Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 153 of 365. Sol standard year]
Days after of Crash landing/ 2
Uninhabited Island / Ruins / Scholar’s Rest/ Lowest Basement/ Cult Shrine
Galactic Standard Time / 1010
As he charged with two blades in his hands, Zane hoped Karltics could keep to the plan. This was so much bigger than they thought. Once they saw the way this place was set up, Zane knew that this was going to be bad. They were all too organized! If there were places like this, it showed this bigger than just a simple ransom for a cult. He had barely gotten Wilmria to calm down when they heard the drums. She had run off and it was all he could do to have Karltics stay down. He had to stay out of sight so that if Zane and Wilmria died, others would know what happened here.
He had caught up to her and saw her pale in horror. He had barely figured out her summering that one of the ones at the front was Amilisra’s brother. When she said that he had sent her to the Rest, everything suddenly made sense to him. This was what that filth wanted to happen to her! He couldn’t understand his final plan, all the points but her death was part of
He had spared the room and chamber they were in a glance and figured out a way to help out. But before he could even open his mouth, Amilisra had woken up.
Once they heard what Amilisra’s brother was planning, Wilmria hadn’t waited, she just acted. Zane had been planning to get higher to provide overwatch and use his new Power to take out most of the people. But Wilmria had just been so mad that she just moved, so he followed after her. And the result of this was this grand mess!
He fired and hit another of the changing Followers, hitting them in their right shoulder. He almost fired off the new Power he had, but then the cries came from the other side. He saw the felines holding right across from him. From what he could see, the two at the front were killing the Followers and forcing that side to focus on them. If they were able to hold them, then maybe Wil3 and Rogix could handle the traitor. All he had to do was keep alive and wait for a chance to save the sacrifices.
A scream from one of the closest Bulky figure drummers had him shoot it in the head. As that one fell forward, the others roared and charged him. He gritted his teeth and was about to say the nova with everything. He could fall back, and let them chase him until he turned and fired off his Power. That would buy him a bit of time to get higher, to the top. From there, he could fire at the so-called Prince and his partner. Taking out one of them and then the chaos would let him save the hostages. But before he could move, the three Bulky Figures at his left fell, each one with a hole through their heads.
“Zane, here! Over here!”
The sound of Bryce’s voice caused him to look toward his right. He saw Bryce and a pack of guards fighting to defend something. There were two dead bodies by Bryce, and that was enough for Zane. If he was willing to stand there and defend it, then it had to be important. Without a word, he ran towards Bryce, firing his weapon into the enemy. When he saw one of them moving toward the black-furred feline, he shot it dead. As the body dropped, he caught the eyes of the crimson-furred one and nodded. He wasn’t surprised when that one nodded back.
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As he watched the strangely dressed Enemy run, Zezill felt a strange emotion. When he and the others had found this place, they knew. This was set up just like the Ritual circle in their village. They had seen creatures killed there, never the Enemy, never those that could think. There it was always beasts, all to prove themselves to dead gods. If this was anything like that, then this was for the killing of sacrifices. And from what they had seen. Nyllia was one of those chosen. They wouldn’t let that happen, they wouldn’t!
So when that Enemy attacked this place, they did as well. Already he had killed three of these Large ones, and half of the group was coming at them. Together, he and Guricallwere holding their own, but how long? This was beyond anything they had expected.
As he dodged a creature that looked like an insect, his backswing took its head off. As the body fell he looked around, trying to find anything that could help. But all that he was the same, a wall of humanoid figures changing into Monsters coming at him!
With a roar, he slashed out and to his surprise, a green aura formed around him. He was shocked to find that he felt a bit like when Ny1 had used her power on him. He roared and charged at the figures, his sword cloaked in the aura as he ran. One of the Bulky figures tried to slam its hammer at him, but he dodged, slicing the figure’s arms off before the elbow. As it roared in pain, he jumped and kicked its chin, sending it a foot into the air to land on a bestial-like figure.
As he landed the other robed figures and monsters made a circle around him, and he grinned at them. One of the pushed forward, this one was an insect-like figure with a long stinger tail and mantis-like arms. It stared at him and began speaking the tongue of the Enemy. With a second Zezill dashed forward and slashed out with his sword. The insect tried to move its tail but Zezill jumped and slashed through while he was in the air. He landed and charged back, this time cutting off the Insect’s head. As the other figures took a step back, but there was a scream from behind them. They took a step forward and roared as they charged him.
Zezill just laughed and ran, at them. He jumped to the head of one and kicked off. His jump sent who he had landed on to the floor. In the air he saw a human figure with a very ornamental blade at the back, but close enough for him to reach. But a cry from behind caused his head to snap towards the others. One of the felines was moving backwards, and the line was about to fall. Without a single moment of hesitation, he knew what he had to do.
He landed on the head of another of the Bulky ones, who tried to grab him. But he jumped off into the air, twirling as he did so. He saw a mass of humanoids defending something that was connected to large chains. From the way they were fighting, it had to be important. But what did they want to….. his heart clenched as he realized whatever it was, it was to open something. He spared a glance at where Whi1 and the others were. Just beyond them was a large door set into the wall, and to his horror he heard the low echo of something huge beyond them.
Suddenly he knew what they had to do, and how to save their own. As soon as he landed, he growled and slashed down. This time he created an energy wave and it cut the humanoid figure that was attacking his own down the middle. He saw Guricall and yelled. “BlF1, get the others to move along the wall! We have to keep the doors closed!”
Guricall only nodded as he dug his blade into the throat of a humanoid. “Got it! You heard the boss cats! Move, help the wounded!”
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“What did he mean to kill him now!? Kill who!? The Thunder General!? How did he expect that!?” Barclix demanded as he grabbed a small dagger in his pocket. This was going beyond anything that he planned! To think that everything was falling apart! How had the General even gotten here!? He was supposed to be testing out a new weapon that the so-called Scholars had created! So why was he here so fast!? He should have been days away!
“It means that this is getting too bad for anything but the last resort. I want you to know something, it was a nice daydream to work with you,” Selrotis said from behind him.
But what bothered him was the note of regret in the man’s voice. That was enough for Barclix, who dodged to the right. He saw that Selrotis had tried to stab him. He was able to see a strange-looking knife in Selrotis's hand. He had only seen it for a second before Selrotis blocked his view with his body. But that split-second look told him the knife was unlike anything he had ever seen. “What are you doing!?”
“Getting rid of you. With everything that happened here, we have to leave. Let the Spawn rampage and kill those above and whoever comes here. It will be all the better for us,” Selrotis said dryly as he looked at Barclix.
“But why does what Arglix says even matter to you…… he’s one of yours,” Barclix said suddenly, his eyes wide. Suddenly, everything that had happened to him took on a darker tone. Arglix had been one of his closest followers for years, and one that he respected! But here and now, it seemed that he had been played for longer than he thought possible. Even the plan to get rid of his sister Amilisra had been part of Arglix’s advice. To think that the one who prided himself on fooling others had been tricked for so long. “So I have to know, was anything my idea? Or were you people leading me around even before I found you?”
“No, our meeting was pure chance. I did think using you to take over was my best plan yet. But this is too much, my cousin has to go all out, and for that to happen, you need to die. Nothing personal about it, really. And you will become a saint of the Followers, one who gave of their mind to become a great weapon!” Selrotis proclaimed.
Barclix only looked at him, a thousand things going through his mind. If he was understanding this, then these fanatics were more dangerous than he thought. If he was right, then these monsters planned something far worse than even he dared to believe. “That’s why you want to capture all those people. Why you wanted to bring those bandits back with you. I thought it was for slave labor, but it wasn’t. I am impressed. Very impressed.”
“Always good to be appreciated. But you know that you can’t win. It will be fast,” Selrotis promised.
Barclix only looked at him and then laughed a little. “Well you all were keeping secrets, but so was I. And here’s mine!”
With but a thought, a blazing blue energy aura formed around him. Pointing his knife at the shocked face of Selrotis, Barclix grinned.
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As he slashed out with his axe, Rogix almost hit Arglix’s shoulder. He snarled at the man he once thought of as a friend and felt his rage peak. “How long did it take you to betray your own!?”
“You were one of us! A general of the Kingdom! Why?! Just why did you go over to these scum1?” Wilmria deemed as she pointed her spear at him.
All that Arglix could do to this question was chuckle as he shook his head. “Ahhhh. There is the Kingdom’s sheer arrogance! I must say, I won’t miss that!”
“Miss it!? What are you talking about!?” Rogix snarled as his own aura engulfed him.
“When I go home of course! I must say that my mission was fun. And learning all the secrets will be perfect for the invasion!” Arglix declared as he looked at the two Generals.
“Invasion!? Home!?” Wilmria asked aghast. She stared at him and for a moment her aura slipped but then it was back.
Rogix looked at her and saw her eyes had become pinpoints. She was staring at Arglix with a look of pure shock and horror. “Was anything that we went through mean anything to you at all!? Was every nothing but a lie!?”
“What are you talking about!?” Rogix demanded.
“He’s a spy, he’s always been a spy!” Wilmria snarled as she spun her spear.
“What!?” Rogix whispered in horror.
“And no, it didn’t really. I’ll feel nothing at all when I get home. Probably a Power a priest put on me. But all your people just weren’t my own Wilmria. My rank was something I never planned for, but it did help me so much! I mean let’s be real! It gave me more power and all the access I needed. And it brought me to the Prince, and it helped me bring him here. I’m just sad that this will end so badly for him. I thought of him as a pet if I’m being honest,” Arglix said bluntly as he pointed his sword at the two generals.
Rogix only stared at Arglix in shock. He had expected everything but that, never that. The Followers as they called themselves were smart enough to send in spies!? That changed everything. And he wasn’t such a fool to think that this one was the only one within the Kingdom!
“And the only reason I’m telling you is that you won’t live!” Arglix called out, anger and rage in his voice as a blue aura exploded around him. He screamed as he was engulfed in the energy, and they could hear his body change.
Rogix stepped backwards, feeling that what was happening before him was wrong. Even though Arglix was engulfed in his own aura so much that it hid him, he could see an outline. The traitor’s body starts to change as he roars.
Rogix swallowed as Arglix started to grow taller, and when Arglix grew another two limbs, Rogix knew. That this was going to be a harder fight than he thought, and that the Cult had so many problems for the Kingdom.
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As Bryce slashed out with his sword. He saw Zane running towards them. He had no idea why his friend was here, but the fact was a star blessing! Together, with their skills they might be able to survive this mess. They had to get back to the others, they had to know the danger they were in!
A roar from one of the Bulky figures as it charged at them took his attention. But then the figure stumbled and fell, a hole burned through its skull.
Zane appeared there a moment later and looked out at the mob around them. “So, bugger then we thought then?”
“Yeah, why are you even here?” Bryce asked as he fired out as the other soldiers behind held the line.
Zane turned and fired at a Flyer, and then he shrugged. “The usual. Found monster biped bugs feeding off this place to fast grow an army. A princess was coming along the path outside the galley, and then one of the others found a way out there. The princess got attacked by a traitor and we tracked them here.”
A roar caused everyone, even the Cultists to pause and turn towards the sound.
Bryce could see Rogix and the woman looking at a monster biped ten feet tall. It was reptilian, and its body was sleek and streamlined. Its scales were blue, and it had two ram-like horns on its head. Its muzzle had four fangs, two pointed down and two up. Its eyes were pure black and its five-fingered hands had talons on them. It had a tail and its two legs had sickly claws above its feet.
Bryce just blinked then as the Cultists cheered he fired at one of the Bulky ones. As it fell, the others looked at the group. Bryce knew that they had to hold this place, they couldn’t let the door open. If one of those Spawn Icotrix was talking about was there, it was a variable that they didn’t need.
Howls from the left caused him to look as the feline creatures were suddenly there. They broke through the line of the Cultists, the two glowing ones leading the charge. As Bryce watched, the other felines joined the soldiers in fighting off the Cultists. The soldiers all looked at them for a moment before one of the felines saved a soldier from an Insect Cultist. While that happened, the black and crimson-furred ones fought through to Bryce and Zane.
The crimson-furred figure just looked at Bryce and growled. Bryce stared as the feline biped started to make gestures at the Cultists.
“Fight together then?” Bryce asked and the two felines nodded. He kept an eye on the beast that Rogix and Wilmria were facing. There were enough monsters here, that friends were needed.
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When Arglix had transformed, it was all he could do to keep fighting Selrotis. Barclix had to admit, that power was enticing. But the way Selrotis said that he would lose his mind, no, just no. He had to get away, he had seen where the Potions were made. His clan’s forces were ready, the revolution would have to happen now.
“Well Selrotis, it’s been real, really. I must say that the way that you tricked me was something I’ll have to remember. Especially when I have to deal with your people,” Barclix said before he nodded.
Selrotis looked at him before he cried out as arrows hit him. He dropped the strange knife, and then he looked up at the left balconies. His gaze went to the one against the wall with the great door, the last balcony. Standing in that box were three people, two men in black armor and golden facemasks. Ahead of them was a woman with black-green hair, and bluish green eyes. She was wearing green colored armor designed for a woman, and all of them were wielding bows.
Barclix only laughed as he picked up the knife Selrotis had dropped, looking it over. The blade had a thin point at the end, and he saw the glint of a needle at the end. He looked at the female archer flashed the sign for ‘2’ and nodded.
The woman nodded and then turned to the door to the balcony, barking orders.
Barclix only looked at Selrotis and sighed. “Well my friend, always have a backup plan. And I wish you good luck, sister!”
Barclix spared a last look at Amilisra who glared at him. He sighed and ran towards the balcony, jumping and forcing his Power into his feet. When he landed next to the woman, he sighed. “My dear, you have the Potion maker? Excellent! Let us be off. The war begins now!”
“As you say, my king,” The woman rasped and looked at the knife he had. “And what is that?”
“A wonder that might kill my father, and pave the way to my accession!” Barclix said with a grin as he looked at the carnage behind him.