“They are still a threat to Manuheim. Why did we not fight them?” Davyd asked as they pressed on further away from where the Nocturnals rest. “We cannot win,” Viriel responded. “Dreygo knew that also. But we have to cross them, nonetheless.” “How strong are they, Dreygo?” “Like angels. But stronger. Hate had consumed them as they lived the bowels of hell. They can’t be easily killed. I remembered our last fight with Konuk, I almost died. Our fight ended as I have scarred his face. It was a long time ago.” “How do they fight?” Davyd asked. “They use their limbs to block and attack. Our weapons cannot penetrate the skins of their limbs. They will eat you with a mouth that appears everywhere in their bodies. It could be in their feet or could be in their limbs. Once they gobbled flesh from you, they will know your every move.” “Do you believe in the higher power?” Elaine asked. “I do not know what to believe. What’s important right now is to stop Kragus from in succeeding this war.
“I count Five hundred demons,” Viriel said. “I can handle them,” Davyd said. “I will handle Sloth.” Said Dreygo. “We will both handle him, Dreygo. You cannot take him alone.” Viriel said. “Be advised. He’s in his true form.” Said Dreygo. “How can you handle five hundred demons with only a couple of arrows at your back?” Elaine asked, worried about Davyd’s arsenal. “I have my dagger here. I can take all of them. Don’t worry Elaine.” “Dreygo and I are going to attack in stealth. Distracting Sloth will give us the advantage in the shadows.” Davyd started to land among the heaving demon warriors. Metals clanked as they unsheathed their swords from their metallic scabbards, axes, knives, and shields. One could always be appalled by such an army; stinking skins, grotesque faces, improper and rustic armor, blunt weapons, and the disorganization of ranks. The crowd roared to engage. Davyd emptied his fifty arrows on his back for less than ten seconds and every mark was successful. He
“Viriel! Davyd! It’s a trap!” Screamed Dreygo. He was looking upwards. Viriel too levelled to where Dreygo’s eyes fell. Davyd continued his attack with his bow and arrow, unknown of the imminent danger. Sloth receded to a corner. Arrows plunging the surface of Sloth’s armor but not deeply enough to penetrate the skin. It was Sloth’s way of defending the raining arrows at a simultaneous pace from the hunter. He let them land on his armor, others were compelled to misdirect. “Davyd!” Dreygo screamed once more. Davyd was distracted with his attacks on Sloth. There were weapons floating high above their heads, pointing below them. A simple trigger would drop the weapons to the ground fast, surely killing them. A rain of blades more lethal than rocks of fire in Hell. Maybe Viriel will only survive. He had the ability to cover himself with his wings. Running to him for shelter could not be possible, he could only try but could be too late. If weapons dive to the ground, killing every livi
Thousands of ether strands escaped from Sloth’s body, rapidly diving deep through the ground. Screeching painfully to normal ears. The chosen journey through the tunnels was risky but it ended right. They had saved Manuheim another day without destruction, but the inevitable was still forming to fruition. They might have ceased one enemy’s plan but Kragus was known to have many plans, each were carefully thought of and effective so far. It could be his journey through the tunnels was also calculated by the hell god. Maybe it was a trap. Maybe Manuheim was already fallen above ground without them knowing. They traveled over a day inside the tunnels and lots would have transpired already in the Capital. They recollected their strengths after moments of significant rest. They mourned over Davyd, venerating a large gigantic tree that sprouted from the ground. Elaine let go of her tears, sobbing hard and kneeling before the tree, curling. Dreygo held his emotions. She dug her knees again
He was tired of the kneeling position since he was thrown into prison. His golden shackles had magic in them that no being could break. His wings were clipped downward with the same chains that restricted him to move significantly. He could so much wince as one of the available movements he could make, including the screaming. His armor was stripped from him, the fine sheet of a cloth that made his shirt had served little to protect him from grazing himself from the rough points of the chain that wound up his body. It was an interrogation room, not the actual prison cell. In front of him was a transparent glass, probably unbreakable, offering the view of the Capital beyond the patches of heavy forestation. Footfalls were now audible from behind him, closing on as somebody entered the chambers. The clanking of armor as they moved was music to Nethaniel’s ears. They were the prison guards addressing somebody who entered. He missed those clanking sounds of warriors’ armors moving so sh
Viriel took the book out. Dreygo stopped from munching his food. “Aren’t you gonna eat first? I never saw you eat.” Dreygo asked. “Well, we angels can survive even without eating,” Viriel answered. “Good for you. Ok then. Let’s see what's good about the forbidden spells.” “You may not find this book helpful, Dreygo.” “Why not?” Elaine asked, interjecting. “Because…” Viriel stuttered. “Because what?” “Because someone’s coming. Put out the smoke.” Viriel demanded. “Who?” Dreygo asked, unsheathing his sword from beside him. Elaine put out the fire with her feet. “I don’t know. But he’s close.” Dreygo stood up. His eyes trained on the surroundings, swept from left to right. He saw nobody. Not a soul. Not until he found shrubs moving from a distance. “I see something,” Dreygo said. Unknowingly, a cold sharp edge blade caressed gently Dreygo’s neck. The blade was a quarter-inch closer to his jugular vein and one quick sweep would deliver his death. So, he stood still instead. Th
Three Angel Guards, believed to be Skullgorn scouts had different armor in them, camouflaging along the forest with their grey armor and green regalias. Their black wings were kept folded for further obscurity. They have spears instead of swords. “Clever as you are, Blacksmith. But you are the one who is trapped.” The one in front said with a hint of mockery on his expression. “Such tone, scout, is insulting your senior,” Zudkiel said. “I have rarely met with an attitude like yours in this realm. All of them met their embarrassing deaths.” “Well, there is no escape for you now, Blacksmith. All we have to do is attack you at your back. You can’t turn with both feet on the ground.” “Seems that you do not know my powers, scout,” Zudkiel replied. “There is no need.” The scout gripped his spear strongly and danced it deftly turning with both hands. Such speed calls upon the sound of the wind as the blade slice through the mist. The mist dance along with it. Then stopped, the blade poin
Skullgorn, Manuheim, Heaven *** It climbed down the pillar, head first. Its claws were buried against the stonework. His head with whiskers like spears, and his forearms were the first to reveal from the mantle of darkness from above, then its torsos with stripes like tiger but skin like a snake, then its tail was long and strong. Its eyes, yellow and luminous, locked on them like they were helpless prey. Its size was gargantuan like they were a little mouse. “What the…” Dreygo reacted first. “The same but a different kind of breed, I guess.” “Why do you say so? It’s the same ugliness, I suppose.” Zudkiel said. “I have a bad feeling about this,” Dreygo said, his sword ready. Hell beasts were pure ugly and rotten as if they all came from one creator. But this Hellcat, it’s not the same anymore. First, he had ever seen, seemingly modified, or experimented to become hybrids of several kinds. “Elaine, hide!” The words came almost involuntarily. Elaine scuttled immediately behind the
It was the rain that woke Dreygo up. The gentle drops of the rain like small drums on his small hut roof had struck him with nostalgia. His head rang hard as if he had been asleep for years. His knees teetered as he tried to stand from the bed and found himself leaning against the wooden wall. His energy was drained maybe from the long slumber, he thought. He tried to think of something, but he knew that the world he was in was not a memory, nor the past, it was a new world. The feeling of nostalgia had suddenly visited him, escorted with pain, and depression. The reason was vague for the emotion he had experienced. He feared ever digging further into the root of what rumbled inside his stomach, deep in his thoughts something had lingered. He knew only sadness was waiting for him if he ever fathomed the reason. He took gentle strides outside the bedroom, his sole felt cold against the wooden floor. The woodwork was great, greater than he could ever build. The shack was small, and the
“Elaine, start the incantations!” Viriel suggested. “We will triangulate him.” Elaine opened the book of Forbidden Spells. “Dreygo ready your weapon.” “Wait! You said, there is a sacrifice, what is it?” “Do not to worry, Dreygo. Just do your thing. Keep Kragus weak and I will do the rest. Viriel, hold him again with your vines. He had no powers at the moment but we have very little window of opportunity here.” Viriel summoned again the vines, now they were deadly as ever as Anacondas in the deep rivers of Amathon. The pointy sharp tips of the vines like-blades, weaved through Kragus's body. Kragus incinerated them eventually, but it gave a heavy toll on God as his knees trembled right after. “You can all stop what you are doing, and I will reward the three of you. Kings and Queen of realms. You will have power and riches you can never imagine.” Kragus tempted, his words bubbled with blood. “Stop with your lies, Kragus. You are going to die now.” Dreygo said as he stabbed his swor
The Portal Keepers were giants riding with horses twice as large as cattle. They did not speak; their presence spoke for themselves. Their empty rustic helms held no face, only a long mantle of torn cloth that covered their bodies. Skeleton arms were mounted with rustic armor and gauntlets that held their weapons. Kragus was even silenced as their horses set foot on the ground. They stopped neighing and the horses stared at Kragus with a deadly intent and one portal keeper glanced at Dreygo. The harbinger was stunned by their presence as if one move would kill him instantly. He could not read their intentions, their plans, or how they fight, they just stood there as if they were greater than the God in front of them. The Hag finally drowned in her own blood and dropped dead to the ground. Elaine released a heavy sigh after their skirmish of black magic. She won, defeated a Century-old witch but it gave out a large toll on her. Weakly she stood against Viriel but happiness was plastere
“Now, Dreygo. This will be my last offer. Are you going to join me or join your comrades who had died in battle?” Kragus asked. He recovered and a mantle of aura could be sensed from afar. The Seer was beside him, delivering the Ferrum Minus back to God’s hand. “Welcome back, Lord Kragus.” The Seer whispered. “The clock is ticking, Dreygo. What are you going to do? I do not have time to wait all day. There is so much to do.” “Just kill me now, Kragus. I do not want to join with the likes of you. A scum to the realms! You made me what I am today, and you have shared your power. This does not give you the right that you can bend my principles. Kill me, if you don’t, I will kill you.” Dreygo answered. “So, you are determined to keep your decision on taking a God like me, even if it's impossible. Dreygo, I like your persistence. You have come this far and become the most powerful being in Hell, second to me. It is sure that I admired you, even from the start. You are my creation and my
As the Nocturnals and Kragus’ fight pressed on without any form of stoppage, the ground shook hard, an earthquake, so strong and abrupt. It was not because of their fight but something more dubious happening underneath them. The ground cracked and depressed as if they were pulled down to a hollow space underground. Dreygo ran himself to safety to where the cracks stopped. The birds flew everywhere as if the whole mountain was shaken. The fight between the Hell god and the Nocturnals had stopped momentarily. Something burst out from beneath the center of the crater and suddenly, vines sprouted. They grew so fast as if their growth were accelerated a billion times more than normal. The vines became larger as they emerged and crawled towards the air vertically. They intertwined so grotesquely but beautifully; one could not understand the combination of the natural design with less feeble-minded beings lesser than the gods. As it grew almost a kilometer high, the branches sprouted outwar
“I know you’re out there, Dreygo!” Kragus called out. His voice was fierce but calm, but somewhat tired like a man drank too much but could still hold his composure. The Hell God sauntered closer towards where Dreygo was hidden, his sword dragged against the ash ground. Dreygo went out from the shadow of the boulder and made himself visible to his enemy. His beast transformation was still intact, it was a good thing he thought. Now, the only question that flooded his thoughts, can he defeat the weakened Hell God? or was it another Hell God’s misdirection. He had to secure victory for this fight and should give his all, no second chances, otherwise it would mean the end of the three realms. “Well done, Kragus. You have proven yourself the most powerful of all three realms. Then, what’s next? Sit yourself on the throne and turn the realms like hell?” Dreygo responded. “We will cross the bridge when we get there, Dreygo. The offer still stands. Stand by me and you will become a God. I
It was too late. The Kraken was only a diversion and Arkeus had fixated his attention on killing it. Even Dreygo and Sarakiel had bought the same distraction. It gave ample time for Kragus to rally strength to conjure his ultimate weapon. His Solar Flare and Hell Freeze combined. Flame as bright and hot as the sun and frozen wind gust freezing everything it touches, both phenomena in one plane on opposite sides and Kragus was at the center. It created a dome around the two Gods, it was faint at first, but it became more visible as time passed.A dome made of flame and cold chilling air combined, it seemed that Kragus’ ultimate power was a God killer, Dreygo thought. The look on Arkeus’ face was stunned and surprised. Dreygo and Sarakiel was outside of the dome, but they could see passed through it. Dreygo could not explain but the dome was horrific to look at. Never in all his waking life had seen such powers of opposite character were merging into one. Even science could not fathom a
The Templar’s Hall cracked open as two Gods clashed each other with their unfathomable might. Kragus summoned a flame that engulfed his arms and Arkeus with his wind and lighting on both palms and with tremendous speed and energy, everything was devastated as both clashed together.And as the dust settled, the two gods were both gone, only the rays of the sky light shone through the devastated ceiling. Sarakiel had difficulty in standing up as his skin was burnt. But he was healing. Dreygo followed as he jumped through the ceiling and landed on the garden outside the hall. He found them just over the outskirts of the city boundaries as the clash continued, just at the foot of the mountain Stoic.He could feel the small quakes of the ground trembled below his feet. Lightning came and a gush of a deadly wind all in one place where the fight transpired. Flames and Ice also towered as assumed Kragus with his attacks. Dreygo ran towards to where the fight took place. It would take him ten
Just right before Dreygo had to jump for an attack, Kragus faced him and said, “Remember, Dreygo. Remember, who you serve and remember the stakes for killing me. I know you have prepared on the knowledge of conjuring the Forbidden spell.” The Hell God smiled. It gave Dreygo a jolt of memory of the powers the coursed through his veins were just borrowed from the Hell God.Sarakiel sauntered to the dead angel bodies and took one sword lying on the ground. Without hesitation Sarakiel moved almost unnoticed by Dreygo as the former grasped the sword. Sarakiel poured everything on his sword attacks, even shouting at every strike. Dreygo could feel the heavy reverberations of steel hitting against steel in an incredible showcase of skill. It was intense and fast. But Kragus just defended them all with his sword, wide and light, almost effortless and without even delivering a single counter attack himself. As if Kragus was just observing or relaxing as their skirmish lengthened. It was seemin