excuse my poor memory. Have a seat, son."

Ash complied, pulling up a chair next to the Captain's desk.

-"You see these creatures in the cells?", Shen pointed to the glass tubes. "We discovered them in the Gros Morne Chasm. The first one was found some time before the Cataclysm occurred, but that was just dismissed as a fluke of nature. The creature killed a Kandarinian crewman, letting two others escape. It tried to climb out of the shaft we dug back then, but it was later apprehended by several of our Cryomancers, which you can see around the cells."

-"Yes, sir, but what do you need me for?"

-"The creatures - which we dubbed Destroyers, because that's all they seem to have a mind for - have a very puzzling property about them. Notice how that Destroyer over there has small veins of lava seeping out of its abdomen, but without warping the skin of the creature itself. The lava comes from within the Destroyer's core, which we haven't, as of yet, studied. Back to the point: the Destroyer's skin is a metallic compound that we've never seen before. It seems to have strange reactions to fire and heat, which is why we needed a Pyromancer to help us."

-"I'd be delighted to help, sir."

-"Good. Glad to have you on board. Now, go talk to somebody else for your task. I'm busy."

With those words, Shen resumed his fixed glare at the frozen Destroyer.

--- --- ---

- Swan Creek, a town South-West of the Tower of Heaven's Bane: Regiment 9 Headquarters -

-"Czernn! Usseless pile of boness, get out of there! Czernn, damnit!"

Ssesk was banging his scaly fist on a heavy wooden door. There was absolutely no light coming from under the door, although it was relatively bright outside.

-"Czernn, I don't care if you don't feel like working today, but there'ss an asssignment that you have to do! As a Kandarinian lieutenant - no, as the Regiment 9 lieutenant - you comply! And don't give me that crap about writing poemss! I read one, it suckss anyway!"

Still no reply.

-"CZERNN! Alright, that's it. I'm coming in."

Ssesk legged the heavy door, knocking it down to the floor...

--- --- ---

- Terian, South-Eastern coast -

The fireball hit the spinning Marcher, completely destroying the top part of the carapace. Subsequently, the marcher's legs ripped off, trampling many more unlucky soldiers. Just after the top half was burnt by the fireball, the bottom was pierced by the light-based attack from Geomarcus. The Marcher was officially in a state of severe disrepair.

Mikola, struggling, climbed out from below the ruins. Well, they certainly did it. They took down the Khodovik, almost killing Mikola himself in the process. Shall he use his vischy? Looks like he'll have to.

A ripping sound just behind Mikola announced the arrival of the vischy from its cloaked state. The creature twitched its head upwards until it seemed that it was looking right at Duilin, and made a loud wail...

---

-"Oh my," Cecylia continued rambling. "Looks like pan Mikola had to reserve to using his vischy. That means that we're going to have to get to the finale fairly quickly at this point."

--- --- ---

- South-Western Gaian Coast -

Konstantin barely attached the chain to his Pauk when a small explosion somewhere nearby heralded the coming of the 6th Regiment lieutenant. The sinister shape appeared some distance away, between the trees, and closed in on the Necrolyte. Soon, the figure exited the woods. The sun shone rays of light on a snow-white suit of armour, reflecting off long dual blades...

-"Pan Incubus...!", Konstantin gasped.

-"How many FREAKING times do I have to tell you, you necrophiliac scum, do NOT CALL ME THAT!"

-"I'm sorry, pan Hannibal! Please forgive me!"

-"You'd better be sorry! And that was just a one-time thing, anyway!"

//If you're confused at this point, look up "Incubus" on Wikipedia\

Hannibal sighed.

-"So anyway," he continued. "I see you caught some vermin sneaking around."

-"Yes, pan lieutenant. They were in the woods, savaging a defenceless... sleeping... Kandarinian citizen, pan Roth."

Hannibal's eyes lit up, but then the insult got to him - and turned him even angrier.

-"HOW DARE YOU TOY WITH ME?! I'll---!!" Roth took a deep breath. "Ugh. Get the hell out of my sight. You're lucky I'm not a captain. Otherwise, they'd already be looking for your corpse."

-"Yes, pan lieutenant. I'll be off now."

The last Pauk set off, with Sienna and Puco chained behind it. Once the forest was out of sight (and, subsequently, Roth), Konstantin spoke again.

-"Sorry about that, it was necessary. I've learned a lot about the KAF staff... You see, Hannibal himself is normally a very placid person. If I got him mad, he wouldn't try to think about where you two came from in the first place, and, as such, we got him off our back. Now we just have to get back to the town I started my patrol from, and we'll figure our way out from there."

[Xorlak]

- Fishing Vessel, lost at sea -


Think... think!

Kelmarr frantically looked around as the boat rocked.  The sails!  He had to get the sails down or the intense winds would capsize the boat.  He scampered to the mast and started fiddling with the overly complex knots.  Blast it!  A spray of mist slammed over the sides and nearly knocked him off his feet.

"I felt a drop," the demon taunted in the background after another wave slammed the ship.  What was he going to do?  He had zero sailing experience.  How in blazes was he to save the ship, let alone keep giant waves from splashing over the sides?

"Screw it."

He drew a knife and began slashing the ropes, the sails snapping above due to the release in tension.  Still the boat rolled, feeling as if it would capsize at any moment.  He gritted his teeth as he caught a glimpse of the child-like demon behind him snickering.

That's all this was to that thing.  A joke. Just a huge freaking joke.  Like the rest of his life...

He ran to the rudder-thing at the back of the ship.  He'd seen one of the humans pushing and pulling the huge leaver and figured it must have something to do with the steering.  Behind him, the demon was laughing.

He took the rudder in his hands and clenched his teeth.  There was no way he'd make it.  He was going to either die by the ocean, or by that dream-eating freak.  He wasn't about to give the demon any sense of satisfaction by watching him struggle.

A wave approached on the horizon, sprawling upwards and out as it drew near.  As it slammed into the ship, he pulled the rudder with the wave, rather than against it.  As a result, the boat careened to the side and flipped clean over.  Coldness surrounded him as he plummeted into the icy depths...

[Drannic_Lord01]

- Terian, southeastern coast -

"NO!!!" Jacobie leapt forward to try and block the attack by making himself a human (or rather lizardman) shield. Keshel's blade hit Jacobie's crimson armor hard and crushed it, forming an opening while the blade still pushed forward at him, ripping at his scaled skin. It tore into his flesh. He used his sword to force off Keshel's and finally knocked himself back, away from the manslayer.

"GOD DAMNIT, RUN OR DIE!!!" Blood poured from the gash in Jacobie's left shoulder, and tears of pain rolled down his eyes. He grabbed his katana tightly and thrust it forward with all his might at Keshel, with the intent to kill him before he can kill everyone else.

[Dude Man]

- Terian, southeastern coast -

"I know what I'm doing, lizard man!" Firstman sneered again. Not even showing gratitude to Jacobie just saving his life. Frankly, he looked rather annoyed that he was butting into his fight.

Firstman shoved the bleeding lizard man out the way. And lifted his now broken sword ready to smash down a quick killing strike with the broken blade on his head

---

"What the hell?" Hance was sniping down zombies from a burnt tree when he noticed Firstman and Jacobie fighting some nasty looking Kandarinian warrior.

"What is it?" Vaughn asked, while slashing away at zombies with a fire enchanted sword.

"Firstman's doing some rather brave fighting, along with a lizard man. But he seems to be pushing the lizard guy out of the way so he can get a hit."

"What a twerp. I outta beat the shit outta that guy."

Lagart sighed and continued fighting off zombies, along with the demon/drow Zuhani while Sheri stood back and shot lightning bolts and summoned chunks of earth to fight off the zombie hordes.

---

Duilin looked down at the vischy, and then looked around for Firstman and Grant. But couldn't see them.

"Damnit. I told them to attack as soon as I took that marcher down." Duilin muttered to himself.

He drew the Iduran and then dove down. On his way down, in the corner of his eye he could see Grant running towards them. Well, at least he's giving in an effort. He can cut him some slack, he's new.

When he got close enough to the vischy he gave a downwards vertical slash at the creature.

[D. Ein]

- South-Eastern Terian coast -

//Post cleared with DM\

A full-strength direct thrust... A very powerful attack, but equally easy to divert. Keshel simply whacked Jacobie's blade to the left of him. The strength that Jacobie put into the attack has a strong potential of backfiring on him, because of the immense momentum with which the blade was travelling - the likeliest outcome was Jacobie falling to the ground, unable to restrain his strength in time.

Having calmed down a little, Keshel regained his senses. With the corner of his eye, he saw Firstman with his broken blade running toward him. Another swift movement later, the same hand soared up in the air, spraying a cascade of blood over both Keshel and his opponent. The shock of losing his hand paralysed Firstman for a few seconds.

-"W..Wh... my hand... where... what...."

A nearby "thud" reminded Firstman of the situation, but that did little to help. Keshel swept his hair back with a heavy sigh, and looked down to the left side of his chest. The wound on his side turned out to be less serious than he thought it was at first, allowing him to continue moving with the same agility and strike with the same strength that he boasted under normal conditions.

-"If you give up now," Keshel said without looking up. "You will spare yourself a lot of suffering."

At that point, Keshel realized something. His body tingled, as if it was submerged under warm water. Although still throbbing, his muscles lost some tension, and loosened up. His mind was now clear of the mindless desire to kill that consumed him only a few minutes ago. Everything was becoming crystal-clear.

It's the promise, he heard a voice inside of him. A slayer's promise is not an empty phrase. It drove him near-insane after he uttered it, but now that the promise was nearing completion, he was entering a state of nirvana. That's the Stalker Academy for you, he thought.

Meanwhile, Firstman caught a hold of himself. He remembered about the dagger he stuffed in a hurry down his sock specifically for these sorts of situations. While Keshel appeared to be distracted, he pulled the dagger out. Although he didn't fight with his left hand that well, stabbing someone in the chest doesn't take much skill, even in his left. With that thought, he charged at Keshel, dagger outstretched in front of him.

Didn't work.

Obviously.

That never works.

Firstman's left arm was cut off almost at the shoulder this time. Keshel looked as if he didn't even move a muscle, standing in the same pose as before, resting on his bloodstained sword. He looked at Firstman with an almost understanding look.

-"I wouldn't want to die here. Fortunately, I'm not you."

Keshel made a final move as if about to stab Firstman through the chest, who, at this point, was barely standing. In mid-air, though, Keshel's stab somehow transformed into a...

...a downward slash.

Firstman's left shoulder, complete with most of his upper torso, peacefully slid down to the ground.

---

The Augment patiently waited until Duilin's attack reached it, and then made a surprisingly quick movement with its hand. Starting at around where its cheek would be, the Augment made a vertical slash down to its stomach. A black fissure appeared in the air in front of it, which instantly rematerialized to show Duilin his own back. If he proceeded with the attack, he would end up stabbing himself...

[Drannic_Lord01]

- Terian, southeastern coast -

"You... BASTARD!!!" Jacobie used all of his might to swing his body around and made for a horizontal slash at Keshel. His body was weaker from blood loss, but he gave more strength than normal. His magic likely kept him alive. Fortunately for him, Karma was behind him and cast a healing spell before the arm was lost. "Take this!" Karma jumped into the fight as well, her ice katana slashing from the other side.

--- --- ---

"Hah! It worked." Geomarcus was filled with joy as he saw the marcher had burst into a state of disrepair. He then returned to the battle with the zombies as he struck them down with his light-enchanted silver longsword. Decapitating zombies wasn't really that enjoyable, but he seemed to be glad to rid Gaian of these creatures of darkness.

[Dude Man]

- South-Eastern Terian coast -

Duilin felt that something was up. Was that HIS back, in front of him? He looked behind and saw the Iduran's blade coming towards his back. In a move of both defence and shock he pulled his sword back and held it close to himself.

"Wow..."

Duilin tried a different approach and then summoned a fireball in his left hand and then smashed it into the ground creating a wave of flame that spread in a six foot radius around him, intending to catch the Augment in it.

---

Grant somewhat caught up with Duilin and then turned around to see if Firstman was behind him, but he wasn't.

Marshall landed his wyvern near Zimmerman.

"Where's Patrick!?" Marshall asked sounding worried.

"I don't know...I think I lost him..."

"No...Firstman..." Marshall looked through the battle field, and couldn't see Firstman anywhere.

"What's wrong!?"

Marshall ran through the battle field, dodging any projectiles flying near him. "Firstman!"

And then there he saw him, laying in pieces on the ground, next two a lizard man and a Kandarinian warrior fighting.

"No!!" He then fell to his knees and buried his face into his hands. Firstman was his best friend, he knew him for almost five years. He didn't even know magic or anything too special, but he was able to survive so much, get out of so many battles alive and well. But now he's gone...

[Mikado]

~~ Swan Creek, a town South-West of the Tower of Heaven's Bane: Regiment 9 Headquarters ~~
~ ~ Emo paradise (Czernn's room)~ ~

A loud bash was heard as the door was kicked in, and a stream of light entered the dark chamber, revealing in the chamber  a man sitting with his back to the door at a desk.

There was no light in the room before, and the stream of light that came from outside was the only way to see anything. The room was cold, and vey empty. Or maybe it only looked empty because the light shone only on the desk, and nothing else could be seen.

The man spoke with a sad and soft voice, but very understandable at the same time.
"That... is such a waste of a good door."
His voice echoed in the chamber, meaning that it was big and empty. He slowly turned his pale white face, and looked at the Lizardman. Where he was looking and how he felt was unknown because his eyes were fully black, not showing any emotion whatsoever. Except sadness.
Starting with a deep breath he spoke.
"Sff..., I see..., soo who has the will to call me into action, moj drogy dowodco smierci.[My dear leader of the dead]

He tilted his head slowly to the left, watching Ssesk with his empty look.

~ ~ Emty Room, Silver Root ~ ~

Heil looked at the single, but huge window in the court. It was covered with a thick courtain.
"Why would anyone close the window...?"

Heil stood up and walked to the window, and opened it. He looked outside and he saw two ships flying beneath him.

"Soon... we'll reach this unknown lands... I wonder what we'll come across..."

Someone knocked on the door.

It must be the generals. He quickly closed the window and hid it behind the courtain, and while walking to his seet he yelled "Please enter!" and the big door, or maybe even a small gate opened.

Nine red clothed people walked in, and took their respective seets along the table.
When Heil sat down he looked if all the generals had assembled.

"Well... we all know that we are nearing foreign terrain. This shall be our discussion for today..."

//2 more post to go before Silver Root reaches coast.

[Jenia]

~Near Kandarinian Citadel, Northern part of the Dark Continent~

The Citadel was surrounded by human guards, and the figure glided over to one.

"Halt!" the speargun-equipped guard said.
He had odd gloves and an amulet worn.

"What is wrong?" the approached figure asked, the eye on the black side of his face closed.

"The Citadel of the Sovereign is beyond here! Unless you have business..."

"We have business, mortal. Now let him through."

The guard took a few steps back, as did a few others.

"Wha-wha-what was that?" the guard asked after coming to his senses.

"Worry not, my dear friend can be grumpy at times. In any case, I must make haste to the fortress..."

"Wait!" the guard stopped him "You can't go just like that! The Augments won't like your smell and attack!"

"Oh, is that all?" the figure smiles faintly "My dear friend... Could you please warp the air around me? I wouldn't want to disturb the locals..."

"Just killing them would have been easier... But, fine."

A small ripple began to surround the figure as it approached the portal leading into the Citadel...

The guards stood by and watched the figure slowly move away...
"Did that just happen?" one of the guards asked.
"No, it didn't." another guard gave him a pat on his shoulder "We really should be getting more sleep if we experience hallucinations like this, fellas..."

Passing four augments which acted slightly confused, the figure entered the portal.

"Why were they running around like that?"

"Hell if I know."

The figure found itself inside the citadel, facing a gray rock wall.

"Seems familiar..."

"It's because we made those stones out of a mountain so that those mortals could gather it with more efficency."

The figure was surrounded by torches and statues of gargoyles. There were no windows, and the cieling was quite high.
The there were two servants running about trying to get the statues cleaned and didn't really notice the new presence.
The figure shrugged and jumped back into the portal.

It reappeared in a large room full of ceramic bathes full of fresh oranges.
"Oh...Kay..."
"Even I have to agree with you this time."

The figure returned to the portal and reappeared in a room with many corpses hanging from the cieling, puddles of blood on the floor and a pipe organ at the very end of it.
"Pipe organ room?"
"That's more pleasing to the eyes than oranges, anyway."

The figure made a few steps, slipped in a puddle of blood and fell back into the portal, reappearing in a completely empty room with polkadot-pattered walls of black background and white spots.
"...Eyesight-torture room?"
"He must've been bored while we were away."

The figure got up, sighed, and stepped back into the portal, reappearing in what appeared to be a toilet. A single guard sat on a wooden pot, apparently answering his call to nature.
"Uh...Definetly not here."
"You sure got him with his pants down..."

Going back through the portal, the figure found itself in a glamourus room full of Kronos's Pictures painted on expensive canvas, busts and statues made in his image and even a rug portraying his face on the wall.
"Hey, why doesn't he place the rug in his bedroom?"
"And have people constantly walk all over his face? Don't be stupid."

The next destination of teleportation was a smaller room with a bed, a schedule of including times and names as well as a collection of pink teddy bears.
"His wife?"
"More like daughter. I bet the names are her dates! Pah..."

The next room was seperated into two parts - One was filled with tiny lungs and kidneys, and the other was mostly empty, except for a few coins on the floor.
"...No comment..."

Another teleportation led the figure to a room full of random body parts with random other body parts growing out of them - usualy tentacles.
"Did he try to reinvent the beholder?"
"I never studied mortal anatomy and somehow I still think that THIS shouldn't stay bent the way it is."

With a sigh, the figure arrives in a room full of white underwear packed into compact lumps by black rubber bands.
"And what might this be...?"
"Is he even aware of what is going on in this fortress?"

With a loud yawn, the figure stepped through the portal again to find itself in a large room.
Larger than the previous ones, anyway.
Atop an ivory throne decorated with a bright red gem sat Kronos looking extremely bored with the two Kandarinian banners on either side of the room.

"Ah, there you are, sir Crow-Nose..." The figure gave a refreshing, kind smile.
The eye on the black part of his face opened up and, with a diabolical flaming crimson gaze, began to rapidly scan the room.

"I should thank you..." a darker voice echoed thruout the throne room "You gave me the head start I so much needed. However, I have passed the point where I can make real progress eating souls one by one. So I realized we should return the favor..."

Dark mist began to surround the one called 'Kerig' and the black side's eye's gaze grew firece as it focused on Kronos himself.

"I can now use him to fuse with any magical or beam-based weapon you have and empower it, or perhaps use it as a large soul-vaccuum. I hope you can see for yourself what good is that for... Lest I'll have to demonstrate."

The disfigured being frowned.
"Stop being so rude, Welly! Favors should be repaid KINDLY!"

The echoing voice quited down and the mist dissipated. The eye on Kerig's black side closed.
"If you insist... Kerig."

[D. Ein]

- Swan Creek, R9 headquarters -

-"That'ss more like it.... I received orderss from the very top, Czernn, for you to train two Necrolytes. DON'T LOOK AT ME LIKE THAT!"

The Lizard Man's yelling was very strange in pitch. In contrast to his normal deep voice, Ssesk's screaming was ridiculously high.

-"I know it issn't the most exciting job out there, BUT SOMEONE HAS TO DO IT! And that jussst happens to be you!"

--- --- ---

- South-Eastern Terian Coast -

Even though the enemy was killed, Keshel was still in the middle of a battle. He leaped back from the two slashes coming at him, though Jacobie's weapon hit his foot as he was about to retreat. Wincing, Keshel looked up.

There were two of them now... One's a healer. Makes sense to go for that one first.

Using the strength regained from the completion of the promise, Keshel dashed toward Karma, trying to spear her right in the stomach. Unfortunately, once landing on his injured left foot, he realized the extent of the damage - but not before embarrassingly tripping on his own foot and falling down right next to Jacobie.

---

In battle time, the Augment somehow increased its speed considerably. With another movement of its hand, the two portals vanished - just to reappear, with another ripping noise, at the creature's lower torso. The portion of the blast coming at the Augment disappeared inside the black hole, collapsing the portal behind it.

-"Now, flying pan," Mikola growled through clenched teeth. "Time for a counter-offencive."

The Augment raised its hand, and drew it back, as if to launch a Ki attack at Duilin. Thrusting it forward, however, it ripped another fault in the fabric of space. Duilin's attack, concentrated in a crescent, came right back out at him...

--- --- ---

- South-Western Kandarinian town -

-"Well, we're here," announced Konstantin. He hauled his end of the chain off the Pauk, and headed toward a building decorated with the ninth Regiment insignia. "I'll be right back."

He called over a nearby guard to hold the chain while he is gone. Obviously, this was done not to arouse suspicion. The guard threw several cautions glances at Sienna, then at Puco, but other than that, did nothing out of the ordinary. The heavy chain was obviously a burden for him, as he was holding it with both hands. It looked like his back was about to snap from its weight.

A couple of minutes passed, with unintelligible murmuring coming from within the building. Then came the surprised voice of Konstantin.

-"Captain Goethe ordered this?! That can't be! N-No! Stop! Aaaahhh~~!"

A very loud "thump" shook the walls of the small building, followed by silence. Suddenly, elephantine footsteps announced the coming of someone - or something - big...

The mountain of a man that appeared from the comparatively dwarf-sized doorway looked like he could kill with nothing more than a glance. At about seven and a half feet tall, he was easily as high as an ordinary Lizard Man - and certainly a lot more meatier. In addition to his standard battle suit, he looked like he had several thick, flat surfaces stuffed under his clothes - most likely plates of armour. Upon his back resided a truly gigantic single-bladed axe, which looked like it was chieseled out of rough stone. He had a deep tan, as well as a majestic spiked Mohawk.

-"I am Onwan, Lord of the Ntouka tribe, and the Lieutenant of the Fifth Regiment," he said. His voice was deep, but with a hint of finesse - certainly not what one would expect from a massive brute. "My apologies, but my captain, Flora Goethe, asked me to apprehend you."

He took the chain from the trembling guard, who looked like he just made in his pants, and wrapped it around his enormous fist.

-"We must now go. Please do not try to do anything that would endanger your safety - as I'm sure that Necrolyte told you, these woods are not the safest place at this time of day."

--- --- ---

- Northern Kandarinian port town -

-"I attempt to escape from the world, yet the world goes out of its way to find me nevertheless," Kronos moaned. "That is you, Weloss? I assume the beam device you are referring to is my Hammer... Right now, just tell me, what is it that you want in exchange? Regardless of the answer, I will need some time to contemplate the matter. I will contact you when I made up my mind."