Greetings Readers
And that brings another week to a draw. I hope you all had a great one. I finally managed to finish a project I started 2 months ago. I'm tired, but looking forward to the gardening series I'll be starting soon.
Anyway, enjoy this update. To figure out where you are in the story, be sure to read the update by @zakludick with Part 90.
Millmor led the charge at the head of the ghouls. He had long since thrown his axe aside as he ran forward in his natural form. After everything he had done to keep the boy alive, he wasn’t going to let him fall here.
Everything that stood in his way fell before him in his blind rage. He wasn’t even aware of the ghouls running behind him. He only had eyes for the dragon pinned to the ground screaming in pain as he was being eaten alive.
Roaring a battle cry, he threw himself at the closest Dreadthing. He sank his teeth in its fetid teeth and tore it from Derric. Millmor didn’t stop. Once the Dreadthing was torn aside, he started on the next one, leaving the injured one to be taken care of by the ghouls. He needed to get Derric back in the air. He didn’t dare look at the giant construct that seemed to be squeezing the life from Lucien.
“Derric! Derric, get up!” he roared as he sliced through the side of the closest Dreadthing.
Derric managed to get his feet under him, but he looked worse for wear. He swiped at another Dreadthing, but it dodged him, only to be torn apart by the ghouls.
You…needed to protect…queen.
“You are my responsibility! Get into the air.”
Helga…
“You need to be concerned about yourself…”
Derric turned his bloody head to the construct.
No.
Millmor looked on in horror as Derric launched himself at the construct. He pounced on it as if he were a cat and bit down on the hand that held the screaming lifedrinker. The construct swatted him away as if he were nothing. The mental scream that echoed in Millmor’s head broke his heart. He roared at the ghouls to follow him in that charge.
They were interrupted by Derric getting to his feet, spitting the severed hand into his own, before pulling it apart to free Lucien. He placed the lifedrinker on the ground and Lucien looked shaken.
Tell them…protect…walls.
Lucien looked up at the boy knowing he didn’t have much strength left. He lay a hand on the dragon’s forearm and nodded his head, “Only if you retreat.”
No strength.
Lucien turned and bellowed over the noise of the fighting, ordering his men to return to the castle and hold there, no matter what happened. The soldiers at first seemed to ignore his order, but then he echoed another word. As if by magic, the lifedrikers retreated.
“We went into this together. We will fight to the end.”
The dragon shook the blood from his face and nodded his head.
Fight we will.
Magna saw her friend fall and she nearly raced from the walls with the ghouls and lifedrinkers. However, her mother gripped her shoulder tightly.
“You fleeing will break the men.” Her mother whispered, “Be strong for those on the wall.”
“But…”
“They are allies, they don’t have an obligation to be here, you do. These are your people, and they look to you for guidance. Stay and show them your true strength. Keep that sword ready, you’ll need it soon.”
It physically hurt Magna to watch her friend attacking the large undead construct and be thrown aside as if he were a toy.
“It’s going to kill him.”
“There is always death in war.” Mary turned and ordered her battle mages forward.
Adrian took the time to squeeze his sister’s shoulder, to let her know he was there to help her if she so needed it.
“I don’t know what to do.” She admitted to him.
“Don’t worry, neither do I.”
The Burning One had been impressed by the bravery of the two Blaze Knights that had stood before him. They had been great sport, but they hadn’t lasted as long as he had wanted. He had wanted to play longer, but mortal bodies could only take so much damage before they fell apart.
It played around with the idea of adding these corpses to his new form, but their hearts had long since stopped beating, and most of their blood lay splattered around the chamber. There would be no gain to adding them.
Then he felt it. The disturbance in the balance. Another avatar had joined the battle. The stench was telling. The Dark One had a stake in this battle too. It was obvious he would also want to interfere.
Placing the shrieking blade on its broad shoulder, the Burning One made its way toward the outside. It had been centuries since he had had to fight another Avatar. To have this opportunity in the mortal realm was almost too much pleasure to control.
As it stepped from the chamber, it became aware of a partial mortal standing before him. He knew this soul. Part of it was a plaything for the Dark One and its most devoted follower. The Burning One stared down at the mortal and simply asked, “You wish to stand before me.”
“No,” said Adiran.
“Then why?”
“End it.”
The Burning One roared with laughter, “You don’t have much to bargain with, Mortal.”
“I’m not bargaining, Burning One.”
“Not surprised you know who I am. But if you aren’t here to bargain, then why stand before me?”
“The universes demand balance.”
The Burning One roared with laughter and swung the screaming blade at the mage. Adiran refused to move. Instead, he said, “I will not stand in your way if you want to fight the other avatar.”
“Wise.” The Burning One pulled his sword back, “Isn’t it time you run once more to abandon this time?”
“Not this time.”
“Then I hope you survive because someone will need to convince your sister to choose a side.”
Adiran bit his tongue as he stepped aside and allowed the avatar to step past him. He had done what he needed to do. He hoped he had given them a few extra seconds.
No Mortis. Do it now!
Well now, what do these two have planned? No idea, it's up to Zak to complete the story.
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