Mark clambered up to the ceiling and looked around. The scaffolding that had kept the golden orb in place had partially collapsed, covering the roof in a jungle of metal and wooden girders. Yang, who he recognized as the demon who had accosted him the previous day, was nowhere to be seen.
Mark let down the cable and allowed Horan and the Aztecs to climb up, watching out for trouble on the roof. When about half of the company had arrived, the sound of a whistle echoed throughout the roof.
Less than a minute later, when everyone had arrived on the roof, dozens of figures rose up from around the tower, perching on the collapsed scaffolding around the hole. Nearly fifty bird demons nocked arrows and aimed at the surrounded Primoi.
Yang climbed up a girder and stood between two of the other demons. “I’ll admit, you’ve been doing some impressive work. Even when your most powerful ally got scared off, you still managed to get up here. Not half bad, but it ends here. I’ve got you all completely surrounded, and the Birds are ready to fire on my mark. It’s done, I win!” She stifled a giggle. “Maybe with a hostage as valuable as the leader of the Aztec Domain, I can get the Greeks to stand down. I’ve had a look around this place, it’s pretty nice. It’ll make a great place to start my new demon kingdom.”
“Not if…” Orsinus attempted to climb on top of a still-standing girder, slipped, caught himself and stood up. “Not if I have anything to say about it!”
Yang sighed. “Oh, for the love of… Units 30 through 48, change targets to the geezer in the bathrobe.”
Several archers turned their bows to focus on Orsinus.
Orsinus huffed. “I don’t think we’ve met, miss demon lady. The name’s Orsinus, I’m the guy in charge of this place. And I’m afraid this tower of mine isn’t for sale.”
Yang sneered and folded her arms. “You know, I’m starting to see how Thel managed to have this much fun with this, I’m having a blast. Sorry, Orsinus, but you don’t have much choice in the matter. Have your forces stand down, or the Aztecs get it.”
Orsinus shrugged. “Meh, I don’t think so. After all, me getting involved only endangers them.” He looked down at the Aztecs. “Say, none of you would happen to disagree with that, would you?”
Hurat stepped out from the crowd. “Really? You’re still hung up on that? Dude, there are demons for you to zap right there!”
Horan raised his arm. “Yeah, we’d really like some help with this!”
Hurat turned on Horan. “Hey now, I didn’t say that.”
Yang closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose. “It’s a wonder how we ever lost to you people in the first place.”
Orsinus turned up his nose. “I dunno, I might get in the way. It would probably take some kind of verbal confirmation to convince me to act.”
Hurat stomped the ground in frustration. “Fine! If you’re going to guilt us like that, fine! ZAP THEM!”
Orsinus shrugged. “Close enough.”
Yang raised her arm. “All units, fire!”
Forty-eight demons loosed their arrows at their targets. Before anyone was hit, Orsinus waved his hand and unleashed a stream of electricity into the air. The arrows peppering the air were struck and instantly disintegrated, covering the roof in a cloud of ash. Orsinus then waved his arms in an X-fashion, sending two bolts of lightning through the demon ranks and instantly obliterating every demon on the roof save for Yang.
As the ash cloud settled, Yang looked around at the smouldering patches that were once her soldiers. The Primoi on the ground looked between her and Orsinus. Orsinus pointed at Hurat. “I’m a Primus of my word. She’s all yours.”
Yang stumbled back and jumped down from the girder she was on, Hurat in close pursuit. While the two ran off into the maze of twisted metal, Orsinus leapt down and looked smugly at the Primoi in front of him. “And there you have it, folks. Your lives saved once again by me, Orsinus. How about you all keep in mind the things I do for all of you?”
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A few minutes later, Hurat came back into view, dragging Yang behind him. “I’m back, everyone!” He stepped into the middle of the small crowd of Primoi and threw Yang to the ground. “Once I got my hands on her, I felt like giving you all a show.” He looked down at Yang. “Me, you, here. Single combat to the death, as it should be.”
Yang looked up at Hurat and smirked. “Nah, I’m not really feeling up to it today. Mind if I reschedule?”
Hurat’s smug grin dissolved. “What?”
Yang stood up. “You heard me. I’m not fighting you, that would be suicide. Sorry if that messes up your plans for all this.”
Hurat growled. “I don’t think you really understand what we’re doing here. This duel is a chance for you to go down fighting, and I’m not giving you a choice here.” He held out an open hand. “Sword.”
Horan summoned a sword and handed it to Hurat, who nodded in gratitude. “Thanks.” He brandished the sword at Yang. “You’ve got a blade of your own. Use it.”
Yang looked at Hurat’s sword, unimpressed. “And if I don’t? From what I’ve figured out about you, you’re not the kind of Primus to kill someone who doesn’t even have their weapon drawn. Makes you look bad, doesn’t it?”
Hurat took a step closer. The surrounding Primoi formed a ring around the two. “I’m more than willing to kill you right now, don’t think I won’t!”
Yang took another step back, shaking slightly. “Oh, I’m not doubting you on that. See, I’m really out of tricks now. I’m probably the last living member of Thel’s army, I’m completely surrounded, I’m drawing blanks idea-wise, and I’m facing off against someone who can probably kill me in seconds. In short, I’m running on fumes here. I’m just running my mouth in the vague hope something works here. And I know that if I really do try to fight you, it’s all over. So… No. I’m not fighting you.”
“Then I’ll make you!” Hurat roared and leapt forward, sword raised to strike. Yang awkwardly sidestepped and tripped up Hurat, sending him sprawling. Before she could really process the information, Yang drew her sword and pointed it at Hurat’s throat.
Yang let out a laugh. “Wow, that worked? I can’t believe I actually did it! I…” She looked around at the dozen or so Primoi surrounding her, all with some form of weapon ready. “…Right. All of you are still here.” She dropped her sword. “I did win though, could I spring for imprisonment?”
Hurat stood up and knocked Yang out with a single punch. “You decide what happens to her, Orsinus. This is your place that she invaded, after all.” He walked off, rubbing his side.
As Yang was apprehended by the nearby Primoi, the turtle-like creature Mark and Horan had seen in the Down Below appeared near the hole in the roof, abruptly showing up with a loud pop. More pops came from below as the Joeys that Lamius had promised to send appeared all at once.
As the Primoi around him stared at the Joey on the roof in bewilderment, Horan nodded. “Don’t worry, guys. That’s just the reinforcements. Kinda late for that, but it’s fine.
As the Primoi dispersed in relief and the Joey looked around the roof in confusion, Mark walked over to Horan. “Well, that’s that taken care of. Do you think we’ll head off to attack Thel tomorrow, or will there be a few days of prep time?”
Horan looked back at Mark quizzically. “Hey, you said we’re taking it slow with this. Remember? We can take a little time to unwind after this. It’s been a long day.”
“But shouldn’t you… Alright, whatever you want.” Mark patted Horan on the shoulder. “You’ll get through this.”
Horan smiled. “Thanks. What I want more than anything right now is a good shower. It’s been too long since I was last able to have one of those, and I’d rather not mention the last place I had one.”
As Horan turned around to head back down, the entire tower shook violently. A girder elsewhere on the roof shook itself loose and collapsed.
Everyone rushed over to the side of the building. When he arrived at the edge, Mark looked down and stumbled backwards. “Wow, I just realized how high up we are!”
Horan was so busy keeping Mark steady, it took a moment for him to notice the growing vortex of dust, snow and sand growing in front of the tower. The very ground itself around the tower, including the smaller surrounding buildings, began to disintegrate and were sucked up into the expanding maelstrom of debris. As the storm rose, the clouds above lowered themselves to meet it, forming a massive column of clouds, dirt and snow.
In the span of less than a minute, the pillar-shaped storm had lengthened to more than twice the height of the tower, dwarfing everyone standing on the roof. As the tornado absorbed more dust from the ground, two funnels sprouted from either side, and the bottom split in two. Everyone on the roof watched as the storm began to pulse with a dull red light, and took on a humanoid shape. Two balls of crimson light flashed into existence where the shape’s eyes would be, bathing the top of the tower in red. Instead of what might be hair, the top of the form was still connected to the clouds above, as though the entire sky was its hairdo.
When the figure finally stopped taking on particulate from the ground, an earth-shatteringly loud voice boomed out from somewhere in the shape’s torso.
“AND LOOKEE AT WHAT WE HAVE HERE!”