Port city of Ingleport

Galadorian was exhausted. Never the strongest magic user, she felt her power nearly bottom out as she pulled her trident from her latest kill. The heaven runes on the three prong tip were already dark. She didn’t have the power to charge it up again. Anymore and she wouldn’t be able to move. Before her other defenders were likewise exhausted as more and more of the strange bugs came at them. She was held up in a warehouse at the edge of the docks with a dozen heavenborne, fifty some odd humans, and even four Hellborne as two security golems were crushing bugs with each blow holding the entrance to the building. Worried sick about her crew, she had been out when the attack had occurred. Sometime during the night Valiner had given her the slip, and she went after him. He was a hot tempered youth and would be seeking revenge against that Hellborne who had humiliated him. Now Valiner was the least of her concerns, as another wave of bugs tried to get through the doors where the golems stood sentinel. They could last a long time here. A security golem was tough, made of Orichalcum and either Talerite or Stardust depending on its origins. Galadorian didn’t care who made it, she only wish they had more right now. Leaving the defense to the golems, she back off ignoring the buzzing and the scratching from the roof as the bugs sought a way in. At least they weren’t smart. After they had boarded up the windows, the creatures began rushing the golems instead of tearing down the walls around them. Galadorian sat down on a haystack. A withered had held out a flask to her. She didn’t ask questions but took a swig. It only held water but right now it was sweeter than the finest wine.

“Never thought I would be need’in my golems with Lilith around,” the man in a sea savvy accent. “Been dock master nearly twenty years and never did I see a lass so strong. Now I’m glad I kept these at da ready.”

“You’re dock master Michael right?” Galadorian said taking another gulp of water. Having captained her ship for many years, she met plenty of dock masters in her day at various ports. Michael stuck out in her memory as being tough but fair. He gave equal rights and trade to demon and angel alike. Galadorian approved of such. Humans who can look past the demonic faults would help bring the three races into alignment… provided they lived beyond today.

“Aye lady. Unless I be mistaken, ye be Captain Galadorian.”

“I’m not captain of anything right now,” Galadorian said, wincing as a golem took a heavy blow, bits of its outer shell fragmenting off. Another bug slipped past, crawling on the wall only to be skewered by a Hellborne with a lance and a spear wielded by a heavenborne. A flash of red and blue and the bug fell lifeless to the ground. It was strange to see them work together, but also inspiring in a way.

“Well I’m glad to have you here anyways my lady,” Michael said getting up pulling out a blunderbuss that was slung over his back. Loading a holy round into the chamber, he patient waited firing between the golems blasting apart a bug that tried to fly just above them. He lowered the weapon calmly fishing in his pockets for a moment before pulling out another. The weapon loaded again, he waited patiently.

“Think we can make a break for it?” Galadorian asked.

“Ney,” Michael said. “Been watching through gaps in da walls. The entire place b’ a swarming with da bugs. We ain’t going nowhere.” He said it without anger, just a plain recitation of the facts.

Galadorian was about to ask how long the golems would last, when all at once every single bug trying to get past the golems and crawling on the building was gone. With that terrible buzzing sound they took to the air regrouping a short distance away unmoving. The suddenly silence after so long was ominous.

“Demon shit. What’s going on now?” Galadorian said getting to her feet. With Michael and many others they cautiously approached the golems, peering between the unmoving constructs. In the receding mist two figures could be plainly seen as the countless bugs crawled around them like roaches at their feet. Just as tall as the golems, they were humanoid in shape, but not much else could be discern from the night cloaking them. Suddenly they spoke in a language that sent a chill of fear rippling through her entire body. It wasn’t the common tongue, this was a dialect from before the time of angels and demons. Galadorian recognized it but couldn’t understand anything.

Realizing this, one of the figures made some indistinct clicking sounds and after a brief flurry of activity one of the bugs brought a frantically struggling human before them. The man looked like a child before an abusive parent. The crying human begged only to have one of the figures jam its hand into the human’s skull with a sickening crack. The man shuddered as his brains were scooped out. He fell lifeless to the ground, the figure now ignoring the man, quickly ate the spongy material.

“Monsters!” Michael growled aiming his blunderbuss. A flash of blue and one of the figures stumbled backward awash of blue flames that extinguished after a second leaving it unharmed.

“By da gods of above and below, what dis it?” Michael said as others around him muttered similar things.

“It’s a very powerful magical being,” Galadorian said sweat trickling down her face. “Normal magical weapons won’t hurt it.”

“No more of that please,” said the figure that ate the man’s brain. “We rather not have any unnecessary violence.”

“Far too late for that,” Galadorian said. Even if she wasn’t already exhausted, the power of these two beings was far beyond her.

“We are obeying the wish of our master. Nothing more. This city must be subjugated for his desire, but you need not be destroyed. Submit to us and you shall live.”

“Your master?” Galadorian said. “Are you from the Hell then?” The figures laughed like that was the most amusing thing they ever heard. It was a cruel laugh that had a hidden threat laced underneath.

“Our master is beyond the broken god of above and below. Our god is before of the time of creation when many such being roamed the cosmos,” the figured said.

“A titan…” Galadorian paled.

“Yes, that is what your kind called them,” the figure said. “Now submit or face our wroth.”

“Face this,” Michael said then to his golems added. “Get dem!”

The golems charged in unison tromping off toward their targets. Several bugs got in their way and were either stepped on or swatted out of the way like the insects they resembled. The two figures didn’t panic or leap out of the way. They stood calming before the charging statues. With an exertion of raw magic that felt utterly alien, Galadorian watched the golems simply shattered before they could touch either figure.

“By all da gods…” Michael muttered his gun falling to the ground.

“Kill the humans and take the rest,” one figured said as the swarm of bugs advanced. Galadorian didn’t even have time to raise her trident as they were overwhelmed. She was pinned by a dozen bugs forced to watch as Michael was torn apart in a shower of crimson. A viscous blow to the back of her head and the world swam before her.

What has been unleashed? The hazy thought drifting in her mind before it all went black.

The door has to hold, Marith thought watching the door shudder again. The rattling of the wood sounded exceptionally weak. With each impact the children gathered around her let out frighten squeals, many crying. They were in the central corridor, the fires and havoc having awoken them during the night. Now with angry buzzing all around them, Marith knew there was no escape. She gripped her blunderbuss tightly as she turned toward the children, many of them under ten years old.

“Timmy take the little ones to the cellar and barricade the door,” Marith said.

“I’m not leaving you up here!” Timmy shouted and despite his large size and hellish features, he was trembling like many of the others. No matter what he looked like he was still a child.

“Do it now!” Marith snapped and Timmy visibly recoiled, but stood firm.

“Timmy,” Marith said clasping him on the shoulder. “You have to protect them. Everything will be alright. But if we have to fight, the little ones must be safe. I trust you with this… please.”

Angry tears filled his eyes but didn’t fall as he gave a curt nod. He led the youngest children down into the cellar as several of the older orphans began securing the door. Marith loaded her first hellfire bullet into her blunderbuss with a snap. Around her many of the older children did likewise with whatever arms they had. It pained her more than she thought possible to see these young Hellborne take up arms. All of them she had raised since infancy. Another impact and the door splintered as the constant buzzing grew louder. Now visible through cracks in the door dark flitting indistinct shapes could be seen.

“I want to let you know, I may not be your birth mother, but you are all my children,” Marith said gripping her gun tightly. They came together sharing a brief group hug as the door gave way. They turned and opened fire, as they faced annihilation.

Lilith panted heavily, sweat damping her face as she ran full speed to her childhood home. Not much more than a pale blur she sped past pockets of defenders and groups of bugs simply plowing through anything that dare get in her way. Never had she ran so fast, her legs burning with each step. It didn’t, matter none of it did. The only important thing was the children. Suddenly a bug stepped directly into her path. Not bothering to slow do or go around Lilith simply backhanded it. The force of the blow flung it out of her path and saving the human it was about to skewer. She didn’t even notice, her thoughts set so firmly on her home.

She crested a large hill. The sight nearly broke her heart. Tears which was only partially from the force of the wind began flowing. Before her was Hellway orphanage dark and silent save for the clicking of mandibles from inside. Above even more the bugs flew in great loops the buzzing from their wings filling the night. Lilith gave a feral cry as she charged. She didn’t even bother to slow down and use the door; instead she plowed through the thick wooden walls in an explosion of wood. Fragments flew everywhere as the moon overhead casted the interior in a weak light. She wished it hadn’t. The scene was one from her worse nightmares. Dozens of bugs were crawling around, eating the dead bodies of children and of Marith. Several more were trying to break down a door a short distance away. The bugs all froze in mid action, turning toward her their mandibles crimson. A haze filled Lilith. A murderous all-consuming blinding rage unlike anything she had ever felt. Trembling with absolute fury, she let out an angry sound like a thousand feral cats hissing in unison as the bugs swarmed toward her. Lilith embraced her fury leaping at them.

Darthnos slashed his axe, the double blades sinking deep into the chest of a bug. The blow didn’t cut cleanly through as it perished. The hellrune on the blade was already devoid of magic. He didn’t bother recharging it. There were less bugs here and he might need his magical strength for later. Next to him Nora plunged both her dirks, still glowing with power, into a bug’s fleshly back as it tried to attack him from behind. With a grunt he pulled his axe free, facing the one behind him. He chopped off its head with a single blow. Green ichor fountained briefly before the bug collapsed to the cobbled road, twitching. Wiping the dirks on her black over coat, Nora re-sheathed her daggers loading another hellfire round into her pistol. The way was now clear. Together they sprinted once more toward the orphanage. He hadn’t been back there in nearly nine years not since… he shook his head, letting the stray thought disperse. He needed to stay focus.

“Damn that girl’s fast!” Darthnos said between breaths. “She might be as strong as a greater demon. She must have a ton of magic.”

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

“Lilith doesn’t have magic,” Nora said between gasping breathes. “She’s a null.” Darthnos tripped tumbling to the ground. Nora stopped near him clasping her knees desperately drawing in breath.

Darthnos got to his feet starring at the Hellborne in disbelief. “You can’t be serious,” he said at last, catching his own breath.

“Yeah,” Nora panted hands still on her knees. “Lilith just turned twenty and she can’t power any magic at all. I have to do all ours at home.”

A null. Darthnos heard that a rare few unfortunate Hellborne and heavenborne that were nulls, born without any magical power at all, not unlike a human. He was foolishly assuming this Lilith had a lot of magic and was boosting her strength and speed by using it. Many angel and demons could do so with magical rings that could be charged with magic to give them an edge. Once the power was low, they could simply funnel more power into it until their magic went dry. Darthnos didn’t bother. He put all his power into his axe blades so his killing blows were more powerful, but this girl… She was doing all this without any magic at all?! Could she be the daughter of some greater demon, but was unfortunate enough not to get any of magical talent? Several of the major demon clans were well known for their strength and speed, and just as famous for their low magical prowess. It didn’t matter. What did was getting out of here before it was too late. Already the sounds of resistance were fading.

“Let’s keep moving,” Darthnos said starting off again.

Ten minutes later they crested the final hill where a lone tall figure stood surrounded by six bugs that crawled around its feet. This was something new… something dangerous. Darthnos could feel the magic radiating off it like intense sun rays. A magical being this powerful shouldn’t be here. He gripped his axe shaft tightly. With a mental push he sent a surge of magic along its length causing the hellrunes on the blades to flare brightly.

“Girl, go around back. Find Lilith and any other survivors. Then get out of here.”

“I can’t leave you here,” Nora said. Despite her words Darthnos could see her tremble before the tall figure.

“You can and will,” Darthnos said sternly. “But you can do one thing before you go.” He added placing his hand on hers. Nora eyes widened for a second and then she understood. She closed her eyes focusing. The four rings on Darthnos hand began to glow, two for speed and two for strength. The girl slumped. Darthnos could feel her stamina nearly bottom out. She wasn’t a strong magic user, but he would take anything right now.

“Don’t die,” Nora whispered before running off.

“You think to sacrifice yourself to save the girl?” The figured mused in a gravelly voice taking a step closer. “How unlike a demon.”

“Your wrong,” Darthnos smiled his crimson skin flashing from the light of his weapon. “I just don’t want her to steal my fun.” He too, took a step closer.

“Don’t worry demon I won’t kill you. I have plans for one such as yourself and the girl,” the figured said.

“Really?” Darthnos gestured to the town sprawled out from their vantage point and to the orphanage. “From this perspective you like killing almost as much as my kind does.”

“A mistake by our servants,” the figured said casually crushing one of the bugs at his feet. The rest scurried away for a moment before returning, circling around the figure once more. “They are not bright. They do serve well enough for the most part, as you shall.” Darthnos stepped closer getting a clear look at the creature. It was human shape without the tail or horns of a demon, nor the wings and nearly invisible halo of an angel. Tall as a golem, it was surprisingly skinny with yellowish hue skin and a single large bulbous eye in the center of its head that was milky white. It had no nose, but a rather disturbing long mouth with normal human like teeth. Hairless, it had small thick tentacles protruding from the top of its head, moving like snakes on the famed medusa. Long limbed, it had no weapon but was wearing a light orange hauberk with several glowing runes on its surface extending down to its knees and elbows. They were not the heaven or hellrunes Darthnos was familiar with. However, he could still feel their tremendous power.

Darthnos snorted. “And here I thought the flying pigeons were ugly.”

“Gest all you like, for there will be little enjoyment in your future,” the figure said lazily pointing a hand toward him. Inside the flesh of its palm was another rune glowing brightly with pure white light.

Darthnos twirled his axe as he readied himself. “I like to know who I’m fighting so I know what grave to piss on afterwards. I’ll give you my name first so you know who was responsible for killing you. I am Darthnos, captain of my ship Hellseige.”

“I shall enjoy this Darthnos. It has been a long time I fought one so foolishly arrogant. But, why not. I only need you alive, not much else. I am Erwing, nine of ten who serve our titan lord, Coeus.”

Darthnos felt his blood go cold. A titan… this was bad. He need to get back to Hell and warn them. Not waiting any longer he leapt high, his axe at the ready.

Outside a blinding flash of red and white filled the night followed by a shock-wave that rattled the orphanage. All around window’s shattered as the Darthnos fought with whatever that was out there. Nora didn’t know. She just wanted to find Lilith and get the fuck out. Slowly creeping around corners her pistol at the ready, she kept expecting one of the foul bugs to leap out at her, but none did. She did find plenty of the bugs that were in so many pieces they were barely recognizable. What happened here?

All around walls were broken and black carapaces shattered, thrown around like a dozen frenzied demons where feasting in here. She rounded another corner and froze. There one of the bugs was scuttling on the floor. Not seeing her yet, she took careful aim and fired. The bug squealed as the hellfire consumed it before falling lifeless to the floor now only a smoldering ruin. With trembling hands she loaded another round. Her heart hammering she moved deeper into the building. After another turn she entered the main foyer. She gasped as tears stung her eyes. There clearly seen in the carnage were the remains of Marith and several other young Hellborne. Their bodies showed signs of being eaten. She turned from the ghastly spectacle falling to her knees vomiting what little was in her stomach. Nora hardly noticed the thirty some odd bugs all torn apart in the vicinity.

“Oh Marith,” Nora sobbed quietly then gave a startled squeak as a shuffling sound came from a door leading into the basement nearby.

“Who’s there?” Nora asked still on her knees looking around in case she was overheard.

“Nora is that you?” Came the voice from beyond the door.

“Timmy?” Nora said getting to her feet. The door opened a cracked and Nora could clearly see Timmy there with his distinctive hellish features through the gap. Suddenly the door flew wide open and he rushed into her nearly sending her sprawling. Behind him Nora could see many frighten children looking at the dead.

“Oh thank the god from below! I don’t know what to do. We were suddenly attacked and, and…” Timmy said breaking down so Nora could no longer understand him. She patted him on his head as he buried his face into her chest sobbing.

“Get up! We have to get out of here before…” Nora began separating herself from Timmy when a dozen of the bugs entered from a rather large hole in the front wall. They stood erect their mandibles clicking excitedly. The children shrieked in terror as Nora shot the first one. She instantly knew she couldn’t stop so many. Nora braced herself for the end when a figured charged from the darkness plowing into the bugs in an explosion of green ichor.

Darthnos wouldn’t last much longer. Already his rings were nearly depleted and it was all he could do not be instantly overwhelmed by this Erwing. His axe blade was already dark the power of its runes gone. He no longer tried to attack. Instead he focused entirely on defense as the last of his stamina was exhausted. Erwing rushed forward with an open palm thrust that Darthnos intercept on his axe shaft. The force of the blow sent him sprawling backwards. He tumbled a fair distance before coming to a stop. He slowly got to his feet as Erwing approached casually, like he was enjoying a nice day on the wharf.

“Pathetic demon,” Erwing said. “Perhaps you are not worth the effort of capturing after all. Shall I just tear out your horns as a trophy and be done with it?”

Darthnos was about to snarl a reply when the nearest wall of the orphanage exploded outward as four the bugs flew by them, in fragmented pieces. There in the fissure, was Lilith. At least he thought it was her. The figure certain had her snow white hair and the same clothes, but that was all. Somehow she seemed taller and larger. Her eyes were no longer had those yellow irises, but were now twin yellow suns blazing fiercely. Her horns which had been small and black on either side of her head, were now long and thick with a thick spiral starting at the base running to the tip. Yes it was Lilith, but it also wasn’t.

What happened to her? Darthnos wondered.

“Another Hellborne,” Erwing said facing Lilith. “That is well. We need more for…” That was all he had time for. Faster than Darthnos could see Lilith was before him, her fist connecting with his chest.

When Darthnos was fighting Erwing he was ignoring his blows, letting his armor repulse each attack before it could even connect. A flash of red from his bladed axe against a brilliant blast of white from his armor as the blow was deflected. Afterwards the light from his armor runes would be less but would flare back to full strength a second later. Whatever this Erwing was, he had magic to spare. Darthnos expected Lilith to be just as effective. That was not what happened. Instead the blow landed squarely despite a flash of white followed by a thunderclap of sound. Erwing was thrown backwards much like the angel had when they first met, the light of his armor all but extinguished. Lilith leaped after him his fist raised. Erwing barely rolled out of the way as Lilith landed punching the ground so hard that the earth trembled, rattling the nearby structures.

“By the god of the pit…” Darthnos breathed his eyes wide. No doubt Erwing was thinking something similar, but was given no time to act. He just had time to charge up his armor again and Darthnos caught the distinctive sheen of sweat on his brow as Lilith hit him again. The night flashed with white as the runes failed again. Once more Erwing was propelled backwards crashing into a thick tree that cracked down its center, but didn’t fall. Again the runes were refreshed though this time they were not nearly as bright as before. Lilith snarled in rage which sounded out of place on her pretty face. Darthnos watched as she launched herself at Erwing. She punched right through the tree as Erwing dodge to the side. Erwing spun hitting Lilith square in the face with an explosion of magic. She flew backwards crashing into the orphanage. The building, losing too much of its support, crumbled atop her in a plume of dust and debris.

“Stay down you monster,” Erwing panted clutching his chest where Darthnos saw a sizeable dent in his armor. A rumble filled the night as debris shifted slightly before erupting outward like a diatomaceous crystal had just exploded in a cloud of dust. A gust of wind cleared the area of debris and there stood Lilith with a small scuff mark on her face, but otherwise unharmed as far as Darthnos could tell.

“What are you!?” Erwing shouted as Lilith charged forward screaming her rage like a banshee.

The girls lost it, Darthnos realized. Erwing clasped his hands as he gave a strange cry into the night before facing Lilith again. Darthnos gathered the last dredges of his strength, then magically charged his axe blade. He knew he would only have one shot at this. Lilith ignored everything save for Erwing leaping at him and backhanding his face. The servant of the titan was thrown violently across the ground for the third, or was it the forth, time. He landed a short distance away from Darthnos part of his face crumbled in like a partial crushed melon. The creature was almost finished, when from the sky dozens of the bugs dropped between him and Lilith. Fearless they swarmed toward the girl. Not watching her tear them apart, Darthnos crept a bit closer. As he neared Erwing, Darthnos eyes widened in horror at the small syringe filled with thick shimmering white liquor.

It couldn’t be, Darthnos thought as Erwing jammed the syringe into his arm. A second later he knew it was, as Erwing magic surged his runes flaring brightly. It was distilled magic, the purest absolute form of all magical power. Made it Heaven it was even more expensive than diatomaceous crystals giving the user a massive burst of magical power. That led to a second more troubling thought. How did this servant of a titan get it?

Lilith just finished the last of the bugs as Erwing planted his fist dead center of her chest flinging her backwards in a tumble of limbs and churned up chunks of turf. Again Lilith got to her feet growling her fury, blood trickling from her mouth.

How can she get up after a blow like that? Darthnos wondered in amazement.

It looked like Erwing was having a similar thought as the power was already beginning to leave him. The power granted by distilled magic didn’t last long, only a minute or two and left the user completely drained for weeks afterwards. It was a desperate act. Snarling both figures charged each other. Lilith landed a blow to Erwing sternum shattering his armor and he returned a palm thrust to her forehead. The force of their blow caused a small explosion as both hurdled away from the center point. Erwing was the first to arise. He approached Lilith’s unmoving form only her leg visible from his view point. Darthnos silently crept behind Erwing, like a stalking cat. If he was seen it was over.

“You’re too dangerous to let live,” Erwing said utterly fixated on Lilith prone form. He raised his hand for the final strike. Darthnos saw all the last of his magical power gather for the killing blow. Darthnos swung his axe overhead for a mighty cop. He cut Erwing from his neck to his navel. Crimson jetted from the terrible wound as the Erwing fell splitting like a Y down the center falling atop of Lilith prone form. Suddenly her eyes opened. Darthnos looked into those blazing suns. He saw no recognition in them.

“Girly it’s over,” he said backpedaling. “You killed them all! Calm down!” With a snarl Lilith leaped at him swinging her fist. He raised his axe shaft to intercepting the blow. Darthnos felt his teeth rattle as he was flung backwards with far more force than Erwing had used. He fell in the ruins of the orphanage his body aching all over. He could barely raise his head. He wished he hadn’t. Darthnos could only stared in disbelief at his axe shaft, now it two pieces in both his hands. She had broken it with a single punch. His family’s weapon for more than a thousand years that could stop an angel’s blade without so much as a scratch. More fear flooded him than when he was facing Erwing as he looked up to see Lilith charging him.

She’s going to kill me. Darthnos thought before a Hellborne stood in front of him.

“LILITH STOP!” Nora shouted at the top of her lungs.

Darthnos saw Lilith stop right before her best friend, a glimmer of recognition in her eyes. Tentatively Lilith reached forward touching Nora face when she reflexively recoiled. Like a slap hit her, Lilith took a step back turning to see the children of Hellway orphanage gathering at the ruins looking at her like she, not the creatures that had attack them, was the monster. Darthnos saw the change as her horns shrunk and the blazing suns for eyes returned to their normal yellowish iris. Lilith shrunk in size as she fell to her knees. Lilith wailed into the night as Nora stepped forward embracing her friend. Darthnos swayed as the got to his feet. The children only hesitated a moment before swarming Lilith hugging her as she wept.