The Hunt for The Master
Chaos was the only way to explain the fighting going on inside the walls of The Master's base. Spells were thrown, shots fired, weapons slashing out at enemies, zombies biting and clawing at their forces, and teams working together to bring down as many of the zombies as they could. Tom stood back to back with Bron, both now wielding two great weapons as they hacked and slashed at anything that got too close.
Tom activated his second tattoo to begin draining their essence as well. The zombies seemed to recognize the source of their new pain and life loss and began to frantically claw their way toward Tom. Others in the team began to kill them relentlessly as they became distracted, and Tom and Bron redoubled their efforts.
Suddenly, the mass of zombies stopped their struggles and began to be drawn to a single point near the back of their forces.
"They are forming the Hulk! Prepare raid battle formations!" Derek shouted above the din of combat.
The zombies began melding into one single ball of rotting flesh as the creature was birthed from the amalgamation of so many different bodies. It grew and grew until the mass began to form into the shape of the hulking figure Jay had seen before. Long ape-like arms extended out along with short clawed legs and massive feet to support the huge muscled torso of the creature that was forming. Bone protrusions began to extend from its elbows and in spines down its back.
Finally, its horrific head emerged as a giant skull on top of the broad shoulders that denoted its massive strength. It let out a roar that was so loud, that many on the battlefield had to cover their ears for fear of being deafened. Something struck the beast in the side of the head from the right and it reeled slightly as smoke exploded out from the strike.
"That's the first signal! Mages let loose your volley!" Derek commanded from somewhere on the battlefield that Tom couldn't make out.
Fireballs, ice spikes, and balls of energy of every imaginable color shot at the creature, and it took an involuntary step back from the force of the attacks as it began to be hidden behind the barrage of magical attacks. Roaring again in rage and pain, the beast stepped forward out of the smoke and swung an arm down at the fighters on the front lines. Screams could be heard as men and women were sent flying into the air.
"Clerics! Healing now!" Derek ordered and a group split off to find those injured and render aid.
"Now's our chance. Time to split off. Bohdan! Michael! To me!" Tom shouted over the din of the battle as Bron nodded and they took off for the main building.
"You pulled me away just when it was getting good," Michael complained in a mocking tone when he joined them.
"You can get your chance. It is time for the main event." Bohdan teased him as he too found them on the way to the doors.
Reaching the steps, Tom took them two at a time up to the main doors. He pushed on them and pulled and they were locked tight. Grabbing both handles, He put all of his increased strength into pulling them open and was rewarded with a cracking sound as the wood gave way around the locks. Flying open with a shower of splintering wood, Tom stepped through the doorway to find a group of men and women holding building tools as weapons.
Stowing one of his weapons in his inventory, Tom called one of the anti-magic grenades to his hand and pressed the button. Tossing it into the room, he watched as it bounced, then expanded, the stasis spell causing it to rise into the air and cover the room in the yellow field.
"You can drop your weapons now. This field will stop the effects of the collars." Tom said to the people inside, and they immediately threw down the tools they were holding and fell to their knees.
"Thank you!" One of the men said as he began to weep where he knelt looking first at his hands and then at Tom.
"Don't thank us yet. We still have to find The Master." Tom said, making sure they didn't try anything stupid. "If you stay here though, the field will protect you for the next hour."
All of the slaves nodded as they moved to one side of the room together.
"Where is The Master now?" Tom asked looking at the people with collars on.
"His chambers are down the hall, last door on the right. If he's not there, you'll have to check the basement.
"Great, there's a basement. Okay, thank you for the information. We will save you, I promise." Tom said confidently to the men and women before moving toward the hallway.
As they exited the anti-magic field, Bohdan cast a spell targeting himself, Bron, Michael, and Tom.
"What was that?" Michael asked as the light from the spell touched him.
"A haste spell. Something to help us move quickly through this place." Bohdan explained.
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Looking up at the top of his display, Tom noticed the pink image of a stopwatch had appeared with three lines extending to the left making it look like the symbol was in motion. As he continued moving he noticed he ran faster than before.
"This is the kind of thing we need more often!" Tom said excitedly.
As they reached the end of the hall, Tom kicked the door in, another shower of splintered wood erupting inward from the force. Rushing in, they looked around at the opulent room before them. A four-poster bed stood against the back wall with fur rugs on the floor as well as a fire in the fireplace giving the room warmth and making it feel cozier.
A high-backed chair sat next to the fire and the glow of the flames danced off of the black leather that covered it. On a small circular table next to the chair was a glass of wine, a meal consisting of steak and potatoes as well as an open book.
"He must have been here and heard the commotion. Looks like he's not so keen on meeting us. The coward," Tom said in anger at having missed the man.
"Oh, a coward am I?" A voice spoke that seemed to come from all around them. "You have meddled in my plans for the last time, Tom. I will not forgive this intrusion into my abode."
"And just what do you think you will do about it? I think we've seen your true nature twice now in running away from the fight at our gates and now in hiding from meeting your fate." Tom said looking around the room in an attempt to find where the voice might be coming from.
"Oh, I have plenty of surprises planned for you and your friends. Just wait and see. You aren't the only one who has been planning for this moment. I knew that you couldn't help but set up this kind of opportunity for me. With your misguided sense of self-righteous piety always looking down on anyone who doesn't agree with you. You can't see the bigger picture because you are already blinded by the limitations you put on yourself. Don't worry. I will free you from that before this day is done." The voice continued.
"I think you'll find that the path someone chooses gives them far more strength than the one another forces them to take through slavery." Tom shot back, now beginning to search the room for any kind of secret exit since the door was locked from the inside when they entered.
"Again, you fail to see the bigger picture. Fighting for conviction still allows rebellion and choices that will lead your plan off its course. Only complete subservience leads to a team that will obey without question and lead to flawless execution of a plan." The Master said as his disdain for Tom and his guild spilled through his words.
"That might be, but when things change, it means you have to be the one to control the change in the flow of battle. No plan survives contact with the enemy and the ability to freely choose for oneself is the only way a plan can evolve with the ebb and flow. And you never have true loyalty. Those you enslave will always want to rebel, give them the slightest chance and they will grab onto it like a life preserver in the ocean." Tom replied, pulling books off on shelves and feeling along walls for any kind of secret passage.
"Your naivety will be your undoing, Tom. Without complete control, we live in a world of chaos. And chaos always leads to destruction." The Master replied.
"Look, I'm enjoying our little chat here, and it's clear that you aren't going to convince me and I'm not going to convince you, so let's end this little charade. Come out and I'll happily show you what we can do." Tom finally replied as he let out a long-suffering sigh at having this argument with the air.
"I don't think I will. Find me if you can, but let's hope your little friends outside can survive what I have planned for them." The voice said as it chuckled at Tom's goading.
"When I find you, I'm going to reach down your fucking throat, grab onto your sphincter and turn you inside out just so we can see what's on your mind before I let Squirrel have his way with your corpse," Tom said angrily as he continued searching the room, turning over tables and chairs as well as emptying shelves along the walls.
"Oh my, temper temper, Tom. And what does a squirrel have to do with any of this?" The master asked confused.
"You'll see soon enough," Tom said finally finding a latch behind one of the bookshelves and pulling on it.
With a click, the bookshelf swung open on hinges attached to the wall.
"Bingo," Tom said softly as the door opened. "I hope you're ready for us. It's time to dance again."
No answer came this time. Tom, Bron, Michael, and Bohdan all made their way through the secret entrance and down the stairs hidden behind it. They found themselves in complete darkness upon entering and Tom felt his way forward slowly trying not to trip. A light appeared behind him, casting their shadows down the stairs and forcing the gloom back from them.
"You are just full of helpful spells aren't you, Bohdan?" Tom smiled back at the wizard as he looked over his shoulder to see a floating sphere of light over his head.
Bohdan smiled in return but said nothing as they focused on moving forward. When they reached the bottom of the stairs, they saw a small doorway that led to a hall that made a sharp ninety-degree turn. Poking his head through and looking down the hall, Bohdan motioned that everything was clear and Tom took the lead again.
They jogged down the hall in an attempt to move faster, but not so fast that they charged into danger without looking. Another door came into view at the end of the hall and Tom held a hand up for them to stop as they reached it. Putting his ear to the door, Tom couldn't hear anything on the other side.
"Smash the door down. the sound and motion will help us in our surprise if anything is on the other side." Bron said looking at Tom.
Tom nodded and everyone gave him space. Kicking the door in again with one swift thrusting kick, they rushed into the room weapons ready. Four hulking figures were in the room, standing motionless. As the door was broken, they turned to see the intruders and growled menacingly at them.
"It's time to dance," Tom said, an evil smile coming to his face as he eyed the zombies with anticipation.