A bright light emanating from the tunnel caused Daysho to spin around and look back down the passageway. He squinted to see more clearly, and heard the echoes of several individuals approaching. Through the brilliance, he saw a red-bearded dwarf lumbering toward them, holding what he suspected was the Sky Diamond. Following the dwarf were two ordakians, and a human. “What group is this?” he thought. Daysho remained hidden and kept the approach of the mysterious fifth camp to himself. He thought, “An assassin always needs information before he strikes.”
Pointing his staff at Dal-Draydian, Veric launched a black ray beam that struck the gnome squarely in the chest, causing him to stagger backward with a loud grunt and then disappear in a wispy cloud. The center of the chamber filled with smoke and the sound of crackling fire.
Veric scoffed “You see, the mighty have fallen.” He turned to Raina, “Now we will discuss your surrender, Elf.”
El’Korr growled, “Dwarves don’t surrender.”
“This one lacks her staff and your meager weapons will not affect me.”
Raina proclaimed, “I have ascended and have access to the highest power, I no longer require a staff.”
“We shall see about your so called highest power.” He turned to one of his men, “You know what to do.” Veric smirked.
The human henchman nodded with a grin, sheathed his weapon, and taking one careful step at a time, approached the narrow, arched walkway.
Turning quickly, Raina pointed at the approaching guard. Bolts of electrical energy shot forth from her hand and streaked toward him. However, the charged light impacted and dissipated against a magical unseen shield made momentarily visible by the blue glow of a fleeting power.
Veric laughed, “Your spells will not touch him.”
El’Korr threw his hammer, which struck the human, shattering his ribs; forcing him off the narrow walkway. His scream faded to silence as he plummeted through the churning grey vortex below.
El’Korr’s hammer returned to his hands. He gloated, “My weapon seems to affect your men just fine.”
Veric growled as he touched his hand to the shoulder of his remaining guard and then tapped the end of his staff on the ground, teleporting himself and his man to the center pedestal where the Dragon Stones rested. He then commanded his follower to stand in the middle of the colored rocks.
Suddenly, as the guard took his position, the gnome appeared out of thin air and hovered before them. “I grow tired of you all.”
Dal-Draydian opened Trillius’ mouth wide, releasing the breath weapon of the ancient dragon. A thunderclap erupted and a brilliant blue-white electrical bolt sizzled through the human warrior and pierced Veric’s body. Both were sent flying across the room. Veric slammed into the wall and fell hard against the floor while the human’s body shattered into dust upon impact. The echoing thunder clap faded and the smell of burnt flesh filled the area.
Dal-Draydian floated and rested softly upon the Dragon Stone altar. With that, a mystical mist materialized and each of the colored rocks began to glow, matching their distinct hue. Sharp beams of radiance suddenly shot into the gnome’s body. Trillius’ chest heaved forward and his arms spread wide.
Bridazak and the others reflexively ducked as a bright light emanated from deep in the tunnel followed by a crack of thunder.
Spilf exclaimed, “What the heck was that?”
“Shut it, Stubby,” Dulgin whispered harshly, “Looks like we are not the only ones in the Chamber of Cleansing.”
Bridazak said, “Manasseh will be coming and we need to get the Sky Diamond inside.”
“Abawken, take point,” Dulgin commanded. “Whatever is in there, I need you to handle it while I place this gem into its rightful place.”
Abawken nodded, and moved forward, scimitar in hand. The others followed.
A hum of energy echoed off the walls and a diffused light beamed out of the chamber in front of them; they were unable to determine its source until a childlike creature came into view. The mysterious light pierced its body and a blue-white glow spewed forth from its gaping mouth and wide staring eyes.
Abawken emerged cautiously from the tunnel, sword at the ready to act against the spectacle in the center of the room. However, when he heard an all too familiar voice call, “Abawken!” he turned quickly in shock and saw Raina, King El’Korr, Rondee, and Xan. A groan coming from his left alerted him to a groggy mystic in black robes, smoke wafting up from his clothes. Dulgin entered with the diamond in hand.
“Quickly, Dulgin!” Raina shouted, “Set the Sky Diamond in place directly in front of you, there is no time to waste!”
The dwarf hurriedly set the Sky Diamond into its designated location. It set perfectly, nestled into its designed home. Instantly, a single ray of light sprung forth, striking the possessed gnome. Then a luminous beam ushered forth from Xan’s Pearl of the Deep. However, the Fire Opal and the Stone of Earth remained in their places with nothing happening.
The popping sounds of bone being wrenched from their sockets and the tearing of flesh reverberated in the room. A skeletal framework of dragon wings sprouted on Trillius’ back. Translucent leather began to form and the gnomes tiny hands elongated into sharp claws.
Trillius’ mouth moved, but a different, booming voice reverberated from his body, echoing throughout the chamber, “I am the Dragon God!”
Raina couldn’t understand why Dulgin’s and Xan’s elements had activated and the others had not. There was a sudden flash of realization, “Raina,” she said to herself, “how could you have missed that?” She knew what had to be done and called out, “Abawken, join Rondee, and Spilf, make your way to El’Korr!”
Spilf peeked out wide-eyed from the tunnel and saw the elf mystic waving him over. He looked to Bridazak who nodded, giving him the confidence to proceed. He scampered past the human mage who was still struggling to his feet. Abawken activated his blade, flying across the room. Avoiding the morphing dragon, he landed next to Rondee. The dwarf backed away and Abawken stepped in front of the Fire Opal. A sudden blast of light hit the center. There was a noticeable lurch of pain from Trillius as it struck.
Raina shouted, “Spilf, hurry!” The ordakian was the final ingredient to destroy the stones and was steps away from completing the process.
Electrical arcs spat forth from Trillius’ body, hitting all around the room. Buzzing charges of energy sizzled in front of Spilf. He halted, fearful of contacting the discharge, then the bluish light snapped closer to him, forcing him back where another electrical arc flashed behind him. The randomly arching zaps were almost on top of him when Raina suddenly appeared from a dimensional door next to him. She quickly grabbed Spilf, yanked him inside, and the portal sealed behind them.
In an instant, Raina and Spilf materialized at the final station. Raina pushed the dak in place and the final beam of light ignited. Dal-Draydian bellowed out in pain—the sound of five dragons in unison blared in agony. As the heroes watched, an outlined shape of a multi-headed mythical entity flashed before their eyes. The immense spirit-hydra encompassing the transforming Trillius, reeled in horror and began to shrink.
Veric now stood, assessed the situation, and started an incantation. His words alerted Raina, who waited to counter his forthcoming spell. She saw that Dulgin was his closest target. Veric pointed his jade staff at the unsuspecting dwarf and a searing jet of flame shot forth, but Raina shielded Dulgin with her own spell; a wall of ice appeared just before the fire ignited him. The heat and cold clashed and sent a blast of steam into the area. Veric snarled at Raina. The two powerful mystics locked eyes, ready to go spell to spell.
Bridazak, uncertain as to how to help his friends, stood at the ready at the tunnel entrance to the room, his bow, the Seeker, in hand. He couldn’t make sense of what was happening, or how or why Raina and the others were here. What is the Dragon God? This sole question must have been what brought the others, but why here, of all places? Spilf, Abawken, Xan, and Dulgin were busy manning the required s
tations in order to activate these mysterious items. Raina and this other mystic paired off, leaving El’Korr, Rondee, and himself at the ready, but ready to do what? This was not the reunion he had hoped for.
Then he heard the voice of Manasseh, “I see you, Halfling. Time for you to be reunited with your maker.”
Bridazak turned and saw the damaged Manasseh approaching. Pieces of his armor were missing revealing his injured flesh, but the wounds were regenerating. Melting ice dripped from his face and he walked with a noticeable limp. Bridazak pushed away the thought of a defeated King Morthkin, and what would happen to the people, fighting the horde bubbling up like a volcano, without their leader.
Bridazak backed into the chamber and moved toward the right, away from the spell-slingers. He saw Xan’s eyes widen in horror as Manasseh stood at the threshold. “He only wants me, Xan,” Bridazak assured him before he could say anything.
“Bridazak, he is under a curse of the dead. He will not rest until you breathe no more. You are the only one who can destroy him.”
“Yeah, heard that one already. I will figure something out.”
Daysho watched the events unraveling before him from his concealed location, which unnerved even his steely confidence. A fallen Horn King strode past him, but took no notice, as he was intent on killing the famous Bridazak of the North Kingdom. The same one whose wanted posters could still be found plastered all over the region, placed by Manasseh’s order, but left up in celebration of his demise—a demise that was apparently faulty. Regardless of these unsettling sights, Daysho’s mission remained the same: collect the head of Veric and return it to the vampire. Daysho inched his way closer to the mage as his powers were being depleted by each spell he cast and each injury he sustained, but he needed to be mindful of Raina’s potent incantations being released in his direction, and not get caught in any area affected by the invocations of either mystic. Timing was crucial and his escape just as important. Daysho had never lusted after power, like what was on display before him, but the prize of everlasting, immortal life, waited for him at the hands of Romann de Beaux. He could not afford to make a mistake.
Manasseh no longer possessed the power of the fallen Tree, and his mind bore the loss like a deep scar. He sought only to quiet his tormented soul by reaping the command of vengeance he had retained after death. The legendary curse that was placed upon him as part of his resurrection coursed its dark magic through his whole being, and could be ended not with spell or entrapment, or even bodily harm. Only the hand of the one he sought revenge from could destroy him, and he had named Bridazak, upon whom Manasseh was now focused. His altered soul despised Bridazak with so much contempt that he could think of nothing but his destruction.
The ordakian, bow in hand and backing away, shouted, “Manasseh, look around you. The tides of change have come to Ruauck-El.”
Manasseh growled, “You ruined everything.”
“We were all part of something much bigger than ourselves. I had no idea what I carried at the time.”
“Oh, you were innocent? I think not, you brought your army with that cursed orb.”
“The Orb of Truth delivered the voice of God. He is restoring his once-great realm and the people he created. He can restore you, Manasseh, it’s not too late.”
Manasseh’s face contorted in disgust as he bellowed, “I don’t care about your god or this once-great realm,” and swung his two-handed sword.
Bridazak adeptly ducked out of the way as he continued backing up. He was almost to Abawken’s station when he loosed one of his arrows which penetrated the dark knight’s armor, covering his left leg.
Manessah, dismissing his pain, continued relentlessly fighting.
The wound from the arrow had slowed him, and the dak noticed that whatever harm he brought directly to Manasseh, the infliction remained.
Bridazak notched another arrow, pulled the Seeker bowstring back, aimed for the Manesseh’s head and let it fly.
Manasseh parried the steel-tipped shaft with his sword and charged Bridazak who dodged the lunge and tumbled into the narrow walkway leading to the center pedestal where Trillius hovered in the air as multiple beams of energy pelted him.
Abawken, nearby at his station, pointed his sword at Manasseh, preparing to release an elemental beast.
Bridazak shouted, “No Abawken, this is my fight!”
The fighter stopped short, and then noticed Veric across the room, preparing an incantation intended for Raina. Abawken hastily stepped forward and summoned a rock elemental next to Veric, successfully distracting the wizard from his attack on Raina, but the focused light from the Fire Opal dissolved, and broke the chain of the four elements. A sudden surge of energy from the Dragon Stones rebounded and Trillius’ head contorted, elongated, and formed the snout of a scaly beast. At the same time, his shoulders burst open and two more heads sprouted. Abawken refocused his attention on his gem and the aura returned, halting the gnome’s hideous transformation.
“It’s gaining power!” Abawken called.
The three-headed, disfigured dragon roared in pain, struggling with the tug-of-war between the spirit realm and the flesh.
At the moment the giant rock elemental emerged from the ground behind Veric, the shambling monster raised its arms to pummel the puny human. It towered over him with its earthen clubs, but Veric calmly brought his hand up toward the creature. A platinum ring on his index finger pulsed with magical energy. He turned to face the stone beast, which was frozen in place, and ordered, “Kill the dwarves.” Another flare shot from his electrically charged ring, causing the monster to triplicate itself. The row of three monsters, standing side-by-side, turned in unison toward their new targets.
Rondee’s magical, tiny hammer morphed into a great maul, and El’Korr and his faithful protector met their foes head on, swinging their mighty war hammers. Dulgin, however, manning his element station, had to tumble out of the way to avoid being pulverized. The Sky Diamond’s light dwindled and Trillius again began to morph.
Dulgin withdrew his axe, “Come over here, Rocky. I got somethin for ya.”
Veric tried to divert Raina’s attention with a scorching ray of fire, but with her immunity to flame she was unharmed. She took the opportunity to unleash her invocation, not at the wizard, but at the elemental attacking Dulgin.
“Ver atu me hosht.” She shouted and extended her arm, and pointed a finger encompassed with a ray of light. The sound of cracking stone, like a building shaken by an earthquake, resounded, and the rock formation turned to flesh. Dulgin, was facing a meaty beast, and knew his axe could do great damage. The dwarf did not hesitate. He lopped off a leg at the knee. Sand poured out of the wound. He chopped at the other leg and laughed, “Coming down to my size, hey Sandy?”
Veric responded, “Nicely done, Elf, but my resource of spells goes deep. How far can you go protecting everyone?”
“As far as it takes,” she said.
“You can’t protect them all, Raina. Even now, your Bridazak is fighting against death itself.”
Dulgin yelled, “Hey, melon-head, once I am done with this dragon deity, then my axe has your name on it.”
“You dwarves are all the same. Your axe will never get close enough.”
“Funny, that is exactly what your brother said. You’re just a little uglier than him.”
“Focus on returning to your station, Dulgin,” Raina ordered.
The human mage’s eyes flared a bright pearlescent orange. Raina recognized the intent and countered with her voice, “Sheloc!” She successfully blocked another attack.
The spellcasters were entranced, pitted against one another. Veric loosened the tightness in his neck by moving his head in a circular motion, but never took his eyes off of her.
“Tehloc!” he shouted.
“Vuasec!” she countered the unseen magical force.
“You are good, Raina. I’m impressed at your skill, but even now, the Dragon God strengthens.”
At that mo
ment, Raina shouted, “Dulgin! The Sky Diamond! Hurry!”
By the time the dwarf finished with the creature and started toward his post, Trillius’ body was no more. Instead, floating in the center of the room was a massive, writhing, five-headed dragon. Its wings unfurled, revealing each scaled skull a match to one of the colored stones.
A low, guttural laugh rose, and the beast roared, “Your existence has come to the end.”
The Sky Diamond flared back to life as Dulgin took his place, and impacted the Dragon God. The blue head, in the middle, stretched toward the dwarf.
The voice of Dal-Draydian, through clenched teeth, fighting the pain of the four elements’ effect, bellowed, “Veric, kill this dwarf, and I will accept your offer.”
Dulgin shouted, “You will be the only thing dying today, Bluey.” Dulgin suddenly felt a shift within his body, his spirit aligning with the element, as the Sky Diamond pulled on his inner strength and determination. His focus on the Dragon God caused his beam of light to intensify.
Dal-Draydian screeched, retracting from the blast. The white dragon stone suddenly shattered apart, a strange sound of hissing rain permeated the airwaves, and the white head phased from the main body. The Chamber of Cleansing shifted abruptly from the explosion and then settled.
Raina instantly took notice of what had just transpired and yelled earnestly to the others, “Focus your intent on destroying the stones, hurry, before it is too late!”
Manasseh crept toward Bridazak on the narrow walkway, but the ordakian kept out of reach of his sword and fired an arrow. It slammed into Manasseh’s left shoulder. He quickly let loose another, but this one was swept aside by the former king.
The Dragon God loomed above them, its massive, multi-colored, scaled underbelly hovering ten feet in the air. A whirlpool of grey shadows swirled rapidly below in the dark void forming an eye, that stared at him, sending a cold chill through his body.